Fun and a Little Climbing at the Standhope 60k

I'm back! I'm back! I'm really back!  For those of you who've followed me through the last year you know how good these words feel to me.  I ran my first race in a year and all is good!  I'm getting ahead of myself.  Let's start from the beginning. 

Cruising along near mile 18

It was truly a pleasure to run the inaugural Standhope 60k near Ketchum, ID on September 21st. http://runwildidaho.com/standhope/  In some ways I couldn't believe it would actually happen, but in other ways I was giddy with excitement for the fun only an ultra can bring.  Last year while pacing at Wasatch I met a great group of people from Boise.  They were fun, welcoming and super fun to hang out with.  One person really stuck out though, my now-good-friend Tony.  I joke that he is my man-twin.  We have the same personality, the same outlook and the same competitive spirit that truly loves ultras and pushing our limits.  Tony has been one of my biggest supporters during my injury and sent encouraging words every time things looked bad (which was pretty often!).  Tony is one of those people you cherish as a friend, and I truly count my blessings for having met him.  Tony and I have been super excited to actually get together again and celebrate my injury being behind me.  We'd tried several other times to make it work but my injury always precluded me.  This time it worked!

I flew into Boise on Friday and was greeted by a dear friend, Amy, who I met at Bighorn in 2012.  I loved getting a chance to catch up with her, and her energy is catching... I was starting to get really excited for the race!  She helped me run some errands for food and ice and then drove me out to Tony's house where I was meeting Tony after he got off work.  While waiting for Tony I got to make rice balls with his awesome wife and met his 3 boys.  Tony soon arrived and we set off in his packed Suburban to the middle of no where for the race.  Dennis carpooled with us, and the 4 hour drive passed so quickly as we told stories and caught up.  Dennis was an awesome navigator, even giving a tour as we drove.  We only took one wrong turn - when Dennis insisted Wild Horse Creek Ranch we sought was on Old Chilly road. :)

We arrived at the ranch around 11:30pm.  As you might imagine, all the runners were asleep when we rolled up.  Our reservation was for one of the teepees, but we had no idea which teepee was ours.  Seeing that none of us felt like donning headlamps and opening doors to find one with space, we opted to sleep on the couches inside the lodge.  I was pretty stoked at this decision, as the lodge had heat!

We woke to the early starters coming into the lodge.  Although I think Dennis and Tony were awake as well, we all relished some more time horizontal before getting up at 6.  We did our pre-race prep and headed out to drive to the start around 7:20. 

On the drive to the start I had time to think about what I'd been through to get to this point.  It had been a long year of hoping to find the solution to my Achilles problems and fighting tooth and nail to get the answer.  I'd tweaked something on my left soleus earlier in the week and that had me a little worried.  (last thing I wanted to do was start my problems all over again on the opposite side!)  This race is at some serious altitude as well.  Starting around 7,500 feet, the course would climb 3 peaks - one 9k, one 10k and one 11k.  (See elevation profile at the end of this post) I'd never raced this high before - and a sea level dweller such as myself knew this could mean problems. 

Tony and me right before the start

After several pictures and introductions, the race began.  I was pretty tense and worried more than I should be.  My left calf was talking already and the altitude hit me immediately.  I tensed up and thought to myself that this could be a very long day.  Tony stayed with me and kept telling me to have fun.  The first climb I felt like I was breathing through a straw.  When I told Tony this, he said "What kind of straw - a tube, a drinking straw or a coffee stirrer?"  I laughed, but realized it felt like a coffee stirrer.  I tensed up more.  I managed to find a little rhythm on the flatter sections of the first climb and tried to stop and enjoy the view.  It was spectacular!

After the first climb, Tony blew by me on the descent, urging me to come along.  Tony makes it look so easy, bounding down the technical sections!  I took my time, and got my breath again.  When I caught up to Tony he again reminded me to relax and have fun.  This time, I listened.  I thought to myself how I've worked so hard to get back to a race and how just about every day for the last year I'd have given anything to struggle with just my breathing in a race.  This wasn't a cut throat race, I didn't care how I did and I wanted to have fun.  And that's what I set out to do.

