No Excuses

 "Throw up, move on. Make that your mantra." Hal Koeners Field Guide to Ultrarunning. 

I think that's one of the reasons I like ultra running. No whiners allowed. You don't baby an ultra runner. My cross country kids would complain about side stitches. They never liked my answer, "Keep running."

When it rained, "Keep running." When they threw up, "You are AMAZING." 

I often think "Anita, when are you going to quit this running thing?" I don't know. I just love it. I love how hard it is. Especially these days. 

Playing in the woods is always an adventure. Every run on the trails is a new adventure. No run is the same. The trails are changing. Deer, turkeys, snakes, woodpeckers, owls, it is like a wildlife zoo. 

"Rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted in prayer," Romans 12:12

I started my week off last Monday with Danielle on the trails at Highland Rec. We both had our butts handed to us. 17 miles sounded like a great idea at 7:30am. However, we were both clinging to "hope" to finish upright at the 10 mile marker. 

Every run I cling to hope. I have been broken so many times, I never take 1 mile for granted. I have been humbled, hurt and helpless. But I have never quit. I have been on my knees in prayer asking God for a voice to throw in the towel. I have not gotten that yet. I have prayed for God to be loud, to take my passion from me if that was His will. 

But that passion still burns. 

2ACL surgeries

1 meniscus surgery

1 appendectomy

IT band 2 times

Breast Cancer, 6 months of chemo, double mastectomy, ovaries removed, 20 rounds of radiation, multiple reconstructive surgeries and a summer of PF. 

Some might think that was God speaking to me...and it was, He was telling me "Don't Give Up, I am carrying you." 

We have to quit giving up so easy. "Throw up, and move on" 

I am still holding on with the BIG Dogs on "Run the Mitt" .  I logged all my runs today. By the grace of God go I! If I had given up back in January letting my excuses by stronger than my dreams I would never have seen this miracle. 

Monday: Highland Rec: 17m

Tuesday: Recovery

Wednesday: Backroads: 12m

Thursday: Independence Oaks 10.25, Run w/CRU 5.25= 15.25m

Friday: Recovery

Saturday: Backroads: 20.40m

Sunday: Holly Rec: 9.13m

Total miles: 73.78

Special thanks to Antonio R at Complete Runner for putting me new shoes. I am trying out Altras trail shoes. 

Andy and I hit the muddy trails on Saturday. My new shoes got broke in real quick! 

We all have excuses. We all have reasons for why we have them. But learning to OVERCOME them is where the real power is!

• “No one ever excused his way to success.” – Dave Del Dotto

• “The heart has its reasons but the mind makes the excuses.” – Amit Abraham

• “No excuses. Play like a champion.” – Kelley O’Hara
• “I. Hate. Excuses. Excuses are a disease.” – Cam Newton
• “Stop standing in your own way. Stop making excuses. Stop talking about why you can’t. Stop sabotaging yourself. Decide which direction you are going in and take action. One decision at a time, one moment at a time.” – Akiroq Brost

ANITA~

Running tip: Blisters

Blisters are sometimes a tell tale sign of something different than you may think. They can be prevented as easily as wearing running socks. But sometimes they can be a sign of abnormalities with your feet. It could be with your foot strike, or how you are distributing the weight as you plant your feet. If you are continuing to get them you should look deeper into this. 

The Turtle and the Hare

 "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

The truth is, often times in the real world it seems the hare wins. It is the talented, the speedy and so very witty that seem to win.  They go confidently knowing they are quick. 

But the saying stands true, "Life is like a marathon not a sprint." 

I am currently holding strong in "Run the Mitt" . I am in 5th place, I was in 4th place but Joe had to go out and do another mile to pass me tonight! 

No, there's no competition there at all! 

I am the only girl in top 6 that is actually showing verification for my miles. It is an honor system but verification of a link or a photo shows more integrity for the honor system. 

I have always felt like I have to prove myself. Its another character defect of mine. I think it is part of my pipsqueak complex. 

My insecurity of being a trailer park girl. The girl that didn't stand a chance. The girl that heard the whispers of those that didn't think I would ever make it out of the mess. 

