Cross-Training…group fun and long runs…..

March 20, 2017vtrunnermom Leave a comment

“With self-discipline, all things are possible.”

~Theodore Roosevelt

After my running setback in January, I learned a lot about my personal training. Don’t over do it! Period. Expand your horizons. It’s easy to get caught up in wanting to run all the time, but learning to balance your training is key. After the big dumping of snow we got on Tuesday from Stella2017, we got out to do some snowshoeing in the deep powder up at Ascutney Trails. Wow! What a workout….what I like about snowshoeing is you get the intense training, without the pounding on your feet and joints. I realized even more how much my body needs to heal and recoup after each run. Below I found a great chart on the calories burned while snowshoeing. I don’t have the running snowshoes, so I fell into the walking in hilly powder category, but without poles. I really enjoyed it, if you have snow near you, it’s a great asset to add to your training program.

Running with friends is WAY more fun…so grab a buddy or four and head out….Saturday, we got the chance to meet up at our house and venture out for a 6+ miler with great friends. I love the chatting, catching up, and hearing about friends upcoming races. So excited for vttrailgirl, who is heading out for her 100 miler at Umstead in a few weeks….pumped to hear all about it. After running we shared a yummy breakfast spread, catching up more with each others lives and reminiscing about funny stories of days gone by. Can’t wait for the next group run, I heard there may be chili!!! 🙂

Brownsville Runners…happy to running again with these great peeps! Missing a few who hope to join in soon….

Today I finally got my longest run in to date since my injury in January…. 17.4 miles!!! Feeling like this whole 100 adventure may be back on track. Before our run we used Fully Charged, a pre exercise Ignitor from Hammer Nutrition. It’s said to help increase energy and endurance, aid in reducing fatigue, promote mental alertness, help alleviate muscle soreness and provide antioxidant support. It had a very mild cherry taste and went down easily. I felt it would be a great chance to try it on my longer run. We followed the directions and drank 8 oz of it before we hit the road…. Hubs and I started out from our house en route for a 8.5 mile loop. It’s great if you have multiple loops from your home, where you can run back to and create a”mock” aid station to start and train your body to eat and rehydrate. We started out in thicker jackets, it was chilly, but the sun was lovely. Any direction we start from our house is always uphill, so up we went, chipping away at the miles. I went through one 17 oz bottle of lemon Tailwind and felt great, no weirdness in my stomach from the Fully Charged, phew! We descended down into our “aid station”…grabbing our prefilled bottles of Tailwind (this time Mandarin Orange) and bonk breaker bars and headed back out…only staying for a few minutes. Our next loop was about 9 miles (we ditched the jackets and ran in long sleeve tech shirts)…more uphill…but we ate our bars as we climbed….leaving an “aid station” is always a little bit of a letdown, but as the bars hit our stomachs, the energy was coming back. I knew I’d burn about 2000 calories, so I was making sure to refuel enough. (hubs had played in a basketball tourney yesterday so he was running on tired legs, he’s such a stud!)

a little smooch mid run…

This is one of the most beautiful roads we run on, with Mt. Ascutney in view…..here we knew we had about 5 miles till home. A little voice in my head said…”you’d still have about 88 miles to go in the 100″…oh boy…..”shhh miss negative nelly”…”ahhh sunshine and kisses..much better” The last miles ticked by, our legs and body finding our groove….coasting into home. I couldn’t be happier about how I felt, my ankle felt and my stomach felt on this run. The next two days will be rest days for me, very important days on the training schedule….remember that.

Overall, great training for the week…a night run, snowshoeing, group run, core and long run…..happy girl….

running down a dream…..

Hubs enjoying the fresh powder…..

heading to mile long field………

I hope your week of training went well. Happy Spring BTW……Anyone out there going to the Runamuck 50K? Hope to see ya there, less than 3 weeks!…..happy training..

See ya on the trails…. xoxoxoxoxo

Krista 🙂

Night running……

March 14, 2017April 12, 2017vtrunnermom 6 Comments

“I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day.”

