Styx n' Stones Trail Run 30K

Well, That Didn't Go As Planned
March 25, 2017
Devil's Den State Park

The first mile is mostly uphill as the trail winds up bluffs to the top.  At that point one is suppose to take a sharp right.... somewhere......

 

I followed about 25 other runners off the course.  The course markings were cleared by the local cross country team before we knew we were off track so we looked and looked and looked and just never found the course again.   We got the mileage, but we missed the first aid station all together.  We got to the 9 mile point in time to continue on for the full 30K.  With Athens Big Fork coming up the next weekend, April 1, 2017, we decided not to crush ourselves on a course for which we wouldn't get miles nor points.  

Most of it washed off.  I LOVE mud!!  

Lisa, Eddy, Deb, Wesley, Thaveep, Emily

March 2017

March 2017

We, Mikey & Me, discovered the Bald Knob Wildlife Refuge just south of Judsonia.
Very few cars, dogs, people, make this a fun place to play for us all.  We always see deer.  Mikey is always unhappy that I don't let him off the leash.  We have fun.  

Mikey Exploring

Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge, opens Mar 1 for the summer

Mikey sure likes this place, too bad Mama won't let him off leash.

Mikey and I counting deer at the Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge

New Family Member
I'm not ready for the time nor mental commitment a puppy will take.  Mikey needed a brother very badly.  Mikey was still in a deep state of mourning after the death of Wally.  A Beagle that won't eat, won't play, is a problem.  So another puppy it is.  Mikey pouted for a few days about the new intruder.  Now he loves his brother and even initiates play.  Its so wonderful to see Mikey happy again.

Meet Baldr Bear.  We weren't ready but Mikey sure needed him.

Baldr Bear owning his new home

Baldr Bear has his first ride, yes he has his own seatbelt harness

Mikey and his new brother Baldr Bear

Hill Repeats with Mikey
Michael Wardian mentioned on a podcast, I think Talk Ultra Podcast, he was running 10,000 ft of climb each week during his training to prepare for the Barkley Marathons.  So...... why not.  I have a goal of 10,000 ft of climb each week.  I have only hit it twice over the last month.  A win is that I am getting more climb in than if I didn't have the goal.  

Mikey's trip to the Ouachita National Forest

We know it is panting, but that sure looks like a smile

Hill repeats on the corkscrew

So much for Selfies with Dogs!  

Back to the Bald Knob Wildlife Refuge for training miles. 

Running in the refuge, first snake of the season

More beauty in the refuge

Feb 2017

January 2017

Swampstomper - TN

Blown Away and Very Happy For It - My First LuLaRue Experience - I feel pretty, oh so pretty!

 First we need to talk about direct marketing.  It is a beautiful thing.  How does it work?  The company, instead of having middle men and advertising has a system set up for consultants, advocates, etc.  This allows people to make a bit extra income part time, at home.  The big factor one needs to realize is that in direct marketing one isn't selling the items, they are selling the opportunity. Then thing two is to not be a jack hat to those who say no thank you to the opportunity.  Good grief, just be nice.  Its bad customer service to bully anyone who isn't interested.

I was so timid about direct marketing in general that I would appologize and explain over and over again that I was a customer friendly and "no thank you" friendly wellness advocate with DoTERRA Essential Oils .  A woman who was interested in oils helped me learn to knock it off.  Direct marketing is just one more way to move products that solve problems.  Sara has some absolutely fabulous heath, diet, nutrition products that are useful to fuel anyone including the endurance athlete. Visit Sara Pilgrim's Isagenix site.

Now on to LuLaRoe.  I don't know when Kim Seemiller, our daughter, tried her first article of clothing by LuLaRoe, but after that first wearing she was hooked, the leggings are the most magnificent, wear, comfort, design, fit.  What more could a girl want.  Visit her here.

She invested in LuLaRoe starting her own business.  I still wasn't interested.  I'm not a leggings kind of girl.  I wear t-shirts and short, or t-shirts and jeans.  I don't wear t-shirt type dresses.  Nope I'm not that kind of girl.  Kim invested in this.  I saw her excitement and was very excited for her.  I pray for her success and send anyone interested her way.  I support her 100%.  Well LuLaRoe has t-shirts and workout capris so I could support Kim personally.  At least that.

