As Miley says, “It’s all about the climb.”

I know I have posted something about the music that plays on my iPhone at JUST the right times while I am running; and I have done that probably too much.  But today, I reached a very important goal and the song that played  at JUST THAT MOMENT was Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb”.

I started running a little over a year ago. My original goal was just to run a 5K distance (3.1 miles) without stopping.  I have walked many of 5Ks in my life, but I could hardly run to the end of my block without going into heart failure!  This was a huge goal for me.  I started with the C25K program.  But man, once I got to where I was supposed to run 8 minutes and then 20 minutes, I thought I was NEVER going to be able to do this.  My 5K race day came, and I couldn’t do it.  I couldn’t even run 8 minutes straight without having to stop.  I ended up walking most of that race. I completed it faster than my previous 5Ks, but I didn’t reach my goal of running the entire thing.  Then it was time to train for my next race.  See Jane Run 1/2 Marathon was in June.  Realizing that I was not going to be able to run that entire race, I decided I needed a training plan.  That is where I ran into the 4 run 2 minute walk training plan. I loved it. As a matter of fact, I have loved it so much, it has almost become a crutch.  I began to feel like I would never be able to run more than 4 minutes at a time.  So in the last year, I have tested myself several times to prove to myself I can run a full mile.  I can run more than 4 minutes.  I can do this.  I can do that.  But I have YET to run a full 5K distance without stopping!

You may remember that a couple of weeks ago, I decided to run without any kind of technology and I ran my fastest 5K distance, but I did stop twice to walk and drink water.  In my head I thought I couldn’t run that whole 5K.  Well my amazing husband has told me, “Martha, I believe you can run that complete 5K distance, you just never give yourself the chance.”   He was right. I haven’t. Not really.  This week, I have been dancing for 2-4 hours STRAIGHT (without breaks) getting ready to teach my first Zumba fitness class.  It dawned on me.  “Martha, if you can dance at that high intensity for THAT long with sweat literally pouring down your body, then you can certainly run for 30-40 minutes without stopping!”

So I woke up today and said, “Today is the day!!!!”

I woke up to a beautiful, clear, blustery, cold morning.  Last week when I ran Robie Creek there was a heat warning, and this morning I woke up to snow on the very same mountains I was just running Robie in.  Crazy!  Anyway, it was a perfect day to run.  After all, in just 8 days I will be running a full marathon.  I needed to get back out and run.  I strapped on my shoes (I need new ones by the way), my warm running hoodie, my music and went out for a run.  My goal today?   Listen to my tunes and run a complete 5K distance without stopping.

I took off on a different route.  I figured if I ran a different route, I would not be pre-conditioned to stop at any one point of my run. I set my running program to run a 5K distance.  It let me know when I reached mile 1. I was feeling great. I wasn’t winded. My form was good.   I reached mile 2 and I found myself having to make some quick decisions. “Which way am I going to turn to finish the distance and get home?”  I just turned right back around at the intersection and started heading back. I thought this was just going to be a quick out and back.  But then I found myself turning on a new street (I have driven this route before because my son’s friends lived here, but I have never run it.)  I ran through this old subdivision made of horse properties.  I love these old subdivisions. They are quiet.  They have old growth trees.  I get to see the farm animals that live there.  It’s just fun and peaceful.

I’m still feeling great and maybe getting a little winded, but I still have steam in my engines. This will not be my fastest 5K; I realize that. But it will be a steady 5K.  I have been running at a 12 1/2 minute pace this whole time.   Did you know that the elementary school asks a kid to run a mile in 12 minutes or faster to pass the Presidential Fitness Award? Most students can’t do that.  When I was a kid in elementary school I couldn’t even WALK that distance.   I’m a week away from 43, and I can!  There is something to be said for that!  Anyway, I am almost to mile 3 and enjoying my run through this old, peaceful subdivision.  Then I hear it.  The woman in my ear says I have reached mile 3.  I only have .1 left to go.  I unhook my phone from my belt and hold it in my hands so I can click “stop” as soon as I reach my goal.  I also see the intersection of this old subdivison and the new road I will be taking that will lead me out of this peaceful run and back into traffic.   And there it is!!!  3.1 miles…. 5K distance!  I RAN THE ENTIRE WAY AND DIDN’T STOP!!!!   And Miley was on my iPhone singing away, “Ain’t about how fast you get there; ain’t about whats waiting on the other side. It’s the climb!”  Then right there at the corner of my quiet rural subdivsion and the entrance to the busy city street, a rooster crows and celebrates my accomplishment!

