Dual Nature Digest: July

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July has boasted itself as the most trail oriented month in my life. I felt like there were more races around the country (and the PNW) than any other month. Justin and I headed south to CA for the La Sportiva Table Rock 27k. One short week later Justin jumped into the White River 50-mile.

There has been a lot of hype recapping the White River 50-mile this past week - and for good reason! I couldn't be more proud of my husband Justin for winning his first 50-mile race in a high profile ultra. This race was easily one of the biggest running achievements of his career so far. This was my favorite post from the web (WA pride!):

My dad also ran the White River 50, although he had a dramatically different experience than Justin. At mile 15 he took a hard spill and sprained his hand. When he approached the mile 27 aid station he looked rough and was having trouble opening his GUs because of his swollen and lacerated hand. He had one hell of a day out on the trails and I could barely stand each minute waiting for him to reach each aid station, and finally the finish line. It was questionable at times and downright inspirational that he crossed the finish line. Thanks to Lesley Mcoubrey who kept in touch with the other aid stations via radio to track my dad. He finished in a solid 14:09! And then straight to the recliner post race...

Dad charging the last 6-miles on Skookum Flats.

Finisher!

I've mentioned before that Justin and I have a good massage exchange between the two of us with a regimented schedule of at least one massage per week. There is plenty of science backing the importance of massage for athletes, plus it feels good. I am a strong advocate for incorporating massage into a regular training routine. I've been perusing the net for a cheap massage bed... it's only a matter of time. But for now Justin and I are experimenting with different massage lotions and oils. Here are a few we've tried in the last month:

1. Fair Trade Shea Butter: My favorite so far. Unscented with no extra chemicals or crap incorporated. Justin thinks the smell is oddly nutty, but at least its natural. The firmness of the shea in the container keeps portion control easy when giving someone a massage.

2. Jojoba Oil: This works well for a five minute massage. But who likes five minute massages? The oil absorbs too quickly to make use of and I find myself going through a quarter of the bottle on one of Justin's calves.

3. Revita Stimulating Massage Cream: This stuff is horrible, don't buy it. It's beyond slippery and smells like battery acid. It's cheap for a reason.

4. Free-Up Massage Cream: This product is on the expensive side, but it also works really well. I noticed its used by many health practitioners. It works great and has the perfect combination of a smooth and gripping feel while massaging. The biggest downfall is that it has parabens.

In other news, Angel's Staircase was canceled. The wildfires in Central Washington are tragically horrific. This race has been the biggest target on our schedule this year but I'm hardly disappointed I can't run because of the loss others have suffered in the area. If you are able to donate, you can purchase one of Baylie Peplow's beautiful prints from Red Umbrella Designs. All proceeds go to fire relief. If you don't want a print you can always straight donate. I'm partial to the print on the left.

As I move forward into August I am letting my body recover mentally and physically from a long streak of racing. For the first time since college I am taking a couple weeks off from running to re-charge and recoup. I'll still be around here writing about the great outdoors through the lens of dual nature.