On June 28, 2014 Nike Trail athlete Sally McRae ran the original and most prestigious 100 mile race, the Western States 100 for the very first time. This short film documents her story and her journey leading up to this event including qualifying at the Montrail Ultra Cup race, the inaugural Sean O'Brien 50 mile earlier in the year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHoXgYPvj6o

 

AWESOME!!!

I can't & shouldn't post this on my personal Facebook page or anywhere, really... but... today: after 6 years of running, becoming an ambassador for our local marathon, an ambassador for INKnBURN & now moving to ultras, my mom finally acknowledged a race! She actually wished me a "good race"! That's huge (!!!) & a 180 from her first comments to me trying to race...

I've stated that I have broken religious traditions & familial traditions. It hasn't been easy doing this solo... but finally hearing those words made me cry...

I've debated over how much detail to go into... "Seething" is the best word to describe her tone through grit teeth when I told her about my 1st 1/2 marathon. I was shocked & didn't bring up running for a long time. I was a "closet runner" at the start. Trail running was a way to keep my training out of sight for a good year or so... Last week, I saw my parents for the 1st time in about a year. It had been a few years absence before that. This is sad because we only live 1/2 an hour away. I gave her a pair of running shoes. I gave both of them, their 1st pair of running shoes a few years ago... This 2nd pair to my mom was hot, neon pink! She loved them! While technically she has yet to choke out the words "run" or "race", a text from my dad saying "Mom said have a good race" was "enough". 

Mom's diabetic blood sugar is down now that she's eating better & walking. It was in the 300's & now down to 90's!!!

Having daughters, I can't fathom not wanting to support & empower your girls... but she is from a different era & culture. -I "can't" dwell on it. I do what I have to for me to be a stable, happy mom & wife & have a strong family.

While my husband & daughters don't oppose my running; they don't join me either. My disposition doesn't make it easy to join others socially at races... so all of my training has been reading then trial & error. My miles & experiences are building. I try to share what I learn with as many as I can so they don't make the same mistakes I have... but sometimes "silence" & "example" are strong witnesses, also.

Apparently, mental change can happen-- eventually...

Feeling portly. Gained 5 pounds in a month (!!!) after I broke my toe! It's sad... & funny. Went classic INKnBURN T & arm sleeves, today, for +5 miles. First week back to running... 30 degrees difference in temp from yesterday to today- couldn't decide if I needed capris or a skirt... Long sleeves or short...

I'm not too worried about the weight. It will come off. I enjoyed the time off running (somewhat)- eating what I wanted (which consisted of a lot of ice cream) & working in the yard...

Today, I saw a young man at Oak Openings. He is a regular. I started seeing him a few years ago. He was MUCH heavier & I saw him walking. He would look to the ground as we passed & I always tried to give the thumbs up "good job" encouragement. As time went on, I saw his pace increase & his distance. What used to be one three mile loop became two loops. I may have passed him once, at the beginning... but, then, I started to see him --repeatedly. I told him quickly as I passed: "You are SO ready to start running..." Second lap that I saw him: "Seriously! You are ready... " -Time passed & I saw him walk-running!!! I was thrilled (& secretly "knowing" I had something to do with it.) I asked him once how much weight he had lost as I saw him getting "smaller". "100 pounds"  Me: "ONE--HUNDRED--POUNDS?! Awesome!!!" He just smiled & we passed.

Today, I was with Lucy & saw him approaching. (Lucy paused for an awkward pee break.) I couldn't pretend I hadn't seen him, so I turned to give an acknowledging "hello wave". --To my surprise, I saw he had a Glass City 1/2 marathon shirt! Me: "Cool! You did Glass City?!" Him: "Yep, my 1st race." Me: "I'm an Ambassador for Glass City. I was supposed to do the 1/2 until I broke my toe a few weeks ago. I'm just getting back to running..." Him: "Cool! I'm doing the Detroit 1/2 marathon, next..." Me: "Cool! I'm doing the Full. I'll see you there with THOUSANDS & THOUSANDS of people..." We both chuckled & moved along...

I really should ask his name, sometime...

All in all, it was a good run. The weather was cool & perfect. Toe is feeling much better & nothing makes me FEEL better than an INKnBURN outfit & a running skirt! SOOOOO ready for this race year!!! Planning my first Ultra...

