jkgunkel

Day 1 . . . One Mile at a Time

Today is my first day facing my new reality.

Today is my first day accepting & pushing for more.

Are you asking yourself what has changed? What could possibly change my outlook on my future in one day?

Yesterday, I received confirmation that I have Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD).

So, what is PKD?

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a genetic disease (passed from an affected parent to their child) causing uncontrolled growth of cysts in the kidney eventually leading to kidney failure. It affects all racial and ethnic groups equally. In some cases, PKD can be caused by a genetic mutation.

Here is one of the best videos that explains it more in-depth from PKD Foundation:

For me – my PKD is that both of my kidneys look like they are wrapped in bubble wrap. Both of my kidneys are completely covered in cysts – ranging from the size of a pencil eraser to over 1+ inches. There are also cysts present in my liver.

So what does this mean for me . . . the ultra runner . . . the girl with hopes & dreams for epic adventures?

It means that I’m taking it one mile at a time.

I am not going to let this disease define who I am.

I have a future that I’m going to challenge to be my best yet.

I have a 24 hour urine study coming up along with more advanced blood panels to monitor my kidney & liver function. There will also be an evaluation to figure out how I developed PKD – genetic or mutation. So far – no one else in my family has PKD, so I may be the lucky mutation. *I may need a cool mutant name in the future. I’ve always wanted to be a part of the X-Men!*

I will be tweaking my lifestyle more to eat to fight the disease versus feeding it. The cleaner the better. I’ll most likely post recipes that I find . . . partially to keep track of them & partially to help others that might find my blogging helpful. 🙂 *I’m trying to be very mindful that you are what you eat . . . I’m not fast, easy, or cheap!* 😛

I will be increasing my water consumption & I will be playing with various ways to do this in a way that is not only beneficial, but also easily tracked. Don’t worry . . . I’ll be blogging about this too & looking for suggestions! 😛

Lastly, I will be experimenting with ways to eliminate NSAIDs from my life since these are kidney killers & replace them with natural anti-inflammatories / methods (i.e. massage, acupuncture, turmeric, tart cherry juice, ice, foam rollers, compression, etc.).

So welcome to my journey . . . my adventure . . . my one mile at a time. ❤

Learning to “Tri”

Right before Memorial Day weekend an opportunity presented itself that I could not pass by without growing regrets.

I was offered the chance to take over a Lake in the Hills triathlon registration from a competitor that needed to withdrawal. And because in 2014, I declared on my “40 by 40” bucket list that I was going to complete a triathlon – this was a new adventure that I needed to seize!

In the past 3 weeks, I’ve had to get back on a bike after a couple of years of being out of the saddle & I had to dive into my first lake swim in over 10 years.

In a million years, I never thought that I would say that I feel more comfortable in my “runners” than in the water, but currently that is the case.

In my high school days I was a competitive swimmer & diver & then a life guard during my college days.

My Mom would tell you that I grew gills before I could walk! My comfort zone has always been in the water & that’s where I thought that it would always be until now. 😦

I’m not saying that I won’t regain my comfort in the water again, but I’m not sure that it will happen within 48 hours.

On Sunday, June 19th, I will be completing a sprint tri – 0.5 mile swim, 15.5 mile bike, & 4 mile run – in Lake in the Hills, Illinois.

I’d love to say that I feel confident going into this, but I am far from it.

I’ve had to take the crash course in “tri-ing” from a few of my experienced “tri” friends.

Here are a few of my lessons learned in the last few weeks:

Get a tri suit. Here is an example of a tri suit. You can wear this for the swim, bike, & run. There are also 2 piece versions. If you wear a wetsuit, you wear the wetsuit over this. Then in transition, you just strip off the wet suit & you are ready to bike. The idea is to have minimal changes of clothes. Tri Suit I went with Pearl Izumi Women’s Select Pursuit Tri SL Jersey – Black/Aqua Mint – Medium & Pearl Izumi Women’s Select Pursuit Tri Shorts – Black – Large.
Rent a wet suit over buying. There is a good triathlon store near here (i.e. Chicago, IL) where you can rent a wet suit for $50 a week. This is a cheaper option than buying – especially, if you won’t need to use a wet suit often. Wet Suit Rentals
How to wear timing chips. The timing chips in a triathlon are on a strap that you wear around your ankle. You wear it for the whole race & you should wear it on your left ankle so that it is away from all the sprockets on the bike.
A quick checklist of things to bring. Swim: Body glide to help with wet suit / tri suit chafing, 2 pairs of goggles (1 main (e.g. Speedo Women’s Vanquisher Mirrored Goggle – Clear) & 1 backup), the provided race swim cap, a towel to dry your feet, a towel to place your shoes on & mark your spot. Bike: Water bottles, nutrition, hydration, helmet, pump, socks, shoes, sunglasses, jacket to throw on if it is cold, race belt with number. Run: Nutrition, hydration, hat, shoes, extra socks.
Get there early on race day. Arrive early enough on race day to setup your transition areas – especially, if it is a point to point race where you need to setup two transition areas (i.e. T1 & T2). Make a list of what gear you need at which transition area so that you don’t forget something you need for the bike in T1 at T2.
Training Plans. There are a ton of training plans out there. Most of them are for around 12 weeks – review & adapt one as needed. Tri Training Plan
Pre-race practice sessions. Most races will offer pre-race practice sessions. On the Lake in the Hills Tri website, it says it will send out information to registered participants information on swim practices in the lake and bike sessions. Ask the person you got the race number from if they received anything. It is worth swimming in the lake at least once to get the feel for it so you don’t panic on race morning. And there is also a benefit to biking & / or running the course. For cycling practice, buy a decent pair of cycling shorts or bib shorts (Cycling Bib Shorts).
What to wear (or not to wear). Depending on the temperature you may need to add a layer. If it is cold, wear a cold wear compression tshirt under your cycling jersey. If warm, then nothing more than your tri suit. Most women will wear a sports bra under their tri suit so that if it is hot they can still vent. Don’t wear anything under your tri suit / cycling shorts. Underwear will chafe, & the chamois (padding) is made to wick away moisture and is usually antibacterial. You may find that Chamois Butt’r may help relieve some discomfort from the cycling.

