So Hi, I have not written in my blog in a long time. I don't know why. I guess I really have not had anything blogworthy to say. Well now I do. yay!
So I recently got into chicken keeping. I guess you can credit a co-worker, a neighbor, and my niece for this. A couple years ago a co worker got some chicks for he and his son to raise together. He lived out in the country and I figured thought "that's cool" I guess he can do that where he lives. All the while shelling out 5 to 6 bucks every few weeks for my free range eggs.
See. I absolutely refuse to purchase Normal Grocery Store Eggs or NGSEs. See NGSE's are hatch from most likely Amberlink chickens housed in tiny cages, crammed in next to thousands of other chickens with nothing to do all day but sit, be miserable and lay eggs like little egg factories. It's like Handmaids Tale for chickens. Conditions in these facilities are terrible. Come on, I know I'm not telling you anything you don't already know. These chickens are usually killed just before they go into their first molt and stop laying eggs.
The free range or cage free eggs i purchase are pricey, and i really really don't know if the manufacturers are really telling the truth. Plus, do they keep the chickens past prime laying years? I doubt it. Are molting chickens allowed to live out their molty weeks while not laying eggs yet still consuming food and snacks? I doubt that also. I mean, if you are in this for profit, you really can't keep a non producing chicken for any length of time.
These facts about our feathery egg layers led me to decide I may want to raise my own chickens. I knew I could do it in my neighborhood also. See, years ago i lived in a patio home less than a mile from my current home and across the street was a home on the corner of a large block that had a large back yard. In that back yard was a lovely chicken coop and dozens of little brown feathery egg layers running around in the yard. Then when my niece in Fayetteville got her own little flock going, I, now living in a home with a rather large partially fenced back yard, decided it was time.
Thursday, December 12, 2019
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
It's been a long time since I have blogged
Sorry for the neglect. I have to say, with social media recording every aspect of our lives, it hard for me to go here and update, yet again, my experiences. However there are sometimes that you have to write. and I feel the need now.
When I left you I was just embarking on the Race Across Arkansas Journey. 6 days 6 marathons across Southern Arkansas. I have to say, it was an amazing experience. I could have not had two better women to experience this with. And what I can tell you I brought away the most was the knowledge that I'm stronger than I think I am.
We endured log trucks, ginormous insects, cambered shoulders, narrow overpasses with trucks, rain, heat, blisters but it was some of the most fun I had in a long time.
I'm so happy we decided to do this and we had a great time doing it.
The group, Andi, Me and Yoni
Impromptu potty breaks.
Aid stations
Sightseeing
Quite finish lines.
Open landscapes
Interesting characters
And success.
There has already been a lengthy race report written on this by my friend Yoni, So I'll just include a few of my observations here.
1. There is so much poverty in Southern Arkansas. The dilapidated homes, run down schools, homeless and drug addicted folks wondering the streets. We saw it. Everybody needs to see this. We live in bubbles in our own little middle class worlds and if you don't see it first hand you can never even begin to be empathetic. The problem is too widespread and deep to be handled by churches and charities, there need to be real initiatives to improve communities and build hope where there is nothing but death and poverty. Unfortunately, people don't see it or they block it out.
2. There is so much kindness in Southern Arkansas. We were so welcomed by the communities, especially in the end of our journey.
3. Finishing is joy. The last day in Lake Village was the most joyful. We ran faster than we ever did the last few miles. Running around the lake in the last bit seemed like a never ending journey.
4. Duct tape fixes everything. No explanation really needed here.
5. Your body adjusts to things. Day one was easy, day two was the hardest, at the very beginning. Then after a few miles, it was fine. by day 4 I was feeling good, even with over 80 miles on my body for the week. The last day I wanted to run hard and fast, but after about 10 miles I decided sticking with the intervals we planned was best. Our bodies healed each night and by the next morning I was not even sore. It was very strange.
6. Running multiple marathons makes you very hungry. Buffets were our best bet. I ate things I would never dream of eating before a marathon. Pancakes and eggs before a run? Only during Race Across Arkansas.
Race Across Arkansas was an amazing journey. The Race crew and organizers were some of the kindest people I have meet, the other runners were some of the most fun and eccentric . I will never forget it and will always appreciate it.
When I left you I was just embarking on the Race Across Arkansas Journey. 6 days 6 marathons across Southern Arkansas. I have to say, it was an amazing experience. I could have not had two better women to experience this with. And what I can tell you I brought away the most was the knowledge that I'm stronger than I think I am.
There has already been a lengthy race report written on this by my friend Yoni, So I'll just include a few of my observations here.
1. There is so much poverty in Southern Arkansas. The dilapidated homes, run down schools, homeless and drug addicted folks wondering the streets. We saw it. Everybody needs to see this. We live in bubbles in our own little middle class worlds and if you don't see it first hand you can never even begin to be empathetic. The problem is too widespread and deep to be handled by churches and charities, there need to be real initiatives to improve communities and build hope where there is nothing but death and poverty. Unfortunately, people don't see it or they block it out.
2. There is so much kindness in Southern Arkansas. We were so welcomed by the communities, especially in the end of our journey.
3. Finishing is joy. The last day in Lake Village was the most joyful. We ran faster than we ever did the last few miles. Running around the lake in the last bit seemed like a never ending journey.
