PINCH ME!
It’s been a week since I crossed the Stage 6 finish line and I still can’t believe I finally did it!
Finish line Stage 6!
What is the TransRockies run?
120 miles in 6 days, in over 8K+ feet of elevation with 20K+ feet of elevation gain!
“The route of the Run will take place at elevations between 7,400 and 12,600 feet above sea level. Based on the preliminary route proposal (subject to change and approval by the U.S. Forest Service), the percent of distance at various elevations is as follows:
7,000′ to 8,000′ – 3%
8,000′ to 9,000′ – 31%
9,000′ to 10,000′ – 28%
10,000′ to 11,000′ – 27%
11,000′ to 12,000′ – 10%
12,000′ to 13,000′ – 1%”
Here is the 6 day course!
This was one of the most epic and memorable experiences of my life!
Although I had it on my bucket list for years, it wasn’t until February of 2019 when it started becoming a reality. It was definitely out of my budget (totally worth every single penny!). My friend Joan sent me an email asking if I knew anything about this race. They needed volunteers for 6 days. I was beside myself as I would be able to get race credits for volunteering and finally do the race! I wrote about my volunteer experience here. We were supposed to do the race in 2020 but….
COVID. 🙄
2020 came and went and it finally got approved for 2021! It was finally happening! 😊
The AZ Girls (as Houda, the race director, nicknamed us while volunteering), started training in early April. We followed a plan that was recommended in the TransRockies Facebook Group. As you might imagine, the training was not easy. It was a decent amount of mileage but we also had to do it in the heat. Not only because we didn’t have a choice with our AZ summer but also because they recommend heat training to replace elevation if you don’t have it available.
Because this was a 6 day stage race, there are too many things to share and I don’t want this blog to be a bazillion words. I am recapping here. I plan on writing a blog series which will include a recap of each stage of the race over the next 6 weeks (hopefully! 🤞).
What went well….
I can’t believe how great I felt overall over the 6 days. We averaged 20 miles a day with some days being harder than other depending on the elevation gain and elevation we were in. I attribute feeling great to:
ChiRunning/ChiWalking: Technique is always one of the biggest factors that contribute to MY running success. I am pretty sure I power hiked over 50% of the race due to the elevation gain but technique was always at my forefront. Not only does it make it easier to move when you are in proper form but your recovery time is less because you are moving more efficiently. I only took 4 Advil during the entire week. One of them was for a headache and 2 of them were on the last day when I could feel a twinge in my left knee (more on that below)
Training: This is not a race you can get by without training. We found a training plan and I was able to complete 86% of the mileage in the plan. Ideally this would be higher but happy that I was able to get this in considering my crazy schedule lately.
Poles: I’ve always thought of getting running poles but never did. They were recommended for this race so I finally got some and trained with them. These were a game changer. Poles definitely helped with efficiency. I also had some great technique aha moments with them. I can’t help it, I geek out on technique. 🤣 I didn’t have a great way to store them when I didn’t need them. I held them horizontally (still full length) and kept my arms at a 90 degree angle as I swung my elbows back. I couldn’t rotate my upper body (waste of energy and a lot of people do this) so my arms actually swung freely from my shoulders while staying stable. The length of the poles must’ve assisted in balancing my movement because I could really feel my pelvic rotation happening. This was fantastic for some fast ChiWalking but even more effective when running down hills. I was flying! I used the Black Diamond DISTANCE FLZ TREKKING POLES – WOMEN’S.
Elevated Legs: They were one of the race sponsors. I did some stretching in the evening but on I decided to use these on Day 3-5. I did 10 min on Day 3, 20 min on Day 4 and 30 min on Day 5. The idea is that the compression increases blood flow and helps to clear fatigue causing metabolites and reduce inflammation.
My Why?: I always have my athletes write down their Why? when they start training for an event. It’s important to know why you want to do something. It must be a strong Why too…..one that will help you get motivated when the going gets tough. I had 2 major Whys. Both of these motivated me to complete that 86% of my training plan (I am sure it would’ve been a lower percentage) and also helped me through some rough spots while on the course:
I wanted to see 120 miles of trails I’ve never been on before!
I wanted to push outside my comfort zone. The longest I’ve ever done is 100K in one day but I’ve never done this much mileage at this high of elevation in this amount of time.
Altra Running Shoes: I am an ambassador and these are the only shoes I wear for all my running. I brought the Timps 3 (first time using this model and loved them!) and the Lone Peaks 5 (a regular shoe for trails). I love everything about my Altra shoes.
Daily strategy: I was not in a hurry to get through the day! I had no to do list other than get the mileage done every day! It took me 46 hours, 18 minutes and 31 seconds. I came in 9th to last....and I don’t care! My plan was to enjoy all those miles of trails that I’ve never been on. I probably ChiWalked/Hiked 50% of the run (note it’s called the TransRockies Run and not Race. Although it is a race, they are strategic with that title). I have no interest in racing. As a matter of fact, 4 of the 6 days, I did Dawn Patrol. This was created for people (thank to Mirna the Mirnavator) who wanted some extra time. I was able to start earlier and not worry about the daily cutoff. I ran on flats and the downhills and ChiWalked the hills. I just wanted to enjoy this different nature landscape and I wasn’t in a hurry to get through it.
What I could’ve done better…
While I am very happy with how the week went because I felt so good, there is always room for improvement:
Specific Training: While I followed the mileage on the plan, and did a decent amount of hill training, I could’ve done a better job doing steeper hills (up and down). On Day 5 I felt a slight twinge in my left knee. I am great at body sensing (we teach this in ChiRunning) and I knew exactly what it was. It was overuse of the steep downhill technique. Even though I had my poles and ChiRunning to help me, I didn’t do enough of this movement in my training so I wasn’t used to all of it. While I wasn’t able to get it to go away, I was able to alleviate it by focusing on my alignment, increasing my cadence and focusing on pelvic rotation. The training also called for Stairs. I did the elliptical a handful of times but could’ve used more hill work and stairs.
Strength Training: This is one of my weaknesses even though I am a personal trainer. I did more than usual but more wouldn’t hurt.
Camping Prep/Weather: Part of the race is camping out for all 5 nights (there is a hotel package option as well). While I enjoy camping, this added a level of difficulty. It really wasn’t necessarily the camping but the weather during the 1st few days. I managed to keep my stuff mostly dry but the grass was wet and cold. I didn’t sleep as well as I would’ve liked and waking up in the middle of the night to use the porta potties when the ground is wet and cold is no fun. But I sucked it all up because I was living my dash!
