"Javelina" - The Sheepdogs [ Javelina Jundred ]

Only four days to go.

Four days until my first [TRAIL] 100 mile run. Yes, I have done two other 100+ mile runs but ------ they were both on a treadmill. So this will be new, exciting, nerve wracking & [hopefully] awesome.

The Javelina Jundred.

This race takes place at the McDowell Mountain Regional Park outside Fountain Hills, AZ.

It is a race I've wanted to do for the past three years. It typically falls on my/our anniversary. And I really can't blame the Pita for NOT wanting to spend our day watching his crazy wife run in loops for 24 hours.

HOWEVER...........this year it is 3 days after our anniversary and he surprised me with the best anniversary present ever.

My. Race. Entry.

[instagram @runemz]

The Javelina Jundred is comprised of six and a half loops on the rolling single track and jeep track of the 15.4 mile Pemberton Trail. The race begins in the clockwise direction and alternates each loop (washing machine style).

And we all really know WHY I signed up don't we?

Ya, I might be slightly obsessed with belt buckles. And this one......

the. freaking. best.

I will crawl, if I must, to get this buckle.

I plan to fuel mostly the same way I did in San Francisco. Mad amounts of Vega hydrator, Vega Energizer, bagels & #ALLTHEFREAKINGPICKLEJUICE I can get my hands on.

It is going to be a HOT one.

HIGH: 89* / Low 60* ---- not ideal but not horrible.

The hydration is going to be critical.

Good thing - I was just sent 500. Yes. FIVE + ZERO + ZERO shaker cups from GNC. Because if you express a GREAT dislike of shaker bottles ........ they'll send you 500. I kid. I kid.

It goes without saying but I AM A HUGE fan of GNC. Always have been. I'm pretty sure the Athletarian & I hit up no less than 5 GNC's in the 5 days she was in Arizona.

I'm truly grateful they have donated these freaking make my eyes hurt shaker bottles.

I'll be selling them and donating ALL the funds [less actual shipping fees] to Effect International. The same charity I ran to raise funding for last month in San Francisco. Stay tuned for more info......

And one of the best parts of this weekend.......

This Guy:

[ @nicklauscombs ]

Mr. Combs. He will be pacing me for the last 40-ish miles of this run. My partner in VEGA crime. He was one of the people who inspired me to go "plant based". Haven't looked back since. He is an amazing runner & I am truly blessed to have him pace me.


What an adventure this will be.

If you'd like to donate to Effect International click the link [here].

#jfr

Only MY MIL

So my MIL [mother-in-law, I'm lazy] is pretty sweet.

I know a lot of people have horror-like stories or daily nightmares about their "in-laws". 

Not me.

Being that I only have a MIL, one SIL & one niece [on the Pita's side] . . . if we DIDN'T get along. . . . That would probably be weirder.

Oh and the fact that we see them once [maybe] twice a year . . . I mean seriously, who CAN'T get along twice a year?!

Okay, so it doesn't hurt that she thanks me for taking the Pita "off her hands" and says, "I knew it'd take one special woman to put up with that Sod".  Come on, how can I NOT love that?!

[ya, Peanut really was THAT happy that day - MIL is on far right.]

She returned recently from her second trip to Uganda. 

With amazing photos like this:

This was labeled, "lunch line - maize porridge - very watery, but was their main meal."

There were many - many others.  And this email she sent to all the family:

"These are some of the photos we took while we were in Uganda.  The little boy at the top had malaria and had just thrown up all over the place after having his porridge and while ~ I was doing a lesson observation - teacher handled it very well. He is lying on a chair in his classroom. He was only about 4. The little boy counting is doing his maths on the ground using a stick to write the numbers then filling them in with stones.We gave teachers stickers to give the children as a reward, and they stick them on the child's head, so when he goes outside everyone will see he has been good.  It was a great trip, I really enjoyed it and we are really making a difference. 

