Running Season

When I sat down with Coach Hillary the morning after Ironman Arizona she gave me my marching orders for the next few months.  It's running season, she said.  We're going to run 5ks, 10ks, and some half marathons.  And by "we" she meant me.  And by run she meant fast.  Chasing PRs fast.

I scoured websites looking for race possibilities and sent her a list to pick from.  She chose a couple of 5ks, a 10k, and 3 half marathons.  My previous best times were from 5 years ago when I was solely run training- leading up to my Boston qualifying marathon races.  I was excited for the challenge... at first.

Then, a couple of weeks into training, I began to realize that my legs were not used to running fast.  And they were just not coming around no matter how many 200s and 400s I "sprinted" around the track.  I was convinced there was something wrong with me.  Even made an appointment for my annual physical so that my doctor could do some bloodwork and confirm that yes, I was deficient in XYZ and this was why I was so slow.

My first 5k was scheduled for my birthday weekend.  Two days before the race I came down with viral laryngitis.  I couldn't talk, let alone suck cold air past my throat so Coach told me I wasn't racing and ended up with an unexpected day off.  I slept a lot and by the following weekend I was lined up for another 5k.  I ran a 21:54, my second fastest 5k, and my second time under 22 minutes.  Not a PR but a good hard effort.

It's running season!  1st 5k!

The next weekend we threw in an impromptu reverse tri for charity, starting with a 5k and ending with a 400 m swim.  I was totally not feeling it that morning and ended up running a 22:30 for the run.  The rest of the race however was a blast.  We all got lost on the bike course and no one biked the same distance.  I ended up with 6 of the 10 miles I was supposed to bike before hopping in the pool.  I took the opportunity to cannonball into the pool as a friend of mine was finishing up the first of two sets of laps.  We swam the next set together (his second, my first) and as we approached the wall he grabbed hold of my feet to slow me down.  The only award I won that day was the "I had the most fun" award.

This is how you win the "I had the most fun" award.

My bloodwork came back normal, and coach swapped track workouts for hill sprints.  Slowly, I began to feel some life in my legs.  My easy run pace was a little faster.  I was still worried that this run project was going to backfire, but I know better than to second guess what Coach tells me to do.

Two weeks later, on January 9, I found myself driving with my #bff to Tucson for the Team SFQ reunion and University of Arizona Tricats Aquathon.  An 800 meter swim followed by 5k run.  With the slower swimmers starting first, I basically had 50 meters of clear swimming before I was required to start passing people.  And by passing people, I mean swimming over the top of people to get by them as we were swimming two directions in each lane before ducking under the lane line to start the next lap.  At some points there were two swimmers side by side heading each direction-- 4 abreast, in a lane that doesn't allow for 4 abreast swimming.  I was fine, but I could only imagine what the less confident swimmers were going through.  Sheer panic I would guess.

Hopping out of the water, we blasted through the 5k, me chasing Coach Hillary, and being chased by 3 of my teammates.  Afterwards we took a leisurely bike ride to lunch and dined on the best. pizza. ever.

Team SFQ!  Smashing!

The very next weekend I lined up for the PF Chang's Rock n Roll Phoenix Half Marathon, my first of 3 for the season.  I knew going in that I was no where near the shape I needed to be in to get a PR.  And I think I let that get into my head a little bit.  I picked a pace that I thought I could sustain and with Coach's blessing the plan was to hold pace and then pick it up the final 5k if I could.

I'm not going to lie.  My attitude during the race sucked.  DB decided to run with me at the last minute and he was so tired of listening to me whine and complain.  "Just shut up and run!" he kept telling me.  But I would have no part of it.  All I could think was how slow I was running and I was still having to fight for every second.  I swear it felt like I was running uphill for 12 of the 13 miles.  Finally with the finish line in sight, DB told me we could still make it in under 1:40 and I RAN.  I crossed the line in 1:39:52.  Far from a PR, but also my fastest in 3 years.

Two weeks later I drove 45 minutes, by myself, and lined up at the Phoenix Women's 10k.  I knew a couple people running the half marathon but they started ahead of me so I only saw them on course with a quick wave.  But sometimes it is good to go out and push yourself with no one watching or caring.  It's good to learn what motivates you when there are no cheerleaders.  I lined up front and center.  My only goal was sub- 45 minutes.  I've not run many 10k races, but I've never run under 45 minutes.

In the first 1/2 mile as things shook out, 2 young girls passed me.  As it turned out they were twin 13-year olds who are soccer players just finishing their first XC season.  I settled into a pace just behind them.  Normally kids go out hard and then die.  These two young ladies were professionals.  Their pace was rock solid from start to finish.  With a mile to go, one of the girls fell back and I caught up to her.  I told her we had less than a mile to go and she needed to GO NOW!  She picked up the pace and caught her sister and then the two of them kicked into the finish.  It was such a beautiful, inspiring thing to watch such young talented women and I was glad to have them pacing me.  I crossed the line in 44:16!

Phoenix Women's 10k Start

Another two weeks go by and I'm ready for half marathon number 2.  Having run 7:37 pace at PF Chang's Half Marathon, my goal was to run faster than that.  I was planning to target 7:20 pace.  As it turned out, the Lost Dutchman half marathon course was pretty hilly which made even pacing difficult.  I'd be flying downhill for a mile at 7:08 pace, and then climbing up at 7:40.  My friend running the 10k snagged this photo of us as I caught him with only a couple miles to go to the finish....

Catching DH at Lost Dutchman Half and 10k.

I ended up running 1:37:48, 2 minutes faster than PF Chang's and I felt fantastic the whole way.  I felt controlled, and was able to pick it up in the last couple of miles.  I was beginning to think that a PR was within reach, and not just a PR....

Me and the #bff after Lost Dutchman.

After Lost Dutchman I came down with the virus AGAIN.  This time the throat aspect only lasted 2 days, but my breathing was more affected.  I took it easy saving myself for the few remaining hard workouts I had before the final half of the season.  I nailed my mile repeats on the track and my final interval session.  I felt ready.  In my mind I thought 1:32 was totally doable.  

Sadly, my legs did not agree.  My final race of the season was the Phoenix Half Marathon.  I went out with the intention of holding 7 minute pace, but after 4 miles my pace had already slipped.  I felt like garbage from the start.  Legs like cement blocks.  