Be more social? One of the things I love most in life (and about TransRockies) is community. I am an extrovert in general and I LOVE people. I got to see a lot of people I met in 2019 as well as meet some new friends. I used a question mark because this was fairly strategic for me too. I love running but it’s also what I do a for a living. I love cheering on my athletes and helping them celebrate finish lines they never thought possible. I issue a lot of energy with my job and this was my time to renew before my Fall programs started. This race was all about me and for me. I was in a much more self reflective mode during this week…I couldn’t believe it was finally happening. While I spent several miles with friends, I spent many miles alone. I didn’t listen to any music and tried to be “in the moment” as much possible. These were some of my most enjoyable moments during the race.
Bottom line
This event helped me realize that I can do anything I put my mind to. I can’t even explain how driven I was every day to get out there and enjoy 7ish hours of new trails, even with bad weather! It was almost like I was in a weird trance.
This race strengthened my love for trails and endurance running. It’s one of the best well run events that I’ve been part of (as a volunteer and runner). Huge props and thanks to the TransRockies team! Kevin “Houda”, the Race Director, is one of the best leaders and coolest humans I know! Also a HUGE thanks to all the volunteers!
So the big question is…….. Will I do it again? 🤔
It’s honestly too early for me to say. 2022 is the 15th Anniversary and it’s already sold out! I could still volunteer? I can’t really make any commitments right now but I am pretty sure that this year was not the last time I’ll be there…whether it’s as a volunteer or a runner, who knows but I am sure I’ll be back!
Who celebrates a DNF with a shot of Fireball?THIS girl!
DNF stands for Did Not Finish and can be a runners worst nightmare.
Some runners put a lot of time into training for an event, money into gear, traveling etc. Making a call to DNF can seem like you’re making a decision to QUIT.
Depending on what race it is, a DNF shows on your “official” record and drops your overall “score”down.Some sponsored athletes are “forced” to DNF if it looks like they won’t place well at a race because it may make the company they are representing look bad.
So there are a lot of negative emotions around DNFing.
Several of my athletes have DNFd races before.Some were “valid” reason while some were not (in my opinion).
Making the decision to DNF is a big one because it could be construed as quitting and most people don’t like to be quitters.
While the reason to DNF is personal, hereare a few reasons why it would be a consideration in the middle of a race:
you got injured during the race and continuing to run could cause surgery or not running again for awhile
you’re not feeling good (sick to stomach, etc) and you could be in further danger of hurting yourself
you’re putting yourself in harms way
you die (morbid idea but possible!)
at some point you decide it’s ok to make the call to quit because you’re not having fun anymore, it’s not your A race or it just doesn’t matter and the world won’t end because you have a DNF 😃 (THIS!!)
I went into this race knowing the very top of it was going to be a big challenge for me. A few friends did it last year and the last 500 so feet is scrambling on hands and knees to the very top. I have no problem scrambling but it was at high elevation and I’m deathly afraid of heights.
Heading to the top of that mountain behind us! 3500 feet of elevation gain in 6 miles!
I signed up for this race because it was perfect timing for some altitude and elevation training for TransRockies (my bucket list and A race of the year!).I had never done it before. One of my #trurribeteam members Jan, did it last year and said it was the hardest yet best thing she had ever done.I decided to make it a Ladies Training Program and a few of us decided to get out of our comfort zone.
When I picked up my race bib, it was number 252. This is a special number for Greg and I. It was our first apartment number. When we moved into it, we found 2 quarters and 2 pennies! (coincidentally Sunset Point of the I-17 is Exit #252 too)
Anyways….it was a lucky number for me.
As I started climbing up, I had the voice in the back of my head whispering about that final scramble.From the start, this race was no joke.First of all I was tired from my cumulative training which included doing the 2nd hardest race I’ve ever done the day before (Silverton Alpine Marathon).Add the altitude and hard climb and I was averaging 35-45 min miles.I checked the cutoff the day before and say that I had 5.5 hours to complete it.The higher I climbed, the less likely it looked like I could finish in that time.Mind you, it was an out and back so the return would be downhill but it was also a pretty steep downhill so not as runnable for me. I finally got the “top” and was greeted by 2 of my friends who were volunteering at the aid station.I looked at the scramble and my first thought was:
I told them I was thinking of DNFing right away.They encouraged me to go so I figured I’d put in my big grill panties and suck it up. While I looked up at everyone on their hands and knees scrambling on loose rock, my heart was pounding as I made the attempt. My feet kept slipping and I really wanted to be one of those people doing it….but I realized I was completely miserable in that moment, was not having fun, I was more than likely not going to finish on the 530 hrs AND my A race was happening in 3 weeks!
I laid there for a few minutes with my face inches from the dirt, got really present and debated sucking it up or DNFing.
One of the things I ask my athletes right away when they are signing up for a race is what’s your Why?My why for this race was strictly getting a good training run in.
TRR has been in my bucket list for years, I volunteered a few years ago and was supposed to run it last year but Covid…there was no way in hell I was letting this race get in the way.Anything could’ve happened and I wasn’t about to really to take the risk.
I turned around and told my friends I was making the call.They were so sweet.They tried to convince me not to DNF and offered to help me up the mountain but I had already made up my mind.I was making a very mindful choice to take the DNF. Once the decision was made, a weight was lifted off my shoulders and I could relax.I “celebrated” with an Instagram live and a shot of fireball and starts climbing back down.Good news is that I wasn’t swept off the mountain so I only missed about .4 miles of the 12 and still got a great day of training done.
I won’t lie and say I was a little bit disappointed in myself…. however Kendall Mtn was not my A race and I truly believe that I made the right decision.
The key was getting present, think about my WHY, being mindful and not letting my ego get the best of me!
I remember listening to a podcast from Trail Runner Nation awhile ago and one thing stuck in my head. Coach Jimmy Dean Freeman used these words instead for the acronym: Do Nothing Foolish.
I am super proud of myself for not doing anything foolish and at the end of the day, I still had an epic weekend of training mileage at altitude with elevation gain so I’d say it was a success in my book!
Last ultra in my 40s 3 years older than my last 100K
24 minutes and 33 seconds faster
But this race was so much more than this! I can’t believe that I finished 63 miles in 19:22:34 this year and felt amazing the whole way. I honestly still feel a little guilty about saying this but it’s true!
As a quick reminder:
I always like to do races that challenge me out of my comfort zone in February because it’s my birthday month. Turning 50 this year made it even more epic (I was supposed to do my first 100 miler in January of 2021 but it got canceled due to COVID)
I’ll share my post race reflections on why this race was so amazing for me in hopes that I can inspire you to have some of these amazing experiences too…..then a quick recap of how my day went.
