Ancient Oaks 100

I'm always hesitant to post race reports.  Does anyone actually want to read them?  Am I doing this only for myself?  Whatever.  Here it is!

I had to apply for Ancient Oaks in July.  At that point, I had ruptured the rotator cuff and was awaiting surgery.  The race was scheduled for December 20-21, 2014.  My husband couldn't understand how I could commit myself to a race that I wasn't sure I'd be able to do.  On the other hand, I knew there was no better incentive to train and get back in shape than to have a commitment hanging over my head.

I'm glad I did it.  Ancient Oaks is put on by Race Director, Mike Melton.  It's 29, 3.46 mile loops through the Enchanted Forest in Titusville, Florida.  You pass by your car 28 times so you can have all the comforts of home at your finger tips.  The parking lot is full of music, lights and fun.  People show up at the race to "pace".  Pacing is running or walking with  someone who wants company.

There were tons of Vol Staters there.  I got to hang out with Steve Tursi, my streaking mentor, who just celebrated four years of streaking on Sunday.  Fred M. who just celebrated his 33rd year of streaking in the last few days.  Sheri, Stu (the man who started the race), Robin, Lynnor, Scott K, Scott M, Kyrstin (my new running partner), Mike B, Juan, Marilyn, Jim Schroeder and Jessie.  Best of all, I got to spend a lot of time with my pacer/crew/babysitter, Margie.  She's the best and did a great job with me.  I'd guess she put in 55 miles or so.  Good training for her next race!

Thanks to everyone who made this whirlwind weekend what it was.  Thank you volunteers, thank you husband, thank you ultra running friends and thanks Melton!

An ancient oak

Kyrstin and Jessie.  Kyrstin finished AO and it was her first 100.

Steve, Fred and me

Jim Schroeder and Mike Melton.  The thing Mike is holding is the award all finishers get.  They are colored by school kids and they are all different.

Margie wearing the official Hardman Crew uniform, tiara and apron

Eggs and bacon cooked by Margie, Jessie looks on skeptically

Mike Baker finishing his first 100.  See video below if you want to know what it feels like to finish 100 miles

Kyrstin's message to runners who were behind her

The wonderful Marilyn finishing DFL (Dead Fucking Last) but well under the cutoff!  Marilyn was my crew for R40R

My hero, streaker of 33 years, Fred M

Margie and I about .5 from the finish of the race.  We are on the only "hill" of the race

Done!  PR by 15 minutes.  28:27 or something like that

If you're easily offended, don't watch this video.  It's comprised mostly of swearing.  This is what your body and mind feel like after going 100 miles!

1,000 days of streaking

Day 1,000 of streaking.  Trying out Yogi's Luna sandals on Ft. Pierce beach.

I made this for me.  Paul sang "Happy 1,000th day of streaking"

Each and every day for 1,000 days, I have run one continuous mile.  The morning of my surgery, the day after surgery, travel days, migraine days and days after running 100 miles or 200 miles or 300 miles.  Some days were super hard to motivate to get my butt out the door and painful either mentally or physically.  Some days were joyful and beautiful.  I think my most memorable was during the Lake to Ocean 100k back in June of 2014.  It was after midnight and I decided to run on the pavement just before the end of the race (nearly every bit of the 100k was on trail).  It was a downpour and cold but beautiful and although I missed the cutoff for this race, I was going to finish it AND get my mile done for the day.  That particular mile felt like a huge accomplishment.

Working at a conference, dressed in business attire, running my mile.  

A view of how haphazard streaking can be.  Crocks, no undergarments, and a big old glass of vodka on a treadmill in the garage, in Idaho.  This was during my first attempt at streaking.  I was running on a stress fracture in the neck of my femur.  

Day 500 of my streak.  Didn't even change my clothes to do it.  See, anyone can streak any time.

Immediately after I ruptured the rotator cuff.  Training for Vol State with a weighted pack and a sling.  A runner and orthopedic doctor friend told me, "Just strap it down, you'll be fine.  Don't try to catch a 16 pound bowling ball."

I would highly recommend that if you have any desire to "streak," do it.  It will give you a sense of accomplishment.  It will be a goal for the day.  Who doesn't need 10-15 minutes of exercise a day? Everyone needs a little exercise every day!  Please consider streaking for your health and well being.  You don't have to run a mile.  You can do 10 pull ups or walk around the block.  Make a commitment to yourself, it's something you'll never regret.

