RAAM 2006

RAAM 2006

Swimming-  this morning I did sleep in until 8:30.  I have really been missing my bed and slept so good.  I went to the pool for my long swim but the pool was full and I could not get in. There were some old ladies that were not lap swimming.  These are the people I have nicknamed "bobbers."  They really do not swim but they just float in one place.  They really should not be doing this in lap swim but I really was not to motivated to swim.  I did not see the need to complain.  I had a long day of massages today.

Michelle Santihano-  This is the girl that completed the Arrowhead 135.  I thought that I trained hard but this girl does way more then me.  I got to catch up with her about her race Friday.  She still has all of her toes and is feeling good.  She was bummed about not making the cut off.  She missed it by less then an hour but she is still my hero.  She said the first 30 miles was running in slush and it got to -25 while in the race.  The rest of it was deep snow and then she was able to run the last 10.  She was out in this cold stuff for over 60 hours.  The part that took the most time was having to boil her own water and crew for herself.  I can imagine how much time it took to be digging in a pack all the time.  Those duffle bags eat things.  She is in Badwater so we will be doing some training weekends together in DV.

RAAM 2005-  this is one of my favorite stories.  My bike ended up under my car in RAAM.   I was not on it but it did pretty much total my bike for the rest of the race.  I had a French guy that came over to crew for me...we called him "Frenchie."  This was in Trinidad, Co just as all the wind started to pick up.  It was rather hot and I was hoping that my RV would be at the time station there.  I had been hanging on to my pee for a long time wanting to use a real bathroom.  We got to the time station and my RV was gone.  I stopped at a store and leaned my bike on the front of the car to go to the restroom.  I came out and I had 3 boys looking at me with this really surprised look on their face. Frenchie had backed the car up to repark it and the bike the bike hit  the ground. As if that was not enough he drove over it also.  This bike was a really expensive bike and it was my lucky bike as well.  As far as I could tell it was ruined.  I think they were expecting me to loose it and get upset but for some dumb reason I didn't.  I actually smiled at them and asked them where my back up bike was.  It was not on the rack on the back of the van.  I might of gotten mad if they did not have it but it was inside the van. None of these boys knew about bikes so I had to switch the wheels out myself which was no big deal.  The look on their face was priceless.  They were so worried that I could not help but smile.  These were the youngest of the crew and they enjoyed being together but we had to separate them after Kansas.  They were boys that really required a chaperone.  They worked out much better when they were separated.  My bike has never worked the same since but I still road it. It was not until December that we found out that the crank on it was screwed up. I have to put about another 300 dollars in the bike to get it fixed but it will be up and running now that I am back home and working.

Soreness- this morning I was not sore at all and the places I thought were blistered were gone.  I guess that I just had some really rubbed skin that heeled over night.  I feel pretty much back to normal and have another week with high milage.  It is funny how now my body can handle all these miles so well.  Most people taper and train for marathons but I can do one on a weeks notice,  I had not really trained much for the 38.5 miler I did a month ago either.  Now it is just a matter of putting the time in.  I had a great time at the marathon.  The guy that I ran with did really well but was suffering from cramps the last 6 miles.  It was nice to be a part of his first marathon.

Posted: Feb 18 2008, shanna

Austin Marathon

Yesterday I got entered officially in the race by my friend Rick Kent.  The race was full but he was able to make a call for me and the race was delighted to have me.  I ended up in the elite division and had the number 35.  This is probably the only time I will ever have a number that low.  I do not consider myself an elite marathoner.  I got up bright and early this morning to meet my friend Greg Hogan and Jay for the marathon.  Jay was running his first marathon and Greg and I  were going to keep him company.

Austin Marathon-  This went great.  We took it really nice and easy.  The weather started out cold but it got to be a really nice day.  My legs felt great the whole time and I really do think my running is coming along.  My average HR for the marathon was 137 and I ran a 4:23.  I know that is not a super fast time but I was not running the race to win...I just needed a long training run to train for Badwater.  I ran with my orhodics and so my feet are a little sore and I do have blisters in new areas since the shoe fits different now.  I guess I am going to have to get me some thick skin growing in those areas too.  My muscles are not sore a bit and i could of kept running.  the last two miles I told the boys that I wanted to play and that meant that I wanted to run into the finish line fast.  I took off like a bullet and ran the last two miles at a 6:30 pace.  I was passing people like they were standing still and it was so fun.  Most of my races now I seem to running alone or with my crew.  My boys came across the line shotly afterwards.  It was a great training run and I can tell that I need to spend more time on the pavement to trian for Badwater.

Ice Cream Truck-  This is my van that is decked out with stickers.  i have kept it decked out thinking that kids would think it is cool  Greg has two kids and we were all heading back to Lubbock so I figured that at least one of them would get in the van with me.  Wrong!  Those kids were not going to be seen in my van...it was much to embarassing for them. They chose to ride with their parents in the back seat instead of on a bed in the back of the van.  I am not sure if it was them or maybe their parents might of been nervous to send them with me since I do push the speed limit. I only went about 5mph over but i would of slowed down if the kiddoes came with me.  The main reason some of the stickers are still on the van is really since they are now baked on it.  i will get them off someday.

Badwater-  I did get some things done yesterday.  I got my rooms reserved for the race.  I got one place at the finish line that has 3 double beds in it and a newly remodeled bathroom in it with a whirlpool.  It was cheaper then picking up two rooms.  The tub sounds nice but the whirlpool might not feel so good on blisters after running in the hot desert.  It is still there if I should decide to use it. i am pumped about the race! There are 23 women in it so I have lots of women to challenge me.

I am exhasted from the drive and it is late so time for bed.

It so good to be home in my own bed!!!

Posted: Feb 17 2008, shanna