tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88577445737655513692024-03-12T20:49:49.478-07:00The Run Smiley CollectiveWelcome to The Run Smiley Collective - A blog to share experiences from like-minded people who have discovered that running and having fun are not mutually exclusive.Katie Kifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837990080866257280noreply@blogger.comBlogger220125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857744573765551369.post-37157391398640407822020-07-26T04:30:00.002-07:002020-07-26T04:41:59.391-07:00Boob--Wobble and F*ck the Patriarchy<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5Rx30FqX333hylZlCDPpBU4fNQITMEUdGuVOxYpcDlem8rsPWCkcWTlHLgtVGTAqqRvFfHsZiL2fMzDYVfO6_-nYKuLEsTkzVnfeZ0TPlhFVW-bzHE0pzTSLidrqam5vBCOQC84lKJpk/s1000/fuck-sexism-smash-patriarchy-d0012945559.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="936" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5Rx30FqX333hylZlCDPpBU4fNQITMEUdGuVOxYpcDlem8rsPWCkcWTlHLgtVGTAqqRvFfHsZiL2fMzDYVfO6_-nYKuLEsTkzVnfeZ0TPlhFVW-bzHE0pzTSLidrqam5vBCOQC84lKJpk/s320/fuck-sexism-smash-patriarchy-d0012945559.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The title says it all. Yes I know this is meant to be a happy smiley blog post, but this issue has been bugging me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I am not a small girl -- chest wise. In the attributes department I would be classed as a 34-"well, hello nurse!" Since the age of 15, I have literally battled with two appendages, that if they were attached to men, would be in medical journals -- but as I am am not, they are counted as things to be stared and commented on. The thing is, compared to the average size of breasts in the UK, they aren't excessively oversized -- In the UK the average cup size was 36DD, (and breast size is increasing, up from a 34B, 11 years ago). Britain is blooming in a wonderful way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">What has this got to do with running? Well, as most female runners will tell you, when you run, you have to bind those puppies down. Double-down on the bra's, buy specialist bra's, there are even <a href="https://theboobuddy.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIm6uD1tvq6gIVwevtCh0Acg6uEAAYASAAEgIoGfD_BwE" target="_blank">Boob-band's</a> to stop the swaying. I have done all of the above because I had this notions that I needed support to prevent muscle strains, or bruising, (I honestly don't know what rationale I was using) -- stupid idea's that we are all fed by advertisers and magazines. Those mammogry glands need to be kept stationary peeps, for your own protection. It's running law! Are there Boob-Cops? I bet Netflix has a show on it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Over, the last few weeks I have been run/wallking on a treadmill at home. As I mentioned last time, I am usually wearing nothing more than my underpants, and a t-shirt... and a <a href="https://www.myoddballs.com/collections/bralette" target="_blank">bralette</a>. (It has all the support of a democrat voter at a Trump rally. It has been my curtesy at wearing a bra when the postman knocks on the door.) I am sure a sexy scene -- Runners World, photo shoots eat your heart out. I bet I could do a fantastic alternative cover shoot if needed -- like <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2017/jun/30/the-model-world-of-instagram-parody-star-celeste-barber-in-pictures" target="_blank">Celeste Barber</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Yet, did my chest muscles all collapse in a heap? Nope. Did I get two black eyes from the excessive bouncing? Nope -- In fact where is the bouncing? Did society collapse? Nope. Did Aliens invade? Nope -- bit sad on that, we could do with a dose of Doctor Who about now. Okay, so what is the hang-up about the boobs and running?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Over the last couple of weeks I have been thinking about this, and I have come to the conclusion -- It's because of some men and their inability to cope with boob-wobble. Women have been binding themselves, in some type of medieval practise because some men can't cope with the idea that boobs will wobble whilst women run. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I have just watched the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wugedlHy8Pc" target="_blank">rousing congress speech</a> by <span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(77, 81, 86); text-align: left;">Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez yesterday in response to the apologies by Congressman Ted Yoho. It struck a cord, women -myself included- have been called names and will continue to be called names by men when we don't do what they want. She inspired me. I finally had to write this shit down. My Boob-wobble pot of anger had boiled over. Again, another Netflix show in the making.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">You see, I quite often run with my teenage son in the room, and I have had to reprimand him to stop interfering with my run -- by showing me meme video's or doing silly dances, or trying to distract me with showing me Terraria biomes. Not once has he mentioned anything about how I look whilst I run -- he doesn't care what wobbles and jiggles; what I show, or don't show.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">However, contrast that with other experiences I have had running. Running outdoors on my own, or in a gym, where I get wolf-whistles or glared at -despite being an over-forty, unfit, jogger. Men shout and toot their car horns. The troubling incident at a local Parkrun I used to attend, where one man used to make comments to me about which outfits he wish he could see me in to run. Or asking me to do an extra-run-up to the finish on a costume day -I thought so he could take a photo for the event- so he could see my boobs wobble in my costume. How I felt powerless to make a complaint because he was popular, so I started going less.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><font face="inherit"><span style="caret-color: rgb(77, 81, 86);">In running, do women double-up on bras, or buy extra-supportive bra's or boob-bands not for their own health, but because they want to prevent situations where comments will be made that make them feel uncomfortable or unsafe? Over the last few weeks I realised that I have the extra-supportive bra's, the boob-bands and the loose shirts for outdoor running, not because I need them medically, but I need the emotionally -- to protect </span></font><span style="caret-color: rgb(77, 81, 86);">myself</span><font face="inherit"><span style="caret-color: rgb(77, 81, 86);"> from the potential of being cat-called. Just like I won't run at night, or run in places that are quiet, or run on trails alone. I do this to protect myself. I protect myself from all those who might hurt me emotionally -- who have in the past overwhelmingly been men.</span></font></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><font face="inherit"><span style="caret-color: rgb(77, 81, 86);"><br /></span></font></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><font face="inherit"><span style="caret-color: rgb(77, 81, 86);">So, whilst this isn't the upbeat Be Happy post, it is strong and defiant. FUCK THE PATRIARCHY! We should be able to embrace our boob-wobble if we want to. Men should grow a pair (and have the freedom to run with them flapping and jiggling in their shorts for everyone to see without comment). </span></font></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><font face="inherit"><span style="caret-color: rgb(77, 81, 86);"><br /></span></font></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><font face="inherit"><span style="caret-color: rgb(77, 81, 86);">I am happy, that I have a son who, when I run, cares more about showing me meme's than commenting that my boobs are wobbling -- that the idea hasn't even crossed his mind. I am happy that I do have a place where I can finally run happy, boob-wobble and everything. I just know that I am </span></font><span style="caret-color: rgb(77, 81, 86);">privileged</span><font face="inherit"><span style="caret-color: rgb(77, 81, 86);"> to be able to have it -- now if we can just get that freedom for everyone.</span></font></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Katie Kifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837990080866257280noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857744573765551369.post-30596266079420691292020-07-15T05:23:00.008-07:002020-07-15T09:51:07.687-07:00This Run... Running in a lockdown... (and coming back again)<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipwFjX9qk7Eh964ZRvvTfLCASWoexIoh5zIVvHF9jqtqhkq_rc3jxN63DLojrBEYInkOxVQhl1ubB5CNOJkmfbUGKwl4WsiyJLxXzOYFrq4tNhjCXjS6klTn0OVA_rsy2HNSVxXMpXC6S/s2048/IMG_0027.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="What my running view looks like... currently without the stinky teenager." border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipwFjX9qk7Eh964ZRvvTfLCASWoexIoh5zIVvHF9jqtqhkq_rc3jxN63DLojrBEYInkOxVQhl1ubB5CNOJkmfbUGKwl4WsiyJLxXzOYFrq4tNhjCXjS6klTn0OVA_rsy2HNSVxXMpXC6S/w300-h400/IMG_0027.jpg" title="Where are you running to Mum? Nowhere." width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My current running view, without the stinky teenager <br />-he is at school- laughing at how slow I am.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>This run..Running in a lockdown... why is it when I say those words, I have to do it do it to the tune of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ2oXzrnti4" target="_blank">'The Specials' 1981 tune 'Ghost town'</a>? Anyway, I have only begun running again because frankly I was having trouble getting into all of my old clothes. It was this or swimming and as the pools are closed, trying to do laps in the bath would be darn tricky, (although it would mean I could boast a new personal record on laps).<div><br /></div><div>The little portable treadmill finally turned up -- It was a Indiegogo/Kickstarter thing which should have been delivered in January, but it ended up being June. I suppose they got some of the letters right in the month, but as with all of these projects you have to take a chance. The little treadmill turned up, and it's meant that instead of braving the glorious UK summer (aka rain and cardigans), I can do a quick run whilst supervising the spawn. Multi-tasking -- the new Coronavirus/lockdown skill. Need a paper to write whilst homeschooling your kid? Easy... actually, yeah, that's a fail. Run in your underpants and a Tweetie-pie t-shirt, whilst watching your kid play computer games? Score -- I am rocking this parenting thing! Yes, he's had chicken nuggets and rice five times this week... I keep my parenting bar low, so I can ensure that I occasionally surpass my expectations. I am proud to say I have a teenager who bathes every day -- so I must be doing something right.</div><div><br /></div><div>I mentioned last time, I am coming back to running after a 2-3-4 ?? year hiatus. Why did I stop? Well, I think a lot of the authors on this blog, found their running vibe did fade and like myself, they don't run anymore. Life, age and potentially misery get in the way perhaps. The kids got slow and ended up on computer consoles, so we don't need to be fit to chase them anymore.</div><div><br /></div><div>Personally, I moved country -back to my native UK- to an area that, although has its own type of natural beauty, didn't have the type of trail running I was used to. I just didn't enjoy it as much. I tried to reconnect, but I had my own lows about coming back to the UK and the issues I thought I had run (haha) away from. As we all know, you can't run away from life. Life sucks!! I want a refund on the one given me, I am sure parts of it are broken -- definitely an IKEA life. A surname you can't spell correctly (I blame the husband on that one though), instructions no-one can understand, always some bits left over, seemed good in the shop but when you get home you never know what to do with it. Oh, and I always seem to come with meatballs, hotdogs or ice-cream. I had a 365 day return, but I am over forty years past the return policy.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another local move, more life angst and then about 18 months ago -after a viral infection- I developed <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fibromyalgia/" target="_blank">Fibromyalgia</a>. I have to admit, I haven't really felt that amount of pain before -- I have broken limbs, flared discs in my back, frozen shoulder and giving birth, but this was another level of pain. There were points I could barely walk up the stairs, let alone run. And was I tired! So damn tired. If there was a medal for falling asleep in strange places, I bet I could have a couple of golds in a few events by now.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am still getting my head around the symptoms -- my good days, my bad days, my triggers. I am still in the learning process. New meds, new ways of doing my day. Having to say 'No' to things -- which is a huge issue for me. Going slower. Accepting the new me. It's not been the easiest process -- I am a Gal that likes to go fast and hard, (you know you say something in your head and it seems fine...)</div><div><br /></div><div>Running isn't the most recommended exercise for fibromyalgia -- It's considered too load intensive on the joints. Swimming is preferred by doctors; as is regular exercise. As soon as I received this Perscription of 'Swim regularly!', Coronavirus took over and the pools shut. As with most doctors recommendations -when it comes to the type of physical exercise I should do- I politely ignored it. The treadmill turned up (eventually), the Tweetie-pie t-shirt went on, the trousers PJ bottoms came off and I started to run (okay, fast walk/trot, as my spawn likes to point out) in socks.</div><div><br /></div><div>I forgot the whole shoe thing... again. I never intended to 'run' on the treadmill in socks -- I wasn't deliberately thinking about running minimalist again. However, I have had no pains in my knees -which is the one of the main joint killers in Fibromyalgia- and as the treadmill has no inclines, my ankles have been stable. I am taking everything slow because I am unfit and ... well old... but, its going good. I know I will never, ever be able to win any PB's. My goal is walk/run a 5K by the end of the year. In January I didn't think it was possible... now... who know's? I think I maybe in with a shot!</div><div><br /></div><div>But for now, I am moving happy. I am moving smiley! (as long as the teenage spawn doesn't fart -- cloth masks maybe good for helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but they do nothing for the biological weapon known as his farts!). </div><div><div><br /></div></div>Katie Kifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837990080866257280noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857744573765551369.post-4998753393986130132020-06-26T04:41:00.000-07:002020-06-26T04:41:34.346-07:00RE...Restarting... Running, smiling, writing, what-else?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1MWNnMuxSZySppu1ISzNEVQb2bUGy-DxpUMYfCFKrM1BbaL-cRoyO-h_RPzHny8nShxvvzIjVyj6AHfkRfMYLnf0Wt8Siajh2OqAzYx0dEMPO0_OcYIaNFNzFFqd9TOGiaH0Nwe-ZVdL/s570/2016-05-30-1464600256-1952992-cutecatnames-thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="I couldn't find a good 'reboot' image, so have cute cats instead" border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="570" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1MWNnMuxSZySppu1ISzNEVQb2bUGy-DxpUMYfCFKrM1BbaL-cRoyO-h_RPzHny8nShxvvzIjVyj6AHfkRfMYLnf0Wt8Siajh2OqAzYx0dEMPO0_OcYIaNFNzFFqd9TOGiaH0Nwe-ZVdL/w320-h226/2016-05-30-1464600256-1952992-cutecatnames-thumb.jpg" title="Cute Cats... Ahhhh.." width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I couldn't find any 'reboot' images, so have <br />some cute cats instead. Ahhhh....<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Hello?... TAP. TAP. TAP. Is this thing on?<div><br /></div><div>Well, hello. It's strange to finally find you. Hidden between old accounts and forgotten websites. I had almost forgotten about you. I know you remind me occasionally -- with the occasional new likes on Facebook, but frankly I haven't been paying much attention.</div><div><br /></div><div>2011-2012 or so, that was so long ago. Even when I tried to reboot you in 2013, it was half-hearted. I was still in a place, where running and living were not something I really wanted to do... let alone smile whilst I did it. I lost it... my joy -- it's there somewhere. Probably hidden, in those lost passwords and mothballed websites.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, well I don't run anymore. I haven't run competitively in four years, (it wasn't really a race then either, more of a lark around a course with cake). I haven't run at all in over twelve months. Many of the friends I had made when this site started, are in a similar situation. Life, work, kids... the world has just got in the way. The happy group of mavericks... we just got old.</div><div><br /></div><div>And Fat(ter); Well I have. If you haven't noticed lately, there is a situation going down in the world at the moment. COVID-19. Coronavirus. I am now into month four of lockdown and my waistline is showing it. I would rationalise it by saying its the Peri-menopause, or 'I am just getting old', but it's not. I just got lazy. Very Lazy.</div><div><br /></div><div>This week -quietly ignoring my doctor, who recommends swimming (the pools aren't open and the last time I ignored that particular advice I secured a sweet trip to New York)- I decided to start a couch-2-5K training plan.</div><div><br /></div><div>Couch-2-5K. Yeah. I am quite humbled by that. I remember a time, (okay, it was about 10 years ago), I used to run half-marathons on a whim -- Just because I was bored that weekend. Now, I am running my first week of a plan that has me walking for the majority of the session. </div><div><br /></div><div>But, do you know what? At least I am moving again. I am trying again. I am having aspirations, I am setting myself small goals and I looking to the future again. It's been a long time since I made a move that positive; and as you can see, I am writing again. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is a big deal.</div><div><br /></div><div>So here is the re... re-start of 'The Run-Smiley Collective'. I maybe only one member now, but I am always on the lookout for more. If you run (or walk, or dance, or pogo-stick, or silly-walk) am unspecified distance and you want to write about the positivity of movement but have no forum... let me know. Let's spread some "Collective LUUUURRRVVVEE' out there.</div><div><br /></div><div>MMMWWWWAAAAHHHH. XX (<-- Socially distance kiss of course).</div>Katie Kifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837990080866257280noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857744573765551369.post-54914667823048828532013-12-09T12:09:00.001-08:002013-12-09T12:16:35.941-08:00I don’t do race reports, but if I did, then it would include a Rude Zombie Santa.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UvfYUXEK2YXJNufcDMy-W7OmghoRhcfz7PuVUcqqjEA2eHjznSjll_r26aHfgBkRMH4ItoV4d-15YweXxfKHQYIxEO1HnjTM-K9FWXI3XoCUAsrKIxr7HPMIGLzZrW5Yy3NQi-_zJL8/s1600/1229932_10151751112051822_825021302_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UvfYUXEK2YXJNufcDMy-W7OmghoRhcfz7PuVUcqqjEA2eHjznSjll_r26aHfgBkRMH4ItoV4d-15YweXxfKHQYIxEO1HnjTM-K9FWXI3XoCUAsrKIxr7HPMIGLzZrW5Yy3NQi-_zJL8/s400/1229932_10151751112051822_825021302_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Trying not to laugh. I won't tell you where we had<br />
