Sober Streak

My drinking is getting in the way of my running. I'm the sort of person who doesn't do anything half-way. Lack of moderation: its the reason I'm drawn to long-distance-running and the reason I have a hard time sipping just one glass of wine. One extreme or the other...that's usually how I roll.

Because I'm not a moderate/halfway sort of person, I've struggled to find the middle ground between being a total lush (the one passed out in the grass) and a party-pooper (the tea-sipping yoga freak). The big magnifier in this situation is my love for running. You've never fully appreciated your hang-over until you're crawling your way through a long run, blurry, bloated and full of regret over the last night's antics.  I've admittedly had more than one long run during which I was focused not on the trail, but on the bad decisions made the night before, kicking myself for being such a moron. Running (if you can call it that) while semi-hung-over, foggy and fat is NO fun.

 

I've reached the conclusion that I really can't have my cake & eat it too (well that only took 30 years). To run or to booze, that's the question.
 

Well, when you put it that way, the answer is obvious.

I love wine and I love to have a good time. BUT, I need to run. Running makes me feel strong, invigorated and alive. Plus, I'm starting to realize that I usually have more fun sober. Life is crisper, brighter and more cheerful. I'm a better wife, mother AND runner when I leave the cork in the wine. Waking up the next morning feeling great is a nice bonus.

 

So, I'm presenting myself with a little (or BIG) challenge: A 30-day Sober Streak.

 

I'm sorry, WHATT?!
...yeah, right.

 

Ok, so I'm sure there will be some easy days and some hard days over the next month, but I'm up for the challenge and curious to see how I'll feel after a little break from the booze.

Of course, we leave for OBX next weekend, so that will make things interesting. Sober & vacation don't really go together, but I'll do the best I can!

Cheers!
(with juice, for now, folks)

Lake Anna !

Trail Running Field Trip!

Destination: Lake Anna, Spotsylvania, VA

Lake Anna State Park TRAIL MAP

My hubby and I took a perfect mini-getaway to Lake Anna this weekend with my big bro and his wifey. 36 hours of sun, sand, good food, great wine and questionable company were just what this gal needed. The pretty little 7-miler that I squeezed in with my pup was the icing on the cake.



View of Lake Anna from Glenora Trail



I've been to Lake Anna State Park a few times, but its been a while. This was our first time staying overnight, and other than a brief run-in with the PO-lice (open container law in VA, folks...and they mean it!), we had a perfect little trip.





Saturday morning was gorgeous; I couldn't wait to hit the trails. After coffee and a little Ibuprofen (dang wine) I was ready to rock. My navigational skills are iffy at best, so I harnessed up my pup, packed a trail map and hit the dirt, just as the rest of my camping crew was about to grill up a breakfast feast (fatties! haha).

The first trail I headed down was Glenora. Nice trail, with a mix of grassy areas and flat dirt-packed terrain with majestic oak and maple trees lining the path. It came to an end with an awesome view of the lake, with the morning sun shining and a few boats already cruising around.



 I tried to coax Val into the water, but she opted for the bench instead.

After a quick water break, a moment to soak in the view and contemplate jumping in the water (nah...), we headed back up the trail, in search of our next great overlook.

Next we took the Big Woods Trail to Turkey Run Trail, which popped us out at one of the trail-head parking areas. With plenty of muddy areas along the way for her to romp in, Val was a happy camper.

 

1832 Original Smokehouse, Glenora Plantation. Check out that beautiful Oak!

After a jaunt down the Sawtooth Trail, along which we saw a cool old Sawmill well site, we headed over to the paved connector-path that took us to the Railroad Ford Trail. There's so much history in and around this park and this part of the state; I was stoked to see a lot of historical markings along the sides of almost every trail.

 

The Railroad Ford Trail was my favorite of the bunch, as it winded along the bank of the lake, offering amazing views and a cool breeze.

 

 

We finished our little adventure with a quick swing around the campground. I was drooling over the thought of jumping in the lake at the sandy beach area; the July heat and humidity were starting to settle in for the day. Waving to a few little kids on scooters and spotting my hubby hanging out on the porch of our little cabin, I couldn't help but feel happy, lucky and totally ready for that breakfast feast.

Railroad Ford Trail, named for the abandoned railroad grade that it sits upon. Built in 1916, the path was built to carry lead and zinc ore from the nearby mines for use during World War I. Pretty rad, huh?

