“We believe that being a Ragnarian is about more than being a runner; that misery loves company and happiness is “only real when it’s shared”; that there is a badass inside all of us; that everyone deserves to be cheered at the finish line … that adventure can only be found if you are looking for it; and that a little sleep deprivation is a small price to pay to watch the sun rise with friends. Together we ran 200-ish miles. Together we can accomplish anything.”
This is what our medals say when you put all 12 of them together from our team in the Ragnar Adirondack race. I was definitely afraid to run this race. We had 36 hours to run 200 miles. I thought everyone would be an ultra marathoner training at altitude. I don’t necessarily do well in cold or without sleep. And yet. It was 43 F when I ran up the mountain at 3:30a without having slept much the night before. That was my 8.3 mile run. Earlier in the day I had done the 4.8 mile run. I had to save my energy for the last 5 mile leg too. I followed the blinking lights of runners in front of me in the distance. I even passed a couple of people giving them a thumbs up as I went by. I stepped on a dead possum as I gaped at the shadows of the Adirondack pines around me, illuminated by my headlamp and the moon, their scent filling my lungs. I may have screamed. I could feel the cold as much as I could smell it.
What I will remember though, is the moonlight reflecting over Lake Champlain. The stars low in the sky, the big dipper holding court just to the north of Orion, his season debut. It was early enough to see the Six Sisters faintly resembling a martini glass waiting for me at the end of the universe. The fog settled in between the hills and the cold and wet that came with it. The thought that what I’m doing is crazy. The feeling of loneliness, then strength, fear, awe and accomplishment. I’ll remember the stranger who passed me up the last and steepest hill telling me to keep it up. I’ll remember crossing the finish line on the last 4.8 mile run to Whiteface Mountain with the college kid who had a concussion from a car accident and told me that this was his first few months out of bed and so he asked me to run with him for the last two miles keeping an 8 minute mile pace. I’ll remember greeting my brother as he handed off the baton to our team and running through the finish line together, exhausted and energized. And I’ll remember the amazing women on my team who persevered through the mountains to run this race. They weren’t ultra-marathoners. They were regular people with jobs, most of them moms, some not.
Apparently, I really like running. I’ll be tackling my first half marathon on Sunday. I’ve never run 13.1 miles straight, but in preparing for this race I have no doubt I can do it at tempo. What is driving this new passion? I can think of a few specific reasons, like wanting support my brother’s new running habit, or an active way to deal with the powerlessness I feel about our friend’s passing from heart disease. I carried him in my own heart on that overnight leg, my backlight beating out a Morse code of hello to him, but ultimately I think I’m doing it because of an innate drive to discover my limits, to escape some of the trappings of modern living, to seek adventure over security when our lives are built for the exact opposite and to see if I have the mettle necessary to push a little bit, to rely on myself and take a blind leap of faith into the unknown–something we do in so many life decisions. With running I experience all of this on a micro level. I don’t know if I’ll keep doing this regularly, but a door has opened and it will remain open whenever I need to walk through it. And that is huge.
I had all intentions to bake you a little something with my gluten free flour mix because it’s amazing, and also to show you the beetroot burgers I’ve been making on the regular that have flavor that will make you rethink burgers, but work is on the precipice of sending me back to Mexico City and I spent the week leading up to the race at a family destination wedding in Cape Cod. So I’m juggling the flaming hoops once again. I had to pop in and share with you this huge meaningful thing though and so I’m bringing you my breakfast, snack and dessert of choice, the avocado smoothie!
I used to be all about frozen yogurt, but since I’ve cut back on dairy and own a blender now, I’ve been making this RIDICULOUSLY good and healthy smoothie. I alternate between two main smoothies, but this one is sooooo good I craved it for 36 hours straight of the race. It requires one avocado, one banana, 1/2 and apple, almond milk and ice. Blend and savor. I also throw in a mix of super seeds like hemp seeds, chia and sprouted buckwheat, millet, flax, quinoa and amaranth (Trader Joe’s has a great mix). This keeps me satiated all morning and has me looking forward to coming home.
I hope you’re all doing well! Keep hustling. Have a wonderful weekend.
AVOCADO BANANA ENERGY SMOOTHIE
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 avocado
- 1 banana
- 2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk (see recipe)
- 1/2 medium apple
- 12 ice cubes
- 2 teaspoons super seed and ancient grain blend (optional)
DIRECTIONS:
Combine all the ingredients in a high speed blender. Blend for about 2 minutes on high. Serve cold. Sprinkle with additional grains and seeds if desired.
Congratulations on your race! What a sense of accomplishment you must feel! And a chance to be out in the mountains! It sounds very exciting and rewarding. Perfect for an energizing smoothie! I love the creaminess of avocados in smoothies! I also love the quote “happiness is only real when it’s shared.” I came across that quote in a movie (“Into the Wild” I think it was called?), and it has stuck with me ever since. It is so true. Love the photos too–the cozy lighting is perfect for this rainy day we are having here. 🙂
Thank you Jenny! It really was a unique experience. I do believe in happiness alone, but it’s impossible to experience it without interacting. This smoothie is so good. I’ve been drinking a normal green one in the morning, but this one is a treat. Thanks so much about the photos. It is rainy and keeping me indoors instead of training for the weekend. I was dreaming about your cookies as I awaited my legs of the race too 🙂
Well done Amanda and good luck with the marathon. I hope you are taking your smoothie on the run.
