An honor to be invited to speak with Strides Forward. I love the direction they are taking, a truly fun experience too. http://stridesforwardpodcast.com/verity-breen-running-far-and-fast-a-life-long-love
2022 we are experiencing what feels like normal again when racing... It's so refreshing, to think we once took for granted showing our faces and breathing and feeling loose and free. After last's years Western States Endurance run novella of crazy training and brutal prep racing and crashing out at mile 85 (not by choice but due to entering that aid station 45 seconds late after chasing the clock for 25 hours, one has to laugh) this year is a full makeover. I am refined and schooled and tooled and all the bad ideas I listened to have been thrown out the window with the old socks and out of date food. I reminded myself I know what to do, I trained myself in to five Australian teams, I coached myself and now others on the art of many distances and here we are at the ultra table. Dinner has been served. So far my new formulas are working for me and 2022 is bright. Never be afraid to tweak the recipe... Hard to fathom we are already in August? First half of 2021 for me was doing giant runs for hours with hills for days and several lead up races to debut 100 miles at the iconic Western States Endurance run in Auburn CA. That look on my face below was when I made it to Rucky Chucky Aid Station/ river crossing and a volunteer told me that the next thing I needed to do was "climb up on that knotted rope over there to reach the trail"... LOL. The rope was cool, nine off the chart foot blisters and chasing cut offs from early on was not. I went down fighting it all the way to ALT aid station where I ran in and was short 45 seconds. 26 hours running, 85.2 miles covered and the musical chairs was over. DNF. Which is the label applied to you when they tell you that your adventure has timed out then gently cut your wrist band off which makes it brutally but kindly official.     Know When To Fold Them...So far this year, the weekly volume has been intentionally restricted. In my 31st year of racing it's time to break more dragons and go for some goals left to have a run up at.
Taking stock, what a great run with no injuries from running / self coaching since 1991 and the main challenges being the odd trail fall and of recent weeks ankle roll, trails are far more hazard littered than road racing but the upside is big, big views, big nature, big fresh air and big satisfaction from being so in the moment you feel taken away on a magic carpet. August is arriving, which means the gears switch to base, build, boom mode towards CIM and lead up races. The great thing about running as opposed to the ballet career my teacher deeply wanted for me is that the lifespan of performance is long. Long may we run. xx |
AuthorAthlete, writer, life lover, Running Consultant, wife, step mom, puppy mom, avid gardener, designer and activist. 
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