~Vincent Van Gogh

Night running….. mystery….. the unknown…. darkness….peacefulness….calm. Night running is wondrous. It seems as though the world has stopped for a brief moment in time. No hustle and bustle. All is silent. The houses twinkle in the distance, the sounds of animals waking up, the moon illuminating the way. The hills seem to melt under my feet, my mind unable to see far ahead to the next climb approaching. There’s a sense of lightness, calmness, tranquility, and ease.

This was our first night run of the season, earlier than normal, usually we plan an epic overnight run to prepare the boys of Brownsville for the VT 100. I was so giddy….excited for the longest run in some time for me, and a night one to boot!! A date night with the hubs, if you will.

A dog stick to ward off scary canine at night

Cool heel lights we picked up…they work great!

Have you ever ventured out in the night to run??? I’d love to hear your experiences! We only had two cars pass us (gotta love country living)…probably thought they were in an episode of the twilight zone with our blue and pink lights flashing. Our tailwind turned to slush, but we unscrewed our caps and had lemon slushies along the way…yum! Coming out of a trail around mile 5, we heard a man and his dog in the distance. Naia (as we heard him call her) was very curious as to why crazy, colorful, humans were approaching her. The man yelled, “Are you walking or on horseback!!??”…we said “We’re running! Nice night for it, huh…….um…is your dog friendly???” She was a love bug, wanting to give us kisses. Phew! Hubs was recently bit while running, hence the pic of him with the “dog stick” just in case. We followed the moon, who was playing peak a boo with us between the trees, lighting the way. The stars were abundant last night….a bit of quiet before the storm.

the beautiful moon lighting our way

the nor’easter is in full force as I type..

Things to remember

Always snag a running buddy or let someone at least know where you are going.

Carry a “dog stick” just in case

Bring fuel/food (preferable tailwind for hydration and my go to.. Luna & Clif bars and my most favorite SIMPLE Squares..

Always wear reflective gear and some sort of blinking light, if on the roads

Headlamp

Dress warm if you live in the arctic like me….layers, layers, layers

Bring camera…iPhone

Have fun and Enjoy!!!

A few must haves….

A little video of our fun…..Warning! Might be a little trippy with the flashing lights…hehehehe

See ya on the trails……. xoxoxo

Krista 🙂

Training days and tidbits…….

March 12, 2017March 13, 2017vtrunnermom Leave a comment

“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul”

~John Muir

As I sit and write on this blustery March day…..wait…what!?! MARCH?? Feels more like January around here in Vermont. After a few weeks of pretty mild weather (we hit close to 70 degrees), old man winter is not loosening his grip on us. We are supposed to get dumped with 12-18″ of the white stuff on Tuesday. This kind of weather makes it challenging to get runs in for us Northerners, but as long as you dress for it, you will be just fine. I’m sporting my crane tights in the pic above from InkNburn. They are my most fun tights I run in, you will definitely be seen by motorist or deer, have no fear!! I love how comfy they are and of course the hidden large pocket in the front for carrying my phone, never miss a fun shot on the trails. The weather doesn’t bother me too bad (hmmmmm, as I write tho, I’m dreaming of summer days, please have mercy!), I’m not a treadmill girl, can’t wrap my head around it. I’d much rather feel all the elements thrown at me…of course at the VT 100 in July, I’m sure I’ll be wishing for these -10 windchill days when I’m melting like a snowcone in Phoenix (couldn’t help myself, I love Mrs. Doubtfire) In VT, we definitely get a little bit of everything……..

Four weeks from yesterday will be the Runamuck 50k!!! First race of the season!!!! I can’t wait to finally run with my friends and family, it’s feeling more real as my training runs are going well! Fingers crossed! Pretty please with sugar on top! Excited to meet Kimberly, a fellow blogger whom I met through our love of InkNburn. She has a wonderful blog called Kimberly on the Run. It’ll be fun to meet up in person as we toe the line in South Pomfret, VT. She is lightening fast, so I better talk quick, hehehe. She is a superb runner, mom and friend. I love all the connections I’ve been making through my running. My sister-in-law, Elaine is also running the 50k, this will be her first ultra. She’s been a wonderful crew and pacer for my hubs (her brother) throughout the 6 years he’s done the VT 100. So I’m ecstatic to see her find the love of running and join the ranks of all us crazies…..I hope we can all do a photo-op together!!! Hint hint…..