4. Duct tape fixes everything. No explanation really needed here.
5. Your body adjusts to things. Day one was easy, day two was the hardest, at the very beginning. Then after a few miles, it was fine. by day 4 I was feeling good, even with over 80 miles on my body for the week. The last day I wanted to run hard and fast, but after about 10 miles I decided sticking with the intervals we planned was best. Our bodies healed each night and by the next morning I was not even sore. It was very strange.
6. Running multiple marathons makes you very hungry. Buffets were our best bet. I ate things I would never dream of eating before a marathon. Pancakes and eggs before a run? Only during Race Across Arkansas.
Race Across Arkansas was an amazing journey. The Race crew and organizers were some of the kindest people I have meet, the other runners were some of the most fun and eccentric . I will never forget it and will always appreciate it.
Monday, April 13, 2015
Decision is Made
I slept on it. Then I thought about it more the next day as I drove to work. I texted my friend Andi and said. " I think I can do it if we get hotels" I had to have a bed to sleep in each night. I remember what it was like when I ran past marathons. I was recovering pretty quickly. I can do this. As soon as I got to work I registered for the Race Across Arkansas.
But things needed to be done: Later that night I had to create our rundraising page, a team page where the three of us, Yoni, Andi and I would create a combined goal of $1200. We decided that raising funds as a team would be the best way. We created a name, opened a business account, came up with a logo. I went on the hunt for hotels and created a spreadsheet with logistics, crew needs, reservation confirmation numbers and local restaurantes in each town. This can be done.
Raising the money was not nearly as diffiuclt as I expected. Aparently a lot of people want to see us attempt to run across the state. We raised a lot of funds with a Beer Mile. Yoni and her parents hosted it out at their property. Participants ran laps around a pond, came across a bridge, dranke 4 oz of beer, then headed out again four times (roughly a mile). We sold t-shirts, hoodies and hats. it was not too lonu until we were just $50 from our goal and it was three days until departure. It was done, we were doing it. It was time to pack and drive down to Magnolia where we would stay during the first two legs of the event. I guess it was for real.
But things needed to be done: Later that night I had to create our rundraising page, a team page where the three of us, Yoni, Andi and I would create a combined goal of $1200. We decided that raising funds as a team would be the best way. We created a name, opened a business account, came up with a logo. I went on the hunt for hotels and created a spreadsheet with logistics, crew needs, reservation confirmation numbers and local restaurantes in each town. This can be done.
Raising the money was not nearly as diffiuclt as I expected. Aparently a lot of people want to see us attempt to run across the state. We raised a lot of funds with a Beer Mile. Yoni and her parents hosted it out at their property. Participants ran laps around a pond, came across a bridge, dranke 4 oz of beer, then headed out again four times (roughly a mile). We sold t-shirts, hoodies and hats. it was not too lonu until we were just $50 from our goal and it was three days until departure. It was done, we were doing it. It was time to pack and drive down to Magnolia where we would stay during the first two legs of the event. I guess it was for real.
Sunday, April 12, 2015
What exactly is this Race Across Arkansas?
So I was meeting my friend in a coffee shop to listen to a poetry reading and she first mentioned it to me. "Ya know, you should do Race Across Arkansas with me"....
So Race Across Arkansas is part of a larger Race Across the US put on by Run Walk Events. Run Walk Events is an organization that puts on races and provides sanctioning, insurance and fundraising portals for events to raise money. The Race Across USA starts in Southern California and ends in Washington DC, a marathon every day ( with some rest days) to raise money for the 100 Mile Club. The 100 Mile club is an organization formed to help fight childhood obesity by encouraging kids to run 100 miles during the school year.
So, the fee to enter is $240 with a $400 fundraising goal. No small commitment. The Arkansas portion is 6 marathons in 6 days with a 2.77 mile run on the 7th day. No small feat, right...
When Andi mentioned it I was a little speechless and could not wrap my brain around it. I left the poetry reading in a fog trying to work it out in my brain. I had not told her yes or no yet. But I was leaning toward a big fat NO.
So Race Across Arkansas is part of a larger Race Across the US put on by Run Walk Events. Run Walk Events is an organization that puts on races and provides sanctioning, insurance and fundraising portals for events to raise money. The Race Across USA starts in Southern California and ends in Washington DC, a marathon every day ( with some rest days) to raise money for the 100 Mile Club. The 100 Mile club is an organization formed to help fight childhood obesity by encouraging kids to run 100 miles during the school year.
So, the fee to enter is $240 with a $400 fundraising goal. No small commitment. The Arkansas portion is 6 marathons in 6 days with a 2.77 mile run on the 7th day. No small feat, right...
When Andi mentioned it I was a little speechless and could not wrap my brain around it. I left the poetry reading in a fog trying to work it out in my brain. I had not told her yes or no yet. But I was leaning toward a big fat NO.
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Back in the Game!!!
So the last time I Blogged, I was recovering from a stress fracture. That was quite a blow to my training. Since then I ran the Three Bridges Marathon, quite gently, just to finish. It was my first marathon experience since recovery. After that I did the Loco Marathon in Conway and performed much better. Something similar to my regular marathon times. Then I took on the Syllamore trail 50K. That was quite a hurdle to cross.
The Syllamore 50K is an out and back trail up in Northern Arkansas. Again, this year it was snow covered. It was cold and a little ways through I was feeling my hip flexor acting up. I knew I was going to be running Little Rock the following weekend so when I got to the 15 mile turn-around I told the aid station volunteers I wanted to drop. Well that was a fail. The volunteers had one car and they all rode up together. There was no room for another person. So it's a good thing I did not have a bone sticking out of my leg, right? Anyway. I decided to turn around and complete the race, very slowly. It was almost dark when I finished, but I was not last!
