Going to Boston

It was difficult to leave Stillwater, Oklahoma, but it was time to start heading toward Boston. We decided to make a stop in Emporia, Kansas to see some old friends and spend a little more time with the ones we just saw in Stillwater. Becky and Steve are genuine, generous people who hosted us back in June 2018 (when the temperature reached 90+ degrees outside) and again as we were passing through town. We love spending time with them and they even got me out for a gravel ride, (which by the way I absolutely loved!!). It was my first bike ride in almost a year. I may have to take the plunge and purchase a gravel bike at some point in time, the Land Run Double has my name written all over it!! We were also able to spend a day out at one of our favorite state parks, Eisenhower State Park. We camped out in “our” spot that we spent so much time at and ran some trails. Our time in Kansas was short but extremely fulfilling.

                               

From Emporia we headed east to Kentucky. Neither David nor I have experienced Kentucky and we didn’t really know that there are so many great places to explore. We spent a little less than a week in different parts of the state, starting in Jefferson Memorial Forest outside of Louisville.  We ran the trails on two different days, camped out and got locked into the park! After some back and forth phone calls to the office, we were able to get out and move on to our next stop, Red River Gorge. Red River Gorge is one of the premier rock climbing locations in the east. It is located in the Daniel Boone National Forest in east central Kentucky. The intricate canyon system features an abundance of high sandstone cliffs, rock shelters, waterfalls and natural bridges. There are more then 100 natural sandstone arches and over 60 miles of trails. We spent several days in this area exploring the natural bridges, hiking and trail running. This part of Kentucky is absolutely breathtaking and worth the trip to Kentucky.

                                           

We left Kentucky to continue our journey eastward, West Virginia was our next stop. The last time I had been in West Virginia was over 20 years ago when I was a camp counselor, was severely injured in the backcountry and air lifted to Morgantown where I spent 20 days in the hospital recovering from burns to 20% of my body. This was life changing for me in so many ways and definitely shaped my future as a medical provider. I was looking forward to retuning and making some new, more positive memories.

I had remembered West Virginia being rugged and remote but a wonderful place for outdoor activities. We landed in Fayetteville in the New River Gorge for a few days. There is an abundance of outdoor activities in this area including rock climbing, hiking/trail running, mountain biking and white water rafting. The scenery was spectacular and the hiking/trail running was perfect for our training. We met some really nice locals who gave us plenty of tips on places to explore, including Mike from Bridge Bound Campers. He is an avid rock climber who once lived out of his van and has now settled in West Virginia with his family, building out custom vans. We were able to visit him at his shop and talk about all things van related. I could see the sparkle in David’s eyes as they were talking about electrical systems, solar, water systems, etc… As with all of the other places we have visited on this journey, so much of it is about the people we have met and Fayetteville was no different.

          

                   

After a few days in and around Fayetteville, we drove to the east side of the state and Monongahela National Forest for one more day of hiking before leaving  and heading further east.

On to Maryland and Greenbrier State Park, the location of IGNITE Maryland. We wanted to stop here and explore the trails since we will be back on May 11th for the race. We had so much fun running all the trails, as you can see by our video (check out our video here). David and I are lead ambassadors for IGNITE SwimRun and have been given this incredible opportunity, not only to be a part of an amazing company and represent their brand but also to learn more about race organization and logistics. This year we will not be racing. We will be working, helping set up the venue prior to the race and on race day David will be taking photos while I do race support (and anything else that is needed). As much as we both love to race we also love to learn about the behind the scenes and the intricacies of race management. We will also be a part of the ambassador summit that will take place after the race. This is where we will get a chance to really get to know our fellow ambassadors and talk about all things SwimRun, training and racing!!

                                             

While our time in Maryland was short, we did get to spend some time with our friend and fellow IGNITE ambassador Maggie. We met Maggie last year at several SwimRun events and it was great to catch up with her outside of a race. We were also able to meet another fellow ambassador, Meghan, for breakfast one morning before we headed out of town.

Next stop Pennsylvania, specifically Pine Grove Furnace State Park. This park is located in south-central Pennsylvania at the northern tip of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Michaux State Forest. It  is the mid-point of the Appalachian Trail, the 2,190 mile trail that runs from Georgia to Maine. It is also the location of the Buck Ridge Burn 5k and Half Marathon. We had volunteered to trail sweep the course so the day prior to the race we went for a run/hike along the AT to the Pole Steeple overlook. The trails in this part of the country tend to be rocky and rugged and in thick forest and this was no different. We had perfect weather and some beautiful views at the top. The next day we were trail sweep for the 5k and ran the half marathon. Yet again, we made so many connections including Jen, the race director, Tammie and Jeff who are about to start their van life journey and Colton and Maggie, a young ultrarunner couple. As with all of the other places we have visited on this journey, so much of it is about the people we have met and this was no different.

