Seattle Ironwoman

This week I've been channeling this passage from Eat and Run  by Scott Jurek: "I'm convinced that a lot of people run ultramarathons for the same reason they take mood-altering drugs. I don't mean to minimize the gifts of friendship, achievement,  and closeness to nature that I've received from my running career. But the longer and farther I ran, the more I realized that what I was often chasing was a state of mind - a place where worries that seemed monumental melted away, where the beauty and timelessness of the universe, of the present moment, came into sharp focus." Focusing on the present moment has been something I've been working on for years and that running and yoga continue to bring me closer to every day. Maybe it's something that can be mastered for some, but for me it is a daily practice and reminder. It's made me a happier, a more fulfilled, and less stressed person. We all walk/drive/sit/run around every day absorbed in tiny...

After almost 3 months off of training, I'm back on a new training plan for this 50k race in January. This weekend's long run - 18 miles. I was pretty scared driving over 520 today imagining running that far after not having run more than 11 miles since Ironman. It's more mental, but I also wasn't sure when it would start to hurt. On the trails, would it start to hurt at 13.1 miles? Maybe 15? No, the answer was 10 miles. It started to hurt at 10 miles. The trails seem to work my muscles a lot harder than roads do. I don't know if it's because there's more climbing and descending, or if it's because I have to push harder on the soft ground. Has been helping inspire me every day, great book Bridle trails, I love you. But I did not love the pouring rain for an hour today.   Nothing about training for endurance sports is easy. It's about embracing the pain and continuing to push forward. Luckily, I've trained my mind to enjoy it - to kno...

One thing I love about running is how accessible of a sport it is. Lace up, step outside and go. No commute, no planning or extra equipment needed. Running is there for you when you need it, no matter what time of day, just you and the path ahead of you, one foot after the other. However, I am currently obsessed with the idea of hitting the trails again - which are no longer just a step outside of my workplace or home, making it not nearly as convenient as it used to be. I LOVE trail running and got two trail runs in this weekend which both required a small commute. Not only does trail running satisfy this hippie that lives inside of me that feels connected to the earth and believes my soul is tied to the woods, ocean and nature in general... but it is hard to describe how it makes me feel. The soft, unpredictable earth below my feet, the danger of roots and slippery leaves, mud, puddles and holes. The wildlife scurrying around, complete silence besides my own breath, the birds, and t...

He who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life.  - Ralph Waldo Emerson I'm not someone who worries a lot. It takes a lot to stress me out. It takes even more to make me angry. In general, I'm a happy person. Maybe it's because I'm fairly selfish and always make sure I enjoy every day on my own terms. Maybe it's the endorphin's from daily runs or yoga. Still, I like to think it's my disposition, or the fact that I try to look at the positive side of life. However, in the last year or so I have spent a lot of time actively pushing myself towards things that scare me. It's very uncomfortable and unsettling to push towards those things. They're not easy but I figure, if I don't do things that cause me discomfort and fear, then I'm not growing. If I'm not both happy AND growing, then what's the point? I don't think my purpose is to just exist and happily float through life (which I co...