Meet the Crew - Cindy

Cindy before the Hottest Half looking like a Flight Attendant.  No seriously she was pointing to exits right before I snapped the picture.

Cindy at a local 10K.  Doesn't she look happy even when running.  We like to refer to her as the "High Five Twister" from an article on Active.com where they listed the different types of runners.  The HFT, is eternally happy and, twists at the waist when running and ready to high five any and everyone.  That is totallly Cindy.

 And last up for the ladies is Cindy.  There is one more crew member, my uncle but, Cindy is the last of the Running Mama's to be introduced.  I can't say enough good things about Cindy.  We live close so we run together once a week, we get together for play dates 1-2 times a week and we just have a good time.  Cindy as you can see from all of her photos is ALWAYS smiling.  The girl is positively effervescent.  She is an awesome mom and an incredible friend.  I can't wait to get to run 17 miles with her, god only knows what she will do but, I am sure it will be entertaining.  I promise to report back on her antics. And now for her answers.  Note: Anything in purple I added.

Name:Cindy Behne

You are a Running Mom so we already know you ROCK! So tell us what running accomplishment you are most proud of.
Hmmm....I guess the fact that I completed a Triathlon (middle of the pack) 2 week after knee surgery and 7 months after giving birth to my second little boy.




What do you most look forward to in this race?
I look forward to annoying the hell out of Tara with my dancing and singing to keep her awake and moving on the last 17 mile stretch!! ha ha ha!!! Also, since she is my running buddy, and we run together once a week, I see her training and dedication first hand...and now I'll get to see the payoff in this ultimate endurance challenge (both physical and mental). Umm...and I mean this in the most endearing way possible...but I'm also excited that, for once, I'll be able to out-run her....only because by the time I run with her she'll have over 80 miles under her belt....but still....ok maybe I'm shallow. ;) LOL!!! Hummmm I think I recall my brother and sister being psyched about the same thing when I was pregnant.  I think I inspire these folks in all they wrong ways, lol. 




When do you think you are going to do an Ultra ?
Well, I don't really have the desire to do an Ultra....however, I also have said, in the past, that I didn't have the desire to do a marathon....and now I am doing one in 2 months. So, never say never right!?!?!
You heard it here first, she is saying there is a CHANCE.  Rocky is in February, hint hint, :)


What/When is your next race?
The White Rock Marathon in Dallas, TX Dec. 5th Yippeeeee, I get to run her first marathon with her.  I am so dang excited.  Of course that same weekend we have to throw both of our kids Birthday parties and of course the parties have to be deconflicted because both kids would want the other kid at the party.  We are nuts.




Anything else we should know about you?
Not to get mushy or anything, but I really just adore Tara. We get together once a week to run and at least once a week for a play date, as our kiddos are the same age and really play well together!!! She is my friend and my inspiration....and I can't wait to see her in action!!!
What the heck no making me tear up. LOL.  I feel the exact same way about Cindy. 

OMG!!! I almost forgot to tell you her awesome story.  So the thing is Cindy is positively chalk full of hilarious stories, ones that you just can't make up.  She has me laughing everytime I see her.  She is awesome.  So a few months ago when Bethany came up to run the Hottest Half with Cindy and I we were  sitting around shooting the sh#t and honestly I have no idea how this would come up but.... Apparently Cindy in college actually applied to be a Magicians Assistant, come on.  Ok that doesn't sound quite as funny as it did when she told the story and used her flourishy hand movements. She was shocked to find the dude (Magician) was a bit odd.  Not to worry she left promptly.  She also took a personality test to see what sort of career she would be best at while she was at college and it came back to say she should be an Acrobat, lol.  Mind you she was in college at the time busting her butt to get a degree and the career center tells her to be an Acrobat, ha ha ha ha... OMG that cracks me up.  She was so peeved she threw the test results away, boooo, I think she should have framed them.  I adore Cindy.  You have to meet her.  She is awesome. 

Meet the Crew - Tracey

Time to meet another crew member.  Yep, she is back...it is Tracey from Rocky.  She is back for more and 1/2 way through a pregnancy.  She plans to run the crew (no running for her) and keep everyone in line.  Yay, Tracey!  Note: Anything in purple is added by me.

Name: Tracey Kite



You are a Running Mom so we already know you ROCK! So tell us what running accomplishment you are most proud of.
I am most proud of the TRI I did. I know it is more than just running, but it was harder than I thought and even though I panicked when I hit the water I kept going and never gave up.




