Moms Turn!

I have needed new shoes for a while. But then it seems like everyone in my house have needed new shoes. We all run, then there are also basketball shoes, and play shoes and just shoes like stupid. Even though I have boys they LOVE shoes. Austin is very meticulous about his shoes, keeping them organized, neat and leaving room for another pair in his closet.

BUT TODAY...Lil Mama GOT NEW SHOES!!!
I went to Complete runner hoping they would have the Mizuno Sayonara. This was the shoe they recommended in this months Runners World. I have never ran in Mizuno's. But the last 2 pair of Brooks have given me blisters start to finish. So we shall see!

Why I chose the Mizuno:

• recommended for over 32 miles a week.
• neutral running shoe
• light weight, 8.5 oz

The real popular shoe for Ultra runners is called Hoka. I let the guy come around and bring me a pair. I had just ran with someone who was talking about this shoe. It looks like one of the goofiest shoes ever. I tried the shoe on and it was amazing. My kids were with me and having a great time laughing at me. They look like moon shoes and feel like it also.
Why didn't I buy it????
I could not justify 170$$ for running shoes when I was taking the boys back to school shopping. "Sorry boys, you can't get binders and notebooks cause mom got new running shoes!"

Every one left shopping with a couple bags. I actually had a 20$ rewards card to Finish Line and I USED IT! We buy so many shoes there that we get money back quite often and usually I give it to the boys...NOT THIS TIME!  Guilt Free!

Shirt and socks were FREE! Needed a Med. size water bottle...little splurge!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Monday was my stupid long run.

"Even if you stumble You are still moving forward."

Mondays RUNDOWN:
Distance: 28.2
Pace:10.22
Time: 4:51
This was so hard. And it hurt. And I was so thankful Andy showed up on his bike to keep me company for an hour of the ALMOST 5 hours!!!
And it was sooo LONG...
But I finished!!YA Who Bubaloo!..couldn't walk all day without whining but I FINISHED!

Wednesdays RUNDOWN:
Distance: 8 miles
Everyone bailed on this run but Ken H. It was super soupy out. 100% humidity seemed to have scared everyone off only it didn't scare the deer or deer flys off. We saw a 3 deer the side of the trail hardly startled by us. We came within 5 feet of the larger one and she let us run right past her.
I killed 8 deer flies trying to attach to me. As soon as I commented how the bugs were not out they came a running and biting!

QUESTION:

Are there any Ultra runners that read this?? If so what shoes do you recommend??

 

 

ANITA

Double Cap: CRIM and Merrell Down and Dirty

It was a bit of a crazy weekend. The problem with races are you sleep like a zombie and you wake up like a rooster. I already do not sleep well therefore adding 2 races to the equation took a toll on me.

The CRIM: Saturday August 24th 8am

• I got up on time because I kept getting up every 30 minutes from 3:30 am!
• The hubby was in a bit of a sour mood...we will chalk it up to pre-race jitters...
• Mom and dad were at the house at 6:15..The TIME we were SUPOSED to leave!

The RECAP: Saturday morning was a perfect 60 degree sunny morning. This was my 8th CRIM and my first CRIM that I would not be racing it rather running it with Austin. I was more thrilled to have the opportunity to run with my 14 year old then race it as I had in the previous years. Andy was also running the 10 miler.
I had a few emotional battles that I was working out.

1. I wanted to race this, run hard, barely be able to breath, pass people, and leave it all out there.

BUT....

TEAM SNAP FITNESS

1. I haven't been training for speed the past SEVERAL weeks. I have been training for my Ultra and training long slow distance.
2. I have taken the summer every Wednesday to train "Lauren" for her first Crim and promised her I would pace her the first 3 miles at a 8 min. pace and then let her fly.
3. I wanted so badly to be excited to run with Austin ONLY he wouldn't let me train him at ALL. He had a coach and I was no longer it. Therefore he NEVER trained past 7 MILES!!!
4. How was I going to pace "Lauren" and not bottom Austin out?? How was Austin going to run a decent race only going to 7 miles?
5. Austin and I were on a team for Snap Fitness.  "Jeff" was our captain who was rather excited for us to score big and I didn't want to let him down. However, I knew I was not going to be carrying the team well this year.
6. I had to give it to God and just go one mile at a time praying for the best.

AND THAT IS WHAT I GOT!

DAD, ANDY,AUSTIN,ALEC,ANITA, MOM

Andy, Lauren, Austin and I were gathered in the "B" corral. Lauren looked so nervous. I had no doubts that she was going to take 1st in her age. Every week we trained she was like a little cheetah out there. Her last 10 mile training run she ran a sub 8 minute pace. That is amazing for a 13 year old.

