Javelina Jundred - My first 100K

Wow.

That is about where my thought process is regarding this event. I don't know if it is just hard for me to wrap my brain around the fact that I ran my first 100K (62 miles) or that I have experienced an amazing year so far.

Dick Collins Firetrails - My first 50 miler

So, all week I had this excited nervous energy pulsing through my bloodstream until….Friday afternoon when my calf decided to act up. Yeah, I have had some issues with it off and on the past several months but usually after running some big hills. Not, the day before my biggest race to date. Ugh! Well, knowing this calf issue isn’t one I can run through the stress started to kick in. What am I going to do if it is like this during the race? That is a long way to go and money to spend for possibly having to stop because of my lil ol’calf. All these thoughts and more floated around in my head like the chaotic bubbles in whitewater. What’s a girl to do? Bring on the arnica oil for massive amounts of massaging, the stick for rolling, compression socks to sleep in. Yep, whatever I could do I did because darn it, I was not going to miss my opportunity for this first. No way.

Woke up race morning feeling good and did an assessment of how my body (calf) was doing: a little tight but manageable. Because I wanted this race so bad I decided my goal for the day was to live in a bit of denial...if I didn’t think about my calf, maybe my calf issue would go away. Mind over matter right?

Being part of the speedy turtle club, I was set up to go with the early start. With my headlamp on and a quick good luck and good bye to Beiyi I was off. The sky was dark, the forest quiet, and it was so peaceful. I realized again at that moment why I love running especially trail running. I feel at home out there. My mind can wander, my body can reach for dreams, and my soul can breathe. In my non-running life I am busy raising a family, being a good wife/mother/daughter, volunteering, taking care of our home, etc. But running on the trails is for me. It is time I can live in the moment, not be in a hurry, look around and breathe deeply. I think this is why I am not currently obsessed with my time or solely focused on getting faster. With more running and getting stronger my speed will come but right now, in this time of firsts, I want to savor the sound of my footsteps on the fallen leaves, the scent of pine that gently kisses the air I breathe, the streams of sunshine that sneak past the branches of the redwood trees. With welcome abandon, I felt and lived that appreciation and serenity the whole day.

Highlights of my run:
Having perm-a-grin all day long and seeing other runners responding to it. I think some aren’t used to seeing someone so happy at the back of the pack. Struggling a bit with my calf on the uphills at the beginning but then after about mile 16/18 it seemed to subside. Yay! Rocking out to Pat Benatar’s Heartbreaker (think Eddie Murphy singing Roxanne in that one movie) as I was running down the 3.5 mile descent before the 26 mile turn around. Was glad I could bring some entertainment to some of those runners trudging up the hill in the opposite direction. Apparently they found my singing and air drumming while running quite entertaining. =) Staying ahead of grumpy girl the whole race. Maybe not a very politically correct motivator but a motivator nonetheless; positive energy was going to win out over negative energy on this day. Watching the sunset as I was running around Lake Chabot and heading for the finish line. Coming within sight of the finish line and running onto the grass knowing I made it. Feeling good the whole day except for my calf at the beginning and being a little tired at the end. Feeling a deep sense of appreciation and thankfulness of this gift of a day embrace me as the reality of a goal accomplished and the finish of my first 50 miles sank in. Wow.

Not only did I survive my first 50 miler but I had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Based on my history with triathlon, somehow I don’t think I should be so surprised. I found out a long time ago that my favorite events tend to be the long stuff....I feel at home out there.

Living a dream....with 37,000 other crazy runners

Wow....3 weeks until my 40th birthday and one day less for an amazing birthday present. Myself along with 37,000 other runners will be lining up at the startline of the 2009 Paris Marathon and running the streets of Paris.

Now, I have run some big marathons - LA, RockNRoll SD, Honolulu.....but, the most runners at these events averaged somewhere around 20,000. It was crowded, busy, never a dull moment to be had, and it was fun. But, I have never run with 37,000 other people. That is almost double what these other marathons have been...crazy. And, how's this for added perspective - there are more people signed up to run the Paris marathon than live in my city of Dana Point, which has a approximate population of 36,000. So it would be like my whole city; kids, babies, grandparents and all, plus another 1000, running the streets of Paris. I wonder how long it will take me to go from my starting corral to cross the startline after the gun goes off....I'm thinking at least 15 minutes.

