so I’ve been asked to come talk a little bit about my ultrarunning adventures and
bit about my ultrarunning adventures and
bit about my ultrarunning adventures and I was gonna start with a question I most
I was gonna start with a question I most
I was gonna start with a question I most usually get and it’s why you know why
usually get and it’s why you know why
usually get and it’s why you know why would you want to be an ultra-marathoner
would you want to be an ultra-marathoner
would you want to be an ultra-marathoner why would you run that far why would you
why would you run that far why would you
why would you run that far why would you do that to your body you know I kind of
do that to your body you know I kind of
do that to your body you know I kind of get this like are you crazy or what kind
get this like are you crazy or what kind
get this like are you crazy or what kind of feeling and I have to admit like
of feeling and I have to admit like
of feeling and I have to admit like eight eight and a half years ago I was
eight eight and a half years ago I was
eight eight and a half years ago I was one of those people – I didn’t know much
one of those people – I didn’t know much
one of those people – I didn’t know much about ultrarunning and I had the same
about ultrarunning and I had the same
about ultrarunning and I had the same questions you know why would you want to
questions you know why would you want to
questions you know why would you want to push that far doesn’t hurt her you know
push that far doesn’t hurt her you know
push that far doesn’t hurt her you know why would you even go there and really I
why would you even go there and really I
why would you even go there and really I wasn’t even a distance runner until I
wasn’t even a distance runner until I
wasn’t even a distance runner until I turned 40 I ran my first marathon and
turned 40 I ran my first marathon and
turned 40 I ran my first marathon and prior to that I identified caves and
prior to that I identified caves and
prior to that I identified caves and some ten K’s but never ever would have
some ten K’s but never ever would have
some ten K’s but never ever would have ever thought that I’d be running a 50k
ever thought that I’d be running a 50k
ever thought that I’d be running a 50k much less 50 miles or 100 miles so it
much less 50 miles or 100 miles so it
much less 50 miles or 100 miles so it was quite the journey it kind of started
was quite the journey it kind of started
was quite the journey it kind of started when my husband got deployed overseas
when my husband got deployed overseas
when my husband got deployed overseas and I had two and four year old girls
and I had two and four year old girls
and I had two and four year old girls and running just kind of became the
and running just kind of became the
and running just kind of became the activity that I did to just get away and
activity that I did to just get away and
activity that I did to just get away and destress it’s just my quiet time and I
destress it’s just my quiet time and I
destress it’s just my quiet time and I started doing that a little more and
started doing that a little more and
started doing that a little more and more they got longer and longer and I
more they got longer and longer and I
more they got longer and longer and I you know you always have time to reflect
you know you always have time to reflect
you know you always have time to reflect when you’re out on these long runs and I
when you’re out on these long runs and I
when you’re out on these long runs and I started thinking back when I was in high
started thinking back when I was in high
started thinking back when I was in high school I had a cross-country coach and
school I had a cross-country coach and
school I had a cross-country coach and she was a marathoner and she always said
she was a marathoner and she always said
she was a marathoner and she always said someday you need to get out there and
someday you need to get out there and
someday you need to get out there and run a marathon even if it’s just one and
run a marathon even if it’s just one and
run a marathon even if it’s just one and that seed you know kind of started
that seed you know kind of started
that seed you know kind of started surfacing again and I decided you know
surfacing again and I decided you know
surfacing again and I decided you know the time was right so I jumped online
the time was right so I jumped online
the time was right so I jumped online and found some beginner training program
and found some beginner training program
and found some beginner training program and just started following that and I
and just started following that and I
and just started following that and I don’t know three or four months later I
don’t know three or four months later I
don’t know three or four months later I packed my kids up hopped on a plane and
packed my kids up hopped on a plane and
packed my kids up hopped on a plane and flew to Arizona my in-laws were there at
flew to Arizona my in-laws were there at
flew to Arizona my in-laws were there at the time and ran my first marathon the
the time and ran my first marathon the
the time and ran my first marathon the rock and roll era Arizona had to say it
rock and roll era Arizona had to say it
rock and roll era Arizona had to say it was not the most pleasant experience at
was not the most pleasant experience at
was not the most pleasant experience at all I think I did like everything you
all I think I did like everything you
all I think I did like everything you could wrong and I think part of that is
could wrong and I think part of that is
