My first loss

Well.... when I initially finished my 100 miler I thought for sure I was going to lose a toenail. I had a pretty big blister under the big toenail and kicking a tree root in the night didn't help. When I finally took my socks and shoes off it wasn't a pretty sight. But as the days and weeks went on the nail seemed like it was going to survive. Sure it wasn't exactly pretty but it was still there.

But, last night I felt a weird pull as I turned over in the bed. I sat up and said.... My nail fell off. I didn't even need to check, I just knew. And sure enough, the nail was gone.

I kind of expected to lose a nail at some point in my running life and I guess post 100 miler is about a good a time as any. I know... I know... who wants to read a post about a lost toenail, but this is the reality of my running experience. Aren't you glad I didn't put pictures though :) if you want to see my poor little toe, comment below and just maybe....

Run on my friends, even if your nails fall off.

The Joys of Winter Running

Mid-west winters.....  are one of a kind. We've been blessed the past couple of years to have pretty "easy" winters. This year we are getting our share of snow and cold temps. This can create a challenge for a
spring event training plan.  

Some would say.... too cold, too wet, too much snow....etc and skip out on the run.

I've found it's easy to find a way to make the runs happen with friends and goals kept in mind. I like to play tricks/games with myself to stay motivated and moving.

Too cold/dangerous to run outside? Stay indoors! I've found the fun in running the indoor track at the gym. As long as you can handle looping for hours you can get a long run in any kind of weather without the use of the treadmill.  One positive I found with the indoor track is that I run without my garmin. I just enjoy the time running without stressing pace. I still keep track of miles but with a fun, tech-free counting system from my awesome nephew, Jaelon. He is a rainbow loom expert (see pic below)

Sure, winter running has many challenges, don't get me wrong, but I don't mind this season for my training.

If you're a winter runner you'll understand: increased laundry, the extra time to bundle and de-bundle, running nose, and frozen eye-lashes, and the surprisingly still-there question "did I overdress?!"


But if you are a winter runner you also know the: quiet, peaceful mornings, the huge flakes catching your cheeks, the glitter of fresh powder, and the joy of fresh footprints on the trail.

 

Find what you love about the winter to help get though the next couple of months. Stay warm and enjoy life!

Running Buddy

So the key to running happy for me is finding a balance of alone time and group runs. I find that a true running buddy increases the happy on long runs.

Don't get me wrong, I love an open road and a quiet run. I can easily tick off miles "sola" and carefree. But a tough run with a great buddy can be very motivating.

Over the past year, I've gained an unexpecting running buddy and friend. I'm typically a pretty positive runner, but training can take a toll and my buddy knows just when to turn on her positivity to make any run successful.

Prime example: One hot, humid day I found myself alone and almost out of water in my pack. I was at the point where I was in tears and wasn't sure what to do. I had miles still to run, but I just was on the verge of losing it. So, I randomly sent Jessica a text to see if I could borrow her hose(I was within a mile or two of her house) to cool down and fill up my pack. I made it to her house and there she was.... cold water waiting for me and her bike out to keep me going. She rode along beside me the rest of the way and made sure I safely got back to my house. She willingly gave up her afternoon to make sure I was safe and able to finish my run.

 

 

 

 Pic is from another day Jessica rode with me. I was not smiling after the run from the story above! No pictures from that ;)

Jessica was looking for a fall marathon this past year. She had multiple options but chose to run her marathon at the same location as my 50 miler. It was a low key event and I'm sure she could have enjoyed a bigger event. She not only PR'd her marathon but then came and found me on course. It was a needed push and I'm very thankful for it.

(Photos of our finishes! We didn't have a pic together! :-/ )







A great buddy knows when to push, encourage, and stay quiet. When you run with someone often enough it's just a feeling you get. An unspoken agreement and Jessica and I seem to know what the other needs on the run. I feel lucky to have that. She recently shared this fun concept "The one with the freshest legs has to be the one to stay positive!" I want to practice the joy in having dead legs and a positive spirit. Totally possible.

I hope I can be that great running buddy for her and others along the way. Especially joining her on her first 50k. That will be an exciting day for me. What can you do to be an ideal buddy (even for your nonrunning friends) today? Who can you push, encourage, and share joy with today?