tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22879885895946792302024-02-07T20:03:38.192-08:00Trisha Runs & Likes CatsFriend of felines with a habit of running many miles (sometimes in festive attire!)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12418715132929702600noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287988589594679230.post-3228744120131188342016-03-18T09:09:00.002-07:002016-03-18T09:09:43.922-07:00Trisha in LA LA Land<div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.1429px;">"I didn't come for a fight, but I will fight till the end</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.1429px;">And this one might be a battle, might not turn out okay</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.1429px;">You know you look so Seattle, but you feel so LA"</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Ok, ok, ok… so this is more than a month late! Ahhh! I know,
sorry mom and the four people who read this blog. I’ve been working insane hours
lately, and the last thing I want to do after work is sit down at a computer and write
more. I’d much rather dink wine and pet cats. Ha! Enjoy :)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The <a href="http://www.latrials2016.com/">Olympic Marathon Trials</a> where a whirl wind and the best kind. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It's actually been quite fun to go through all the pictures again for this post... it was a once in a lifetime experience for me, elevated by the people I was surrounded by: family, friends and an incredible team from Oiselle.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">To put it bluntly, It was fucking fantastic. (Pardon the swear word, but seriously! The F*Bomb is necessary here!) It exceeded my expectations from all directions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">GETTING AMPED FOR LA! </span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.oiselle.com/">Oiselle </a>posted a lot of social media promoting the 18 women who had the OTQ. And of course the incredible comeback (but did she ever really leave?) story of sister hero, 3-time Olympian and one helluva an honest human <a href="http://www.oiselle.com/blog/kara-talks-2016-time-now">Kara Goucher.</a> The excitement was bubbling over and made me even more pumped to get to LA.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Training leading up to the big day was going fairly well in the sense that I was able to complete everything that I was supposed to do. I was still very skeptical and concerned that the PW-ing (power walking on an incline) wouldn't translate over to being able to run at a decent pace for 3 hours! I was happy though that I could keep my heart rate in the 130-140 zone going 3.8-4 mph at a 10-12% incline. But.... So. Much. Walking! However, there was light at the end of the tunnel! After 7 weeks of no running I was released to test out the legs again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Coach Elliot had my PW rolling over to running by increasing in the intervals in quantity and duration. I only started running the week of January 11th... and after a few baby workouts to see how the foot would respond and hold up, he then really packed in the miles! Ha! It's so crazy my build up was so short. But we just didn't have time. I did exactly as I was told. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I wanted to finish so badly!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Adding to the excitement, the local paper came out to take my picture and write an <a href="http://missoulian.com/news/local/despite-injury-missoula-marathoner-to-compete-in-u-s-olympic/article_568f838e-f343-554e-b82d-2993efd4fd62.html">article</a>. It sums up my story really well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">LA BOUND! </span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>THURSDAY</i></span></span></h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I clearly have a affinity for <a href="http://vimvigr.com/collections/women-nylon-compression-socks-collection">purple stripes.</a> </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I woke up at the ass crack of dawn to get on a flight, landing in LA around 10 AM. I met up with my parents, grabbed lunch and then I headed out for a shake out jog/walk. It was hot. I mean I'm from Montana! Hello SoCal! Although I had only been on a treadmill and this was my first outdoor exercising event in 10 weeks (Hallelujah!), the shock of the 75° weather was freeing but also humbling. I navigated myself to a park about a mile from the house by walking for 90 seconds jogging for 90 seconds all the way there. My goal was to open it up for about 20 to 30 minutes at "race pace." It didn't go well. I didn't feel smooth at all, my gut was tore up (insert gross port-o-pot experience here) and I felt slow and sluggish. My watch confirmed that. The thought of officials pulling me off the course definitely crossed my mind. I jog/walked home trying not to freak out too bad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My parents and I decided we would drive to the JW Marriott downtown where I could check in my uniform and get it approved by USATF. Holy crap LA traffic... what a disaster. It took us more than an hour to go less than 9 miles. After picking up Oiselle teammate Sara Mac, she and I barely made it to check in before they shut the lights off and kicked us out of the elite hospitality suite. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My folks and I headed to the California space Center for the welcome banquet. There were lots of running stars and good food under the backdrop of the Endeavor space craft, but all I could think of was my heel hurt after a long day on my feet. The banquet was free for me, but 75 bucks for my parents (the food wasn't <i>that </i>good) so I told them to drink as much as possible since it was an open bar! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>FRIDAY</i></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I was relieved to wake up with my husband beside me, as he had flown in late Thursday night. I had breakfast, a lot of coffee and proceeded on my way as I had a big day including bottle drop off, Oiselle photo shoot and technical meeting where I got my sweet bib. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The technical meeting had lots of answers to my many logistical questions. I thought it was strange the lack of information involving aid stations, gear bags, security, time lines, </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;">etc</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;">(and where the heck was my participants shirt?). Most highly organized races provide all this info in the weeks leading up to the big day. But never having competed in an OT before, I thought it was just me being inexperienced. Only later, after the</span><a href="http://www.runnersworld.com/olympic-trials/after-olympic-marathon-trials-athletes-question-how-officials-handled-heat-and" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;"> race did I find out how unsatisfied many runners were in their treatment, runner amenities and USATF's race day organization</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;">. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">#OiselleDozen (even though there were 18!) Looking like a boss.<br />Can I say how rad it was to hang with all these fasties? </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">BAM! </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">That night, my dad and Aunt Pat made a fabulous pre-race dinner for me. I then had my typical GIANT pre-race desert (top off the food stores, duh!) SIX chocolate chip cookies and Andy and I drove downtown to stay with the majority of the Oiselle team at the LA Athletic Club. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Good night! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>SATURDAY</i></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A 10:22am start is great for a non-morning person such as myself. I didn't have to get up before the sun! I could take my time and enjoy breakfast, coffee and other morning routines. It was a beautiful, sunny day! Bring on the heat I thought. That will slow everyone down and allow my tendon to start out warm. I headed down to lobby and met up with team mates Heather McWhirter and Erin Osment. We Uber'd it as close as we could get to the start. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I got this text when I woke up! Eat your heart out Ellen. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Look who I ran into before the race? And their matching shirts - how cool! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Chillin' race day morning with one of my favorites and the only other Montanan Heather Leiberg. #fangirl</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">There wasn't much shade in the athlete holding area. We all huddled together and tried to stay calm. Pre-race jitters were in full effect. I was just concerned about finishing. I was mentally trying to prepare for the second half. I knew it would hurt.... everywhere! </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Team Oiselle getting ready to fly! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Officials sent the men off on their 2.2 mile loop. Guess what their send off song was? Nope, not <i>Eye of the Tiger</i>. Close, but they got Eminem's anthem <i>Lose It</i>. Rocking! We watched them fly by and as they came back through they were very tightly packed. After the last runner, all the women were hustled to the start line. I went to the back. I think there was only one other gal behind me. A few teammates joined me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I couldn't believe I had made it. I soaked it all in, then they counted us down and BOOM! We were off. Guess what song they sent the women off to? Nope, not the <i>Rocky Theme Song</i>. It was DeBarge's 80's classic <i>Rhythm of the Night</i>. I laughed. Typical. Give the guys the good song! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_oweJVBoEWE2vLbZisXOGQl4lPRKuegS9IwQGsQDqfiHIhUpaJXzw6Tg6ZgpkHnuOHdN2npy9xF0HkhtDrS8J5ywM_fQLWd6799u82MKS78ZGo7iYEHSB9_b_ZuBczcc7l_fNpfzFpP6/s640/blogger-image--134752648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_oweJVBoEWE2vLbZisXOGQl4lPRKuegS9IwQGsQDqfiHIhUpaJXzw6Tg6ZgpkHnuOHdN2npy9xF0HkhtDrS8J5ywM_fQLWd6799u82MKS78ZGo7iYEHSB9_b_ZuBczcc7l_fNpfzFpP6/s320/blogger-image--134752648.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ready to run! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Spotting my family in the crowd!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">First 2 miles loop with Shal and Sarah Mac. I think this was going up the "hill" .... ha ha. <br />This course was flat as a pancake! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Running in front of Olympic Stadium with Shal</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I just want to take a second to talk about the fans. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">First off my friends and family. They woke up early, piled into a Suburban to get to the course early. My mom made matching T-shirts and signs with all my furry friends! So fun to spot from the course. My dear Kath sacrificed her own race the next day in LA (where she crushed a 4th place finish among the women might I add) by standing in the heat, cheering all morning. It warms my hear and brightens my soul that these people cared so much to fly down to LA to cheer for this race. I love you Pat, Mark, Tyler, Kate, Evan, Kath, Kim, Tony, Mom & Dad! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.oiselle.com/athletes/volee">Oiselle Volee </a>and the <a href="http://www.oiselle.com/about">Nest</a> - HOLY SHIT!!!! I pretty much freaked out after finishing the first big loop. I really wasn't anticipating a full city block of birds. My only reaction was to run over toward you. And you yelled even louder!!! Obviously not a great racing strategy (I ran almost a half mile more than 26.2 by the end of this race) but I wanted to get as close to that energy as possible. I used you all as a incentive for running each loop. I would allow myself to celebrate with hi-5s after completing each loop. I can't think of anything more rewarding. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The original cat lady... my mom, my biggest fan!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelHwGbEd1fywP0j681-oOt4_C-67mNKjAi6N-g_DLI9P29Q2R9NWN1CkjdrGhwtHzMeNfVw-cZCmDiL-yLQ6Jc1PTpaPsmir_-UAcH6pOy0-LI0oSHnS-R2wQsxAkYKxcIBilbWwIr8WV/s640/blogger-image--2012323952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelHwGbEd1fywP0j681-oOt4_C-67mNKjAi6N-g_DLI9P29Q2R9NWN1CkjdrGhwtHzMeNfVw-cZCmDiL-yLQ6Jc1PTpaPsmir_-UAcH6pOy0-LI0oSHnS-R2wQsxAkYKxcIBilbWwIr8WV/s320/blogger-image--2012323952.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My brother... just walking around downtown LA with cat signs in his back pack. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Perhaps my favorite pic from the race.... reposted by Laurent Fleshman captioning it "the power of the team." It's true... the Oiselle Cowbell block was INSANE! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwilqWm9AS034WpyHHDpk_DK5qVJh8xkQFy4CtchkA4eQNIr7S3pnZyGMeO9alTYZwuChKlQHhsxVfRP-F6J4y3qNDKsZRB30kGcKWpLC9WarLQXclrDH89084QuAw65-Mavt_JG3H0SJ/s640/blogger-image-1612455857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwilqWm9AS034WpyHHDpk_DK5qVJh8xkQFy4CtchkA4eQNIr7S3pnZyGMeO9alTYZwuChKlQHhsxVfRP-F6J4y3qNDKsZRB30kGcKWpLC9WarLQXclrDH89084QuAw65-Mavt_JG3H0SJ/s320/blogger-image-1612455857.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you knew me between the years of 1996-2004.... <br />this is the same face I make after too many drinks and someone turns on 50 Cent. <br /><i>"We don't give a f### cause It's your Birthday." </i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Michael Jordan hi 5</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">All in all the race went MUCH better than planned. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The plan going in was to walk every aid station and pick one other area every loop. I got to the first aid station, and I thought “No way am I stopping now!” I didn’t want to lose the people I was running with nor did I feel like I needed a break. Famous last words right? In this case luckily no. The miles clicked off from the start. I felt really good running 6:30s-6:40s. I’m sure being at sea level helped too. The heat really didn’t bother me at all the first few hours. It was breezy and I had also been training indoors, so I do think that helped immensely.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Grinding it out</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Team Drobeck was epic! <br />I was so excited to pass their spectating station every loop! </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I’ve run 30+ marathons and I’ve had the real pleasure of a few of those in heat, so I know the drill about fluids. I grabbed water bottles at every neutral station, especially in the first two loops. I carried these bottles for a long time and chugged its contents. Again, not great racing strategy for running fast, but necessary in race survival mode. I had gels taped to 4 of my 8 personal bottles. I ate those 4 gels along with 2 others I carried in my pockets. I was actually stoked my fueling went so well since I really didn’t get much practice leading up to race day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">HOT! Too bad someone ordered soap infused sponges... <br />so all we had were these dippy towel segments. <br />I'm sure some intern was fired over that! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYnL7MU3-ytkH4v8X_8UfTjNih7YFjl-hMuckpPCdD_xRC10xtOrHWcFBF05inrZIZNf-bMsA-XIvNZRBu0_RHCSa4MbEhM-52IVuEa16pE9A_K1LkFrHqUr8LTmuUvLzaruGYVxxjkhc/s640/blogger-image--1259445289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYnL7MU3-ytkH4v8X_8UfTjNih7YFjl-hMuckpPCdD_xRC10xtOrHWcFBF05inrZIZNf-bMsA-XIvNZRBu0_RHCSa4MbEhM-52IVuEa16pE9A_K1LkFrHqUr8LTmuUvLzaruGYVxxjkhc/s320/blogger-image--1259445289.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Spectating is hard for 8 year olds.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Having a crit style race was not just great for the spectators, but I was able to watch both men’s and women’s race unfold. I could also easily spy my teammates in our sweet Oiselle kits. I screamed a lot for the women going the other direction, mostly for Kara. Damn, I wanted her in that top 3 so badly. Brave race for her.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Final Turn to the finish line - hurts so good!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I distinctly remember mile 17 thinking, ‘Ah, yes. This is where it’s going to start hurting. But keep moving. You want that freaking medal. You are so close. Time to womanup.” I held onto my pace until 22. Then I slowed to sevens flat. Now I felt the heat. The street had been baking in the sun for long enough that it was now radiating. Yuck. But the finish line was tangible, in sight, so I knew I had it. I relished the last pass by Cowbell City Block and the final 180 degree turn. I saw the finish line and put my head up and my wings out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">BAM! </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#HeadUpWingsOut into the finish shoot</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I got my freaking medal! I celebrated with this former Griz runner Heather McWhirter</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Saturday night, Oiselle hosted a kick ass celebration party at the LA Athletic Club. The food was delicious, the drinks were flowing and the photo booth was classic. I'm pretty sure Evan took at least 50 photo sessions! Kara Goucher gave a raw and inspirational speech that brought the crowd to tears. "This is a safe place," she told everyone. That sentence has stuck with me. It's so true, Oiselle has created something authentic, honest and unparalleled. They have an environment for women to try and not be afraid to fail. They embrace the victories and the mistakes. They know life is flawed and that's half the fun. I cannot gush enough about this company and the fearless women who have allowed me to be a part of it's team. Thank you Sally. Thank you Kristin. Thank you Nesters. Talk about being in good company. I'm humbled to be included.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuagDyvfkXya2QeHbvwDFpK4CB8keJPYHhmgi6emoA3oORi6S_vM8Su5gtWPknpFP-EvKHrPUyoYLuo8BZRiJToz_MlXunierKTLUlVksphTqtiPGUFO-3FXliMItMfDqOyRHYpRqOghc/s640/blogger-image-1641976717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuagDyvfkXya2QeHbvwDFpK4CB8keJPYHhmgi6emoA3oORi6S_vM8Su5gtWPknpFP-EvKHrPUyoYLuo8BZRiJToz_MlXunierKTLUlVksphTqtiPGUFO-3FXliMItMfDqOyRHYpRqOghc/s320/blogger-image-1641976717.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Photo booth fun! </span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDzcxfTdjABbFUEv9yxxOKhwwTJnbudKL53xOdqSnIXFUmMQmgpDPTixCNn-vEqRjqCNoBSTG5cvtcl0k4yVWTXjXU_55KPhs_H04njPmQ4QDar6weca4-wf-Y_7ZRPlnNx_HGnVvZMuT/s640/blogger-image-1031217734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDzcxfTdjABbFUEv9yxxOKhwwTJnbudKL53xOdqSnIXFUmMQmgpDPTixCNn-vEqRjqCNoBSTG5cvtcl0k4yVWTXjXU_55KPhs_H04njPmQ4QDar6weca4-wf-Y_7ZRPlnNx_HGnVvZMuT/s320/blogger-image-1031217734.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">PARTY TIME! Evan taking a break from the photo booth to help me sign posters with the other Oiselle runners<br /></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I've been dreaming about this thing since I found out I was going to the Trials. Knowing I had the potential to earn it got me through countless hours on the treadmill and boring PT exercises. Now it's all mine! </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">After two weeks of pretty much nothing after the trials, I
was ready to get moving again. I’ve resumed running slightly to five days a
week. Never more than an hour at a time. I’ve gone to a few local track
workouts with our club Run Wild Missoula which has been so much fun (and ass kicking)! Running
with humans, who would have thought would be so fun! I’ve missed the social aspects
of running. And I’m trying to force myself outside at lunch agai<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">n</span>. I truly miss my lunch runs
with Jenny! And once I got out of the habit (from injury) of not going, it was easy
just to work through the noon hour. But now that I’m able to run again, I need
to remind myself that life will go on for the hour I’m away from my desk and go run.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I even raced a local St Paddy’s Day seven miler! It hurt!
Both lungs and legs (and maybe a little bit of pride - I was 3 minutes slower than any other time I've ran this race). I know it’s going to be rough getting in shape for spring
racing, but I’m looking forward to putting in the work and miles. Until next time!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">xoxo</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Run for the Luck of it 7 miler</span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12418715132929702600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287988589594679230.post-12615898991654204562016-01-31T08:21:00.002-08:002016-01-31T09:59:17.580-08:00TornTendonSchmornTendon - Let's Galloway this Trials!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Two weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">TWO WEEKS.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">T W
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E K S
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I can’t believe how fast the last seven weeks have zoomed by.
In 13 short days I’ll be running the <a href="http://www.latrials2016.com/">Olympic Trials Marathon in LA</a>!! I mean, I
blinked, and here I am. The torn tendon on my left heel <i>is</i> healing… just slowly (as expected) but with the blessing of my
PT & coach, I was able to return to running with minor discomfort two weeks
ago. Running again is a huge relief… even if it was to start only at 90 seconds
at a time to start. I’ll take it. It wasn’t pain-free… but the niggle is tolerable
for now and the doctor reassures me I won’t be doing any more harm by returning
to running with the supervision of my PT and coach.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Yay to running again! </span></td></tr>
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<h4>
<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Peppy Stepping Gym Rat</span></i></b></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So far, January has proven to be a similar amount of time on
feet as my ‘normal’ 85-100 mile running weeks. I’m fluctuating from 14-17 hours
a week on my feet/in the gym. Although, I’m not running much during these times…
I’m walking on an incline <u>A LOT</u>, cycling and doing more strength training
and core than I’ve previously done. The progress I’ve made in my power walking
(or PW as I like to call it!) is so tangible and exponential, it’s blowing my
mind! When I started PW in late December, 6% incline was hard and bugged my
foot. I was also going about 3.6 mph for 30-45 minutes. Now I’m a PW robot. A
10% incline is my baseline and I’m going 4.1-4.3 mph all the way up to 14%. Don’t
forget this is for hours at a time (that’s like 11-12 miles straight up yo!).