Heading to the finish line of the Phoenix Half Marathon

Somehow I managed to hang on and minimize the losses.  My easy PR turned into a fight to the finish and I ended up 1:35:39, for an 8 second PR.  I'm always hardest on myself and I know I have better in me.  But my husband, who is most often my voice of reason, reminded me that the last time I ran as fast as I have in the last 6 weeks was when I had devoted 8 months to building my run fitness.  I cobbled together a running season in less than 12 weeks (from start to finish!) and managed to run my fastest 10k and half marathon times ever.  

Running season!!

Now that the season has come to a bittersweet end I am very excited to get back on my bike and start working on my real goal.  The Ironman World Championship is less than 7 months away and I plan to be ready!!  Team HPB training camp kicks off one week from today and that will be the jump start to my triathlon training.  I am so ready to be back at it!!  I know some people need a little mental break, but I'm not one of those people.  I have been chomping at the bit for 12 weeks and counting.  

One addition to the pain cave... 

With the down time of running season we did have a few hours to start putting together my pain cave.  Now when I'm smashing sessions on the trainer, I will have many reminders of why I am doing what I do.  Enjoy this little video of our cave!

Summer Smashfests

July 15.  According to the calendar summer is half over.  Despite the fact that my schedule really doesn't change, we still seem to travel a lot more during the summer.  Shortly after my Grand Canyon trip with the #bff, the hubs and I met up with my parents for a long weekend in South Lake Tahoe to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary.  We joked that the whole family was invited but my sisters both have kids (read: obligations) whereas we are free as birds.  Trip to Tahoe?  We're in!!  I love that about my life.

A toast to life well lived.  45 years and counting.

The weekend was so relaxing.  Equal parts resting, eating, and exploring my favorite trail... the Tahoe Rim Trail.  My parents love to hike so I mapped out a 10 mile route for them, out and back on the Marlette Trail, while I started with them and circumnavigated 18 miles to end up back at the starting location.  There is something peaceful and magical about spending hours alone running on a beautiful trail and I savored every second of it.  The hubs is recovering beautifully from his Achilles' procedure last fall, but is not yet allowed to explore the trails.  The uneven surface puts a lot of strain on the tendon and we are not ready to push the envelope just yet.  So he enjoyed a little elevation training on the bike path from South Lake to Emerald Bay.

Selfie on the way to Snow Valley Peak

Marlette Lake in the foreground, Lake Tahoe in the background.

Happy Anniversary, mom and dad!!

After Tahoe it was back to work and time to get back into training mode again.  Not that my training ever stopped but with the GC and Tahoe I had a bit of a mental break.  Contrary to popular belief I was not burned out after Texas, but I think my body took more of a hit than I even realized.  It took me 7 weeks to feel normal again.  I had been missing goals on nearly every workout.  I just felt sluggish and not like myself.  Not even in a way I could really describe.  Then one day (July 3rd to be exact) I woke up, did my workout and felt completely awesome.  Normal.  Myself.  I messaged the boss and told her that it was like someone flipped a light switch.  I have no idea why, but my body was back in the game.  

Best I can think of:

1) it didn't get hot in Arizona until June and it took me that long to adapt to the heat.  Normally this adaptation would be done slowly in April/ May as the temps gradually increased.  This year it stayed nice and cool and then *BAM* it was hot and humid all at once.   

2) it took me longer to recovery from Texas because of the heat illness and dehydration experienced during the race. 

3) I restarted my multivitamin supplement and was probably getting some minerals that my body was lacking. 

Either way, I am so thankful that my body has caught up with what my mind would like it to do.  I've had a ton of fun training with my Team HPB teammates this summer.  Several weeks ago we bribed my friends' kid to SAG for us on our long ride to Sunflower.  It was a learning experience... teaching a 16 year old what it means to "leapfrog" and then when my ride was over, hopping in the truck beside the 16 year old driver while the boys finished up.  Now I know how my parents must have felt when they turned over the keys to me as a teenager!

Long ride to Sunflower.  #fastcats

   

Over 4th of July weekend we all headed down to Tucson, aka The Dirty T, for a long weekend of training.  Another teammate rents a house every summer to train in Tucson so we booked rooms at a nearby resort with access to our very own lap pool!  No one goes to a resort for the lap pool... everyone else could be found at the swim up bar and lazy river.  

Mt. Lemmon... ready, GO!

We arrived on Friday evening and met the gang for drinks and dinner.  On Saturday morning we got an early start and headed out from Le Buzz to climb Mt. Lemmon.  Summerhaven hosts an annual 4th of July parade and fireworks celebration so it made for very light traffic on the descent.  We each had our marching orders and agreed to meet up at the top before turning around.  

I held my watts as planned on the climb and though I started out in the back, I picked off teammates at mile 5, mile 9, and then caught Kona Dawn at Windy Point and stayed with her through the top of the climb.  We rendezvoused at the visitor's center at the top, drinking cokes and watching traffic filter into town for the parade before turning around and heading back down the mountain.  I've really been working on my descending skills and having a nice, steady wind (as opposed to the gusty winds and cross winds that can sometimes occur) and minimal traffic helped me have my best descent yet on Mt. Lemmon!  It was a PR for the climb, a PR for the descent and my first time under 4 hours total for the ride.  Very happy girl!  

Dawn and I goofing off, attempting to be "serious".

We nailed a quick transition run and then had lunch at Le Buzz before heading back to the resort for a few recovery laps in the pool and an early dinner.  

Recovery swim!!

Sunday proved to be a very long day.  We met at the boss's house in the morning to start our ride.  Instructions were to ride the Shoot-out loop with Madera Canyon climb, and then on the way back, add on the McCain Loop and a trip up and over Gates Pass.  118 miles total with over 7000 feet of climbing.  My legs were still tired from Mt. Lemmon on Saturday and I struggled to keep up with the group from the start.  Rube's lovely wife was our SAG driver and kept eyes on all of us so I didn't worry too much about falling off the back.  

Sunday Smashfest!

The climb through Madera is about 13 miles of false-flats and one steep pitch upwards at the end.  There were moments when I was certain I was going to repeat the camp episode and fall off my bike.  It was SO steep.  We stopped to refuel in the parking lot at the top but kept it brief because it was actually chilly up there, and starting to rain.  We warmed up again when we hit the flat roads back to Tucson.  After about 70 miles my legs started to come around and I felt a little bit better.  As long as my hubby wasn't pulling on the front I could keep up with the group.  

All day long I fretted about the Gates Pass climb.  It is a short but steep and if you're already tired it kicks your ass.  I climbed it back to back at camp and the first time was no big deal.  The second time I was seeing stars at the top and my heart was going to jump out of my chest.  We stopped for our last refuel with 10 miles to go, just before starting the climb.  

