I Survived Ragnar SoCal 2013!!!!

Hello, dear readers!

This year’s Ragnar Relay was the freakin’ most torturous race I’ve ever done, but I survived!

For the past two years, I’ve run the Ragnar Del Sol, but this year, our team switched it up by doing So Cal, and it was horrendous-amazing.

Horrendous Factors:

The desert is flat… so there is no possible way to train for California’s hills

I tore my quad a little over a month ago, and couldn’t completely train for my longest distances

CA traffic sucks, so we couldn’t support our runners very well (my van obviously hates me because they didn’t stop for me at all!) 

The runners who sign up for SoCal seem to be real runners, whereas the ones at Del Sol are often just crazies who don’t have anything better to do for a weekend, so they were all really fast and no fun at all. Ragnar is all about decorating your van and covertly tagging other teams’ vans, acting like a teenager, cheering loudly for every runner you see, and every other stupid-jubilance you can imagine, but serious runners don’t do all of that as much, and they mostly just run and ignore their responsibility for bringing the fun.

I was running longer distances than I have in the past, so the other teams put real runners on my part of the course and they all ran past me… one girl passed me on every. single. leg. I ran.

It didn’t seem as hot as it was, so we had a case of dehydration that ended us up at the first-aid tent. There was also some vomiting by a couple of team members and a possible broken foot.

Joseph didn’t run!!!!!!!!! He was in my van for every other Ragnar I’ve run, and without him, I’m the only returning member of our inaugural 2011 van 2. Also, there was no one to sing loudly while I’m in the porta-potty

Amazing Factors:

I ran farther than I ever have before and feel like a real runner… 18 miles exceeds all reasonable expectations

I ran some freakin’ crazy steep hills and only lost a minute per mile (one of my hills was a dirt trail that was steeper than a 45 degree angle)

I felt a great sense of overcoming obstacles. My previous Ragnars went pretty smoothly and I didn’t have any excuse for not doing well. In this one, I had at least 4 admissible excuses, and yet, I triumphed!

I got to run past Angel Stadium!!!!!

I burned more than a half a pound of calories in less than two days

We had a truly excellent team… I’m not sure our previous teams would have made it, but everyone this year pulled their own weight and helped each other out.

Half of our team has run a previous Ragnar and close to half had run two previous Ragnars, so we were much better prepared than we’ve been before… there was a calm collectedness in our struggles that’s never been there.

BEACHES!!!! there were some GORGEOUS exchanges on this race

I don’t feel as terrible as I usually do. I usually struggle to walk after a race, but this time, I’m only slightly sore.

We raised over $10,000!!!!!! I still haven’t met my personal goal, and you should click here to view my runner profile and donate $25 to Open Doors Community School, please, but as a team, we were superhero support raisers!

 

The Ragnar Relay

Dear Readers,

I’m running the Ragnar Relay next month to raise $ for a community school, and I REALLY need help to reach my fundraising goal. Because I’m paying my own way for the race (as are all of the team’s runners), all of the $ you donate will go directly to Open Doors Community School and is tax deductible.

I have $700 more to raise in the next month, and am hoping you’ll help me out with a $25 donation.

Pretty, pretty Please… Please… PLEASE click on this link to check out my runner profile and make a donation.

If you aren’t sure what the Ragnar Relay is, here’s the DL:

It’s a 200 mile relay race (192.9 miles to be precise) . Our course runs from somewhere near L.A. to somewhere near San Diego (I’m not too knowledgeable about California geography). There are twelve members on our team, and we’ll each run three legs of the race. We divide up into two vans, and one van will always be racing, and the other will be resting until we finish the race. The vans drop each of their runners off and support them with water and enthusiastic cheering, and then meet them at their exchange points where the next runner takes over.

I am signed up to be runner #4, and my legs go as follows:

First Run                                                Second Run                             Third Run                       Total Distance

4.7 miles | Moderate

6.7 miles | Very Hard

6.6 miles | Easy

18 miles

So… I’m a little nervous because this is my longest Ragnar distance thus far, and it’s a pretty rough race even for runners who are responsible for shorter distances. Also, I tore my quad not so long ago, and haven’t been able to train as thoroughly as I’d like.

