Rock The Ridge 50

Last year I reviewed the book, Born to Run and was simply amazed at the stories and the miles logged across varied terrain.  Hot days, cold (and dark) nights, sore toes and what to eat are just a few of the basic “obstacles” that come to mind when I think of the world of ultra-running.  This doesn’t even come close to the training involved for completing the race itself.  Running three marathons took a lot of courage and guts for me, but I have never imagined what it would be like to run past the 26.2 mile mark, let alone know someone who has.  The ultra-marathon—anything over 26.2—is in a class all its own.  My friend, Sarah, who I met in January at Seal Team PT, decided she was up for the challenge and completed her first ultra on May 4.  I am in awe of her dedication and courage in taking on this incredible feat.  As we say at boot camp, this deserves a big “Hoo Yah!” Job well done!!

Guest Blogger:  Sarah Topping

The question I was asked most often over the weekend seemed to be “are you okay”? The real most asked question was “how did you find us”? My answer? Google. Yes. I signed up for and ran an ultramarathon because I Googled “running” and “New York” and Rock the Ridge caught my eye. I participated in the SEAL Team PT 90-Day Fitness Challenge and wanted a challenge when it ended. I found that challenge over 50 miles of the most beautiful woods I have ever seen. And I’m from Washington state, so I know beautiful woods!

I had never run more than 13.1 miles before, but I knew I could finish RTR because I had 24 hours to do so. Unlike most ultras with course time limits that are well beyond my capabilities, RTR gave me the chance to try something that was calling to me. I can tell you right now that I LOVED IT.

The race was a fundraiser for the Mohonk Preserve. I had never been there before, but I’m all for raising money to preserve any bit of nature we can. After experiencing it for myself, I’m determined to raise even more money next year to help maintain that special place.

I rolled into the area the Thursday before the race. I stayed at Clove Cottages so I would have a kitchen available when I was recovering. If you know me, you know I would rather stay in a one room cabin than be stuck in a hotel room somewhere, the only outdoor area being a parking lot. The cottage came stocked with home ground coffee, homemade granola, and the most wonderful homemade soap. While checking in I was offered fresh eggs from the resident chickens. Sunday mornings bring fresh baked scones right to your door.

The blue cottage at Clove Cottages

I spent Thursday and Friday at the cottage, mainly reading on the porch. I kept telling myself that it was to save my legs, but I wasn’t even kidding myself. I was just enjoying my downtime. Michelle, one of the owners, brought me a hammock. What more can you ask for?

Friday night was packet pick up and the pre-race dinner at the Mohonk Preserve Visitor Center. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop on the woman in front of me in line, but she cracked me up, and I couldn’t help laughing. She didn’t mind my intrusion a bit, and she ended up inviting me to join her and her friends at their table for dinner. That was the first of the really nice things that happened on my odyssey. Who happens to come sit with this group of folks? Um, the race director. Oh, yeah. I was so meant to participate in this race! Todd is this animated burst of energy who managed to get me even more excited about the race. He talked about some of the different things I’d be seeing and places I’d be going. I had reviewed the course map beforehand, but since I didn’t know the area, things just didn’t really mesh in my head as far as what was where and how the course would shake out for me. That uncertainty was part of the excitement.

I was actually so excited I found it nearly impossible to go to sleep that night. I managed a few hours sleep then got up in the pitch black dark and drove to New Paltz to grab a shuttle bus to the start line. I grabbed some coffee, a chair, and watched the sun come up while I got more and more nervous. There was a loop of random things going through my head: Fifty miles…Maybe I was insane, just like people told me from the first time I announced I was doing this…Fifty miles…But it was in the woods…Maybe I’d see a bear!…I so wanted to see a bear…Most of the other runners had never done an ultra either…I could totally do this…And it was really too late now…We were just about to start.

A few people asked what my strategy was. I didn’t really have one. Never having done something like this, I had no idea what I was doing. My strategy was just to finish, and have fun along the way. As I found throughout the day, not having a clue was both a blessing and a curse.

