Category Archives: Recreational runner

My first DNF: Did Not Finish 🙄

Posted on by by Lisa Pozzoni

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, here  are 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!

 

An Open Letter to People Who Don’t Train for Races

Posted on by by Lisa Pozzoni

Dear People Who Don’t Train For Races,

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!

Worst Running Advice Ever…..

Posted on by by Lisa Pozzoni

I thought I’d heard them all but yesterday, I almost spit out my drink when I read this tip! It’s in a training log of all places! Are you kidding me?

From a training log! 😡

We are having a 7-Day Photo Challenge in my TRU TRIBE Run Team this week. The challenge is to take a photo each day and describe what feelings you are having at that moment (part of our focus on Mental Health Awareness month).  One of my members, who happens to be a personal trainer as well, posted this picture along with this comment: “Dismayed! I saw this in my runner’s log book. Don’t they know about Lisa?”

Or any other running coaches?!

If any running population needs a coach, beginners would be the first group I would recommend get one! Running keeps becoming more and more popular. Although it seems like putting one foot in front of the other is all you need to know, there wouldn’t be a 65% injury rate if that were true! (I don’t know what it is exactly but numbers I see range from 60-70%)

What’s one of the first things someone tells you when they find out you are going to start running or are a runner?  You shouldn’t run…it’s bad for your knees (or name any other body part.)  RUNNING DOESN’T HURT YOUR BODY, HOW YOU RUN HURTS YOUR BODY! What you do with your body when you are not running has an impact on how you run too (for example, sitting at your desk all day).

We take golf, swimming and tennis lessons, cooking classes, but rarely do people consider taking a class to learn how to run…or at least find a coach that can help them with this.  As much as I love social media, that’s a whole other blog post for another day.  I’m all for people sharing their experiences in facebook groups but I’ve seen some of the worst advice given about running there too.  Just because people run, it doesn’t make them experts.

I’ve been teaching ChiRunning for 10 years and coached many runners of ALL levels. Bottom line, it’s worth the investment regardless of what level runner you are to have a coach! There are many different coaches out there and it’s important that you find one that works for YOU.  Here are some key things that I would look for when hiring a coach, in order of importance:

  • Education and credentials: Do they have the proper knowledge required to teach you how to run properly and increase your mileage safely? Being a runner isn’t enough.  Many of us have spent quite a bit of money for the education we have. There is a reason there are coaching agencies and certifications.
  • Experience: how long have they been coaching?  More experience means they’ve dealt with more scenarios and have more tools in their toolbox. What type/level of athlete do they coach?
  • Personality: are they a good match for you?  This is more important than you realize.  Some people like the hardcore, drill sergeant personality while others might prefer someone who is more of a cheerleader.

Does their speed matter? Absolutely not!  While there may be some great coaches out there that are fast runners, this is not something I would consider.  If you’re goal is to learn to run fast and they meet the qualifications above, great!

Does their “celebrity” status matter?  Absolutely not!  While there may be some great coaches out there that have a celebrity status because they are really good with social media, this is not something I would consider.  If they meet the qualifications above, great!

Will they give you a good hug at the finish line?  🥰 While there is nothing better than a good hug, this is not something I would take into consideration…unless they meet the qualifications above.

You don’t have to take this advice from me though!  Here are some of the answers to this question “What advice would you give a beginner runner?” from TRU TRIBE Run Team Member Spotlights:

“I had to start with alternating walking and running.  At the time I felt like I wasn’t a “runner.”  Now I realize that the moment I transitioned from a walk to a run, I became a runner!  So, I would advise a beginner to think of herself as a runner, regardless of speed, body type, age or experience.  I also recommend getting a running coach to help you with your mechanics.  You probably ran very naturally as a child, but as an adult you may need to re-learn good form.  It may be the key to staying injury-free.  Lastly, find a running group!  I love my time alone when I run, but I also love running with my Tribe!” Barbara B.

“Start with a good coach.  Learn the right form right out of the shoot. But most importantly, just start.” Andrea T

“Do not worry about your speed or what other people may think. Take your time, build up slowly, focus on your form, get some strength training in to smooth out any imbalances. Hire a coach to help you with all this so you don’t fall into bad (injury producing) habits!” Karla H

“Find a coach to help you with your running journey.  Learn the correct running form to prevent injuries along your way.  Strength training is such important element to help you get stronger, prevent injuries, and improves your performance as an athlete.” Sonia G

Guess what, Bill Gates thinks you should have a coach too! If you plan on making running a lifestyle, getting a coach is one of the best things you can do for yourself!                                         

 

TRU TRIBE Member Spotlight: Michelle Cavner

Posted on by by Lisa Pozzoni

Every week we highlight one of our members from the TRU Tribe Running Team. Meet Michelle!  If we can do it, so can you!

