Bat Sh*t Crazy? Maybe, just maybe.

Ahhh...this journey is finally coming to an end. The marathon is only a few days away. The training is behind me and there is nothing left to do but relax and hope for the best come race day. And drink excessive amounts of wine! Hello the race is in Napa!

Over the course of training, what seems to be the most amazing thing is how people respond to us doing this at all. There are the people that are inspired by us and look at us with eyes glossy in respect, as if we had saved their child from a burning building. Others show the look of "wow, I didn't know you were a crazy person" and you know your phone number will magically be lost to this person from here on out. And then there are the people that have no idea what-so-ever about a Marathon and are truly baffled. Some of my personal favorite quotes are:

"What is a marathon? Wait, you actually run that far? WHY?"

"I ran a half marathon. How far is a full marathon?"

"Wow, you REALLY love to run!"

"Are you bat sh*t crazy?!"

"Where did you learn to run?"

"I hope you don't get meningitis."

"Do you think you might win?"

"You are my hero."

"awk! That is disgusting! I hate to run."

I have to say it is pretty remarkable that running long distances can stir up so much for the people around you. In the end, we will see what I have to say about all of this. I am asked repeatedly "What is next?" and the truth is,  I have no clue! Lets see if I make it to the end and what I think about it then. I might think it is the most amazing thing ever, or I could decide that it IS too far to run and that you need to be bat sh*t crazy to do it again!

-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

www.VivacWinery.com

Birthing a runner

With a night of my incessant coughing keeping a sick Jesse up all night, I decided to join our 5 year old son when I heard him stirring early yesterday morning. Denim had risen especially early to work on an art creation on his bedroom floor; he often wakes early for his "me time" before Jesse and I stir at 7am. I asked if I could lay in his bed since I was disturbing his dad. Denim welcomed me in, tucked me into his bed, got me a box of Kleenex and lowered the lights. He asked if he should leave the door open or closed since he would be going in and out a lot, he asked if the lights were low enough for me to fall asleep yet allow him to draw, he asked if the lights from the other room disturbed me. I was struck by the incredible sensitivity and kindness. My heart swelled and I marveled at how much I love this little person.

The capacity to love your child is greater than you can ever fathom prior to having one of your own. If you back up from there, the idea that you could actually carry the child inside your body is pretty wild! Every woman that has had a child remembers at 7 months looking at the enormous belly and thinking "there is NO way this belly can get ANY bigger" and yet it does. Then there is the sweat dripping realization at the end of the pregnancy that you will be giving birth, this child will exit your body one way or another and there is nothing you can do about it. The experience is trans-formative. Then there is pulling a new born child to your breast and feeling the surge of tingling as you are able to feed the child from your body! It is mind boggling!

For some conception is difficult, for some pregnancy is difficult, birthing (no matter how it happens) IS difficult, breast feeding is difficult, but the body finds a way. The body has the capacity to do amazing things, outrageous things you never imagined.

For those of you that haven't had a child, I am sure you can connect to the pain of loosing a loved one that leaves you feeling like you can never move past it. Or perhaps a personal hardship that challenged you beyond your mind's imagination. You can't possibly begin to know how your mind and body will come together to get you through monumental challenges, but when faced with one, your body surprises you.

As I watch my child play and I think of the enormous capacity my body has to astound me, I let go of the fear of running a marathon. Injury and sickness has never stopped me in feats of the "impossible" before, so why do I assume it will now? I have no idea how the race will turn out, but I have to trust that the transformation of this journey will test me in a new way regardless and I will make it to the other side.

Who says you can't run a marathon? Haven't you done more already?

-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

www.VivacWinery.com

Nearing the end

March 4th is fast approaching and I am starting to think that date may have more meaning than simply the day of the marathon. March Forth.

 Jesse is off the bike and back on his feet with high recommendations for compression socks. I on the other hand have continued issues with my sore knee, knocking a 9 mile run to a 4.5. Chris has been giving words of encouragement, promising that even under the current conditions, I will have no trouble finishing the marathon. March Forth.

Newest training nightmare is waking up with a terrible head cold. The kiddo is sick so of course he has been generously sharing it. It feels like a burden too great to escape has rested on me and I am slowly being crushed by it. The nagging voice in my head is screaming doubts at me. I am conflicted, run or rest? March Forth.

With 12 days until the race, it seems doubtful that this will be a success. Plane flights are purchased. Race entries are paid for. We will be at the start line in Napa, but will we be there at the finish line? I don't know. Regardless, on March Fourth, we will March Forth.

-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

www.VivacWinery.com

Valentine's Day Whine

 

This Valentine's Day, I suggest NOT looking to your lover, partner or mystery person (you know, the one you hope to magically find today), but look to yourself for pampering and love. Maybe it is my age or the horrible past week which included nursing my knee injury, a funeral and work stress, but it seems too much to ask that someone else figure out what I need to make ME feel romanced, loved or appreciated today.