our hands.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You know you get those races where the only object of the run is to be as silly as possible? No? Wow, there are some boring runners out there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you said ‘Yes’, then welcome to my club – yes, you can be afraid of the honour if it helps.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last Sunday, my friend Nikki and I ran a race -a 4.4 mile Santa Run- and to be brutally honest, we weren’t at our best. We wish we were suffering from a humongous (I like the word ‘humongous’, I may use it more in conversation) hangover, but frankly we were both a little broken. Nikki has been on the road to recovery from tendonitis, and I was on the tail-end of a lingering chest cold. It was a case of the lame leading the infectious.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The beauty of Santa races is the fact that you can be as stupid and as slow as you like, and unless someone clocks your bib-number, you are completely incognito. Why? Everyone is wearing the same Santa suit. You are just one of seven-hundred Santa’s all running the same route.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This had a possible side-effect that Nikki and I had realised early-on. From the start of the race we made it our mission to be as rude as possible. For us it isn’t as hard as it may seem. We had spent the pre-ceding Friday having loud conversations about ‘Tart Plungers’ and big balls that were a mouthful at our Christmas Girls Night out.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8jh4uFGnKsN-uGmyOFrSVxPDooYEXyPOwye7w12PcX-tK5pG49v4DO6TVpd3Rn4zMr67lYxAq6Q4JpMfeO895VbhyTQ529hhfgCAfOsEfmvy0HGMlqwXA0eAbHBRxWhXXfSkc-SxG-s/s1600/1425503_10151751076471822_676108190_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8jh4uFGnKsN-uGmyOFrSVxPDooYEXyPOwye7w12PcX-tK5pG49v4DO6TVpd3Rn4zMr67lYxAq6Q4JpMfeO895VbhyTQ529hhfgCAfOsEfmvy0HGMlqwXA0eAbHBRxWhXXfSkc-SxG-s/s320/1425503_10151751076471822_676108190_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"Come here little girl and stroke my beard"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Firstly, we rejoiced in the beauty of arriving at the start thirty minutes early. Why? Because we wanted to play with each others’ beards; our false Santa beards! What were you people thinking of?! snicker. With comments of: “Come here little girl and stroke my beard”, to “Come here little girl and look in my pocket [on the coat] and you’ll find a present [of Jelly Babies]”, we then progressed to stroking our bellies in a suggestive way. Okay, that bit was just me; however, it was quite apparent before we had even started that we were the creepiest Santa’s on the course.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITLrNwb1KLqKjLtLyHAS3dTIHdEMfYEQ9v8sHwo3DYuNKFxW8efr2GZc3bZGMgZjbDItC6FXC9StordMDSjoI6vi9XroixWKGxmNBU-WifQJuXBopSooDYTPcgk3tLYjrQxe6RCo0-8Q/s1600/529445_10151751112201822_577904557_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITLrNwb1KLqKjLtLyHAS3dTIHdEMfYEQ9v8sHwo3DYuNKFxW8efr2GZc3bZGMgZjbDItC6FXC9StordMDSjoI6vi9XroixWKGxmNBU-WifQJuXBopSooDYTPcgk3tLYjrQxe6RCo0-8Q/s320/529445_10151751112201822_577904557_n.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">As taken by a Mayor or someone...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The short walk to the start was uneventful – well as uneventful as walking to a dis-used Castle with five hundred Santa’s (and a couple of elves) could be.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the start, we eyed up the most senior and most important person we could find to take our photo’s and then dared each other to ask him. It was some type of mayor or something or other. Luckily for us, I managed to keep my comments to myself and he didn’t realize he was one step away from taking a mug-shot of the ‘Arctic’s Most Wanted’ –next to <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/barry-the-elf/id480806113?i=480806364">‘Barry the Elf’</a> and ‘Jeff the Reindeer’ who were ‘lewd, and crude and rude’.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The start was more a mass ‘escape of Elf-catraz’ (get it?) with a plethora of false bearded, felt suited and very over-heated Santa’s all running as fast as their little legs could carry them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nikki and I took this opportunity to engage with our fellow Claus-ian friends. Actually, it was more of a case of Nikki and I shouting very loudly and seeing who would respond. Our biggest catch were two Santa’s who were very interested in my ‘Chest pulling’, (I discovered coughing and running were not a good combination) and why my hat stood up after playing with the ball.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLRb0qUiabw0VOv_sY_Cn58HHCyqo3MTWgALHWfrdB3bzD-Hkb7dbKDTq28hWenvdU1pn1LE9EJDnBkfVhQ0J1Q60Gauuy_FoqPZXbvlYxBbnks3ebyOXcCggOhi1uFFxL8s3Qfial9M/s1600/1483282_10151751497266822_688749372_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLRb0qUiabw0VOv_sY_Cn58HHCyqo3MTWgALHWfrdB3bzD-Hkb7dbKDTq28hWenvdU1pn1LE9EJDnBkfVhQ0J1Q60Gauuy_FoqPZXbvlYxBbnks3ebyOXcCggOhi1uFFxL8s3Qfial9M/s320/1483282_10151751497266822_688749372_n.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Our Mascot Christmas tree who we didn't</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">know the name of, but I will call him 'Norm'</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we left the half-way point of the first lap, we encountered our own little mascot. I wish we knew his name, so from this point I will call him ‘Norm’, mainly because I like the name and I think it suited him. Norm, was dressed as a Christmas Tree and we couldn’t help but sing, “Christmas Tree, O’ Christmas Tree” as we jogged past. I did realize as I went into the third line of the song, I actually don’t know the third line to the song and it was pointed out that “your balls are small and your lights only blink” was probably a little derogatory and insulting. I am sure they were the right lines. Huh.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The urge to cough was very apparent and I now became the dodgy Santa who liked to breathe heavily with a certain amount of wheezing. As we turned for the next lap it was only ‘Limping along Santa’ A.K.A Nikki, who kept me going. For an injured person, she run’s bloody quickly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The crowd had thinned out as the majority of the Santa’s participating had realized that 2.2 miles was a good distance to justify chocolate marsh-mellow pancakes and cider. Clever bunch. Nikki was enthusiastic and I made the mistake of following her slip-stream. It was a mistake because she’s smaller than me and was no use what-so-ever in removing some of the wind.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We plodded along -well Nikki plodded and I huffed- until we got to our friendly Christmas Tree called ‘Norm’. I didn’t help on the lookout for him as I wasn’t wearing my glasses, so my only contribution to the conversation was, “That’s him… wait, or is it a tree? No, it’s just some bushes”. Nikki was barely holding herself from crumpling with laughter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We managed to locate him –he was a six-foot man dressed as a Christmas tree, how hard could he be to find? We sang our ditty again (this time I omitted my made up and personally attacking lines), and it was enough to make him blush. He was just being kind so we –okay more I—would stop singing. There is a good reason I am banned from singing in the car.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The last mile was spent passing all of the walkers (most of them with children). We found that the shout of “Santa behind you” wasn’t really a good indication that you were passing, when there were a load of Santa’s running. Nikki and I also asked some of the adults if they had been “naughty or nice”, making note of all the ‘Nice’ ones – I am sure they were hiding something wink</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we got towards the end, my wish to curl up and collapse was only held off by Nikki tempting me with alcoholic cupcakes at the end. Damn, she knows how to motivate me.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuvrI1mWCj7Dd21Oe3Rn62DxQaWuTv7HhMmSqHZ4rFgtTC0fjtmWawMOyWZkkIo57O0nNmmD4kfwa86cBAqiZVlOyYp7CwRH3nFq5rio55Mxrr4LXQXHbVQ4VSlcZAE36N2wbe6i7i8M/s1600/1495367_10151751398466822_1965413095_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuvrI1mWCj7Dd21Oe3Rn62DxQaWuTv7HhMmSqHZ4rFgtTC0fjtmWawMOyWZkkIo57O0nNmmD4kfwa86cBAqiZVlOyYp7CwRH3nFq5rio55Mxrr4LXQXHbVQ4VSlcZAE36N2wbe6i7i8M/s320/1495367_10151751398466822_1965413095_o.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Santa's with a medal -- taken in some</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">'hobbity' type hole. It's artistic people!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finish done in 38:15 and we immediately headed off after collecting our frankly awesome medals to get some cash from the car; oh and to strip. Before you get any idea’s on Santa-on-Santa action here, may I just point out that sweat-dripping felt Santa suits is not a good look.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZgvR2T6oxT238rtj9NHMk2Q3ktFy_WcPtNnnlU-zFWK8qxvcOQQtDr0mt54qqiO_wawM1A51scRYe4XWmbZhzaEBBzTeQ9PbTqbTet4UTgbf0o_2fJSoEADR6dU466RvEIWqf6O-JAY/s1600/1497570_10152093474212152_2128068938_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZgvR2T6oxT238rtj9NHMk2Q3ktFy_WcPtNnnlU-zFWK8qxvcOQQtDr0mt54qqiO_wawM1A51scRYe4XWmbZhzaEBBzTeQ9PbTqbTet4UTgbf0o_2fJSoEADR6dU466RvEIWqf6O-JAY/s320/1497570_10152093474212152_2128068938_n.jpg" width="226" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">t wasn't just the Grinch who stole Christmas.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Zombie's do it too!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the end we managed to spend £20 on alcoholic cupcakes and coffee. We picked up a few items before we realized that if we carried on, I may be over the legal limit to drive back. We stopped briefly for photo’s; mainly my version of Zombie Santa (I felt it was necessary to wear my <a href="http://www.inknburn.com/">InkNBurn</a> Halloween outfit underneath for added fun) and as many silly poses as we could get away with, without mental health professionals being called in to assess us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We also managed to find Norm, who graciously posed for photo’s with us.</span><br />
<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbd98R1eAN11reM1YStCN5R6Z2Mx207xBiePeXw_4huEbQVH3bWDdCRj7FFgAWGnP5VDsimmHU27QqVQTtZGmeJdtIKl-TJQY8WYBfaFzmIRAFUkZSoQ5-nnwxv-VSVDsW24yKXuwkU0/s1600/1483334_10151751497151822_2085471534_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbd98R1eAN11reM1YStCN5R6Z2Mx207xBiePeXw_4huEbQVH3bWDdCRj7FFgAWGnP5VDsimmHU27QqVQTtZGmeJdtIKl-TJQY8WYBfaFzmIRAFUkZSoQ5-nnwxv-VSVDsW24yKXuwkU0/s320/1483334_10151751497151822_2085471534_n.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Christmas Tree, O' Christmas Tree,</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How we love you Christmas Tree"</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Christmas race isn’t complete without singing stupid Australian Christmas Songs whilst still wearing Santa hats on the drive home. I also ensured that I wore my Zombie Santa outfit (complete with hat and beard) around the local food store, because really provincial England has not been shocked enough with my running get-up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All in all, I am reminded that, being injured and full of cold, creates some of the most fantastic runs. The whole idea that you need to run to be fast sometimes just ruins all the fun. I mean what’s the point of getting a PB, if you are miserable doing it. You will find sometimes that running for a laugh will get you that PB you wanted AND you also have a story to tell at the end.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course it also helps in obtaining your PB, if you have never run a ‘4.4 mile, dressed as a creepy Santa’ race before. A PB is pretty much guaranteed regardless of how slow –or in fact how rude- you are!</span><br />
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</div>
Katie Kifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837990080866257280noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857744573765551369.post-42752953130812459782013-10-16T10:07:00.001-07:002013-10-16T10:09:58.485-07:00FlintLand | Running with the Navajo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxVXuV-b9k9CDT-s12LJnIamDJb9iHL7pZ_ybOeVJPPGzdqBRaF8rh8FZAZ2WHUW9WYjXvtArUyMKiPYZi5rCUYVFnkvfrdXrHzuubwtiM8dbSFs_DR28vjGSlpgE8sRKlzZeRx03aMxl/s1600/Canyon+de+Chelly+Sunrise.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxVXuV-b9k9CDT-s12LJnIamDJb9iHL7pZ_ybOeVJPPGzdqBRaF8rh8FZAZ2WHUW9WYjXvtArUyMKiPYZi5rCUYVFnkvfrdXrHzuubwtiM8dbSFs_DR28vjGSlpgE8sRKlzZeRx03aMxl/s400/Canyon+de+Chelly+Sunrise.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
«Welcome, my People, my friends, ma family.»<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJSiO2Rci3uy-7y7W8Zcj8Dx6tGeLWMQvh-hdAzOjaCEUdZnDGmyt4b5jE-iDGVJ5SXjFvVRwU3dOsDiIWTU9eCFr9os9k99w-JzOSVEMZf16Ki44PB6zcH4h54YazhO79y_RUPQdljx1/s1600/ShaunMartinWelcomeSpeech.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJSiO2Rci3uy-7y7W8Zcj8Dx6tGeLWMQvh-hdAzOjaCEUdZnDGmyt4b5jE-iDGVJ5SXjFvVRwU3dOsDiIWTU9eCFr9os9k99w-JzOSVEMZf16Ki44PB6zcH4h54YazhO79y_RUPQdljx1/s200/ShaunMartinWelcomeSpeech.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Race director Shaun Martin</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
«Ya'at' eeh. As is Navajo tradition, please allow me to introduce myself.»<br />
<br />
Shaun
Martin doesn't speak like everyone. Tall, calm with vivid, fiery eyes,
you couldn't miss him in a crowd of hundreds. He stood proudly in front
of the runners, and went on to recite his name and his family
background, in Navajo language.<br />
<br />
«What I just did is
state my name, my clan and my origins. I started by saying Ya'at' eeh.
Translated to English, it is a salutation which basically means that you
and I, we're good».<br />
<br />
I felt immediately at ease. I'd
traveled to Navajo Country with my friend La Mariposa and we'd arrived
in Chinle, Arizona, just as the sun set over the distant horizon. The
sky is large, here, the land is vast and the air is crisp. Sitting in an
outside amphitheater, surrounded by runners and listening to Shaun, I
was right at home. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwZm6DkK8y0OXuOEhnoPELbUMiMo2Ch-FnTpy9R7-gA4KoXmdn-k9x7ZvsWnoN1WgJOKI3JTLWP9f_iLtXWKjfXeAArXe9A539liXH_NiCAYtL9sw12ZQLVDzI5UHoid1XnmuhUmmQnd3/s1600/Canyon+de+Chelly.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwZm6DkK8y0OXuOEhnoPELbUMiMo2Ch-FnTpy9R7-gA4KoXmdn-k9x7ZvsWnoN1WgJOKI3JTLWP9f_iLtXWKjfXeAArXe9A539liXH_NiCAYtL9sw12ZQLVDzI5UHoid1XnmuhUmmQnd3/s320/Canyon+de+Chelly.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>A sacred place of magnificent beauty</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Canyon de Chelly (promounced «De Shay») is a place of
legends. This space is sacred for the Navajo, and its access is
strictly prohibited to anyone unless their clan lives inside the tall
red rock walls. Visitors and tourists may glance at it from top
lookouts, in the distance. As a world first, on October 12, we runners
would have the immense honor of being allowed inside the Canyon and the
great privilege of running its entire lenght.<br />
<br />
After an
evening of connecting with participants and organizers, where my
imagination took flight with canyon legends and my heart filled with a
deep sense of kinship, we went to sleep for a couple hours among the
distant howls of the coyotes and the neighing of the wild horses. The
next day, before first light, we made our way into the dark to a warm
bonfire where a traditional breakfast of blue corn mash was awaiting us.
<br />
<br />
There, in the biting cold late-night breeze, gathered
in a circle around the fire, we participated in a prayer to the new day
and received an intimate blessing of cedar smoke, from a shaman who
spoke to all in a mix of Navajo and English.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJjVTl5wcXNs8DzmD8FQ0schSxx4HIqRAMUREsY9TEMRtS0DmCRMK8xpY4745whnX9rME4qNSHF8WnwtgXC3S82LINf7HqZaH423q2i56GuwSeLhsspEkEVQZdz1c4vId_00CieQdSnEW/s1600/MorningFire.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJjVTl5wcXNs8DzmD8FQ0schSxx4HIqRAMUREsY9TEMRtS0DmCRMK8xpY4745whnX9rME4qNSHF8WnwtgXC3S82LINf7HqZaH423q2i56GuwSeLhsspEkEVQZdz1c4vId_00CieQdSnEW/s200/MorningFire.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Blessing ceremony</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
«You are about to perform a sacred act in the Navajo culture, called <i><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".r[1gtqh].[1][4][1]{comment10153284906725391_43332863}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3]"><span data-reactid=".r[1gtqh].[1][4][1]{comment10153284906725391_43332863}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0]"><span data-reactid=".r[1gtqh].[1][4][1]{comment10153284906725391_43332863}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[0]">Dàghààh</span></span></span></i>.
