Truth: Life is hard and disappointing….
June 27th, 2008 , 12:00 pm by Michelle Halsne
……so what are you gong to do about it? After the cancellation of the Western States race, the cancellation of hotel rooms, rental cars and plane tickets for me, my crew and pacer depression really set in. I decided to allow a day of letting myself have a complete pity party
Here is the description of the cancellation of the Western States 100 pity party: Playing mindless Solitaire on the computer for hours, Bucket of Cheeseballs, 4 pints of Ben & Jenny’s ice cream (Cinnamon Bun ROCKS!), family “risk” Tournament (I am taking over the world session2 starts tonight with me in control), half pack of cigarettes -yes its true 
Today the sunshone literally and figuratively! Lisa came to my house and made sure I put some miles in. She also informed me that there is a local 30K trail run tomorrow. Thanks Lisa, I think it will feel right to be on the trail tomorrow. It isn’t Western States, but so what I am a ultra runner no matter the name of the race!
I am back with the help of my family friends, and steady running partner Lisa.
I found my own truth: I am a runner even if I don’t have a race to run.
Workout:
- Type: Run
- Date: 06/27/2008
- Time: 12:00:00
- Total Time: 00:40:00.00
- Distance: 4.1 miles
- Average Pace: 9:45.37/mile
Filed under Blogroll, Run
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June 27th, 2008 , 4:07 pm
like your new look!
i was thinking you should jump into the seafare marathon to pound the depression out of your system, but a trail run seems more fitting.
i’m looking forward to hearing what your next goal is…maybe a w.s. qualifier just in case?
June 27th, 2008 , 6:19 pm
that’s right, get right back on that horse. i see you’ve got a 50-miler in 4 weeks; don’t lose sight of that. explore some marathons as fun weekend long runs. above all . . . don’t do anything that kills you!!! eat all the bad stuff you want, but stay away from chemicals, especially the ones you breathe.
i know about depression; i’ve been there and go there more than i’d like to. for now, go for the runs that you love. i don’t know what works for you, but trail runs at sunset while listening to techno do it for me. right now isn’t about fitness - it’s a way to fill the gap between periods of training and make sure you don’t lose too much fitness.
June 27th, 2008 , 8:46 pm
NFQ means “never fucking quit”. it’s kinda the motto of a team i was on in college. it means that no matter how bad things get, no matter what happens, i’ll never stop and always give it my all. it also helps me remember that i’m never alone, that there are people out there that are running right along with me. so when things get really bad for me, that’s my mantra: i chant “twenty-six-two, N-F-Q”. and that gets me through until it stops sucking.
and i really want you to know that i’m right there with you. last august i was diagnosed as an alcoholic and absolutely HAD to recover. that was the lowest point in my life: i was walking up a hill when i realized that i had a choice to make: i could either keep dragging, or i could hold my head high and rock on. i chose the latter, and 2 months after that i hit 30:34 on an 8K and set my sights on the olympic trials.
just set your sights on another great achievement and keep rockin out. that’s why we do this. i think that everyone stumbles, and that’s ok. what sets us apart from joe schmoe out there is our ability to pick ourselves up and to pick others up. i pick myself up every time i remember that i run a marathon every sunday in boston-qualifying time. i don’t need to pay money or be recognized by anyone to know tha ti’ve achieved something great. neither do you. the WS100 would just have been another event in the string of great achievements that is your life. if it’s that important to you, take a few days off work and run 100 miles on your own; stage food/water/shoes for yourself at various points and run a fire-free course of your own choosing. that would totally rock, wouldn’t it?