PW. PW. PW! I may have to add this to my regular training once I’m back to good...
Ha! Probably not. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgFxzLjjPg96BDw4a5myJZgoOigKpTNO5u1tK1Rg5x_QePSGyO1B8ah1Vcrj5yTrysFOJUqrK04nyUXkyDWMWU7xk0oE0mWtAMoBn-3I7Z-yvMLoBVtgueBQmecN96HnORlyfAdKIDYqH/s1600/IMG_0873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgFxzLjjPg96BDw4a5myJZgoOigKpTNO5u1tK1Rg5x_QePSGyO1B8ah1Vcrj5yTrysFOJUqrK04nyUXkyDWMWU7xk0oE0mWtAMoBn-3I7Z-yvMLoBVtgueBQmecN96HnORlyfAdKIDYqH/s320/IMG_0873.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Get strong, look fly!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">My home away from home.... the gym and t-mill! </span></td></tr>
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<h4>
<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Hello Mt. Scott!</span></i></b></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I’ve done a lot of treadmill training in the past, so the
hamster wheel doesn’t bother me much. Usually when running, I crank some good
tunes and just zone out while people watching at the gym. TV while running
makes me a bit motion sick with all the bouncing…. But for my multi-hour PW
workouts, TV is kinda necessary to pass the hours. I found HGTV to be quite addictive
and my go-to channel. At some point I stumbled upon a <i>Property Brothers</i> marathon. Ummmmm…. Ladies, have you seen them? #twinning!
They are like 6’ 5” … quaffed hair, 5’oclock
shadows, tight, very tight pants, tool belts, sledgehammers… ok what was I
talking about? Oh yeah… back to training. I’ve also been spinning on my bike in
Andy’s man-cave a little and have started <i>Making
of a Murder</i>. Did he do it? Wait, don’t tell me! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Kj6HSQlMk5UZ7iODyLc6u8z8e56vzQHqxlFZZeCkECi_u2l8ozmoF5bIQ80OaT3BGjwFSj-qt6jqTljwb68D2Fa9Blqjl6FQQbAG_g5P2nDSxFfcTCW0x3lrxRIzr56OjLqa3yP8UVSr/s1600/prop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Kj6HSQlMk5UZ7iODyLc6u8z8e56vzQHqxlFZZeCkECi_u2l8ozmoF5bIQ80OaT3BGjwFSj-qt6jqTljwb68D2Fa9Blqjl6FQQbAG_g5P2nDSxFfcTCW0x3lrxRIzr56OjLqa3yP8UVSr/s320/prop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">#twinning!</span></td></tr>
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<h4>
<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Head Up, Wings Out – Lets Fly! </span></i></b></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">And here’s a big BONUS about the trials and this upcoming race season… I
get to race wearing an <a href="http://www.oiselle.com/blog/unveiled-our-2016-competition-kit">Oiselle Elite Kit</a> with 17 of my teammates. I’ve never been
on a running team until this last summer when I joined Oiselle Volée. Being a
part of this growing, encouraging, uplifting team has far exceeded my expectations.
I love, love, love it! Although running is a very personal, individual sport,
it is so much better when you have a group of women who embolden and inspire each
other. I haven’t written much about <a href="http://www.oiselle.com/">Oiselle</a>, but being a part of Haute Volée is
also a dream come true for me and something I’ve aspired for a few years now.
Every time I want to stop PW or quit the last rep of lunges, I think about lining
up with my teammates in our matching (HOT!) uniforms. I want to be my best for this
team and this company, so I’ve been working damn hard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Every. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Single. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Day.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Flashback!</i></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sometimes racing and running still feels new to me. I didn’t
race in high school or run in college. One time, I stole a Budweiser banner
from the Silver Dollar bar downtown when I was probably 20 or 21 … I ran out
their back gate and about seven blocks until I was sure the bartender wasn’t
chasing me anymore. That concluded my collegiate running career. (And they keep
that back gate locked now – ha!) I never intended to ignite my competitive spirit
as an adult with distance running. And it certainly didn’t happen right away. I
had to mature a lot before the fire began to really burn. I was a bit wild after
college in my 20s. Running long and racing fast took a level of commitment I
wasn’t ready to give until my late 20s /early 30s. I honestly think my biggest
talents in running are what’s floating around in my skull. Relentless work ethic,
stubbornness, independent and goal-oriented – this is what makes me good at enduring
distance running. Sure, there’s some God-given good stuff too, but I was never fast or particularly gifted to start. I had to work my ass off to get there and here! And I love at least
90% of those steps in that journey (c’mon… they all aren’t great!). It's good for me to think about where I've started, and why I started and remember the reasons I push and push and push. So… here’s a real treat. Keep reading the rest
of this blog and I’ll reward you with some awesome pictures of me throughout
the years. Yikes! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Meet My <i>Other</i> Team!</b> (These guys are working
really hard to get me to that start line at the trials)</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Coach Elliot! </b>I’ve
been working with Elliot since the fall of 2011. I can honestly say that Elliot’s
approach to my training is spot on for someone like me who wants to compete at
a high level but has a high-stress job and is often time crunched. Sometimes we
are cautious with training and other times we throw caution to the wind. I
never ever feel like he’s handing me someone else’s training plan or I the plan is something cookie cutter. I never feel like I don’t have a say in the
direction, duration or any other facet of the training. We meet once a week over
coffee for me and tea for Elliot discussing the week’s agenda and training plan.
We break the training down weekly and look at a more macro level too depending on my ‘A’
races. I think his recent PW, biking and short interval running program he’s
concocted has pushed me without re-injury to the best possible place for the
Trials. Sometimes Elliot and I run long together
on the weekends, never discussing my training, but rather gossiping and chatting
about nothing in particular. There’ve has also been a handful of road trips and
vacation races where he’s accompanied the Drobeck’s. Elliot never disappoints to
entertain me. I’m happy he’s not only my coach but also my friend. Oh, I know he
would also be sad if I didn’t mention he’s got righteous dance floor moves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLe4WG2KAn7qWJEbDG5j9b39F4MG2Yhyphenhyphen0tVbNlYMM5S1e5CmfviCOSXR-kSd1tqc-fGslYl1j9JJfWSySzJ0dNb4CEqG8iKstaytSLNZejp9UQyJW0MfUT_qfFrIoGUx_-3l7zFBkX1Xv/s1600/IMG_0864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLe4WG2KAn7qWJEbDG5j9b39F4MG2Yhyphenhyphen0tVbNlYMM5S1e5CmfviCOSXR-kSd1tqc-fGslYl1j9JJfWSySzJ0dNb4CEqG8iKstaytSLNZejp9UQyJW0MfUT_qfFrIoGUx_-3l7zFBkX1Xv/s320/IMG_0864.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">No it's not a mad scientist - it's Coach Elliot! <br />Well.... kind of a mad scientist.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Physical Therapist
Matt!</b> Andy starting working with Matt earlier this year to help out his
swimming mobility and after my DNF at CIM, Andy suggested I see him to have my
calf dry needled and get a rehab plan. (Personally, I think Andy just wanted me
to get my crying ass off the couch.) After a few days of loathing, it was a
good choice. Right after my first visit was when the ‘B’ standard changed for trials
qualification. So for my second visit I told Matt, “I need to be able to run a marathon
in 9 weeks. Can we do that?” Blank stare. I’m sure in Matt’s head he was thinking, “This
girl is crazy.” He politely told me that normal treatment of a torn tendon in
this area of my foot is about 12 weeks before you even <i>start</i> running. We didn’t have that luxury of time. So let the
healing begin! For the past seven weeks there’s been lots of dry needling, calf
scraping, glute activation, mobility exercises, heel raises….. SERIOUSLY <i>hours</i> of PT exercises, daily! But I’m a
good student and a diligent Type A… so I’m happy to report, Matt has been pleasantly
surprised that I am back to running faster than he anticipated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2v0CK7JDBm-Cp6Cnza4us7HryOVHi7Y5EaZ8AjDmd-N3s5rHaYLN9VgNcKql1AsMqMpCVfbqkkOmfrYPIXyXf6sSW0gNEqoyp5Sav1wZZinpMdYt0GVbILgFJraZ6ylY4PFI5DvF-4u0o/s1600/IMG_0865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2v0CK7JDBm-Cp6Cnza4us7HryOVHi7Y5EaZ8AjDmd-N3s5rHaYLN9VgNcKql1AsMqMpCVfbqkkOmfrYPIXyXf6sSW0gNEqoyp5Sav1wZZinpMdYt0GVbILgFJraZ6ylY4PFI5DvF-4u0o/s320/IMG_0865.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Let the healing begin! No scraping or needling in this pic. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Elliot and Matt have put their heads together worked some magic the past few
months to get me on the right path both writing plans & programs that
compliment each other… teetering the line of overloading and healing, all the
while trying to get me in some semblance of running shape, but not re-injuring
the area. I can’t thank them both enough for going well above and beyond to help me start
this race. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I also need to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who’s given me encouraging words, texts,
emails, hi-fives, fb shout outs…. It’s so awesome and makes me work a little
harder each day! I should have a Olympic Trials Recap after the race 😀 #LA2016<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">xoxo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h2>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">RUNNING MEMORIES!</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">My first marathon - PDX 2002</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Look at that tiny medal! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bgZArIgA41UWqKizyLLpZA05SAdxPqyKSw0M9y0sRU51Io7xY_YruwHFxvPp7-XgkJqCZ1R36b0IrogeNbVaf9LLy3-VTI-uumSqPDccQXnNbMRcgaqYEFoGP04HhDg_ZrJxb9Fu2qHL/s640/blogger-image-1688078569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bgZArIgA41UWqKizyLLpZA05SAdxPqyKSw0M9y0sRU51Io7xY_YruwHFxvPp7-XgkJqCZ1R36b0IrogeNbVaf9LLy3-VTI-uumSqPDccQXnNbMRcgaqYEFoGP04HhDg_ZrJxb9Fu2qHL/s320/blogger-image-1688078569.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">My second marathon - PDX 2003<br />11 minutes faster!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pjZwRJvwAST4VSqF9v-lT-5USCMwSWK7h-wCMrzVAO25JlXz8OIVwIrrELyE_qttiidMkMRcKWrMnIlreTp_NzuzPi66aOKVOeoncRsFVUPTcBUwe6Tz5mH_VFUw_nST1xTvdPJTGBXx/s640/blogger-image--1151758633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pjZwRJvwAST4VSqF9v-lT-5USCMwSWK7h-wCMrzVAO25JlXz8OIVwIrrELyE_qttiidMkMRcKWrMnIlreTp_NzuzPi66aOKVOeoncRsFVUPTcBUwe6Tz5mH_VFUw_nST1xTvdPJTGBXx/s320/blogger-image--1151758633.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">First Boston! 2004 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">86+ degrees, noon start</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The inaugural Missoula Marathon 2007 with my folks</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Another 10+ minute PR<br />Sub 3:10 in Ogden, UT 2008</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">After multiple attempts, my first sub 3 in big 2:54:00 fashion<br />Eugene 2011</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">My first big win - 2012 Rock N Roll AZ!<br />Smuggling raisins across the finish line</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">My PR - Twin Cities, MN 2013</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">CAT PICTURES!! </span></h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Brothers</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Beaver is obsessed with drinking out of the sink</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">I bought the cat bed for Harley... Steve likes it best</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Feeding Time</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Chester is very happy I visited him</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12418715132929702600noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287988589594679230.post-36699244449083167672016-01-03T14:08:00.002-08:002016-01-03T14:08:24.010-08:00Try and Try (and Try) Again... and Again<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">OR</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The worlds longest blog.... seriously! Get a good seat, because this is a novel. </span><br />
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Sorry friends, I know it's been more than a year. But FINALLY an update! So much has happened... this is the Reader's Digest version. Or more like the Cliff's Notes of the Reader's Digest. Enjoy! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(Don't fret... cat pics at the bottom too!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.”</span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> -VINCE LOMBARDI</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">For more than two years my running goal has been to qualify for the Olympic Trials. My initial attempt in October of 2013 resulted in a sub 2:45 (by 2 seconds!) performance in Twin Cities. This was encouraging and more than a 4 minute PR. I thought for sure I was on track to knock out the sub 2:43 in 2014. I was sure of it. Positive. Cocky. Confident. When I found myself at the Elite Women’s start of the Boston Marathon in April 2014, the weather was perfect, the field was deep and I went for it. (I was also fresh off a huge Half PR). The Boston hills crushed me and I ran solo from mile 10 on which was really tough, but I still clocked a low 2:46 proving to be my second fastest marathon ever. It really didn’t phase me not getting the trails time on just my second attempt. <i>I got lots of time</i>, I thought. I decided to get back to hard training and go after it again in June. But then (dun, dun, dun) the ANGRY PUBIS. I’m not going to rehash. You can read about my ridiculously named, but nonetheless painful and annoying injury <a href="http://trishadrobeck.blogspot.com/2014_07_01_archive.html">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The pubis set me back… a lot. More than I cared to admit or certainly accepted during the second half of 2014. Denial is something I (and probably most athletes) have to conquer along with the physical injury too. An ill-fated OTQ attempt in Indianapolis in November of 2014 was just a bad idea all around. DENIAL. I was in shape, sure, but certainly not 2:43 shape. Because of the pubis I lacked in a lot of speed work. I ran a lot of miles, but I couldn’t admit that the pubis was holding me back. DENIAL. It still ached and felt off … but I just couldn’t let go of the fact that I would be missing out on an OTQ opportunity if I wasn't training hard and racing. DENIAL. It didn’t help me much that the weather was shit on race day (30 degrees with 20+mph winds). Brrrr. I also made classic rookie mistakes. I didn’t wear enough clothes. I wore compression socks to race in (I hate even running in them!) I still wonder <i>What the hell was I thinking that morning?</i> That’s just one race I like to forget. So 2014 closed and I found myself even further from reaching my goal. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Time to get up and get back to the drawing board for 2015.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This was a new year. I would do things differently. I would focus on getting faster and stronger. I would try and be positive and boost myself up rather than let the negative thoughts and dark doubt that mounted from a lame 2014 bring me down. Did I mention I wanted to get faster? I thought <i>I would force it if I had to</i>... (Famous last words). I would train at faster paces. I</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> think a symptom of being a road runner is over-analyzing pace, splits, finish time. It creates a gross time and pace obsessed monster/robot often trolling race results to see what everyone else is racing and comparing other blogs and facebook posts continually wondering A<i>m I doing enough? </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In February, Andy and I traveled to Puerto Rico. I had a work trip/meetings and they were kind enough to allow spouses to tag along. Andy discovered a few hours away from where were staying, there was “the toughest paved 13.1 miler on the planet.” <i>For the love of God</i>! This seems right up my alley <i>(Um, yeah hell no!</i>). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.maratonsanblas.com/index_english.html">Medio Maraton San Blas </a>has been around for more than five decades and always featured the world’s best and 2015 was no joke with lots of east African talent. Nothing about this day felt standard race procedure … 85 degrees, 900+ ft of elevation gain, 4:30pm start, 200,000+ spectators vs less than 600 runners, not much English speaking around us …. But it was AWESOME!<i> Is this how racing is in other parts of the world?</i> Sign me up again please! I ran by feel (not pace) since this race presented three H’s I’m not accustomed to: hot, humid and hilly. Surprising myself (and my husband who loves hills and warm weather) I ran strong, with my last two miles the fastest. I picked off gals until the end finishing 11<sup>th</sup> overall, first “gringa” or “Americana” as I was called on the course. Check out this video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeEkze81nMA">here </a>for a sense of the mayhem. I won $350 for placing first in my age group too! That helped ease the costs of the trip for sure. Although I had built a small piece of confidence, finishing strong and placing well, my slow time concerned me (of course). TIME OBSESSED.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Andy & I after 13.1 grueling miles in Puerto Rico. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Andy got hot and exploded at the top of the hill. I finished only one minute behind him.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Next on the list, Eugene Marathon in early May. Flat, fast and loaded with runners gunning for the sub 2:43. And my family would travel to watch since it was in Oregon. This was the toughest build up I’ve ever had into a race. I had 6 solid weeks in the upper 90s & a few 100+ weeks in there. Lots of speed work too. My taper started about 2 weeks prior to the race. The taper went horribly wrong. I felt awful. My lower back ached. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">All. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Even the day before the race I was in pain. I remember standing in my kitchen making hamburgers the weekend before the race thinking my body felt strained and unpleasant all over. The only way I can describe it, is when your hands are white from being cold, then you run them under hot water and that stinging/pain ache sensation when you start to warm up. It freakin’ hurts. That was my whole body. I still have no idea what this was.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Race day. I felt tired and slow until the 5K... then it was like a switch went off. Miles 3-10 I felt like I was jogging; 6:10s were clicking off like clockwork. Then I felt the grossness in my stomach. I had the sour gut until we went through mile 15. I decided I should try and poop. So I did. In a bush (so glamorous!)