Learning New Things

So it's been a few months since my last post. Life got in the way. My wedding to Scott was the most wonderful thing! Life is good! I ran when I could, but wedding plans and sciatica took a priority.

The back and leg pain are intermittent. It never hurts when I run, but sometimes I hurt for a few days following.

My head gets in the way, too. I need to figure out why I want to go the distance. Is it for me, to challenge and improve myself. Or, am I competing with something outside of me? If it's internal, that's great. If I'm completing because of something on the outside, I need to let it go. Scott is worried that I may cause some permanent damage to my spine.

Right now I'm struggling with the Palo Duro 50K. I've done this event 3 times before and would love to do it again. The race director, Red Spicer, died a few weeks ago and I would love to honor him by running again. Doing the 20K seems like it would be going backwards in my accomplishments. But, you've got to slow down someday, right? Well, maybe not.

I'm looking at The DanMan http://www.danmanrun.com/ for my 50 miler. A very small, low key event in early February. We'll see.

My run today at Bluff Creek taught me some new things. I rarely run with music, but today I listened to an interesting variety of Christian alternative and Classic Rock. I was tired through the whole run and my legs felt heavy. I had to take a few extra walk break. I don't know if it was from fatigue or boredom. Having the music on kept me from my 'thinking time.' Without thinking, I got bored. But, on the other hand I beat my best time ever on that 5 mile loop. The first time I've ever gone under 1 hour. 59:50.

May peace and joy surround you!

Too Late, Too Much Mud

Fridays are my long run of the week. I've shifted the training schedule to have Sundays free to spend time with Scott. I had to work until 11:00 this morning so I didn't even get started on my planned 18 miler until 11:30. Bluff creek was rather muddy in spots. In one place I slipped, cartwheeled my arms to stay up and think I pulled a muscle in my left shoulder.

Staying motiviated during this run was a challenge. I just wanted to go home and lay down. I kept telling myself, "5 more minutes." Well that lasted for 2:36. I think I ran about 12 miles. Truly I believe had I got an earlier start, I would have made it. Gotta remember not to pick up Friday morning shifts. Also, gotta get used to the warmer weather. My left leg hurt for a while, but when I shortened my stride, it felt better. Maybe stretching will help.

Rest Day

No running scheduled for today, but I sure got in a work out at the hospital. I was running around all day. After work, I surely was tempted to go home and nap, but made it to the gym for some weight lifting. Hmmm, I seem to be finding motivation. Having to wear an amazingly fitted dress can do that! Exactly 100 days until the wedding~

Warda Cardiac Run is exactly 6 months away~

What Beautiful Day

The weather reports are prediciting up to 2.4 inches of rain today, so I thought I'd get out and run early before the rain. I forgot what it's like to be the first one on the trails in the morning. I had to break all the cobwebs! With my face! No snakes today, but I saw probably 10 rabbits and a couple of playful cardinals. Whenever I see cardinals, I think of my mother- One time when she visited me here, she commented on all the cardinals in my backyard. She mentioned that she had never seen one before. Now that she is gone, when I see a cardinal I say, "Hi Mom." It's here coming to visit me.

The aroma of the hyacinths was great! At least I think it was hyacinth. I should try to find out.

My left foot didn't hurt as much as yesterday. I need to pay attention to my gait. I'm probaby favoring it due to the sciatica.

Did the Winter Solstice Route again. With music this time. Apparently music doesn't change my pace much. Only 1 minute faster than yesterday. 1:14:40. 5:1 6.2?

The TriFuel schedule has me riding today, but that's not going to happen. I still have to give my bike a tune-up. I napped rather than work on the bike. Motivation is different when you're not training for an Ironman!

Trying To Be Healthy

I started the day with a trip to the Y. Did my upper body workout, then went straight to Bluff Creek from there. As planned, I lifted weights rather than swim. This may be a challenge to blend the TriFuel Program with the 50K running schedule - we'll see.

My run was great up until I saw my first big snake of the year. - a 4 ft black snake. We just looked at each other. I've discovered I'm more afraid of snake when they are on the move. This one was just sitting there. I carefully went around it.

The ball of my left foot is tender. Time for new shoes!

Setting Goals

Here I am, planning my wedding and dreaming about running a 50 miler. I hope to incorporate my training with getting in the best possible shape for me wedding. - You know, defined arms, fit and toned back - my dress is strapless. I'm considering using the same training schedule I did for REDMAN, but switching the swim workouts for weight-lifting. But then again, will htat give me enough run time to prepart for a 50 miler?? I may have to mix it up with the 50 miler training schedule. Scott and I have talked about my 50 Miler Goal and he is very supportive. He is justvery concerned that with my sciatica and all that I might cause permanent nerve damage to my leg. I've assured him that in my attempt to achieve this goal, I will be smart enough to quit if I need to.

My wedding is 102 days away. I don't like my body right now. B: 35.72, W: 32, H: 39,.25, T: 20. I've gained 3 inches on my waist and hops since the REDMAN. Gonna shed that. I have 12 weeks.

I'm going to do this the smart way - eat healthy and work out!

Here are the Goals:
Wedding date weight - 134 or lose 2.5 inches off waist and hips.
No puckering of waist of wedding dress
Train healthy for 50 miler - either Heartland (Kansas) or Cardiac Run (Texas)
Make Scott a big part of my life and I'll do the same for him!
Glorify God through all of it~

Winter Solstice Half Marathon

Oh the weather outside was frightful, but the fire so delightful…

The Winter Solstice Half Marathon began at 9:00am as a light snow was falling at Bluff Creek Trails. Some 30 runners climbed out of their warm beds to toe the line. The course: Two twisting and winding loops through our home trail, including an excursion into the never before seen new extension.

Joel McCarthy, Dave Wood and Scott Miller, in an attempt to drive supplies out to the aid station found themselves stuck in the mud, hoofed it out to the opening to provide the runners with water and Gatorade.

Oh, how I wish I were out there running with you. But standing by the fire, with about 8 dozen cookies isn’t bad either

As I am not a competitive runner, I certainly couldn’t host a race that rewards speed. So, I hide Poinsettia branches out on the course. Bring me a Poinsettia, I give you a prize. Bring me a branch of Mistletoe, and you win a kiss from Dave or Peggy Wood. (No one brought me mistletoe). The Poinsettia prizes went to Anna Nason, Chisholm Deupree and for the second year in a row, one to Shay Beatty. The grand prize this year was donated by Thomas Hill – who experienced his first trail event at The Winter Solstice Half Marathon. Thomas donated an entry into the 2008 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. Since no one found the White Poinsettia which I had designated the fro the Grand Prize, I gave it to Andy Bowman, who braved the weather driving in from Kansas AND printed his registration form on RECYCLED PAPER!

About half the participants ended their run after the first loop. Who could blame them, it was cold. Even the cookies at the Start/Finish Line froze. But to the brave souls that covered the full distance, I bow to you.

Thank you all for celebrating the Winter Solstice with me. I guarantee warmer weather for the Summer Solstice.

--Katharine Cranwell
--Your Winter Solstice Hostess