Getting ready to start the race at the Testimonial Gatehouse!

I started out running. I walked the inclines. Ran everything else. Didn’t really stop that until about mile 13 when blistergate started. About mile 8 my feet started feeling not so great.

I’ve gotten blisters before on my long runs, so I didn’t really think anything much about it. Until it got worse. And worse. As my feet swelled, more and more blisters came to visit. My great trail shoes became my worst nightmare. Everywhere there was stitching I got blisters. By about mile 17, I was walking everything and not even doing that well. I couldn’t walk properly on my trashed feet, and my hips were taking the brunt of the change in gait. I was a walking ball of pain.

I am a slow runner. I will most likely never get much faster. I have gotten much more efficient over the past nine months, and that will continue, but I doubt I will ever take more than a minute or so off my best mile time. And I’m okay with that. So I didn’t mind people passing me. It’s not like that has never happened. Most of the folks running this race were kind and funny and like me, just excited to be there. Like any race, I ended up with people of like speed around me. I can’t tell you how nice it was to have people offer ibuprofen, snacks, a “you’re doing great” for oh, about fifty miles of the fifty miles. Add to that the amazing volunteers working the water stops and aid stations and this race soared to the top of my list of favorites, eclipsing even my first half marathon. Go figure.

Awosting Falls

Mile Marker 15

One of my favorite memories was the water stop at Rhododendron Bridge the first time through. I was at mile 19.4. The guy who placed fifth was there at the same time. He was at mile 42.2. See. I’m slow. Anyway, we’re there at the stop and one of the volunteers asked if we wanted Coke. Apparently the guy who won the race was sad panda when he got there and there was no Coke. One of the volunteers drove to a store and bought some so he could have it on his next pass through. Did I not tell you how amazing these volunteers were?! That’s when I found myself pouring Coke into my cup. Because if number 1 wanted it so badly, I figured he had to know something. Right?! I don’t really know if it helped me at all, but just the thought that it did sent me on my way with a smile.

I spent a lot of the race alone on the trail and I didn’t mind that one bit. I’m perfectly content being on my own. Starting around mile 33 (I have no idea what time that was, but it was still daylight), the rangers began driving by checking on each of us left on the trails. It was nice to know that if I keeled over I wouldn’t be lost on the trail for long. I made it to mile 40 before it was really too dark to take photos. I was thrilled because that was on Undercliff Road. I wanted to see the climbers in action and I did. I got to see the last of them finishing their climbs.

That’s when the headlamp went on. There I was, shuffling along in the dark, feet on fire, hips on fire, and it got dark. Really dark. Mentally I didn’t have any issue with that, but physically I was hurting. I had to spend most of my time in the dark looking down so I could make the best foot placement choices available. I hurt. I hurt a lot. And when I stepped on big rocks or stumbled or anything like that, my hips screamed in pain. I wandered along in the dark for quite a while before getting to Rhododendron Bridge again. 7.8 miles to go!

But then I wasn’t feeling so well. My feet hurt. My hips hurt. I was sunburned so my face hurt. And I was cold. I came up to the last of the volunteers somewhere just before mile 45and they had coffee! Coffee! That sounded so good. So I had some. Then I barfed. Oh yeah, good times. Could I have hurled on the trail in any of the miles I was alone? Oh, no. I had to wait until I had everyone left on the trails around me. I felt horrible. But I was not going to quit. The volunteers there were about as nice as can possibly be which made me feel even worse for barfing. So I left my pack at their truck and started on my mile and a half wander in a big old circle. At that point, going through my head was one of the sayings from SEAL Team – if you don’t mind, it don’t matter. Yup. I didn’t mind, so it didn’t matter. I didn’t mind, my feet didn’t matter. I didn’t mind, so I was not cold. I didn’t mind, so it didn’t matter that I barfed. It took me an hour to stumble that mile and a half, but I at least my stomach felt better at the end of it. I picked up my pack and started off on the last few miles.

