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!  

Running on plants and love

This weekend and past week were a bit of whirlwind of schoolwork, class time and starting a new massage apprenticeship.  Where would I find the time to run and prioritize my health?

Fortunately, I've created some wonderful new routines and am adapting to my new environment.  For instance, I managed to make awesome connections this past month in the running community; finding a running partner, even getting a coach and joining in run clubs.  THANK G-D! 

Running an informal 12 mile race last weekend on the Makiki trails.  

Just getting out there lifts the burdens of school right off my mind.

Because of this community, I am accountable to others, find support in their company and kindness, and can continue to nurture my body and my mind.

Having running partners is the BEST!

You can support each other even when you are tuckered out!

Honestly, school work is exhausting!!  If it was entirely up to me right now, I think I would just crash each day after classes and studying; sit my sore butt down with a bowl of pretzels and a beer and ZONE OUT.  

Not that I haven't done that recently (in fact, I just did last night!!), but I'm prioritizing getting healthy food and a running routine that I desperately need FIRST.  I'm still making time to make delicious plant based food; in fact, I just started kombucha and continue to sprout mung beans.

My point tonight though, is that without the support and love of others this wouldn't be POSSIBLE.  It seems that achieving goals, applying yourself in a balanced way is fueled by much more than healthy food and movement; we must have each other.

Some good training friends and I, after a long ride on the Kona coast last spring.

A Whole New Kind of Marathon

It has been a terribly long time since I posted, and I realized I left a bit of a cliff-hanger as far as my journey on the Appalachian Trail goes.  

Internet connection was difficult on the route, and although I took a plethora of photos, the logistics of posting blog entry's on my iphone proved too tedious for my tired mind. 

However, my trip ended in July, so I have no excuse for taking so long to post.

But here's my excuse anyway:  I started graduate school.  Which is hard.  

Green Smoothies are power foods for studying AND running, turns out!!

In fact, I would say that grad school is arguably the hardest thing I have ever undertaken, and is likely  the most painful as well.  And that is coming from someone who regularly runs/ hikes crazy miles in crazy heat and got so sick after my 50 miler in the Copper Canyons, that I lost 5 lbs. puking my guts out for three days after.  Sorry for the gruesome details... I just thought I'd give perspective.

Here I am on the AT trying to document the crazy humid heat I was experiencing on a climb up 4,000 feet.

Of course, this makes it sound like grad school is some form of torture, and that naturally I don't enjoy it.  That is absolutely not true.  I am studying Conservation Botany, and I LOVE PLANTS.  I love being around them, cooking them, growing them, identifying them.  They are healing, delicious, beautiful and fascinating!

Starting graduate school is painful.  

It has been 8 long years since I did my undergraduate work, so I'm pretty out of practice.  Caring friends remind me that our brains are like any muscle; they need to be exercised in order to stay in shape... needless to say, my brain has been a total couch potato in terms of academia.

I also tend to put a lot of pressure on myself to succeed, especially when I'm going for a goal that I care deeply about.  All I see is the challenge ahead, which is good for focus, but it also means that sometimes I push myself past what is healthy; I get sick or injured, or burn out.  I am so focused on my goals, I put myself in a stress mode as if I'm running a race and forget to rest or take care of myself!!

The brain responds to stress, whether physical or emotional or mental in the same way; your sympathetic nervous system kicks in (a.k.a. fight or flight response), your heartbeat quickens, your digestion slows, and stress hormones deplete your immune function.  A lot of these things are good if you are running a quick race, or under a deadline, or in an accident.  Your reflexes and senses are sharpened, and other bodily functions don't get in the way.

What we need to remember is that stress is okay, it's natural, but in our achievement driven world we are often in fight or flight ALL THE TIME!  We must allow our body to rest and restore, to allow the parasympathetic nervous system to kick in and build our immunity back up, get our digestion flowing again, and our cells to rebuild.  Just writing about rest and relaxation makes me feel calmer.  

Ha ha... Maybe NOT the best way to reduce stress...

As a distance runner, I know this; allowing your body to relax during a long run provides essential on-the-go restorative powers.

Here I am feeling blissed out during a break on the AT.

I want to be instantly good at school, and tackle the challenges, but my brain needs build up strength, just as my legs are building up strength again after being so sick this summer with pneumonia.  So, I'm starting to meditate and prioritize my rest time.  My program is so exciting; I am so challenged and engaged, and already feeling the rewards of time spent in the library or at coffee shops studying.  

And so, as it's time to rest now, I'll leave you with this moment of zen brought to you by the Appalachian Trail.  

Continuing the journey

So I'm off tomorrow morning for the Appalachian Trail where I will be running 400 miles of the trail, from North Carolina to Virginia. This trip is a bit of a scouting mission to see what kind of miles I can run/ hike per day on a technical trail being 100% self supported in terms of gear, food and water.

Coming off the heels of a difficult month, the mountains are calling me for healing and bliss.  Not running due to a bout with pneumonia and rib pain had me couch bound for a solid month.  I found that not running can be much more difficult than running at it's toughest training phase. 

Fortunately, I feel strong and well rested and eager to hit the trail. Based on my still bruised ribs, I'll take it easy the first few days, mostly hiking to build up leg anf lung strength.