Lots of Love,
A

P.S.  Em, I tried getting a photo of a group of men running.  They are so fast (I must have needed my camera on a different setting).  No running shoes in sight though. "

[I'm immediately thought of you Angie B.]



I dream of being so fast, I am a blur in photos.

biggest [sweaty] loser & "oh no you didn't"

Every Tuesday Peanut has volleyball @ 7pm at the YMCA. Usually "this" is how I enjoy myself for the 57 workout minutes but last night [gasp] MY machine was being used/taken/exploited. [panic] I know . . . Sad. Sad. Sad. Sooooo I ended up on the treadmill [mind you a super sweet one] watching "biggest loser". [love that show, cheering for YOU Sam!] On this completely magical treadmill. Are you freaking kidding me?  A 15" screen!  That actually works! With captioning! What?!

the
best
57
minute
run.
in
for . . .
ever.

[well minus a huge industrial "patton" fan blowing at my backside].  My daughter asked if I had "used the pool tonight".  HA!  I wish I "glistened" but I just sweat. buckets.

52 minutes "in" a lady hopped on the treadmill next to me.  You know when you can tell your being critiqued.  looked at.  picked apart.  It was odd.  okay it was seriously weird.  I finished my last 5 minutes - started cooling down.

then I feel a "tap-tap" on my sweaty arm.  [note: not a big fan of being touched by glaring, odd, strangers]

Her:  you like to "jog"?
Me: [thinking, oh no she didn't just say that/ call me that .... breathe be nice] yes, I do.

She went on with a few more "jogging" questions.  Which immediately reminded me of this explosive add campaign from 2007.  Why did this / does this term bother me?  Why do I even care?  Does it bother you?  Was I just having an "I'm a snot" moment? [totally fine with comments declaring "yes, you are"] I want to know. 

            *   *    *    *    *     *     *     *     *     *

a huge thanks to my new blog friend for the heads up on hulu.com. Awesome. My run this morning. went. by. in. a. flash. excellent. didn't even notice the white wall today.

y a y !

I'm thinking . . .

 . . .

Sounds intriguing doesn't it?  But I'm loving the idea of this right now.

Well, that is, if I don't get into this.

Who's coming with me?

Happy Friday!

yes / no

Desert Classic - January 30, 2010

Was it cold?   Yes.

Does Aunt A look way too cute when she runs?   Yes.

Do we Eliason girls look happy when we run or what?   Yes.

Could she have run the marathon?  YES!

Were the other runners the most supportive group of runners I've ever run with? Yes.

Did Peanut run the mile [she was hoping to] with me?  No.

Is this the best sight to see when running?  Yes.

Did I make the time I needed to for NYC?  No.

Was I still happy? [See above mile 25 - got the tears out at 24.]

Is my husband the most supportive ever? Y E S !

Did I qualify for Boston .... again?  Yes.

Did I love having my new sweet [but make me look like a "puller"] sunglasses? YES.

Did my time get posted correctly? No.

Am I happy with my [correct] time?  [believe it or not] Yes!

Did I win as the first female finisher? Yes.

Do I know why I am standing in 2nd position [ballet]? No.

Did Peanut think this made me the sweetest Mom ever?  Heck Ya.

Am I bummed?  More like devastated.  I know I can do it. 

Bring on the [insanely F L A T] Rock N Roll course in 2011!

Will we Eliason girls run a marathon together?  Just tell me when ladies!

funny & happy - happy - happy!

Thought this was hilarious . . .

Wait ----- where are my 2010 chonies in this picture?!

*  *  *  *  *  *

And this sister of mine who [big huge huff] looks younger than me:

She's running the 1/2 marathon [kindof with me - same course] tomorrow!!

awesome.  happy. happy. happy.

The next one [the big one] - we run together!  A "biological sister-hood" run!

Now, if we could just get mom and dad to call in "sick" to work at the temple... hmmmmmmmm