Thumbcoast 50: The Spirit to Sustain

"Sustain me, my God, according to your purpose, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed." Psalm 119:116

I was watching the weather like a hawk the week before Thumbcoast Ultra in Caseville. Every day the good weather began to fade and race day was appearing to be a typical windy, cloudy Michigan day. 

We had rented a Airbnb that was right at the finish line and just a 2-minute walk to Lake Huron. 

Race MORNING: 

Christina, Joe and I would be escorted with Andy to the starting line in Harbor beach about 50 miles away. Even though we all had shuttle bus tickets we took advantage of have our own chauffer. 

It was a blistering 39' out, I made a last-minute wardrobe change from my favorite Rabbit running skirt to my 10-year-old track pants. I could hear the wind and it made me tremble. I was having PTSD from Blackbeards Revenge 4 weeks prior. 

"What were the odds?' I heard myself repeating. "WIND AGAIN?!" I felt like I had barely recovered, and I was about to run 50 miles in 20-mile headwinds all over again.  

I finished my coffee, grabbed a banana, my egg bites, all my gear and we all piled into the car.  It would be about a 45-minute drive to the starting like. 

GOAL: 

I get asked a lot "Anita, do you race with a plan..." Truth is, I DO. I always have a plan. 

THE PLAN: 

1. NOT TO DIE!

2. Keep Smiling!

3. No matter how bad you feel, ENCOURAGE others!

4. Maintain a 10-10:15min/mi. 

 "Remember, that of all the elements that compromise a human being, the most important, the most essential, the one that will sustain, transcend, overcome and vanquish obstacles is-Spirit." Buddy Ebsen

Starting LINE: The first 20-ish

I had asked Joe to help pace me. Andy would be chasing me on the course, and I knew this would encourage me. 

Andy, Joe, Christina and I took a quick sunrise photo together with enough time to pray and make it to the starting line. 

Andy had already warned me that we would basically be running into the wind the whole time. What made the winds worse was the flat farmland, we were vulnerable to the elements.   

I was breaking the race up into 5's and 10's. We were maintaining our pace, and I was so excited when I got to see Andy every 5 miles. 

We shared some miles with Steve H and Robert the race director for Bear Lake. We all kept smiling even though we were all getting pummeled with the wind. 

I had my Race Joy app running so I could hear my splits and hear my cheers that some of my friends were giving me. 

SPECIAL thanks to those who sent me encouragement, it meant so much to me especially as the weather conditions was tormenting my head space. 

Around mile 7 Andy was calling me and I accidentally hit the brightness on my phone and couldn't see anything. I knew it was still working, I was hearing my alerts but all I could see was a a black screen. Messing with my phone I heard a guy's voice, then a women's voice, "ANITA, ARE you LOST? RUN FASTER!!" I had somehow dialed Mark and Erica and they answered knowing I was racing and that I normally get lost! This very brief conversation had me laughing. Thankfully Andy happened to check on us and I was able to throw him my phone while we kept running. Andy discovered I had turned my brightness all the way down and tossed it back to me less than a mile later. 

The first 20 we maintained our pace, but I began to feel myself slipping forward, I hoped I was not making a bad choice. 

20ish to FINISH: SUSTAIN.

"Sustain me, my God, according to your purpose, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed." Psalm 119:116

The course is very flat, we ran on backroads, paved roads and sandy two-tracks. Going into mile 25 the winds felt like they had picked up. We had wind gusts reaching over 25mph. Runners looked miserable. 

To make my goal happen I found myself praying ALOT. I would have been on my knees in prayer but I was trying to maintain my pace! The wind was humbling. 

SUSTAIN, sustain...sustain. I kept praying that. 

As I passed other runners I would encourage them with those words. We were going into an intersection uphill when I saw a runner friend of mine, Sean. 

"You got this Sean" I yelled.  He is always smiling. 

"You know I have been praying for the Lord to SUSTAIN us, well, to be totally honest, I have been praying mostly for myself!" 

We laughed and as I moved forward I committed to praying harder for him and all the runners. 

My competition is not with ANYBODY but MYSELF. It is me trying to push myself, push my goals and be humble in the process. 

I saw Andy at mile 42. "Nita, are you doing OK? You look tired?'  I quickly replied not wanting to stop, "I am Andy, I am..." 

I would speed up when I saw Andy at the aid station because I knew I would take a few second to hug him, grab some nutrition and go. At mile 42, Andy took my hydration pack and gave me another water bottle with Ucan in it. This was the second bottle of sustained energy and was working really good. I had been able to avoid stopping at the aid station, this saved me a lot of time. 

