Tonja Chagaris: Loving the Family Life

I recently sat down with Tonja and talked with her about being a new mom and what her future holds as far as motherhood and trail running. I found Tonja to be completely enamored with her new life as a mother and also discovered that she is focused on attaining some challening goals. What follows is her profile and then her interview.

PROFILE OF RUNNER:

A. Name, age, city and state, how long lived there?

Tonja Marie Chagaris

39 years old

Tucson, AZ 21 years

B. Place of birth, where did you grow up, high school, college, military, other?

PHX AZ, grew up in Bagdad, AZ and Grants New Mexico. I went to high school in Grants New Mexico. I then went to Cosmetology school in Tucson to become a hair stylist

C. Other than running – hobbies, interests, pets, kids, current employment?

Gabriel my seven month old son, health and the human body, we have two dogs (Cade and Layla). I currently own a hair salon.

D. Favorite distance to run or race on trail and on the road?

On the trail I like 50 Milers and on the road I like the half marathon distance.

E. Favorite race course or event?

Avalon 50 miler on Catalina Island

F. Favorite Tucson area trail to train, run, hike?

Sabino Canyon trails to run and Mt Wrightson to Train

G. Favorite vacation destination?

Anywhere there is mountains and water.

H. Favorite post-race/run food, drink and activity, ie. hot tub, ice cold river soak, etc?

Sleep and then eat cold food.

I. Pet Peeves?

Not having my chapstick or gum while running

J. Current book you are reading or favorite author?

Favorite Author at the moment is James Patterson and I'm reading one of those books that you’re not supposed to tell anyone…..by EL James.

K. Favorite quote or saying to live by?

Always looking forward to the next adventure

L. Person you look up to, emulate, hero?

My husband for his patience and his ability to think things through. Julie for her relentless drive and stamina and my mother.

M. What has been your worst running injury?

A bulged disc in my back

N. If you could no longer run or lost the use of your legs what sport or activity would you pursue?

Arm cycling

Interview

TA:  Well, we both have the day off from work so it’s nice to come over in the middle of the afternoon to talk about your trail experience.

Tonja:  Yes, thanks, it should be fun.

TA:  Let’s get started. How did you first get involved in trail running?

Tonja:  Actually, through Alli and Trish, your wife. I met them through the Hash House Harriers. I did a few half-marathons and marathons and then Crown King 50K. I hadn’t really run that much on the trail before I went out and did Crown King.

TA:  So that was also your first ultra as well? Were you athletic as a child and into your early twenties?

Tonja:  Yeah, I kind of just jumped into Crown King and fell in love with the sport. I never did sports as a kid. I just ran. I was grounded a lot so I was only allowed to run. I picked up running from my mother. She made me run because I was chubby.

Pre-Race Rituals and the BPP

Establishing a routine before a race or big training run can be daunting without some preparation and thought ahead of time. After many years and races I have finally established pre-race rituals that give me the confidence I need going into a race. With the Backward Planning Process (BPP) you can toe the line feeling ready to go without forgetting the little things.

When I was attending the Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Course as a prerequisite to a promotion to Staff Sergeant in the Army I had to give a brief on the BPP. The Army has a methodology for everything and most times reading about it in a manual or presenting it on Powerpoint will put you to sleep. I was able to draw on personal experience gained from running marathons and ultras to help with my presentation. Essentially, the BPP starts by identifying when the event begins - let's use 7am - and then identifying the task that needs to be completed just prior to the last task and so on until you reach the start of the plan. It goes like this:

- 7:00am - The race starts.

- 6:50 - Line up for last minute instructions, shoe-lace re-tying, find a good position, listen to the national anthem, turn my GPS watch on...

- 6:45am - One last chance to use the latrine.

Be respectful and use only designated areas.

- 6:40am - Leave after-gear bag, (Note: this is different than the drop bag), pre-packed with warm-ups and clothes to change into after the race, comfortable shoes, sandals, maybe baby wipes or a wet washcloth in a ziploc bag for cleaning up.

