Home > Haute Mamas > Archives > 2008 > April > 22 > Entry
The Road To Rim Rock
He ran toward me as I was finishing up my last mile on the Audubon section of the Colorado River Trail. I had about a hundred yards to go, and I noticed that he looked like an experienced runner. He was wearing a jersey sporting the name of some race and lots of logos, skimpy running shorts and an iPod strapped to his upper arm.
We exchanged the typical head-nod and he slowed down long enough to say, “Wow, you look like my wife. She has the same outfit!”
“Cool!” I thought, “That means I must at least look like a runner!” I felt pretty good about that until it sank in that the guy was in his early 70s, so his wife had to be around the same age. Bummer, I thought, as I gasped my way back to my car. I consoled myself by thinking maybe she was wife No. four and only 32 years old.
All of which leads me to two important questions: Are there any trails in this valley that start downhill? And if the uphill is 2.3 miles, how can the downhill on the same route be less than a mile?
It’s important because I’ve set what I think is a pretty aggressive goal for myself — to run in this year’s Rim Rock Run on Nov. 8. Maybe “participate as an entrant” in this year’s 22.6-mile Rim Rock Run would be more accurate. It also takes some of the pressure off me.
Understand, the pressure is self-imposed. I like to go for long walks and hikes, I always have. I’ve always hated running, too. But at some point (I think I was late for cocktails) I finished up my hike by running the last part of the way. The next time I ran a little more, then a little more. It didn’t kill me as I fully expected it might, so I incorporated a bit more running each time. (In the interest of full disclosure, it wasn’t really running. It was better defined as walking fast while bouncing up and down.)
About three weeks ago in the middle of this activity I had this crazy idea. The blood flow to my brain was restricted because it was all going to my heart, lungs and legs, but I thought, “Hey, you’re about to turn 50 this summer. Maybe you should have a goal. Like train to run the Rim Rock Run and live to tell about it! Maybe you could write about it and somebody else would be inspired to try it too. What do you have to lose? If you don’t make it or wimp out, you’re only humiliating yourself to like, 80,000 people!”
So I talked it over with the-one-we’re-so-glad-to-have-back, Laurena Davis, sure she would diplomatically find a way to say, “No thanks. We can’t spend perfectly good money on newsprint for something like that.” But surprisingly she smiled and agreed it could be fun. Laurena, for the record, ran this race in 2002 and has my eternal admiration.
I have since embarked on a rigorous training schedule that at my current pace will allow me to finish the race in 5 hours and 55 minutes! Hey - it’s a 37K race. That’s a lot of Ks to cover in that amount of time.
I’m not really sure what form my training will take, or what form my writing about it will take either. Right now I’m trying to run — see above definition — 3 miles a day at least five days a week, when it’s not raining. Or too windy, or too cold. I’m a picky runner. So far I’ve managed to do that since March 30.
I push myself, physically and mentally, but I don’t try to fool myself. My body is close to the half-century mark and any sprains, pulls or tears will take about that long to heal. Some days I feel really good and think there should be champagne corks popping for me. Some days I want to smack myself upside the head for thinking I could pull this off. Most days I just think I need way better music on my iPod.
Last week I registered to run a 5K that’s a fundraiser for Girls on the Run of the Grand Valley. It takes place at Long Park on Saturday, May 3. It gives me a short-term goal to work toward, but the best part is that all finishers get a Wondergirl Medal! How cool is that?
Check my column in The Daily Sentinel on the 4th Tuesday of each month to track my progress. I’ll be posting more frequent updates on HAUTE MAMAS.
Oh - and one of the benefits to all this running around is that it really does get you in shape. Check me out:
Permalink | Comments (13) | Post your comment | Categories: Lynn
Comments
By Marcia
April 22, 2008 8:02 AM | Link to this
I had to laugh when I read your article in the paper this morning. What it is about turning 50 that makes us want to do crazy things like the Rim Rock Run? Next year my girlfriend and I both turn 50 so about a month from now we will be hiking in the Grand Canyon. We will hike from the South Rim to the bottom, then up to the North Rim, sleep, then hike back down and back out to the South. We’ll be doing this in two consecutive days - hiking 20-25 miles each day. Why do we do this? Because we wanted to do something Grand before 50! And because we can! (And if we can’t we can at least give it our best shot and try to get a shuttle to take us back around to our car on the South Rim.) Now I just wonder what we’ll think is a good idea to try before 51.
