Running this week was good and on-plan until today, Saturday.
I started my 8 mile run feeling blah from the start. I walked early and walked/ran for the first mile. My stomach was upset and just didn’t feel right. I forgot my electrolyte bottle but remembered everything else.
My first thought was to just walk 8 miles. Just get it done.
But I ended up circling back to my car and calling it a day.
I’m realizing I need to respect recovery. This week was a good but no recovery: lifting Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, running Tuesday and Thursday, a walk on Wednesday. No true days off. While I never felt completely drained, today was a bust.
Lesson learned. I am rushing it and need more balance. I’m adjusting and building in two real recovery days moving forward.
The win this week: my runs felt strong. Tuesday and Thursday gave me a glimpse of what’s possible. I’ve got my eye on consistent 11-minute miles, and for the first time, that goal feels within reach.
Song of the week, building the race day playlist:
Three Little Birds by Kacey Musgraves
Best Lyrics:
Woke up this mornin’ and smiled with the risin’ sun. Three little birds by my doorstep Singin’ sweet songs, melodies pure and true Sayin’, “This is my message to you, ooh-ooh, yea Baby, don’t worry about a thing ‘Cause every little thing is gonna be alright
My Tunnel Hill shirt came in this week. Mandatory photo above.
The week didn’t really pan out exactly like the plan but I’m happy about the results as I write this on Saturday afternoon.
Monday – Weights Tuesday – Run 4 Wednesday – Walk 3 miles Thursday – Weights
Then on Friday I ran 4 miles instead of yesterday’s planned 5 miles, due to work and other appointments.
Friday’s run finally felt good and I didn’t walk as much as in prior weeks; and I just felt good and somewhat strong. I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to feel good running.
When I ran on Tuesday I decided to run in my compression socks to see if it helps my ankle pain. I usually only use them for recovery. On Friday I didn’t run with compression socks, but I think that is a key component for future runs.
Saturday was an 8 mile run and I felt mainly good. My pace for the long runs is getting faster. I feel stronger already.
It’s amazing what happens when you just keep showing up.
I’m happy to be on this journey to 100 miles and excited to see how everything plays out the next seven months. I’ve always been someone that needs something to look forward to, and I haven’t had something for a while. This feels really good.
Running Song of the Week: I Can Do Hard Things
Best lyrics:
It’s a lot to look at, all that I got. It’s a lot to see who I am and am not. But I can laugh and I can love and I can dream. I can win or I can lose, it’s all the same. I still dance, and I’ll sing in the pain, And I can do hard things
The Song of the Week feature of my training reports is to show that I’m building my race day playlist.
I’ve been getting back to running the last few weeks but it was only last week when I signed up for the 100 that it’s getting serious; now money is involved.
I also committed to writing about this journey. I’m not much of a video person or I’d document this somehow on Instagram. I’ve been off TikToc for a year or more because it was too addictive and a time suck.
I’m a writer and reader. I like to read books, news and inspiration. While I can appreciate a good reel or video, my preferred method of processing life is the written word.
Here is my training update from this week, before the real training plan begins.
Notes from an 8 mile long-run on Saturday April 4
Started out slow and sluggish. Maybe drinking wine the night before my long run was not a great first step. I started the run listening the Ann Patchett’s Commonweath but decided about 15 minutes in that listening to a novel about divorce, and how young children are involved in a messy, multi-family fight, traveling across the country to see moms and dads, and manipulation and vengeance in the family – nope, not going to keep going. I sent the book back to Libby and with nothing else available in my queue – I went back to ad supported Spotify and listened to My Like list.
I felt some momentum mid-run on Newport Highway; a busy highway for a spring break Saturday. There’s a lot of traffic noise, full sun, a bit of shade, a nice wind on the way back.
I walked a lot and ran a lot. I’ve been proud of myself for doing what I set out to do these last few weeks, despite my written plan to run 9 but really felt I could proudly accomplish 8 in just under 2 hours.
I remembered how last week, after a 7 mile run, my left ankle and the muscle/tendons hurt about one hour after my run, I wanted to be cautious and not push it too much. I did a bunch more exercises at the gym this past week to help prevent the soreness: calf raises, and flex exercises to stretch those muscles.
I didn’t want to be injured before the true training started.
As I run I’m hopeful that all the extra calf raises and the extra work I did this week to stretch that muscle out will help me.
I finished 8 miles. The most I’ve run since last summer. I’m not sore an hour later. Everything is good.
I woke up Sunday – not too sore. Nothing hurt. I was a bit wobbly as I walk; per usual. Go about my day, walking a bunch with dogs and work, but not doing too much. Then, I head out for a “recovery day 30 minute WALK” and suddenly the tendons around my left ankle hurt and throb. I wobble back home. Put on compression sock. Stretch. Ugh. Four hours later the pain is totally gone. What is going on?!
I remember, on retrospection – that is the athlete life. Injuries. I’m going to have injuries. It’s part of the deal.
As I sit on my sofa and occasionally flex my foot back and forth, side by side, a bit of pain. I need to do everything right. Eat right. Stretch. Weights. Rest.
I got this. I just have to “get this” every day. Thanks for reading.
Next Week is Week 1
Running Song of the Week: This is Me
Best lyric:
I am brave, I am bruised, I am who I’m meant to be, this is me Look out ’cause here I come, And I’m marching on to the beat I drum I’m not scared to be seen, I make no apologies, this is me.