   

   

On to New Jersey, our last stop before Boston, where we would visit some family for a few days. It is always nice to spend time with family that we do not get to see too often. Robin and Michael and Elaine and David opened their home to us and we had a wonderful time catching up with them. We had some nice weather to explore some places that I had never visited (despite the fact that I grew up there).

                                                                                          

After a few days in New Jersey it was off to Boston for the Boston Marathon. We could not have been more excited to be going to Boston for the third year. This time, not to race, but to support the amazing team of  Hyland’s Healers and Legacy runners, 65 people strong. The experience in Boston was incredible and certainly deserves its own post. So until next time….

 

SwimRun NC

It has been a little over a month since our last SwimRun race of 2018, SwimRun NC, so I thought it was about time that I sit down and write a little race report. This race takes place every year at the end of October at Hanging Rock State Park. Hanging Rock is about 45 minutes outside of Winston-Salem, so very easy to access but still remote enough to feel like you are off the beaten path. It is a beautiful park with a lake for swimming and kayaking/canoeing, more than 20 miles of hiking trails that climb onto spectacular views and weave alongside clear streams and waterfalls. There is also access on the Dan River for paddling, over 8 miles of mountain biking trails and rock climbing. With its technical trails and water access it is the perfect backdrop for SwimRun.

We had the opportunity to do some course recon with one of the race directors, Herbert, a few weeks prior to the race. This recon proved to be an invaluable tool, it allowed us to get a great feel for the course and how technical the terrain really is. At that time the water temperature was a balmy 70 degrees, perfect for someone like me who does not do well in cold water. Well, that temperature was too good to be true and in the following few weeks the air temperature would drop and several storms with torrential rains would not only drop the water temperature but change the flow of the Dan River.

The day prior to the race all the athletes gathered at the Green Heron Ale House for packet pick-up and race briefing. We picked up our race bibs, tee shirts and hats along with an extra little surprise. Three heart-warming personalized notes to us from 3 different kids at a local grade school.  This is by far the most unique and personal race swag we have ever received. The race briefing was short and I sat there anxiously waiting for someone to talk about the water temperature and the conditions of the Dan River. Neither were mentioned in the briefing but it really didn’t matter, because the conditions were what they were and talking about it wouldn’t change either.

  

Race morning was sunny but cold and I knew the water temperature would be a challenge for me. The race starts at the  Ale House with a nice 4.5 mile run up to Hanging Rock State Park. This was moderately technical terrain with a few creek crossings and an amazing waterfall climb up and around Window Falls. There was plenty of time to get warm before hitting the lake and the first of 4 – 500 meter swims across the lake. The lake was very cold,  the kind of cold that takes your breath away, that freezes your face and gives you an ice cream headache, yes it was that cold. The race director, Herbert, estimated that the lake temperature was around 54 degrees that day. We got through the first swim and cut across the bay, a short traverse past the dam and back into the lake for the 2nd loop. This second loop proved to be a bit more challenging for me, as the run portion in between was not long enough to warm up at all. Back into the lake and I started to get cold about half way across. We made it out and across the bay and by the time I hit the traverse past the dam I was shivering uncontrollably, teeth chattering, lips blue  and feeling like there was no way I could possibly get back in that lake again.

This is where having a really supportive partner comes into play. Looking back on it, if I were racing alone, I may not have had the mental fortitude to get myself back in that lake for 2 more swims but having David there by my side, encouraging me, supporting me and counting on me as a partner was exactly what I needed to keep going.

The race continued with a nice long climb up to the top of Moore’s Wall with 642 steps. This section was slow and steady with more power hiking than running and the views were certainly worth the work. It also gave me time to forget about how cold I was after that 2nd swim!!  After stopping for some fluid and a photo op at the top, we descended back to the lake on an extremely rocky single track trail, the most technical section of the race. Once back at the lake it was back in for another 2 loops. The 3rd swim was cold but tolerable and I was so happy to get some warm chicken broth after that loop before having to get back into the water for the final lake swim of the day.  The chicken broth was exactly what I needed to warm my core, just enough to get through that swim, and knowing that the hot broth would be there when I got out of the water after that 4th loop.

It was a relief getting out of the water and knowing that all that stood between us and the finish was a 5.7 mile run and a 900 meter swim in the Dan River. I knew that the river temperature would be even colder than the lake but also knew that with the current the 900 meters would be very quick. The last run took us on an out and back section to climb Cascade Falls and then down to the Dan River. We ran along the river to the entry point and hopped into the Dan River, where I decided to not submerge my face for fear of getting too cold. The river was running rather swiftly and there were rocks just under the surface that were a bit tricky to navigate. We made it to the exit point unscathed and I struggled a bit to get my feet under me. Again, having a partner who could help me to my feet was invaluable. We climbed a short set of stairs, through the finish arch and as always we both had huge smiles on our faces, happy to be finished and happy with our accomplishment. I guess I am accustomed to more excitement and enthusiasm at the finish line of a race because this was lackluster and a bit of a disappointment. No photographer, no announcer, no one from the race, just a few people milling around who had just finished.