As I continued walking home listening to Miley sing, I realized it has taken me a year to reach this particular goal.  I climbed many mountains along the way.  I tried running this particular distance several times and failed. But no  matter how many times I failed at THIS distance, I kept climbing to reach my other goals and my other distances and I never stopped climbing and reaching.  And today, a year later, I finally achieve this one “little” thing!  It’s not about how fast I got here and it certainly isn’t about what’s on the other side (cause usually the other side of a 5K run means longer runs to train for…but I have already done those other runs and finished them in my goal times), it’s just about the climb and what I have learned about myself in this last year’s climb!

   Here’s to your climb!  Just keep moving. Keep climbing. Keep the faith!  You can do it!!!!!  It’s all about the climb!

The Tale of a Samurai Sailtoad

Once upon a time there was a chubby little girl in 5th grade who wanted so badly to be on the track team at Canyon Creek Elementary School.  She joined and she wanted to run.  But at every track meet, all she was allowed to do was slip on the team t-shirt and sit on the bleachers and cheer her team on.

Fast forward 32 years, and this same little girl doused herself in sun screen, made sure her laces on her running shoes were tied properly, strapped on her hydration belt and topped it all off with her version of a Samurai Sailtod sun visor.   She was ready for the race of her life!  There would be no sitting on the bleachers this day.   When that starting gun goes off, she will be running with 2500 of her closest friends up the Aldape Summit and back down to Robie Creek.  The Race to Robie Creek is a half marathon that is 8.5 miles up a steep hill and the remainder is down a steep hill. This race is billed as “The Toughest Race in the Northwest”, and this particular day promised to be a blistering 80 degrees in the canyon. It was supposed to be so hot, that the race organizers were sending out heat warnings. Yikes!

Martha had trained for this race for months now. She trained running up the same canyon she was to race in.  She trained on the local hills by her house. She trained in the mornings.  She trained in the afternoons.  She trained on her favorite steep hiking trail.  She had done everything she could possibly do to be ready for this race, and now it was here!  Standing at the starting line with the masses of runners, she noticed they were all ages, all sizes, and all very excited. The Buddhist priest said his prayer, ending in, “Now Run Like Hell!”  and the Japanese drummers started drumming. The energy built until finally they stopped and the crowd started moving forward through the gates while “good luck” origami art was raining down on the racers.

Around the park and finally on the street that would take us up to the summit, the crowd had formed.  People standing on cars, on the curbs, up on the hill side…all of them cheering for her, the little girl who wasn’t allowed to run as part of the team in the 5th grade.  Along the street, there were little children with their hands held out, waiting for someone to run by and give them “high fives”. No one did. Martha darted through the crowds and gave them what they had been waiting for….recognition and appreciation.   (One day these kids might want to run this crazy race, and they need to remember how much fun the runners were having!)   Further along the course, the assisted living home had brought out some of their residents.  They too were all smiles and clapping. Martha jumped up on the curb onto the sidewalk to reach these amazing elders and gave them “high fives” and thanked them for their support.  Without these people cheering the runners on and providing the much needed energy, the races would be so much harder.  The smiles on their faces were so worth the extra bit of energy it took to get over there and show her appreciation.

Then Martha came to a group of 6  “too cool for school” teenage boys.  They didn’t have their hands out to be slapped, but there were out there smiling and watching. She ran over to them yelling, “You guys rock!”  And the welcome she got from these boys was incredible!  “We love your visor! You are the coolest one out here!”  “Great job!”

One foot in front of the other, Martha continued to run until the climb got a bit steeper.  It was hot and she knew just how much harder this race was going to get.  She needed to save her legs for hardest part so she started to power walk.   As she continued up the twisting turning road through the last subdivision of the run, she thanked those who stood on the sides of the roads cheering the racers on. She continued giving “high fives” to the little ones who stood along the road. She even stopped to let the kids with squirt guns shoot her down as they squealed with delight.

Up and up she went and she came across another set of little girls handing out slices of oranges to the runners.  These were not your regular aid station helpers; these were just people who lived along the course.    They were out there to support the runners who braved this run who were running towards the title of Samurai Sailtoad!  Martha gratefully grabbed and orange with a “You girls rock!” and kept on walking.   Martha was getting close to the end of the houses; soon it would be nothing but Rocky Canyon and the supported aid stations along the run.  But up ahead was one last treat from a home owner.   He was out with his water hose spraying people down!  Martha watched as one runner stopped and danced in the hose and saw the joy on her face as she played in the water.  Then Martha reached the hose and couldn’t resist the opportunity to stop face the hose dead on and take a picture of this special gift of fun and joy before the hard work really began!