… it probably took at the most 20-30 seconds. I wasn’t very far off the pack once I finished. I thought I could catch up… so I hammered mile 15. That mile was a 6:11 …. So if I took 20-30 seconds to squeeze out a turd… that means I dropped a 5:40-5:50. <i>That was stupid</i>! By mile 20 and 21, my legs were seized in cramps and not moving fast anymore. I ground out 7 min/miles to the finish and ran a few seconds beyond 2:47. Sad times for me. Another marathon failure. TIME OBSESSED.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlIqhMql8XirfREvm8AI5HRnRW0oeyGP4vcBALRpRbZgn3_mz13SeiNlUmtwv6vKvtw624QyoiCdIfDMfcpUnxZ3P67wOPoIJj6w04pJ8HSLNnIYmvc8Dw8eUZv6OtDeZvk-897XGafU1/s640/blogger-image-1977360705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlIqhMql8XirfREvm8AI5HRnRW0oeyGP4vcBALRpRbZgn3_mz13SeiNlUmtwv6vKvtw624QyoiCdIfDMfcpUnxZ3P67wOPoIJj6w04pJ8HSLNnIYmvc8Dw8eUZv6OtDeZvk-897XGafU1/s320/blogger-image-1977360705.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">About mile 8 or 9 of the Eugene OTQ pack.<br />PC: Andy Tucknott</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Get back up. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Luckily, the prospect of running the Missoula Marathon 8 weeks after Eugene lifted my spirits quickly. I LOVE the Missoula Marathon. I don’t know what it is exactly… home town pride, racing on roads I train on, sleeping in my own bed, Higgins Street Bridge, people cheering for me not because they read my name on my bib, but because they are my friends, ten years of participation… probably just a combo of everything, but it’s a love affair I can’t deny! The goal for this race was NOT to run a sub 2:43, but to gain some much needed confidence back and run a strong race (and win some cash too $$$!!!). The turnaround time was short from Eugene, so the training was short and not as intense. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Race day was magical. At mile 20, I knew I had enough in the tank to take this all the way. I faltered a little at mile 23 … but overall my last 10K was fast. Hearing the crowd on the bridge was something I will never, ever, ever, ever forget. I tear up just thinking about it. I ran a high 2:46. I felt like I was “back” … the taper was right, the race was spot on and I felt like if I could run a 2:46 in Missoula (overall elevation gain, humid summer race, running solo) surely in the late fall I could go sub 2:43 on a flat course with a girl pack. TIME OBSESSED.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1lm_PRgkk4t8e5ijMSgN1sglGBJoydnLBX54ptReoORICxGd3B-LKi-ARLYX_Gucg-wypAbgXH7i34Sr3iKEU6FWlvlZgQtOLNTF3HmrW_sv_42Mn5d-vWV2B9lfnLouyFhklR5YyBQ0/s640/blogger-image-137734120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1lm_PRgkk4t8e5ijMSgN1sglGBJoydnLBX54ptReoORICxGd3B-LKi-ARLYX_Gucg-wypAbgXH7i34Sr3iKEU6FWlvlZgQtOLNTF3HmrW_sv_42Mn5d-vWV2B9lfnLouyFhklR5YyBQ0/s320/blogger-image-137734120.jpg" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> Cation not necessary.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">PC: Lore Benoit</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Two marathons in 8 weeks was hard for me to bounce back from. The burnout was deep, but I thought that might happen, so the remainder of July and August was just <a href="http://www.oiselle.com/blog/go-funning">funning </a>(or fun running... get it?). Training resumed in mid-September for a 12 week block leading up to California International Marathon (CIM) the first weekend in December. CIM is known for its deep elite field with lots of Americans going for the trials standard. By race day, there were approximated 60 women lined up to go sub 2:43. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My training build up was dialed in and flowed great. I couldn’t have asked for it to go any smoother. I rocked workouts I’d never been able to do before. I felt good. Confident AND fast (finally!) like I knew I could do this. I knew even not on my best day I could make my obsession a reality. That 2:43 was mine. I knew I had it. I was ready. Not only was my body prepared, more importantly my brain was ready for me to succeed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Race day morning I woke up at 4am (yuck!) but I had to catch the bus early to Folsom. I started my period right then. I knew it was coming and I knew there was a good chance it would happen around race day… but I was bummed (and extremely angry) it came on race day morning. This sucks so, so, so much. I know it’s such a personal thing for each woman, but my experience is I'm "out" about 36 hrs with mine… I really feel like I could just lay and sleep (and cry for no apparent reason) all day. Everything aches, especially from the waist to my knees, with cramps all day – there is no relief. So I convinced myself that I was in such good shape I could do this. Whether starting my period had anything to do with my foot pain… I really don’t know, but I think hormones do so much to our bodies that aren’t fully understood. Worth mentioning anyways. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Race day weather was actually pretty good: somewhere in the low 50s with cloud cover and a little drizzle, low winds. I did feel like I was more tired than I should be at the half split, but I just stayed with the group which quickly dwindled to 15 people toward the second half of the race. <i>Just hang on</i> I kept telling myself. By mile 14, I knew something was wrong with my foot. Every heel strike with my left foot I got a shooting pain in my heel. <i>What the hell was this?</i> I’d never had heel pain before. By mile 16, the pain was increasing and I was limping a little. By 18, I fell off the pack. I saw Andy at mile 19 and I limped over to him. I exploded into a mumbling, sobbing disaster. About all I could do was point at my foot and apologize profusely. He asked me "Why are you apologizing?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">To say I was disappointed doesn't even scratch the surface of the deep layers of raw emotion. I felt I let <i>everyone </i>down. So many friends at home and the Missoula running community, my parents who drove all the way down to Sacramento, my bestie Rachel who used her airline miles to come cheer me on, Andy, my coach… but above everything, I let myself down. It was my first DNF racing and my last attempt at cracking the trials standard. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It’s so hard to accept continually failing at something. But I wouldn't be me if I didn't I keep trying. In this case, I've just run out of time. I pride myself that if I want something, I work hard and go after it. So many successes in my life and work are not because of talent but because I have a tough work ethic, and overtime I have achieved whatever it was I set out to do. This applies to running as well, up until I’ve tried going under 2:43.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">If you know me, I’m not a “Woe, is me, I failed, wah, wah, wah…” person. I’m not looking pity, or for people to tell me I did a good job and I’m not looking for acknowledgement. I’m a ‘tell it like it is’ person. (One guy at work approached me quietly one day and asked my opinion on something quite serious because he said he could trust me to tell him the truth.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I set a goal for myself and I failed. That’s just that. And writing about it is very cathartic for me and another step forward. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Its a tough pill to swallow, failure that is. (Although wine and chocolate did help for those first few days coming back to reality after the race.) I couldn’t even bare to look at social media to see my friends and teammates who reached their goals and were rightfully so celebrating. I was happy for them, truly, but my own sadness was too much… And I was still on my period so I was on emotional overload. I couldn’t even take phone calls from my biggest running supporters and friends to explain what. It took me about 4 days to be able to talk about CIM and OTQ without sobbing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A long conversation with a great friend put some positive wheels in motion. She told me to grieve. She reminded me it's OK to mourn what could have been. This was a loss I needed to acknowledge, accept and keep going;0 take my time and use it to fuel future fires. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So, yes I'll be sad for a bit, but I'll get back up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">FIVE DAYS LATER --------------------------</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Luckily, work was insane post CIM and working 10-11 hour days was a welcome distraction. Then the bombshell. Call it what you want, extreme good fortune, pure luck, divine intervention…. But the strangest thing happened Thursday night following my Sunday DNF race. Right after my first appointment with the PT for some dry needling on my calf, I received a message from a fellow trials-seeking runner in Arizona mentioning that the IAFF had lessened their Olympic standard so more counties could participate in the Olympic marathon (also following some more lenient track and field standards too). Their new marathon standard was sub 2:45. USA Track & Field would soon make a decision to adopt the IAFF standard to their ‘B’ standard. I honestly didn’t think it would happen. But I was shocked Friday morning when Amy sent me the link to the press release and a “you’re in!” message. I think I sat at my desk for a solid two minutes ignoring the ringing phone, staring at my computer, contemplating this.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">HOLY F-ING S#!T!</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Wha the Wha?</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Is this really happening?</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I kept it to myself for about an hour. It was just too good to be true. Maybe they’d take it back. I was still raw after the DNF failure six ddays prior. This was too much. <i>How could I be at my absolute lowest to quickly find out my goal had been realized? </i>I finally texted the link to my mom and all my friends and told my co-workers. It was surreal to say the least. After a two year roller coaster that I thought was over … I’m going to the Trials. By 2 seconds. (My gun time at Twin Cities was 2:44:59.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Two seconds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">TWO SECONDS!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I can’t even (still) wrap my head around this. Within a short amount of time a lot has happened. USATF contacted me to register, <a href="http://www.oiselle.com/">Oiselle </a>(the most encouraging and fly sponsor EVER) put me on their <a href="http://www.oiselle.com/athletes/trisha-drobeck">elite Haute Volée team</a>, social media blew up for me and the other 47 athletes (men & women) who were now going to participate in the trials. I bought plane tickets and an Airbnb (VRBO is so 2015).</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">I have some pretty awesome friends who surprised me with this cake. I cried. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">MOVING FORWARD: It’s been 4 weeks since CIM. I still can’t run and my foot still hurts. The trials are a short 6 weeks away. The foot is getting better though. Damn tendons are hard to heal. My PT and coach are both really cautious, because if I come back too soon and re-injure the area, I won’t be able to participate at all. I can walk on an incline and cycle. The running will begin soon though. It has to. I think 5 weeks of running should be enough to not embarrass myself at the trials. So I have two goals for the trials: Start line & Finish line. Please cross your fingers for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Contradictory feelings continue to bounce around my head. Probably because I'm not running right now and that's when I do my best thinking and compartmentalizing. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I'm still grieving</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> my CIM race while trying to remain positive to get over this injury in time to run February 13. I'm torn between being happy I get the opportunity to participate in the trials and an overwhelming feeling I didn't "earn" my spot like the other runners. I know in a few years, it won't be discussed the bonus two minutes added late to the Women's B standard, but I would be lying if I didn't mention the thoughts crosses my mind frequently. Either way, the opportunity won't go unused or wasted. I'm doing everything I possibly can to get to a healthy state. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">LESSONS:</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My best races this year were races where finish time wasn’t a big deal. Place, running consistent and finishing strong were the goal. Racing to <i>race </i>and not for a time is so much better for me at this time. After I get this foot thing under control, this will be my focus: less finish time obsession. Time to <a href="http://www.oiselle.com/blog/woman-2016">#WomanUp2016</a>!! So it’s not all about time, at least not for me, not now. My journey has been filled with so much good stuff and some real heart ache too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> I’ll be honest, if I could go back, there are certainly some things I would undo and things I would do differently in the past two and half years. That's called a learning curve and since I started running competitively very late in life, I'm bit behind behind. But regrets, nope. These lessons will only make me a better human and stronger runner in the future. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So thanks, Vince. I think I will.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Keep</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Getting</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Up</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Thanks for listening to my ramblings!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">xoxo</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2GHvTaVnas63x-uy-0kDFF5ql0XyLmlceXMvcFjsgV8jJHPFKlPArF6mTEfHjDeJA3WJMLkaJLu8b6eRujTso4TmUTrRGPG3gfWuvqqaNjJ1CHg7laDH1BCCekcnmjVvKamA6GH2LFpkx/s640/blogger-image--1127425823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2GHvTaVnas63x-uy-0kDFF5ql0XyLmlceXMvcFjsgV8jJHPFKlPArF6mTEfHjDeJA3WJMLkaJLu8b6eRujTso4TmUTrRGPG3gfWuvqqaNjJ1CHg7laDH1BCCekcnmjVvKamA6GH2LFpkx/s200/blogger-image--1127425823.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Andy kindly rolled my 2015 goals right into 2016</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfrRzeeedWA_oTrmnkeRmuIwB6oX0jhs_z55hQ7yzy8vRw0ZITuNNK0kSRZpjW7TiIsp348TwhEXD4L-9LFU_iyOTzjAa75dU4NYjZl29FIsrS8AHA8Fm3eiJMtL8F-BIfOa1wcxWtjl0/s640/blogger-image-1873193912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfrRzeeedWA_oTrmnkeRmuIwB6oX0jhs_z55hQ7yzy8vRw0ZITuNNK0kSRZpjW7TiIsp348TwhEXD4L-9LFU_iyOTzjAa75dU4NYjZl29FIsrS8AHA8Fm3eiJMtL8F-BIfOa1wcxWtjl0/s200/blogger-image-1873193912.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">My folks cats Pine Marten & Rock Chuck</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQT9CVHJJ2B8Ht3c4pizK0jleiwlJAmtS8p4NL31PEEcFNL2IqYVCAakqas3eSAb1hJCrccFmT6Hhpv038b8a4Mp-Iqvsa5cUAzNK5P4P7c4t55yE0lfo85mVvunKETXRnXmnF_C9CxNL/s640/blogger-image-1531259096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQT9CVHJJ2B8Ht3c4pizK0jleiwlJAmtS8p4NL31PEEcFNL2IqYVCAakqas3eSAb1hJCrccFmT6Hhpv038b8a4Mp-Iqvsa5cUAzNK5P4P7c4t55yE0lfo85mVvunKETXRnXmnF_C9CxNL/s200/blogger-image-1531259096.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">My brother cat Fritoe - he has 24 toes!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlzJaS3oivCHjd7_5aIqU6_BtcNUbno78pcjUmGIhMGl_AjWz_T8qlTFwmCmr264UaYMNOy25GURVaUZFSP9A62iDScGj7m23zLSHJkScG_qJRyTsi2cWXOXJ4iDBb7s9YXx1P6u2dKOz/s640/blogger-image--1420167928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlzJaS3oivCHjd7_5aIqU6_BtcNUbno78pcjUmGIhMGl_AjWz_T8qlTFwmCmr264UaYMNOy25GURVaUZFSP9A62iDScGj7m23zLSHJkScG_qJRyTsi2cWXOXJ4iDBb7s9YXx1P6u2dKOz/s200/blogger-image--1420167928.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">This behemoth is Rambo, my brothers other cat. <br />He's a sissy and afraid of Fritoe.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtAToP6AC3j-BPy5bVbNCo8VVpnG7JJ8m2jYHezjMJDaR-k-KKlRPsBt6yMI4Smu5903c0c4T4J6Fnu_4WKpm81jA9hnX5OyB_u4YMNprWS0EGnDmb3UGcgs_CX_n9hTlPRAa2fMnT_3w/s640/blogger-image-686670322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtAToP6AC3j-BPy5bVbNCo8VVpnG7JJ8m2jYHezjMJDaR-k-KKlRPsBt6yMI4Smu5903c0c4T4J6Fnu_4WKpm81jA9hnX5OyB_u4YMNprWS0EGnDmb3UGcgs_CX_n9hTlPRAa2fMnT_3w/s200/blogger-image-686670322.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Beaver looking fancy for the holidays.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUK7t8VNespUKBsaW0o0gKmWlosSPeiUHokxXwu1IQR1lf8vcByLIIjOBDdwINag_ly2HSZcr4qVL8L2c6MiO3QccPZ0HWOFBHijvHbEukpocHEDabMdQ1B7UIjuZCQznXwnd0TTgygqmY/s640/blogger-image--266214855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUK7t8VNespUKBsaW0o0gKmWlosSPeiUHokxXwu1IQR1lf8vcByLIIjOBDdwINag_ly2HSZcr4qVL8L2c6MiO3QccPZ0HWOFBHijvHbEukpocHEDabMdQ1B7UIjuZCQznXwnd0TTgygqmY/s200/blogger-image--266214855.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Harley will be 16 this year! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vAIhwcjUAZcBchY-Uwg5ZfAhpDHuJlwCB58lXyIALKfCQcXCbkWkzeO94NoYb_nmepMXYlwVzMgRETCffVMJy59x7ADjWMexJhkMLTetLTiwgpY4f3vy-0fgU2MuzJCeGyocHDFzMU4U/s640/blogger-image-1168424307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vAIhwcjUAZcBchY-Uwg5ZfAhpDHuJlwCB58lXyIALKfCQcXCbkWkzeO94NoYb_nmepMXYlwVzMgRETCffVMJy59x7ADjWMexJhkMLTetLTiwgpY4f3vy-0fgU2MuzJCeGyocHDFzMU4U/s320/blogger-image-1168424307.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The Orangies.... #catpile (Jealous Schmetterling?)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNM-Js9lwIC9jayswCOPCrPbjta4Nhw5L0xh13OgjXj0VsedyGC29kbXxQoNGhyhvLMEKhwvNG9eYpAX_oyfPdD8eeRHiIk-EKw-EHo-aBipRDnBRXxn6I6kr4dS5BTQd8IjqVnGL2LNJd/s640/blogger-image--1395471542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNM-Js9lwIC9jayswCOPCrPbjta4Nhw5L0xh13OgjXj0VsedyGC29kbXxQoNGhyhvLMEKhwvNG9eYpAX_oyfPdD8eeRHiIk-EKw-EHo-aBipRDnBRXxn6I6kr4dS5BTQd8IjqVnGL2LNJd/s320/blogger-image--1395471542.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Daily bathroom hangout... Steve likes to straddle the heater and Wylie is hiding. Can you see him?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnpuaTIyPaDR6b4aQDXlH2iW8gl_FvXC1hIf34oanY0wFzUziHCiD9YZXDt0iGN7q24SdYw3ADxctgr6ozGPsHtR1leY4BVkb44-hO2McPrdk6cegJ4A2dzCECFCaUYaVHOPz24pqSz7b/s640/blogger-image-1416548589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnpuaTIyPaDR6b4aQDXlH2iW8gl_FvXC1hIf34oanY0wFzUziHCiD9YZXDt0iGN7q24SdYw3ADxctgr6ozGPsHtR1leY4BVkb44-hO2McPrdk6cegJ4A2dzCECFCaUYaVHOPz24pqSz7b/s200/blogger-image-1416548589.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">My green eyed Wylie</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUBgbUJogn7-fMK0KPzk85Bcpx6vzbndN9hryiHMgnWIXNRZ9jl4zN5gK67NpDCERgXHfhc8g29p0hyphenhyphenXvugOqPgKCBZB7A1cA9UEkcQlBYWqIUXQEuWGyVgKmrwju7NHNS2S67IGEY3cg/s640/blogger-image-938464300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUBgbUJogn7-fMK0KPzk85Bcpx6vzbndN9hryiHMgnWIXNRZ9jl4zN5gK67NpDCERgXHfhc8g29p0hyphenhyphenXvugOqPgKCBZB7A1cA9UEkcQlBYWqIUXQEuWGyVgKmrwju7NHNS2S67IGEY3cg/s200/blogger-image-938464300.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Andy my blue eyed little bear (Steve!)</span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12418715132929702600noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287988589594679230.post-37852529597136411312014-09-14T18:32:00.001-07:002014-09-14T18:32:45.835-07:00Life after PUBIS<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Come on now. You didn't think I’d give up that word that quickly did you?