Your footsteps will touch the earth while the sky awakens and sends its
first sunlight. As you enter the mouth of the Canyon, the walls will
slowly rise; this represents Mother Earth's arms opening to invite you,
then rising up to take you to Father Sky.»<br />
<br />
We left the
warmth of the fire and took a couple steps to the starting line. Shaun
stood at the front. «While you travel inside the Canyon, you are welcome
to follow Navajo tradition and holler out to your heart's content. The
more, the better. Your howls will echo along the rock walls and be heard
from a great distance. Canyon residents and visitors to the rim are
going to witness a very rare, awesome display of running today.» <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNb9S5y5rBC2Imj_zd7J11kxf6l1mVdyHkroxl3Auut2Qcxtgny_13GJDSsUDjEhTQx1wArDsXsVI4xjb0_rP7qMwVUQkEw6nKj5ru-RsyGxyGfPIMxqs8Z5zHFeSig-HBny2pBUC4LK2/s1600/RunnersInTheSand.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNb9S5y5rBC2Imj_zd7J11kxf6l1mVdyHkroxl3Auut2Qcxtgny_13GJDSsUDjEhTQx1wArDsXsVI4xjb0_rP7qMwVUQkEw6nKj5ru-RsyGxyGfPIMxqs8Z5zHFeSig-HBny2pBUC4LK2/s200/RunnersInTheSand.jpg" width="200" /></a>Without
any need to say more, both Shaun and the crowd united in a huge, wild,
primal howl and the runners burst out in the early light. The moment was
unique, magical, electric. A long line of awe-struck runners formed as
we slowly left the low sand wash and entered the Canyon. Every step took
us further in, swallowing us whole in unspeakable beauty.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://flintland.blogspot.ca/2013/10/running-with-navajo-canyon-de-chelly.html">> Read more on FlintLand<br /><br /><br /></a></i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857744573765551369.post-53467790258110648792013-09-15T10:02:00.001-07:002013-09-15T10:02:00.666-07:00Limits? Where we're from, we don't have limits!I know -before you pick yourselves off and stare at the screen in horror- two posts in two days, on a blog that was barely breathing. Well, I have my mojo back and yes, I also know that is a scary, scary thought. You may -if you wish- run away now, screaming and waving your hands in the air.<br />
<br />
Today, I ran a 10K race with little -okay, closer to no- training; testing my limits and giving the proverbial finger to life and everything she wants to dish out at me.<br />
<br />
I wrote yesterday, that prepping for the race, felt like a marker in life; a hint that today, I would learn something about myself, my running and about the community I live in. I did.<br />
<br />
I had no expectations on this race. I just wanted to finish. I am so glad that this was my only goal. I think if I was concentrating on getting a PB and not enjoying the ride, I would have missed out on so much.<br />
<br />
The race started -as they usually do- with the hares at the front and the tortoises at the back. I placed myself in the mid-pack, knowing that really thats not where I should be. This was the start of my life re-education:<br />
<br />
<i><b>Lesson #1 - life is fast. Control and determination is not about pushing every limit, but learning which boundaries to test</b></i>.<br />
As I started in the mid-pack, I became more contented as I let the hares pass me by and to run the race at a pace I knew would allow me to finish. Just because I wasn't running a 8:30 mile, didn't mean I wasn't determined, but that I had the courage to back off and run and live life at the pace that meant I got the job done.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Lesson #2 - Your life is an on-going series of personal connections. Embrace them all, but accept that not all of them will develop.</b></i> As I started the run, I used a few people as involuntary and unknowing pacers. I needed to keep myself grounded, and I needed to keep myself slow. I always feel guilty about using the person in front of me as an unknowing pacer; I know how irritating it can be to hear footsteps on your heel whilst you silently wish, "just overtake me already". So, I would always say 'Hi' to the person and apologise to them about what I was inadvertently doing. Today, these burgeoning interactions didn't create any connections. Meh, maybe next time.<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Lesson #3 - As you flail, life throws you a line. </i>Roger, what can I say about you? Thank you is not enough. As I was doubting why I was running this race, Roger comes along and makes a comment about my awesome INB (InkNBurn to all you -soon to be hip- uneducated kids out there) calf sleeves. A simple comment, changed a race I wanted to forget, to a race I really enjoyed and learnt from. It is safe to say, without Roger, I am not sure if and how I would ended my race today.<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Lesson #4 - The most interesting people are those pushing their limits. </i>Yep, Roger, it's back to you Mate. I commented to Roger, that the reason I run races are to share them, not with the hares who run forty-minute 10K's once a week, but to share them who were pushing their own boundaries. I stand by that comment. Roger -I found out- usually runs a 5K once a week, but on Tuesday was offered a bib from a friend who was injured. He has only run three 10K's and his longest run is a seven-miler. He was taking on a challenge he hadn't planned and he was pushing his boundaries. The most inspiring people are those who take on life -and instead of winning or running better than X,Y,Z- are there just to see what they can do.<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Lesson #5 - An goal shared is a goal achieved. </i>It is believed that -in the end- running a solitary sport. Wrong. Running is about taking your goals, your limits and your personal achievements and sharing them. Today, my goal was to run a 10K, my limit was to battle a broken body and my personal achievements were all the races I had run before. I shared all of these with the people I met today on the course and together we fought all our demons and we revelled in every small success; together we shared and in the end we all achieved.<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Lesson #6 - Slowing down to help each other is not a sign of failure. </i>There are many runners out there who's aim is to get to the end in a certain time; to be better, quicker, faster, stronger. Wrong. so, so wrong. As I ran today, there were a few times I slowed right down. Sometimes I had to do it so I could keep going, but sometimes I did it because I knew someone else needed to take a breather, so they could keep going. It could have been someone who was using me as one of those involuntary pacers. It could be a new-found friend who was having an issue with a section of the course. My goal was to run all of the race, but then as I walked with someone -thereby failing in one of my aims- I realised that this was not a failure. This is what racing should be, and now as I had failed in a goal, I came to remember, that this was the real reason I run.<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Lesson #7 - Laugher is always the best medicine. </i>At the end, my friends' partner mentioned I was too enthusiastic in my non-running exploits. High-fiving the kids as I passed, or making a comment to a volunteer. I did probably spend more energy than I should being a goof than I should have done, but then I would not of finished if I had toned it down. All of those over-the-top-goofball-theatrics were the reason I kept going. Just to make someone smile, made me smile and I would not have reached that finish without it.<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Lesson #8 - The only i in team is the hole in the 'A'.</i> Okay, that made no sense unless you have seen the meme on the internet. Write the word 'TEAM' in that old-fashioned 'Tetris' block type writing you used to do as a kid, and then you will find the letter 'i' in the middle of the letter 'A'. Anyway, I am digressing a little. The point is, you may be running the race, but you would not be there if it wasn't for everyone else out there. You may get your PB and pat yourself on the back, but think: Did you thank ALL of those volunteers who got up before you and then stood there in the cold, wind and rain and directed you onto the path of personal victory? Did you thank those people who unwittingly got you to that PB as you used them as pacers then raced past them? When you were low, did you thank the stranger who spurred you on? Did you thank all of your running buddies who trained with you two-three-four-more times a week and told you could do it? If you didn't then you are the 'i' in the 'A'-hole. Get on FaceBook, Twitter, whatever and do it now. Without them, you couldn't brag about the shiny new medal and that glow of your new PB. <i>(So, just to make sure I have covered everyone, here goes: Thank you to: All of the organisers and volunteers out there today; Everyone who helped me and didn't know it -I wish I had some of your names; To Roger, who got me to the end; To my friends, who sent me luck; To Nikki, who got me to the start; To Nikki's family who brightened my day; and to my Family. Thank you for being there at the end. So Am I covered now? Is that medal all mine now? *grin*)</i><br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Lesson #9 - Everyone is pushing their limits. </i>Today a Canadian Facebook friend of mine, reminded my in his post that this weekend is 'Terry Fox Run' weekend. I am not sure if there is anyone outside of Canucksville who will know who <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Fox">Terry Fox</a> is. He is a Canadian legend. At the age of 22, after having his leg amputated due to cancer, he embarked on a run across Canada to enlighten others to the struggle of those battling Cancer and raise funds at the time. His goal was to run a marathon a day and to show that disability was not a hinderance. He died before he could reach his target, but that does not mean he didn't push his -and everyone who watched him-boundaries. Every year around the third week of September, people run in his name and raise funds for Cancer research. His legacy and reminder is still poignant thirty-plus years later. Everyone is pushing their limits. You may not know it, or even understand it, but everyone you meet has their battles to fight. Respect that.<br />
<br />
So, did I learn something today in my race? You betcha! Was this race a 'life-marker'? Hell, yeah. Was I reminded why I race? Definitely. Would I do it again? Probably, but ask me when I have sobered up - that medicinal alcohol is bound to wear off soon.Katie Kifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837990080866257280noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857744573765551369.post-7536035438968877312013-06-04T10:18:00.000-07:002013-06-04T10:18:03.238-07:00FlintLand Review : Camelbak Ultra LR Hydration Vest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://shop.camelbak.com/ultra-lr-vest/d/1070" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_y9imI0e9JkJ_2A3P_WkV2-Lk3OEhsfN-1Lye7GPzWOHtwXDxabm4EPpY9yRe42sdwYc3r0qQT6Nh0ZNpoHWyt0qlcyPxybwKDsTj0fGSCbR0FkbjU65XUbK9HhZiyU3vxeqoucMvzAOk/s320/CamelbakUltraLR.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li>Type : Hydration</li>
<li>Use : Long-distance running</li>
<li>Price : $130</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Introduction</b><br />
Camelbak and I go way back.
When I started to run-commute, I opted for a SnoBlast bag to carry my
stuff around and hydrate at the same time. Since it’s a downhill skiing /
snowboarding bag, it seemed like an odd choice and many runners
commented on it. When I wore it for <a href="http://flintland.blogspot.ca/2011/07/unreal-story-of-my-first-ultra-marathon.html">my first ultra</a>, people started
telling me I needed a vest. I thought my SnoBlast did an awesome job,
and although I still wear this bag every day for other purposes, I have
to admit my world changed when I tried a hydration vest.<br />
<br />
My
model of reference for hydration vests is the <a href="http://flintland.blogspot.ca/2011/10/review-nathan-endurance-hydration-vest.html">Nathan Endurance</a>, which I
have worn so much it’s half-torn apart. I have tried a couple other
alternatives, but never found anything I liked. When Camelbak sent me a
Marathoner and an Ultra LR, my eyes got set on the latter in an instant.<br />
<br />
<b>Trail test</b><br />
I
took the Ultra LR out for a first unforgiving test on a cold winter
afternoon. Frankly, I didn’t think it would last more than 10 minutes in
the sub-zero weather. I was very pleased to discover it didn’t freeze,
as long as I blew back some air in the drinking tube. The vest itself
felt comfortable and barely-there. The weight distribution at the very
bottom of the vest makes it feel very light.<br />
<br />
<b>Road test</b><br />
I
took the Ultra LR on several long winter runs, but was curious to see
how it would perform when warm weather would settle in and I’d ditch the
extra layers of clothing. So when spring came, I made sure to bring it
to all my longer races. I ran two half-marathons, a couple long runs on
my own, a full marathon and a 50K ultra wearing it.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkTI_u5Z5cl0Nwo0536XXOO8i9ZmKjFbvlIPw5GT9iKa330yfgQmAmpVfcAb2DHmR0YhbQFMWQ6EWhlo-VzSFTiPnab2NYcc7tGEc424VdWZ0_DNqWQPMees_6A7SrtFrgZg_cE4UBr7e/s1600/CamelbakQuickLink.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkTI_u5Z5cl0Nwo0536XXOO8i9ZmKjFbvlIPw5GT9iKa330yfgQmAmpVfcAb2DHmR0YhbQFMWQ6EWhlo-VzSFTiPnab2NYcc7tGEc424VdWZ0_DNqWQPMees_6A7SrtFrgZg_cE4UBr7e/s200/CamelbakQuickLink.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Quick Link Tube Assembly System</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Analysis</b><br />
Definitely, the best part about
Camelbak vests is the tube assembly. It starts with a coupling at the
bladder that you only need to push the tube in to connect. When the tube
is disassembled, the bladder will not spill or leak. This means you
don’t have to undo the whole vest to get the bladder out and rince / dry
it after your runs. It also means you can carry more than one bladder
(say, in a drop bag) and swap them with a simple click of the drinking
tube. Pretty awesome. But it doesn’t stop there. The bite valve is also
very well-conceived, with a simple slit that opens up when you bite it.
If you’re worried it might drip or get squeezed-open when transporting
the vest, there is also a cut-off valve to ensure liquid flows only when
you want it.<br />
<br />
The Ultra LR is the roomiest vest I’ve
ran in, with multiple front pockets and accessible mesh stashes over the
straps where you can easily slip half a dozen gels, a Clif bar or two,
your keys, a pair of arm warmers and a couple other small items. The
belt portion also features two large waist pockets for even more storage
that’s accessible while you run. The back of the vest offers a large
mesh stash that will easily contain a light windbreaker or other pieces
of gear you might need. It has a built-in whistle, which is an obvious
safety feature, but moreover will allow you to tick a mandatory item off
the equipment list of many mountain ultras.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLaGtU5od-yCiYvkGC_nPXeklykQA4nnnSk1sI6IX4eefmmHwoQWfB4uLPZg55FBw3sGVz8e-TDDF5tmM6cFTY4Xwd9QszWbCJ2YsbqfvxzYzJmDxrAVKXrJKY2ZPmS65IWo7vNmx9AHuK/s1600/CamelbakBiteValve.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLaGtU5od-yCiYvkGC_nPXeklykQA4nnnSk1sI6IX4eefmmHwoQWfB4uLPZg55FBw3sGVz8e-TDDF5tmM6cFTY4Xwd9QszWbCJ2YsbqfvxzYzJmDxrAVKXrJKY2ZPmS65IWo7vNmx9AHuK/s200/CamelbakBiteValve.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Bite valve with cut-off mechnism</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The shoulder harness and waist straps are fully
adjustable and will fit runners of almost any size. Although there are
neat “compression straps” for the bladder, I’ve never used them and
question their purpose. The belt goes all the way from your right to
buckle on your left side, which felt a bit awkward. Why not use double
adjustments like everyone else?<br />
<br />
Space also comes at the
price of weight. The Ultra LR is also the bulkiest vest I’ve ran in,
and that difference is way more noticeable when running in warm weather,
where it almost feels like a backpack with a lot of fabric touching
your skin. It weighs in at over a pound, too.<br />
<br />
<b>Conclusion</b><br />
The
Ultra LR brings a lot of innovation to hydration vests with the unique
lumbar bladder, the awesome valve and tubing system and the creative use
of space for storage. I think it offers very interesting features, but
would benefit to undergo a drastic weight and bulk reduction effort,
which would bring lighter and more breathable fabrics, and reduce the
contact points with the runner’s body. Overall, this is definitely a
piece of gear I will use in my running.<br />
<br />
<b>High points</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Possibly the industry’s best valve and tubing system</li>
<li>Clever lumbar bladder puts the weight on your waist, not your shoulders</li>
<li>Extra roomy</li>
<li>Fully adjustable</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Low points</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Feels bulky, more so in warm weather</li>
<li>Heavy at 1.15 lbs </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 10pt;">The equipment for this <a href="http://flintland.blogspot.com/">FlintLand</a> review was supplied by Camelbak
free of charge, without any conditions.</span></i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857744573765551369.post-19596553032008379752013-04-16T13:15:00.000-07:002013-04-16T13:18:19.523-07:00Rebootin'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51rslqyiqWFd-AYVxf_JxGKrCwbCy1Jk_MvDqx1-qUFPfXl7Rar7cuHN7H4OIoXBwM7YeWxBJintXxJHei6NFh3qjJKAcNG0V0Otm5wfAdSNXZ3Ry0G6Hgh-W684WSq0Xo_w0JUDLQsCE/s1600/trail-glove-silver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51rslqyiqWFd-AYVxf_JxGKrCwbCy1Jk_MvDqx1-qUFPfXl7Rar7cuHN7H4OIoXBwM7YeWxBJintXxJHei6NFh3qjJKAcNG0V0Otm5wfAdSNXZ3Ry0G6Hgh-W684WSq0Xo_w0JUDLQsCE/s320/trail-glove-silver.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Last couple of years I had trouble understanding the
summer-training-people. The ones that huddle on the buses and in their
cars during winter only to get panicked when spring is upon them and
they throw themselves out of the door in order to hit "beach 2013". I
never really understood. What's the matter, can't you just dress warmer? If it's icy outside,
just get some spiked tires for you bike, right? You'll get warm when you
run.<br />
<br />
This year though, I do understand. It started in late
October when I got called away on a business trip to Armenia. (And yes, I
had to look it up on <a data-mce-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenia">Wikipedia</a>
as well, but if you do, pay attention, it's a really nice little
country). I was there 10 days but didn't really feel comfortable out
running for various reasons. And when I came home I was hit with the
longest, toughest cold of my life. 2 months in the drain popping pain
killers and generally just trying to stay upright. And after that?
