Run Write Search Rescue
I am so happy to invite you to join this challenge! We have 48,821 participants in this worldwide virtual run/walk. Please help us get to 50,000!
We are showing our love and support for women by running 24 miles in 24 days. The challenge ends on March 31, 2019. We look forward to seeing you at the virtual site today!
Quest On!
Hi Dear Family and Friends!
I have not posted to my blog since January 27, 2019. On that day, I was completing a 10-mile training run/walk on the LA River Bicycle Path in anticipation of the Senior Olympics in June. I had just exited the bicycle path and entered Hollydale Park when a bicyclist hit me head on at an enormous rate of speed. I recall seeing him for about 1 second, wondering where he came from, realizing he was going to hit me hard and trying to jump to my left to minimize the damage.
I recall everything turning upside down and I felt a thump on the back of my head. I felt no other physical or mental pain. I thought I would come away from this fine. My constant fear of being struck by a bicyclist became a reality. Most bicyclists are my friends, and very kind and courteous. But there were always a few who would not get out of the pedestrian path and actually buzzed me with their bikes.
The next thing I recall, I felt very alone and wondered why no one was there to help me. So many people, including acquaintances, were on the scene. This was a Sunday, around 12:30 p.m., in a park filled with athletes, families and a horse! Why was I alone?
I next recall finding myself upside down in a cypress tree. Someone was behind me trying to pull me out. My right leg was lodged in the tree. I saw my husband, Ken, up on the exit to the bike path looking at me. I felt as if I was viewing him from a porthole, either from the tree, or my mind. When the Good Samaritans finally pulled me from the tree, we gasped at the enormous gaping wound on my right lower leg. The gash was wide open, exposing layers of flesh and tissue. Someone snapped a photo while others said we need the paramedics right away.
I gauged the damage and my options and decided to try to stand up. My shoe filled with blood. I was only a couple of blocks from my home and started walking there. My plan was to clean the wound and get ice on the back of my head ASAP. The bump on the back of my head was already 2.5″ x 3″.
I do not recall most of the walk home. I later asked my husband what the neighbors thought. He told me there were no neighbors. I found myself at the kitchen sink, trying to locate ice packs. Then I found myself in the bathtub trying to rinse the wound with cold water. My husband immediately drove me to the hospital ER, blood all over the inside and outside of the car. I do not recall most of the drive.
We remained in the ER for most of the afternoon. The medical staff found tree debris in the wound, attempted to clean it, and closed it with 13 loose stitches.
The wound infected within 2 days. I completed 2 courses of antibiotics and applied silver sulfadiazine to the wound, keeping it dressed round-the-clock. It is still not healed to this day, 8 weeks later. I also received a sprained left wrist, chest contusions and another large abrasion on my left leg at the knee. I was in considerable pain in my skull, tail bone and right hip for 4 weeks. The abrasion healed, leaving a large scar, after 4 weeks.
These problems paled in comparison with the concussion and whiplash I sustained. I was severely fatigued, dizzy and unable to rest for more than several minutes. I was unable to focus and make decisions. I did not feel I would recover. I spent most of the first 6 weeks in bed, barely able to stay up for more than an hour.
Immediately after the injury, I received the most appreciated and welcome loving support from Kathrine Switzer and my precious #261Fearless Family from all over the world. It brought tears to my eyes and inspired me to not give up. I also received the kind support of Nick @HammerNutrition, the Western Shores Chapter of the DAR and my colleagues at LA County Library Headquarters. This made all the difference in my recovery from traumatic brain injury and feelings that it was all over for me, to running again and hope for the future.
I remained off work on disability for 6 weeks. I returned to work on March 18, 2019, unsure whether I could fulfill the requirements of my position in library administration where heavy, fast brain power is a must. I made it through my fist week and am finally able to begin to write this story.
To this day, we do not know who the man was, although there were plenty of witnesses.
I now look forward to regaining my life and competing in the Senior Olympics this June. I would like to throw in a Born to Run 4 Day Challenge #allwedoisrun in May. We will see.
Journey On! Game On!
Wonderful News from 261 Fearless Friends! I won a beautiful, signed copy of Dr. Juliet McGrattan’s award-winning women’s health book!
To enter the contest, I submitted a short video to 261 Fearless based on the health benefits I have received as a result of adding running to my life.