6 feet apart at the start line with a wave start
Jubilee! One of my favorite Race Directors 💜
This race was close to being canceled due to the escalated COVID cases in AZ, more specifically Yavapai County which is where most of the race is located. I kept my fingers crossed until we received the email that IT WAS HAPPENING! On 2/2 (11 days before the race) we found out that there would be wave starts (standard with COVID now) AND that I would only be able to have one pacer (instead of 2) and no crew. This threw a wrench into my excitement about the race.
Since I am a back of the packer, they try to avoid having people pass you on the trail (COVID) which meant my wave start was 10am rather than 7am. This news hit me because it meant I would be spending more time at night. Don’t get me wrong, I love night trail running but I’ve been lost on this course before. It’s also pretty remote so this just added some anxiety now.
For most ultras, you can have a crew and pacers. They are there to help keep you focused, moving forward and taking care of the details when your sole focus as the runner is to get to the finish line. In the original race, you can have a pacer for the last 25 miles (two different segments). With the new rules, I would only get one for the last 12 miles. This added stress because it meant more running in the dark alone.
At this point I had the option to not accept these changes and post pone it until next year. My first reaction was to do that. I was really bummed about these changes (although I absolutely understood them to be necessary for the race to happen safely).
Not gonna lie, I was freaking out about them! But thanks to my meditation practice which helped me go from REACTING to RESPONDING and a few texts from friends, I made the decision to go for it. If I tell my athletes that the magic happens when you get out of your comfort zone, I had to practice what I preach!
Key Lessons
One of the reasons I love running is because it provides an avenue to learn more about myself.
Things that went well:
I canceled track the Thursday before. I didn’t want to have an alarm clock wake me up during that whole week. Thankfully I can do this since I’m self employed. I used to underestimate resting and learned how important it is. I allowed my body to wake up whenever it wanted to the week before knowing I’d be on my feet and awake for 18-20 hours on race day.
I was prepared! Speed is not a way I measure my running success but this time around I wanted to be faster so I knew I had to do some different things. I followed a training plan from McMillan Running to try something new and then added my ChiRunning/ChiWalking form focuses. Due to COVID, I was able to do more running alone which allows me to train at my pace. My training plan had various types of runs that I had never really focused on before because I run so much with my TRU TRIBE. I found these challenging and fun. I also happened to do more road running due to my Every Damn Street Virtual race and I feel that helped me build my stamina in a different way. There is no doubt that being prepared had a huge impact on how I felt on race morning: prepared and ready to go!
I followed my nutrition plan from Sparks Systems. I am fat adapted and my body felt like a well oiled machine. I’ve never had any gut issues when running long distances so I keep doing what’s worked for me.
What surprised me the most was how good I felt the entire time! We always say that there are many highs and lows during an ultra race and you learn to “ride the wave”. The wind, the rain, the dark….none of it brought me down. I brought my Noxgear 39g and was prepared with music, podcasts, audiobooks to keep me company.(Use code RUNNINGU1 for 35% off the Noxgear 39g. I love mine!) I may have listened to these for maybe 3-4 hours during the entire race. My goal was to be alone as much as possible. I run with people all the time (and I love it!) but this was my race, my pilgrimage, if you will, into my 50th birthday year. I was really looking forward to just being alone, out in nature for a “few” hours by myself…and that’s exactly what I did.
The week before I started working on visualizations of the course and seeing myself out there having a great time. I meditate daily with the Insight Timer app. That week I found meditations about grounding, receiving and gathering energy. My plan was to take in as much as I could and conserve it until race day. Sounds almost cheesy but I believe this really worked for me. In addition, the week before, I was getting so many texts, emails, social media comments from people wishing me well and I took all of those in. I kept mentally conserving all that positive energy I was receiving. I felt it really propelled me on race day and was literally drawing me towards the finish line…like I almost had no control over it. We call this YChi in ChiRunning and I don’t ever think I felt it as strong as I did on this day. I could definitely feel the energy of my TRU TRIBE with me too. Here is just one of the positive messages I received that week:
I’m glad I decided to have a pacer for that last 12 miles! I had left it to my friend and colleague Henry Walker to decide between him and his girlfriend. I trained Henry last year to become a ChiRunning/ChiWalking instructor (the only other one in AZ!). He pulled his calf muscle lightly the week of the race so they decided it would make most sense for Laura to pace me. As much as I know I could’ve done it by myself, she helped me stay focused on moving forward. I would’ve slowed down for sure if I was alone.
I always have to mention ChiRunning/ChiWalking because I would never consider doing these distances without it. I was lucky enough to get to zoom with my mentor and founder, Danny Dreyer, the week of the race. He gave me some last minute tips. I focused on my technique quite a bit during the race. While I was pretty sore the first few days after the race, I felt great after that! I swear by ChiWalking especially during my ultras. There is a big difference in regular walking and I believe this also had a huge impact on my energy levels all day. The goal is always conserving energy and one can waste a lot of energy when running and walking. In addition to technique, several time during my race I visualized gathering energy from the earth every time my foot hit the ground.
I PRd by 24 minutes and 33 seconds! That’s about 24 seconds per mile faster for 62 miles! My technique, training and mindset all came together that day and I rocked it!
Things that didn’t go so well (yes there were a few things)
I always say never try new things on race day. This is common knowledge. While I was trying not to freak out about being in the dark longer by myself, this was one thing that was giving me anxiety. Most of my TRU TRIBE uses the Kogalla light for night running. I’ll be honest, I haven’t been crazy about these because they can be pretty bright and if someone is coming towards you, it can be annoying. (come to find out there are actually 20 brightness settings!) A few of them suggested I should try one out. I bought one the weekend before the race hoping it would get to me on time. I borrowed Jan’s the Tuesday of race week so I could try it out. It really did light the trail up quite a bit and she let me borrow it in case I didn’t get mine in the mail. I happened to get mine before the race but only tried it that one time. I have an entire different view on these now. The light was awesome and really increased my confidence of being out there alone. Since I only tried it that one time, I didn’t know how it would effect me on the switchbacks going uphill in the canyon. I am afraid of heights and used to having a headlamp. When you have a headlamp, it points wherever your point your head so although you have more limited lighting, it’s focused in the direction your heading which is in front of you. Well, the Kogalla, was on my waist (race belt) and lit up the entire trail in front of me (that’s the point!). What this meant that when I was going up a single track uphill, I could see the periphery which meant the slope down into the abyss and bottom of the canyon. It didn’t dawn on me to move my race belt towards the mountain side more (which I would’ve figured it out had I practiced with it more) so this slowed me down. I was more tired, it was dark so I really had to focus on looking ahead and not letting the ledge of canyon effect me. Aside from that, I am new fan of the Kogalla!