could wrong and I think part of that is because you know I read so much and I
because you know I read so much and I
because you know I read so much and I had to do this I had to follow this I
had to do this I had to follow this I
had to do this I had to follow this I had
had
had much structure that I didn’t listen to
much structure that I didn’t listen to
much structure that I didn’t listen to my body so by the end I was like totally
my body so by the end I was like totally
my body so by the end I was like totally miserable but then I crossed the finish
miserable but then I crossed the finish
miserable but then I crossed the finish line and it just I don’t know it goes
line and it just I don’t know it goes
line and it just I don’t know it goes away you have a total feeling of
away you have a total feeling of
away you have a total feeling of accomplishment and just you know self
accomplishment and just you know self
accomplishment and just you know self gratifying you know you did something
gratifying you know you did something
gratifying you know you did something you never thought you could do and it’s
you never thought you could do and it’s
you never thought you could do and it’s really weird I’m not ever gonna compare
really weird I’m not ever gonna compare
really weird I’m not ever gonna compare like the childbirth but it’s kind of
like the childbirth but it’s kind of
like the childbirth but it’s kind of like all that miserable feeling and then
like all that miserable feeling and then
like all that miserable feeling and then it’s just like wow you know I really did
it’s just like wow you know I really did
it’s just like wow you know I really did something that I never thought I could
something that I never thought I could
something that I never thought I could do and I was back maybe three or four
do and I was back maybe three or four
do and I was back maybe three or four days later I was back online trying to
days later I was back online trying to
days later I was back online trying to find my next marathon and for me I’m
find my next marathon and for me I’m
find my next marathon and for me I’m very self driven self-motivated and I
very self driven self-motivated and I
very self driven self-motivated and I like physical and mental challenges and
like physical and mental challenges and
like physical and mental challenges and this was kind of fitting that role for
this was kind of fitting that role for
this was kind of fitting that role for me that I was back online looking for
me that I was back online looking for
me that I was back online looking for something because I wanted to do it
something because I wanted to do it
something because I wanted to do it better it’s always about bettering
better it’s always about bettering
better it’s always about bettering myself not necessarily any competition
myself not necessarily any competition
myself not necessarily any competition it’s always about you know doing it
it’s always about you know doing it
it’s always about you know doing it better for myself if I I’m always the
better for myself if I I’m always the
better for myself if I I’m always the woulda shoulda coulda person and I
woulda shoulda coulda person and I
woulda shoulda coulda person and I learned something from every run that
learned something from every run that
learned something from every run that I’ve done so anyway I think I’d done
I’ve done so anyway I think I’d done
I’ve done so anyway I think I’d done like 20-25 marathons when I finally got
like 20-25 marathons when I finally got
like 20-25 marathons when I finally got enough confidence to look at our local
enough confidence to look at our local
enough confidence to look at our local ultra running group they ran on
ultra running group they ran on
ultra running group they ran on Saturdays and I thought well maybe
Saturdays and I thought well maybe
Saturdays and I thought well maybe that’s a good way to see some different
that’s a good way to see some different
that’s a good way to see some different you know I was always running kind of
you know I was always running kind of
you know I was always running kind of the same routes and meet some people to
the same routes and meet some people to
the same routes and meet some people to run with and that’s I blame everything
run with and that’s I blame everything
run with and that’s I blame everything on them actually so they showed me all
on them actually so they showed me all
on them actually so they showed me all the trails around our beautiful
the trails around our beautiful
the trails around our beautiful community I mean we have a beautiful
community I mean we have a beautiful
community I mean we have a beautiful trail system and I just fell in love I
trail system and I just fell in love I
trail system and I just fell in love I mean there’s something about being out
mean there’s something about being out
mean there’s something about being out on those trails I run a lot by myself
on those trails I run a lot by myself
on those trails I run a lot by myself and it’s just so freeing and of course I
and it’s just so freeing and of course I
and it’s just so freeing and of course I was the road marathoner running with the
was the road marathoner running with the
was the road marathoner running with the ultra runners and they kept giving me
ultra runners and they kept giving me
ultra runners and they kept giving me crap about that and saying you know you
crap about that and saying you know you
crap about that and saying you know you got to get in a 50k it’s actually easier
got to get in a 50k it’s actually easier
got to get in a 50k it’s actually easier on your body than you think and you know
