Amber and I on another wild adventure.

Mt. Sunflower

Nepal has Mt. Everest. The Swiss Alps have the Matterhorn. Alaska has Denali and Colorado has
Pikes Peak. Kansas has ... Mt. Sunflower: the highest point in Kansas at a whopping 4039 ft. Today, Amber M. and I took a slight detour from our bike ride and explored Mt. Sunflower in all it's majesty.

Actually, Mt. Sunflower is little more than a high spot in the pasture but it is in fact, the highest elevation in Kansas and we proudly added our name to the registry book and left a few mementos as we drank a toast to Mt. Sunflower with our Diet Dr. Peppers. You could say it was the "high-point" of our day.

The morning started with rain. Not something you can say very often in Western Kansas but there it was. I drove to Amber's house and we waited it out, she sipping espresso and me snacking on donuts. A few months ago I mentioned my goal of riding or running in every county in Kansas at some point and Amber jumped right on my bandwagon and so we were off on another crazy adventure. We headed north, taking 2 vehicles so we could do mainly tailwind rides because, well, I'm lazy like that. Amber, being the good sport that she is, went along with my crazy idea. First stop - Logan County.

Mt. Sunflower, the highest point in Kansas

Apparently I didn't look at the odometer right and we only ended up riding 4 miles in Logan County, but it counts! The wind was more of a cross wind but on the lovely downhill I managed 34 mph! I love flying down the hills and this stretch of road had almost zero traffic.


Next stop, Sharon Springs in Wallace County. We left the car at the city park and took the pickup south into Greeley County. we definitely had a tailwind for this ride. It was fabulous! We made it back to Sharon Springs in no time flat and logged 18.75 miles in the two counties.

Then we loaded up and headed for Mt. Sunflower. I mentioned it to the locals at the quickie mart and they laughed good naturedly and told us to have fun. We had heard it was tradition to drink a toast to Mt. Sunflower but beer wasn't on our menu so Diet Dr. Pepper would have to do.

It's an 18 mile drive, mostly on dirt country roads and we laughed all the way. I know it's corny, but I

A toast to Mt. Sunflower

was looking forward to "seeing" the plains from on high. I wish I could say the view was breathtaking. It wasn't. There were many vistas along our ride earlier that were more panoramic and scenic. But it is truly amazing to see the vast prairie in all it's glory. We drank our toast, filled out the guest registry, and left our little hand sanitizer bottles in the mail box for the next guests.


What a day. Three more counties colored in and a trip to Mt. Sunflower, all shared with a good friend who is willing to go along even when she thinks I'm crazy. I know we complain about the wind and lack of trees, but I think that's what makes us stronger. We have to stand up to that wind or learn to work around it. (Tailwind ride, anyone?) We value trees and prairie grass. And horizons. And challenges. Our wide open spaces remind us of how small we really are in the grand scheme of things. And they keep us humble. So here's a toast to Mt. Sunflower. May all who visit appreciate just how truly awesome you are!

Groundhog Day - Again!

Amber, Kate, Claudia, and I ready to run the tunnels!

I’m starting to feel like I’m in the movie “Groundhog Day” for real. For the 5th year in a row I’ve woken up in Kansas City and headed to the tunnels of Subtropolis for the TLC Groundhog Run. And for the 4th time I’ve used this race as my fundraiser for Arthritis National Research Foundation as part of the Race For A Cure team. I always come away in awe of the amazing underground world in the heart of such an urban setting. I’m also in awe of the generous spirit of my friends and family. They really came through for me and blasted through my donation goal, raising $1,225.00!

Don't take a wrong turn!

The run itself was a little anticlimactic, especially since I didn’t do the entire 10K and only finished one lap of the course. In my defense, that was my plan and I actually tried to change my registration from the 10K to the 5K, but with both races sold out there was no way to transfer to the shorter race. I have not been able to get back on track after my flare over the Christmas break. I knew the 5K was all I could manage.

Starting out at the back of the pack I managed my intervals for the first 2 miles. But I knew I didn’t want to cross the line too early and possibly cheat someone else out of a hard earned award so I dawdled the last mile and took lots of pictures and generally had a great time. When Kate passed me on her way to the finish line I thought it was safe to start running again. I finished in just under an hour and sheepishly accepted my medal.

Kate, Claudia, Dan, and I. First event together
in a long time. 