Tomorrow will answer all my anticipation and questions, and tonight, I'll rest surrounded by some of the greenest land I've ever seen.

Gathering Gear, Gathering Strength

My excitement is building each day, as I steadily heal from my bout with pneumonia and prepare for my upcoming trip on the Appalachian Trail, where I plan to run about 400 miles from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Blue Ridge Mountains.  I feel somewhat trepidatious departing after such an illness, but I have faith that the time of rest has given me time to make sure I am well prepared for my journey.

My plan is simple:  I will be self-supported, carry all my necessary gear and food, and stop to resupply or stay in hotels about every other day.  I plan to average about 35-40 miles per day, with wiggle room planned in case of weather or a necessary rest day.

Because the terrain can be tough in the Appalachians, and because I want to keep my pack weight down to a minimum, I am being extremely meticulous about what I bring.  I thought it would be fun to share my gear list, to give a better idea of how to "flashpack" through the wilderness, safely, and without breaking the bank! (I've included what I paid for each piece of gear)

First, food:  I plan to bring 2 lbs of nuts and dried fruit per day; resupplying along the way.  I will never be carrying more than 2 days worth of food, as resupply stops are frequent.  I won't be cooking, so no cookware, dried meals, or stove will be needed.  I know I'll crave fresh food and high calorie stuff when I arrive in towns, and hope to stay as plant based as possible... but seeing as it's the south, and I'll be ravenous, I will likely give myself some wiggle room.  

So, here is my GEAR LIST:

Sleep system:

Backpack:  Gregory Jade 28 Pack 2 lb 8 oz- $149.00

Bivy Sack:  MSR E-Bivy- 9 oz - $55.00 (closeout sale)

Sleeping Bag:  World Famous Sports GLITE 40 degree bag 1 lb 6 oz- $20.00

Sleeping Pad:  Thermarest Prolite Sm- 11 oz- $60.00

Clothing:

Jacket:  Mountain Hardware Youth Jacket (not sure of model)- 12 oz

Black Thermal Tights- 2 oz

Lightweight Thermal- 2 oz

Lightweight Poncho- 4 oz
hat, thin gloves, extra socks- 4 oz
the rest I'll be wearing

Other Gear:
Energizer headlamp and extra batteries
iphone and charger
water bladder and extra water bottles
iodine tablets
maps
zip-lock bags
toothbrush and toothpast
total- 10 oz (this is an estimate)

Total, that will mean carrying 7 lb 4 oz total without water or food.  With food and water, I'm hoping my pack will never be beyond 15 lbs. at the maximum.

An old picture of backpacking on the Lost Coast in California.

With many of the logistics taken care of, I can now simply daydream about the trip and rest up with Netflix and a good book, letting my body prepare for the challenge ahead.

Down for the Count, but Coming Back Stronger

So, I've been totally out of the game with pneumonia for the past few weeks, and am finally starting awaken to the world around me.  

I have been hesitating on posting, as I felt somewhat at odds with how to reconcile being so sick with my dedication to health and wellness; like... I must have done something wrong!!  Gasp!

And partly, I did dig myself into this particular grave.  I got a terrible chest flu/ cold after starting work at the dinner, (my theory is chemical exposure, but don't pass that on to management!) and tried to push my way through being sick, trying to heal through soup and pure will power, instead getting necessary rest and recovery time.

I pretended I wasn't sick; continued to work and train, and even decided to go ahead and try to compete in the Ironman 70.3 Hawaii in the beginning of June.  Maybe not such a great idea.

I DNF (did not finish) for the first time in a race, as I didn't make the swim cut-off time- I simply had no energy, and I couldn't breathe right, as I got easily out of breath or started coughing mid-swim.

I wept as I got out of the water, knowing that I hadn't made the time with my poor swim performance, and my dreams of completing the my first half Ironman faded into the day.  On the bright side, I enjoyed cheering
on my fellow athletes; taking in the fantastic accomplishments of my friends.

Two days later, after going to work again the next day, I was in bed with a high fever, went to the doctor and found out I had pneumonia.  Lesson learned:  Sometimes pushing through has serious consequences.

Reba shared in the "sad on the couch" experience.

In the past three weeks, I have been sicker than I have ever been before, coughing so much it's led to nausea and even bruised ribs. To cope, my time has been spent watching movies, napping, and living on a diet of soup, stir fry's, vegan ice cream (gotta have comfort!), and lots of tea and juice.  Not exactly the pretty picture of health and outdoor fitness that I typically enjoy.

Weeks later though, and I'm healing, and day by day feeling more like myself.  I'm still resting up for the most part, but also getting out and taking long walks, easy bike rides around town, and even going for a short jog this morning.

I'm also taking the time to make last minute preparations for my running trip on the Appalachian Trail.  Knowing that I have a 400 mile journey in the wilderness of the mountains has been a gift; I've kept my mental balance without running physically, just knowing I have this experience coming up.

Overall, getting pneumonia and the trip coming up is a great reminder that everything is temporary.  We may be injured, sick, or hindered by circumstances, but there is always tomorrow.  Taking the time to fully recover, I'm finding peace in knowing I'm doing the right thing for my body.  Every being from plants to animals to us humans goes through periods of dormancy or illness, and with the right conditions, we all bloom again, gaining strength from rest.