I had two different discussions with TWO moms, today, about shooting sports. -PLEASE REMEMBER: I WAS THE ANTI-SHOOTING MOM! I was anti-shooting because I was uneducated. Being uneducated stirs fear! -As with any life skill, parents need to oversee, teach & supervise! You wouldn't leave a kid in the kitchen to make a meal with knives, a stove & other electrical appliances without supervision! You wouldn't give a kid a CAR without TEACHING, educating, supervising & CONTINUAL monitoring!!! Shooting is NO DIFFERENT. Many provide food for their families by hunting. I personally DON'T hunt. I couldn't... but I certainly don't fault those that do, as long as they are consuming it... We live in a society that has gun scenes in almost EVERY show or movie around us. I wanted our girls to understand the seriousness of it- not a glamorized, Hollywood version. 4-H exposed us to archery (first) & we tip-toed CAUTIOUSLY to firearms. Please know that each parent in our club is JUST as diligent for safety as I am! Education comes first before anything else. Safety is taught as well as mechanics before anything else (bow to rifle) is TOUCHED! Under supervision, a life skill is taught. Whether a child grows to hunt or not, they are learning aim, patience, control, adaptation, geometry, etc. --Our club is holding a safety course for new shooters as well as a Top Shot competition on May 16th. If you are interested in attending, either, please see our website for details. If you are an adult like me, that was never introduced to shooting sports as a kid & are interested or curious... you'll find this group to be an educational & supportive bunch...
http://hoppinandtrottin.com/

READY for a REVOLUTION- Shooting safety video

Took my "training wheel" Newtons for their maiden voyage, yesterday. I was getting super bummed that I hadn't been running. I was looking for ANYTHING to make it possible, again! I was hoping Hokas would work but it still hurt my toe. These "first level" Newtons have lugs on my midfoot. My toe was, in essence, hanging over the lug so there was no pressure. I didn't break any records but I was ecstatic just to be out, again!!! I could feel it by mile 1 1/2 but I kept going. By 2 miles, I could feel my toe hitting the sidewall of my toe box. I signed up for a comeback 5K in June. I know it won't be a PR. It may even be a personal worst... but I'm toeing the line, anyways. Feeling a bit portly... but catching up on stuff at home will only keep me busy for so long... My toe was pretty sore, later... but we'll give it another try, tomorrow.

Commenting to a person about INKnBURN: "I've been told that 'they are just clothes'... Coming from a person who didn't have much growing up-- the 'clothes' are LIBERATING! I used to only wear black & men's baggy stuff. I was too shy to wear something so bold & colorful like InB..."

I'm finding a BOLD, confident person, I didn't know existed! - Sounds weird but I am really just putting on the "outside" what I feel on the inside. I am introverted, self-reflecting & "follow the rules". I am a hard worker... but WAY DOWN, deep inside, am a B.A. (I can't bring myself to cuss.)

I run a business, volunteer at our daughters' schools & in the community, am raising a family, etc.

Like every person, we have different moods, feelings, obligations... -Running & exercise is my solo time. NOW: instead of always being modest & following the rules-- I'm wearing skulls? Like I said, it's liberating! I can be that "person" during a work out & "take it off", too, with a simple tank top. I can be the Wildflower, peaceful lady when I run... the Healing Mandala lady for yoga stretching... or the Robot when I weightlift. (--I cannot tell you how HAPPY, nerdy & strong I felt wearing those Robot capris, yesterday.)

My first InB purchase was the Flutter long sleeve. It was so bright, I couldn't bring myself to wear it for a year! It just sat there. When I saw new designs I choked, again. -I thought the Robot tights were "too bold" for me when I saw them... but on the flip side, I couldn't stop thinking about them & "wishing". I just couldn't bring myself to get them. -I missed out & am now on the hunt. I found the pants; but, I am still looking for the t-shirt. I was so happy wearing the Robot capris yesterday-- more so because I wouldn't have a year ago.

I come from a very religious background. I wouldn't wear ANYTHING with skulls! I didn't see the appeal to such deadly symbolism. Of course, leave it to INKnBURN to "spin it" & leave me with mouth agape! Their new Run or Die design, with such bright colors, artistically drew me. I bought them & they "sat" there. I couldn't bring myself to wear them. It was a very "naughty" mood that got me to wear them on a trail run! The shirt represented the mentality that I needed to get me out that day!

 

So WHY do I wear INKnBURN? Why do I PREACH INKnBURN? --Because we're each complex creatures... We go "back and forth" often during the day and our lifetime. We often restrict ourselves to being "responsible"... but we are MORE than responsible. We're kind; but, we party! We're responsible but sometimes we need a jolt. We're quiet but maybe we're loud "inside". We're "breaking out" after years of repressing... or maybe we've always been a free spirit! We're discovering who we are-- what we are... We are ALL of these... and there is a HUMAN need to express ourselves... For some of us that take care of others and are "bound" to being responsible, clothing may be our only form of self-expression. INKnBURN is the closest thing to a tattoo I, personally, would ever dare to do... but it's nice to have a temporary tattoo, option...

 

 

 

I am not sure why I'm being such a baby... My running has gone to ZERO miles & I'm getting pretty bummed. I broke my little toe & there is an ache across the bottom & side of my foot. There is pain at my pinky toe. I am working "okay" & I can get around; so, I am trying to remain positive; but, it is a struggle. -I can get SOME shoes on, easily; but, there is constant discomfort. It is not the worst pain I have ever felt so I go from being optimistic, to realistic, to panicked, to optimistic...

I took Lucy for a walk at Oak Openings- even that hurt. I have my toes taped & I just "did" it. I wish it would have been enjoyable. I jogged down small inclines- not wise...

Time to drown my sorrows with a bit of retail therapy & running clothes...