I am nominating Michelle because she got out of your comfort zone with the Jackass 31K: doing her longest run, longest trail and night trail run, she leads by example and she is one of the most active people in our TRU TRIBE.  I’ve enjoyed getting to know her better through through our 30 Day Giving and Receiving Challenge.
Why did you start running?
I ran high school track (sprints only) and then picked running back up about 10 years ago.  It was a way for me to be a good role model for my girls and also provided “me” time.  Running is therapeutic for me, it allows me to bring balance to my life.
What age did you start running? 
39
How old are you now? (to inspire the others! but you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to)
49
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far from your running journey?
Your body is capable of much more than you think.  I always told myself I am a sprinter and not made for long distances.  But once I started training for 5Ks and then half-marathons, I found that I CAN run long distance.  For me,  it has always been a mental game of telling myself I CAN DO IT.
What advice would you give a beginner runner?
Anyone can become a runner.  Just start slow and celebrate the small victories along the way.  Secondly, find a friend or a group to run with… it is so much more fun when it becomes a social event as well.  You may find that you really enjoy running and spending this time with others.
What would you do differently knowing what you know now? When I first started running and training for races, I always trained by myself because I was intimidated to run with others as I did not think I was fast enough.  But in reality, a good running group will support you regardless how fast or slow you are.  Running with the TRUTribe has been that running group for me.
What is your longest race distance and why?
The Jackass 31k was my longest run.  I was doing the track workouts and the ladies were talking about it.  I thought to myself, I can do that.  I always look to challenge myself so I signed up and drank the Kool-Aid.
Do you have a bucket list race or distance?
I would love to run a destination half-marathon with my youngest daughter one day.
What has been your favorite race and/or distance so far?
My favorite race was the Nike Women’s Half Marathon in San Francisco.  The course was challenging but my family was there cheering me on and providing that extra energy I needed.
What is your favorite color?
Blue
What is your favorite post race food and drink?
I really don’t have a favorite… but I did enjoy my beer and pizza after the Jackass run.
Anything else you want to share with the TRU TRIBE 😀
The TruTribe ladies are one of a kind.  Coach Lisa inspires and encourages everyone and the ladies have become my friends. The group lifts each other up and welcomes everyone… I never felt like I did not belong.

Click here for more Member Spotlight Inspiration!

TRU TRIBE Member Spotlight: Karla Halaschak

Posted on by by Lisa Pozzoni

Every Saturday we highlight one of our members from the TRU Tribe Running Team. Meet Karla!  If we can do it, so can you!

I picked Karla because she got out of your comfort zone with Jackass doing her longest trail and night trail run, she focuses on her ChiRunning and shares comments in Final Surge about her runs, she has a high compliance rate to her Final Surge plan and is one of the most active people in our TRU TRIBE.
Why did you start running?
I started running when other, mostly team sports, did not work out for me. I decided to try cross-country my junior year of high school. The coach needed people-it was a small program- so I joined.
What age did you start running?
17
How old are you now? (to inspire the others! but you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to)
48
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far from your running journey?
Running is much more than moving your legs. No matter your speed, you are doing something good and healthy for your body, your mind, and your soul! Whether I’m pushing myself on the track or taking a nice, easy run through the neighborhood, I always feel refreshed afterwards.
What advice would you give a beginner runner?
Do not worry about your speed or what other people may think. Take your time, build up slowly, focus on your form, get some strength training in to smooth out any imbalances. Hire a coach to help you with all this so you don’t fall into bad (injury producing) habits!
What would you do differently knowing what you know now?
I would take my own advice given to the beginning runner above! 😀
What is your longest race distance and why?
My longest distance so far is a full marathon. It was a “milestone” distance. I did my first one to raise money for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society..
Do you have a bucket list race or distance?
I would like to do a 50K. (she jus signed up for the Crown King 50K Ladies Training Program!).
What has been your favorite race and/or distance so far?
I really enjoyed the Jackass 31K. It was just the right distance, the course was just challenging enough and the vibe was awesome!
What is your favorite color?
Green
What is your favorite post race food and drink?
As much as I would like to say it is a recovery drink followed by a hearty meal of protein and vegetables, it is really beer and pizza.
Anything else you want to share with the TRU TRIBE 😀
We are very blessed to have such a wonderful running community! This is the first running group I have joined that hasn’t focused solely on racing and speed. Thank you, everyone, for being an inspiration, and thank you Lisa, our fearless leader!.

