Running Happy in 2012!

I was super super excited to receive word today that I will once again have the opportunity to represent Brooks Running!  2012 is going to be a great year for running with the Olympic Trials, the Olympics and some personal goals I have for myself.  I'm super excited that once again I'll be sporting my Brooks gear and checking off some running "to-do's". 

The past few months I've been fortunate to see, first hand, the influence of I've had as a handful of people close to me are now Running Happy!

• Inspired by Chris McDougall's Born To Run, I recently purchased my younger brother's first "real" pair of running shoes!  We had an amazing experience at Fleet Feet, Chicago where he tried on a couple of Mizunos, Adidas and the Brooks PureProject Pure Cadence.  Not only is he now wearing shoes when he runs (he was going barefoot on a treadmill in his Girlfriend's apartment complex - that is the fastest way to get kicked to the curb!) but he helped pace a buddy in the Chicago Marathon and completed his first race - a 15k!  
• A friend of mine's daughter recently broke up with her long-term running shoe partner and switched over to the Brooks Adrenaline.  She cruised to her first marathon finish at the NYC Marathon in November!  Running for charity, the shoe switch that took place helped her achieve her goal.  
• A friend and co-worker who's gone through a complete transformation, dropping over 100 pounds and completely changing his diet, recently changed over to Brooks shoes as his long walks increased to over 15+ miles and he needed a wider, more supportive shoe than what he had previously been wearing.  The new Brooks now power him on his 3+ hour walks and is what he plans to use for his first half-marathon coming up in March!
• The aforementioned GF did not kick my brother to the curb for running barefoot!  Previously loyal to another shoe company, by brother and I have some affect on her!  She switched over to the Brooks Ghosts and we're super excited to have her be part of our Brooks family!

The Brooks ID program has been nothing but amazing and I'm super excited to continue representing, inspiring and being inspired by the brand and the other runners.  When I can think of more than enough excuses not to go for a run I'm inspired by so many of my Brooks friends who I know have already laced 'em up and had a great run! 

RUN HAPPY!

Western States 100

This past weekend was the 37th running of the Western States Endurance Run. It is one of the oldest ultra trail events in the world and is one of the most challenging. It is a 100 mile trail run beginning at Squaw Valley in Lake Tahoe, and it follows the original trails used by miners in the 1850's. It is a remote trail and the course is limited to a specified number of runners who are accepted through a lottery system. This is the first year I have had much of an interest in the race and its participants. It hit me today, as I continued to read all of the Facebook updates and amazing stories of people I know who participated, either as a registered runner, course volunteer, support crew member or pacer. Through Brooks Running I have had an amazing opportunity to meet and get to know runners from all over the country, of varying skill and preferable distance. It is through these runner's enthusiasm and inspiration that I had an interest in the outcome of the Western States Endurance Run (WSER) this year.

Fortunately, this year the race was run under ideal conditions and many runners took advantage, including the men's winner who set a new course record. Scott Jurek (an amazing, Brooks sponsored ultra runner) held the previous course record which he set in 2004 with a time of 15:36:27. This year the men's winner, 34 year old Geoff Roses, finished in a super fast time of 15:07:04. The woman's winner, 41 year old Tracy Garneau, finished the course with a time of 19:01:55! The woman's course record has remained unchallenged since 1994 when Ann Trason completed the course in 17:37:51.

Today on Facebook many WSERs posted thanks you's and updates on their post-100 mile condition, minus the gory details of their feet and other injuries they were no doubt nursing! It was truly inspiring to hear about the huge group of people who made the race happen for so many runners - pacers, on course support, crew members and course volunteers. Also, the emotions that the participants expressed upon completing the arduous run, whether it was their first or 10th, had me thinking about my next super long run (and regretting that I cut my long run yesterday from a tentatively planned 18 to a wimpy 8!). I love the marathon distance. To me, 26.2 miles is the absolute perfect distance but something about this great race yesterday and the group of people who made it all happen definitely got me thinking...

I do not know whether or not I will ever have the desire to train for and complete the WSER (or any 100 mile race) but after this year's WSER I would love love love to be a part of this amazing event! I think I'll start encouraging some ultra runners I know to enter the lottery for next year so I can have to opportunity to participate in the race as a pacer!

Congratulations to all the Western States Finishers!