Hoodwinked: Training for a 100

 Expectations vs. Reality

"Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." 

Proverbs 19:21

I set out with the excitement, thinking I knew what the day would bring. A tough but familiar route at Fox Lake to build elevation for my 100-miler. I was mentally prepared for that. And that would be plenty of suffering going into my 3rd day of back-to-back long runs. 

But the second I heard we'd be hitting the trails instead, I felt one word-Hoodwinked-looped in my brain like a broken record. The plan had changed without warning, and suddenly I was facing something I hadn't signed up for. 

Monday, No Fun Day

"Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other." Walter Elliot

The day already felt off. My morning was chaotic, and by the time I showed up to run, I was hanging on by a thread. 

The PLAN- two-10 mile loops, consisting of roads and trails and over 3,200ft of elevation, felt like a psychotic joke. 

There I was, at the start of my third back-to-back long run, with barely enough juice to start and now being served a dish I never ordered. Training for a 100-mile race demands grit, but some days it feels like the training itself is trying to break you before the race ever begins. 

Trails of Torment

"We are hard pressed on every side but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair." 2 Cor. 4:8

I felt emotionally pretty despaired. 

These trails didn't just challenge me-they dismantled me! Covered in leaves, hiding roots, and jagged rocks, they felt more like a trap than a training route. The climbs were brutal, the descents risky. My legs were toast, wobble sticks. My calves burned, my quads buckled, my lungs gasped and my brain screamed ENOUGH. 

There were not smooth stretched, just endless rhythm of up and down, slip and scramble or scream, I did them all. 

 I laughed for the first mile more out of ridiculousness, but that gave way to silence....then whining...then pure survival mode. I kept accessing my body hoping nothing would get too broken. 

Truth is...I never wanted to quit so bad. I questioned everything: my training, my goals, my sanity. I felt deceived by the terrain, by the day, even by my own desire to chase something as massive as a 100-mile race. 

The Turning Point

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." 

Winston Churchill

We made it out of the trail loop with two painful miles back to the car. And I said aloud, with full conviction: I am NOT running that loop again. The trails had wrung me out. 

But here's the thing-despite my misery, I still believed I could get 20 miles in for the day. I was still clenching that hope. 

I still believed in the purpose behind the pain. Just not in that way again.  

The trick to training for 100 miles, your constantly being asked to reframe suffering, to find new paths, to be flexible, when the one you're on breaks you down. 

The Redemption Loop

"Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give

up." Gal. 6:9

We set off again, this time on a new 10-mile loop. One I hoped I wouldn't feel hoodwinked again! It felt so much better compared to the gauntlet of trails I had suffered through. My body was sore, depleted, worn thin...but by the grace of God still moving. 

Still upright and moving forward. Still choosing to say "YES". I had every excuse to stop, but something deeper kept pulling me forward, one mile at a time. 

This is the heart of training for a 100. It is not pristine conditions or perfect plans, it's about how you respond when you're HOODWINKED, blindsided, broken... and you keep going anyway. 

The RUNDOWN:

I may have been duped by the plan of running those evil trails, wrecked by accumulating miles and fatigue-but I wasn't defeated. 

Training is a make-up of multiple battles; both your legs and your mind. It tests your legs, and it tests your will. 

It teaches you how to adapt, adjust, to endure when everything inside you wants to quit. 

Such is LIFE.

Our will has to keep a heartbeat. Yes, there is always going to be heartbreak, but we can't get in the habit of quitting when it gets hard. Give yourself some grace and get back out there. 

March 31-Apr 6, 

Distance: 87.4

Elevation: 5,909

Saturday: 27miles

Sunday: 13miles

Monday: 20miles

TOMORROW, I embrace my rest day!!

In Peace, Not Pieces,

Anita

A New Song in your Heart.