What do you most look forward to in this race?


Helping Tara do better than before. This race will be a challenge for the crew, but I know we will get our jobs done and help Tara finish and with a time she will be proud of. Thanks mama.  I think it is awesome I have no real stated goal for this race but Tracey and Marny know me so well they know that I have to do better than Rocky and I would love to break 24hrs.  You ladies rock. 


When do you think you are going to do an Ultra?
Not sure if I will do an ultra. After I have this baby I want to do a Marathon and some more Tri's. If that all goes well then I will consider a 50. This is what I like to hear, wooot wooot, come on over to the dark side Tracey, ah ah ah (you should hear an evil laugh).




What/When is your next race?
My next race is the birth of this baby. After that I will start running full force again and then plan the 2011 race season :)








Anything else we should know about you? I think the fact Tracey is back for more after Rocky says it all about this mama.  Thank you.

Heartland - Meet the Pacer

Next up on our Meet the Pacer posts is: MARNY AKA MARNYTHON.
Marny has now run two 50 mile races since she was last on the blog.  She paced at Rocky and is back for more.  Note: Anything in purple is something I added.

Name: Marny Scarland


You are a Running Mom so we already know you ROCK! So tell us what running accomplishment you are most proud of.
I am proud of completing my last 50 miler. It was a tough course, and I struggled with some old injuries. I am proud of the mental battle I fought that (eventually, finally) brought me to the finish line.


What do you most look forward to in this race?
I'm really looking forward to helping Tara run under 24 hrs. She might not have stated that as the goal, but I know she wants it, and I know she is VERY capable. Let's make it happen! I think someone knows me too well.


When do you think you are going to do an Ultra (Marny when are you tackling 100)?
Hmm... Maybe 2 years? I've already picked my first 100 (Rocky Raccoon, Thank you Tara for exposing me to that race) but it will be a couple years before I am ready!


What/When is your next race?
I plan to run the Fall Series. 4 local short cross-country races. They are a blast! And she is kind of thinking about Rocky.  Wooot wooot.  Maybe if we are both healthy we could do the 50 miler together.  Now that sounds like an awesome way to spend a weekend.


Anything else we should know about you?
Well Marny may not have much to say about herself but, I can toot her horn.  She is one amazing runner.  She just ran the Run Rabbit Run in Steamboat Springs, CO.  She basically had to run straight up a mountain and of course worse than that, she had to run back down.  All you distance runners know the downhills hurt way worse than the ups.  I can't wait to run with her again.  She was an amazing pacer at Rockey.  Kept playing with run/walk ratios to make me go, kept coming up with new time lines for me to make my goal, kept me focused on the goal not the pain and literally refused to move until I ate something, LOL.  She is one tough cookie and an awesome runner to boot.  I am going to start applying to WS 100 this year and she has already said she will pace when I get in, wooot wooot.  I so look forward to pacing her in her first 100 miler. 

Meet the Crew - Teresa

With the Heartland 100 upon us it is that time again...Time to meet the team, the crew, the pacers, the cheerleaders, the chefs, etc... You name it this team is ready to do it.  I am getting super excited and a tiny bit, ok a ton, nervous.  First up on our meet the pacers posts is,,,duh duh duh...Marny's (from Rocky Crew) little sister. Note: anything in purple is something I added in.

Name: Teresa Scarland


You are a Running Mom so we already know you ROCK! So tell us what running accomplishment you are most proud of.  Teresa would like to point out she is not a Running Mom.  I say she rocks anyway, she must, she is related to Marny and willing to give up a weekend for this nonsense.
I'm not a "running mom", just a girl trying to run away from grad school!



What do you most look forward to in this race? I'm looking forward to seeing a 100-miler in action and being a part of the experience without having to run that far :)



When do you think you are going to do an Ultra? Uh oh, no answer to this one.  Not to worry folks I have 11 miles in the middle of the night to get to the bottom of this and get back to you.  Although, that experience my convince her that 100 miles is truly for the loons.



What/When is you next race? My next race is the KC Waddell & Reed Half Marathon. Next--I hope to run my first marathon soon! Don't know exactly when or where yet however.



