Croom Zoom 100K

After reading my Croom Zoom report from 2011, I found some striking similarities: I hoped to use the Zoom as motivation to stay slim through the holidays, I ran a horrible NYE day run, and I was considering dropping to the 50K.  Miraculously I ended up running 12:31, a 100K PR by 6 hours.

Leading up to Sunday's event was much the same: Lack of long-run training, a few extra pounds on board, and a terrible NYE day run.  Once again, I thought about scaling back to the 50K.  But with a weather forecast of lows in the 20's and highs in the 60's, I decided to go for it...especially since it would be my last race at Croom as a Florida resident.

Ilene and I drove up to Croom together in the wee small hours of the morning.  Thanks to Patrick, we had the luxury of a warm RV in which to gear up with Dave and A2 .  At 6:00am, Andy yelled "Go!" and the chilled 100K and 50K runners were off.  Ilene and I ended up running the first 12M together, which gave us the chance to catch up on the last two weeks.  We had a great pace but when she decided to take a pit-stop at camp, I kept moving.

The second and third loops went much the same: running alone, with the exception of having Jason's company for a few minutes (after finishing 2nd place in the 25K), and hooking up with Docs for a couple miles (who left me when I commented that he must be tired if he's running my pace!).  I finished the first 50K in 5:40, just a few minutes slower than my John Holmes run.  Christian and Justin kindly helped me refuel, and knowing I'd continue to run alone, I put on some tunes.

Loop four was by far my best (thanks to Advil and caffeine).  I was clipping along, rocking out with Metallica and passing some folks.  When I got back to camp, Patrick, Ilene and Roger were chilling on my chairs .  I didn't stop long, but kinda wished I was done too so I could sit and shoot the sh*t my my friends.  Instead, Christian handed me a veggie burger and sent me on my way.

The fifth loop was beautiful and boring, but I enjoyed chatting with Sara each time at aid station #2.  I was looking forward to getting back to camp, where Armando and my Mom would be waiting.  But when I got there, they had not yet arrived.  Although I was way ahead of schedule (at this point, hoping to finish sub-12), I didn't want to wait around.  Thankfully Andy had recruited Ash to run the last 10M with me, and as Ash and I left camp we were reminded, "What happens in the trails..."

...and I have to say that Ash was Awesome in the trails!  I led my Victory Loop for awhile, still feeling spunky.  But eventually he got in front and pulled me along.  Ash was (too) nice and let me walk often, and kept me entertained by chatting away.  How this young guy got hooked up with the ultra crazies, I'll never know...but he seems to be enjoying the experience.  When we hit aid station #2, we were greeted by Armando and Mom...what a nice surprise!  We didn't stay long, but said we meet them at camp in an hour.

Ash and I high-tailed it into the woods, knowing we'd be back before dark.  When we hit the rooty climb, I knew we were home and we hooted.  I gave Ash a high five and our cheering section roared.  We hit the finish line in 11:28...a PR by just over an hour.

Talk about leaving Florida with a bang: I ended up 2nd woman in the 100K and 5th overall!  This finish is once again unexplainable.  I'll boil it down to having hot mojo right now and some fabulous friends to push me along...  

My experience with the FUR's over the last 5 years has been, shall I say, wonderfully painful.  I am so lucky to have found you and will hold each one of you in my heart.  You have become my dear friends and I cannot thank you enough for pushing, counseling, tormenting, and encouraging me in every aspect of my life.  When I'm a mile high, I will be reminded of you when I look at my trail-scared legs.  I know we will remain friends and will be reunited in the woods again soon...XO

Superstition

I don't have any.  And that's why today is the luckiest day of my life!   

¡Adiós USF!  Hello Freedom!

Toodle-oo 2011

I won't sugarcoat it: 2011 was the worst year of my life.  Between losing my Dad and my Isis , and slaving away in the Underworld, it was a very depressing year.  It was a midlife crisis in the making, and at times I thought I was losing my mind.  

But some fantastic things kept that from happening:

I was the 1st and only woman to finish the GUTS 100-mile run , Ilene and I crossed the finish line at Ironman Canada and I had a 30-minute PR in the 50K distance .  

We adopted a crazy-Beauty of a kitty we named Mazzy and I ran at 7000 feet .  

I got dirty with my FUR's through the day and night , and rode halfway across the state and back with my Radlers .

I traveled to new places like Vancouver , Seattle , Vegas (baby) , and the Keys with friends and family.  

We got to see the Bucs and the Irish attempt to play football, and tailgating with good friends made defeat easier to accept.   

We celebrated some big birthdays, including a couple of 40's with Kim and Ilene .  Mom hit her surprise 70th , and we partied with a couple of youngsters .  

I facilitated classes for the University of Phoenix, researched at the University level, and discovered my future office.

I certainly have a lot to be thankful about.  My family and friends supported me through a difficult time and I can never repay them.  Happy memories of time shared with loved ones will continue to sparkle in my mind.  Once again I've realized how good it feels to feel good, and I am hopeful about the future.  Now I can see a light up ahead...and it's mile high.

Thirty days and counting...

It's official!  I gave my letter of resignation today.  Friday January 13th will be my last day (oh yes I purposely chose that date).  I'm by no means a quitter, but I've never been more relieved to quit something in my entire life!

The colleagues and clients who have responded to my resignation are happy for me and my opportunity out West, but I've yet to hear any official reply regarding my departure.  Knowing this department, it'll take them three months to figure out the exit process.

Na Na Na Na...Hey Hey Hey...