 

"HE MADE MY FEET LIKE THE FEET OF A DEER AND SET ME SECURE ON THE HEIGHTS." PSALM 18:33

Winters in Michigan have a way of wearing us down, both physically and mentally. We are finally on the other side of things, minus a little ice storm upper Michigan had over the weekend. The shorter days, the relentless cold, the repetitive rhythm of life can make us feel like we're on an endless loop, a song played on repeat, over and over again. I have clung to hope that brighter days were coming, smiling and laughing my way in hope, knowing deep down that a new season would eventually emerge. 

This winter felt longer that most. The road miles for training were unrelenting, pounding the pavement, layering up, and retracing the same routes week after week. 

My body felt it. 

My mind felt it. 

The weight of the monotony took its toll, not just on my muscles but on my spirit. But like many of you, we pressed ON knowing that the winter season was coming to an end. 

A NEW Song

Today, that change finally came. And the shorts came out! Andy and I headed out to Holly Rec, and the trails welcomed us like an old friend. I wasn't concerned about pace; I knew my training needed 10 miles and coming off a 22-mile run yesterday, just made this run more of a date with the hubby. I let the joy of simply being in the woods encompass me. 

The hills came, but they didn't feel like obstacles. The mud and mess of the thawing trail were reminders that new life was stirring. I was smiling through my sweat. As we wove through the woods, I felt it- a new song rising in my heart. 

"Behold, I am doing a new thing; Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?" Isaiah 43:19

Sometimes, we need a shift in perspective. 

Life, like running has seasons. there are times when we're stuck in the grind, pounding out miles on familiar roads, and then there are times when we step onto a different path and feel the spark of renewal. Just as the trails offer a change of scenery for my body, they also offer a fresh rhythm for my spirit. 

Don't let the tough season you are in or coming out of scare you. You can still FLY. 

TRAIL vs ROAD

Different path's same goal

Andy has been so consistent in his running, and I love watching him getting faster and stronger. But today he was down on himself on the trails. 

His body was not welcoming the elevation the way his spirit was welcoming the woods. 

ROAD RUNNING builds mental toughness and consistency. It teaches us discipline-showing up even when it's hard, enduring the grind, and building endurance through repetition. 

TRAIL RUNNING invites us to be present, to engage differently. You have to stay alert. The uneven terrain strengthens stabilizing muscles, the varied elevation changes challenge the heart, and the scenery awakens the spirit. 

RUNDOWN:

When feeling worn out- in running or life, sometimes all we need is a change of scenery to refresh us. The trails remind me that while the path may be more challenging, the reward is a renewed spirit and perspective. 

And sometimes you have to find things that make you smile...Like a Sharkie in the ditch! I ran 2 miles with this through Grand Blanc. 

Or the infamous ROOSTER...Who knows where this beauty is located??

MILES: 73.15

ELEVATION; 3,517FT

HOURS: 12h 45min

MARCH MILES: 319 miles

Whether on the road or pressing forward through a difficult season, or finding renewal on the trails, remember each step brings you closer to brighter days that God has prepared. 

Embrace the new season. Run with JOY. And lets a New Song rise in your Heart. 

In PEACE, not PIECES, 

ANITA

 

The Depths

"I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live." Deut. 30:19 

I was born a nobody. 

I came from nothing.

And I was only expected to be a nobody. 

Harsh words. But they were true. The weight of my past once felt inescapable. A calling that always whispered. 

My cousin Vince recently sent me a photo of one of the houses I lived in before I entered the foster care system. An old red brick vernacular style home. The paint was peeling, the deck falling apart, planks missing like the gaps in a broken story. 

My story. 

The windows-some cracked, some veiled by blinds, hiding the brokenness within. But even in that wreckage, the exterior was still the best part. 

What happened inside told a different story-one of chaos, pain, hopelessness, chained to more hopelessness. 

When my cousin asked if I remembered the house, I wished I didn't. I hate that I have such darkness in my memory. I often search the depths of my mind, looking for moments of light, a spark, a glimmer, but I return empty. 

