When no one Rescues you.

"I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?" 

Psalms 121;1

My decision to run outside was not one of my finest moments this Monday.
I found myself Praying. Asking God to keep me safe, to get me home. As I trucked up another hill with the high winds pushing me back, I kept my Faith.

20 mph winds.
-6 degrees
Roads not runnable.

That was the text I received from my husband.
I even responded..."ohhh no".

I am just not exactly sure what happened in my head from there.

I needed 10 miles.
I didn't have time to go to the gym.

I think I thought:
"Just dress for it."

SORTA.

I ran a out and back. Even though I ran 20 miles yesterday I am ultimately training for a June 100K, Kettle Moraine. My training has me running "Back to Back" long runs.
Again, I needed 10 miles. To add insult to injury, I needed hills to, Ann Arbor Marathon is HILLY!


I heard Lacey in my head from yesterday, "Anita, we are going to do this and we are not going to complain about it."

"STAY Positive" My beginning Mantra.
This was easy mantra to keep when I headed down the paved road with the wind at my back.
I needed the hills, and this meant I was going to be running with the wind pushing me 5 miles.
*Rule of thumb is "Always start your run INTO the wind." 

The first 5 miles, even with the elevation I felt great. My legs weren't fatigued from yesterdays run, the hills really were not rattling me, I honestly felt great.
However, the harder the wind pushed me the more I was reminded of the affliction I was about to endure.

I made that turn to head back home, back up all those hills and now back 5 miles into the blasting winds.

I had a couple handicaps that exasperated my efforts. At mile 2, I slipped on ice and fell, leaving my running pants and gloves wet. Somehow, when I fell it blew all my water out of my handheld leaving me with no water. Oh, and my phone died at mile 4. I was without music to motivate me and keep me from thinking. Sometimes my thoughts really trip me up.

That turn the game was a game changer.

I was suddenly blasted with winds that took my breath away.
Within a mile I was trying to get my Smart Wool neck gaiter over my face. My pace dropped dramatically and my eyelashes were frozen together.
My wet gloves were now frozen along with my pants. I couldn't feel my thighs for that matter my right hand was burning from severe coldness. I tried to ball my fingers up to keep them warm but after a while I didn't feel anything.

Mile 6, I knew why Andy had texted me. This really was NOT a good idea. The winds were coming off the fields in whirlwinds. It was literally coming RIGHT at me, whipping sleet in my face like ice shards. I pulled my buff up higher with my balled up hands.

I wanted to do the "Hard Things".

I just tried to make it 1 mile at a time. I decided if anyone came by to get me I was going to let them rescue me and take me home.

No one came.

I kept waiting for someone to drive me home, but they just WAVED and moved over on the road!

10 miles. I survived. This little recap is not me being "DRAMATIC".
I was seriously nervous. When I couldn't feel my fingers, my thighs went numb and I knew that if I stopped it would only make it worse, I got concerned.


HOWEVER.....Todays little experiment reminded me of a couple things.

YOU ARE CAPABLE OF MORE THAN YOU KNOW!
I didn't have a way to QUIT. It was 5 miles back home and my phone was dead! I did my best to stay POSITIVE, knocking out one mile at a time.

DO THE HARD THINGS.
Maybe not all at once, I should not have added all those elements. The Challenge is what I was after. I just got a little too excited.
Embrace the Challenge, seek it. Don't let yourself get complacent, you don't know what you are capable of unless you TRY.

Never quit, Believe in yourself, Embrace challenges.

No one came to Rescue me, But God never quit Protecting me. 

TRAINING TIP:
If you are curious about running an ULTRA you CAN. But you should have at least a marathon under your belt and even that is not a prerequisite. But running 35-40 miles a week per week for at least 4-6 months will help you be more successful.

Anita

Moving from Here to There:

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." 

C.S. Lewis

GOALS:

2019 Goals: Run more intentional, Run stronger, smarter and harder. 

Monthly Goals, Weekly Goals: I have set goals at different stages of my training that all play into the BIG Picture. For me, this is the best way to stay focused and less scatterbrained. A little less anyway.

Monthly Goals: *Add more miles. *Run in a new/newer location. *Run at least one race a month. 

Weekly Goals: Run Sore, add mileage, pick up speed, drop mileage, focus on diet and recovery to name a few of my weekly goals.

My training this year is different than last year. It is more than just getting miles. I can get miles in all day long, run run run, run, run....

I did that last year. And I didn't get any faster or stronger. I sure had a lot of fun though. 