This is a well-researched and indexed book. It is highly useful as a reference tool for both women and men. I am so happy to add it to my treasured collection.
Keep Running! Quest On!
Luis Escobar, #allwedoisrun, #allwedoisphoto, gave me a wonderful gift, the most unimaginable honor, photographing me and placing the photo on the cover of his website.
Thank you Luis! You are a true Renaissance Man! Multi-talented, kind, humble, always ready to lend a hand or a cheering word.
If you have the opportunity to run Luis’s races and attend his photography classes and tours, JOURNEY ON!
QUEST ON!
On December 19, 2018, I received a call with the thrilling news that I was selected to be Hammer Nutrition’s January 2019 Ambassador of the Month. I was stunned, humbled and thankful.
I wrote the following in response to this most welcome news.
I was born in Denver, Colorado in 1951. I feel richly blessed to have enjoyed the first eight years of my life immersed in the culture of the Colorado Rocky Mountain people. Family weekend trips to the Rockies, including Leadville, seared the dazzling scenery and amazing wildlife of Colorado deep into my soul. I loved and looked forward to Field Day races at school, entering every event possible. I tried my hardest to win the blue ribbons! I felt rich and lacking in nothing.
When I was eight years old, my parents moved the family to Los Angeles, California. I immediately learned LA culture was very different. I dove into books, loved swimming and soaking up the warm sun. I danced my heart out to the tunes of the 1960s all through high school, during lunch and every weekend. Shaped by the 1960s President’s Council on Physical Fitness, I exercised daily, throughout the decades, doing tai chi, stretching, swimming and walking on a treadmill. I am still in Los Angeles, working full time as a Librarian for LA County Library.
In 2012, I was part of a winning team for LA County Library in an LA countywide physical fitness challenge. Our Head of Human Resources was a marathoner and member of the LA Road Runners. She asked if I had ever considered a marathon. This quest had inhabited my mind for as long as I could remember. Game On!
I immediately joined LA RoadRunners and began walking/running at 60 years old. I wanted to lose 50 pounds and complete a marathon. I accomplished both and have since completed 13 marathons, including Bhutan 2017, New York City 2016 and 2017, and Boston 2018 with Team 261 Fearless. I have completed 32 additional, shorter races, ranging from 5Ks to half-marathons. I won my age division or placed on the podium in 14. I have also completed 3 ultramarathons, including the Born to Run 60-mile ultra in 2018. I won my age division for the 60-mile ultra and am currently training for the 100-mile Born to Run ultra. I won gold medals in the Nevada State Championships, Senior Olympics, for both the 5K and 10K, qualifying for the 2019 National Senior Olympics. I plan to race a variety of shorter distances, including 50, 100, 200, 400 meter dashes, as well as 800 and 1500 meter runs.
In 2013, I discovered Hammer Nutrition. I credit Hammer’s quality and effectiveness for unfailingly supporting me through my many quests. I relied on Hammer to enhance my endurance and speed for racing, and aid in my complete and rapid recovery from several hospitalizations. These included shattered bones, a frozen shoulder, cardiac effusion, A-fib and cholecystitis resulting in emergency surgery. I am rarely sick with colds or flu, although I am constantly exposed.
Over the years, I have taken practically all of the Hammer products, varying my selections with changing needs, goals and conditions. Currently, my daily regimen includes Whey Protein, a peanut butter chocolate Whey Protein Bar and The Early Break coffee. Supplements include Premium Insurance Caps, Tissue Rejuvenator, Enduromega, Mito Caps, LSA Caps, Essential Mg, Endurance BCAA+, Phytomax, Xobaline and REM Caps. When really pushing my training or racing, I add Fully Charged, Perpetuem Solids and Recoverite. I top these off with up to 10 more supplements as needed.
Currently, I run a 5K at marathon pace Monday through Thursday. I try to run/walk a 10K on Fridays and Sundays, but I may just take the days off or run a 5K at marathon pace. I also try to walk/run a 20-miler on Saturdays, although, again, I may choose to drop that to a marathon pace 5K or a day off. I train on a treadmill and the LA River Bicycle Path. I am aiming for maximum speed for the shorter races and endurance for the ultras. My goal is to be competitive in the Senior Olympics well into my 80s and beyond.
