Mirror Mirror

Why I keep on keeping on......

More proof that running helps in having healthy knees:
http://www.runnersworld.com/general-interest/runners-have-much-healthier-knees-than-scientists-thought?cid=soc_Runner%27s%20World%20-%20RunnersWorld_FBPAGE_Runner%E2%80%99s%20World__News_Injuries

Just do it

     This seemed appropriate for a Monday.

Yesterday's Slacker Half

     This was my last race for a while.  I am tired and need a break. It was beautiful but it did get quite hot.  I met 3 other Run 2016 in 2016 runners who were from Highlands Ranch, CO, which was cool.

Waiting at the start

Representing at the Slacker Half Marathon in beautiful Colorado. We ran through a ski resort, past mountains, waterfalls, (rumor has it) a bear, a railroad station and ended in a cute little mountain community. We started at 10,660" and ended at 8,525"


My results http://www.racetecresults.com/myresults.aspx?CId=16436&RId=154&EId=1&AId=72007




PS Congrats to Kaci Lickteig from Omaha, NE who was the women's winner at Western States 100 this weekend .
Kaci Lickteig (Nike) wins the 2016 Western States Endurance Run in 17:57:58. Ellie Greenwood and Ann Trason are the only women to have run Western States faster.

The men's winner : Andrew Miller (Salomon Running) wins the 2016 Western States Endurance Run in 15:39:36. At 20 years old, he's the youngest men's winner ever at the race.

I can't even imagine running 100 miles.....in the mountains.....in the heat.....at that pace.

It is entirely possible that behind the perception of our senses, worlds are hidden of which we are unaware.---Albert Einstein

“Consider that you can see less than 1% of the electromagnetic spectrum and hear less than 1% of the acoustic spectrum. As you read this, you are traveling at 220 km/sec across the galaxy. 90% of the cells in your body carry their own microbial DNA and are not “you.” The atoms in your body are 99.9999999999999999% empty space and none of them are the ones you were born with, but they all originated in the belly of a star. Human beings have 46 chromosomes, 2 less than the common potato. The existence of the rainbow depends on the conical photoreceptors in your eyes; to animals without cones, the rainbow does not exist. So you don’t just look at a rainbow, you create it. This is pretty amazing, especially considering that all the beautiful colors you see represent less than 1% of the electromagnetic spectrum.” – Sergio Toporek

Our five senses are the tools that give us the human experience. But they do not account for the full depth of reality. The human brain is a filter that, out of the limitless information around us, picks up selective energetic frequencies. Like a radio dial, your senses focus the energy around you and tune your perception to the frequency of the material world. Our senses conceal more than they reveal. This is pretty amazing to think about. Reality is much, much more than what our senses actually reveal to us.

This could explain why you see your cat or dog sometimes staring aimlessly at a wall, considering they may be seeing a different part of the electromagnetic spectrum than what we see.

                                              

“And once you are awake, you shall remain awake eternally. ” ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?'
'That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,' said the Cat.
'I don't much care where -' said Alice.
'Then it doesn't matter which way you go,' said the Cat.
'- so long as I get SOMEWHERE,' Alice added as an explanation.
'Oh, you're sure to do that,' said the Cat, 'if you only walk long enough.” ~Lewis Carroll, Alice In Wonderland



Are you awake?

Sitting Syndrome

     This is an interesting article.  We all need this reminder.  I know I sit way too much every day.

http://ucdintegrativemedicine.com/2016/06/the-sitting-syndrome/#gs.oYBQ568

The Eyes of the Future are looking back at us and they are praying for us to see beyond our own time. – Terry Tempest Williams

Health news....take note

     Another reason to eat your beans and legumes:
http://nutritionfacts.org/video/phytates-for-rehabilitating-cancer-cells/?utm_content=buffere2d83&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

     Legumes, the most important dietary predictor of survival:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/15228991/

     Fasting and health:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2016/03/12/fasting-for-three-days-can-regenerate-entire-immune-system-study/?utm_content=buffer15adb&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer


     Climate change and coping with the end of the world
http://www.ozy.com/fast-forward/its-the-end-of-the-world-how-do-you-feel/62757?utm_source=aah1&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pp&utm_content=inf_10_92_2&tse_id=INF_c4dbdbd034a511e69519013b248da655

Thoughts and Prayers

     You may have seen this, but if not..........
http://www.thoughtsandprayersthegame.com/

Dad Life

     Happy Father's Day to Dads everywhere, especially to mine!