This year, I have decided to have a few smaller single digit runs in there. Faster, harder runs, hills, speed work, tempo, progressive...that means recovery days. Time off is important.  

I purposely design my runs for the week and stay dedicated to the plan. EX. My Speedwork /Hills are done mostly after a rest day. so I have fresh legs.  If I have a long run with my group I don't want to over do it the day before and hinder my run with them making them run slowly because I ran too hard the day before.  I design my training then stick to the plan as close as possible.

Lacey bought me this running journal for my birthday. It is one of the best training journals I have ever had. 

February, a word I can just NEVER spell, I wrote out my goals, my plans, my thoughts even. 

From Here, I have finished up my 25k, Snow Moon Run. I didn't meet my timed goal but managed to get 3rd place overall female by shock. I didn't run it hard, I just ran it steady. The conditions were not worth getting injured over. It was bad enough that I got a 2 inch blister, something I didn't even get after running last years 100k in Pinckney. 

From Here, the winter should start tuckering out, allowing me to run stronger trails and roads. 

From Here, I have noticed the days getting longer, I have been able to have some evening runs. 

From Here, I have managed to stay uninjured, maintaining 40-45 mile run weeks. (My goal miles) 

To There, I have signed up for a 10 mile run in FLORIDA in March with all my family! 

To There, add some new training runs. 

To There, Probility Ann Arbor Marathon. 

RUNDOWN:

Sunday: RECOVERY from Snow Moon Trail 25K

We found clear paths at Indian springs for our 20miler. Lacey put a podcast in that picked our pace up the last 7 miles. Sword and Scale, I don't think I slept that night after listening to the real life murder in DETAIL. 

Monday: 20 miles Indian Springs

Tuesday: REST

Wednesday: HILL Repeats, 6.35 milles

Thursday: Fun run, Trails 13.5

Beautiful trails. 

Friday:  Moderate Run w/ Andy, 4 miles

Saturday: REST

TOTAL MILES: 43.85

Training TIP: Plan to run a 50k race to lead up to any race distance beyond 40 miles. This is the purpose of all my races. Each one is purposely placed in my training to benefit the Goal Race, Kettle Moraine 100k.  I do this for multiple reasons:

1. My training plans tell me too!

2. It s good mental training

3. It helps me to test out my hydration, fuel, gear and fine tune my fitness. 

Anita

Snow Moon Run 2019 Recap. Quitting

Laugh, laugh, and laugh some more. That is seriously all I could do. The trail conditions were so obnoxious that you had to make light of it. It was HORRIBLE. 

Snow Moon Run Trail 25K

• Midland, Mi
• Midland received 8 inches of snow this week
• Race time 7pm
• Race Distances: 5k, 15k, 25k
• This race is designed to run loops. 3 mile loops that bring you through 2 aid stations and the finishing tent. 
• Temperatures started out at 23' and dropped down below 15'. 

I car pooled with Chris and Kris.

We were there over an hour early, but the parking a problem. Because they started the 5K a half hour earlier and they had doubled the participant size they were offering shuttle service.

This was really nice. 

We honestly had NO idea what the trail conditions were going to be like. 

Ignorance is not always bliss. 

I always love running into this sweet lady, Dale, your the BEST. 

LOOP 1. DRUNKEN RUNNERS

Everyone was trying to stay upright. The snow was thick, deep and best described like running in sand. Only with a layer of ICE under it. 

The runners looked like they had drank too much in the starting tent. No one was running upright. We all were slipping, sliding and kicking ankle high snow everywhere. 

And so I laughed. It was a sight for sore eyes. I laughed for over a mile. 

Then I got REAL serious. 

"How am I going to do this 4 more times?" 

Runners were complaining and talking about defeat before we even made it into the second loop. 

TIME: 36:06

LOOP 2. WEIGHING MY OPTIONS.

By mile 2, that is just 3 miles into this madness my ankles were suffering. The unsteady footing had me kicking my ankles with my spikes. They felt like they were rubbed raw and possibly bleeding.

There was NO denying the blister that was rubbing on the arch of my left foot. 

"I can't do this for 15 miles..." I did my best to land flat footed but I kept kicking myself. It hurt. 

"Everyone's complaining, I wouldn't be the only one..." I began to justify the idea of dropping down to the 15K. I had so many good arguments. It just didn't make sense to suffer this much and possible hinder my future training.  

I DECIDED to drop my Pace, give up any goals that I had other than just FINISHING. 