 

Lake Anna Winery. Now THAT'S what I'm talking about.

These Are the Days

Location: Pocahontas State Park

Distance: 10.25 miles



Time/Pace: 1hr45min / 10:15 min/mile

Weather: PERFECT.

 

 

 

Most of my runs lately have been pretty gross. The heat, humidity and the fact that I've been trying to go faster have made for some ugly running scenes; shirtless, sweaty, spitting, swearing and holy crap its HOT. Today was the blissful exception. On the tail-end of Hurricane Whatshisface, we Richmonders have been given a gift: a much-needed break from the suffocating stickiness, just in time for the holiday weekend. Score!

Time for a run. A good one.

 

I haven't been running too far lately, opting to enjoy a little time off from super serious training to enjoy the summertime months and run a few short races here and there. My R&R is fixin' to come to a close, when I'll start training for a couple of fall half-marathons and the Seashore Nature Trail 50k in December. Today was the first time in a while that I've gone out for a 10+mile run; after my recent blah! running streak, I was pleasantly surprised. My legs felt great, only fatiguing/complaining a little after I hit the 9-mile mark (what the crap, lady?! this again?).

 

Not only did I feel better than I expected, the beauty of the day was enough to take my breath away at almost every bend in the path.

 

 

Van Morrison is one of my all-time favorite singer/songwriters. His music makes me smile, cry, dance and feel just plain good. I don't usually run with music (I like to be totally aware of my surroundings, in case I need to scoot over for a biker or fight off a gnarly beaver), so its interesting to notice what songs pop into my head while I'm running. Some days, I get stuck with some Daniel Tiger jingle bouncing around in my head for miles at a time (too much PBS!). Other times, I'll bop along humming a Katy Perry or Ke$ha jam. Today, as I was out on the trails at Pocahontas, I had an overwhelming feeling of happiness, thankfulness and summertime-ness (yeah, because that's a word).


Cue the Van Morrison.



"These are the days of the endless summer
These are the days, the time is now
There is no past, there’s only future
There’s only here, there’s only now"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks, Mum and Pappy.

I'm so thankful for my childhood and the way I grew up; barefoot, pony-tailed and wild. I have no doubt that my love for the outdoors, trail running and exploring came directly from a childhood spent getting into mischief, catching bugs and trying to keep up with my two older brothers. I'm grateful to both of my parents for the childhood I was given; only as an adult am I able to fully appreciate just how lucky I was.

Mom & Dad: Thank you for...

Encouraging me to run laps around the house in the middle of the night.
When I was a kid, I'd occasionally have "restless legs," an antsy feeling that came and went from time to time when I'd try to go to sleep. I'd creep into my parents' room in the middle of the night, complaining about the "jitters" in my legs. My mom's solution? Running a few laps around our house. At 2AM. I think this was my first introduction to running as a form of medicine; 25 years later, its still my drug of choice(other than red wine, of course).

To this day I can remember the feeling of the cold, damp grass under my bare feet, the sound of the crickets and frogs, and the relief that I'd feel when I crawled back into my bed, my legs finally still and relaxed. It always worked.

Not making me wear shoes.
I wore shoes as little as possible, sporting calloused, tan feet practically year-round. Any sure-footedness I now have on the trails came from years of practice, darting through the woods shoe-less, wild and free.

Turning off the TV.

Nature Freak in 1988

Oh, you were watching "Bobby's World"?  Not anymore! My mom was famous for walking right up to the TV, turning it off and telling us to go find something "productive" to do. The 9-year old rage I'd send her way when she flipped off an episode of "Saved By the Bell," was swift and intense. She didn't care. I'll always be grateful for that.

Giving me a (really) big back-yard.
Our house sat on a few acres in Powhatan, but my playground was much bigger. Next to our house lived our aunt and uncle, and on the other side of them, more cousins and more acres to roam. Our family lumber business was just down the country road; I spent a lot of time poking around down there and exploring the woods and wide open fields nearby. I'd be gone for whole afternoons, always within my mom's shouting distance (she was pretty loud...haha), but lost in my own world, letting my imagination and my feet roam where they pleased. Sometimes, when I'm out on the trail now, I'll have a moment of deja-vu; suddenly I'm back in the woods behind our house, chasing a frog or jumping from stump to stump.

I think this is one of the main things that has drawn me to trail-running as an adult; those long-ago childhood adventures scoot right up to the surface, eager to be remembered.

