Senator Kiwi Changes Plans, part 2

Hi there. 

It's still me, Kiwi.

So Kasha signed up for the Augusta Half and really, that part made sense. The timing and location where just right.

But Kasha has runner brain, and it works like this:

Some days go faster, some days go farther. 

Or like this: "I'll run for 2 hours!....wait! 50 laps is rigggghhhttt there.... wait! Half marathon around the corner.... Almost 2.5 hours."

This is how she ended up running the Ultra (31.5 miles) and how she does lots of things. 

...you know the thing about eating an elephant?

...Kasha's got that down.... just do little bitty bites. She does everything that way, and while it works, it really does; it also escalates trouble.

So here's what had happened next:

When Kasha ran Ultra Race, a lot of the volunteers were people who would be running a 6, 12, 24 hour event the second weekend of February. Don't worry... she's not running that, but probably only because she didn't find out about it in time... She's gonna volunteer at it. Yeah!!!! We can pay back some of those wonderful people who helped us at our big race!!! 

That race is in Bluffton, SC. Bluffton, SC is not far from Savannah. It is also not far from Hilton Head Island. Hilton Head Island has a half marathon on the second weekend of February.

You're smart. All my readers and fans are, so you already know where this is going....

Kasha signed up to run HHI Half, and show up later during the all day race in Beaufort. This is where that "....it's only a little bit farther!" got her into trouble.

3 out of 4 weekends have races. But that leaves one weekend open. Not open, but empty; according to Kasha. 

Enter The Daytona Beach Half Marathon. Wow! One time Kasha was there for a car show and she looked up at the track and thought about how happy she's be running in circles on it all day long! And here was a race that was gonna let her run in circles, and down toward the beach past the antique NASCAR autos, and through Victory Lane, and AWESOME! 

...she signed up as fast as I ran numbers for everything.

So February looks like this:
2/2 Tybee, GA
2/9 Hilton Head Island, SC
2/17 Daytona Beach, FL
2/24 Augusta, GA

And be sure to check out our Race Schedule & Results Chart. It's right over there ---->
If you're on your phone, go to the bottom of the page and click View Web Version. Then it'll be right over there. ----> 

And while you're at it, sign up for emails. All that means is that you sign up, confirm, and Kasha stops texting you updates, because new posts will go to your inbox! No spam and nothing else. Just these posts. :)



You know, she used to run 5ks every single weekend, so really she can probably do it. But don't tell her I said so, because our calendar has already snowballed. I don't wanna think about what's gonna happen when her confidence in running snowballs, too.

Senator Kiwi Changes Plans, part 1

Hi there. 

I'm Kiwi.

I'm Kasha's phone. 

My whole name is Kiwi Fone Taper. But everyone calls me Kiwi, except when I'm in trouble, then Kasha calls me KIWI!!!!!

Today, this is my blog. I left Kasha with Aidan. ...that's the little boy from the Thanksgiving post. They're gonna do horrible stuff like homework and clean up and drink coffee. Well, Kasha drinks coffee. Aidan drinks juice. But they get along well and when Kasha doesn't help too much, Aidan gets really good grades on his homework.

You know it's me, cause I told you so; but also, I use the italics. Kasha uses regular letters. Around here, this is important, cause you gotta know who is doing the crazy. Well, the typing.


We talk a lot about running. And racing. And this year; not 2013, but 29 (Kasha's year 29); we decided to run a race every month. It went Half, Full, Half, Full, with marathons. That started in October. But then it snowballed. You know what that is?

...means it got bigger. LOTS bigger.

See, we did this:
-October Athens Half Marathon 
-November Savannah Marathon
-December Jacksonville Half Marathon.

Then Kasha got all "I'm gonna run an Ultra marathon." This is when she signed up. And this is where she actually didn't die doing it.

That was January. 

Wait! We're still in January! 

But Kasha is a "planner." Know what that is? It's someone who signs up for crazy things wayyyyy early so she has lots of time to plan her funeral. 

Funeral has "fun" in it. My cousin NuBlu taught me that.

So if we went back to The Plan, February would be a half marathon. That's easy! Tybee Critz Run Fest is our hometown half! She signed up for that a billion years ago (like October). Then March would be a full. And it is! March 17th we will run away from Savannah's St. Patrick's Party and go to Atlanta to see Kasha's friends Mel & Rob and run the Georgia Marathon.