We walked away from the finish line, changed our clothes and went to partake in the post race festivities. Despite the lackluster finish line the post race experience was enjoyable. The majority of the race participants and their families/friends sat around feasting on the tasty post race food and drink, sharing stories about the race, cheering on the division winners during the awards and hoping to win some great swag in the raffle.

This race was challenging and technical and fun and a  great way to end our SwimRun 2018 season!

         

IGNITE SwimRun 2018 Season

Let me start out by saying that David and I are ambassadors for IGNITE SwimRun. We actually became ambassadors prior to having raced any SwimRun events. We originally signed up for one event, SwimRun Lake James, but then we were picked to be ambassadors. We knew it was an opportunity to be a part of a growing sport, to represent what looked to be a great company (IGNITE) and ultimately race more. Well, we got so much more than we could ever imagine. By the end of the 2018 season we raced a total of 5 SwimRun races with 3 of them being IGNITE races: Minnesota, Rhode Island and Virginia.

     

We met the IGNITE team for the first time in Minnesota. We arrived several days early to the race venue and were eager to help out, marking trails, setting up the venue, really whatever help was needed. We could see immediately that they are a group of dedicated, hard working individuals who have a passion to see SwimRun grow in the US and love organizing races.

IGNITE Minnesota is located at Cuyuna State Park in Ironton, Minnesota. It is known for its 30+ miles of single track trails with tight turns and scenic vistas. It is a popular mountain biking destination, but the trails are also amazing for running. The many quarries throughout the park are filled with beautiful crystal clear water which allow for perfect swimming conditions and is also popular with scuba divers. This race was a combination of a little bit of road, a little bit of fire road and mostly moderately challenging single track trails mixed with quarry swimming. We had perfect weather and perfect water temperatures. We had a great race and although it was super challenging, we had so much fun.

       

Our next SwimRun was in Rhode Island, Block Island to be exact. This race was more of a spur of the moment decision. Since we were going to be only 4 hours away we decided it would be a great opportunity to do another SwimRun. So off we went to Rhode Island to help set up, explore Block Island and race. This race was spectacular in so many ways. It was a combination of road, fire road and moderately technical single track trail along with some calm swimming in the Great Salt Pond and more challenging ocean swims in the Atlantic as well as the scenery of sparkling clear waters, dramatic bluffs and miles of beautiful beaches. Again, the weather was perfect, or even a bit warm, and the water temperature was warm enough to opt out of a wetsuit if desired. Since we had some rougher ocean swims I decided to wear my wetsuit for security and David opted out. This race really pushed me outside my comfort zone. The ocean swims were a bit rough at times and one section turned into a run as I was unable to get past the break. Although all of the SwimRun races we have done have been so different, this race became our favorite SwimRun race of the 2018 season.

      

Our last IGNITE race of the season (but 4th overall) was SwimRun Virginia. This was a general entry race, meaning open registration for any athlete, but it was also the National SwimRun Championship where the top teams from 9 other SwimRun races in the US would compete for the top spot on the podium. David and I put this race on our list because we had heard that it was a pretty cool race with a combination of urban and trails and river swimming. Well this race did not disappoint. The week prior to the race the weather was warm and perfect. The river had been running high all summer long due to the many tropical storms that passed through the region and then another storm rolled through the week prior to the race. The temperatures dropped, the river levels rose and we were questioning if this race would happen. Well, the river dropped enough for the race to go on safely but the temperatures never recovered. The day of the race it was cool and overcast and the water temperature was about 61 degrees. The most challenging part of this race was the river. At 6 feet high it was running swiftly. I have never swam in a swift running river and tried hard not to panic. Once again I found myself way outside my comfort zone. There were several moments of sheer panic but David remained calm and was the voice of reason I needed to get through this challenge. This is the essence of SwimRun, having a team member to encourage you, support you as well as for safety. This was probably the most challenging race of the season.

              

Prior to 2018,  David and I had never been ambassadors for a company. We feel so honored that IGNITE invited us to join them for the 2018 season and welcomed us into their family. We have had an education on race organization and directing, got an opportunity to race in 3 amazing but very different venues and made some lifelong friends, not only with other athletes and ambassadors but with the IGNITE team.

“There is nothing more exciting than meeting new people, hearing their stories, and being inspired.” -Unknown

 

Racing, Family, and More Racing

It has been quite some time since I have posted and a lot has taken place; several big races and family visits. We continue to love this lifestyle, spending almost all of our time together, racing, training and visiting with friends and family along with the challenges of van life. We have one more big race coming up, our 5th and final SwimRun in North Carolina, before we head back to Seattle to spend time with our families for the holidays.

