Ghouls, Goblins, Snakes and Spiders

It is definitely October here with fall like temperatures and a creepy chill in the air.  I admit I love horror movies, but they scare me to death.  I tend to be jumpy in nature and with the days shorter this = night running.  Add in October and I am CONVINCED an ax murderer is coming after the people running through the woods.

I stepped on a branch and it “bit” my legs… I kept looking back for a copperhead, mainly because I know this trail is notorious for them.  I then kept hitting spider webs on my second loop making me think I had gone wandering of the trail.  Unlikely, I do know the trails pretty well, but then again I did get lost on marked trails in daylight over the summer so it’s not out of the question for me! I could not figure out why these giant spiders were coming after.

Then I get down by the creek and I see glowing bluish greenish eyes staring back at me.  The rational side of me KNEW it was a deer.  The irrational side of me was convinced it was a cougar stalking me as it’s next victim.  I sped up and just kept sprinting along praying the wild cat didn’t get me.  I kept hearing crunching in the woods from the crazy, schizophrenic squirrels and the raccoons.  I would see headlights and magnify them into crazy ax murderers.

 My running partners think I am crazy, but this was my first true night run of the year.  It will take some time to get back into the groove and when I do I love night running!  But until then I will have these horror movie fantasies… I always tend to make them worse in October too.  I am fine once the horror movie month is over!

 

 

Really when all you can see is this far in front of you can you blame me for being jumpy?  Time to learn to pick up the feet and man up!

50 Mile Week FINALLY Thank you Hip Flexor!

I ran the Hawk 50 mile race a little over a month ago after being on a client’s horse for 3 hours the day before.  I know that horseback riding is something I miss greatly, but I also know it wrecks my back and hip.  I am not sure if this from a prior riding accident or a structural issue.  I proceeded to run a 20 minute PR at Hawk, but came out with a nagging hip flexor injury.  To the best of my knowledge it is a hip impingement.

 

Now, after numerous acupuncture, ART and chiropractic visits, I am finally seeing a light at the end of the injury tunnel and feeling like my 13 month funk from a stress fracture is finally lifted! I am loving running again and I feel great.  The hip is still a little grinding, but for the most part it is out of the knee.

I had a fabulous 18 mile run last Thursday with a nice and fast last mile… could be because I forgot a light and it was getting dark on me.  I got into my car just as the last shred of light vanished from the evening sky. 

Saturday was a bad run.  I woke up tired and with dead legs.  Sadly, it carried over into my run.  Probably not helping was the major thunderstorm making all the rock too slick to really get a rhythm on.  I finished up a miserable 13 miles and called it a day.  My hip was sore from, I believe, not being able to work on my midfoot strike (I tend to heel strike) due to the conditions.  I was never so happy to just lay around the house and not move for an afternoon.

 

Sunday, I woke up cranky and ready to scream at the first person who looked at me.  Chocolate wasn’t helping and finally, despite some lingering soreness, I just went out to run.  Beautiful and slow easy 10 mile run and I felt human again ready to take on the world!  I love fall running and I am feeling tapered without a race! 

 

Here is why my running funk has lifted I’m convinced of it anyway! Run happy and run long!

Smootihies, Music and The Crazy

Favorite smoothie recipe of the moment is

• 2 dates
• 1 banana
• 1 cup of almond milk
• 1 tablespoon of EFA (Udo’s Oil)
• 1 scoop of Vega Protein Powder
• Handful of cacoa nibs

This tastes like a chocolate milk shake!  Why EFA Oils?  These are the Omega 6s, the Omega 3s and the Omega 9 fatty acids that the body needs to properly function, lubricate the joints etc.  Rarely, do people get enough of the Omega 3 and the Omega 9 fatty acids. Udo’s makes 3 types of oils that my Whole Foods carries.  I am currently using the one with high antioxidents due to rise of the flu season right now!  I would not recommend the filtered version simply because do we need to filter our oils out?  I prefer things in the least processed and natural state.  One tablespoon of this a day will provide you with all of the EFA’s you need as well so it is the perfect investment for your health.

 

This music listen to NOW

 

Lumineers Dead Sea

Gaslight Anthem Bioloxi Parish

 

Gaslight Anthem is my GO TO running music I have been training to it exclusively since July?  I saw Brian Fallon sing acoustic at Kegs and Eggs and have been in LOVE with them ever since.  Truly hours spent listening to this music so if you need something great to run to get any of their records and be prepared to go for hours!

 

Lunch is over so back to work dealing with beligerent people who are CERTAIN they are wronged in having to pay their bills.  If these stories could be posted then I could write a book and quit my full time job!  Truly people, don’t get an attitude with the receptionist. We can’t do anything about your problem especially a day before you appear in court.  We will hang up on you if you start to scream at us… Really we DON’T need to take it after 20 minutes of it.  We will help you if you help us and are polite and logical. 

Primary Series tonight at yoga building mental and physical strength!

 

Peace, Love, Long Runs and Mantras (see below)!

*Om Shrim Maha Lakshmi Swaya is the mantra for Oct chanted 108 times daily for 40 days to bring prosperity into your life whether it be financial, relationship or just general happiness!*

Meet Me At The Finishline

Hi internet world!

This blog is not intended to give you amazingly sound training advice or recipes.  It is merely a way for me to share my thoughts on the world  (And probably show you what NOT to do when training for ultras!).  I am injury prone and have become an expert taper/injury diagnoser.  Die hard runner borderline addict 😉  I am also in love with Ashtanga yoga which has brought me back to my higher power through asanas (poses), meditation and chanting.

 

I am a gluten free vegan which makes me an epic pain to take out to dinner, but I am here to tell you it can be done.  KC has some great places FUD being one of them.  Those jackfruit nachos are AMAZING!  I cook my own crackers, drink smoothies, love chocolate covered kale chips etc.  I love food and love to spread nutrition information around because often people say they don’t feel good, but they don’t know WHY.  I am not preachy, but you ask and I will give you my best answer.

 

I have ran two 50 milers this year between injuries next year would love to go for the big one a 100!  I train by not training meaning I just run a lot and hope it all works out 😉  No, really I am an over thinker and planner, my drop bags could feed an army.   I just don’t like training plans, life is structured and running should not be.   I love hills so try to pick courses with a lot of them.  I am not naturally talented at anything, but I work really hard.  Ultras are tough mind over matter.  If you believe you can you will!  And if you can’t believe you can have great friends that do for you!

 

The blog name came from a great friend who said that she thought I should make a big sign for Leadville that said meet me at the finish line… Meaning I need an ultra runner to date.  I loved the joke so made it my blog name… Now just to get the courage to bring it to a race 😉

 

Love and long runs… This is just the about me, I will try to post daily on my lunch break from answering the phones at the law office.  Expect some food, some yoga, some running, some music selections (my other great love is all things music even if I am tone deaf and rhythmless!)  and a lot of blonde moments!

 

 

My favorite trail and probably one of my favorite spots on it!