Thursday, March 28, 2013

And so begins the training...



What's a trail girl to do when she approaches such a creek? She crosses it! No holding back. 
Not an obstacle but rather, an interest of agility in nature. 

3/28 – I feel like today was my ‘official’ first day back on the trails for a couple of reasons: 1-it’s the first spring run, and 2- it’s the first trail run since committing to the Playin’ Possum 50k in May. Yeah, I hit the trails a few times this winter but this time I'm running with intention and goals. My pace was a decent jaunt-pace of about a 14 min mile (turtle). I don’t consider that a fast pace by any means but the pace is the same I was running last season. I try not to fixate on my pace too much because with my asthma the pace is sometimes just out of my control due to limited lung capacity, and all. However, I do want to see an improvement in my pace this year. It's weird how a few years ago I was knocking out a 10-11 minute pace, and last year my pace slowed to 14-15 minute pace. I killed some hills, and for the first time in a long-ass time I didn’t dread hills. I told myself to “just run up the hill –get over it” a couple of times today, and didn’t let the hills get the best of me. I actually reached my Vo2 max on one of the big hills today. It was an awesome feeling.  A nice runner’s high hit me at mile four, and that in of itself is pretty kick ass rockstar feelin’. The weather today was decent in the 40’s and sunny. One thing I especially appreciated today as I took a moment to ‘feel it’ was the warmth of the sun. Ahhh, it felt awesome. 

 A couple of realizations from today’s trail run; 

1- I need new shoes (which I already knew but today’s run reminded me w/the pain in my feet). Just a reminder point.
2- I need yoga (again, I already knew that but my hips were like “Whaat?!”). Again, a reminder point.
3- I sometimes questioned running a 50k but then realized that the scenery will be more challenging and less boring than today's trail, and backing out is 'not my style' as it represents defeat.
4-  I captured the vision for some more business ideas to start an apparel company (something I’ve tossed around in the past but never really considered seriously, but a clearer vision will make it a reality).  
5- I reaffirmed what I already know in that I am and will always be an entrepreneur! 

That’s the whole ‘trail running girl’s perspective’ that happens when I run trails. Ideas come to light, realizations of what’s really important, what else I want to do in my life, and just letting go of any negativity while appreciating life to live it to the fullest.  


Happy trails,
~Cat~ 

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Where the hell you (I) been?!


Wow! It’s been a long ass time since I’ve posted on my blog. I know I’m a total lame ass but being lame sometimes happens. Don’t snub your nose at me too hard. Well, a lot of shit has been going on in my life since my last post. Some of which is important, some not so much. Here are a few highlights: 

·         I realized that Adidas trail running shoes from 2011/2012 aren’t meant for more than 200 miles. Pfft.
·         I landed a new career, and more importantly I.LOVE.IT!
·         I got into this ‘bucket list’ mode and feel like 2013 is ‘my year’ to accomplish a lot of stuff (including deer and turkey hunting).
·         I signed up for my first ultra marathon (bucket list). Well, actually greater than my bucket list. My original bucket list running item for this year was to run 20k’s in my training and compete in at least one. Well, given my ‘over achiever’ self, I signed up for a 50k. Happy trails! I’m pumped!
·         I realized that no matter how hard I try treadmill running just doesn’t compare to trail running and my knee and hip manage to get pretty pissed off at about 5k. #wintersucks

  • I attended my first rave. Although, drug free. Which is how I roll anyway.  



7               ·         I definitely appreciate a good bourbon more than (what I call) ‘budget’ bourbon. Same              goes for scotch.
·         Fatigue sometimes hits me like a Mack truck, and I can only trace it to hormones.
·         The clouds have cleared a little more as to what I do and don’t want for my future.
·         My hair is red again.
·         My A.D.D. still kicks in every once in a while.
·         I can eat bacon again. Well, at least uncured bacon.  
·         Organic coconut sugar rocks!
·         Life is still good. 

There's plenty more but "ain't nobody got time" to write all night about that! Needless to say, I’m pumped about the direction my life is going and could consider myself in a recovery of sorts after the past few years of ‘what the hell do I REALLY want to do with myself?’ phase. I’ll continue to post as I know I will have lots of trail time to collect my thoughts and share my perspectives in the coming months!

I post lots of trail porn on Instragram @fitcat296 

Happy trails,
~Cat~