The second climb was easier for me than the first.  I could breathe again!  I felt my legs really starting to warm up and I was finding my groove.  The views continued to be spectacular and I realized how much fun these climbs were!  (yes, I love to climb - and the tougher the climb the better IMO!)  Tony flew by me on the descent again but I caught him once the technical section of the descent was over.  He told me later that he could tell something about me had changed.  My form was relaxed and I was moving more fluidly.  When someone else notices this you know it's a big difference! 

View along the 2nd climb

After the 2nd descent we came into what I felt was the major aid station, at Falls Creek.  Coming into this aid station is where the photo at the top of this posting was taken.  At this point I was smiling and having a blast.  It had warmed up considerably so I was able to shed my long sleeve.  I was actually looking forward to the 3rd, and largest, climb! 

Heading towards the 3rd climb

The climb started fairly easily - and I enjoyed catching up to several people along this section. It kicked up for a bit along a rocky section of the climb and then leveled off in this large canyon.  The views were breathtaking.  As we ran through the grassy sections in the pictures below, I started to wonder how we were getting out of the canyon.  There was only one way out and that was UP! 

 

The saddle on the right side of the ridge about an inch from the edge of the photo is the saddle we crossed over

We ascended a somewhat steep climb to a gorgeous alpine lake and then looked straight up at what we were to climb next.  The photo taken below was of me a ways down from the summit of the 11k peak.  The grassy field in the back center of the photo is where I took the 2 photos above.  And you can also see the awesome alpine lake.  

 As we neared the summit, the temperature really dropped and the wind began to howl.  The clouds had started to roll in as well and the warm sun disappeared.  I was desperately cold and my fingers were going numb but I decided to descend a bit before stopping to remove my shirt from my pack.  I was with a great guy named Jeff at the summit and he snapped a quick picture of me before we headed down. 

11k feet!

From this point the race descends to another alpine lake and then makes a quick ascent over one last ridge before screaming downhill for about 6 miles to the finish.  When I reached the lake and the aid station, I got on my warmer shirt and some gloves and was finally able to stop shivering!  They told me I was first woman and I was psyched to hear that!  I was feeling pretty good and looked forward to that finish line!  

I took a few wrong turns on the descent and managed to slide on my butt once pretty well, but other than that I enjoyed getting back into the trees and still had a smile on my face!  As the miles ticked by I started to wonder how far we had to go.  Unfortunately my fully-charged Ambit 2 was completely dead when I pulled it out of my bag the morning of the race.  I'm still not sure how this happened during travel, it did not record any data.  I was left without my beloved GPS during the race and had no idea how far we had to go.  My legs were strong but I wondered if I should continue to pound the GU or if I could ease up.  I kept eating to keep up my energy, always the right choice!  

The finish did come - 8:43 and 1st female.  I'd done it!  I finished the race and was healthy!  

Just after the finish

As I wandered back to the car to put on dry clothes I found myself in tears.  I was so happy.  "I did it. I'm back." was all I could say to myself.  I almost didn't believe it, I'd dreamed about being able to do a race for so long it felt like I'd never get the chance.  I wanted to hug everyone who'd helped me get back - my friends, my PT, my family.  As the tears streamed down my face, everything came full circle.  I fought for a year to get back to doing what I love.  Times were tough, doubts were high... but it was all worth it.  I'm stronger, tougher and more passionate than ever.  This might look like a race win... but it's really a victory for me. 

After the race, Tony and I shared a few beers and I was so thankful that I could share my "victory" with him.  He is a good friend and good friends have made a huge difference to me this year.  I couldn't be more excited about more adventures with Tony and new friends!  The Boise crew was super fun and made me feel immensely welcome.  For the whole weekend I am eternally grateful.  This one not only meant a lot to me, it patched a hole in my heart that's been aching for a long time.  

Showing off Ink N Burn!

Boise crowd post-race

A Skirt by any Other Name IS NOT the Same!