I am that girl, that woman still at 47, fighting against the odds. Determined to not give up, not give in. Hell bent on overcoming, fighting or die trying. 

No I don't stand a chance at a 5K. But I will give you a run for your money if we can go long. 

I will settle in, scale back, and not give up. 

That's the Turtle. Slow and steady. I had over 70 miles last week. One mile at a time. By the grace of God go I. 

Every mile, I stood in AWE of Gods miracle on my body. You see it was 2 years go I was diagnosed with this terribly aggressive breast cancer. I fought that marathon. A marathon that was the hardest race I had ever ran. I look back, I see pictures and I try not to cry. Its a blur. I was so damn sick. I am haunted by that race. 

Here I stand. Here I run. Failure is NOT an option. Giving up is not in the cards. I want to feel LIFE. I want to pursue my passions. 

The sweat on my brows of stubbornness. The wind brushing my skin giving me goose pimples makes me smile. The smell of moss through the woods is so delightful. To feel, to touch, to endure, to love, to hurt, GOD it FEELS so GOOD to live out that passion even at a turtles crawl. 

I get to compete. I get this opportunity to play with the big dogs. 

I would never have thought 2 years ago when Dr. Sullivan told me I was going to have the hardest marathon of my life I would be running like this today. 

If I can just encourage you to LIVE THIS LIFE fully. It is short. Life is so short. Feel it. Touch it. Smell its sweetness. No excuses. Embrace the adventures out there. 

Life is hard. I KNOW. I don't have a cookie cutter life. But I have strong faith. That's what separates me. God has given me JOY. He has blessed me. He has protected me. He has healed me. He never said life was going to be peachy keen or Jim Dandy. But he said he would never leave me or forsake me. 

Holdridge, a gnarly mess of switchbacks and climbs. I remember the first time I ran this, I couldn't walk for a week. 

RUNDOWN:  

Monday: Holdridge: 2 west loops 1w/ lake loop and tech, 1 north loop: 13

Tuesday: recovery

Wednesday: Holly rec: Wilderness loop with Lake loop and roads: 10.5

Thursday: Holdridge: East loop & north loop: run with CRU:18

Friday: recovery

Saturday: Holdridge Grubers and West loop and PotOGold virtual: 24

Sunday: Holly Rec and backroads: 10.5

Total miles: 76

It may seem a little excessive. Maybe even a little ridiculous. But remember....the tortoise. Slow and steady....

Anita~ 

Trail Legs

"If you are studying the bark of a tree with a magnifying glass, there's no way for you to see the whole forest. Step back a bit and start enjoying the scenery, the ground beneath your feet, and the wind on your face." Lauren Fleshman Olympian

 I ran Friday night with Andy on the West loop at Holdridge and thought I was dying after the first mile. My legs were like wet noodles and my lungs were burning with confusion.  From a few feet behind me I heard  Andy grumble "I have a lot of work to do." 

"That makes 2 of us" I replied.

Trail Legs

I ventured out this morning to try the trails again. 

Rachel and I ran with the sunrise and it was glorious. She ran strong and confident in front of me as I tried to keep up with the conversations and the pace. 

She headed out for an appointment and I was on my own. In those few seconds, all my thoughts started babbling at the same time a different plan. "Quit", "Just walk", "Do the North Loop and call it good", Get out there Candy A$$, don't be a wuss."

I looked carefully down at my watch, trying not to trip and fall again. I was going twice as slow and half as fast as I was going before I fell head over heals. "Half as fast" I chuckled to myself, with no audience I thought I was hilarious. Half A$$ or half as fast sounded the same and felt the same. 

 I headed back on the trail. I have to get reacquainted with this different form of torture. But between the double owl siting, the sunrise, the hopping husky named "Blue" I met , it was worth even the tumble into the weeds. 

++++++++++++++++++++

Part of training is switching things up. I have to keep my feet on the pavement for Charlevoix in June and I have to get my trail legs for North Country in August. 