We left Ohio and headed to Erie, PA for the Erie Marathon on September 9. David and I had aspirations for qualifying for the 2019 Boston Marathon and we both felt prepared, mentally and physically. The weather was perfect and the course pancake flat, but it just wasn’t our day. David realized at mile 10 that it just wasn’t going to happen, and my wheels fell off around mile 16 when my left hip began to hurt and I began to walk more often then I normally would (I always do a run/walk for all my marathons including my past 2 Boston Marathon qualifiers).  We were both disappointed  and I shed a few tears but there is no time to wallow in self pity. I have so much to be thankful for, the fact that I got to run the Boston Marathon not just once, but twice, makes me so proud of my accomplishments. You see, if you know me or have been following my blog, you know that a bit over 15 years ago I could not even run a mile let alone the Boston Marathon. So, running Erie, although not the results I had hoped for was still a marathon and still something I am proud of.

                               After the Erie Marathon we drove to Vermont to spend some time at Cold Moon Farm with Irene and Ed and my parents. Cold Moon Farm holds a special place in our hearts. I grew up down the street from the Glazer’s and they were my second set of parents. I spent half of my formative years at their house, hanging out with their sons, swimming in the pool and sometimes driving Ed crazy with my whining. Just like my parents, they were always there for me if I needed something.  They moved to Vermont over 20 years ago and I don’t get to see them as often anymore. When David decided to propose to me somehow he knew this was the place to do it. We made a trip to NY and Vermont in December of 2014 and it was on this trip, at Cold Moon Farm where he asked me to be his wife. So, this is why we love this place and knew we needed to make a stop here. It was also a perfect place to meet up with my parents to celebrate my 47th birthday and catch up. We really loved our time on the farm, helping out wherever we could, hiking and exploring the Green Mountains, visiting, reminiscing and telling stories about my childhood and relaxing. If you ever find yourself in Southern Vermont it is worth a stop over at Cold Moon Farm.

   

      

       

During our stay in Vermont, along with our regular schedule of running, hiking and strength training, we traveled to 2 big races. The first one was IGNITE SwimRun Rhode Island. This was our 3rd SwimRun race of 2018 and our first one which included ocean swimming. The location was Block Island, Rhode Island, a quaint island 12 miles off the coast, famous for its miles of free public beaches, sparkling clear waters, dramatic bluffs and open spaces. In our usual fashion we arrived early, helped set-up the venue and did some course re-con. We knew it was a beautiful location but this race course was breath-taking. It was also extremely challenging- ocean swimming with big swells, running on single track trails and rocky coastline, sandy beaches and stairs, lots of stairs. Due to the conditions on the south end of the island, one swim was cancelled and another adjacent swim became optional. If you could get through the break then the swim parallel to the shore it wasn’t too bad, unfortunately, I could not get past the break. After trying several times and not getting very far, David could see on my face that I was starting to struggle and panic a bit. He signaled to me to turn around and go back to shore, we will run the beach, it is not worth injury or even worse. We were doing well, in the middle of the pack, until we missed a turn onto a single track trail and ran almost a mile in the wrong direction. We got back on track but knew we were in last place (only 6 teams did the long course). We popped out on to the road, saw the team ahead of us, turned up the speed a notch and managed to come in 5th place at the end of the day. It was one of the most scenic races I have ever done. The day ended with an amazing bonfire on the beach, with the awards ceremony and sharing stories with the other athletes.

         

        

The second race we signed up for was more of a last minute decision. We happened upon a timed race that was only about 30 minutes from Cold Moon on another local farm, Beebe Farms in East Dorset, Vermont, called the Beebe Farm Classic. This race was a 0.87 mile loop on a gravel road surrounding horse arenas. We signed up for the 6 hour race with the goal being as many loops as possible during those 6 hours. This was my first timed race and my goal was a 50K, about 32 miles. I had my phone and headphones with me in anticipation of the monotony of such a race, but was surprised by how quickly 6 hours passed. Before I knew it, we had only a few minutes to go as I raced to complete my 39th lap and a total of 33.99 miles. David was able to complete a little over 43 laps for a total of 37 miles and an overall win. The race was well organized, had some awesome swag, including a fleece jacket and a mug, tons of food and great music. The best part about the day for us was getting a chance to catch up with our friend, Nancy, from the Hyland’s Boston Marathon team.

