TRAINING VS RUNNING: Western States T-5 weeks

RUNDOWN: "There will be days you doubt yourself. there will be days your body hurts, But discipline carries you where motivation cannot." Unknown

I usually come up with a idea but I rarely have a plan how I will specifically execute it. I am good at making things work, I am flexible and very optimistic and that usually helps. So when I asked Christina if she wanted to join me to sneak into Mt Holly and Holly Oaks ORV, I knew she too would be down for the adventure in it and together we would figure out the details as they came. 

I needed 20 miles and elevation, the rest I could fill in the blanks. Christina and I snuck under the gate and headed through the ORV park towards Mt. Holly to suffer. 

I purchased the nutrition that Western States would be providing to see how my body would do along with my poles to practice as well. 

The air was damp and overcast with a wind that blew my hat crooked. Christina and I were not warmed up enough by the time we headed up Mt. Holly. The grass was tall and wet, and our shoes were soaked before we made it up the mountain. We were more cautious coming down the mountain with calf high grasses that were slick from the rain. But we were in no hurry, I would not stop my watch, reminding myself it was TOF, (time on feet) and pace was less relevant.

 

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the GU Roctane Energy Drink Mix. 

After a few miles of hill repeats we headed to unknown territory, the ORV park. We were smitten by the vast landscape. so many hills to run and so many washed out crevices waiting to swallow you alive. there were ponds, and trails hidden and trails wide open and boundless. if you were not careful you could run right over the edge, at a couple spots we were thankful we had our poles because the sand was so slick we couldn't get footing. 

I got 15 miles with Christina and another 8 in solo. I was a wet noodle by the time I arrived back at the car. My adrenalin was a little tilted dodging a couple vehicles on the ORV course along with the workers in the booth. I may have had to duck up this high embankment as a truck crossed the path above me. I had to literally crawl hand over foot up the 20 foot mound of weeds and snails. When I made it to the trail I b-lined it to the exit before I got ran over or escorted out! 

Today, was another 20 miler. I fell 3 times on the same knee this week. Even though the elevation was essential, running trails and risking another fall was not worth it, therefore I opted for back roads and a steadier consistent pace. I was incredibly pleased with my 9:10min/ mile for my 2nd 20 miler. The skies opened up on me with 5 miles to go. This gave me another gear and a greater smile. Rain runs are my favorite even though the sky got dark and a train stopped me, I couldn't stop grinning. 

I am sure a lot of it was humble gratitude. I was doing it. Even though I was sore I felt strong and had to intentionally bring my pace back when it went sub-9. But the rain was refreshing my soul and the locals were cheering me on through windshields and windows. 

Distance: 68

Elevation: 6,562

RUNNING VS TRAINING

T-5 weeks until Western States. My training has been more focused and intentional. The fun runs have mostly happened because of friendships, but even those have had purpose. 

That is the thing about this training block: 

*Every run has a PURPOSE

*Every mile matters

This training block has required more discipline from me than I've had to give in a very long time. It comes down to trusting the training plan, following the plan, and honestly....Living on a PRAYER, trusting the Lord in it all. 

The fear of injury, or maybe reinjury has been louder than I'd like to admit. Not because I doubt my ability, but because I know how quickly things can change less than 5 weeks out. I feel like I need to be wrapped in bubble wrap at this point all the way to the starting line. 

So when I fell, landing on the same knee for the 3rd time I just laughed. It seemed like a cruel joke. The same knee I have had 3 surgeries on? 

This knee can't take much more...Why? 

I picked the scabs off it this morning, hoping for the best. Andy looked at my scraped-up body this morning and commented on what a ragamuffin I looked like. 

This is TRAINING. Pick off the scabs and GO. 

Training is getting up at 4am on about 3 hours of sleep so you will have a training partner to help get you through. 

Training is sneaking under a gate with the possibility of getting the police called on you to get elevation. 

I asked some friends "What is the difference between RUNNING and TRAINING? 

For me it is becoming less about proving something and more about protecting what I have built. 