Lauren won her age division by 15 MINUTES!

The crowd began to run at the sound of "GO". Andy was quickly separated from us wishing us luck.
As the 3 of us took off I tried to lighten the mood with some fun conversation. We actually caught up to "Jeff" during the 1st mile and I laughed at him yelling "WOW, look at those Chicken Legs! MMM those are as smooth as mine, what do you shave with Jeff." People were turning their heads towards us and laughing all around.
Jeff was now behind us as we came unto mile 2. "Lauren" was itching to take off. Only I had trained with her long enough to know that if she blew out to fast the "Bradly Hills" were going to give her a hurting. "Come on down Lauren."
Almost to mile 3 "Lauren" began to disconnect from us. I yelled to her some words of encouragement and looked forward to seeing her at the finish.
"Austin, How ya doin?" I would ask every mile. I was trying to keep him at a sub 8 minute pace. We actually passed the 8 minute pacers but I could see Austin looking over his shoulder trying to stay in front of them.  I could hear him breathing and could see the sweat beading across his forehead. "Your doing great Austin, I am so proud of you, you are almost to the hills."
We took on the infamous Bradlys one by one. As we came down the 3rd and final one I could see Austin was getting tired. We were at mile 6 and he quickly regained his composure. I cheered and laughed with runners and the crowds. I saw a few runners out there I knew, one was "Mike", the guy I just met on the trail last Sunday. As I laughed it up Austin says "Mom, your Crazy."
As we ran through mile 7 I reminded Austin that we had just ran farther than he had EVER ran. He gave a grin over that thought. With mile 8 approaching I could hear Austins breathing getting heavy. His legs were beginning to hurt. We were by a very large cheering section. I lifted my hands in the air motioning them to get rowdy. At first they didn't know what to do and I saw a few of them pointing. Within seconds of me flaring my hands and smiling the crowd started to cheer us on. I reached out my hand and started giving everyone high fives.
"Mom, Your Crazy." I replied with a larger than life smile, "Austin, if you can't have fun then your doing it all wrong!" Then I followed up with "Besides, do you feel the excitement, can you feel how that gave you a kick start?" He smiled.
His legs were hurting. We had a mile and a half to go. "Mom, I just want to finish." He cried. "You got this Austin. I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST...there is nothing in you that has the ability to finish this but with HIM it is already finished." I continued to talk God's strength into him. "Austin, I am praying for you." I started giving him landmarks to make it to one by one. As we came to mile 9 Austin mumbles "I think I am going to puke, I just want to finish." And again I showered him with Gods promises, "With his POWER, Austin, God already gave you VICTORY today, He has you already finished, You are done in less than 8 minutes, I am so very very proud of you.
We heard this loud music thumping and I began to dance down Miller rd. "Hip, Hop, Hippity... I gotta bang Bang... And all the ladies started laughing and yelling "Yeah Girl, That's it Baby.." And my shoulders were moving and "Rocking to the beat" and next thing I knew I did some crazing smooth turn at a 7:45 minute pace not missing a beat. That really had them all shouting. "YEAH Baby, WOO HOO, Come on Girl, That's it!!!!"
"Mom, your Crazy!" He was smiling through the sweat and pain.
"Last turn Austin, The BRICKS are right around the corner, You got this!"
As our legs landed on the uneven bricks with the finish just a few lights ahead I could feel Austin accelerating.
"Hey now, You better not leave your mom! I paced you this far don't leave me!"
"We have AUSTIN HARLESS finishing!!!" They recited his name across the speaker system!

He never vomited. He was so overcome with joy. We didn't even make it back fast enough to see Andy cross the finish line. Andy had a PR and had an incredible race also.

It was so much fun. I so many friends and other runners I know or have gotten to know.

Big Congrats to first time CRIM-ers JOAN, Jessica, Ken H, Lauren
To those who had PR's- Hiedi, Andy J, Bill K, Andy J, Matt A,
And to all those I knew that had a great race, Maryann J.,Ken K.,Kenneth H., Sara M., Paula G., Amber A,.Justin D, Lacey, Melissa, Ellen H., Anthony T. and Jeff B.

