Eww ticks, snow levels and the weight of expectation

"Running is staring down the uncertainty of an effort for so long that you can’t tell which is worse, the discomfort of the distance or the weight of your expectation."
-Peter Bromka

Hi all,
Last night after returning from some fun trail time on the Cape Perpetua Trails near Yachats, OR I experienced some back pain. Upon feeling it closer, I noticed it was super localized and a small bump. Zooming in closer, it was a tick. EWWWW. Who knows how long it was there, but I was NOT HAPPY, nervous, grossed out and annoyed I hadn't felt it crawling on me. Since this is the season for ticks, I thought I would share some info so you are prepared in case you find yourself in a tick situation. 
There are approximately 65 human cases of Lyme Disease reported annually in Oregon, which is very low to be clear. The primary vector is the western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus), which is prevalent in western Oregon and along the Columbia River in lower elevations. Only about 3% to 8% of these ticks carry the Lyme bacterium and transmission typically requires the tick to be attached for 36 to 48 hours or more. Risk of transmission in Oregon is SMALL but still there. 
As a native Pennsylvanian where 30% of Lyme Disease cases are reported, I was freaked out. I called the nurse line of my insurance and was told to go to Urgent Care. At Urgent Care they expressed how rare Lyme Disease was in Oregon BUT since I found the tick less than 72 hours in, I was a candidate for Doxycycline, an antibiotic that is just a one-day course. Potential GI distress from the antibiotic for me is worth not being freaked out with worry about getting Lyme Disease. So worry level is reduced and anti-biotics on board. GI distress, well, let's see what happens.
I will for sure be upping my prevention game going forward including insect repellent and more monitoring post runs. If you live on the east coast or are visiting be sure to be vigilant. We need you strong for trails, mountains and fun. 
STRONG
Strength Training for Runners is ON and LIVE this week, so join me Wednesday night. Always free. Bring your home weights and mini bands. 

GET OUT THERE WITH CHILDCARE
Strava has announced a "Childcare so they can get out there" grant aimed at helping mothers get to more start lines. Strava will be funding 50 grants of $2,000 each to offset the childcare, travel, and support costs that often stand between a mother and the starting line. Apply by June 14. 

LENTIL PROTEIN
I never thought of this one! "I learned something cool recently that might interest you (and your readers).  My body can't handle whey, so when I'm looking for protein to put in my smoothies, I generally use cooked soybeans or pea protein powder.  Both can be expensive (especially for the non-GMO stuff), but it turns out that you can just dump a 1/4 cup of yellow split peas into the Vitamix and make your own powder before adding the rest of the smoothie makings.  1/4-1/2 cup of cooked red lentils are also a good source of non-dairy protein." 

GETTING INTO THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS
If you are in Oregon looking to get into the Central Cascades, the Cascade Lakes Highway is open and many of the trailheads are cleared of snow for parking, but beyond that much of the area has 3-4 feet of snowpack. Here is a good post from Hike Oregon checking all the trailheads and trails on the Cascade Lakes Highway and beyond. Cal Topo also has snow depth maps so you can check your trail before heading out. 

RUN FOR MONEY
What did it take to earn $1,000 at a road race in 2024, just in case you are feeling speedy and need another income source. Apparently the average marathon time to earn $1000 was 2:39:10 for women and 2:16:37 for men.