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.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Feeling like a runner

That "kick out of the gym" was a God's send to me. Or at least I always try and find a positive in anything that happens. I get to run more! I can add 3 extra mid-distance runs to my every week! And on top of it, I am finding out I can actually resemble a runner - when I go at night, I am already awaken versus 5:30 am and don't need a full 45 minutes (out of my 1hr morning run) to find a pattern to move my feet but only 30, and I still have over an hour to enjoy. I can feel my running stride - that I do have one, and not only those choppy short steps of an ultrarunning shuffle. It feels wonderful and keeps me smile...

Wed track went pretty darn near perfect too. Coach Lisa put me on 2 intervals: 1M and 2M. After that first mile I looked at the watch and said out loud: I suck! My mood plummeted down as I did the recovery lap. May be I got pissed. May be I warmed up in that crisp early morning cold air. May be Mike said something right in response to my complaint. But I went for 2M mad - and I mean M-A-D. After the first lap Mike said I am doing quarter’s pace. After second he warned me to slow down. After third he just shrugged his shoulders. Last 2 laps were bad, as in "I can't go more and want to stop" bad, but I made it through...27 seconds faster than last week's 2M interval. That was a good feeling:)


I got a couple of announcements. NUUN optimal hydration had picked 6 ultrarunners (myself including) to form a new Ultrarunning team. I had been using NUUN since they co-sponsored Montrail team, but it especially hit me on their importance when their main ambassador and a good friend of mine Matt Hart agreed to co-sponsor our PCT Mt. Hood race. People raved about this stuff! We had fewer cramping and dehydration on the course than in years prior! So I was compelled to use it more - so I did, and loved the taste and the outcome of salt balance. Try it, you may not have to pop salt tablets as much (or at all) again!
Since NUUN is not a Team per se but rather a sponsoring company, they allow others to jump in as long as those are not at competition for the product. My dear friend Lisa Bliss set me up with Drymax socks, and after getting something like a gazillion pairs, all of which are absolutely great on feet (about 10 varieties they have? I lost count in the pile...) while running (and sleeping). This weekend the trail version is taking a test on 28M run - but officially, I am co-sponsored by Drymax and thrilled about it! Go check 'em out, if they can solve my blisters, I will kill my 100 milers this year:)

Life's been wonderful to me. Little things (and not very little) fill me with happiness. Stephen had gotten three "A's" in a row in Spanish tests (consider he got "D's" the first 3 months of school) and finally had realized the benefits of studying and the powerful feeling of confidence going to school. In fact, this Friday he was supposed to go to Bend, OR for a boxing match, but it is the last day of semester, and he said he wants to take all his tests so he can get the best final grades! I was so very proud of his decision! We're having fun learning how to speak Spanish and what animals see better at night for Science project. Monika had invited me to join her Pilates classes, and I am sure I'll come out more sore than after the race - I remember it back from NY, it kicks but - and other small muscles! Oleg found an apartment to rent, it is beautiful and a steal for a price, it also has a pool and a sauna in a complex. Stephen booked swimming time, and I "applied" for some steaming as a prep for my summer races - heat training IS important! I found a condo a mere 2 miles away from the house we live in now, and made an offer today - it is very pretty, small, dead end street looking out to the woods, library across the street and a pool on premises. May be I, too, will do some swimming in summer? It was fun to get approved for a loan in all of 10 seconds - pays to be a good girl for 15 years:) My work finally produced a cool result - I was able to clone some H. and M. t-factors (had to cut full words for protection) into a vector, and now we'll be working with those. My boss is happy, so am I too. Talked to Alex on Tuesday - he caught up with all the tests for next level (I think it's "private") and sounds better every time, finally speaking of plans for when he comes back. I booked tickets for Bighorn 100 and getting edgy about ramping up - but first I need to run at least a race to figure out where I am. Old Pueblo 50M will be that race. Unlike Ronda, my training rarely show the shape I am in until I go to the first race, because I "kick into another gear" there. Hagg lake 50k will be my last training run before season begins...and it is only 5 weeks away. My friend David is setting up some business abroad, and sent me a link to pictures from Argentina - what beautiful waterfalls! I want to go travel, I want to visit the world, I want to see things and meet people! Oh, as Matt said on his blog, "i tried to become a normal person and have a normal job. but that didn't work." One day I will ditch it all and go bum around:)


And for the candy of a read - here is an article about Nikki Kimball Lisa Bliss linked in her email to ultra-community. A total inspiration of a person - and an athlete...