                                      

Our month in Vermont was incredible but we needed to start heading toward South Carolina, where David’s daughter and grandson live. We were going to be there for his 1st birthday party!! We left ourselves plenty of time, since we don’t like to drive too many hours a day and we had planned some other stops along the way. Our first stop after leaving Vermont, was New Jersey. We spent a few days with my cousins, Elaine, David, Robin, Michael, Randy and Jamie. We had so much fun sharing stories and spending time getting to know all of them better. While in NJ, I was able to show David around my high school, The Peddie School. I reminisced about my days there and how meaningful it was and how I never would imagine that 30 years later I would be running on the track and talking about doing my first 100K. Back then I was all about avoiding PE class and did everything possible to get out of it.

After NJ we made a brief stop in Shenandoah National Park. This is one of the most dog friendly national parks we have encountered so far. We hiked the Cedar Run-Whiteoak Circuit, a strenuous, technical hike which runs along the river and passes many waterfalls along the way. It was a perfect fall day.

   

From Virginia we made a brief stop in North Carolina, finally landing in South Carolina where we would spend a few days visiting with David’s daughter and grandson and celebrating his 1st birthday. We spent time at the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia and the pumpkin patch. It had been 6 months since our last visit and it was so nice to spend some quality time with them. Our current living situation allows us these opportunities to visit family that we may not have otherwise, we feel so blessed to have the time to visit and look forward to next time.

        

                

 

Back to North Carolina and Hanging Rock State Park to scout out the SwimRun NC course. We were lucky enough to meet up with one of the race directors, Herbert, who took us on a tour of the waterfalls and the upper section of the course. This course is beautiful, with lots of single track, technical trails, waterfall climbs, and an amazing overlook on top of Moore’s Wall. We spent a few days here exploring the other waterfalls and trails in the park.

    

After a few days exploring Hanging Rock it was back north to Virginia for IGNITE SwimRun Virginia in Richmond on October 20th followed by SwimRun NC in Hanging Rock on October 28th. These would be our last 2 SwimRun races of the 2018 season, making a total of 5 for us this year!!

So stay tuned for some race reports and pictures very soon!!!

Oh, Canada and Beyond

As I sit here in Ohio, with 2 days until our big marathon, I am thinking about all the places we have been since our last big race in Minnesota. Our plan after SwimRun Minnesota was to head north to Canada to visit our friends, Debbie and Cory, in Gravenhurst, Ontario. We started north after IGNITE Minnesota and stopped at Tettegouche State Park.

  

Tettegouche is located on the north shore of Lake Superior. There are 23 miles of hiking trails with high cliffs, shoreline and waterfalls. It is a beautiful location in Northern Minnesota and no where near a big city. Usually this would be a plus, but as we quickly found out, it is not easy to find a place for an Amazon delivery in a remote region. Unfortunately, while in northern Minnesota our solar panel controller shorted out, a wire came loose, which meant we only had the power that the batteries had stored. This meant the refrigerator had to be turned off and the power had to be limited to only those things that were absolutely necessary. We were able to order the control panel and found a co-op for delivery, but that would take several days. During that time, we took advantage of the state park, hiking the trails and exploring the shoreline. The delivery was delayed and the weather turned to rain so we decided to splurge and got a hotel room for a night. We took advantage of warm showers and air conditioning which granted us a little reprieve from the heat, humidity and bugs of Northern Minnesota.

   

We finally received our control panel and were able to get our solar up and running again. Prior to departing the area we got a break in the weather and went for a beautiful run along the lake where we discovered these enormous Adirondack chairs.

Once we were able to get back on the road, we entered into Canada with no issues. We skirted the shores of Lake Superior and stopped to explore Lake Superior Provincial Park, for an afternoon. The park is a diverse landscape of forested hills, clear lakes, streams and rivers, and a Lake Superior shoreline with features ranging from cliffs to long stretches of beach. We spent several hours exploring the park and all it has to offer.

    

After our small set back, we were finally able to make it to Gravenhurst, a few days later than we anticipated, but a place we would spend the next 2 weeks, running, swimming, racing and just relaxing in the company of our good friends Debbie and Cory. They live on Lake Muldrew in the Muskoka region, a beautiful, clear lake that allowed us to get plenty of open water swimming, some kayaking and just some plain old fun.

           

 

Cory was signed up for an Olympic distance triathlon while we were visiting, so since we love to race, we signed up for a sprint SwimRun (750m swim, 5k run) on Saturday and offered to volunteer for a full day on Sunday. There were only 4 people racing the SwimRun so we were guaranteed to score a podium spot! The race was short but we both pushed ourselves and we were happy with our results. Sunday started out early with parking cars and managing traffic in and out of the park followed by directing and cheering on the run course. It was a hot day and we were both lucky enough to find some shade. We had a great time volunteering, it is always good to give back to a sport we love and we both know the race can’t happen without the help of all the volunteers.

