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Showing posts with the label cliff bars

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...

Power of powering through with running friends... Icebox 480

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I was on my 3rd lap of the 7 mile loop and as I was trying divert my attention to anything else so as to forget about the tiredness in my legs at the time.  I thought "Well, this should be a very boring race recap.  Not even blog worthy... Captioned: I ran 7 miles over and over again and it hurt." But by the end of that lap, I was in a much better place. Last year's race. Loved it so much I came back! I arrived early on race day for packet pick-up and to get closer parking than I had last year.  It was dark and the handful of people there were wearing headlamps. After grabbing my bib and bag, I sat and warmed up in the car for awhile -- and charging my Garmin that I'd left in the car overnight. After 45 min or so, I grudgingly exited my toasty car (no, I didn't run it that long but it was warmer than outside!), grabbed my gear bag and headed to the main aid station area. This is what I enjoy about loop races -- I have access to my gear after each lap. ...

Fuel gels, hydration, races and gear... Let's discuss!

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This post has been saved, edited, added, cut.. placed on hold while I tried new items. It's been going on for months! The blog was ridiculously long so I went with my must-haves and indulgences... I honestly could talk running gear all day! Orange Mud hydraquiver, InknBurn, Tiux, Cocogo, Skirtsports **Disclaimer: let's get this part over with. This post is based on my own personal experiences and my favorite items.  I'm not getting paid to endorse any of these.  If I am or was an ambassador for any of the items, I will note it in the heading!** Alright, let's get to it! Shoes We all have our favorites, don't we?  I'm as defensive about *my* shoes almost as much as I am about my parenting choices.  You think my 6mm drop shoes are slowing me down and will cause damage in the future? You better run. I used to run in only Mizuno Wave Runners. They were my first upgrade from generic, beginner running shoes.  I loooved them.  I also tried the Prophec...

50k a week after 50M. Why not?

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What an amazing running season!! I had planned on ending the year with my first 50M and write up a spectacular blog.  But then this race happened to come along less than a week later and I feel this is what I need to write about.  This race was all me. No friends to push me when it got hard. No one to give me those encouraging words during those tough miles. No jokes. Mostly silence. Back to how I started racing. Race day morning: 4:55am alarm “Why am I doing this again? How did it get to this (again?)” I had decided to sign up for the Glacial Trail 50K only 5 days after North Face Endurance Challenge 50 Mile race. It was my first 50 miler and it was exciting, painful, glorious… and painful. Did I mention it was painful? 12 hours, 33 min and 4 seconds of joking, singing and laughing. Oh, and running. I rode on that high for about a day or two before the post-race blues set in. I was done with the big race of the year. Now what?  I had to admit my condition when...

It only gets better. Trust me!

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First things first, you guys ROCK!! So many of you helped celebrate my birthday by doing a virtual run with me #runninglikeafool - it was great knowing that I had some awesome company throughout the day. You guys motive me to push harder and I absolutely LOVE my running/IG/FB family~ you have no idea how much your support and encouragement means to me!  And as promised, I made cupcakes for all participants ;) I took a few days to summarize my birthday 6hr run/walk/bike. I even took time to transfer the photos from the old phone (I shattered it  - twice) and re size them... and as I was typing the last few words "I thought last year was epic - and in so many ways, it really was..." I immediately deleted my original blog. I knew what this post needed to be. I didn't spend one minute thinking of my past on my birthday, as I usually do on my long runs (running is therapy!) and instead, I was planning one race after another. How to train, how I can improve from last y...