Ranch Running Rocks

Last week we had another running guest who joined Lanadawn and me on some early-morning runs. The fact that we had a mountain lion visit us for three nights that week added to the excitement of running in the woods. I've enjoyed having people to run with this summer and will be less motivated, and more anxious to go alone, when they all leave. Once again, I think the ranch has so much potential as a destination for runners. Perhaps we should start planning the Marble Mountain Ranch Trail Challenge 5k for October.

Shout Out

To Lanadawn, the horse wrangler who worked at the ranch this summer and motivated me to get out of bed, often while it was still dark, so we could run and train together. She just ran her first race, a half marathon, and finished in 2:02! Up till yesterday her longest run had been 9 miles. I hope that by her next race she owns a proper pair of running shoes.

Race Ya'

I had debated all week whether to race the Hammond Half or to run it with my sister. As is evident from previous posts, my competitive side comes out during races. I enjoy seeing how far and how fast I can push myself; testing my physical and metal limits. Even though I've done races with Bren and other friends, I usually end up running by myself. Perhaps it was time I try something new. The debate ended as I turned down Bren's street Friday night. I thought about how much I like my sister and enjoy being around her. If I didn't run the race with her then I wouldn't get to see her much before heading back home after the race. When I discovered that Bren really wasn't looking forward to the race--she said, "Not one ounce of my body wants to do this"--I was even more determined to stay with her and have it be a positive experience. And it was. We set an 8:30 pace early on and stuck to it, slowing a bit around miles 10 and 11. During the last mile I tried to pick up the pace so we'd finish strong. Bren resisted a little but hung with me. When the finish line was about 50 yards in front of us, I looked at Bren and jokingly said, "Race ya'". To my surprise she took off sprinting! I didn't know she had all that energy left! I was too shocked to go after her, plus I was laughing too hard. Fortunately she slowed just before the finish line so we crossed it together. Next time I'll make her run a little faster.

Bren speeding ahead to the finish.
We were both laughing and it looks like we're having fun.

Here we are still cracking up while I relate the story of Bren's finish to Neil, her fiance, who took pictures of us along the course.

Ranch Running

Last week we had our first dude-ranch guest who would rather run with me than get on a horse. It was great! We covered a lot of miles together, and it was fun to share my running routes with someone used to running on crowded city streets. The highlight for her was seeing a bear on our last run together. (I saw the same bear again today while running and heard another one in the blackberry bushes below the road.) Perhaps someday we'll meet again on her turf and she can show me the ins and outs of San Francisco. I wonder what my highlight would be.

Two Weeks and Counting

Four weeks ago I started training for a half marathon, the Hammond Half. Now I have only two weeks left and I'm feeling less prepared than I'd like but optimistic. The race starts a few blocks from Bren's house, it's free, and on a Saturday. The best part is that Bren has agreed to run it too so it should be a fun day. Want to join us?

Mike Schweitzer Challenge

I spent the night at my parents' house the night before the Mike Schweitzer Memorial Challenge half marathon, and I didn't sleep well. I was still sore from the kick-butt yoga class I attended on Wednesday and I couldn't get my mind to rest. The next day my dad and I got up at 5:30AM to make the three-hour drive to Etna. We got there early. I didn't eat enough before the race, two pieces of toast at 6AM and a banana at 8AM. The race started at 9AM. There were only about 25 runners in the half marathon. There was a group of women who said they would probably run a 7:50 pace and since I hoped to run between a 7:30 and 8:00 pace I thought I might be able to run with them. I chose not to wear my ipod. I was by myself by mile 2 and wishing I had my ipod. The miles weren't marked except for mile 3, which I didn't see, and mile 10, so I had only a vague idea of my pace. There were more hills than I expected and I felt tired. I tried to appreciate the beautiful course and nice weather. I finished in 1:46, not my slowest half and not my fastest. I was beat by a woman I knew in my childhood. I remember thinking she was cool and I wanted to be like her. That's still the case. She's 10 years older than I and was 10 minutes faster! I'm inspired.

After the race, Dad and I went out to lunch and we shared a piece of pie. Then on the way home we ate an entire package of chocolate chip cookies. My mom was quick to spot the irony of this behavior and my last blog entry. So much for being a good example.

"Social Contagions": Another One Infected

Over the years, I've been privileged to see people around me become runners. I would like to think their attraction to the sport had something to do with me and my love of running, and perhaps it did. The first person who comes to mind is my 3rd cousin Matt, from Missouri, who joined me in a 5K race one summer and then ended up becoming a track star in high school and college. Others include college roommates and housemates who began to run with me and now do triathlons with their runner husbands; friends from church who kicked up their exercise/running regime to run 13 miles, enter races, and compete in triathlons; and a missionary companion who reads this blog and is now training for a half marathon.

