“There’s a difference between ‘risky’ and ‘dangerous’. What you’re doing is risky – we will be doing all we can to make sure it’s not dangerous.” – Kris King, Race Director, at pre-race briefing. “Mind the zebra shit.” – Ranger to me, as I was about to step in it on way to start line. I’ve run in some wild…
“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air, “ Ralph Waldo Emerson “Just keep swimming.” Dora, in “Finding Nemo” 8:00 a.m. in Chicago standing shivering on Lake Michigan shore — at start line for Big Shoulders 5K swim. Yep, THAT swim! The one that was cancelled last year as we all stood on the beach — due…
This race had been on my “list” for years – photos looked like moonscape! so I was delighted it worked for this year’s spring schedule. Extra bonus? very cool runner friend was also interested. Road trip! The Race Salt Flats 50-mile is part of Salt Flats Endurance Run series – 50K and 100-mile events are held concurrent with the 50-mile….
You know that feeling of being “in the flow” – moving smoothly and like you can run forever? I love that feeling! and neverever got there in this race. It was alllll work. I had been having hamstring issues and spent the 2 weeks leading up to the race resting, icing, rolling, feeling a little uncertain about showing up. But…
Not everything (actually very little. OK, almost nothing) about this last year went as I had expected. And it was fabulous. And really hard. I set two new PRs! One at 50K, another at 50 miles (no small thing @ 58, eh?) Trained my brains out, logged a ton of miles (2200 running, 60 miles o’ swim). Smooched a…
“This desert doesn’t want you to run 250 km in 5 days… it will try to kill you.” Brett Rocos, head of Exile Medics @ pre-race briefing Sitting in the tent listening to pre-race briefing, I’ll admit to a bit of internal eye-roll (dramatic much?). I’ve run in the Sahara; how bad could this be? Got my answer 3rd…
“Celebrate we will Because life is short but sweet for certain.” “Two Step”, by Dave Matthews In the week leading up to the race, things were looking a bit grim: The race director kept assuring us the race would go on – it had only been cancelled once (once!) in the last 19 years. All plans were still a…
“Do you know who you are?” “Do you know what’s happened to you?” “Do you want to live this way?” Cristina in “Grey’s Anatomy” – Netflix binge on return flight This spring, I returned to Iceland for a shorter version of Fire and Ice Ultra: 3 days, 125 km, self-supported. It’s rare that I return to a…
“Smell the sea and feel the sky Let your soul and spirit fly Into the mystic” – Van Morrison There’s something about this park, this event that brings me back every year. It’s become part of the magic of birthday week – to run for miles (& miles) in the deep mystical foggy quiet with only bullfrogs & birds…
My biggest worry heading in to Cowtown 50K was, well… cows. I’ve run races in the past that had actual longhorns on the course. They’re huge. And terrifying. As it turned out? no cows – just bright sunshine, great race organization, friends, and 31.1 miles of pavement (ouch!). Finished 4th in my age group* — with a new 50K…
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