As always I will post a race recap after this new challenge so check back to see how things go when I “tri”!

Here’s the 20 mile course:

LITH Swim Course LITH Bike Course LITH Run Course

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly Race Recap: J.P. Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge (05.26.2016)

J.P. Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge (05.26.2016)

Yesterday was one of my most favorite Corporate days of the year . . . it was the 40th Anniversary of the Chase Corporate Challenge & my tenth year of participating!

This is the corporate event that every year brings together a large group of my colleagues so that we can hang out, catch up, & get a run / walk in too!

Overall this was an awesome race . . .

More time with a group of my favorite colleagues!
Shenanigans!
All of my gear worked fabulously – especially my Orange Mud Hydraquiver Vest Pack 2, my Trail Toes, my Honey Stingers, my Tailwind, & Shower Pill!

Here area my key “take aways” from this race!

THE GOOD: Sub30 5K

This race is race is unique, because it is not a standard race distance. This course is ~3.5 miles, but because of how many people there are – 27,000 people from 680 different companies filled Grant Park – the mileage is always more than that due to weaving in & out of people.

My goal for this race (besides running for the first time in the last couple of years instead of being “The (Bag) Watcher”) was to shoot for a fast 5K. I wanted to see if I could record a sub30 minute time . . . AND I DID!

I recorded a 27:52 5K time . . . my fastest 5K time to date! I’m uber excited & thrilled that I performed so well even with less than ideal conditions (i.e. it was HOT, HUMID, & CROWDED)! ❤

THE BAD: Feeling HOT, HOT, HOT!

Summer made an appearance last night. Temperatures were in the mid / upper 80s at 7pm. And the temperatures were even higher in the Chicago tunnels.

It was brutal.

In the last quarter of a mile of my 5K – while I was still pushing for my sub30 – I broke out in chills.

I knew then that I would need to stop running as soon as I could & try to cool myself down, because “cool moist skin with goose bumps / chills when in the heat” is one sign of heat exhaustion.

As much as I wanted to get a sub30 5K – I didn’t want to injure myself.

Obviously, I did end up reaching my goal, but I did walk / run the remaining portion of the race to cool myself down & focus on hydration.

Everyone should listen to their bodies & understand the warning signs for heat exhaustion.

Per the Mayo Clinic (Heat Exhaustion):

Heat exhaustion is a condition whose symptoms may include heavy sweating and a rapid pulse, a result of your body overheating. It’s one of three heat-related syndromes, with heat cramps being the mildest and heatstroke being the most severe.

Causes of heat exhaustion include exposure to high temperatures, particularly when combined with high humidity, and strenuous physical activity. Without prompt treatment, heat exhaustion can lead to heatstroke, a life-threatening condition. Fortunately, heat exhaustion is preventable.

Symptoms:

Signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion may develop suddenly or over time, especially with prolonged periods of exercise. Possible heat exhaustion signs and symptoms include:

Cool, moist skin with goose bumps when in the heat
Heavy sweating
Faintness
Dizziness
Fatigue
Weak, rapid pulse
Low blood pressure upon standing
Muscle cramps
Nausea
Headache

If you think you’re experiencing heat exhaustion:

Stop all activity and rest
Move to a cooler place
Drink cool water or sports drinks

Contact your doctor if your signs or symptoms worsen or if they don’t improve within one hour. Seek immediate medical attention if your body temperature reaches 104 F (40 C) or higher.

Complications:

Untreated, heat exhaustion can lead to heatstroke, a life-threatening condition that occurs when your body temperature reaches 104 F (40 C) or higher. Heatstroke requires immediate medical attention to prevent permanent damage to your brain and other vital organs that can result in death.