But… Ragnar is my favorite race of the year, and AZYP played such a crucial role in my foundations as a teacher, that I wouldn’t miss it for the world. And I’ll feel all the more hard-core when I overcome my body and stand triumphantly at the finish line!

Please consider helping me achieve this goal by sponsoring me with whatever amount you can spare.

Much love,

Ms. Leigh

That’s me handing off to Daniel at my last exchange last year.

 

Howdy, folks!

So… I’ve had a bit of an adventurous week!

It all began on Monday night at the slow-pitch softball game. There’s a runner on third, and I’m up to bat. My goal for the game is to get on base (since I had yet to do so in the season). I hit the ball and leg it out to first, getting an RBI. Then, our big hitter is up to bat, and he knocks the crap out of the thing, and I have to run. About three steps out from first, I feel a pretty unfortunate tearing in my quad. But I keep running… I figure it’s just a normal pulled muscle; no big deal. I round third and our big hitter is right on my heals because I’m gimping a bit. We both score.

Now, at this point, I know that I’m at leas moderately wounded because there’s no way anyone should be catching me on that run, but, being an athlete, it takes serious damage to get my attention… usually there needs to be blood, and there isn’t, and I figure I’m just being a big baby about it because it’s been ten years since I’ve really been an athlete.

So I keep playing. I do alright in the field, although I’m awkward with bending at the knee.

Then I come up to bat again. And I hit the ball and run to first, and even though I’m taking it relatively easy, my thigh is hurting like a mother, and when they overthrow first, I refuse to run to second. I’m pretty sure the jerks on my team think I’m being a baby too, because they’re ridiculously competitive and feel like I should be infallible because I played at a community college. Nevertheless, one of the girls runs for me, and I try to stretch it out in the dugout.

And I keep playing.

Again, I come up to bat, hit the ball and run to first. I’m only at about three-quarters speed at this point, and when they overthrow first again, there’s no way I’m going to second. I get a runner and make it through the game feeling completely judged by my teammates.

Then I get home.

And my thigh is swelled up and hurting. I elevate it, ice it, etc…

Then I get up the next morning and I’m thinking it’s going to be fine. I WILL go for a run. You see, I’ve started a thing where I run to bible study and someone else drives me home. And I really want to do it.

But then, the day progresses, and I’m on my feet king of a lot since I’m a teacher. And the thing swells up again.

After three days of RICE and no fun, the swelling stops happening, and I can feel how loose my muscles in my quad are… because that tearing I felt while running between first and second was one of my quad muscles. Tearing. So when I massage it, I can’t feel one distinct muscle like I’m used to feeling. There’s more of a spaghetti-ish feel to it… except for the one, rock-solid knot that’s developed dead center in my thigh. Also, on the third day, the bruising starts to show. Who knew you could bruise yourself that way? I totally didn’t. Now, about eight inches of my quad is covered in yellow bruising, and I’ve got an avocado-sized purple bruise going too.

As the days have gone by, it’s gotten almost 100% better in the sense that it no longer hurts to use it. However, I’ve lost significant amounts of strength, elasticity and flexibility. And I have a 200-mile relay race to run next month. While I’m sure it’s going to be fine, I’m pretty nervous about my recovery time.

Moral of the story: don’t play slow-pitch softball. You always end up on the crappiest team in the league, there are tons of jerkwads who take it too seriously, and you might get injured.

 

My So-called Life…

Look at me, posting THREE days in a row!