Colleen Woods, my original inspiration for streaking

Joey, Steve and I at Grand Teton Races in 2009 (I think?)

As usual, I need to thank Colleen Woods for getting me started on the streaking kick, Steve Tursi for being my mile a day running mentor and my husband for supporting me and encouraging me (and keeping his mouth shut about his real feelings right after surgery).

When will I stop streaking?  When I can't do it any more.

I'm back bitches!!!!!!! Mutual Mine 50k

It was a crazy Saturday and Sunday.  Good thing I rested up for a few months!  Mutual Mine is a fat ass group run that takes place in the Withlacoochee State Forest near Inverness, Florida.  On the way to camping out the night before the run, I hit IKEA, the Cooter Festival (sounds much more exciting than it was) and then Ron, Scott (fellow Vol Staters) and I went to dinner with Heather and Dave.  I got to meet birthday girl Mama Joan who is turning 90 soon!

It was COLD Sunday morning.  43 degrees. About 65 of us showed up for the run, some of whom had run a 50k the day before.  I've been slowly easing back into running (without falling) for about six weeks now.  I couldn't have chosen a better run to start off the running season!  I saw familiar faces, new faces and good friends.  The course was all trail and stunning.  The weather was perfect.  At one point, some yahoos removed signage and about fifteen of us went MILES in the wrong direction.  As the super fast guys blazed past to get back on course, I nabbed one of them so we could figure out how to get back on track.  Richard and I had a great time wandering around, getting back on track, staying on track and chatting up a storm.  I'm always amazed at how much we ultrarunners can have in common and be able to talk and hang out all day long when we've never met before.  I was lucky to hang out with so many people that I felt this way about:  Yogi, Scott K, Ron, Richard, Scott M, Jan (fellow VSer and pacer from L2O) and Marilyn (my pacer from Route 40).  Any how, I digress, Richard and I stuck together and stayed on track after the wrong turn to the end.  Eddie caught up with us and fell behind like a yoyo for a while and then went ahead at the very end so that I could have the DFL position.  At the last mile and a half turn, there were Jan W and Amy, Richard's wife and fellow tutu wearer!  The last time I saw Jan was when she picked me up in the Meat Wagon at Vol State.  Once again, she was a welcome, cheerful sight!  The four of us headed for the finish and Richard took off at a run and so did I.  After my last place finish, I did the lamest one armed cartwheel.  I ran more than I should have but it was worth it.

As far as the Addison's goes, I took 10 mg/ hour of hydrocortisone on the hour most of the hours.  For some stupid reason, I've taken to only bringing enough HC to last me the length of the race.  I'm not sure why.  When I went a couple hours out of the way, I panicked and thought I didn't have enough HC so I alternated 10/5/10/5 for a while.  It worked out fine.  I had enough energy to drive home and shower.

Thank you to everyone who made this weekend what it was.  Paul for taking care of the animals (we've added a fish to the family in addition to the birds and dog) and holding down the fort, Heather, Dave and Mama Joan for meeting us for dinner after a very long day of driving, Ron and Scott for camping with me, Terri for gathering all of us together, Richard for keeping my mind off of my lack of training and making me laugh, Yogi and Jan for being there at the end, Jim for the encouragement and whomever else I forgot.  Thank you.  For the first time since June 20th, I feel like myself again (even if I can't lift my arm yet or do a proper cartwheel).  I've got my motivation back and I'm ready to do a sub 24 hour Ancient Oaks in December.  I'm back Bitches!

Yep, that's a Cooter between my legs.  Cooter Festival, Inverness, Florida 

Lovely Terri telling us about the course.  Only none of us knew what she was talking about and fifteen of us followed the wrong yellow blazes

Vol State crazies line up at Mutual Mine.  Scott and Ron, did you match on purpose?



Yogi is training super hard and did a 50k the day before this race.  She looks good, doesn't she?!

Magic in the Withlacoochee

Scott M, Vol State crazy and RD of LOST and R40R

I don't know who this guy is but he embodies the joy I was feeling yesterday.  I love this picture

Ahhhhh, trail!

Giant Orb Weaver.  They like to have their stomachs stroked, really.

 

Richard and Eddie

Gotta love the low key ultra running sigange!

Jan drove over to Mutual Mine on her way to Panama City for her first Iron Man and Yogi stuck around until I finished.  Gotta love these girls!!