By Robin
April 22, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this
You must have a killer sunscreen in your moisturizer!
I think this is awesome Lynn. You are an inspiration. Good for you.
By Richie Ann
April 22, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this
Lookin Good! I’m looking forward to tracking your progress.
By Papa
April 22, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this
Hi Lynn Good luck in your race, I hope you WIN. The picture was just great it should make all the big national papers (smile). Love ya Richard
By Lynn
April 22, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this
Marcia - that really does sound like a GRAND time! Good for you guys - that’s a lot of hiking. Take pictures of yourselves on the trip and send them to us. Keep us posted, thanks!
By Jackie
April 22, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this
Hi, everyone. I just got off the phone with Lynn and was encourging her to keep up the good work… I started walking almost 6 months ago and havent missed a day since I started… Ive lost 55 lbs and lost tons of inches.. I just now started jogging on the treadmill over the last month. Ive built up to doing a jog for half of mile at a time.. I did 5 miles of walking and jogging today and shaved off 10 min of the last time I did it. It took 77 min. this morning. I have never felt better and I just turned 57 last week. I have my life back and Im the one in control. I just want to continue to encourage Lynn and all you other ladies out there that want to get started or have already started it is worth it. You will have tons of energy… To all the women out there you deserve the time it takes to take care of yourself and you will be better mother, daughter, wife, girlfriend for everyone in your life. So keep up the good work… Jackie Twinn, Grand Junction, Colorado.
By Richie Ann
April 22, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this
Congratulations Jackie! 55 pounds is awesome!
By Laurena
April 22, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this
Where can I get one of those Haute Mamas sports bras?
By Lisa
April 22, 2008 6:19 PM | Link to this
Yea for you!! I will be watching your progress, and I know you’ll do just fine. I started walking and then found myself running about 4 1/2 years ago. I too set my sights on running Rim Rock, and I did it!!! It remains one of my proudest accomplishments. Running does help the weight—I think I look better than I ever have; I can’t wait for the weather to get a few degrees warmer, so I can show off my ‘manly’legs in shorts. However, the weight loss is really the least important benefit. Through running, I’ve learned more about myself than in any other way. I’ve dedicated myself to a goal (like Rim Rock) and accomplished it. Sometimes on a tough day at work, I think; ‘I ran over the monument, I can handle anything’! During many training runs, I’ve solved problems and come home a happier, healthier wife and mother. I can’t even begin to enumerate all the ways running has enhanced my life—it was my way of finding out what I’m capable of. By the way, you’ll have a great time at the Girls on the Run 5K, it too is very inspiring, and GOTR is a fantastic organization. You might consider contacting them to be part of “Team Tiera” a group of women who do a fall run to raise $ for GOTR—it’s a lot of fun, a very worthwhile cause and you meet other amazing women; just like yourself!!
By Esther & Roy Wilson
April 22, 2008 11:55 PM | Link to this
Lynn, We are proud of you Lynn!! You look great!! Keep up the good work. Love, Esther & Roy
By Robert G.
April 23, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this
You go girl!
By chris
April 23, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
keep it up, Wondergirl! we’re all pulling for you, Lynn! having a goal and working to achieve it in a specific time frame is very laudable.
get some music that makes you feel like a world-beater, load it into your iPod and hit the trails. it should help to make the time pass, especially when you want to stop thinking about blisters, shin splints or bad weather.
running has always given me a feeling of freedom, possibly due to the open areas that i run in. however, with more development and more time needed for work, family and all the rest of life, those runs early in the AM out on lonely roads through alfalfa fields and apricot trees are close to being just a memory.
and i’m assuming that you are running for GOTR? that’s also a great decision. i know a few of them and they are all class acts; you’ll have a great time for a worthwhile organization.
and Jackie, you must also be commended on your efforts; glad to hear of your success. a great story….mind over matter wins, again!!!
By Lynn
April 23, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this
Thanks everyone for your positive comments and support! I did join GOTR and Team Tiara - how could you not join anything that involves a Tiara? Stay in touch because I’ll need all the encouragment I can get!