TIME: 35:58

LOOP 3. THE LITTLE ENGINE WHO COULD.
I changed my stinking thinking. I was going to finish no matter how bad it hurt. If I had to walk across that finish line I was NOT going to QUIT. I decided I would find a steady pace and run it all the way in.
The temperatures dropped and so did a lot of runners. I would catch up to a runner than pace off them until they fell back. The right hand side of the trail was the best place to get ANY type of traction. I put some music in to motivate me and even grabbed a peanut butter cracker at an aid station. I needed the calories but discovered very quickly I couldn't chew it. I had a salty peanut butter paste that just sat in my mouth. My face was frozen and I couldn't chew and swallow. It took a MILE to get that cookie out of a gooey paste and down my throat.
Every so often I would pass a runners, walker and do my best to encourage them. They were excited because they were finished, 15k is only 3 loops. I actually hung with a couple guys and chatted for a bit. It was nice, it was getting lonely out there. 
"Just get to the next loop..."
TIME: 36:18

LOOP 4. SOLO RUN. 
Most runners gave up the ghost and quit at loop 3. This made loop 4 really lonely. I had no one in front of me and no one behind me. My music froze up in the cold. You could see my breath like old man winter blowing not so sweet kisses at me.
Because the temperatures were in the teens this actually condensed the snow, that and a few hundred runners. I was able to maintain my pace. I NEVER looked at my watch. My goal was to run steady and FINISH.
My temperature was warm. I knew if I stopped I would get very cold and probably not recover. My toes were all burning from blisters. My body was NUMB. I couldn't even feel my worst ailment.
Coming around the last mile of this loop I heard Kris. I looked closer in the dark and she was walking with a tall guy. Without stopping I yell,  "HEY KRIS! How are you doing?" She sounded great and was moving forward. I was so happy she was still going.
TIME: 34:47

LOOP 5. GET ME TO THE FINISH. 
That tall guy told Kris he was going to jump in with me. He was running really strong. He was run/walking. It was actually funny how he  did it. He would run REALLY fast then walk as I just caught up to him and then go again. I just tucked in behind him. We played this cat and mouse game for miles. It was so nice to have someone to run with. I discovered I knew him when he shared his first name with me, STU.  Together we made it to the final mile and a half. I could make out a shadow in front of us. I knew right away it was CHRIS. He was walking, he had started cramping. I tried to gather him up to run the last bit in with me but he joined up with Stu and I was finishing alone.
With about 2/10 of a mile to go I see another runner. I came up on her quick. I knew she was finishing with me. I encouraged her and hoped she would pick up the pace. I hated passing her so close to the Finish Line. She kindly wished me well giving me grace to move ahead.
I could hear the Music blindly blaring through the trails encouraging me to pick up my pace. After 4 loops I still had a smile to share in the Finishing CHUTE!
TIME 34:24

BIGGEST SHOCKER OF THE NIGHT, I TOOK 3RD PLACE OVERALL FEMALE!! HOW'S THAT FOR THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD. God was listening to those prayers! 

RUNDOWN: My pace surprisingly got faster the last 2 loops. The colder weather made the terrain better.

STU, me and Kris, all trying to stay warm waiting for the rest of our gang. 

After getting rid of my stinking thinking, I reminded myself that the only thing that mattered was doing WHAT you SET out to DO. Readjusting your Goals, embracing your relationship with GOD, A LOT OF PRAYING! And reminding yourself we don't sign up for these things because they are easy.

THE NUMBERS: 
5K=342 runners
15K=136 runners
25k= 63 runners
*** out of those 63 runners:
17dropped down
*2 dropped down to 4 laps
*11 dropped down to 3 laps
*2 dropped down to 2 laps
*1 dropped down to 1 lap

Congrats to some local runners we saw out there. It is always good share encouragement with each other. Great Job Christina and Antonio.

Anita!

Consistency.

Consistency. 

"If you are persistent you will get it, if you are consistent you will keep it."

January Miles= 207.75

Last weeks miles=45.75

My miles were down but I was hitting almost all my weekly goals. 

Only one week, last week I didn't hit my goal, "To maintain my miles". I lost 5 miles with the weather. 

That's OK. On a good note, I had strong runs last week. There really is proof in dropping your miles and getting stronger runs. 

Knowing I was behind the gun in my mileage I made my runs count. I did speed work, ran faster and ran harder. OH..AND survived. 

I have always trained where about every 6-7 WEEKS I bring my miles down and let my body recover.

Last week, I took a couple naps, I got a massage and I brought my miles down. 

