Dia de Los Muertos Endurance Run 2023

Dia de Los Muertos Endurance Run...

Take Two

Last year I did a marathon and was pretty damn excited about it.  Even though it hurt on so many levels.  

But I wished I had been able to do two more laps and get a 50k done.  It was most definitely not in the cards at that point.  Too many blisters.  Too sore and tired.  

So close.

You know what that means?

New goals and challenges.  

I signed up again and the goal this year was to get a 50k, which is 31.07 miles.  

Unfortunatley this fall was a lot like last fall.  No work outs, no training and tired all the time.  So once again, I was heading into a challenging event without the preperation I probably should have to be successful.  

I did have a couple things going for me.  

I have lost almost 35 pounds since February.  It's amazing how much easier it is to do things without the extra weight.  Still not where I want to be but I'm happy to be heading in the right direction.  (Slowly but surely.) 

I also learned a lot about treating blisters and being able to keep moving with hurting feet while we were doing the Camino last summer.  

Both of those things would definitely help. 

The week at work was SUPER busy, as in no prep periods at school since Monday and things were busy every day.  Trying to get all the work things done, food prep for the weekend and try and get good sleep was a little difficult.  

Joe left for the beach on Thursday afternoon to get our trailer set up in the Day Use area at South Beach State Park.  Ardor Adventures, the organizers of the event, had added a 48 hour to the event so Josh was going to be doing that.  Joe and Wendie were both going to crew Josh and then me when I got there to do my 24 hour event.  

I left after work on Friday and headed to the beach to meet up with everyone.  The weather was gorgeous!   Beautiful blue skys and sunshine.  Quite warm during the day for the end of October but it got cold once it got dark.  

View from the camper in the South Beach Day Use area.

Wendie made us dinner and all I had to do when I got there was sit in a chair and hang out.  It was fun to be cheering on the runners as they went by.  We have the perfect spot in the parking lot to be able to see everyone as they go by to finish up their lap.  

I went to bed early because I was TIRED!  And I had a busy day ahead of me the next day.  

Busy walking in circles.

Because the start time for my 24 hour segment wasn't until 10:00 am I was able to slow roll my morning.  I slept in, then ate some breakfast and read a book for awhile.  Then I got dressed and wandered over to the start line to get my race bib.  Came back and finished getting ready.  

It had gotten very cold overnight and all the puddles were frozen so I had a few layers on.  It's hard for me to judge how many layers to go with right now.  I'm in the time of life (menopause) where I get a wee bit overheated pretty quickly.  So while I was cold at the start I knew it wouldn't take me long to get warmued up once I was moving.  So then it becomes a question of how many layers do I need to stay warm but not become completely overheated.  I went with one extra layer and left it at that.  I figured I could add more or take a layer off after the first lap.  

It was absolutely beautiful out.  I love cold, crisp, blue sky days in Oregon in the fall.  The sky just looks extra blue this time of year.  There wasn't much of a breeze which helped the cold feel more manageable.  

Been awhile since I brought out the sparkly headband.

Josh walked with me the first couple of laps.  He was a long ways into his event since he had started Friday morning and was doing the 48 hour event.  We had a great time walking and talking.  I love our friendship and how we just chat it up when we are out on the trail or hanging out.  He's definitely top of the list of most favorite people in my life.  

Josh and I showing Joe some love for taking such good care of us!

Towards the end of my second lap I decided to run and so I took off in a slow trot.  Pretty sure Josh went into Sasquatch mode when walking behind me with his long legs and stride because he wasn't far behind me.  

I made a pit stop to take off a layer and Josh kept going.  Once I knew I wasn't going to get overheated I took off again.  I took a soda and grabbed a quesadilla in the official aide station.  Once the soda and food were gone I began to run again.  It was so fun to feel good about running.  I wasn't setting an speed records but it was still fun to just be moving!

I caught up to Josh just as the trail pops out by the jetty in Newport. 

Sunshine at the beach!

Did I mention that it was a beautiful day?  As the morning went on it got warmer and warmer.  I eventually took off my jacket and wrapped it around my waist.  I spent most of the day running in long pants and a tank top.  Crazy for the end of October!  And so much different than last years rainy slog. 

Love this stretch of the trail!  Go Josh and Kyle!!

I cruised right a long most of the day.  I would do a lap and then stop at the trailer.  Sometimes I would take a short rest and get food.  A couple of times I took off my shoes and checked my feet.  I was about 10 miles in when I decided to switch my shoes to a pair I have that are a little bigger.  I had a couple of tender spots but no blisters yet.  I had put the Compheed bandages that I discovered in Portugal on the areas of my feet that are prone to blisters.  Some preventative care hoping to avoid issues altogether.  Seemed to be working well up to this point.  