Since I was the "slow one" I headed out just ahead of the group.  Dawn agreed to come with me.  I stayed behind her and just focused on keeping a quick cadence.  Turns out, that climb was nothing compared to Madera!  I was freaking out for nothing, as usual.  We crested the top and I pumped my arms like a Tour de France stage winner before we rolled into a fast descent on the other side.  

118 done... and done!!

Our ride was over, and the women's soccer team was just starting the finals in the World Cup.  We had our sights set on a little bar across from the resort.  With lightening across the sky and rain pouring down we decided that our recovery swim was cancelled.  We showered quickly and fell into a booth with some cold beers and tacos.  The team nominated me to tell Coach that the pools were closed for lightening.  She responded quickly with, "don't worry, it won't last too long".  Suddenly our visions of having our feet up for the rest of the night faded.  

We did enjoy watching the women destroy the World Cup finals, and our beers numbed our aching legs.  Slowly we began to wrap our heads around getting in the pool.  (Turns out, coach was right... storms never last long in the desert.)  We had the pool to ourselves and enjoyed as many laughs as laps before finally hitting the pillow for some well deserved sleep.  

Getting ready for our sunset swim.

Monday morning we had one last task... the forever swim set.  The forever set is a team favorite.  It involves creating massive fatigue in the upper body while racing each other, band only, 25 yards at a time for about 10 minutes, and then sprinting 200's for time.  Over and over and over and over.  By the end your arms are literally falling off and you can't clear your fingers on the recovery.  My body was so tired from the previous two days that my 200's were about 10 seconds slower than normal.  It was almost comical.  

We started as the sun was rising and finished with just enough time to shower, load the car and drive back to the Valley to be at the shop by 10 am.  I love long weekends like this.  Having never played sports growing up, I totally love the team atmosphere and cherish any opportunity to train with friends.  We have as much fun smashing each other as we do laughing and chatting afterwards.  And it's great to have strong, talented teammates who challenge me to work hard and chase my goals.

And last but not least... #selfiewithmoo is half over!!  It started with a photo I took... a selfie with my cat, Moo.  It was not January 1, but it was early in the year- maybe mid to late January.  The next day I took another one.  And then it became a thing.  My 2015 thing.  Since I don't do resolutions, I try to pick one thing per year to focus on... still a self improvement type of activity.  Two years ago I took up flossing.  The habit stuck and I still floss daily.  (I can't believe I didn't floss daily before!!!)  Last year I taught myself how to do flip turns in the pool.  I decided if I was going to hire a coach who happens to be a phenomenal swimmer- I needed to start doing flip turns.  Now, I can't believe I refused to learn for so long!!  2015... well it's the year of #selfiewithmoo.  (He can be found on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.  He's becoming quite famous.  At least in my mind.). 

 

Kissing my little Moo.

My gorgeous baby with his green eyes, freckles, and little pink nose!!

I'm not entirely sure what I'll do after the year is over.  Do I continue?  Wouldn't it be amazing to have a chronicle of his entire life?  I started when he was about 8 months of age... what will he look like when he is 8?  Or 18?  The thing I love most about this project is every night when I come home from work I call out, "Moo!  It's time for your selfie!" And Moo comes running and jumps into my lap.  All he knows is that he's getting attention, and he loves it.  All my boys are friendly and LOVE people, but #selfiewithmoo has created an even stronger human-animal bond.  If I am sitting down, he is in my lap, purring, giving me kisses.  

Anyway, that's all I have to catch up from the last few weeks.  We're in a good place with training, and life, and we look forward to the next challenge that heads our way.   

         

Building Power

October.  The time for crunching through fallen leaves.  Drinking good beer.  Sipping hot cider and pumpkin spice lattes with a good book.  The morning air is crisp despite the days still being warm and sunny.  The windows are left open and in the middle of the night you reach for the blanket to ward off the chill.

I am overcome with the urge to run.  Run long distances.  On soft, dirt covered trails.  Over mountains and through the desert.

Just because it's fall.

Some people get spring fever anticipating the change to nicer weather.  Here in the Valley of the Sun, I get fall frenzy.  Spurred on by that subtle change in the weather that reminds me there are days that don't require heat advisories.  Some people go into hibernation, pack on a few pounds.  I lace up my running shoes and pound the pavement.

While most people are wrapping up their racing season in Kona or New York City, I am prepping for my final build to Ironman Arizona.  In the process I am looking forward to next year and beginning to set goals for the season ahead.

Since coming back from Wisconsin Coach put me back on trails once a week and has had me knocking out some hard workouts on the bike utilizing my new Powertap.  My husband has remarked on several occasions that he hasn't seen me work this hard since our build up for IMAZ 2012 (my PR race).  And it's true.  Since 2012, I slacked off on the bike and lost some fitness.  Now, with the truth staring me in the face, there's no avoiding work.  I can no longer rely on my "perceived exertion" which, let's face it, is less than accurate.

Little by little, I am starting to gain fitness on the bike.  I love the feeling of being completely smashed after a hard 4 hour ride.  I had forgotten that I could feel like this after a bike ride.  It's generally a feeling reserved for the longest of long runs.  And I am thriving.  I crave that endorphin fix, and the burn in my legs.  The feeling of complete exhaustion combined with accomplishment.

Little by little I can see how this new tool is going to revolutionize my training and racing.  I start to look to next year.  I know that Arizona is too soon.  In analyzing my training and racing data, what we have discovered is that I have been taking it way to easy in training and then when I race I push myself far beyond anything my body has been prepared for.  And subsequently I don't have the legs I need to execute the marathon.  Ironically, I can cheat my way through the half iron distance and still manage to post podium or near podium results.  But when it comes to Ironman, my weakness is exposed.  The good news is that with the right training, my bike leg is about to be revolutionized and I will be able to get off the bike and run the pace that I know I can run.  I don't have enough hours in the remaining 5 weeks to do the work that needs to be done.  But maybe, just maybe, by May I will be an entirely new athlete.  With weeks upon weeks of work behind me, and redefined legs as proof.

I've been doing a lot of reading lately.  Athlete's blogs.  My coach's blog.  Random people on facebook who have an opinion about what it means to follow a dream.  One thing I have come to realize is that some dreams are never going to happen.  No matter how much I love ballet and worked hard through my childhood to be the best dancer I could be, my body will never be that of a ballerina.  I have a weird pelvic alignment.  I am not able to turn my hips out.  It's never going to happen.