I can’t even describe how great it felt to walk across that finish line. Up until the last minute I was thinking about running across it, but my feet and hips did not want to play along with that fantasy. My body may have been trashed, but my mind was not. I knew right then that I will be back to try it again, and I will do better.

Checking out the start/finish line post-race in the daylight

I just had to live through the next day. That Sunday was one of the most unpleasant days I have ever experienced. I could barely sleep as every time I moved, I woke up from the pain.

Sarah is all smiles post-race!

My feet were swollen and a mass of open sores. My hips wanted a divorce. I could barely sit up, much less stand and walk. And I needed to eat. I did manage to hobble to the door when Noah knocked. He’d brought me scones! I curled up in bed with a basket of still warm from the oven scones and was almost in tears. That was the best thing to happen to me that day. I knew I needed to eat more, but the kitchen was 10 feet away from the bed. It might as well have been 10 miles. It took me two hours to sit, stand, walk to the refrigerator, pull out the cheese, put it on the counter, walk back to bed, lay down, lather, rinse, repeat until all the sandwich fixings were out and on a cart I could roll to the bed. Once that chore was done, I sat up, pulled out the bread, lay back down. Sat up, pulled out a slice of cheese, lay back down. You get the picture. It was one of the best sandwiches ever. I spent another day and a half enjoying my downtime before leaving for home.

So many plans for next year. Next year I plan to finish during daylight. Next year, when people ask me what my strategy is, I will have one. Next year I will not forget to pack my ibuprofen. Next year I will have better shoes. Next year I will carry better food and eat more regularly. Next year I will have electrolyte capsules so I do not flirt with hypernatremia like I did this year. Next year I will have a fleece in my drop bag so I won’t get cold, even though I don’t expect to need it because all the other “next years” means I will be running the race better and won’t be out in the cold.

This year, I completed an ultra. Fifty miles in 18:04:11. Am I an ultrarunner? No. But I will be.

90-Day Nutrition Challenge: Fruits and Veggies

A big shout out to H2O–the elixir of life! My two-week water only challenge comes to end tomorrow at midnight. In all honesty this was not a terribly difficult challenge for me, but I know that a lot of people doing it with me (especially the coffee drinkers) had a tough time. Overall, I realized that caffeine doesn’t really affect me that much. I’ve never been hooked on coffee and tea. Don’t get me wrong I certainly do enjoy it, but have never been one to drink it every day nor do I usually feel the need for it in order to get through my day. I’m not a huge soda drinker either, so that was not a problem. Nevertheless, I had a dream the other night that I drank a soda and was all panicked that I failed the challenge. Clearly water has been on my mind!

So what have been the benefits?

Awareness: This challenge has struck a new awareness in me. I think about what I’m pouring in my glass before reaching into the fridge.

Budget: My wallet is happy that I have not splurged on coffee drinks or soda/wine/beer.

Energy: There were only a few days that I felt a cup of coffee would have helped me in the morning, but overall my energy levels have improved and I did not experience sugar crashes later in the day.

Skin: Maybe it’s in my head but I feel like my skin has been a little more radiant the last few weeks. Can water be our source for preventing wrinkles too?!?

Healthy All Around: I’ve seen how important it is to keep the body hydrated, and even more so when exercise is a big part of our life.  I now keep two glasses of water at my desk at work instead of one.  And the more of it I drink, the more I feel the urge to eat healthy as well. Water has a cleansing effect and I have been less likely to crave additional sugar that I might after drinking a sweetened beverage. I mean who doesn’t want a delicious muffin or scone while drinking their coffee. And yeah a Coke on its own is ok but a slice of pizza makes it even better.

What I have missed?

Milk and smoothies:  They will be reentering my diet this week and I’m really excited! Oh, how I’ve missed my milk-banana-yogurt-PB-protein powder smoothie!

