Just to be Clear: Marquette 50m

 

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

This coming Saturday I am running Marquette 50 miler. I am a bit rattled. 

But for starts the course is two loops through the rugged trails of the Upper Peninsula. I will be running across all four mountain tops, Sugar Bear, Sugar Cube, Top of the Mountain, and finishing on Hogback to end the suffering. 

It is going to be hot and I am showing up INJURED which has robbed me of my confidence going into the race. My last Marquette training run three weeks ago ate me up pretty good and it was only 21 miles. To add injury to insult that following Monday on a local training trail run I exercised more than my legs, I attempted to climb a tree. The old Bertha broke with all my weight hanging from her and I fell backwards, I have had a angry wrist for 3 weeks. I am way to old to be climbing trees and clearly not the sharpest tool in the shed. 

The truth is, this whole training cycle chapter is a patchwork of chaos. 

I started my taper early- in Alaska, on a family vacation. Nut in true "runner math' fashion, I somehow connected 65 miles last week. Granted, I counted every run, hike and walk through the Alaskan Frontier!  

Not so shocking was the 4,444 feet of elevation I had for the week up and down mountain that I left tear stains on. 

JUST TO BE CLEAR

"For me the greatest beauty always lies in the greatest clarity."

Life is full of moments where we ask people to follow us and often times it is places we have never been. Its part of the adventures of life. 

I am always leading people with a smile and some ridiculous bright idea to unknown outcomes. I can't always offer certainty, but I can offer clarity. 

Clarity comes from an honest place if I am being honest.

But certainty can pretend. 

RUNDOWN:

Pray I don't trip and fall. 

RACE CLARITY

• Distance: 50 miles (two loops) 
• Course: describe as moderate to difficult
• Goal Time: Sub 13 hours (15min/mi pace)
• Conditions: Forecast around 75'
• Training test:
• 21 miles in 5:25 (15:29 pace)
• 2,956 ft elevation
• Projected Race Finish
• Goal A: 12h 50min
• Goal B: 13h 30min
• Goal C: 14h 15min

HONEST PLAN

UP UP UP 

• Run with the best the Lord gives me.
• Stay UPRIGHT, I can not afford to fall on my wrist.
• Stay conservative in my pace, I am going into this race broken.
• TRUST the LORD with it all. 

"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:9

Me, Sarah and Erica on top of one of those mountain!

SO JUST to BE CLEAR: I am not 100% sure how this race will turn out. But I know my plan, my mindset and my prayers. And that's enough to move forward.  Because while uncertainty is unavoidable, being unclear is a choice I don't want to travel. Being unclear adds more fear for me. I don't need to have a set expectation, I can be flexible, but I have to have a plan, a plan that pivots. 

Clarity doesn't guarantee a perfect outcome, but it does allow me to take the next step with a little more confidence. That's all we really need, one clear step at a time. 

In Peace, Not Pieces, 

Anita