Hungerford Marathon! September 26th, 2020

Saturday, September 26th, 2020

Marathon #164 complete!! 28 miles!!! Yes, 28 miles due to covid restrictions with the shuttle bus. So, we were rewarded with 2 bonus miles. HA HA!! It was a beautiful day for a marathon, and we were surrounded by beautiful scenery and endless sand dune type hills! Ha! 😁😂

The course... So, the course was interesting this time. SO. MUCH. SAND. A good portion of the course was sand dune type hills. It's hard to get good traction in sand. Running in sand is quite different and quite an experience too. HA! The "power line section" of the course was very intense! WOW!! The scenery was beautiful, and the fall colors were gorgeous. This race is challenging but has so much to offer because you get a little bit of everything-- sand dunes, sand trails, hiking trails, horse trails, dirt roads, gravel roads, and pavement. :) 

It was a slow marathon for me, but that's ok... I did it on purpose. I found a rookie marathon runner who was struggling and needed some help. So, I stopped to walk with him and helped him finish his first marathon!! That was awesome!! I LOVE helping rookie marathon runners finish their first marathon! It gives me so much joy. ❤ I LOVE helping all runners achieve their goals too. This is probably why I love coaching cross country so much. For me, I don't need to win, I just enjoy the journey and enjoy my accomplishments of marathons and ultras. It's also about helping runners for me because I love that. ❤

Shout out to the race directors too!! THANK YOU for putting on such a fantastic race!! You guys are awesome!!! 😁😁

Tri-State Area! Michigan, Ohio, Indiana

Sunday, September 6th, 2020

Super cool adventure!! Have you ever stood in 3 states at the same time??!! 😁😁 We did that on the way home from our trip to Ohio! We stood in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio at the same time!! Then, we each stood in a different state, to be funny. SO COOL!!! Ok, I know it's goofy, but I thought this was the coolest experience ever! I have always wanted to do something like this! Ha ha! (I recently read about this Tri-State Area and history and wanted to check it out! So glad we did.)

The Tri-State Area is basically in the middle of nowhere, along a half dirt, half paved road. There are 4 markings where the 3 states meet each other, and you can clearly see the land boundaries on each side. Definitely a must see!

GPS Coordinates: 41° 41.791′ N,  84° 48.355′ W.

Olander Marathon! September 5th, 2020

Saturday, September 5th, 2020

Some pictures from marathon #163! 26.2 miles! 😁

An real, official race happened!! It was such a great race with some amazing friends! 🤩🤩

Race Report: ⬇️⬇️

Marathon #163 complete, 26.2 miles!!! 😁😁

Another real, official race!!! Yes!!! Beautiful park, beautiful scenery, beautiful lake, wonderful weather, great friends, and a great day in Ohio!! Super excited about another real race happening!

It was a great day running with friends. I'm very thankful to have great runner friends that just love run, love to have fun, love to laugh, and love build each other up and cheer each other on, no matter what pace/speed you are going. (Forward is forward. Go out there, have the best time, do your best, and love what you do!!) No negativity, nothing but positivity. This is the way it should be! It was a wonderful race and day. So much fun and so many laughs!! This is why I do what I do. This is why I run. This is why I coach cross country. So much joy. ❤❤

I've had such negative running experiences over the past few months- with rumors, bullying, mocking, runner groups, social media, etc... So, it was nice to have another positive running experience! I love the positive experience I am having with running again. I need this. I am good enough, too.. I do deserve the positives! 🙂

Diameter of Mars Challenge!

Diameter of Mars Challenge... 4,222 miles in 8 months!!! 😁

Well.. I did not have intentions of doing this at first, but as time went on, and I racked up the miles, I decided to create this challenge for myself. I thought it would be super cool. The diameter of Mars is 4,222 miles. It takes about 8 months for spacecraft or rover to reach Mars. Soooooo, I made it a goal to achieve the diameter of Mars in 8 months. Challenge accepted and completed!!! Yeah!!!

From January 1st, 2020 to August 28th, 2020, I completed 4,230.71 miles through running, walking, hiking, and biking!!!! I did a little extra. (See stats.) 😁😁 Harry made me a medal, and my friend Kim is made it into a wooden medal now too. 🙂🙂

I've really enjoyed coming up with my own running challenges and my own races this year. This has been so much fun!!! That is what running should be all about too, FUN. Have fun!! Set a goal for yourself, achieve it, accomplish it. BE YOU. You are possible. You are awesome. Do what is best for you, no one else. Run slowly or run fast, but just be you!! You don't need to prove yourself to anyone. Again, you are amazing. And seriously, HAVE FUN!! You CAN do anything!! ❤

Final Backyard Marathon of the Summer 2020

Friday, August 28th, 2020.

Final backyard marathon of the summer! Ha! Marathon #162 complete! 26.2 miles! 🙂

(Yes, I am aware that it is an unofficial marathon. Like I said before, I count the total for me, no one else. You can do that, too. Do what works for you, no one else.)

Since March, I completed several marathons, ultras, and 100 milers in my backyard and inside my house. (Literally, 1000s of miles in my backyard and inside my house.) Honestly, I loved it, and I loved sharing my story in the news all over the world.. It was so much fun and gave us great adventures! I was fortunate and had 3 official races that were not canceled too. 🙂 

It was my final backyard marathon of the summer. Yes, we celebrated the ending of summer with a backyard marathon. HA HA! Harry and I also played soccer and made an obstacle course. Good times as always. 🙂🙂

Ultrarunning Magazine Debut! Ha ha!!