The memories I do retrieve, I toss back into the abyss, unsure if they're even worth holding onto. But even in those moments, I remember- I HAVE A CHOICE. 

The CHOICE:

A choice to OVERCOME. 

A choice to change the course of history for both myself and my family. 

A choice to live in HOPE. 

A choice to live free from the bondage of addiction. 

A choice to forgive even the nonspeakables. 

A choice to follow the LORD. 

None of these choices have been easy, but they have been worth it. 

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

The Power of CHOICE

Every day we face choices. We can let excuses direct us, or we can take responsibility and ownership. We all have scapegoats. I have a abyss of them. It's easy to ride on blame. But blame doesn't change our reality. 

We can't always change how we feel, but we can change how we respond. 

"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward what is ahead, I press toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Phil 3:13-14 

That was the case two weeks ago when I realized I missed my milage. I couldn't go back and fix it but I could be more intentional last week. 

Training Plans and Life Plans

My training plan is a collection of different runs. Some days are easy, others are hard. I can miss a run or fall short of a milage goal, and to others, it might still look like success. But I know where I fell short. 

Life is the same. 

Success in my running isn't defined by perfection-as much as it is progress. And progress looks different to different people. 

Lifes journey is a series of choices, and just like in my running I have to make choices. 

My running plan isn't going to work if my plan doesn't have RUNNING in it! 

Our life plans for success have to have the common thread of intentional growth and for me that is my FAITH. 

THE RUNDOWN: 

80/20 rule: 

80% of runs should be at LOW intensity (Easy pace, conversational effort)

20% of runs can be moderate to high intensity (tempo, intervals, hills)

HEART RATE ZONES:

Zone 1-2 Easy effort (below 75% max HR) for endurance

Zone 3-4 Moderate to high effort for speed and strength (About 75%_90% max HR)

MON 18.33miles, TRAIL miles, HIGH elevation, 17% zone 1, 83% zone 2, pace 11:25min/mi

RACE, POT-O-Gold 4 miler, 2.5%zone1, 79.1%zone2, 18.4%zone 3, pace 7:25min/mi

TUES. Streak mile

WED: 7.25miles, 3.4% zone 1, 96.6% zone 2, 8:26min/mi

THUR: 17.39miles, 18% zone 1, 81% zone 2, pace 11:13min/mi

FRI: streak mile

SAT: 20.10miles 51% zone 1, 49% zone 2, pace 9:46min/mi

SUN: 12.14miles HR 46% zone 1, 50% zone 2, pace 11:15min/mi, Walked .70mile cooldown

I got over 80 miles last week. But this was all about EFFORT not INTENSITY.  

Just as I lace up my shoes and hit the path before me, whether I feel like it or not, I choose to stay on course. And when I fall short, I don't quit-I remember that darkness. Careful not to let it bait me but enough to let it inspire me. 

I remembered the feeling a couple weeks ago when I realized I fell short of my miles. I also REMEMBER some of those runs I didn't FEEL like doing. 

Some of those days I was miserable and quit. 

I had a choice...some days the choice is easy, some days you have to go into the depths of your darkness to keep you moving forward. 

In peace, not Pieces,

Anita

The Port: Poison to Live

 "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while..." 1 Peter 1:6-7

Little While Times

Anxiety would creep in slowly, hidden beneath my smiles, optimism, and positivity. I wasn't sure who I was trying to convince more-myself or others- that I was joyful and fearless. Both of which felt like lies the closer we got. 

The smell as we entered the room was sterile and medicinal, a scent that added to my anxiety but would be quickly dissolved once my nurses saw me and loved on me. As if they knew how fragile I was underneath my fearless appearance. 

I followed the routine, walking back to get my blood work carrying my fake optimism. My "vampire" also cheery and routinely reminding me to "uncross your legs". I held out my arm as she tightened the tourniquet, searching for my bulging veins. I secretly prayed they would cooperate as she stuck me with the needle. I would nervously make jokes trying to make it all seem like it wasn't actually happening. 