I am so excited and looking forward to this birthday present. I can't wait to run down the Champs Elysee, along the Seine, past Notre Dame and the Louvre, and within view of the Tour de Eiffel. I just hope I don't trip and fall over anyone because as you can see by the pictures above, it can get a bit crowded. =)

Here's to happy runnning and the delicious crepes and tasty red wine that will follow....
Cheers!

A little reminder to myself....

"Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so love the people who treat you right, forget about the ones who don't, and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it." - Author unknown

I enjoy wonderful quotes and feel this one represents a large part of my perspective on life. I wish I could remember it as a response to the amazement and bewilderment people show me when they hear about the varied things I do in my life and the various adventures I have experienced. I am not special or amazing. I am just a person that wants to make the most of my days, live my life to the fullest, experience all this amazing world has to offer with my family, and continue to use my experiences as stepping stones for my personal growth in becoming the best wife, mom, daughter, friend, and human being I can be.

Cheers...

Tattoos and healing

I love tattoos and appreciate their artform and the canvas on which they are placed. I find it fascinating that people, including myself, sometimes wear chapters of their life in artwork on their bodies. Regardless of the pictures, I enjoy seeing how ink and a great tattoo artist can create such amazing work and to hear the stories behind the art. I also find it can be a bit healing when representing something so special.

I am so excited but also a bit emotional...My most recent tattoo is very personal to me and I have wanted it for awhile. It is a memorial piece, honoring a very difficult time in my life and after several years of waiting, it is finally being done. This is in memory of the baby I miscarried, my Grandma who died the day after I miscarried, and my trip to Malawi and Zambia that helped a part of me heal.

The first stage started a few weeks ago and was the scroll work on the outside of my arm. I went to Greg Pugh at White Lotus Tattoo in Laguna Hills and he is amazing. It was so fun to have Greg freehand it on my arm before and while he was tattooing. I usually have a vision of what I want and I love when the tattoo artist flows with it and freely creates what they see as well. I couldn't be more happy with it. For me this scroll work represents the journey I have been on; the changing directions or lack thereof at times, the flow and the twists and turns, the evolving and everchanging emotions, the beauty and the pain.

The second piece was finished Tuesday night and it was the rainbow plumerias and the dancing woman. Plumerias are my favorite flowers and remind me of trips I took with my Grandma to Hawaii as well as how when leaving, we throw our leis into the ocean in hopes of our return. Just as I look forward to seeing my Grandma and Grandpa again someday. The dancing woman comes from some beautiful artwork I purchased in Zambia. She represents the amazing and beautiful women I met in Malawi and Zambia who displayed so much grace, dignity, and strength, and who inspired me during my struggle then, and continue to inspire me today.

My tattoo is not finished, there are a few more things to be added and I can't wait. But, as much as I am in a hurry to have it done, I also find myself taking my time, savoring it, and allowing it to flow and reveal itself to me as I go along. It is almost as if each step and each piece is more personal, specific, emotional, and.....well, healing for me, and I am finding I am now ready for that.

With love and ink.....

My intro into trail racing...

All this fun started in January with the first of four trail races put on by Big Baz and his Winter Trail Run Series. That first race was a 12K loop starting and finishing in Blue Jay Campground up Ortega Hwy. I hate to say it but it was love at first step. The scenery was spectacular, the challenge worth it, the people friendly and funny, and running on that single track, under tree limbs and over rocks, I knew.....this sport fit me to a T. So back I went every two weeks for the next race in the series. I ran in the rain, I ran through mud, and today like that first race, was perfect.

Today was my first 21K trail race and it was tough. It took me 2:47 min to go 12 miles but I wouldn't of traded it for a road race for anything. It started off with a tough 3 mile climb with scenic views of the Lake Elsinore valley followed by a great 2 miles or so down hill (along the side of a cliff mind you) with patches of snow and amazing views of parts of the OC. Yep, that's right, snow. After crossing a beautiful creek there was a quick change of direction and the toughest climb up Horsethief showed itself. Felt like forever as I slogged my way up but I think it was about 2 miles. Upon reaching the top I found a couple of new friends crewing a great aid station (see picture above). There is nothing like a well stocked aid station and super duper crew at the top of a gnarly climb to make the climb worth it! I took a moment to catch my breath, take in the scenery, grab a snack, and off I went....to the rollies (with more patches of snow) followed by another great downhill and into the finish. Even got to see Leonard and Jenna working at the finishline and cheering me in.

Now, just so you know, I took my new, handy BEAN camera along so I could take some pics...unfortunately it didn't work so I carried it around for nothing. Bummer as I would of loved some pictures with the snow to show the kiddos.