Please take care of yourselves . . . you only get this one life to live!

AND THE UGLY: Death.

It happens for more often that you would believe, but every time you stress your body you run the risk of encountering medical issues.

I have witnessed runners collapsing on courses more than I ever thought that I would. I have even come to the aid of some of these collapsed runners. This is why I always run with my cell phone now. 😦

Last night, a 39 year old male participant collapsed during the race & later died.

Please everyone – listen to your body. Stop when you need to. Get your routine physicals. And always hug your loved ones – none of us know when our last day will come. 😥

SUMMARY:

Another fun night spent with my colleagues & a new distance personal best. I am excited to see how I will perform at my next 5K – especially in cooler temperatures.

I’m with my peeps!

Pegasus socks make everyone run faster!

OMG – my chip heaven!

I run for cookies (& beer)!

You did what?!

Sub30, baby!! Woo hoo!

BHAGs: A New Challenge

I’ve decided to post on this blog when the moment hits me . . . when I’m giddy with excitement about a new challenge, new BHAG, or a new adventure.

Today is one of those days . . . today I learned about Infinitus.

The Endurance Society Infinitus

Besides not knowing exactly what it is . . . the name alone sounded cool. The latin geek in me was so intrigued & when I heard that the RD from Potawatomi Trail Runs was running it – I had to learn more!

The Infinitus is a race that is taking place right now in Goshen, VT within the Green Mountain National Forest directed by Andy Weinberg. It is a 888K trail run that started earlier today (Thursday, May 19th @ 8:08 AM) & has a 240 Hour Cutoff.

Obviously I can’t run this race this year . . . but maybe there is a future year that I attempt The Infinitus! ❤ *I’m really giddy with excitement!!*

Registration for this insanely challenging event is through The Endurance Society (http://www.endurancesociety.org/infinitus.html)

The Endurance Society

One Year “Run-versary”

One year ago today, I ran my first marathon – The Wisconsin Marathon – in my “transplant home town” of Kenosha, Wisconsin.

You would think that by now this might have sunk in – even the slightest bit – but one year later, it still has not.

Since completing this marathon, I have completed a few smaller distance races (10K or less), two Ragnar Relays, four half marathons, three more marathons, two 50Ks, & one 50 miler. Therefore, if I have learned anything, I have learned that “I am capable of so much more than I ever imagined” & that “limits, like fears, are often just an illusion”.

Even though I have accomplished so much, I still struggle to consider myself a marathoner or even an ultra runner. In my head, I’m still the every day, average Joe runner. Thinking about running any distance still stirs up all sorts of anxiety. Can I do this? What was I thinking when I registered for this? Am I insane? Why did I ever think this was a good idea? What if I fail? It is when these voices of doubt start that I have to make my own voice louder & stronger. I can do this . . . I have trained for months to do this! I like challenges – Courage to Start . . . Strength to Endure . . . Resolve to Finish! I am a Half Fanatic & a Marathon Maniac so I am a Secretly Insane Double Agent! And then there are some of my favorite quotes relating to failure: “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure.” – Colin Powell . . . “Failure is success if we learn from it.” – Malcolm Forbes . . . “Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, only this time more wisely.” – Henry Ford . . . “In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.” – Bill Cosby

I will be celebrating this “run-versary” by returning to The Wisconsin Marathon on May 7th & stepping it up a notch by completing The Kalamazoo Marathon on May 8th – thus completing The Mitten Challenge.

My goals for this weekend are to:

Have fun! There is no point in running these races if I can’t have fun & enjoy the experience!
Successfully complete The Mitten Challenge & level up as a Marathon Maniac!
Improve my time from last year’s Wisconsin Marathon.

Every mile becomes a part of me . . . & I am a DISTANCE RUNNER!

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly Race Recap: The SUCK Midwest (04.15.2016)

The SUCK Midwest (04.15.2016)

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to crew for The SUCK, so this is my first recap from a semi-spectator perspective.

First impressions . . . WOWZERS!

Running can be tough, but after adding in half your weight buddy bags, 50lb sand pills, tires, 8lb sledge hammers, & 5 gallon buckets it turns into an OH MY! Then adding in running, various forms of PT (e.g. burpees), & rucking without sleep & it turns into a WTH!

Now most people after witnessing all of the acts of badassery that I did, would have adopted that “Thanks – you’re doing great, but not for me” attitude . . . & I honestly thought that would have been my take away too.

I can run miles upon miles, but this extra stuff just doesn’t appeal to me . . . yeah, I don’t know really how to explain it, but something happens when you are around all of these magnificent feats badassery & awesomeness that your perspective starts to shift ever so slightly to the “I think I could do that” realm.

