If you're lucky enough to be in the mountains, you are lucky enough.

When something bad happens, you have three choices: let it define you, let it destroy you, or let it strengthen you.

Sunday, December 31, 2006

Happy New Year!!!

Pictures from Mt. Hood, where Oleg and Stephen spent Friday while I cooked for a housewarming party.





We had 10 people, and it is only a third of who is supposed to eventually show up from Russian community at OHSU - we don't have enough sitting places, plates and other stuff. It was good, although by mid-day I developed a chest congestion that usually predicts bronchitis. I did run in the morning - 7 miles on trails.

Saturday I took off, as I couldn't breathe and quickly put myself on antibiotics. I slept half a day, and due to broken thermometer had no idea what kind of fever am I running.

By 6 pm Oleg's friend from Seattle came for a next day's climb at Mt. Hood - yes, this is how they, crazy mountaineers, celebrate New Year, family not involved:) I had a girlfriend over, who came to hear me out as a pick-her-up from her love-life disaster, as well as to dye my hair. Good all I had to do is to sit on a couch.
Guys went to bed at 10 pm, and woke up at 1:30 am with an arrival of yet another person. They spent another hour been loud in the house (and messing up my sleep) and finally left at 3 am. I managed to fall asleep after that till almost 7:30 am.

In the morning, despite coughing up phlegm from my lungs, I decided to stick with the schedule and go for a longish run. I know, it's a stupid thing to do. Just proves once more and again how inflexible I am. Not to mention I was sick of waiting for Oleg's call and worry, of feeling weak and bored, and of the fact it was the first time since moving here I missed out onPurge and Splurge Forest Park run. SO at 10 am I left the house, with no food since some picking last night (no appetite when sick) and one bottle of water, determined to see how it goes. Legs felt good. Body didn't. However, on sub-conscious level I mapped out my 15-16 miles and just took proposed turns involuntary. By second hour I was running on dizzy spells and near-fainting experiences. It was actually quite interesting and reminded me how I feel in the wee hours, at night, in a 100M race, somewhere between 3 am and 5 am. Like I suddenly loose the connection with real world, then look around - and can't figure out where I am. Even on trails I ran a thousand times. Should have taken a gel or a carb drink. I wasn't thinking. I wasn't thinking I am actually going to gut it out. But I had a mighty great time and was glad I was there instead of getting sicker at home. Coughing crap helped:)

As I approached the house, the phone rang. My Dad - I almost missed a New Year's celebration back home! So I stopped, talked, held imaginary glass of champagne, talked to all, listened to Kuranty (Big Watch on Kremnlin counting 12). The countdown to new 2007 year officially began!

I am closing on this year's runs with 3074 miles. What turned out to be not my biggest year (not surprisingly, how did I do so many with injury and rest I still don't know, probably all the 100+ mpw in the beginning of the year), because in 2005 I ran 3119, while in 2004 just short of 2500. On January 2 will be my bloggoversary. Oleg called just now, he is safe an on his way home. If he will be able to catch a nap, we'll go to friend's house for a Big Bang New Year's party. If not - open a bottle of Soviet Champaign at home and watch our favorite movie (what all ex-Soviet people in every corner of the world do for the last 30 years or so - it's a classic, never get tired of).

Happy New Year to all who stops by, reads on, blinks at, scans, refers, likes or hates, and to the whole Universe. It is a great holiday, one that is not attached to any religion or political affiliation. Just a new fresh page, a start, a number, a hope, a resolution, a dream...a dream that will certainly come true if you really want it.

Happy New Year!

19 comments:

Sarah said...

I think you've found a new training technique for 100's. ; ) It's true...I rarely regret a run once I'm out there, no matter how crummy I feel at the start. Happy New Year Olga! : )

Backofpack said...

Happy New Year Olga! Hope you feel better soon.

Janice said...

Happy New Year! It truly is a great holiday:)

Wes said...

Happy New Year, Olga! I like the thought at the end! Very nice!! Anybody that gets up at 1 AM in the morning is crazy. Never mind climbing mountains!!

Unknown said...

I suspect Oleg and his buddies are not much different than us. Just a different sport

I hope you are feeling better and had a wonderful New Year. It's shaping up to me an interesting 2007.

Bob - BlogMYruns.com said...

HAPPY bloggoversary Tomorrow Olga!!

Ya I agree with Sarah, better to go run then sit home and feel sick, may not be the wisest at times but whatever :-) Great wrap up at the end of this post olga...pretty good ENGLISH words for a Russian Girl :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Happy New Year to all who stops by, reads on, blinks at, scans, refers, likes or hates, and to the whole Universe. It is a great holiday, one that is not attached to any religion or political affiliation. Just a new fresh page, a start, a number, a hope, a resolution, a dream...a dream that will certainly come true if you really want it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy New Year!!!!!!

Bob
PS: now go get some hot chicken soup :)

Love2Run said...

It's hard to believe you're a 1 year blogger already. Keep it up, I love your perspective on life. All the best in 2007 Olga.

Ironayla said...

Happy New Year!

Journey to a Centum said...

Olga,

Happy New Year to you and your family! Sounds like you had a fun New Years celebration planned.

Wow... Huge miles in 2006. Hope you shake off the chest cold and feel better soon! Thanks for the insight on how it feels in the wee hours of the night running a 100 miler.

Cheers!
Eric

Anonymous said...

happy new year sweetie! glad you ran even tho you probably shouldn't have :)

love the pics.

can't wait for april, zane grey will be my birthday present!

judi ~ said...

Happy new year to your family from ours!

Phil said...

Congratulations on a 3000+ mile year Olga. Thats an amazing distance. I know I'm reading the blog of a hard-core runner when I see lines such as, "By second hour I was running on dizzy spells and near-fainting experiences ..."

Hope you are feeling well very soon. Running sick just sucks. 2007 will be an amazing year.

Rick Gaston said...

You crazy, crazy woman. So you were sick and went on a long run without food. Well I'm glad it turned out okay and you didn't lose it somewhere on your run. Coughing up crap is always a plus.

Happy New Year! Congratulations on breaking 3074.

Jamie Anderson said...

Happy New Year and Bloggoversary! I hope you have a great 2007!

Ryan said...

Happy New Year to you and your family!

Great last words for 2006
Congratulations on running over 3,000 miles in one year…I raise my pint to that…CHEERS!

Happy running in 2007

Julie B said...

You nut! A very nice nut! Running when you feel so badly. I hope you rest up well now. Happy New Year, Olga!

seagull junker said...

Happy New Year Ms. Stud! See you at Hagg if not sooner.
tom

Anonymous said...

Hi Olga,

I discovered your blog recently, and enjoy stopping by sometimes. I can also relate to some of your writing as a fellow Muscovite. For example, the phrase "put myself on antibiotics" has a special meaning. I don't think people here typically do that :).

BTW, did you watch "The Irony of Faith" (Ironia sud'bi ili s legkim parom) on New Year's night?? It's the only movie I can think of that everyone from Russia watches every New Year's eve. I watched it last year, but not this one.

Happy New Year! I hope you feel better soon, and good luck with your training this year!

Jean said...

Wow, 3074 miles! Olga, you are my hero! Congratulations on such an outstanding year.

Happy New Year, and a happy belated bloggoversary! I am enjoying reading your blog very much.

Take care, and good luck in 2007!

Jean