Next I took on the Little Rock Marathon. The course was different than previous years and again, the weather was cold and drizzly. I ran the first half under a 10 minute pace. The next quarter of the race I was able to maintain that speed. Then I hit the out -and back. The worse part of this race. This is where the pace dropped to 11 minute then 12 minute. Finally I crossed the finish line with a reasonable finish then shivered my way all the way to my car.
I'm not sure when it happened, but my friend Andi Stracener mentioned this very strange and rediculous thing called Race Across Arkansas...
The Syllamore 50K is an out and back trail up in Northern Arkansas. Again, this year it was snow covered. It was cold and a little ways through I was feeling my hip flexor acting up. I knew I was going to be running Little Rock the following weekend so when I got to the 15 mile turn-around I told the aid station volunteers I wanted to drop. Well that was a fail. The volunteers had one car and they all rode up together. There was no room for another person. So it's a good thing I did not have a bone sticking out of my leg, right? Anyway. I decided to turn around and complete the race, very slowly. It was almost dark when I finished, but I was not last!
Next I took on the Little Rock Marathon. The course was different than previous years and again, the weather was cold and drizzly. I ran the first half under a 10 minute pace. The next quarter of the race I was able to maintain that speed. Then I hit the out -and back. The worse part of this race. This is where the pace dropped to 11 minute then 12 minute. Finally I crossed the finish line with a reasonable finish then shivered my way all the way to my car.
I'm not sure when it happened, but my friend Andi Stracener mentioned this very strange and rediculous thing called Race Across Arkansas...
Friday, January 9, 2015
It's a new year and remembering a friend.
Well, 2014 did not turn out as I planned. Maybe 2015 will see my goals realized. I am finally healed from the dreaded stress fracture.
I ran my first post fracture marathon over the Holidays and it was so much fun. The 3 bridges marathon is a local favorite. It was created by a lovely person who is no longer with us and whom I will forever consider one of the best runners I have known.
It's not so much that he had Olympian skill, although we was very fast. It was his spirit that made him memorable. He loved the small, obscure races. He loved the spirit of running. He was the spirit of running.
I knew that if I was out in Two Rivers, on a blustery, cold, windy evening, he would be there. I would always see him and he would smile, shout, and stretch out his hand for a high or low five. Even if he was going in another direction, he would double back just for the high five.
He mentored, inspired, lead, and created the running spirit in everybody he talked to. There was no escaping his light and that was what I celebrated on my first marathon running, coming back and recovering.
He is no longer with us physically but he is here, with us every time we go out in the rain, the wind the thunder and cold, keeping us motivated and happy and reminding us all why we do what we do and why it is so special. I will never forget him and I see him in every curve of the river trail. I will always continue on and try, attempt and probably fail to be just a fraction of the runner he was. But he gives me something to strive for. :)
You're always in our memory Jacob Wells.
Lisa Luyet
I ran my first post fracture marathon over the Holidays and it was so much fun. The 3 bridges marathon is a local favorite. It was created by a lovely person who is no longer with us and whom I will forever consider one of the best runners I have known.
It's not so much that he had Olympian skill, although we was very fast. It was his spirit that made him memorable. He loved the small, obscure races. He loved the spirit of running. He was the spirit of running.
I knew that if I was out in Two Rivers, on a blustery, cold, windy evening, he would be there. I would always see him and he would smile, shout, and stretch out his hand for a high or low five. Even if he was going in another direction, he would double back just for the high five.
He mentored, inspired, lead, and created the running spirit in everybody he talked to. There was no escaping his light and that was what I celebrated on my first marathon running, coming back and recovering.
He is no longer with us physically but he is here, with us every time we go out in the rain, the wind the thunder and cold, keeping us motivated and happy and reminding us all why we do what we do and why it is so special. I will never forget him and I see him in every curve of the river trail. I will always continue on and try, attempt and probably fail to be just a fraction of the runner he was. But he gives me something to strive for. :)
You're always in our memory Jacob Wells.
Lisa Luyet
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Today is the day.
So it has been 17 weeks since my diagnosis. I have been walking very well and it is now really too cold to cycle like I was in the fall. The temperature is 27 degrees outside. :(
So I made an appointment with my friend Kristen to go walk/run this morning. I am going to attempt a real structured effort to run. We are going to do a 3 minute walk/ one minute run. It is a schedule I saw on an injury recovery - get back off your ass - website.
Lately, the last few days, I have felt like a sedentary person, not a person recovering from injury. I sit all day at work and after work all I want to do is sit on the couch and veg. It's bad. Its not a direction I want my life to take. It's time to try to get back out there. It has been 17 weeks. My bone density is good, my diet has been decent so there is no reason why my stress fracture is not healed by now.
I'm giving it a try today. Wish me luck.
So I made an appointment with my friend Kristen to go walk/run this morning. I am going to attempt a real structured effort to run. We are going to do a 3 minute walk/ one minute run. It is a schedule I saw on an injury recovery - get back off your ass - website.
Lately, the last few days, I have felt like a sedentary person, not a person recovering from injury. I sit all day at work and after work all I want to do is sit on the couch and veg. It's bad. Its not a direction I want my life to take. It's time to try to get back out there. It has been 17 weeks. My bone density is good, my diet has been decent so there is no reason why my stress fracture is not healed by now.
I'm giving it a try today. Wish me luck.