JAZZ: "...training is like a goal oriented; running is discipline." 

LYNN: "...training is about sticking to a plan even if its loosely and running is ......it's just getting out there and enjoying company or nature or just loving the fact that your being out there." 

DONNY: The difference for me is training sucks more than running although training is more fulfilling than running."

"No difference, they both suck!"

ANDY: "Donny runs. I train.... insert laughing face emoji!"

"Training has a purpose and is structured." 

KARA: "One for pure enjoyment, because you want to versus you have to accomplish certain milestones to be trained well enough to not get injured, finish, and even finish well...."

DOUG: "Running is what you do for enjoyment and training is what you do for results."

"I have never trained and thought 'This is so much fun'! If you're having fun, then you're not training-like medicine never tastes pleasant." 

The responses made me ponder, raise an eyebrow and even giggle. 

Maybe that where running and life collide. Training for something so big while still making room for purpose, love, laugher, self-discipline and the everyday hustle of living life well. 

"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1

In Peace, not pieces, 

ANITA~

Into the Woods: Chasing Western States 100

"Not all who wander are lost." J. R. R. Tolkien

 The difference between going for a run and going to train is this:

want to VS have to, 

And while I love running, sometimes the pressure of training gets heavy. 

Sometimes life gets heavy. 

Emotions get heavy.

Convictions get heavy. 

And the voices get loud, so loud I just want to run away into the woods. 

I didn't want to follow my training plan. I wanted to escape it all. I wanted to run into the woods without structure., without pressure and without explanation. 

But with 7 weeks until Western States 100, there is no room to let my emotions have the reigns. Even though I felt hijacked by chaos, I knew I needed to lace up and follow the plan. 

10miles. 

I headed to Holdridge for elevation and "church in the woods". It wasn't long before I was watering the trail with my confusion, concerns and convictions. 

It's hard to see the path when your eyes are dripping tears. 

I found myself walking the trail, trying to gather my surroundings. Between the music in my ears, the voices in my head, and the ache in my heart, I felt completely unraveled.  

I wanted to feel it all, because I could. but God knows sometimes all feels like too much. 

The sunlight broke through the branches and scattered across the trail, touching my skin with fragments of warmth, like the Lord himself was comforting me. Through blurred eyes, I tried to navigate more than just the miles in front of me. I was trying to navigate my heart. 

The trail wound deeper into the forest, and somehow, with all the hidden dangers around me, I felt a peace that passes all understanding. I felt safe, I felt secure, under His wings. 

Safe in His presence. 

Safe in His glory.

Safe enough to let my heart calm and my body settle. 

Every mile pulled me farther into the splendor of His creation, and little by little the weight of the world dissolved. 

By the end of the 10 miles, so much had changed. 

The shame had melted. 

The remorse had loosened its grip. 

The grief had quieted. 

And His power is made perfect in my weakness, because that trail that I could hardly see through my tears had become Holy Ground. 

RUNDOWN:

"And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul." John Muir

Whether you are climbing uphill battles or barreling down hill faster than you can calculate every part of the trail serves a purpose. 

This life has so much offer. But it is not always going to be a paved path. The harder the course, the more damage but also the more refined you will be if you don't give up. 

I have been taking the harder paths and even though I know it is good training, it is a mind bend. 

TRUST your TRAINING. 

My body is beginning to feel little tweaks as the miles have accumulated. 

May 4- May 10

Distance: 74 miles

Elevation: 6,562

Bootlegger 5k was an evening race on the trails on Saturday. I gave it a rip and surprised myself and podiumed.  Glory to God for keeping me upright because that trail was technical and dark. I even beat Andy which came as a total shock. I wanted to run it together, but Andy took off to race it on his own. 

Maybe that's what life and trails have in common, we rarely see the whole path in front of us, we just trust it, and the grace for the next step. Because sometimes the trail breaks you open and some days it puts you back together. 

In Peace, not Pieces, 

Anita

Our Crim group started this week!!