Pursuing the Boundless

Marathon, Mountains, Freedom

[pursuingtheboundless]

Here's hoping for more sunsets like these - deep in the mountains of light.

[pursuingtheboundless]

Tuesday beach run

[pursuingtheboundless]

First run yesterday after almost two weeks off for my calves. Went pretty well!! I think the marathon may be out of the cards, but I'm optimistic I can still complete the half. Thanks for all the support!

[pursuingtheboundless]

Getting fancy with my breakfasts! Grits, sautéed spinach with hot pepper flakes, soft boiled egg & sirarcha. Not running (injury) has left me with a lot of free time! Inspired by my muse @budgetbytes #budgetbytes #breakfastatwork

[pursuingtheboundless]

Sports Injury

Still struggling folks. I barely got a 1.5mi into my planned 14mi long run last Saturday before feeling like I should call it quits. And that's after resting Monday-Saturday!! I am resting again in hopes of doing better soon. I am afraid my marathon race in October may turn into a half marathon... 😥

[pursuingtheboundless]

@frugalwoods is starting a #BeautyCantBeBought campaign for makeup free selfies. Since I already forgo makeup at work, here's a quick picture. I wish I could say I don't wear weekday makeup for my feminist ideals, but it's mostly because I love sleeping in more than doing my makeup! (I leave my apartment at 5:30am every morning). Thanks to @frugalwoods for fighting the good fight. #workselfie

[pursuingtheboundless]

I think I am experiencing calf strain. I don't know what else to say about this. What is my path forward aside from compulsive googling?

[pursuingtheboundless]

Ran 14mi Saturday. Legs almost recovered. I feel good and in awe. Like me, running a half marathon? Me?

[forever-losing-it]

Running allows for a chance to briefly escape whatever troubles you may face. You run. You breathe. You embrace life. Nothing can bring you down as you find your own rhythm upon the ground. Each footfall leaving behind a trail of worries. Run. Breathe. Live.

Forever-Losing-It (via forever-losing-it)

What rarity today to just exist let thoughts wander; breath thunder

Don't forget - Your body has purpose past beauty and my muscles thread together with power

I squint from sun glare counting steps over likes minutes over comments

Hold the phone, please. I stave off boredom with fatigue flavored satisfaction

[pursuingtheboundless]

#fbf to my first backpacking trip to Havasupai Falls in Arizona. Marathon training is it its own reward, but I'm really feeling the lack of mountain time. I need an adventure soon! #rei1440project #neverstopexploring #meetthemoment #52hikechallenge #havasupaifalls

[pursuingtheboundless]

Marathon coach and me at the starting line for the Foothill 5k Challenge for Back on my Feet! He CRUSHED it - finishing 9th overall and 1st in his age class. His average pace was 7:57min/mi which blows my mind on a course with over 1000ft elevation gain. I myself am glad for a 10:46min/mi pace in my first ever race (after running 12mi the previous day).

[pursuingtheboundless]

Staring at the downhill switchbacks I'll be running in an hour. First 5k race and I pick one with 1000ft elevation gain smh.

[pursuingtheboundless]

Twelve miles

So look, I didn’t finish my ten mile long run two weekends ago. And I skipped the planned 12 miler a week ago because I was still feeling congested.

I was on the borderline of giving up. I couldn’t remember why I thought a marathon was a good idea.

When I picked running back up again on Tuesday, I felt s-l-o-w. I purposely didn’t check my watch. I just put one foot in front of the other.

I knew today, my planned 10mi long run, was the real test. I could barely sleep, and my dreams were all about missing my long run from oversleeping! I woke exhausted and in deep doubt.

Lace the shoes, listen to music to distract from my anxiety, and put one foot in front of the other. That was my strategy. Also: just try. It doesn’t even have to be your best. Just try.

So I made five miles. I got lost by dragon boats. I made eight miles. I found a minion water station with bananas wearing minion goggles. The volunteer manning the station said, “maybe you should try twelve so fourteen next week won’t seem so scary.” I made ten miles - and kept going.

Twelve. TWELVE! I ran for over two hours! I was in awe of myself for the rest of the day.

No one told me training would be such an emotional roller coaster.

[pursuingtheboundless]

I ran twelve miles today... And ran into a dragon boat race.

[pursuingtheboundless]

Running on the beach path and finishing with the LB Municipal Band & friends.

[robbsadventure-deactivated20170]

The last finisher of the 2015 Hardrock 100, Bogie Dumitrescu of Boulder, Colo., finishes just one second under the 48 hour cut-off - 47:59:59.

[pursuingtheboundless]

Grit.

I’m channelling this guy’s determination as I resume training today after being sick.

[pursuingtheboundless]

Bad long run

Last Saturday was my first bad long run. I cramped up badly within the first five miles. Multiple trips to the bathroom. I had some underlying health conditions emerging here that were already making the week tough. It felt devastating to consider not finishing. I even began to despair: Will this always happen? Will my health prevent me from running my marathon? Can I ever control this? Is there even a point in trying? I jogged very slowly back toward my car. When I hit the junction for the rest of the 10mi course vs the 2mi back, I paused. Couldn't I just jog it out? It's only 5 more miles? I'm a stubborn gal. I know how to grit my teeth and keep climbing. But not this time. I'm saving my grit for the marathon. The miles will be around for another day.