Like I really didn't have this cancer diagnosis. 

After the fourth vial, she kindly untied me and directed me to the chemo room. 

My nurses had become my friends, after all, we had seen each other for months, every other week and then every week. I called them my angels. But that didn't take the sting away from what was about to happen. They hung my port, and I looked away. For many reasons. I didn't want my armor to crack as I felt the lump in my throat tighten. I blinked back the tears of reality. 

My bags were hung, my port was cleaned, and I felt that familiar poke yet again. 

Blink back the tears Anita. 

Within seconds I could taste the metal. I could smell the drugs in my nose. I could feel it entering into my body. 

This was the moment I hated the most-the feeling of the poison coursing through my veins. My temperature would rise, my body would fatigue, my stomach would turn, and my limbs would twitch like a crack head. It was so confusing because it felt like death, and they were trying to convince me: this was giving me life. 

Even though I looked like death. 

Even though I felt like death.

Even though It hurt in ways I couldn't describe.

I HAD to believe that this suffering was serving a purpose. I had to trust that it was saving me. 

I would remind myself AGAIN and AGAIN to be FEARLESS, not to give up. To not be afraid the Lord is taking care of me. I reminded myself these were just LITTLE WHILE TIMES and this was the cross I was meant to bear. 

WHEN IT FEELS LIKE DEATH:REFINED

There are moments in life when pain enters our hearts like a needle in our skin, moments when suffering feels unbearable. 

It may not be chemotherapy, but it could be betrayal, loss, heartbreak, or grief. We endure things that feel like they are destroying us, yet somehow, they are shaping us for something greater. We can feel this heavy pain taking course through our entire body and it is so heavy. 

Just as chemo feels like death but brings life, sometimes God allows us to walk though suffering to bring about something greater in us. 

The pain we endure is not pointless- it is doing something we cannot see and often do not understand. 

It is refining us. 

It is producing endurance, character and hope. 

RUNDOWN:

Praising God every day. 

Glory to Glory

 "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ" 1 Peter 1:6-7

Sometimes even training feels like death. Week after week we are adding more suffering, we are feeling more abuse, and we are getting tired. 

There are times when we feel like our bodies are breaking down, yet we press on, trusting the process. 

Sometimes, like me being sick I had setbacks. But in faith, we hang on to hope and don't give up. 

DISTANCE: 66 miles

ELEVATION: 2,400ft

TRAILS: Island Lake

I am actually a couple miles behind this week on for my training plan. The next several weeks I am going to have to be more intentional.

I am so busy with life that running has been interrupted. 

I also do not want running to become an obsession so I make sure to have a life outside of running. 

This gives me a healthy balance and keeps me from burn-out. 

The long miles, the set-backs and the discomfort are all necessary to build endurance and strength. In the same way, the trials we face in life may feel like they are tearing us apart, but God is using them to refine us, to make us stronger. and to prepare us for something greater. 

Our Pain has a Purpose. Both on in our training and in life. 

In Peace, Not Pieces, 

ANITA

Tripped up, Trails or Trials

 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and siters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." James 1:2-3

Spring was in the air this morning. The sky was a endless blue as we headed out to the frozen trails at Island Lake. 

 

As we ran down the connector trails to the BLUE loop the path was etched with a history of imprints. Bikers, runners, hikers, dogs and tracks of wildlife. 

That ice crusted section was not pleasant and thankfully only lasted less than a mile. Once we entered the trail it was smoother. I would like to say more runnable, but it wasn't long before I tripped over something hidden under the leaves. A brisk reminder who was really in charge. 

Respect the trail.

Some miles were conversational miles. 

Some miles were silenced miles. 

But even in the silence, the woods were never that quiet or still. 

Three deer startled, I am convinced by my loudmouth, crashed through the brush in front of us. 

Squirrels rustled in the leaves. 

Woodpeckers tapped about; birds called out. 

I even thought I saw an eagle, I always think I see an eagle, but I was still excited to see a pair of red-tail hawks gliding through the trees. 

