Unintentionally took a couple weeks off; the week before the 14er, because of my questionable foot (I fell into a spare tire and bent my foot backwards, and it's been weirdly swollen and my toe was mysteriously purple), and then the week after the 14er. I rode twice in that time - 15 miles, and 20 miles. Running for July was lame. Time to pick the pace back up.
Sunday, I set out at 11 with Skyler, and ran up the path to the elementary school. I sent him left, to go home (he's starting building from a mile) and I went right, to do my route in reverse. Wound up running 5.8 without realizing/intending to. Felt great. Last night, I didn't want to be near all the traffic, so ran on the trail. Hammered out 5 miles, negative splits. Felt great!!!
Tomorrow I resume morning runs with Emily. Looking forward to that!
I have to keep the momentum up so I don't completely fizzle out over the winter. This'll be Winter #2 of my life that I refuse to give in to.
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
First 14er
On Saturday (8/2/14), I did my first 14er with Donna. Technically, it was two - but I feel like that's cheating, because we didn't hike from the bottom up of the second peak - we hiked up Gray's, then took the saddle from Gray's peak to Torrey's peak, and then down Torrey's. Regardless, it was absolutely amazing and a total heart-lifting, gorgeous, amazing, feel-good time. I left the house at 3:30 a.m., and met her at the Park N Ride at 4:00 a.m., and then we reached the trail head and started hiking at 5 a.m. It's incredible how many people were already up there - but that dulled in comparison to how many were coming up when we hit the summit. It was like some religious pilgrimage coming up the hill. Crazy! The early start was well worth it for missing that.
A few days prior to the hike, I had asked Donna what to bring. I'm used to running in the heat (for up to an hour or a little longer) and biking in the heat (all day) and hiking in the heat (all day) but have never done a 14er (add altitude and in some spots, more incline than a regular hike). She mentioned a list of stuff she was bringing, and I added a hat and gloves to my pile. THANK GOODNESS she mentioned those things. I didn't use the hat (had a hoodie, and a windbreaker hood) but the gloves...even with them on, my fingers got a little uncomfortable. I can tell I'm going to have to start slowly acquiring appropriate gear. I can definitely get by, but will be better off with sport-specific gear. I did manage to get hiking poles via Amazon - they were $25 and worth every penny, but I can see why it would be worth it to go look for a higher end model eventually. Hiking backpacks are around $100, presumably because they're lighter and stronger than a regular backpack. I'll be using a regular backpack for the foreseeable future, but will keep an eye out for sales and Craig's List. Nothing like having hobbies on a budget! Next time I'm going to bring a backpack and some real food (as opposed to the Clif Bar and energy GUs from bike riding that I brought) and more water. I knew I was skating by on minimal water, but with a backpack, I can do like Donna did and fill a 2-liter soda bottle with water and keep it in the backpack, along with the external smaller bottles. Brilliant!
It would be so great if the other three members of my family would be interested in doing this stuff with me. They are proud couch potatoes. It's a major bummer for me, but I'm not letting that hold me back, as this stuff is so incredibly fun and therapeutic for me. They are perfectly happy to be doing other stuff while I gasp and sweat. Donna and I are grateful for each other, because her husband and son are similarly uninterested. It's great to have a pal to do these things with!
Can't wait till the next one. We're presently trying to figure that out. The only downside is that Gray's and Torrey's are close - only about 90 minutes from the front door - the next 14er that's within our skill level is 100 miles away.
A few days prior to the hike, I had asked Donna what to bring. I'm used to running in the heat (for up to an hour or a little longer) and biking in the heat (all day) and hiking in the heat (all day) but have never done a 14er (add altitude and in some spots, more incline than a regular hike). She mentioned a list of stuff she was bringing, and I added a hat and gloves to my pile. THANK GOODNESS she mentioned those things. I didn't use the hat (had a hoodie, and a windbreaker hood) but the gloves...even with them on, my fingers got a little uncomfortable. I can tell I'm going to have to start slowly acquiring appropriate gear. I can definitely get by, but will be better off with sport-specific gear. I did manage to get hiking poles via Amazon - they were $25 and worth every penny, but I can see why it would be worth it to go look for a higher end model eventually. Hiking backpacks are around $100, presumably because they're lighter and stronger than a regular backpack. I'll be using a regular backpack for the foreseeable future, but will keep an eye out for sales and Craig's List. Nothing like having hobbies on a budget! Next time I'm going to bring a backpack and some real food (as opposed to the Clif Bar and energy GUs from bike riding that I brought) and more water. I knew I was skating by on minimal water, but with a backpack, I can do like Donna did and fill a 2-liter soda bottle with water and keep it in the backpack, along with the external smaller bottles. Brilliant!
