Life, interrupted

Everybody knows by now, I have a severe case of OCD. I register for all my races a year ahead of time, and plan my schedule another two in advance. I don't deviate. When I was 10 yo, I knew I'd get married at 20 and have a kid by 21. I needed to have my homework done in school right after I am back home. I count my vacation hours more honestly than any boss and let him know when I am short so I need to overwork. If I said I am hiking this canyon/running this route, it's hard to talk me into a different one, even more spectacular. You know, stuff like that:)

First came a bomb by new Montrail rep at the WS100 housing when he told me we don't have 50 mile MUC (Montrail Ultra Cup) - only a combo of 100M, 100k, 50M, 50k. I registered for a 50M cup and planned all my races around those where I want to perform well. Thus Masochist was cancelled - I ran it before and had no big reason to come back this year unless it's in a cup (no offense to David Horton, he puts a great race, but I like to try new places).

Then IRS scared a bo-jesus of me by auditing me for $27,000 (like I ever made enough to owe so much in taxes??). It took a whole month to settle the mistake.

Then it was a race that didn't go according to plan. Not the time, but just in general...hard to pin-point, just wrong.

Then that hike I had to give up for Oleg's injury (although a new run was absolutely the best I had in a long time!)

Now a new mess challenged my insides. Alex is in boarding school in MT. For trouble teens. It's been 6 months. We get to visit him and go through PC1 seminar (Parent-Child) once we as parents finsih Discovery seminar first. Oleg went for it in San Jose while I was doing WS100 (here again, OCD - they schedule seminars only a few weeks in advance, and obviously I had my eyes set on WS for a year). So I registered for Discovery in Los Angeles for August 4-6, knowing that PC1 is going to be August 11-12, so I am good. Tickets bought, hotel reserved, vacation days asked for. Then this Monday we get a phone call from the school - they moved PC1 a week earlier! What means I can't make it - first of all, I should be in LA, second, I am not eligible without Discovery! And if Oleg goes alone, it's kind of weird, like I don't care what happens to my kid in his program! So today on our regular Wed call we got to talk to ALex, and he was SOOO disappointed we wouldn't come, it was heartbreaking. Shoot, the kid needs us! I frantically get online, find another seminar in Dallas, TX on July 28-30, register, call airline and after loosing some money and overpaying for such a short notice trip ticket get an airfair, email boss with my new vacation plan (and promise to work extra hours for 3 days next week), make this hotel reservation/cancellation switch...whew, done! We are going to see our son in 3 weeks!!!

What also means I am not doing White River 50M. Though considering a reason, I didn't even blink once. Next year. Hopefully, Rob would be able to use my registration there. I did plan to race there, but heck, minor point.

Another one I planned to do is SOB 50k this coming weekend. Actually, the whole deal was to have Oleg run it as a first official ultra. He ran it last year as a bandit (decided it's boring waiting for me, so took off 10 min after the start, passed me by mile 8 and finsihed 30 min ahead - all on no training in traditional terms and no water/gu carrying). That's not to say he doesn't train. He does, and much more seriously than me, at least it seems this way. He also runs 4 times a week on trails for about 2 hrs and at times goes longer - but gets bored (unless I am desperate for a partner, he doesn't run more than 3 hrs). So I bet him to break 5 hrs on that course. And signed myself up as well - in case I am feeling well and would be able to find a sitter for Stephen at the start/finish. Now...Oleg is injured and I am having trouble breathing. Like a dealyed altitude sickness syndrome. I was fine there, especially at the end of the week, and as of Monday having problems with chest tightness and "heart up my throat" thing when I run. Even at the spin class standing climb was not my usual favorite drill. What the hell?? So we'll see how it goes, I plan to run to work tomorrow (12M) and test it on moderate terrain (vs trails I did Mon and Tues).

Speaking of plan changing, since I am not going to VA to run Masochist, I had a thought about Javelina 100 on the same day...talked to Ang and Johnny, they got superexcited, and it looks like this is what I will end up season with. Just need to see if I have enough points to get free tickets. These kids are so great, they bombarded me with course description, promised to have Ash throw a fit at the AS (so I would want to leave sooner and run away faster), make me "moon" volunteers while wearing Russian folk dress, and even sent an RD my way to talk me in! Can you ever say "no" to them?!:)

Oh, and since all my tarining looks like going down due to all the family traveling (there will be no long runs, lots of moving around, and lots of work - and little short runs during weeks), my AC100 will not be my "top hope". What, you know, at this point of my life is also very good! Because I will not be able to not get stressed over it yet - I need time to learn this new thing, and knowing I am not ready will help me relaxed and have fun. I will go into this to test some new things like puking on the run when gut shuts down, carrying extra bottle, sitting down at AS for like 30 min (hmm, not sure about this one, but may be 10 min), and most likely having no pacer for the night (cougars! here I come! I will poop my pants, I am such a wuss for wild animals at night). I also want to get a new green headlamp (people swear it doesn't make you fuzzy) and try to eat real food (more puking to come?). It has high promises for sick adventure!