The woods were not quiet, they were waking up!

BUT what I heard most, was my own body. 

My breathing.

My thoughts. 

"Difficulties strengthen the mind as labor does the body." Seneca

My body was still sore from another week of high mileage. But mostly from tubing and horseback riding like a twelve-year-old over the weekend. 

A body that I was carefully trying to navigate over roots, rocks, bridges, and hills, I was feeling every step. 

My thoughts were going back to the soreness of my body and my HEART. In just a few weeks, we lost another young adult from our youth group from another overdose. It triggered so many memories. We ran through a trailer park to get to the trail. I was mostly silent, but my thoughts were so loud.  

Grief. deepest grief. This portion of our run was like running through time. Old trailers, side by side, broken down cars in the streets, half done projects pieced together with the best intentions. These thoughts colliding with the loss of two beautiful girls, and a beautiful mother, my mother. 

The silence was deafening as the brokenness of addiction screamed in my heart. 

I didn't care for this portion of the run. Even though the path was smooth, the obstacles of the heart were hard. 

CHANGE is never EASY. But the only way through is through. 

The Trouble with TRAILS. 

Even though I LOVE the trail, the trail does not always love me back. (A free commercial about relationships and life)

Maybe that is why I keep returning. Because it is hard. because it demands something of me. 

The trails are relentless. 

Sometimes unforgiving. 

It trips you up. 

And it sometimes leaves you lost. 

Because within its struggle, the grit of getting through, the suffering of endless obstacles, there is a beauty that is so fulfilling. 

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and siters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." James 1:2-3

THE RUNDOWN

"The best way out is always through." Robert Frost

DISTANCE: 68 miles

ELEVATION:3.300

WEEKS TO GO: 12 weeks until my 100 miler, Sulphur Springs. 

The TRAIL, like LIFE, is filled with obstacles, challenges and things that will trip you up. It will challenge you and sometimes it will leave you lost. 

Life can leave you lost. But it challenges you to find your footing again. And yet in faith, in chaos there is peace. 

Because life was never meant to be easy. 

Relationships were never meant to be effortless. 

Silence is really never truly silent. 

Even in the noise, there is PEACE. 

And when you fall, you get back up. 

Today, I took some time to grieve. I found myself tearful with my niece, unaware of how sensitive the loss of these two gals had left me today. 

Like running the trails, I allowed my heart to feel throughout the day. I let myself grieve and gave way to the hurt my heart was encompassed with. 

In Peace, not Pieces, 

Anita

Body Battery

 "He Who is Most Attached to a Particular Outcome Has the Least Amount of Power." 

Some weeks, the miles add up, but they aren't MIGHTY. Some weeks, the weight of life presses so hard that just getting out the door feels like a victory. 

Running with friends and the deep chatter we share gave me some perspective on a couple topics that we touch on in both LIFE and RUNNING. 

Last week, was a struggle to stay motivated as another dreary, cold and windy week covered us. A friend of mine reminded me about giving ourselves GRACE.

ATTACHED:

 "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor. 12:9

I can understand getting ATTACHED to some outcomes, but often we get ATTACHED to many outcomes. We back ourselves in a corner full of tight goals and expectations. We take the fun our of life and running. 

I set goals because they give me direction. They give me a motivation to lace up my shoes and move forward. But sometimes, I hold onto them so tightly that they become chains instead of stepping stones. 

I get too ATTACHED. 

"Debbie" reminded last week about GRACE. 

How often do we push ourselves to a breaking point because we fear what it means to fall short?

How often do we measure success by rigid expectations rather than by the endurance of simply showing up? 

Running to me mirrors life. 

Somedays the goal is to push, to strive, to improve. Other days, the goal is simply to SURVIVE! To put one foot in front of the other, to move forward even when everything feels so heavy.

GRACE is the permission to we give ourselves to slow down without guilt. GRACE reminds me that effort still matters just as much as outcome.  Grace gives me a pause, allows me to catch my breath so I can get back out there with a full battery. 