Lauren Fleshman wrote this in one of my training journals, I listed my few favorites:

COMPONENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL TRAINING PLAN

• Builds toward one to three key races
• Incorporates your favorite types of workouts to feed your joy of the sport
• Builds in adequate recovery
• Flexes to accommodate your health, other commitments, ect. 
• Is fun. At least most of the time!

"One last thing, A training plan is completely useless without belief. Be mindful about your training: Don't be afraid to ask questions or educate yourself, but be careful not to overanalyze...." Lauren Fleshman

BELIEF

You have to believe. Then you set yourself around like minded people. Thursday nights with Complete runner I run with great runners. For over 2 years, I have worked so hard to just run in their shadows. Life has thrown a few sucker punches. But I haven't quit believing, I haven't quit trying. 

Like every Thursday, we head out at 6pm for 5 miles. And like every Thursday I try so hard to run with the big dogs. I feel my entire body fighting my passion to be better, even seconds better. 

Doug is one of our faster runners, other than the young whipper snappers. Now Doug,  my age, just killed a 5k last weekend with a 19 minute 5k. I can't hold a candle to that for even a mile without pooping my pants in despair.  But on our training run Doug entertained a conversation with me for a mile then slowly broke off leaving me with my dignity before he departed. I couldn't catch him. But I could see him. He broke away but I never took my eyes off him. By mile 3, I could still see him. The nightfall hadn't came upon me as I closed in on mile 4 and I could still see him. I picked up my pace. "Hold on Anita", with everything I had I picked up my pace. Doug stopped and turned around "ANITA!" he yelled with surprise as I heaved myself towards him, "DOUGGGGG!! Doug!! I almost fell into him I was so excited. My fastest run in over 2 years!! 

Training exercise: 

TWO-BY-SIX FIX

WHY: Tune up for a marathon

Who recommends it: Coach Kevin Johnson, who's Hanson runner Desiree Davila and Mike Reneau did this tune up 3 weeks before their marathon. 

After a warmup, do two 6-mile runs, each at 5 seconds per mile faster than your marathon goal pace. Walk or jog 10 minutes between them. "You're trying to teach your body to run fast while your tired, before beginning the marathon taper," Says Hanson. 

RECIPE

I made mini cakes. So darn cute, thank you Pampered chef for these cute cake pans. the recipe made 6. 

Danielle made this and gave me a slice after a run a couple weeks ago. It made my tongue SMACK my brains! She reads this murder mystery that shares recipes. 

Ultimate Lemon Bundt Cake

Inspiration Station: 

Mom, called me every day when I had cancer. twice a day. 

Mom, Andys Mom, my mom.  She has alwasy been my biggest cheerleader. "Nita, how are you doing in that race, BEAT those BOYS!" 

I will never hold a candle to this Godly women, but I always try. She is an amazing lady, so full of LOVE, encouragement, kindness, forgiveness. I am so grateful to have her next to me to teach me to BE BETTER.  

"If you are studying the bark of a tree with a magnifying glass, there's no way for you to see the whole forest. Step back a bit and start enjoying the scenery, the ground beneath your feet, and the wind on your face." Lauren Fleshman Olympian

COLLISION

This is life. Sometime we cant see the forest through the trees. We get caught up in a moment, in a idea, even a relationship. We stumble on words from others and get stuck on stupid. Life is made up of moments, and many beautiful moments will never get noticed if your focused on one thing. 

Let it go. 

Anita~

Run the Mitt: Friendly Competition

 "My Top 5 Exercises: 1. Jumping to conclusions 2. Flying off the handle 3. Carrying things too far 4. Dodging responsibilities 5. Pushing my Luck" 
Rick Sutter

I ordered this basic road map off Amazon. I barely got it out of the package before Andy had measuring tape and markers! It has not been updated, I am pretty sure he took the lead over me. He snuck in "Mitt Miles" secretly to get ahead of me!

Run The Mitt is a virtual perimeter run. You post the miles you run or walk and they accumulate to the distance around the mitt. When you get to key check points they send you a pin that attaches to a ribbon. You have a year to accomplish 1035 miles. 