 

What is Lisa up to?

Posted on by by Lisa Pozzoni

….and My Story Runs On….

This could be dangerous because I’m about to loosely lay out some goals for the next two years.  Between people asking me what my next big race is and the fact that I turn 50 on February 19th 2021, I figured I’d share some of my upcoming adventures (and this will help keep me accountable as I am putting it in writing now.)  LOL

Personal Shenanigans

  • August 11th-18th I am excited to be volunteering for the TransRockies Race!  This is a 125 mile stage race over 6 days in the Rockies.  I’ll be volunteering at the Finish Line with a few good friends.  It will be great to break out of this heat and give back to the running community.  Selfishly checking this out as it’s been on my mind for many years and I am considering doing this race next summer.
  • August 24th I am doing a timed event at Jackrabbit Jubilee. This is a 12 hour event going around a 500m track. I will admit these are not my favorite as they can be vary monotonous but they serve a different purpose (read more here).  The fun thing about this one is that my #trutribe is having an informal running party at this race. I did not do a program for this event but many of them are trying this out for their first time.  We will all be going around in circles (there is a 6 hour and 12 hour option).
  • September 6-8th 2019 I am participating in the Breast Cancer 3-Day in Boston.  Many of you know the history of my Las Bombas team but I haven’t walked in several years and MA is my home state.  I am grateful to have been able to raise the $2300 with some help from you!
  • October 12th 2019  my BUCKET LIST race!  I just started training for the Canyon De Chelly 55K.  I was on the waiting list last year and got in on the lottery this year.  I was #149 of #150 to be picked!  I’ll get to be one of the few people to get in to this canyon that is protected Navajo land.  I am beyond excited!
  • Summer 2020 is still a bit up in the air but planning on that TransRockies race in August and considering some of the Aravaipa races in July in the Silverton area as well.
  • I am saying it out loud and in writing finally but I am ready to tackle my next biggest distance which will be 100 miles.  Yikes, just writing it is scary but I have been mulling this around for quite some time.  I am debating in between 2 races.  I want it to be local race with Aravaipa Running since I “grew up” as a trail runner, ultra runner  and coach thanks to them. The options are the Javelina Jundred or Coldwater Rumble.  At this point it’s possible that I could do the 100K at Javelina in November 2020 and then Coldwater 100 miler in 2021 which would be a month before I turn 50.
  • I’ve always said that I will never qualify for the Boston Marathon because I am not a fast runner nor do I want to work that hard to qualify.  It would be amazing to experience this race though since it’s in my home state. I am considering doing it in 2021 and I would opt to raise money for it while I’m training for my 100 miler.

Professional Shenanigans

My life motto is: do the things I love to do with the people I love to do them with, whenever I want.  I am pretty much living this right now. I can’t do things whenever I want but if I plan in advance enough, I can certainly try….thus this blog post 😉  I am blessed that I love what I do and get to combine my passion with my career.

  • August 2019 Roll out Ladies Training Programs for Fall/Winter 
  • September 2019 stay tuned for TRU TRIBE Online. That’s all I am saying right now 😉 (TRU 2.0)
  • September 25th-30th 2019 I’ll be in Asheville NC assisting Danny Dreyer (founder of ChiRunning) with a ChiRunning Instructor Training class.  I can train individuals privately to become instructors but I couldn’t pass up the chance to assist Danny.  I am constantly stalking him and try to work with him at least once a year.  Not only to get time with him but he’s continuously working on his running practice and who better to follow than the guru himself?
  • May 17th-22 2020 I’ll be assisting Danny and Katherine at Kripalu for a 5 Day ChiRunning/ChiWalking Retreat!  Mark your calendars!
  • Continue to expand on the ladies training programs.  Work on TRU 3.0 which will include more traveling:  running retreats and more racecations (races out of town or out of the country)

What are your goals for the next year or two?

 

 

 

From My Running Story to Yours….
(if you feel inspired to share your comments, do so below…I want to hear your story too!)

