Run Streak #2

Most of you know I had a run streak before this one I’m currently in.  I started the summer before Grant began high school and ended September of his first year of college due to a meniscus tear and subsequent surgery. 1,521 days of running a minimum of one continuous mile every day. The run streak shaped a big part of my identity. I had a massive mileage base, a ton of speed, was racing competitively and frequently, and averaging a 10 K a day for 4+ years. It felt good to be excelling at something. 

After my knee surgery, I floundered. Who was I without the streak? In the three years that followed, I still ran a lot, just not every day. I gave up my mileage base and my speed. In exchange, I got to walk with friends. I practiced yoga regularly. Talked a lot about lifting weights, but rarely did it. Hiked more often. Ran just because, and not because I had to. I raced a little but not a lot.

In June 2022 Katie was working in upstate New York. She was nine months into her run streak and we missed each other terribly. I started running every day again because it was something we could do “together’ and just like that Run Streak #2 began.

This run streak is different. Because I’ve had two knee surgeries on my right knee. I promised Curt I would not go so hard. I committed to a minimum of one day a week where I only ran one slow mile. The commitment to lean into rest has been so good for me.

In the four years of the current streak, I have run a ton of 1 mile days. Katie and Paige both have run streaks so when they are in town we frequently run 1 mile and then go for a walk so we can chat and catch up. It’s a beautiful time of connection with my girls. I learned to play pickleball, started backpacking again, and still hate weight training. 

This streak I’ve run a handful of half marathons, including Katie’s first half marathon. I was there to cheer her across the finish line of her first marathon. I have turkey trotted with my family, raced and trained with my young, fast friends, and jogged slowly on single track trails through the mountains. 

A lot of my running friends have swapped racing and running for walking and hiking. I like those activities but I still love the challenge of a training block and the thrill of throwing down on race day. I want to keep racing, but I’ve also  leaned into listening to my body and pivoting as needed. I gave up two marathon training blocks because life and my body said, “Now is not the time.”  I’ve pivoted on countless training runs that were supposed to be faster or longer based on what my body was telling me.  It’s a new skill for me and one I’m still honing.

For me, running every day provides accountability. It gives me space to clear my head, spend time with the Lord, and build relationships with people who are willing to tag along.  It also builds mental fortitude because I run when I feel terrible.  Run when I feel great.  Run in the cold. The heat. The rain. The snow and on rare occasion, a treadmill. 

Last week someone asked me what day my run streak was on. As usual, I had to look it up. I was shocked to discover this run streak had surpassed my last. I had no idea this milestone had already come and gone and that’s when it hit: my run streak is something I DO, but it know longer defines me.  I celebrate that growth.  Cheers to day #1,538 and any more that Lord allows me to run. 

Success is Grown in The Little Things

by Jodi

On February 1st, my husband Curt and I participated in the Roaring Run in Scio, Oregon. He ran the 10k. I gave full effort for the slowest half marathon I've run in over eight years. BLECH.

Trying to pretend we were excited to go run in the rain and the wind.

Such a small event that my finish time got me second place age group and fourth overall woman. 

Dr. Stilp makes everything better.  I love him.

When I tore my meniscus in August of last year, I was over four years into my run streak.  Each of those four years, I ran an average of 2,000 miles a year or about 5.5 miles a day.  I had a broad base of mileage and speed to pull from, and I loved being strong and fast.

My exercise rhythm post-surgery has been challenging.  I can't quite seem to find a healthy balance between running, rest, and implementing other forms of exercise like yoga and walking. 

I tried an exercise streak, but only made it 73 days before I accidentally missed a day.  I was irritated, so I took two more days off just because I could. You'd think I would come off those days feeling rested and relaxed, but I just felt bloated and grouchy. 

I put the Roaring Run half marathon on my calendar hoping it would motivate me to get back in the swing of doing some hard workouts again.  I put track, tempo, and long run workouts on my calendar.  Each time they came up, I found a reason to cancel or modify the workout. I was woefully undertrained for this race and I knew it.

Race morning it was raining with 17 mph winds on an exposed course. Wind is my least favorite weather condition to race in.  Curt doesn't even like running.  He was just participating because it was something we could do together. We legitimately considered skipping the race and going back to bed.  Even worse, I was the one who suggested this.

In the car on the way to the race, I committed to stop whining about the 13.1 miles ahead of me and choose joy, be thankful, and give my best effort. 

