Running out

Running out of time?
Running out of excuses?
Running out of food at home?
Running out of money?

Usually running helps me deal with all the other "running" I seem to do, but lately it is building up. The frustration, the impatience... the thirst. It is too much. Then I came across a wonderful article that talked about vacations from running. Yes as a runner you can stop running!

Once the competitive drive ratchets up, it seems to be a never ending process of what-comes-next syndrome. The constant training, the scheduled runs, the panic of missing one, the details of getting around an injury. It starts to feel like another job! But it doesn't occur to you that you can and should take a break! This doesn't mean stop running and sit on the sofa eating ice cream...however that is exactly what I did after my first full Marathon. After my first half marathon (and yes I purposely capitalized Marathon when referring to a full and not when referring to a half, it deserves a little more respect in my mind) I had complete gall bladder failure and was also strapped to the sofa eating ice cream, but that time it was laying down. Anyway, back to my point...

Start enjoying running again! Run as long as you feel like running rather than the prescribed mileage for that day. Skip a run to do something completely different, ski, bike, raft, swim, yoga...sleep? Not training suddenly frees up so much time!

Ironically... I am in training for the Taos half marathon. But I am taking the advice to take a vacation and stop all the "running" in more ways than one. We start Happy Hour Season this weekend and it is important to enjoy seeing our friends and neighbors again, often the only time anyone gets to see the 4 of us is at these Happy Hours. So I say skip a run, stop "running" around and come running to our Happy Hour!

Kicking off Saturday April 28th with "The Pathetics" from 4-7, you can relax, forget the stresses of the week, enjoy a wine flight with savory plate pairing or sample some of our gourmet picnic items. Enjoy half priced wines and free live entertainment! Need an excuse to have fun? Now you have one! (this advertisement has been brought to you by Vivác Winery)

Sometimes you have to know when to stop running and smell the roses...or the wine.

-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

www.VivacWinery.com

5 Race Must Haves

Wanting to run your first race?

Here are the TOP 5 things you will need post race no matter what the distance.

#5 Salonpas, they are absolutely amazing, they kill pain AND have menthol so they make your aches go away immediately! I had my body completely covered with them and then read the warning to wear one at a time. oops. Oh and not to drink while using them, I ignored that part too.

#4 compression socks, the blood pools in your legs and that is part of what causes the swelling and painful recovery. OK so I don't know the exact details, I was only half listening when Jesse told me about them. I heard "less painful recovery" and rushed out to get some! I think he may have still been reading when the car squealed out of the parking lot. I have been wearing them ever since.

#3 flip flops, you want those shoes off ASAP. Unless you are wearing the compression socks...obviously.

#2 make-up remover wipes or baby wipes, YES for both women & men. You sweat like crazy at a race and the salt on your face looks gross, feels gross and needs to be removed. These make you feel MUCH better. Also great for your hands which become sticky for some reason...I'm guessing the sweat you wipe off your head? The gatorade you slop all over? The self loathing you grip onto as you wonder why the hell you are doing this to yourself?

#1 WINE! Hello, what did you think I would recommend as #1, chocolate milk? Chocolate milk is actually my favorite post race treat, but it is mandatory you have something stronger for accomplishments. A great bottle of celebratory wine and a great big pat on your own back. To finish your first race no matter the distance deserves a celebration, each race that is longer, harder, a PR (Personal Record) or anything else you can think of is cause for a celebratory bottle of wine!

I realize these may be the items on a race must have list, but they seem to also double as items for a...
Hard day at work
Hard day with the kids
Hard day with your spouse
Hard day trying to be creative
Hard day with a friend
Hard day with your dog?

Best of luck to all of you who are about to do something new! We know it is scary, but do it anyway. When you finish and pop that cork, make sure to cheers yourself and know we are there with you...uh...well, if you are drinking Vivác wines that is, if you are not... we will just be feeling sorry for you.

-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

www.VivacWinery.com

Deadman Trail running

Training is underway for Mr. Jesse Padberg. Is he doing another marathon? Perhaps a more challenging course? No, that would be too easy! Mr. Jesse Padberg seems to be on a mission to kill himself. Am I really that hard to live with?

On October 20th, 2012, Jess will attempt the "Deadman Peaks Trail Run", a 50+ mile ultramarathon on the Continental Divide Trail south of Cuba, NM. This is the description of the race from their site:

While the course does not have any huge climbs or extreme elevation ...

(LIARS! It takes place between 6,350 and 7,400 ft and has about 6,300 total feet of climb) 

 ...  it is not an easy course...
(LOL!)

 ... Take a look at the 61% finishing rate from 2010! It is very remote...
(oh great, just what you want when running extreme distances...by yourself...in the wilderness.)

...This portion of the CDT is rarely used.  The trail is extremely rocky.  There are several miles of slick rock...
(my favorite!)

...The climb and descent of Mesa Portales includes scrambling.  Much of the existing trail is very faint... 
(that translates to: 'easy to get lost')

...Runners need to be ready for a long day in the wilderness.   The weather in October is usually very cool and dry(high of 60F, low of 30F), but be prepared.  There is no shade on the course. It could also snow or rain.
(perfect! Just the place to run 50+ miles!)

One word to describe what I think of this race? HELL!

Having just come off my first marathon, I am shocked at anyone that would want to run MORE than 26.2 miles much less almost double that. I also find it interesting that when you start talking about ULTRAmarathons, they no longer feel it is important to tell you how many miles the course really is. This one I believe is about 53 miles (IF you don't get lost on their "faint trails"). Evidently they think 'hey crazy, if you are out here even thinking of running 50 miles, just run until we tell you to stop! It could be 50, it could be 53, it could be 59! HA HA HA!'

I believe this is how the Devil has fun.

Among marathon runners, the Elite group of Ultramarathoners, is small, exclusive and for many elusive. It is taking the unimaginable and adding awe, wonder and a little magic to the equation. How does someone push their body past the extreme of a marathon into the realm of an ultra? I have no idea, but I will keep you posted!

-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

www.VivacWinery.com