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Kasha
....and KIWI

Here We Go

....and we're back! Previously at anacaciatree.blogspot.com we left off after running every day for a year. That was quite an accomplishment, and right after that, I made a huge mistake. I took a day off. That day turned into 2 days, those turned into sporadic days, and so on. I learned that my running is non-negotiable. It must happen every day, or it doesn't happen at all. So here we are, with a fresh start, a fresh blog, a new Twitter, and Instagram. Just like mileage, that blog is gonna move along one post at a time. Please head over there to subscribe.

Things we are doing:

• Running every day, at least a mile.
• Running 13.1 miles in every state.
• Running the circumference of Earth - 24,901.55 miles.
• Maybe considering the marathon distance again.
• Maybe going for speed in shorter distances again.
• Maybe letting Kiwi post. That's the biggest maybe. 

Check out the archives and let us know what you want to hear about.

 This will be an uphill effort. I'm glad you're here for it.

I Just Ran Every Day For A Year

I did it.

I ran every. Single. Day. For. A. Year.

Stats first because runners like numbers:

Distance: 800.79 miles
Times: 144 hours, 45 minutes, 29 seconds. (6 days is 144 hours.)
Shoes: 5 pairs
Number of runs: 375. There were days with 2, even 3.


What we ran through:
Wind, rain, sleet, snow, heat, humidity, hills, roads, trails, treadmills, w/ kids on bikes, w/ clients, w/ a jogging stroller, w/ running groups, through the flu, through a head injury, while driving 2 days across the country, while moving, while changing jobs, while changing jobs again, the day before races and PR attempts, the day after races and PR attempts, the same day as wedding, birthdays, events, before getting on or off airplanes, in running clothes, in jeans, in sweaters, while on the phone with friends, while texting, while not paying attention to anything, while listening to music, while listening to podcasts, while solving all the problems in the world, in at least 5 different states, from one town to another 10 miles away in Iowa, as early as 5am, as late as 11pm, to work, home from work, circling playgrounds, circling parking lots, back and forth on soccer sidelines, with and without compression sleeves, with and without knee braces, with food, without, with liquids, without liquids (up to 2 hours), with coffee, without coffee.

This was always a story about coffee.

I love you, Kiwi. :)

I'm sure I'm forgetting some.



Lastly, questions. If you think of a cool one not answered here, please email or post.

Why? Because I felt like it.

But a year is 365 and a 1/4 days. What about that? Go away, annoying person, I'll be running tomorrow morning for that exact reason. PS- when you string together 800 miles of running, you can judge mine.

Don't you need rest days? Do you stop brushing your teeth to give your teeth a rest day from toothpaste? Didn't think so. Every run is not full out. Check my average time per mile. Upward of 10 minutes. That's because speed training and long distance are interspersed with lazy, mindless miles. I ran for 5 years before trying this. So there was a solid base. Also, my orthopedist and athletic trainer have just written me off as crazy. That helps.

Will you keep running? Yes, but not likely every day. It was a huge accomplishment but I have other running goals to work toward now.

Didn't you skip, like, ever? Really bad depressive days? Period cramps? Injuries? SOMETHING? No. I ran through all of those and a rest stop in Kansas while moving across the country. There are no skip days. Did I almost cry because it was so hard to get out the door? Sometimes. But you do it.

What would you do if you couldn't run? Be sad. Then find a pool.

How do you start a run streak? Mine was me just trying to see if I could run every day in November. I did. Then I just kept going. Runner's World "hosts" a Thanksgiving-to-New-Year's streak every year, and the delightful people at United States Running Streak Association have streaks that make mine look like a joke (upward of 25, 35 years).

Would you do it again? Yes.

What piece of gear or clothes are non-negotiable, that you won't run without? Nothing. I *like* having a ponytail holder, sports bra, and running socks & shoes, but at some time in the past year I've run without each of those.

What's the most important thing you learned? That time will pass anyway- you have to decide how you want to have spent it. Looking back, I have 144 hours of not watching tv, playing on facebook, or eating junk food. I have at least 144 hours of using my body. And that every single time you move toward a goal, you become a little more invincible.




....any thoughts, Kiwi?
I'm bored. Let's go for a run. To the coffee place!
I love it. To the coffee place.

Love Kasha AND KIWI

Mile High Half

Last weekend, Kiwi and I raced the Denver Rock and Roll Half Marathon. It is the 2nd of 3 Rock and Roll Races (4 if you count 2 in Savannah) we will run this year.

So here's a quick recap.

Hockey Goalie dropped me off at the designated drop off and I started walking in the general direction of the corrals. Half a block over were porta-potties, and the next block over were the corrals, and specifically, MY corral! Yeah! Easy! So I waited in my throw-away outer garments til race time. Then, off we go! A bit of hill, a bit of cold, and a bit of wind. I hit the 5k mark right over 30 minutes, then the 10k mark at right over an hour. That was a PR at altitude! Yeah! Then I realized I was doing pretty well and tried to hold on to my speed.

By mile 11.25, I was hurting. That distance-speed combination that doubles you over and makes you feel like throwing up. So I eased up a bit but kept running. I crossed the finish line at 2:20:45, which was a PR for altitude and within sight of my overall PR. Yeah!

Also, I used runner tracking this time, so it was really easy for Hockey Goalie to find me at the finish line as he knew exactly when I crossed. The finish line was well stocked and the medal is pretty cool.

Up next:
365 Day Run Streak
The Savannah Rock and Roll Half
The Savannah Rock and Roll 5K
Thanksgiving 10K
RunDenver 5K
RunDenver 5K
RunDenver 5K
RunDenver 5K
RunDenver 13.1

...and whatever Kiwi signs us up for in between. :)