Come Monday I’ll be starting the next two-week challenge.  Here it is…will you join me?

Challenge 2:  Eat a salad at least once everyday with bright color vegetables and fruit with your meal or as your meal. For a salad you must have something green and leafy such as baby spinach, romaine lettuce, kale, collards, etc.

Dare I say it…this is going to be cake!  I love salads and I eat so much fruit as it is.  The difficulty will be making time for buying fresh produce, but I’m excited and hope to branch out a bit.  I know this will be challenging at times, so creativity is key. Some of my favorite salad toppings include: dried cranberries, sliced almonds, walnuts, pistacio nuts, sunflower seeds and avocado.  For a protein add-on, I suggest tuna, chicken and steak. I’ve even tried some vegetarian protein sources (found in the grocery freezer aisle) that aren’t too bad!  I suggest including some fruit in the green salad to make it a two-for (i.e. strawberries, mandarin oranges, grapes, apples). Fruit on its own is great but sometimes it’s also nice to mix it into yogurt, blend in a smoothie, or top on cereal, pancakes, oatmeal, etc. Fruit is also a great substitute for the after-dinner dessert that many of us crave.

Let’s bring on healthier digestion, antioxidants nutrients and so much more! And be sure to be aware of organic vs. non-organic. Thick skinned fruit like oranges and bananas are fine to buy non-organic, but thin-skinned fruits like raspberries and apples are much better for us as organic. So if it’s in your budget be sure to do some research to ensure you are getting the most health benefits out of your produce. This might be a good opportunity to check out the local farmer’s markets too!

The time is now…time to bring on healthier digestion, antioxidants, nutrients and so much more!

Stay Healthy While You Travel

Today’s guest blogger describes himself as a “fitness and living healthy enthusiast.”  In his spare time, Mike Manning loves to travel the world by experiencing nature’s beauty through hiking, running, camping and cooking.  In his post today, Mike offers suggestions for those who enjoy travel but find difficulty in maintaining their exercise and healthy eating routine.  I hope you enjoy reading…let us know how you make the most of your time away from home without overeating and becoming lazy.

Guest Blogger: Mike Manning

Taking the time to stay healthy while traveling in a different city, state, or country can be easier than many tourists might realize. If a hotel doesn’t offer a gym, then searching for fitness facilities in the area around it can often lead to unexpected results. Basketball courts, tennis courts, and running trails are usually available for free. Community centers in many cities often offer visitors the chance to pay for single day access. Fitness can really improve the quality of your trip because it gives your mind a release from stress and allows you to indulge a little bit more in the experience without the guilt of not sticking to your fitness plan.

Make sure to do some due diligence before booking a hotel for your trip. On a recent trip to San Francisco I was able to book a great hotel for my budget and personality because I really looked through the Internet. I studied a travel guide, which gave me a list of all the San Francisco hotels in order of rank. From here I was able to click through each hotel and see the price, amenities offered and the reviews from people whom previously stayed there. This was invaluable for my trip because I was able to stay at the hotel that suited my fitness, health and budget needs.

Eating healthy while on vacation can often be a minor problem for those who might be accustomed to eating healthy at home during their normal routine. The challenge that many people often face when traveling is finding the foods that they are accustomed to having at home during their trip on the road. Many upscale hotels solve this problem by providing their guests with amenities like a small refrigerator, a microwave, or a kitchenette. Travelers who might be concerned about sticking to a healthy diet can look for opportunities to prepare their own meals instead of frequenting fast food restaurants.   

When selecting restaurants, a reality that many travelers will want to remember is that not every eating establishment provides healthy choices. If a person is on a restricted diet, then finding a restaurant that offers accommodating selections can be a challenge. If an appetizer or entree on a menu contains an ingredient that doesn’t fit into a person’s eating plan, then there is never any harm in asking that it be left out. Most dining venues should comply with individual requests.  