I have also realized that when a dream is within reach, only relentless hard work, laser focus and single-minded dedication will chip away at the proverbial rock day after day until one day that rock bursts into a million pieces and I am left standing at the top of the podium.  

I am not afraid of work.

I am not afraid of commitment.

I am not afraid of having a dream... and putting it out there for all to see.

I am not afraid of Finding Kona.  No matter how long it takes.

Oceanside 70.3: Chipping away

Heading into this race I was nothing but excited.  Ironman California Oceanside 70.3 is my absolute favorite triathlon.  Salty swim in a protected harbor.  Rolling hills on the bike course.  And a run along the beach.  Throw in perfect weather, men in uniform, and fresh ocean air.  What could possibly be better?

Post race.  Enjoying the view.

I struggle with appropriate goal setting.  If you read all the magazines (which I do) you have surely come across the phrases "process goals" and "outcome goals".  I love to set outcome goals.  I want to podium.  I want to finish in 5 hours.  This type of goal is great, but it doesn't account for things that are completely out of the realm of my control.  I cannot control the weather.  If it's hotter then hell, or there are 30 mph winds I may not make my time goals.  I also cannot control who else shows up.  I would love to tell all the ladies who've already had their shot on the Queen K to stay at home, it's my turn.  But the WTC will not allow me to ban them.  So when the speedsters show up, I have to compete against them too.  

My plan for the next 2 years involves slowly chipping away at the lava rock, so to speak.  I am going to make steady progress in training until such a time when I am the speedster that shows up and takes the slot to Kona.  It's not going to happen overnight, but I have proven myself capable of getting there and I have so much room for improvement.     

So for Oceanside, I knew I needed other goals.  Process goals.  Goals that reflect my desire to chip away at the bigger picture.  Goals that were within my control that I could strive to reach on race day.  I wanted to have a swim PR.  I knew that over the last 3 months with my coach, my swim has improved tremendously.  I wanted to prove that to myself by having a strong swim.  I wanted to give everything I had on the bike.  I wanted to save nothing.  This was a conscious decision.  I'm not sure why I thought this was the best way to race, but I didn't want to get to the finish line and believe that I could have biked faster.  I wanted to nail my nutrition.  This is something that I've struggled with over the years.  Early on I ate way too much, and the wrong things, and ended up trying to run with a bloated gut.  To combat that I switched to taking in almost nothing, and would end up running the marathon from aid station to aid station eating a gel every 10 minutes.  Better, but not great.  We've really been working in training to improve my intake and practice not only taking in appropriate calories, but also going hard while eating which can be even more difficult.   

There was a brief moment in the morning when I was trying to choke down breakfast that I was feeling nervous.  But once we left the hotel room and headed toward transition that faded and I was pumped and ready to race.

Race morning.  Let's do this!

The Swim:  29:34!!!

The swim at Oceanside is a wave start.  The harbor is narrow, and groups of a couple hundred people are started every 3 minutes.  This is really nice as far as avoiding contact initially, but it's challenging when you start in wave 16 and catch people who were in waves 9, 10, 11 and so on.  

Normally I seed myself far to the outside to avoid any sort of contact.  However, this time I stayed pretty close to the inside buoy.  And when the gun sounded, I took off.  I realized quickly that a friend of mine was swimming just to my left and I jumped in her draft and held on for dear life.  Another first for me as I have never successfully drafted in the water before.  As we approached the 5th (of 7) buoys on the way out to the turn around, I felt her back off the pace just a hair.  I took that opportunity to pull up beside her to take the lead.  At that point we hit a huge pack of slow swimmers from previous waves and we got separated.  I kept swimming hard and was pleased to find that I never felt tired coming back into the harbor.  Once I left KD I never saw another light pink swim cap so I thought I might be in the lead, but I wasn't sure.  We were literally passing hundreds of swimmers so it would have been easy to miss another pink cap.  

I got out of the water and dashed up the ramp.  I glanced down and saw on my Garmin that I had swum under 30 minutes!  A huge Oceanside swim PR for me!!  (My previous best at this race was 31:24.)  Oh, and I was first in my age group out of the water!

T1:  3:46  (aka: fucking forever!)  At Oceanside, there are no wetsuit strippers.  This is a huge disadvantage for me because my limbs are long and my wetsuit hits me just below my knee.  So when I try to get out of it by myself it is impossible.  It gets turned inside out and sticks to my legs and it's a big mess.  I fumbled around my transition area for nearly a century trying to get my feet out of the suit.  And then when I finally do, I have to pack everything up in the little plastic bag so the volunteers can transport our gear to T2 for post race pickup (much appreciated!).

Bike:  2:45:02!!!

I love the bike ride at Oceanside.  The first 25 miles are smokin' fast.  And then you hit some rolling hills for about 15 miles or so.  The final 10 miles are flat and fast back into town.  Ironically I felt so good coming out of the water that there was no "settling in" period on the bike.  Usually it takes about 20-30 minutes for me to get my legs up to speed and my gut ready to eat.  On this day, I hopped on, cleared the saltwater from my palate and I was ready to fly.  

I kept pushing.  And pushing.  And pushing my legs as hard as they would let me.  My plan was to take in my bottle of EFS (300 calories, electrolytes) before the climbing started and ditch the bottle at the second aid station.  Then I would rely on my Honey Stinger gels for the remainder of the ride (480 calories).  

As I rode along I did not let up on my effort.  I kept telling myself that the ride up Mt. Lemmon at camp last month hurt worse than this.  (Completely true.).  Eventually I began to feel the effort in my quads, but by that point the worst of the hills were behind me and I just had the final home stretch in front of me.  I did not let up.  

I hopped off my bike in T2 with my fastest ride on this course by over 7 minutes.  I knew I was somewhere in the top of my age group.  It was all going to come down to how fast I could run.  (I was 3rd in my age group off the bike.. A first for me!)

T2:  1:35  Helmet off, run shoes on.  Let's go!!   

Run:  1:49:55

Ahhh, the run.  Again.... Best. course. ever.  The first part of the run is a mile out and back along the strand.  And then they pitch you up a ramp onto the pier at about a 40 degree angle.  With the first step I took onto the ramp, my adductor seized into a cramp.  Fuck!  I thought.  A mile in and this is how it's going to go??!!  I was pissed.  I hobbled up the ramp and back onto the flat pavement trying to work the cramp out.  My husband who was just coming out of T1 (his wave started 15 minutes behind me) saw me and ran over to see what was up.  He shouted to get some salt caps, and an athlete who happened to be running in my same direction offered me a couple of his.  

