What the Heck is Challengeville?

So...what's the big whoop about these silly little e-certificates that show up all over Instagram and sometimes on Facebook? Why would someone ever run 48, 93.3, 150, 200+ miles just to earn an intangible award? Why do runners have a mileage ticker at the end of their instagram post with the weird #oldguyrunning hashtag?

Graphic from Old Guy Running

Well, I'll tell you what it means to me, and likely what it means for a handful or more of the Challengeville participants. 

I'm a little more than a recreational runner. I don't just put on some Target running shoes and head out the door for a jaunt around the neighborhood. I love me some gear! I love reading people's reviews about their favorite running/compression socks, why they can't live without their GPS/heart rate watch and strap, their opinions on the very best hydration system, whether it be a handheld bottle, a fuel belt, the perfect hydration pack, or just hiding water bottles in discreet locations. I read about their preferred fuel and hydration sources...  the list of these options could go on forever!! I read about shorts and tanks....and shoes, oh my goodness the shoes! And then I shop. I buy what I've decided is the very best for me! I use training plans to give me some direction... long runs, short runs, speed work, whatever the case may be. There is some very dedicated planning to the type of running I do.

But, on the same coin, I'm not an avid racer. This past year I've been blessed with opportunities to run a handful of races. I've enjoyed them, and I'll always race some of my favorites or hit up a bucket list race, or try out a new one with a friend for fun, but as far as chasing down some serious time goals and earning all the bling... I don't think that's for me. That may change down the road, but for now, 5 or so races in a calendar year may be just about right!

That's where Challengeville comes into play.

Graphic from Old Guy Running

I heard about this freaking awesome group over a year ago while following a girl on Instagram. She was logging 150 miles for the title of Bigfoot! It was amazing to watch, and I wanted in on this. I started stalking the hashtags used and uncovered this wonderful community of runners just plugging away on the streets, trails, track, and treadmills trying to "claim their fame" in the form of an e-certificate. I'll admit, I thought it was a bit goofy at first and I considered not doing it, or at least not posting the cert when I was done. I chose the Tinman challenge first. 93.3 miles for the month and aiming for an even 100. I was sure I could do it, my training plan mileage suggested, it was in the bag with a little dedication. At the time I was training for a race I wasn't even sure I'd be able to do, but just in case, I was going to work for it.

The last day of July rolled around and I had spent nearly every other morning running the streets of my neighborhood and the local high school track and I chased down my first Tinman and locked in my 100 miles. Holy. Crap. I did it!!! I have never been so proud of myself as I was in that moment. Then I understood the draw to these little certificates that are lovingly generated by Old Guy Running himself. He is proud of his program, and he should be.

Each certificate I've been able to earn and July 2015 mileage goal met... and June goal failed!

See, Challengeville isn't about speed or crowds, although you can make it about that. It's not necessarily about PRs and tec shirts and medals (though maybe one day a component of this may be included =D). Challengeville was created to be better for yourself, push yourself, drive yourself. Do something maybe you've never done before. It's perfect for the recreational runner just looking for the motivation to push themselves out the door each day. It's perfect for the racer, who will be running the miles anyway, so may as well reward yourself during the months leading up to the big day. It's also perfect for someone like me, who dabbles a little in the racing scene, but enjoys a challenge that makes me better for just me (and let's be real, it's FREE!) I almost enjoy a mileage challenge better than a PR goal.

Graphic from Old Guy Running

In Challengeville I can run a 17:00 mile if I want/need to and plug away, not worrying about being the very last person coming into the finish. There won't be any police cars behind me and clean up crews picking up the course as I determinedly make my way to the finish of my goal. Racers and walkers alike, tend to finish the "race" within the same days as one another. In Challengeville I can also be the fastest runner that ever lived, and the end success, I would imagine, still feels the same. I consider myself a "middle of the pack" runner and I'm elated at the completion of each challenge!

 BUT WAIT

There's more to Challengeville than a mileage goal. It's the community. I mentioned within the hashtags lies one of the most supportive online running communities you'll ever find. Within these hashtags I have found friendships that I hold dear. Comradeship of like minded people after the same goals as me, though we may get there differently. They have acted as my mentors, my guides, my friends, and my family for more than a year. They have given to me more than I will ever be able to pay back. I hope to inspire people the way they have inspired me. Long before I joined Run Eat Tweet AZ, before I met up with Aravaipa trail running group, before I finally agreed to an MRTT run, and before I was paired up with my sweet buddy Jaylee through the I Run 4 Michael program, I had Challengeville. They were my very first running family.

Graphic from Old Guy Running

Would you like to join this amazing group on instagram? Would you like to see just how far you can take your goals? Do you just need a little more motivation to get you moving? I promise you, you won't regret this decision. You won't regret this goal. Even if you don't complete it (heaven knows how many months I didn't quite get done in time) there's still more benefits to joining than not. So in the words of my friend Barto, Old Guy Running, "How much can you run in a month?"

Are you just not a runner, or you're not quite there yet? No problem, walk those miles with pride. The distance is the same whether you walk it or run it. Just get up, get out, and move! Go check out the website, look at the challenges, look through the hashtags, sign up for September! I think you'll be glad that you did!

Graphic from Old Guy Running

Why Would I Ever Run Sick?

I ran a 5k yesterday morning with a virtual racing team that was started here in Arizona, called Arizona Virtual Running, so there's a pretty good amount of locals who run the race. It seems insignificant, but it was a very important race for me. It meant enough for me to run it with a sinus infection and upper respiratory illness, in the cold, and with the wind.