Saying goodbye to all the people along the subdivision was bitter-sweet, but if there is going to be any enlightenment or any growth, if Martha was to become a Samurai, then she needed to head to the desert. She needed to head into the canyon and face her biggest challenge yet!    As she left the subdivision, there was one last down hill stretch into the canyon, and Martha took off running. There is nothing like the feel of running down hill, but it was short-lived.  Soon, it was back up again.

Runners had become walkers. Martha began her serious power walk up and up. She passed people along the way and watched as others ran past her.  She even caught up to one of her running buddies who was walking due to an injury.   Back and forth Martha and her friend Michelle exchanged leads and for a couple of miles Martha used Michelle’s lead as a rabbit to chase. “Keep her in your sites and just keep moving.” But sometimes, along this trail, Martha found herself stopping. Pictures must be taken.  Flute players were up on the cliff side playing beautiful music for the runners enjoyment.  Signs were posted along the way that spoke volumes in just a few lines; pictures must be taken.  There is always time to take pictures and capture the memories forever!

  

Finally Martha passed her friend Michelle and kept on going.  She was at the hardest part of the trail now.  4×4 first aid vehicles would pass by with runners who couldn’t make it to the top and Martha thought, “Wow!  They couldn’t do it, but I can?  Yes, I can!” And she kept going.  The incline was so steep that even the power walking was painful now. One woman would walk 10 feet then double over trying to catch her breath and then do it all over again.  Martha stopped to check on her, but the lady kept insisted she was alright.  She came across another lady who was having a hard time walking. Again, Martha stopped to check on her, but the lady insisted she was alright. (Later, at the finish line, Martha saw this same woman being lifted into an ambulance.)  Martha kept pushing.    The standard posture of the people for the last 1/2 miles to the summit was with their hands on their waists just willing their feet to keep moving.  Stopping just really wasn’t an option because to start again was too difficult! Just keep moving!  Thighs burning. Lungs gasping for each breath. Sweat dripping.  This was no easy task!

Finally, the summit was within view.  Support crew members came to meet runners at the last turn up to the summit to cheer the runners on.    High fives were being given.    The hardest part of this race, at least for Martha was just about over! Reaching the summit meant that the rest was down hill and mostly shaded!  Once at the summit, Martha took a banana and it never tasted so good!    She began her trek down. She ran into her friend Michelle again, who must have passed her during Martha’s last Kodak moment.  With an “I love you, Michelle”, Martha took off running down the hill in the beautiful cool shade with a smile on her face. Now is the time to make up her speed and catch up on her goal time!  Down and down she ran.

Upon reaching mile 11, Martha’s legs were beginning to feel a bit heavy.  She stopped to walk, but inside she heard the voice, “Martha, you can do this!  It is time!  Run!!  Run!!!  Run for that little girl who couldn’t in 5th grade!  Run for the ones who can’t!  With each step, run with love and send love!” (April is Child Abuse Awareness Month and her favorite radio DJ is staying awake for 175 hours to bring awareness had dedicated her race to children who need the love and support she needed when she was a kid.)  And she kept running.   Mile 12..just one more mile!   Mile 13, just .1 more miles!  RUN, MARTHA RUN!!!!!!!

Having no idea she had it in her, her feet began to sprint! She almost didn’t see her husband on the sidelines taking pictures.   She just kept sprinting and the crowds began to thicken again.  The announcer announced her name, “And Martha Spiva from Boise, Idaho is finishing strong!”  And her pace picked up.  She heard, “Come on, Martha!  Keep running!” “Finish strong!” “Woohooo Martha!”  She had no idea who these people were, but there they were cheering for her and her alone!  Finally she crossed the finish line and she heard her dear friend’s voice and she looked up to the left, up on the cliff side was Kimberlee cheering Martha’s name. Martha stopped for a picture.  Then exhausted and disoriented, a volunteer said, “Just keep walking straight, Martha.”  She kept walking straight and sobs escaped her tired body and tears began to flow.

Martha crossed that finish line.  She ran the toughest race in the Northwest in 3 hours and 30 minutes (or round about there) and she gave and received love all along the way, which was her biggest goal.  She honored the mountain she climbed. She endured the pain.  She completed the transformation from the little girl in 5th grade who was told she could be part of team but was too slow to run to a Samurai Sailtoad and she lives to race another day!     

The end…… or is it just the beginning……..

True Confessions of a Samurai

In the next 2 days I am facing the greatest challenge of my life.

You would think that becoming a mom and a wife at the age of 19 would be scary. You would think that walking my first marathon in 2006 would be scary. You would think over coming incest, eating disorders, multiple personalities would be a challenge and difficult. And yes, they all had their challenges. I certainly would have never gotten this far if I wasn’t a fighter.