The night had various activities such as:

67 burpees
a dip & walk in the local creek
a water carry with both 5 gallon buckets full of water
67 push presses with one full bucket
a mile bear hug water carry back to base.
a burpee loop (4 times over the 12 hours)
a mile plus buddy bag carry (4 times)
a PT circuit (4 times)
100 sledge-hammer strikes on the tire
a concrete block collection
digging a trench
running a mile plus time trial (4 times)
tire flips
a mile plus off trail ruck (ruck sack with 50lb sand pill inside, plus the tire & sledge-hammer strapped onto the ruck, & carrying both 5 gallon buckets)
100 ruck sack push presses
200 sit ups
300 squats

I’m exhausted just thinking about everything that they did & I know that this OCR – at times – lived up to its name . . . it SUCKED; but it was the perfect opportunity to find the magic in the misery & to embrace everything that was good & peaceful.

The area was magical & brimmed with wildlife! There were hawks everywhere! During the night activities there were beautiful serenades made up of crickets, frogs, owls, & coyotes. And the clear night sky presented an abundance of stars as far as you could see. At morning’s edge – the birds started to beckon the sun to rise with their song. It was glorious!

THE GOOD: ‘S Wonderful,’S Marvelous

Everyone that knows me knows that I have a soft spot for animals – all animals. I can be completely & total enamored with birds, deer, coyotes, squirrels, chipmunks, etc.

I was in complete & total heaven with the beauty of this area. I couldn’t help, but get lost in its magic! I am completely looking forward to going back to this area for some good ol’ fashion hiking to explore the trails & be engulfed in its natural beauty again!

THE BAD: My middle name is not Grace.

On the off trail ruck there was a place along the creek that I had to jump a fair distance (OK – in my mind it was a fair distance . . . in actuality I have no idea what the distance was & that is my story & I’m stickin’ to it). Well, believe it or not, “grace” is not my middle name & I may or may not have ended up with a partial face plant & sprained wrist. Nothing broke (which was my first fear) & the mud / dirt brushed off, & while my self-esteem is still being evaluated, I was (& still am) no worse for wear.

My Trail Toes, OM VP2, & Black Diamond trekking poles otherwise kept me on my feet & going all night – even just a week after my first 50 miler! 🙂

AND THE UGLY: No Sleep.

Two weekends in a row of no sleep over 24hrs takes its toll on me now. Recovery takes longer & I can’t say that I’m my chipper self all of the time. I’m definitely not saying no to pulling all nighters, but back to back weekends of it would eventually catch up with me.

SUMMARY:

Now, I am not saying that I am signing up for The Ultimate SUCK in September – I have my senses about me somewhat! 😉 After all I will be running my first 100 miler less than a month later, BUT I’m not ruling out giving my best effort for the 12 hour SUCK next year. 😛 I’m working on living up to my Sister’s nickname for me . . . Crazy Pants Gunkel!

Besides, Joe & Nicole Decker are amazing people & everyone would be better off after spending some time around their enthusiasm! ❤

2016-04-17 20.22.37

Spotlight: Three Amigos Take On the SISU Iron

Three guys walk into a park – one from Illinois, one from California, and the other from Wisconsin. Sounds like the start to a classic joke, right? But this is far from a joke. These three friends – Jesus Chavez (39 years old), Anthony Lazo (25 years old), and Chad Weberg (42 years old) – are about to embark on one of the toughest challenges that exist and hope to emerge as “unbreakable athletes”. In less than two weeks, these three amigos will be traveling to Monrovia Canyon Park (California) to take on the SISU Iron.

2016-04-21 08.05.10 Left: Jesus Chavez, Top Right: Anthony Lazo, Bottom Right: Chad Weberg

When and where is the SISU Iron? April 29th – May 1st in Camp Trask in Monrovia Canyon Park in California.

What is the SISU Iron to you?

[Jesus]: SISU Iron is an extreme endurance race formed by people that have completed several of the toughest races around. Their mantra is “Forging Unbreakable Athletes”.

[Anthony]: A 30+ hour endurance event, to test your true GRIT!

[Chad]: A 30+ hour endurance challenge. This includes both mental and physical challenges. A required gear list is supplied. A few of the items make you think “what did I sign up for?” 30 pack of diapers, baby doll, axe, saw, etc.

Is this your first event like this?

[Jesus]: No, I have finished multiple day races. For example the 66 hour Death Race, 36 hour Ultimate SUCK and a 24 hour Legend of the Death race – of which I won.

[Anthony]: No, I have competed in a Tough Mudder, a Death Race with Jesus and Chad, and the 2014 SISU Iron.

[Chad]: No. I’ve done two Death Races.

How have you trained for the SISU Iron?

[Jesus]: Crossfit Joliet / Undisputed Strength is where I train the most. It’s collegiate style weight room, focusing on speed, strength and athleticism. Brandon “The Broiler” Kelly’s programming has been the main factor in finishing these races. And Avery YMCA is my second home and where this journey first started.

[Anthony]: I honestly haven’t trained much, but I believe the SISU Iron to be more of a mental game more than anything else.

