Ouachita 50k...for Chris

This past weekend Chris ran his first

ULTRA MARATHON.

If you are a runner you will know this is a huge accomplishment...you are in a whole different group when you are considered an "ULTRA" runner.

It's 31 miles people...considering he has not even been running for 2 years yet I am super proud of him.  He finished 42 out of 127 runners...in 6 and 1/2 hours.  This is an amazing time...remember trails times are so different from road times.  He has been googling 50 milers on the IPAD.

Arkansas is beautiful...Pinnacle Mountain was amazing! At mile 3 Chris has to climb...yes with hands and feet over 750 feet up the side of a giant mountain. I know this sounds cliche but the weather was perfect...it was suppose to rain and be hot but the rain stopped the day before and the morning started in 50's and ended in the low 60's.

Nothing like SWEET KISSES to help you make it through the last 4 miles!

THIS, my friends, is why trail runs ROCK! Let's just say my cute boys were fed at the aid stations as well...we cheered for the runners and helped point them the right direction...the sweet, sweet workers were so kind!

The volunteers are so great about asking each runner "what do you need?" as they run up.  They even start calling out what they have.  My smaller runners where big fans of the Skittles and Nutter Butters.

We got to the race site around 5:15a.m. and didn't leave until after 1:00p.m....the boys were sooo good! Sam took a short nap in between driving to aid stations.  They were in heaven...in the mountains with all of those trails and big boulders.  After they tired from climbing and running, they used the rocks and leaves to build with.

Not once did anyone say my boys were "busy", "how do you keep up with them", or "they have soo much energy"...nope not once...their energy was appreciated...maybe those ultra trail running volunteers see the good in lots of energy...maybe we should move to the mountains...I think God made them for my boys!

After the race, they were grilling burgers and hot dogs. They had loads of other food as well. Chris ate at the race before we headed to get Mexican food to feed myself and the boys.

Land btwn the Lakes...Updated

Land Between the Lakes Trail Run 2012

Chris and I headed out Friday morning for Land between the Lakes In Kentucky. We stopped on our way (at the recommendation of a friend), in Murray and Hazel, to do a little antique shopping.  This was a little treat for me because with 2 boys I rarely make it to shops full of breakables!  I picked up a few jade plates and some salt/pepper shakers to add to my little collection.  It was so nice to spend a weekend together...our marriage needed some us time. Talking to each other without interruption was such a gift. 

We headed to LBL so I could run my 1st trail run.  It was a 23k which is about 14.5 miles...super exciting since I thought it was a 25k and trained to 16 miles. I was really nervous since I was quite sure what to expect. I have terrible race morning jitters!  Chris planned to run the entire run with me which was not only helpful but such a treat to do something we enjoy together.  He is running a 50k in 6 weeks so it was a good training run. Our time was 2:50 about 35 minutes slower than my road 1/2 marathon time.

 I discovered trail running about a year ago when Chris pushed me out of my comfort zone and took me on a trail run "date".  I am in LOVE...it is so different than the roads.  For me it is therapy, quiet time, it challenges me, it pushes me out of my comfort zone and a hobby I share with Chris.

What I loved about a trail run:

1)the small size

2)everyone is so friendly

3)you make friends with people running in front and behind you

4)the aid stations rock...oranges...yummo

5)the challenge...you can't know exactly what to

expect so trying to run a certain time is

really hard...it's more about endurance

and pushing yourself personally

6)though my thighs hated the giant hills the trails are not

as hard on my body as the road

7) its just BEAUTIFUL

Kentucky Lake is gorgeous.  We stayed in a little community called Lighthouse Landing...we were able to park our car and walk everywhere! Our little cabin had a breathtaking view with sailboats to the left and the balcony looked out on the lake.  There is something to be said about a mini-vacy in a quiet setting...with the exception of the race we had no plans just free time...Hallelujah!!  We watched the sunset 2 days in a row.  I can't remember the last time I let myself slow down enough to watch a sunset.  We walked back down to the race after showers and breakfast/lunch to watch the ultra-marathoners come across.  TRAIL RUN LESSON...bring you own adult beverages with cooler.  The county was dry...those more seasoned in trail races than us walked back and got their coolers!