Friday, hubs and I got in a nice five miler. It was cold, but sunny and we decided to run to in our town forest and trek on some of the fun trails. We seriously have a playground around us. It’s nice to see the ice melting, can’t wait to get back to them on a regular basis. Running on trails is so different from the roads, every turn is a new surprise. As the seasons change you around you, you feel subtle differences in yourself as well. Hubs and I are working to intergrate core routines into our training. I found at Runner’s World, a great list of core exercises. I really want to add strength to my runs, something I can pull from when I’m feeling weaker at the VT100. During our run, we pondered life, did planks and bridges and were just goof balls. If you can’t bring fun into your training runs, then you are missing out. I want my runs to be focused but equally entertaining as well. It’s a great stress reliever out there, use your time on the trails to unwind. As I run, I feel the layers peel off and I begin to feel lighter….

Hubs pondering life……mid run…

Another site I’ve been following is Bigger than the trail. Tommy and his wife, Amber are raising awareness for mental health. One in five Americans suffer from mental illness, yet only one in 50 seek help. They are running the Bryce Canyon 100 miler in Utah and are raising $1 for every vertical foot of gain in the race, 18,000!! They are looking to improve the lives of others struggling with mental illness…wanting to stop the stigma of it and start changing the world together #biggerthanthetrail. Bigger Than The Trail partners with individuals to provide opportunities for education, support, and treatment. I received my pin, that I proudly wear on my running pack, a reminder to keep the conversation going. As a former sufferer of panic attacks (I now have tools to help me), I understand the impact it can have on one’s life. No one should suffer alone. Join the movement. Be the impact.

#biggerthanthetrail

Tidbits………

This is for the ladies….I’ve finally found a way to wear my hair running….drum roll please….the double ponytail!!! I suffer from migraines, so just the slight pull on my head will produce one. This is a way to achieve the ponytail, without the heavy weight on top of your head….phew. Another life hack checked off….

I was sad not to become a Tailwind Trailblazer for 2017, I think they had thousands apply. Kudos to all who made it, and thank you Tailwind for taking the time to reach out to all who applied personally, such a nice touch. I am such an advocate for their product, I won’t run without it in my water bottles. I love the Lemon and Mandarin Orange flavors the best. The VT50 last year was the first time I really ate throughout, and I accredited it to Tailwind. This will be my one and only hydration for all my races. End of story…..If you haven’t tried it yet… do…….you won’t be disappointed!

On a side note, the aroma of maple syrup is abundant in my kitchen right now. Hubs and our boys are boiling again today on our stove…who knew you could boil 2o+ gallons of sap inside the walls of your home?! Of course we haven’t seen our electric bill yet and there is a bunch of condensation pooling up on the ceiling…..but dang, that fresh syrup is yummy!

boiling…p.s. I want that hat!!

Lastly, InkNburn is holding a 30% off sale store wide. The discount will reflect in your cart. Great chance to stock up on some favorites! They are moving locations, making room for new designs….their clothes are happily Made in the USA and the only running clothes I love to wear!! Boom! Don’t forget to mention you heard it from your favorite InkNburn Ambassador, Krista

Our playground…

Keep on training, be goofy and just enjoy your beautiful life…..we only get one ride around this wondrous planet….make it unforgettable!

Thanks for following my running journey….See ya on the trails…….xoxoxox

Krista 🙂

Happiness on the trails with a side order of wind……

March 6, 2017March 6, 2017vtrunnermom 4 Comments

“It’s not where you take the trail….it’s where the trail takes you.”

Yesterday was a beautiful bluebird Vermont day, so bright and clear….but wow was it brrrr cold. The wind was a blowin’. Hubs and I bundled up for one of our favorite run/hikes to the ‘top of the world’ trail in our town. It starts with a nice climb up a rural back road, luckily it was cold, so the mud had frozen. Mud season is coming soon in Vermont and there have been cars known to be swallowed up in those ruts!! After a mile and half in, the trail to the ‘top of the world’ is on your left and you wander through the most beautiful forest. A plethora of young and elder maples around you, lots of them tapped for sugaring, yum!

hubs checking out the taps….