 

After 2 amazing weeks in Gravenhurst, we went south toward Toronto for a trail race. This would be our last really long run before the marathon. The Iroquois Trail Test 34K was most certainly a test. It was a 3 loop course of mostly single track trail with mud, rocks and roots, with a little double track thrown in to make it more runnable! It was a challenge and humbling and required focus and concentration to remain upright. Fortunately, I did not take any spills on the course, David, on the other hand, took what he called 2 1/2 falls but with no serious consequences. Despite the difficult level of this race, I surprisingly found myself in 1st place for age group 36-50.

                                                                          

From Toronto we continued east, with the town of Sutton, Quebec being our next big stop. I have been fortunate enough to have landed a part time position with an amazing company, Hyland’s Homeopathic, and had some training to attend in Sutton. We had a few days so we were able to take our time and stop along the way. We decided to make a stop at Presqu’ile Provincial Park on the shores of Lake Ontario. It is a peninsula which sits in Lake Ontario with 1.5 miles of beach, 10 miles of trails and paths along shorelines and through woodlands and meadows, a nature center and historic lighthouse. We spent several days here training on the flat roads, working out on the shoreline and watching the kite surfers.

                                               

We pulled into Sutton and spent 3 nights. I had 2 full days of informative training which will set me up for success in this new position. The Hyland’s employees were welcoming and friendly and excited to have me join the Hyland’s family. Of course, we made time for some running and gym workouts as well as a nice hike one evening.

At the conclusion of my training we set off, heading back to the US and toward Ohio to visit Aunt Nancy and Phyl.  Most of the time we are in no rush so we try not to drive more than about 4-5 hours a day. We made it to a lovely secluded spot in the Finger Lakes region of New York. We stayed there one night and then moved on to the Rochester area where we spent the night in my cousin’s driveway and ran along the river to Lake Erie. From there we continued along the lake, stopping at Presque Isle State Park, the location of the Erie Marathon, to scout the course. We made it to Ohio and got a huge warm welcome from Aunt Nancy and Phyl.

    

We planned on visiting with Nancy and Phyl for about 2 weeks, until just prior to the Erie Marathon. It has been a wonderful visit, catching up, assisting in their move, training, hiking, relaxing and discovering all that Ohio has to offer. We were surprised to find out that this area of Ohio is the home to the Goodyear blimp. We were able to witness the christening of the newest blimp, the Wingfoot III, watch it emerge from the hanger and take off. It was christened on August 30th by Shaesta Waiz, the youngest woman to fly solo around the world in a single engine aircraft. This date is exactly 89 years to the day that aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart christened a Goodyear blimp in 1929.

    

We were also surprised at the outdoor opportunities that this region provides. There is a path that runs along the Ohio and Erie Canal called the Towpath Trail. This trail will cover approximately 110 miles from Lake Erie in Cleveland to New Philadelphia, when it is completed (currently there are some unfinished sections). We were able to take advantage of this nicely paved and hard packed gravel trail for some good training miles as it is flat and shaded. We were also able to visit the only National Park in Ohio, Cuyahoga National Park. It has over 125 miles of hiking trails, 5 major bicycle trails, canoeing, kayaking and historic train rides, a hidden gem in the middle of Ohio.

   

      

Our time here in Ohio has been more about visiting family than anything else, but we are delighted that we were able to enjoy the little gems that this state has to offer.

As I look through all our photos, reminisce about where we have been and as we prepare to leave for our next adventure, our hearts our full, with gratitude for the people in our lives and the love, support and comfort they surround us with.

IGNITE Minnesota

It has been almost a month since our 2nd SwimRun race, IGNITE Minnesota. This race definitely ranks as one of the most entertaining and challenging races that I have completed. SwimRun is not like any other sport. It’s not triathlon without a bike, it is a team sport where the team alternates between running and swimming along a pre-marked course in nature; it can be between islands or between lakes. As a team you race within 10 meters of each other, you share the experience, the fun, the beauty and the suffering.

Minnesota had a short and long course, so being endurance junkies, we picked the long course. This race consisted of 7 swim legs (3.48 miles) and 8 run legs (12.72 miles) for a total distance of 16.2 miles. This is way more swimming than either of us has done in a single race and we knew it would be demanding and difficult but also knew we were up for the task.

We arrived in Minnesota several days prior to the race to help with pre-race preparation. Less than 24 hours after arriving in Minnesota we were at the race venue scouting some trails to asses their condition and getting a sneak peak at the course and the region. The water was warm and crystal clear and the area was beautiful but buggy! While in the park we met an incredible local couple who invited us to their cottage to hear our story, share a meal and take hot showers (a hot shower is a luxury when you live in your van). We spent that evening and the next morning with Coreene and Mark, getting to know them, talking about life, sharing our stories and enjoying their company. It is people like Coreene and Mark in Minnesota, Becky and Steve and Tim and Kristi and Lyn and Scott and Jacob and Lyndsey and… in Emporia, Janie and Corey and Brian in Cody, Blake and his family and the entire Black Hills Running Club in South Dakota (the list goes on and on) that have made this trip what it is.

