Beast Mode-ON

<---Yep it was one of those kind of weekends! It was a great weekend!  The weekend started with Wachusett mountain run, the 2nd run in the USATF NE mountain series. I entered the race knowing it was going to be a tough field. We were in Massachusetts= more runners, fast runners. The race started-3 miles up on the paved road! I wore my Saucony Mirage 2 and they didn't fail me even though they are near retirement age. I love those shoes! I found my pacers and my targets and chased them up. My goal was not to walk...and I didn't. I couldn't believe how strong I felt at times. I was relieved but still knew I wasn't going to get bling this race! As the runners got to the top we had to loop the tower and made our way back down the paved access road. The down hills are my strength yet I still couldn't catch my targets. Eventually we hit the dirt road which was really a fancy trail. I passed a strong runner and instantly knew I had a target on my back-yep she passed me again about 30 seconds later with her wheels on. I couldn't keep up. At about 200 yards to go (according to one of the fast runners that was running back up the course after her race) I kicked it into high speed. Passed a target and several others. Oh looky, looky there-Its the fast girl. I knew she was in my age group, I scoped that out already as I always do. I don't mind getting passed, as long as you are a male or a woman who is not in my age group! Ha! Anyhow, fast girl was making her way along all safe and comfortable when I tracked her down and passed her with about 4 feet to go to the finish-Gotcha! I mean oh, sorry, did you want to be 4th in our age group? Had I known I might not have passed you. Okay, okay, I am not really this cocky but it does strike me funny how people just casually make their way to the finish-You have to sprint to the finish, give it all you got people! So yes, I was 4th in my age group which didn't earn me bling but I was pretty proud. 104 overall. Not bad, top 3rd of the runners.

 

I raced again today. I told myself I didn't have to and that I could use it as a training run but yeah, that didn't last long. What a crazy race it was. I was told that the Pineland Farm trails are a little muddy when its dry out. It had been raining for a couple of days so it was a lot muddy. I have never seen/ran in anything like it. The first 7-10 miles-mud and water. Which made the race that much harder!

My new Saucony Adapts

I started out trying to get around all the runners as I normally do. I like to break away from the pack however today it was not easy! It was the worlds biggest slip and slide from the start. Actually, while I was waiting for the race to start my feet had formed a puddle. By mile 5-6 I was feeling pretty good. Mile 9 eh-not so much. 10-11 okay...but then I walked about 20 feet going up at about mile 12. My stomach was cramping and I was short of breath. Just needed a little breather. I did stop at a couple of water/food stops but again, my goal was not to stop on the course. Bummed but needed I quickly took some steps and was off and running. I ended up passing one of my female targets, she passed me again after a water stop, then I was back on the chase. At about mile 13.5 I reluctantly passed her. For some strange reason I was feeling okay and I kept my pace going. 2 Kilometers to go and it was game on. I passed another young girl who passed me at mile 12. Yeah, that felt good. I was able to sprint to the finish and was very happy with my time of 2:34:52.  I thought I was going to die, I just kept walking, I was spent! I walked to my car sent some texts with my results, grabbed a jacket, some water, and made my way back to the party. Grabbed some grub and could barely eat it but choked it down. Did I mention I was spent? For kicks I decided to look at the over all results. What? 180 overall, 9th in my age group? Wow! Way better than I imagined! I cant believe how strong I am feeling. Sure my hamstrings are hating me right now but I am doing it. I am getting stronger as a runner! That is what really matters. Its not always the bling or who I am going to beat at the finish. Seriously-that stuff is all in fun. What it is really about is me and challenging myself. Determined to take risks and have no regrets!

 

After the race...                                                                               The bling

 

 

After the two layers of socks came off -gross!                      

 

 

 

 

 

 

                  

Rocking out on my way home!

 

 

Update: I forgot to mention all the great people I met last weekend! As I was walking back to the start area on Sunday I ran into a guy who was wearing a brand new pair of Adapts as well. He had the black and orange male version. "nice shoes" I shouted. He smiled and we walked together to the start area. I found out he was from Virginia and was working in the area and thought he should give this race a try. He committed to pacing a friend who was running a 100 ultra in a couple of weeks and figured he better do a trial run first. We chatted for a bit and headed our separate ways at the portapotties. I saw him after the race and he was just as happy with his shoes as I was with mine and he was feeling good about his finish and pacing his friend in a couple of weeks. I got to the start line and soon was surrounded by fellow aR racers. People I had never met before with some common interests-we were proudly RACING acidotic and we loved the trails. I passed a few more aR team mates on the trails and met some who were supporting the rest of us. I also ran into a fellow trail racer from the Meet Up group I run with. I met his wife and she too loves her Saucony's but was forced to wear her Asics that day. I saw her after the race and she managed to get through with the asics, I am pretty sure she was happy she wasn't wearing her Kinvara's because the mud had all but destroyed our shoes and I would have been sad if I did that to a pair of Kinvaras! 

Transformation

I first posted info about my transformation on Facebook a few months ago.

Lately I have felt the need to blog another quick post about my evolution from

skinny kid to BIG girl and now- healthy, fit, and happy!

I ran track and played basketball in high school. Being active was easy for me. My metabolism must have been higher back then.  I used to eat whatever I wanted and stayed "skinny".
 My mom would always tell me "Some day that will catch up with you".
Pizza, Doritos, Coke...yummy.

