Virtual Run for Sherry Arnold- February 11, 2012

The disappearance and death of Sherry Arnold shocked, sadden and angered her small town in Sydney, Montana. It has also rocked the running world from all over. In one way or another we all feel connected to Sherry.  Some of you may have even cried, prayed and hoped for Sherry's safe return, I know I have.  

Two men were arrested, one from North Dakota and one from South Dakota.  One of the men confessed to killing Sherry.  However her body has not been found.  She was abducted at 6:40am. Which means she was only ten minutes from her home, she was only about a mile give or take a little in to her run. She usually ran near her home and with a small population of 6,000 in Sydney, Montana you would think it was safe.  Apparently not.

Even thou I do not know Sherry personally I feel incredibly connected to her, especially when I run. I used to run free and just be one with the road. Now I am leery of every stranger that I pass along the trail, every car I see drive by, every corner I turn I look for evil to jump out. I used to blast my music and get lost in the rhythm of my foot steps on the ground under my feet, the air enter my lungs with every breath that I take and look towards the sky and “just be free”.  Now when I look towards the sky I think of Sherry and how she was doing something that she loved and hope that she is looking down on all of us runners and watching over us.

Beth, Sherry’s cousin from Shut Up + Run has coordinated a virtual run with the blessing of Sherry's family.  It will be Saturday February 11^th 2012 at 9am MST. Mark your calendars

• Print out a running bib and pin it to your shirt (see below)
• Gather your friends, your running club members, your families
• If it’s wet where you are, “laminate” your bib with postage tape and punch holes in it
• If that time doesn’t work, go when you can
• GO. Run as far and as long as you want. Walk, hike, cycle, roller blade if you don’t want to or can’t run.
• Please share this on your blogs, Facebook and Twitters
• Keep it simple. Just run with Sherry on your minds and hearts.

Click HERE to print the bib.

For more information on this run you can read Beth’s blog HERE. Beth has also set up a DONATION button on her page. The funds will go to Sherry’s children, Holly and Jason.

"I run in the snow, rain, wind and heat. I run until I can not run anymore then I run some more. I run thru the blur of tears, the ackes and pains and then I keep going. I have more running clothes than some running stores, I know Fartklet does not mean like it sounds. I go to bed at 9pm, I get up early just to do it all over again. Why do I do this? Because I am a runner and that's who I am"

Winter Series Race #2 El Pomar Youth Sports Park

Even with the weather being in the low 20's it was a great day for a run.  The race started off fast but I was able to settle into my pace with ease.  I knew that all those people that started out way to fast would feel it by Mile 2.  This time Kim and I were able to stick together this run.  I looked down at my watch and noticed we settled into a faster than normal pace. I thought for sure we'd crap out early but I was surprised.

Kim and I noticed a puker before finishing the first mile. I guess a race is not complete unless you pass an early puker before Mile 1.  What's with the Winter Series and people having the need to vomit before even hitting the first mile?  I guess there are just norms in trail races.  Like crop dusting and vomiting :)

By mile 2 I could feel the trail start incline, and it reflected in my splits.  When I hit mile 2 it was all down hill from there.  Kim and I started to pick of those runners that passed us at the gate one by one.  We'd see a runner and fall in a single file line and push around the runner, as we picked them off one by one we started to gain speed.

When we hit Mile 3 we decided to empty our gas tanks and let it all go! We finished strong and was please with my splits and overall performance.  Here are my splits:

Official Time: 00:41:49
Overall: 384/490
Gender Place: 148/226
Age Place 24/34

Winter Series Race #1 Cheyenne Mountain State Park

I was really hoping that I would have run a better race. I checked the snow report the day before and it was noted that 15-20% of the trail was covered in ice/snow. I thought that I could handle that so there was no need for me to put screws in my shoes. Well, the snow report and I were very wrong. It felt like the course was at least 40% or more covered in snow. It was slippery and very slow going, which frustrates the heck out of me because I have been training and wanted to see what I can do.  With the follow the leader race, you get stuck in line and you can’t get out. So my times were very disappointing.

 

Kim and I before the race, this is our traditional before race picture.

The trail was at Cheyenne Mountain State Park. The trail had a 251ft elevation gain, with rolling hills. As many of you know I hate hills and trails! This trail was very narrow and with the ice it made it nearly impossible to pass anyone.

On the upside, we couldn't have asked for better weather! It was sunny with temps in the 50's. So this was ideal running conditions. Besides the ice/snow oh, yes and the mud too.

Overall this race was fun mostly because my Brother (Nick) and his fiance (Carmen) decided to run this with me while they are in town visiting. 