LADIES! (and Gents, but we'll get to that later) Let me give you a tip when it comes to running gear. GET A SKIRT.  I started wearing skirts 2 years ago and never looked back.  And not just any skirt, an INK N BURN SKIRT!  I've tried just about every brand of skirt out there and the skirts from Ink N Burn just blow them away.  Competition isn't even close.  I'm so fanatical about the Ink N Burn skirts that I am known as the "skirt girl" among the ambassadors.  I have very good taste and only wear the best.  Let me save you time, money and worry and give you more reasons to buy one.  All of these reasons are some of why I'm honestly SMILING on every single run!!! 

TOP 10 REASONS WHY YOU NEED AN INK N BURN SKIRT:

*10.  The fabric is out of this world.  It's wicking without being flimsy.  It keeps its shape and moves with you like that supportive and beautiful friend you wish could keep up with you. 

9.  Water? No problem!  This baby is a champ in the wet.  Keeps you feeling dry even in pouring rain, dries quickly when the rain lets up and won't chafe you anywhere.  I'm from the PNW, I am an expert in rainy running - you heard it here first, I've never had chafing with these skirts! 

8.  Elastic is for the birds.  The waistband is ultra comfortable, flattering and not pinching.  It flatters even those of us who have had kids!  Yet it's not tight and restrictive so as to cause GI distress.  Want to flaunt your abs?  It folds down to show your stuff too.  In short, it's genius. 

*7.  You're not buying cheap junk.  All Ink N Burn gear is made in California by real people who really care about the product.  They stand by everything they make and use a handcrafted process to manufacture their gear.  Their passion and dedication shows and you will feel connected to them each piece you wear. 

6.  The shorts stand alone.  The skirt has an inner short so you don't flash your competition as you bury them on climbs.  They are the most comfortable shorts I've ever worn and they offer great coverage without getting in your way under this rad skirt. They don't ride up and they don't chafe.  The bomb! 

*5. You will turn heads.  Ink N Burn is so cool and so unique that you will be the envy of all who see you.  I'm not exaggerating when I say I get compliments from friends and strangers alike every time I wear my gear.  Who doesn't like compliments?  It's 'cuz you look good!

*4. Wearing Ink N Burn makes you faster.  This is a proven phenomenon by at least a dozen of my friends, you will run faster because you look good.  Dress for success - put your best gear forward.  The competition is distracted (and jealous of your gear) and the fabric feels so good you rocket forward... don't believe me?  Try it.

*3. Wear your mood. Own it.  Ink N Burn has a huge variety of designs and eye popping colors.  I have so much fun dressing for my mood and for the run I plan to do.  Speed? Distance? Hills? Each brings a different design and a way to show off that inner beast just begging to be let out on the run. 

*2.  They're almost giving it away!  When you register on www.inknburn.com you can use my insider discount code to get 15% off your first order.  Enter code JenToldMe for the sweet discount on your bling. 

*1. All the cool kids are doing it!  Wearing Ink N Burn turns you into a badass the moment you put it on.  I get comments all the time that I'm a badass trail runner and rocking a skirt to boot.  It's the skirt talking, it turns you into a badass.  Let your competition know that you are a force to be reckoned with! 

And Gents, you're thinking I forgot about you, right?  Never!  Not only do you get to see us ladies sporting the best skirts (and legs) on earth, but Ink N Burn wouldn't leave you high and dry either!  All of the *'s above refer to Ink N Burn gear in general, not just the skirts.  They have technical t's, shorts, tanks, long sleeve and even polo's for you.  If the ladies  you're chasing are wearing Ink N Burn I assure you they will take more notice of you if you wear Ink N Burn too.  Get yourself some.  Distance yourself from the competition in every way! 

Update

Alright, I know it's been ages since I did a blog post.  I had my reasons.  The injury continued... I was heartbroken.  I lost the summer of racing.  It was a long road of watching the little hopes and dreams of racing slip through my fingers.  I wasn't really in a good place mentally.  And let's face it, none of you want to read about that.  So my absence was to spare you.  Think of it that way.  :) 

HOWEVER, things are really going much much better now.  I saw a new PT the beginning of July - yes, this is the 8th person I've seen for this injury - and he has a new idea about why this was lingering and what the cause is.  No one else has gone after these structural problems.  And because of what he's doing I'm feeling REAL change.  And so far the Achilles is sleeping.  Let's keep her that way! 