One of my favorite columns in Runner's World Magazine is the "Newbie Chronicles." In fact, there's an old blog post of mine with links to the first few articles by Marc Parent. They're entertaining and worth the read. Recently he wrote about a study that I found interesting:

"Two years ago, social scientists Nicholas Christakis and James Fowler used the same data to make a startling discovery: Happiness is contagious, as are other good behaviors like quitting smoking and staying thin. These and their opposites—obesity, depression, and cigarettes with coffee—appear to spread between people as if they were viruses; groups of friends "infect" one another with good or bad habits. The science underlying the mechanisms by which the researchers arrived at their findings is detailed in the July 2007 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, but it was The New York Times that recently drew what might be the boldest conclusion from the results, reporting, "Staying healthy isn't just a matter of your genes and your diet—good health is also a product, in part, of your sheer proximity to other healthy people.""

This is so true! I find it a lot easier to have a late-night bowl of ice cream if Peter is having one. Likewise, if I'm around my fit yoga instructor or my pretty-much-a-sister-in-law who's a health nut, I'm determined to take care of my body and eat right. After all, I might not have signed up for my first half marathon if it weren't for my friend Nikki who ran a full marathon not too long after having her second child.

My dad made a comment after watching Saturday's race, and I was reminded that he said the same thing after my race in February. "I think I'm going to start running." Well Dad, you said it, and I wrote it down, so now that it's an official goal, let's do it!

Pear Blossom Run

Saturday I ran the 10-mile Pear Blossom Run in Medford, OR. There were 1,580 finishers and lots of spectators. Luckily, I was able to see all of the people I knew who were also running. I was happy with my time, 1:15:23, since my goal was to run a 7:30 pace. I did learn a lesson: Check to see if your timing chip works (by running over the mat and listening for the beep) before the run. My chip didn't work and therefore I didn't get officially timed, and I don't show up on the results page. I figured out that I was 9th out of 127 in my age division. It was a fun, flat course and I plan to run it again next year.

In Training

I'm officially signed up and training for two races that are new to me. The 10-mile Pear Blossom Run is in Medford, OR on April 10th, and the Mike Schweitzer Memorial Challenge half marathon is two weeks later in Etna, CA. It has been absolutely beautiful here with morning fog rising off the river valley, spring flowers, dew-covered spiderwebs hanging in bushes, budding fruit trees, and the sweet sounds of birds welcoming spring. I wish I had a mini-camera, perhaps the size of an ipod, to capture these things on my morning runs.

Trinidad to Clam Beach Run Review

I kept hoping there would be a break in the rain, but every time I looked out the window of our cabin in Trinidad the rain was steadily falling. I kept telling myself it couldn't be worse than when I ran the 8 3/4 mile Trinidad to Clam Beach Run in 2008. That day was cold, windy, pouring rain and absolutely miserable, including the waist-deep and swift river crossing. Fortunately today wasn't that bad; the rain eventually became a mist.

I started too fast and had a side ache by mile 3; I tried to breath through it and keep a steady pace. By the river crossing, which was only above my knees so I was able to "run" through it, I was feeling pretty good. With my new burst of energy and only flat sand ahead I was able to catch the one lady who got first in the Patrick's Point 10k two weeks ago. I improved my time by 4:21 from the 2008 race, with an average pace of 7:30 (I know my first two miles were faster). Here are the stats:
Time: 1:05:41;
Place overall: 98 out of 502 runners;
Age division: 3rd place out of 30 women in my age group;
Sex: 13 out of 233 women overall;

My parents were there to cheer and take pictures at four different points in the race which gave me something to look forward to along the way. I will add more pictures and video eventually. Here's one photo from the Six Rivers Running Club website. I'm steps from the finish line.

Runner's World Photo Shoot

Not really. Just pictures of me running around the ranch for our new web pages. Check them out! I do think the ranch has a lot to offer to runners and could be a great place for a running retreat. Doug and I worked on this page and the "running vacation tips" link at the bottom.

Beautiful Day for a Race

Rain rain go away...and it did! For a little while anyway. I ran a 10k at Patrick's point while Peter and the girls went down to Agate Beach to look for more rocks for Taylor's rock tumbler.

My goal was to run it in 45 mins and my watch time was 45:38. I was the second woman, passing two women in the last 800m or so. Here are the results, and here are some pictures from Six Rivers Running Club. I hope the weather can be this nice for the Trinidad to Clam Beach Run in two weeks. Can you spot me? I'm the short one in the middle of the pack.

Half way through (above) and finishing (below).The sun stayed out for us to eat a picnic lunch and then the rain started up again for our drive home.