The race was hard.  I knew it would be.

• It was a super small crowd of runners this year.  I chased a woman for the first six miles, but once I passed her, I was alone on the country roads.  It was super lonely and difficult to maintain a race mentality.
• This race was only my fifth double digit run in the last seven months.  YIKES.  My legs were tired at mile 9.  
• I had trained so little that I didn't have a realistic goal pace per mile.  I really had no idea what my body could do. I thought a 7:45 pace was attainable, and I maintained it for the first 6.82 miles.  Then I turned a corner and ran straight into that 17 mph headwind.  It obliterated me.  I kept the same effort and my pace dropped 20-30 seconds per mile.  It shows in my splits.
• The rain was persistent enough that I was soaked by the time I finished, but it could have been a lot worse.  I was thankful that the showers were scattered and not consistent.
• The water stations were limited and I was relying on them for water, so I was thirsty a lot. 
• Something in the air triggered my occasional shortness of breath so I worked hard for big chunks of the race to manage my breathing. 
• BLAH...BLAH...BLAH...

I was on the Struggle Bus.

Some days, running is just hard, even when you're well trained and prepared, which I was not.  I reminded myself of the goal I set in the car, and am very proud to say I followed through on managing my attitude, giving my best effort, and being grateful even when it was tempting to sit down on the side of the road and cry or call for a ride to the finish.   

I suspected that I had lost all my speed and a a large portion of my mileage base.  The Roaring Run race gave me a concrete number to solidify this theory.  I can work with that.

A few days after the race, I added a late spring half marathon to my calendar and downloaded a new training schedule.  The first long run was 9 miles and I lined up two friends to run some of it with me.  The morning of our run, one got sick and one got called into work. Immediately I texted, "I'll probably just skip it and do yoga instead."  For real.  This coming from the girl who didn't miss a day of running in four years.

I put down my phone and was immediately convicted.  I can't whine about being slow and out of shape if I'm not willing to put in the work to be fast and in shape.  I can't make a commitment to myself and then break my word to myself just because it's hard.  It's not right.  

It's not who I am.

I stopped what I was doing and headed out for ten lonely, but satisfying miles.  

Success is grown in the little things.  

View on my run.  It had a lot of climbing.

Those ten miles were the first of many little steps to a more successful half marathon later this spring.

What about you? Are you on the Struggle Bus, breaking promises to yourself or to others?  Do you want to join me in committing to keeping your word and growing success through the little decisions?  Let's go!

All Good Things Must Come to an End: 1,521 Days

by Jodi

All good things must come to an end.  I tore the meniscus on my right knee in early August.  I knew immediately that something big was wrong.  The pain was manageable, but the instability of my knee was nauseating.  It shifted and popped internally as I walked, and frequently gave out or sent shooting pain through the side of my knee.  Oddly, it felt better running than when I was walking.

I had to step off my anchor leg of the Portland Running Company Girlz Hood to Coast team.  Curt and I were supposed to go on a three day backpacking trip through the Sisters Wilderness.  That got modified to what we termed "backcamping,"  camping in our tent on our comfy cots, but took day hikes into the Sisters Wilderness.  The final big blow was bowing out of a South Sister summit with three of my running buddies.  All three events had been on the calendar for months.  They each felt like a loss.

The biggest loss was ending my run streak.  I knew when I tore my meniscus that it was not going to get better without surgery and that the end of the streak was inevitable.  I also knew that what's torn is torn.  Running was not going to make my injury any worse, so I ran my streak out all the way to the day of surgery.

On Friday, September 6th, I met my friend Paula on Portland's south waterfront and we ran one, slow mile, trying not to sweat because I had to abstain from food or drink in anticipation of surgery.  Paula inspired me to start a streak, so it seemed almost sacred that we would share the last mile of my streak together. Paula reminded me that it was okay to grieve the end of my streak.  She also reminded me that 4+ years of running every day was something to celebrate.  We reviewed all the big life changes that took place in the four years of my streak.

