6 weeks and counting……

June 10, 2018vtrunnermom 2 Comments

“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”

~Maya Angelou

I just want to start by thanking all of you who have donated to our Vermont 100 Sponsor Board. We think of you often on our training runs and hope you know that you are on this journey with us. The money raised is going to such a worthy cause. We are so close to our goal of $2500 for Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, we couldn’t have done this without you…many thanks! It’s so exciting to see the board filling up…. its almost go time! Our board will come with us to all the aid stations, reminding us WHO is motivating us on our journey and who WE are ALL helping on our adventure together…..Let’s do this!!!!!!!

It’s been quite awhile since I’ve sat down and typed, it’s always so freeing to let the fingers do the talking. I’ve been really concentrating on my mind and soul these past months. My friend Amanda, owner of Forest Trail Retreats introduced me back to yoga in late April. She is very soothing in the way she teaches and how she guides you through your Yoga, I’m looking forward to continuing classes with her. She will be up at the VT100 conducting yogas classes for you and your family!!! How cool is that?! Emily, my running buddy, also nudged me into coming to some classes with her at Mighty Yoga, where the studio is heated. I loved the connection of my breath to my body, to my mind, and to my soul. Not to mention it’s a kick A$$ workout or if you slow it down, it’s a great practice to do after a long hard run, stretches out those hammies 😉 …..Looking forward to continue my Yoga practices with these ladies. A particular quote I love is “Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” I kind of feel my running is the same way, it’s taught me abundant lessons in life. Running has taught me a ton about myself, we are all evolving and adapting everyday, these two seem to compliment each other greatly. This is now in my list of tools that can help relax me……

Circa 2011….Guy’s first VT100….my oh my have the kids grown! Mile 99!!

Another practice I’ve been doing is meditation. I never thought I’d be the type to try it, but after the Runamuck 50k this past April, I was a MESS. Why? I really have no idea. I train, I’m a competent runner, I eat healthy, I’m not competitive (as my hubs and I call ourselves the “blue-collar runners…we are not fast!”) I have an incredible family life, but I do have a TON of anxiety. Growing up, I just thought, hey..everyone is like this…..and I’m finding out as the stigma goes away, there are a lot of people who battle with anxiety! You’re not alone!! I put a ton of pressure on myself, always have, it’s in my genes, I have a family full of perfectionists and people pleasers. Not a bad thing, but it can cripple you if you let it. The thing with ultra-running and most things in life, is things never go as planned…..you have to learn to adapt to any situation thrown at you. In my running it may be the weather, or certain people who heighten my anxiety, questions, like… do I belong here, did I train enough …at the start of the race, these are all things out of my control, so there is no need to create angst from them. My anxiety rears its ugly head in the first 10 miles of a race, sometimes it’s the first mile, sometimes the eighth. My hands get numb, my palms sweat and become tingly, I’m one big nerve and I now am realizing that these are mini panic attacks (I’ve had huge full-blown ones after my accident, these are smaller, but you feel the nausea, the worry, the bang, bang, of the your chest, like you are losing control over your body) My adrenaline is pumping through my body so fast and in the first few miles, even at a slow pace mind you, my heart rate is hitting 180+…..it’s frustrating, but I’m learning new tricks and I’m beginning to lose the fear of the evil monster. So the second tool in my box of tricks is meditation, I’ve been meditating for the past 3 months, on and off, but mostly on. I feel so much better when I have taken the 10 minutes to shut down from the outside world. The app I use is Headspace It’s a free app that guides you through your mediation (his voice is super soothing and British, a win-win), whether your starting from scratch or if you’ve been practicing forever…. I love it, it reminds me to be in the moment, which I feel most of us in the modern world forget to do as well as work on my breathing……..I can’t say enough about it.

Atop of Ascutney……take it all in..be in the moment, just BE

I’m excited to see what the next four weeks bring in our peak training. This is a race I look forward to every year and this year is the 30th Anniversary!!!!!!!! I’m so excited to be part of the race committee, we have some special things planned for you all. It’s like my friend Astrid and I always say…”It’s Christmas in July!” Can’t wait to meet new friends and see my old best pals at Silver Hill……….See you there!

vttrailgirl and I at the Chesterfield Gorge 100k! What a HOT day…..but we survived!

Happy training, happy mindfulness and happy life……..See you on the trails…..

Krista xoxoxoxo

BE Mindful….

VT100……29 hours, 5 minutes, nine seconds….

July 26, 2017July 26, 2017vtrunnermom Leave a comment

“Keep your dream in front of you. Never let it go regardless of how farfetched it might seem.”