on your body than you think and you know
on your body than you think and you know just give it a try and I’d laugh out of
just give it a try and I’d laugh out of
just give it a try and I’d laugh out of him and but you know then again that
him and but you know then again that
him and but you know then again that seed was planted too and that kind of
seed was planted too and that kind of
seed was planted too and that kind of came to light one day I decided I’m just
came to light one day I decided I’m just
came to light one day I decided I’m just gonna do it and I signed up for Elkhorn
gonna do it and I signed up for Elkhorn
gonna do it and I signed up for Elkhorn 50k and I was pretty tough for your
50k and I was pretty tough for your
50k and I was pretty tough for your first 50k but I did really well there
first 50k but I did really well there
first 50k but I did really well there and one free entry into the
and one free entry into the
and one free entry into the 50-mile which scared me to death
50-mile which scared me to death
50-mile which scared me to death but I couldn’t say no I mean I won free
but I couldn’t say no I mean I won free
but I couldn’t say no I mean I won free entry so I got there now I was like zero
entry so I got there now I was like zero
entry so I got there now I was like zero degrees at the star my water froze like
degrees at the star my water froze like
degrees at the star my water froze like by mile four and crews are people out
by mile four and crews are people out
by mile four and crews are people out there to help me along but I just call
there to help me along but I just call
there to help me along but I just call that a very memorable experience and
that a very memorable experience and
that a very memorable experience and then I won free entry I did well there I
then I won free entry I did well there I
then I won free entry I did well there I went free entry back into Elkhorn
went free entry back into Elkhorn
went free entry back into Elkhorn 50-miler and that’s kind of the end of
50-miler and that’s kind of the end of
50-miler and that’s kind of the end of my story as far as how I got going I
my story as far as how I got going I
my story as far as how I got going I mean you know it doesn’t hurt that I was
mean you know it doesn’t hurt that I was
mean you know it doesn’t hurt that I was doing well at doing the long runs and
doing well at doing the long runs and
doing well at doing the long runs and you know every time you pass through the
you know every time you pass through the
you know every time you pass through the finish line you’re like wow you know I
finish line you’re like wow you know I
finish line you’re like wow you know I really did it but for me there’s way
really did it but for me there’s way
really did it but for me there’s way more to it when you do these really
more to it when you do these really
more to it when you do these really really long runs
really long runs
really long runs I have find a whole different kind of
I have find a whole different kind of
I have find a whole different kind of solitude out there that I can’t get
solitude out there that I can’t get
solitude out there that I can’t get anywhere else
anywhere else
anywhere else I have a pretty high stress life I mean
I have a pretty high stress life I mean
I have a pretty high stress life I mean you know I do have a 40 plus hour a job
you know I do have a 40 plus hour a job
you know I do have a 40 plus hour a job my husband works out of state most of
my husband works out of state most of
my husband works out of state most of the time and I have two teenage girls
the time and I have two teenage girls
the time and I have two teenage girls and when I get out on the trails and do
and when I get out on the trails and do
and when I get out on the trails and do these long long runs it’s not it’s that
these long long runs it’s not it’s that
these long long runs it’s not it’s that kind of all goes away I mean you don’t
kind of all goes away I mean you don’t
kind of all goes away I mean you don’t have time to or energy to worry about
have time to or energy to worry about
have time to or energy to worry about everything else that’s going on the
everything else that’s going on the
everything else that’s going on the world that’s my time to like live in the
world that’s my time to like live in the
world that’s my time to like live in the moment and you can live in the moment
moment and you can live in the moment
moment and you can live in the moment for a long time when you’re running a
for a long time when you’re running a
for a long time when you’re running a hundred miles I mean you’re pretty much
hundred miles I mean you’re pretty much
hundred miles I mean you’re pretty much you know strategizing you you can plan
you know strategizing you you can plan
you know strategizing you you can plan it out I’m a planner I like to have
it out I’m a planner I like to have
it out I’m a planner I like to have everything in order but when you run a
everything in order but when you run a
everything in order but when you run a hundred miles there’s no way you can
hundred miles there’s no way you can
hundred miles there’s no way you can plan the best you can but you have no
plan the best you can but you have no
plan the best you can but you have no idea how your body’s gonna feel if
idea how your body’s gonna feel if
idea how your body’s gonna feel if you’re gonna you know go the wrong way
you’re gonna you know go the wrong way
you’re gonna you know go the wrong way if you’re gonna roll an ankle I mean
if you’re gonna roll an ankle I mean
if you’re gonna roll an ankle I mean I’ve gotten lost before and you know