This allowed my SUNDAY Runday with Lacey to be quite victorious. 

SUNDAY RUNDAY: Lacey and I went out to Stoney Creek. This is where all the elites train and half of Oakland County. It was thick with runners. 

45' temperatures was the ultimate invitation to come train at the park. 

Stoney Creek is a 6 mile loop.

We set the car up as an aid station, it was perfect, water, gu's, granola bars and the best Smokey Almonds from my sister in law, Leeanne. 

Rundown: 

Distance: 18miles

Time: 2:48

Pace: 9:22/mi

Loop 1. 57min. Ran it all the way through

Loop 2. 56min Added walk breaks

Loop 3. 54min. Ran in opposite direction, continued with walk breaks and aimed to maintain our fastest loop. 

I am so thankful for Lacey. I kept pushing the pace. "ANITA! Do you see where I am? This is where you need to be, bring it down." 

Lacey knows how I run. I feel good and want to GO, then I don't feel good and tucker out at the end. At mile 17, Lacey was tired of reining me in and picked up the pace, a sub 9 minute mile. "LACEY! What the heck..." I huffed. 

"This is what you get....." She laughed, making me speed up and keep our 8:20min/mi. Then to make me suffer more, she ran in EVERY puddle splashing me. 

Good friends make good friends suffer with smiles. 

I was doing the HAPPY DANCE when we finished.I think having so many runners made it easier to run stronger. 

It was a run of NEW Equipment.

1. New Balance Vest: LOVE. Poshmark
2. Oiselle Running Pants: LOVE. Poshmark
3. HOKAS: Didn't LOVE in 18 miles of pavement but will try them out on the trails. OUCH. 18 miles in most new shoes was not the most brilliant idea. Typical Anita.

The Training Tip: CONSISTENCY!

Make sure not to increase your weekly training load by more that 10% at a time. Also make sure that your high intensity training is no more than 20% of your total work load. 

Staying consistent and disciplined will help prevent you from injury.

This Weeks GOAL: ADD miles. More Core. More Calories. More Sleep. Stay Positive.   
More Cookies, My mother in law made me cookies, they are like Mana from Heaven. 

 *Anita

Strength and Joy

^"yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. ¹⁹The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights." Habakkuk 3:16-19

Do you ever wake up, grab your coffee and feel yesterdays anxieties begin to mingle with todays agenda?
With barely a sip of coffee in me, I could feel yesterdays chaos intertwining with my morning. I was trying to relax and enjoy my cuppa Joe but my heart was a bit anxious. I grabbed my devotional and began reading, rereading and slowly the Holy Spirit began melting my heart. I could feel His words softening me, calming me.
As I read, I looked outside and smiled. It was so beautiful out. The sun was coming up over the pine trees and a pink haze shadowed below the soft blue sky.
BUT is was frigid. Another icy winter day.

My body has been acting up on me, I had awoke fatigued and lazy.
With each word of encouragement I found myself encouraged. I felt motivated, strong and excited to tackle the day.
Life can get really exhausting at times.
I was reminded when I am depleted Gods word fills my tank again.

When I FOCUS on HIM that is when I am strengthened. Not when I am focused on others, or things or social media, all these things are distractions. They derail you and can tend to deplete or confuse you.

It is so important to fill yourself up on things that encourage you.
That is Gods word FIRST. (This is not everyday...Honestly, I try but if I  am being truthful, I struggle keeping my focus)

You can only give what you have. If you have no HOPE, you can not give HOPE. If you have no STRENGTH, you can not give STRENGTH.
If you have no ENCOURAGMENT you can not give ENCOURAGMENT.
Learn to fill your tank up. Pick your company well.

STRENGTH and JOY. 

My devotion today was so perfect. 

Another blistering cold day. It was below 0' out.
My friends were running outside but as much as I had FOMO, I did not get baited in.
(FOMO=fear of missing out)

I weigh 105lbs and I am 5'2, running with 10lbs of clothing not only is like having another person attached to you, it also makes me as wide as I am tall!

And besides, I was excited to wear my new outfit my girlfriend Lisa bought me.
There is a Dicks Outlet store in Utica.  Carrie Underwood has a really cute brand called Callia. The shorts were already half OFF and then another HALF off! 10$

RUNDOWN
DISTANCE: 10 miles
PACE: 8:50min/mi

I was scheduled for 16 miles today. Time was not going to get me those miles. I had a staff meeting at noon and I got a late start.
Today was also a easy/moderate training run.
I went back and forth on where to run, the Dreadmill VS Track.