 We visited Kim over Christmas.  She had a few racks of inventory, leggings, skirts, tops, cover-ups, dresses.  I was more than willing to try some things on.
To say I have body image issues would be an understatement.  Trying on clothes is a traumatic experience to be done only when absolutely necessary.   It would help if I indulged in adult beverages before, during or after trying on clothing, but me not being a partaker, would go for a run and a cry after the most unpleasant event of clothing shopping.

I trust Kim.  I saw the time and effort she was putting into learning her trade while she was visiting us in November.  So I put myself in her loving hands.  Oh my, was my mind blown away!

The cut of the pieces of clothing are woman friendly.  The fabrics feel fabulous, its oh so much more than "just t-shirt fabric".  I tried on skirts, tops, dresses and ...  wait for it.... leggings!
I had fun!  what, wait, what!  Yes, I had fun.  I felt pretty.  I still feel pretty days afterwards.  I have never had a shopping experience that was so pleasant, fun, respectful of a woman and her normal body issues.

I would highly recommend LuLaRoe for every woman!  Sure, some will say "no thank you".  The sizing is a bit different than the rest of the fashion market/industry.  When you can I would highly recommend going to an in person show that first time to try on and see how these pieces fit you.

I'm still grinning on the inside.  I love it that there is clothing hanging in my closet that I look fabulous in and they feel great!  Thank you to Kim and LuLaRoe for the best clothing shopping experience of my life!
Kim Seemiller
lularoekimseemiller@gmail.com
facebook.com/lularoekimseemiller

LoVit Trail Marathon - 4 Dec 2016

A week before the LoVit Trail  Marathon, an ugh escaped my mind and lips while looking at a the forecast for this day.  Rain, wind, cold was on the menu.  OH NO!

I asked Chrissy how one determines if they are being wimpy, sandbagging it, or determine not running it is the best course of action.  She told me if I'm not gonna have fun, that is the determining factor.  Yes, I need that reminder that this is supposed to be fun.  

I remembered the Athens Big Fork Trail Marathon last year.  I ran the 17 mile fun run.
Run Report Here.
It was cold!  We got snowed on!  I had a stinking blast!!  So the decision was to run this the same way, have fun and take pictures.  

With race director's blessing I started an hour and a half early.  This race is HARD, lots of rugged climbs, so I wanted to be sure and have the time to complete the full marathon.  

Photo Sara Pilgrim - Meeting Sara at the aid station

Long before I got to the turn around aid station those that started at the official start time caught up to me.  It was fabulous to have Sara catch me.  She sure is so supportive and she gives great hugs! 

Hickory Nut Aid Station (turn around)

Aid station volunteers give so much.  We are moving, we are seeing the sights doing what we love.  They are in one place for hour upon hour no matter how wet, windy and cold.  They are the reason we can do what we do.  

There was so much beauty to see, appreciate and dance with out on the trail.

Photo by Steve Griffin - Trail/Run/Rain = smile

Steve has a camera with him on his runs.  He likes documenting the event through pictures.  Thank you Steve.  He brings out the smile in us all. 

By the time this comes into sight I was so completely ready to be done. 

A wordy dird escaped my lips upon coming upon this.  Oh I was ready to be done.  I forgot we detoured off the main road to this path in the last mile of the race.  Oh well..... if one runs 26 miles, finishing it up on a paved path should be doable.  LOL

Yes I will be back!
Yes I will start early.
Yes I will race myself, my time, my effort.
Yes I will have fun.

6/12/24 Hours at Sunset Park - Benton, AR

Shopping and peopling just aren't ever on my list of favorites.  So the weekend after Thanksgiving

I think this graffiti gets refreshed every year.  The first year Andi Stracner and I made up a new story for this couple with each lap we made.  It helped the night go by.  

I love the look of the little lake as morning comes on

The week leading up to this event was spent fighting off and losing the fight to a cold.  So it was an easy choice to drop from the 24 hour to the 12 hour event.

The plan was to walk for 12 hours.  I knew a strenuous effort would not be good or me.  A trail run a few weeks before showed me that my calf was not ready for such craziness.  So this run would be about moving, that is all.

That is all I did too.  Maybe walking 80% of this run got me though 50K, then a drive home.  I didn't suffer prolonged cold or ill effects from this effort.

The first rule of running is to run in order to run another day.  That one I succeeded with.