Kogalla lighting up the water crossing
Not having crew there until the last aid station effected me. Your crew will normally be able to meet you at various aid stations. They are there to help you make whatever changes and help you get in and out of the aid stations as quickly and efficiently as possible. I tell my runners all the time: DFA (Don’t F*#k Around) at the aid stations. You can waste a lot of time if you are not focused and the clock is ticking (only important if you care about your time and I was trying to PR). I really could’ve used a crew at Black Canyon City. This was mile 39 of 62 and I had been in the dark already for several hours. I was getting tired (I was about a little over half way) and I had ultra brain. I fumbled around with my drop bags, trying to figure out what I needed and what I could get rid of. I had to change my shoes and get into some warmer clothes, refill my pack, eat some food…it was a lot to handle on my own and if I had someone there with me, I probably would’ve saved at least 10 minutes. I stayed here longer than I anticipated. I didn’t have a choice as crew was not allowed there but I felt the loss of not having one.
I second guessed myself at one spot that ate up about another 15 minutes. I’ve gotten lost on this trail several times although only during training runs. The course was well marked! There is a point as you head in and out of Black Canyon City that you have to take a different way so you don’t go back the way you came. The course was well marked but I was paranoid about going back the wrong way. At one point I was feeling like maybe I missed it so I turned back around to that spot. Then I stopped, pulled out my All Trails app (where I had downloaded the course map in case something like this would happen) and realized I was going the right way. Better be safe than sorry but this “cost” me another 10-15 minutes.
Race Day
The silver lining about starting at 10am, meant that Greg (my boyfriend) could actually drive me to Mayer High School to drop me off at the start (this is a point to point race which means you start at one location and finish at another.) This adds some additional logistics to the day. The race offered a shuttle for the runners. I have a thing about shuttles and buses before a race. It depends on the race but I really like to be in my own space and energy before a race, especially a big one like this one. The erratic energy of a bunch of people in a shuttle tends to mess with me so I was grateful that I could be in the car with my honey for about 90 minutes getting myself psyched up.
I had created a spreadsheet like last time with my tentative pace from each aid station, taking into consideration the course profile, my strengths, time of day, etc. The first time I did this race, I finished in 19:46:01. The cutoff was 20 hours. For any first time experience, I never focus on speed. I know it’s my first time doing that distance, it’s all about enjoying it as much as possible. I was messing around at the aid stations, drinking some beer here and there, and just having a good ole time. This time would be a bit different. I wanted to have a PR (personal record) so I needed to be more focused. I felt stronger going into this race (I had just PRd the Coldwater 52K race the month before by 52 minutes!) so I had two different goals. First goal was to beat my time by an hour and the stretch goal was to finish in 18 hours (1hr 45min PR). I knew this was aggressive but I wasn’t attached to it…just hoping I could do it.
Fifteen minutes before my start, I got this text message from my buddy Archie (one of our TRU TRIBE mascots)
As usual, I started faster than my predicted time. I knew this would happen but I was still holding back knowing I had a lot of miles ahead of me. The course has a negative profile (more downhill than uphill) which is deceiving. Downhills are my jam but this time we had some serious head and cross wind. While I love downhills, I am afraid of heights too. These downhills are single track and so much fun but the wind added an element of uneasiness as I was cruising down. Probably a good thing that it slowed me a down. Click here for the live video where you can hear the wind.
One of my favorite spots: the iconic windmill
downhill!
In addition to the wind, there were some pretty big clouds looming around. On the drive up, I had noticed that now the weather app was showing possibility of rain. Ugh! Not the biggest fan but this race has been unpredictable (I dropped to the 60K at my first 100K attempt due to some serious bad weather) so I was prepared. I already had packed an extra pair of socks in each drop bag (in ultras you get to have drop bags at specific aid stations where you can have extra stuff you need so you don’t have to carry it all while you are running) and had a poncho in my hydration pack and thankfully brought my purple wind breaker. I lucked out and got sprinkled on a few times during the day. I stayed ahead of my predicted time until about mile 35. Night had already started to fall so I slowed down as I expected I would. I approached my first water crossing which was a few miles before the Black Canyon Aid station which is where I planned to change as much of my apparel as possible as it was getting colder. One of the hardest parts of an ultra in my opinion is dealing with the major temperature change between night and day. Especially here in AZ. I attempted not to get my feet wet in the water crossing but then remembered I was going to change my shoes and socks anyways so I just walked right through it…it was barely covering my ankles so it was uneventful. Oddly the cold water felt good on my feet and climbed out of the canyon. I was looking forward to this aid station. I have to give a shout out to Altra Running shoes! I’ve been a sponsored athlete for 3 years now and I can never say enough about them. It’s all I wear! I chose my Superior 4.5 for the first part because they are more minimal and flexible and my Lone Peaks 4.5 for the second part as they have a bit more cushion.
One major thing I love about our trail/ultra community is the most amazing people you meet. Even if you only see people at races a few times a year, they are your friends. As much as I was bummed that I was losing time at this aid station, it was great to see some familiar races. Huge thanks to Dawn. She works with Medstar Solutions and was at the medical tent. She popped over to say hi and I was venting about having to go change my wet bra in a porta potty. She was so sweet and let me go into the medical trailer to take care of that! It was also great to see Crystal volunteering who I know from Girls On The Run. So I changed everything except my pants, refilled my pack and got some hot potato soup which was exactly what I needed. I headed back out and now I was 40 minutes behind my predicted time. Changing into warmer clothes, socks and shoes and that potato soup totally reenergized me and I felt great.
The rest of the race was a meditative trance. I can’t even explain it. It was dark and I was just following my light and moving forward. I was alone pretty much most of this time in the dark. I remember thinking this was going to be the hardest part but I was actually enjoying the peacefulness of the night. I could see this huge big black cloud that I was running towards and I was hoping that I wouldn’t get rained on. I got lucky again and only a few drops.
I approached Table Mesa Aid Station where I would either pick up Henry or Laura to pace me the rest of the 11ish miles. I could see them both as I approached and Henry had jeans on so I knew right away who was pacing me. He also had a thermos and filled my cup up with one of the best things I had tasted: Hot Apple Cider Skratch.(electrolytes) OMG, I couldn’t get enough! Not only was it nice and warm but it tasted so good! Between that and having Laura for company, those last miles flew by. We chatted and of course I bitched about the rocks. This is my least favorite part of this course. There are several parts that are pretty rocky so it’s hard to get any momentum forward while running. We passed an awesome Saguaro forest that I didn’t remember from the year before, hit the last aid station and were almost there! I had been in great spirits all day but the only time I would get slightly irritated is when I knew I should be approaching an aid station and I couldn’t see it. We starting seeing lights but couldn’t tell if that was the finish. Finally, there it was! Due to COVID restrictions, no one could be at the finish line. I was so happy to know that I had 3 of my TRU TRIBE members who had volunteered that night so they could be at my finish! (Alina had to leave because she drove from Tucson to volunteer and I didn’t get back in as early as I was hoping) I could see Jubilee, the race director, and I jumped up as I crossed the finish line. Even though I knew I hadn’t met my original goal to PR by an hour, I still had a PR and felt amazing!