~Hal Higdon

The VT100 and what it means to me….

Family, friendship, heart, horses, team, Vermont Adaptive, never give up, hope, hills, running for those who can’t, willpower, strength, mental toughness, Song, beauty, selflessness, positivity, feet, RunFar, guts, blisters, nausea, tailwind, ginger, memories, happiness, suffering, highs, lows, mantras, finish, happiness

Reflection……. It’s been ten days since I crossed the finish line and I still get choked up about the day. When I reflect back on my VT100 journey……..I will sum it up in two words…..the first…..HARD. This was the most difficult thing (besides being severely kicked by a crazy horse and the three surgeries that followed that accident) I’ve done in my life. As I ran in, I remember yelling out “One and DONE!!!” As the days rolled by, the mind and body forget all that you endured to get to the finish line. I totally equate it to childbirth. The second word to describe my day was, JOY…..my heart was full sharing this experience with the people I love. Learning even more about myself with every mile, inspiring my kiddos to reach for their dreams. It wasn’t just about finishing a 100 miles, it was about feeling whole again after my accident………crazy how time can heal wounds…..

The day for me was made up of many struggles, gratitude, thrills, nausea, highs, lows, family, friends, hills with killer names, volunteers, horses, breathtaking scenery, hope, faith, resilience, owls hooting, darkness (which woke me up after 12am), meandering trails, digging deep, sunsets, sunrises x2, moving one foot in front of the other to finish something I started. I couldn’t have done this adventure without the help of my amazing friends and family (You know who you are…I love you and can’t thank you enough)….They pushed me forward when I thought all was lost, they clapped and gave high fives to raise my spirits, they sent messages with mantras and tidbits to motivate me, they lugged my stuff around from aid station to aid station. All with a huge smile on their faces………It still warms my heart today…

This hug from my son Justin will always have a special place in my heart and mind… It was taken by my pacer Jasmine at mile 99.75. To me, it embodies raw emotion, elation, gratitude, love between a mother and son, hope, determination, and the strength of the human spirit. Justin and his brother, Jase crewed their Dad and I all day and into the evening with their aunties, and they still couldn’t wait to run up the trail to meet me with a quarter of a mile left. The feelings when I saw them came gushing out. They’ve seen me through struggles after my accident two and half years ago. I’ve always been honest with them, and they know that if they set their mind to something, it’s achievable. Thank you Justin and Jase for making your mom so very happy…. i love you xoxoxoxo

Besides the crazy trash in my pack (so many broth cups)…..hehehe…this photo was captured by my best friend Julie at the finish. This is another hug I will cherish for eternity. Separating at mile 40 was extremely hard for us, but I was suffering from nausea for most of the race and was having anxiety about holding him back. He was going after his 500 mile buckle at VT this year, and there was no way I was going to hold him back. We separated with tears in our eyes, with the hope of reuniting at the finish. I am so Damn proud of you Guy for finishing this race 5 times!!!! Such an amazing feat! Guy….. you are my hero, my life, my everything…..I couldn’t ask for a better partner in life and a better dad to our incredible boys. Love you always and forever……xoxoxoxo

Even with nausea I mustered a smile…. because we are so lucky to be able to do something we love….I’m thankful for that…..

Sound of Music….Running with your best friend is the most amazing feeling in the world……….Gosh VT is so beautiful…

Guy and his fearless pacer and sister Elaine at mile 95!! WOW!! They look like they’ve gone a mile!

Hope you enjoy the memories of our 100……I’m blessed to have ridden it on my beloved horses and to have run it on my own two feet…two unbeliveable ways to experience the VT100!!!

All I can say is Dream Big, Dream often, and go find your adventure…….

Happy Trails……..

Krista xoxoxoxoxo

18 days till the big day………VT100 :)

June 27, 2017vtrunnermom 2 Comments

“If you set goals and go after them with all the determination you can muster, your gifts will take you places that will amaze you.”

~Les Brown

It’s hard to believe after 9 months of training for the VT100, the intensity is winding down. I think back to the sub-zero degree days, putting on my thick tights, yak trax and occasional snow goggles to battle old man winter. Now a days, it’s all about tackling the humidity and frequent rainstorms. Everyday I wake up, I drive my family crazy…..”This would be a horrible day for the 100, the air is so thick I can’t breathe, it’s like a thick soup!” OR “This would be the best day, sunshine with cool breeze.” Soon, I’ll be stalking Intellicast, looking to see what Vermont has in store for all of us on July 15th. Whatever Mother Nature is going to throw at us, I feel like I’ll be ready……… I’ve run in almost every condition.

Flashback to a beautiful January run…..

I’ve been reminiscing a bunch on my long runs…..remembering funny moments on certain sections of trail or roads that I’ve run with hubs and friends or solo. Memories that I will surely lean on as I’m running the 100. I have to chuckle at the time we found a cool looking green bench swing on a long run. It was 91 degrees and we were coming down a beautiful grass field and viola…. A swing!! I said to hubs, “Go sit and swing and I’ll snap a cool boomerang video of it” Well, he did and proceeded to fall completely over backwards..I missed pushing record because I was laughing so hard (especially after I knew he was OK)……we curse every time we run by that Damn swing……or the time when I saw the same lawn maintenance truck pass me over and over on my long solo run. Hours later the older gentleman stopped and rolled down his window and said “HOW FAR ARE YOU RUNNING, we’ve seen you all day??” I told him 25 miles with a smile and he joked “That’s pure craziness….” “YUP, pretty much!!” I responded.

There have been dog bites, crazy creepy drivers, downpours, intense heat, snow blizzards, glare ice, gorgeous views, scary partridges jumping out of nowhere, incredible single track trails, finding streams to splash and cool off in, tons of pictures and lots and lots of laughter. So. Many. Memories. Of. The. Journey. We’ve trained hard, but we’ve also had so much fun along the way. I never want running to be “work” for me. I want to play, have fun, work hard, give my all, but never lose the joy of running.

I think I can, I think I can

Going up!!? Intense hill we found running the other day

So this week, we’ve started decreasing the intensity of the workouts. We do have a hill climb tomorrow planned, but the long mileage days are coming to an end. I’ve had so much fun learning from others, following their journeys, and truly finding myself. I’m a changed person for it. It’s been an epic adventure and the best part is, it’s just getting started. Go after your dreams and don’t forget to DREAM BIG!!!

A gift

My friend Andrea @ Ultrasandcupcakes sent me this book. Such a sweet and thoughtful gift, especially because she knows I’m headed into taper time or as some call it “taper tantrum” time. The time when the mind can wander and freak out….Did I prepare enough? Am I capable of running 100 miles? I didn’t train as much as this or that person? The little doubt voice who taps you on the shoulder every now and again to throughly flip you out……..I’m super eager to delve into this book and calm my mind and keep myself in check these last two weeks…..So thank you Andrea!!!! You are the best!!!

I’m excited to see everybody soon at the check in!!!!! Silver hill awaits us all……….can’t wait!!!

Silver hill…… and the fabulous swimming pond at the VT100

See you on the trails 🙂

Thanks for following my running journey…….

Krista xoxoxoxoxo

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 🙂

Fifty Miles….DONE!!!

September 28, 2016vtrunnermom Leave a comment

“Part of a runner’s training consists of pushing back the limits of his mind” ~Kenny Moore

I swore after my first fifty miler in 2011, that I would never do that again. I guess the motto is…never say never. I’ve changed a lot since then, I’ve become mentally stronger (even though I still need a boost here and there with my mantras) after my injury and I’ve changed as a runner, I think most in part because I have more passion for it. I’ve been counting the days until the fifty, so pumped to run the beautiful trails and dirt roads of Brownsville, Hartland, Windsor, & So. Woodstock, VT. This race is so special because it’s held in our backyard and supports The Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sport. (http://www.vermontadaptive.org) They are the largest year-round disabled sports non-profit organization in VT. The Vermont 50 is a wonderful race. I love running with the mountain bikers and the other 600 runners, especially this time of year in VT. The volunteers and race management are top-notch, and the course is incredible. Long stretches of single track and a mix of dirt roads and open trails. (Thank you landowners!!) It’s one of the best in the East. Registration opens in May 2017(https://vermont50home.blogspot.com) You won’t be disappointed!

We awoke early Sunday morning, fed the animals and then came inside to eat and get ready. One word…BRRRRR. It was a crisp 33 degrees, stars were out in full force. A gorgeous morning to start, I kept saying “How can we be this lucky to have the perfect weather for our 50??” The weather forecast was supposed to be 59 sunny, so we put lots of layers on, knowing we’d be peeling them off along the way.

The four amigos at the start…Guy (my hubs) Me, Fred, and Hugh

We got to the race around 6am, and watched the mountain bikers leave in waves. My teeth were chattering, there were people huddled by huge lights, trying to stay warm. Others were covered in blankets, “why didn’t I think of that!?” Good conversations passed the time until our 6:30 am start.

I was surprisingly calm before the race, I was able to eat a big breakfast and I was just relaxed..which is not always the case for me. I think I looked at the day as a fun, enjoyable run in the woods with Guy. Like I always say, he’s my rock, I love running with him. He grounds me, inspires me, gives me confidence, and is just a fun running partner. I know, this is where you can <gag>….our horse farrier calls us the “cupcake couple” I’m actually flattered by this…. We love doing everything together, even running!

We couldn’t wait to meet our family at Skunk Hollow which was 12 miles in….the first stretch of miles was so enjoyable. The early meandering trails are our normal training ones, so those flew by. Loved chatting with numerous runners from all over, DC, Boston, Chicago….each one kept saying, “You are so lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world ” My sister, Karrie and her boyfriend Dan, my parents, our boys and Alba (our chi) were waiting for us at Skunk. What a lift they were….smiling, cheering, encouraging, there’s nothing like seeing your crew. Such a boost to the soul and heart!! Thank you guys!!! I knew we had to leave, time is NOT on your side in this 50. We reluctantly said goodbye, waving “see you at mile 30! Yikes!! That’s so far away” I thought……

We climbed and climbed for miles and miles up to Garvin Hill….What a stunning view. Loads of volunteers lugged aid stations goodies up there for runners and bikers.Yum, everything was so good! Potatoes, chips, and PB&J sandwiches. Holy Shit, I was eating!!! This was a first, I normally shy away from food, knowing I will pay for it later. Tailwind was being consumed about 17 ounces every 1 1/2 hours. So I knew that played a huge part in my eating. Tailwind gives you 100 calories per scoop and electrolytes. Read up on it here. http://www.tailwindnutrition.com/why-tailwind/ It was a life saver for me…like I said, I ate all day, even at the last aid station!!!!

Garvin Hill Mile 18!!

Garvin Hill Clip

Heading down after Garvin, we knew we had 12 miles until we saw our faithful crew again. It would be so great to see them!! We knew time was getting tight, 12 hours seems like a lot, but at times you actually feel like you are going backwards! Strange feeling. We trudged along, through Cady Brook, and M-Ville aid stations. Leaving M-Ville at 26.5 miles, Guy was concerned about time. We left there at 12:25, only 35 minutes before the cut off time….that’s when my mind and stomach felt nervous, “Can we make it?” All the negative thoughts started running through my mind…The mind is a powerful thing….it can give you a boost or it can cut you down. Running is a good example when the mind can trick you…you may hear “You can’t do this, your arches/quads are killing you” or “Why did you sign up for this” “how much further?” I had many thoughts throughout the fifty miles, good and bad. Mantras really helped me a with a few low points in my fifty miler. A mantra is a statement of slogan repeated frequently. Leading up to Greenall’s at mile 30 (where I’d see my family) I repeated it over and over “You are strong, you can do this, Remember what you’ve gone through, You are strong, you can do this, Remember what you’ve gone through” Mantras are incredible. I repeated and repeated it, looking at my mala bracelet, peace and calmness flooded back over me. My stomach felt better, my nerves calmed. Back to business..As we ran down the big hill behind Silver Hill Farm, we saw our two boys running towards us. What a sight for sore eyes…they literally brought tears to my eyes. How sweet they are to come looking for us, running and laughing and so full of life. Love them to pieces, they are what keep me ticking. A moment I won’t forget.

The incredible trails….

Clip a few miles before Fallon’s

We quickly said hi to everyone, filled our water bottles with more Tailwind and grabbed a snack and kept going. My BFF Jules, nudging me out of the aid station, “Get going girl” she said….I needed that, or I would have wanted to stay longer. We knew 30-40 would be a hard single track section, leading to Fallon’s. We met runners in our situation. We knew we would be running against the clock, one gal came up and asked “Do you think we’ll make it?” Guy kept doing the calculations in his head, “We gotta keep moving!!” So onward we went. I loved knowing that at Stones (39.8 miles in) we’d see our friends, Jim, Amanda, Mark (he was going to pace Fred in the home stretch) Again, we quickly said hi, grabbed food and marched on. See the trend, we never stayed long and kept moving the whole day, where does the time go???? We had ten miles and two hours and forty-five minutes… Ok, doable, but not a gimme. Mark kept the mood light, with jokes and encouraging words. We slogged up and down single track trails, with hopes that we could get to Johnson’s with an hour and twenty for the last 4.1. We wanted that cushion, the end was different from what we’ve known in the past, so that had me a bit rattled. We came into the last aid station with one hour and 25 minutes to do the last 4.1…OK, I could finally breathe. I knew we still had to move, power walk up the hills. As we left, the trail leaded us right, away from Mt. Ascutney. Ugh…. Our bodies and mind wanted to veer left, knowing left would lead us to the finish. The expression on people’s faces and the silence in the woods was deafening….the soft sounds of feet hitting the dirt, each one of us putting one foot in front of the other, wanting the same goal….. A FINISH. We must power on, relentless forward motion RFP, RFP..repeating in my head.

When we reached the one mile to go sign, we all tapped it as we went by it. One mile to go, was it really happening? Were we going to finish within the time perimeter? We seem to always make a dramatic ending, my last 50 I had six minutes to spare, six! This time I knew we’d have more, but not by much!! We could hear all our family and friends from about 1/2 mile to go….the tears were flowing, all the work, time, and energy had paid off, we were going to finish…I could taste it now. This time we finished 11:43:57…16 minutes to spare!!! I was now qualified to enter the VT 100!!!! Something I’ve dreamed about for the last few years….

love the high fives

almost there!!

the finish

Thank you to all the volunteers, race managers, land owners, who make this race happen year after year…..it’s a special one for my family!!!!

See you on the trails…… xoxoxoxox

Krista 🙂

VT 100 ….how is this over already!!??

July 21, 2016July 21, 2016vtrunnermom 2 Comments

Guy leaving 59….

Hard to believe the VT 100 has come and gone. All the planning and anticipation is over, only to be replaced with preparation for next year already!! We’ve decided as a group, we NEED team shirts! We were throughly impressed with other crew peeps who had killer matching tops….yes we were a little envious of your bright, wild colors and awesome logos! So that is on the list for next year, as well as naming Christine (my sis in law) “Executive Director of Crewing”, I was going to name her “Head Crew” but Executive Director has a much better ring, don’t ya think?!! Chris and Elaine (my sis in law) and our boys are fabulous crew members; they drive (well not the kids 😉 , haul & lug coolers, gear bags, wipe Guy’s face with cool wash cloths and pretty much keep me calm when I get a little worried about Guy!! No, I never worry!! We had a fabulous time crewing for my hubby Guy on the 100 this year. Crewing with the kids and extended family and friends (especially my BFF Jules and her kiddos) made the time fly by while we waited anxiously for him and his buddy Hugh (Jules hubby). Christine & Elaine would say I’m a nervous Nelly… but I’m proud of myself this year, I was less neurotic …. I’m growing!! lol.

Hugh and Guy eating up the miles…

Guy’s day didn’t go as planned. He began to feel nauseous at mile 49, and we learned a big lesson as crew. We need to look for the warning signs better. Sometimes your runner will get an extra adrenaline high just by seeing familiar faces, but we should have been making sure he was ACTUALLY eating with our own two eyes! I now remember the “oh I dropped my PB&J, oops” He had plenty of time to slow down, sit and refuel his body, even for an hour. Has your runner ever needed the extra time to get his or her stomach back on track? Or other issues that were bothering them? We also learned from Guy that watered down Gatorade was not cutting it this year. Last year was much cooler and it was ok then, this year, being more humid, he needed extra calories and electrolytes. We just ordered tailwind, so we’ll keep you posted on how we like it. Guy ended up making it to Spirit of ’76 (76 miles), despite feeling pretty horrible for the last 20 of it. I couldn’t be more proud of him. He is one tough cookie and is my true hero in life.

This ultra thing is a work in progress and we’re always looking to learn more. Talking with other runners and crew is a great way to gain knowledge on new strategies. We just started reading up on Jason Koop’s book “Training Essentials for Ultrarunning” available at Amazon for $15. Lots of great info, very detailed….we got it a little bit too late, but it’ll help for next year and our upcoming races!!!! It’s a must have for any ultra runner!! Be sure to check it out….

The Epic Crew!!

Even though the day didn’t go as planned for us, we were beyond thrilled about our friend, Hugh who finished!! He battled through a hellacious thunder-storm which dumped buckets on the runners throughout the night. He earned his buckle on a pretty brutal day and we couldn’t have been luckier than to share that with his entire family. Memories I will cherish for a long time to come.

Hugh crossing with his family right there….they crewing all day and night!! Troopers!!

Crew and our runner!! Guy at mile 30

We’re looking ahead to the Jay Peak Trail Festival, Guy and I will be tackling the 25k (it’s a beast) and we’ll cheer the boys on in their Green Circle 5k at Jay Peak. This will be excellent training for the VT 50!! I’m so fired up to be running the whole darn thing this year……keep ya posted on training and tips. If you have any to share, especially about stomach issues, please pass along…always learning. Be kind and keep on inspiring!! xo