Done

First runner in for the 50 miler, 12hrs 13. Will give more of an update when I recover.






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Almost there!

A mile from the finish. Jody's been walking determinedly, and she's just announced she'll run the last mile.. Everybody send her your good thoughts and energy to help her cross the line!



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Sun Comes Up..

Jody's made it through a tough night, the long and lonely stretch of North Lake Tahoe.



Jody and Katie working out some IT Band kinks.



We're now around the bend and heading for the finish, with Crazy Ironman Girl Katie being a super trooper and running alongside.

Irene capturing the sunrise over Lake Tahoe in her own special style..




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Running Deep Into The Night

Only a couple of hours before sunset and Jody has held up amazingly. She's gotten over a 3-mile hill and to Spooner Summit, and has passed the marathon mark.




The crew is waiting for her next stop at Mile 30!

Irene has been a total pro, despite fending off a nasty cold, given to her by our dear friend Jody. She's documenting in gorgeous Hi-Def..




Her photos to come after we download them from her fancy camera, they are stunning!

Now Jody's got some rolling hills to get through and the big push past what she knows she can accomplish into the Great Unknown! We'll be ministering to her every need from the big red Wondervan.

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Location:Somers Loop,,United States

Aaaaand.. They're Off!

About 40 hardy souls lit up like Christmas trees gathered for the 10pm start.

Jody and Katie turning on the light show



Our festively decorated minivan



Toes to the start line...



Pre-race instructions



A very composed Kiwi, given the circumstances.



She's 2 miles in and still speaking according to Irene.

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The last supper

Team Roadrunner fueling up.


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Tahoe 50

Flew in yesterday to Reno. Met Marcia and Irene. Did all the food shopping and had lunch with Irene's parents. They were both very sweet to me about the race and M & I being awesome on the food prep!
I the drive through to South Lake Tahoe, hung out at the hotel and got a surprisingly good nights sleep. Keep bumping into an older couple from Albaquerque. He's running the marathon. Really sweet people.



Got my race number. Random stats 40 people doing 72 miles, 2 of us doing 50.....small but determined crowd.
Waiting for Katy to arrive then M&I and the gangs all here. Race briefing at 3pm too then waiting to start at 10pm.


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Quietly calm

I am feeling quietly calm.  This 50 miler has been a year in the making.  It's a long way to run. I've run 50k (31 miles).  Now I have to magic up the extra 20.  I've done all I can in the best way I know.  My flaws and inadequacies revealed, at least to me.  I haven't been the best I could be in my training but I've been the best I can be in the moments.  Honestly I feel like I've worked hard.  I've had my moments, some revealed in this blog but many more moments revealed in my quiet time and one on one.  In talking about the training so much I haven't meant to be arrogant so much as keep myself honest.  Some months back a NZ friend called me out about being arrogant on Facebook because I shared my mileage etc etc etc.  It was such a kiwi moment.... I talk about it because it keeps me honest. I announce it and people then ask about the training and if I am failing to do the required training I am reminded I am failing and have to be honest.  Kiwis don't quite work like that though......the Americans love it and are among my greatest champions.  Because I tell them they know how to cheer for me.  Kiwi's well.....let's not talk about how we prepared for Mount Everest so much as we summited (I've read lots of mountaineering books for some odd reason).  But here's the thing that has me still be a kiwi - you don't almost climb Mount Everest, you don't almost get to the summit, you do it or you don't.......that's the 50.......trying hard isn't enough, do it, then you can brag......

Somewhat better

So I'm feeling 100x better today than I have for a week, almost human.  Of course that doesn't mean I haven't been working.  Today I signed on for a fun thing at work.  We run these business challenges at some of the universities we recruit from.  There was an opportunity to sign on as a coach to a group of Berkley undergrads who will compete in the challenge.  The idea is they have to build out a case study around a not-for-profit business problem and present out a "solution".  My job is to coach them in how to take a client focus and present.  They are real case studies so 10k is given to the nfp to help them implement the recommendations and team members get internships with the firm.  The whole thing appealed to me.  I really like coaching and it seems like this is something I might enjoy.  It's all part of our recruitment drive so also counts towards contributing to the firm overall......strange new world!
Tahoe is close and I now have a Race Plan designed to get me through the event.  Includes details on each leg of the event and where the support crew should meet me along the way.  I'm feeling more relaxed that eerie state of calm that inevitably lands where I am resigned to my fate and whatever will be will be.

Been sick, still sick

Throwing up a few photos of runnin Lake Tahoe before the big race:
















That's all I got today

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How life runs

This past weekend I was in Tahoe with Katy checking out the 50 miler course and running......The course is intimidating and I come out of the weekend feeling fragile.  It's the same feeling I had going into the NYC Marathon x 10.  I am unsure of my ability to complete this.  I have done the work, but not enough, never enough.....I am conscious of my imperfections.  This is a far bigger ask on many levels; it will happen overnight and into the following day, nutrition is key, I have a crew and will have to ask for their help and trust that they know when I need help (this the hardest thing of all).  Beyond my physical fitness my mental strength is strong, I am determined......but no less scared.  I am arranging it so there will be some real time blog updates.  NZ will be awake, so if you care to, you can follow the journey.  

I'll post photos of the weekend tomorrow, for now, sitting quietly in my corner.......

Labour or Labor weekend.....depends where you are living

It's a long weekend after a long week!  Long because the whole promotion thing, new role in the new project, stepping up to new things etc etc is all.....tiring (all that hugging and handshaking).  Being promoted has meant a whole bunch of interactions that I wasn't quite geared up for - you know; congratulations, responding to other people's emotional reactions, trying to figure out what it means etc etc.  It's been a little overwhelming.  You'd think at 45 I'd have more of this figured out, but I don't; I'm always bemused and confused in these moments......never really sure how they happen nor how I should respond.  I just figure I'll take The Mothers advice for about everything, keep going.
Weekend has been low key.  Lotte and Irene are in Reno - so the house is quiet.  The training plan for the ultra was harsh; 4hr run on Saturday, 5hrs on Sunday.  It's all so close now but not quite close enough. I am tired of the regime  and how it dominates my mind (did I do or not do what is required.....).  The team is in place and next weekend Katie and I head to Tahoe to check out the course.  Wow, she's been amazing, I completely trust her to get me through with Irene and Marcia, who are also being amazing.  As we head into the race I feel much like I did for the NY Marathon, emotional and fragile, fearful and certain that I can do it if I am the person I promised myself to be......
I worked some of the weekend, trying to demonstrate stepping up into my new role - right now it feels like a big life.......