Trail Time and Smiles

I've finally made my return to the trails! I'm so excited I can't contain myself. I am hopeful that this time the return is for good and I will keep this grin on my face forever! I've been having so much fun and all the sights seem brand new when you haven't seen them for ages! Since I take a lot of pictures on my runs I thought I'd share them. They serve a double purpose - they make me remember why I fought so hard all winter and never gave up (because I love the trails so much) and they also force me to slow down and not push myself too fast quite yet. And why not share them with my readers! :)

Hope you are all having fun - that's what this is all about, right?

Feed the Beast - A product review of Core Bars

Organic Raw Vegan Energy Bars that taste GREAT? Not a believer? Read on!

For those of you that know me, you know I’m passionate about eating well, eating clean and fueling my body with the right stuff.  I’m not perfect but I strive to improve all the time.  Yes, I think nutrition books are fun to read.  I’ve been reading nutrition books for fun for at least 20 years.  I firmly believe in quality nutrition as a pathway to good health and better athletic performances.  The body can do amazing things, but it cannot do them effectively unless you fuel it correctly. 

As my life and athletic endeavors keep me on the go more and more (two young boys, a full time job and ultra training will do that), I’ve sought quality nutrition that can keep up with my active lifestyle.  We’ve all seen the myriad of energy bars on the market, and I am no stranger to any of them.  If I haven’t tried it, I’ve read the label and considered trying it.  I’ve tried a lot.  While they all have different ingredients and a different claim to fame, they have one thing in common:  they aren’t perfect and leave me coming back searching again.  Usually on a sugar crash that leaves me thinking I’m hungry.   Almost all of them are filled with sweetener that lead to the sugar crash.  The more health conscious use agave as a sweetener and claim this is healthier because of the lower glycemic index of agave.  I know, real food is better, and I completely agree.  I’ve made my own bars and energy balls and I love them.  (See Recipe Below)  But they don’t exactly travel very well.  So you’re left with a conundrum – real food that isn’t very portable or convenience food that lacks real nutrition.  Well, I’m happy to report that I’ve found a solution.  They are called Core Bars. http://www.corefoods.com/   They use real food and make a bar that will leave your body and your conscience smiling.  No sugar crash and you really will feel satisfied for hours. 

First thing is first – what’s in these things? Check out this ingredient list.  Simple, pure, delicious.

Raw Almond Raisin (All Organic):  Whole Oats, Almonds, Raisins, Flax, Ground Spices.

Raw Walnut Banana (All Organic):  Whole Oats, Walnuts, Bananas, Raisins, Flax, Ground Spices.

Raw Cashew Cacao (All Organic):  Whole Oats, Cashews, Cacao, Raisins, Flax, Ground Spices.

Enviably simple, right?  And eating them isn't like eating cardboard.  It's like eating real food.  Stick with you, fill you up kind of food.  They aren't overly sweet, which I love.  You can actually SEE the ingredients in the bars.  So you know what you're eating.  I am thrilled to have found these bars... My confession?  I ordered a box of 10 in a variety of flavors and I gobbled them up in less than 10 days.  They are that good.  And I didn't feel the least bit guilty about eating them because of all the pure ingredients. 

Not only does Core make great bars, but they have a company structure that will leave you smiling as well.  This is the mission statement from their site:

1. We make only the healthiest, produce-based foods--no syrups, salts, flours, oils, or additives. "CORE Foods" are foods that you can count on to be the foundation of health.