Share your travel trips for staying healthy and learn more at Mike’s blog: http://mikemanningmusings.blogspot.com/ 

90-Day Nutrition Challenge (H2O)

Are you good about your fitness routine, but not so good about watching what you eat?  Or do you carefully inspect every crumb that enters your mouth, but refuse to get off the couch and pull the trigger on a little movement.  Consistent exercise and healthy nutrition go hand-in-hand.  One without the other just doesn’t work.  Diets are fleeting and New Year’s resolutions typically fail.

I fall somewhere in the middle.  While I’m consistent with exercise and a fairly healthy eater overall, I won’t lie…I love food!  I can hold my own at the dinner table and my sweet tooth is my downfall.  To help me be more accountable with the foods I eat, I decided to embark on a new challenge offered through my boot camp class–SealTeam PT’s 90-day Nutrition Challenge.  May 6-August 3 are the dates at hand with a new challenge added every two weeks (after each challenge we can bring it back into our diet, but something tells me the hook is that we won’t want to do so).  And in the end this all leads up to the final two weeks where each mini challenge is incorporated as one.

Stay tuned for my progress at the end of each challenge.  I’m not quite sure what to expect but here goes nothing!

Challenge 1:   Eat what you normally eat but only drink water

Little Blue Box

Sunday’s inaugural Nike Women’s Half Marathon in Washington, DC was a great race.  And while I may have been a little harsh on the expotique, overall it was a very well-organized event.  The water stops, mile markers, bands along the way, and signage was top-notch and I was happy that some thought went into making the course different than the Rock n’Roll Half and Cherry Blossom 10-miler.

The 7 am race start was the perfect temperature and aside from the massive crowds that did not abide by race etiquette in starting in proper wave starts (times that designate your approximate finish at the end and make it a much better running experience for all), I still managed to make excellent time (only a minute and a half shy of my 2011 personal best).  A special shout-out to Batala who was cranking out the drums around Mile 4…I missed seeing my friend Liz there who used to play with the band!  And to everyone I know who ran–Brittany, Nicole and Margaret–and especially to Jessica (wife of our 30 Before 30 blogger) who ran her first ever half!

Here are some photos to showcase the day and my prize….a little blue box waiting at the finish line:

Excited crowd of 15,000 waiting for the race to begin…mainly women and a few very lucky men!

Inspirational signs were on the course throughout Haine’s Point–the longest stretch of the run that can be incredibly boring.  There were also some pretty unique signs that people made along the way.

Two bands set up shop through the 9th Street tunnel that we hit at both the start and end of the race.  They really got me going at the beginning!

Running towards Mile 12 and getting close to the homestretch!

After crossing the finish line at 1:52:57, I admired the red carpet! They went all out for us today.

My Tiffany necklace awaited me (and tuxedoed college boys handed them out).

Showing off the blue box.

And my new finisher shirt! Did I mention turquoise is my favorite color?

Yes, I run DC.

My friend Brittany and I were excited to relish the moment!

Till next time…

I’m taking a little breather from the long races and have a few things up my sleeve, so stay tuned for my next series of adventures coming your way!

Looking Good While On The Run

Thursday night I picked up my race gear for the Nike Women’s Half Marathon in Washington, DC.  This is the first time the race has expanded outside of San Francisco and they chose my city!  How awesome!  The prize for completing the California race?  Not the usual marathon medal, but a Tiffany necklace (and I heard that very good-looking firemen are the ones that drape it on your neck…although that could be a rumor).  For Sunday’s race, I will receive a necklace as well, so I’m super curious to see what my new bling will be!

This will be my first all-women’s race (although they can’t discriminate and men are technically allowed to register too). I’m not quite sure what it will be like, but I’m sure it will be a very encouraging day and I bet there will be a lot of men gawking on the sidelines.

Race packet pick-up was interesting…first it was not in the traditional DC Armory or Convention Center, but rather a large tent set up at the Georgetown Waterfront, which I might add is not a very convenient metro-friendly place to be.  I walked a good 5 or so miles to get to and from public transportation, but I should not complain as it was a nice evening to walk along the water and through Georgetown.