Friday, October 10, 2014
Cycling Crazy
So lately since I have been recovering from my hip injury, I have been spending lots of time on my bike. It's a hybrid Fuji Absolute 2.1. Very comfy to ride for the most part except for the tailbone pain. Not sure what to do about that. I think it may have to do with my posture on the hybrid, but until I can get that resolved I will keep my mileage around 70 to 80 miles per week.
Of course there is no way I can ride without having some type of documentation so I plan to ride in the Arkie 25 mile bike race this Sunday. I know I will be out of place on my hybrid and probably the slowest person there, but I have to give it a try. I can ride my bike for miles but unless I qualify that by having my name on a results list someplace I'm not really doing anything, right? That is what separates me from the ordinary? I think in my brain that is what it is. This makes it more than just exercise. It makes it special. It's an event.
I'll try to snap some photos.
Of course there is no way I can ride without having some type of documentation so I plan to ride in the Arkie 25 mile bike race this Sunday. I know I will be out of place on my hybrid and probably the slowest person there, but I have to give it a try. I can ride my bike for miles but unless I qualify that by having my name on a results list someplace I'm not really doing anything, right? That is what separates me from the ordinary? I think in my brain that is what it is. This makes it more than just exercise. It makes it special. It's an event.
I'll try to snap some photos.
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Morning's are way to productive. For all the wrong reasons
It's October. Which means the temperature is dropping, which for runners is great because you can run without dying from heat exhaustion. For me, since I am unable to run right now, I stay indoors because my new sport is cycling. Yesterday I went to cycle at about 10:00 am and normally, for a run the temperature would have been perfect but for cycling it was chilly. I hope I am able to continue training through the winter.
I have however been planning to race my bike. It's not a full fledged road bike, its a hybrid which I am very comfortable on. I'm a little intimidated to move to a road bike. Not sure I like leaning as much as you have to for riding those, but not sure if I will be able to ride in races on a hybrid.
Anyway instead of getting up at the ass crack of dawn to run this morning I stayed in and organized my pantry. It was amazing. I do plan to go ride today. Later when it warms up. I would have never said something that crazy as a runner...
whatevs...
I have however been planning to race my bike. It's not a full fledged road bike, its a hybrid which I am very comfortable on. I'm a little intimidated to move to a road bike. Not sure I like leaning as much as you have to for riding those, but not sure if I will be able to ride in races on a hybrid.
Anyway instead of getting up at the ass crack of dawn to run this morning I stayed in and organized my pantry. It was amazing. I do plan to go ride today. Later when it warms up. I would have never said something that crazy as a runner...
whatevs...
Friday, September 19, 2014
ugh...frustrated...
Wednesday morning I returned to the ortho to get a follow
up. I used the blasted crutches for 4 weeks. Four weeks ended Tuesday afternoon at 2:36pm
so I went to the doctor crutch less. The
evening before, I shopped, very
leisurely, at Whole foods and did limited walking at the office crutch
free. I felt just minimal, dull pain in
my hip which was troubling but it seemed to resolve itself the more I
walked.
My friend, who is also the nurse there came into my room
while I was waiting for the doc and asked “where are your crutches?” I told her “in the car” and that my 4 weeks
ended yesterday afternoon. They took
x-rays of my hip when the doctor came in he did not seem real optimistic that I
had completely healed. He wants me to
take two more weeks of no walking or running and minimal walking without
crutches. He said that if it did not
heal I would require surgery and if it broke completely I would be looking at a
complete hip replacement.
Well that’s just nice.
He did say I could use the stationary bike however.
So last night I went to LA fitness and jumped on the bike
for about an hour. After I rode I felt
great. No pain at all. Later I went home and sat on the couch for a
while and when I got up, I felt an ache in my hip. So am I healing or not? This morning the pain was still there, but it
again resolved after I walked a while.
Today at work I’m walking pain free.
So what the heck. Is it healed? Is
it not? I don’t know what to do.
So I purchased some cycling clothes from Skirt sports to
help feel better. It helps….
 |
| New Optimism Jacket |
 |
| New Optimism Tights! |
Thursday, September 11, 2014
so...then this happened...
As I was basking in the glory of
completing a successful 50 miler.
Completing a painfully hot 50K, and waiting for the inevitable post-race
soreness to go away. A demon flew from
out of nowhere and threw itself squarely between me and my 100 mile
race goal. The demon was sneaky,
painfully annoying and expensive. It
canceled my Pikes Peak plans, destroyed my my Do Wacka Do weekend, and then
after all that…it took my bicycle away also.
The tiny demon could only be
seen by MRI, it was nestled in the neck of my femur, tucked up inside my
hip…sitting there, glaring at me. A tiny
fracture, so small you could barely see it, but it was radiating so much pain I
could not even run a single step. It
sucked the life out of my running; just as things were going so well.
Doctors said 4 weeks on
crutches….yes crutches. No running, no
cycling. I panic. What will I do with all this free time? And with Labor Day coming….I was missing
summer, missing hours of training, missing my social life which is so deeply
entrenched with the running community I ‘m pretty sure most of my friends are
either runners or I will convert them to runners.
The first week I was in denial
“these crutches are stupid”, “this is never going to work”, “how am I supposed
to scratch and walk?” I wondered who the
genius was who invented devices to help you walk with one leg, and at the same
time took away both of your hands. …what
an idiot.