Although, people still hesitate when they see me… “How’s your… um… injury…
your, um, pelvic bone?” <i>You mean my
pubis?</i> Come on! Just say it. I promise, it doesn't disappoint. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Well, to answer this question is complicated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Some days it’s great, non-existent. Other days … more
annoying than anything. I’m not in pain
by any means… but I can still feel symptoms of inflammation: sore groin or
stiffness in the lower abdomen. Just like having a hungry orange cat(s)... it just <i>there </i>bugging
me. I have been a quick study on activities that aggravate it: fast running on
loose dirt, sneezing, sitting in certain positions for long periods… but life
MUST go on! And it has. So here’s a bit of an late summer recap mostly in photos, because I'm fairly certain only my mom actually reads this - Hi Mom!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.missoulamarathon.org/">MISSOULA MARATHON</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Again this year, I was happy to pace the 3:20 group and help
others meet their marathon goals. Love, love, love the second Sunday in July. You can read more about my affinity for the MM <a href="http://trishadrobeck.blogspot.com/2014/07/patience-pubis.html">here</a> at the end of the post.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQZbfLdHhztBsON-Wc7ZKN3Ioed2MwmLdzxK9nUcHE3u0jo8jYXuUtq8jsFgOqTf3n8w_PapWBD6RrRAFpP0BJiwHntz-AUz1vs0MIJw415eSGnsz4A4ZQ_29qRQvEBcPvSFMYcLqzhwo/s640/blogger-image-1465651035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQZbfLdHhztBsON-Wc7ZKN3Ioed2MwmLdzxK9nUcHE3u0jo8jYXuUtq8jsFgOqTf3n8w_PapWBD6RrRAFpP0BJiwHntz-AUz1vs0MIJw415eSGnsz4A4ZQ_29qRQvEBcPvSFMYcLqzhwo/s200/blogger-image-1465651035.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Follow this leg!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ccTf50LGSp04fFE6vRQcxsTGsDRqb_SSfImmZyhw7_BzwixGLBeZcg3s9NDPBMxHjvC41c6BA2UDR-l8oYRK2lF5EStXXustMRPMMQfdhBJgVqTewD_mRRhghNstNzN_bQufhxCVzTkB/s640/blogger-image--223316288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ccTf50LGSp04fFE6vRQcxsTGsDRqb_SSfImmZyhw7_BzwixGLBeZcg3s9NDPBMxHjvC41c6BA2UDR-l8oYRK2lF5EStXXustMRPMMQfdhBJgVqTewD_mRRhghNstNzN_bQufhxCVzTkB/s320/blogger-image--223316288.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nearing the finish! Thanks to Wendy for this photo <br />(her husband Courtney, pointing and PR'd in 3:18 something!</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">WHISTLER<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">God has blessed me with an extremely LOUD (and to most
people annoying) voice that carries far distances. (Give me a few drinks and I’ll
show you how loud!) I should have majored in theater (or auctioneering). So when it comes to spectating, I excel. And when your husband is an Ironman, well, you quickly
have to become an endurance spectator.This entails standing on your feet for hours,
walking miles between transition and yelling and clapping for everyone, because
let’s face it if you only cheer for the person you now you’re a total douche. Ironman Canada was pretty awesome. I also put in quite a few miles on trails in Canada. Just a hideous place really.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OP-3GS9k39zMCPQJHwp8TZRvqiUKYe4q4WAr2dA7B3uuyiLkD2nuhZf0sUCEsNf5ie4JPFsvefUBuK2NHcxkkTSnlCefgYvcN-LgfMtUen78GiKD2s7pt8mYI0pbJH77svNGAZD6bqDu/s640/blogger-image--1856724301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OP-3GS9k39zMCPQJHwp8TZRvqiUKYe4q4WAr2dA7B3uuyiLkD2nuhZf0sUCEsNf5ie4JPFsvefUBuK2NHcxkkTSnlCefgYvcN-LgfMtUen78GiKD2s7pt8mYI0pbJH77svNGAZD6bqDu/s320/blogger-image--1856724301.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alta Lake swim start. SUPers keep an eye on the swimmers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No filter.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmbqGsj5_xlVHQQePeS-UzPnX2V1A8-sfjfU2CTD1Oo1Xs2Ub5aYbaj9MxtCUKysFOWAodbVWl5YU1LgdO3JY7MJR3cHUj1MmenJ6jsaRFDr7UcBEFDWbNwL_sbzmmN1CC-PW_Ov7jvLg/s640/blogger-image-1507796484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmbqGsj5_xlVHQQePeS-UzPnX2V1A8-sfjfU2CTD1Oo1Xs2Ub5aYbaj9MxtCUKysFOWAodbVWl5YU1LgdO3JY7MJR3cHUj1MmenJ6jsaRFDr7UcBEFDWbNwL_sbzmmN1CC-PW_Ov7jvLg/s320/blogger-image-1507796484.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A girl's gotta have custom signs. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks to random dude for the photo bomb.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigiNt7xnTtdED2jsjPVjoQ_NpgVrGh_S8_xQ1PC4NKt-mwLy-4ZwmfnLmHQeBs_NV-LWk3aCQ9EGC7_CiBbNNaV33XT5zgcpqGXbmh_fm3ClduyqAJVtWEcpZqzHWdUFzYBpvA5KlFAVsg/s640/blogger-image--1979742132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigiNt7xnTtdED2jsjPVjoQ_NpgVrGh_S8_xQ1PC4NKt-mwLy-4ZwmfnLmHQeBs_NV-LWk3aCQ9EGC7_CiBbNNaV33XT5zgcpqGXbmh_fm3ClduyqAJVtWEcpZqzHWdUFzYBpvA5KlFAVsg/s320/blogger-image--1979742132.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aunt Pat and I have a little fun of our own in the village. <br />I take fake bobsledding very seriously.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpmPdTt6NyaSmNtj75tRjuvk4xEU9fdgDLdH6h7PVSAGmpCQiVNHky51fcILYFoZdP-fb7Ln84GXIKw7-cXD3cD9HHTXLZUraEu95deA92WOPncZMBMNzfASKoLr0JcAGBgNEcG-s-47a/s640/blogger-image--1470497656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpmPdTt6NyaSmNtj75tRjuvk4xEU9fdgDLdH6h7PVSAGmpCQiVNHky51fcILYFoZdP-fb7Ln84GXIKw7-cXD3cD9HHTXLZUraEu95deA92WOPncZMBMNzfASKoLr0JcAGBgNEcG-s-47a/s320/blogger-image--1470497656.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yelling at Andy to go faster. He loves that. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGj_ESD0RLk-jQTlJ2Y989jnTX5eP9mriG6PFQ45WXoJtQnq9E7i8BeRyV4Z_XbsJLAh0X5WBMfHvb6qxLCH4jqGCmPmI-AB8djyzmOqNyuzO00r0sE2K0PGt43M0KfKYXqD5HQAGpQGbv/s640/blogger-image-748790469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGj_ESD0RLk-jQTlJ2Y989jnTX5eP9mriG6PFQ45WXoJtQnq9E7i8BeRyV4Z_XbsJLAh0X5WBMfHvb6qxLCH4jqGCmPmI-AB8djyzmOqNyuzO00r0sE2K0PGt43M0KfKYXqD5HQAGpQGbv/s320/blogger-image-748790469.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><i>You ready for cocktails? I've been out here all day.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> Solid 5th place finish for the man. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jyHVpOemBOyzHJsy2bQo4hUCtpziKqC-cslY_RwqS9NpTmg28ISFoaOq8ZYNpmfUaCrgY4CwhsFjkxWi1MXR5l-fe7pCLWZS_Hz2WCHJOA01lHpEVutJonCt93b9B-YPABWWM40w5FBb/s640/blogger-image-2003364887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jyHVpOemBOyzHJsy2bQo4hUCtpziKqC-cslY_RwqS9NpTmg28ISFoaOq8ZYNpmfUaCrgY4CwhsFjkxWi1MXR5l-fe7pCLWZS_Hz2WCHJOA01lHpEVutJonCt93b9B-YPABWWM40w5FBb/s320/blogger-image-2003364887.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Look at that poser! Trying to be a trail runner for the day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fun fact: It took me 3 hours to run this trail. I'd like to say I 'power-hiked'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">some of the sections, but I'm pretty sure I was just walking.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxyU_JOSdMupgNmOh3DdzOYlxtIXJfeyWpo3uL5WoA_wgqbkEdL2kO8qXcu2ZOyUPkwJ1mfU6KHWM0D0Ee3grUM66dnNApnjNIo1WqdockmCrm99kqHofBGEA7Ib33nO3HZHhb_xpzbH8/s640/blogger-image-307741195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxyU_JOSdMupgNmOh3DdzOYlxtIXJfeyWpo3uL5WoA_wgqbkEdL2kO8qXcu2ZOyUPkwJ1mfU6KHWM0D0Ee3grUM66dnNApnjNIo1WqdockmCrm99kqHofBGEA7Ib33nO3HZHhb_xpzbH8/s320/blogger-image-307741195.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have no idea why they call it Green Lake? </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Of8mB9l3tO88fpn0mA4tiX9H5-b01LN4ZtqJ_JkEFPXdyPcuAd74AALUIdze5e32wAvwYz-vqmhSmPUPAd21hGCiI1-ASEzaq0ZFhQMZUZNl-TGFhIHEpwq00wP16KTFZc9QsFnLfQ5q/s640/blogger-image-1171142503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Of8mB9l3tO88fpn0mA4tiX9H5-b01LN4ZtqJ_JkEFPXdyPcuAd74AALUIdze5e32wAvwYz-vqmhSmPUPAd21hGCiI1-ASEzaq0ZFhQMZUZNl-TGFhIHEpwq00wP16KTFZc9QsFnLfQ5q/s320/blogger-image-1171142503.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lost Lake. No filter necessary on this one too. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See what I mean? UGLY </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmC_r85ZuIQ9fdu2VPDoujksxLfG988RX9mrD9RjS2tc28NKlMKlzFcUpiAuGeDCvwEaI_HCf5ZiIpbiovqr7xiSqCd89hrZCJumerkpQDrj6Fwp1ygqDsvDuT3ct1pl95XN6QDUo4JhNe/s640/blogger-image-948791740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmC_r85ZuIQ9fdu2VPDoujksxLfG988RX9mrD9RjS2tc28NKlMKlzFcUpiAuGeDCvwEaI_HCf5ZiIpbiovqr7xiSqCd89hrZCJumerkpQDrj6Fwp1ygqDsvDuT3ct1pl95XN6QDUo4JhNe/s320/blogger-image-948791740.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found a waterfall! Eh?!?!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">WORK TRIP<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I was fortunate to head to Salt Lake City, UT the first week of
August for work. The town was booked because of the Outdoor Retailers show, so my boss
and I decided to stay in Park City. My second winter Olympic village visit in 2
weeks, aren’t I spoiled? And a minor bit of elevation training for me (7,000’!)
– I had done a few small runs with strides, but this was my first venture into
2 mile repeats, only 2 of them, with quite a scenic back drop. Kind of a turning point for me, some light at the end of the tunnel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47p9nRy9lOlCHA0E1Ac0XetcM69K_zMBqoT1Ed-aq_2nelsriwL2dmnYlNB0iaBdCzIK5CuQsh2uONXXGrYAFvOxCcLFfIaHChBzwcuYL_VZcXm-sBszpflLf2Sz6BEAb6ttFGpargbmG/s640/blogger-image--637001094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47p9nRy9lOlCHA0E1Ac0XetcM69K_zMBqoT1Ed-aq_2nelsriwL2dmnYlNB0iaBdCzIK5CuQsh2uONXXGrYAFvOxCcLFfIaHChBzwcuYL_VZcXm-sBszpflLf2Sz6BEAb6ttFGpargbmG/s320/blogger-image--637001094.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They call it the Rail Trail. Clever. Park City, UT</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Oh BABY!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My dear friend Molly is going to be a mommy. Her little boy
is due in less than a month. I ventured to P-town for Mol’s baby shower. Can
you believe it – Molly’s pubis is angry too! Molly’s pain began after a good
kick-ball boot at 5 months prego (yah, she’s hard core like that). She thought
she blew out her groin, but her doctor told her she shifted her pubis symphysis.
She finds relief from a massage therapist, who adjusts some of the tendons that
attached to her pubis and shifting that big baby she’s growing off the tender
spots. Things to look forward to I suppose… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DRsIPskzgMzIpuhBSqmJLMNTXT7ieaoeeI0mEd9MgaPoZpl_Rnc4uovAzn4GzbDIL2sNBufmnGBnWrTAroSseKjoHt7xB2kTNGT6kcv_AlSlAFObPKd0RP5dhc_qF1XlsvMtNBFfcSLy/s640/blogger-image-663759233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DRsIPskzgMzIpuhBSqmJLMNTXT7ieaoeeI0mEd9MgaPoZpl_Rnc4uovAzn4GzbDIL2sNBufmnGBnWrTAroSseKjoHt7xB2kTNGT6kcv_AlSlAFObPKd0RP5dhc_qF1XlsvMtNBFfcSLy/s320/blogger-image-663759233.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Excited for the arrival of this little guy!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.hoodtocoast.com/">HOOD TO COAST</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Last Best Pace is our team name… an no, it’s not a typo. (It’s
a play on <i>Last Best Place,</i> coined by
the state of MT). 200 miles, 12 fast women. We were second in the women’s open
division, a whole hour+ faster than last year! Here are some highlights of what
you can expect in HTC. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">No sleep</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Traffic Jams</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Using only hand sanitizer for 24 hours</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Using only port-o-pots for 24 hours</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">STANK</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sitting in a cramped, car right after racing a 10K</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Running in the pitch black with a headlamp & binky light</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">STANK</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Delirium and uncontrolled fits of laughter</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Champagne at the finish</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It is seriously WAY to much fun.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Did I mention, STANK?</span></li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqD7CvZ3UxlZpSNmiXrzVqjW8aauuqy1Ky7Cc5_YOPL_k6sUvKRCTy7toZwdZPTN-ggJhbUYoh0PnrOZgHYxY9pmShIAMnJnAPtTlJ8GquzD7sFMu8lxtR_H2WYDZXadL_Hkxhl5qnc_kz/s640/blogger-image-715722086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqD7CvZ3UxlZpSNmiXrzVqjW8aauuqy1Ky7Cc5_YOPL_k6sUvKRCTy7toZwdZPTN-ggJhbUYoh0PnrOZgHYxY9pmShIAMnJnAPtTlJ8GquzD7sFMu8lxtR_H2WYDZXadL_Hkxhl5qnc_kz/s320/blogger-image-715722086.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cheers! Here we go...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Zqv9xi3FiaVG5u8gZJUKWioYr9WYBUyCwu2pd5FsGkaN5UM8kuL9ZM5UsqHr2kwOoV-aDG0l3Zf9yKcj3XeRkHxZStby5iAA1zRjEba4LRRH7AGS54HO40RqsSq0ScnpJGYw7QHN1u_p/s640/blogger-image-113797710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Zqv9xi3FiaVG5u8gZJUKWioYr9WYBUyCwu2pd5FsGkaN5UM8kuL9ZM5UsqHr2kwOoV-aDG0l3Zf9yKcj3XeRkHxZStby5iAA1zRjEba4LRRH7AGS54HO40RqsSq0ScnpJGYw7QHN1u_p/s400/blogger-image-113797710.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mt Hood start</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbg2Xr2m2DJWrSfOwMWOTgxtg00DP3K3uqT6K7AvRwFHPIT4egxxiZB89t8KEB89_9xpj45TLOsgWoL4zbwJtf6QKQMEDPo5ge20qoEFkIdJXfMZDuph49yGB1CGiiQkwvi9WV_twzVmdb/s640/blogger-image-1161412297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbg2Xr2m2DJWrSfOwMWOTgxtg00DP3K3uqT6K7AvRwFHPIT4egxxiZB89t8KEB89_9xpj45TLOsgWoL4zbwJtf6QKQMEDPo5ge20qoEFkIdJXfMZDuph49yGB1CGiiQkwvi9WV_twzVmdb/s320/blogger-image-1161412297.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Action pass</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3upKA-twmg487Q5ZsvbGT0zWSimusb62FtUFCeQ3SFgN_R518hqjx2mWesSK51DY64bR1GYPKXfqwCSeagwXtpq94937hyphenhyphenrbgouwQUMBwYvKiVYvFb7Xhnp859yVNIC3jPtaPD6BqXTM/s640/blogger-image-1398929141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3upKA-twmg487Q5ZsvbGT0zWSimusb62FtUFCeQ3SFgN_R518hqjx2mWesSK51DY64bR1GYPKXfqwCSeagwXtpq94937hyphenhyphenrbgouwQUMBwYvKiVYvFb7Xhnp859yVNIC3jPtaPD6BqXTM/s320/blogger-image-1398929141.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Safety first! Ready to run on the dustiest & darkest road in OR</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdRw6G1iUjxcvXlUrrvBFsOYm5Tly1jstNF4vUx2LQmErIoUosJXUYvX2ghkUa9vLNS3Mg1rof3GGm0RlhRNBPMoPaDf8WQ0KrT5WycToQpjvS1oFUV1HM03-45L0kZzbn6c6UPSHmsToC/s640/blogger-image-1148579641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdRw6G1iUjxcvXlUrrvBFsOYm5Tly1jstNF4vUx2LQmErIoUosJXUYvX2ghkUa9vLNS3Mg1rof3GGm0RlhRNBPMoPaDf8WQ0KrT5WycToQpjvS1oFUV1HM03-45L0kZzbn6c6UPSHmsToC/s320/blogger-image-1148579641.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 am Shenanigans </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvZqXODBq0UFD-bEM_S7vZMT_fYpGdh1tQ4ebg_ZGh5Z19gd3hV8Qa0VX9n6GgFoKjpUMPc2ymh07mVrkpyKOdgn0SaDKHgAotJHU5rR0gpeuUU0gjmnpqXVYpGJRcwkekSNWpgzlWPkX/s640/blogger-image--6816705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvZqXODBq0UFD-bEM_S7vZMT_fYpGdh1tQ4ebg_ZGh5Z19gd3hV8Qa0VX9n6GgFoKjpUMPc2ymh07mVrkpyKOdgn0SaDKHgAotJHU5rR0gpeuUU0gjmnpqXVYpGJRcwkekSNWpgzlWPkX/s320/blogger-image--6816705.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chillin' before the last leg</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jqfM28IkGk-WJfP-PEL42c94nwJWDinRBZQq8X78w9gD6dBc4Sbk9edGm6d-MUUwUjlZptWlTpZ0Cxx1M2cD7fT4cR2gMmqglYmnQIdFtRABULVXx2pyEsx8C_hR-AcM1k1OiZWpQFOx/s640/blogger-image--1252343149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jqfM28IkGk-WJfP-PEL42c94nwJWDinRBZQq8X78w9gD6dBc4Sbk9edGm6d-MUUwUjlZptWlTpZ0Cxx1M2cD7fT4cR2gMmqglYmnQIdFtRABULVXx2pyEsx8C_hR-AcM1k1OiZWpQFOx/s320/blogger-image--1252343149.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Destination: Pacific Ocean. Brrrr!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PGtFQ90dy0vmeMLOfOHikT2ZO9gNEcC6a5XUz6OypmwzYVne1vbKkhHiCUXx_qZNq9p329rfNkgb5v8sOdm7wqirw6bXKq_h0Df4GqXc6bZUV8sMjeqjhFjmt8UStr5g7OJkJIASdc4m/s640/blogger-image-894645102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PGtFQ90dy0vmeMLOfOHikT2ZO9gNEcC6a5XUz6OypmwzYVne1vbKkhHiCUXx_qZNq9p329rfNkgb5v8sOdm7wqirw6bXKq_h0Df4GqXc6bZUV8sMjeqjhFjmt8UStr5g7OJkJIASdc4m/s320/blogger-image-894645102.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mimosa's with a view</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">BACK IN THE GROOVE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So now that the pubis has been relatively calm since mid-July,
the thought of a fall marathon seemed inevitable and required. I really wanted
to go back to Chicago. I’d like to say it was because of all the things that
make that city and ginormous race epic… but mainly I wanted to go back because
it’s pancake flat. (I think I've discussed this before… me and hills are not really
a match made in heaven.) I also felt an early October race was too soon… so
that left me looking into November. I was asking another runner who was racing
Missoula Marathon, and she mentioned the<a href="http://www.monumentalmarathon.com/"> Indianapolis Monumental Marathon</a>. Nov
1, fairly flat, potential 2:43 pacer… seemed like a winner. So I’m signed up
and the plane tickets have been purchased. And guess who’s coming with me?