Here are some of the highlights:

• My husband got his doctorate while working full time.
• My son started high school.  Got his drivers permit.  Got his driver's license.  Won four state titles in water polo. Played three high school sports all four years of high school. Graduated from high school with honors. Got his first full time job. Started college.
• My daughter Katie finished middle school. Started high school.  Got her drivers permit. Got her license. Got her first job.  Upgraded to a second job that she loves even more. Played two high school sports all four years of her high school career. Started her senior year and is applying to colleges. 
• My daughter Alli finished middle school.  Started high school. Went from middle school athletics to playing four varsity sports her freshman year.  Got her drivers permit.  Landed her first job. And we can't wait for her to get her license in the spring because... ALL THE SPORTS!
• My youngest daughter Paige finished elementary school. Started middle school. Added two more sports to her schedule. Got certified as a babysitter. Grew at least a foot.
• My photography business went from very part-time to almost full time.  I added real estate photography and corporate head shots to my menu, and deleted weddings.
• I won a marathon with a new marathon PR that I'm pretty sure I will never get close to again.  I still can't believe that a first place plaque is hanging on my garage wall. 
• I completed an ultra-relay, running more than 40 miles in 29 hours for my portion. This might be the pinnacle of my running career.  
• I got to wear the Portland Running Company uniform and represent them at Hood to Coast for three of the past four years.
• Ran several marathons, half marathons, relays, and 10ks over the past four years, each with their own flavor, story, and piece of my heart.

It was good to pause and reflect on all the ways God has led me and my family in the past 4+ years.  

It's been ten days since I had surgery.  The first three days were miserable: non-weight bearing and couldn't get ahead of the pain.  Day four was a step above miserable.  Day five was the turning point. I ditched the crutches and started the painful process of bearing weight and trying to break up all that swelling in my knee.  

Seven days after surgery, I walked one mile.

Today, I ran my first mile post surgery.  

Ran my first mile post-surgery

I am in awe of the human body and it's ability to heal.

I would love to start another run streak, but this is my second meniscus surgery in ten years.  My surgeon said this surgery should get me another ten years - give or take - out of my knee.  The running is therapeutic for my soul, but not so great on my knee.  I am taking my husband's advice and starting an exercise streak instead.  I love the accountability of a streak to keep me moving each day, and am intrigued by the flexibility that an exercise streak will offer.  I hope to bring back more consistent yoga, cycling, strength training and maybe even swimming (GAG), but we all know that the streak will be 90% running.  I'm on day four of this new exercise streak and am excited to see where it takes me.

In the end, my run streak was 1,521 days.  I'm grateful for every mile, every day, every friendship formed and forged on the run.  All good things must come to an end, but each ending leaves room for a new beginning.  Cheers to new beginnings.  Run on friends.

Running with Love and Grace: Hood to Coast Pacific City

By Tanya

Have you ever had one of those experiences where everything has so much MORE than you expected? More meaning, more challenge, more adventure, more accomplishment, more FUN? That is exactly what happened on May 4th at the Hood to Coast Pacific City Relay.

As you may remember, I was given the opportunity to run as a charity athlete for the American Cancer Society for the HTC Pacific City with my running team BRU4GRACIE in honor of my running mate Jamie's beautiful daughter Gracie who we lost to cancer just a few months before the race.

In the months leading up to the relay we were able to attend Gracie's "Biggest Pinkest Funeral" and see signs of her in our neighborhoods with the beautiful pink ribbons placed all around in her honor as well as the beautiful pink sunsets that reminded us of her brief but powerful time with us.

Because emotions were still raw it was with mixed emotions that we prepared our hearts and teams for the relay. Of course, first and foremost we wanted to honor Gracie and pour love and support on her family and those affected by cancer by raising money for ACS. Secondly, we wanted to make sure Jamie was okay to run especially since he had taken on the task of leg 11, the most difficult leg in Hood to Coast history! Jamie remarked that he hadn't been able to train as much as he would have hoped but always the overcomer, he stated "This is going to be hard, but I've been through many things harder than this!"

When race day arrived two of our three teams were given the earliest 6am start time. We arrived in the dark morning with vans decked out in pink BRU4GRACIE signs and our hearts shining bright full of love. We took a few starting line photos and then the leg one runners were off!

For those of you who have not run a relay race before, the runners take turns running one leg at a time while the other runners charge ahead in the vans to the exchange point to get the next runner ready to grab the bracelet and set off for the next leg. This is done for the entire length of the race.

We had heard that this HTC was especially challenging with almost all of the legs being rated as "difficult" based on the length and/or elevation gain. With HTC Pacific City being a one day relay we knew we would all be running two legs, one in the 1-6 leg first half and then one in the 7-12 second half; but we also knew they all would be challenging. In our van, we felt confident that we were all strong runners and were up for the task. After we assigned each runner their legs we calculated what pace we though we could sustain and our anticipated finish time for each leg.

