100-Miles, "Run for the Wildlands"

DOH!...I just noticed that the "90-Mile Point" and the "Epilogue" videos were posted to the blog, but not the most important video... the 100-Mile finish! Well, it was posted to YouTube, but I doubt anybody viewed it there... so sorry for the delay! I'm not very good at this, am I? (I don't come into view until ~ 20 seconds or so...)

Post-Run Thoughts...

It's Saturday, and I feel like myself today. Yesterday was spent sleeping and puking, for the most part. Every step was agony from strained muscles, lactic acid build-up, and blisters. Nothing a little Vaseline, Ben Gay, Advil, Rolaids, and a LOT of sleep didn't remedy.

I've learned many valuable lessons from this process:

* Community is everything. This event was not about me doing something extraordinary. It was about an ever-expanding community of people rallying around one of their own in order to accomplish something extraordinary. "No wo(man) is an island", as the saying goes. I couldn't possibly have acheived this if not for the help and goodwill of professional colleagues, neighbors, friends, family, and the Peninsula community. I'm very happy and grateful to have so many overlapping networks. YAY! We all did it together!

* We can acheive anything we set our hearts and minds to. Sure, it may take longer than we anticipate, and we may be fearful of the unknown. But the fear of never having tried far outweighs the fear of failing. I don't want to leave this life lamenting all of the things I might have done but didn't, because it was 'safe, comfortable, and easier' not to. I'm going to apply the "Carpe Diem" spirit to the rest of my life as well. And now is a good time with job-hunting on the horizon. I will not stop taking risks "at my age".

* Have faith in others. For this event, everything was about allowing others to contribute to the effort, trusting that they would, and putting my complete trust in the process. Every outcome, including my own personal safety, depended on others. This was the most valuable lesson of all. I needed to experience that.

So, thanks again. I'm off to get my first 'stay-down' meal, a big bowl of Cheerios. After that... who knows? It's a beautiful day and I'll be planning my next adventure.

Happy running,

Cher

Epilogue, "Run for the Wildlands"

Thank you all for your generous contributions, motivating messages, and for supporting Cal-IPC and it's critical work in protecting California's native plants and communities. See you soon!

Mile 90, "Run for the Wildlands"

This clip gives new meaning to the term, "video footage".

Mile 80, "Run for the Wildlands"

More pearls of running wisdom from "the talking headlamp"

Mile 70, "Run for the Wildlands"

This was a "bonk" phase due to lactic acid overload and upset stomach. Oceanside wind and my low voice in this video makes it difficult to decipher. Basically, I'm at the aid station, getting a leg massage and ice water leg bath. Thank God for ice water foot baths.

Mile 60, "Run for the Wildlands"

It's funny that all you can see is my headlamp hovering in the distance...