I would see Andy briefly at mile 45, I was trying to NOT fall apart on the 2-track. This portion of the race with full of sand and moguls, making it hard to run. My pace was falling behind when Andy called me. It was just a couple minutes after I had seen him. I thought I had forgot something when I answered the phone. 

"Nita, there is a female about 15 seconds behind you, just maintain your pace..." 

I was so confused, I was hurting, tired, and I wasn't competing, or was I? 

I looked behind me and there she was. I didn't want to go faster, the two track as messing me up, I had already passed so many runners on this stretch all wrecked. I wanted to WALK, run a little maybe but surely not run faster. 

I came into a aid station full of guys. I passed through saying "HI GUYS" with a little smirk as they all looked at me. I knew they were coming after me. I decided I better pick it up now. 

One of the guys caught me at mile 47 and I felt the others in my shadows. I anxiously looked behind me, and saw the gal. 

GO TIME. 

SUSTAIN me LORD. 

All the way in, deep breath, heavy prayer, and sustained pain. It was more than sustaining my pace, it was persevering in pain and fatigue. 

I looked at my watch, at my pace and I counted down how long I had to maintain. 

Mile 49: 9:06min/mi.

Mile 50: 9:07min/mi. 

I looked for Andy as I came into the park. My heart was ready to explode when saw him, I was SOO happy to see him. 

Excellence endure and sustains. It goes beyond motivation into the realms of inspiration." Azim Preji

The Lord did sustain me. I met my goals by the Grace of God. My goals were personal, but the biproduct was I discovered that I was SECOND overall FEMALE. 

All Glory to God. 

A BIG SHOUT out to Andy, THIS GUY!! Andy chased me all over, exchanged my nutrition, made sure I was eating, drinking and helped me with great encouragement. THANK YOU for all the encouragement, cheers and calls. 

CONGRATS to all those who conquered the blistering winds and frigid temps. 

RUNDOWN: 

THUMBCOAST 50

SUSTAIN, wherever it is you are running in this thing called LIFE, when obstacles are thrown at you, when the conditions are less than desirable, Don't give up, Don't give in, Keep going, just tuck in and KEEP Moving. 

In Peace, NOT Pieces, 

Anita

The Birdcage: Fly

 "A bird in a cage is safe, but God didn't create birds for that."

 Pualo Cohelo

HAPPY 50th to my Special Friend Danielle.

Everywhere I go there I am again. 

It is best not to out-run yourself, it never ends well. My morning runs often make me feel as though I have my life figured out, but the truth is, I DON'T! No where close!

It is a safe place for me. 

A place my fragmented mind comes back together. 

It is a place people can't take from me. A place I don't hear all the chatter, all the voices, noise that pollutes my heart and mind. 

A place of Release. 

Rest.

Recovery.

Redemption. 

My running is a spiritual place of refuge. I can run to the Lord unashamed of who I am. 

I have been shamed into believing my running is something I should be ashamed of. I once got fired from a job/ministry and the statement was made "Anita's doing her running..." 

My running has been used against me, misguided judgment of idolatry. 

BUT GOD. You become UNSTOPPABLE when you work on the things people CANNOT take away from you. Things like your FAITH. your MINDSET, your CHARACTER, your entire BEING! 

THUMBCOAST ULTRA 50: A BIRD

Last weekend, I chased Andy around Carmel Indianna cheering him on for 26.2 miles. This weekend I will be towing the line for my final race before Kettle Moraine 100. 

I am very strategic at trying to find races that will align with my "A" race. 

THUMBCOAST 50 fit good for my last "longish" run and run week. While I tapered, I will still need 75 miles for the week. 

My Goal, to STAY ALIVE! I am going to try to hold onto the same pace I did for Blackbeard's Revenge, 10:40min/mi. 

I will give it a go. 

I will go at it with this silly shin issue, all the pavement pounding and the anxious curiosity of what the day will bring! 

The Lord is responsible for the day. 

This Ragamuffin is not so arrogant to think I have so much control over how the race will unfold. The Lord is responsible for my gift to RUN, the blessing the successes, the victories, He get's the Glory in it all. 

I only get to run because the Lord has allowed me to. 

I could play it safe or I can go out in faith. 

"A bird in a cage is safe, but God didn't create birds for that."

 Pualo Cohelo

RUNDOWN: 

April 8-14th

Distance: 56 miles

Total time: 10Hours

Elevation: 2,500

This week:

Distance: 22 miles

Time: 3H 35 min

Elevation: 565

Tapering is so delightful. 

I met Danielle this morning at Indian Springs. Tapering messes with your head so bad. Trying to be disciplined and NOT RUN too much, too fast, too hard is discipline! Finding SECURITY in your training, your goals, yourSELF is everything.