Last week the miles were many, but they weren't mighty. And that was good for me. Because last week , I needed to just sustain. I needed room to breathe both physically and emotionally. 

Grace gave me that space. 

Our Power

"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint."  Isaiah 40:31

We are all created with a inner power. Some call it strength, resilience, or drive. For me, my power come from my FAITH. The Lord gives me the breath in my lungs, He keeps me moving forward, not just in running but also in Life. 

But POWER isn't just about pushing harder or striving. Your POWER should come from a humble spirit and wisdom to knowing when to push and when to rest. 

My Garmin has a "Body Battery" feature. It tells me when I've depleted my energy and when I need recovery. It reminds me when I have over done it!

Wouldn't it be nice if life had the same warning system? If it sometimes told us:

"Let it go."

"Take a breath."

"You need to rest." 

But life does give us those signals-we just don't always listen, or maybe I just don't listen! 

Stress drains me. 

Overcommitment depletes me. 

Holding onto anger, fear, or expectations we can't control robs us of our POWER. 

We give away our POWER when we refuse to rest. when we allow circumstances to determine our worth, or when we let worry steal our peace. 

POWER isn't in controlling the outcome- it's in trusting the process. It's in knowing when to push and when to surrender and Let Go or "Let Them". 

Sometimes our power is in the discernment of knowing when to hold our GOALS loosely and embrace GRACE fully. 

RUNDOWN

Miles: 70.22

Elevation: 2,270

Feb. Miles: 255miles

Last week's miles I concentrated on LOW HEART RATE and had a lot of success staying mostly in Zone one and Zone 2 for the weeks runs. 

Last week the goal was to run more miles with less intensity. To keep my heart rate low, mostly in ZONE 2. 

I was intentional about my diet and protien intake for proper recovery. The goal was to be between 50-60 grams of protein. KATES bars are one of my favorite snacks. 
Smoked Salmon, Cottage Cheese, Eggs, Smoothies, Turkey Jerky, yogurt are some of my daily staples. 

My miles weren't mighty, but they were many. Training for an ultra requires long slow running.  

Last week, I chose GRACE over pressure because the pressures of life were many and let go of running hard, running fast, or running exhausted. It felt so good to walk the hills, to settle down, to have conversations while running. And I had peace when I was finished. 

Remember to ENJOY the JOURNEY.

 In Peace, Not Pieces, 

ANiIA

Jazz, Andy and I. 20mph winds and 20 degree weather. BRUTAL. But we did it!

 

BALANCE; Training Plans

 

NUMBERS Only!

• 26 days until SPRING
• I was sick for 14 days, 3 days of a fever. 
• My girlfriend traveled 22 miles to save my life from the dreaded flu. 
• 92 days, 13 weeks until Sulphur Springs 100m. 

WINTER-TRAINING

Winter-the season where your driveway is a skating rink, i would know, Andys mom got stuck in it last week. When your morning run feels like an Artic expedition, frozen eyelashes, clodhopping in snow and subzero temps. And my motivation to run hibernates with the woodland animals. 

TRAINING PLANS are a MUST for me. 

TRAINING PLANS:

"A goal without a plan is just a wish." Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Training plans either written by you or someone who inspires you help to rescue me from the comfort of my cozy blanket and 5th cup of coffee. They help me to stay on track. 

LIFE requires training plans. In running and in LIFE. 

Gods word is always my number ONE training plan that gives me purpose and perspective. 

Both the bible and a running training plan allows me to have BALANCE. 

WINTER WOES

"Why, my soul are your downcast? Why so disturbed within me?" Psalm 42:11

It has been 20' outside, and many days single digits with the wind chill factor in there. Fresh snow has covered everything, yes, it beautiful, but that beauty has lost its luster. The wind has sliced through my layers like a Freddy Krueger horror film, the running paths are either slushy and slick or ankle-deep snow threatening to snap your ankles. 