It was a nice mix of running and hiking, I love exploring the woods this time of year, it’s such a different perspective in the winter than the summer. So happy for the seasons Vermont gives us.

CRUNCH

The sound of our shoes atop the snow

how mighty the wind, she’s about to blow

look around you

see the world

open your eyes

your ears

and just BE

let the warmth rush over you

as you run through

Sometimes when I run, different words or poems enter my thoughts..above are some of my thoughts from yesterday.

My hubs touching the sun……I looked back and saw him scale this tree with grace and swiftness….

Our workouts are fun, inspiring, and full of laughter, we like it this way. I know there will be hard training days ahead, but we always act like kids out there. We use the time to play and be goofy…talk about our kiddos and what’s going on in their world and whisper the dreams and adventures we have planned for the second half of our lives. I love having a partner in life that I can share so much with, we are truly best friends. It was a great day, a great run with a great man!

The weekend wasn’t all exploring. We watched a great flick on Netflix called Finding Traction. WOW!!! An epic adventure of Ultra Runner, Nikki Kimball on her quest to be the fastest human on the 273 miles of Vermont’s Long Trail. The Long Trail is a bucket list for my family and I as well, but slightly slower on our feet ;). We’re hoping to finish it in 2 weeks when we tackle it (hopefully in a few years)….check out how long or how little it took Kimball to finish it. A home-grown Vermont girl who is truly inspiring!!!

I’m also fundraising two ways for the Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sport during my VT 100 hundred mile journey. Donate to Vermont Adaptive via my 100 mile journey and with Red Horse and Co. Runner’s High Bracelet sales. Check out Runner’s High Bracelet. 50% of the proceeds will go to Vermont Adaptive. Thank you to all the people who have donated thus far. I really appreciate it and will give my all for you during those 100 miles, and will think of you with each step…… HUGS ❤

I hope your training is going well (Don’t forget to use your Charity miles app when you hit the trails) and don’t forget to be exhilarated out there….

P.S. If you haven’t watched This is us, please run to your T.V. and binge watch it…..it’s the best show EVER! Incredible story about life, struggles, family, the connections around us and hope.

P.S.S.This song makes me happy….and think of family…it’s called ‘Watch me’, by Labi Siffre….maybe someday I’ll be able to strum those chords on my Luna….until then I hear this song as I watch my kids grow before my eyes….

Enjoy & soak up that Sunshine my friends…..see you on the trails… xoxoxo

Krista 🙂

Running ‘on top of the world’ trail

Running…oh, how I’ve missed you……

March 2, 2017March 6, 2017vtrunnermom 4 Comments

"A run begins the moment you forget you are running." 
~Adidas

Think about this quote…Have you ever gone for a run, and truly forgot you were running?? I have, it’s wonderful. I hope you have experienced this too…. it’s an incredible feeling when you forget your worries, let your guard down, halt the nagging voice, let go of the rat race of life and just purely enjoy the sound of your feet along the road, the sun on your face and smell and sounds of the forest around you.

I was out for my first “real” run back since my tendon/ankle injury. It was a haunting, foggy morning in the hills of VT, and I was so thankful to be in the moment. Something I’m personally working on everyday. Staying in the MOMENT. Running has a way of releasing negativity, building confidence and achieving pure bliss if you let the emotion of it take over. Thinking back to my high school cross-country team, I don’t ever think I felt the above quote…maybe I was too young, or too naive to understand the true impact running can have on a person. I loved my team, my coach, but I didn’t LOVE running. It took me years to grasp the lure running can have on a person. It provokes this inner fire in me, a zest for adventure and provides hope. I feel at peace when I run, I feel comfort, but most importantly, I just FEEL.

I’m happy to be running again, but I’m taking it slow. I don’t want to risk re-injury. Just being away from it for six weeks was hard enough. I think when you are detached from something you love, it’s that much sweeter when it returns to you. I feel complete out there, like I’ve found my way home.