On the whole it was a great weekend. Dinner on Saturday evening with Amber M. and her family was fun, the ride with Kate H. was filled with laughter, and seeing Claudia B. again made the weekend even more special. It’s been a long time since Kate, Claudia, and I did an event together and it felt like old times. Dan K. was there too. Team 4F was well represented! I don’t know if I’ll go back next year or not. It’s a unique place to run and a nice winter incentive to keep busy but 5 times may be the charm. It will be interesting to see what happens next Groundhog Day when my alarm rings in the morning.

Jingle Bell Run - More Tunnels!

Lyndi, Me, Claudia

I worry about Kansas City. So far I’ve run in two races through tunnels under the city. I have visions of the whole place falling down into the trenches just like in the movie “Paint Your Wagon”. Though I didn’t realize it was an underground race until I was on my way to the big city I’m always glad for the chance to participate in a new interesting venue.

Claudia brought this run to my attention and of course I jumped at the opportunity to support the Jingle Bell Run for the Arthritis Foundation. I recruited my daughter and the the three of us met on Sunday to run/walk our way through the tunnels.

If you have never seen been in one of these old limestone mines it is something to see. First off, they are huge! You don’t feel like you are underground at all. The walking surface is paved and the place is very well lit. This was Claudia’s first time in the tunnels and was a little apprehensive but soon settled into enjoy the ride. It really is more like running in a shopping mall than anything else. The only downside to this

We are all on the Light side of the Force today.

run is how incredibly hot and stuffy it got back away from the entrance. The temperature difference had to be at least 20 degrees, going from 60 to 80 in the space of a few short turns.

This run had a little bit of everything and was a real party atmosphere. DJ blasting, Star Wars characters, unlimited Krispy Kreme Donuts, after run pizza, photo booths, just about everything to make it a fun day for runners and support crew alike.

We started running for the first minute. That was about it. We walked and talked the entire rest of the two-loop course. The miles and time fly by when you spend it with wonderful friends and before you know it we were done and receiving our finisher medals. I have no idea of our time and I really don’t care. I’m glad Claudia hung back with us because I know how hard it is to hold back when you are a real runner. My daughter Lyndi and I are mostly walkers so for us it was perfect.

We hugged and grabbed some pizza and donuts and headed home. Another run in the books and another tunnel run to add to the list of unusual venues. As far as I know Kansas City is the only area that hosts not one, but two tunnel runs. Let’s hope the place doesn’t fall down any time soon!

Into the Tunnels we go!

Love doing events with my daughter!

Pumpkin Pie and Humble Pie

I’m slow and I know it. But sometimes I can’t help the competitive spirit that jumps out from time to time. A perfect example was at the Satanta Pumpkin Run last Saturday. It’s a run to help stock the food pantry at the local church and awards finishers with pumpkin pie, hot cocoa, and a neat mug. But my pumpkin pie was served with a dose of humble pie. Let me explain.

Emory

In our area there is a group of runners known as South West Fun Time Runners, or SWFTR for short. I’m a proud lifetime member and although there are really no formal activities the group does own a clock and takes it to area events for timing purposes. The group mainstays are Marc and Emory. Marc is a good runner in his 60s and has battled through cancer in the past few years. He’s a great guy and it’s always good to see him at a race. Emory is, well, how shall I put this, a character. Think Duck Dynasty and you have a good picture of what he looks like. He’s in his 50s and has lived a hard life but loves to run despite bad knees, bad back, and lots of other health issues. He’s got a strange running style to say the least and is slowing down with each year. He’s run all over the country and just enjoys being part of the action. And when Emory was at a race there was at least one person I knew I could beat.

Until this race.

Humble Pumpkin Pie

It was a really cold morning and I had my plan all set in my head: walk 2:15 - run :45 - repeat. I knew I was in trouble when the pack pulled out from the start, and Emory jumped out to a block lead in no time. He was walking but he walks at a pretty good clip. I was sure I would catch him on the run segments of my plan, but no, I didn’t make up much ground because my walk is much slower than his. At the end of the first mile I was still about a good block behind him.

The second mile didn’t get any better. I was keeping to my plan and feeling good, but wasn’t gaining any ground on Emory. As we started the third mile I was having to face the possibility that I might not beat him and I was not happy. It’s kind of been a joke to myself that the day Emory beats me is the day I hang up my sneakers. Could this be the day? God, I hoped not.