[Chad]: Trail running / hiking. I heat my farm with wood, so splitting wood all winter is a favorite activity. Hopefully, there will be a little of that at the IRON. I have also studied some of the US Presidents and Morse code, because there have been hints of needing to know a little about these topics for the event.

Are you doing this as a team or individually?

[Jesus]: Races like this are usually team oriented at first, but then it eventually splinters off into an individual race.

[Anthony]: The SISU Iron is a different beast in all! We will most likely start as a team, but as the hours add up it will turn into an individual battle.

[Chad]: I always start these events as a team. Not necessarily with a specific group, but you build a team as you go. If you see someone in need – you help them. This is how new friendships are formed at events like this.

What are you most looking forward to?

[Jesus]: I’m most looking forward to seeing friends that I usually only see once or twice a year. Although some of these people I have only met during these races, you created such a special bond that you look forward to embracing the suck together.

[Anthony]: Being out of my comfort zone, and meeting with all the athletes there. This OCR / Endurance community is really kick butt!

[Chad]: Seeing old friends and meeting new ones.

What are you least looking forward to?

[Jesus]: There’s really nothing that I’m not looking forward to. If you have a negative mindset coming into this then you’re not going to do well.

[Anthony]: The infamous camp trask pond <sigh> . . . that thing spawned the swamp thing, as well as, poison oak! Which I know 100% that I will be getting it! AGAIN!

[Chad]: Don Devaney . . . he’s an old friend, but he is helping to organize the race this year and will be there to put us through hell! He is a sick man and that’s why I love him. We’ll hug before the event starts and can continue being friends on Monday. <Grin>

What is your WHY for doing this event?

[Jesus]: My ”WHY” in anything I do is to be a better human being. If I strive to become a better version of myself, then I can become a better father, husband and friend. I need to be a stronger version of myself to raise my daughters to become amazing individuals.

[Anthony]: The first time I did the SISU Iron it was for my birthday since it landed on May 4th. This time will be to test myself. Also Jesus wanted me to run it with him, so I agreed and forced my friend, Daniel Kim, to join in on all the fun too!

[Chad]: To push myself both mentally and physically with a bunch of like-minded friends.

How do you define success of the SISU Iron?

[Jesus]: My success is not defined by finishing the race. I want to be known as the guy that gave everything he had, raced with integrity, and was an awesome teammate. Finishing would be nice, but not the determining factor in a success.

[Anthony]: I’m happy with just meeting and being around the community of people willing to torture themselves, pushing themselves to be the best they can be, and still standing around them at the 30 hour mark.

[Chad]: Starting the event and trying your best.

Do you have anything planned beyond this event?

[Jesus]: I’m signed up for the 36 hour Ultimate Suck in September 2016. Also, on my radar is the 12 hour Spartan Hurricane Heat and the 24 hour Catamount games.

[Anthony]: I do not. I tend to be more spontaneous with my events . . . I didn’t even sign up for this event until April 15^th!

[Chad]: A 50 mile trail ultra-marathon in July, and hopefully, a few longer races / events this coming Fall.

Rapid Fire Questions:

Nicknames: [Jesus]: Jesse and Mas Chingons, [Anthony]: Lazo, [Chad]: Cheeseburger Eddie

Home City / State: [Jesus]: Plainfield, Illinois, [Anthony]: Corona, California, [Chad]: Mazomanie, Wisconsin

Occupation: [Jesus]: Tech Engineer / Land Surveyor for Walsh Const., [Anthony]: Project Consultant, [Chad]: Manufacturing Manager for a Theatrical Lighting and Rigging Manufacturer

Most Favorite Food: [Jesus]: Tacos, [Anthony]: Burritos, [Chad]: Bacon Cheeseburger. Hence the nickname Cheeseburger Eddie. I’ve been known to carry McDonald’s cheeseburgers in my pack during ultra-races. Fuel for me and to help fellow racers.

Least Favorite Food: [Jesus]: Fish, [Anthony]: Green beans, [Chad]: Sushi

Favorite Music: [Jesus]: Metal (Bullet for My Valentine), [Anthony]: Oldies (Classic Rock), [Chad]: Country

Favorite Vacation Place: [Jesus]: Mexico – Cancun area, [Anthony]: Tennessee (Knoxville), [Chad]: Hayward, Wisconsin. Quiet time in the woods or out on the lake.

Favorite Color: [Jesus]: Blue, [Anthony]: Blue, [Chad]: Red

Favorite Mantra:

[Jesus]: Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind always.

[Anthony]: I can’t stop, because I won’t stop!

[Chad]: I have to always go back to the old Death Race saying. “Every man dies but not every man lives”.

2016-04-21 09.06.23 Top Left: Anthony Lazo and Jesus Chavez, Bottom Left: Jesus Chavez and Chad Weberg, Right: Chavez’s Medal Display

For more information on the SISU Iron, visit the website.