In 2017, I was blessed to join Kathrine Switzer’s powerful, global 261 Fearless organization, #261Fearless. 261 Fearless empowers and unites women through the creation of local running clubs, education programs, communication platforms and social running events. We are creating a global community for women runners of all abilities to support, encourage and inspire each other towards a positive sense of self and fearlessness. In 2018, the dream continued, and I was honored and thrilled to become a 261 Fearless Influencer, Coach, Team Leader and Club Director.
In addition to reading, writing and running, I realized that photography was a skill I needed to develop to document the many blessings of nature and fitness that we, who are out there, continually witness and receive. Our stories are wonderful. The photos snap them to life, preserve them and reach others. In 2018, Luis Escobar, #allwedoisrun, graciously spent hours instructing me on the elements of photography, scheduling dazzling photo shoots and enabling me to capture and share these priceless gifts with others. I designed and launched a blog to deliver these wonderful visions, stories and experiences.
My intense love for nature, fitness and books has spanned nearly 70 years. It is only increasing. Now we journey together, and individually, into 2019. I see a great future ahead! Hammer and Quest On!
Patricia Carleen Winiecki
December 22, 2018
http://PatQuests.com
Day Seven: Puntarenas, Garabito, Escazu and San Jose
We spent another beautiful morning in Puntarenas visiting another of Costa Rica’s Mariposa Conservancies. I am deeply moved by the care and intelligence displayed by those overseeing the conservation of Costa Rica’s rare natural treasures. I recurrently feel we can all learn a lesson here.
I later had the rare and extreme pleasure of swimming in one of Costa Rica’s pristine beaches. Warm air, warm water and freedom – rare treasures!
In the afternoon, we embarked on a fascinating river jungle cruise. Spectacular vistas, horses, crocodiles and birds dazzled.
We topped off the day feasting in a mountain-top restaurant overlooking San Jose.
Pura Vida!
Day Six: Garabito and Puntarenas
Today our journey took us from the rain, magic and coolness of the cloud forest and jungle to the warm, world-class, breath-taking beauty of the black sand beaches of Costa Rica.
During our journey, we were stopped for road construction. We did not miss the opportunity to jump out of the SUV and photograph the countryside. We were rewarded with many beautiful, unplanned photos, turning an unexpected delay into a boon.
Crocodiles lined the banks of the river in Garabito. Puntarenas offered a dazzling display of monkeys, birds, insects, mariposas and flowers. We visited the black sand beach at sunset and were richly rewarded with an otherworldly experience of peace and beauty. The enormity and majesty of the site was humbling and satisfying to the soul.
Pura Vida!
Day Five: Guanacaste and Puntarenas
We spent the morning hiking through the otherworldly cloud forest. There are no words to describe the peace and beauty that abound here.
Later, we had the pleasure of visiting and photographing the town, while meeting the local artisans. This included Angel Castellanos Gomez and his beautiful hand, glass-blown treasures. I highly prize the items I bought from his shop and the hummingbird he created for me while I was there.
We continued to savor the wonderful fresh food, drink and cafe con leche.
Each destination held its own unique abundance of special treasures.
Journey On! Pura Vida!
We ran 4+ miles around the hotel grounds, visited the waterfall and climbed the observation tower at Arenal. Late in the afternoon, we journeyed to Abangares to photograph the spectacular Costa Rican sunset.
Another wonderful day in Beautiful Costa Rica! Pura Vida!
Quest On!
Day Two: San Jose, Naranjo and Alfaro Ruiz
Immediately following a delicious breakfast in San Jose of fresh local fruits, cheese, yogurt, eggs, toast and cafe con leche, Gerhard Linner mapped out the routes for the coming week. He packed Luis Escobar, Ken Winiecki and me into his SUV and we excitedly took off to find Pura Vida!
We spent the entire morning and most of the afternoon traveling from San Jose to our next destination, Arenal National Park. We were treated to visits with local artists, craftspeople, shops, coffee farms, food vendors and parks. The food and drink was, as always, delicious. The wonderful display of color and handiwork dazzled my eyes.
Luis Escobar worked nonstop honing our photography skills, while Gerhard Linner skillfully managed all the logistics and transportation. All we had to do was immerse ourselves in the culture, enjoy the people, food and views, and soak in the beautiful Pura Vida!
Another wonderful day in Beautiful Costa Rica! Pura Vida!
Quest On!