But that would be so simple. And "planners" make things complicated with their lists and their ideas and their.... planning.

Kasha decided Tybee on the first weekend of February and Georgia Marathon halfway through March were too far apart. Now, I agree- it doesn't take a lot for Kasha to get weird. 

...she's got me. A phone who talks and blogs and tweets (thekashashow) and I got some pet plants (Dragon and Theodore) and a cousin. And now I got 2 hedgehogs and my own pillow and blanket, and I'm a phone!

And I'm probably just the icing on that cake of crazy, but Kasha NEEDS to run. It really is her thing. Addiction; depending on who you ask. ...if you ask me, she passed addiction a long time ago. 

So she added a race. The last weekend of February is the Augusta Half. We can visit one of her best friends, Erin; right before Erin finishes med school at MCG (GRU). 

Perfect! That should be enough to keep Kasha happy, right?




If you answered "yes" you don't understand the level of crazy I put up with around here.

If you answered "no" go ahead and make some coffee. You earned it.

I'll finish up later. 

LOVE KIWI

Kasha Runs An Ultra and Kiwi Gets a Pet

I'm not dead.

I could end this post right there, but Kiwi insists there is more to the story.

Saturday was Ultra Day. The Ledesma Ultra 50k was held at Fort Pulaski and Rails to Trails out toward Tybee Island, Georgia.

Dan Hernandez, (Check out his site here.) a higher up in Savannah running, decided that Savannah needed an ultra and that Rails to Trails needed some attention. R2T is a converted railroad now serving as a running, riding, walking trail spanning 6 miles from just past Bull River to Fort Pulaski. So he orchestrated a race. Actually, 3 races. 

The 5k route took runners out and about through the foggy morning for some beautiful views of Fort Pulaski.

The 25k (15.5 mi) route did that, plus a trip over the bridge, down R2T, and back to Pulaski.

The 50k (31.5 mi) route did that. Twice. In the sun. At an unseasonal 75 degrees.

It was awesome!

At 8am, the 25 and 50k-ers set off through the woods. It was overcast and foggy, lending an almost eerie feel to the old fort. But the fog sure beat the predicted temperatures for the day! The first few miles flew by. 1, 2, 3, over the bridge. I reminded myself that speed was a nonissue, as my body was going to have to keep this up for hours and I needed to stay slow.

Over the bridge and on to the trail. I had the trail broken down into 3 mile sections in my mind. I just kept going. I passed some runners, others passed me. The 25k-ers were still with us at this point. The trail didn't feel lonely. 3 miles in was my first station stop. Gatorade and water and off again. To the turn around point, where the front runners were already headed back. More water and the first of many salt pills. Then off again.

I ran pretty much nonstop for the first 12 miles. Then a bathroom break and a move to walk-run. Back through the first 3 mile section and over the bridge. 

Here I got to see part of my cheering section. Those who have been with us since the beginning will remember my first tri. I racked my bike next to Gary, who ran ultras and was really encouraging. Having run his own 50k the previous weekend, he was serving as a volunteer at this one. What a happy sight! Hearing "Go Kasha, go!" kept me running from the bridge to the end of the first half. I crossed the finish line for the first time at 3 hours and 3 minutes. Whoever announced my name even pronounced it correctly. Kay-sha instead of caw-sha. It's the little things. 

...and out again! Kiwi and I headed back into the woods. We'd covered about 16 miles on water, gatorade, salt, and 2 gels. My legs hurt, but I had a finish line to get to. 

The second trip around the fort was like running a different course. The fog had lifted, giving a beautiful, clear view of the fort, the water, the groundworks, and everything else. Because the 25k ended at the finish line, we 50k-ers were much more spread out now. I saw 2 men running about 50 yards in front of me and used them as a guide to maintain my pace. 

Back over the bridge to the next aid station. While I was breathing too hard to talk, the amazing aid station workers had already interpreted my pointing and looks into filling my handheld and handing me an apple.

This deserves mentioning:

During races, volunteers do a few things. Hand out water, clean up cups, and lie about how awesome we look. The Ledesma volunteers took it a step further. They were prepared to open gels and unwrap food, help with clothing, and pick up tiny salt tabs that we didn't have the small motor control for. It takes a distance runner to know those things. And here they were on a Saturday, NOT running, so they could open my salt tabs and keep a mental list of which bathrooms were open. I would like a list of these people so I can thank each of them. It was like having an Ultra crew at every station. 