21 comments:

Bryon Powell said...

Congrats on making the Nuun team, Olga! I love the Kola flavor.

aka Moogy said...

Yeah, I've been using Nuun for a couple of months now and I really like it. I was thinking of trying Zym to see how it compares.
Thanx for the link to the article. I KNOW what she is going thru and am battling the same things.
Good luck on the 2nd! I'm volunteering at a race that weekend and don't know if there will be cell coverage to hear about the lottery and I'm going to be SO anxious!
Take care...

Anonymous said...

It sounds like your life is coming back into some balance. Your running should follow as the stress is reduced. Great to hear Stephen is doing well. Best hopes for Alex also. Take care and hope to see you soon.

Hugs

Steve

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the new sponsors. Goodluck this year.

Sarah said...

I could take a lesson from you! You certainly know how to get things done fast! I can't believe you already found a condo. Nice!

Now that I'm not drinking sports drink I'll have to try the NUUN again. Glad all the news is "up" this week! : )

Unknown said...

Congrats on the new sponsorship. I could use some new socks so I will look into the drymax as well as the Nuun. Things sound good.

TonyP said...

Congrats on Nuun !!!

Laura H said...

Congrats on the Nuun sponsorship and thanks for the link to the Drymax socks! And thanks also for the link to the great article about Nikki Kimball - she's so awesome - as you are too! :)

Laura H said...

Oh yeah - and congrats on your clones - that's really cool. Thought you would enjoy this
http://bio-rad.cnpg.com/lsca/videos/ScientistsForBetterPCR/

Jon said...

Congrats on getting on the Nuun team! That's terrific! And I remember seeing that email from Lisa Bliss on the ultraLIST regarding Nikki Kimball. Nikki is one hardcore cookie and that article just left me with one word - wow *mouth and eyes wide open*

Donald said...

It's great to hear you sound happy again, Olga. How does someone get in on that Nuun deal? I've tried a couple of samples, but none of the stores out here carry them. I keep hearing great things about them.

Lori B said...

Nice job on all the good things happening to you and congrats on the new digs. I don't know what to say about transcriptional factors, looks like Stephen isn't the only one making "A's". Makes it that much easier to ask for extra time off for races :) I really admire that Nikki Kimball, all around good egg, thanks for the link to the article. Hey, heard back from Tom from Devils Backbone, not sure if it's still on your list. It's one of the prettiest courses and Bozeman has a great running community. Fly into Jackson and drive up with me.

Anonymous said...

Olga, I'm so glad so many things are coming together for you! Woo hoo! Great about nuun! I started using it after I tasted it while volunteering at an aid station at Capitol Peak last spring. Now I use it exclusively. No more acid stomach, no more s-caps (except on the hottest of days). The stuff is great. I even use it for hydration while dancing. There's a picture of me somewhere on the nuun pages drinking it out of a nuun bottle while wearing a full length ball gown. NOT exactly the typical use of nuun, but it hit the spot!

Olga said...

Find picture of Caroline drinking NUUN at the ballroom dancing here: http://www.nuun.com/users/you3/ !!!

King Arthur said...

Life is good for Olga!

Rick Gaston said...

Hey congratulations on the sponsors. Yeah let me know how those Drymax socks workout. So you're liking the evening runs huh, hehe, it's why I go at night. I'm just much more awake and already loose in the evening. Good luck with Bighorn. I really hope the trail conditions are better this time. 2008 is good to you!

Travis said...

congrats on the Nuun team and Drymaz, very cool. Glad to hear you are feeling good and hitting your stride.. literally :)

Carilyn said...

Sounds like things are going well - yeah! The condo sounds great! Keep us posted on the pilates 'cause I'm having a heck of a time with yoga!

Backofpack said...

Hey! Congrats on Nuun sponsership - that is awesome! It's good to hear things are going well for you - hope the condo deal works out.

Anonymous said...

Olga, that's fanTAStic!!! I'm so happy to hear how happy you are :)

Anonymous said...

I don't know how I missed this post. Bloglines must have let me down. Glad things are going well with your guys and that you have a new place. Especially glad that you are coming over to the dark side with night running. You do seem to look for the positive in situations and I admire that.