CrazypsychoIndianlady

My morning started off with a brisk 11M run around Flatwoods.  It was fabulous and as always, a great way to start the week...nothing would ruin my mood.

Well, then I pulled into our guard gate.

I've been having trouble with my bar code...probably because it turned 6 years old on Saturday and needs to be replaced (Side note: There's no way I'm spending $10 on a new sticker at this point).  So often times I have to back up and go through the scanner again.  The person in front of me had the same issue today, and I gave her room to try again.  But when I went through, the arm didn't raise and a minivan was on my keister, leaving me no room to reverse.

So I looked back and gave a Will-you-please-give-me-some-room-here? wave.  Apparently as I backed up the gate went up, and I saw it when I faced forward again and I drove through.

When I looked in the rear-view mirror I saw CrazypsychoIndianlady barreling through the gate and she was instantly right up my @$$!  I drove the speed limit (25mph) and she was nearly touching my bumper!  

I drove a few houses down, but I just couldn't stand it.  I threw my car into park and jumped out and went to her window  (By the way, I was pretty sure her minivan bumped my car).  

I asked, "What's your problem?"  Her reply was that I didn't drive through the gate.  I said, "The gate didn't go up and I had to reverse and go through again.  I needed you to give me a little space to do that."  I have no idea what I had done wrong, but she ranted on and on...all with her kid in the back seat (great role-modeling).  I repeated again that all I needed her to do was back up and give a little space between us.

Apparently CrazypsychoIndianlady was late for the latest episode of Jerry Springer.

I could see the conversation was going nowhere, so I got back in my car and started to drive the speed limit...and CrazypsychoIndianlady was on my tail in an instant!  

Seriously!?!?!

I pulled over and let her pass...and didn't understand what she was yelling at me through the window (and the poor guy driving behind us kept his distance).  I followed her til she turned.  There was no way I wanted CrazypsychoIndianlady knowing where I live.

The WTF alarm was ringing once again...

Seventy-five

Today would have been my Dad's 75th birthday.  As I was reminded last weekend, he taught me many things in the time we spent together:

He taught me how to check the oil and tire pressure on my car , and showed me that the Mustang is a magnificent machine.

His goal was for me to be independent, and he sent me off to college so I would never have to depend on anyone.

My Dad taught me that girls can be good at sports, and that I should compete as long as I'm still having fun .

His work ethic showed that effort and perseverance pays off, and that there's nothing more rewarding than being your own boss.

My Dad loved his family with all his heart and he soothed sickness with a can of chicken soup and 50 bucks.

He taught us that traveling is an education in itselfbut there's no place like 809.

An Irish fan he was not , but that showed us how rivalries can be good family fun  .

That character passed on his crazy beautiful feet, which to this day continues to build my own character.  

He modeled value and respect for the women in his lifeand he protected them ...but nothing made him more proud than his boys.

To Dad hard work was a must, but he showed us that sometimes you just have to sit down in the shade and drink a cold beer .

My Dad marched to the tune of his own whistle, which made him a very unique individual.  That is the most important lesson of all. 

I think of you every day Dad, and miss you so very much.  You are always in my heart...

Overnight Halloween Run

The crazy FUR's decided on an overnight run from Saturday to Sunday for some happy haunting.  Some runners planned to go 50M, while others would go less.  I honestly didn't think I'd make it 50M, but thought I'd give it a try.  We met early to drop aid stations and do some decorating.  In the spirit of the evening, I decided a blue fairy would be apropos for a run through the woods.  Some of my fellow runners weren't such good sports, so they were stuck wearing my extras.

After a photo shoot with the help of the Boy Scouts, 13 of us headed into the woods promptly at 8pm.  In following tradition, we made bets as to the number of falls for the night (I guessed 9).  One mile into the run, we lost James and were quickly down to 12.  We chatted our way to the first water stop at mile 12 and refueled.  

Running and chatting commenced during the second segment, and when Becky and Woody made a beeline for the parking lot, we were down to ten.   A1 broke the falling seal, and we were dropping like flies from that point on.  I fell once (after A1's second fall), then proceeded to fall 4 times in a matter of 45 minutes a little further down the (what I'm sure was a newly-blazed, nubby) trail.  At first it was funny, but by the fifth fall on my right knee, I'd had quite enough!  

After much grumbling, we made it back to the parking lot with 30M under our feet before 3am.  Nick and Jay were done for different reasons, and Ash had just completed his first 50K, so they all left the scene.  I just wasn't feeling it (or my dirty and scratched up knees were feeling too much of it) and decided I was going to cut it short.  Plus, we spent way too much time at the cars, and the dropping temps chilled me to the bone.  I hate being the one who has to be tended to, and I had every intention of running out with the group for 3M then heading back alone.  But A1 would have nothing of it.  We did the jog/walk routine out to the pits and back, which gave us time to catch up with each other.

We were back in the parking lot by 5am...a 9-hour tour.  I was fine with my 'shorter' run, as was A1 (or so he says).  We changed clothes and snoozed in A2's truck til 7:30am when the troops returned all revved up. 

The Andy's and Kathleen got breakfast cooking and we enjoyed the camaraderie that ultrarunning brings .  We decided that we ended up with 19 falls overall, and if you can believe it, Chris fell more than me.  It was good to see June, Jim and Kathleen (who'd made their own trek through the night), and we laughed as the Andy's cracked open their beers at the crack of dawn.  

So I didn't run 50M.  I had nothing to prove last night.  But it also goes to show how important having a goal is...there was no reason for me to push myself, so I didn't.  But it looks like the stars are aligning and so I think I'll shoot for Western States and/or Leadville next...