Back to the trail!

I took the apple and tried to eat. The tiniest bites stayed in, for maybe 40 calories of food. During this section (about 18 miles in), the front runners began to pass me. They were about 3-4 miles out. (Assuming my math is correct.) I had over 10 miles to go. I kept moving, albeit slowly.

At the next aid station, I saw my brother-in-law, designated crew for the day; pull up. I was ready to go, so I left my fuel belt and music player for him to pick up. I wasn't using them and any extra weight was extra weight. 

The next miles were the hardest. I was tired, it was hot, my feet hurt. But the only way out was through, and this wasn't a marathon with people whining about bad splits. This was an ultra where every runner made eye contact and told you to keep going. They asked how you were doing. They asked if you needed anything. Other people's mobile crews slowed on their bikes to ask if I had water. 

...I may have been alone for miles at a time, but I was never on my own. I knew I could do this because people I'd never met had mentally already placed me across the finish line and it showed in their eyes.

All I had to do was exactly what they said to do. "Keep going." "Go slow." "You got this."

I hit the farthest station out for the 2nd and last time and headed back in. I was about 3 runners from the back. I pulled Kiwi off my arm in time to see "20% Battery Life." 

Oh no! 

Kiwi wasn't going to make it the whole way. 

I think he was so excited, he went out too fast. I called Blake, my brother in law, and told him I was headed toward him and needed sunglasses and a hat. 

Kiwi made it 27.48 miles and went black.

...my poor, sweet little "fone" only had a marathon in him that day.

At the aid station, Blake was waiting with my backpack while a volunteer was waiting in the trail to look for us and take my handheld. Word had already reached them that the station farthest away was out of water. They were waiting with a checklist of our names and numbers, knowing we would be struggling. She filled the handheld and had it back to me before I found my glasses.

I gave Kiwi to Blake and asked him to meet me at the finish line. He asked how long that would take and I asked how far away it was. Someone told me about 5 miles. I told Blake if I was running, it would be an hour. But at my current pace, it would be 1 and a half, maybe 2. The guy next to me said "it'll be 2" before he took off. I made a face at him from behind my sunglasses. 

A bite of banana and 2 steps toward the trail.

...flashback Athens and Rock'n'Roll.

The banana is not staying down. 

Repeat.

The banana is not staying down.

Too much salt, too many miles, my stomach doesn't understand why Kiwi gets to ride to the finish line with Blake and it doesn't.

The banana comes up and the convulsions make me feel instantly better. The rush of blood toward my back and organs regenerates me. 

Vroom! Off I go! Runnin'!!!!!

I run from shadow to shadow, trying to play tag with the sun. I see Mr. 2-hr not far away. I keep playing Sun-can't-catch-me right past him. Girl with dog. Pass them. Family on bikes. Pass them. Another racer walking. Pass him. I CAN SEE THE AID STATION! 

The station is at the foot of the bridge and I get one more salt tab. I ask how far away the finish is and hear "one mile." It doesn't matter if that's right or not. I can run a mile and anything close to it. I'm alone. No Kiwi, no fuel, no music. I have water and a watch. It's been 7 hours and 5 minutes. I take off as another runner exits a porta-potty. ...she never catches me.

I run toward the bridge, staying on the grass. Walk the concrete bridge and get back on the grass. I need the softer surface now. Even the asphalt would hurt too much. Other runners leaving the race are slowing to yell "almost there!" "keep going" & "you can do it." While I take off around the corner, I look back and see the closest runner at the foot of the bridge.

I remember the path here so well.... I'm singing "over the river and through the woods, finish line we go" as I cross the street and head into the woods. Upon exiting, a spotter has a cowbell and there are about 20 people milling around waiting for the last of us to come in. I see the clock... 7:17... beat 7:20, beat 7:20, beat 7:20.... 7:17:43!!!!

I hear my name and try to catch my breath. Dan is there to hand me my medal, the earliest runners have stayed put to see us stragglers finish, and IJustFinishedAnUltraOhMyGoshICan'tBelieveIt is about my line of thought...