                                                  (YouTube video)


                                                                      and

The following link was shared by Kuldeep.  I love it.  The Dad Joke Generator:

http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2016/06/us/dad-joke-generator/?cnnApp

Freedom Service Dog Graduation was today.

     9 client/service dog teams graduated.....7 service dogs and 2 therapy dogs received their diplomas.  These beautiful dogs were all rescued from shelters.  Along the way they enriched the lives of at-risk-youth in the Pawsative Connections Program, of prisoners in the Colorado Prison dog-training program, of the trainers and volunteers such as myself who were fortunate to be able to work with them, and of their new clients.  As Freedom Service Dogs mentions at each graduation, they have the worst business model ever.......they have a very expensive product and they give it away!  Just look at these smiling faces.....

Sat. morning run/walk group

   

They "snuck," but still an awesome meme about strong women.

The delights of summer

   
     Pine pollen season is over and we have moved on to cotton season.  No wonder my eyes itch all of the time.  It looks a lot like the drifts of dog fur that collect next to the walls and on the stairs of my house every day in this mid-90 degree heat.

I bow to you

Ha Ha Ha...

Revel Rockies Pics, proof

     The photos from the race had free downloads so here are a few of them.

In Evergreen

I ran with this beautiful woman in yellow for many miles

Working so hard to go up that finishing hill

So very glad to be finished

Me and my Charleigh Brown

Revel Rockies Race Recap

     I cannot deny that yesterday was the toughest race I've run.
     It started 11 miles up Squaw Pass Rd. near the old Echo Mountain ski resort.  I wish I could have taken a panoramic video to show you the staging area at the start.  There were maybe 750 of us in a parking lot in the predawn darkness, many wrapped in space blankets, the only light coming from the dimmed headlights of the gear truck.
     Running can be a very intimate activity.  You hear snippets of conversation about runners' racing war stories.  You see people applying lubricant and body glide to body parts most people keep covered when in a public place.  You stand in long portajohn lines (only a dozen for 750 runners, and most runners like to use them at least twice before the start) and get to know wayyy too much about other's bathroom habits......like when the person in front of you is in there for 15 minutes, you want to shout, "eat a vegetable sometime, why don't you!"  And of course you can hear everything happening in the adjacent portajohns through the thin walls. There is also the interesting challenges of negotiating the portajohns in absolute darkness!
     I didn't know anyone running the marathon, although 3 friends ran the the half which started in Evergreen (a much bigger race than the marathon).   I talked to people from San Antonio, Minneapolis, and Florida.  It did make me feel better about running at 10500 feet altitude if all those flatlanders traveled this far to try it.
     The race was mostly beautiful if I had been able to enjoy it.  There were snow-capped peaks being highlighted by the early morning sun, the smell of the surrounding pines, and sheer drop-offs at the road's edge. The first eleven miles were generally steeply downhill, with a few rolling hills. They were pretty.
      Miles 12 through 17, though, were on a highly traveled parkway in Evergreen. Runners got the far right lane, and the highway patrol did a good job of keeping the cars on their side of the orange cones, but it was noisy, not scenic, and extremely hilly.  My GPS showed 1100 feet of elevation gain on this section.  By this point my quads were trashed from 11 miles of downhill, and running uphills was misery.  All the honking from the cars, which I choose to think was support of the runners rather than irritation at the traffic jam, did help somewhat.
     Miles 18 through the finish were down Bear Creek Rd which follows Bear Creek.  We ran through the little towns of Idledale and Kittredge on our way to Morrison.  This was mostly downhill with rolling hills.  It was in full sun and got very hot.  I should have enjoyed Bear Creek and its rushing waters more, but instead my feet and quads were demanding all my attention shouting, "pain, pain," with every step.
     At Morrison there was a steep uphill for the last two tenths of a mile to the finish...the final challenge.
     They did have water and electrolytes provided every 2 miles, but it obviously was not enough for me.  I was extremely dehydrated.  I skipped the IV rehydration area, though, but enjoyed the icy cold wet towels provided.  It took me the rest of the day to finally get rehydrated.
     By the time I finished, the party and tents were all being taken down.  The live music group was gone.  The food trucks were gone.  The massage tent was gone.  Most people ran the half marathon so were done by 9-9:30.  They had the awards ceremony at 9:30.  At that point, many marathoners and I still had 2+ hours to run.  I guess I can see why they didn't want to hang around until 11:30 for us slower marathoners.  At least I got my medal, my icy wet towel, and a couple of bottles of water. I just wobbled my way for a mile to catch the shuttle back to my car, which was a little anti-climactic.
     I finished in 5:44:02.  My splits showed my growing exhaustion and dehydration.  The first quarter I did sub-12 minute miles even though running conservatively and walking through every water stop.  Through the halfway point, I averaged 12 minute miles.  By the 3rd quarter I was averaging 12 1/2 min. miles, and overall I averaged 13 minute miles.
     If I do this next year, which I would like to do to see if I can improve, I need to find someplace to train with long downhills at altitude.  I do know some people actually drove up and trained on the course, but I don't think it is safe to run on the twisty mountain roads with no shoulder competing with car traffic.  That is an accident waiting to happen.
     My quads are sore today, but otherwise I feel good.  I'll take Charleigh for a nice long walk, she deserves it after only getting a quick mile yesterday morning at 2 AM. By the way, she was up at 3:30 this morning, like, "why are we sleeping in so late today, Mom?"
     I don't have any race pics.  The professional ones should be out in a few days, but if I look as bad as I felt, I probably won't buy any.
     Here is my well-deserved race bling....a cool t-shirt, a hat, and an awesome medal.