YEAH!! Winter running. Insert sarcasm. 

However, these are the moments when a training plan becomes your best friend. It reminds you of your goals, keeps you focused, and, most importantly, provides the BALANCE needed to navigate both the treacherous terrain and your busy life. 

BALANCING ACT

"In their heart humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." Proverbs 16:9

Training plans aren't just about logging miles; they're about creating BALANCE in your life. With a structured plan I can juggle FRIENDSHIPS, Lead BIBLE STUDIES, MAINTAIN a clean home, summer garden, CHICKENS, WORK, FAMILY and DATE nights with my hubby and have time for a book a month. I have a life that has balance, running doesn't become an obsession. 

Despite what many believe. 

Training plans are like having a personal assistant who schedules your workouts between meetups and mops! 

FUN FACTS:

• Companies that offer comprehensive training programs have a 218% higher income per employee than those without formal training. 

While this stat pertains to the corporate world, it highlights the value of structured training- whether in the office or running. 

TURN the FROWN Upside Down: Countering OBSTACLES

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22

I am more hyper the older I get about busting my coon-dog running in the winter. I have had Andy pick me up from the collar to save me from face planting and I have had a few flailing limbs in the air trying to balance myself from slipping. The layers and layers that make me look like the Michlin Man is something I try to laugh off especially when I start sweating the first mile. 

This winter I have had a few obstacles. Training Plans help you get back on track. Those unfortunate circumstances don't have to derail you, you just have to get creative to find another path. 

GETTING SICK. 

Prioritize REST and RECOVERY. This is hard for me. I did drop my mileage down when I was sick. 

I also loaded up on herbs, peroxide baths, vitamins and rest. I eventually had to bite the bullet and get an antibiotic. 

Once I began to feel better, I eased back into running, with less intensity, adding more walk breaks, and even more walking than running. 

UNRUNNABLE TRAILS/ Roads

I live on a dirt road. Most of the winter it has been a slippery, snowy mess. The trails this year have gotten so much snow that they are several inches high of ungroomed paths. Even the sidewalks in Holly have not been cleared. 

I have been on the indoor Track, out of the elements and unfortunately without elevation but getting my miles. 

I have traveled to the Metroparks a lot this winter, they do a pretty good job plowing the paved path. I did however find myself 5 feet in the snowbank last week! The park rangers at Indian Springs were AMAZING and saved me a tow bill! 

STAYING MOTIVATED IN THE Cold Weather

"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can" Arthur Ashe

• FIND A Training PLAN! 
• Register for a race a MONTH, this is what I do, and it gives me something to look forward to. 
• Incorporating activities that make cold weather running sorta enjoyable! INVEST in the proper gear, find friends or have post run festivities like going to Parlor Donuts or Tim Hortons afterwards. I love that. 

RUNDOWN: 

Weekly Miles; 69miles 

Elevation: 2,700

Speedwork: 5X800m yassos @3:27 w/400m C/D

FEB RACE: FROSTY 5K. We ran 10 miles before the race, and 2 miles after the race. There was NO shot I was RACING this; the course was a mess! Of course, racing it was never an option. But it was fun. The hardest part was I got 15 miles in, but I needed 20 miles. When I got home, I had to conquer my mind and SHUT UP and RUN another 5 solo miles. 

I have run a lot of SOLO miles. And have had to run a few miles sick. 

And the truth is, I am sure some of the miles ran were just plain stupid. But it comes down to not allowing my excuses to have power over me. I would rather run stupid then not try at all and give my negative dialogue a voice of power. 

 Conquer the negative! 

A COUPLE Questions to REFLECT on.

• Are you open to alternative routes or resources? Treadmills, tracks, trails, parks, ect. 
• Have you ever joined a running group? Connecting with others helps to motivate us. 
• Have you added a little adventure in your running, fun runs every so often encourages and prevents burn out. 

In Peace, Not Peices,

Anita