Last year it was my first race I ran for me. I struggled so badly. I had just started running again a few weeks before and was just praying for at least one of the three miles in the 9's. I fought like crazy to get at least one (9:46). The rest were in the 10's. I finished last year with a distance of 2.81 (there was a gigantic puddle at the halfway point, so the distance was shortened) and on track to have a 5k in 32:09.

This year I wanted to see how far I could push. I have already gotten a non racing 5k in 26:56, I wanted to know if I could do it again, and then I got sick. I didn't care how miserable I was, I was running this thing. I finished at a distance of 3.02 on track to complete the 5k in 27:55!!! One of my miles was in the 8's (8:47). The others might have been as well, but when we turned around at the halfway, we turned right into a headwind!! I was so frustrated! I pushed as hard as I could, but my lungs and chest just couldn't get back below a 9, though I was close, I was struggling physically to push myself to the end. At one point with the end in sight I stopped for just a moment trying to breathe better, but realized if I just get it done, I'll be done. Mentally, I was as strong as ever. I pushed everything left in the tank out to finish this thing strong.

Why was this so significant though? I spent this whole year fighting for myself. I pushed my limits mentally and physically. I dealt with pain, frustration, injury, and doubts. I tried new things and succeeded. I tried new things and failed. But I never once gave up on myself and what I wanted. I feel like this race marked my succession on a job well done (though I'm not actually finished).

Then, I "met" this cute little 3 year old a couple weeks ago. I am a member of the "I Run 4 Michael" community on Facebook (this link will take you to their website). The admins pair runners with buddys (children and adults) with disabilities and give us the opportunity to build relationships with each other and the families and dedicate our runs, workouts, whatever we choose, to our buddy. Well after waiting for 19 weeks I was paired with the most amazing little girl! Her desire to fight astounds me and the love of her family and friends to support one another is simply heartwarming and amazing. Let me introduce her to you using the words of her mother Paige:

Jaylee suffered an in utero stroke during my pregnancy that left her with severe brain damage. At 4 months old she had her first seizure and she was immediately diagnosed with epilepsy after an EEG.. (those were controlled with medications) but at 7 months old she had her first infantile spasm.. I don't know if you know much about those but they are pretty devastating and very hard to control. None of the treatments controlled Jaylee's spasms and before we knew it she was having hundreds of seizures a day (her neuro now thinks she was basically seizing all day every day).

Jaylee was being seen here in Indiana at the Children's hospital (Riley) in Indianapolis but they were continously unable to control her seizures. We watched Jaylee slowly drift away. Due to illnesses, medications, and the  number of seizures she was having.. she was losing any and all the progress she had worked so hard in her many therapies to reach. At 1 1/2 she lost all head control, her ability to swallow, her ability to bear any and all weight on her legs, and she was starting to lose her sweet personality ( I forgot to mention that Jaylee is the HAPPIEST, sweetest little thing in the entire world).

Desperate, we took her to Cleveland Clinic in Ohio for another opinion in July of 2013. The neurology team there presented Jaylee's case and in January of 2014 we got a call from her neuro that she was a candidate for a surgery there where they would remove the bad (right hemisphere) part of her brain as a last resort to control her seizures. We went ahead with the surgery. Jaylee had only a 50% chance to come out seizure free but we couldn't stand to watch her suffer the way she was for another day.

Today, Jaylee is 269 days seizure FREE! :) (as of Nov 23, 2014)

Jaylee has Cerebral Palsy, Schizencephaly, Encephalomalacia, quadraplegia, cortical blindness in both eyes, global developmental delays, and she underwent a hemispherectomy (that I mentioned about) and the entire right hemisphere of her brain was completely disconnected. She has a feeding tube and her way of getting around is in a very blinged-out pink wheelchair!

Her medical diagnoses list is long but she is the happiest little girl. She LOVES to swim and she loves music and being around family and people.  She smiles and laughs constantly :) She goes to school 5 days a week and she loves it! Words can't really describe how amazing she is or how much she means to me. I don't think I could ever love anyone like I love her!

Runner Buddy Brag Alert:  I get to run for this amazing girl, every day. She also spent this whole year fighting for herself. I believe wholeheartedly that she wanted to be here on this earth. She wanted to be with her loving family as long as she could, and now I have the great honor to have her in my life. This weighed on my mind heavily as I struggled to get through this race. This race was not only for me, but also for Jaylee. Though our struggles are different, and there's a 30 year difference in age, she inspires me and already helps me want to be even better and work even harder and love my family more.

So while running sick was not entirely the smartest decision I've ever made and bucks against what I've learned about resting and recovering and listening to my body, if there ever was a day to throw caution to the wind, yesterday was that day.

Thank you to everyone who's ever supported me, loved me, strengthened me, and given me constructive advice. I'm not done fighting and have so much left to give. Sweet Jaylee fights everyday as well and I will do whatever I can to support this sweet little girl who inspires me so much. Thank you Jaylee for being in my heart, on my mind and in my waterbottle pouch (in lego form of course) as we ran this race together and crossed that finish line together. Both of my medals (last year's and todays) will be shipped to you after Thanksgiving as a reminder to always fight as best we can.
(The picture at the end is Laura, my new friend. She's an I Run 4 runner also and lives here in Mesa. She runs for Annelise who lives in Australia!)