You do things with Faith you will be ready to FLY!

Congrats to all those who ran Carmel Marathon!

• Jazz CRUSHED IT with a 2:57 marathon!
• Donny had a PR 3:37 marathon!
• Sarah was a savage running covered in prayers for a PR of 3:20. 
• Joel, only running a few years killed the marathon with a 3:14
• Andy Finished strong with a 4:11
• Sara F who also was injured finished with strong determination with a 5:39 marathon. 
  
  
  

I was so inspired with them all. But especially with Andy and Sara. They both had alterative plans of finished due to injured. But they showed up, prayed up, with determination fixing their eyes on the finish line and NEVER gave UP!!!

I made a new friend,
 together we drove all over the city tracking the guys down. 

If you can remember me in prayer this Saturday. Asking for prayer to run humbly, glorifying the Lord,

to be used by the Lord in the gift He has given me. 

If you would like to send me cheers while I am running, I love THIS, you can download the RACEJOY App. Look for THUMBCOAST Ultra Caseville then put my name in to track. I get all the messages and it is so fun! it will give you a real time tracking of me. 

In Peace, Not Pieces,

Anita

Cut the Cord

 "Don't believe everything you think." Unknown 

Andy and I were on a road trip this past weekend to the Ark. We were not going anywhere fast driving down to Kentucky. It would be our farthest trip pulling our camper and giving us almost 6 hours of driving time together. 

That time was occupied with random conversations, podcasts and sharing our music favorites. 

Andy was not a big fan of my playlist but not opposed either. Andys music playlist gave me instant anxiety and sweaty palms more so than driving a 30ft camper through construction and hills. 

One song of his caught my attention, not because I liked the song, rather because I liked the title. 

Cut the Chord. 

My mind began firing off all sorts of thoughts. 

ATTACHMENT: Cut the Cord

I trailed off thinking of the different things I have been attached to that I needed to cut the cord on. 

Areas of my life that I have had to learn to LET GO of. 

Areas I have clung on to, too tight, too long. 

People I have clung on to, too tight, too long. 

Ideas I have clung on to, too tight, too long.

Cut the Cord of YOUR PAST. 

Most of us hold onto our yesterdays and struggle to enjoys our todays. 

We hold onto Failures, Mishaps, Misfortunes, Bitterness, Dreams, Expectations, Hurts/Wounds

We Hold onto People.

We hold onto Ideas. 

We hold onto Habits. 

You fill in the blank. 

When we are attached to the cord, we will find ourselves STUCK. You were meant to move FREE. 

Freedom is cutting the cords that hold us back!

RUNDOWN: Cutting MY CORDS

As I am aging and still running, I am learning to embrace running at 50 in the capacity the Lord has me. 

When I compare myself to others or to my younger self, I am no longer FREE. 

The Cord of Comparison will rob you, you will never feel equipped, or confident or even secure. 

The Cord of "Stinking Thinking": Most of us have a tendency to OVERTHINK. I have another race in 2 weeks. It will be my 50miler, Thumb Coast. If I am not careful, I will overthink my training. I will compare it to training when I was younger. And if I am really struggling, I will compare myself to other athletes. I have to CUT the CORD or that chord will become a noose. 

I have learned when I cut the cord sometimes, I am a little vulnerable, a little unsteady but I will learn how to sail solo.

God's word is my teacher. He guides me, teaches me, comforts me, and steadies me. 

Week of Apri1-April 7th 

Distance: 56.55

Elevation: 2.400

LEGACY Trail: Andy and I found this great paved trail in Kentucky, and we discovered a little park for a waterfall trail, Cove Spring Park. We came in a day earlier and had fun adventuring!

Struggles: Vacation is always a bit of a struggle for me when it comes to training. To compensate for that, I racked up my miles in the beginning of the week to allow me to not be anxious about running over the weekend. There was no pressure to run Saturday or Sunday. I had to Cut the Cord of routine and BOOM!! Its All GOOD! 

Training as an athlete at this season of life has me cutting the cord to a lot. 

Living on this side of eternity has showed me cords I have held onto to and even picked back up. 

We were meant to be FREE from holding onto things that were NEVER meant to be gripped so tight. 

LET GO. 

In Peace, Not Pieces,

Anita

BlackBeards Revenge 100K: Gird Yourself

 "Gird yourself and put on your sandals." Acts 12:8

8 of us gals took a road trip to race Blackbeard's Revenge. 5 of the gals were battling the harsh conditions as a relay team that started much earlier than my10am start. 

It was 7am in the Outer Banks and the wind was blowing with intense anger. I found myself trembling at the thought of racing in the brutal conditions. 