As our runners set out for their first leg, we were full of adrenaline and were happy to find we were very close to our anticipated finish times.

Lynnette had the first leg. All downhill, all in the dark and completely unsupported (meaning the vans took a different route so the runners were out there all on their own)! She was a trooper! Brave and fast as ever Lynnette bolted down that hill leaving many runners in her dust, where she met up with Paul for leg two.

Paul, the unassuming speedster, got to run with the rising sun and overtake quite a few runners to set us up nicely for Dan's first leg.

Dan's leg was the shortest of the bunch, but Dan set out determined to get as many "roadkills" as possible (roadkills is the name given for runners you pass on your run). As we headed down to get ready for the exchange, we noticed in the distance the first runner of the leg already coming in. To our excitement it was Dan! He had run faster than his anticipated running time, got five roadkills and set us in the lead for Nancy's first leg which was a MAJOR hill climb!

Nancy, tiny but mighty, set out ready to eat that hill for breakfast! As we drove along her leg on the way to the exchange, even in the car we felt like it was a never ending mountain of a climbing!
When we got to the top, we met up with the other BRU4GRACIE team and the two runners from each van who had the two hardest legs of the course Alex from our van and Jamie from the other, prepared for the first of their two very challenging runs. 

As Nancy crested the hill she ran in fast to the exchange and passed the bracelet to our "secret weapon" Alex. Alex was the youngest on our team by a decade, and he was FAST! Alex was new to running but obviously had a natural ability and gift.
Alex's first leg also had a major hill but it seemed to make no difference to Alex! He tore through his leg and in no time it was time for my first run, leg 6.

By this time we had a substantial lead on the runners on the course and I had the surreal experience of running all alone through a beautiful forest! As I followed a soft rolling stream, turning past mossy rock walls and beautiful trees, I had a whole six miles of reflecting on what a blessing it was to have known Gracie. Even though I had only known her for a short time, she had taught me so much about the importance of life. I was so blessed to have a strong healthy body and most importantly wonderful friends and family, who supported each other and did their part to be a blessing to others and make the world a better place for everyone.
What a beautiful example it was to carry and pass along the bracelet also worn by my teammates through their unique experience on this same journey towards our shared goal of finishing the race well for the purpose of raising money for those affected by cancer.

As I handed off the bracelet to Lynnette, this set us on the course for the second half of our journey. During Lynnette's second leg she met up with some of the walkers on the course who had just started their journey. As we continued on through our various legs we were all inspired by little signs that reminded us of Gracie, such as the pink chalk heart on the road and the pink ribbons that adorned tree branches and markers along the course. 

We seemed to be carried along until it came to the dreaded leg 11. As aforementioned, Leg 11 is toted as the "most difficult leg in HTC history". It was at this exact leg that we were caught up by the "Elite" running teams, who had started two hours after us! Two teams in fact that were both vying for first place of the entire relay. When Alex took off for this leg of all legs, he was closely followed by these two competing runners. We wondered if Alex would be able to keep the lead against these two.
This leg is not only the most difficult because of the terrain and elevation gain, but it is also unsupported. The vans cannot go along this part of the course so Alex was on his own. Not to mention the sun was in full effect and the temperature was rising!
As we got into position for our last and final leg exchange we were once again excited to see our hero Alex running in first and faster than we expected!

I took the bracelet from Alex and headed off! I knew this would be my most challenging leg. This leg was eight miles of hot asphalt and hills! As anticipated, one of the first elite runners passed me within the first mile. I was no match for their 6 minute per mile pace! I wanted to keep strong though so I forged ahead and it wasn't until halfway through that the second elite runner caught up.

After that it was just me and my team for the last four miles. It was tough but my team was so great! It was hot, so they made a few extra stops to offer me water and cheer me on from the top of the biggest hill I had to tackle just before heading down into Pacific City and the finish.

As I rounded the corner into the beach finish my teammates handed me my bright pink BRU4GRACIE shirt and we all ran into the finish together radiating love and Grace. 
We got to spend the next couple hours cheering in the other two BRU4GRACIE teams into the finish and taking tons of pictures! The ACS hooked us up with an overnight stay at an awesome condo where we got to celebrate Gracie, each other, and all of the work we and ACS have done to support those battling cancer.

In loving memory of Gracie Williams

July 16, 2012- February 18, 2019