RUNDOWN:
Distance:10 miles
Pace:7:53
Time:1:18:58

Merrell Down and Dirty.
Sunday August 25, 2013 7:30am
10K Obstacles

I love this race. And I love that I got to run this with "DANIELLE"!
Another beautiful day. "Anthony T" found me about me 20 minutes before we started. We were all reunited from last years race with Shosh, and Jackie. It was fun to run this with them again. "Danielle" and I took off together with the rest of the group close by. We had about 3 obstacles every mile. We ran at Kensington on the trails. My knee was a bit achy so I was whispering to myself  "Light as a feather Anita."
Close by one another "Danielle" and I carried sand bags, climbed walls, did balance beams, climbed through tires, crawled through mud, waded through water, jumped over walls and seriously laughed and had so much fun together.

SUCH A Great TIME!! We even mustered 4 more miles afterwards!
ICE ICE Baby!!

Anita

Red Robin. Yum..

Ok. I am feeling like a big lazy sloth. We had our annual CRIM celebratory dinner at Red Robin..YUM..
I totally had eyes bigger than my stomach when I ordered the Guacamole Bacon Burger! As if that wasn't enough I looked over at Andy with a pouty look and whispered across the table "Um, what about the onion rings?? We always get the onion rings.."

I SO DID NOT NEED the ONION RINGS! Dinner was 2 hours ago and I still have a food baby!
The Grande Nonfat White Chocolate Mocha threw me completely over the edge right into the land of gluttony.

So Crim Race Cap tomorrow as well as the Merrell Down and Dirty. I am pretty stoked to see Danielle tomorrow for this race!

Till then I am going to bed feeling like Lardo Eguardo.

Anita

A Different kind of Breed.

What did you do today?
Did you feel Passion..?? Pain??
Did You dig Deep???
Fight all of Hell??
Were your hands clenched? Digging Deep with a guttural passion flowing threw your veins??

Or did you say "To hell with it?"
Did you throw in the towel? Drop your head down and walk away?

Sometimes there are just no "Do Overs"! Sometimes there are no "Second Chances".
You are either going to make your destiny, striving for greatness in all you do, gritting your teeth, crying out to God for the tools for success
OR
Your gonna go day by day by day living a life of mediocrity. Walking one step in front of the other with out adventure, fear, excitement...

Who says that a 39 year old mother has to be boring? No, I refuse to believe that God does not want me to experience life to it fullest degree.

Some of us wait for opportunities to come to us and some us even let those pass by.
While others make opportunities happen. We create, we build, we discover not only ourselves and what we are made of but we discover all this world has to offer.
And YES..sometimes it HURTS..It HURTS like Hell.

Monday on my long run I had a very scary situation happen to me. I was at mile 20. My legs were tapped out and my ankle was throbbing. I still had 5 miles towards home. I was on the dirt roads with no homes around. Nothing even remotely close. All the property is owned by Great Lakes Cemetery. I came up a hill and saw a parked car right in the middle of the road. The silver Ford Escape was just parked in the center of the path. He was about 200 feet ahead of me and I was slowly coming up to him. Why was he just sitting out here alone? What was he doing? "TRUST nobody Anita."
I quickly thought about my plan.
"Do I turn around and go back?" NO.
I needed to think more and I was running out of time so I took my running pace to a brisk walk. My wheels were spinning thinking this car was driving some pervert. I thought of my strategy. I looked around noticing gravel and large rocks. I estimated the closest house. I planned for an attack. I could feel the adrenaline rushing through my blood. I switched my water bottle to my left hand and as I came closer to the drivers side door I picked up my pace and clenched my fists. "God Give me Strength."
There he sat in a business suit on his cell phone looking over the beautiful fields.
And there I went right past him, unscathed and heart pounding.

Do I quit running? NO.
Do I quit running on back roads where the breeze brushes your skin and the trees shield you from the baking hot sun? The back roads that surround you with nature and silence preventing the worldly distractions from poisoning a peaceful run.
NO..

There is so much we miss out on because we live in fear. Or because we are lazy. We have excuses, explanations and justifications.

Quit whining and waiting about this life of mediocrity. Do something about it. Clench your fists and embrace your demons. Get off the couch. Ask yourself what is something you have always wanted to do and just DO IT!

One anniversary about 7 years ago Andy surprised me and took me on a secret date. He wouldn't tell me where we were going. He told me what to wear and that it was a bit of a drive. I tried to guess a dozen things I thought it would be. "It is something you said YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO DO."
I racked my brain. We pulled up to the big open field and as I looked around I just about crapped my pants! "SKYDIVING!!!"
Now we talk a big talk but can we walk it. I was instantly overcome with fear. But there was NO way I was backing out. This was one of the most amazing experienced I have had.

Quit backing out of your dreams. Believe in great things and start making them happen.