Blake and Kiwi take 2 pictures and I stick around to see the others finish.

Show them my pictures!!

Hi Kiwi!

I was tired. I was SOOOOO excited about the big race that I got all worn out. Then Blake took me to the finish line. Then we took pictures and went home.

I know. I already told them that.

Yeah. So show them.

Okay. One is how I wanted to take a picture, the other is what Kiwi insisted was more realistic.

And we got a medal. 
And we got a medal.

LOVE KIWI

...and Kasha.

Kasha Runs Wormsloe and Kiwi Packs for R2T

This past Saturday was the Nonstop Fitness Nonstopathon with a trail run through Wormsloe Plantation, 5 or 10k; your choice. Nonstop, which Kiwi refers to as "gym-work" is where I train clients. It is home base, as in a place to run when it is raining and a place to shower post long, epic laps around nearby Isle of Hope and Lake Mayer.

As part of a full weekend of fitness events, the gym hosted runs through historic Wormsloe Plantation. ...no one has hosted a race there. At all. Ever.

And as the first, It. Was. Awesome.

100+ runners showed up for an 8am start at the gym. With a rolling roadblock accompaniment down Skidaway, we headed for the plantation. I ran from the gym to the 5/10k split with Tracey. Tracey headed off to kick butt in the 5k while I set off to track down my other runner.

....I am possessive of MY runners. They show up early, work hard, do their homework, and give it their all. Their wins feel personal. I follow their races and show up to cheer. MY runners are worth it.

My other runner, Kylie, has been with us longer. He was there for The Big Crash (busted knee), he completed the Savannah Rock and Roll Half, and Color Vibe. Oh yes, Color Vibe in a bow tie.

...did I mention Tracey ran the Bridge Run in a tu-tu?

MY runners kick asphalt and look awesome doing it.

STORRRRYYYYYY!

Sorry, Kiwi.

I headed off down the 10k trail and paced with a runner training for the Tybee Half for a few minutes. She's a strong runner and will do great. Then off to chase down Kylie. He had a solid head start on me and it took a mile to catch him. He swore (lied) that I wasn't annoying him, and I kept pace with him for the next 3.5 miles.

The view was spectacular. Crisp air through the trees right off the Moon River marsh. The sun was shining and the tide was in. I'd sworn off trail runs after my first awful one. The view alone at Wormsloe has put them back in my book of race possibilities.

The avenue of oaks leading in and out of Wormsloe was the site of the 5k race and the ending section for the 10k-ers. We could have gotten lost in the view and run up and down that path all day, but we headed out toward the gym.

1:08:00

What?

That had to be wrong.... we weren't moving that slowly. We should be at a sub-hour with half a mile to go.

Maybe the course was long? ...we decided a course that pretty could be too long and kept running.

A tenth of a mile from the finish, Kylie's nephew was working to finish his 1st 5k. Kylie ran ahead and I ran backward, trying to be encouraging to a tired but determined 9 year old.

He finished not far behind his uncle and agreed to "practice" with me for next year.

I'm probably looking forward to that more than he is!

Tracey was finished and waiting on us.

Great! Both of MY runners were in, no injuries, and both had fun.

Award time!

....Tracey, 3rd in age group for 5k

...Kylie, 2nd in age group for 10k.

...Kasha, 1st place in Awesome for 100% of my runners coming in healthy, happy, and yeah- placing in their age groups!

You made that up.

I did not! They won! Look it up!

No! You made up your award. 

Nope. MY runners win, I win. Besides, I paced 2 different runners in 2 events at 2 different speeds. Doesn't that count for something?

I guess. But only a little something. Like ONE coffee.

That is SO a deal, Kiwi!


So will there be another Wormsloe run?

Oh yes, Kiwi. Most definitely. And you can come to that and the future Nonstop runs that fit into our race schedule.

Can I come on Saturday to The Big Race?

The Big Race.... yes.... because with a race 31 miles long, we may just have to blog from the middle of it.



Up next, Kasha (and Kiwi) run 31 miles (50k) this Saturday at Fort Pulaski and Rails to Trails.

Kasha Agrees to a Pet Plant. Kiwi Names It Dragon.

Around mile 12, the heat in and out of my body were a lot, but only a bitty baby mile-point-one to go! I pulled Kiwi off my arm to look at my pace. Could I hit that much coveted 2:09?