Additional publications: Three Amigos Take On the SISU Iron

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly Race Recap: Potawatomi Trail Runs (04.09.2016)

Potawatomi Trail Runs (04.09.2016)

Over the weekend I successfully completed my first 50 miler . . . yep, still not used to saying that, reading that, or even really thinking about it. It must sink in eventually, right?

Overall this was one of the most amazing experiences in my life . . .

Gorgeous area with breath-taking views all day long!
Flexible & encouraging Race Directors (Rich & Eric are absolutely amazing – my life is forever changed by them)!
Ran with some incredible ultra runners that proved over the weekend that in most cases it is not our bodies that limit us, but our minds!
Amazing, supportive volunteers that truly understand ultra trail runners!
All of my gear worked fabulously – especially my Orange Mud Hydraquiver Vest Pack 2, my Trail Toes, my Black Diamond Icon head lamp, & my new Black Diamond Double Z trekking poles!

Here area my key “take aways” from this race! **WARNING: This is going to be a long post – I have decided to break this review up into two sections (pre-race & race day).**

Pre-Race:

THE GOOD: Packed everything that I needed & then some.

When crewing for yourself I think you automatically pack everything you could ever possibly need, including the kitchen sink. Ok . . . maybe not the kitchen sink, but I’m thankful that I packed a camping stove! I used that stove for a couple of meals & quite possibly to keep warm. 😯

Those that know me & have run with me, even on a training run, know that I have everything a runner could need in the back of my Murano. I’m constantly teased about it & have earned the nickname of “Trail Mom” & “Trail Girl Scout”. You need a spare set of headphones? I’ve got ’em. You need extra Gu? Not a problem. What flavor would you like? Caffeine or no caffeine? Do you need biofreeze? OK – roll on or spray? I would challenge someone to come up with an item that I don’t have. I would be an all star at a trail style “Let’s Make a Deal”. 😀

I tried to pack anything & everything that I thought that I would want to eat. I knew that there was a chance that I wouldn’t touch some of it, but there was also a chance that something I brought could save me in the end. Upon reflection – I’m glad that I packed everything that I did. 😀 *Always a Girl Scout!*

2016-04-08 08.28.18

THE BAD: Tent Setup

Holy winds! Oy! This was my first time ever setting up the tent that I used outside in the elements. I had completed a test setup in the garage a few weeks ago to make sure that I still knew how to set it up & to complete some repairs on it (i.e. patching & resealing), but what I hadn’t counted on was the difficulty & amusement that would ensue with me setting it up in high winds.

At one point I thought that I was going to be blown away with the tent. Again, a fear of my 15 seconds of fame being for something ridiculous seeped in. “Human Kite: Local ultra runner gets carried away!”

After 45 minutes of wrestling with every inch of my soon to be home, I finally made camp & I was quite proud of myself for doing it! I picked at spot right by the start / finish so that I would be able to quickly get into my tent & do whatever I needed & then get back out on to the course. An added bonus for my perfect location was the gentle hum of the generators all night became a new favorite “white noise”. 🙂

AND THE UGLY: Utterly cold temperatures.

OMG! I’ve never had the fear of freezing to death until now. I was hesitant to fall asleep out of fear that I wouldn’t wake up. I did my best to bundle up the best that I could & to keep warm. At one point, I made a cup of hot tea to warm my feet & hands. It was so cold that my bottles of water that I had brought were freezing within my tent.

I had not thought this part through. Thankfully I had brought enough blankets & a decent sleeping bag to keep me warm through the night & to act as a very snug changing room. I decided to change into my race gear the night before so that I wasn’t changing in even colder temperatures in the morning. THANK GOODNESS for this decision. Temperatures had fallen from low 40s into the upper 20s by 4am race day.

Next time – I need to invest in some wool socks to keep my footsies extra toasty! 😉

Race Day:

THE GOOD: An ultra runner is born.

Words cannot truly express what an amazing experience this was as my first 50-miler. Every loop was different and magical.

I saw a baby owl. I had a herd of deer run by me/around me. (In my delirium, I may have reflected on this moment and created my own lyrics to “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” by changing it up to fit an ultra runner. You will do funny things to occupy your brain.)

Every step truly had me in awe of the moment and experience. ❤

THE BAD: Battling the bonk went to a new level during this race. I made a deal with myself that I would allow myself a brief nap in the middle of the night, but I had to keep it to a short time, and I would need to push through and finish without another break. Deal made. The nap was amazing. And then I ate my way through the rest of the race.

AND THE UGLY: Illinois has mountains. When I think of Illinois, I think of corn fields and hundreds of miles of flatland. I think of how many Illinois friends refer to themselves as the flatlanders. Apparently, this is a falsehood. This area, for this race, IS. NOT. FLAT. Rolling hills don’t even describe this area accurately. There is a freakin’ rope to use to pull yourself up one of these hills. *blink, blink* A personal note/reminder: pay attention to the elevation profile for future races.