Super sexy...is how I look after I run!  On Friday, Chris and I ran about 6 miles on the trails to see how they were...VERDICT...rocky and hilly! 

So now Arkansas for Chris 50K in April and MAYBE??? Chatanooga for my next in May??? Anyone want to join me???

2011...st. jude marathon

I am proud to say I was a "spectator" only at the marathon this year.  After running it for 2 years, it was nice to watch Chris throughout his race! Tanner came with us...he loved every minute. He almost fell asleep on the way to lunch after the race...it may sound crazy but being a "spectator" is hard work. Driving or walking to different mile markers in time to see Chris was lots of work!

I loved getting to see so many good friends, friends from high school and college during the race.

So proud...full marathon #3.

Finish Time: 4:39

Best Part...he feels great! No aches or pains.

He definitely thinks road races are harder on your body than trail races...wonder what he will do next??

I know we are doing the Germantown 1/2 together...nothing to him him though for me it will be months of training...ha!

That is Brad with Chris.  They trained together.  Every Saturday morning they have been running with the Breakaway running group.  I think Chris really enjoyed the benefits of running with a friend.

So proud of his daddy.  Parents lead by example and I hope that the boys will love running as much as we do.  Tanner already loves a 5k...maybe it's the T-shirt!!

See.."spectating" is very hard work. I'm a big yeller too...having run several 1/2's, I know how it feels when you want to stop and a random person from the crowd throws out a "woo-hoo...go runners"!

a weekend getaway

NORTH FACE ENDURANCE RUN

This weekend, Chris and I headed to Atlanta (actually Pine Mountain, GA) for the North Face Endurance Marathon. Chris decided for his birthday this year he wanted to run a trail marathon. I prefer a nice dinner and a new Kate Spade purse but to each his own! Again, I am so amazed that after only a year of running, Chris is running marathons.

Ahhhhh...seven hours in the car by ourselves...heaven on earth! It is so refreshing to spend so much uninterrupted time with Chris...we spoke in complete sentences without having to finish our stories 3 days later. A big thank you to our sweet families who watched our boys for 3 days...what would we do without you!

Our weekend transportation to the race site.  This weekend was a very valuable lesson in trail running races.  I originally wanted to run the 1/2 but it was on Sunday so it kind of threw us...but now that I have experienced one as an observer...I will run next go round! They are very family friendly, laid back, spectators only join at the start and finish and cars are not allowed at the race site so this fabulous yellow school bus took us to the race from Callaway Gardens.  I also learned that small towns have limited accommodations...booking at the last minute not a good choice...on the bright side our "Inn"   kept us laughing!  There was also an Indian Festival that weekend and our "Inn" had some attenders!

Dean Karnazes...Chris has read every book!  This guy is a stud...google him!

My race bestie...she either runs with me, keeps me at her house and feeds more or joins me to watch Chris!  What a great friend!

THE RACERS...each race 50 mile, 50k, marathon...etc left at a different time.  They also had different waves to help with the single track of the trails!

So here go the runners....

and here go the shoppers!!!

Kathryn, Emily and I spent the afternoon shopping! Emily drove up/down? from Auburn to spend the afternoon with Kathryn and I while Chris hit the trails for 26.2.  Sooo glad he did the full, it gave us plenty of shopping time and REALLY excited that he said next time he would do the 50k...more shopping!!  Luckily, for the girls, this town had great shopping...love.

ALL SMILES...and at that moment he said "I could have run 7 more."  7 more, 7 more what...minutes NO he meant miles REALLY...I was tired from riding the bus and shopping!  I mean and I'm a runner but I have never thought about running more once I crossed a finish line...CRAZY!!

So now a little bragging...Chris finished 10th in his age group and 21st overall in the marathon!  See the girl in the yellow shirt...2 photos above?  She and Chris ran together the whole race and she got 3rd overall for the women...WOW!  My place in a race is the "I crossed the finish line alive" place:)

This is Dean signing books for Chris and the boys.  He asked Chris how his run was and how he felt...I'm not sure what Chris said but Dean looked at him and said "if you feel like that you didn't leave it all on the trail...you've got more in you"...Chris of course agreed and said he could have kept running...

So next year...book hotel early, bring the boys, I will run the 1/2 marathon for sure and who knows with Chris maybe by then he'll be ready for the 50 miler!!