What a crazy year. Last October I decided I really wanted to be an
Ultra runner. I had already done one, but it was only 51k and on the
road. I decided the point of ultra running, for me anyway is to really
test yourself, test your limits, see what the old body can do.
You
all know if you have read previous posts that running isn't something I
have always done. I am not fast and I used to be so out of shape I had
to run/walk a 5k when I started.
So here I go on this journey. I signed up for
Old Pueblo 50
which was March 2, 2013 and I trained my butt off! (In reality, my
butt got tighter, but I didn't lose a single pound) I accomplished the
feat with a bunch of awesome friends who thought it would be fun to
spend the day and watch me suffer.
I had also applied to be an
Altra Ambassador
for my favorite shoes. Altra Zero Drop for the Ultra Runner! Yay!
Believe it or not they chose me!!! And best of all, throughout all of
my adventures this year they are still my favorite shoe!
The week
before OP50 we did Ragnar as an Ultra team. As good teammates they
forbade me to take the long legs, so I think I only did 28-30 miles. I
was bummed, but I got to cross the finish line for our team. That was
pretty spectacular.
It has been a fun year.
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| This shoe is my best traveling companion. |
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| 25 miles in I felt great. |
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| Yeah, we do logos for everything. |
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| My first belt buckle |
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| This is me as a border patrol agent while I ran OP50 |
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| My first DNF. It was a night run. I fell and lost my nerve. It happens. |
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| Hanging out in the trees having fun while the real me was trying to finish OP50 |
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This has been an amazing year! The beginning of my
journey as an Ultra Runner and mentor. It has been difficult and fun. I
have fallen so many times. Sometimes it just takes a minute and a few
breathes before you can pick yourself up and dust yourself off and keep
moving.
I never in a million years thought I would be here today.
I am so happy and proud of who I have become and how I inspire others.
Along with the rest of the
Cholla Chicks
I expect so much from myself. That "so much" means, successes and
failures all bundled up to be an amazing adventure called life.
I
am excited to see what next year brings. My goals for the next 2 years
are to qualify for Boston, complete OP50 in under 12 hours. Do Zane
Grey and figure out which terrifying 100 miler to do.
