September 25, 2004. Guess what I did today? I ran a 7 mile trail and had tons of energy the whole time -- even at the end I felt like I could keep running. My breath was good, my feet were good and my legs felt good. I did it in 1 hour and 40 minutes, but could have done it in 1 hour 20 minutes (my guess) if not for the admitted exhausted "plodding" of my husband who was with me. He is such a good man to join me in my fitness antics!

What's more, I did the 7 mile run AFTER running 2.25 miles placing station flags for this morning's "Bootie Camp," AND walk/running the 2.25 trail again with the group.

I've put in over 11 miles today -- and over 25,000 steps on the pedometer again. And I feel fine -- just fine -- great even.

Who would have ever thought that the girl who always struggled to keep up would be kicking her 6' husband's butt, and would be strong and have power to spare after a 7 mile run that came after two 2.25 mile courses? I am simply amazed, and I owe it to...you guessed it -- NUTRITION!!

I cannot emphasize enough how powerful a role what goes into your mouths plays in every single thing that you do and in who you are -- your emotions, the health of your tissues, how well you sleep, your ability to ward off cancer and disease, and yes, your ability to go for miles and miles easily and enjoyably!

I had a medical researcher on the trail today. She was a researcher of breast cancer and do you know what she said? She said that "medical science has pretty much determined that the reason why the level of occurence of breast cancer in the USA so far exceeds the levels in other countries is because of the USA's adopted nutrition practices."

Let me tell you how I ate in preparation for today. I ate lightly last night so that I wouldn't be bogged down this morning. I ate 1/2 a beef/bean burrito at 1pm, the other 1/2 at 4pm, a turkey and green bean dinner at 7pm and a chicken and yellow squash dinner at 10pm - all small servings. Then this a.m. I had scrambled eggs and oatmeal with blueberries at 7:30am, then a scoop of Accelerade at 8:30am, then I ran a 2.25 mile course, had another scoop of Accelerade, then ran the course again with the group, and had 2 scoops of Endurox at 11:30. At 12:30 I had 170 calories of peanuts (fat is a great source of fuel) and 1 small trail mix bar (simple sugars and fats for fuel) in preparation for the 7 mile run which began at 1pm. And then we had 1 scoop of Accelerade at 2 points along the run -- at 40 minutes and 30 minutes later. The purpose of each one of these meals was fuel for endurance activity -- and it worked!

So as I was running the 7 mile trail today, I found myself listening to my breath. I discovered this summer how incredibly peaceful it was being face up in a cool swimming pool looking at the blue sky and clouds above with no sound below except the water-muffled sound of my breath -- in and out, in and out -- it was absolutely calming somehow. I found myself feeling the exact same way on the trail today. Peace. Breath. In and out, in and out. Cool air, blue sky, dappled sunlight on my shoulders, my husband's more labored breath behind me, the crackling of the pine needles, the beautiful smells of pine and water and mud and the sound of my feet slapping the ground. All peaceful. So peaceful. So enjoyable. And so sad.

Why sad? I was sad because no one signed up for my first trail run. I had a scheduled trail program today and no one signed up. Why? Outside of those who are truly unable to accomplish this task due to disability, I suppose there was fear about the length. I suppose there was denial that it could be accomplished. I suppose that most everyone decided that it was more than they could handle. And they were probably right. That's what I find sad. This beautiful, natural, peaceful, healthful process is too much for most people to handle because we are so out of health and so out of shape that our bodies and minds can't grasp how meaningful and healthful a 7 mile nature run is. Instead we find it overwhelming -- crippling even.

And stressful. We worry about how much faster everyone else will be and how we will look bad rather than simply caring about performing it for ourselves -- for our health and well-being. Believe me, I only run a 9-10 minute mile. I'm not a fast runner -- not with these stumpy little legs. As the group leader, I worry about holding my clients back, not the other way around. I wish people would live beyond their fear and move on to challenge and acceptance of self and faith and patience.

Our bodies were made to move. We have joints that move in all sorts of ways, and muscle to give us strength, and eyes in the fronts of our faces to analyze terrain and make decisions on foot placement. We find more perfect health when we move intensely on a regular basis -- peace and strength abound. Pulse and breath quicken and give us life -- more abundantly than we remember having. It's amazing how we don't realize how out of shape we are until we discover how in shape we can become. I wish more people would discover that.

I've put together some walking clubs, some running clubs (short runs) and some "bootie" camps and trail walks and runs -- all at incredibly affordable prices so that the general public can participate and discover what it is like to have their bodies work -- consistently and moderately-to-intensely. I want people to have the giddy joy that I had when I got to the end today and realized that if it weren't for my trail partner I could have run harder and longer, that after 11+ miles I still had energy to burn -- literally. I did the "Rocky Dance" with my hands over my head and jumped up and down and around and I felt like I was amazing. And do you know what? I am. I am amazing. I am 39 years old and I am amazingly better than I ever dreamed possible.

That's my wish for you. Be better than you ever dreamed possible. Be inspired. Find some mountain in your life and become committed to moving it. Set a date, make a slow-to-moderate plan to give your body time to adapt and begin to chip away at it until you, too, find that you are simply amazing.

P.S. The best way to recover after lengthy endurance exercise is in an ice bath. Like getting into a cold swimming pool, it feels cold for a moment but then your body adjusts and it is comfortable. I sat in one for 15 minutes this afternoon to help my body recover. Because...this day I traveled further than any other day in my life and I'm smart enough to know that tendons and ligaments and joints need tender loving care -- especially as we get older. So, I put about 6 inches of cold water in the bath tub, followed by a bucket of ice, and got in. The water only went up to my hips becuase I was only concerned about my lower body and who wants to put their whole body on ice (brrr!!) and after a while I was perfectly comfortable. It makes a big difference to your body because you give it some extra care to reduce inflammation immediately. Was my husband game for the ice bath?? No way! He strongly refused as he limped and hobbled to the couch which he said was a much nicer option. : )