Joe and Wendie had taken a break from crew support to go for a walk and enjoy the sunshine themselves.  They ended up hanging at the start/finish line waiting for my to come through.  It was so much fun to see them there.  

Love my cheer squad!

Getting my quesadilla almost every lap.  Hits the spot!

I still had a long way to go but those little celebrations are so helpful in keeping the spirits up.  

I was keeping a pretty consistent pace with my walking and feeling good overall.  About 15 miles in my hip started complaining.  The same hip that derailed my Camino for a couple of days.  Joe had some Icy/Hot in the trailer so I made sure to use some of that each lap for a few laps until the hip stopped complaining so much.  

Suddenly it was evening and the sun was going down.  I decided to get one more lap in and get some sunset pictures and then I would take a break.  

The water in the jetty was lit up by the sun.  Spectacular!!

Opposite direction, the full moon was coming up.

The bridge and all the boats getting lit up.

When I got back to the trailer, Joe and Wendie made me mashed potatoes.  Warm, salty mashed potatoes are the best when you are tired, hungry and a little cold.  

I put back on my warm layer and then sat in the chair and just hung out for about an hour.  One of the best things about this type of event is how you are able to take breaks if that works for you and your goals.  

At this point I was WAY ahead of where I was last year at the same time.  I wasn't too far from reaching the marathon mark.  

I took off again knowing I was more than half way to my goal of a 50k!

I got to the marathon mark at about 9:30 pm.  Which was so much faster than last year!!  Last year I finished completely at 12:28 am.  That's 14 and a half hours after the start time of 10:00 am.  This year I was at the marathon mark after about 11 hours total time. 

Nothing like getting a huge PR on a distance while you are working towards a longer distrance.  

I got to the point where I didn't want to take any more long breaks and just wanted to keep pushing through till I was finished.  

Joe decided to walk with me the last five laps.  It was fun having him along.  We would walk along and not talk and other times we would talk about all the things.  Both were great.  I mostly just love having the time with him.  I love how we are comfortable with silence but yet always have things to talk about.  He is, quite literally, my favorite person to be with.  

Joe had told me that it would take 14 laps to reach a 50k.  Mostly because I would have to go past the start/finish line to get to the mileage I need and once you start another lap you need to finish it to get those miles to count.  

I was starting to think maybe I didn't need that many laps and could finish with 13 laps and just make it.  So when we finished lap 12 I asked Ed, the race director, if I needed one or two laps to get to my 50k (30.07 miles) and he said one more lap would do it.  

This girl was a happy walker!  

Overall I was doing really well all things considered.  But I was getting tired and sore.  I was going to be happy to be done.  

Joe let Wendie know that we were on my last lap so she was waiting for us when we went by the trailer.  Joe took a video of me finishing that last lap.  

I finished at 11:15 pm.  It took me 13 hours and 15 minutes to do a 50k.  

I finished a 50k in One hour and 15 minutes faster than I did a marathon the year before.  

I was stoked!  Not gonna lie!

I felt solid most of the day.

I kept an overall steady pace from start to finish, never really getting super slow.  

Badass with sparkle! 

Celebratory drink back at the trailer. 

I didn't officially finish until morning.   Just in case I woke up and got a crazy idea to do more laps. 

lol  That didn't happen. 

We went back to the trailer and I changed into cozy clothes and crawled into bed.  

You would think that falling asleep after all that would be easy.  

But it's not. 

You never realize how cold you really are until you stop.  

I had a couple of small blisters on my toes and one toenail that I was pretty sure was going to be coming off soon.  

All my muscles are achy and twitchy so it's hard to relax and get comfortable.  

When you are doing long distance crazy stuff like this, your body will hold on to the water you are drinking.  Just in case.  

When you are done and your body finally decides you aren't going to continue being a crazy person it decides you should expell some of that water.  So there are many trips to the bathroom to take care of that.  

It takes awhile for everything to settle enough so that sleep can actually happen.  

But once I was asleep it was awesome.  

One of the many reasons I love my trailer.  Basically I've got my own bed and blankets and cozies.  The bathroom is right there and anything I might need is probably in a cupboard somewhere.  Makes it really easy during and after an event.  

I got up in the morning and Joe was still sleeping.  He had walked 10 miles with me and had already been crewing since Friday morning for Josh and Kyle so he deserved to sleep as long as he wanted!  

I felt reasonably good overall.  I was sore but not feeling trashed.  The feet hurt a little but compared to the blisters I got last year or the ones I endured while I did the Camino last summer I was sitting pretty in that area too.  

Josh and Kyle had both gotten their 100 miles a few laps after I got done!  So proud of them for sticking to it.  I can't even imagine that distance!

Congratulations on another 100 miles Mr. Gum!!!