 

Now that my husband and I have a daughter of our own, its our responsibility to foster her love of the outdoors, to teach her to respect and care for our planet, and to encourage her as she discovers her own passions and dreams. I hope she'll grow up to be a confident, happy, lifelong explorer who isn't afraid to get a little dirt between her toes

 

 

Future trail-junkie? I sure hope so.

 
.

Here's hoping we'll be half as good as my folks.  

@ The James River Scramble 10k.

"Everyone's a winner."


James River Scramble 10k
May 17, 2014 

Brown's Island, RVA
 

 



A few weeks ago, I ran in the James River Scramble 10k at Brown's Island for the 3rd year in a row (if it ain't broke...). The Scramble is part of the incredible Dominion Riverrock outdoor festival held each spring on Brown's Island. If you live in Richmond and haven't made it to this awesome event, it totally belongs on your to-do list for 2015. Check out the Riverrock website HERE.

The 10k course starts on Tredegar Street and heads along the Canal Walk where runners can check out some ridiculously cool graffiti art before crossing the Mayo Island Bridge. From there, the course follows the flood wall, offering an unforgettable view of the RVA skyline, the James River and Brown's Island. After climbing up the "Mayan Ruins," (steep, rocky, muddy hill-stairs), runners head along Riverside Drive, drop onto Buttermilk Trail and wind through Belle Isle. The course hops along the suspended pedestrian bridge and ends with a sprint-finish towards the main Belle Isle Parking Area. 

Long story short: the course is perfect.

I love this race for many reasons; sweet single track, free beer, live music and loads of unexpected cheerleaders, to name a few. The "Air Dogs" are a nice touch for my kiddo, too. During most trail races, your only fans are the squirrels, your fellow trail junkies and maybe a couple of your favorite family members. During the 6.2-mile Scramble, plenty of volunteers, random spectators and cute little snakes dotted our path, offering high-fives and words of encouragement (the people, not the snakes).

Runners who compete in mostly road races are probably used to seeing lots of fans and supporters along their route. Trail racers are more likely accustomed to peeing in the woods in the middle of a race without worrying for a second that someone will see them (or care if they do). We may go for miles without spotting another person, wondering if we missed a turn somewhere along the way and are now en route to Tennessee.

Okay, maybe that's just some of us.

Anyway, what makes the Scramble so unique and fun is the combination of great trails, plenty of cheerleaders, loads of positive energy and a Rock-n-Roll band booming in the background. I look forward to this race each year, and each year I've had a groovy time. This year there were tons of people out on the trail and hanging at the river, enjoying the perfect weather and striking RVA views. They were all friendly, telling us "way to go," or "looking good!" One guy really stuck out to me. As we passed him and his friends (fishing poles in hand), he high-fived each one of us, smiling broadly and insisting, "Everyone's a winner. Ya'll are all winners."

You said it, Mister.

My Stats/Results

Time- 55:16

Pace- 8:54 min/mile

Overall Finish (women)- 66/407

Age Group Finish- 27/164

Hanging with my gal post-race. Next stop: the beer truck, DUH.

Furry Running Buddies.

They sniff. They bark. They poop in inconvenient places. They play with us, snuggle with us and run with us. They are our best friends, both on-trail and on-sofa. They are our training partners, our coaches and the ones who keep us going. Their natural love of running and for life motivate us to get up, get outside and get moving.

Our dogs; also known as the greatest running partners on the planet.

I see a woman jogging alone. I think, "Where's her dog?" I leave my mutts at home so that I can squeeze in a little speed-work in-between preschool drop-off and the grocery store, then feel guilty about it the whole time. Why didn’t I let them tag along? A run just isn't the same without a 4-legged companion at your side, but there are times when we choose to leave them behind, knowing there will be a sulking K9 waiting when we return, sweaty and guilty, from a solo run.

Here are some of my favorite things about running with my 4-legged family members.

 

They run when you run.

People. Whether they decide to go to Target, they really need to clean their house, or they have a hang-over, human running partners have been known to flake out. Will your dog ever ditch you to go buy new hand-towels at Target? Nope!

 

Entertainment.

The first time I took my pup down to Dutch Gap, she bounded down the dock and flew into the water, tongue out and belly-first. Our run was put on hold; she spent the next half-hour splashing, swimming and clumsily fetching sticks from the water. I’ll never forget how I felt that day, watching as she discovered her sea legs. That kind of entertainment has no price.

 

Protection.