Anything else we should know about you? I am left wondering what she is in grad school for... hummmm, well again will find out at midnight on the 9th, lol.  Also I will see if I can get dirt on Marny (who is now being called Marnython by our group for her amazing accomplishments in her last two 50 mile races).  Can't wait to meet you Teresa.  Thanks.

362 and Tour des Fleurs

This is just a post rounding up my training and a recap of this past weekends 20K race. 

Lets start off with the race, shall we?  When I realized Doug and I would be in town again this year for the Tour des Fleurs I did a little happy dance.  We have done this race the past two years and this would make three in a row for us.  It is an awesome race.  It is super well organized and the after party and geedunk are out of this world.  You get an awesome fitting tech tee (there are Men's and Women's cuts and designs) and you get a running hat when you cross the finish line.  Since the party race is to raise money for the Arboretum it has high end food at the after party.  Boy do Doug and I look forward to this race.  There is beer, burritos, gourmet cookies, ice cream sandwich cookies, bagels, pizza, donuts, pasta, etc... you name it it is there.  The band is great too.  This year they even included arts and crafts for the kids to do.  And as if all of that weren't enough you can wander around the Arboretum for free.  It is AWESOME.  Best race I have ever been to hands down.  So any who, we went again this year.  Doug pushed Chloe in the 10K and  I got to run the 20K.  Doug of course did awesome, ran it in 50 minutes, pushing Chloe stopping at every aid station to get her Gatorade.  Don't ask, the dude is fast, trust me I know it is annoying he can run that fast pushing a stroller, I live with him, I get it, annoying, :).  Ok maybe more like admirable, but who is to say, lol.

Lining up for the 20K I stood with Cindy and told her I didn't see how this was possibly going to go well.  I wanted to get a good speed workout but my legs were dead dead dead.  So we started off at a trot and within a few feet my legs remembered it was a race and off they went.  The race felt good.  My 10K time was 50 minutes and my second 10K was 48minutes.  The second half of the course is all hills so I was super happy with that negative split.  I just ran the hills hard knowing that that would benefit my training the most.  I pushed up the hills and tried to let go going down the hills.  I think I could have run quite a bit faster if I had just believed in my legs, I kept thinking I better not go too hard because these sticks are going to bonk.  But ever reliable, my legs just kept on keeping on.  I ended up 4th in my age group by 30s, now that is annoying but, what can you do?  Overall I had a great race and great training run especially considering the miles I had on my legs going into the race.

My training has been nuts.  When I decided to do Heartland I didn't have much time to recoup from Lone Ranger and train for Heartland so I just put together a modified training plan.  This plan had me going 4wks in row on heavy mileage, you all know I never do this.  I am a huge believer in one week off each month to let your legs recover but, I just didn't have time for that.  So the past 4wks have looked something like this: 81 miles, 90 miles (in Albuquerque, hard to get at altitude but some great foothill running), 101 miles (WAHOOOO), and 90 miles (should have hit 100 but my IT band went wonky after the race and had to take Sunday off).  So in the last 4 wks I have put together a solid 362 miles.  I am pretty proud of that.  My legs feel awesome.  My foot is somehow healing during all of this.  I don't have any major injuries and I feel like if I had the time I could actually go well over 100 miles in a week now.  WHAT?? I know.  Two years ago at this point I was working to get 50 miles in a week and now I am using 50 miles as a taper week.  Love how that works out.    I am ready to race again and feeling awesome. 

Speaking of racing it is almost time to meet the crew again.  Wooot Woooot.  It looks like this crew is going to be incredibly diverse.  I have one man in his 70's (my uncle), one pregnant lady (Tracey from Rocky), one insanely peppy lady (Cindy), and two sisters (Marny and Teresa Scarland).  I will begin posting about them in the coming weeks.  I liked the questionnaire from LR so expect something like that this time around too. 

Happy Running Everyone.  Relentless Forward Motion!!!!!!!

Oxygen Anyone?

As you all know from a previous post I have become OBSESSED with podcasts.  I went from the girl who didn't even know how to plug my ipod into the computer to change music, to the girl who updates her ipod weekly. Side note: Think I approach much of life this way, if I find something I like I jump in with both feet.  So back to the podcasts.  My favorites are: Endurance Planet, The Marathon Show, The Stuff you Missed in History Class and The Parent Experiment.  Oh and Car Talk and Wait Wait Don't Tell Me.  Really that is it.  I am going to have to branch out soon because I have now listened to every Endurance Planet I could download, all of the Car Talks available and all but one Marathon Show.  I know, you are thinking, Geeze woman get to the point. So...I was listening to The Parent Experiment and I had an ahhh haaa moment.  Then the next day I was listening to Endurance Planet and had another one.  So what were these moments? You ask.  Well lets see if I can manage to type out in some sort of coherent manner what I thought about while running.

