16 Great Miles

I ran 16 miles yesterday, and it was the first time in the long time that I really enjoyed a long run.

I didn't just enjoy it, I loved it.

I realized how much I take for granted. My body, the ONLY one I have, can carry me 16 miles. What a gift! How great it is to feel my health, youth, and vitality in motion.

But it wasn't my body, or my speed, or the fact that I felt GREAT from mile one, to mile 16. It was my surroundings.

I got up at 4 am for this run. I started running while it was still dark, before the sun was out. At first, it felt cold and eery. It was in the low 60's when I started, high 60's by sunrise. I realize that's not really "cold" but after a few months of summer in the desert it feels cold.

Let me digress.

I had the desert to myself until after the sun was well up.

Per usual, I was running on the south rim of Canyon de Chelly. I decided this time to run one continuous line, instead of running half the distance and turning around. So, for the first time, I got to see a beautiful 16 mile stretch of the canyon. And I was moving on foot, so I had ample time to take in all the scenery.

If you have a list of things to do before you die, add this to it: a desert sunrise. It was phenomenal. At first, I was kicking myself for not having a camera on me, but quickly realized that no camera could do this sunrise justice. Allow me to attempt to do it justice with words:

As the sun was about half way up, all the red rocks of the desert and canyon seemed to glow this indescribable shade of crimson. The sky was coming to light, the clouds were deep purple, the whispy ones glowing pink, and the edges of all the clouds an overwhelmingly happy sunny orange color. The entire sky had ribbons laced throughout it, the color of salmon flesh.

The Juniper trees laced the air with their scent. Cotton tail bunnies shared the road with me the entire way. Just hopping all over the place. There were hoards of them! They're cute enough to make me feel that childish urge to go get one and hug it. (I refrained).

Wild horses were out by the dozen. Grazing, looking for what little foliage there is to snack on. They seem so much nobler in a wild setting.

I even saw a rattlesnake! At this time of the year, it's not uncommon to encounter them on a fairly regular basis. I respected its space, it respected mine. Some people fear them or think they're horrible. But, I think the desert needs them, for poetic reasons at the very least. I realized on my run that snakes bring a fierce, lithe sensuality to a rough terrain. It fits in perfectly, and makes its surroundings even more beautiful.

I don't think I would have enjoyed this run as much if I had done it at another time of day.

My body carried me through this 16-mile moment; and I'm thankful to my body for that. After enjoying a full morning of nearly drowning in these beautiful surroundings, it made me realize how much of the desert's beauty I've really been taking for granted the entire time I've been living here.

It's not an easy place to live. But it is a wonderful place to enjoy a very early morning run. I can't wait to do it again.

Love,

Natalie

A Great Honor!

I got an e-mail from my dad this morning, letting me know that he has made a donation, sponsoring $10.00 per mile of my marathon in my name, for his favorite charity. It's not the one I've started fund raising for, but had I heard about this one, I would have been really interested immediately.

So, $262.00 will go to the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation upon the completion of my marathon. I am so honored! 

This foundation raises money for the higher education or special medical needs costs of children whose fathers are killed in the line of duty, either as Marines or Law Enforcement officers.

Please check out the website of this wonderful foundation, because I can't convey what a great honor this is on my own!

Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation

--Natalie

Finding a Mantra

Earlier this week, I was reading in Runner's World that many long distance runners develop mantras that they repeat either aloud, or in their heads, that get them through painful or difficult runs.

Today, Madeline, Alicia and I ran 9 miles. Our longest so far!

Over the past couple of runs this week, I had been attempting copy-catting some of the mantras the runners in the magazine said they use. They didn't really give me any extra boost. Some of them were things like "Go, go, go!" Others were more image-centered, some sounded like tough love, and others didn't make any sense to me.

What I realized on my run today, as I was fighting strong head-winds and some cross-winds (and lots of hills!), was that repeating something that was meaningful to me did it. I don't care what my body looks like at the end of this. I don't care what people think of me for doing this, whether they think it's motivated, crazy, or stupid. While I am really proud of going this distance for the first time in my life (26.2), what matters to me is how this is benefitting me in the long run. 

I found myself forming a mantra without thinking about it. For a good 2 miles I kept saying the same thing, out loud, over and over and over again, and it kept giving me an extra shove to run through the pain. Here it is:

"Stronger heart, stronger lungs, stronger legs."

If I keep this habit for years to come, I'm improving my strength, endurance, health, and  lung capacity. I'm not fast, I'm not particularly graceful, but I am healthy enough to do this! I could be doing it for washboard abs, toned calves, or the T-shirt at the end of the race, but the thing that makes me happiest about running and doing it to achieve a goal is how much healthier I'm becoming, and how much healthier I'll continue to be. For me, that's something worth running about.

--Natalie

Crater Lake

Sunday was 8 miles! 