My husband made me shower before I got in bed last night.  I don't know why...

If you want to follow me at Vol State, here you go.

Tweets by @notfastsoigofar

I'm packed and nervous as hell.  Leaving for Tennessee at 4:30 Tuesday morning.

Race starts July 10th at 7:30 am.

Vol State: You may feel a little pressure

Only :27 long so just watch it

This video clip was actually part of my parenting skills, right Zane?  I am using these parenting skillz on myself. 

In the post below, I talk about Vol State suffering.  Everything will hurt.  Everything.  To divert myself from the pain of everything hurting, I ended up hurting my shoulder two weeks prior to the race.  In reality, I didn't do it on purpose but I hurt it and the pain of the shoulder will make me think much less about the pain in my feet and legs during Vol State.

I've trained hard for Vol State. It all started in October of 2013.  I finished my second 100 miler in December, did a 100k in February, finished 116 miles across the state of Florida in March and as what turned out to be my last long run, completed a really difficult 100k trail run in June.  While compared to many who run ultras, what I have recently done is NOTHING.  For me, accomplishing all of this is a real improvement in my performance.  I'm running more and walking less than in the past.  Recovery has been better since I just started taking enough HC to keep me moving and keep recovery going.  I used to say I did a lot of walking and crying.  I'm doing much more running and power walking now and less walking and crying.  I've been sober for nearly a year which has helped my training in many ways.

So here I am with a hurt shoulder.  Do I run on my shoulder?  No.  Can I swing my arm normally while I run?  No.  Do I do Vol State or not?  After talking to three orthopedic doctors, the resounding answer about whether I would worsen my injury was, "No but you won't be comfortable!"  Hence the video!  

As I see it, I can waste nine months of good training, sit home and cry OR I can hit the roads of Tennessee as planned and cry.  My choice is to have one hell of an adventure and cry when needed.  I have been more or less home and running for two weeks with five more on the horizon before surgery.  I'm not cool with that.  I'm tired of crying and feeling useless (I can't do many of the things I want to do/used to be able to do).  I CAN run.  I CAN move forward with the arm strapped down securely.  I have a feeling the arm will be more comfortable not moving all day than attempting to maintain my usual daily activities.

Yes, the shoulder will hurt.  Yes, I will fall on my face.  Yes, I will cry.  It will all be fine because between and during all of those moments there will be adventure, beauty and laughter (even if it's just me laughing at myself).

Many thanks to LB for advice and laughing.  Holli for running with me.  Paul for not stopping me from doing this even though he thinks it's a terrible idea.  Thanks to all of my running friends who think I'm bonkers BUT are not telling me to stay home because they all know how much this race means to my heart and soul and sense of adventure.  I am so looking forward to stepping off the ferry in a sling and eating bacon every chance I get for 300 miles.

Vol State again

This is your prize for finishing 314 miles

That's right, it's time for Vol State again.  It starts on July 10th at 7:30 am in Hickman, Kentucky and about 80 of us have ten days to get to Castle Rock, Georgia.  We can do the 314 miles in any time frame we want as long as it's complete in ten days.  I completed this race in 2012 and DNFed at 208 miles in 2013.  It's hard.  It hurts.  There are people who do it in four days and people who do it in ten.  The suffering of everyone is just that, suffering.  

Tomorrow, I'll post about injury, meds and the challenges I'm going to face in this race.  It will probably be interesting to people with adrenal insufficiency.

Mississippi River seen from the ferry

You might ask, "Why would you want to suffer?"  The answer is simple and not so simple.  Completing 314 miles on foot is an extraordinary accomplishment that makes you feel like nothing else regardless of whether you are at the front or back of the pack.  Seeing Tennessee on foot is amazing.  The kindness and curiosity of strangers is overwhelming and makes you feel like everything is right in the world.  Being around 80 or so other sickos who have trained (you'd hope, right?), thought about this, want to complete this run as badly as you and will share a unique experience is priceless.  To even WANT to do a race like Vol State puts you in a special category of crazy that creates an instant bond. 

