A New Year, A New Goal!

As my world has been increasingly busy with life and work, and coming off a Christmas break 10lbs heavier :), I will resort to what I know works best to relieve stress and improve my health~ RUN! I am embarking on my third year of running and continually trying to achieve goals that I have never imagined. First and foremost, I am helping Jake and Steph Maine to start an annual Run/Walk-A-Thon for their son, Kalen, and the Chiari Foundation. This event is scheduled to take place here in Wilton on May the 19th. We will be releasing more information and details of the event as our committee finalizes the details. So set the date in your calendars and stay tuned for ways in which you can help!
Second, based on our efforts for Team Kalen and Chiari Foundation I will be dedicating this running season to raising money for them. My 2012 race schedule is announced here on my blog and it includes a multitude of new challenges that I have not faced. I am participating in the Gnarly Bandit Series that is put on by the Upper Midwest Trail Runners Club, which I am now a member of. This series includes four 100 mile races and one 100k race. The end result of this series is more than just perseverance, pride, and achievement as it has cash prizes for the top finishers. I will work relentlessly to earn a top finisher spot and donate all of my earnings to Team Kalen and the Chiari Foundation.
Lastly, I am looking forward to another blessed year of running on my own two feet and experience new places across the Midwest and Central US. There are so many beautiful places that we pass unknowingly in our cars that are begging to be explored by foot. I cannot wait to meet and be mesmerized by the other talented ultra-runners in which I will encounter along the way; and to listen to their stories.
2012 is here and it’s time to get prepared for another adventure! As always, please contact me if you would like to join me for a training run, run a race together, help be a pacer, or help crew one of my runs! Hope to see you on the road or trails soon!

"If you want to become the best runner you can be, start now. Don't spend the rest of your life wondering if you can do it."
-Priscilla Welch

NOT a great run, but on to the next one...

So, a little over a week ago I ventured out to run another marathon (QC Marathon); my second one in the midst of my ultra's. I had high hopes for this run to be a great one and to use my performance to gauge my abilitiy for my 50 miler at the end of October. I knew that my training had been a little more sporadic and fitting in my good runs were not as easy as I was hoping, but I also knew I could run the distance. I started the race with a few thousand others with a smile on my face and began noticing grimaces and frowns in the early stages. Personally I was feeling great, that was until mile 14 hit and my leg left hamstring tightened like a rusty spring that wouldnt recoil. I have never had major hamstring issues until this day. I knew I had to walk and start rubbing it out in order to run the next 12 miles. As I began to loosen up, the rain began to fall. This only started to add to my frustration, and the frustration of many more. Miles 14 to 20 were not fun and helped me scratch the idea of having an impressive race. I was able to man up and continue that relentless forward motion for the last 10k and finishing the race. Although I was not able to reach my goal time, or use this race for a solid mark to jump off of for my 50 miler in the near future, I am proud of myself for completing the race; especially all of the other great competitors.  It makes me smile and feel good about the midwest when we have so many eager and driven people show up to such an event and take on the challenge. I hope everyone who completed and competed in the QC Marathon continues their passion for running and to see them on the roads or trails in the near future. A special congrats to all of my friends whom I know personally that participated in the run! It was truly great seeing many of you out on the course, whether it was the half or full marathon. Congrats again and keep putting one foot in front of the other!

"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." -John Bingham