It’s been awhile since I’ve written about what’s going on with me, so for those of you who read STILL GROWING because you know and care about me, here’s what’s going on in my so-called life…

• I stand amazed at the blessing my job has been this year. I’ve grown closer with my colleagues, and been amazed at their proficiencies in one of the most challenging professions in existence. I’ve also been blessed by students who are trying. In the five years I’ve spent as an educator, I’ve come to expect classrooms full of apathy and nonchalance… and not just about scholastic achievement, but also in regards to character. More often than not, students seek cheap thrills that distort and corrupt their person, rather than toiling through the obstacles blocking us all from being more than we are. However, this is the first year in which I’ve felt a distinct effort from the majority of my students to improve. They want to be kinder, more loyal, more eloquent, better prepared, and overall, excellent human beings. I’ve been flabbergasted to already have seen several students grow several sizes (just like the Grinch’s heart). I’ve taught well, and they’ve learned well, and the classroom has been what it ought to be. I’ve been close to tears as the relationships grow, and students genuinely want me in attendance at their inductions into National Honors Society, football games, and performances in the school musical. I don’t think I’ve ever had quite so many students genuinely want me to know them… and of course I’ve also never had quite so many students, period, but this year is still somehow different.
• My church has moved into its own building, and things are moving towards the really wonderful. I wish I could say that I helped make it happen, but, in truth, I struggled with my church and my expectations, often wondering if Holy Cross was where I wanted to be. I had several talks with Pastor Pete, trying to figure out where I fit, how I should serve, whether I’m being sinful in attending another church’s Bible study, and none of that was very helpful to anyone, but I’m starting to settle in now and appreciate Holy Cross for what she is. It’s really nice to see God blessing our church and to witness her coming into her own. I’m not sure why the building has made such a difference, but it really has.
• I’ve lost 6 pounds! It’s running season again, and my body responds impressively well when I train. Maybe I’ll drop another pants size and even beat my personal best of 2 hrs and 18 mins for a half-marathon. Also, I’m very excited to be running Ragnar Southern California next year. Each runner evidently gets to run next to the ocean for at least one leg of the race, which sounds spectacular.
• I haven’t heard any definitive news about the house I’ve put an offer on, but the seller’s bank has made some changes to the contract, which I went ahead and signed… the best change they made was to give us 60 days for closing. Since my lease isn’t up until March, that’s perfect for me. That means the earliest date I could be a homeowner is in early December, and I’m hoping it’ll be more like February, so feel free to join me in praying that the bank will drag its feet just a little bit.
• My uncle David died. Unfortunately, he and I weren’t close, but I’m still struck by his story. He died of a heart attack, and his body stayed at the hospital for longer than two days because no one could reach his next-of-kin. The sad reason for this is a valley that existed between him and my father, but of all the things my dad has done for me, I’m proudest of him for his decisions about his brother. My uncle wasn’t particularly good or careful in his relationships with my mom, sister, or me, and my dad chose distance from him because he wanted to protect his girls. So my uncle was separate. I don’t know if I’d say that he was alone, but I certainly hope my body won’t sit in a hospital morgue for any longer than it has to.
• I managed to make it through my earliest years of adulthood without the common frustration many experience that all of their friends are getting married. However, I’ve now seemingly entered the Spring season in which Thumper and Flower become twitterpated… and let’s hope I, like Bambi, am not too far behind them, and also that they all throw spectacular parties.
• Earlier this year at Phoenix Comicon, Ashly and I discovered the amazing art of pumpkin chucking, and the annual festival in Tucson will be happening at the end of this month. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt a sense of anticipation that was quite as strong as what I’m currently feeling.

I think that’s the important stuff that’s going on with me. I’d love to hear about the major events in your lives, and I’ll probably be checking in at all of your blogs this week since I’m off of work (Woohoo for Fall Break), but also feel free to let me know anything major down in the comments section. I’d love to know how I can pray for you all this week.

Much Love!

 

Images of the Grand Canyon and Mt. Wrightston

Here are all of the good pictures I took at the Grand Canyon and Mt. Wrightston.
The waterfall is pretty much the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, and getting to see it was pretty special. Therefore, I took, a few too many pics of it… but just remember that I live in the desert, and we don’t have waterfalls here. Also, note the little cave on the left side… we went inside of it, and that was spectacular!

The ladybugs are at Mt. Wrightston, which is a beautiful little spot just outside of Tucson. I have a slight love affair with ladybugs, so I may have over-photographed them as well.
Enjoy!

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