The music was blasting by the TM's. I looked for my favorite TM and it was open, they had a Treadmill class going, I thought I would try to use some of their energy to help myself along. Well, and the track was full of Grand Blancs CC runners, it is so defeating having those young legs pass you multiple times.

 "..he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights."

I seriously felt like a deer. Everything felt so effortless. Nothing was aching or nagging me. I sang my favorite tunes under my breath and even threw out the guns when I beat came that made me want to dance.

I love how this version uses the word TREAD. Like TREADMILL.

I was so tempted to pick up the pace but history is your best director. Eventually, it is not going to feel so effortless.
And that was true around mile 8. I had watched the TM class go, this dance class in one of the studios all finish.  (That is why I think I never got to bored, that class was done in the dark, when I really concentrated on seeing what they were doing I knew why it was in the dark! They looked like they were pole dancing boxers. It was the most interesting choreographing I have ever struggle to see!)
My attention span was crashing. I must have looked at the screen on the TM 10 times in 1 minute

I finished. Well, I wasn't paying attention and the TM shut off on me. SO ANNOYING. I had to restart the whole thing for 1.5 LAPS! That's a little more than a quarter mile.
Typical Anita, Paying attention to everything BUT the timer on the TM! UGH.

I finished my run smiling.  I had started this run sore from yesterdays workout. My legs were hurting, however, I was reminded of Gods word. I stayed so focused on my morning encouragement and the truth is I felt that JOY. It was that Joy that strengthened and encouraged me.

It really is a beautiful feeling.
Anita

"Create a permanent place for me in your mind, and My Light will shine on all your moments." 
Jesus Always Embracing Joy in His Presence. 


TRAINING TIP: Keep your easy day your EASY DAY!

Can't knock the Hustle

Galatians 6:4 ^"Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else,"

Todays Run is brought to you by Genesys Athletic Club.

I don't typically think trail runners are pretentious, most of the ultra runners I have met are pretty humble and always encouraging one another.
But...don't be too fooled. I have heard a topic come up a few times and recently even saw a post sharing the topic.
The Topic. RUNNING solely outside. Runners poo poo-ing treadmill running.

When I first started running, about 16 years ago, I had a gym membership to American Fitness. (This iconic gym is no longer on the corner of Dixie Hwy and Andersonville rd.) I didn't even know that people ran outside. The thought never occurred to me.
Grown adults run races? Clueless
I had a treadmill in my basement as well but running outside was a foreign concept to me.

Alec was born, 2001. I could hardly get to the gym and running on the treadmill would wake Alec. I didn't have enough money for one of those fancy jogger strollers. I was a hot mess from post partum and Austin, 3 years old had enough energy he could have run a 5k in his Stride Rites.
I did the best I could with what I had, a red wagon radio flyer. Alec was almost 1 year old and I would pull that wagon with both the boys in it all around Holly.
I started running outside out of pure default and necessity.
I LOVED it.
The warm sun, the freedom, the scenery, the adventure. I loved the breeze on my skin.

But Michigan weather brings most of us back indoors. Back to the gym, back to the treadmill. When I started marathon training, running more than 10 miles on the dreadmill was torture. You feel like a hamster on a wheel. Your legs are spinning but you head space is desperately trying to find things to occupy you.

I saw a post that said " What's so bad about treadmills? Not ashamed to say we use them. Sure they aint trails, but"

BUT...But we are still running.
BUT...But we are still getting our miles in and our sweat on.
BUT...It is still good training, Mentally FOR SURE.

"Can't Knock The Hustle" Weezer

I work hard for that gym membership. I have no shame in grabbing my water bottle, my towel and punching in my numbers, especially when I get to wear shorts when the rest of Michigan looks like the Michelin Man.

To me, I don't think it matters if you are getting your run on indoors, on the treadmill, playing the WII or running in place.
For that matter, you get your hustle on any way that works for you. If it gets you off the couch, puts a little sweat in your brows and makes you curse your name in agony, GET IT DONE.

RUNDOWN: 
WHERE: GAC; TRACK
Distance: 6.25 miles. 
WORKOUT:
* 1 mile w/u
*4X800m repeats w/ 800m cooldown, shuffle jog 
*1 mile cooldown
Total mile: 6miles, walked the quarter
*Core
*weights, ALOT of reps, a little bit of weight. 