Andy. Another bonus of doing a late race, Andy’s done racing for the season. So
now he can come yell practical statements at me while I run. Andy hasn't seen
me race since Dec of 2012 during the hurricane at CIM, so I’m pumped he’ll be
there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99saO-bzJ1RY11c2aduhW5BQ2CzYNJmAItfvgUCCXneAm_VS3VNLN1jwxLy8Ln1Y7OYlJcHCe68GqJQPCOTocFtyROWahFsLtTXGj1nt6SRrzCyplfWSbgM14Ee-p1yVMbv6KS0BjMuju/s640/blogger-image-1506463843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99saO-bzJ1RY11c2aduhW5BQ2CzYNJmAItfvgUCCXneAm_VS3VNLN1jwxLy8Ln1Y7OYlJcHCe68GqJQPCOTocFtyROWahFsLtTXGj1nt6SRrzCyplfWSbgM14Ee-p1yVMbv6KS0BjMuju/s320/blogger-image-1506463843.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's official if it's on my calendar</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWzfT_kg1iwJGSZTn-n6rSFPx2V04q44StBYUwPt_lQzRInhN7xO2523YlsRAhz2ieMGlOKjJJ8JXo2eaMZFoIBvkGWbbh3hjOKxjinZaqnqCnHsOAk6wOUUtv3lU-B5UacMLJchLEZRr/s640/blogger-image-304928009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWzfT_kg1iwJGSZTn-n6rSFPx2V04q44StBYUwPt_lQzRInhN7xO2523YlsRAhz2ieMGlOKjJJ8JXo2eaMZFoIBvkGWbbh3hjOKxjinZaqnqCnHsOAk6wOUUtv3lU-B5UacMLJchLEZRr/s320/blogger-image-304928009.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">2 x 4 miles @ MP in the middle of a long run<br />Thanks David for being my bike escort and paparazzi <br />... and for making sure the 'old lady' lived.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Training has crept back… Slow and steady. Speed was
introduced cautiously in minor increments - keeping things easy on the pubis. I've had a handful of weeks in the 80+ range. No over-distance running, in fact, my
longest long run has been 20 miles. I've found this training block to be
especially difficult because I WANT to run fast, I know I can run fast (I have
run fast!) but my body just won’t let me go yet. Turnover isn't there. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A few
weeks ago, running a 6 min mile I felt I more resembled a flailing chicken than
the gazelle I hope to embody. Today, during that 6 min mile, I've left the spastic chicken behind and have been feeling more like galloping donkey during my speed sessions. An old women on a bike that <u>I passed</u> during an
interval last Sunday, even said “Ha! I thought you were a horse!” <i>Listen old lady, I will throw your pretty cruiser
in the creek.</i> Doesn't she know about my rage? Luckily (for her) I don’t
stop my intervals for anything other than a bowel movement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So, working on my gazelle skills is testing my patience. Is
it odd that I feel like I’m learning to run all over again? Where did the
turnover go? If you see it, please bring it back to me. I'm kidding (sort of). I'm hoping the transition from donkey to something more light-footed comes sooner than later ...</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVTaN4iS09tAJ_La1Ih17oBfQgBnMoV2YgKh01ZhyphenhyphenBpEALk42FKu7BHorOE9ha-rGFK6VjTjUusbg8J2x2nWp-UFYPskAO426DXlz9fF_LZg6wNaL-gPf4lIqZitMC7G2WHAE89c2oU28O/s640/blogger-image-433832789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVTaN4iS09tAJ_La1Ih17oBfQgBnMoV2YgKh01ZhyphenhyphenBpEALk42FKu7BHorOE9ha-rGFK6VjTjUusbg8J2x2nWp-UFYPskAO426DXlz9fF_LZg6wNaL-gPf4lIqZitMC7G2WHAE89c2oU28O/s320/blogger-image-433832789.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spastic chicken? No touchdown chicken.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDyqMpT0NNwVKe_MvOqNgmVq82yKXkYeDHhtIFp0ksMYBKrCUev6F4Dx8amB3sgIal4Km7tE7jDxD8kqr6Rj9Ww9s6x6TblUAl-CQZ284ly_BDt469L1WUxErCrFZLsNhIun8-aL4Fu5GQ/s640/blogger-image--225155745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDyqMpT0NNwVKe_MvOqNgmVq82yKXkYeDHhtIFp0ksMYBKrCUev6F4Dx8amB3sgIal4Km7tE7jDxD8kqr6Rj9Ww9s6x6TblUAl-CQZ284ly_BDt469L1WUxErCrFZLsNhIun8-aL4Fu5GQ/s320/blogger-image--225155745.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Run selfie! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiO4kq166c7ESgiow-iuqOg-aLDgVrIEGl1PpOyOKJ95wJxluVRGAml8Byb4kyGko2dulytQZOa9KmxKiMHpc3-hkLVoSqTqrpSl85Rv35YrBjt-tNHor64qPxDKIVlEHGweoO7pYDBpL/s640/blogger-image-357515760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiO4kq166c7ESgiow-iuqOg-aLDgVrIEGl1PpOyOKJ95wJxluVRGAml8Byb4kyGko2dulytQZOa9KmxKiMHpc3-hkLVoSqTqrpSl85Rv35YrBjt-tNHor64qPxDKIVlEHGweoO7pYDBpL/s400/blogger-image-357515760.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went on a hike... it was beautiful! Trapper Peak</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">CATS</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Of course, I wouldn't forget my furry friends.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONdoKfaI5827hqCMbO70ZuJPItNj5IQ4bFaAiaXW5uQjlxkRHlwZfAkiLeGWM9Azc7NUIycqiwW4odiUUos-iMRmSDh_WGokssWdV-WAeoFsGUb9JNMPYZ3B8lF57UJLejBxd0PY_U35I/s640/blogger-image-1984928439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONdoKfaI5827hqCMbO70ZuJPItNj5IQ4bFaAiaXW5uQjlxkRHlwZfAkiLeGWM9Azc7NUIycqiwW4odiUUos-iMRmSDh_WGokssWdV-WAeoFsGUb9JNMPYZ3B8lF57UJLejBxd0PY_U35I/s320/blogger-image-1984928439.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr Beaver doing what he does best - chillin'!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_NCsjHG8eVacp0ycjNUKXTF8Rmk_sXdDGPwwyNPlB_irs0LFso72thfUYXIMbTP95evQl-PS5Tq3-dFHxIBitbjhyk96vEbbD-TzMqWin85-hYmJ70wGCoiruDR3QdH_25BOc-KC7yGD/s640/blogger-image--837125606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_NCsjHG8eVacp0ycjNUKXTF8Rmk_sXdDGPwwyNPlB_irs0LFso72thfUYXIMbTP95evQl-PS5Tq3-dFHxIBitbjhyk96vEbbD-TzMqWin85-hYmJ70wGCoiruDR3QdH_25BOc-KC7yGD/s320/blogger-image--837125606.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I bought them two beds... of course thy want to cram onto one.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXwQ5oTRubDXP0_E3hlQSIYLzjpR3bH8nZOBHzZDwaaEN6yF9NsWk4siaBHjL1XAfcViTQaiYZYVZQK6T8pL-HWwUoxRf-pCt-8EIVdXnXXoTLJhSyAMyVA-FUc1UT5cyNmaHW6Uw2M_-/s640/blogger-image-753820763.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXwQ5oTRubDXP0_E3hlQSIYLzjpR3bH8nZOBHzZDwaaEN6yF9NsWk4siaBHjL1XAfcViTQaiYZYVZQK6T8pL-HWwUoxRf-pCt-8EIVdXnXXoTLJhSyAMyVA-FUc1UT5cyNmaHW6Uw2M_-/s320/blogger-image-753820763.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wylie - every morning sleeps in the sink.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8rJGvRYBRlO1Jo21MJ9CQa1PXUUsieGAQMKFDOylvVq68ZBcFGog-y-jZVnGG124lJz7cT53Laax90Gr2jAksXPcS9H8-lBm_Gv8VGKmSptZVZ381-pEm168FYGVjwHAFrYC89dWRk4W/s640/blogger-image--650523709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8rJGvRYBRlO1Jo21MJ9CQa1PXUUsieGAQMKFDOylvVq68ZBcFGog-y-jZVnGG124lJz7cT53Laax90Gr2jAksXPcS9H8-lBm_Gv8VGKmSptZVZ381-pEm168FYGVjwHAFrYC89dWRk4W/s320/blogger-image--650523709.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beaver's butt makes a great pillow. <br />Orange is the new black.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Follow me on instagram @trishaski</span><br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12418715132929702600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287988589594679230.post-40981937492378955502014-07-10T20:48:00.001-07:002014-07-10T20:53:29.603-07:00Patience & the Pubis<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It's been a while since I've checked in with a blog. That's because I've been busy! Busy healing and doing fun summer things: friends, family & food.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It was Memorial Day weekend, and I had headed out for my last long run </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">of 16 miles. Ten miles in, I started to get some side stitches, not all that uncommon, but as I got to 13 miles, I noticed the pain was moving south as was my pace. By mile 15 I had run a 9:26... not a good sign. The pain was so severe in my lower abdomen, it was making my hip flexors, butt muscles, upper hamstrings and of course my stomach muscles all cramp and hurt. I walked it home certain something in my belly was creating all this mayhem. Everyone on my moms side of her family including my brother has had their appendix removed, so this seemed like the most logical answer for me. That or perhaps an alien baby. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">You're not having an appendicitis," Andy told me adding "that's not the right spot, and it would feel different. You probably pulled a muscle." Whatever the diagnosis was, I knew it wasn't going to be good and my hopes of running a marathon in 8 days were slipping sideways. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A few hours later, I still had the soreness in the lower abdomen, but the bulk of the pain had stopped when I stopped running. I tried to stretch the area. Ouch. And I checked to see if there was any strength left in my ab muscles, by lying on my back and lifting my legs. Crap, I couldn't and it hurt. The next morning, I went out for 4 easy miles with Andy. It felt like a gut punch. Every. Single. Step. That "oh shit" feeling pulsed through my body. I knew deep down something was really wrong. But, being the ever optimist, I truly hoped it was a pulled muscle (or alien baby) and that the race in Calgary June 1 would still be on. </span></div>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Before I get to the diagnosis, I should back up a little.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Post Boston recovery was going very well. I took some time off, drank a lot of wine and slowly returned to the roads. After about two and a half weeks I was the little kid on the bench demanding "Put me in coach! I'm ready to play!" With his hesitation, I persuaded my coach to let me run the <a href="http://missoulian.com/sports/running/serious-fun-missoula-s-popular-riverbank-run-a-race-for/article_2311819e-d898-11e3-bbe5-001a4bcf887a.html">Riverbank Run</a>, a spring classic here in Missoula. Because of other spring races (and also some strong feelings about the disorganization of this event), I hadn't raced since 2008. I signed up for the Tri-Fecta race, which combines all three distances 10K, 5K & mile which are spaced out enough so that you can race all three. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCqVZLipNvqjluhJ-3ecAdqIOkbNOUhhT0jH5KB3JK5HoKwcfaMjTW5JXmHAPil3ks8r_lX8xGJ2NRcQxwCGHRwYhCcjrrwFFKbIX56CQk-R0Ak7HVZQmIxDyspalmcfY5b1W9nNra8Ra/s640/blogger-image-689036901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCqVZLipNvqjluhJ-3ecAdqIOkbNOUhhT0jH5KB3JK5HoKwcfaMjTW5JXmHAPil3ks8r_lX8xGJ2NRcQxwCGHRwYhCcjrrwFFKbIX56CQk-R0Ak7HVZQmIxDyspalmcfY5b1W9nNra8Ra/s200/blogger-image-689036901.jpg" width="200"></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My coach had to set boundaries for these races. He didn't want me just blowing out of the start and hurting myself or falling apart a few miles in. We decided these would be progression runs. Starting out slow and building to unleash in the final mile (... which isn't much for this one-speed pony). The 10K was good, not great, but after a slow start, I jumped from a 6:10 to a 5:55 mile too soon. I missed the 6:05 and 6:00 miles. I think I was a bit too excited. So for the 5K I really focused on staying on the paces given to me. I ran a 6:01, 5:53, 5:44. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So success!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(Regarding one small part of the disorganization comment above, the "5K" course isn't even 3 miles. The last mile my watch said .94 but 5:44 pace.) The mile I just wanted to go sub 5:40, which I did, but I'm not certain if that mile is really a mile either. Either way, I was happy to be back racing and feeling solid!</span><br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last mile of the 10K course. Photo from the <a href="http://missoulian.com/">Missoulian</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The next weekend was one of my favorite trail races, <a href="http://www.runnersedgemt.com/events/eleven-miles-to-paradise-trail-race/">11 Miles to Paradise</a>. Although this race is not quite 11 miles or finish in Paradise, it's still extremely well organized, beautiful and fun! </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">There's a reason this one sells out quickly.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Who doesn't want to run fast trails which finish with a meal and a soak in the hot springs? This race was two weeks from the Calgary marathon, so I was really looking to get in a hard effort. The competition was stiff and at mile 9.5 I found myself duking it out with Nicole Hunt again. She passed me on the final climb and went on to best me by 25 seconds. It was still a good effort and the top 3 women were all under the course record time. I had started my period the day before the race, so the sharp pains in my female parts during the final mile of the race, I attributed to my monthly friend. I even told Nicole after the race as we chatted "I felt like someone was stabbing me in the vagina!"</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Had I only know then that the pubis getting angry.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">That following Saturday was the back long run as I previously mentioned. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So what the heck was wrong with me?!?</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I was able to get an appointment the Tuesday after the holiday with the local sports doctor. I told him I thought I pulled a muscle and I hoped he could clear me for the race later that week. He did a few tests and it didn't take long. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteitis_pubis">OSTEITIS PUBIS</a> aka inflammation of the pubis symphysis. Or a stress reaction on my pubis symphysis.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Huh? Giggle, giggle, pubis what? He busted out the pelvis skeleton and gave me an </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">anatomy lesson. It's the hard cartilage right in the center of your pelvic bone. What causes it? Overuse. (Insert sex joke here). But really, overuse by training. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See it? Pubis Symphysis.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>An MRI the following day confirmed his findings that this girl's pubis was angry! Lots of inflammation.</b></span><br>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">No race.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">No running.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">$#!T!!!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">PUBIS!!! (It truly is fun to say)</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So for the last 7 weeks, I've become very familiar with telling my pubis story and pointing to my lady parts, riding my bike, I spent a wonderful week with family in Oregon, indulged myself in some other activities than running (<i>say what?</i>), helped beginners train for their first marathon and relaxed... a lot. It's been surprisingly nice! Then I feel gross and get irritated that I can't train... then I sit on a patio and drink a beer with a friend I haven't spent enough time with and it's nice again. ....But then I see my friends racing, ahhhh! It's just up and down. I'm practicing patience, something that doesn't come very easily to me.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I do have to say 'injured Trisha' is WAY better than 'taper Trisha' for two reasons. #1) No scary important race looming. #2) Red wine. Plus, mix the red wine and me talking about my pubis all the time... just good, clean fun. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">After 10 day of zero running, I started adding back tiny runs. First week back - 8 miles, wohoo! Then the next week 12. Biking didn't hurt the pubis at all, so I've been bike commuting a lot to and from work (20 miles round trip). It's not a workout... but helps me feel like I'm doing <i>something </i>productive. I ventured out to try pool running, which might be the more boring than watching women's basketball. (I didn't think that was possible.) I have friends who have been pool running for months due to stress fractures. I don't know how they do it, much respect. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A lot of people have asked me why I came back to running so fast... 10 dasy off? Why didn't I let the pubis heal completely? Both my doctor and coach (and me and my husband) agree active recovery is best. As long as the pubis didn't hurt after a run or during the activity it was ok to continue to run (or jog actually). No speed, no hills (uphill seemed especially bad) and no yoga or any weird strength training that made the pubis shift. It was a slow and gradual build up, continuing to run and continuing to let the area heal. First time in a very long time I was under 100 miles for a month.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTejNXOk1JNIFDmqxy3Iw73hPbtsIyWLcwIjn0T4FYpYXfQhI8EectvpobgMgGAjwAt6siBXkoTgRvTko_izLW83y-stBxoaNKi_cj1gFtKcgCIJQnkknf429Ou_MG0Y4CAuXI3OWVDKl/s640/blogger-image-1596738858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTejNXOk1JNIFDmqxy3Iw73hPbtsIyWLcwIjn0T4FYpYXfQhI8EectvpobgMgGAjwAt6siBXkoTgRvTko_izLW83y-stBxoaNKi_cj1gFtKcgCIJQnkknf429Ou_MG0Y4CAuXI3OWVDKl/s320/blogger-image-1596738858.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Missoula Aquajogging Team - L to R: stress fracture & angry pubis</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>SEVEN WEEKS LATER - WHAT'S NEXT?</b></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This weekend is the 8th Running of the<a href="http://missoulamarathon.com/"> MISSOULA MARATHON</a>! Christmas in July for runners :) I love this race. I am so incredibly proud and bursting with excitement over my hometown marathon. We do it up right! I've been involved with the Marathon for 3+ years now. I've sold sponsorship for the race, been a vocal member of the race committee and consider myself a running ambassador for the city of Missoula the second weekend in July. Although, I've raced the marathon 4 times, the half once and 5K twice... last year I dove in and gave pacing a try. I paced the 3:20 group. I didn't think I could have more fun than I did race day in 2013... it was pretty incredible. I was a bit nervous I wouldn't hold the pace or would be erratic with my splits, but once I got into the groove, the miles clicked off. My core group of guys (pictured here) all made it very close to the 3:20 mark, some a little before, most a minute or so back. I think I received more cheers as a pacer than as the first female in previous years. I actually hear "Go Balloons!" from one spectator. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The question I get asked the most about pacing is "are the balloons annoying to carry?"... and the answer is no, I really didn't notice them. However I did use them as a baton like I was the conductor of my own 3:20 band. So this year, BP (or <i>before pubis</i>), I made the commitment to pace again. I had dreams of going to Calgary, getting my OTQ (sub 2:43) and pacing in my home town 6 weeks later to the cheers and congratulatory hi-fives from my running community. I probably jinxed by thinking about it so much! I'm good on my word this year. I'm going to pace again. I ran 17 miles last Sunday... so I'm hoping that plus my endurance from the previous years of running will carry me to the finish line. I do know there is a good chance I can hurt bad too. Dropping out will break my heart and would be tough for me to get over, but breaking my pubis officially would ruin any chance I have of running a fast late fall marathon. </span><br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Some where on the hill of the marathon course 2013,<br> I'm guessing mile 14 or so. I love this picture. I'm pretty <br>sure the guys were making painful faces on purpose.... I hope.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>So what did I do with all that free time? </b></span><br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">With limited running, I took to my trust steed! <br>A lot of bike rides these past few weeks.<br> I never got good at the biking selfie though.... </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Awe.... the Missoula Marathon training class - LOVE these people. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This is only about 40 who showed up on a nasty, cold rainy June day. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">There's more than 300 signed up for the class.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> I'm going to miss them. Tear!</span><br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We gathered on the last day to share words of wisdom<br>and to hopefully get everyone pumped up. I shared you never<br>forget your first... marathon, that is. But really, so much of<br>marathon training isn't about running. It's about setting a<br>goal and seeing it though. I can not wait to celebrate with all<br>my new friends at the finish line!!! It's been a rewarding and<br>inspiring 18 weeks with the 300+ class.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Biking took me to some beautiful places! <br>Including the Deschutes River with <br>Mt Bachelor peaking out in the background</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Golfing with my friend Holly on the Summer Solstice. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We are both really good at golf... I mean driving the golf cart.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In Central OR visiting my family helping this </span><br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The day after the Kids race, Andy kicked butt </span><br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I practiced my pacing skills and helped my mom finish<br>her 5K with a 4 second gap to clinch<br>her age group victory! And Evan crushed the Kid's Mile.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Cross Training.... MT style ... on the Fourth of July</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">And of course! Cuddling and taking </span><br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">What can I say... they are a good looking pride. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It was a real shocker to come home one day </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">and all four chillin' together.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> I don't think that happens too often! </span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12418715132929702600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287988589594679230.post-80423158046974731692014-05-01T11:02:00.001-07:002014-05-01T18:26:25.239-07:00Trisha in Wonderland - Boston Marathon 2014<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Its been a week and a half since I raced at the 118th <a href="http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon.aspx">Boston Marathon</a>. This time was a far cry from my running of the 108th a decade earlier. My experience was charmed in 2014 mostly because I was able to run with the elite women's start, 28 minutes ahead of the other 35,000 participants. I was bib number 41 in the open women's division selected to run in this group (there were also a dozen masters women too.) </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I finished 38th female in 2:46:28.