2. We've created an innovative new not-for-profit business model that both out-competes traditional for-profit businesses and makes the world a better place. We do this by committing to 4 standards:

A. Not-for-profit: 100% of profit is reinvested in CORE and the community--not taken by shareholders.

B. All employees earn a living wage.

C. Executive salaries are capped at the industry average.

D. Environmental impact is calculated and held accountable. All carbon is reduced or offset.

More Questions?  Check out their FAQ page:   http://www.corefoods.com/pages/faq

________________________________________________________

As a Post Script - here is the recipe for Jen's Raw energy balls.  These pack a great punch and are awesome for stashing in your pack for a trail run.  Sweet and healthy!

1 C raw walnuts
1 C of raw cashews, sunflower seeds, pecans - mix it up, just make one cup total so you have 2 cups of nuts

Blend in a food processor until grainy

Add 2 C of pitted dates (I use medjool)
1/2 cup of raw rolled oats
a handful of organic raisins or dried cranberries
1-2 tsp of quality vanilla extract (depends how much you like vanilla)
1 tsp good cinnamon (more if you like cinnamon)
pinch of sea salt

Process until the dough comes together and all the fruit is mixed and incorporated.  Remove from the food processor and add about a cup of raisins to the dough and mix. 
Dough will be sticky but able to be formed into balls.  I usually eat it with a spoon! 

Joy

The good part - the return to the trails!  I decided to celebrate my birthday today by a return to the trails.  I've been testing my leg on short trail runs on trails right by my house - but it's not the same as going to the forest where I used to train all the time.  Well, what better birthday present to myself?  So I went today.  And it was better than I imagined.  Sure, I can't run far and I can't run fast yet - but it's a start.  And a damn fun one it was.  I got muddy, I got wet, I peed in the woods... I had a freaking fantastic time.  I didn't see a single person (just some deer)... and I've had a grin on my face all day.  I savored every moment, every step felt awesome.  I wanted to take pictures of everything - it felt like I was seeing things for the first time again.  I know I'm a cheeseball, but I honestly love it.
Here's hoping the injury is finally in the rear view mirror!

Here are some pictures from my day - Thank you all for the birthday wishes!

I'd give you the shirt off my back...

Recently I was selected to be an Ambassador for Ink N Burn – a totally rad athletic clothing company out of California.  www.inknburn.com  I feel a deep connection to this company that continues to grow every day.  And I couldn’t be happier to be supporting and promoting them. 

The way I found Ink N Burn was during my quest for the best running skirt.  It’s pretty funny – if you ask any of my friends they will tell you I’m not a “girlie” girl.  I don’t wear makeup or get dressed up unless I’m forced to.  (another reason I feel like I belong in the PNW…)  But now that I have 2 young boys in my house I’m completely outnumbered by boys (3 to 1 counting my husband).  Somehow that’s turned me into a girl who wears skirts to run.  When I put on my first running skirt and did a long training run I knew I’d never go back.  Sure, I wear shorts too, but I always race in a skirt now and I do most of my training runs in skirts.  But it seemed I couldn’t find the RIGHT skirt.  They were either too baggy and unflattering or too fitted and bunched up.  Both are not good when you’re out on the trail for 50-100 miles.  I think I tried 5 or 6 brands of skirts last year.  Ink N Burn was the last one I tried.  I needn’t look any further.  PERFECTION.  The fit is perfect, the design is killer and they are so comfortable I forget I’m wearing them.  And when I learned about the company itself – a small company who hand makes everything and provides the best customer service out there – I was sold.  As I said, couldn’t be happier to be spreading the Ink N Burn love! 

As an Ambassador, I’ve got a SPECIAL DISCOUNT CODE that I’m allowed to share with friends – which includes YOU!  All you need to do is set up an account on www.inknburn.com (go to Login on the top corner) – super easy and it gets you a $10 off credit for spending your minute this way.  Then as you checkout, use ‘JenToldMe’ to get you an additional 15% off your order!  You will love anything you choose… I promise!  If you want some inspiration, read on…

When I came on board with Ink N Burn, they asked me to choose a design that I identify with, something that has special meaning to me.  Care to guess which one I chose?  (answer coming later)  As it turns out, this question is like peeling away the layers of an onion.  I think every day I identify with a different design – and for very different reasons. 