True and you know it after a couple of days on hot pavement

                                           

On Tuesday, July 8th, 2014, I will be headed up to Kimball, Tennessee.  I will join a group of people that I consider family and some that will instantly become my family.  Yes, dysfunctional family at times but family none the less.  We will laugh, cry, pee, eat, give advice, sleep on the ground together and share our most inner thoughts over the next week and a half.  Sometimes, we will act as the protector (thanks Brad!) and sometimes we will mother others through their difficult moments.  We will encourage and give shit to each other.  In the end, finish the race or not, we will have a lot to talk about (like Jan and I at Lake to Ocean or Shannon and I at Frozen Head).  No matter how painful any of it was mentally or physically to go through to get to the end, the remembrances will be full of laughter and smiles.  I can't wait.

Paul H, Psyche and our tour guide, John Price

                                         

Wednesday, July 9th, 2014 the shuttle leaves from Castle Rock, Georgia and drives us to Union City near the start.  That night we will have what is called The Last Supper at Ryan's and then retire to our rooms to nervously arrange and rearrange our meager gear, tape our feet and probably not sleep.

Clean and spunky.  Joel, Shannon and I at about two miles

Thursday, July 10th, 2014 the buses will drive us from Union City, Tennessee to Hickman, Kentucky where we will ride the ferry from Hickman, Kentucky (this is going to sound really silly), I think we get off the ferry on the other side of the Mississippi at Dorena Landing, Missouri, get back on the ferry and go back to Hickman, Kentucky.  At about 7:30 am, Lazarus Lake will light a cigarette and we will be off running, walking and crawling to Alabama via Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia.

If you are interested in following my progress or the race's progress:

• The race:  Google spreadsheet, make sure you check out the tabs at the bottom which include standings, updates, links, press releases, etc.  Spreadsheet will be updated every twelve hours.
• My twitter feed:  @notfastsoigofar I will be posting each time I pass a town or something noteworthy.  Tweets by @notfastsoigofar

Written on the road by Joe Fejes' crew.  My kind of people.

Beautiful

Classic Laz.  Usually has a smoke in his hand too.

Ultrarunning inspiration

Wickham Park 2014

I met Jim Schroeder back in December of 2012 at Ancient Oaks 100.  We didn't talk much again until Wickham Park this last May.  Jim has an incredible amount of energy and enthusiasm for running, he inspires me!  Jim is running his first Badwater 135 in July.

Here's a link to a story about Jim: Athletic Shorts:  Jim "Animal" Schroeder

Here's a link to his Badwater fundraising:  Challenged Athletes Foundation

He has written this book, Zen Track Rambling

I hope you all are as inspired and as in awe of Jim as I am!

Meds and shit Lake to Ocean 100k

This post will probably be of interest to only a few people and to me at some distant time in the future.  I'm just chronicling my Addison's meds and what I could have done different and better or keep the same.  My race report is in the post below this one.

Lake to Ocean 100k was a training run for Vol State.  It didn't follow the "train specifically" principal BUT it was a long run that I did finish.  It did last a long time, 18 hours 29 minutes.  Vol State is 314 miles on Tennessee roads in the heat of July that has to be finished at your pace in under ten days.  So: heat, check!  thirst, check!  an unrelentingly long day, check!  Road, ok, not so much.  med adjustments, check!

MEDS:

• Woke up at 4:45 am and took the regular stuff (10 mg HC, .05 florinef, DLPA, 6.25 T3, probiotics, testo, progesterone).
• 6:15 am 10 mg HC
• Every hour on the hour 10 mg HC
• When I felt tired or lagging or too nauseous, another 5 - 10 HC.  I guestimate that my total HC intake for the day was about 200 mg.  Mind boggling to me but felt right.  I had no trouble sleeping.
• 200 mg sodium every hour until I started getting nauseous and cramping then two and hour and one every half hour.
• I drank about four gallons of liquids and peed three times.  I cramped spectacularly.  I sweated so much, it was unbelievable and disgusting.  Short story.  I met a really nice police man as I was going under a gate of awkward size.  Hanging under the gate with the policeman watching, my hamstrings and calves cramped up so much that I couldn't stand up.  I didn't want to drop into the dirt and mingle dirt with sweat.  I just hung there under the fence waiting for the cramps to subside.  They didn't subside quickly enough, I had to drop into the dirt.  It was a sign that I needed some salt!!

MISTAKES:

• I think I needed more florinef in a second dose on race days.  I felt unable to hold on to sodium or water.  I may be needing a little bit more overall on a daily basis.
• I think I needed more sodium for the above reasons.
• Only eating one Oreo all day.