I made into the Ultrarunning Magazine!

The Ultrarunning Magazine came in the mail. Naturally, since I am in the magazine, I did a ridiculously goofy photo shoot with it!! HA HA!! 😂🤦‍♀️

Yes, I have quite a goofy personality. 

Sharing the background information about the Ultrarunning Magazine and my running challenges again! ⬇️⬇️

So, I am in the Ultrarunning Magazine, the online and paper edition!! 😁😍 Nice surprise! Back in April, during the Stay at Home Order of the pandemic, I ran the Aravaipa Strong Virtual Race, 100 mile run. I ran the entire 100 miles inside my house, a tiny 0.02 mile loops in my living room and upstairs! My crazy indoor 100 mile run actually won an award for this race, Most Creative Indoor Race. I had the opportunity to speak on their YouTube awards show too. It was awesome. A recent article was written about the Aravaipa Strong Virtual Race, and to my surprise, I am in the article. Way cool!!! 🤩🤩

The Aravaipa Strong Virtual Race, 100 mile run was one of six that I completed during the Stay at Home Order of the pandemic!! Yes, you read that right. Ha!! I kept busy with some insane running challenges. I made a running challenge for each week of the Stay at Home Order. It ended up being 12 weeks of running challenges, and I racked up the mileage! I also did an insane mileage challenge in July and created my own virtual race across Michigan, 945 miles. I was inspired by another ultra runner, James Leitner, who ran 900 miles in July!!! 😁

ALSO... I had the opportunity to share my running story multiple times on the news and in online running magazines, which was super cool! It was wonderful. I was on TV, in the local Fox17 news twice, Aravaipa Strong Virtual Race YouTube show, Running 4 Soles Podcast, Canadian Running Magazine, Insider news, Run Society Magazine in Asia, and now the Ultrarunning Magazine!! 8 times in the news/media all over the world!!!! Wow! SUPER PROUD!!! 🤩

Here's the recap of my insane running challenges during this pandemic!! ⬇️⬇️

(When races are canceled, you can create your own races and challenges. Running is NOT canceled. Keep moving forward.)

Stay at Home Order Running Challenges: ⬇️⬇️

March 15th to June 7th... 1,631 miles!

Week #1: 5 marathons 

Week #2: 7 marathons in 7 days

Week #3: 100 mile run in my backyard/house

Week #4: 100 mile run in my backyard/house

Week #5: Staircase Mt. Everest climb and 50 miles 

Week #6: Aravaipa 100 mile run inside my house 

Week #7: Covid-19 mile run inside my house 

Week #8: Mother's Day Backyard Ultra, 50 miles

Week #9: Roll the Dice, 131.53 mile run

Week #10: Head Goat 50k (31 miles)

Week #11: Double Mt. Everest climb and 120 miles

Week #12: Sasquatch 100 mile run

July Mileage Challenge/My Own Virtual Race Across Michigan! ⬇️⬇️

(30 day challenge)

Averaged 31.5 miles (50k) each day for 30 days- 

945 MILES!! 😮

18 unofficial ultras, 31+ miles 

1 official marathon, 26.2 miles 

11 bike rides of 31+ miles

Note: Not part of the July Mileage Challenge. I added an additional 25 mile bike ride on July 31st at night, to make it 970 miles total for July!!!!

As always... YOU CAN DO ANYTHING. YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH. Believe in yourself, your goals are possible. ❤❤

Here's my news articles, awards shows, and podcast: ⬇️⬇️

https://www.fox17online.com/news/marathon-runner-makes-backyard-race-with-help-from-her-son

https://www.fox17online.com/sports/after-backyard-100-grand-rapids-women-climbs-the-height-of-mt-everest

https://youtu.be/78_xreGaiJc

https://www.running4soles.com/blog1/a-podcast-interview-with-stephanie-northway

https://runningmagazine.ca/trail-running/how-an-ultrarunner-keeps-busy-during-quarantine/

https://www.insider.com/runner-100-mile-courses-in-house-backyard-after-races-canceled-2020-6

https://www.runsociety.com/inspiration/creative-ultra-marathoner/

Virtual Backyard Marathon, Run to Overcome! August 20th, 2020

Thursday, August 20th, 2020

Marathon #161 complete, 26.2 miles!! Yay!! 

Harry made a fun yet challenging obstacle course for me. We played soccer in between laps, and we did some yard work too, trimming/cutting trees. Harry also wrote the countries in size order (smallest to largest) on the driveway and made a number comparison chart!! It was a lot of fun as usual. We have the best adventures together. 😁😁

This marathon was a virtual event put on by the Run Society Magazine in Asia. I was in the magazine in July, so I thought I would do their virtual marathon. It is free and can completed anywhere! The name of the marathon is so perfect too. Run to Overcome. We have all been going through a lot of stress and change lately. Some people have been through more than others. Times have been crazy and tough, but as a reminder, we can overcome anything. We can get through anything. Keep moving forward. ❤

(My backyard and inside my house have been the main place that I have been running since the pandemic started, during the Stay at Home Order, and during my July Mileage Challenge. Ha ha! I have run many marathons, ultras, and 100 milers in my backyard from March thru July... Many, many miles on that driveway. Ha! 😂 Yes, I've run at many other places besides my backyard and house too, but my backyard and house have been quite an adventure.. ha!)