"...In the end, people either have excuses or experiences; reasons or results; buts or
brilliance. They either have what they wanted or they have a detailed list of all the rational reasons why not."

~ Anonymous
(taken from Matt Erbele's, It Takes Time to Get Good)

Saturday, October 11, 2008


This morning I am taking my mean ass to Susanville, CA to run the Bizz Johnson Trail Marathon. It is located 90 miles east of absolutely, fucking nowhere and will take me 5 and a half hours to get there. It is famous for its state prison. Yipee.

I am driving up alone, and I have my own hotel room, which I think is a good thing. I have been ridiculous lately. Absolutely ridiculous. It can not be normal to have this severe of a personality change once a month. Granted, some months aren't quite this bad, but still. I am over it.



I have to say thank you to you guys that left comments on my last two posts. They made me laugh and were nice to read (Ok, so I read them four or five times. I had a rough week!), even if my attempts for compliments were a little blatant (*blush*). I have not been feeling very happy with myself lately. Anyway, thank you it helps. A lot.


Moving on...


The marathon this weekend is a trail marathon with a downhill elevation chart, and not a "you will pay for any downhill with 3000ft of brutal climb and then scamper down billy goat trails for your descent" like Skyline to Sea, but a fairly gradual downhill on a packed dirt trail.

Yes, I am going for a PR. I would like to do it in 5 hours (a 20 minute PR over Napa)

I usually do not do that, or certainly announce it, because I don't want to feel like a failure if I don't make it. BUt something Formulaic (Izzac) said reminded me.

"I don't see 'have fun' on your list" I am paraphrasing because I am too lazy to make the actual quote work.

He is right. I do this to have fun. I won't ever earn a Boston slot unless I am somehow running when I am 114 years old, Nike is unlikely to approach me about representing their new racing flats, so I damn well better have a good time doing this.

I am running on a gorgeous trail and I am fit enough to complete a marathon. Go me.

If I make 5 hours in the process, whoo hoo! I'll have dessert at the post race dinner (let's be honest I will do that anyway)

Hopefully, I will have internet and I can catch up on my horridly delinquent blog reading!

11 comments:

ShirleyPerly said...

There you go again, running another trail race and making me envious. Sounds nice, though, except for the State prison, LOL. Hopefully you'll not run into any escaped prisoners or else they'll be sorry I'm sure! HAVE FUN!!!

JenZen said...

That sounds like SUCH a cool run!!! Good luck and I hope you CRUSH that PR!!

Stef0115 said...

After running 13.1 earlier this week and being so ready to be DONE it seems that a marathon has moved further from my radar.

Then again I'm moody sometimes so . . . HAVE FUN. Formulaic is right on that one.

Tina Mickelson said...

WHERE ARE YOU LIVING? I'm in Chico (not too far from Susanville) and thought about doing that. I hear its beautiful and will be in my list next year. I hope to have a GREAT report on it from you.

Nikemom said...

Kick some ASS lady! You will do awesome. Looking forward to your race report. :)

SWTrigal said...

Good luck my friend-I hope it is "fun" (as fun as marathons can be).

Anonymous said...

Good luck - I'm jealous of your trail marathons and having your own hotel room. I'm weird, but road trips by myself are fun to me!! Kinda peaceful :)

I'll have dessert at the post race dinner (let's be honest I will do that anyway)...I love this line, it made me laugh cuz I'm the same way ;-)

Aka Alice said...

Hope you are having a fun run this morning (you might still be running).

I'm originally from Reno. You're right, Susanville is in the middle of BFE...wherever do you find such races?

Hang in there.

Unknown said...

I hope it goes well for you!!

You have me so intriqued about trail running. I'm eyeing a trail 13.1 for next September called squash blossom. Saw event photos and thought...I need to do that!!

21stCenturyMom said...

Hey there - I'm trying to find somoene who wants to do PCTRs Stinson 20K or maybe even 30K with me on Nov 15. You interested? I need a reason beyond myself to show up!

21stCenturyMom said...

oops- just read your race report. Maybe not. Sounds like your lungs are not liking running nearly as much as the rest of you is.