Runners are slower and older now and that’s OK!

Posted on by by Lisa Pozzoni

….and My Story Runs On….

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!

The State of Running 2019

You can go ahead and read the findings here: The State of Running 2019 by Jens Jakob Anderson

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: My 1st 100K

Posted on by by Lisa Pozzoni

….and My Story Runs On….

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.

First Tattoo

My second one was to commemorate my first 50 mile race and I blogged about that one here.

For my first 50 miler tattoo

The idea for this one has been brewing since 2/17/18, when I crossed my first 100K finish line. This was a big one for me. I had attempted this race and distance the year before but the weather was really bad so I had to drop to the 60K and retrain the following year.
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.)
3rd Tattoo

Here it is 😉 Notice my Black Canyon shirt I wore 😉

3rd Tattoo

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!)

Race Report

Race Report: Thelma & Louise Half Marathon in Moab

Posted on by by Lisa Pozzoni

….and My Story Runs On….

My first time in Moab did not disappoint!  When I heard about this race, I got excited because there are not too many women only races anymore.  I’ve been doing Ladies Training Programs for races and this one seemed to fit perfectly.  I’ll start with the areas of improvement (in my opinion) and finish on the positive!

The Not So Good Stuff

  • I picked this race with some hesitation because it was a road race and not a trail. I prefer trail over road any day.  The course was beautiful so it made up for the fact that it was on road.
  • I believe this race either had a new race director or new to this race so this might be why there were a few things that I think could’ve been improved.
  • The slope in the road drove me crazy. I had to keep moving from side to side because I could feel it effecting my hip (through body sensing it was exactly the same feeling I had when I ran this marathon and had the same issue).
  • I heard this was a low key race but the start line was too low key for my taste.  I love it when you get pumped up by the music and MC at a race.  It seemed like they were scrambling to get things set up.  There was some music but you could barely hear it and it was not the type of music that gets you pumped up before a race. There was no one making any announcements. Since many people come from out of town for this race and it had a theme, I’d figure they could’ve been asking questions and interacting with the participants more:  “how far did you come?”, “who came the furthest?”,”who’s first half marathon”, etc.  There was none of that and at 6am, we just left the start line just like that.

    Start line picture! We pumped ourselves up 😉

  • They said there would be aid stations every 1.5 miles but I don’t think that was true. I had plenty of water because I know better but the first one was at mile 3. I heard the 1.5 mile one was set up late, after I went by that spot, but considering I’m a middle of the packer, it should’ve been there. Aid stations volunteers were good but I would’ve expected much more fun with the theme. We only saw 3  “Brad Pitts” going around at the start/finish line.  I’d suggest a theme contest for the aid station volunteers.
  • I would suggest to hold the award ceremony earlier. The race had a generous time limit but when they did the awards, most of those participants had already taken off.
  • I can’t believe that with that gorgeous scenery there weren’t more photographers. There were some amazing views the whole way and I noticed one photographer on the way back.  When I get the email the other day about the race photos, I had 2 pictures from the same exact spot.  Glad I stopped to smell the roses and take pictures myself but I wasn’t in most of them…

The Good Stuff

  • My first experience with the race director was emailing him and asking for a discount code that I could offer to my group of ladies and he was very accommodating.
  • The scenery was breathtaking!  I’d have to rank this as one of the top 5 most scenic races I’ve ever done.  I had no time goals for this race and purposely walked several times because I wanted to be present, soak it all in and remember the moment.  Might as well get my money’s worth! The pictures don’t do it justice! (more at the bottom of the blog)

As we started the race, this was the view!

Red cliffs and rocks on both sides of the Colorado river

  • It was an out and back course which I’m normally not crazy about but in this case, we had great scenery the whole way and it was cool to run it back.  One of the funnest parts was watching the front of the pack and the winner come our way. We got to cheer them on as they flew passed us and they shouted thank you back at us.  I got to see all my running crew while running on the course which was awesome.
  • We had to take busses to the start line from an elementary school and that process was well organized.
  • The expo was small as I suspected it would be but we got some good swag:  a tech race shirt, socks and the medal was the car jumping off the cliff in the form of a small belt buckle.  Very cute!

    Finisher with my belt buckle!

    After the race we headed to Moab Brewing company to get our free beers earned as part of the race. Swag shirts!

