A Thorn in my Side

"Stay steadfast in your hopes and dreams, but flexible in how you reach them." Collier Lawrence

 I have been embracing my love, TRAILS this past week. Truth is, I have been struggling with a minor injury for months, pavement pounding is my nemesis. A Thorn in My SIDE.

My training is a cluster due to races both on pavement and trails. I have come up into embracing the weather and hitting the trails rather than road running for my 100k in March. 

Kettle Moraine

100 miles in JUNE is the "A" race. All races in between are training runs that will help me build milage and confidence. 

Kettle Moraine is going to be tough with over 8000 ft of elevation on trails in Wisconsin. 

THE TRAINING thus far: My injury has me dropping my miles and only running 4 days a week. I have been doing extra drills for my shins, icing, KT tape and compression socks.  

I added myself to my prayer list and have been taking extra time in conversation with the Lord. 

The Lord giveth and The Lord taketh. 

Every mile is a gift from HIM. I ask him to direct my paths, and I trust Him with great affection knowing He knows the plans for me. 

I am running a marathon in Florida the beginning of March with the aim of trying to qualify for NYC Marathon, 3:51 is the time I would need..God willing. 

Andy asked me when I was going to do speed work. 

NOT going to happen!!

 I cringe at the idea of suffering around a track in agony as my shins are in anguish. 

SO..This week I bought some new shoes and did speed work on the trails. 

RUNDOWN:

"A THORN in my SIDE"

Last week, I ran multiple different trails taking advantage of the weather. The trails were in great shape however, I was shocked at the pickers that covered the trails at Holdridge. 

Also last week, we spent the first portion of our run ducking, dodging and doing trail clean up from a windy winter. 

Today, was no better when it came to those bristles and thistles. With the sun blazing we took advantage of the day when we hit the trails to run the East Loop at Holdridge. I was not sure how the run would look, it was my third day on, and we ran Holly Rec the day before with Andy pacing the sweat out of me. 

We were not talking a lot, keeping pace a little faster will do that to you. It is the most magnificent feeling running in the woods swerving where the path leads you, around trees, through the orchard, over the ridge bordering the lake, so glorious. 

BOOM!! The first of 4! I would FLIP, DIP and TRIP. I encountered the ground multiple times. My consistent pace kept getting interrupted by roots, rocks, branches, and dodging thorns. I would jump to my feet to try to regain my pace but my quest to keep pace fell apart each time I stumbled. 

My last tumble, I checked for my phone and I was relieved to have it, but I never bothered to check to see if I still had my sunglasses. 

I did not. I recalled a thorny branch had caught me when I tripped, it stole my sunglasses! 

We finished Grubers Grinder, then went back out for more trails on the West Loop. We ran making it up as we went. As long as I kept moving, I could keep adding more, our elevation would be close to 1,900ft. 

When we finished, I knew I had to go back to the East loop to find my glasses. Thankfully my running partner has a keen sense of direction. 

We went trail blazing off Hess rd. cutting through prehistoric thorns. The barbs were over a half inch long. They were snagging everything they could, digging in their spikes making it hard to go more than a few feet at a time. 

But my favorite GOODR glasses from Colorado were found! 

COLLISION: "Thorn in my Side"

We all have that THORN in our side. That place of annoyance, that problem that isn't getting resolved, that person that snags your thoughts. 

Today, I had to go RIGHT into those thorns. The only way to-- was THROUGH. A painful reminder that if you care enough about something sometimes it is going to hurt to have success. 

You will recover from the pain of trying better than you will recover from the pain of regret. 

RUNDOWN:

Feb5-Feb11

Distance: 60miles

Elevation: 5000 Ft