I took a trip to petsmart to
buy fish food and a sales person came to me holding a small snake. I petted the snake, the snake was so
cute. I asked her how big he would get
she said about 6 feet. I told her, no I
have a Chihuahua. She said, well we have
a lovely sand boa that only gets to be about two feet. I took a look. I held it, petted it and then put it
back. I checked out my fish food and
left. I texted my friend and told her
about the sand boa. She promptly replied
“I’m sure you are looking at that snake because you can’t run, you are bored and need a
challenge.” …she was right. I
went to Best Buy and purchased Tomb Raider for my Xbox One instead.
The weeks that followed, I stumbled
with the crutches. The first day back to
work was an onslaught of “what happened?” , “Did you sprain your ankle?”, “Are
you OK?”. Like I had not already been
injured for the previous two weeks just now it was visible. I got questions from each new person I saw,
people I did not even know felt entitled to see what was up with me. My dad asked if I was taking any ‘sick
leave’. Really? Why would I waste good time off work to just
sit around the house? Besides, by job
does not have dedicated sick leave.
The next challenge was Labor Day
weekend. Hours and days off work and I
could not run, cycle or even walk.
I occupied my time with the following activities:
I occupied my time with the following activities:
 |
| Playing Tomb Raider |
 |
| Vacuum Sealing Food |
 |
| Feeding the Fish |
 |
| Tying Scarves |
 |
| Purchasing Cook books |
 |
| Taking Photos of my Dog |
At work I was relegated to the
elevator. I used the elevator more with
in these 4 weeks than I did in 10 years working there. Ya know, people do not
know how to use elevators. When getting onto an elevator it is recommended,
customary, and polite to allow the people on the elevator off before trying to
get onto the elevator. Three times I was
almost run over by people in the hallway trying to squeeze into the elevator
before the occupants got off. Really???
So here I sit, waiting for my hip to
heal, waiting for my x-ray, waiting to ride my bike, to run…listening to my
muscles atrophy.
My friends have been great. We go shopping and have dinner, they are very
encouraging. Soon we will be able to
resume our active pursuits again.
Soon I
will be able to effectively clean my house again, climb on step ladders and
take out the trash. When I do I need to
throw my friends a party for putting up with my grouchy ass for the last 4
weeks. Sound like something to look
forward to.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
The Mohican 50 Miler
So, in order to continue my training toward my ultimate goal of running 100
miles this fall I decided I needed a 50 miler sometime this summer. After Google searching and ultra runner website searching I decided the best option
would be the Mohican 50 Mile race in Loudenville OH. I had never been to
Ohio before and the flights were relatively cheap, since I was booking
everything in February. I found an inn that I thought, according to
Google maps was within walking distance from the start area. I learned,
in rural areas, never trust Google maps...
So time approached and training had been going pretty well to this point, I got through Jemez. I had a small residual hamstring/ butt muscle pain since that race that never got better or worse and never hurt bad enough to go get it checked. It was a nagging pain that did not prevent me from running; it was just bothersome and sat in the back of my mind enough to make me a little apprehensive about the 50.
Flying to run an ultra is tricky. I don't want to check my bag for fear I lose my luggage, yet I cannot carry everything I need in a carry on. Liquids are a No No so I would have to purchase many of my supplies after I arrive.
I landed in Columbus OH and went to gather my rental car. A brand new Honda Accord, in blue and it had less than 180 miles on it. It was also an automatic transmission and the first thing I did was slam my left foot down into the floor board when I tried to start it. Trying to find ‘drive’ was tricky and when I stopped at a light, I instinctively shifted the car out of gear until I finally got the hang of driving an automatic again.
The hour drive to Loudenville was uneventful except that I could not find the Mohican River inn. I entered town and found the road, teaming with canoe rentals, camping resorts, kids running around in towels and bathing suits. I crossed the Mohican river and downstream there were lines of tubes and kayaks bumping over the rapids. This was a hot spot for river lovers here in Loudenville and the Mohican river would not disappoint. Apparently some people did not have trouble finding this place. It was packed with weekenders. I pulled off to phone the Inn and realized I did not have a lick of cell phone service. Question: How does a place that is not on the map and has no cell service bursting at the seams with vacationers? I was a little thrown off to not have any means of communication. I pulled into one of the canoe liveries to ask directions. I was told to drive 6 miles down Wally road, cross a bridge and around a blind curve I will find the drive way to the inn. Nice.
I do as told and there it was, on the top of a hill, a tiny 40 something room Mohican River Inn….not where I was expecting it to be. I check in and get my room….no phone, no wi Fi, not cell service. Fortunately I had borrowed a Verizon Hot Spot from my office before I left and was able to get connected and post to Facebook that I had arrived safely.
I settled in and the next day had breakfast outdoors where the Inn had set up a quaint continental spread for the guests. I think I'm liking this place. It was a lovely pavillion in the woods with bagels and coffee. Later I went into Loudenville to do a little shopping. There were antique stores, Amish Furniture, Native American shops. I had lunch at a diner called Hanover House and had the most delicious apple dumpling with vanilla frozen custard. Hey, I would need those carbs tomorrow, right?
That evening I drove to the Mohican Adventure Park to get my packet and partake in the obligatory pasta feed and race briefing. The place was packed and noisy. We were set up under a large pavilion with packets on one end, some limited shopping/expo items then an area for food service. Around 5:30 the dinner was served and after that we waited for the race briefing. The race director gave a few announcements then handed the mic off to an older gentlemen that had ultra runner written all over him. Long hair, facial hair, thin, khaki shorts and a tech shirt of races long past. According to him…the course was very well marked with ample confidence markers and arrows at every turn. They had an extensive race marking team that had been working or days to plant flags and paint chalk arrows on the ground. Of course it was noted that a large rain just passed through the area so don’t count on the chalk too much…. Nice. All in all, there was nothing out of the ordinary about any of this and the race team seemed well organized and well versed in how to put on an ultra-marathon. I felt like we were in good hands, and returned to the Inn to get my hydration pack filled and lay out my clothes for the morning.