This was NOT my idea. This was Andys workout that I got suckered into.
Andy has gotten so fast since last August when he started back to the gym. He is giving me a run for my money. Andy is very competitive.
When we lined up for our first repeat my legs felt so fresh. I stayed next to him, afraid when the suffering would sabotage my pace. After the first 400m, I said to myself, "Rattle him..." And I took off hitting the 800m ink a few steps ahead of him. I smiled inside.
I just remembered his lack of remorse when he tapped me on the shoulder at IDIDARUN and blew past me just a couple weeks ago.
REPEAT1- 3:22
"Don't get to cocky Anita."
We started the 2nd 800m aiming to bring it down. "Andy, bring it down, or your going to hit this one at the same time."
I stayed next to him.
REPEAT2-3:30
REPEAT3- 3:30
That last interval, I was coaching myself in every voice I could. The final turn I knew we had to pick up another gear. Andy was voicing a few words of struggle. "GOOO" I yelled at him. He didn't have an option. I was abrupt, loud and bold.
Out of breath, voiceless and gut wrenched, I knew we had hit that last one but I wanted confirmation. "What is our time?
REPEAT4- 3:32

"Can't Knock The Hustle" 

Haters gonna Hate. . Just because you never run on the TM doesn't make you are more bad A$$ runner. What makes you a bad a$$ runner is how you encourage other peoples HUSTLE. 

RELATE don't Compare. 

This seems to be an all around problem. When you remove yourself from someone else's story and encourage them, relating with them,  it is always their STORY. But when you add yourself into their story you are no longer relating you are comparing. 
Different isn't wrong. Don't be that guy who knocks someone else's hustle. 
Listen to your thoughts. 
Be KIND. Be encouraging. And if you cant, BE QUIET. 

ANITA~

Grubers Grinder, Ice Ice Baby

Next Race: Snow Moon Run 25K 
February Saturday, 16th Nite Run. 
Sold Out
2018 Race Results : 2h:33min
Averaging 30 minutes a loop. (3mile loop)

All my races are planned as stepping stones to my BIG ONE: Kettle Moraine 100K in WISCONSIN!

My long run for marathon training is 16miles this weekend.
My long run for ultra training is in the same place.

School was closed again today. I hated that I had a long run and Alec was going to be home.
There is one thing that you can not cheat, and that is your long run.

I had no option, I had to run 16 miles on the trails.
Kris had to run distance today as well.

OHH DID IT HURT.
OHH was it a quiet RUN.

16 miles of RUTTS, deep crevices frozen in the snow where the bikers had divided the trail with a vengeance.
The warmer tempertures froze the ruts, the animals added insult to injury with little potholes scattered in the trail making the path even more evil.
Between slipping, twisting, climbing, sliding we were using all our energy just trying to stay upright.

"'Kris, I feel like my brain should be stronger having to think so hard.."

If I didn't break my ankle, slip on my toosh, get slapped in the face by multiple low branches,  my pea brain was about to EXPLODE concentrating on where to land my feet.
Kris wore her nano spikes, I was too brave (a ridiculous word for DUMB) and just wore my Cascadia's without traction.
Kris no doubt had more traction than I did. But I was more concerned with 16 miles of running with that aggressive running gear on my feet.
I was trying to pick the lesser of two evils.

Grubers Grinder typically takes about 3hours to run. That's just one foot in front of the other, no hurry, just getting her done.

ICE Rink. 

3h28minutes moving time. The last few miles we were just getting to the next half mile marker.
I felt great, other than my ITband beginning to tighten up and my ankles being totally abused I felt really good.
We were intentional about drinking and eating:
MILE 6: Espresso Love Gu and one Babybel cheese ball.
Miles 11: One fruit chew..frozen and nasty.

My Favorite! Tastes like coffee, 

The run was quiet other than the crunching of the snow beneath our feet. But the finish was full of smiles and gratitude.

When everything hurt, we continued to run.
When we couldn't feel our fingers, we continued to run.
When we got whopped in the eyes and face with branches, we continued to run.
When we gutted up another stinking hill with our feet sleeping behind us, we continued to run.

It was a tough run. BUT I am soooo stoked we didn't quit.

Every week I have been making a new goal.
A Weekly Goal. 

I am loving it. My weekly goal keeps me in the moment. It allows me from getting to anxious. It also keeps me from getting burn out.
This week my GOAL was to increase my miles but maintain my pace.

• “The harder you work for something, the greater you’ll feel when you achieve it.”
• “Don’t try to be perfect. Just try to be better than you were yesterday.”
• “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela
  
  

ANITA~