To the Peak and Back

This week I tapered off from my higher mileage training, and began to rest my body in preparation for the upcoming Ultramarathon Caballo Blanco.

Here is a mural going up to celebrate the upcoming race.

On Monday, I did a final longer and tougher run with a new good friend and trail blazing mentor, Gary.  Gary is an 11 time Ironman, and Ultramarathon runner, living in Kona and we connected through the trail running group, Big Island Trail Runners.

As a special treat and preview to the tough climbs I'll be doing in the Copper Canyons, Gary took me up to the peak of Hualalai, the volcano towering above my town of Kailua-Kona.

What an amazing journey and wonderful way to wrap up tougher training runs.  We set out under clear skies and brisky winds, that soon turned into 50 mile per hour gusts.  As we climbed the wind on the exposed ridge-line of our 4,000- 8,000 foot climb became so intense, that my small frame was literally stopped dead in my tracks as I pushed forward.

Oddly, when Gary had invited me on the run, he had written that "we would be merging with the air element and floating up to the top of Hualalai."  As much as I visualized harmonizing with the wind, however, every step felt like moving through thick jello (which could potentially knock me over into a gaping crater if I wasn't careful!).

I pushed on, and reminded myself, as I have time and time again that each step is simply a step, each moment is temporary, and that after tempestuous winds, calm must eventually settle.

 Sure enough, we were soon standing at the peak among the howling winds for a brief view, then a needed decent into the calm of the forested side of the mountain.

He and his wife generously fed me a nourishing meal to feed our depleted bodies.  The grounding of the meal brought me slowly back to earth after our adventure.

This is a meal I made for myself this week; lentil stew with seaweed and broccoli sprouts, homemade rye toast with miso paste.  Salty and hearty, and filled with iron and vitamin C; a perfect recovery meal.

Back at home and throughout the week, I am struck by the things that bring us spiritually high and expansive and things that bring us back to the earth, grounded.  For me, food is something that brings my energy inward, calms me and reminds me of the simple rhythms that sustain me.

When I need a pick me up to energize me, a green smoothie and a loaded salad does the trick.  I have my green drinks once a day; made with Spirulina, fresh Hawaiian fruit, coconut water or hemp milk and flax seeds.  Feeding my body this way reminds me of the wholeness and balance of life.

Without goals and peaks and challenges, we stagnate in our routines; like an earthworm who can't find it's way out of the comfort of it's dark home.  Without nourishing grounding and routines, we cannot settle and rest our bodies; like a butterfly that flies so high and brightly but cannot learn to land.

Following the Trail

I can hardly believe it, but the Ultramarathon Caballo Blanco is now officially less than two weeks away.  Equally hard for me to believe is how physically strong and mentally peaceful I feel.

Here I am during a training run last Monday in Volcano National Park.  I had glorious 36 hours up there, starting at 4 a.m. with a hike to the current lava flow with my friend, Kawika, a talented photographer and kindred adventurous spirit.

Skipping over lava rock towards the glowing flow at 4 a.m. was a wondrous experience.  With only our headlamps illuminating our way; I tried to keep up and keep my footing, and stay aware of my surroundings.  Passing by active lava, just yards away, we arrived at a nice viewing area, where I stayed put while the photographer and two friends journeyed on.

Sitting on warm lava rock on a cliff about the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean; I found the kind of inner peace I seldom experience.

I napped a bit and awoke for as the pre-dawn light illuminated the colors of the flow in magical ways.  The sun rose and time inched forward; it was the kind of morning where time had little meaning; there was simply the scene before my eyes, the warm rock below me and my beating heart inside me.

Hiking back with the photographers, I was reminded that in any journey we may choose; any trail we follow, it truly is the landmarks along the way that sometimes hold the most meaning rather than the destination itself.

If I had not decided to run around the Big Island, had I not decided to run the upcoming Ultramarathon, all the training runs, all the adventures in preparation for the run would not have occurred.

I have found that some of the most powerful connections I have made with people are in the context of running, health and endurance sports; people who embrace life, movement and change.

Often these are people who do not accept the status quo; knowing that we can always grow, and that we never know what's around the next corner if we are sitting on the couch at home.

Below is my good friend Roberta and her dog, Koa, who I camped with after running the trails in Volcano after viewing the flow.  We shared dinner and a cozy fire; viewed the glowing caldera and wrapped up the day with good conversation and company.

I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every person who has helped me along the "trail"; along my journey.  Each new connection, perspective, bit of wisdom or courage or enlightenment has brought me to where I am right now.  Where is that?  Happy, healthy and following dreams; about to run a 50 mile race in Mexico.  Not a bad world to live in, I'd say!

Training Wheels

I've been training a lot lately.  I'm logging 50 plus miles per week, meeting with a personal trainer for strength sessions, and balancing this with work and life stresses.

Training comes with some ups and downs, ebbs and flows; just as practicing any skill does.  This time, training for the Ultramarathon Caballo Blanco (formerly the Copper Canyon Ultramarathon), has honestly felt like an emotional roller coaster.  

Some days, I'm on top of the world; I'm running strong, there is love in my heart, I am pain free, eating right and resting well.

yum!  Here is a recovery meal after a hard run.  Big salad and toasted vegan "pizza's" with hummus, tomato and pesto.

Other days, I'm cranky and starving; my legs feel like bricks, my shoulders ache and I can hardly run 3 miles, and in my head, I scream, "why am doing this?"

Most days; I know why.  Because I love to run, to explore and see what's just around the corner.  Because I am following my heart to this run in Mexico.  I feel passionate about the causes I am running for and feel at home in my body.  I have faith in my abilities and my training.

Other days, however, doubt creeps in; fear creeps in, and suddenly everyone and their mom is stronger than me, faster than me, and is soon going to discover that I am an imposter!

One of my favorite quotes, read by Nelson Mandela that I want to offer as a reminder is;
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate   Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us."

Yes!  Training for a goal and working with our strengths and weaknesses gives us a chance to really work with success and failure.  Is it chance or luck that will bring me through my 50 mile race?  I don't think so.  It's dedication, hard work, and my faith in the training and myself.