Running on Love

As I sit on my couch with my feet up, taking a moment to breathe and reflect and try to think of what to write, I find myself staring at my poster of the Ultra Maratón Caballo Blanco.  Or rather the poster seems to be staring at me.

photo courtesy of http://www.visitaurique.com/ultra-maraton/

I suppose I'm missing running...

The trails are calling me... but the couch is so cozy!

Okay, that probably sounds strange coming from someone who runs frequently... nearly daily, and who has run more, certainly farther than most people even consider possible.  

Here I am running in the Burning River 100 miler.  

Yup, I sure am smitten with that running thing.

And yet, I feel a bit of emptiness in my spirit where running usually resides.  I feel a twinge of heartache for running... 

As if running is a lost lover, who's eyes have begun to wander away while I was engrossed this past fall in studies and work and personal melodramas.

An example of what I've been currently engrossed in.  Running more t-tests than time trials.

I feel jilted by running... it's left me for some younger, energetic and longer legged track star.  Okay, enough harping.

I'm trying to remember that I often feel this way after an off-season or injury.  I try to remember that most runners probably feel this way during winter, or off-time.  

GRRRR!  ARGG!

Running frequently packs up for greener pastures while us endorphin junkies are left wondering if we can make friends with reading or napping or watching movies.

Oh cozy chair... Fine, I'll open a book.... or just check Facebook.

The good news is, rest is in fact a powerful thing.  And taking breaks from things we love is okay too.  I always find that taking time to properly rest and heal is not only good for my body, but good from my spirit and mind.  

In down time, I'm often quite creative, reflective, and prolific in planning and learning.

Heck, I learned biological statistics these past four months.  

I'm deep in Masters of Science program, and that cozy little chair has seen a lot of late night study sessions, while I healed from injury.

AND:  Dear running, I'm not letting you go that easy.  Not a chance.  I'm hanging in there.  I'm bringing flowers and candy (vegan of course) and a plan to run:

 not 100, not 1000, but over 2,000 miles this summer on the Appalachian Trail.  

Yes, running, I like you just that much.  

Spring Cleaning

This Spring has arrived with a mixture of bright blooms of good news and joy, along with cloudy patches of disappointment, rejection and storms of stress, deadlines and uncertainty.

Such is Springtime.  

A time of transition and growth; sometimes bleak and gray, sometimes stunningly sunny, and always filled with hope and anticipation of summer abundance.

In staying true to the season, I have been working hard at "planting seeds" for the future.

I'm applying for internships and fellowships for the summer and grants for next year's graduate studies research. (Thus the good news and rejection phase).  I am also in the building phase of my training for my first 100 miler in August.

I'm pretty excited!

The path to preparing my body for August 2nd, along with preparing my mind for my research and degree feels long and sometimes daunting.  And yet, despite frustrations and obstacles, I am determined and persistent.

 I have faith that the hard work I am putting in will reap tremendous rewards.

Sometimes in my commitment to the environment and conservation: 

eating a plant based- low waste diet, 

using less resources, 

studying hard to achieve a dream of a job preserving our plant life

-- sometimes, I feel like I'm taking two steps forward and one step back.

Driving more, junk food indulgences, grant applications rejected, internship opportunities turned down, a poor mark on an exam; the thing to realize is that these are simply hiccups, simply obstacles.  

Lessons never stop; whether we learn from them or not is another thing.

So, I'm tripping, falling over, getting up and moving along.  I've hired a nutritionist to put me back on track with whole food nutrition on a busy schedule; I'm applying to yet MORE internships and grants; I'm dedicating more concentrated time to studying... 

and last but not least I'm running my tail off!

Moving On

Again, it has been what feels like an eternity since I posted.  I have two words for the reason why:

GRADUATE SCHOOL

Here's a green smoothie to keep me going during a study session.

This past fall flew by like a whirlwind, and just like a whirlwind, my head was spinning and focus on running and health took a backseat to classes, papers and deadlines.

Here I am on a rare occasion of getting out on the trails for a run!

The entire fall, I attempted to put my health and mental sanity first by continuing with heavy training and speed work.  This succeeded for the first few weeks or so.

I was fortunate enough to get a coach, Kawika Carlson, to help me stay on track, but the semester simply proved too busy and stressful for me to continue to meet with him.

My running buddy, Robin and I at the start and finish of the XTERRA half; if it weren't for her motivation, I could not have done it!

I did manage to stay on track enough to run a solid 50k to celebrate my 32nd birthday, the tough XTerra trail championship 1/2 marathon, and the Honolulu Marathon in December.

Running up, up and more up at Peacock 50K on the North Shore.  

Celebrating after the Honolulu marathon with athletic mentors Ellis and Jerry

This semester, I've moved apartments to more relaxed and rejuvenating surroundings, cut back on my class load and have hope that I can train effectively once more; reaching running goals along with academic goals.

Halfway through a recent training run along with my pup Reba and good friend.  I've moved about 15 minutes away from this slice of heaven!

I have signed up for my first 100 miler in August, and plan to focus my efforts for the next seven months on training effectively and injury free along with having a successful semester.  I have started training runs, and am also struggling with motivation and a recent tendency to be extremely lazy with school pressures (i.e. hours of the West Wing, chocolate and total zone out)

Is it possible to be both active and in school?  I am hoping that my dedication to health and plant based wellness helps. 

All I want for Christmas is this much broccoli

 I do get the sense that if I could survive my first semester back in grad school, ANYTHING is possible!