I'm on a kick of challenging myself to do stuff. I did this 100 days of yoga and words challenge where my goal was to do 100 days of yoga and writing/reading. I kicked ass at the yoga part. I did marginally well at the words. I mostly read and didn't write near enough, but it got done all the same.

Now that I've reminded myself I can do a 100 day challenge, I'm going on a 100 days of study and writing either/or 30 minutes a day challenge. I'm studying to get my Behavior Change Specialist Certification which is kind of like the psychology of personal training. One of the most interesting thing I've studied so far is positive psychology. The lecture I watched this week talked about how psychology used to be more philosophical in which scientists studied the world and people's places in it and these people's happiness. Then, after World War II, so many people around the world were dealing with depression, ptsd, and other mental disorders, psychology shifted to help these people. In the last 10-15 years, some scientist have felt it appropriate to bring money back to the study of happiness--positive psychology. I'm not an expert, this is just how I understand the lecture. I'm sure things go wayyyy more in depth than that.

Anywhosies, the number one thing that was cited as a source of happiness was people's relationships. Which made me think about my number one philosophy--it doesn't matter where you are or what you're doing, it's who you're with that matters. Granted, you obviously need food and shelter and all of those things, however, as I've gotten older, I think that those relationships are not only a measure of happiness, but probably also a measure of overall health and success. Job related happiness was only the 4th highest source of happiness. That's on average, I guess, so I suppose some people may have job happiness as number one. But for those of us who are not career driven, rest assured that job success isn't the end all be all measure of happiness and life success. I'd go as far to argue that happiness is the true measure of success--are you happy in your life? Dang. You're smart. You're doing LIFE right.

At this time when I'm studying about happiness--how to measure it, how to get more of it, how to inspire others to find theirs-- and I'm trying out ways to make myself do more of the things that make me happiest (how is it that yoga and words are the 2 things that make me most happy but are the first to for me to say I don't have time for??) my two best grad school girlfriends have challenged me to a 21 day challenge where we each morning text each other to tell each other our intention for the day. And then check in at night to say how that intention went. I LOVE THIS. I'm a goal oriented person. I need accountability in my goals. I also love lists, planning, improving myself, making myself uncomfortable, positivity, good attitudes (not that I always have one), and checking in. We're 5 days into it. My intentions, thus far, have been: to let things go, write and take a day for myself, find gratitude in little things (isn't it easy to be thankful for big things but forget the small ones?), put my best self forward, and lastly (after the presidential debate last night) to have faith in people but not ignore reality. I'm going to try to keep a list each week of my intentions and see if I can, by the end of the challenge see that I've gotten better at any of these things. Control what I can control and let go of what I cannot, be thankful, be kind, be my best self, and ATTEMPT patience should basically just be my life intentions as I'm not good at letting go and patience and the other three are just plain, in my opinion, things that should be intended every day.

I hope you have lots of people who bring happiness to your life, are thankful for all the little things you are and have, are kind, and love that best version of yourself. I won't tell you to be patient because that's my biggest flaw and you are probably far better at it than me. Happy Tuesday, friends. Hugs.

Ah, it's over. My most favorite weekend of the year. Run Rabbit Run 50 mile weekend. If you've been reading my blog over the last 3 years, you've heard all about my love affair with this race and what it's done for me. If you're new, Run Rabbit Run is an even better day than Thanksgiving. I think that's enough explanation. Unless you are crazy and don't think Thanksgiving is the greatest day of the year. This year was especially cool for me because it was the first year I got to run with a buddy. My BFF, always down for adventure, coolest person I know, running partner Karyn is just crazy/stupid enough to try her hand (legs) at ultra running. Molly and Cade have recruit a handful more crazy/stupid people and this year we had a legit squad. I'll give my race recap again in segments like the race is broken down.


