Pinhoti 100

The 2013 Pinhoti 100 was my official return to racing after a prolonged injury. After 14 months, 9 months of that being actively injured and seeking correct treatment, I had more than a little trepidation about how it would go.  My training was great, my paces for training runs were solid and the pain in my Achilles was a distant memory... so I stayed positive and hoped for the best.  

The week of the race left me feeling like I was fighting a virus.  Congestion and a sore throat most of the week.  I rested extra and upped the fluids.  I left mid-week to fly to Atlanta with my 2 young boys in tow to stay with my parents.  After I arrived in Atlanta my symptoms got much worse, to the point the glands in my neck were visibly swollen to my mom.  I woke up Thursday morning in a panic that the race was all but ruined unless I started to feel better.  I don't generally like doctors and avoid medicine at all costs (the last time I took advil was after childbirth) but I decided I better get checked out.  It was quickly determined I had a double ear infection.  Great.  And I had about 40 hours before the race started.  I got started on a Z Pack and went to sleep.  By a great stroke of luck I woke up on Friday feeling about 50% better.  The race still had a chance!  

I met up with my friend, Gene, to drive to the race on Friday.  He was a champ and took great care of me.  Dealing with a tapered ultra runner the day before a 100 is NOT an easy job.  He took it in stride and made me feel relaxed.  He even humored me and listened to my music on the drive to Alabama!  I got texts from so many people on Friday it was overwhelming.  So many people - friends old and new - reached out to give me support and encouragement.  Every one of them made a mark on my heart and I am grateful to each one of them to this day.  I'd been through a lot with my injury and feeling their support made a huge impact, both in the moment and during the race.   

Race day started early with a 4am wake up.  I hitched a ride to the start with my friend Jason and his crew.  Gene saw me off and had the greatest thing to say to me as I went on my way.  He gave me a hug and said "Aw, girl, you know what to do.  Go get 'em."  It was awesome.  It was a chilly morning walking to the adjacent hotel to meet Jason, but I took several deep breaths and reminded myself that my worries were nothing compared to my journey to get to this starting line.  I was about to spend a whole day running trails – doing what I love – it was time to smile and soak it up.  Jason and I stayed in the warm car as long as possible at the start area before making the half mile walk down to the campground for the start line. 

I did something at Pinhoti I’ve never done before – I went out too fast.  I’d heard about the start and how it went to single track within about 200 yards and I didn’t want to get stuck running too slow for comfort.  Little did I know I was getting caught up in a pace that I wouldn’t have otherwise run.  I felt good (of course, I was tapered) and let myself go.  The course was frustrating for me on this first section.  The trail wound around these short hills where we’d make a brief 100 yard climb that slowly turned to the left, went straight for a short period and then continued left.  At that point the trail went down a short descent into a ravine.  Sometimes a creek awaited at the bottom, but the trail took a sharp – almost 180 degree – right turn at the bottom and started up the short incline again.  The sequence seemed to repeat dozens of times.  I found it very hard to get into a rhythm with the constant change in direction.  That, coupled with the fact that I’d gone out too fast, zapped a lot of my energy.  And I’d even been warned about these directional changes from an expert ahead of time! 

Somewhere around mile 20 the wheels started coming loose.  The struggle caught me slowly but by mile 25 I was feeling pretty rotten.  I got passed by a few women, which was a good blow to the spirit every time.  I made several bad steps, one caused me to fall down and several others pinched my left ankle in agony.  It seemed that my toes were catching every rock on the trail.  In short, my mojo was fading.  I started thinking about how far I had yet to run and was overwhelmed with all the negative thoughts that strike during an ultra.  This struggle continued for hours and many miles.  I questioned my training, the virus I’d had the week of the race, the quick start… I doubted just about everything possible.  Then the dreaded D word started to surface.  Should I drop?  This clearly didn’t seem to be my day.  At some point I saw Gene along the trail (I believe this is when the picture below was taken) and I told him things weren’t going well.  He gave some reassurances and told me it was early.  As I headed off on the trail I could only think of how early it was and how this was going to be a LONG day. 

