Trail Running Granny

OWWWWIE about your tooth :( Darn that thing! I am glad you are feeling better and got a GREAT run in!

Good luck with the 50 miler... YIKEs! You are Wonder Woman!

You can do it for sure! You're in great shape, and I think your training over the last few months will carry you through.

You can do it. It is definitely a mind over matter issue. The only thing that should be a stopping point is something that feels like a SERIOUS INJURY. Otherwise, don't let Jana let you in the car until you finish.

Thanks guys! I figure I will be great for the first 25, and then I will just put one foot in front of the other for the next 25. Jana is determined to have me finish, and she will not let me drop out unless I am dead on the desert floor. I am lucky that I have good feet that usually don't blister and my joints are all strong, so I should be okay, I will definitely be like the tortise, slow but steady.

Yes, YOU CAN DO THIS! Your training have been solid. You have ultra legs and feet. You are experienced! You WILL reach your goal. Please wave to us on your way back. I will be the tortoise with bloodied feet and hobbly legs.

Smooth, no you will pass me at about mile 15 I am thinking, I am starting out very slow, run 5min. walk 1 min. So we will have a little birthday party on the go!!! I am very excited. I just had lunch from Maurine and she gave me nice little pep talk to! I am going to to do this!!!! Woo! woo!

YOU CAN DO IT!!! I'll give you Smooth's mantra that helped me through TOU: "we are fast, we are strong, we can run all day long!" repeat over and over again until you believe it!! Say it out loud if you need to...others will also appreciate it. I just chant it with the rhythm of my stride. You are an amazing woman, don't ever forget it! I'll need someone to pace me through my 50 miler when I try in 30 years - so keep it up!! :)

Rad, thanks for the vote of confidence! I will shoot out the chant til I am blue in the face and across the finish line!!!

Smooth, are you going to go out 16 miles and then go back? Is Wendy still your crew? I am curious how you are going to be doing this.

Leslie,

I am such a novice. Have not a clue how we are doing this. Yes, Wendy is crewing us. Main goal is to see to it that Beth finish her "memorial marathon". I'm going to give her my SG medal.

I think Beth will finish the 26.2 in 4:30 (way ahead of me). She will probably go out like a jack rabbit as she has not run a single step since taper for SG. I, on the other hand, left my gittyup somewhere on Winchester Hill or mile 19 at SG; so I will go out like a desert tortoise.

I am thinking I will do a 12mm (5 mph) including stops at the car. I figure if the big blister on my left foot hold out after 20 miles, I will try to hobble, limp my way to my ultimate goal of 54K (33.5). If the body holds out, it will take me 7+ hours to cover the distance. I'm in the process of recruiting Lowell. He has to drive down from Pocatello on Friday morning though...so may be asking too much of a sacrifice.

Any tips, ideas, suggestions, coaching you can offer will be greatly appreciated by this newbie who's totally crazy in killing herself on her b'day!!!

I am so excited for you. Can't wait to see you at some point on the desert road. :)

Smooth, I am excited for you and Beth and Wendy, it will be so much fun. It is odd to have you ask me for advice, I am in such a different league. I am carrying a store in my SUV with food and first aid and lawn chairs and DVDs and books to entertain Jana, changes of clothes and shoes. If you need anything, chances are we will have it, so catch up to me quick. I love ultras, I love spending hours out on my own in fun new places off the beaten track. I never try and go fast, I just enjoy the scenery and people and the solitude, it feels so good to be out doing what I love to do with out a sense of urgency. My advice to you is enjoy every minute, it has very different feel to it, not like a marathon at all. I think you will get hooked. My first ultra was in Goblin Valley and I knew I would be back for more. I am so happy I will get to see you guys, seriously you will have to check out our SUV and have a snack. We will also have cooler and look forward to partying and eating with you guys along the way! Two more days!!! I hope Lowell makes it, I have heard so much about this man!!! IT will be fun to meet Jun and Twinkies and of course Davy too.

Smooth, so is this Beth's first marathon? That is so sweet to give her your medal!!!!

Leslie,

Just got back from taking Steven to the PT. He hurt his rotator cuff tripeze muscles at a game couple Fridays ago (when I was gone to SG). He aggravated it again at practice yesterday. They have a game tomorrow night so the trainer wanted him taped up. Crazy boy!

THANKS for the advise. I will enjoy the scenery. Don't know how you can be on your feet that long! You're truly the epiphamy of endurance sport. I have much to learn.

I will look for your SUV, what color is it? Wendy's car is a black Honda Pilot. I hope Lowell makes it. I was supposed to run with him at Boston and SG. Missed connecting with him both times. Hoping third time's the charm. It will be so much fun spending my b'day doing what I love with my favoritest people.

This will be Beth's second marathon. She ran SG years ago not really prepared. This time she had trained so hard. It's a shame that she didn't get to run it. Her father was sorta frontier adventurous kinda man. He will surely smile upon us and proud of Beth running in his memory on the Pony Express Trail.

I can't wait to see you in two days!!!!

Good luck, Leslie---you can do it!! And good for you for following your dream.

Cheers from Alaska,

Cinthia (Moosegal)