BlackBeard's Revenge 100K

Place: Outer Banks N. Carolina 

Distance: 62 miles

Time: 10am

Elevation:189ft

Weather: 59'degrees, Head wind 35mph, rain

I curled up on the couch with my coffee, throw blanket and bible. 

I was feeling a little bit lost. 

I was lacking confidence in my training, my abilities and my body. 

I opened my bible searching for a voice bigger than my own. I needed the Lord to fill in my inadequacies.

This was the only area that I was confident in, my Faith that the Lord would direct me, would call me and lead me. 

I began to read...And I prayed. And the Lord navigated me to "Instead, you ought to say, If the Lord will, we will live and also do this or that..." 

I rested there, humbly with peace and contentment. 

I wanted more so I opened my bible study on "BY FAITH" and the Lord showed up in a mighty way. 

"An Angel of the Lord suddenly appeared, and a light shone in the cell; and He struck Peters side and woke him up saying, "Get up Quickly." and his chains fell off his hands. And an Angel said to him, "Gird yourself and put on your sandals." And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me..."  Acts 12:7-8

GIRD YOURSELF ANITA:

Lynn, Christina and I pulled up to Jennettes Pier, our starting line. The winds raged around us; the rain was pummeling us as we rushed towards the protection inside the store. The pier reaches out into the ocean 1000 ft, displaying violent waves that crashed into each other with fury.  High white caps and loud winds added another element of fear as we quickly entered shelter. 

The course had already been changed in the middle of the night due to the turbulent evening which resulted in flooding. We were still waiting on the final call, if they were going to allow us to run across the bridge. 

Just minutes before the start they announced we would get to run the bridge; this produced an ignorant applause. We would find out very soon what suffering was really like. 

GOO time! The three of us girls headed across the starting mats with blind faith and excitement. I instantly noticed I messed up my RACEJOY app. I needed this app to work, I had family following me and I needed them. I had helped both the girls set theirs up and now here they were helping me recover mine! 

After we fixed my technical difficultly, I GIRDED myself up and settled in. Together us gals stayed together but the winds were so loud I found myself talking thinking they were with me rather when I turned around, I discovered I had been talking to myself. 

It was less than a mile and I knew I would be running a long, lonely, blistering race. 

MY PLAN: 

I always have a plan; I fight and battle to follow a plan seeking God in all of it. Prepared for God to change things up at any time...His Will be DONE.

Run BY 20'S- 

• The first 20 miles 10-10:30min miles
• The second 20 Miles 10:30-11min miles
• Last 22 -11-12min miles
• Finishing in a sub-12-hour 100K

I broke down the plan even more, into 5-mile increments. Every mile intentionally eating and drinking. We had a strong head wind, so I just tucked myself in and coached myself to stay calm and steady. 

The first aid station came about the 5-mile marker. I quickly ran in and grabbed a hummus wrap, the rain had subsided allowing my food to not be soggy. 

I saw the bridge as it melted into the gray sky with no prominent boundaries. I told myself this is what I train for. I train for elevation, for suffering, for discomfort. I entered the bridge with the wind smacking me harshly in the face. The elevation was gentle allowing me to not feel too abused all at once. The bridge is 2 miles long and the center of the bridge takes a more drastic climb. I was fixated on my pace trying so hard to stay on target as the unmerciful winds blasted me head on. Dead birds mangled and lifeless had met their demise in these harsh conditions and were scattered all across the bridge. With a sustaining 35 mile an hour wind gusts of up to 60mph would almost stop me in my tracks. I would grunt and wince clenching me fists and laughing like a crazy person. Snot was dripping down my nose, my fingers were frozen, and the rain appeared again searing through me. 

And I laughed harder. Andys last words to me were "Anita, you are going to have a head wind right in your teeth..." 

He wasn't lying! 

I made it up, turned around and headed back with the wind at my back. 

I saw both Christina and Lynn on the turnaround, they looked strong, and I cheered them on. 

"Get to 20 miles Anita".  

The SECOND 20.

I somehow made pace through severe winds, pelting rain, flooded roads and solo running. This race was all pavement, roads and highways. I have been avoiding pavement due to an injury I have been battling for months. My left shin has been temperamental and pavement pounding exasperates it. 

But here I was going into mile 20 with NO pain. What did concern me was cramping. The temperatures warmed up and the humidity was at 95%. I drank water from my hydration pack, pickle juice, took salt tabs and drank Tailwind at the aid stations. I came into the aid stations full of life thanking all the volunteers with great appreciation. 

And I ate. I knew I had to stay ahead of my calories. 

I maintained my pace, encouraged by all the "CHEERS" I was getting from the RACEJOY app when Andy called me. 