On the Parent Experiment they had a guest on that was talking about how moms need to take some time for themselves or they can't be an effective mom.  The lady said (I am paraphrasing here) "listen on an airplane when they tell you to put your O2 mask on, they don't say put your kids on first, they say put yours on first and then your kids." Why because if you put theirs on first and don't get it done correctly before you pass out you are both goners whereas, if you put yours on first then, you will have the where with all to get their mask on correctly.  So in life if you want to take care of your kid the best you can you need to take care of you too.  Well here was my moment.  Running is my oxygen mask.  Oh I know all of you Running Moms already knew where I was going with this but, I am going to say it anyway.  Running makes me feel strong, alive, confident, it makes me feel like I am TARA.  I am me. When I am the best me I can be I am the best mom I can be too. 

Which brings me to the Endurance Planet.  They were interviewing this overweight fellow who said that he began training because one day he looked in the mirror and said to himself "this is not the life I want to live."  You know what I thought?  This is the life I want to live.  I am the happiest I have been in my entire life.  I don't want to jinx myself here so I am going to stop gushing.  But suffice it to say I am one happy girl and I know I am lucky but I also attribute my happiness to my taking care of myself and being married to someone who takes care of himself. 

I am not sure that running is a cure all for all of the problems of the world.  All I am saying is these shows made me reflect upon what running has given me.  I wish everyone could feel the rush of a good run, the freedom of a great trail run, the sensation after an awesome race.  I think the world would be a much happier place.  Running ROCKS.

That is all.  Happy Running Everyone.

9/11

As I ran today (9/10/2010), I was thinking about 9/11. A dear friend of mine had posted something on FB about it and it made me reflect on another part of my life. So I thought I would detour from usual ramblings about running and talk about that other part for a little bit. You see in May of 1996 I joined the Navy. I went off to Officer Candidate School and was commissioned an officer in the US Navy in August 1996 (finished number 1 in my class, yes I am proud of that, you have no idea how stinkin hard that was). I went onto flight school and became an Naval Flight Officer. On September 11, 2001 I was attached to VS-32, which was attached to Air Wing 1, which was attached to the Roosevelt, which was set to deploy.

On that day, right before the first airplane hit the World Trade Center, I was all geared up and walking to Maintenance Control to look over the jet that I was about to go fly in. As I stood at the counter looking over the maintenance book, one of the Chiefs told me I might want to head back up the Ready Room because something was really wrong. Then he said a plane had just run into the World Trade Center. I took off my gear, went back up to the Ready Room, and watched on TV as another plane hit the World Trade Center. Now in a room full of aviators there was a ton of speculation about possible scenarios but ultimately we all knew NO pilot would fly a plane into a building, even if it was in trouble. He would try and land it safely and if for any reason he had to crash, he would go for somewhere unpopulated--there was no way he would hit a skyscraper. Soon we got word of the other planes crashing. Of course we didn't fly that day because they locked down the base.

We all went home and were told to make sure we were ready to go. Our Squadron was set to deploy only a week or so later, so we were definitely the people who were going to be sent wherever they were sending people (it was still murky at this stage in the game as to what and who had done this). I answered phone calls all night from worried family members but, there wasn’t much I could say except that I was ready to deploy.



A few days later, we left. We high tailed it as fast as an aircraft carrier can to the Indian Ocean. When we got there, we were ready to go. We had spent the first part of our "cruise" getting briefed, going over plans, going over intelligence, etc. But then--it happened. We arrived and were set for our first set of flights. I had never before carried a gun when I flew or gone over survival plans in such detail. I am not going to lie--I was a tiny bit (ok a lot nervous) and my job was only to tank fighter aircraft on their way to do the real work. It was a crazy night followed by many crazy months. There were a few nights that I got back and made sure to send out an email to family making sure they knew I loved them.