Senior photos-Class of 1991

College Graduation

Then came college. I stayed active and attempted to run indoor track my freshman year. That was an epic fail. Fitness wasn't really a focus of mine, I focused on my studies and enjoying the experience (and made one too many bad choices). I did however make a good choice and transferred colleges my Junior year. Eventually I found rugby and a little bit of fitness. My weight gain didn't really begin until after college.

I got to a point with my weight that I thought there was no turning back. So, what do you do at that point?
 Cry, hate yourself, and eat some more! 

October 1999

I  married,  divorced, and was trying to find my way in life. That "some day" my mom was referring to had arrived-I hate it when she is right! I tried Jenny Craig and a bunch of other gimmicky weight loss programs. My second time around on Jenny Craig I kept off 20 lbs. I eventually found rugby again. But I was still a big girl-bigger than I used to be anyhow. I did start to become fit through rugby but life was still stressful. Several failed relationships, uncomfortable in my own skin, and working a job I loved but a job that had me putting in some crazy hours. I knew I was depressed. I couldn't snap out of it. I would cry at the drop of a hat. Not a good thing when you are on the administrative team. I asked my doctor for help, anti-depressants were prescribed. I requested counseling, I didn't want to be on meds forever. I learned a lot from the experience. I started to figure out how to live life for me and tried not to worry about how my choices affected everyone around me. I lost a little more weight and started to recognize myself again but the real transformation didn't happen till I threw caution into the wind and made the biggest decision of my life. I packed up and left my family and friends to live the simple life in New England. It was as though I had lived here my whole life. I instantly felt comfortable. I had instant happiness. I no longer needed therapy, no medications. I found great pleasure in hiking, photography, and exploring my new environment. I picked up mountain biking too. I tried one more diet-South Beach and lost another 10-20 lbs (I cant remember). I found rugby again.  Fast forward passed a couple more failed relationships  and bouts of sadness and self pity parties to when I found cycling. I was cycling and mountain biking and feeling better. Another couple years later I found running. I lost another 10lbs without even trying. My first 5k I won a trophy and it was all up hill from there. I was addicted to the challenge (and the bling)! Since I started running I have crossed a number of things off my bucket list-sprint triathlon, half marathon, marathon, 24 hour mountain bike racing, trail racing etc. Each year I set goals for myself. That is why I have that schedule over there ------>.
I seek challenges that make me physically, mentally, and spiritually strong.

Life is too short to have regrets. Do what makes you happy.
Be Strong. Run Strong. No Regrets!

 

                                                                                           

                                               

 

 

My quest to earn mountain goat status...

Saturday is a rugby day!

The weekend of  May 4th and 5th was a little busy. I started Saturday with Amoskeag rugby club when I briefly stepped out of retirement to play with my running partners and good friends Amy and Brigit. It was a fun morning, I played a position I had never played before and I didn't get hurt! I hesitated playing because on May 5th I was scheduled to run the Sleepy Hollow mountain run-the first race in the USATF NE Mountain Circuit.

photo by Gianina Lindsey @ Snapacidotic

photo by Gianina Lindsey @ Snapacidotic

After the game I drove home, showered, packed my car with my tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, running kit etc. I then drove 3 hours to Huntington VT to Sleepy Hollow trails. $15 and I was set for the night! I set up my tent and was settled in around 9pm. The sounds of the night were amazing and after dark the skies were full of stars. I was excited for a good nights sleep and I wasn't disappointed. Woke up, broke down camp and started to psych myself up for my first race of the series and my first race running with acidotic RACING. I met Chris in the parking lot and got my jersy and buff. I was ready to hit the trail! The race started-close to 200 participants and I was nervous. We headed up and I felt strong-down and up again. I was fast on the down hills not as fast going up. I tend to only tap the brakes going down and feel the need to take advantage of the moment. I passed a couple women who passed me again and ultimately I passed them before the race was through. I met up with a fellow aR team mate on the trail. Didn't know him but we both were wearing team jerseys. We toggled back and forth and finally after the second hill climb up and fast down we were running together. He suggested we run together with a nice opportunity for a pic in the aR yearbook. Sounds fine but did I mention that I sprint the finish-oops. He wasn't happy but we pretty much crossed the finish line together-in a full out sprint. After the race he said "there is a word for people like you and it starts with a B" I took that as a compliment ;-)  It was nice to have people to hang out with after the race and I enjoyed meeting people with a similar passion for the trails. I ended up finishing 3rd in my age group, just one place from medaling in the USATF mountain championship. Not bad for my first official mountain race.

 

photo by Gianina Lindsey @ Snapacidotic



The weekend after Sleepy Hollow I had a great 12ish mile run in the Belknaps. We hit 4 or 5 peaks in total and finished at Mt. Major. I was enjoying the moment so much that I forgot to snap a picture...oops! It was a long but great run/experience. Looking forward to doing it again. This past weekend I ran Pumpelly trail of Mt. Monadnock. It was my first trip up Monadnock for the year and it did not disappoint. The views were incredible and it was a fun run/hike. I only ticked off one angry woman (gave her wrong directions on accident) and wiped out as the end of the run was "near". Many laughs and perfect weather made for a great day. Next up...Mount Wachusett!

It was nice not to have to take a selfie from the top of Monadnock!