I picked up my pace and started running again, and within a minute or so my leg, though sore, was good enough.  I started drinking the PowerBar Perform at every aid station to help with my hydration status.  I stuck with my plan to take a gel every 30 minutes.  Having fueled appropriately on the bike, this strategy worked beautifully.  My energy level never waned.    

  

I watched my splits on my Garmin as it beeped every mile and I realized that my run would not be my fastest ever, but I could still PR.  I was heartbroken as I saw the girls with numbers ranging from 35-39 written on their left calf pass me and I could not respond.  I was giving my best, this I was confident of, but they were flying by me.  I knew my friend, KD, would beat me (she is significantly faster than me most days) but I had hoped to stand by her side on the podium.

In the past, I would let me mind get the better of me and would call it a day and start walking aid stations, dicking around, etc.  This was not going to happen.  I kept my mind in the game and I tried to give my all.  I pushed a little harder on the downhills.  Maintained a strong effort on the inclines.  And when my legs were screaming the final 4 miles, I called on my little Z kitty angel to loan me his wings so I could fly.  I don't think I went any faster, but I also didn't slow down.  

The run was over before I knew it and I crossed the line in 5:09:52.  A 2 minute PR and good enough for 6th in my age group.  

Overall time:  5:09:52, 6th AG

To top it off, I had a little throwdown going with a couple of my training partners.  Loser had to buy margaritas post race:  

Guess who didn't have to buy margaritas?!  

Initially I was a little disappointed in my run, and the fact that I finished 6th and just off the podium.  But the more I thought about it, the things that are important to my progress over the next 2 years were executed perfectly.  2 years ago when I ran a 1:42 at Oceanside, I was coming off my best run preparation ever including my marathon PR 6 weeks prior.  I was in phenomenal run shape then.  Right now, my focus is on the bigger picture and I've been training for triathlon, not a marathon.  I swam 2 minutes faster, biked 7 minutes faster, and only ran 7 minutes slower.  I am happy with that.  

My coach reminded me that I put a huge deposit in the bank of "get the legs used to riding hard".  The next time I push hard on the bike they will remember... just like they did this weekend after biking hard up Mt. Lemmon last month.  I will keep making deposits and chipping away until the day comes when it all falls into place.  

She also gave me a couple of nice recovery workouts for Sunday to flush the legs a bit.  My husband and I took a bike tour of Oceanside and the San Luis Rey bike path.  

Biking on the San Luis Rey bike path.

Overlooking the pier.  #Smash

Then I had a little swim in our hotel pool which from my rough calculation was about 12 yards long.  

View from our hotel overlooking the pool and the harbor.

I am excited to have just under 7 weeks to continue my preparation for my first IM of the season.  Texas is going to be hot and humid, and I can't wait to have another opportunity to chip away at my ultimate goal of finding Kona.  

Contemplating finding Kona.

     

Wonder Woman: My Interview with Rachel Spatz

A few days shy of her 23rd birthday, I sat down with Rachel Spatz at the Black Cat Coffee House in Phoenix to talk about, well, Rachel.  And her running career.  Just a few weeks prior she finished her fourth 100 miler, the San Diego 100 Mile Endurance Run (SD 100).  Yeah, you heard me right.  She's just 23 years old.  Kinda obvious now why I'm so intrigued.  I wanted to pick her brain and see what makes her tick, and I figured anyone who reads my blog - which is all about endurance sports- would be interested too. 

Spending time with Rachel, I was filled with a sense of calm.  She is genuinely passionate about running and appreciative of her family's support.  She is soft spoken and energetic, but her energy is more zen and runner's high, a lovely contrast to own my hyper-intense, OCD nature.  She was easy to talk to and very humble despite her amazing accomplishments.  I learned a lot in the few hours we spent together, about what it takes to get through a hundred miles, but also what true love of running looks like.  So let me introduce you...

Rachel Spatz
Age:  23 (22 at the time of the interview)
Hometown:  Phoenix- born and raised!
Education:  Bachelor's degree in exercise science with a minor in nutrition
Current position:  Chiropractic assistant

RunnerChick (RC):  When did you start running?

Rachel Spatz (RS):  When I was 15 years old.  2 weeks later I signed up for my first race, a 15k.  My longest run had been 3 miles.  I finished 10th to last out of a thousand people.  I think I ran a 13 1/2 minute per mile pace.  It was awful, but I was hooked.

Why did you start running?

RS:  I have a breathing problem, a vocal cord dysfunction.  I was working with a (physical/ speech) therapist learning to relax and control my breathing.  They had me running on a treadmill to practice so I decided to start running on my own.  I've always liked to challenge myself.  I didn't like the first few races, but I liked the challenge. 

Rachel shared a story with me about selling Girl Scout Cookies when she was younger.  She saw the challenge, and went on to set the state record for the number of boxes sold.  She now worries about the amount of trans-fats that she sold to people during that time, she said with a smile and the concern of a nutritionist. 

RS continues:  My second half marathon was PF Chang's Rock N Roll Half, about 6 years ago, the year it was really cold.  I had a breathing attack and the ambulance was called.  By the time it got there I was fine again and I walked to the finish.  I signed up for my first marathon that night. 

My first marathon was the Rock N Roll San Diego Marathon in 2007.  I was 16 years old.  I kept hoping they wouldn't look too closely at my driver's license.  Since then I've run 12 marathons officially, 3 were under borrowed bibs.  In training (for 100 mile races) I was running marathons twice a week so it's hard to say how many times I've actually covered the distance. 

"Running is a gift."

How many ultras have you run?

RS:  I've done 17 ultras and 2 Ironman triathlons.  And I finished the Oceanside 70.3 in 2008.

(Interrupting)  Really?  Which IM did you do?

RS:  I did Ironman Arizona in 2008 and Ironman Coeur d'Alene in 2010.  At IM AZ I was the youngest competitor.  It was really cool.  I got to go up on stage and talk to Mike Reilly.  Every time I did anything, I could hear them announcing, "the youngest person is out of the water!" or "Off the bike!"  My whole family was there which was really special.  I cried at the finish line, in my Wonder Woman outfit.  (Rachel smiles.)  It's one of those moments you never forget.  You're not given the finish line, you don't know.  That's why I like 100s too.  It's not a given.  70% of the women at San Diego 100 dropped out.  That's huge.  It's part of the challenge.  It's an adventure.  One trip [fall] and you're done. 