I’ve gotten lost before and you know
I’ve gotten lost before and you know been around an extra four miles and when
been around an extra four miles and when
been around an extra four miles and when you’re running a hundred miles that’s
you’re running a hundred miles that’s
you’re running a hundred miles that’s very demoralizing and you kind of that’s
very demoralizing and you kind of that’s
very demoralizing and you kind of that’s where your brain has to kick in you’ve
where your brain has to kick in you’ve
where your brain has to kick in you’ve got to have that mental strength to just
got to have that mental strength to just
got to have that mental strength to just go with the flow keep you know your
go with the flow keep you know your
go with the flow keep you know your intense focus on your goal and just just
intense focus on your goal and just just
intense focus on your goal and just just go so it’s just very meditative for me
go so it’s just very meditative for me
go so it’s just very meditative for me very kind of a spiritual experience so
very kind of a spiritual experience so
very kind of a spiritual experience so that’s really what keeps me coming back
that’s really what keeps me coming back
that’s really what keeps me coming back is that
is that
is that just kind of like a total emotional
just kind of like a total emotional
just kind of like a total emotional stress cleanse and then when I am done
stress cleanse and then when I am done
stress cleanse and then when I am done with it I’m too exhausted to worry about
with it I’m too exhausted to worry about
with it I’m too exhausted to worry about anything else and then I can come back
anything else and then I can come back
anything else and then I can come back and start over the other thing I’m very
and start over the other thing I’m very
and start over the other thing I’m very thankful for every time rill my shoes on
thankful for every time rill my shoes on
thankful for every time rill my shoes on whether I’m running a mile or 100 miles
whether I’m running a mile or 100 miles
whether I’m running a mile or 100 miles is just being able to get out on those
is just being able to get out on those
is just being able to get out on those trails because I know there’s a lot of
trails because I know there’s a lot of
trails because I know there’s a lot of people that would love to not
people that would love to not
people that would love to not necessarily run the distance but just be
necessarily run the distance but just be
necessarily run the distance but just be out there in nature and so I never take
out there in nature and so I never take
out there in nature and so I never take that for granted and then I have a
that for granted and then I have a
that for granted and then I have a wonderful family that’s been very very
wonderful family that’s been very very
wonderful family that’s been very very supportive and without that there’s no
supportive and without that there’s no
supportive and without that there’s no way I’d be doing this because they do
way I’d be doing this because they do
way I’d be doing this because they do come first I try to fit my runs in at
come first I try to fit my runs in at
come first I try to fit my runs in at noon noon hour and then I do long runs
noon noon hour and then I do long runs
noon noon hour and then I do long runs on the weekend but I get up early I try
on the weekend but I get up early I try
on the weekend but I get up early I try to get them in so I at least have time
to get them in so I at least have time
to get them in so I at least have time with my family later and they’ve been
with my family later and they’ve been
with my family later and they’ve been some of my biggest supporters so that’s
some of my biggest supporters so that’s
some of my biggest supporters so that’s really why I run for her I guess it’s
really why I run for her I guess it’s
really why I run for her I guess it’s alluring the challenges I like the
alluring the challenges I like the
alluring the challenges I like the harder the challenge the better it is
harder the challenge the better it is
harder the challenge the better it is for me and it’s a passion of mine and
for me and it’s a passion of mine and
for me and it’s a passion of mine and running is part of who I am and as long
running is part of who I am and as long
running is part of who I am and as long as I’m able to do it I’m gonna be out
as I’m able to do it I’m gonna be out
as I’m able to do it I’m gonna be out there doing it and if I can’t think of a
there doing it and if I can’t think of a
there doing it and if I can’t think of a better way to see you the beautiful
better way to see you the beautiful
better way to see you the beautiful landscapes in our you know community and
landscapes in our you know community and
landscapes in our you know community and just all over the world if I can plant
just all over the world if I can plant
just all over the world if I can plant that seed for someone else it’s even
that seed for someone else it’s even
that seed for someone else it’s even even better so that is all I have to say
even better so that is all I have to say
even better so that is all I have to say and I am very honored that I was asked
and I am very honored that I was asked
and I am very honored that I was asked to speak today and hopefully some of you
to speak today and hopefully some of you
to speak today and hopefully some of you guys will want to go out and try it note
guys will want to go out and try it note
guys will want to go out and try it note remember time now so thank you very much
”
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