Jeremiah 33:3 "Call unto me and seek me and I will show you great and mighty things which thou knowest NOT."

RUNDOWN:
Distance: 7 miles Easy
Tough run. I didn't want to run but I knew I HAD to run. The satisfaction came at the end. I was still running with trashed legs. I have a million reasons WHY I didn't need to run this run. But there is no victory in excuses. It takes a special breed to grit your teeth, pull up your boot straps, fight all of Hell, and go out there kicking and screaming.
Are You that Special Breed???

Anita

Bear in Cadillac

My son just got back from cross country camp in CADILLAC. If you have been watching the news you will see that there was a girl who was attacked the same week JOGGING in CADILLAC!
Well they saw a few deer but thankfully no bear. The trails attacked one boy on a bike ride and was injured pretty bad breaking his elbow and wrist.
This really sucked my thoughts today on my 25 mile run. My ultra :Hungerfold  is in six weeks at the end of September in Big Rapids. Big Rapids is 45 minutes south of Cadillac. I have always heard the fall is when the bears gorge themselves in preparation for the winter. I was thinking of maybe running with bells on. I was wondering if I should wear a certain scent to detour them from me. I am really hoping that my small size will not look appetizing to them.
I looked at the size of runners for the Ultra and it looks like total is only about 400! I thought it was closer to 1000. WRONG!! Maybe they will have a bunch of volunteers!! Or maybe I will make a friend and run with them the whole time. There is power in numbers right?? I will definitely be bringing my mace which I am sure if confronted my Yogi the bear will completely forget how to use it!

As I let my feet hit the floor this morning I instantly felt the soreness in my quads. "Ouch..Ouch Ouch" I whined with each step forward. Crazy that as much as it hurt I didn't know real pain until I started the descent downstairs for coffee. WOWZA!

I was out of the house by 7:30am. There are 3 elements that make up my running.

1. My head
2. My lungs
3. My legs

My legs even though they were sore I knew I could run through, even my lungs I knew were going to be fine. But that stupid ankle I twisted yesterday on the trail really caused me grief out there. It was nagging for the first 18 miles but then it started to get nasty with me.
I was very thankful to finish my run. I had to walk quite a bit the last few miles but I had a lot of time banked.

I took the boys with me to the gym. They were excited to go swimming and I was looking forward to the cold plunge. Too bad when we checked in there was a large sign that read "POOL CLOSED FOR CLEANING" I felt bad for a second towards the boys but I knew they would have fun playing basketball.

I am glad those runs are done. 46 miles in 2 days. I am tuckered and in the hurt locker. I knew that running today in pain was going to be an asset towards my training. However,  I was going to hurt throughout my run this was pain that I had to embrace.

I doubled up on my juice plus, I also had a juice plus complete smoothie. I did this a bit to late. My sugar dropped at VG's. I felt my body going down quickly. We had just left the gym and I could feel myself getting funky. I got some sushi and the boys got a sandwich but by the time we made it to the register Austin could see my condition. "Mom, your shaking." I tried to talk calmly but I was struggling. I had not yet paid for our food when Austin ripped the package open and picked me out a California roll.
We sat in the car eating our lunch. I rested my head on the steering wheel trying to relax and wait for my body to recover.

Well heading off to bed and praying for a good sleep.


Anybody ever ran in Manistee National Forest?? Anything I need to know about BEARS???
Anita

Go East towards CRAZY.



"Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?'"
- Peter Maher, Canadian marathon runner

Could it have seriously have been a more beautiful day in Michigan?? I got into my car feeling a bit nervous as I was stepping out into a new experience.
I was meeting a bunch of runners for my 1st trail run experience. Pontiac Lake at 7am for 2 loops which equaled out to almost 21 miles. I accepted the invitation to run with this group of trail runners that I didn't know because it was a good opportunity. With my Ultra coming up in 6 weeks knew I needed to test my body on this terrain.
I was not surprised when I got lost less than a mile from the meeting place. I called one of the numbers to get back on track and laughed when they said "Go East ....." Ba Ha .."Go East.." Yeah right, I need landmarks, this guy has no idea how directionally challenged I am.
I was stoked to see a large number of runners show up, there were 11 of us at the start but 2 backed out. I was 1 of 3 girls out there.
I was praying my body was going to mesh with the trail. I ran in the middle of the pack and tried to soak up the conversations around me. I wanted to learn as much as I could from the group. This crew all knew each other and were very skilled in ultras and trail running.
Pontiac Lake is a technical mountain biking trail. Running outside the box today made me have to swallow some fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of new runners. Fear of really fast and skilled runners. Fear of being able to accomplish 20 miles on a trail. Fear of not getting injured. It is that fear that actually Fuels me. Fear can be a great tool to success. Or it can be a tool to defeat you. Failure is Not an option. I had to eat fear for breakfast this morning before heading out!