I want to go back to Coeur d'Alene maybe for the marathon.  I'm getting out of triathlons.  I've had a lot of falls on my bike, I'm not the best handler.  It's scared me a little.  I also like the community in ultras, it's tight knit.  It's like a family.  You get twice the pain.  Twice the food.  More beer.  (smiles)   You get twice as long.  I like being out there in nature.  And they're so much cheaper!  I don't enjoy swimming or biking that much.  It was all about getting to the run, and then I'd pass people.  I'm not super fast, but I'm consistent.  I'd average 5 hour marathons and be passing people who went faster on the swim and bike.   

Rachel, on course at the San Diego 100.

So, which hundreds [100 mile runs] have you done?

RS:  I finished Rocky Road [in California] in 2011, Nanny Goat [in California] in 2012, Javalina Jundred [in Arizona] in 2012 and San Diego 2013.  I have 2 DNF's [did not finish] at Rocky Road and Javalina Jundred.  (More on these later...)

Let's talk about SD 100.  Are you self coached?  What was your training like?

RS:  James Bonnett coached me for SD 100.  In the 4 months he worked with me, I PR'd [personal record] in my 50 miler and 50k by over an hour.  He pushed me pretty hard.  I was doing 80+ mile weeks, and a lot of speed work.  I lost 15 pounds.  I thought I'd be slow forever, but I'm finally getting faster.  I don't think I would have finished without him because it as a tough course, lots of climbing.  Having the accountability of working with a coach really helped.  Training smarter, not just more slow miles.  

Prior to SD 100, I was self coached.  Being a running coach (when I was living) in San Diego I was running a lot of miles, but slow miles.  I wasn't running with faster people.  I was pacing people who were running 13 minute miles, I wasn't breaking out of my comfort zone.  My fastest marathon so far is 3:59.  I'm signed up for Lost Dutchman (in February) so I'm excited to see what I can do if I keep working on speed.  My only sub-4 hour marathon is under someone else's name because I borrowed a bib!

James had me running a lot more trails.  It definitely helped me get stronger and faster.  Thompson Peak.  Bell Pass.  Bell Pass is 3-4 miles.  The last mile up is more of a power walk but I'm learning to be more comfortable with more technical trails.  I'm getting more comfortable with running downhills.  I have not had my first fall running yet, so I'm pretty careful.  With the Hokas it's harder to lift your feet up, so I stub my toes a lot.  I was running 6 times a week on trails. 

Working with James, I ran more variety.  Not only harder runs, but my easier runs were easier.  Don't race every run.  Injuries start [by doing that].  I did track workouts.  I push myself so much more in a group setting.  It's more fun.  It's a love/ hate relationship with a track workout.   Some days I did doubles, which wasn't necessarily on his plan, but I loved them! 



Rachel, on course at San Diego 100.  Still smiling!

Have you ever been injured?

RS:  I've had muscle strains, and usually if I take a week off I'm fine.  2 months ago I threw out my back and couldn't run for 3 weeks.  It was the same day a training friend broke her tailbone.  I was so worried I wouldn't make it to the start line.  That was a huge concern for me.  I only had 2 weeks of running again before SD 100.  We never figured out why it happened but I'm giving up the Camelbak and going with handheld water bottles.  I've been lucky to not have any major injuries though.

You can run in the heat with just handhelds? 

RS:  Yes, in training I'll stick with handhelds.  At SD 100 I had a running vest and I carried 3 handhelds.  It was perfect.  In the heat, I will run shorter loops to be safe.  I can do the heat, but I'm not the best at it.  I like carrying water bottles, it helps keep the guns (smiles).  It's built-in strength training.  I'm so used to carrying my phone, keys, camera.  When I don't have anything I feel naked.

"You're not given the finish line, you don't know.  That's why I like 100s too.  It's not a given."

Do you cross train?

RS:  I do spin class once a week with my brother.  I enjoy spending time with him and getting him involved.  I love weight training!  Working at a chiropractic clinic, I stretch much more than I ever did.  It's amazing how much flexibility I've lost since I was in gymnastics. 

Gymnastics!... so did you play any other sports growing up?

I tried ball sports but I'm not one for coordination.  I was the bench warmer.  I tried soccer, basketball.  In teeball I'd be looking for bugs in the grass while I was supposed to be playing.

So back to SD 100... walk me through 100 miles... how do you feel?  any specific challenges?

RS:  Another really cool difference between tris and ultras is pacers.  It's so great to have them.  You become close to these people, they're your best friends.  It's special.  At mile 81 at SD 100 I had a breakdown and my pacer told me to look around at how beautiful it was.   He ran with me from 51 - 100 miles.  He's the sweetest person ever, he's like my running dad.  The last 20 miles, I'm not gonna lie, I was grumpy.  He kept telling me stories and jokes.  It wasn't funny, but he made me smile just knowing he was trying.  

At 2 AM a buck ran right in front of us, scariest moment of my life!  He alerted me to all the cool things.  At the aid station, he made me eat something when I told him I didn't feel good.  Then I puked all over.  We both laughed.  He does hundreds also.  He's really fast and I was honored that he would slow down and run with me.  

And my dad joined me for the last 4 miles.  It helps to have the support from your family.  I know a lot of ultra runners whose families never come to races.  My family is always there.  They worry about me a lot.  I'm out on course, updating them on my cell phone.  And playing words with friends.  (laughs)



Rachel, with her pacer, at San Diego 100.

At Nanny Goat I didn't run with a pacer.  Someone jumped in and ran the last 5 miles with me, just to keep me moving.  Pacers do help.  I did have one at JJ 100 both times.  For me, running at night, it's really helpful.  This year at JJ 100 I don't think I'll have one.  I have run that course so many times, I know I'll be fine.  I've had pacers fall asleep on me while running.  His eyes were closed, it was 30 degrees, and he just kept going.  

I've hallucinated.  I thought I saw a dead body and I screamed.  (It was a sand bag).  Even a friend who has done JJ 100 a bunch of times, got off course for 7 miles because he was "following someone".  Buddying up with someone out there would be great.  

During SD 100 the pick-up van passed me on one of the hardest hills.  My first thought was, 'they're going to be in bed, have hot food, way before me.'  Once the mind goes, the body starts to follow.      

So before SD 100, what was your training like?

RS:  For JJ 100... not too much.  My longest run 4 months prior was 32 miles.  But I had done a 50 miler earlier in the year.  I DNF'd at a 100k for hyponatremia a few weeks prior.  I knew something was wrong.  DNF's suck, but each one is a learning experience.  The more you do these things the more it happens.  Sometimes your body is just off.  But I ended up having a great race at JJ 100.