Josh, Kyle (Congrats on first 100 miles!) and Ed (Race Director)

It was another beautiful day but a little cooler since there was a bit of a breeze.  We wandered back to the finish so I could get my medal.  I love these medals!  They are so gorgeous.  They are Dia de los Muertos medals but when you really start looking closely you can see all the things they used that represent Oregon to create the shapes.  

Joe and I got the trailer somewhat packed up and moved to our campsite at the campground.  Then we went and took showers!  That was amazing as well.  

It was quite the adventure and I'm super proud of myself. 

Wendie Gum:  Thank you for taking such good care of everybody!  You are amazing and your heart is so huge!  I love you!

Josh Gum:  I don't know how you talk me into these crazy things but thank you for always encouraging, supporting and believing in me.  You help me believe I can do these things.  I love you!

Joe:  As always, you are my rock.  Thanks for always being my support crew in all things, not just on race day.  Thanks for walking with me and taking care of me from start to finish.  I 100% know I couldn't do these crazy things if you weren't there helping me all along the way.  I love you most of all!!

Ardor Adventures:  Thank you for putting on such an extraordinary event that makes every person, no matter their ability, feel welcome and successful.  From the amazing dancing and Dia de los Muertos shrine, the aide station with my favorite quesadillas and all the love and support you and your volunteers shower on everyone from start to finish, it is amazing!  So much hard work before and during to make it go well for the participants.  

Focusing on What I'm Grateful for.

As I adjust to my new normal I have been thinking about a lot of things.  This past year was a bit crazy with a lot of changes and new adventures.  I felt like I was stretched to my limits many many times and how I dealt with it wasn't always pretty.  Things have calmed down a bit now so I am learning, or re-learning, that it is okay to sometimes put myself first.  

The things that have settled are:

• Old house is sold.
• Youngest kiddo graduated high school.
• Successful graduation party for kiddo and her two besties (in spite of no kitchen due an unexpected remodel 😖)
• Moved into the new house.
• New house is 90% unpacked.  (The beginning of a new school year slowed down that process.)
• Youngest kiddo officially dropped off at college and successfully launched into phase one of adulting.  
• Joe's Santa Rosa race is done with his personal goal being crushed.  (I'm a wee bit proud!)
• Hubby taking a little break from Ironman training so that I can have a break from Ironman #1 support person.  (It's a lot harder than I ever think it will be.)
• Packed up classroom.
• Unpacked classroom in a new room.  

I'm feeling more settled and on a more even keel.  My workouts aren't dialed in but I'm getting better every week.  Better as in, I am remembering more and more that I CAN do these things.  I am remembering more and more how much it helps me stay on that even keel.  I have been working on dialing in my eating, since I know that I use that as a comfort and not in a healthy way.  Since the beginning of the school year I have lost 13 pounds.

All of these things sound great but I'm still struggling with some things.  A long time ago when I started my journey toward being a healthier me I had a long term goal.  In my effort to deal with the slow progress I made and the many setbacks and start-overs I had a long term goal.  The goal was that by the time I was 50 I would be at the healthy weight I wanted and be so much faster at the running.  That goal eventually included the swimming and biking parts too.  

I turn 50 next month.  

I'm nowhere near where I wanted to be.  

Not even close.  

It's hard not to focus on that.  I know that if I do focus on that too much then I will wallow in it and get sad about it and the downward spiral starts spinning.  

Since my school year began I have been working really hard on keeping my mindset positive.  Not always easy but it's getting better.  

One of the ways I have worked at keeping the more positive mindset is to keep an attitude of gratefulness.  Because I have SO MANY things to be grateful for.  

I am grateful for friends who send me flowers and a beautiful card the day after a race weekend that made me feel incredibly special and loved.

Thank you Kelli!!  💜

I am grateful for friends that drag me out of my house to do 5k races at the last minute.  Then hang out and eat lunch with me at my house.  

3rd place age group (Me) and 2nd Place age group (Kathryn)  Yay us!

Finn ran with me and he got a medal too! 

I am grateful for friends that invite us to be involved in their epic days.  Got to crew for some friends during their Mountain Lakes 100 mile trail run.  One friend got a fabulous PR and another friend finished her first ever 100 miler.  So amazing to be a small part of their day.  

The view as we were driving to the race start. 

Me and my best guy before the race began.  

Pote looking solid as she fuels up after about 26 miles. 

Josh with his pacer Joe getting ready to head out around Timothy Lake.

Kristy being all chill after finishing her first 100 😀

Congrats to Kristy!

Kristy with her #1 Support Person, Tony.

I failed to get any pictures of Josh finishing.  He got done WAY faster than we anticipated and caught me off guard.  lol  He definitely didn't hate that at all.  😜

I am grateful for being able to take advantage of the last few days of sunshine and explore new roads where I am now living.  I'm also grateful that I am comfortable going out and being active alone.  Sometimes that alone time to just do my own thing is good.

Beautiful fall day.