As you can see I knew I was going to have shitty times, so I decided to have fun with this race and "Tebow" it at one point. People around me were laughing :)

Official time: 00:40:11

Overall: 372 / 473
Gender Place: 140 / 220
Age Place: 25 / 34

It can happen to you, be careful out there

I write this blog with a heavy heart, because there is a story that has made national news (Good Morning America Video)  and it has been bothering me. This is a fellow Colorado blogger that I follow, Beth from Shut up + Run .

Her cousin, Sherry Arnold went out for a morning run on Saturday, January 7th in Sidney, Montana and never returned home.  She is a wife, mother of three, cancer survivor and a high school algebra teacher.  Her shoe was discovered Saturday afternoon near a route that she runs often.

Sidney, Montana is very close to the border with North Dakota, so if she was abducted, it is possible she was taken over state lines.

I know I have followers in North Dakota, so please pass this information along and keep and eye out.

Please say a prayer and/or send a good thought to Sherry and her family. Please pray/wish that she is okay and that she is not suffering. Please pray/wish for her safe return.

Certainly if you have any info or tips, contact authorities at 406-433-2210.

This could happen to any of us, be careful out there and like my father always told me "be aware of your soundings, and know where you are going"

Where is the commitment?

I hate the gym this time of year, this means that the gym is supper crowded in January little less in February and then in March it will return to my normal dungeon of sweat and solitude that I have come to know and love and I can resume my routine without interruption, but HELLO, where is the commitment?

Don't miss read what I am saying.  I support anyone that want to start the New Year off with a good resolution to loose weight, get in shape, or just "try new things". The hardest step is the first one out the door, let alone getting to the gym, hopping on the treadmill walking/jogging net to the guy/girl who t'mill reads 10+ miles and a pace of 6.8!

According to CNN a long-term study by University of Washing found that only 40% of people who stick to their resolution d0 it on the first try.  The rest had to try multiple time; 17% finally reached their goal after more than six attempts.  Those that stuck with it should be congratulated.

Just because January is here and you say you are going to do something doesn't mean that it will just magically happen.  There is no magic that is sprinkled down on everyone at midnight that makes all the things you say happen.  You have to want to put in the time and the effort, you have to want to stick with it,  If not you are setting yourself up for big time failure.

Believe me when I say I've been there.  I had many broken resolutions, failed commitments, unanswered promises, missed deadlines.  I used to be 42 pounds heavier and couldn't run to the end of the block.  The day Mom was diagnosed with Cancer was the day I decided that I would stop making excuses for myself and just get out there and do it.  End of story. PERIOD!  No matter how hard it was I kept going, I pushed myself thru the pain, the tears, anger and each time I did it, it got easier.

Just remember slow and steady wins the race, and although only 40% of people stick to their New Year's resolutions, there is no reason why your have to become one of these statistics that do not stick with it.  Write down your resolutions, take each day as it comes and don't become too disappointed if the results don't come as quickly as you expected.  If you stick to your plan, you'll get there eventually....and it will all have been worth it.

Good luck with those resolution today and all year long.

I will try new things

I am not one to make New Year's resolutions mostly because I never stick to the bloody thing.  However, I am making the decision to try new things.  Nothing off the wall, like bungee jump, sky dive, swim the ocean. I am thinking more along the lines of food.  I tend to shy away from things that either as a kid left a bad memory, funky looking textures, smells or just "could" taste bad.

After spending some time searching on Runner's World web site I found a few meal ideas that looked good. One thing runners have in common is finding the time to make meals.  When I am pressed for time I tend to grab what ever in the pantry and toss it together.  Which in return is not always the best of choices, or I grab a quick meal out of the fridge. I am a little tired of eating the same thing so often.

One meal idea I came across was a breakfast wrap.  Normally the word spinach and roasted tomato's would make me shy away, but keeping with the positive attitude of "I will try new things" I put my big girl pants on and gave it a spin.

Just a few ingredients:

1 Flat Out Wrap

2 Eggs,  beaten, you could use egg whites to make this to bring down the calorie count.

1 TBS Parmesan Cheese (I used pre-grated)

1 TBS Sun dried tomato pesto

3 strips pre-cooked bacon (I used the microwave stuff)

1 cup chopped spinach

Salt and Pepper to taste

~On flat out wrap, spread sundried tomato pesto and top with bacon strips 

~In a small bowl whisk together eggs, parmesan cheese and salt and pepper.

~Coat small fry pan with oil and pour in egg mixture, swirl eggs around to get a good coat. Add spinach then hold fry pan up to oven broiler for 1-2 minutes or until eggs are no longer “runny” looking.

~Fold eggs in half and place on wrap. Wrap in foil and take to go!

Nutrition, according to Myfitnesspal.com

Total Calories 476

Carbs: 14

Fat: 33

Protein: 33

Review:

Taste overall was wonderful!  Surprizing I do like spinach and sun dried tomato's.  Even though the sun dried tomato pesto have a loose paste texture.  I still have to work up to the whole pieces. It took about 10 minutes to make and I think that I could make this a day before.