     PS  I ran some of the 26 miles for Dean, and some for my neighbor Tom who is in the hospital and will be going on hospice.  Had I known about the horrendous shootings in Orlando the previous night, I would have dedicated my miles to the victims and their families.

Trying to psych myself up.

     In case you are wondering why I am posting all of these quotes, I am trying hard to motivate myself.  Tomorrow is Revel Rockies marathon day and I am nervous.  It will be a warm day and I don't do well in heat.  There is a strict cut-off time less than I am used to so that they can reopen the roads.  I have to catch the bus to get to the starting line at 3:30 AM which means leaving home at 2:45, which means getting up around 1 to eat breakfast, walk the dog, drink some coffee, etc.  I might as well stay up all night!
     Oh well, if the sag wagon pulls me off the course because I am too slow due to heat or whatever, that is okay.  I am going to try. There will be beautiful views along the way, and rolling hills for the last half.  I will do my best to just enjoy it, whatever happens.
     PS, the start line is at 10,500 feet of elevation!



A marathon is hundreds of miles.  The finish is the last 26.2


 "The marathon never ceases to be a race of joy, a race of wonder."
-Hal Higdon, running writer and coach

 "The person who starts the race is not the same person who finishes the race."
-Marathon spectator sign

 "The marathon. How an average runner becomes more than average."
-New Balance

"You're running on guts. On fumes.  Your muscles twitch.  You are delirious. But you keep running because there's no way out of this hell you're in, because there's no way you are not crossing the finish line.  It's a misery that non-runners don't understand."
       Martine Costello

Your muscles twitch. You throw up. You're delirious. But you keep running because there's no way out of this hell you're in, because there's no way you're not crossing the finish line. It's a misery that non-runners don't understand.  

 "You can never be sure. That's what makes the marathon both fearsome and fascinating. The deeper you go into the unknown, the more uncertain you become. But then you finish. And you wonder later, 'How did I do that?' This question compels you to keep making the journey from the usual to the magical."
-Joe Henderson

This is the best post I've read in a long time!

http://www.24media.info/2016/06/scientists-earth-endangered-new-strain-fact-resistant-humans/

Dad jokes

Go Get Today!

Beautiful.

For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return.
                                        Leonardo da Vinci


     I heard this quote on a television show on Netflix the other day and had to look it up, it is so beautiful.  He had poetry in his soul.

None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.----Henry David Thoreau

     I saw all of these memes this morning and had to share. All are true. Enjoy.

Thank you for stars and fireflies, for the magic of summer skies.

     We don't have the magic of lightning bugs/fireflies here in Colorado.  It is too dry.  I'm glad I got to experience them as a child.

Matches struck unexpectedly in the dark

“What is the meaning of life? That was all- a simple question; one that tended to close in on one with years, the great revelation had never come. The great revelation perhaps never did come. Instead, there were little daily miracles, illuminations, matches struck unexpectedly in the dark; here was one.” 
― Virginia Woolf, To the Lighthouse

“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” ― Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times

“Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”

― Muhammad Ali

Aim high.

Calm is a super-power.

     This is definitely not my super-power, if I even have one, but it is a good one.....one I need to work on.

Last night

Global running day.

     Today is global running day.  Celebrate.  Go for a run, or a walk.  Join the over 2 million people in 177 countries who have pledged to get up, get out, and go for a run.

Running is not just exercise; it is a lifestyle.
                                  John Bingham