I read somewhere that women who run with dogs are way less likely to be targeted by bad guys in the woods than women who run alone. I'm not sure how many would-be lady killers they interviewed for the article, but I gotta think it’s probably true. Along with protecting us from creepy weirdos in the woods, our dogs are also proficient at scaring off bears, chipmunks and beavers. Nice feature.

 

Camaraderie.

If you're huffing it up a big hill, they’re right there with you. They know how you feel because they are feeling it, too. They DO have four legs to work with (lucky mutts!), but still, they're on your team. Suggested team name: Fatty & Fluffy. That’ll do.

 

They sleep the rest of the day.

There's nothing better than the sweet silence in my house when my kiddo is taking a nap and my very hyper mutt is sprawled out on the floor (or sofa). Happy and tired after a morning on the trail, she is finally worn out. Time for a cup of coffee and a good book. My job here is done.



Naptime is serious business around here.



Accountability.

Like other humans, I'm occasionally tempted to skip my morning run to go shopping instead. On those mornings when Target is calling my name, I've got 2 sets of sad-puppy eyes to answer to and a decision to make. Sometimes I fly out the door as quickly as possible in order to avoid eye contact. Slacker! Other mornings, their pleading works; I lace up my running shoes and leave my shopping list at home. I've never regretted choosing the trail over the checkout line; I've got them to thank for that.

 

We love them, spoil them and teach them.

We run.

They love us, protect us and teach us.

Together, we fly.

 

-Michelle Baltz-

www.trailmixRVA.blogspot.com

 

Peace Out, Old Man Winter.

Mother Nature has flipped the Season switch, bidding adieu! to the wettest, most frigidist, longest, yuckiest winter in recent memory. You can count me among the thousands (possibly millions) of outdoor enthusiasts who are more than happy to kick Old Man Winter to the curb.

Here it is, folks! Bring on Summertime. You know what that means; flowers, sunshine, trips to OBX and smiling, bouncy, happy runners.

Right?

Nope!

Time for bratty people everywhere to start complaining about the heat, the humidity and their frizzy hair. Now, I'm not one of those obnoxious runners who find something to whine about during every workout (As if!). However, there are a few things about running in the summer that take a little getting used to. I must whine for a nanosecond, never to whine again (unless someone forgets to put the cute little umbrella in my post-run Daiquiri).

Instead of listing my hot-weather running woes every day from now 'til September (ain't nobody got time for that), I'm just gonna throw it out there ahead of time. Here are a few friendly observations about running in the sticky, blazin' hot, ridiculously sweaty conditions otherwise known as summer in beautiful RVA.

Gosh, won't it be nice to get this out of the way?

-Sunscreen.
Because we all need another thing to add to our pre-run checklist (and our shopping list).

-Water bottles.
I've tried at least 5 different hydration systems, finally settling on the Nathan hand-held variety. Its the least annoying of the bunch, but running with stuff in my hands is obnoxious. Not as obnoxious as passing out in the middle of the James due to heat exhaustion, but still.

-Snakes and other vermin.
I try not to spend a ton of time worrying about Copperheads and other snakes, but this time of year, every other root looks just like a giant Cottonmouth who might confiscate one of my legs. Other animals that cross my mind are bears (duh!), bobcats, hornets and rabid Canadian Geese.

Sweat (some of us more than others).
I get really (really) sweaty during a regular run. Crank up the heat past 80 degrees, and I've got sweat trickling into my eyes, dripping from my ponytail, down my legs and into my socks. The result: a cute little sweat-puddle-trail that I could probably use to find my way back to my car in a pinch.

-Chicks in tube tops.
So, I know the trails I run are open to the public (one of their best features, actually), but during the colder months, the only other trail-hoppers are other runners, bikers and a few squirrels. Flip the summertime switch, and you get all sorts of riff-raff to keep you company. Today, I came up behind a tube-top clad lassie, swigging a Monster energy drink and sucking on a Camel Menthol. I politely said "to your left" (proper trail lingo, yeah?), only to be ignored and eventually scowled at. Really? I could have said what I was thinking ("MOVE IT, Kat Von D!"), but I'm not sure that approach would have been any more effective.

-Pollen and Poo.
My car is covered in inch-worm poo and yellow pollen. I don't eat meat but I'm pretty sure I've inhaled/swallowed at least 3 inch worms in the past 2 weeks. I think that sums it up.

-Holy HOT!
Dude, its SO hot.