Swedish winter. Go figure. Cold, dark and snowy.<br />
<br />
Getting home from
work I just couldn't get myself out of the door. I'd be cold and hungry
and grumpy and feeling fat and lonely. So yes, I do understand:
sometimes it damn hard just to get started.<br />
<br />
What to do?<br />
<br />
Well first of all, remember the fun. Remember to smile. Also, remember that the only <i>real</i>
failure is to not try. If you try and fail that's alright because you
might learn something from it. But if you don't try at all? Nope, can't
do. So I decided to start moving my ass, but do it little by little.
Start walking back from work. Spend 20 minute in the gym now and again.
Bring out the bike and start using it. With the goal of trying a <i>little</i> every day.<br />
<br />
And the damnedest thing is that it seems to work. Yesterday I popped 8 km
after work in a leisurely 5.30 min/km and I found myself enjoying it
immensely. And every time I met someone I'd start smiling again. Which
is, let me tell you, a strange thing to do for a Swedish runner: you'd
be amazed how good people you meet on the trail here are at no-quite
meeting your eyes, and looking grim with the headphones firmly attached
and beach 2013 fixed in their minds.<br />
<br />
But if it's a reboot, let's
do it properly! So yesterday I ordered a new pair of Merrel Trail Gloves
for better bootin', and also signed up for <a data-mce-href="http://www.lidingoloppet.se/en-GB/" href="http://www.lidingoloppet.se/en-GB/" title="Lidingöloppet">Lidingöloppet </a>in
September. Tagged as "the largest cross-country race in the world" it's
not quite what you'd think of as "trail" but neither is it "street".
And it's a huge classic in Sweden: last year 44,000 people toed the
starting line for 30 km of no-quite-trail fun. It'll be my longest race
by far and I'm giddy with excitement already.<br />
<br />
Oh, and what team did I sign up under? Why, team <a data-mce-href="http://runsmiley.blogspot.se/" href="http://runsmiley.blogspot.se/">Run Smiley Collective</a> of course!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857744573765551369.post-19279970553750861902013-03-26T08:47:00.002-07:002013-03-26T08:48:05.043-07:00The Caballo Blanco Story<i><b>This is a beautiful short story about the life and vision of Micah True,
better known as Caballo Blanco, as rendered by New York artist Sam
Carbaugh.</b></i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://tribesports.com/blog/the-caballo-blanco-story?utm_source=Flintland&utm_medium=blogger&utm_campaign=CaballoBlanco" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3yupKGDJaq_H0Riz8pMdiww_oz4Lv-BdHQ9LX9of72vtay8PRQX7zpC5ZXFuCkp0xNzQtWIvS0E3psVNSt6aBvJ-RomSTJIQqOuK-PmsV6gRUC4zWS-IjlfSxmvDW-ubUctWoyGQNAn9f/s320/Thumbnail.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
As
we are nearing March 27, I want to remind the world about my friend and
inspiration, Micah True, who went out on his last run one year ago in
the beautiful Gila Forest of New Mexico. <br />
<br />
Although
there is still not a day where I miss him beyond words, I was elated to
witness the vitality of his dream and spirit in the Copper Canyons in
March, where more than 500 runners, both foreign and Raramuri, gathered
for the celebration of peace, friendship and sharing that Micah created
from his good will and his actions. <br />
<br />
Like many people
in the world, Sam Carbaugh was touched by Micah's passion and devotion
to the Raramuri and the simple, humble joy of running. Sam invested his
time and talent into creating a small biography that
stays true to both who Micah was as person and as the creator of the
legendary Copper Canyons Ultra Marathon (now known as <a href="http://www.ultracb.com/" target="_blank">Ultra Marathon Caballo Blanco</a>). This is as much a story about Micah True as it is the
one of his legacy as Caballo Blanco, Runner of the Sierra Madre.<br />
<br />
After making the story of the Raramuri and UMCB their "<a href="http://tribesports.com/blog/monday-inspiration-norawas-de-raramuri" target="_blank">Monday Inspiration</a>"
feature on the week of the race, our friends at Tribesports have
decided to pay homage to Caballo Blanco by featuring his story on their
ultrarunning blog. For posterity, I will also feature the story right <a href="http://flintland.blogspot.ca/p/the-story-of-caballo-blanco.html" target="_blank">here</a>, on FlintLand, forever.<br />
<br />
Run free!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857744573765551369.post-62413899924355289652013-01-23T18:24:00.002-08:002013-01-23T18:24:29.601-08:00FlintLand Review : EC3D B-Hot Compression Gear<ul>
<li>Type : Compression / performance</li>
<li>Use : Cold weather / winter running</li>
<li>Price : Pants - $150, Socks $65</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ec3dsports.com/product-category/bhot/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_b2b_HSK1-1-eHMwUon-206cK1xtE5FyApGZV49fN4y9sYOcIxAwTHxjjUwxxgeHsSUb_oWgmhRECIJN_8GcMrKHQe5A8UbGQVl4OEmn11u6PiKx7ft1rFsSY1UTwVYsQRNW6LPTFzmg1/s320/BH+304E_BLK.png" width="184" /> </a></div>
<b>Introduction </b><br />
Ever
since I became aware of compression gear, I had a hit-and-miss
experience. Convinced at first that I had found a little edge that would
allow me to push my running just a bit farther, I soon realized that
the promise was greater than the results I was getting. I tried
compression calf sleeves that did little more than give me a high-tech
road runner look. I squeezed my sorry butt in running pants so tight
that I was afraid they would rip open if I sat down. I felt dumb to have
spent my money on expensive stuff that was not much else than snake
oil.<br />
<br />
Still, I knew there was some good to compression,
and that some of the gear I got, I really loved. My Adidas Tech Fit
t-shirt, that completely eliminates chaffing issues. My Sugeoi recovery
socks. But aside from those, I thought I was pretty much done with
compression. Then I met an <a href="http://ec3dsports.com/product-category/bhot/" target="_blank">EC3D Sports</a> rep at a running show.<br />
<br />
She
told me how the company had started in the medical field, creating
compression fabrics for people suffering from various ailments, with
tangible results. She explained the science and research involved in
genuine compression gear, and demonstrated why most of the running stuff
I had tried before failed to provide any benefit. She actually taught
me so much that I decided to create a separate article (coming soon) on
the science of compression. But this is a review, so let's get back to
it.<br />
<br />
<b>First impression</b><br />
She suggested I give
EC3D compression gear a serious try. She measured my feet, my calves, my
thighs and my waist and selected correct sizes for a pair of running
pants, a pair of recovery pants, two pairs of full-lenght compression
socks, and a kit of compression crew socks, performance calf sleeves and
recovery calf sleeves. Since these are way too much for a single
review, I split them into categories. This article is about the B-Hot
line of compression gear, made from merino wool mixed with elastane. I
tested the running tight and the full-lenght socks.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ec3dsports.com/product-category/bhot/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmjQuf0U40iq354tWDLmNRgxzIdMyIetsspu2nQCz3wesRT6dpjfgYVVjdLg1J8QcX3D4bWyAMF_zbQ8BHVhPvMu8cBrf0HwXeCWsv7lvn1nFR4MwpqynSvz_ljAVGMgyDFNXk8MEuJpY/s200/BH+903C_BLK.png" width="135" /></a></div>
<b>Trail test</b><br />
I
started wearing the B-Hot tight right about when things got close to
the freezing point, late last fall. I had suspected the merino wool
would keep me warm, but would provide little protection against the
wind. I was very surprised to not only keep warm in cold, damp, windy
conditions, but also very pleased about the moisture-wicking properties
of the fabric. The seemless construction and the obvious quality of the
weaving make the B-Hot very sturdy and comfortable, even for running
long distances. Even when winter settled in, I managed to go out for
long runs wearing only my tights in weather as cold as -10C (XF) and
always felt warm. When things got seriously cold, I wore the B-Hot
compression socks that cover my lower leg up to the knee under my
full-lenght Windstopper winter pants.<br />
<br />
<b>Analysis</b><br />
Surprisingly,
even though the tights and socks provide a high level of compression, I
didn't feel my movements were impaired at all. Compression stitches
along the whole inside lenght create specific pressure that limits
muscle oscillation and improves blood flow, two things I started to
notice some benefits from after several kilometers of running. In short,
this gear really shines on runs from 15-20k to ultra distances by
reducing fatigue and helping with posture. The tight I reviewed was a
prototype and it became rapidly quite obvious that the stitching in the
crotch area could use some improvement for a better fit. The final
version now features a new pattern that corrects the issue by weaving
the compression pattern in an outward curve, all the way up to the
waist.<br />
<br />
<b>Conclusion</b><br />
The EC3D B-Hot line has
quickly become among my favorite cold weather running gear. It provides
serious compression for tangible results on long distances, without
limiting my range of movement. It also keeps me toasty in cold weather,
even in strong winds, thanks to its mix of merino wool, elastane and
thermal polypropylene. It wicks moisture away from my legs, keeping dry
and warm even after several hours out. And after hundreds of kilometers
of running, they still look and feel as new as the first time I wore
them.<br />
<br />
<b>High points</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Certainly among my best winter running gear </li>
<li>Excellent mix of synthetic fibers and merino wool</li>
<li>Medical-grade compression that doesn't hinder range of movement</li>
<li>Keeps you warm and dry even over long distances </li>
<li>Sweatshop-proof - 100% made in Canada</li>
<li>Competitive pricing </li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Low points</b><br />
<ul>
<li>A bit tricky to pull on and take off</li>
<li>Limited US retail distribution</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 10pt;">The equipment for this personal review was supplied by EC3D Sports
free of charge, without any conditions.</span></i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857744573765551369.post-70844779968360488142012-09-24T08:55:00.002-07:002012-09-24T08:55:55.462-07:00Review : Skechers GoRun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.ca.skechers.com/en-ca/info/go-run/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNRiYrmdIkiGgxhhRdFoBFsNIEOKAeZTtsaLtM3FUEI69Zw_ITC5bcq4L6595qlpngMO4g3JL-mD9NHILiXRqSX87ouqoLSCh_ErS3N00yYsiZExzSUkNLvBNrM2rSuk934Nujg2CCEPv/s200/SkechersGoRun.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Type : Transition shoe</li>
<li>Use : Road running</li>
<li>Price : About $90 </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Introduction</b><br />
Before
I met one of their reps at a race, I didn’t know Skechers had hopped on
the minimalist bandwagon. As a matter of fact, I knew little about the
company, except for the Shape-Ups models that left me dubious, to say
the least. The rep explained that the GoRun was a shoe intended to help
runners transition from a heel strike to a more natural, mid-foot strike
pattern and suggested I try them for myself. I took a couple steps in
them and was unconvinced, but curious. So I decided I would give them a
real try.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>First impression</b><br />
This
shoe has a unique design with the outsole curving upwards at the heel
and 9 “pods” at the mid-foot, which elevate and curve it downwards. The
idea here is that if you try to heel strike, the GoRun will correct your
posture by “rolling forward” to your mid-foot, thus theoretically
helping you adopt a more natural stride.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Road test</b><br />
I
ran two times with the GoRun. The first, a 5k commute, left me feeling
very strange because of the elevated arch and the presence of the
“pods”, which I felt impeded my forefoot strike. On the second run, the
way back home from work, I had to take the shoes off at 3K and finish
barefoot, because my arches hurt and my stride was totally off.<br />
<br />
<br />
After
discussing with the Skechers rep again, it became quite clear that this
shoe is not made for runners who have a forefoot strike, which means it
is not a minimal or barefoot shoe, nor is it fit for anyone running
with a barefoot form. That left me with the problem of properly
reviewing the GoRun, until I had the idea of asking heel strikers to
give it a go at the running track, and see how they felt about it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Track test</b><br />
Without
telling them my intent, I asked a range of runners to run a 400M lap
with their standard shoes, than one barefoot, than one wearing the
GoRuns. I wasn’t overly surprised with the results; the shoe only seemed
to work well with heel strikers. They reported they could feel the shoe
“roll” forward which, in turn, made them shorten their stride. They
weren’t bothered with the arch section, probably because they are used
to such “supports” in their conventional footwear. They were delighted
with the shoe’s feather weight and with the sole material, which is very
soft and flexible.<br />
<br />
<br />
Shod runners with a
natural form (mid-foot to forefoot strike patterns), on the other hand,
were left dubious and reported they felt the arch section was “weird” at
best, “impeding” in the worst cases. Aside from the sole, they liked
the GoRun’s design and often compared it to the original Nike Free
model.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Analysis</b><br />
I didn’t notice
a big change in the heel strikers’ postures, aside from the shorter
stride. I was shocked, however, to review pictures from my natural
runners, whose form was negatively altered in all cases. It seems the
thickness of the outsole and its design had a negative impact on the
natural runners’ form; it lengthens their stride and brings back a heel
strike-like pattern, with the “roll forward” effect happening on the
outside of the shoe, causing an under pronation. The example below
illustrates the differences in form in a natural runner :<br />
<br />
First, running in her usual Saucony Kinvara :<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffKOH45agiscUQPvXxPS_c6mMnBMIcSRIS3_UQdZkoGVGrWnIMBo3YkbwCIOm3HPLWPF05xIV3CSVhw7ICrODbaq2ltvvqPq6-XRUGj2kylz4J0I5s9SjmKj8iC6HppsHtLsborLkOpzB/s1600/Patricia2-EN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffKOH45agiscUQPvXxPS_c6mMnBMIcSRIS3_UQdZkoGVGrWnIMBo3YkbwCIOm3HPLWPF05xIV3CSVhw7ICrODbaq2ltvvqPq6-XRUGj2kylz4J0I5s9SjmKj8iC6HppsHtLsborLkOpzB/s400/Patricia2-EN.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Second, barefoot :<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKP9oYj795t4Mst9gkx5r5xLvPQ_kwAWhkINfhdME-HmxV8VNhn6iYuKf8DG92em4DPeEkkjC0vr0EN45Vd8sQ8YMtHaWHQnTLlBCb7ri_EaPGfpiX_EHJDQP95KwzcikheVtyUI1bG1xF/s1600/Patricia-EN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKP9oYj795t4Mst9gkx5r5xLvPQ_kwAWhkINfhdME-HmxV8VNhn6iYuKf8DG92em4DPeEkkjC0vr0EN45Vd8sQ8YMtHaWHQnTLlBCb7ri_EaPGfpiX_EHJDQP95KwzcikheVtyUI1bG1xF/s400/Patricia-EN.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Third, in the GoRun : <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wJnJtz4UzGFuUfDjlq6tmOxf87icUGdOzGNtdiC9J8whbEw98IuJoFxhEXF2A2EpMuds3BXe9J5QqXMocKmptt6GR1-Qi-7iYnKgxIw1paN4hiVjY0UYp7msBe3FIOPUyWSY6LL6Nuba/s1600/Patricia3-EN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wJnJtz4UzGFuUfDjlq6tmOxf87icUGdOzGNtdiC9J8whbEw98IuJoFxhEXF2A2EpMuds3BXe9J5QqXMocKmptt6GR1-Qi-7iYnKgxIw1paN4hiVjY0UYp7msBe3FIOPUyWSY6LL6Nuba/s400/Patricia3-EN.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Conclusion</b><br />
It
became quite clear, during this test, that the GoRun is not
recommendable to natural runners who have already learned to land on
their mid-foot or forefoot. The elevated arch section, rounded heel and
“sensor pods” will only impede proprioception and change their landing
patterns.<br />
<br />
<br />
Heel strikers, on the other hand,
seemed to be “pushed” toward a shorter stride, which makes them land
closer to their center of gravity, certainly not a bad thing. However,
this made me wonder: shouldn’t runners learn better form themselves,
instead of relying on the design of their shoes? Isn’t that exactly the
same issue as with orthotics?<br />
<br />
<br />
When all is
said and done, learning good form is not only about where you land; it’s
also about understanding biomechanics and making the conscious effort
to kick off your shoes, re-learn proprioception and develop an improved
muscular structure. But if all it takes to point you in that direction
is a pair of GoRun to start your discovery of natural running, Skechers
might have succeeded in creating a “transition” shoe.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>High points</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Comfortable “Resalyte” outsole material</li>
<li>Lightweight</li>
<li>Roomy toe box</li>
<li>Might help the transition of heel strikers who don’t want to learn barefoot</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<b>Low points</b><br />
<ul>
<li>A mechanical solution, similar in principle to the use of orthotics</li>
<li>Elevated arch and “pods” impede a forefoot strike</li>
<li>Definitely not for barefoot / minimal runners</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The equipment for this personal review was supplied by Skechers, free of charge, without any conditions. </span></i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857744573765551369.post-24075535186707344992012-08-24T09:24:00.002-07:002012-08-24T09:24:07.132-07:00FlintLand Interview: Natural Running Coach Tina Dubois<br />