It was a long hard deployment and afterwards, I was really wiped out. On my run today, I was thinking how drastically different my life is now from then. I was thinking about how peaceful it is to run—to be alone and free from stress…so opposite from my previous life. And yet--maybe it wasn’t so opposite. When I was in that other life, some of my favorite flights were at night, when no one else was around and it was so dang peaceful out there and you could see all the stars.God, it is gorgeous to be out over the ocean at night looking up at the stars. It is heavenly. Of course landing back at the boat brought that peacefulness to an abrupt end. Lol.

So is my life really so different now? It is. I am a completely different person than I was on 9/11 some of it due to my experiences in the military and some of it is just because you grow as time moves on. I would like to think that I am a much better person. But, who can really judge that? I know that I am a much happier person now. In fact I am not sure I have ever been so happy in my life as I am now. I try and make sure I tell Doug and Chloe that often. My life is good. I am a lucky girl. And sometimes that Navy life seems like it was a lifetime ago when I was a different person. Hummmmmm.



Happy Running All. If you see a Military member today make sure to thank them for all of their hard work and sacrifice.

Thanks to B for helping me write this post. You all know writing in complete thoughts and sentences is not my forte.

Aquaphor

So my Aquaphor Teammates have been busy compiling a list of ways they use Aquaphor.  I thought it was interesting so thought I would post.  If anyone wants a sample let me know and I will send it your way. 

The many uses for Aquaphor:
1. Diaper cream
2. After shave face balm
3. Hot spots from shoes (one lady was able to use it with high heels and dance all night)
4. Lube for Bike chain
5. Fix squeaky pedal on bike
6. Coat for face and knees in cold weather
7. Removal of waterproof mascara
8. Healing wounds
9. Chafing prevention
10. Blister prevention
11. Healing a new tattoo
12. Road Rash healer
13. Anti wrinkle cream for face (eyes and mouth)
14. Lip Balm

ZCoiL

This past week I had the honor of meeting up with the Founder and Owner of ZCoiL shoes.  He knew of me/my running via my Mom.  As all moms do she was most likely bragging about my running and Al thought he might be able to help me run injury free.  So this past week when I was in Albuquerque I went down to meet with him. 

Al was very down to earth and an avid runner, so of course I instantly liked him.  Don't all runners like other runners.  I think that is in some code book for runners. lol.  He started by describing his running career.  He began running later on in life after his wife died.  They had eight kids, yes ladies, I said EIGHT kids.  So like all of us moms, Al, took to running for sanity.  He would run at 5am, then at lunch and then after the kids went to bed.  He would run as much as three times a day.  Of course he ran into some injuries so, while running one day the idea of the coil, sprung (pun intended, patting myself on the back for that one) into his head.  He is a runner so he didn't quit until he found someone to make his shoe. His shoe is currently  used mostly by non-runners but it is Al's dream that runners will use it to run injury free.  After all he is a gentleman in his 70's still running each morning.  He runs in his shoes and believes they are the reason he is able to run at his age and run injury free.

At our meeting he let me try a few of his shoes.  One prototype seemed to really work for me.  He had a shoe with the coil mid foot.  The shoes were heavy at first but dang if my feet didn't feel pretty dang great.  I left there with a pair of shoes to try out.  Al also had an idea of a foam shoe that might work, so hopefully I will get to try that out next.  I ran in the shoes on Sunday and while the left shoe had an issue the right shoe felt awesome (I was running in a prototype shoe).  I can't wait to get another pair and try them out again. 

Happy Running everyone!  I am shooting for 100 this week, Doug will be home a few nights this week so hopefully I can pull a few all nighters and make up for some miles I am missing due to this crazy weather. 

Anna is a Winner

And we have a winner...Anna.  Go Anna! Anna guessed I would run 88 miles last week.  I ran 90 and so Anna came in the closest.  Anna wins some Aquaphor and a certificate made by Chloe and myself.  lol.  Actually, I bet the Aquaphor will come in super handy now that she is pushing up her mileage and adding in cross training.  I will write a blog sometime this week with all of the uses my Aquaphor Teammates have come up with for the product.  There are a plethora and I have to say there are a few I wouldn't have thought of.  So Anna enjoy!

So what do I think of this weeks miles? Well, I was a bit bummed.  I really wanted to hit 100.  I was at 55 after two days but then I decided to travel to Albuquerque.  I had a great time but, had a few really rough runs and one that made my month.  Ehhhh, so what can you do?  The one 15 miler in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains I think made up for any missed miles.  I felt so alive and had a great time.  I will try and hit 100 again this week.

Happy Running Everyone!