Currently, we're in the middle of a discussion, trying to decide which half-marathon(s) to run as part of our training. Half marathons are great for marathoners to run because it can really help to measure pace, preparedness, and give a good feel for the race day environment and preparation.

Right now, it seems that one of the half marathons in consideration is the Crater Lake Rim Run:

With a view like that, how can you not be tempted to lace up your shoes and join the ranks at the start line? 

There are also 2 half marathons taking place in Portland this summer, as well as another in Gaston. More updates to come as decisions are made. 

--Natalie

Brief Interruption

I recently decided to raise money for an organization called Girls on the Run. You may have noticed the link on the upper right hand side of this blog page. That link takes you to my pledge site.

Right now the closest GotR council to me is in Coconino county. It's not that far, but I'd like to start one in my community in the fall, in addition to fund raising. Here's a video that shows you what Girls on the Run does:

Click Here to Watch the Video

Thanks for taking a look,

Natalie

Time Flies!

Our third long run was scheduled for today.

We've had bad dust/sand storms here in Arizona, so I had to make use of the gym. 5 miles on a treadmill is not fun. Especially since my only scenery was the mirror in front of me, and I don't like looking at myself while I run.

It was one of my worse runs. Last week, 5 miles was enjoyable. This week, painful and slow.

Madeline has said that her run wasn't much fun, either. She didn't have a lot of sugar in her tank, and thinks that was slowing her down.

Madeline is our little cheerleader. Once in a while, she keeps me and Alicia cheerful with a few well-chosen words of encouragement. I'd like to share this week's Madeline-ness:

“Success isn't how far you got, but the distance you traveled from where you started.” (Famous running quote)

Alicia is feeling better! I'm hoping to hear some more updates from her soon. She's discovered that Royal Flush (her black lab) is quite the enthusiastic runner, and is teaching her, run after run, that running can bring a little extra happiness to the day!

Dog Days

Today ended week 1 of training. We've all been pre-training, but Monday was the first day of the 26 week running program we're using.

My dog, Dax, has a big need for exercise. Daily long walks aren't enough. Today I decided to test him on a 3-mile run.

He handled the distance like a champ. He was eager to kill a few ground hogs and show off for a pack of stray dogs, so I had to let him off the leash. Pacing myself for 1/2 a mile with a dog who is a naturally fast runner was exhausting, but I made it, after slowing down for the next 2.5 miles.

I'm not entirely sure I'll keep up the habit of taking him on the weekend runs. I think Alicia lucked out with Royal; Dax prefers to do his own thing. This was a good running lesson for me: 1) set your own pace! don't try to pace yourself with an animal capable of going a suburban speed limit, or anyone who's much faster than me. 2) running in solitude isn't so bad, after all.

--Natalie

For Your Viewing Pleasure

This is a trailer for a documentary that follows a few different marathoners in one marathon. Even though it is a preview for a movie, it's worth watching just to get a feeling for what people experience from this challenge. Each runner is different, and doing it for different reasons. It really seems to capture a lot of emotion.

The Spirit of the Marathon

Official first day of training!

Hello all, Alicia here.  I started my very first day of training today with an easy 30 minute run.  It was a beautiful spring day with blue skies, the smell of fresh cut grass and the sounds of birds singing; a great day to start something new.   I took my two dogs with me, a black lab named Royal Flush and a miniature dachshund named Shiner.  They both did great and had a fun time although I don't think I'll be taking my dachshund once the runs get longer.  Royal on the other hand could probably run the marathon today and still be up for a game of fetch at the end.  

As a non runner (6 miles is the most I've ever run at one time) I am apprehensive at the thought of 26, count em, 26! miles but am trying to stay positive and take things one day at a time.  I'll try to post here as much as possible but when school starts up again (I'm currently on spring break) it will probably be hit or miss.  First "long" run (0.5 miles) tomorrow :)

Trivia about Marathons

Everyone keeps asking me, "How long is a marathon, anyway?" along with many other questions.

• A marathon is 26.2 miles.

• The marathon commemorates the 25 mile run of Phidippides (a professional long-distance runner whose job was to communicate messages over long distances faster than a horse) to Athens, to announce the victory of the Greeks over the Persians in a historic battle.

• Marathon running, as a competition, was introduced in the first modern Olympic games in Athens in 1896, still measuring at 25 miles.

• In the London Olympics of 1908, the course was still 25 miles. Queen Alexandra requested that the course be changed so that she could watch the start from Buckingham Palace, thus extending the distance an extra 1.2 miles, to accomodate the queen. That distance has stuck and marathons are still run at 26.2 miles.

• It's a tradition of marathoners to say, "God save the queen" at the 25 mile mark.

• Only 1/10th of 1% of the population has ever completed a marathon, even with the popularity of marathon running growing by the thousands.