When morning came, the inn had graciously laid out coffee for us early outside the tiny lobby area. I got a cup and fixed myself a bowl of Kellogs Special K High Protein cereal with Quinoa and loaded myself in the car. I did not pack a jacket, just at towel and some clean clothes for after the race if I felt like changing. My drop back contained a bottle of Ensure, and some pedialyte, nuts and some extra jells for the half-way point. I would leave that at the Mohican pavilion since we pass it at the Marathon point. I did not pack a bag for the covered bridge but later I would be wishing I had.
I took the short drive to the start area and I got there just in time to see the 100 milers taking off. I slowed down and pulled off to watch the long train of tiny bobbing headlamps stream off down the sidewalk and into the darkness. I wanted to cheer for them but the race director specifically said we must remain quiet in order not to wake the nearby campers.
I found a parking spot, gathered up my bag and followed the rest of the runners who I know, knew exactly where they were going! We marched under a bridge and followed a trail to the pavilion/start area. I stowed my bag and sat chatting with other runners. The sun was slowly rising, the sky looked cloudy and the humidity was high. We sat and waited. Finally gathering to the start area. I was standing in my usual, mid-back of pack start location and John Kent Leighton, a face book ultra runner friend came and chatted with me. I also chatted with Stacey Shaver, another runner from North Little Rock who found this race and decided to give it a try as well. And after a short wait, we were off, into the rising sun, down the sidewalk and into the Ohio Forrest.
This race takes place in the Mohican State Park in Ashland County. It is 1100 acres of forest just south of Loudonville Ohio. I knew the area was hilly but I was not expecting the climbs I was in for. The course was made up of two loops. The first was approximately 26.9 miles (the marathoners just ran that portion), and the second loop was slightly shorter at 23 miles. The trail was soft, pine needle covered mountain bike trail. I have learned that races on mountain bike trails were usually the most runnable races out there. There was not much technical running and most of it was smooth and shaded. During the first few miles of the race, the sky was overcast and the little bit of sunlight we had barely made it through the dense forest canopy. Under the tall trees there was a myriad of ferns, mosses and low growing, shade loving plants.
It seemed the first two aid stations came and went like a flash. After the second station, we began to descend deep into a gorge. There was a long steep stair case that took us down into the bottom of a 50 foot water fall. Then we traveled along the creek bed deep into the gorge. Finally at the end, we had to climb out of the gorge using the roots of a tree for a ladder. All the while the tree canopy created a rainforest effect that stayed with us the entire 50 miles. I don’t think I saw the sun once during the entire day. A few times there was a threat of rain. I heard it hitting the trees high above, but it never made it down to us runners far below. The towering pines shielded us from it.
After coming out of the gorge, I progressed to the covered bridge aid station. I stopped a minute to stretch my hamstring. I was really feeling the hills on my sore hind quarters. John Kent had caught up with me and I told him about it. “Here have a couple Advil” he said and handed me a small zip top back of the orang-brown tablets. I figured it couldn’t hurt so I swallowed a couple. We proceeded, slow and steady up the hill.
I had been doing pretty good with my nutrition. I was drinking plenty of water with Endurolite, eating the food I had packed and was feasting on the small turkey and cheese sandwiches at the aid stations so far. Feeling really good other than the nagging pain in my backside. I was keeping a good handle on refilling my camel back, but at the last aid station before the Pavillion- start /finish area I got distracted and forgot to fill it. I took off from the aid station, my leg feeling much better from the Advil without even thinking. It was about 6 miles to the next aid and half way through I realized I had finished off my water. This is the first time this had ever happened to me and it was hot. I began to worry I would become dehydrated before I was able to get to the next aid, and I was less than half way done. I kept plugging along and made my way back into the camp area and ran for what felt like an eternity passed the Mohican adventure park, and through the camping areas and to my drop bag. Finally I was saved. I got to my bag and drank the Ensure and the pedyalite which I mixed double strength. Refilled my hydration pack and went back out. I was continuing. I would complete 50 miles and my leg, or silly dehydration was not going to stop me.
Armed with the knowledge that the second loop was shorter I went back out with renewed enthusiasm.
I had been doing pretty well aside from becoming slightly dehydrated. I had been able to eat real food for most of the race, saving the energy/caffeine gels for the last 10 miles. My hamstring had stopped hurting as well, or was it that the pain in the rest of my body was catching up as to make it insignificant….either way I was still running ok going on 30 miles. It was still hot and muggy, like a rainforest in the Ohio jungle. I caught up with a 100 miler doing his second long loop. He was tall and thin and using trekking poles. I asked him if he thought we were getting close to the next aid station and he said “Well, I figure its close. I plan to be there at 1:15 and it’s 1:13….” I was like…really? He knew the course and his body that well to know exactly when he was going to hit the next aid station and he was dead on. I pulled in and refilled my hydration pack. He kept trekking right no along and did not even stop for water or food. The aid stations had started keeping buckets of ice water and sponges for us to douse our heads with. It was delightful as the volunteer squeezed a sponge full of ice water over my head, I almost peed on myself. I picked up a small turkey sandwich and carried it with me as I left toward the Fire tower.