Then Emory started to slow. He was walking a little slower and I was able to catch him with about ¾ of a mile to go. We stayed together for a few intervals, me pulling slightly ahead on my run but him catching up to me on the walk. We talked and visited and he admitted that he walks much faster than he runs and was just going to stick with that strategy. Hey, it was working for him pretty well as far as I could see. Near the end of the race I was pulling a little more ahead and did end up beating him by about 20 yards.

Always making new friends!

I barely beat Emory. That’s a hard sentence to say to myself. But the truth is I have been feeling better and my run intervals have been getting longer. I know I can’t train hard and don’t really want to anyway. I shaved 45  off my time from the Legacy Run. I just didn’t think of myself in the same category as Emory.

But that category isn’t so bad. We both have worked our way through physical problems and we refuse to quit! That’s not a bad thing at all. We’ll both keep showing up at events and enjoy the ride as much as we can. So I guess if Emory beats me next time I’ll just chalk it up to “S**t happens” and go on to the next race with a little more humility and determination to keep moving, no matter what life throws at me.

They treat their runners right!

I let my Hubby have the pumpkin pie (his favorite) and I enjoyed the hot cocoa. The humble pie was bittersweet but the company of people at the event was wonderful. What more can a person ask for on a cold Saturday morning.

Leave a Legacy Run - a Return to Running (sort of)

Who do you run for? In the Legacy Spirit 5K this past week I ran for my dad and brother, both who were taken by cancer. This annual run supports the local cancer center and their work providing support to patients and their families. This year there were almost 700 entrants making it the largest event in western Kansas by far.

For my dad and brother, both taken by cancer.

My knee has been feeling so much better now that I’m only working it once a week. That seems to be the limit of my joints ability to function without too much discomfort. With that in mind, I made a plan to add some running into my 5K walk. The plan was to walk 2:30 seconds and then run for :30. That seemed doable. The goal was to finish without trashing my knee, not to meet a specific pace or beat a certain time.

The morning was typical October crisp, meaning it was downright nippy at 45 degrees. At least the wind was not blowing so we didn’t have to worry about wind chill. I met my friends before the run and we compared our race plans. Of course, Amber being Amber, decided to run even though she isn’t cleared by her doctor. Stacy is recently back to running after surgery, and Claudia (Yes, Claudia!!) was going to try the 10K even though she is battling a few medical issues of her own. Wow! We are a sad sack bunch of runners!

It was crowded at the start and hard to find a clear path to run but I zigged and zagged my way to the clear. My first two walk/run segments went well and my knee felt pretty good with hardly any limp at all. Another lady ran up to me and said “It looks like you have a plan, do you mind if I stick with you?” That’s what these events are about. Meeting new friends and sharing the ride. So I shared my plan and she was onboard. That also meant I had to STICK TO THE PLAN!

Claudia, Amber, Staci, and I. Love these girls!

My new friend Pat and I exchanged information during the walk sections and kept up a nice pace during the run. Before we knew it we turned the corner for the last three blocks to the finish. I never once looked at our pace or the overall time, just the minutes of running and walking. I felt fantastic! I wasn’t tired and my knee didn’t ache. Pat and I hugged and congratulated ourselves on finishing in style. My time, it turns out, was the fastest for me in over a year and a half. What a pleasant surprise!

While this run is dedicated to those fighting cancer, I mark this as my anniversary of my diagnosis and start of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Four years ago I used this race as my declaration of defiance against this disease and my determination to keep moving no matter what. I may have had to adjust my activities, but I think I have succeeded at thumbing my nose at my disease and following my vow to change the meaning of RA from Rheumatoid Arthritis to Run Anyway. It hasn't always been easy, but I am moving, and that's winning the battle!

Kate, Amber, and I sparkle in our Tiaras!

A Funny Thing Happened During Triathlon Season…

It’s been a long busy six months with lots of ups and down, aches and pains, and good news and bad. But the most unexpected outcome of all was after competing in a five week long series of triathlons my troublesome knees is actually feeling better than it has in months.

Flash back to the end of January when I did the GroundHog run with my daughter and granddaughters. My knee was in agony at that time and showed no sign of getting better. At my next rheumatology appointment in February I begged for a steroid shot to get me through. I couldn’t bend or straighten my knee and when I stood on my right leg it felt like the joint was filled with razor wire. The shot relieved the pain and I slowly tried to strengthen my muscles. All was well for about six weeks, then the pain returned. I finally was able to see my orthopedist in May and received another steroid shot. Blessed relief! I was able to ride Kandango in June and was looking forward to ramping up my triathlon practice in preparation for the intense five week long season through the month of August, a full year after my initial surgery for a torn meniscus.