Just before mile 40 I hit rock bottom.  I’d fallen back to 8^th or 9^th place and felt no better.  My legs had no energy and my head just wasn’t in the game.  As I made the climb up Cheaha I had my “come to Jesus” moment.  As I passed by the large rocks along the trail towards the top I stopped for a moment.  Not because I was tired but because I was ready to give up.  I stood there for, gosh, I don’t even know how long.  And then it hit me.  It was as if all of the people who’d wished me luck were standing with me there.  I felt my brain lift from the fog it had been in.  I started thinking clearly.  I’m fond of quotes and one came to mind “When things are tough, you are tougher.”  I flashed back to the time during my injury.  The hours and hours I spent running in the pool, frustrated beyond belief at how no one could fix my ailing Achilles.  How hope seemed lost for months and how I never gave up.  How so many people helped me get back – not the least of which is my PT who has worked countless hours to fix my body.  How so many people were supporting me from afar.  I knew then that quitting was never an option.  I am not a quitter.  I said out loud “Jen, it doesn’t matter how long it takes you to finish, you are doing this.”  I saw Gene at the aid station at the top of the climb and told him this was going to be a death march kind of day but that I wasn’t giving up.  He walked with me down the road and to the start of the trail again.  He gave me a hug and said “hug it out.”  I knew I was in for a long day but I knew what I had to do now.  The drop word was gone from my head. 

The descent from Cheaha is really more of a climb down.  It’s a large boulder field that will rip your quads up and could cause a fall if you aren’t careful.  I took my time on this section and tried to regroup.  I'd finally come to embrace the day and the challenges that I faced.  My mind was clear and I was focused on only the moment at hand.  And you know what?  It turned my whole race around.  

After the boulder section the race travels along a road section - a little paved but mostly dirt.  I saw several runners here and realized that I was leading the group... and catching other groups.  After a few miles I saw Gene again and I said to him "I think my legs have some life again."  I kept eating the potatoes and salt and tried to focus on getting to the next aid station. Darkness was approaching and I set my sights on Adams Gap, mile 55, where I'd pick up my lights.  Gene talked about joining me at mile 55 if I needed him for company if I was hiking but as I rolled into Adams Gap I was confident that I could wait for his help until mile 68. 

 
From mile 55 to mile 68 went pretty smoothly.  My legs were starting to feel strong once again and I settled in for the night of running ahead.  I was increasingly put off by the gels and chews that I carried with me and enjoyed the real food at the aid stations.  I also had caffeine for the first time - which meant that I started chugging coke at every aid station. 

Gene joined me at mile 68, Porters Gap.  It was nice to finally have some company, I'd been alone on the trail basically all day.  The extra light source behind me helped as well.  I was starting to feel much better after the early struggle and he reminded me to keep eating and drinking.  We ran and hiked several of the climbs and noticed how cold and breezy it was on top of them.  I was pretty annoyed at the rocks along this section - they had been there all day, but for some reason when Gene was with me I found myself complaining about them with every step. 

After the 2 climbs the course goes up a primitive jeep road.  I joked that it wasn't really even suitable for a jeep, maybe a Hummer.  This is where things started to feel good.  The climb was steady and kept going up with short leveled sections.  This is the kind of terrain that I run and run well.  I was comfortable running and did so along this entire climb.  My legs felt great and at some point along this section I left Gene behind me.  I realized after he dropped back that he had my extra batteries so I asked at the next aid station if I could borrow some batteries.  They graciously gave me some (which I later needed!) and I promised they could get them replaced by my pacer when he arrived. 

I mistakenly thought once I got on this primitive jeep road that the rest of the course was on jeep or gravel road.  I was quite wrong about this.  There were several trail sections and many of them were not easy.  There were some good gravel road sections and I was able to really run them, putting visible distance between myself and the headlamps behind me.  I was so sure in my mistaken belief that I stopped looking for turns along this gravel road and missed a turn onto the trail.  I was frustrated when I couldn't find the trail and ended up hooking up with several others who'd gone the wrong way to find the right trail again.  After I got back on course I was sure to watch very carefully for course markings! 

The last miles went very well.  I was running strong and felt like I could have run much further than the finish line.  When I started to feel life in my legs around mile 50, I'd hoped that I could salvage the race for at least a sub-24 effort.  Crossing the finish line so far under 24 was a real joy. 

I finished in 22:41, 4th place female, 23rd place overall.  The ladies in front of me ran a great race and it was awesome to see that my time ranks me as the 9th fastest woman on the course to date.  A testament to how fast this race was this year. 

This race had tremendous sentimental value to me.  It marked my official return to ultra racing since my injury.  Many doubts surfaced but in the end, my strength and determination won over my body and the body did what it knew best.  This race tested me in ways I did not expect and proved a mental battle unlike any other.  On that Pinhoti trail, I truly found my happiness.  I had to transcend the physical pain and connect my brain to my heart.  I ran with my heart.  I wasn't the strongest runner that day, but I truly enjoyed myself.  In my heart, this was a big win. 

As the saying goes, you never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.  I've learned that lesson so many times this year.  It is no surprise that the Pinhoti 100 taught me another lesson in my own strength. 

For all of you who supported me, fixed me, encouraged me, cared about me... this race is for you.  Because you were with me every step.  My heart thanks you. 

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!