What I need is my knee to heal. What I need is Jesse's calf to heal. What I need is a big bottle of Champagne followed by a big bottle of Tempranillo! These are the wines I want to pair with the chocolates I am trying to make. I have no idea how Liliana makes her gorgeous truffles look so easy to create. My simple chocolate balls look like rabbit poop. Maybe if everyone drinks enough, they won't care. Maybe if I drink enough I will stop obsessing over my knee. My point being when you are feeling GREAT, a simple "Happy Valentine's Day, I love you!" can make this day special. If you are feeling less than great, then roses, chocolates, special dates...it all sucks and wasn't enough.

So let's all take a moment, close our eyes, and get in touch with what we really need today to feel pampered, appreciated and loved. Now go out and do it for yourself! Once you are taken care of, you can look at your Valentine with 100% honesty and not expect anything other than the gift of their love. What could be more romantic?

Now, where do I go to buy the belief that Jess and I will be able to finish this Marathon in 2 weeks?

-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

www.VivacWinery.com

Attacked in the dark

Today I should be running 20 miles. Right now I should be on the road, wondering how I am going to make it. What am I doing? Nursing my knee while I nurse my hang over.

2 days ago, as I headed to bed, I turned all the lights off and started down the hall. I had had a good day, but was tired, I looked forward to the next day's short run. I joked with Jesse...I had no idea what was about to happen.

In the blink of an eye, I was in intense pain. Shooting hot sparks of pain radiated out of my left knee. I screamed as I lay on the floor. My immediate thought was "how am I going to run my marathon?!" maybe I was becoming a runner.

What happened? Was I attacked by someone lurking in the hall? YES! Was this evil lurking in the dark shrouded in black? YES! Was my attacker unfeeling, uncaring and detached? YES! The scariest part is I knew my attacker. I knew him as a kind, loving, loyal friend. In an instant he became the enemy of everything I have worked so hard for. He was... my dog.

Baco Noir is a big black dog that usually possesses enough wit and sense to lay to the side of the hall or get out of the way as someone approaches. That night however, he lay stretched completely across the hall and didn't move out of the way. Instead he lay in waiting for my poor foot to trip over causing all of my weight to crash down on my left knee cap. As I writhed in pain on the floor, he simply got up, cast an annoyed glimpse my way and went to lay somewhere else.

Not broken, but bruised and swollen, I am on bed rest and binge drinking. The drinking helps the frustration and I am pretty sure the combination of Chardonnay, Divino and Merlot not only help with the pain but advance the healing process...yes, I am sure of it.

To add to this whole debacle, Jesse continues to have severe tightening in his calf with each run, this has requiring him to bike instead of run. This is not looking good for him. Anyone with ideas of how to help this, PLEASE let us know!

So what happens now that I am a few short weeks from my Marathon and off my training? Well, as my father said "If you can't run, this will be one drunk trip to Napa!" Ahhh... he knows me well. Happy Birthday Dad!

-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

www.VivacWinery.com

Runner's guide to wine pairings

I have come to understand that running is a day by day activity. One day it is amazing, another not so great. It seems to have no rhyme or reason, it just really sucks or it... sucks less.

Last week I obviously had a low point (see "But it hurts so good"). I wondered if I should quit, but after a ridiculous night of no sleep (comes with the territory for being a mom even when he is 5!) and my running partner injured, I headed out, on my birthday no less, for an 18 mile run. Scared.

As with all things, it is the story you tell yourself about what you are doing that makes it good or bad and for some unknown reason, I felt good! I felt rested despite no sleep. I felt strong. I felt cold, man it was freezing!

Needless to say, I finished with one of the best days of running under my belt. What a gift. And that horrible run last week? That was a gift too! I now know what it feels like to really suffer on a run and I made it to the end. I think I might, just might, make it the 26.2 miles to the finish line in Napa.

Now, since it is a day of celebration, here is a selection of runner's wine pairings:

Sore feet: Sauvignon Blanc (chilled... cold is suppose to be good for sore feet).

Muscle cramp: Cabernet Sauvignon (wine this silky promises to sooth any muscle pain).

IT band: Diavolo (that thing is a beast and needs a strong dark wine to sooth).

Knee pain: Tempranillo (preferably with chocolate...for the knees of course).

Back pain: Montepulciano (that wine can sooth anything and even tastes amazing out of a straw while you lay on the sofa).

Obviously all these wines are available at Vivác Winery (www.VivacWinery.com) and you can bet I will need most of them to celebrate my run, my birthday and sooth all the pain in my body. It is best that you don't remember the pain of long runs if you plan to do it again next week!

-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

www.VivacWinery.com