At Fire tower I made a quick potty stop. They had a porta john set up for the folks working the radios there fortunately. I carried on and eventually made it to the covered bridge where the final solid food I could take was some potato chips and M&M's. The aid station people were great. After that it was again, up the big hill but the best part was after the hills we started to hit the camp grounds. I knew then I was going to make it. I crossed a bridge to a camping area and a group of young teenagers clapped and yelled for me. I wanted to cry. Other than my unhappy stomach I was actually feeling pretty good. Back into town I ran and made it to the area around the Pavillion armed with the knowledge I had less to run and got to cross the street and go to the finish. We crossed by climbing down into a culvert that drains water under the highway. cross under the bridge, then back up the other side, not a very elegant finish but when we climbed out, there was a large field to run around and the finish line was visible. The crowd cheered as we circled and finally passed under the finish. I was pleased with it. It was hard, steamy, muggy, hot and beautiful. There were no other words. I collected my things and walked to my rental car. I was so happy that I was only 3 miles from my hotel. I drove in and parked and the owner was there and congratulated me. After a hot shower I knew I needed food. But that could wait. I settled for leftover chex mix and ginger snaps to get me through until I felt like driving again.
So time approached and training had been going pretty well to this point, I got through Jemez. I had a small residual hamstring/ butt muscle pain since that race that never got better or worse and never hurt bad enough to go get it checked. It was a nagging pain that did not prevent me from running; it was just bothersome and sat in the back of my mind enough to make me a little apprehensive about the 50.
Flying to run an ultra is tricky. I don't want to check my bag for fear I lose my luggage, yet I cannot carry everything I need in a carry on. Liquids are a No No so I would have to purchase many of my supplies after I arrive.
I landed in Columbus OH and went to gather my rental car. A brand new Honda Accord, in blue and it had less than 180 miles on it. It was also an automatic transmission and the first thing I did was slam my left foot down into the floor board when I tried to start it. Trying to find ‘drive’ was tricky and when I stopped at a light, I instinctively shifted the car out of gear until I finally got the hang of driving an automatic again.
The hour drive to Loudenville was uneventful except that I could not find the Mohican River inn. I entered town and found the road, teaming with canoe rentals, camping resorts, kids running around in towels and bathing suits. I crossed the Mohican river and downstream there were lines of tubes and kayaks bumping over the rapids. This was a hot spot for river lovers here in Loudenville and the Mohican river would not disappoint. Apparently some people did not have trouble finding this place. It was packed with weekenders. I pulled off to phone the Inn and realized I did not have a lick of cell phone service. Question: How does a place that is not on the map and has no cell service bursting at the seams with vacationers? I was a little thrown off to not have any means of communication. I pulled into one of the canoe liveries to ask directions. I was told to drive 6 miles down Wally road, cross a bridge and around a blind curve I will find the drive way to the inn. Nice.
I do as told and there it was, on the top of a hill, a tiny 40 something room Mohican River Inn….not where I was expecting it to be. I check in and get my room….no phone, no wi Fi, not cell service. Fortunately I had borrowed a Verizon Hot Spot from my office before I left and was able to get connected and post to Facebook that I had arrived safely.
I settled in and the next day had breakfast outdoors where the Inn had set up a quaint continental spread for the guests. I think I'm liking this place. It was a lovely pavillion in the woods with bagels and coffee. Later I went into Loudenville to do a little shopping. There were antique stores, Amish Furniture, Native American shops. I had lunch at a diner called Hanover House and had the most delicious apple dumpling with vanilla frozen custard. Hey, I would need those carbs tomorrow, right?
That evening I drove to the Mohican Adventure Park to get my packet and partake in the obligatory pasta feed and race briefing. The place was packed and noisy. We were set up under a large pavilion with packets on one end, some limited shopping/expo items then an area for food service. Around 5:30 the dinner was served and after that we waited for the race briefing. The race director gave a few announcements then handed the mic off to an older gentlemen that had ultra runner written all over him. Long hair, facial hair, thin, khaki shorts and a tech shirt of races long past. According to him…the course was very well marked with ample confidence markers and arrows at every turn. They had an extensive race marking team that had been working or days to plant flags and paint chalk arrows on the ground. Of course it was noted that a large rain just passed through the area so don’t count on the chalk too much…. Nice. All in all, there was nothing out of the ordinary about any of this and the race team seemed well organized and well versed in how to put on an ultra-marathon. I felt like we were in good hands, and returned to the Inn to get my hydration pack filled and lay out my clothes for the morning.
When morning came, the inn had graciously laid out coffee for us early outside the tiny lobby area. I got a cup and fixed myself a bowl of Kellogs Special K High Protein cereal with Quinoa and loaded myself in the car. I did not pack a jacket, just at towel and some clean clothes for after the race if I felt like changing. My drop back contained a bottle of Ensure, and some pedialyte, nuts and some extra jells for the half-way point. I would leave that at the Mohican pavilion since we pass it at the Marathon point. I did not pack a bag for the covered bridge but later I would be wishing I had.
I took the short drive to the start area and I got there just in time to see the 100 milers taking off. I slowed down and pulled off to watch the long train of tiny bobbing headlamps stream off down the sidewalk and into the darkness. I wanted to cheer for them but the race director specifically said we must remain quiet in order not to wake the nearby campers.