GOOD:

• I don't think my nausea was any worse than anyone else's.  It was never debilitating and was not super comfortable.  
• I kept drinking water.
• My energy was pretty appropriate the entire time.

AFTERMATH:

• Napped twice on Sunday and still slept
• I was achingly sore on Sunday, slightly more than I usually am.  I also tried harder than I usually do so perhaps this was appropriate.  Perhaps I was sorer than usual because of all the cramping?
• Still cleaned cages on Monday!!
• My Tuesday streaking mile was...painful and whine inducing
• I pulled something in my right leg, hamstring, muscle across the back of the knee joint and, most worryingly, my right calf
• I might have curtailed my HC consumption too soon
• Got a migraine on Wednesday
• Friday and Saturday no longer sore (except right leg) but having big trouble with edema in legs, feet, arms and hands.  Oh yea, my lungs have felt a little smaller for about three days as well.  I took some extra Florinef and some sodium, viola!  Peed off over a pound of fluid.  BINGO.  I hope this keeps getting rid of the fluid because I've gained 10 pounds in six days.  NOT COOL.

Lake to Ocean 100k

Well, I've been totally terrible at updating my blog.  I could keep getting caught up in catching it up but I won't.

Last weekend I participated in Lake to Ocean 100k from Port Myakka to Jupiter Island and it was 85% on single track.  It was AMAZING!

The race was by invitation.  It made me feel good that my Florida Ultrarunning family has welcomed me into their circle.  Jeff Stephens invited me to join his inaugural race a few months ago.  The only catch was that you had to have a crew.  I don't know too many people and my husband is not interested in crewing me.  Jeffy told me to ask a 2013 Vol State Alumni, Jan Walker.   Within 20 minutes, I was invited to the race AND had a crew since Jan immediately accepted the challenge.  Just prior to the race, the West Coast FURbies (Florida Ultra Runners) decided to do "West Coast" t-shirts for the race and included me in that despite not knowing me!  What a great group of people!!!

I'm not sure I have much to say about the race.  It was beautiful, it was amazing.  Considering I spent the whole day on the trails, I hardly saw anyone.  Running the better part of 65 miles (yeah, it's a 100k but I did go off in the wrong direction...a lot) alone was calming and centering.  I just broke up the race into sections and took each part as it came.  Knowing much of the trail very well, Jan was a fantastic resource as well as incredible support.  There was NO WAY I could have done this race without her.  NONE.  THANK YOU, JAN FOR EVERYTHING!  A few things about the trail, it was a challenge to keep my eyes on the well marked trail as well as the ruts and roots in the trail.  I didn't fall spectacularly once.  The bromeliads were breathtaking.  Running through the swamp made me feel like Indiana Jones.  When the sun set, the fire flies were magic.  They were lazily floating around and giving me a show.  Behind them, an amazing electrical storm.  More than anything, I wanted to stop, stare and take it all in but I didn't, I kept moving.

I don't always run a lot during races and this one I did.  I didn't take any pictures of my own nor did I wear flair.  I didn't joke around much at the beginning or during.  I was actually pretty serious because, for good reason, I was a little in doubt about my ability to complete this race.

Seven people finished officially.  Three of us finished unofficially.  I finished 29 minutes after the cutoff for a total of 18 hours 29 minutes (First Place Loser!).  Jan ran me into the finish at 12:59 am on Sunday morning.  For the last three miles, I was in a downpour and lightening storm.  At the finish, I ran past everyone at the picnic area (yes, there were some awesome people sitting around in the rain at 1 am!) and right down the beach into the Atlantic ocean!

Thanks to Jeff for inviting me, Jan for being amazing, Paul for making my running and training possible (and for taking care of the animals when I'm gone).  Thanks to everyone at the race for being so nice and so much fun!

I'm going to do a separate post for meds and aftermath.

Me bottom left, Jan to my right
WEST COAST! (WC won)

Pre-race meeting.  Me sitting on the ground.  Jan behind me standing up.  Jeffy, the RD, talking to the group

At one of the "Aid Stations"  Picture complements of Jan Walker

Right after a stretch of 97 degree heat and swam slogging.  Picture complements of Jan Walker

It really was 97 degrees!!

Oh yeah, don't try something new on race day.  If you do, expect it to hurt.  Chafing from my pack and lack of clothing.

Cool!  The view on the way home

I am easily amused.  This was on the way there