Pre-race
Karyn came with me to Yoga at the Steamboat Yoga Center--the only way I want to spend the morning before running 50 miles. We got to see my yoga friend who convinced me to keep running my first year when I wanted to give up with 6.4 miles to go. I have seen her at yoga every year since and gotten to thank her. We then went to brunch at Creekside and Fish Creek Falls to show Karyn and Nate the glory that is Steamboat. Food, my faves, yoga, mountains. Hot damn. A few, or all of my favorite things.

At Fish Creek we got to see the first of the 100 milers coming through. They were wicked fast. Wowza. Like a million times faster than we planned to run the 50. 

Mt. Werner. It starts.

This year Molly and Cade--my other most best besties that got me into this race 3 years ago--didn't run this year. They talked a ton of people into running then came to spectate. Sneaky. But I was glad to see them. Like so glad, I don't even have words for it. I think I cried when I first saw them. Anywhoosies they introduced Karyn and me to Blake. And we were dang thankful for that. I don't think Karyn and I could ever tire of each other, however, 50 miles is a long day and it was nice to have Blake become part of the squad so that we could talk to someone new. And we probably would've whined more to each other if Blake hadn't been there to be a buffer since Karyn and I are so comfortable with each other. So, start to Mt. Werner. 6.4 miles over 3,000 feet elevation gain. We hiked. It was as rough as always. 

Making our way up Mt. Werner

 

Mt. Werner to Long Lake. The Long Section.

6.8 miles of sneaky downhill. Way fun at the start. We added 3 loud guys to our squad and a few others and formed a train down the mountain. The loud guys were quite entertaining, telling us about the Fireball they had ready at our drop bags and about camping with girls who wear makeup and about ex girlfriends. One of their names is Larry, AKA LarBear, AKA Chicken Dinner. 

Long Lake to Base Camp. Still with the FireBall Guys.

I kept leading our little train. The dudes kept entertaining us. Not really talking to us except for Larry to propose to Karyn, but just talking to each other about getting drunk the night before. Getting drunk camping the night before running 50 miles. Crazy. Oh!! And they agreed with Blake and me that they got out of marathon and triathlons because ultra runners are way more fun. Marathoners and triathletes can be dicks. That's coming from someone who was one of those dicks. 

Base Camp to Dumont. Almost to Family!!!

Base Camp to Dumont is pretty short. When we get to Dumont we get to see fambam. Molly, Cade, Nate, my Ma, and Linda were all waiting for us. Hugs and happiness. We got to Dumont 15 minutes before my goal time. Holy balls, I started thinking. Maybe we could make my goal of 13 hours 30 minutes. I'd kind of scrapped the goal and decided my only wish was for Karyn and Blake to have a good day and finish. But maybe, maybe, I thought, we could do it together. 

Dumont to Rabbit Ears to Dumont. That Mother F-ing Rock.

This section is hard. 2.7 miles up, up, up to touch Rabbit Ears (a rock formation that helped settlers know where to go), then steeeeep back down, 2.7 miles back to Dumont. The up sucks. But then you touch that rock and know you are half way there (I always sing Bon Jovi at this part) and you feel 50% better! Karyn was really hurting here. I tried not to ask her about it. Tried not to draw attention to her hurt and knew that she'd keep going if Blake and I did. It was her Achilles, the same problem I had my first year. I was so happy to get to Rabbit Ears that I kissed it like the Blarney Stone. 

Squad to Rabbit Ears

My Crew

Dumont to Base Camp. No More Loud Guys. Just Us Breathing.

Uneventful section. Which is really good because last year I got lost here. 

Base Camp to Long Lake. Some Drunk Chick Leads Us Astray. 

I love this section. It's way my fave. We go through woods and jump over trees and up and down mountainous terrain and through meadows and over streams, oh my! So beautiful. Did I mention the Aspens are turning early this year? Well, I did 865 times on the drive to Steamboat so if I haven't mentioned it yet here, you should know that instead of just starting to turn yellow, the Aspens are turning early this year and so the forest was a blast of green, brown, grey, yellow, orange, and red. Unreal. So I had to poo and we stopped and then this lady who was drinking bourbon and maple syrup as her running fuel got in front of us so we were like, hey friend! And then she lead us the wrong way. Luckily we didn't go too far. 

