Sometimes All You Need Is Fresh Socks....

Im not sure what it is that is different today then 3 days ago, maybe it is nothing...except a new piece of jewelry...or is it a medal? Im not sure, but I am working on a way to make a pendant out of it...

Saturday was every thing and more....It truly was. I have had bad runs. I have run with headaches, back aches, I have run through love lost, stress, through rain, snow,sun, flu, allergies...sore knees, bad feet, new shoes, chaiffing skin...
So I was prepared for anything. I really thought I was.


But nothing could make me understand the magnitude of what a day would be like running for more than four hours than I ever have in a race, a further distance than I have ever been, in the heat that we had and feeling healthy like I did on saturday...
This photo was at 4:30 am when I arrived in Deep Cove to catch the Shuttle to Horseshoe Bay.
I woke up at 3 am, quick shower and makeup (I know, I know...but it's how I roll...)


My heart still fills totally full of happiness from seeing my team mates on the day of, the kind notes from family and friends. Having family and some friends surprise me and show their faces or signs...
I can't even expain it.


Checking in.....

Given our last few instructions....

Two of my friends that I have trained with for one last photo before we each went on our own journey...


                                      
The volunteers were unbelievable. The spread at the 11 aid stations and encouragement, smiles, help...are all things that I ran off with thinking I hope I sounded grateful enough...


Never in my wildest dreams did I actually think I would eat the potatoes and salt and flat coke, gummies, chips, cookies...all en route....
But I did...
And it saved me. I just know it did.
I tried to really take it all in...the views, the positive spirit, the kindness, I tried to keep in a positive mental state...and I was successful at all of that, lucky me.

This Is BLACK MOUNTAIN unfriggen real....this is only a weeeeeee bit of it. there are tiny rocks, climbing rocks, running rocks, there is a very tiny photographer at the top of the hill looking dowwwwn... its a nutty hill...and I love it. ha ha


I love it because there is a surprise at the top waiting...and if you know me at all, you will know that I looooove surprises. The unexpected. Usually its a great story or a kind word or gesture...but today, it was a spectacular view...

                                                 My family came with smiles and signs...

 

My Patient fans...whether they liked it or not...at Cleveland Dam

I had a sock change at Cleveland Dam thanks to a reeeeeally kind person that took my shoes and socks off for me...which is much like childbirth....when all of your pride goes out the window and you just want to get it over with...who cares if you see my bunion...everyone look at it. See? Have a look...I don't care anymore... (Which reminds me, I need to treat myself to a pedicure)

As I was running many things crossed my mind...I had forgotten to turn the power on to my Garmin at the beginning of the run, so I just put it in my pack because I am a numbers gal, I like to know things. Calories, mileage, time, distance...but It was not going to happen, so I put it away and ran the race how it was naturally going to go...It all worked out. It was a milestone for me...as I don't ever run without my watch...but Im glad I did it.


Staying in a positive mind frame can be difficult. Its amazing how quickly you can spiral from fatigue and feeling dispair when you are sore or tired or just having a bad day...
I refused to let myself go there....it really is 90% mental. I think anyone is capable of doing this type of endurance if you can mentally keep fit.
Anyone.


When I made it to Cleveland Dam I changed my socks. My feet were wet, granted...but it was more a mental strategy to change my socks. It was that I was starting a new race. I had done half, in 04:14 so in order for my little squirrel brain to function at the capacity of what my day truly was going to be in distance and time; I decided that when I ran out with new socks half way through, it was like starting a new race.


Sometimes, in life...we need to do this. Whether it be in love, career, or a new level of anything that we are not sure of, frightened of...weary of...we need to put on fresh legs, because if we don't, we will always have lingering negative thoughts, expectations or excuses for not allowing us to experience or enjoy success when it is warranted.


Dont get me wrong, the journey was physically grewling and the parts I thought I would actually be good at I wasn't, but it really didn't matter. Because I knew I was going to finish.

Without my watch, with Coke and other crap in my belly...Knowing my children, parents, a few family and a couple of friends were waiting was the only stress I really had...
  

This is my 4 year old niece basically asking me what the hell took me so long....

Ah, Chelsea...you were totally right. But only in the perspective of the temperture outdoors reaching around 28 degrees....(sadly) 

A GREAT gift....Seriously, these are awesome...smell minty and fresh...an instant spa for your toes.
Oh, the simple pleasures....

Yahoo! Almost forgot to head up the hill to the massage table...So so so awesome. Thank you massage lady, you were amazing.
At the end of the day I felt like I had accomplished a few things. running 3 mountains and 30 miles, seeing my family and friends, enjoying the spectacular views and warmth of the volunteers, reaching a new level of so many achievements...along with not texting for a whole eight hours, fifty nine minutes and fifty one seconds...