     

  • The road was closed off which was nice. At one point, I could hear some type of music…then I realized it was drums.  It kept getting louder and louder until I reached the sound.  It was a female group of drummers that stayed there the entire time!  They were the highlight on the course for sure!

    All female drumming group on the race course rocked it!

  • There was plenty of food at the finish and the Thelma and Louise trivia contest was fun after the awards ceremony. They gave away some pretty cool prizes.  Our group had just watched the movie on Thursday evening when we arrived there and I am sure we were not the only ones.

Would I recommend this race?  Yes!  The things that I mention that could’ve been better were not deal breakers and maybe just an oversight.

Would I do this race again?  No.  The main reason is becauseI like trail so I rarely do road races, especially out of town.  I will however be looking at some of Mad Moose Events trail races in Moab because I love the location!  I just want to experience it on trail.

The best part for me was spending 5 days with 6 amazing women.  I trained them as part of the Ladies Training Program so we got to bond leading up to the race and the weekend was the icing on the cake!  We did some awesome sight seeing, our first relay beer mile and laughed so hard our stomachs hurt.  One of the best weekends of my life!  We had way too many pictures so I found a few to share some of the highlights 😉

Dead Horse State Park where Thelma and Louise jumped off the cliff with their car (sorry if you haven’t seen it!) Thanks to Michelle for making us cool hats, getting us matching shirts, and making lots of themed goodies for us!

More gorgeous race scenery and couldn’t pass the photo opp of the back of one of my The Running University shirts. Jug Handle is the name of the one of the cliff structures.

For obvious reasons, the Jug Handle 😉

The initiation for most of these ladies to the Beer Mile Relay! Thanks to Lori for organizing it! Thanks to ChiRunning, we were all still ready to keep going after the half marathon. This was one of the funnest parts of the weekend!

Arches National Park! More breathtaking scenery! I wanted to get under the arch with a few of the other ladies but chickened out because of the heights.

Drove my Monument Valley and had to stop. One of my favorite places in the world!

From My Running Story to Yours….
(if you feel inspired to share your comments, do so below…I want to hear your story too!)

Measuring Your Running Success: (HINT) Speed Has Nothing To Do With It

Posted on by by Lisa Pozzoni

What?  Not use speed or pace to measure your running success???!!!  That’s just crazy talk…..

Maybe for some people but not for me!  First of all, let me put you at ease if you do measure your running success based on speed.  This is probably the most common way most runners do it.  Again, not a bad way but also not the only way.

As a running coach, I hear this all the time with beginner and recreational runners.  They are constantly deflated because they are not “fast” enough or “I’ll be the slowest runner out there” and apply a lot of pressure on themselves because speed is what everyone talks about when it comes to running. This could ultimately lead to big disappointments because they get injured from trying to get fast or just decide to quit because “running is not for me”.

WHAT IF……
What if there were other ways to measure your running success?  Guess what? There are! Here are some of the ways I measure my success after a race, not in any order as they are all equally important (for me!):

  1. FEEL GOOD FACTOR:  my goal for just about any race is to feel good the entire time. This goes against the competitive grain of “go all out” and “give it all you got”.  Again, nothing wrong with this at all, but this doesn’t sounds like a way I want to spend my time. When I can finish a race and feel like a million bucks, that is a GOOD race!  Don’t get me wrong, I like to push myself here and there.  But generally speaking, I like to get into my body when I’m running.  I like to have my mind and body connected so I can feel what is happening. I like to see what kind of adjustments I can make to make it more effortless and feel good.  I don’t understand this idea of “suffering” through a run that many people talk about.  I’ve learned to respect that every runner has different goals.  If I’m suffering, I’m not having fun and what’s the point?  My first 100K is a great example.  I used the word epic to describe it.  My goal the entire time was to feel good and have fun….and I did! (by the way a much easier goal to achieve than worrying about speed!)

    My 100K took me 19 hours and 46 minutes. The cutoff was 20 hours. And here I am still smiling at the end….affirming that I was going to have fun and feel good, and making it so, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! If I would’ve set a speed goal for this, it would’ve changed everything for me.

  2. FUN!:  If a race is not going to be fun for me, why bother.  Many people don’t consider running fun but I do (of course there is a love/hate relationship with it!). If I’m not going to have fun, why do it?  Strictly my opinion but pushing myself to a point of complete exhaustion doesn’t sounds fun to me at all.  This means I’ll stop and smell the roses. I love to take pictures, especially if I’m in a new location.  I’ve hung out with friends I haven’t seen in awhile volunteering at aid stations . Heck, I even stopped at an aid station for 20 minutes because they had some good alcohol!