Small section of the saguaro forest at night lit by my Kogalla
I walked to the aid station to see Mindy and Catherine. They had a birthday goodie bag for me and I got to hang out with them for a few minutes. They offered me alcohol to celebrate (because this is what I would normally do) but I just wasn’t feeling it. I never had a beer until later that evening!
As I reflect on my journey to that finish line, I am 100% sure that my attitude and mental state going into this day were THE biggest key to my success. Being trained and using good technique of course go without saying. I was so excited about this race and this day, I couldn’t wait to get out there and have that experience all to myself. I am so thankful that everything flowed for me that day. As I was finishing, 19 hours plus into the race, I knew that if I had to, I could keep going……..and you know what that means?! Hmmmm ?! 😁
The only thing that should surprise us is that there are still some things that can surprise us. Francois de la Rochefoucauld
Who would’ve ever thought that this race would motivate me as much as it did? DEFINITELY NOT ME!
We all know what a crazy year 2020 was. Virtual races became all the rage for many runners. Not only was this a good way to stay in training mode but it also gave us the opportunity to support some of our favorite race companies that were being effected financially by the pandemic. Honestly, I didn’t do that many of them because I don’t race for medals or swag (well, sometimes 🤣). I picked my races this year very strategically.
When I heard about Every Damn Street (and Every Damn Trail), I was intrigued. You can read more about it here. I was immediately attracted to the idea of running in my community. I love the idea the race was built on. I also love first time experiences.
From the Aravaipa website:
“inspired by Ricky Gates’ Every Single Street project where he toured the streets of San Francisco, we are asking runners everywhere to connect to each other by sharing their hometown with this virtual community.”
If you know me, you know I am not a big fan of road running. However, I had a plan to run my first 100 mile race over 2 days on 12/30 & 12/31 at Across The Years as we entered 2021 (the year I turn 50!) This race is flat, mostly road and a 1 mile loop. I figured Every Damn Street would be a great way for me to get road miles in as training for my 100 miler. Bonus: the logo and feel of the race swag was Sesame Street, which was one of my favorite shows when I was a kid. It was a 3 month challenge and my goal was to run my 85283 zip code. I started out not thinking that I would do the whole thing because it looked like A LOT. But the more I kept chipping away at each section of my zip code, I could start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. At the end of November, I decided I was going to run every damn street in my zip code.
Love the swag!
I decided to document my journey via Instagram Stories. I actually had to create a Part 2 in my Highlights because apparently you can only have 100 stories in each one.🤪 I may have got a bit carried away with them but this was a fun part of the challenge for me. Not sure if you need to have an Instagram account to view them or not but here is EDS Part 1 and EDS Part 2 (you can use your arrow keys to scroll forward).
Here are some things I learned in the last few months while doing this race:
Strategy was more important than I anticipated: From Day 1, this was all about strategy. My first run was Labor Day weekend and I wasn’t sure what the best way to start was. Greg (my BF), suggest to start out with the perimeter of the 85283 zip code.
My first run for this race
And so it began…
Tools: Aravaipa suggested using the Caltopo app. After every run, I could upload my Garmin file and it would continue to add my mileage as I went (see pic below). I would keep this open in my browser on my phone so I could tell what I had done on previous runs. I couldn’t see what I was doing real time though. I finally figured out to use my All Trails app and record as I was running so it would capture what I had just done. It sounds crazy but when you start going in and out of streets, it’s easy to lose track of what you did. I had to keep taking out my phone to see what I had done and where I was going next. This was much more mentally challenging than I expected.
Brought to you by:
I was an Altra sponsored athlete last year so every shoe I wore was theirs (they are the only brand I wear and love)
My Noxgear Tracer 360 vest for early morning and evenings helped me be visible and safe. My Noxgear 39G Bluetooth speaker kept me company with music, podcasts and audiobooks. I am also an Ambassador for them: use code RUNNINGU1 for 35% off
I am always focused on my technique and there is no way I would’ve been able to do all that mileage without ChiRunning and ChiWalking. No injuries in 7 years because of it! (and I walk/run a lot of miles! I averaged 31 miles a week in 2020! I never say this to brag but to really point out how much I avoid injuries because of good technique).
Miles flew by: I was really surprised at how quickly I could get mileage done in a small space. I would assume 3-4 miles and it would end up being double. As much as I don’t like street running, I know I will use this in the future because time went by quickly.
I did anywhere from a 2 mile run to a 22 mile run for this project.
Speed work goes by faster this way than on a track
I did 20 miles on Christmas Day since my family had decided to not get together
My boyfriend Greg joined me a few times for exercise dates!
In the last month, I felt like a drug addict having to get a fix. I was obsessed and have never been that motivated to go out for runs on the road in my life before.
It was awesome to finish my last run on 12/31/20 with a rainbow!
I love my neighborhood: when I first moved to AZ as a freshman in HS, we were in Tempe. I went to McClintock High School and I am an ASU alumni. I have always loved this city but I have a much bigger appreciation for it after this experience.
Ironically Sesame Street was in my zip code and I loved seeing it every time. The theme song would come in my head and it would always make me smile.
So many treasures found! From beautiful lakes and houses to funny election signs. In one neighborhood I was staring at house all decked out with human rights signs and across the street there was a house full of Trump signs. My favorite election sign was “In Dogs We Trust” “Dogs 2020 Because Humans Suck”🤣 From election signs to fun Halloween decorations to Christmas ones. At one point I even found a purple house! (you all know this is my favorite color!). I had no idea Mission chips was local and also found The Early Bird (have not checked them out) yet but I saw their cart parked in a driveway so I had to google it. I love supporting local businesses.
I challenge you to try something like this out. Pick your immediate neighborhood and/or zip code and just start chipping away at it. This blog post and my Instagram Stories don’t even do my experience justice. As I rewatched my IG stories, I got fuzzy feelings of the memories I created with this event. As a matter of fact, it ended 13 days ago and I still have weird withdrawals. I know I can go out and run in the neighborhood (I am about to as soon as I get done writing this!) but it’s not the same without the deadline of the “finish line.” This has given me a new appreciation for road running for training as canals get old after awhile.