<a href="http://trainingclinic.vivobarefoot.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXfUM9pmVm8UeIY4p0-HB_IZFRjLMK76h7ZxTJioc4oorPZSyLHo3tb7kDuMnZuIdRwlWGlWDopv-WYoQV4EPbi7RH_2QsnuwQjq52TO6dRgbJsDsoL6rt0G5uEcv5y0uKLF7BAQbYv_0/s400/NaturalRunningSeries.jpg" width="83" /></a>In this first article of the series, we introduce you to Tina Dubois, first Canadian coach for <a href="http://trainingclinic.vivobarefoot.com/lee-saxby/">Lee Saxby</a>'s
Natural Running method. I had the opportunity to meet her recently,
while on her first national tour to promote the "mastery of the barefoot
running skill".<br />
<br />
<br />
Before we go into a
detailed description of the method and an analysis of my running posture
(anything for the sake of science!), let's get to meet the woman, a
Western-Canada runner and blogger who decided to leave her old running
ways - and injuries - behind and focus on technique.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>FL - What brought you to natural running? What’s your running background?</b><br />
TD
- I started running in 2000 and was a perpetually injured runner. In my
first 8 years of running, I suffered from occasional shin splints,
patellar-femoral pain (AKA runner's knee), IT-band strain, as well as
sore hips and SI joints. I chronically suffered from low back pain and
plantar fasciitis. I always ran through the pain and ran several trail
races including the Canadian Death Race relay and 5 Peaks Trail Running
Series, as well as a few road races and a couple sprint-distance
triathlons. <br />
<br />
In 2008, I read "You Walk Wrong" by Adam
Sternbergh where I was introduced to the idea of wearing minimal shoes
as a way to strengthen your feet and improve your posture and walking
gait. I bought my first pair of minimal shoes in May and the chronic
pain in my low back that I endured with every step was gone and I was a
minimal shoe convert. From a full-time orthotic wearer, I slowly
transitioned to walking, and eventually running, solely in minimal
shoes. I started reviewing minimal footwear in 2009. <br />
<br />
In
2011, VIVOBAREFOOT offered the Certified Coaching Program and I was
lucky enough to attend the first Training Clinic in New York City. I
learned how to run naturally from Lee Saxby at the Coaching Program and
how to teach it to others. Now I run injury-free and hope to teach this
form of running to as many runners as possible.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>FL - Why choose Lee Saxby’s method? How did you find out about it?</b><br />
TD - I found out about the Coaching Program from my friend, <a href="http://www.barefootangiebee.com/">Barefoot Angie Bee</a>'s website, as she was invited to the same Training Clinic. <br />
<br />
Lee
Saxby's method identifies three forms of running: heel-striking
overstriding (or jogging), forefoot-striking overstriding (or unskilled
barefoot form), and what I call Natural Running (what he calls skilled
barefoot form). As a coach, we are taught how to identify the three
forms in our clients and how to change their form into natural running
using specific exercises and functional coaching cues. Although there
are many running coaching methods available (POSE, ChiRunning, Good Form
Running, etc.), Lee's method breaks down the skill of running into
microskills (posture, rhythm, and relaxation) that the runner can focus
on individually and uses coaching cues that improve these skills, by
feeling what good form is rather than thinking about what good form is,
making the transformation to natural runner extremely quick and
maintained through practice.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>FL - Did your running form need a lot of improvement?</b><br />
TD
- Before the Coaching Program, I ran with unskilled barefoot form or a
forefoot-striking overstriding form. This form is extremely common in
runners who ran with a heel-strike and switched to running in minimal
shoes or barefoot. When your body receives sufficient proprioceptive
feedback (ie, sensory information about how you're hitting the ground),
people will usually switch from landing on their heel to landing on
their forefoot but all other aspects of your form remain the same. I
learned to run with a faster cadence and land under my centre of gravity
(rather than ahead of it) with a medial forefoot landing (between the
first and second toe on the ball of the foot). <br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4z2uJTNTPNApI7oLaQQBFgR-EyuUYeCbomtpL2RBctHJ_4NvX_Xf4Tx649OU-RZKDby5qnRz5VKzPiBczws40IJtgMKEt4Ar6fwLi9BSJ7Zwh0af7KDfzMwT8L5OkmcyC0VlKvsJj5iqj/s1600/Tina-Running-e1323459669739.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4z2uJTNTPNApI7oLaQQBFgR-EyuUYeCbomtpL2RBctHJ_4NvX_Xf4Tx649OU-RZKDby5qnRz5VKzPiBczws40IJtgMKEt4Ar6fwLi9BSJ7Zwh0af7KDfzMwT8L5OkmcyC0VlKvsJj5iqj/s400/Tina-Running-e1323459669739.jpg" width="187" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Tina Dubois</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>FL - How long – and how smooth – was your transition to the natural running form?</b><br />
TD
- It took half a day to relearn how to run (in a group of 10 people).
If you're wondering how long it took me to regain my mileage using the
new form compared to the old form, I'd say about 4 weeks. How long a
person takes to transition and reach their previous mileage depends on A
LOT of factors including what their previous form was, what their
mileage was, what level of strength a person has in their legs, what
their injury history is, etc. <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>FL - Did you benefit from your transition? How so?</b><br />
TD
- Absolutely! Before the transition to natural running, I ran extremely
slowly and found running to be a lot of work, even after I switched to
running in minimal shoes. If I ran any faster than my
somewhat-faster-than-walking pace, some part of my body would hurt, so I
never ran fast and was content with my level of pain-free running. Now I
can run MUCH faster with MUCH less energy and have no pain.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>FL - In your opinion, what’s the strongest point(s) in Lee Saxby’s method?</b><br />
TD
- Lee's Coaching Program teaches what injuries are caused by which
forms of running and why based on human physiology and biomechanics. His
method teaches the most biomechanically efficient and safe form of
running that humans can achieve in a way that achieves this form in
around an hour. Then all you have to do as a runner is practice a few
exercises and remember certain aspects of those exercises while running.
The strongest points of Lee's method are its biomechanical basis, ease
of learning, and simplicity in practice.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>FL - What are your goals as a natural running coach?</b><br />
TD
- I want to share the benefits of Natural Running to all runners so
that they can experience the most efficient and safest form of running
we can achieve. Basically, I want to help all runners learn to run
pain-free.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>FL - Do you think there’s a single right way to run, or are there natural variations between individuals? </b><br />
TD
- The principles of Natural Running are based in basic human anatomy
and biomechanics. I think there is an 'optimum' way to run that
maximizes efficiency and minimizes injury based on these principles.
Variation between individuals is caused by different levels of skill.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>FL - Do you consider yourself a barefoot advocate? What’s your take on the whole shoe debate?</b><br />
TD
- I advocate being barefoot as a tool to gain strength in your feet and
use barefoot running as a tool to increase proprioceptive feedback (ie,
awareness of how your feet hit the ground) while learning the skills of
running. When I run, I wear a minimal shoe that is appropriate for the
terrain I'm running on and type of running that I am doing. My position
on shoes is that I choose to wear footwear that allows my feet to move
naturally with as much proprioceptive feedback as possible for the
terrain and temperature conditions whether I'm walking or running.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our
next article will present the Natural Running method and include a
hands-on example using my own, self-taught running barefoot running
form. Tina has recorded a video of my posture on the treadmill, then
advised on a series of exercises and body awareness. We recorded a
second video to try to see if the exercises and advice had any impact on
my posture.<br />
<br />
<br />
I invite you to participate to
this series by sending feedback and asking questions to Tina, who is
following the conversation on <a href="http://flintland.blogspot.ca/">my blog</a>
(in case you're reading this from somewhere else). Make this your
chance to have a conversation directly with a certified coach :) <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857744573765551369.post-85705770168724780282012-08-14T05:54:00.002-07:002012-08-14T05:54:26.006-07:00Dance, Dance : The Green Mountains<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04MYjK3aMw0&feature=player_embedded" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7wnCkvxDeRFliOYeZlVSzvULd1FROdbP5ZW0dTO-iGRxuJpFige1Qx7hMDJgzYSNrGfWzvJgZ-Y47Yl_EtjsRlw3R5KrYRWO3DFfu0mdKuNhWT50hvkyylDTu37pUFLau177P9ROjEZ8/s400/DanceDance.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I
discovered the Green Mountains, a remote forest reserve in Quebec's
Eastern Townships region, a while back... Last Saturday, I went down
there and brought my GoPro along.<br />
<br />
Wanna dance?<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857744573765551369.post-65045639468502134582012-07-09T10:23:00.003-07:002012-07-09T10:23:42.953-07:00Luna Leadville Review<br />
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<a href="https://www.lunasandals.com/products/3-leadville" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDb0pQuZWQV0n4FbC5FAEpKzpg54b35QG2fDsmORy55N0_qPWa8fWyKMQerNJMuuukvnC7euNOGcZdLeNcFdXcX9k6wPUbPhu04jng4dc1ojRTrfo4JJMTfCaMZ4QcV9HpOuFWgjGcElEY/s200/LunaLeadville.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span lang="EN-CA">Type: Barefoot/Minimal</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-CA">Use: Trail running</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-CA">Price: 85$ </span></li>
</ul>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-CA">Introduction</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Among the amazing
moments I experienced in the Copper Canyons, seeing the Raramuri run in their
homemade huaraches (sandals) is definitely one of the most memorable. As I
watched them fly up and down rugged trails in this simplistic footwear, I
couldn’t help but wonder if there was some sort of hidden secret to the running
sandal, so I went to Señor Ventura and asked him to cut and fit me a pair. I
had to try it for myself.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Ouch.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">There is
really no way I could walk, let alone run, in a pair of heavy rubber soles
clinging to my feet only with a thin leather lace. This would require weeks
(and many layers of blistered skin) to get used to, and there was simply no perceivable
incentive for me to do so. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">So when I
saw the “Luna-tics” crew come to town in their modernized huaraches, I really
didn’t think they would be able to run the Copper Canyon Ultra with their super-thin,
lightweight sandals. To my astonishment, they all did, and with a fair share of
success.<br />
<br />
I ran the last 8 miles
or so with Scott Smuin, one of the founders of the Luna Sandals Company, and told
him how impressed I was to see them all run on such rugged terrain with such
little protection. “I could never do this”, I told him. “You should try”, is
what he answered.<br />
<br />
So I did.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-CA">First
impression</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">He sent me
a pair of the Leadville model, which I understand is their thickest sandal. It
is designed for trail running and takes its name from the famous Leadville 100
ultra, where it was originally tested. At first, I couldn’t believe I would actually
be able to run with a 10mm piece of neoprene rubber tied to my feet by only 3
points of contact.<br />
<br />
So I went for a conservative, step-by-step approach. I started by wearing the
Leadville for walking around, to break them in and get over my worries that I
would stub the soles and tear them off my feet. I also had to be convinced that
the strap between my big and second toes wouldn’t chew through my skin or
provoke severe blisters. None of that happened.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I brought
my Leadville on a recent backpacking trip to Portugal and ended up wearing them
every day. I started really liking the soft cushioning they provide while still
allowing terrific proprioception (ground feel). I wore them on day trips, long
walks on cobblestone streets and small treks, and my feet never got bruised or
tired. I thought that was pretty good.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">The only
thing that bugged me was the ribbon/plug system that holds the front strap in
place. The plug moves inside the sole and eventually twists the lace in between
your toes, significantly affecting your comfort. I plan on gluing the plugs in
place to solve this issue.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7lcaqWwZQIMsgs-YVHDeVPs1XtMbfwk9gzR5F_KstrYOaangZnXtqccokzNwe_2hawaCybmnQ7_Z2NwZqeoZxx3K5tir97wJ66F_XiZ1PukrZuplpqrAtyOX7SMR0lP0EnbrbOTLZ8wK/s1600/IMG_20120703_170904.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7lcaqWwZQIMsgs-YVHDeVPs1XtMbfwk9gzR5F_KstrYOaangZnXtqccokzNwe_2hawaCybmnQ7_Z2NwZqeoZxx3K5tir97wJ66F_XiZ1PukrZuplpqrAtyOX7SMR0lP0EnbrbOTLZ8wK/s320/IMG_20120703_170904.jpg" width="240" /></a><b><span lang="EN-CA">Field test</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">When I got
to Lagos and
learned that the town was surrounded with cliff-top trails, I thought it was
time to see if my Luna Sandals were meant for running after all. I had gotten
used to the ATS laces, a mix of soft ribbon and elasticized straps that hold
the sandal in place while allowing natural foot movement, so I felt secure
enough to take them for a spin.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The trails
atop Lagos
resemble the ones in the Copper Canyons, although they are less rocky. I
started running along the hard-packed, sandy trail and quickly felt at ease. The
Leadville didn’t feel too loose or too tight, and reacted very well to whatever
my feet did. I picked up the pace. The soft sole absorbs the sharp features of
the terrain really well, so I wasn’t afraid to get hurt on pointy rocks or
thorny roots.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">On steep
uphills, I was impressed with the Leadville’s firm grip. It behaved equally
well on grainy descents, even though I wasn’t as brash in my running as I would’ve
been if I wore regular trail shoes.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I ran several
miles of rough trail that included some very sharp drops requiring light
rock-climbing, and my Leadville never failed me. Although I didn’t feel ultra
secure, I was able to run as free and as hard as I wanted, which greatly
impressed me.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-CA">Conclusion</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">On my way
back, I reflected on why, as a trail enthusiast, I would choose to run in
sandals. Since I can’t use them year-round (there’s a real winter up here in Canada), I
concluded that they could only complement my footwear options. However, they
are fantastic to bring in backpacking trips (they are so light and thin) and I
would seriously consider wearing them when running in high heat, as my feet
never got sweaty. Needless to say, as a regular sandal, the Leadville is
downright awesome.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-CA">High points</span></b></div>
<ul>
<li><span lang="EN-CA">Qualifies
as ultra-minimalist footwear</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-CA">Surprisingly
good traction</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-CA">Sticks very
close to your foot</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-CA">Adapts to
your every move</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-CA">Enforces
good running form</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-CA">Very
comfortable</span></li>
</ul>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-CA">Low points</span></b></div>
<ul>
<li><span lang="EN-CA">Strap
adjustment is a little finicky</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-CA">Ribbon/plug
system twists the inter-toe lace</span></li>
</ul>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 10pt;">The equipment for this personal review was supplied by Luna Sandals,
free of charge, without any conditions.</span></i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857744573765551369.post-67083812988826891112012-05-31T06:44:00.001-07:002012-05-31T11:34:39.242-07:00Hey, Fat Girl.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmvWYra93AqzBqiPJO2mmGHdPHUVpcVmNTKCekf4GPYE5IY_AT2Ye-MMItMCPkDGWGP6PFiAha85NAJ-gn0dh9Kce6XHDKjFZwp2oBbovSCLs0jIDJizCw2EmQLiKIxzV38M1nIpECb6d/s1600/FatGirl.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmvWYra93AqzBqiPJO2mmGHdPHUVpcVmNTKCekf4GPYE5IY_AT2Ye-MMItMCPkDGWGP6PFiAha85NAJ-gn0dh9Kce6XHDKjFZwp2oBbovSCLs0jIDJizCw2EmQLiKIxzV38M1nIpECb6d/s200/FatGirl.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Yes, you.