Lately I’ve been coping with a pretty debilitating injury, which has left me mentally and physically frustrated beyond anything I’ve ever experienced in my life.  5 months and counting, with no end in sight.  As my hopes rise and fall seeming with the changing tides, I am challenged to stay strong and persevere.  I get conflicting advice from doctors, PTs and therapists and I’m not going to lie, it’s been very hard to keep my faith in myself.  At times I feel like I’m faltering.  Running is so much of who I am and what moves me… it’s very hard to keep believing I’ll get it back, let alone knowing when I will.  My internal struggle has been huge.  The Adversity design really speaks to me right now.  It reminds me to stay strong.  It never always gets worse, right?  Tough as these waves are that keep crashing over my ship, I will persevere.  Adversity is my middle name right now.  And I wear this shirt to remind me to fight.  And fight hard for what I love. 

I also really love the design of the dragonfly tee (and matching skirt).  The dragonfly is such a beautiful creature, and flies faster than another other insect!  On the tee, the dragonfly is perched on your back, as if she is hitching a ride with you as you run.  I definitely like to think my wings are faster than hers!  :)

 So many of the designs strike me even stronger as soon as I see them in person.  The butterfly tee, for example.  I loved the design and had to have it… but when it arrived I was smitten.  The colors are so bright and the design fits along your body in such a way that makes you feel like your arms are wings.  Butterflies migrate long distances like an ultrarunner, and they are seen to bring good luck in many cultures.  Each wing design is so unique, much like our own personalities.  It’s a perfect shirt for race day, and it looks FABULOUS on you. 

With my passion as an ultrarunner, I can’t help but identify with the Gordy tee.  Who doesn’t want to pay homage to the founder of their sport?  Exactly.  And the shirt really looks good – the colors are perfect and complement his image perfectly.  I admit, I’ve actually slept in this shirt hoping for good luck to heal my leg. :)

So which shirt did I pick for Ink N Burn at the beginning?  The Dark Forest Tee.  This design was inspired by a photographer I know who covers all the local races, Glenn Tachiyama.  It reminds me of the wonderful forests we have here in the PNW – the tall trees and the pine needles on the ground.  The winding and climbing trails.  The rare glimpse of sunlight that we see here in the winter.  The rising sun that greets me on a summer trail run as it peeks through the trees.  When I look at this shirt I can honestly smell the forest.  Because I didn’t start trail running until I moved to the PNW, this shirt embodies everything that I love about trail running and the mighty PNW. 

I had an interesting back and forth with a running friend about which shirt he identifies with.  We guessed at which shirt the other would choose.  I admit, I guessed wrong but I got it on the 2^nd try!  The Zen philosophy and Buddhism resonates with him strongly.  He is introspective, knows himself and has confidence in himself and is comfortable being alone in the darkness of the mountains in the middle of nowhere.  So the Zen Tech is his pick… and I don’t think I’ll ever see that shirt without thinking of him now.  He and I have only met in person once but we are so much alike it’s scary.  But very cool.  And no surprise he’s been one of my biggest supporters during my injury.  He makes my life better every day and I am truly grateful for his faith in me.

What other company gives you the opportunity to express yourself?  And these are just the shirts! So much of our sport is mental… and what shirt you don in the morning says a lot about what kind of day it’s going to be.  Take charge of your day – wear your true colors!!

I’ll be posting product reviews and answering any questions you have – so please let me know what you’d like to see!  And contact me anytime with questions about any of their products, I’d be more than happy to help! 

You live, you learn

I know, I know.  I've neglected the blog.  For those of you who check back regularly and found no new adventures, I do apologize.  For those of you just tuning in, I promise to be better going forward.  There was some method to my madness.  Well, there was/is definitely madness. 

Things all started to fall apart shortly after my last post - the run around St. Helen's.  I did a fabulous training run on the Wonderland Trail and felt... you guessed it... pain.  It wasn't bad pain, but it was ACHILLES pain.  It scared me to death.  I was looking at views like the one below, though, so how can one really complain? 

