There is something to be said for keeping at a thing, isn't there?" Frank Sinatra

And...I fell, but what my yoga friend would say..."in these situation, when your balance is off, don't get frustrated, say Thank You...because that is when your body learns." And I say to that "Onward, forward...my happy spirit is still there!" I have 5 kids, and I am their example....these are the greatest examples to them.
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The Worlds 24 hour race was an experience...too many words to describe it, but will leave it at that - experience. In your mind, you play it out and imagine what it would be like, especially for a first timer like me at a Worlds 24 hour event...but reality changes all that you imagine.

Unfortunately and fortunately, it turned out in ways I did not imagine. The word clarity comes to mind. I am so thankful that I was able to participate in the ways that I did, so thankful for my crew Deb...who was selfless in all ways. She is a truly giving person and not only gave all of herself to me but spread it among the other runners too. For all those others behind the tent who were fully giving to support the runners....honestly, this is not a one man team - its a success of the selfless and self together. Each 1200 meter lap was an exchange of activity between the two. Not sure which was more tired - the runner or the crew. Dr. Andy and his med students were incredible. Dr. Andy is 75 years old and he has so much energy and so much wisdom...I could listen to him for hours and absorb all of his knowledge - his one life can compare to about nine lives of the average person with all that he has done. His comment to me every time I was in awe "You go through this life once". Simple reply but lots of strength behind it!

And now, getting back to my personal situation and what happen at Worlds... - I made a very amateur mistake - dehydration. I am prone to it and should have known better. Without going into too many details...I was not drinking the amount I planned per lap (first mistake), hour 6, I had a headache (sign of dehydration!), hour 8 I wanted water (already dehydrated when the thirst had set in)....and the hour I finally gave in I was a bit dizzy and had the leg cramps settling in. I went to the race and was focused on the RUN...without making adjustments to the FUEL system that I had planned. Should have, could have doesn't help. It is back to the basics and lesson learned.

I am a trail runner by love of it, it is my passion. I am at ease with a euphoric feeling the farther and deeper I get within the beauty of nature. Single track, technical, hills, ....awesomeness.

I am a road runner by the mental challenge...the feat and desire to fight the challenge and strive to achieve goals that I have put in my head. I have times that I keep in my head, and try, try again until they are achieved - and sometimes it takes many tries. I look to it as a metaphor of life.

Failure is not a defeat - it is the will to learn and go out again with a new set of eyes. A race that did not go planned should not be something to beat yourself up on.....it should be one of the greatest lessons learned - puts you in check, back to the drawing board, back to the basics. The excitement is still there....the ahaa moments are still there. The, "OK, now I see", is there.

Paris, France...was a great place to visit. But America...we are lucky. I love this country!

So....to leave you with some little trivia from some amazing people who I keep in my head -

Michael Jordan was cut from his high school team. Jordan once observed "I've failed over and over again in my life. That is why I succeed."

Babe Ruth is famous for his past home run record but for decades he also held the record for strikeouts. He hits 714 home runs and struck out 1,3330 times in his career (about which he said "Every strike brings me closer to the next home run"). John Wooden once explained that winners make the most errors.

After Carl Lewis won the gold medal for the long jump in the 1966 Olympics games, he was asked to what he attributed his longevity, having competed for almost 20 years. He said "Remembering that you have both wins and losses along the way. I don't take either one too seriously".

"Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fall" Confucius