Back to the race and the reason we traveled to Minnesota to begin with. The following day we met with some of the IGNITE crew and marked the course that we had scouted the day before. In addition to the course marking we helped set up the venue and be of any assistance we possibly could. This was a great learning experience for both of us, as we got a first hand understanding of the work and dedication it takes to direct such a race.

 

 

 

 

Race morning we woke early, as we usually do on race days, and were super excited to race. There was excitement in the air and everyone was anxiously awaiting the start of the race. We had a very specific race day plan-have as much fun as possible and try not to come in last!! We started off with a 4 mile trail run and somehow managed to stay in the top 5 teams getting into the water. That top 5 placing quickly disappeared during the first swim leg!! We felt that we were holding a good position until we hit the 4th swim of the day. David is typically a stronger swimmer than me but he was really struggling with this leg of the race. He had just completed his first 100K just 1 week prior to this race and I believe this contributed to the difficulty. The remainder of the swims were arduous for him and we even tethered together, with me in the lead. This was a new scenario for us but we managed to make it work. We continued to push through, while encouraging each other along every step of the way and checking in with each other even if we didn’t say a lot. We hit the final swim of the day before getting out at the boat ramp and a short run to the finish line. We finished with huge smiles knowing that despite the challenges we had that day, it was a huge accomplishment but most importantly we had fun, we worked together, we raced together and we didn’t come in last!!! 

After the race, some food and socializing, we went back out on the trails to sweep the part of the course that we had marked. We walked the course and talked about the day, how much fun we had, how hard it was and how we can’t wait to do another SwimRun. We were so impressed with this race, with IGNITE, with Danny and Jay and the entire race crew. They picked an amazing race venue with beautiful trails and crystal clear lakes, extremely organized, safe with tons of race support, great swag and they treated every athlete like they won the race!!

Thank you IGNITE for such a memorable race and we can’t wait for IGNITE Rhode Island in September!!

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SwimRun Lake James Recap

Sitting here with my feet up on the eve of the Boston Marathon I reflect back on SwimRun Lake James. It seems like so long ago but it was only last week. This week has given me time to reflect on the race, what went well, what went not so well and what we need to work on. For those that don’t know much about SwimRun, it is an endurance event that includes alternating stages of swimming and running, so you run in your wetsuit and swim in your shoes. You are also allowed to use paddles, pull buoys and fins, but you must finish the race with everything you started with. And the best part of it all is that it is a team sport, so all of this is done with a partner, together. Each race is so unique, as it utilizes the terrain and topography of the location, so some races may have more swimming than other races, some races may have a mix of trails and roads and some may have bushwhacking. The one thing that all SwimRun races have in common is teamwork, motivation, fun, passion and adventure.

So naturally, David and I were a team, Beauty and the Beast to be more precise. We have plenty of endurance training and racing between the 2 of us but this type of event is a brand new adventure. Since we left Seattle, 6+ weeks ago, we have tried to swim as much as possible along the way. We both have felt like we have had some good pool swim training but not much in terms of open water. In fact, prior to race day we had exactly 2 open water swims since October 2017.  This proved to be our big downfall in a race that was very swim heavy. We were happy to have had those 2 swims, this allowed us to get a feel for being tethered together in the water and the transitions but it was really a lack of swim training in general that set us back. Not all teams will tether together, but we decided to try it, and for us it worked extremely well. It allowed me to swim in David’s wake, making me a bit faster and not have to sight, as all I had to do was follow his feet. Going forward, we know that we need to put some more time and energy into swim training, specifically open water.

 

The water temperature was extremely cold, 56 degrees. This is the coldest water I have ever swam in. It is the type of cold that takes your breath away, freezes your face, and can lead to hypothermia quickly if you don’t generate enough heat. The first few SwimRun segments went well and we both felt pretty good leading into the long run, 7.5 miles on a combination of fire roads, trails and bushwhacking. We had a good pace going, with some walking in between, but we actually passed quite a few teams during this section. We were able to warm up significantly on the run, which was great as it was followed by the longest swim, 1 mile. For David and I that meant over 30 minutes in very cold water and a section of the course that I will refer to as the “Beast Tamer”. It was several sections of moderately long swims followed by very short run segments, not long enough to warm up and I was shivering uncontrollably. I was a bit foggy, mentally, and at this point could not imagine getting back in the water for another swim, no matter how short it was. I did some jumping jacks, push ups and squats before taking the plunge back into the frigid waters. I didn’t realize how “foggy” I really was until I began to warm up during the next run segment, 1/2 mile run. At this point I was really dreading getting back in the water and knew we had one last long (almost a mile) swim followed by another shorter swim before the finish line. I knew David was probably just as cold as I was but he was the glue that held it together during this section. He was so mentally strong and was able to encourage me and support me and keep me going despite how I was feeling. Don’t get me wrong, he would never put my health or life in jeopardy, he knew that I was not in trouble physically and that I just needed to keep moving forward. It was a mental game at that point and if this were an individual sport I am not sure I would have kept going on my own.