I found a parking spot, gathered up my bag and followed the rest of the runners who I know, knew exactly where they were going! We marched under a bridge and followed a trail to the pavilion/start area. I stowed my bag and sat chatting with other runners. The sun was slowly rising, the sky looked cloudy and the humidity was high. We sat and waited. Finally gathering to the start area. I was standing in my usual, mid-back of pack start location and John Kent Leighton, a face book ultra runner friend came and chatted with me. I also chatted with Stacey Shaver, another runner from North Little Rock who found this race and decided to give it a try as well. And after a short wait, we were off, into the rising sun, down the sidewalk and into the Ohio Forrest.
This race takes place in the Mohican State Park in Ashland County. It is 1100 acres of forest just south of Loudonville Ohio. I knew the area was hilly but I was not expecting the climbs I was in for. The course was made up of two loops. The first was approximately 26.9 miles (the marathoners just ran that portion), and the second loop was slightly shorter at 23 miles. The trail was soft, pine needle covered mountain bike trail. I have learned that races on mountain bike trails were usually the most runnable races out there. There was not much technical running and most of it was smooth and shaded. During the first few miles of the race, the sky was overcast and the little bit of sunlight we had barely made it through the dense forest canopy. Under the tall trees there was a myriad of ferns, mosses and low growing, shade loving plants.
It seemed the first two aid stations came and went like a flash. After the second station, we began to descend deep into a gorge. There was a long steep stair case that took us down into the bottom of a 50 foot water fall. Then we traveled along the creek bed deep into the gorge. Finally at the end, we had to climb out of the gorge using the roots of a tree for a ladder. All the while the tree canopy created a rainforest effect that stayed with us the entire 50 miles. I don’t think I saw the sun once during the entire day. A few times there was a threat of rain. I heard it hitting the trees high above, but it never made it down to us runners far below. The towering pines shielded us from it.
After coming out of the gorge, I progressed to the covered bridge aid station. I stopped a minute to stretch my hamstring. I was really feeling the hills on my sore hind quarters. John Kent had caught up with me and I told him about it. “Here have a couple Advil” he said and handed me a small zip top back of the orang-brown tablets. I figured it couldn’t hurt so I swallowed a couple. We proceeded, slow and steady up the hill.
I had been doing pretty good with my nutrition. I was drinking plenty of water with Endurolite, eating the food I had packed and was feasting on the small turkey and cheese sandwiches at the aid stations so far. Feeling really good other than the nagging pain in my backside. I was keeping a good handle on refilling my camel back, but at the last aid station before the Pavillion- start /finish area I got distracted and forgot to fill it. I took off from the aid station, my leg feeling much better from the Advil without even thinking. It was about 6 miles to the next aid and half way through I realized I had finished off my water. This is the first time this had ever happened to me and it was hot. I began to worry I would become dehydrated before I was able to get to the next aid, and I was less than half way done. I kept plugging along and made my way back into the camp area and ran for what felt like an eternity passed the Mohican adventure park, and through the camping areas and to my drop bag. Finally I was saved. I got to my bag and drank the Ensure and the pedyalite which I mixed double strength. Refilled my hydration pack and went back out. I was continuing. I would complete 50 miles and my leg, or silly dehydration was not going to stop me.
Armed with the knowledge that the second loop was shorter I went back out with renewed enthusiasm.
I had been doing pretty well aside from becoming slightly dehydrated. I had been able to eat real food for most of the race, saving the energy/caffeine gels for the last 10 miles. My hamstring had stopped hurting as well, or was it that the pain in the rest of my body was catching up as to make it insignificant….either way I was still running ok going on 30 miles. It was still hot and muggy, like a rainforest in the Ohio jungle. I caught up with a 100 miler doing his second long loop. He was tall and thin and using trekking poles. I asked him if he thought we were getting close to the next aid station and he said “Well, I figure its close. I plan to be there at 1:15 and it’s 1:13….” I was like…really? He knew the course and his body that well to know exactly when he was going to hit the next aid station and he was dead on. I pulled in and refilled my hydration pack. He kept trekking right no along and did not even stop for water or food. The aid stations had started keeping buckets of ice water and sponges for us to douse our heads with. It was delightful as the volunteer squeezed a sponge full of ice water over my head, I almost peed on myself. I picked up a small turkey sandwich and carried it with me as I left toward the Fire tower.
At Fire tower I made a quick potty stop. They had a porta john set up for the folks working the radios there fortunately. I carried on and eventually made it to the covered bridge where the final solid food I could take was some potato chips and M&M's. The aid station people were great. After that it was again, up the big hill but the best part was after the hills we started to hit the camp grounds. I knew then I was going to make it. I crossed a bridge to a camping area and a group of young teenagers clapped and yelled for me. I wanted to cry. Other than my unhappy stomach I was actually feeling pretty good. Back into town I ran and made it to the area around the Pavillion armed with the knowledge I had less to run and got to cross the street and go to the finish. We crossed by climbing down into a culvert that drains water under the highway. cross under the bridge, then back up the other side, not a very elegant finish but when we climbed out, there was a large field to run around and the finish line was visible. The crowd cheered as we circled and finally passed under the finish. I was pleased with it. It was hard, steamy, muggy, hot and beautiful. There were no other words. I collected my things and walked to my rental car. I was so happy that I was only 3 miles from my hotel. I drove in and parked and the owner was there and congratulated me. After a hot shower I knew I needed food. But that could wait. I settled for leftover chex mix and ginger snaps to get me through until I felt like driving again.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)