After an emotionally difficult start to the year, I was unable to make it to my first two races in January. My thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the Reddick and Joslyn families. As families and communities move forward together, it is time for me to refocus on my running goals as well.
Last year I was able to accomplish many things within in my short running career, but there were a few hiccups along the way. In February of 2011, I was able to enter an amazing 50k in Arkansas. My friend and I drove the nine hour trip to a remote Northwestern Arkansas region littered with scenic views of small mountains, valleys, rocky cliffs, and clear blue streams. I was in aw of landscape that surrounded me, and also nervous about running through the difficult terrain. I though that this was going to be my fresh start to the ultra running season after getting lost in the desert in Arizona in January (finishing, but not with a great time), but once I reached the 25+ mile of the race I had to drop out. I had one misstep through a slippery rocky section that caused me to hobble and hop the next three miles until I reached an aide station where I swallowed my pride and opted to not run the last 5+ miles of the course.
After I returned back to Iowa I learned that I had fractured my foot, which only led me to believe that I needed to train more on that type of terrain (which is hard to find in Eastern Iowa). So, like the previous two years I have set my sights high for the 2012 ultra-running season and I am looking for redemption this weekend. Kelsie and I are preparing to drive that nine hour trip to not only see that beautiful landscape, but run through the streams, along side the rocky cliffs, and over the mountains along the way. Tomorrow morning I will relive those first twenty five miles, but I will also finish last six miles of that course and I will let you know how it ends :).
You only ever grow as a human being if you're outside your comfort zone. Percy Cerutty