See, even now I'm doing everything I can to avoid talking about the injury.  I refused to acknowledge it in public thinking it would just go away.  I'd never had Achilles pain before but I knew enough to know it's not something you mess around with.  I took a rest week and hoped that would fix me up and well, it didn't.  I sucked it up and went to the dreaded doctor.  Achilles tendonitis, or more accurately, Achilles tenosynovitis.  I had fluid in the sheath around the tendon.  Tendon itself looked to be in good shape (so little chance of a rupture), but the fluid would take 6 weeks or so to go away.  For this little tiny bit of fluid? You must be joking.  As it turned out, my journey was just beginning. 

I spent the month of October and November doing some intense deep water running and PT.  When I say intense deep water running, I mean it.  I was in the pool at least 2 hours a day for those 2 months, running without a flotation vest and keeping my heart rate high.  This usually required intervals.  It wasn't fun by any means.  I used to run in the pool in college as a 2nd workout but the maximum time was 30 minutes.  2 hours is a long haul in the pool.  Especially day after day.  I got a waterproof Ipod and I honestly think it saved my life.  I did all this because I planned on running the HURT 100 in January and I desperately wanted to keep my fitness and hope alive that I'd still be racing.  Tickets were purchased and I was very excited to run that race. 

Come mid-November I had to face reality.  I still wasn't running, the Achilles was taking its sweet time to heal and someone else deserved my spot at HURT.  I agonized over it for days because it meant giving up.  I'm not a quitter and I worked so hard to stay fit... but reality was my body was telling me something and I needed to listen.  My Achilles wasn't ready to train and if I pushed it too soon I would pay a hefty price I was sure.  I cried for days.  My pool workouts were insanely good, though, that week as I worked out my frustration.  I got my heart rate up near 200, where my usual high was in the mid 180s.  I still get teary thinking about how hard that was. 

As I started running again in small amounts I wanted to believe all was well.  It wasn't.  I'd fixed the "symptoms" but not the cause.  It came back when I put it under any load in November.  To say I was crushed was an understatement.  I immediately sought out another opinion from a PT in Seattle.  He quickly determined my corrective orthotics were sending me the WRONG way when my foot struck the ground.  With some stretching, strengthening and abandonment of my orthotics, I thought all was good.  And it was... for a while. 

I got up to some reasonably good amount of mileage in December and January as I built slowly from some easy base running.  Things looked to be back on track and I was flying high.  I felt surprisingly good when I ran road miles, the pool workouts really do keep your aerobic fitness.  I did a few trail runs and the anaerobic fitness isn't there but that returns fairly quickly.  I was/am hoping to run a 100 in June and I thought things were looking way way up. 

However, about 2 weeks ago I had another setback.  I am not sure if I increased too much too soon (I doubt this highly because I really was being smart - honest!) or if I torqued it funny on a trail run.  But I'm seeing a new PT who has some ideas about my body being out of alignment.  From her evaluation I think she's on to something.  With some realignment and strengthening I think I might FINALLY be on the road to recovery.  Hope is hard to come by sometimes when things keep going as they have been, but I've gotta keep it alive.  I'm an ultrarunner and that's what we do.  We never give up. 

Injury teaches you an awful lot.  Some lessons are easier than others.  I've learned so much about myself... who I really am, what my tolerance levels are, what really motivates me and most importantly, that I can take one hell of a beating.  But I've also learned that I need to be even stronger.  I'm not perfect.  My body needs things and listening to it is the only way you're ever going to get where you want to be.  The mind is a powerful thing but the body has to be healthy and ready to go before limits can be crushed.  And finally, I've learned a lot about who my real friends are.  I've had several people just totally surprise me with their kindness, their support, their compassion and their never-ending faith in me.  I've had some very rough days lately and I feel truly blessed to have these magnificent people in my life.  These kind of surprises - where people love you enough to be there when times are hard - are gems in life.  I will never forget the people who have touched me and helped me beyond words. 

Stay tuned for the injury finale.  :)

And watch out - many more blog posts coming soon with some EXCITING stuff.