My pacer [at JJ 100], also named Rachel, ran with me for 53 miles, and she was giggly and happy the whole time.  The first time I did JJ 100 my pacer complained about their feet, their bursitis, their stomach.  I'm not going to say it was their fault I DNF'd, but it definitely didn't help.

I paced several people over the last few years and I've learned what is helpful, and how to get through.  My first 50 miler I DNF'd.  I struggled with an eating disorder and I think it contributed.  I had no energy.  I stopped at mile 32.  Later, when I finished my first 50, someone registered and ran the entire way with me to make sure I got through it.  It stuck out in my mind, would I do that for someone else?  Make that sacrifice?  It was really cool.  Very special.

Wait, an eating disorder?  Can I ask which one?

RS:  Bulimia.  Not many people know this about me.  (sighs)  I wish I knew why.  I wanted to stop, but I was addicted.  I remember counting calories at such an early age.  I actually gained a lot of weight because my body was storing everything.  I got help my first year of college.  Stress made it worse.  I think ultras have helped me to be happy with my body.  When I started doing ultras I got my heart checked because I knew what I did could have affected my heart.  It's a vicious cycle.  You feel terrible the whole time.

Even in the ultra community, every body is different.  I have learned to do what I can with my body.  And it really impressed upon me how careful you have to be in what you tell young girls when they're growing up.  That's why I quit gymnastics at 12 yrs old.  I was developing and someone made fun of me.

"Think long term.  Plan in advance.  Not 3 months before."

So, speaking of nutrition... you're vegan right?

RS:  I have been vegan for 5 months, but I've been vegetarian for 8-9 years.  I prefer a vegan diet for nutritional reasons.  I took a long, hard look at my diet and being vegan took away things that I shouldn't be eating.  Cheese.  And butter. 

I enjoy cooking.  It's so fun when something actually turns out [in the kitchen]!  My parents were mad at me at first when I became vegetarian.  But now, they've even set some boundaries in their diets because of animal rights and farming practices.  People don't talk about it, but everyone should know where their food is coming from.

I don't push people one way or another, but education is important.  Read your ingredients.  If you can't read it, don't eat it.  I don't push veganism.  If someone asks me, I'll tell them.  There's too much politics involved.  I feel a lot better and I eat a lot more.

At first it was difficult, I craved cheese all the time.  Mac and Cheese.  I realized how much I used butter and cheese when I got rid of them.  There's plenty of unhealthy vegan foods, but it's all in how you eat.  You can still eat too much, and eat the wrong foods.  Adding more spices, instead of butter and fat makes a difference.  People shut off their minds [to veganism] but you can eat so many things!

So I attempted a conversion to veganism briefly last winter.  It didn't go well because I had too many other things going on in my life at that time and I ended up getting sick so I put the diet change on hold.  Any advice for someone interested in veganism?

RS:  Look up recipes online.  How do I make good vegan pancakes?  Google it.  Make it fun.  If other people are interested in it, invite them over and cook together.  I make almost every food you can eat, but I feel better.  Start off slow.  Slowly take things away.  Make small changes.  It took me a while to get used to vegan cheese, but I was open to new foods.  Go to vegan restaurants and get ideas.  Add protein, not just sugar.  Protein and healthy fat help with satiety.

I've been vegan for 5 months, I started in January.  It was kind of a 'why not' thing.  And it did help me to lose 15 pounds.  I have more energy.  I know people who are vegan, but go into survival mode at races and eat non-vegan.  Different things work for different people.  You can't judge people.  I know people who are 90% vegan.  If you go to France, you splurge on good cheeses.  Some people have celebratory days.  I drank broth at JJ 100 last year.  It may have been chicken broth.  I don't know.  It was warm and it helped.  But I hate the thought of drinking chicken juice.  (laughs)  Aravaipa makes it easy for their racers with the Daiya cheese quesadillas.  They do a great job.

I think people can learn a lot from successes and failures.  What stands out in your mind as successful racing?

RS:  My sub-4 hour marathon.  3:59:09.  That was probably the best race I've had, feeling-wize.  I didn't taper.  I got the bib the day before.  I didn't have any stress, I just thought it'd be a good training day.  I got the bib off of craigslist.  For me, that was special because I had been wanting sub 4 for years.  I didn't think it was a PR course, it just happened.  It did make me question tapering.  The stress building up to tapering. 

Ultra-wise, SD 100 was one of the best 100s because I didn't have a moment when I had a breakdown and questioned finishing.  Other than the hospital visit (post race) nothing really went wrong.  I had a few blisters and puked a few times.  I smiled at every aid station.  I saw a lot of people I hadn't seen in a long time.  Having my dad run the last 5 miles with me. Those are the two that stand out.

And when you DNF'd... what made you stop? 

RS:  My first 100 miler I dropped at 67 miles (JJ 100) and Rocky Road at 75 miles.  My feet hurt so badly.  I was crawling and crying.  That's not me.  I'm usually smiling.  I changed to Hoka's and have not had that issue again.  Between the two DNF's I did finish Rocky Road successfully.  I changed shoes 6-7 times that day.  It was raining and cold. 

Having DNF's makes these events humbling.  It makes the finishes even more special.  My first 100 finish... you can't describe it.  Going from a DNF to finishing, feeling good- it's like WOW!  You expect a crash mentally, but it didn't happen.



Rachel, at an aid station during San Diego 100.  I love this photo because you can see the excitement of her friend, but also Rachel's own exhaustion and struggle.  Despite highs and lows, Rachel pushed through to the finish.

What has helped you be successful at 100s?

RS:  At SD 100... less phone time.  As dumb as that sounds.  And less stopping at aid stations.  Beware of the chair!  You see people hanging out at aid stations for 5-10 minutes and that all adds up.  At JJ 100 I went 27:07 and I got in and out of the aid stations.  My first time, I sat down and talked to family and I'd be there 10 minutes!  Keep moving, and when you feel bad take it mile by mile.  Don't think about how far you have to go still.  You will start to feel better.

Everyone has mental blocks- you just have to walk through it.  Laugh out loud.  Sing songs!  Do whatever makes you smile.  If you get into a bad mind set, you have to keep going.  Personally, it helps to be happier when I run, than to stay in a bad mood.  As my pacer said, look around!  We were so blessed.  If you're fortunate enough to make it to the start line, it's a blessing. 