    Crown King Scramble 50K, getting ready to climb a big hill…yes, I’ll hang out and have a few drinks before I do that. Some people say why, but I say why not?

  3. LACK OF INJURIES:  If I can run as much as I want, have fun and enjoy it, and not get injured too?  Well, that’s just the icing on the cake!   Now I can keep doing what I love to do and not get sidelined by injures.  Last time I had a running injury that kept me from running was in 2014.  Keep in mind that I’ve done one 100K, one 50 miler, one 40 miler and a bunch of marathons and 50Ks along with many miles since then.  I give the biggest credit to ChiRunning as it’s completely changed my life.  Poor running technique is one of the reasons runners (especially newer ones)  get injured.  Everyone assumes you put one foot in front of the other and you are good to go.  If that were true, 65% of runners wouldn’t be injured every year. It’s not running that causes injuries, it’s HOW you run that does!  I also stretch regularly, strength train and follow a training plan which are all factors in my running success.

    Writing this post on 5/9/18 and this is how long I’ve been running (ultra running) without injuries…

Running has always been a competitive sport due to speed.  No matter how long you go, there will always be a first place winner.  Technology doesn’t help either.  Now there are software programs/websites like Strava, Athlinks and UltraSignup that keep public records of your race performance.  I’ve seen people have to explain on Strava posts why their run might’ve been slower because they were running with someone slower than them.  Heck, Ultrasignup even ranks you and forecasts how you will finish based on past performances.  This is a lot of pressure for beginner and recreational runners and it doesn’t have to be this way!

Imagine going into a race with no major nervousness about how you’re going to perform?   Imagine going into it thinking about how much fun you’re going to have and how good it’s going to feel?  Huge weight lifted off the shoulders!   This is how I go into just about any race and it’s almost never failed me!  When I go into a race thinking about PRing (setting a personal record), it changes everything.

So how do I do it?

My number one strategy is detachment and making a conscious choice not to care about how fast I finish a race.  I first heard about the Law of Detachment when I started meditating.  Definitely not the easiest thing to do in the world but like everything else, it takes practice and is great because it effects all other areas in my life as well.  I basically go into a race being detached from any speed goals. I may say “I’d like to PR this race” but if it doesn’t happen, it’s not the end of the world and I’ll focus on celebrating what I did do well which usually ends up being the 3 bullet points above.  This just happened to me at the Sinister Night Runs.  I LOVE this course!  I figured I had plenty of training since ultra season just ended for me and I’ve been feeling great. I pulled up my stats for the last few years and knew what I had to finish with.  However I also decided I wasn’t going to look at my Garmin watch once to see where I was (I’ve done this before and it causes a lot of stress when you keep looking at your average pace and how far you still have to go.  Then I tense up, I’m not relaxed AND I’m not having any fun again).  I had one of the best races as far as Fun and Feel Good Factor!  I mean I felt so amazing the entire time!  Imagine my disappointment when I crossed the finish line 3 minutes later than my PR! Yes, I went there.  I started getting a little bummed. But according to the Law of Detachment, another factor is dealing with uncertainty.  Who would’ve known that I replaced my headlamp batteries with old ones so my light was so dim that I could barely see the ground (this was a night trail race).  I was grateful for other people’s headlamps and the full moon that night. I couldn’t account for that.  How many times do things not go as planned that you had no control over what so ever?  So even though I didn’t PR, and I started with a bit of disappointment, I knew that I had a fabulous race that night and did not let my speed (or lack thereof) bring me down and suck the fun out of it for me.

So if you measure your running success based on your speed, I challenge you to take your Garmin off and go on a run without caring about how far or how fast you go.  Just go run and see if any of the measures above work for you.

If you are a beginner or recreational runner, take a big sigh of relief now!  It’s your running story and you can do what you want.  I am a coach and say this! As someone who does this for a living and has finished DFL (Dead Effin Last) before and is a back of the pack runner in general, trust me, you can make our own rules!

I would love to hear how you measure your running success!  Please share!

(This post was inspired by one of my recent Facebook Lives called: Why I’ll Never Qualify for Boston)

I love this!

From My Running Story to Yours….
(if you feel inspired to share your comments, do so below…I want to hear your story too!)