Long Lake to Mt. Werner. Where Part of my Soul Died in 2014.

6.8 miles sneaky uphill. I'd warned the girls about this part. It's where I was certain I would die my first Run Rabbit Run. 100% positive I would give up an die. But I didn't and here I was again. Round 3. I hardly spoke at all this section. I was thinking about Karyn and Blake. I was imagining them finishing. I thought about how proud I was of them and how thankful I was for them and was getting emotional. I knew how frustrating that section was so I took over the thinking for our squad and said, we're running here or we're hiking here and that was pretty much it. I told them where you start to think you're close and you aren't. I hope I was an OK leader. 

Mt. Werner to Finish. Winner Winner Chicken Dinner. 

When we got to Mt. Werner I tried to tell Karyn something and started crying because I was already so proud. We hugged and she, Blake and I started our last section. 6.4 miles down the mountain. It hurt. My knees were killing. Blake friend Diana met us and ran down with us. My family, who are almost pros at this by now, missed us. Which was my fault--I didn't text them when we got to Mt. Werner. But they did make it down the mountain in time to meet us at the finish line! We ran down the mountain fast. All the hurt went away about 2 miles in. We were going to finish. And we did it in the DAYLIGHT! That's a big damn deal. No headlamp needed. We crossed the finish line in 13 hours and 32 minutes. Almost 45 minutes faster than I did last year by myself. Almost 2 hours faster than I did 2 years ago. LarBear was supposed to propose to Karyn at the finish line, however, he was probably filling up on FireBall and forgot. I'm glad she settled for me, Blake, Molly, Cade, and FamBam. 

From start to mid race to the day after we kissed Rabbit Ears. I love you all and never could have done this without you. 

In this lil bit crazy, lil bit stupid life of mine, there's no better feeling in the world than when so many people I love show up to watch me do the thing I love. Even though most of them don't get it. Whether you were with me physically or in spirit, thank you. I couldn't have done it without you. And big hugs to YadDog because the second greatest feeling in my world is coming home to DorkFace and having him drool over me.

Oh, and we got these sweet hats at the truck stop on the way home. So now we're all twins.

   This is it. Again. The most wonderful time of the year. We leave for Steamboat Springs, Colorado tomorrow and Run Rabbit Run is in 3 days.  It's the day I've christened even better than Thanksgiving. It's the day that has made running more than exercise, more than therapy, more than a way of life. The event that made running who I am and showed me how strong I am. I've never had a day when I didn't want to run nor have I faced something I didn't think I could take since I finished that first 50 miler.

     I've ran a sh*tton this summer and this year. I haven't written enough, but that's OK. I just finished a 100 days of yoga challenge (I challenged to myself) and am on the start of a 100 days of writing challenge.

     Usually, by this time I've written some kind of goal for my next year of life (I just turned 28 at the end of August). Age 27 started out pretty rough. OK really rough. Call it Saturn's Return  if you want, but I pretty much hit the bottom at the beginning of 27. I think I faked it OK, but for the first time in my life, I felt like I didn't know who I was. I know that sounds cocky or pretentious, to say I've always known who I am, but I think I have. That doesn't mean I haven't acted unlike myself or out of character or lied to myself or pretended or done stupid things. 

     By the start of 2016, four months into 27, I decided I needed to reset. I needed to get back to who I am. What better way to do that than to try some new things and keep my solid, my running, as my foundation. My 2016 goal is to run in 12 new places. I've put in miles all over the country and, even though I'm always leaving, I've steadily come back to myself. 

     On Saturday I get to run my favorite race for the third time, but this will be the first time with my best running buddy. Karyn has been down to go to all of these places I've ran over the last year and put up with all of my talking and my crazy/stupid running distances. I hope that Run Rabbit gives her everything it's given me. I'll add a link to my Facebook and this blog so you can track Karyn and me on Saturday if you are interested in watching our trek up and down and all over the mountains.