Still smiling even though I got stung in the jaw by a bee.  🐝

I am grateful for times walking about in the woods having great conversations, lots of laughter and maybe a few tears with people who love me even when I'm not at my best and am struggling with the dark places.  I have had people who did not do that in the past so that makes me appreciate the ones that have stuck it out with me!  I'm also grateful for goofy dogs that make me smile.

Greta, Georgia, Finn and Niko

Love the fall colors!

 I am grateful for a husband that takes the time to be with me and goes on adventures with me.

Champoeg State Park, Willamette River.

Even the feather I found had some fall colors.

I am grateful for my Pure Endurance coach and teammates.  I am grateful that I was willing to face the unknown and work towards what seemed like a ridiculous goal of doing an Olympic triathlon.  Setting that goal has brought the most amazing people into my life.  I am grateful that they cheered me on all season long even when I wasn't putting in the work to do more than just participate.

Not everyone is in this picture but I love my team and all their support!!

I am grateful for a boss that understood my need for a classroom with windows to the outside.  It has already been an incredible blessing to open the shades and get daylight into my room.  Or open the door and feel the fresh air, hear the wind blow, hear the rain fall and just know moment to moment what is going on with the weather and daylight.  I'm enjoying putting on my coat and standing outside my door to greet my students.  I know I will be enjoying it all year long.  I have a funny feeling that if it snows this winter, I will be the one with my class outside trying to catch snowflakes in our mouths.  😉


I am grateful for the amazing men and women I work with.  The ones that show up every day to an extraordinarily difficult job and put kids first.  It amazing to be a part of the staff at South Albany High School.  Some days it is a grind working through all the extra things we deal without outside of teaching the content.  But there are so many bright moments when students shine and getting to watch it happen brings tears to my eyes.

So....
I may not be the weight I want to be.
Or the athlete I thought I would be.
I am dealing with a terrible case of adult acne/rosacea.
I am feeling terrible self-conscious about my appearance.
I feel fat and frumpy.  I know it's getting better but it's hard not to linger here. 

But....
When I start to focus on those things,
I'm going to work at changing the story in my head.
I'm going to remember I have SO MUCH to be grateful for!

Stress Happens...

Life sometimes has a way of smacking you around. Sometimes it is normal every day things that can stress you out.  Other times it's big stuff that is out of your control.  And sometimes it's a really fun combination of both. 

There are lots of different ways of dealing with stresses. 

Mine is food. 

I've done better the last several years keeping a handle on this and using exercise to be my stress reliever. 

I have not done better the last several months using exercise and have gone back to food. 

My pants are complaining about this. 

Actually a lot of my clothes are complaining about this. 

I don't know how other people get inside their heads but mine is kind of a downward spiral. 

• First I eat because I'm stressed. 
• I don't work out because I'm tired and stressed.  Instead of exercising, I'm snacking.  
• Then I am mad at myself because I know I should be working out but I'm so tired (and sad) that I still don't work out.  
• So then I'm stressed about my workouts and my weight. 
• Then back to the start.  I eat because I'm stressed.  

It's a ridiculous cycle and I know it when it's happening.  Knowing it's happening almost makes it worse because I feel so weak that even knowing it's happening I don't seem to have the strength or will power to stop it. 

Life is always full of stresses.  Some are just harder to handle.  Right now we have some rather big ones happening.  Health issues that are affecting people I love.  Inability to do more than just be present is really hard for me.  Comfort and prayers are great but I want to DO something to make things better or easier and I do not have the ability to do that.  My yearly struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder where I once again have a classroom with no windows which adds to the struggle.  Youngest daughter's senior year, Joe getting ready to do another Ironman and me starting over again at a new school all are things that add to the stress.  Not necessarily bad ones but they add to the pile.  Basically just a lot happening all at one time. 

I decided that I would take the two weeks of my winter break to focus on getting my workouts done.  To get back into the routine of doing my workouts. 

Because I know that setting goals helps keeping me going in the right general direction, I have made a few goals to get me through the next month.  Then I will see where I am at and how I'm doing and make new goals. 

• Do all my workouts, even if I don't do them 100% or they aren't pretty.  I have to at least TRY.
• Count/track my calories.  Because I snack I know that I eat more than it seems like when I'm stressed so counting my calories will help me be aware of just how much I am really eating.  
• Drink all the water in my 40 oz. Hydroflask twice a day.  
• No sugar!  Too much holiday snacking.  Time to clean out the system.  It will suck at first but I know it my body will thank me later.  
• Support my family members in the best way I am able, whatever that may look like.  And be okay if it doesn't actually feel like I'm doing anything.  Comfort and prayers do matter.  
• Cut myself some serious slack if I do not do all of these goals perfectly every day.  I am only human after all.  

This is a very doable list with things I CAN control.  (I will have to keep reminding myself of this!!)