SUMMARY:

There are so many funny memories/stories from this race. Just ask me about the baked potato soup, the meatball sub, or the spider in my tights. I couldn’t have dreamed of a better experience for my first true ultra. ❤

2016-04-10 09.10.14

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly Race Recap: Paleozoic Trail Runs – Silurian Spring (03.26.2016)

Paleozoic Trail Runs – Silurian Spring (03.26.2016)

Over the weekend I successfully completed my second 50K & I almost feel like I can start to be considered an ultra runner!

Overall this was an awesome race . . .

First time experiencing the beautiful Cook County Forest Preserve! *I will be back to this area for training & racing!*
Flexible & encouraging Race Directors!
Ran with some incredible ultra runner “Time Lords” that have inspired me to take my running to the next level!
Amazing, supportive volunteers!
All of my gear worked fabulously – especially my Orange Mud Hydraquiver Vest Pack 2, my Trail Toes, & my new Louva arm sleeves!

Here area my key “take aways” from this race!

THE GOOD: 32 minute PR!

This might be temporarily renamed “THE AMAZING” . . . the best part is I know that I can do even better next time!

The Huff 50K was my baseline – this 50K was to see how I’m truly doing with all of my training. There are some areas of “low hanging fruit” that I think I can seize immediately (e.g. more hill training, better planning for aid stations / fuel, better strategy for drop bag, better understanding of the course, etc.).

I’m rather excited to see how my times shape up for the rest of the year now.

THE BAD: Some course confusion & under estimating of temperatures.

There is this risk with every race / run regarding knowing the course . . . unfortunately, within 1.5 miles from the start there was a small group of us that came to a complete stop to debate which direction to go & had that uneasy feeling for a bit about whether we had chosen poorly or not.

My feedback for this course would be to next time make more frequent markers, avoid marking leaves that can be moved around, when in doubt – over mark, & if possible – have a volunteer direct runners at intersections.

In regards to the temperatures . . . I was perfectly comfortable in my Orange Mud short sleeved tech shirt, but I should have opted for compression shorts versus capris. It started to get warm within the first hour of running & I think I would have been more comfortable / cooler in the shorts . . . coulda, shoulda, woulda . . . welcome to the learning curve of running. On a positive note, my new Louva arm sleeves (http://www.louvagear.com/) worked perfectly!

AND THE UGLY: Wet feet!

I fear that my poor toes will never be the same. Ever since The North Country Trail Marathon last year – I’ve had one poor little toenail that has never recovered & I’m afraid that some other toes will be joining the rebellion.

Although the RD ran the course on Friday & reported that there were a few wet spots – I think with more thawing & the course being beat down in some areas from the other fabulous runners – the wet spots were water spots up to my ankles. <sigh>

I fully embraced it & muttered numerous times to “Suck it up, Buttercup!” . . . but that didn’t mean that my feet were happy.

On the negative side – I planned poorly – I should have put my Salomon Speed Cross 3 trail running shoes in my drop bag . . . but I forgot. I did however remember to put all of my dry max socks in my drop bag. This bit me not only at the drop bag aid station, but also when I completed my first out & back, because then I could change into my Salomons, but I didn’t have any other pairs of dry max socks to change. <wa wa waaaaa> Oh well, you live & learn, at least I had another spare pair of running socks in my gear boxes & my travel size Trail Toes in my VP2! I changed out of the wet socks & runners, reapplied the Trail Toes, put on dry socks & Salomons, & took off for my final out & back!

SUMMARY:

Overall an awesome day & this has kicked off my next series of adventures. After talking with one of the magical Time Lords – Jose – I have decided to definitely embrace The Illinois Ultra Slam series. My next ultra is on April 9th (in less than 2 weeks) at the Potawatomi 50 Miler. *yep – my heart still skips when I think about what I’ve registered to do.* GO BIG OR STAY HOME!! Time to see how 50 miles will feel in preparation for The North Country 50 Miler & The Hennepin Hundred 100 Miler. *oy!*

Paleozoic Trail Runs - Silurian Spring 20160326

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly Race Recap: The Huff 50K (12.19.2015)

The Huff 50K (12.19.2015)

Over the weekend I successfully completed my first 50K . . . WHOA!

Overall this was a memorable race . . .

First time experiencing the Indiana Chain O’ Lakes State Park! *I will be back to run this race again!*
I realized that I have come so far & I am capable of so much more than I ever knew!
Amazing, supportive volunteers!
All of my gear worked fabulously – especially my Orange Mud Hydraquiver Vest Pack 2, my Orange Mud insulated bottles, my Trail Toes, & Shower Pill!

Here area my key “take aways” from this race!

THE GOOD: I did it!

The goal of this race was to successfully complete it within the course time limits & I DID!

There were several points throughout this race that I thought about quitting, but I persevered. I have now stepped into the world of ultras! *Even if it is considered a baby ultra.*

The next goal will be to improve my 50K time, but for now I’m going to revel in the fact that I have conquered this distance! I’m officially an ultra chick in the making! 😛

THE BAD: Colder than a witch’s t*t!