The one feigning to not see me when we cross paths on the running track. The
one not even wearing sports gear, breathing heavy. You’re slow, you breathe
hard and your efforts at moving forward make you cringe. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">You cling
shyly to the furthest corridor, sometimes making larger loops on the gravel
ring by the track just so you’re not on it. You sweat so much that your hair is
all wet. You rarely stay for more than 20 minutes at a time, and you look
exhausted when you leave to go back home. You never talk to anyone. I’ve got something I’d
like to say to you.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">You are
awesome.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">If you’d
look me in the eye only for an instant, you would notice the reverence and
respect I have for you. The adventure you have started is tremendous; it leads
to a better health, to renewed confidence and to a brand new kind of freedom. The
gifts you will receive from running will far exceed the gigantic effort it
takes you to show up here, to face your fears and to bravely set yourself in
motion, in front of others.<br />
<br />
You have already begun your transformation. You no longer accept this physical
state of numbness and passivity. You have taken a difficult decision, but one
that holds so much promise. Every hard breath you take is actually a tad easier
than the one before, and every step is ever so slightly lighter. Each push
forward leaves the former person you were in your wake, creating room for an
improved version, one that is stronger, healthier and forward-looking, one who
knows that anything is possible.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">You’re a
hero to me. And, if you’d take off the blaring headphones and put your head up
for more than a second or two, you would notice that the other runners you
cross, the ones that probably make you feel so inadequate, stare in awe at your
determination. They, of all people, know best where you are coming from. They
heard the resolutions of so many others, who vowed to pick up running and
improve their health, “starting next week”. Yet, it is YOU who runs alongside,
who digs from deep inside to find the strength to come here, and to come back
again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">You are a
runner, and no one can take that away from you. You are relentlessly moving
forward. You are stronger than even you think, and you are about to be amazed
by what you can do. One day, very soon, maybe tomorrow, you’ll step outside and
marvel at your capabilities. You will not believe your own body, you will
realize that you can do this. And a new horizon will open up for you. You are a
true inspiration.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I bow to
you.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857744573765551369.post-74210603160319873362012-05-27T10:12:00.002-07:002012-05-27T10:12:53.351-07:00My First Run Smiley 100k - Born To Run Ultra Marathon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;">Posted by Zapmamak @ <a href="http://nakedonsharppointystuff.blogspot.com/">Running Naked On Sharp Pointy Stuff</a><br />
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJWNRWu66EIURZsn3rjliOBTQBvDlOgDwgKb18dZCSmXD3P7U_r8ye1cYTJ7C4wrNGWN2cxy0-p7Eo_gz6jJ4EI0xhEZ4cXqPZU4PgM3ZaAR7_hGcGViKa16j1lg1ngi5dyYkYFQIj1Xa/s1600/Larry_Gassan_Photography_endurance_athletes_BTR.jpg" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Photography by </span><b><a href="http://larrygassan.com/" style="color: #783f04;" target="_blank">Larry Gassan</a></b><span style="color: #783f04;"> - Mile 50 Heading out on my last loop. <br />I'm surprised he caught me with half a smile on my face</span>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">The DNF Banner at the Born To Run Ultramarathon had all sorts of excuses. My favorite was "I'm just a Grade-A Pussy." </span>And... "Puke. Puke. Puke." There were some hardcore runners out there. Some barely hanging by a thread in the middle of the night to finish 100 miles. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">My post race restless sleep was interrupted by either the throbbing in my legs or the occasional runner being assisted by friends and family on their way in from their last loop. Salsa music blared late into the night while runners were still being announced by Luis Escobar himself as they finished their loops or headed back out. It was the music and party at the finish line that lured me in from those last miles. And the way that the cheering and music glided over the hills through the dense dark was seriously seductive, pushing me on to run the last four miles to the finish without stopping. That was my most vivid memory of my first 100k ultra marathon.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I had an eery confidence about this race. I wasn't nervous. I wasn't worried. Yeah. Sixty-two miles seemed like a long way to go, but for some insane reason I wasn't really all that messed up in my head about it. Since the course consisted of two ten-mile loops I looked at it like a regular workover - in terms of sets rather than the mileage as a whole. At any ten mile point I could just bail and drink beer. I just had to complete six sets of ten. Surely, I could do three sets and then I was half-way there, right?</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3WZs3GvKfnfZxeLKtRmqfi5PR-ZK7OwoiEQCwL6j3vD8KK6VoNHbyG9nAeQorgHXnKryRd_SLv7b2nM-R0hLPubNV7JaJuqXVi3XB-Gx5GvwU0bFEe87StpCoCSL9dRd-WUcfwb12MNj/s1600/Born_To_Run_Ultra_Sweeny_Alex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3WZs3GvKfnfZxeLKtRmqfi5PR-ZK7OwoiEQCwL6j3vD8KK6VoNHbyG9nAeQorgHXnKryRd_SLv7b2nM-R0hLPubNV7JaJuqXVi3XB-Gx5GvwU0bFEe87StpCoCSL9dRd-WUcfwb12MNj/s200/Born_To_Run_Ultra_Sweeny_Alex.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Me with my ultra-running buds<br />Patrick Sweeney & <br />Alex (my not-so-serial-killer new friend)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">So I packed up my running and camping gear and headed out early Friday morning to head down to Los Olivos, CA. I had to make a pitstop in the Bay Area at the Walnut Creek BART station to pick up an unknown fellow runner who, for all I knew, might be using the "no transportation" excuse as a means to chop my body up into little bits. Ok. So that's a little dramatic. If there's one thing I learned about this community of ultra-runners its that we are all a big family. This kid from San Francisco had the same motivations as I did: he was looking for an adventure and to challenge himself. He just didn't have a car and was, lucky for me, sans sharp objects. It was all good.</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGB7YZgy-8mEiUcQxYv0pf79ROYF17MeOBh_qOsgJE2VCt8uIeG4A_CU9nwWAAlLmQx5ntuTbdRmSZI4KmhSrOdlRaQsnLGHXJJLH9LtPP60UfeuOdvbIIHve3HPKf79RiMUEQb-HSeAuJ/s1600/Born_To_Run_Ultra_Registration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGB7YZgy-8mEiUcQxYv0pf79ROYF17MeOBh_qOsgJE2VCt8uIeG4A_CU9nwWAAlLmQx5ntuTbdRmSZI4KmhSrOdlRaQsnLGHXJJLH9LtPP60UfeuOdvbIIHve3HPKf79RiMUEQb-HSeAuJ/s200/Born_To_Run_Ultra_Registration.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Picking up my race packet <br />and welcome necklace</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">The drive down was relatively uneventful. Once at the ranch we handed our waivers over to the "greeter" at the front gate and drove on in. I spotted Patrick Sweeney (<a href="http://bourbonfeet.blogspot.com/">Bourbon Feet</a>) setting up camp along with his buddies from the Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon, Caleb Wilson, François "Flint" Bourdeau and Mike Miller. Later, some of the guys from Luna Sandals joined us along with Caity McCardell (<a href="http://runbarefootgirl.com/">Run Barefoot Girl</a>), Maria Walton (</span><span style="font-size: small;">Micah True's girlfriend)</span><span style="font-size: small;"> and the sweet Guadajuko, (Micah's loyal pooch). Eventually I spotted Shacky and Vanessa and enticed them to set up camp with our crew. We snacked and then headed over to the registration table to pick up our bib numbers.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTS7thSve5oIeQTH1PpXOMszMNOIXMjYbbsdvLjq0hU530PTUxl5Wroju19LpElJAPTbOT2CWnmwfoM9Eclo2MpplfxDcoHLfNfeCEEJkbw3Q2ZuY_VXpLbYulCewjkeGYvQDYo2HyhJK/s1600/Rarajipari_ball_game_start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTS7thSve5oIeQTH1PpXOMszMNOIXMjYbbsdvLjq0hU530PTUxl5Wroju19LpElJAPTbOT2CWnmwfoM9Eclo2MpplfxDcoHLfNfeCEEJkbw3Q2ZuY_VXpLbYulCewjkeGYvQDYo2HyhJK/s200/Rarajipari_ball_game_start.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Rarajipari! <br />Tarahumara ball races.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Shortly after picking up my race packet and grabbing a cold beer, race director Luis Escobar briefed us on the course loops, ribbons, and signage. He made it perfectly clear to everyone that there would be no whiners at this race. I loved his tough love attitude. "If you get hurt, lost or die its your own damn fault" our host announced over the loudspeaker. We would be repeating the Caballo Blanko oath again the next morning as part of our pre-race ritual. And I loved it when Luis said... "This is not Wildflower. We are not pretty people. We are dirty, gritty, ultra runners." (or something like that) I loved this guy. He was honest and genuine. And a hard ass. I can appreciate that</span>.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgwHDvYXxmdiaix9ieqDV9IFUKGzXioLIh5Xxw0IXfrbQ68OzynAaoGqQ9_zbnS8NgvZTwaHTk1lgAppcuS3XnkQJabPM00f_MH16iQc7Ut53lLm-djV1bj1Iinq_bkCesdSC4OLdu8pi/s1600/Born_To_Run_Ultra_chillin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgwHDvYXxmdiaix9ieqDV9IFUKGzXioLIh5Xxw0IXfrbQ68OzynAaoGqQ9_zbnS8NgvZTwaHTk1lgAppcuS3XnkQJabPM00f_MH16iQc7Ut53lLm-djV1bj1Iinq_bkCesdSC4OLdu8pi/s320/Born_To_Run_Ultra_chillin.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Hanging out by the campfire. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">Caleb looks happy to see fire. Ha!</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">(Photo credit: Anthony Sanders)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">While I was eating dinner the Rarajipari (a Tarahumara ball race) began. People's names were drawn to compete against one another in a running/ball "flicking" race to cross the line. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Then after a couple more beers, and a little visiting with friends... I was asleep in my van. Well, sorta. I didn't sleep all that well, but who does the night before a race?</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM0Kha0d908QWNP2K2s43h_vV3OLD79HM0ujfUN9mmRTAjidTUJ458zRDLU-Evb3onzmlQGkvH8CXjauLpWVQW8oTcQoUbQn-Vmu4iH9z59qpCotq7ydS3_kcwhqYUuAQACdb4ytwUd19j/s1600/Born_To_Run_Ultra_Carbs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM0Kha0d908QWNP2K2s43h_vV3OLD79HM0ujfUN9mmRTAjidTUJ458zRDLU-Evb3onzmlQGkvH8CXjauLpWVQW8oTcQoUbQn-Vmu4iH9z59qpCotq7ydS3_kcwhqYUuAQACdb4ytwUd19j/s200/Born_To_Run_Ultra_Carbs.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Someone was carb loading <br />the night before.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">It was a chilly, foggy morning come race day. Mexican music bellowed through camp at 5:15am. I made the decision to run with two handhelds (one water and the other full of Nuun) and a single flask of my homemade gel iskiate (which I planned to refill back at camp every 10 miles). I filled my hydration pack and left it back at the car just in case I decided to switch. I lubed my toes with body glide, put on my Merrells and a muffin and a banana later I was on the starting line ready to roll.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> I forgot to brush my teeth. Ewww.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKq6VmjYh36GOW642FlbVV8PWj5drNhMosjnTbIwiJQ8XYmIMFyyvWx2TAACYEPuurWTwWqcPCyNzq31MLOnZX4gZ_iUbhBupkBlXAv9vsmKf8urvzpwYZ8w8XuuC1UeeZSlhBN8YxfeFi/s1600/Born+_To_Run_CaityMcCardell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKq6VmjYh36GOW642FlbVV8PWj5drNhMosjnTbIwiJQ8XYmIMFyyvWx2TAACYEPuurWTwWqcPCyNzq31MLOnZX4gZ_iUbhBupkBlXAv9vsmKf8urvzpwYZ8w8XuuC1UeeZSlhBN8YxfeFi/s200/Born+_To_Run_CaityMcCardell.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Me and Caity McCardell</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">(Photo credit: Patrick Sweeney)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">I have never seen so many men in skirts in my life! Apparently, this is THE race to well... just let it all hang out! According to Patrick, if you're sans the underwear its technically a kilt, if you're wearing underwear its a skirt. Either way it was totally hot. I could already tell this race was going to be a good one.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The gunshot cracked the crisp air and we were off.</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfx6oETfOoBOVyft4DoGTkDnqjF1QA39kQD6jUmYxOyP7NMf2iCl6hmNscW9R2RJxNplKASXMR0GrXTxsHqXqWHZllZV4t-Pt3cw-HG4PCVIXQonWSlrCylTBn6tkFTx3w_ozGdPkug2d/s1600/Bon_To_Run_Ultra_early_start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfx6oETfOoBOVyft4DoGTkDnqjF1QA39kQD6jUmYxOyP7NMf2iCl6hmNscW9R2RJxNplKASXMR0GrXTxsHqXqWHZllZV4t-Pt3cw-HG4PCVIXQonWSlrCylTBn6tkFTx3w_ozGdPkug2d/s320/Bon_To_Run_Ultra_early_start.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Heading out on the first pink loop.<br />(Photo credit: Anthony Sanders)<br /> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Initially my goal for this 100k was just to finish regardless of time. But, after I had completed the first lap of the yellow loop my goal had evolved. I really wanted to make it to the finish line before dark. There was a very short but pretty steep section of single-track just after the last ridgeline that was dubious in daylight with strong legs let alone the depth deprived darkness after fifty-five miles. The last thing I wanted was to end up on my head at the bottom of the hill at mile fifty-eight. Ugggh.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I was lucky enough to have somehow caught up with Anthony Sanders (one of the Luna guys and a United States Marine) who was also running the 100k. My pace locked in with his and he was my metronome for 30 miles until his knee laid down the smackdown and he was forced to DNF somewhere around the 40 mile mark. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Its not often that I get to run with people. Running with Anthony was really nice. There's something oddly calming and meditative when your pace matches up with a fellow runner's. It was also nice having someone to chat with and keep me on trail when I missed the turn. Yeah. I did that. Glad someone was there to keep me on track.</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQQl6NAxoyc6pKNfbKtIJppmwwo-REFy1e1tbjZ7Xsg2HWXbTWYlCTdweWV6c5Fz7rdVxismEPOwaDNpt34wAO-ZwcVllF-Z2zmTKgF_FdcLJDBlL0U2kwN7luynWwjBdT3rKAuiLzKL6/s1600/Born_To_Run_Ultra_Jacobus_Zaps_Threads_Shirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQQl6NAxoyc6pKNfbKtIJppmwwo-REFy1e1tbjZ7Xsg2HWXbTWYlCTdweWV6c5Fz7rdVxismEPOwaDNpt34wAO-ZwcVllF-Z2zmTKgF_FdcLJDBlL0U2kwN7luynWwjBdT3rKAuiLzKL6/s200/Born_To_Run_Ultra_Jacobus_Zaps_Threads_Shirt.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Jacobus Degroot</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">wearing a </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">Zaps Threads Shirt!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">Coming into camp (the center of both loops) after each lap was always a treat. By the time I had completed two loops Patrick (uber ultra runner/Guiness Book record holder for longest distance sand running) was already back at camp and finished with his 50k - taking first place. That wasn't a surprise. Coming in from each loop more and more people appeared back at camp, raising their beer to cheer me on. Is was a big motivation to see people as the day got longer and longer.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4-3qrhMiHEtKntn21u2VqYltQgy7Loeq49dA45zQ0gZM8E6swHuDNK18n5SO2I5hugyPRFbYWsLKqRkp8ngsMSsOeJMIoTsISk9Bi_TRC8GzpQsNKNDHrwQScXqw_n-tA6pMrs1Y1e4e/s1600/Born_To_Run_barbie_aid_station.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4-3qrhMiHEtKntn21u2VqYltQgy7Loeq49dA45zQ0gZM8E6swHuDNK18n5SO2I5hugyPRFbYWsLKqRkp8ngsMSsOeJMIoTsISk9Bi_TRC8GzpQsNKNDHrwQScXqw_n-tA6pMrs1Y1e4e/s200/Born_To_Run_barbie_aid_station.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Stuffing my face and coming out <br />of the Barbie Aid Station.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">Photo credit: Anthony Sanders</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Funny how it took me until about mile 20 to realize that I had no knee pain, no hip pain and the tight hamstring I was worried about had loosened up and was a total non-issue. I had my fiyah!</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Admittedly though, my right foot was feeling pretty beat up by mile twenty-five. This, I kind of expected and has been pretty much par for the course for most of my races. The ground was hard-pack and gravelly with smaller sections of grassy, holey, uneven bits. My brand spankin' new, barely worn Merrell Pace Gloves worked like a champ, but the thinner sole of the minimal shoes still felt every sharp and jabby rock. My left foot was good. My right foot... not so much. The pain in my foot came and went. Apparently, that foot still pronates slightly which is probably why I ended up with an inconsequential blister on the bottom midfoot below my big toe. The</span><span style="font-size: small;"> small bunion on that foot gives me trouble from time to time when I run.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> By mile 25 the bones felt like they were separating when I landed and I would get a few sharp pains every now and then. I also had weird sensations like bleeding between my toes and tingling. As long as the pain wasn't consistent I was going to keep running. So I did.</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQEWaPtTV-r3_6Cm_NLs0MVsZ_P2gOX2SlksHBtm8B2qZcZHkRIU6tjzpu37swYM_ZlHAszc350tp-og8VZlsQqsk28OFzSsAicQVmtdYWVLjVreMSLZIuCWcCoSz5q9WQag_t1NvJep8/s1600/Born_To_Run_Ultra_Buds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQEWaPtTV-r3_6Cm_NLs0MVsZ_P2gOX2SlksHBtm8B2qZcZHkRIU6tjzpu37swYM_ZlHAszc350tp-og8VZlsQqsk28OFzSsAicQVmtdYWVLjVreMSLZIuCWcCoSz5q9WQag_t1NvJep8/s320/Born_To_Run_Ultra_Buds.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;">The guys back at camp.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">Flint, Alex, Caleb and Patrick</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">By noon the mist had burned off and the temps were heating up. I