Racing for a Cure - Always! (Love my
blinged out equipment bucket!)

That’s were my plans went off the tracks. The steroid shot wore off after only 4 weeks, a sure sign that this method of coping would not last much longer. By the first of July the pain was back and all the ice baths in the world were not going to help. I couldn’t sleep because of the pain, I couldn’t stand for very long, and getting up from the floor was out of the question. I resorted to using a cane to get around the house at night. My physical therapist and I started working on pain management techniques and range of motion exercises. Our goal was to help me get to the next steroid shot that I couldn’t get before the end of August. I was riding and swimming almost every day but walking only sparingly.

Starting the last weekend in July and continuing each weekend until Labor Day was my triathlon season consisting of four out of five races in the Triple Threat Tri Series and finishi

ng with the Tiara Tri in El Dorado. After missing all of last year I didn’t want to miss this year as well. But the therapy wasn’t working and the pain was starting to wear me down. No sleep made me grumpy and hurting all the time was sucking the life out of me. I had no idea how I was going to get through the next month. I was counting down the days until my next shot like a steroid junky.

The first race was the Arkansas Trails Triathlon. It features a perimeter swim around the Big Pool and a four mile trail run along the river. I finished surprisingly well. That translates to “I didn’t pass out along the way.” The morning was cool with a light rain but we managed. The most dramatic thing to happen was my goggles cracking in two at the bridge of my nose at the beginning of the swim so I had to back stroke most of the way. I managed to finish 2nd in my age group - only 2 of us! - but was still happy with my pace. I felt pretty good after the race and was surprised that I wasn’t sore or walking with a limp. Seems my knees handled the stress pretty well.

Finishing with a smile.

I started back to work the next day and with the hectic pace of getting the school year off and running I wasn’t able to ride and swim but once that week. The next race was the Lagoonathon in Dodge City at the Longbranch Lagoon water park. It was another cold dreary morning but we swam, rode, and ran anyway. The other lady in my age group, Traci W. took first overall so I was bumped up to 1st in the old lady division. Woo Hoo! Again, I felt pretty good after the race and noticed that my knee didn’t hurt as bad even a few days later. Hmmmmm. Maybe I was on to something.

The third race was the Holcomb Triathlon. This one will be remembered as the race where Traci crashed going around a corner and ended up in the hospital. She is an expert cyclist but just happened to catch some gravel as she was leaning into the turn. That’s all it took to send her to the hospital with a few fractures and lots of scrapes and bruises. I hurriedly packed up after the race and went to the hospital to sit with her until her husband could get there. He was at his own race 200 miles away. But again, I noticed that I didn’t hurt as much, not even at night. I could bend my knee more and could stand without pain.

With the hectic pace of my job and grandkids I didn’t even manage a short ride the next week. I would have to count on my previous training to get me through.The fourth race was the Cimarron Reverse Triathlon, where you do the disciplines in reverse order: run-bike-swim. I actually like this format and bettered my pace in both the run (walk for me) and the swim. And again, I didn’t hurt. The range of motion in my knee was getting much better and although it wasn’t 100% it was considerably better. So much better in fact that I didn’t think I’d need the steroid injection at all! Even by the middle to end of the week I was still feeling OK.

That brings me to the Tiara Tri. This was the 4th year I had done this race and love the “women only” aspect and the crown they put on your head at the end is a neat plus for me. Amber M., who is recovering from her own foot surgery, and Kate H. were doing the race with me. We had so much fun talking and laughing. Amber has never swam in a lake before so I know what anxiety she was feeling. Plus, her orthopedist told her she was not supposed to run. We were going to walk this thing together and finish with a tiara and a smile.

Kate was amazing as always and smashed the bike ride. Amber has been really practicing her swim and cruised through the water with ease. I struggled in the water but had a pretty good ride, passing lots of slower riders. I knew I had to really push the ride since I was walking the rest of the event. I saw Kate near the front of the pack on the out and back run. She looked strong and smooth. Then I saw Amber. She was running! I called out to her and said, “Hey, no running!” Her response? “I’m not running, I’m jogging!” Somehow that made sense to her. I just shook my head and kept walking.

3rd place in my age group!