Several of my running club friends joined. I am the pipsqueak in the group. But as the underdog in the group, I took the lead. It was fun while it lasted. Those boys were not going to let that go on for too long! 

Andy, Antonio and Doug are the highest form of competitiveness. We have been group texting friendly little jabs. Sandbagging runs, sneaking runs, double running and a whole lot of overrunning and ridiculousness have become part of the craft. 

Well as I added my weekly miles I had a "come to Jesus" moment. I realized I took the bait. I ran over 65 miles this week. Double runs and double digits. I drank the Kool-Aid, I am sucker!  

Competition: Carrying things to far.

Its all fun and games until someone gets hurt. And we all know my luck, that someone will be me! Assess the situation. I have always been teased "Anita, you have to know when you are taking things to far."  I think its my Napoleon Complex. I have that short girl syndrome. I fight like hell, often times getting caught up and lose myself in a moment that doesn't matter. 

Competition: Pushing my Luck.

I don't really believe in Luck. Even being half Irish I don't believe in Luck. Probably because if there was a thing called Luck, I would only have bad Luck. Pushing my Luck is not a good gamble for me. I love to play games, all kinds of games, but gambling or games of luck have never been my thing. I hate loosing to luck. 

I know that if I keep running like this I am playing a dangerous game. But it is really fun. 

Competition: #6 Holding your OWN. 

Do you ever listen to your own dialogue? I do. That's how I do my self inventory.  

The things I heard from myself:

1. Hold your own, play at your own pace Anita. 
2. Stay focused, your getting distracted by what others are doing. You do YOU. 
3. Enjoy the game, have fun. Encourage the others, laugh, play and have fun. 
4. Play smart. keep your pace down, eat, sleep, hydrate and RECOVER. 

Competition: Keep it friendly. 

Its not fun if you are wanting to "Tonya Harding" someone! Listen to your thoughts. Keep it kind. Jealousy is a bitter fruit. If you find yourself thinking snarky thoughts of what others have or are doing you really need to check your heart. We should be lifting one another up, encouraging each other. I see so many women not able to even look at another women. We size each other up and down, we whisper, we jab but the real problem isn't them, its US. 

Listen to your thoughts. Do your own inventory. Keep it friendly. Keep it kind. 

Run the Mitt: 

Supports OPC Meals on Wheels

Checkpoints:

1. South Haven=215 miles
2. Manistee=146 miles
3. Traverse City=124 miles
4. Mackinaw City=111 miles
5. Tawas=164 miles
6. Bay City=69 miles
7. Lexington= 32 miles
8. Rochester=74 miles

Total Entrants: 324

The four of us are top 16! 

Doug is 6th place

Andy is 13th place

Antonio is 14th place and I am 16th place. 

Inspiration Station

"Learning never exhausts the mind" Leonardo da Vinci

 THE Boys! As ridiculous as they are, as competitive as they are, as inappropriate as they can be, they are pretty awesome. Doug is a speed machine! Antonio is the energizer bunny and Andy, that guys got grit! I may get exhausted running with these guys and more exhausted trying to keep up with them but I have learned a lot along the way. Like I will never look as good in tights as Doug does. Or the difference between getting chafed and a jellyfish sting, thank you Antonio. Or that even my husband sandbags runs and hides his miles from even his WIFE to get ahead. 

These Guys! 

Thankful for all my other running partners last week. 

12 miles with Lacey

13 miles with Chris B

10 miles with Danielle. 

Anita~

Snow Moon Trail Run. Recap & Reminders

 "Your greatest runs are rarely measured by racing success. They are moments in time when running allows you to see how wonderful your life is." Kara Goucher, World Championship Silver Medalist

Snow Moon Run is a 5K loop in the Midland City Forest Park. This year marks my 4th year attending. Last year, I had tore my meniscus and walked the course with my new friend Elizabeth, shouting "The parties in the BACK!" 

This year, Doug, Antonio, Andy and I were heading to Midland a little different. Due to Covid the race changed their time from a night race to a afternoon race with a rolling start, finishing before 11pm. 

Plot Twist: 

Thursday night I get a random text from Lacey:

"What time are you picking me up on Saturday?" 