Huge thank you to Aravaipa Running for giving me something new and fun to do in the crazy 2020 year. I just thought this was going to be another virtual race but I had no idea that it would impact me the way it did. 🥰
I find it pretty humorous during this time of the year when I start seeing these types of memes on social media…
…..like everyone in Phoenix has amnesia and forgets how hot it is here….E.V.E.R.Y. single summer…🤣 I guess when it’s perfect weather the other 9ish months of the year, we need something to complain about!
This topic has been on mind lately. Not because I’m surprised how hot it is here, but because this is the first year that I have a group training for an ultra in the summer (thank you COVID-19 🙄). The Crown King 50K is one of my favorite ultras (this will be my 5th time). It’s normally at the end of March….it got canceled with everything going on and postponed to October 17th. We all had options on what we wanted to do with our race entry. Several of the ladies from that training program, including myself, decided to do the race in October (crossing all fingers and toes that it happens!)…..but we all knew what that meant: training in the heat. UGH But the decision was made and now it’s time to train….we just started a few weeks ago so not doing real long runs yet.
Earlier this month, I was jazzed up when Danny Dreyer, the co-founder of ChiRunning, asked me to be on his ChiSchool webinar because the topic was running in the heat. He’s lived and ran in enough places to know exactly what to do but of course I took him up on the chance to co-host with him! 😊
I was inspired by hanging out with him so I decided to do a video with some tips on training in the heat which you can find below.I thought of a few other things to add so I figured why not write a blog about it!
Here are my tips for running/walking in the heat:
You have a choice. This sounds rather basic but it’s true. No one is telling you have to do it. There are plenty of other options to exercise. You can swim, bike, use a treadmill, or not work out at all (I don’t recommend this 🤣). If you truly hate the heat that much, don’t complain about it and do something different.
Embrace it. What?! You heard me….this is all about your mindset. I know I can’t will the heat away, but if I choose to embrace it (rather than continuously complain about it) it won’t be as bad. Since it’s my first time really training seriously in this heat, this is my number one strategy so far….and I feel like it’s working. One thing I started doing yesterday is not put my AC on in my car when driving to my running location. I figure part of the problem is going from a nice cold car to a blast of heat. If I can acclimate on my drive over, this will make the transition from the car to the outdoor air less shocking to my mind and body. Working on some affirmations next!
Pick a good time. I’ve had to change the time I go to bed at night so I can get up and out the door and stay out of the sun as much as possible. I normally try to get out before the sunrise. I also really enjoy being out on the trails at night time so that is also another option. While it’s still warm in the evening here, there is a big difference when you don’t have the sun shining right on you. If necessary, and I have the time, I’ll take a little nap in the middle of the day when I don’t get enough sleep.
Pick a good location. Ideally, stay out of the sun. Cacti are not really the best for shade so that’s a bit more challenging for us here. 😂Find locations that provide more shade. Get out of town for a quick road trip and head up north. You can also stay close to your house and have a short route that you go around so you can go home if run into any trouble. I did an experiment the day of the webinar with Danny and walk/ran a quarter mile loop in my apartment complex at about 2:30pm. My least favorite part was the heat from the asphalt but I got used to it after a few laps. I did a few miles in 30 minutes but I didn’t die. I also considered jumping in the apartment complex pool but will save that for another longer session (Yes, I am intentionally trying to run in the heat…more on that below). Here is a video I did on that day when I was done.
Have the right fuel and plenty of it. Always carry water with you and make sure you have enough of it. Freeze half of your water bottle or bladder from your hydration pack so you are ahead of the game. It doesn’t take much for ice to melt here. Staying hydrated on a daily basis will help too. We also lose sodium and potassium when sweating so make sure you have the right electrolytes. This could be another blog post alone but if you google it, I’m sure you’ll find enough info. I personally like to keep things as natural as possible so I use Saltstick capsules and Pickle Power. There are plenty of drinks out there but read labels as some of them have a lot of sugar and food coloring. You can even google DIY electrolyte drinks and make your own! Make sure you have enough food for the distance you are going (there are many products like gels, etc) but I prefer real food: peanut butter pretzels, trail mix, potato chips. It is harder for your body to digest real food vs gels so experimenting to see what’s best for you is my best advice.
Wear the rightclothing. I always wear wicking fabric because it helps keep me cooler (relatively speaking) by evaporating the sweat instead of soaking up in fabrics like cotton. Nowadays you can even find clothes that have a cooling effect. Modern technology is great for this. As a matter of fact, as I was writing this, I started googling “cooling clothing” and “for extreme heat” popped up on it’s own. Lots of good options here (huh, I may need to do some more shopping now!). I always wear a trucker hat as it keeps the sun directly out of my face. Sunglasses are a must for me and of course lots of sunscreen. My favorite brand is Zealios and you can use discount code Zup-TRU20 for 25% off!
Spray bottles, ice and more ice. I usually have a cooler with ice and spray bottles. If and when I have the chance, I put ice in my hat, in my sports bra and as many places I can think of. Pour cold water on your wrists, head and neck (keep your neck cool with a bandana and ice). I keep the spray bottles cold and will usually add some peppermint oil to it for even more of a cooling sensation. You can also use peppermint candies, chew gum on your run for this same reason.
Learn running technique. Good technique is not just about injury prevention. When you learn good technique, you are learn how to move your body as efficiently as possible. In ChiRunning, we teach people how to limit using their leg muscles (which are big muscles and use a lot of energy). When you are running more efficiently, you won’t be overworking your body which is already being impacted by the heat.
Adjust yourpace. Since our bodies are under more pressure with the heat, it’s important to adjust your pace. This seems like a no brainer but don’t go out and do speed intervals or hill repeats if it’s too hot.I have found myself ChiWalking a bit more than normal and I am totally OK with that. ChiWalking is my secret sauce to ultra training/running.
Body sense! This is a word you will hear every single ChiRunning/ChiWalking instructor talk about. Listening to your body (not your mind/ego) is a skill. It starts with self awareness and knowing that our minds/egos may not always have our best interest in mind. This is a main different between “power” running and ChiRunning. It’s not mind OVER body, but mind WITH body. The more you practice, the more you’ll know what your body is telling you when it comes to movement, how you are feeling, what you are eating, etc. The body always knows best and it talks to us a lot. It’s easy to choose to not listen but this can come at a cost. Make sure you know how your body reacts in the heat and what it needs and when it needs it.
Why would I purposely run in the heat?
Running is my lifestyle. It’s what I choose to do as my main form of exercise. Just because summer is here, doesn’t mean I have to stop running because it’s hot. This helps keep me stay consistent with my regular fitness routine.
