It seems like just yesterday I was blasting everyone with emails to donate (and blasting runners with a super soaker above Mtn Hwy). It wasn't. I swear. I haven't harrassed you (with regards to donations at least) since July. And seeing how I've given you a 6 month reprieve....LOOK OUT!
Here we are again. And this year, I've got myself a guaranteed spot thanks to many of you and to the generosity of those at Knee Knacker that were willing to give out a spot to me for fundraising. This year, I'm pushing myself to new levels. Not only in distances and difficulties, but mentally. Why is it I can be the most positive there is to be when it comes to day to day life, and yet with my running, I always focus on the negative. "My climbing sucks." "I'm slow." It's like these two sentences became my mantras, convincing me I was slower than I ought to be; sucked at climbing worse than I actually was. I never pushed myself. Mentally, I cursed myself. And not in the #*^% way, which would have been way more fun. (This is where you need to picture me and my other self screaming and swearing at each other.) It was like I had put a hex on my running and it was my own damn fault for listening to myself thinking I'm weak. I'm not weak. I finished a Gary Robbins 50 km course with a smile on my face, under the cut off. So this year, I work on my positivity. And my climbing. I keep wanting to sing 'I must. I must. I must increase my...glutes?'
I have 2 major races this year and 1 'minor' one that has been on my wish list for 4 years.
1. Knee Knacker North Shore Trail Race. When I first started trail running 4 years ago, I said 'I want to run from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove on the Baden Powell' not realizing there was an actual race for it. But as I had yet to explore any of the north shore trails, I naively pictured running thru pretty meadows, surrounded by wildflowers. HA HA HA. Boy did I ever get a wake up call. It's rather ironic that now, the more technical the trail, the easier a time I have running.
2. Squamish 50. Miles that is. Last year I stepped up to the plate and ran the 50 km distance. What a weekend. From my wake up call at 4 am to when I finally ran across the finish line at 10 hrs and 55 minutes, through the last 10 km where I fought tears every step of the way, not thru pain, but emotion, I had FUN. I didn't find it as technical as everyone said...because that's what I train on. That's what I thrive on. So why the hell not throw on an extra 30 km this time?
3. Xterra Worlds in Oahu. Are you kidding me? 21 km running through the Kualoa Valley in Hawaii? Since reading about this race 4 years ago, I've made plans to run it. And each year my plans were thwarted. This time, I contacted Xterra in November to find out when in December the race would be for 2015. I was booking the time off work NOW. #RunningForMaiTais
Which brings us to this purpose. Fundraising for North Shore Rescue. These volunteers are our guardian angels. Every time we step foot in the trails, there's a chance that they'll be coming for us. We can all be careful. We can all be prepared. But things happen that are out of our control, or in our control, but we misstep. When I did Hanes Valley this past summer with a large group, they all joked that they were glad they were with me because of the karma I've got with NSR raising all those bucks last year. "If something happens to any of us, they'll come for you!" was often heard. And yet it was me, having the most difficult time of my entire life, with the real thought I'd need to be rescued. Each time I heard the Grouse tour helicopter flying above, I would almost weep in relief thinking NSR was coming to get me. And all I could think was, 'I just raised all this cash for them, and now we're going to have to spend it all to get my lazy, out of shape (miss negativity strikes again) ass, off this damn boulder scree. But with the help of 2 strangers in the group, I pushed forward and made it to the beer, no worse for wear. Which not only reminded me that I am much stronger than I believe I am, it reminded me why I'm ecstatic to be involved in a race that supports NSR so much. Because you just don't know.
So please, scroll to the bottom of the following link, and donate to these superheroes!
https://events.helpforcharities.com/kk/profile.php?profile_id=141840371420587199
Here we are again. And this year, I've got myself a guaranteed spot thanks to many of you and to the generosity of those at Knee Knacker that were willing to give out a spot to me for fundraising. This year, I'm pushing myself to new levels. Not only in distances and difficulties, but mentally. Why is it I can be the most positive there is to be when it comes to day to day life, and yet with my running, I always focus on the negative. "My climbing sucks." "I'm slow." It's like these two sentences became my mantras, convincing me I was slower than I ought to be; sucked at climbing worse than I actually was. I never pushed myself. Mentally, I cursed myself. And not in the #*^% way, which would have been way more fun. (This is where you need to picture me and my other self screaming and swearing at each other.) It was like I had put a hex on my running and it was my own damn fault for listening to myself thinking I'm weak. I'm not weak. I finished a Gary Robbins 50 km course with a smile on my face, under the cut off. So this year, I work on my positivity. And my climbing. I keep wanting to sing 'I must. I must. I must increase my...glutes?'
I have 2 major races this year and 1 'minor' one that has been on my wish list for 4 years.
1. Knee Knacker North Shore Trail Race. When I first started trail running 4 years ago, I said 'I want to run from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove on the Baden Powell' not realizing there was an actual race for it. But as I had yet to explore any of the north shore trails, I naively pictured running thru pretty meadows, surrounded by wildflowers. HA HA HA. Boy did I ever get a wake up call. It's rather ironic that now, the more technical the trail, the easier a time I have running.
2. Squamish 50. Miles that is. Last year I stepped up to the plate and ran the 50 km distance. What a weekend. From my wake up call at 4 am to when I finally ran across the finish line at 10 hrs and 55 minutes, through the last 10 km where I fought tears every step of the way, not thru pain, but emotion, I had FUN. I didn't find it as technical as everyone said...because that's what I train on. That's what I thrive on. So why the hell not throw on an extra 30 km this time?
3. Xterra Worlds in Oahu. Are you kidding me? 21 km running through the Kualoa Valley in Hawaii? Since reading about this race 4 years ago, I've made plans to run it. And each year my plans were thwarted. This time, I contacted Xterra in November to find out when in December the race would be for 2015. I was booking the time off work NOW. #RunningForMaiTais
Which brings us to this purpose. Fundraising for North Shore Rescue. These volunteers are our guardian angels. Every time we step foot in the trails, there's a chance that they'll be coming for us. We can all be careful. We can all be prepared. But things happen that are out of our control, or in our control, but we misstep. When I did Hanes Valley this past summer with a large group, they all joked that they were glad they were with me because of the karma I've got with NSR raising all those bucks last year. "If something happens to any of us, they'll come for you!" was often heard. And yet it was me, having the most difficult time of my entire life, with the real thought I'd need to be rescued. Each time I heard the Grouse tour helicopter flying above, I would almost weep in relief thinking NSR was coming to get me. And all I could think was, 'I just raised all this cash for them, and now we're going to have to spend it all to get my lazy, out of shape (miss negativity strikes again) ass, off this damn boulder scree. But with the help of 2 strangers in the group, I pushed forward and made it to the beer, no worse for wear. Which not only reminded me that I am much stronger than I believe I am, it reminded me why I'm ecstatic to be involved in a race that supports NSR so much. Because you just don't know.
So please, scroll to the bottom of the following link, and donate to these superheroes!
https://events.helpforcharities.com/kk/profile.php?profile_id=141840371420587199