When all was said and done, Kate finished 16th over all but with more entries in her age division than any other she was 6th in her group. Amber, who turned in a blazing time for someone who hasn’t run a step in over 8 months, finished 4th in her age group. Her long transitions made the difference between placing and not.  I finished with a better pace than expected but ended up 61st out of 69 overall. Not too impressive. BUT, because there were only 4 in my age division and the fastest placed 3rd overall, I was bumped up to 3rd. Woo Hoo! Truth be told, of the 4 in my division the top two placed 3rd and 5th overall! Not too shabby for older gals. The bottom two finished within 2 minutes so I wasn’t so far behind 2nd place. That makes me feel a lot better.

And again, my knee feels pretty darn good. I have an appointment with my ortho later in the week but I don’t feel I need a steroid shot at all. Am I feeling better because I’m only working out once, sometimes twice a week? Is it the combination of swim-bike-run that is working to make my knee better? Have I just been pushing too hard? That’s what we’ll be discussing at my appointment. I’m going with a combination of all three. I’m just thankful the pain is manageable and my mobility is returning. I still can’t run, but day to day activities are much more enjoyable.

My triathlon season is over and I’m so glad we have so many opportunities to compete in our area. The Triple Threat Series brings all the SW Kansas triathletes closer together. The Tiara Tri will always be my favorite, not just for the crown, but for the fun and joy of sharing the event with my good friends. That’s what puts the sparkle in the tiara.

Groundhog Run, Family Style

My fellow Groundhogs!

Running hasn’t been my thing lately. After knee surgery for a torn meniscus in August I just haven’t gotten back into the groove. My good knee is not happy and my bad knee is still not back to normal so running has turned into walking, which has turned into not much motivation at all. I needed a way to jump start my routine and get me moving again.

What better way to get things moving then to sign up for a race, and raise some money for the Arthritis National Research Foundation through the Racing For A Cure team. I knew just the run I needed to do. For the fourth consecutive year I participated in the TLC Groundhog Run in an underground mine/storage facility and designated that as my fundraising event for the year. To make the most of my day since I would be walking most of the route I invited my daughter Lyndi and granddaughters Grace and Tara to keep me company.

Two to three times a week I hopped on the treadmill, going a little further each time. The goal was to not stress my knees as they slowly recovered but to still build some strength and endurance. By race day I was confident I could do the walk without aggravating my tendons and joints.

As race day neared two friends also planned to make the trip into the tunnels. Stacey K. and Kate H. were joining me for the trip to Kansas City. Life always has a way of messing with the best laid plans and Stacey had to pull out at the last minute for a family emergency. So Kate and I picked up Lyndi, Grace, and Tara and headed to Kansas City.

It’s always fun when my running friends get together. Throw two rambunctious girls in the mix and the

So proud of these two sweethearts!

fun really begins. Grace is 10 years old and has completed one other 5K run. Tara is 7 and really had no idea what she was getting into and no concept of how long it would take to walk 3 miles. We planned to walk the entire route but Tara and Grace started out running ahead, then waiting for us to catch up. That lasted about one mile. Then they started to tucker out. Tara offered to just sit down and wait for us to come back to get her, which wasn’t an option since we were in a mine with no way to get back to her. Grace developed a side stitch and was none too happy to have to walk her way through that pain. But they didn’t give up. They kept on going. When we rounded the last corner and heard the music playing at the finish line they knew they had made it. We were some of the last to finish the 5K but that doesn’t matter to me. We finished as a family and the girls learned that they can do more than they think they can, even finishing a long long walk when they would have rather stopped.

I learned that spending time on physical activities is the best medicine for curing lack of motivation. It’s gotten me moving again and looking forward to the next challenge. I still have to let me knees heal so I can’t get too crazy but I am ready to tackle a little more distance. When my knees are better I’ll start throwing in some running intervals. It may take a long time, but I’ll get there if I just keep going.

A totally unique place to run. 

As for Kate, she tackled the 10K and smashed her personal best by over 2 minutes! I like to remind her that not so many years ago she told me she couldn’t run well. She is another inspirational person to me because she never lets the belief that she can’t do something stop her from doing it anyway! I am so blessed to be surrounded by positive people who lift me up and drag me to a better place.

My fundraising efforts were also a success as I raised almost $1,000 for the ANRF. May they use the money to fund the scientist or doctor that will find a cure or better treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis. My granddaughters are already talking about doing another 5K. The family that runs together, finished together!