On the positive side – I didn’t freeze. On the negative side – I wasn’t warm. 😦

At the start of the race the temperatures were in the upper 20s, but with the wind chill it felt more like 15 degrees F . . . not horribly, horribly cold, but colder than anything that I have run in for prolong periods of time.

My Cuddl Duds active wear long sleeve shirt & fleece top worked great along with my Road Runner Sports compression tights, but it took me awhile to warm up after completing the race & various parts of me had wind / cold burn.

I will definitely need to tweak my winter running apparel before I tackle more runs with Ol’ Man Winter.

AND THE UGLY: I am my own worse enemy.

I faced an enemy during this race.

A devil that is darker than anything I have encountered.

I faced myself.

This race consisted of two laps of the course & I can say that I ran a majority of it by myself & I had numerous panic attacks along the way. 😦

To start I was told by the RD that the course time limit was “sunset, so approximately 8 hours”. Therefore, if the start time was 8:15am; then the course closed at 4pmish.

Initially, I was OK with this time limit. I figured that I had completed my fastest marathon in 5:40ish so how much more time could ~5 miles take??

My estimates were slightly off . . . while wrapping up my first lap I was just at 4 hours. I was baffled by this . . . ~15 miles took me 4 hours. YIKES. Granted, I had to take a bio break & I stopped to eat (OMG – I love boiled salted potatoes!!!), but I hadn’t realized how a technical, hilly trail could slow my pace down. Plus, it didn’t help that I had not run any distance beyond 15 miles in 6 weeks.

I felt very alone throughout this race & I became frustrated with myself . . . why? I’m still not sure. I think I somehow had lost faith in myself. 😦 I was letting my inner voice / demons get to me. 😥

It also didn’t help that every runner that I tried to reach out to to find some type of companionship heading into the second lap was DNF’ing. The guy in front of me said that there was “no way that he could take another 4+ hours of the course & elements”. And the girl behind me said “only stupid people continue on”. So here I was passing the main tent & being faced with the decision on whether to DNF or push on.

I took a quick inventory of myself – physically & mentally – to decide if I should continue.

Physically – I was hurting. I had made a rookie move at the start of the race by using the race provided toe warmers (i.e. hot hands for feet) & my right foot had developed a nice blister where the warmer had inched out of place.

Mentally – I was struggling. Was I stupid? Should I have quit like everyone else? What if I failed? I felt like I was drowning in negativeness & my inner demons were stripping me down one layer at a time.

As I passed over the timing strip the RD asked if I was going to continue or not . . . I paused & then told him that I didn’t have a choice. I came here to run this race & be a 50K finisher . . . so I pressed on.

“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind & find my soul.” – Unknown

Within 5 minutes of making the decision to continue, I had another round of panic attacks until I forced myself to evaluate how much time was left and what pace I needed to maintain. It was then that I realized that sunset wasn’t until 5 p.m.ish, and I had closer to 9 hours to finish the race instead of the original 8 hours stated by the RD. So even though the course time cutoff would be close, I had enough time to still complete the race.

This was all the motivation I needed. I pushed on and tried to maximize my pace where I could.

I didn’t find another runner to share the experience with until roughly mile 18, and that was short-lived because she (Shannon) encouraged me to continue without her so that I didn’t run the risk of not completing within the course limit. Even though our time together was brief, I thoroughly enjoyed sharing the trail time with her and hearing about her running adventures. It definitely helped to take my mind off what I was trying to accomplish.

I then met Winston, Isabel, and Joe around mile 24. Although Isabel and Joe pushed on, Winston and I kept each other company through mile 29 before he went to catch up with his friends, and my best friend came back out on the course to find me.

By the time I reached mile 29, I knew that there was no way I was going to DNF this race. The finish was in sight, and I was going to give it every bit of my soul (and soles) to finish.

At 8:54:23, I crossed over the timing mats, completing The Huff 50K before the course cut-off & received my first ultra buckle. 😀

“Sometimes the journey has to be traveled alone in order to appreciate the strengths that lie deep inside of us.” – Steven Aitchison

SUMMARY:

I did it! I completely underestimated myself throughout this race, and it almost caused me to DNF. I need to better value myself and my capabilities. I need to understand that I am capable of so much more than I realize, and it truly is mind over matter.

I’m excited to see what next year brings. At this point, I’m signed up for The Mitten’s Challenge, North Country 50 miler (and half marathon the next day), and the Hennepin Hundred 100 miler.

Outside of that, I’m not sure what else I will be adding to my plate, but I know that I will be looking for at least a couple more 50Ks before my 50-miler to get a better feel for distances beyond the marathon and to prove to myself that I can do this!

This is my final race for 2015 & one helluva way to wrap up my Year of the Marathons! *I do reserve the right to change my mind & add another race before the end of the year, though! :P*

I am an ultra runner! 😀 *I hope that this sinks in within the next few months.*