was lucky enough to get the iced-soaked denim treatment at Wild Bill's
aid station close to mile 30. They sat me down and draped heavy-weight
ice-soaked denim over my shoulders. Then they soaked my visor and strapped it back on my head. It felt amazing! Coming through that
aid station after the next loop the volunteers told me I looked much
better. I had no idea I looked so bad. </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Besides the ice cold denim drape, the shoulder and neck massage I got at the Barbie aid station was fabulous! They even made Vanessa and Caity mimosas to take with them while they literally inched their way barefoot back to the start line. It was a brutal course for 100% barefoot. I have total respect for both Caity and Vanessa. With the way my feet felt IN SHOES I can only imagine the pain that would ensue barefoot. Those girls were TOUGH!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The aid station volunteers were an amazing, caring,
motivating and an observant crew. They were truly watching out for each
and every runner out there. Words can't describe how thankful and
grateful I was to each and every one of those people. My heart was
filled with gratitude each and every time I left an aid station.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcFxaick4zoB_s9bLYWtRAuiuy7wmWmUkZGTxvd_MvEn99eAoNOEmCeILAg79HQTSKoGw4NBSwH3XR62jhBFGbBLZKcgqT9ekl6z3U0S3e-8rZ2652utOxNOFyS3sxe8TtJ7vux2TcgX9/s1600/Born_To_Run_Ultra_Mile50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcFxaick4zoB_s9bLYWtRAuiuy7wmWmUkZGTxvd_MvEn99eAoNOEmCeILAg79HQTSKoGw4NBSwH3XR62jhBFGbBLZKcgqT9ekl6z3U0S3e-8rZ2652utOxNOFyS3sxe8TtJ7vux2TcgX9/s320/Born_To_Run_Ultra_Mile50.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Coming in to mile 50. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">Photo credit: Patrick Sweeney</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">So the fiyah happened for me around mile 30. In fact miles 30-50 were absolutely magical. I did more running in those miles than I did in the first 20. Instead of feeling tired I felt like I was getting stronger. The hills were a bit harder (I had to use Pablo's trick of walking up some backwards on the last ten miles to alleviate the burn), but I fell into my mojo easier on the longer stretches and felt more relaxed than I did in the beginning. I was surprised that my legs never felt wobbly or weak, which I expected.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Speaking of expectations... my hope was to not only complete this 100k, but to also have some kind of transcending experience. I wanted to dig deep with this race. I wanted to suffer and push through. I wanted that experience. I've never hit a wall. I haven't even really had to struggle too much mentally with the longer distances and was, in a strange sadistic way, hoping to find my limit somewhere within 62 miles. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">So did I find my limit?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Not really. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Well... it was hard heading out on that last yellow loop and walking away from camp (the top black and white picture was taken as I was heading out on my last loop and was shot by <a href="http://larrygassan.com/" target="_blank">Larry Gassan</a> (<a href="mailto:larry@larrygassan.com" target="_blank">larry@larrygassan.com</a>) a professional fine art photojournalist who photographs endurance athletes) All my buddies were hanging out at the finish line getting dinner and beers and cheering people on. The salsa music had started and people were getting their party on. Not only was I hungry for a big ol' fat burger, but my eyes had started getting droopy and I was feeling a very large nap coming on. It was hard not knowing what the last 12 miles would be like especially knowing that I was on my own, in my own head and would be solo in the dark at some point (I was hoping I wouldn't need my headlamp until after I got down from that last ridgeline). But, never for a moment did I doubt that I could finish. In fact, during the last 15 miles that was all that I could think about. That I was going to do this. And I did.</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-PWvcFwL_rsHtvz5u8V6htl-Q4oeQ134ZokatSTExofO-Q3wtvBIdgFzofTzWOG0p2AidOoItGE7JmUZqOFPWGGyiKRnBwaVefEtOUBWRAlq2AvdQXEOca4i_wkx2ZDE1thyghGnILmB/s1600/Born_To_Run_Start_Finish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-PWvcFwL_rsHtvz5u8V6htl-Q4oeQ134ZokatSTExofO-Q3wtvBIdgFzofTzWOG0p2AidOoItGE7JmUZqOFPWGGyiKRnBwaVefEtOUBWRAlq2AvdQXEOca4i_wkx2ZDE1thyghGnILmB/s320/Born_To_Run_Start_Finish.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Start/Finish Line and the funky manequin</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">And even though I didn't make it to the finish line before dark I achieved my "Plan B" goal which was to make it off that little steep bit before dark. It was twilight when I pulled into what was to be my last aid station on the yellow loop. I sat down for a few minutes and chatted with Bill, the volunteer, and another guy running the 100 miler. I grabbed a handful of red vines (I have no freakin clue why those looked so delicious to me) turned on my headlamp and trotted slowly out of the aid station and onto the dark road.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgul92ObH2B5h8hHKQOit0aNp3wubbo8Wxe_9x9JgStgx_HD5Da2dZl_aDVuJxfjHUhxmFgyypBFl-W1xl4QKjFg-39Q9fUX-dQz34V4cgkgzV-EBCmXnglTrPjzdb2rjD9VrbIgxvODSND/s1600/Born_To_Run_Ultra_100k_Finish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgul92ObH2B5h8hHKQOit0aNp3wubbo8Wxe_9x9JgStgx_HD5Da2dZl_aDVuJxfjHUhxmFgyypBFl-W1xl4QKjFg-39Q9fUX-dQz34V4cgkgzV-EBCmXnglTrPjzdb2rjD9VrbIgxvODSND/s320/Born_To_Run_Ultra_100k_Finish.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;">My 100k finish!</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">(Photo credit: Patrick Sweeney)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">With only 4 miles to go my feet were on auto-pilot and I was being summoned to the finish line. It actually hurt more to walk at that point because the road was hard packed and gravelly. Running with a headlamp in pitch black darkness is like running in a box. There's not much to look at except maybe 10-15 feet in front of you and a small peripheral area. With nothing to look at I was bored and in my head a little more than I wanted to be at that point. That's when my other senses took over and I found myself being seduced by sounds and smells. It was a pretty cool experience.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Coming in to the finish line I had only a small two-mile out and back to the funky lingerie manequin to do. I was re-energized by the cheering and the music which made those last two miles tolerable. Everybody was salsa dancing and partying. It looked like a fun place to be.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZaBDbUPY7cv4HUg0zoJSeJF70wcwROohQafnSFQRXuKLZo9QXsiJT4Tse44trJFA6MjJPWhg7dC_bzedubn2EcF6BgOYR4zPQSVLoe6sjoYXoIU4LqiSk5hcpiN1088-Y9HU6Yp1WW4TI/s1600/Born_To_Run_kaki_ki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZaBDbUPY7cv4HUg0zoJSeJF70wcwROohQafnSFQRXuKLZo9QXsiJT4Tse44trJFA6MjJPWhg7dC_bzedubn2EcF6BgOYR4zPQSVLoe6sjoYXoIU4LqiSk5hcpiN1088-Y9HU6Yp1WW4TI/s200/Born_To_Run_kaki_ki.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;">My Kukini finisher's amulet</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">And upon final completion of 62 miles in order to receive the official kukini finisher's amulet, I had to... hula hoop. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Wha??? You say.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Oh yes. Hula hoop. With a big, ginormous hula hoop. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">So I did. I had no idea I could hula hoop after 62 miles. Then the hot shirtless guy with the pink skirt (I think his name was Jacob) tied the amulet around my neck, picked me up and spun me around until I was sufficiently dizzy. Honestly, dude could'a just put a beer in my hand and called it good. After setting me down, he had to hold on to me for a few seconds to keep me from falling on my ass.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I wish I had party in me left to stay at the finish line and join the cheering crowd as the other 100k finishers and 100 mile runners were coming through, but honestly, there was good beer waiting in my cooler back at camp and once I sat down to enjoy my Torpedo IPA it was all over. That's OK, though, because I'll be back again next year. </span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKZSzp95GRLwSWmw8Yrq2eGS5JTQcsnE9kZp8nLAcjUPhvf72yjyN3F2MwAIAUwkpZbCbJPEwuWvw43xqJpZ2FX2dcBMcc5iE6eIFfLCgnSqyW_nR_rBPqjAu0Tg-qnnHIYAdigUmuPwz/s1600/Born_To_Run_hulu_hooping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKZSzp95GRLwSWmw8Yrq2eGS5JTQcsnE9kZp8nLAcjUPhvf72yjyN3F2MwAIAUwkpZbCbJPEwuWvw43xqJpZ2FX2dcBMcc5iE6eIFfLCgnSqyW_nR_rBPqjAu0Tg-qnnHIYAdigUmuPwz/s320/Born_To_Run_hulu_hooping.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Who knew I could hula hoop after 62 miles!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">I did it. And not only did I run 62 miles, but I completed it in 15:38 which I honestly don't know if that's a good time or not, but it was enough to make me a top overall women's finisher in 3rd place (there were 12 women who finished the 100k). I didn't figure that out until a day later when my coach Seth facebooked me and congratulated me on my finish. That's when it all sunk in and I thought to myself "HOLY FUCK I JUST DID THAT!!" Not only that, but my longest training run to date has never been anything over 4-5 miles. And I did it all in my minimal shoes.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/FAonOP0iv8w" width="500"></iframe>
</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The video above is Caity McCardell's video of the weekend shenanigans. She also captured me finishing my 100k and hula hooping. (</span><span style="font-size: small;">Fast forward to 3:30) She also got video of Maria's tattoo, ball racing, and the salsa dancing party at the finish line.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I can wholeheartedly say now that my training is working for me. I'm staying uninjured. I'm strong. I'm well prepared and in shape for these long miles (though, I have some strengthening in my right foot to do) and I've got serious fiyah. I'm able to achieve distances I never thought were even possible. It amazes me just how far I've come (literally) just within the last six months. Words can't even describe how thankful I am to my coach, Seth, for putting up with me and all my doubts. Lets just see where this takes me from here.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLTezcMYsX4jEFYuVzfth7ibSdzptLD5U8Ue45-AEY4mCkLaLDs1oL9KaJO8GvQeiSbt69Hrk8Oyx_M0j5FDGlgfICtU2qMty58hyphenhyphenuczNBwf9Xe5eV7ehKunqgyU-B_p8S7MRjzFcmo1I/s1600/Born_To_Run_group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLTezcMYsX4jEFYuVzfth7ibSdzptLD5U8Ue45-AEY4mCkLaLDs1oL9KaJO8GvQeiSbt69Hrk8Oyx_M0j5FDGlgfICtU2qMty58hyphenhyphenuczNBwf9Xe5eV7ehKunqgyU-B_p8S7MRjzFcmo1I/s320/Born_To_Run_group.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-size: small;">My ultra running family. (Anthony, Me, Vanessa, Shacky, Alex, Flint, Patrick, Maria, Caleb, Mike, Caity and her children, with sweet pooches Guadajuko and Nigel). Someone I really wanted to meet was not in this picture. Funny how we left a spot for Micah. I'm sure he was there in spirit running the trails with Maria, Guadajuko and the rest of us.</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . <br />Check out more of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/larrygassan/sets/72157629872200080/">Larry Gassan's photography</a> from the Born To Run Ultra Marathons.</span><br />
<br />zapmamakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15930054010311118186noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857744573765551369.post-2803716198826229372012-05-15T12:23:00.001-07:002012-05-15T12:23:38.506-07:00Review : Nathan HPL #020 Hydration Vest<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77K-L3l4q99Ik0KsGEAdWRHmoD5NUueSMA67l7JlampE0pXX7HSFOOe9LiJhir0vlVGAi1juWW2ZSAB4_RyOq1tHiRrOLOvI00iZGh4zPpi3gGY_Vn8b1IQ52JAQWA5xtHGE-vjO7XZ5y/s1600/Nathan+HPL+020.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77K-L3l4q99Ik0KsGEAdWRHmoD5NUueSMA67l7JlampE0pXX7HSFOOe9LiJhir0vlVGAi1juWW2ZSAB4_RyOq1tHiRrOLOvI00iZGh4zPpi3gGY_Vn8b1IQ52JAQWA5xtHGE-vjO7XZ5y/s320/Nathan+HPL+020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span lang="EN-CA">Gear type :
Hydration</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-CA">Use :
Endurance running</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-CA">Price :
120$</span></li>
</ul>
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<b><span lang="EN-CA">Introduction</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Nathan’s
line of hydration vests are a frequent sight in ultra running events. Their
clever design, lightweight build and versatility have made many adepts over the
years. All vests use the same bladder type and patented bite-valve that is highly
functional and, an important matter for its durability, easy to clean and
maintain.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">The <a href="http://www.nathansports.com/our-products/hydrationnutrition/race-vests/hpl-020" target="_blank">HPL#020</a> is Nathan’s original vest. Now with a broader offering of hydration
solutions, it sits between the <a href="http://www.nathansports.com/our-products/hydrationnutrition/race-vests/minimist" target="_blank"><i>Minimist</i></a>, an ultralight stripped-down model,
and the <a href="http://www.nathansports.com/our-products/hydrationnutrition/race-vests/endurance" target="_blank"><i>Endurance</i></a>, a full-featured vest with plenty of additional storage.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-CA">Field test</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">I have been
using an <i>Endurance</i> model for a number of seasons now and I’m very pleased
with it. This is a very well-conceived piece of equipment, obviously made by
runners. No matter what size you are, it will adjust to your torso and sit
lightly on your shoulders, won’t swing around and offer minimal slushing (the
effect seems to be more obvious when the bladder is really full). </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">The HPL
#020 is similar in almost every point to the <i>Endurance</i>, save for an extra
couple shoulder strap pockets that count for an ounce of added overall weight and
the positioning of the back storage compartment, that sits on top of the vest
rather than at the bottom.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Like its
bigger brother, the HPL #020 offers a rubbery gizmo that might not look like
much at first, but that is very useful to stash a lightweight extra layer you
were wearing in the morning (say, a vest). Just squeeze it in between the gizmo
and the bag, pull the shock cord and you’re done. I have used it several times
while running in the Copper
Canyons, as can be seen
in this video (at 1:05, 2:26, 2:48) and it never failed me. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlcDIV_T4F8" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3ykrnlJTmYy0Txac8IaV5o1vhc9YrMtWvOMmLDwHdDi4k9LQ5xSUeyh_c60XEebTm9jU9PlQ1jRcxbeXpQCAVmVoO9yA3HABPD5TgojyXF-SZ84TMBuIoWKLnTSbzrwrpXxSHGzYZCSZ/s320/NathanVideoThumbnail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Another
noteworthy test, although involuntary, is a pretty bad spill I took while running
the trails above Creel one morning, crashing on rocks and rolling over. My
vest, its bladder and even the tube came out of it unscathed, which for me
speaks volumes about their toughness. The bladder itself is surprisingly
sturdy; you can flip it inside out to dry and the material stays floppy like new.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-CA">Conclusion</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">The HPL
#020 is a very good hydration vest. Personally, I have to say that I prefer the <i>Endurance</i> model because it has more front pockets, but I’m known as a runner
who brings a lot of “stuff” on the trails. Like all the other models, the HPL
#020 offers very good balance, sturdiness, breathable fabric and ease of
maintenance. Nathan vests are widespread among ultra runners, both on trail and
road.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-CA">High points</span></b></div>
<ul>
<li><span lang="EN-CA">Lightweight
and breathable material</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-CA">Very
adjustable</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-CA">Front
pockets on the shoulder straps</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-CA">Extra
storage in the back compartment + shock cord</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-CA">Sturdy
bladder system</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-CA">Easy
cleaning and maintenance</span></li>
</ul>
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<b><span lang="EN-CA">Low points</span></b></div>
<ul>
<li><span lang="EN-CA">Not as many
front compartments</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-CA">Higher back
pocket raises the center of gravity</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-CA">Kinda sits in-between
the <i>Minimist</i> and <i>Endurance</i></span></li>
</ul>
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<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 10pt;">The equipment for this personal review was supplied by Nathan