I responded in mass confusion. I couldn't figure out where her communication was going until she sent me a screen shot of her race registration and followed up with this question:

"How many miles is a 25K anyways?" 

RULE #1: Look Good!

One rule I was taught many years ago was "LOOK GOOD"! 

Lacey and I squeezed in the back seat of Dougs Subaru in our Dona Jo skirts and compression socks. It was 45' out. The best weather I have ever had for Snow Moon. 

The Plan:

• 25K- 5 loops 30-32 minutes a loop
• Not racing, have fun, don't break an ankle or face plant. 
• Did I mention have fun? 

I have never raced Snow Moon. The trail conditions have never been something I wanted to risk injuring myself. I am like fine china, I break pretty easy! 

I was so excited to have Lacey running beside me that anything else was a bonus. 

Snow Moon Rundown: 

It took a full loop to get our trail legs adjusted to the sloppy, icy mess. My legs were slipping left, right and center. The first mile, I made a turn and almost wiped out leaving Lacey peeing her pants laughing. It felt soo good to laugh, to run together, to do what we love like we used to. For the next few loops I got to enjoy  no Covid, no masks, no politics just our little bubble in the Midland Forest. 

We smiled cheering on every runner especially focusing on the ladies. Us girls need to be cheering each other on more. "I love your skirts..." was the response we got from so many gals. We even had "Best dressed goes to you two.." Even if our pace wasn't flying the compliments were! 

By the 3rd loop we had our groove going. Now Lacey hasn't ran more than 12 miles in 2 weeks. But that girls got grit. She got quiet and never wavered. 

We loved coming into the shoot to hear them holler "Lacey and Anita..." I'm not sure what gave it away that we were together but we stayed that way all the way to the finish. 

We ALL took 1st place in our age group! They all crushed it. It was so exciting to hear that we all placed.

Results 

14th of 43 overall

4th of 20 female

1st of 5 age group

 The Fear of Failure. 

Andy woke up Sunday in the hurt locker. I couldn't relate. Nothing hurt. Lacey was struggling as well. Of course, she was she hadn't ran in those conditions ever as well as that distance. 

What I was struggling with was failure, was fear, was the fear of failure, I was struggling with myself. 

I am just scared. 

I am scared to set goals. I just keep failing at them. It hurts. I am scared to push myself. I am scared to break. I am scared to try. 

I decided I needed to push myself on Sunday. I needed to feel what they felt. I was inspired by their GRIT. I went back and forth on my plan. 

This is me being transparent. I think Cancer pretty well rattled me. Humbled me. I am scared to death to come off arrogant or confident. If God was trying to send me a message the one I got LOUD and clear was Give Him all the Glory. I Own Nothing. In my fear, I get confused on my focus. 

I decided to just set another goal, fight all of hell to get it, and if I fail, keep trying but don't let failure steal my focus. 

Tempo run. 10 miles. 3m w/u, 5m race pace, 2 miles c/d.  I needed to feel pain again. I needed to be reminded of how bad grit feels. This was going to be my race. 

Those first 3 miles were not as easy as I thought. This brought more fear to me. When I finished mile 3 I said one last prayer and dug my toes in. With everything I had I hung on. 

Mile 4 Check

Mile 5 Check

Mile 6 Check

Mile 7 Check

Mile 8 Check. 

My legs hurt so bad. It was a crawl back home. But by the grace of God, I did it. 

Psalm 119:71 It was good for me to be afflicted so that I could learn Your statutes.

I am learning, learning all over again. I am finding balance somewhere in between pain and play. 

  

My Inspiration: 

Lacey. This girls got GRIT. She always has. She doesn't brag, or share her bad a$$ery with the world. Honestly, some of the biggest battles she has fought many will never know. She has been fighting all of hell since the day she was birthed. I love this girl like a sister. 

• “It is better to make a thousand failures than to be too cowardly to ever undertake anything.” Clovis G. Chappell

Congrats to Dale D, Shirley and Mark M, Elizabeth J, Ryan L, Donna C. It was great seeing you all out there smiling! 

Anita~