Andy was following me from the app from home in Michigan, he was getting notifications on every mile, my pace and my exact whereabouts. "NITA, how long are you going to maintain that pace?" Andy was uneasy with my pace because of my injury and lack of training. 

I responded "I feel good, I'll be slowing down..." 

Only I never really did that second 20. 

THE Final 22. 

It was closing in on 6pm. I was staying lucid doing math and extrapolating miles, pace and time. But fatigue was approaching. I told myself I would slow down only to argue back to keep running pace while I felt decent. 

The temperatures slowly dropped again. I drank some warm water at one aid station with a PBJ, some ramen noodles and a banana bite at another. 

I had caught up with another 100K runner and we went back and forth encouraging each other but I picked up my pace to pass her for the final time. 

This is when I knew I was racing. 

As the sun began to set, I was noticing the same cars piggy backing. They were the 100-mile crew cars. They also noticed me. They would roll down their windows and shout and scream, I would raise my hands with thumbs up and high fives. 

I came into an aid station around 8pm hot. I knew I needed to get out fast. The workers were great as I yelled what I needed. As I was quickly getting out a girl jumped out of a car I recognized and said "I have to come see you, you are amazing..." I blushed said thank you and said, "Glory to God" and headed back into the evening feeling far from amazing. 

I would see her several more times. About 9 pm the evening rested darkness around me, I could see my breath with every exhale, and I didn't have the energy to put my long sleeve shirt back on. I committed to just running. I had been adding walk breaks but I knew in order to stay warm I needed to keep moving. 

My knee was beginning to ache, my feet were so sore and I had removed the last latch on my hydration pack because my ribs were so tender and bruised. 

And I could no longer see enough to trust my legs when I saw that same girl in the white car. I ran to her side and knocked on the window. I scared the sh@% out of her!  But asked her if she could reach in my pack to get my handheld light. She was my road angel. 

The wind picked up and I had called Andy a few times when I got turned around but now Andy was calling me to cheer me up. 

I had run for hours by myself. With winds, rain, pavement pounding, my own stinking thinking was elevating, and I was just getting so tired. I answered the phone whiny and winded. "I am so cold, and so tired..." But Andy wouldn't have it. He doubled down, shared what the last 5 miles would be like and told me to get after it. 

I had a 2 mile out and back section. Anguished at the winds and cold I made it to the turn around. Andy had called back "Nita, is your shin hurting?" I grumbled "No". And he hollered back "THEN GOO! I want to see the last miles 10min/mi, you have a tail wind, PICK IT UP!!" 

It took me a second to let that all register. GO! I picked it up running with purpose. Alive and strong my mental fortitude powered back up. 

BUT as the second mile to the finish approached my phone rang again, it was Andy. "ANITA!! YOU missed your turn!" 

"WHAT?" I squawked. 

I praised God that Andy had been tracking me so closely. I had ran right by Corolla Park where the finish was, overshot about a quarter mile. 

It's not a race if Anita doesn't get lost, especially on an OUT AND BACK! 

I came into the Finish so happy to finish I had no idea why everyone was making over me. 

I had no idea I was First Place Overall Female!

I praised God. 

RUNDOWN: 

Gird yourself...I had chains of doubt, chains of being broken and discouraged. But I "CAME to Myself"(Acts 12:11) somewhere at mile 20 and realized that the Lord makes a way when there is no way! 

Some races will test you more than others. 

Sometimes you will be able to rise to the challenge. 

Sometimes you go at in faith with fear in the shadows.

BUT whether it's FAITH or FEAR it is BOTH BRAVE and BEAUTIFUL when you RISE to the challenge. 

TIME: 11:16:47

1st Place Female, 4th Overall

SPECIAL THANKS to those who cheered me through RACEJOY or text me during my race, it meant SOO much to me: Leeanne C, Holly P,  Antonio R, Tricia B, Doug M, Jamie B, Deanna T, Deb C. Andy, Tanya K, Deborah M, Barb F, Holly P, Erica A, Sarah K,  and Sara F. 

"Setting Goals requires gazing way out at the horizon of your life. But once you set your course, most of the time your awareness should be on the trail under your feet," Lauren Fleshman

In Peace, Not Pieces,

Anita

Race: Recap: Recovery: Repeat

 You can't be too scared to fail, or you will never even try. 

I boarded the airplane alone like I do every time this time of year to see my brother and sister. 

And also, to do "A thing"!

Leeanne and I did a 5K the day before the marathon. 

To do a THING: Treasure Coast Marathon. RECAP

Stuart, Florida.  

I went into this marathon broken. No speed work, shin pain, and lacking confidence. 

I also walked to the starting line solo. I knew NO ONE, I drove with my brother-in-law. 