The last long swim was brutal to say the least. It seemed like an eternity to get through this section and the shoreline never seemed to get any closer. All the teams that we had passed on the long run all passed us during this swim segment. We both felt like we were working extremely hard but were getting no where fast.

The running sections were just as challenging. It started with a 2 mile run on the road, the first mile uphill. That was some way to start a race, where your heart rate is already elevated from nerves and everyone runs like lightening out of the gate! There were sections which had no trails, just following flags through the woods. There was up climbing through pricker bushes and thick, slippery mud, down climbing, or more like sliding on your butt through the same thick mud. Navigating tress and branches and some fairly technical trail running. All which I love, except the pricker bushes!

Our goal for this race was to finish with smiles on our faces, and that we did. It was extremely challenging, pushed both of us outside our comfort zone, both physically and mentally and made us excited for another new sport. We have some things to work on and can’t wait for swimrun race #2, IGNITE Minnesota on July 28th.

I also want to say a big thank you, to Kristin and Brian (race directors) for putting on an amazing race, the outstanding volunteers, in and out of the water and all the other competitors who made this race a day to remember.

IGNITE Ambassadors!

We have had quite the week! Unfortunately, not a lot of training was happening this week as I was pretty sick. It can be really frustrating to feel like your fitness is slipping away but in reality a few days or even a week of rest does not equate to a set back. Life happens and as type A athletes, we need to learn to be a bit more flexible. It is the consistent work over time that is one of the most important aspects of being a successful athlete.

We also had some great news this week. We have been asked to represent IGNITE SwimRun and be a part of their ambassador program for 2018. This is a huge honor for both of us. So what does it mean to be an ambassador? We represent the company and promote their brand along with their partners and sponsors. We will also be volunteering at a race, hopefully more then one. Our goal is to expose more people to the sport of SwimRun and hopefully get people really excited about the sport. We would also love to try and get some friends to join us at one (or more) of the IGNITE SwimRun races in 2018. In exchange we get free race entry, some cool swag, our own exposure on social media and some great discounts for partner companies. David and I really feel strongly about the power of endurance sports and as most of our readers know, this is a lifestyle for us. We will only represent a company that we believe in and that aligns with our values.

So what is Swim Run? It is an team endurance event. The team alternates between running and swimming along a pre-marked course in nature, teammates stay within 10 meters of each other and they share the experience, the fun, the beauty and the suffering. (See my blog post from July 26, 2017)

So, check out the IGNITE SwimRun series and if you want to join the biggest up and coming endurance sport in the US (this sport will explode over the next year), let us know. Hope to see you out there!!

Training and Traveling

Now that David, Mira and I have begun our travels, my goal is to post weekly updates of our training, racing and traveling adventures. I have had quite a lot of people ask how we will continue to train while we are living the nomadic lifestyle. We put  a lot of thought into this change in our lifestyle and neither of us has felt that our training or racing will be negatively effected. Actually, we have both thought just the opposite, we will have more time to train together and to train and race in places we may not have had the opportunity to otherwise. It may take a little more creativity on our part, more body weight exercises due to lack of equipment, more outdoor runs in the wind, rain or snow, and more research to find the best pools around. Training and racing is a lifestyle for us and something that we make a priority in our life and it will continue to be that way going forward as we move around the country. We also decided to bring some equipment with us. On board we have: 2 yoga mats, a foam roller and the stick, 2 wetsuits each (one for open water swimming in general and one for SwimRun) along with all of our swim gear, one 25 pound kettlebell, a 40 pound sandbag, TRX straps, mountain bikes for each of us and running shoes for all occasions.

Today we were lucky enough to find this beautiful community center in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, the Kroc Center. After a short strength session and 1 mile run we hit up this amazing pool for some laps and then the outdoor hot tub ( it was only about 20 degrees outside this morning). This was a great start to our day. We then ended it with a nice long walk through a snowy park, which, of course was the highlight to Mira’s day!!

The point is, that it is not about having the time it is about making the time, and if it is important to you, you will find a way.

Swim Run 2018

David and I are always looking for our next fun adventure, something new, different, exciting and challenging. We came across this inaugural race for 2018, SwimRun Lake James. SwimRun is not a new sport to Scandinavia but it is in the US. This race is by invitation only, the application requires a “race resume” and then you wait to see if you and your partner are accepted to race. We applied on Sunday and today David got the coolest email from the race director.  We are super excited to take on this new adventure in 2018.

Check out the origins of SwimRun. http://otilloswimrun.com/