Performance Gear, free of charge, without any conditions.</span></i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857744573765551369.post-21085027129326177652012-05-14T18:01:00.000-07:002012-05-14T18:01:15.730-07:00Experiencing the pacing smilesAs we seem to be sharing photo's of Running Smiles (just see <a href="http://runsmiley.blogspot.ca/2012/05/ultra-smiley-bear-mountain-50k.html">Chris's grin at the end of his Bear Mountain Ultra</a>), I thought I would share some photo's too.<br />
<br />
These photo's aren't of me, but of friends that I know. <br />
<br />
The first is my friend Tracey who ran her first 10K in over 3 years due to injury. She just entered and went for it. As you can see at the post-race drinks, she was jubilant and she had every right to be. It was a fantastic performance -- on occasion I had a hard time keeping up with her.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6eAe-l-paHwaulu5alR7LLkkNViyehEZAFuUcjmagpYrejh8bzvZnizjlttPwuOUw7CnLlp1cSxSYX1jK4czIlveyizD7KRZpwR8HXHYJawS6BLiJtk1DDOOMdegZNdouNR4_U-PeeJs/s1600/100_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6eAe-l-paHwaulu5alR7LLkkNViyehEZAFuUcjmagpYrejh8bzvZnizjlttPwuOUw7CnLlp1cSxSYX1jK4czIlveyizD7KRZpwR8HXHYJawS6BLiJtk1DDOOMdegZNdouNR4_U-PeeJs/s400/100_0007.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">The second photo is of my friend Ellie, who ran her first ever race on Sunday. She has only been running for a few months and this is a real achievement for her. This race proved to her what she can accomplish.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzftW351rB2yHVHCEym7Lsbj8FDU2pcWzficRyYtZeDF_ef2uhi_dBNYNFpJtcAwcVmr0YRa7nnU7nZcKenFW_jI9NOkcqhJjENsUc-whjyf7MRWfBfOArF8BxRNwA2_VJJpRAoxIu4ChL/s1600/DSC03523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzftW351rB2yHVHCEym7Lsbj8FDU2pcWzficRyYtZeDF_ef2uhi_dBNYNFpJtcAwcVmr0YRa7nnU7nZcKenFW_jI9NOkcqhJjENsUc-whjyf7MRWfBfOArF8BxRNwA2_VJJpRAoxIu4ChL/s400/DSC03523.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
My job at these races was as Tracey's and Ellie's pacer. At both races I ran behind them just giving encouragement and making them laugh. I was like annoying running fairy; Just out of reach and making them giggle.<br />
<br />
I was very honoured to be part of their races -- to share their joy and achievements. I don't think I have ever had so much fun at a race in a long time. Seeing these wonderful, determined and frankly in my opinion awesome people push themselves and run with enthusiasm made me remember what running is all about.<br />
<br />
It reminded me how it felt to reach that first running goal -- to realise that you can do this. To have that feeling in your stomach, as if you are on top of the world; that you can achieve anything you put your mind to.<br />
<br />
There is nothing more powerful than that feeling and I can't help but smile when I thank them for allowing me the pleasure of being a part of that.<br />
<br />
Sometimes running at someone else's pace is all you need to Run :).Katie Kifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837990080866257280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857744573765551369.post-52178578390309508312012-05-13T20:28:00.001-07:002012-05-13T20:37:10.836-07:00MomsI've talked about my mom in previous posts and about how she told me
running was like flying to her. She used to go out into our ghetto
Chicago neighborhood and run all winter long while Chicanos hollered at
her out of their hooptie windows. The only women on the street at 5am
were selling something or other, and it made her jogs a bit of a toll to
be grouped in with them. Despite this she always came home talking
about flying. She always got back from those outings better off than
when she left. One of the last things I said to her before she died was
that when I came back from working out or running, the smell on me
reminded me of those days.<br />
<br />
Today when I went out to
barefoot it, the first thought I had was that I was out to fly with the
memory of mom, to do a little service to the memory of a person who
spent much of her life fighting for rare moments of relief which should
have been moments of pleasure. She was a tough broad my mom. She was
sick most of my life but in the words of one of her friends: "She always
had time to make others feel like they were the most important part of
her day". Everyone felt like the most important part of her day.<br />
<br />
While
I was out running with another barefooter today (thanks for being out
there Tom), we were witness to a pretty bad bike accident. A 12 or 13
year old kid went over the handle bars and got a face full of chip and
seal, broke a wrist, went into shock and got carted off to the hospital
after 20min of us sitting and talking him and his family through it
while he screamed and bled. I've seen my fare share of such accidents
but today it really made me feel grateful for my time with my family, my
friends, and the soundness of my body and mind.<br />
<br />
As we
end this Mother's Day 2012, let's not forget that the flowers you're
supposed to buy and the dinners you think you should cook are not the
point. Mothers, you are the water and the soil on which we all grow and
thrive. Thank you for your love, your patience, your inspiration, and
your mighty examples.<br />
<br />
Love you Moms!<br />
Thank you for everything.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857744573765551369.post-54941745720630653362012-05-10T21:03:00.005-07:002012-05-10T21:03:50.837-07:00Ultra Smiley (Bear Mountain 50K)I just posted a report of my first every ultra-marathon <a href="http://whenitalkaboutrunning.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/bear-mountain-50k-73742/">over at my blog</a>, and I know some of the smileys might be interested. It was long, it was hard, but I crossed the finish line with a smile on my face!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://whenitalkaboutrunning.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/bear-mountain-50k-73742/"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyhT9-QfTsHu6me0xZZUCqKOvpE8NCT6ukHTdimgnBuV4z7MvOBDVyUGCtNkeASV76dYkbre-4cPyz2b0Nty4a0098jT9t96jT07_6ox356_W3pRKayFDaN5dvlirqRzCGR8Q6MlCcELt/s400/finish.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857744573765551369.post-11409916350866643482012-04-21T08:01:00.004-07:002012-04-22T05:19:58.617-07:00The runner in a 19th century factory<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"></span><br />
<div style="-qt-block-indent: 0; -qt-paragraph-type: empty; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">I've been thinking a lot about the training season, injuries and the conversations I have with my running buddies about training. My thoughts on the subject are as follows and this is essentially the lecture I would give my clients when I was a personal trainer. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Running is a repetitive
motion. Think about your image of a 19th century factory, or a modern cell phone
factory for that matter, lots of people doing the same thing over and over
until they get over-use injuries, carpal tunnel, broken down joints, or just
get injured because they become so robotized that they stop paying attention
and forget not to put their hand in the steel press.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">The idea behind cross-training in a running program is to add
stress to the muscles, tendons, ligaments, skeletal system etc. that you aren’t
getting by just running. Your body is amazingly efficient at streamlining
activity, reducing the amount of energy expended to complete a repetitive
motion and building infrastructure to support it that basically restricts any
motions your aren’t using. That is to say, if all you do is run in a straight line
your body will tighten up to support that and become brittle to any other
movements. Like a factory worker, your body will become very prone to injury
the second you move in an unexpected direction.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><br />
The solutions to this are simple: cross-train, trail run. Trail running is less
repetitive because you have to adapt to an unstable environment. When I’ve been
road running (meep meep) for a while and I get out on a trail, I get pops and
cracks in my knees for a bit but I start to loosen up quickly. Step on a root
and almost sprain your ankle once or twice and you’ll quickly develop laser
focus. More than that the terrain builds supporting and core musculature
because you have to be more nimble in an unpredictable environment, your
tendons and ligaments have to be loose enough to keep strains from happening
when they must unexpectedly stretch, but tight enough to prevent over extension
injuries. All of this is really good news for you.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">The example I like to give is this: professional/competitive road
cyclists are well known for having very low bone density and high risk for
osteoporosis. How can this be, they’re athletes? The answer is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolff%27s_law">Wolff’s Law. “Bonein a healthy person or animal will adapt to the loads it is placed under. If loading on a particular bone increases, the bone willremodel itself over time to become stronger to resist that sort of loading.”</a> I
add to this that the same is true of muscle, ligament and tendon (it’s why
weight lifting makes muscles bigger). The same is true in reverse as your body
will reduce infrastructure on any structure that isn’t under load. Cycling is a
very low impact sport, unlike running where there is always impact with the ground.
Their bodies demineralize bones just like astronauts'. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Workers at the Maker’s Mark distillery are required to switch jobs
every 30min to keep them alert and injury free. If all you do is run in a
straight line you’re setting yourself up for an overuse failure. Cross training
adds additional stresses and helps your body stay supple and trail running does
the same. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Meep meep!</span></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857744573765551369.post-40482797021982011352012-04-16T22:08:00.003-07:002012-04-16T22:18:50.863-07:00Oh, Go Fly A Kite!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><div>We've been pounded with heavy winds for the past several days. Thankfully, we didn't have any tornadoes even though the potential was there. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ironically, a month ago, one of our Cub Scout leaders had planned to fly kites on our regular meeting night this week. I was glued to the weather channel worried the winds would carry the boys off with the kites. All day the winds were 24 mph with gusts as high as 36 mph. The wind advisory was scheduled to end a half hour before the meeting. </div><div><br /></div><div>More ironically, as soon as the advisory was over, the wind was so dead it could barely be considered a breeze. We had to run the whole length of the field to get the kites to fly at all. </div><div>"Hey, are you supposed to be running in that boot?" I was asked.</div><div>"No, but the doc didn't say anything about flying kites," I called back. </div><div><br /></div><div>We sprinted up and down that field for an hour having a complete blast. Two hours earlier, I had to scream at the soccer team just to get them to jog. Now, I was looking at a field full of boys begging for me to untangle their lines so they could run some more. The kites soaring higher and, really, not high at all.</div><div><br /></div><div>Need a little variety in your runs? Need to run speed intervals? Try flying kites on a no breeze day. Putting play back into running. A super smiley way to run. </div></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857744573765551369.post-40965789407687201602012-04-03T18:15:00.001-07:002012-04-04T15:00:03.615-07:00Kuira Ba, Caballo Blanco<a href="http://bit.ly/HVKzQV"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyS5CZbHxFRPXPiNeM2-zWdyjQFuHNdoKC4-L3SSPLRMRMUNo5A58MgqJYrO2mSKnkpHNvq2Um_j0r0u2Ma3s2PxSpOaTY77SFBqJYiiJaw4wvbQVMgTloBDBk_fpP-kRkVITswSqXxZ_/s400/Kuira_Ba_Thumbnail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727347643213401442" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857744573765551369.post-10197823028259661932012-03-27T15:24:00.000-07:002012-03-27T15:24:01.707-07:00BRU article - "Play is the Process. Fitness is the Product"Just thought I would re-post Jason's article from his site,<a href="http://barefootrunninguniversity.com/"> Barefoot Running University</a>, about making play integral to your daily life. Seems to sum up our whole idea of "Run Smiley". <br />
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Let's get out there and play!<br />
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<a href="http://barefootrunninguniversity.com/2012/03/27/play-is-the-process-fitness-is-the-product/" rel="bookmark" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: small;">“Play Is The Process. Fitness is the Product.” Embrace Play to Revolutionize Your Running, Then Your Life</span></a></h1>
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<br />Katie Kifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837990080866257280noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857744573765551369.post-82781323239941947272012-03-26T10:07:00.011-07:002012-03-26T10:12:23.431-07:00The Messenger<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRi-tVSDWkuOlfRCbnnQWrfoumC1X8yIRExm4lhPZGg46i2BKa_dIGrbJ-UKXDhFFRNjvAbT34vqG3zKaLeJdZ-PPFVC5kPVA_YdWUsn4dBI1i7cBTeK73dQfnh8-9CQvfJAPX2gBhlo/s1600/DSC01518.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRi-tVSDWkuOlfRCbnnQWrfoumC1X8yIRExm4lhPZGg46i2BKa_dIGrbJ-UKXDhFFRNjvAbT34vqG3zKaLeJdZ-PPFVC5kPVA_YdWUsn4dBI1i7cBTeK73dQfnh8-9CQvfJAPX2gBhlo/s320/DSC01518.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724254842635553026" border="0" /></a><br />He’s been pictured as The Lone Wanderer, The Ghost of The Sierra Madre. A man of legend, an obscure mystic who dropped out of a former life to become some kind of a gatekeeper to a hidden culture of super humans.<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-CA">The real story, however, is much better than this.<br /><br />Micah True is a simple man, in all the best meanings of the term. Much like the Raramuri, he comes across as soft-spoken, calm and radiating with a humble pride. But that’s where the comparison ends.<br /><br />Before meeting him, I was somewhat apprehensive that he might be a “convert”, trying to be more Raramuri than the Raramuri themselves, or some sort of overwhelmed preacher trapped in a one-way logic. It took the best part of a minute for these thoughts to vanish when he shook my hand for the first time.<br /><br />“Hey, Francois”.<br /><br />Within minutes, we were simply sitting together, sharing stories, planning to meet up later in the week, down in the canyons. Simple as that. Sure enough, a couple days after, we met again. It was even better this time; he’d found a new friend up in Creel and brought him along. It was Olaf, another aspiring Mas Loco soon to become “The Badass”. But that’s an entirely other story.<br /><br />Since our first run, what struck me the most was how Caballo isn’t trying to be anyone else than himself, an impression that still holds after spending a couple weeks traveling and running together. Micah True doesn’t try to be a Raramuri, and that’s partly why I think the Running People appreciate him so much.<br /><br />There’s a reason this man is welcome anywhere in the Copper Canyons, and it has nothing to do with fame or legend. People recognize him as a kindred spirit, a person of peace and a fellow runner. And he, in return, simply treats them the same way.<br /><br />I consider it a privilege to have shared some of his travels, not only by running the ultra marathon but by taking part in the background work that leads to it, which is a story I feel needs to be told.<br /><br />Months before the actual event, the cameras and the buzz, the White Horse is hard at work, making sure the extensive logistics will be in place, in time and ensuring the word spreads around in the canyons. Runners near and afar have to be invited, trails need to be maintained and marked, aid stations must be stocked, corn vouchers purchased. “It’s colossal work”, I once told him while running on the trails. “We are messengers”, he answered, “expressing hope, love and respect”.<br /><br />I didn’t grasp the full extent of Caballo’s words before quite some time. But after having seen him work, travel, run, live, laugh, struggle, overcome and persevere, I got it.<br /></span></p><ul><li><span style="" lang="EN-CA">He brings hope by making sure everyone who participates in the race, whether by running or by helping out, wins something. Tens of tons of corn, as well as thousands of dollars in money, are awarded every time. This is not a handout; it’s a genuine community event for all to look forward to.<br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="" lang="EN-CA">He brings love by organizing a footrace that celebrates the center of the Raramuri culture and where the focus is set on Korima, The Circle of Sharing, expressed by the warm welcome given to everyone and by the distribution of everything won by international runners back into the community.<br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="" lang="EN-CA">He brings respect by inviting avid, passionate endurance athletes from all over the world, who hold in the highest esteem this humble, proud tribe of Running People and who’ve traveled from far away just to get the chance to run alongside them for a day of peace and celebration.</span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-CA" lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-CA"><br />However, it’s only after the race was over, after the elation, after I had left even my new brother Olaf to slowly make my way back home that I realized the key part of Micah’s phrase, that day. It’s a simple, two-letter word that holds all the power of Caballo Blanco’s actions inside and out of the Copper Canyons and that best sums up all the love and respect I have for him.<br /><br />He said “We”.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-CA" lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0