I am used to running with my head up and looking my route in the eyes. But out there the Trail owns you. You had better have a love affair with it and respect the path before you. She cuts herself deep in the ground and changes her look quite frequently. There were moments she was gentle on you but just as you got comfortable with her she would cough up large rocks, sand and roots turning herself into the Antichrist. She would wind you down and around like a wicked twisted roller coaster. The group walked over her when she displayed her nasty side.

On the second loop runners were starting to get tangled in her claws and tripping over her. One guy took a hard fall. I was getting nervous because it was always the guy in front of me.  As soon as I let my guard down she got a hold of me as well. I did my fair share of tripping and even twisted my ankle real good at about mile 17.

I finished my 2 loops. I Loved it! I felt pretty good but don't think I could have done another 2 blocks in Her grips. The down hills put a hurting on my knees. I didn't feel physically tired rather just knew my knees were getting weak. I knew that if I went much farther I may not have the power to defend myself from her wrath.

The group was awesome. I met, Veronica, Matt, Mike, Keith, Fritz, Hong, Paul..and I can't remember the rest! But I will say they all were very friendly and supportive. "No Runner Left Behind."!

Rundown:
Distance: 21 miles
Pace: 11:24
Hit the Gym for 15 minutes in the Cold Plunge. I couldn't get there fast enough. It was a devine appointment!
Back at it tomorrow!!! Another 20 something run! Prayers Please!

Anita.

A little piece of me.. Character Defects

A good friend of mine asked me about a week ago to help keep her accountable. She was feeling weak in some areas and needed prayers and accountability. I was honored she asked me. She is also one of my running partners.
Today we were running together and she was sharing some victories in her life. They were victories that were immeasurable. Miraculous. I really enjoyed listening to her. I enjoyed hearing her laughter when just a week ago she was in the Pit. But today her Joy was infectious, her eyes were bright and her smile was illuminating . She was full of passion
.

"Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not give the devil an opportunity." Eph 4:26-27 

I am still not quite sure how we got talking about me. I think it had to do with how character defects are often brought on from our childhood. I agreed I discussed my anger issues.
We were running around the track in the gym. I thought it would be better for us to run on a flat surface due to a injury she has been battling. When the conversation was directed at me I began to loose track of how many times we were circling the track.
"Anita, Where do you think your Anger came from?"
"It's the Irish in me I believe." I responded. I went on to tell her as a child very very young I witness my moms side of the family drinking and fighting all the time. They were always full of pride when it came to the family name "MURDOCK". They also took great pride in their strength.
The men would get drinking and want to arm wrestle and somewhere after that someone was getting punched, beaten, bruised or bloodied. I remember as a child looking at my uncles who could barely able to walk and yet had enough strength to beat up their wives in front of us kids. I would think "You are so drunk I could just knock you over." I was as young as 11 thinking about how I would beat them the way they did my mother. As I told her this I could feel my blood boil, my blood pressure rise and the pain surfacing. I know exactly where that anger came from. I wanted to hurt them the way they hurt my childhood and the way they hurt my mother. I do not know what was scarier, thinking the demonic thoughts as a child or believing I could actually do them. The whole thing was pretty sick and twisted.
As she listened to me rather than judging me she comforted me with Gods words. "Anita, I believe God gives us Righteous Anger, What God gave you to glorify Him Satan wants to use to destroy YOU. Satan is the great Deceiver."
Accountability is beautiful when it is worked in Love. Words amongst one another are so powerful. They cam bring Life and Death. As we circled the track for a little over an hour we encouraged one another.
I am reminded of how Anger can hurt and I am reminded of how Anger can HELP. You see living that life ANGERED me so much I CHOSE to NEVER live that life.  Yet I did not allow that ANGER to dictate my future and destroy me as it had so many others in my family. I was actually ANGRY enough that I was able to forgive them all and even love and pray for them. I hurt for them. It was not up to them to heal me from what they had done to me as a child. It was up to ME to seek HIM for healing. God is the Great Healer.

Today I can still be a hot head. I have to take it to the cross. I am far far from perfect. But I can see the work that God has done in me and continue to march on.


RUNDOWN:
Distance: 7miles.
Genesys Health club Track
Anita