My butcher dropped dead of a heart attack last week, while on holiday on Spain. He’d seemed so healthy and full of life when I saw him on the Friday before he left.
Thanks, MD. I will be taking the smoothie with me. That’s crazy about your butcher. It’s so sad. That’s what gets me. I’ve heard these stories my whole life and it was something I was afraid of until I realized that it was almost completely preventable through diet. You can be healthy and full of life because you’re not really “sick” when you have heart disease. But you can eat in a way that staves off things like that forever and live without that kind of fear. I hope you’re doing well. I’m looking forward to another holiday soon. It’s colder and rainy here now.
You may be right, but I think genetics play a big part too. Look at Keith Richards.
I hope you get sent to Mexico – a paid “holiday” is always nice and I’m sure it will be warm and sunny there.
Oh genetics play a part in it for sure. Western medicine is keeping all the men in my family alive, but diet certainly helps. I’m iffy on Mexico. I usually end up going for 2-3 weeks at a time and I feel like I have a dual life, but I also love the food, language, culture and weather and I like ppl making my bed for me and driving me around.
way to go! i could just picture your running scenery, really beautiful.
good luck on your half this weekend.
Thanks, Lan. I thought of you as I passed the volunteers. I was sooooo grateful for them. They kept me from getting lost and made the whole thing work.
Congratulations I’m so proud and happy for you and your team! Also your way of telling the story of the race is beautiful. I don’t do well either with cold, sleep deprivation AND let me add, altitude (I was in Peru in the Andes and boy did I suffer from altitude sickness!) . But then Adirondack is less high so I guess it’s ok.
Its also so refreshing to hear about the team work between teams and strangers. I suppose these details that bring you closer to humanity help bring on enthusiasm in wanting to do your next race.
Good luck and enjoy your next challenge. Un abrazo amiga!
Thanks, Sofia. I think you would actually really like something like this. Your runs seem to be increasing and it’s nice not to be in it alone. It’s funny that you’d mention Peru because that’s what I kept thinking about when I was running. The only other challenge I’ve had like that was the strange hours and altitude of Peru with the beautiful landscape as a backdrop. Thanks so much for your support. I’ll see if I can make it to 13.1. I’ll be so excited to do it! xoxo
Poignant as usual!
Thank you so much, Stacey!
I am glad you did this, and love the words you have chosen to tell us about your race. What a sense of accomplishment. And pride! I hope the marathon goes well too.
I’ve yet to try avocados in a smoothie; I am not usually a big liker of creamy smoothies, but perhaps more posts like your beautiful post will convince me to give it a go some day. Just in case I might have changed my mind about it! The pictures are gorgeous!
Concerning Mexico… don’t think too much about it; if it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t! In any case, you can enjoy both staying at home or being abroad. Try to see the positive aspects of both situations, especially if you have no say in making the decision (sorry, that’s me being a positive-thinking yogi).
Thank you! What a thoughtful and supportive sentiment. They already asked me to go but obligations this week kept me here. I’ll likely go again. We’ll see. I’ve been thinking more like you lately. I’m glad I ran the race too. Im still catching up on sleep and every night I’ve been dreaming about running. Maybe because if the books I’m reading and tomorrow’s race. This smoothie is like a milkshake which is why it’s so decadent as opposed to my regular green one. I hope you’re getting some rest. Your yoga is like my running. Both are active meditation that require focus and energy to give back the same. Xo
I’ve mentioned this before, Amanda, but I reiterate. Your posts are beautifully written with exceptional photography. You could definitely school me on lighting, among other things. I’m not much of a smoothie person, I’m afraid, but I have been making one with bananas, honey, and cocoa powder. Did I mention that the bananas are frozen? I guess it’s not really a smoothie then, eh? It is tasty, though. 🙂
Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful comment. You made my evening. I certainly wasn’t a smoothie person until recently. I only bought a blender a month or two ago, but this smoothie has staying power. I’ve been going for it instead of frozen yogurt. Bananas honey and cocoa powder sounds like a killer combo. I’ll have to give that one a shot! That’s a total smoothie! I hope you’re doing well and enjoy the rest of the week!
I used to run a lot when I was in my 20ies and early 30ies, if not in a competitive way as you do, but just for myself, to feel well and shake off everyday trouble or stressful events. I loved it, it´s slightly addictive, isn´t it? It´s great how you also put so much effort in adopting your diet and eat healthier. I on the other hand usually do workout to be able to compensate for culinary sins and extra calories 😉 – your smoothie, however, looks health and indulgent at the same time!
Thanks Sabine. Running is so addictive. I do it for the same reason. It doesn’t hurt to work out so you can say sweets ;)) whatever the motivation is is good!
Whoa! I’m incredibly impressed with your running this race and dedication to continue doing so. Congratulations! Your description of your thoughts and feelings during the race is so well written, too. You deserve many of these yummy smoothies and I hope you indulged!!
I love the days you catch up on my blog in one fell swoop. It’s so touching to think of you reading and reacting to what I’ve been up to and you’re always so supportive and kind. I’m all about the blender these days and hoping that these new habits are lifetime ones. I’m so glad I ran this race. I’m hoping that my running can evolve too, but even if it doesn’t, training for this and doing it has shown me so much already.
Always happy to catch up!:)