                

The expotique, as they call it, was beautifully decorated and I felt like I had entered some kind of posh dream land.  There were various displays set up including a Nuun flavored water station (apparently that’s what will be in place of Gatorade for the race) which added a spa-like feel, a Bare Minerals makeover section and a Paul Mitchell hair salon where girls were getting their hair curled.  I was confused?!  Are we getting ready for the prom or a race?

                                      

On the opposite side of the tent was everything Nike–four gorgeous, clear, glass wall displays of Nike sneakers. Yes, none of this normal expo stuff where shoe outfitters set up a booth with boxes upon boxes of sneakers for the runner to try on and purchase on the spot.  In fact, I’m not even sure if you could purchase a pair of Nike shoes here since everything was so perfectly displayed.

                                 

It looked like you had to wait in a queue to have the opportunity to even try a pair.  Instead, runners were given a “credit card” with an access code on it and at each shoe station there was the opportunity to punch in your special number and win a pair of shoes.  My access was denied each time, so no free shoes for me.  In fact, in the time I was there I did not see anyone win.  So disappointing.  And then off to the corner of the tent there was a bra fitting area.  I don’t know about you but going to an expo is not where I want to be fit for a new sports bra.  After all, if one is running a half marathon, shouldn’t they already know what fits them properly?

All I really wanted to purchase was a new runner’s headband.  I held off at the Cherry Blossom expo thinking there would definitely have to be some cool race garb for purchase at this one. I had to visit the Nike store in Georgetown if I wanted to buy anything.

I did, however, have a great conversation with a girl who works on the Nike running app.  And although I do not use that as a tool in my training box, I found it interesting all the same to talk to her about running and triathlon (something else I’ve been considering).  I think at one point I even rolled my eyes a bit at all the glam behind this event.  She seemed to get my drift.  I did think overall the visual layout was eye-catching and two of the displays were neat to see–one, a wall where people could post their thoughts on running and another that displayed digital photos that people sent in during training.  Moreover,  Team in Training supporting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society had a presence I could feel, unlike at a lot of running events where you can’t always tell what the race is supporting.  It was encouraging to see that there is ultimately more to this event than just the hype of beautiful cases of shoes and hair/makeup stylists on hand.   But hey, if this is the way to get people into the spirit of the big event, then I’m all for it, with or without coming away with a new headband!

                       

On Your Left

For all of you runners, you know exactly what I mean by the title of this post.  On Your Left–the phrase of choice heard on the running trails when a biker is passing. Mostly it’s just annoying, especially when a group of three or four goes whizzing by and you have to hear it, well, three or four times.  And sometimes I wish they would just go find their own trail.  I think I’ve even secretly cursed those bikers!  How dare they make me move over or interrupt my peaceful run!

But, yet, I know it’s all in the name of safety.  And this past weekend, I became one of them!  Excitedly, I picked up my mountain bike from the bike shop.  A tune-up and new hybrid tires had me ready to test my new wheels.  Off to the trails I went…at first I couldn’t bring myself to say that seemingly innocuous phrase, but later there were moments where I realized it really is a courtesy and a warning that I’m coming on someone’s tail and the last thing I’d want them to do is to run slightly off course and into an “inexperienced” bicyclist–that being me.

Overall, the ride was invigorating.  I felt like a kid with my helmet that looked way to big on me and my hair whipping in the breeze.  You can go so much further with a set of wheels underneath.  I was out for about an hour and a half with my journey taking me on what would normally be a long-run.  “Wow, that was fast,” I thought.  “I could get used to this!”

So next time I’m out on a run, I promise not to be annoyed by the bikers and maybe I’ll just join them and start chanting “On Your Left” to my fellow runners.  If nothing else, I’ll probably get a good laugh out of someone.

And in other news, this marks my 200th blog post!  Very exciting!