I am kind of bummed this race series is over but I look forward to my many other upcoming events.

Happy feet.....

Ironman AZ ....My 5th IM...Crazy!

Race Day - November 23, 2008.

It was an interesting experience and race for me for several reasons. My emotional pendulum seemed to swing from stressed to humbled and back again in the days leading up to standing at this startline. I was stressed because I knew my swim and bike training was lacking. I was also experiencing the joy of lethargy, bloating, and cramps of my period (sorry fellas), and for the past two days I had acquired a swollen and painful lump on my head behind my ear which was giving me headaches. I woke up on race day feeling awful and thinking...of all races to DNF this was probably going to be it for me. Thankfully, I had been feeling extremely humbled as much as I was feeling stressed and decided to focus on that emotion to take my mind off the stress. Why humbled? This was my 5th Ironman. I had always dreamed of experiencing and doing an Ironman and here I was going for my 5th finishline. Over time I have learned that endurance events like Ironman feed my soul...that my spirit needs and wants to be challenged, to push myself, to discover who I truly am and what I am made of, to grow, to dream, to overcome, and to experience. So, here I was, standing at the startline for the 5th time, with my husband and children supporting me, again...with my dad encouraging me and cheering for me, again. How did I get so lucky...so blessed....to get to live a dream of mine all over again. Wow.

So, what started off as a not-feeling-very-good-don't-think-I-am-going-to-do-well kind of day turned into a couldn't-have-been-better-the-weather-was-perfect-and-I-set-a-PR kind of day with lots of special moments in between. As always, I enjoyed and drew strength from my dad's walk with me to transition. Got a nice surprise by seeing my friends Jenn, Vivian, and Dave prior to the race which helped lift my spirits. Got the wetsuit on, hugged and kissed the family then off to the chilly water I went. Water temp was about 63-4 which wasn't too bad but the visibility in the water was nil. I think I laughed the first 1000 yards because I couldn't see anything while my head was in the water...kept hitting the people around me as I was getting hit by them. Good times! The water was calm so that was great and I came out of the water in 1:21 which was amazing considering my training or lack thereof. Got changed and headed out on the bike. Was a great course and the winds were friendly so it was perfect. Enjoyed seeing Jenn out there as my own personal cheerleader on occasion and got to poke fun at Dave eating that giant sandwich as I rode by (it looked way better than the GU and bars I was snacking on!). The course is three loops so I got to see my family alot and that was fantastic! Came in off the bike, changed shoes and headed off on the run. It was a great day, the weather was perfect, and the course was really well supported. I had a bit of stomach issues for the first couple of miles but thankfully they worked themselves out by mile 7. Enjoyed running past Dad, Leonard and the kiddos, getting the updates and messages from friends and family. Kept checking with Jenn to see how our friend Gina was doing and around mile 17 she caught up to me. It was so great to see her out there and doing so well (she had a tough time in April). I also couldn't believe that I was going to set a PR...I took alot of time off of my bike time and so I was doing great. Ended up walking and jogging on occasion the last 8-9 miles with Gina while we enjoyed wonderful conversations, dreams of chocolate mint chip milkshakes (one of the few things that sounds good 13-14 hours into physical exertion), and laughter along the way. That was definitely a race day special moment for me.

Well, made it to mile 24...only 2 miles to go. I couldn't believe it. I was going to be a 5th time Ironman Triathlete...amazing. Got to mile 25 and thanked God for taking care of me this day, for easing my headaches, bloating and cramps, for allowing me the chance to fully enjoy a sport that I love, for giving me a family that understands me and loves me for who and what I am, and for bringing me to that finishline. Somehow, there is not much that can compare to 15 hours of physically exerting myself and then rounding that last curve, entering the loud music blasting, crowd cheering, blinding bright area known as the finishline and hearing good old Mike Reilly announcing, "Jody Van Zanten..You..Are..An..Ironman!!". To top it off, as if the day wasn't good enough already, I came across that finishline to be greeted by my amazing family along with my cousin Kris (whom prior to the night before, I hadn't seen in about 17 years) and his wife Kara. After many hugs, laughs, and cheers, I grabbed some of the best frenchfries I have ever had from the athlete post race food area and called it a day. It was time for a strawberry milkshake from InNOut, a shower, some tylenol, and a bed....oh yeah, and to try on my finishers shirt to see how it fits!

Another amazing adventure accomplished and experienced....life is good.