It was 5:50am and I could feel the Florida humidity resting in the air moisturizing my fears even more. As I tried to settle into myself, I heard my phone buzz in my fanny pack. 

"Where are you at?" It was my brother. He had gone to the Oliver Anthony concert the night before; therefore, I had spent the night with my sister, her husband was running the half marathon and was going to the starting line early. 

I looked around and responded with my location and was so stoked that I found them! We prayed together and I jumped back in before the gun went off. 

I told myself from the very beginning I would give my all. I was aiming for a 3:50 marathon but hoping I would have a little extra room. The goal was to qualify for NYC Marathon, I would need a sub 3h:51. 

Some things I told myself:

• This is going to HURT. 
• Focus on the prize not the pain. 
• You cannot half a$$ this Anita. 
• You are capable, The Lord will see you through, but you are going to have to fight. 

The course was rather flat, with 2 very large bridge crossings. The marathon was also an out and back, with the bridges in the first 5 miles making them also the last 5 miles. 

GO! 

I prayed the 26.2 miles of pavement would not wreck my shins as I headed out with the other 200 runners. The runners were all so friendly and I found myself chatting with several runners with similar goals. As I settled in, I found myself running with this gal who looked like she could be related to me.

We exchanged names and as we asked each other questions I discovered we had a lot in common. 

• We had almost the same goal time, by only a minute.
• Both our names started with an "A"; her name was Amanda. 
• Amanda was originally from Michigan! 
• And Amanda was a Jesus follower. 

I believed I had just been given an angel to help me to the finish line. As we chatted I got more and more attached to her. 

Caught up in the excitement of my new friend I was surprised to see my brother and sister on the course cheering me on! 

Bobby and Leeanne would be waiting for me every few miles! As I approached mile 11, I called them, and they had a cold bottle of my mixed energy drink waiting for me to swap out. 

It was a perfect hand off. 

I fell back a little in the exchange, but I was able to catch up. I was apprehensive to try my drink as it looked my white Pepto-Bismol. 

IT was GOOD! 

And in the full sun it was like magic energizing me. 

At mile 17, I was feeling pretty good but knew the end was near. I had been taking in nutrition and drinking at every stop. 4 aid stations ran out of water! As we approached 20 miles my legs began to feel heavy and I had already lost a full bladder, peeing all down my legs. I knew stopping was not going to be an option. The temperatures were in the high 70's, we were beginning to pick off runners when my side began to ache so bad. I dug my fingers deep into my side stitch trying to relieve the pain as I watched Amanda slowly break away. 

I also watched her heading up the bridge. In significant pain, I coached myself to walk for 10 seconds, bring down my heartrate, catch my breath and get back at it. 

And I prayed. 

I looked down at my watch, less than 5 miles to go. I looked up, sweat beading on my skin I clung on to the shadows of Amanda. 

Breathless, exhausted I caught her at the top, "WE made IT, I'm up, I'm up..." Just those few words depleted me. 

I tried so hard to embrace the victory of making it up that bridge, but I could see the next just minutes away. 

I tucked in as close as I could to Amanda. She would call out my name to make sure I was still with her. 

Worn out, I whispered "I'm here...."

I took a gel hoping it would be like sorcery and I would be foot loose and fancy. 

Truth is, it sustained me. With a mile to go, I fell back again. I looked at my time and knew I couldn't fall apart. I didn't have time to slow down, I could see the finish line and knew the course was over. 

I had to GOO. 

That finish line came 2/10ths over. I wasn't sure if I was going to puke or pass out. 

My stomach knotted up and my vision blurred over as my brother was shouting at me! I gave the best smile I could as I tried to stay upright and crossed the finish line. 

I DID IT. 

"We Entertain Angels Unaware." 

Amanda and I ran together almost the whole race. When was leading I would yell "YOU got this Amanda...." 

And when Amanda was leading, she would turn her head back to locate me and encourage me too. 

Then there was my brother and sister in love, they were all over that course and even went into a grocery store to get me Gatorade. 

Blessed, Favored, Loved, Humbled. 

The Lord made a way when I questioned all my abilities. It was more than what I had though. I had to fight; He would provide a way, but I had to do the work. 

Recovery

Everything hurts and I am dying. I am 11 days out and I am still on the struggle bus! Tight hamstrings, fatigue, and minor aches and pains. 

I have brought my miles down, walked instead of ran and even got a massage that was so painful I yelped! 

Ice, roll, stretch and remind myself this is all my "A" race in JUNE. 

This is training. 

March 4-10th

Distance: 62 miles

Elevation: 2,734

I am TAPERING for Blackbeard's Revenge 100K in the Outer Banks. ALL pavement! 