.- 6:35am - Remove warm-ups and keep items you will need on the run; water bottles or hydration pack, gloves and/or hat, sunglasses, gels, e-caps, NSAIDS (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs). Also, this is a good time to apply last minute body-lube in those places that need it.

- 6:20am - Warm-up; depending on the race you may not need to jog around beforehand. Shorter faster race efforts are enhanced by a 10-15 minute pre-race warm-up followed by 5 minutes of easy stretching. If it's longer than a marathon you're probably better off saving your energy.

- 6:10am - If the race offers to place drop bags for you then this is a good time to find where that is and drop them. The drop bag can contain a variety of items and is a subject in itself for another post but in essence the drop bag is primarily used for a change of clothing when the weather is unpredictable or expected to change. It's a good place to pick up a jacket, flashlight, or extra water bottle. It's also a good place to leave items you no longer need to carry and would like to see again.

- 6:00am - Arrive at the race and find a place to park. If you haven't entered yet or still need to pick up your race packet and number then adjust this time to 15 minutes earlier: 5:45am.

- 5:30am - Let's assume the race is a 20-minute drive from where you are staying and you already have your bib. Leave with 10-minutes to spare in case of detours or last minute necessities like stopping to use the restroom or grabbing a cup of coffee. Not only is coffee a great bowel mover but the slight stimulant of the caffeine helps focus the mind. Caffeine is also proven to release fatty acids into the bloodstream which is burned as energy before using glycogen stores in the early part of endurance events. Why do you think cyclists are always hanging out in coffee shops before their ride?

- 5:20am - Do a physical check and gather all of the items you want to take with you; drop bags, warm-ups, gear bag, water bottle, coffee, race number, keys, money, identification, phone, sunglasses. Shades are easy to forget when it is dark in the morning.

- 5:15am - Attach race number or timing chip and put gels, e-caps, NSAIDS in pockets where they fit best and are accessible. Also, grab a handful of toilet paper; you never know where this might come in hand; even porta-potties run out.

Do you think there will be any paper left?

- 5:05am - Get dressed; all of your race clothing should have been identified last night and placed together in one spot in the corner of the room or on a chair. I like to vaseline my toes before putting on my socks. I also use calf sleeves so it is a good idea to put those on before lubing the feet. Depending on past race experience you may want to use a couple of band-aids or medical tape for your nipples. Trust me, if you haven't heard of this before then watch some of the runners later in a race and look for the fading red streaks on the front of their singlet. If you are lucky, chaffing won't hurt too much until you are in the shower afterwards. Chaffing has caused many runners to DNF.

- 5:00am - Drink fluids; I like to have some form of electrolyte drink in the morning mixed with a tablespoon or two of Chia seeds. This is also a good time to ingest any vitamins or supplements that you choose to take. I like to take 400 mg of liqui-gel ibuprofen to offset any last minute aches and pains. I also take an electrolyte cap to pre-load my sodium intake especially if the weather is going to be hot and/or humid.

- 4:50am - This is a good time to brew some coffee, cook some instant oatmeal, eat a banana or bagel, eat an energy bar. You have 2 hours until the race. Unless you are running a 10K or shorter your body can use this extra bit of nutrition and will have plenty of time to digest before the run.

- 4:40am - Take a hot shower. You don't have to use soap, just get your muscles warmed-up. I like to do the wall stretch while the hot water sprays onto my lower back, hamstrings, and calves.

- 4:35am - Alarm clock goes off and you have a couple of minutes to remember where you are and then stretch your body in bed like a cat. Brush your teeth.

There you have it, less than 2 and a half hours before race-time and you are guaranteed to be prepared. For some of you this might be overly-detailed and a bit OCD but it is tried and true. For me, the Backwards Planning Process kicks in when my alarm clock goes off but it is useful in many other areas of life as well. It would be helpful to do a little planning and preparing the night before by putting out race clothes and shoes, pinning your race number, preparing the coffepot, filling water bottles and hydration pack, charging the GPS watch, just to name a few.

