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Showing posts from 2017

Confessions of a food addict

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I was talking to someone about how hard it was to lose weight and she said, "It's HARD. You know how hard it is... well, but you're so skinny..." implying that because I've lost the weight, I don't know how difficult weight loss can be.  I get these kind of comments all the time.  And in a way, I get it. I've had similar thoughts of "skinny" people -- what do they know? "The problem doesn't go away when you lose the weight. Food is always there and I HAVE to eat" is my usual response.  But it's upsetting how people try to make you feel bad for now being "skinny".  I worked for the weight loss. I didn't just decide one way to lose weight and it came off.  And by the way, I don't consider myself "skinny". I know I'm healthy but I still feel like my overweight self most of the time and that's mainly because I'm still working on my mindset. At work, I wear a tag that informs you how much I...

What depression looks like

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I saw a few posts yesterday that mentioned September was Suicide Awareness Month. I don't know how I missed that...  Late to the game as usual and to be honest, I was a little bit relieved. It meant I didn't have to face my history of depression and suicide attempts.  I could continue to go on as if that was and is no longer my life. Why deal with things when you can just shrug it off and move on?  Because it helps no one. And to not say something is to take the gift I was given and toss it aside - all because it'd be more comfortable to not address it. So please allow my late entrance to this discussion and maybe keep the conversation going. I wasn't completely oblivious to the subject of suicide on social media. I was thankful to see the "Faces of Suicide" being posted. I apparently didn't get the clues but something moved me while seeing those posts. 6th grade That was me around 13yrs of age. In less than a year, I would make multipl...

50 miles at ECSWI

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Disclaimer: I received a free entry to ECSWI race as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews! I've had a few days to let this race sink in. I was hovering between the highest of runner's high -- successfully completing one of the most anticipated races of my running season -- and exhaustion of completing the race and decompressing once we returned home. I had run this event 3 years in a row before I received a free entry for this year and I had planned on running it again anyway! I had signed up 4 years ago to do my first 50k here (but then I got anxious and ran a 50k beforehand!) and it was also here that I ran my first 50M with my running friends. My daughters and I had an opportunity to meet Dean Karnazes at my first pre-race panel and it's something they'll never forget.  I knew this year would be just as amazing. Packet pick up & Pre-race ...

How to run an ultramarathon

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Disclaimer: I received a free entry to The North Face Endurance Challenge Wisconsin as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews! If you're looking for a training plan, this is not it. There are tons of resources out there from pros to help you with that. If you want to know a way to mentally make it through an ultra, I can possibly help. Here's a quick answer: Food. And I'm your girl. Hi, my name is Dye and I'm motivated by food. Running 50k and up may seem daunting. 31 miles? 50 miles?! "That's bullsh*t..." followed by "How??" It's pretty simple. You run 3-6 miles (sometimes less, if you're running a well-organized race like The North Face Endurance Challenge), hit up the food aid station and repeat until you reach your destination. If you're not familiar with ultra aid stations... Here's a typical spread...

A score to settle

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I'm taking this opportunity of another day off from running to blog... about running.   I'm not sure what's really going on but from what I gather, my body and mind need a rest.  I've been working around the clock with both of my jobs, running kids around, checking off my to-do list for my upcoming wedding and training like crazy for the past month. I finally have a week off from my other job and my body just screeched to a halt after the half marathon this past weekend. So I'm listening and I'm so tired that I don't even want to fight it! Back to the topic... I have mixed feeling about the 50 mile distance. I feel accomplished when I think of my first 50M race, recalling the moment I crossed the finish line at the North Face Endurance Challenge with my friends and receiving my first 50M medal. Then complete shame and embarrassment at having to DNF last year due to ITB injury.  It flared up around mile 17-18 and at mile 29, I had to drop out.  It still...