Training for an event. Races happen throughout the entire year. Normally I choose not to train for a race during the summer so while I would still run, I didn’t have to worry about major long runs for my ultra training. I did an ultra in 2016 that was at the beginning of July (Capitol Reef 50K and the hardest one I’ve ever done!) but that was really only one month of running in the heat. This year I was supposed to be doing my bucket list race (TransRockies) which would’ve been 120 miles in 6 days on 8/3 but that was canceled…but I was ready for some serious heat training. So when I had the chance to sign up for Crown King in October, I figured why not?!
Improve performance! While this is not the main reason I am doing it, I am interested to see how it effects my performance. This could also be another blog post but you can search for “heat training and adaptation” and there are several studies (some more compelling than others depending on sample size, etc) that suggest that training in the heat will improve performance. As a matter of fact, many runners train in the heat for races at elevation rather than training in altitude. It makes sense so I’m curious to see how this impacts me later in the year.
Well, there you have it! I hope that these tips help you and inspire you to keep moving through the summer!
Sorry not sorry for picking on you today🤣 ….but as a running coach, this is one of my biggest peeves! I really want to understand you!
This seems to be a big thing as it feels like there are more of you that don’t train for races than people who do. These two groups couldn’t be any more different. I read about this in online forums, hear people talking about it after races…like it’s actually cool to go just run a half marathon (or any distance) without any training? I am really surprised at how so many of you “brag” about this?? We all run for different reasons so maybe you just really like to just show up on race day, hope for the best and see what your body/mind can do with no training?! 🤷♀️ I still don’t get it….
NOOOOOOO! Running is NOT hard, it’s NOT painful, it’s NOT unenjoyable!
I have never not trained for a race. Mind you, that my idea of racing is different than most people but for the purposes of this letter, let’s go with the meaning of the race in the true sense of the word. Dictionary.com describes a race as: a contest of speed, as in running, riding, driving, or sailing.
Before I give you some food for thought on why you should train for a race, the first and foremost reason is:
Crossing that finish line will have an entirely different meaning if you train for it!
We may all get the same swag and medal at the end of any race but I guarantee you, the experience will be entirely different!
Why? Imagine you have a half marathon in 3 months that you train for……this half marathon program has you running 4 days a week with long runs on the weekend…..
Your body won’t hurt and/or you won’t get injured. Running 13.1 miles with little to no training could have some serious consequences on your body. I’ve heard of people getting injured to the point that they won’t get to run ever again. Outside of learning running technique (like ChiRunning), training for a race gets your body prepared for it. Your muscles, joints, ligaments get used to the load that you add incrementally making race day so much more enjoyable! I love to hear my athletes say the day after a race how surprised they are that their body feels so good! Enough to get out dancing that same evening or another hike/run the next day.
You will be mentally stronger. When you have to get up 3-4 days a week to train, there will be plenty of days that you won’t want to for so many reasons: “it’s too early”, “I didn’t get enough sleep”,” it’s too hot”…… But guess what, every day that you go out and follow your training plan when you don’t want to, you are building your mental toughness muscle. Your mind, like your body, needs to be “worked”. You can pushing through on race day one time vs having 3 months worth of days of pushing through….seems pretty obvious who will be mentally stronger. When you build your mental strength muscle, not only does it make you stronger for running but you are able to use these same skills in your life!
You are more likely to make running more of a lifestyle than a fad. Habits build with consistency. If you get into a habit of training for a race, you are burning more calories on a daily basis, getting healthier….I really don’t need to list all the many benefits of running/exercising consistently vs not. I see it happen too many times. You half ass or don’t train for a race, have a miserable time and say running must not be for me and quit after that one experience….or you are a masochist and just like to run races every once in awhile with little to no training. Hopefully you are getting physical and mental exercise in other ways.
You are missing the journey! As cliche as this sounds, the race is the goal….what’s the point of getting to the destination if you don’t have all the struggles, wins and learning experiences from the journey? Feels like an easy way out…like you’re cheating yourself of so many experiences…
You are missing the camaraderie! You can certainly train for a race by yourself. This is better than not training for a race! In my case, I do Ladies Training Programs so part of the training, means going out on group runs together. We explore new locations together, we get to know each other better, have way more fun, support and encourage each other. It’s better together!
COVID-19 won’t impact your running journey. If you are reading this now, all races have been canceled for the last 3 months….many of them continue to get canceled. I’ve had a few of my Ladies Training Program start and continue during these times even if we knew the race may not even happen. As a matter of fact, we went and made our own race last weekend in Flagstaff.
Start the race confident and prepared. There is no better feeling than showing up for a race being prepared. I always say some good nervous excitement is a good thing (I love this video from Simon Sinek on this subject). I love being at the start line feeling confident that I have trained the miles and I am ready for whatever will happen that day. Since we get that mental toughness training for months, we are more likely to handle anything thrown our way with more grace and mindfulness on race day.
Bottom line: You will grow in so many more ways
that will impact your running and life!
I always say, you do you when it comes to running (and life). If running a race with little to no training works for you, keep doing you! But if you want to have an entirely different experience, get a coach and train for a race!
This race is one of the main reasons I love running! This was my most favorite race experience that I’ve had to date! (so hard to say this as I’ve had so many but overall, this one takes it!)
One of our ChiRunning Instructors just posted an interesting article in our Instructor faceook page. I am rarely this motivated to write a blog post but I scanned the study and I was inspired immediately! I haven’t even really read through the full thing but just picked out a few of things that really got me excited!
Something I’ll never forget from my Psychology 101 class in college is that most “studies” are really BS. There are many variables required to have an effective study so it’s easy to believe every article in every magazine that claims the effectiveness of such study . So truly most of the time they are BS. I actually just saw one yesterday that mentioned a study with a sample size of 8 people! Hardly representative of any population!
The first sentence before the title of the article says: “This is the first mapping of Global running participation. The analysis covers 107.9 million race results from more than 70 thousand events from 1986 to 2018. This is by far the largest study of race results in history. “
hmmmm that sounds like a pretty decent sample size!
Here are the the key points that got me fired up with my 2 cents under them 😉
Runners have never been slower – male runners in particular. In 1986 the average finish time was 3:52:35, whereas today it’s 4:32:49 – a slowdown of 40 minutes and 14 seconds. (marathon)
Yeah! It’s about time we don’t care about speed when it comes to running!
Runners have never been older aging from 35.2 in 1986 to 39.3 in 2018.
Based on the people I hang out with, this is actually still young! Great to see people getting out of their comfort zones as they age!
For the first time in history, there are more female than male runners. In 2018, 50.24% of runners were female.
Yes! I am working on getting more women running first…then more women running trails…then more women running ultras 😉
Traveling to race has never been more popular than today.