This year, for my birthday, which is over seven months away, I signed up for something.
My final attempt at a 100-mile run at 55 years old. I will toe the line when I turn 56.
Thirty hours. One flat trail. Just me, my mind, and the question I’ve apparently decided I’m not done answering yet: Can I finish a 100 mile race and get the buckle?
The truth is, I’m not the same runner I was the last time I took on this distance. I’m a little older. A little slower. A wee bit heavier. And, a little more aware of what 100 miles actually demands physically, mentally, emotionally.
And still… I signed up anyway.
Not because I think it will be easy. Not because I’m chasing some perfect finish time. But because there’s something unfinished here. Something that keeps tapping me on the shoulder, quietly but persistently, saying: You’re not done yet.
I’m committing to showing up every week, sharing the highs, the lows, the small wins, and the messy middle. Not just for anyone reading, but for myself.
I want this to be fun, too.
Somewhere along the way, in the grind of miles and expectations, it’s easy to forget that choosing to run 100 miles is a little unhinged.
AND, also kind of magical. It’s a privilege to test your limits like this and to have a healthy body and mind to try.
So this is me, choosing both: the challenge and the joy.
If nothing else, this will be a record of showing up and being consistent.
On my birthday, I’ll step onto that flat trail with 30 hours ahead of me and a version of myself that’s been built, one week at a time, right here.
I signed up for the August, Miner’s Lady 50K in January as I was plotting my return effort to finish a 100 mile trail run. I was creating a progressive race schedule that would build to a 100 in November. It was difficult to find a 50K in August since it’s just so hot everywhere and there are few races, but I ended up finding this race in West Virginia; a place I’ve only driven through. I chose this race because 1) I needed a marathon or higher in WV 2) it fit into my progressive distance plan 3) it was a trail run in a place I’ve never been.
It’s far away, probably the farthest distance I’ve driven for a one day race, but I wanted the experience so I signed up.
I drove north on Friday for packet pick up and met my carpool buddies at Two Rivers Treads in Ranson, WV. The race organizers enforce carpooling since there is limited parking and for sustainability reasons. I thought it would be nice to drive to the race with two other women who knew the course and starting area’s set up.
Here is the course map at packet pickup:
I was really excited for this race. This was the first time I felt prepared for a 50K in a really long time. They took photos of all the runners at packet pickup. Here’s me – ready to run!
I didn’t want to sit in a restaurant or eat a big meal so for I stopped at the local grocery store and bought a sandwich and a container of hot mac and cheese, and ate it back in my hotel room.
As I prepped for the next morning I ate dinner and watched TV. I wasn’t feeling excited or scared at this point; I just felt ready.
Race Morning:
I drove to Amanda’s house which was a short 5 miles to the race start. She was still in the process of getting ready when I arrived, and we were a bit delayed getting to the start. It was still dark and parking attendants sent us closer to the staging area so that was great to be parked close to the start. As we set up the tent, it was getting close to start time.
Then suddenly, the whistle blew and had to run from our area to join the race. Not ideal but it was fine. I had my headlamp on and just started running.
While I studied the map, I had never been on the course and just followed the group. The course began with a gentle downhill and rolling hills. The course is wooded and beautiful, and as the daylight appeared, I felt like something bit me behind my knee and started rubbing it. A few minutes later I learned that runners were being stung and attacked by hornets.
I don’t notice the hornets except for what bit my leg, and wondered where they were? In a tree? Just buzzing around? A runner told me they were on the ground and she swatted them and they stung her hand multiple times. Geez! I lucked out on that one. A few people really got stung badly, I learned later.
I just kept running.
Then came the downhill section. And though I studied the map, I didn’t realize that I was on the out and back section and was surprised to see runners coming toward me. I was feeling good and running downhill, then moved over to make room for the oncoming runner and BOOM – my left ankle twisted, I heard a creaking noise, I fell to my right and landed off trail.
I was completely surprised, 1) because I haven’t twisted my ankle in two years and 2) I was only 2 miles into the race and 3) it hurt A LOT.
A runner tried to help me up and I wasn’t quite ready to get up. I was sitting there stunned. After a few minutes, I got up and walked. My right knee was bleeding but I could walk. Then my ankle started to hurt more. Sometimes after a twist like this, I can recover and it’s fine. This wasn’t going to be fine.
So I hobbled the remaining loop, and ended my day.
The loop was such a good one. I wanted to run it. I wanted to run it 4 more times. I wanted to finish the 50K but it wasn’t meant to be.
The medic told me that it looked bad and I should go to urgent care. My ankle looked like a golf ball, all swollen. Since I carpooled, my car was 5 miles away. A very kind race volunteer couple drove me to my car and I headed back to my hotel to clean up.
Every time I get injured my love for running grows. While in the past I can go months without running because I just don’t want to run or I lack motivation, when I get injured running, I miss running so much and can’t wait to get healthy.
It’s been two weeks since the race and while I can run, my ankle is still sore and not 100% yet.
While this race entailed a lot of driving (Road Trip Total Miles from TN to WV: 930 miles) the area was beautiful and I loved the course (minus the hornets). See you next year.
Here is the progression of my ankle over three days:
