Was nervous going into this one. Had a tough race the week before. I did a 25k at Pumpkin Holler. I had done the 100 mile race there last year and came in first female. A lot of people were wondering why I was "only" doing the 25k.  I put a lot of pressure on myself to win this one.  I felt like it was expected and I knew I would be disappointed if I didn't win, even though I told myself I wouldn't.  Well I came in 4th female, not shabby, but not near first. Not to mention I felt tired and…

Things have been kind of quiet on the running front for me for the last two or three weeks since I've been resting to shake off a couple of niggling injuries. Last week I was strong and secure enough to go out again, though, for a good couple of 5-10km trips before a great off-road race yesterday.

I didn't have any real worries going into the race, since what running I had done the week before had felt great. It did make me realise, however, how much my fitness had been…

Decided to spice things up a bit and go for my trail run pre-dawn.  Spent 5 miles in complete darkness on Turkey Mt trails near Tulsa, Ok. Mild-mod technical single track trail just outside of town.  It was strange. No fear of the darkness and critters (normally I have a huge problem with this!), just fear of falling....which i did only once!  My husband was out there too, though after the first quarter mile I didn't seem him for another 2 hours. Only a possum who was as freaked out by me as…

Suffering from a very angry strained soleus calf muscle and achilles tendonitis. Haven't been able to run for 6 weeks, and Physical Therapist said I'll be lucky if I can in 6 more..but not to count on it. This one's a "doosey"...

So I told him..how am I going to run 100 miles if I can't even run 1?  Let's just say...I spent the rest of my session educating him on ultra marathons, my running goals and convincing him I'm not crazy..LOL

Anyways...he jumped on my band wagon and did…

I've been running since I was 12 years old. 20 years later I am STILL running and totally addicted. At 11 years old, I was diagnosed with severe scoliosis and put into a back brace. These days, I have been told that running can make a back problem worse. These are not words you want to hear as a runner when you have become addicted to a sport. So, after a little research and trial and error, I have found a  few ways to keep back pain at bay to continue doing what I…

I did some 200m and 400m sprints this morning, and toward the middle of each one, it felt like my calves were becoming numb.  It is beginning to get cold here, but it is not cold enough to cover up yet.  Is it as simple as just stretching them out more, or warming up for longer?

May 13, 2012 I stood at the base of the mountain, just past the slippery rocky stream bed, about a half mile into what seemed like a vast, foggy rain forest right out of South America....This is in SE Oklahoma mind you...I have a vivid imagination! It WAS raining and it IS a thick forrest. I couldn't see with my glasses on or off.  It was to be my first really long really rugged trail run- 4 hours.  2 hours out and back...by myself.  I was signed up to do Leadville in a few months and had…

Yesterday I ran the Bristol Half Marathon, after a few weeks of niggling, persisting injuries and frustration at being unable to run for any length of time.

Because I'd been having some problems with shin splints, I've spent the last couple of weeks working on my legs in the gym, with the idea of strengthening up the rest of the supporting muscles. I think it paid off - during the couple of runs I managed last week (the first after about two weeks of no running at all), I…