This weekend, though, I find myself facing what I believe my biggest challenge yet, and I’m a bit scared/psyched out.

First I decided to run The Race to Robie Creek (the toughest 1/2 marathon in the Northwest). It’s 9 miles UP hill (steep) and 3 miles down (steep) hill and the last mile is supposed to be flat, but when I drove it last weekend, it looked pretty down hill to me. I signed up for this back in February. It’s a coveted race and race bibs sell out in 10 minutes for 2100 participants. This was meant to be my year. I have trained hard for this race. I have trained on the actual trail (its dirt road for 9 miles of it). I have trained on the hills by my house. I have trained on my favorite steep hiking hill. My running times have gotten faster. I have trained!

After registering, they announced this years theme…”Samurai”. The Legend says that walkers and slow runners can be eaten alive by huge carnivorous disgusting Rocky Canyon Sailtoads. This year anyone who does this race becomes a Samurai Sailtoad.

Then a 1 1/2 months ago, I decided I was quitting my job to become a Zumba instructor. The ONLY local (by that I mean 2 hours away) certification I could find was THIS Friday. The day before The Race to Robie Creek. This certification is 8 hours long with 2 hour drives each way…the day before a major race. I will be doing Zumba (actual physical exercise for a good portion of this).

In case you don’t know, the LAST thing you should be doing the day before a long endurance race is hard exercise. The week before a race, you should be resting with *maybe* a short 2 mile easy run ONCE during the week. In all of my excitement and wisdom have decided to do Zumba Certification the day before this mammoth run. I knew what I was doing when I signed up for Zumba; I knew what the date was. I worried over it for a while before actually registering. But I decided to go ahead and do it anyway, even if I have to walk the race the next day.

So here I am, the day before Zumba certification and 2 days before Robie and I’m scared and psyched out!

Samurai means warrior. Warrior means “a person who shows or has shown great vigor, courage, or aggressiveness as in politics or athletics.”

Today, I am not certain I feel quite like the Samurai I am supposed to be. Words can not express how nervous I am! I have spent hours worrying over what I am going to wear; it is supposed to be 80 degrees with no shade in a canyon. HOT if there is no breeze! It’s been raining for 2 days on top of the snow melt up there which means slippery/wet conditions on the dirt road. Did I mention it is going to be hot? I run with 40 oz of water in my hydration belt and usually my husband driving a support vehicle meeting me every 2 miles to make sure I have all the water I need, but he can’t for this race. The race is supported with 9 aid stations and they say they are bringing extra water but the slow runners should plan on having their own water just in case. Umm..hello…. I am slow!

My husband told me that I am NOT slow and most likely middle of the pack now that my pace has picked up. I went to the running store, worried about this, and the lady told me to trust the run coordinators; it’s not their first race. She told me I have done everything I can and I am prepared; trust my training.

That’s it. I gotta trust my self. Trust my training. Trust my body; I am in the best shape of my life! I will dominate both Zumba and Robie!

I am Samurai!

Oh The Freedom You Will Feel….

Or at least that is kind of what the article I read in my Runners World magazine stated when referring to running without technology. What does that mean, you might ask? Well, that means running without your iPod, no GPS telling you how many miles you have gone so far, no timing for your mile splits and certainly no coaching telling you when to run or walk. It means taking off for a run with just nothing but your sneakers and sunglasses!

I have recently signed up for the Grand Teton Relay Race. Last night my teammates met to draw numbers for which legs we will be racing. Each of us will run 3 legs of the race. I drew “Runner number 5” which means I am running Legs 5, 17, and 29. Mile 17 will be done in the dark on a dirt road/trail and is unsupported (no one around for miles..including my support Van). It will be just me, the stars, and the shadows of the Grand Tetons! It is supposed to be the most beautiful part of the race. I thought about creating a special music play list for this, but then realized that any music would take away from the beauty of it all. AND, I will be running in the dark ALONE with no one around; music in my ears may not be the smartest idea.

I decided it was time to start training without technology!