This is going to be a fun race! And another training run for Kettle Moraine 100. 

The last couple weeks I have been reminded that victorious battles are won with pain and perseverance. They are won NOT in fear but in faith with fear. I go into battle with fear, but it is FAITH that leads. If it doesn't scare you a little, then I have to question the battle. 

The Lord provides a way for victory in our battles, but we still have to FIGHT. 

In Peace, Not Pieces, 

Anita~

Really Good at Stupid

 

Keep Moving, let's not get Stuck on Stupid cause that's CRAPPY!

I texted a friend of mine last week, "We do stupid well." 

It's the truth. If you followed in my footsteps, GOOD CHANCE you would want your money back. Sometimes my program works, and sometimes it doesn't and MOST of the time it doesn't make sense no matter which way you cut it. 

I find myself humbled, icing my shin and thanking God that He carried me through a peak week of training. 

EVERY RUN is a gift at this point. Finding the balance of stupidity and foolishness is a bit confusing.

 Clinging to "good training" has many different perspectives and opinions. 

As a woman of faith, an athlete for Christ my perimeters will never make sense to most. 

Saturday night The National Anthem played as I got ready to race a 25K in Midland after running 20 miles of hills that morning. 

I closed my eyes and prayed. The song faded away to just the silent whispers to the Lord. 

I prayed for protection as I navigated in the dark, to stay upright and steady. 

I prayed for perseverance after running 20 miles and that the Lord would protect me from injury and from myself. 

I DIDN'T pray for speed, or to place or to have a killer race in the eyes of others. 

The whole thing was STUPID!

But I knew I had to see what I could do with Treasure Coast Marathon THIS Sunday. 

My shins have been getting better, however, I am NOT running pavement or doing speedwork. 

20 miles Saturday morning. Let's not get "Stumped" on stupidity!

 
(Hills are speedwork in disguise.)

Backroads, trails and hills are all I can do. 

The Goal, to qualify for NYC. which in turn would have me also qualify for Boston. 

SNOWMOON 25K: 

I planned to run a 9:30min/mi. 

And I claimed that to many...and I truly believed my own words. 

It didn't feel STUPID when I crossed the starting mat and found myself a few yards behind Andy. 

I heard my watch beep...I cautiously looked...8:34min/mi. 

I stayed hidden in his shadows. 

Andy was running with 4 of our friends so when one of them noticed me, the cat was out of the bag. 

I told him I would try to stay with them as long as I could. 

I didn't have the energy to chat, I was trying really hard to feel if I was crossing over into a different degree of STUPIDITY....EGO and PRIDE. 

STUPIDITY is often perspective, but EGO and PRIDE is the hidden ugly that is battled in your own darkness. 

I made a vow to myself "stay behind" to keep the EGO man down. 

By the GRACE of God, I was able to stay with Andy. We finished together. The finish line wasn't what I was dreaming. It came with a nasty fall from Andy that left his body looking like a 6ft pretzel. I had romantic thoughts of glorious smiles and hand holding maybe even a cute little kiss at the end.  

Not even close. 

Our friends, Amanda and Shane were so sweet waiting for us with big smiles and holding out vacant high fives. It was a finish of suffering and STUPIDITY. 

My heartrate for the race. I was very pleased. 

ANDY actually KILLED it! We both PR-ed  Snowmoon, with the best conditions I ever remember. 

It would cap off my day of 35 miles, with me hitting the 25K at the pace I would need to maintain at Treasure Coast Sunday. 

TRAINING & STUPID

"Stupidity is a gift from God but one must not misuse it." Pope John Paul II

I have made so many stupid decisions in my running career that if it was a course I would get a A+! But the truth is I have learned a lot from them, often because the lesson was so painful. Sometimes it doesn't APPEAR stupid but when once the fog lifts your knee deep in stupidity. 

"Stupidity is a talent for misconception." Edgar Allen Poe 

It seemed like a brilliant idea until it wasn't.  I am usually chewing on this in the middle of an ultra. When my suffering is screaming at me, and I am rethinking my choices. A talent for sure when I find myself back in the saddle again!

"Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of stupidity." 

EGO and PRIDE. These two are best friends that like to beat down humility. Ego will find a back door for anything stupid and make it shine. 

You become your own god. Unteachable and unreachable. You do things because you CAN not because it's actually beneficial. 

Last weekend, I planned on running a marathon to a 50K in the morning THEN the 25K that evening. But the more I thought about it the more I realized "WHY". Just because I COULD didn't mean I SHOULD. More is not always better regardless of what the commercial says. 

"It is a wise man who know where courage ends, and stupidity begins." 

AHH. This one is brilliant. Not much can be done under the spirit of fear, courage though can take you to places you can soar and places you can sink. 