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Back by popular demand (you know who you are), I am interviewing myself for my Boston 2014 recap with the most common questions I've received over the past week. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Were you feelin’ the love before you left?</b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Oh my gosh, YES! I can’t put into words the effect all the emails, texts, cards, fb messages, hugs and hi-fives meant to me over the few weeks leading up to the marathon and of course after my return. Although this was my 25<sup>th</sup> race at this distance, it was by far the most significant and important for reasons other than me running. But, being that I was able to start with the elite women in World Majors, this was a big deal to me. So THANK YOU to all my Missoula running friends and of course to my family near and far. It makes me choke up thinking about all the well wishes. Even the <a href="http://missoulian.com/sports/catch-all/missoula-s-trisha-drobeck-to-run-among-elites-at-boston/article_65570a22-c819-11e3-9bb9-001a4bcf887a.html">local paper</a> hyped me up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I<i> received this picture on Sunday before the race from the Missoula Marathon training group I help out with. It made me blubber like a baby! I LOVE helping out with the class and meeting all the new, excited and ambitious runners. Watching them improve and find a bit of joy with their new goals reminds me of how great running is for the soul. I feel so lucky to be a part of their journey to the finish line.</i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How was Boston? </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This is a pretty generic question, but I've been asked it 204 times since I've been back. A few words come to mind:<i> Inspiring. Epic. Courageous. Crowded. Proud. Organized. Meb. Boston Strong. Loud</i>. On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this race about a 30. What they were able to do in the way of hosting almost a third more runners and a significant increase in spectators was beyond incredible. On the Sunday before the race, I attended an elite technical meeting. The best part of the 40 minute briefing was listening to<a href="http://www.baa.org/about/administration/david-mcgillivray.aspx"> Dave McGillivray</a> speak. You could see the effect of the 2013 race in his face and demeanor. He told us things were different this year. Not worse in any way, just different. The race has changed. Sporting events have forever changed. He said there will be 3,500 security personnel this year (cops, military, security, etc), double from 2013. Almost the entire course is barricaded. And there's dogs, bomb-sniffing dogs everywhere. No one is allowed in the finish area without a badge. He assured everyone would be safe. And it was. Incredibly safe, but no one seemed scared on April 21 and no one acted any different. It was still Boston after all. The greatest marathon on the planet. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This town, I mean, this town! Wow. So welcoming. This town LOVES their sporting events. I was listening to a gal from NYC talk about how in New York, people live a block from the marathon course and won’t come out and watch or cheer. They just go about their day, feeling inconvenienced if they can’t cross the street. In Boston, not so much. Bostonian's live for Patriots day (I mean it is genius that they get the day off.) The families, the crowds, the energy - it’s a marriage of insanity and chaos at its finest. The spectators of Boston own this race. I heard a statistic that 1 million people were out to watch that fine Monday - that’s 38,000+ people per mile. Beyond being supportive on race day, most everyone we interacted with were gracious and excited about the weekend’s events. They were happy we were there! I really appreciated that and can say for certain I don’t feel this wanted in too many places.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">M<i>y mom and I at the finish line a few days before I would run. You see that mass of people? It was like this all weekend - packed</i>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Expo madness! Kath lasted all of by 7 minutes after this picture was taken. The expo was too crowded to enjoy. I guess that's what I get for going Saturday at noon</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>This old lady jabbed me with her elbow to get ahead of me in line. It was every runner for them selves at the expo. I visited a few booth, but then couldn't take it any more.</i></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>I got my bib! I was just a number... Hopefully someday my dream of having my name on a bib will come true. #1-37 had their names on their bib</i>.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did you meet Shalane?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The Boston Marathon does a really good job of keeping the <a href="http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/results-commentary/2014-top-finishers.aspx">John Hancock Elite</a> separate from the BAA elite athletes. And well they should. The JH Elite are the contenders, for women at least a sub 2:30. These are the pros; this is their job. They are here to work to make money. They have coaches, trainers, sponsors and an entourage who travels with them. They have to do press conferences, make appearance for sponsors then bust out a ridiculously fast race to make some money. I can only fathom the pressure. I saw <a href="http://shalaneflanagan.com/">Shalane </a>once. I was coming down the stairs to get some nasty Dunkin Donuts coffee (what is the deal with DD?) a few hours before the start, and Shalane was headed up. She was alone and a part of me wanted to say something stupid like I was meeting my favorite pop star. Things like 'I love you!' and 'I'm rooting for you today!' or the ever popular 'You inspire me!' sat at the tip of my tongue. I fought back the enormous urge to be <i>that</i> person.... So I just smiled while inside I was thinking 'OMG, OMG I just saw Shalane Flanagan!!!' </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What famous runners did you meet/see?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">After getting off the buss at the church, I was tipped off by my bus-mate to go upstairs out of the gymnasium because it was warmer. She was right. I found a music room with chairs and claimed my spot. The room was soon filled by some pretty cool peeps! Legend and hero <a href="http://www.joanbenoitsamuelson.com/">Joan Benoit Samuelson</a> was debating over what shoes to wear. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Wittenberg">Mary Whittenberg</a>, ever the race director, was asking if any runners wanted some water. Easy on the eyes sitting right across from me was <a href="http://registration.baa.org/2014/cf/public/wnd_iAthleteDetailsWindow.cfm?RaceAppID=38404">Nick Archinaga</a> and Brett Gotcher (speed goggles maybe?) Don't tell Andh - ha! Former Romanian national runner <a href="http://registration.baa.org/2014/cf/public/wnd_iAthleteDetailsWindow.cfm?RaceAppID=38430">Adriana Nelson</a> was cracking jokes next to me with her husband and other Romanian masters runners. And a pack of speedy gals from the NYAC were trying to figure out how to get the giant bib number to fit on a tiny sports bra. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I spied <a href="https://twitter.com/Des_Davila">Desi </a>while I was warming up on the 200M driveway that's open for warm-ups. As much as I love Shalane, I think I like the less exposed (now) Linden even more. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I was rooting for her too. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Not only does she rock the singlet and loose shorts (no booty shorts and bra for her!) but she's overcome a HUGE injury over the past few years and just missed the Boston victory in 2011. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Right before the start, I quickly hit the bathroom one more time. The bathroom was busy, so I started a line. Soon I found myself next to Dibaba, Deba and Jeptoo. ...strangely enough, they stood in that order too. I was acutely aware that my 5' 5" frame was massive. Big white girl in the house! Those ladies are slight. Holy cow. I was in the presence of greatness. </span><br>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What was it like running in the elite field?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Imagine getting back stage passes to your favorite band, <i>then </i>getting to meet the band, <i>then</i> getting to party with the band. Pretty cool, right? Beyond words. You know your fiends are standing in line outside the hotel to get a glimpse of the band, maybe a high five... while you just rubbed shoulders with the lead singer and grabbed a beverage at the same time as the drummer. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In the morning, while the masses were piling onto school buses next to the Boston Common, I walked across the street from our hotel to the Copley Plaza Hotel to board a motor coach with the other BAA elites. The JH elites met elsewhere. When it was time to go, police escorts drove us through town to meet up with the JH elites bus. After that our caravan of about 6 motor coaches made it's way to Hopkinton. We had police motorcycles buzzing around us and we were flanked by blacked-out Suburbans. Motorcycle cops drove ahead and blocked the on ramps before we drove by so we had a clear and uninhabited freeway ride in the center lane to the First Korean Presbyterian Church. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Now THAT was cool. And I could tell everyone around me thought so too. I tried to take some pictures of this... but they didn't turn out too well. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Do you see me? Green Hammer visor, green top. </i></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Beyond just getting to hob-nob with the best, I was treated to a wide open route to Boston. I didn't have to fight for water at the aid stations or worry about getting stepped on. I was also able to give hi-fives and thumbs up the some of the most inspirational runners at Boston. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Hoyt">Rick & Dick Hoyt</a>, <a href="http://www.runnersworld.com/boston-marathon/juli-windsor-leads-the-way">Juli Windsor</a> and countless other amputees, blind or special athletes. But after mile 13, I ran alone. Being the only one on the course, I knew all the cheers from spectators were for me which was pretty cool - thank you ladies of Wellesley! However, this was a both a blessing and a curse. I wasn't pressured by other runners to move faster. I don't have too much of a problem running alone - I do must of my speed work alone and many easy miles too. But when racing, having others to push with always helps. Especially though the hills of Newton. It was too easy to slow down. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Although, on the flip side, I had the BEST seat in the house to see <a href="http://registration.baa.org/2014/cf/public/wnd_iAthleteDetailsWindow.cfm?RaceAppID=38400">Meb </a>in the lead. It was magical!! I was climbing Heart Break Hill (very slowly might I add) and a bicycle pulled up next to me. She tried to tell me something three times. The cheering was so deafening, I couldn't hear her. On the final try, she said to stay right, the men's lead pack was on its way. I knew this would be good show. A few police motorcycles buzzed up the hill, followed by the clock truck; the press trucks followed then some more cops on motorcycles and bicycles were in pursuit. Then Meb. 'Holy shit I thought, he going for it!' The crowd was going nuts for the American. I couldn't help but clap and scream (while trying to run) at Meb as he went flying by me at the crest of the hill. I counted to see how far back the chase pack was. Then I knew I needed to refocus and race! That's what I was there to do. So my final 5 miles were better than 21. I knew I would be on Boyleston soon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Treated like a queen! Some great perks to being in the elite women's start - </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>1) I was able to take a bag to the start. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>2) When I crossed the finish line, I was escorted to a special tent where I was brought above mentioned bag. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>3) I was treated to a post-race rub down by masseur Chuck. He was is from the NW too! </i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did you poop you pants?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We've all seen this photo. My co-workers seem to think this common stance at races, so that's subsequently the number one question when I return from a race. (Thankfully it doesn't happen, but I would secretly be excited if it did... To someone else of course...) For this race the gut was good. I was able to eat 4 <a href="http://www.hammernutrition.com/products/hammer-gel.hg.html?navcat=fuels-energy-drinks">Hammer </a>Gels along the course. I was also able to take in a lot of water and course electrolytes. Bib numbers 1-40 were able to have bottles, so I just missed out on having my own bottles every 5k. It was fine though, one less thing to worry about and there was aid on both sides of the road every mile. So I was certainly never wanting or without! </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Were you happy with your time?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I was gunning for a PR and a trials time and I came up short. I didn't run the smartest race, but at the same time, I went for it and based on my training I don't think I was too reckless in my first half pace. (Half split was 1:19:47) Overall, it's my second fastest marathon ever. I ran hard. Sure I'm disappointed, but I know I'm stronger and faster than the last time I raced. The clock might not have reflected it and a piece of my soul was left in Newton, but I'm pleased with how I felt completing this tough course. One thing I've been working with my coach on over the last 6 months is my form. Now we aren't talking form when I do 800s on the track or strides to warm up, although that's important, don't get me wrong. We are talking form when the rest of you is shut down and your mind is negative and numb. Mile 23 form. In the past, I lean back, cock my head to the side and flail my arms a bit. Not efficient in any way! In Boston, even though my turnover wasn't what I wanted in the last few miles, I still held form and focused. That's a big step for me. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Even though I may have been sad about falling short of my goals, I was over the moon for Kath who CRUSHED her PR and ran an amazing race. Kath worked her arse off this winter. She moved away in January and as much as I hate to admit, (because I do wished she still lived nearby) Boston looks good on her! She's not only running well, but professional is rocking too! She's pretty much winning at life. I am so proud to call her my friend! I'm not sure how many glasses of sangria were consumed before this picture was taken... But dammit we were celebrating! </i></span></div>
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<i>Pam and I having some post race day beves! </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What's next?</b></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Since I've crossed the finish line, I've probably consumed 5 (who am I kidding, probably 7) bottles of red wine and sustained myself off of Cadbury Eggs and reduced fat potato chips (this way I can eat twice as many). I took five days off of running and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I've gained 3 lbs</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">. I'm feeling pretty gross, so its time and I want to start moving again. I have a <a href="http://www.runnersedgemt.com/events/eleven-miles-to-paradise-trail-race/">trail race</a> in 2 weeks that I'm amped for.. one of my favorites. There is fall marathon planning to do, but I think this summer is going to fun one! There will be some shorter races and some long miles logged in the MT sun capped off with a <a href="http://www.hoodtocoast.com/">Hood to Coast</a> weekend with a fabulous team of fast MT women. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Some other pics from my trip to Boston - Enjoy!</b></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Celebrity sighting! Ms. Massachusetts on Boyleston St! I think she was 8 feet tall and I'm not 100% sure which pageant she is in affiliation with, but her crown looked legit! </span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hPuEp7stmAQ8e_YuJRQ5kOj05DsWz4HNoJFVsBFOcyXNvV9bX3u87XPgAcZpi2wFHgZB3wDWc-oXDolW_5tofOs_WnH-URe0uxMzgRhgObLTqetO-V75HFPvpP3NFewcE2rTOaFe48rL/s640/blogger-image-1881156148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hPuEp7stmAQ8e_YuJRQ5kOj05DsWz4HNoJFVsBFOcyXNvV9bX3u87XPgAcZpi2wFHgZB3wDWc-oXDolW_5tofOs_WnH-URe0uxMzgRhgObLTqetO-V75HFPvpP3NFewcE2rTOaFe48rL/s320/blogger-image-1881156148.jpg" width="218"></a></div>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The <a href="http://www.bpl.org/exhibitions/coming-soon/dear-boston/">Dear Boston exhibit</a> at the public library was somber and heart-wrenching. </span></i></div>
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<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgRIZXADG8_HjXz6LAWPnFVx6_rzlGoUbaThukqcmMw2NwrpYyYd-Lp7zuImaTGEmaDHhFNl0_qLZF8TSB2tSbov5pcC2BvGfeiTuTDzcE5me1UzOIRL7R6vLYKT1_nQ6X4xQiK1NOoZ0/s640/blogger-image--1249716782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgRIZXADG8_HjXz6LAWPnFVx6_rzlGoUbaThukqcmMw2NwrpYyYd-Lp7zuImaTGEmaDHhFNl0_qLZF8TSB2tSbov5pcC2BvGfeiTuTDzcE5me1UzOIRL7R6vLYKT1_nQ6X4xQiK1NOoZ0/s320/blogger-image--1249716782.jpg" width="240"></a></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.bostonducktours.com/">Boston Duck</a> tour for some super-tourists! We followed this up with a few glasses of vino on the 52nd floor of the Prudential building.</span></i></div>
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<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cYEGVcnsfnvKIn-nEYbI_Qy5VC1GWHSYaxsbEEBPqlvb7xdnJxG_Q69Y3Zj94xIxpVhEpck4mG2R1NAnBEk4n7z0jiMc2u26tDudj40KdxZV46xoW_GzxyAHAetawRN2EszSdaGqAEP4/s640/blogger-image--392402519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cYEGVcnsfnvKIn-nEYbI_Qy5VC1GWHSYaxsbEEBPqlvb7xdnJxG_Q69Y3Zj94xIxpVhEpck4mG2R1NAnBEk4n7z0jiMc2u26tDudj40KdxZV46xoW_GzxyAHAetawRN2EszSdaGqAEP4/s320/blogger-image--392402519.jpg" width="320"></a></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Our awesome home base. The <a href="http://www.lenoxhotel.com/?gclid=COSem4CIi74CFYdrfgodC10ALA&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=lenox_hotel_boston&utm_campaign=Lenox_Hotel_-_New_Campaign&mm_campaign=7140d5b922e89c26aacd9df36496d662&keyword=lenox%20hotel%20boston&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=Adwords&ef_id=U2JrLwAABduxt28q:20140501154135:s">Lenox </a>is a boutique style hotel practically on the finish line. The staff was so awesome! Every night they brought us a treat like a running shoe shaped cookies and Easter candy on Easter. When I walked in after finishing they all applauded me! Every runner was given the star treatment. They even gave me a Sam Adams when I was done! </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My supportive co-workers decorated my cube for my return. Be sure to note the picture on the 'G'. </span></i><br>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12418715132929702600noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287988589594679230.post-85800745496656943902014-04-13T20:43:00.000-07:002014-04-13T20:43:47.823-07:00Haaaaaaaaaaave you met Taper Trisha?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> (<i>Disclaimer: this is incredibly long winded report. Enjoy!)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Well if you haven't you may consider yourself lucky. Taper Trisha is needy, emotionally erratic, at times mean, impulsive and scared. <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Coined by my ever patient husband, Taper Trisha is a slight resemblance of my former 80+ mile per week self. In-training Trisha is too tired to walk downstairs and clean the litter boxes (yes there are 3!) and just hungry enough to convince my husband to drive me to Dairy Queen on Sunday night. </span>Taper Trisha usually appears about 8-10 days prior to an 'A' race, but due to the enormity of the 118th running of the Boston Marathon next week, she reared her ugly head a bit early this. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Examples from this past week:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My two week out Sunday long run had a minor setback when I found myself in someone's yard crying because I didn't hit my splits. I know I was tired. It was windy. I know it wasn't </span><i style="font-size: small;">that</i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> bad. I know the pitch was steeper than that of Boston. I'm not an idiot! I am just irrational. (There is a difference people!) I just couldn't keep the dark thoughts of doubt from creeping in. I needed a good cry to release some pressure. After a few minutes, I composed myself and ran back to my car. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Disagreement with my boss an which I ended the conversation with slamming the phone down to hang up. Not good on any level.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Road rage! On my morning commute, a minivan drifted over the white line into my lane, only to erratically swerve back into her lane. I thought it may have just been an over site, but as I drive by her, I saw her texting on her phone on her steering wheel. Not even hiding it! I hung out the window, honking and pointing at her to not text and drive. If the cars had been stopped, I am sure I would have knocked on her window. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I cut my hair.... For the first time it's short in more than six years. Not just cut, chopped. About 7 inches! No more ponytail whipping me in the eye. </span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Who is this impulsive person? Unfortunately, I have to admit it's me. An emotional hot-mess. So, what gives? I don't remember being this unruly before my race last fall. Probably selective memory. I think it all comes down to pressure and fear. A wise (and British!) woman told me only I can control the pressure I put on myself.... And I have laid it on thick here in the early parts of 2014 leading up to Boston.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Fear is also a powerful motivator in life, good or bad. I have had a lot of people ask me if I'm afraid for my safety or my mom's as she spectates. And my answer to that is no. I truly believe last years attack was an opportunistic one that won't be duplicated. The <a href="http://www.baa.org/">BAA </a>is organized and prepared for the new security measures it will have to endure in our new era of marathoning. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My fear is failure. I would be lying if I said I didn't think about failing as much as succeeding. I have no excuses, no outs if I fail. I have trained hard, remained injury free and now I just have to stay calm and rested. Easier said than done... Clearly as demonstrated by previously noted actions! (Perhaps my 'No alcohol for six weeks before race day' challenge I issued myself, should be revisited as a big glass of Cabernet would really nice right now!) But, I also know, deep down, the biggest failure would be not to give it my all. If I go for it, give it my all and come up short, is that a failure? No. Just fuel for the fire I suppose. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">But, as I approach the final week, I am feeling much better than the last, more calm anyways. My nerves are lessening as my body regains some freshness. There's still a bit of panic as the legs are still fatigued, but I know I have seven more very easy days to recover. (Again, not an idiot, just irrational.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Ok, so enough about my mental state, let's get down to crunching some numbers (for you Taco Bell Timmy) and other fun stuff that's happened in the past few months. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Let's talk build ups. Here's a breakdown of the past three race marathons and then Boston's build up. (For consistency - 10 weeks total for each, not including race week or prior week, so starts 12 weeks from race) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>California International Marathon 12/2/12</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">719 miles</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Half marathon 10 weeks out</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">One 5k in there and an 8K 10 days before race</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">No over-distance runs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Cleveland Marathon 5/19/13</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">764 miles</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">25K trail race 4 weeks prior to race</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">No over-distance runs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Twin Cities Marathon 10/6/13</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">804 miles</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Half marathon 4 weeks out</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">2 over-distance runs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Boston Marathon 4/21/14</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">809 miles</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Half marathon 8 weeks out</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">4 over-distance runs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Although its the same miles almost for Twin Cities and Boston, logging miles in August and September is a whole lot easier than February and March. If I go add up a 16-18 week build up, there are almost 100 more miles for the Boston build. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Total mileage for 2014 = 1,163 (average about 79/wk)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">March was also a big mileage month for me, I think my most miles in a single month to date. 392! And I had two back to back mid-90s weeks just recently. That's new! Makes me think this summer I will have my first 100 mile week! Now I know this is baby stuff for pros and much more dedicated and experienced runners alike. Sometimes I have to remind myself that it was just shy of three years ago that I broke thee hours for the first time and was running about 50-60 miles a week. So this is big for me!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Here are some highlights to training this year so far!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">2/23/14 PR! 1:18:22</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So not to be overly dramatic (which is an every day occurrence for me- see above taper rant), but February or Snowbruary, in Missoula was out of hand. Yep, 26 of the 28 days had snow accumulation. The last week of this month was just straight up ridiculous. I was so freaking excited to go to Ventura, CA! It wasn't a very long trip, but a productive one and a much warmer one to boot.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Jenn and I left the snowpocolypse on Friday afternoon and arrived in 70 degree Burbank later that evening. We switched to flip flops and grabbed the keys to our sick (POS) Crystler 200. We hit the road heading west, not stopping until we hit the Pacific. (Only one near death experience on some giant CA highway.) It was dark by the time we arrived, but I could smell it. Salt. Ocean. Humidity. Green. Blue. Life. Yay!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Both Jenn and I scored PR's and it was Jenn's B-day!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Fairly good race, can't be bummed about a PR in the middle of training!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Indoor 26 miler 3/2/14</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sunday long run inside because Missoula got four feet of snow in 3 days! Damn you SNARCH! 13 on the treadmill and 13 on the 200M track. It really wasn't that bad! And it was nice having all my <a href="http://www.hammernutrition.com/">Hammer </a>fuels right there on the t-mill or nearby, not digging through a pocket or dealing with a frozen water bottle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Thanks to my buddy David for keeping me company on the last half! </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Run For the Luck of It </b><b>7 miler</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">3/15/14 42:02 (ran faster in 2012)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This was probably the worst I have ever felt racing. I should have slept in. Culmination of exhaustion from work travel, then Seattle weekend for the stair climb, hard training, worst female cramps of my life and did I mention lack of sleep? It was a grind. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Bright spot: I had a sweet cat/leprechaun shirt that said 'I feel so lucky right meow.' </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPE22nlNiGZYBPzl3tZtWnBAmy_UrIqwZJW0w-YJPbIzw4uIIKV3tXZFsUJ2QHGix5XR5L4-LeRm95o1POoHXwGDnm4az3tuFWu2P88goWb6_OlIopcFDGxSE_1tSspqxboOLBucMsLc0/s640/blogger-image-55784824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh62KhUd18hkv4smLYjGIse5gRVtUaYfpQJXsNpGJtlFjV3pR4jNRi5wYVOPRvWfO9B0fPjLSgw8aYPh0n6fDqRAkI1Xdkz9Y388I9RKK7yYGBHwt0wLtWoLcjIZ8Q3SgA57knt79TCaaH/s640/blogger-image--397652909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh62KhUd18hkv4smLYjGIse5gRVtUaYfpQJXsNpGJtlFjV3pR4jNRi5wYVOPRvWfO9B0fPjLSgw8aYPh0n6fDqRAkI1Xdkz9Y388I9RKK7yYGBHwt0wLtWoLcjIZ8Q3SgA57knt79TCaaH/s320/blogger-image--397652909.jpg" width="236" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I can't finish this talk about training without mentioning my <a href="http://www.hammernutrition.com/">Hammer </a>fuels.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>They keep me on point, help me recover and train harder!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Daily: 3 Premium Insurance Caps </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> 2 AO Booster</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Pre-workout: Hammer bars 2 hrs before</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> Anti-fatigue cap one hour before</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">During run: Tropical, orange, huckleberry, apple-cinnamon gel</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> Anti-fatigue cap half way through</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Post-workout: Recoverite with extra scoop of whey if necessary</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I did try Race Day Boost for my half marathon in Cali, I don't think it effected me and it was a hassle to take it so much. Not going to try it for Boston. I will maybe try it again this summer for another race. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Looking forward to Boston! </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><u>Getting to see me moms!</u></b> It was a decade ago the Miller women descended upon Bean Town. It was my third marathon. My time was 4:27...something. It was 86 degrees, started at noon with no wave start. And it was AWESOME! We had the best time. I can't wait to spend some QT with my mom in the city again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Me on the way to the finish line in 2004 - my number was 8,XXX something!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Baby face at the finish line - I was 23! Thanks to my mom for texting me these pics and making me laugh!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><u>KATH!</u> </b>Yay Kath. My lovely and brilliant friend who keeps me laughing and understands my neurosis, because she's crazy too! She's running Boston and is primed for a great performance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><u>Elite start!</u></b> By the skin of my teeth, I get to run with the big dogs! Elite Women's Start is a HUGE honor and I am going to be star struck being in close proximity to American's Flanagan and Linden and last years winner Jeptoo. I can't even begin to talk about the talent in this years competition. Hashtag epic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Well, I think that's enough for now. I hope you enjoyed hearing about the ups and downs, both physically and mentally, of my training. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12418715132929702600noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287988589594679230.post-70237603828561139452014-03-21T20:46:00.000-07:002014-03-21T20:46:15.851-07:00Meet the Pride<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I recently took a <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/">Buzzfeed </a>test <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/chelseamarshall/what-kind-of-cat-are-you?bffb=">"What kind of cat Are You?"</a> I immediately thought, duh!, Orange. (This is totally a type of cat, I swear, someone once told me 'Once you go orange you never go back!' - I did not make that up!) Ok, so if not orange, maybe some kind of fluffy, girl cat? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Nope.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I got Hairless. Hairless! That's not a cat! I'm sorry, but it looks more like a bald rat or ferret. I'm disappointed buzzfeed... But I do have to say their description is a bit spot on:</span><br />
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<img class="result_img" src="http://s3-ak.buzzfeed.com/static/2014-03/tmp/webdr04/4/17/34a2f2fa0bc5088b534720b72c47799e-11.jpg" height="158" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 625px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" width="200" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>You love the simple things in life and this can sometimes make you misunderstood. You’re actually really sweet, which can make it infuriating when people judge you right off the bat. You keep doing you!</i></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">That's right, I do. Haters gonna hate! (Only one person I know will think that's funny)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So back to the purpose of this rant. Meet my furry friends! As promised, all cat post. Boom.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">HARLEY<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Full
Name: Harls B. Not-so-slim<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Female / 14<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Aliases:
The Beast, Fatty, Garden City Turkey</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Weight: 14 lbs (this is down from a previous 20+, then about 18 for a while - Fatty is getting old :()<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Nemesis:
Roscoe (RIP), Beaver<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In her 14 years, Harley has lived in 9
different houses/apartments. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Her favorite food is anything wet or seafood and she does
enjoy a bit of the weed, particularly licking and rolling in catnip. She will (surprisingly) fiercely defend her territory outside to
intruding cats or dogs. HATES dogs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Motto: Big IS Beautiful or I Will Cut a Bitch (mainly if you take her shrimp)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Harley has been told she has a 'pretty face' .... And she's ok with that because she can claw your eyes out. </i></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <i style="text-align: center;">Harley is crazy smart. Probably smarter than the other three combined and doubled. If she had opposable thumbs and a work ethic</i><i style="text-align: center;">, I would be scared.</i></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">STEVE<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Full
Name: Stephen Colbert<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Male / 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Aliases:
Stinkles, Little Bear, Little Stinks, Monkey Man</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Weight: 8 lbs (he's soooo little)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Friends:
Harley, Beaver, Wylie, Alex, Natalie (Steve's been known to have a play date)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Enjoys:
Chasing shadows and his tail, playing with shoe laces and licking Andy’s armpit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Like a 5’
9</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">” running back, Steve can bully his way into any room he’s not supposed to
enter. He’s low to the ground and tough to catch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Steve never fully learned to cry like a normal cat... then again, not much is normal about the little man.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> Failure. To. Thrive.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Medicine: Stinks is the only cat who takes daily 'roids to help with his autoimmune disease (yah, he's allergic to his own teeth or gingivitis on his teeth or something). He also is on prescription food because he has a calcified bladder (that stumped all the vets in town.) So it's about $3 extra a day to keep Steve around... We'd pay $100 if we had to. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>He's so little. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUX6jFoXvew3c_UK-DGgRggqiVC6g6tAbvVbh_eebH4GrLWhIs7uxmUYRIrAw0xg7Sr6F66tfifv6pnQq5YfWjUGOCJQ3xN42DmmKJI1uNZhL7kyEvxJpuq596vS1kd25aWzi6qCU1Qva/s640/blogger-image--242503334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUX6jFoXvew3c_UK-DGgRggqiVC6g6tAbvVbh_eebH4GrLWhIs7uxmUYRIrAw0xg7Sr6F66tfifv6pnQq5YfWjUGOCJQ3xN42DmmKJI1uNZhL7kyEvxJpuq596vS1kd25aWzi6qCU1Qva/s320/blogger-image--242503334.jpg" width="244" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I love this photo because it show his missing row of bottom teeth since the rotted out due to his autoimmune disease.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9UScEgshquLol1rTepX1vHMYrb7HToQ5yGn5pPKHXpVbcjFkC9-ylPvfYoyeES-NWZ_T5LbmrokjgdAAghZKytJUrskkuj-kxw0GoP3zG4py0mCR6onYG70rGdYVOiF_knl3PKXqyQPd/s640/blogger-image--1303388511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9UScEgshquLol1rTepX1vHMYrb7HToQ5yGn5pPKHXpVbcjFkC9-ylPvfYoyeES-NWZ_T5LbmrokjgdAAghZKytJUrskkuj-kxw0GoP3zG4py0mCR6onYG70rGdYVOiF_knl3PKXqyQPd/s320/blogger-image--1303388511.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">WYLIE<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Full
Name: Wylie E. Boots<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Male / 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Aliases:
Bootsie, Boots, <o:p></o:p>Floppsy</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Weight:11 lbs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Enjoys:
Laser pointers, belly rubs and laps. He will immediately zero in on anyone who
hates cats and want to be their bestie.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Signature moves: Sprinting out of the litter
box after doing his business, and when finding himself alone in an empty room,
screaming until someone answers him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Wylie has no concept of 'Stranger Danger' - he loves everyone! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-dyXmOi5fzs8PmEq5pELGGVK7oNQfQrDu_vdwQaIYF_kGR6bslUaUYppGPXN0YGh7v1GbAlAkKcSBYFD5zAbYuHCyUf2XozKmSJhM6Qqe4ezV8Rz1eSjcN7rFxmGh_Ch-A3cU7B61XwC/s640/blogger-image--1331952513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-dyXmOi5fzs8PmEq5pELGGVK7oNQfQrDu_vdwQaIYF_kGR6bslUaUYppGPXN0YGh7v1GbAlAkKcSBYFD5zAbYuHCyUf2XozKmSJhM6Qqe4ezV8Rz1eSjcN7rFxmGh_Ch-A3cU7B61XwC/s320/blogger-image--1331952513.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>This cat loves to play. Thank goodness the automatic laser keeps him busy for minutes. </i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbBeIBe5MWfUlxErEVqDdycyQDj5kjV_y40SU2HD71WyXMik-HWWJEW9J-7hMwM3Tkz31ohFMY4haHboTfP5iBpbcPDKnlRLui0mFA5btsKyPIcBvp7WXL1uK1LbMaJrF41rUuFG3YmGb/s640/blogger-image-121826427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbBeIBe5MWfUlxErEVqDdycyQDj5kjV_y40SU2HD71WyXMik-HWWJEW9J-7hMwM3Tkz31ohFMY4haHboTfP5iBpbcPDKnlRLui0mFA5btsKyPIcBvp7WXL1uK1LbMaJrF41rUuFG3YmGb/s320/blogger-image-121826427.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Wylie sleeps in a sink (and a drawer too.)</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNldYQ0dWRYYm0K0jYnR0fekns8J_qVgiOZzGMjpR_d_9QrBWr2BRjz1KyfqFd2XmBgtnaqzzkJeAsKWCxYjozkEP3VHEk4uhBwBQqxTK88rYl37KPfJgbc-bud4J0wx0eBUWGUgagIqxG/s640/blogger-image-1903399430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNldYQ0dWRYYm0K0jYnR0fekns8J_qVgiOZzGMjpR_d_9QrBWr2BRjz1KyfqFd2XmBgtnaqzzkJeAsKWCxYjozkEP3VHEk4uhBwBQqxTK88rYl37KPfJgbc-bud4J0wx0eBUWGUgagIqxG/s320/blogger-image-1903399430.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Wylie has a 'thing' for Kory Burgess' shoes. Not sure why, but he can't get enough! If I could figure out how to post a video, it shows Wylie going circles with his head in the shoe.</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">BEAVER<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Full Name: Mr. Beaver Las Vegas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Male / 4-ish?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Aliases: The Beav, Beavie, Jerk-face</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Weight:17 lbs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Enjoys: Hunting/taunting Harley, looking out
the window & eating French fries<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Clearly Beaver sufferers from OCD, if you move
or sit in ‘his’ chair, he can’t function until it’s in the right place or he’s
sitting in it. He also has his ‘own’ counter that the other smaller and/or
fatter cats can’t reach. <span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Although he can be frisky at times and enjoys showing off his hunting prowess, he won't play with any cat toys. He will only play with a twistie-tie like you would use on a garbage bag. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Beaver enjoys fresh running water. Once we bought him a continuous fountain of fresh drinking water... he wouldn't use it.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>I wanted a good pic of the Beav showing his size. He's a big boy. An athlete. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Chillin' and airing out his man parts.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hope you enjoyed meeting the pride!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12418715132929702600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287988589594679230.post-10260756188203375972014-02-02T15:16:00.000-08:002014-02-02T19:05:04.833-08:00The F Burn<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.runnersedgemt.com/events/freezer-burn/">Freezer Burn</a>- 2014 Revamped Edition Lives Up to its Name</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The breakdown:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">10 mile, <a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/fullscreen/327191289/">point to point</a></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Approx 700 ft of drop on loose snow, ice or packed snow</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fundraiser for University of MT<a href="http://coehs.umt.edu/departments/hhp/default.php"> HHP Dept</a></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Goal: 1/2 Marathon Effort</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">59:36 - 5:58/mile average</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">11 weeks from Boston</span></span></li></ul>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">There is a bit of history to this race. I believe this was my fourth Freezer Burn....or maybe fifth? The first one I ran probably 5 or 6 years ago. That one was a half marathon in Frenchtown, MT running a loop around I-90. After one wickedly cold year, it was shortened to 10 miles (so no one would die) and that distance stuck for the proceeding years. I looked forward to this race, always a few weeks before Christmas, because Andy and I post race would cut down our tree in Fenchtown and haul it back to Missoula. It always signaled to me the start of the Holiday season.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Surprisingly and sadly, last year there was no Freezer Burn. Rumor was race officials neglected to secure the proper paperwork in time. Whatever the reason, I was disappointed because there aren't too many winter races in the area longer than 3 miles AND I wouldn't get my tree (or watch Andy cut it down, because I am not authorized or "allowed" to use a saw). Sad face - this was a tradition I had become accustomed to love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">But alas! In 2014, the<a href="http://www.runnersedgemt.com/"> Runners Edge</a> to the rescue. They took this race on, moved the date about two months later and put their own signature on it. The result: Awesomeness. Great race, fun course, good food, indoor facilities and the organization other local races should be taking notes.... detailed notes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I gotta give props when they are due. In a large running community like Missoula, you could probably do a 5K every weekend (double up Saturday and Sunday if you wanted in the summer and fall). RE makes a huge effort to be unique, not only in their distance choices (they don't have a stand alone daylight 5K), but also in the runner experience. I've done races all over this country and I challenge any to offer the goods that I experienced today. Most of their races are capped which promotes timeliness, enough goodies for all runners (no running out of race shwag, post-race food, busses - yep, seen that before). This is huge. They are so much more than a running store. Ok... Enough babbling about RE (although I could go on.... :) </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Carpooling buddies: Tim and Marilyn at packet pickup</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So back to the race. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It was cold! Real shocker being February first and all, but Mother Nature had also blessed us in the last three days with snow, snow, melting it, freezing it, then more snow. 'Freezer' - check. I knew the footing would be all over the map, so I chose to wear micro spikes, as I noticed most runners wore their own traction devices too. This helped immensely on the icy sections, but did nothing for the loose snow sections. </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Tim and I have been seat mates to many start lines</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I only had the opportunity to warm up about a mile and a half before we started, so unfortunately I felt more like a Popsicle than a runner ready to embark on a ten mile race. My feet were frozen and numb bricks connected to my ankles. But I knew I would thaw once we started and the 'Burn' would flaunt as promised. I downed a <a href="http://www.hammernutrition.com/products/hammer-gel.hg.html?navcat=fuels-energy-drinks">Tropical Hammer Gel </a>about two minutes from the start and lined up (yum- caffeine!). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Did I mention how beautiful the start (and entire course for that matter) was? Talk about a winter wonderland. Stunning! I half expected some Budweiser Clydesdales to trot past me. A VAST improvement from previous years' frontage road.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Warming up with some fast middle aged men, Tim, Dean & Brian. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Race director Mike Foote on the right with pistol starts the 150ish runners. (He's a pretty good trail runner if you didn't know)</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">And we were off! Mile 3 (in the lead... But Jeff Rome - in red - passes me around 7.5, and guy behind him wearing a tank (brrrrr!) finishes third)</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Being cold (about 17 degrees) I took off pretty fast to warm up, but quickly settled into a rhythm that I relished for about 7 miles. My pace hardly wavered during these miles which had an easy 1-2% gradual downhill grade, so I was feeling confident and strong, running my goal 1/2 marathon effort. We turned left into a neighborhood, the sun came out and it was quickly warming as we came out of the canyon.... However, I knew something was changing under the soles of my feet. I equate the feeling to running on the beach. I felt as if I was in a treadmill and going no where. The snow was not plowed and was not yet warm enough to start melting. But it was loose and separating from the thick layer of ice on the road. (Want a good calf workout? Run fast in loose snow. Yikes! Hurts today.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Cruising through the gorgeous Miller Creek Missoula</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I was passed right before mile 8 by ultra runner Jeff Rome as if I was standing still! How was he running in this soft stuff? (Just a guess, but a little slick snow doesn't phase some one who usually races 100 milers!) My feet were flailing outward and kicking back and he seemed to power through it no problem. I just tried to hold form, keep him in my sight and use him as motivation to keep pushing. I also knew I was in range of breaking an hour and (of course!) that would be most excellent and unexpected. On a strange note, I did grab some water from the aid station at mile 8, and it tasted carbonated or tangy... Ummm.... Or both? I'm pretty sure the jug was soapy (or spiked with gin). My findings were confirmed by other runners I asked after the race. The mystery remains.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We crested a small 100 foot climb and the top of the hill was even worse footing than before! I knew it was all pretty steep downhill to the finish, so I really tried to cruise down. This section of road, however, had started to melt and was a bit slushy. It's an odd feeling when you body wants to go down with gravity but your feet aren't able to keep up and pushing off on your toes just makes your foot slides behind. I</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> tried the side walk and had a few hundred feet of better ground, but I knew I was oh-so close to the finish line. I did lose about a minute total in the last 3 miles battling the footing, but I still broke 60 min! Woot! Happy, happy, happy! (Yah, I like Duck Dynasty.)</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Best part of the day? Getting to cool down and chat with this lady :) Masters ace, mountain running stud and mother of three Nicole Hunt! She was an OTQ about ten years ago, so talking to her just pumped me up for Boston. </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">After the cool down, I was able to indulge in the post race<i> </i>fun with fellow runners and friends. There was a variety of delicious soups, breads, hot coco all in the clubhouse at the golf course. Previous Freezer Burns did not have indoor facilities or food, so this was an appreciated addition. I drank my usual two scoops of <a href="http://www.hammernutrition.com/products/recoverite.rr.html?navcat=recovery">Hammer Strawberry Recoverite</a> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">mixed with half a bottle of water</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> and then had a nice hot coffee! Perfect recovery for the end of a fantastic morning. </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Bruce mans the fire and Dean and Brian enjoy</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-s8v-bqCYdku4MWbC8YvyoCVaZOhYNkgmbHBKNa2x5jDQRHayiJpPySR2xISxKQFB-Y7-cPaBD7I1_Ao2MFDmEdwtIxPJX0H5o1vOO7fF0vjBWQF7yR3dq-c3RtKxHpf2YtXjSAhUITmo/s640/blogger-image--1201288843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-s8v-bqCYdku4MWbC8YvyoCVaZOhYNkgmbHBKNa2x5jDQRHayiJpPySR2xISxKQFB-Y7-cPaBD7I1_Ao2MFDmEdwtIxPJX0H5o1vOO7fF0vjBWQF7yR3dq-c3RtKxHpf2YtXjSAhUITmo/s640/blogger-image--1201288843.jpg"></span></a></div>
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Celebrating our hard work today!</span></i><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzG0rrNVB8T6nfUNKoHurPVfwpaqXDz6Tpyxo4LEyYZvmyGjhDid03hj0Sh34-Z4is3QAo0SRZSJRMt4Wx9HyeVxX-wAujI0zmhoOSBDPgTrtTMQWpyGqgeNeVVQPCgF95k82kHZrLvsL/s640/blogger-image--872770823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzG0rrNVB8T6nfUNKoHurPVfwpaqXDz6Tpyxo4LEyYZvmyGjhDid03hj0Sh34-Z4is3QAo0SRZSJRMt4Wx9HyeVxX-wAujI0zmhoOSBDPgTrtTMQWpyGqgeNeVVQPCgF95k82kHZrLvsL/s640/blogger-image--872770823.jpg"></span></a></div>
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Fancy hardware!</span></i><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">See more photos <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151952066443099.1073741845.275829523098&type=3">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Course photos by <a href="http://www.votographyimages.com/">Vo Von Sehlen</a>. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheldUVyln9io2GOzr23POecNUgvuvBN74qrETo0xjbBKeb6oeefsndDRg0nLzS79i8_e9IzZJ6eHpR8VrXFgU__X4I3Ool7JcpiSv06lWBlnb9Rcr-Jg7ZwbdbRvld2PnnF2hhvk4otIU2/s640/blogger-image-1525440149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheldUVyln9io2GOzr23POecNUgvuvBN74qrETo0xjbBKeb6oeefsndDRg0nLzS79i8_e9IzZJ6eHpR8VrXFgU__X4I3Ool7JcpiSv06lWBlnb9Rcr-Jg7ZwbdbRvld2PnnF2hhvk4otIU2/s640/blogger-image-1525440149.jpg"></span></a></div>
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The man behind the camera - Mr. Vo himself - A talented photog!</span></i><br>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12418715132929702600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287988589594679230.post-73631678577876282812014-01-22T18:40:00.000-08:002014-01-22T18:52:22.262-08:00Challenge Accepted<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">There are 89 days until the Boston Marathon! 89 days – holy buckets. The good news is I got in my first long in run last Sunday, 22 miles, but it rocked my world a bit (meaning I immediately laid horizontal on the couch post run with my furry friends and cat napped). I've also been fighting a cold (second one in a month, I might add… grrrrr) so I think it sent me into extra tiredness and post run lethargy. And this all comes after the previous week which included a half marathon followed by a Treadmill Challenge that I did five days later.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A <i>Treadmill Challenge</i> you say …. What pray tell is that? Well let me tell you! It’s madness, MADNESS! In all honesty, it was fun, (mostly afterward when I was done and sitting down) but it was for a great charity and probably the closest I’ll ever get to being famous/rock star/professional athlete and having people screaming at me and cheering for me.<o:p></o:p></span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXsmeeUswlUAUXYXCWqcnLO4yw3k2Zks2xWHU0oZl8m0cbvEvASNo3Cse8dXC0mjpQpl79eNHJMPAfvVmtMLPujF_Pv0KGoCoO0ohk_9RVduoN9EDJxUT0ZWJZYrDTfdUgwBOMq7NFDpO3/s640/blogger-image--1681034579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXsmeeUswlUAUXYXCWqcnLO4yw3k2Zks2xWHU0oZl8m0cbvEvASNo3Cse8dXC0mjpQpl79eNHJMPAfvVmtMLPujF_Pv0KGoCoO0ohk_9RVduoN9EDJxUT0ZWJZYrDTfdUgwBOMq7NFDpO3/s640/blogger-image--1681034579.jpg"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Feeling goofy in the early stages of the first heat</i></span><br>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Here’s the breakdown:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">6 men, 6 women & 3 treadmills on a stage</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">10 minutes per heat</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">12% grade</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Each runner runs first heat</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Top in each heat advance to final + next furthest distance</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Charity: Y<a href="http://youthhomesmt.org/">outh Homes</a></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sponsored by Adidas,<a href="http://www.runnersedgemt.com/">Runners Edge</a> & <a href="http://bigskybrew.com/">Big Sky Brewing Co</a></span></li>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I’ve been asked a lot of great questions about the event so I think I’ll just answer them here. (Nerd Alert! interviewing myself)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">What was it like running in front of all those people?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Weird, scary, nerve-raking, awkward…. Just to name a few. Now, I’m not one to shy away from being the center of attention (in fact I grew up on stage performing ballet, jazz, tap) but considering this was new, something I knew I wouldn't feel comfortable doing, I was nervous. I think my heart rate was 165 before I even started the first heat. In a race you run by people for a few seconds so you can put on a brave face, but this, there is no hiding when you are racing and not really going anywhere.<o:p></o:p></span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29RwNO-4FwYL1y2gBftrxSdB0us0iW6gfTzVy8hAX6DKwgDxHbywCR4OfG7SFDPcnNS5TWeSVNf6CJseeSY0l5vasgbgSNZYk6jUSKXCLsODAYpRoWESIEmiiwhsiYLRhKKNAl1MnqO6-/s640/blogger-image-683086633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29RwNO-4FwYL1y2gBftrxSdB0us0iW6gfTzVy8hAX6DKwgDxHbywCR4OfG7SFDPcnNS5TWeSVNf6CJseeSY0l5vasgbgSNZYk6jUSKXCLsODAYpRoWESIEmiiwhsiYLRhKKNAl1MnqO6-/s640/blogger-image-683086633.jpg"></span></a></div>
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<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Was it loud?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Yes, loud (and really hot.) During Heat 1, I heard specific friends in the crowd cheering for me and I even looked up from the consol a few times. Heat 2 was a massive struggle to say the least. Head down, just tried to finish. I pretty much tuned out (or blacked out) everything. I think the kids are calling it the ‘Pain Cave’ these days…. Well I’m pretty sure I was buried in mine. For the record, the crowd and the announcers were AMAZING! So awesomely loud and enthusiastic. I’m sure the $2 Big Sky beers helped… but it wouldn't have been a successful event at all without them.<o:p></o:p></span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkssHEgF1QU62ejdjK-ZW40K0y9IyxcV_LgB1Hr_BuGevhc6AgoxmdE9qSIC08zxLxXU03iQ6VcPofqEwayiARASS-TVvnMz8xsXhxN4om_TS-BSzIahB1-8JmZsmT6wRj9RK42r6JzZg/s640/blogger-image--1569037548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkssHEgF1QU62ejdjK-ZW40K0y9IyxcV_LgB1Hr_BuGevhc6AgoxmdE9qSIC08zxLxXU03iQ6VcPofqEwayiARASS-TVvnMz8xsXhxN4om_TS-BSzIahB1-8JmZsmT6wRj9RK42r6JzZg/s640/blogger-image--1569037548.jpg"></span></a></div>
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> I enjoyed cheering between my heats! </span></i></div>
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<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Did you practice?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Ha, ha, ha… no. (I probably should have!) I was going with the ‘ignorance is bliss motto’ (dumb, dumb, dumb). I have been focusing on getting my weekly mileage up, so I did one minute at 12% about 2 weeks ago after a workout and thought, I better not do this for too long because I’ll talk myself out of it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Were you scared you were going to fall off?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Heat 1, no.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Heat 2, about 6 minutes in, hell yes. I felt that little bump at the back of the belt a few times. Luckily, it was quite obvious from my struggling form that I was possibly going down, so a few people stood behind me and next to me to grab me in case I crashed.<o:p></o:p></span><br>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>My white-knuckled pain cave.</i></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">How sore were you the next day?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Surprisingly not sore! I thought for sure my quads would be blow out and my knees would buckle when I got out of bed, but I remained upright and ran an easy 10 the next day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Will you do it again next year?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">If I’m invited and healthy, I’m in. I might even practice and work on that high heart rate threshold I don't often touch as a marathoner. It truly was an honor to share the stage with every runner up there. It’s not every day I get compete against the Canadian record holder in the 10,000M and a US National Mountain Running Champ. Seriously. These women are my heroes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">You can find more pictures from this inaugural event <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151923589473099.1073741844.275829523098&type=3">here </a>(Photos by <a href="http://www.votographyimages.com/">Vo-Tography</a>)<o:p></o:p></span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_F2x8AGKAjWoUEAOjvj0orLfLATQVfG_69aCQMMK5-iqD80lF6EsG99xpBdmLn5hJoRZTzwr73xUyePnTAfkYaXS5mH-TCyrMYjQafnYy4l6VPDt1fiIeGaISzvPtyoa1YuBKpd1FkPFf/s640/blogger-image-888636015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_F2x8AGKAjWoUEAOjvj0orLfLATQVfG_69aCQMMK5-iqD80lF6EsG99xpBdmLn5hJoRZTzwr73xUyePnTAfkYaXS5mH-TCyrMYjQafnYy4l6VPDt1fiIeGaISzvPtyoa1YuBKpd1FkPFf/s640/blogger-image-888636015.jpg"></span></a></div>
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Champions Nicole Hunt and Andy</span></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12418715132929702600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287988589594679230.post-61031033782629476722014-01-12T16:20:00.000-08:002014-01-12T17:13:28.519-08:00Early Season Form<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Race Report</b><br><a href="http://polsonrunning.com/">Sorry 'Bout That Half Marathon</a> - Polson, MT 1/11/14</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1:23:45 (couldn't plan that if I tried!)<br><br>I'm 14 weeks out from Boston, so the goal of this race was to attempt to run marathon goal pace <i>if</i> conditions were decent... Which they weren't. (It's January in MT - good conditions need not apply.) So that means run marathon effort. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">First 5K was uphill with a solid 25mph headwind and light rain. Boooo. If there is one thing I hate more than a headwind... It's uphill <i>and</i> into a headwind. But (silver lining) ... of course, this meant we got a sweet tailwind later which came in a few miles of speedy downhill. <i>Fast</i>. But this was a loop course, so the last 2 miles climbed back to the finish into the headwind again. Luckily, it didn't start raining hard until after I crossed the finish line. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So terrain and weather held me back a bit from running consistently at goal pace, bit I still got a solid workout and some fast miles. That's the great thing about winter races, there's no PR, no pressure, just effort based racing so finish times aren't as important... And theres a bunch of nutty people suffering through some cold miles together. It's fun! Plus, this was a fundraiser for the <a href="http://www.mvaquatics.org/">Mission Valley Aquatic Center.</a><br><br><b>Slowest mile: </b>7:08 (2)</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br><b>Fastest mile:</b> 5:20 (9)<br><br><b>Strangest moment</b>: Just past mile 4, I passed my first runner. It was then I heard <i>clippity clop, clippity clop, clippity clop</i>. I thought ... 'Is there a horse on the road?' No, couldn't be. But tempted, I turned around and sure enough, there was a big, black horse on the course galloping at me. I said to the guy I just passed, 'There's a horse!' He mumbled back to me between heavy breaths something about 'typical Montana.' The gallop sounds on the pavement were getting louder and the horse flew by us. Guy behind me shouted 'Shit! There's no one on that horse!' The horse made it another hundred yards then stopped perpendicular in the center of the road. Cars traveling the other direction had to stop. The horse then swiveled 90 degrees to face me and started running back the direction from which he appeared. I panicked and moved as far over to one side of the road as I could. The horse ran past me again and his horseshoe clomps faded. So weird. Because this was such a small race, I don't think any other participants saw the horse. I talked to my mile 4 guy after the race and we had a good 'WTF' laugh about the whole thing. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQXfF5_Y-hCszaz1y-keIyCRLqELgHeq_iepJNVsxZ8VJY3_wknTP45I0pW59mH-4prIGJ-lNhhKsd19b6vKUSqwibxRw52HlHe19BMmOEhUkN7vi45f4ZP9tEXw-RKYZHIlS49DiOyRW/s640/blogger-image-1515782548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQXfF5_Y-hCszaz1y-keIyCRLqELgHeq_iepJNVsxZ8VJY3_wknTP45I0pW59mH-4prIGJ-lNhhKsd19b6vKUSqwibxRw52HlHe19BMmOEhUkN7vi45f4ZP9tEXw-RKYZHIlS49DiOyRW/s640/blogger-image-1515782548.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here's what the cats were doing while I was running in the cold. Wylie sleeps in a drawer.</div></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Next up</b>: Thursday Night Adidas sponsored Runners Edge <a href="http://www.runnersedgemt.com/events/treadmill/">Treadmill Challenge</a>. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">10 minutes @ 12% against some of western Montana's speediest and strongest women. My goal is to not get last place!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12418715132929702600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287988589594679230.post-62577132635949712092014-01-09T09:29:00.002-08:002014-01-09T09:29:47.986-08:00Attempts for a New Years Resolution(s)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So today is January 9. I am always late! I meant to start a blog last summer.... life (and laziness/procrastination) got in the way. So here I am, a week into 2014 and I'm only now getting my thoughts down. Figures.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">2012 was an awesome year. I mean awesome! I pledged a life long love to my best friend in front of friends and family who traveled far and wide to see us, had a sweet bachelorette party with my best girlies, won two marathons and PRd in pretty much every distance I raced. 2013 was going to have a tough time competing with it's predecessor. With such highlights as two (yes two) trips to the Big Island, Hawaii and a big marathon PR of 2:44, I really don't have much to complain about for 2013. But ... there is room for improvement. So here we go 2014.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>#1 - Quit Being 5 minutes Late </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">No matter how much time I leave my self to get ready, or plan to leave, I just can't be on time. It's always 5 minutes, I swear! But it's really rude and I want to change this. I am always rushing (and driving like a maniac), which leads me to number two. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>#2 - No More Speeding Tickets</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I vow to drive the speed limit (or realistically, only 5 above!) I got a ticket driving to work the day after x-mas from MT HP. Anger! This is not my first speeding ticket. And since I don't want to be paying out the ass in auto insurance, it is in my best interest to make this one happens.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>#3 - Be Nicer to My Customers</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This falls under the <i>be a better person </i>category that I'm sure many people use in their yearly resolutions. Well, I need to be more specific than that if I truly want to make an improvement. Being in sales (at my job for eight years now!) and being 'on' as they say, has become more difficult. I will take more deep breaths and smile more. Customer first. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Now for the fun stuff - some <b>2014 Running Goals!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>#1 </b>PR in the marathon by more than 2 minutes (if I do that, #2 is automatic)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>#2 </b>Qualify for the 'B' standard for the 2016 Marathon Olympic Trials (Location TBD)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">That's it - just 2 goals that are mutually exclusive. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Deep breath... here goes... Cheers to 2014!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12418715132929702600noreply@blogger.com1