I laced up my running shoes, strapped on my hydration belt, slipped on my sunglasses and headed out for a run. My goal: just run as much as I can. Normally, I run with a coaching program that tells me to run for 4 minutes and walk for 2 minutes. It tells me when I hit a mile marker and how fast that mile was and what I am sustaining throughout the entire run. It’s pretty cool. But today, I didn’t have that. I started out saying, “Just run as much as you can. Run the entire block.” I ran the entire block. “Keep running to the intersection of Victory and Cole.” I ran that far and had a green light and kept on running. “Run to the 1 mile marker”. (I was running my usual 3.5 mile run so I knew where my miles were.) I kept running. I reached the mile marker. “Keep running to the bottom of the steep hill that is coming up.” I ran to the bottom of the hill. “Keep running UP the hill.” I ran all the way up the steep hill. Then I stopped to walk and drink some water. I had run 1.5 miles without stopping. That is the longest I have ever run on the road without stopping and I did that blasted steep hill! I walked for *maybe* 3 minutes then I picked up speed again. “Run to mile 2.” I reached mile 2 and kept going. “Run to Cole Rd” I did and had to stop and wait for traffic so I could cross. Then I kept running. “Run to the end of the street” I reached the end of the street and kept running. “Run to the dirt trail.” I ran to the dirt trail then took out my water bottle to drink as I walked for about 2 minutes. I said, “Walk to the paved path then run again.” I reached the paved path and started running again. “Run to mile 3.” I ran to mile 3 and kept on going. “Run to the Victory Rd.” I passed my 5K mark and kept running to Victory Rd. “Run up the hill to my street.” I reached the top of the hill and found my pace picking up. “Turn the corner and sprint home!” I picked up the speed and sprinted the last few yards all the way to my front door! I came in and checked my time. I left the house for my run at 5:20 and returned at 5:57! 3.5 miles in 37 minutes! My 5K mark was about 31 minutes! That was my fastest 5K and 3.5 miles ever!!!!

The Runner’s World article said that if I run without technology, I will likely find myself feeling more free and running faster. It was right!!!!!

I don’t think I will run all of my runs without music, but it was certainly a great run today! I will continue to add this to my training as I get ready for the Grand Teton Leg 17! In the mean time, I have a big race in just a week…Robie Creek, the toughest half marathon in the Northwest!!!

You never know what you can do until you actually TRY it! What are you afraid to get up and try? The only time you are a failure is when you never actually try!  Get up and give it a try!  You won’t regret it!

Noticing and being GRATEFUL for the changes!

It’s April 9th and Spring is in full bloom!  The trees around my house have beautiful blooms on them.  Tulips are coming up.  It’s just gorgeous outside! Animals are waking up.  Birds are nesting and baby birds are coming out.  It’s just beautiful out there!  Spring is a time for new life to come forth!  Look at the holiday that just passed….Easter!  It’s all about new beginnings!  It’s also a time to plant for a harvest in the Autumn.  What are YOU going to plant right NOW?  What kind of life are you creating for yourself right now so that you can see the changes and the difference in the fall?

While you are mulling that over, I wanted to share something with you.

I started running last April.  I had a goal, but I can honestly say I truly hated running!  I hated the act of running.  The way I felt afterwards was kinda cool. But I never felt that runner’s high that everyone talks about. I never really get lost outside of myself in some spiritual moment while I’m running. It was always a struggle for the next step and the next breath.  Let’s face it, when you weight 240# running is going to be difficult!  But I kept running.  In the last year, I have celebrated some amazing moments in my running “career” and I have found a true love for the sport!  I have learned so many great things about myself while I was running and I continue to learn. And if you keep a history of your training/running, it’s a great way to look back and see your progress and give you a much-needed “‘atta girl!” when you need one! (Especially when that scale isn’t cooperating!)

Anyway, today while I was finishing up my run I was getting to mile 4 and realized that I have shaved off a couple of minutes in my running times.  I remember my runs last year.  I remember how painful they were.  I remember how I thought I would NEVER run a 5k in a decent time much less be able to run the 2011 Honolulu Marathon!  I was toast and discouraged. But I kept at it.  Today, I did a small run. It was just 4 miles and my pace was 13 minutes 26 seconds and that was with some serious hills!  That is still “slow” and considered “back of the packer” for any marathon, but it is certainly FASTER than I was last year. I came home and pulled up my records from April 27th  (the first time I tracked anything on my phone) and I did 2 very flat miles at a 15 minute 58 second pace (nearly 16 minutes per mile) and I remember being very toast at the end of that run! It was hard!

I’m so grateful for the lifestyle changes I have made. I am grateful for my health.  I know that my running will continue to get faster as I continue to train for more races.

I just wanted you all to know that it literally takes step by step to get where you are going!  It can be painful and you might even want to quit, but the end results are so very worth it! Please keep going!  Take pictures of yourself and keep track that way. It’s amazing to see the physical changes. Keep records of your times when you walk or run and look back at those. These will help keep you motivated and keep you in the right frame of mind!  You got this!  If I can do this…Anyone can!!!