Definitely something I started doing more for some of my races as well as my groups. One of the reasons I love trail and ultra running is to getting to see new beautiful places. Ladies Training Programs so far have been to Flagstaff (2x), Vail AZ, Tucson and Moab. Future plans are to have more programs out of town.
The motives for participating in running are potentially changing from being achievement-focused to being psychological, health and socially focused, which in part can be proved by more people traveling to race, slower finish times and how milestone-ages (30, 40, 50) now are much less dominant than 15 and 30 years ago.
This makes me the happiest! This is the kind of running I promote!
Learn how to do it right so you don’t hurt yourself as you age and you can run forever!
Be social! Make sure you are having fun by doing it with friends!
Travel!
Take your time, there is no rush! Your pace, your race!
Run to eat, run to drink beers, run for cookies…or whatever floats your boat!
Doing all of this will make it so running can be part of your lifestyle! This is how and why I run!
From My Running Story to Yours…. (if you feel inspired to share your comments, do so below…I want to hear your story too!)
Tattoo #3 just happened last week! It’s been almost a year since I’ve written a blog post so I figured I’d share the meaning behind this tattoo with you.
Quick history on my two other tattoos:
My first one I did maybe in 2004?. It’s on my tail bone (when the “tramp stamp” was all the rage). I was heavy into scuba diving at the time and have always loved the ocean and dolphins. So it’s a yin yang with 2 dolphins around it.
When I started thinking about how I felt before, during and after this race, the best word to describe it was JOY. I know it sounds crazy, right?! I was on my feet for 19 hours and 45 minutes! How could that be joyful? If you talk to most runners doing these distances, not sure that’s the most popular word to describe these experiences……..but I am not like most runners…so….
Let’s start with a basic definition:
Google: a feeling of great pleasure and happiness
Merriam-Webster:a: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires
2. a state of happiness or felicity
3: a source or cause of delight
Honestly, just the word makes the corners of my mouth start going up into a smile! But how could this word really describe 62 miles of trail on foot all in one day?
Let me try to explain:
1. I wanted to complete this race so bad I could taste it. Having to drop down the previous year after all that training was a big let down for me. I was super jazzed up to finally do this! I had trained and I was ready! (A good way to feel good about a race, is to train for it. As a running coach I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people say they barely trained and they show up at the start line all nervous and freaked out. When you actually take the time to train for a race, it takes a lot of this negative energy out. You build confidence during your training cycle because you get mentally and physically prepared. Some nervous energy is not a bad thing but to feel confident and prepared really helps) So I was ready as can be!
How you feel before, during and after a race is directly related to the amount of training you put in!
2. I set the intention before I started the race that I was going to have an amazing race. (amazing to me does not have anything to do with speed or placement. I know I’m never going to win the race . I knew I was going to be out ALL DAY doing one of the things I love doing most in the world: hanging out in nature on the trails.) I literally say to myself “I’m just going to hang out on the trail for a “few” hours.” Your mind believes what you tell it. Part of my pre race prep was to do a lot of visualizing about how I would feel during the race. I visualized myself happy and joyful, just having fun in nature….and as I put that intention out there, it’s exactly what happened. I created the environment for that positive energy and it was one of the most amazing days of my life!
Affirm it!
3. My goal for the race was to have fun and finish before the cutoff. I prepared to have fun that day! I had some of my favorite music, audio books, podcasts. I also knew I would have two of my best friends pacing me from the 60K-100K point. Again, I set this intention ahead of time to have fun and that was part of my plan….and it’s exactly what I did.
Yes I am!
If you want to read more about my race experience, my race report is here….now back to my tattoo.
JOY was the word that came to mind when I described this day.
Then I was thinking how could I make this into a tattoo….and where would I put it. Sometimes this process takes longer than it needs to (it took me a year and half to finally get the tattoo done!) I may have pondered a bit about it…LOL But then ideas started coming in..
What else brings me joy? The sun! This is one of the reasons I still live in AZ! I love the sun because:
I get cold quickly so I love how the sun can warm me up right away. I’d rather be hot than cold any day.
The sun just lights me up! I wouldn’t be surprised if I were to be diagnosed as having SAD (ironic acronym that stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder). It is a type of depression that’s related to changes in seasons. Although I’ve gotten better at enjoying rainy, cloudy days, I love to see the sun. My boyfriend has found me, on my apartment floor, right by the sliding patio door, like a cat, gazing up at the sun, with my eyes closed and just soaking it all in. Literally one of my happy places. Sometimes I feel like it’s literally charging me up!
I picked the colors yellow/orange because the sun is these colors but they also make me feel warm and fuzzy. If you look up the meaning of these colors:
Yellow: “Studies show that the meaning of the color yellow can be warmth, cheerfulness, increased mental activity, increased muscle energy. The color yellow helps activate the memory, encourage communication, enhance vision, build confidence, and stimulate the nervous system.”
Orange: “the orange color can create physical effects such as increased hunger, heightened sense of activity, increased socialization, boost in aspiration, stimulated mental activity, increased oxygen supply to the brain, increased contentment, and enhanced assurance. Orange also helps aid decision making, and enhances happiness, confidence, and understanding.”
I am not sure how I came up with the idea but at some point I thought: why not write the word JOY and use the O as the sun.
As I was googling sun tattoos to get ideas, I saw several that had a spiral in the middle which reminded of another symbol I plan on using for another tattoo. I love the spiral and what it stands for:
Spiral significance: “They symbolize the slow reveal of things that are hidden. It can mean growth and evolution. They could represent people coming back to the same point in their life, but with new and better kinds of understanding. The symbol of the spiral can push the viewer to be flexible and have trust when things change. (https://www.sunsigns.org/spiral-meaning/)”. Ultra running has definitely been a huge source of growth for me, personally and professionally.
I put it in that specific location on my arm so I could see it. If you know me, you know that I am a joyful person. I am typically always happy, smiling and laughing. This is part of my nature so generally my normal state of being…..but I am also human and have my moments. I always say “self awareness is a bitch”! So the reason I chose that location on my arm is because I could see it. This will also serve as a reminder for me that I always have a choice…..
I can always choose joy!
You too can choose whatever emotion you want for your day or your next race, so make it a good one!
Today I choose JOY!
(Huge thanks to my tattooer, Jayare (check out his Instagram page) from Idle Hands Tattoo. I told him what I wanted, showed him a few pictures and this is his creation. He also did my 2nd one. I enjoyed telling him the story about how his comments about my last one are a big part of the meaning of that tattoo now. Then we got into a deep conversation about whether tattoos have to have meaning and how it can change.)
Here it is 😉 Notice my Black Canyon shirt I wore 😉
Better view
From My Running Story to Yours…. (if you feel inspired to share your comments, do so below…I want to hear your story too!)