Practice nutrition.  Long runs at different temperatures.  Find out ahead of time what the race weather is like typically.  Do what you can to replicate trails, terrain, weather.  Nutrition is so different at 100 degrees compared to 50-60 degrees.  What worked for me was switching to liquid calories and bananas for the last 50 miles.  I didn't have any stomach issues. 

You're working so hard, and burning so many calories and if you're constantly putting solid food in, it's a lot.  I think I'll keep up with that.  Tailwind (a liquid nutrition) was on the course.  I looked it up, and tried it.  It wasn't too sweet.  And I took in bananas and salt pills.  And a pinch of Himalayan pink salt.  I took frs tabs.  The first 50 miles, I eat more solid foods- stock up on calories. 

At night, the time seems to go by so much faster.  You just go aid station to aid station.  It's very soothing.  Being out there and talking and laughing.  I also had packets of Pocket Fuel, which I loved!  I had 3-4 of those over the last 50 miles.  I wasn't hungry.  It seemed to work well. 

Do you run with music?

RS:  NO!  I haven't since Across the Years.  That was another awful race!  I think that's another reason I've gotten faster.  I'm more in tune with my body.  It makes me feel sad when I see people running on trails with music.  They're missing out.  The birds chirping.  And it's a safety thing.  A few weeks ago I was running with Mike and Kimberly Miller and we came upon a rattlesnake.  If you can't hear a rattlesnake, it's dangerous! 

Another reason is, I would memorize how long each song was and it would go by even slower.  If I'm calculating how much time has gone by.  I couldn't zone out, in a good way.  It's good to be aware of your surroundings.  You need to be able to hear other runners, and snakes!  My fastest races have been without music.  Go figure!

You have JJ 100 up next.  Will you continue to work with James for JJ? 

RS:  I qualified for Western States at SD 100.  If I get in, I want him to train me again.  And maybe for Lost Dutchman.  For a big race, I definitely want him to coach me.  For JJ, and the summer training, I need a break from long runs and speedwork.  It's just too hard in the summer.  I am signed up for several Aravaipa trail races which will help my training.  I want to dress up [in costume] and have fun out there [at JJ 100].  I know the costume will slow me down. 

I worked with an online coach for my sub-4 marathon, and it was totally impersonal.  James would text me and ask how things were going.  We would meet up and talk about training over beer.  He took me out to dinner after the race, it was neat.  That's what separates a good coach. 

Do you have any bucket list races?

RS:  Western States 100.  It's a 30 hour cutoff but it's easier than SD 100.  I know I can do it.  It's just getting in [through the lottery].  Boston was on my list, but with the new qualification times I don't know if I can make it.  3:35.  Every person is different and has their gifts.  Speed is not one of mine.  It would take a lot of work for me to qualify.  I think I'd be a squeaker.  (Referring to the article in Runner's World about squeaking in just under the qualifying standard.)

A sub-24 hour 100 I think is in the cards.  No race picked out yet for this, but maybe JJ 100 in 2014.  Maybe work with James over the winter to improve my 50 mile/ 50k times.  Working on getting through the night running, not walking.  It's getting the second half right.  It would be nice to do a 100 with consistent splits.  In a 100, you're stopping more at night.  Changing shoes.  But if you feel good, at night when it's cooler, it would be the time to pick it up. 

Do you have any advise for someone who wants to run a 100 miler... me for example? 

RS:  I would recommend a 50 miler first, and run the day after a 50 miler.  To flush the muscles, but also learning to run when you don't want to run or when you're sore.  Last year in school I did a lot of runs at night. 

Train with a group.  It helps when you're doing 20-30 mile long runs.  Whether it's a coach, or a friend, it helps tremendously.  Instead of doing a 40 mile long run, I'd do back to back long runs, still running on sore legs. 

Go to an ultra and volunteer.  See what can go right.  See what can go wrong.  Learn what you can by watching people.  Watch the aid stations.  Watch the finish line.  I paced a 100 miler first and I saw the good and the bad.  Maybe don't be at the finish line! (laughing)  Be out there in the middle of the night and see what happens to people.  I've had some people tell me, "I could walk the whole thing in that time," and it's hard for people to understand.  It's not like racing a marathon.  You add up all the stops and the aid stations. 

Plan in advance.  Think long term.  Not 3 months before.



Success!  Rachel accepts congratulations at the finish line of the San Diego 100.

Anything you want to add?

RS:  (thinking)  I think that's good.  You have a whole biography on me!  James Bonnett did his first 100 at 12 years old.  I have a friend whose child also competed in a 100 at 12.  You can do these things and not ruin your body.  James' dad ran 100s and he decided to run with him.  You always have people that say, "that's dumb," or "don't you know how bad that is on your body?"  Do what you love, tune out the negative people.  I started marathoning at 16.  I had people say, "you're still growing", but I stopped growing when I was 12! (laughs)  A lot of my friends are older than me since I started so young.  Everyone in the sport is 10, 20 years older than me, doing what I love too.

Unlike marathons, I like ultras because it's not about times.  I used to feel bad about myself if I didn't get the time that I wanted.  Since switching to trails, I haven't run a marathon since.  I haven't gone back.  People become time obsessed and lose the passion and the love of running.  Some runs are just bad, you can't take it personally.  Running is a gift. 

I don't want to be one of those people that can't run when I'm 60.  I think it's about listening to your body.  I stay off roads because my knees hurt less on trails.  My mom has run a couple of marathons and it's awesome to see her come across the finish line.  It was cool to train with my mom.  She has a big, big heart.  She'd be out there for 6 hours completing her 20 mile training run.  I'd have breakfast and hang out with my friends [after my run] and she's still out there.  She signed up for Nike Women's Marathon with Team in Training with 4 months to train.  But she wanted to prove me wrong when I said it wasn't a good idea. 

With Lost Dutchman she mentioned she might do that course again!  I just want her to be healthy.  It's about finding something you love and sticking with it.  Even if she's walking.  At 60 or 70 a lot of people just give up.  I see stubborn people out there doing ultras and Ironman in their 60s and 70s.  A lot of race directors are older and they're stubborn, out there fighting for what they love. 

********************

Wow.  Reflecting on our conversation from that morning, I'm simultaneously impressed and inspired by this 5 foot phenom.  I hope you've enjoyed getting to know Rachel a little bit better.  And the next time a challenge seems just a little bit too daunting, too out of reach, just remember everything Rachel has accomplished just because she thought she could.  And though she plans to dress as a hobbit at this year's Javalina Jundred, I will always think of her as Wonder Woman.