"Save workout?"

WHAT????

Kiwi's screen asked again.

"Save workout?"

I tapped Resume repeatedly, not realizing my balloon head and I had slowed to a walk.

Resume, resume, resume! Come on, Kiwi! I don't have a watch on! I NEED this split more than any other! I NEED my actual speed RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW!

....after an eternity, "Workout saved."

If Kiwi were human, I would have screamed.

If Kiwi were not a very expensive piece of equipment, who sometimes writes this blog when I don't feel like it; I would have thrown him on the ground.

If Kiwi were not, well, Kiwi, I would have lost it.

But Kiwi is a "fone." And really, it wasn't his fault. The humidity from the air (and from the Kasha!), were making his touch pad, well, touch-not. I wanted to start a second workout that would just be 1.1 miles, but it wouldn't go fast enough. I had to start running again and just make it count.

Through one more neighborhood and across the football field onto the track. I wiped the tears away, not from upset; but from head congestion, and picked off two more runners crossing the grass, which I think was due solely to running on the side of the road with clients. Onto the track and FAST. The clock says 2:14:something. No!!!! I wanted a sub2:14!

That's okay. I find out later I hit a 2:14:17 and really, I can't be upset. A new PR with both Kiwi and I sick.

I collect my medal (which is AWESOME) and drink some lemonade. After a few minutes, the lemonade says down (A valid concern for those of you who follow our adventures.) and after a few more minutes I stop shaking. I can see again.  I deem it safe to get back on the bus for the hotel. I look down at Kiwi and find out he is STILL calculating that 12 mile run he thought we completed.

...come to find out MapMyRun, the app we use; introduced Courses and Course Leaders recently. So while I'm upset about my last mile, Kiwi doesn't have a shot at getting back online to where I need him to be because the app has more or less hijacked him to congratulate me on my new Leader whatevers on 6 various Jacksonville courses.

...I'm not bitter.

She was bitter.

Hi Kiwi!

You didn't talk to me for the whole ride to Savannah. And you didn't let me run with you in the case. Or at all. And you didn't let me go to Wormsloe.

I know. I was mad and it really wasn't your fault. The case was made of scuba material, which didn't help your touch screen, and the app messed up.

Is that why I get a pet dragon?

Yes. But "Dragon" will be a plant.

Can he breathe fire?

Only if you forget to brush his teeth.

Okay.




Kasha?

Yeah?

I still think you did good at Jax Half.

Thanks, Kiwi. Should we tell them about this weekend's race?

And Wormsloe.

And Wormsloe.

Up next, Kasha runs the trails of Wormsloe and a 50k.

Kiwi Wants A Pet Dragon. Kasha Wants A Nap.

Happy new year, everyone! Let's recap:


December's race was the Jacksonville Bank Half Marathon.
The Saturday before, we headed to Jacksonville, about 3 hours away from home base. Packet pick up was a breeze & our hotel had clearly hosted this race many times in its 30 year history. They, the Embassy Suites; had welcome packets for runners with water bottles, protein bars, info on early breakfast and late checkout, & luggage holding for those who wanted it. Start line? They delivered us. Buses transported runners before & after the races. No parking issues. We got to the start line for a 7am start with temperatures already near 60.

Kiwi was on my arm, as in practice, and ready to go. 

Boom! 

And we're off!!

Miles 1, 2, 3.... All sub10s. I'd hoped for this, but seeing and feeling it were a different story.

Miles 4, 5, 6.... Same thing. Wow! Every mile marker had a clock, and every mile was coming in fast!

I was flying, just like in Athens! In the back of my mind, I knew there was a collapse coming. You can't run at 100% when you're coming down from a cold. But the louder I turned my music, the less I could hear that voice. At mile 8, the full marathoners headed off and out while we halvers headed back in. I checked Kiwi, who showed that I had slowed to a 10:15; and kept going. Mile 10, sick caught up with me. It took 3 tries before I could swallow any time I needed to and my throat hurt badly. A 5k to go, and I could still hit a 2:09 at this point. By mile 11, I hurt. My legs were okay, but my breathing, nose, and throat were quitting. I had tears in my eyes from nasal congestion. Again, less than a 5k.... Less than 2 miles! I checked Kiwi.


Then. Everything. Went. Wrong.