By the way, that Army course I gave the BPP brief in; I came out Honor Grad with the highest score in the class.

Happy and successful running to all of you!

Profile and Interview with Julie; Running as Long as I Can

What follows is the transcript of a discussion I had recently with a female trail runner I met in 1995. I remember the first time I saw Julie coming around a bend on a hot dusty trail in July of 1994 somewhere in Sabino Canyon. I was on my way to getting lost on one of my first trail runs in Tucson. I didn't actually meet Julie until about a year and a half later on my first TTR run. The following interview provides some very sound advice that has changed very little over time; namely, never regret where you've been, live for the moment, and run as long as you can.

PROFILE OF RUNNER:

A.  Name, age, city and state, how long lived there? Julie (known by many names), 50+ years old.  Been in Tucson 33 years.

B.  Place of birth, where did you grow up, high school, college, military, other? Phoenix, attended the University of Arizona

C.  Other than running – hobbies, interests, pets, kids, current employment?  Currently employed and lately haven’t had a lot of time for running, let alone any other activities.  I am trying to learn to play the ukulele but haven’t had much time for that either.

D.  Favorite distance to run or race on trail and on the road?  100 milers are definitely my favorite but I haven’t done that distance for a few years now.

E.  Favorite race course or event?  That’s a hard one.  There are so many great runs and I’ve been running ultras for almost 25 years, it’s hard to narrow down to one.  I love running in Colorado and Utah though.

F.  Favorite Tucson area trail to train, run, hike?  Catalinas – I have a number of routes where I train.  I have a special tie to the Catalinas.  My great grandfather rode the trails on his mule in the early 1900s and was said to have known the Catalinas better than anyone at that time.

G.  Favorite post-race/run food, drink and activity, ie. hot tub, ice cold river soak, etc?  I like to sit down and get off my feet.  Sleeping is good too.

H.  Favorite vacation destination?  Grand Canyon.  I never get tired of going there.

I.  Pet Peeves?  People running on my heels.  I like my space.

J.  Current book you are reading or favorite author?  Currently reading “Quiet” by  Susan Cain.  Also recently read,  “Death Clouds on Mt Baldy” about the boy scouts that died on Mt. Wrightson.

K.  Favorite quote or saying to live by?  My personal philosophy is to never look back.  Don’t regret decisions you make or things you can’t do anymore.  Live in the moment.

L.  Personal hero or someone you look up to, emulate? My husband is one of the toughest people I know.  He finished Wasatch 100 on his 4^th attempt with bad feet on sheer guts.  His perseverance astounds me.  When I get tired or whiney I think about what he did.  I have a lot of respect for Jerry Riddick who sacrificed his Leadville 100 run to wait for me when my pacer dropped.  I finished the Leadville that year as a result of his unselfishness.  My current running buddies, Tonja and Christy, have a lot of qualities I admire.

M.  What has been your worst running injury?  Calcaneous stress fracture

TA:  Thanks for inviting me over to your home and taking the time to talk. You have a great view of the mountains here.

Julie:  That’s one reason we moved here. I love the Catalinas. My great-grand father used to ride his mule into the Catalinas around the turn of the century. He would check the UofA instruments.

TA:  What routes did he use?

IPA For a Better Body

It is my pleasure today to reveal an old discovery of mine and share it with you. This is somewhat similar to my theory of Electromagnetic Destiny from several years ago in that my experiences in life are the main support for my argument. I have researched several clinical studies that provide scientific connections to support my clinical impressions. In absence of medical proof, I submit that drinking moderate amounts of India Pale Ale and some heavily hopped Stouts will decrease inflammation in the body, enhance the processing of lactic acid in the muscles, prevent atherosclerosis, and strengthen the liver.