Such a fine line. A line I am still learning. We all have a different breaking point, a different point of reference, a different point of pain and different tools to navigate through it all. 

And different isn't always wrong because it looks wrong to us. Courage is the same. It takes me more courage to line up to a 5K and race it then a 50K! 

RUNDOWN: 

"Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge but he who hates reproof is stupid." 

Proverbs 12:1

AM I teachable? I would like to think so. 

Feb 12-Feb 18= 

STEPDOWN week. SHINS

Miles: 44miles

Elevation: 2,166

The step down proved itself. I iced every day, some days 3 times, KT tape, Compression socks and prayer. 

Feb19-25

Don't get Stuck on Stupid

Miles: 74miles

Elevation: 4000ft. 

I stayed off pavement. trails and backroads. 

Saturday was a BIG run day. I went for a walk today, but very little running this week.  

SUNDAY is Treasure Coast Marathon. It is on pavement. I could really use some prayers! 

In Peace, Not Pieces,

Anita

A Thorn in my Side

"Stay steadfast in your hopes and dreams, but flexible in how you reach them." Collier Lawrence

 I have been embracing my love, TRAILS this past week. Truth is, I have been struggling with a minor injury for months, pavement pounding is my nemesis. A Thorn in My SIDE.

My training is a cluster due to races both on pavement and trails. I have come up into embracing the weather and hitting the trails rather than road running for my 100k in March. 

Kettle Moraine

100 miles in JUNE is the "A" race. All races in between are training runs that will help me build milage and confidence. 

Kettle Moraine is going to be tough with over 8000 ft of elevation on trails in Wisconsin. 

THE TRAINING thus far: My injury has me dropping my miles and only running 4 days a week. I have been doing extra drills for my shins, icing, KT tape and compression socks.  

I added myself to my prayer list and have been taking extra time in conversation with the Lord. 

The Lord giveth and The Lord taketh. 

Every mile is a gift from HIM. I ask him to direct my paths, and I trust Him with great affection knowing He knows the plans for me. 

I am running a marathon in Florida the beginning of March with the aim of trying to qualify for NYC Marathon, 3:51 is the time I would need..God willing. 

Andy asked me when I was going to do speed work. 

NOT going to happen!!

 I cringe at the idea of suffering around a track in agony as my shins are in anguish. 

SO..This week I bought some new shoes and did speed work on the trails. 

RUNDOWN:

"A THORN in my SIDE"

Last week, I ran multiple different trails taking advantage of the weather. The trails were in great shape however, I was shocked at the pickers that covered the trails at Holdridge. 

Also last week, we spent the first portion of our run ducking, dodging and doing trail clean up from a windy winter. 

Today, was no better when it came to those bristles and thistles. With the sun blazing we took advantage of the day when we hit the trails to run the East Loop at Holdridge. I was not sure how the run would look, it was my third day on, and we ran Holly Rec the day before with Andy pacing the sweat out of me. 

We were not talking a lot, keeping pace a little faster will do that to you. It is the most magnificent feeling running in the woods swerving where the path leads you, around trees, through the orchard, over the ridge bordering the lake, so glorious. 

BOOM!! The first of 4! I would FLIP, DIP and TRIP. I encountered the ground multiple times. My consistent pace kept getting interrupted by roots, rocks, branches, and dodging thorns. I would jump to my feet to try to regain my pace but my quest to keep pace fell apart each time I stumbled. 

My last tumble, I checked for my phone and I was relieved to have it, but I never bothered to check to see if I still had my sunglasses. 

I did not. I recalled a thorny branch had caught me when I tripped, it stole my sunglasses! 

We finished Grubers Grinder, then went back out for more trails on the West Loop. We ran making it up as we went. As long as I kept moving, I could keep adding more, our elevation would be close to 1,900ft. 

When we finished, I knew I had to go back to the East loop to find my glasses. Thankfully my running partner has a keen sense of direction. 

We went trail blazing off Hess rd. cutting through prehistoric thorns. The barbs were over a half inch long. They were snagging everything they could, digging in their spikes making it hard to go more than a few feet at a time. 

But my favorite GOODR glasses from Colorado were found! 

COLLISION: "Thorn in my Side"

We all have that THORN in our side. That place of annoyance, that problem that isn't getting resolved, that person that snags your thoughts. 

Today, I had to go RIGHT into those thorns. The only way to-- was THROUGH. A painful reminder that if you care enough about something sometimes it is going to hurt to have success. 

You will recover from the pain of trying better than you will recover from the pain of regret. 

RUNDOWN:

Feb5-Feb11

Distance: 60miles

Elevation: 5000 Ft