It would be so great if the other three members of my family would be interested in doing this stuff with me. They are proud couch potatoes. It's a major bummer for me, but I'm not letting that hold me back, as this stuff is so incredibly fun and therapeutic for me. They are perfectly happy to be doing other stuff while I gasp and sweat. Donna and I are grateful for each other, because her husband and son are similarly uninterested. It's great to have a pal to do these things with!
Can't wait till the next one. We're presently trying to figure that out. The only downside is that Gray's and Torrey's are close - only about 90 minutes from the front door - the next 14er that's within our skill level is 100 miles away.
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Time Off
Taking some unplanned time off. Last Monday night (21st), I was trying to go to the garage in the dark, and I slammed into, and fell over, my husband's spare tire that he had put between the garage door and the Airstream. Brilliant on my part. He and Kate had stacked various crap that they'd pulled out of the Airstream between the Airstream and the garage, so that it wouldn't be an eyesore. I bent my left foot backward on the tire, and bruised my upper arm on the oven. My (second smallest) toe was purple, but didn't hurt. Now, my foot is still swollen, and I'm supposed to hike my first 14er on Saturday. So I'm giving it a break. It doesn't exactly hurt, but I can't tell something's not 100% with it. Next week, I'm going to resume the usual everything. I'm hoping my body can use the week off for something good. Getting stronger or something.
Monday, June 30, 2014
MS 150 Bike Ride, June 28-29, 2014
We did (most of) it. Chris and I made the 81 miles the first day, despite his knee's protest. He iced it on Saturday night. We spent the night at the Embassy Suites in Loveland (after some Hooters, and a hot tub) and then got up Sunday morning (sadly, neither Chris, Joey, nor I could sleep in past 6:30), had Waffle House, and Joey dropped us off at the cool little Conoco in Niwot - and we rode Niwot Road to 95th, and caught up with everyone there, to ride 23 miles for Sunday (to attempt to preserve Chris's knee). It was an amazing experience. We then went road bike shopping. Joey's in for next year.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
What Keeps Me Going
Next week, I hopefully try to help two people develop a love for running. I'm really anxious about this, because every time I think about convincing someone to take up running, I hope for them that they're in it for the long haul. I hope that they develop the love that I do for the activity.
I'm agonizing (well, not really, but it sounds good. Maybe mildly stressing) over which direction to start them in - with a Couch-to-5K plan, or how I do it - run two miles a day, until it's comfortable, and then incrementally increase distance, repeat. (10% (ish) rule), until they reach a goal "normal" distance.
For these two friends, I think I'm going to recommend C25K, only because one is trying to lose weight by September, and the other wants to get in shape, but is so so so busy all of the time.
I hope hope hope that they give it a chance and get to the point that the act of being out and running is what they love. Being outdoors, and the feeling of being ABLE to run. The feeling of moving their body in the environment, and being capable of doing what they're doing. The feeling of being tired from exertion. The feeling after an all-day hike. The feeling after a hard bike ride. All of that - that feeling is like a drug. Seeking it out, because it makes happiness.
I'm agonizing (well, not really, but it sounds good. Maybe mildly stressing) over which direction to start them in - with a Couch-to-5K plan, or how I do it - run two miles a day, until it's comfortable, and then incrementally increase distance, repeat. (10% (ish) rule), until they reach a goal "normal" distance.
For these two friends, I think I'm going to recommend C25K, only because one is trying to lose weight by September, and the other wants to get in shape, but is so so so busy all of the time.
I hope hope hope that they give it a chance and get to the point that the act of being out and running is what they love. Being outdoors, and the feeling of being ABLE to run. The feeling of moving their body in the environment, and being capable of doing what they're doing. The feeling of being tired from exertion. The feeling after an all-day hike. The feeling after a hard bike ride. All of that - that feeling is like a drug. Seeking it out, because it makes happiness.
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Father's Day
So, I bought a notebook to use as sort of a fitness journal, but then took pen to paper and remembered how awful my handwriting has gotten (thanks a lot, career with so much typing) and decided to stick with this.
I told Hubs last night that I was going to run, and then go for a bike ride. He said he would ride with me (we are "training" for the MS150 that's coming up on June 28-29). I finally rolled out of bed at 9:00 (oh, glorious comfortable bed). I went downstairs, got two hard boiled eggs, the salt, and a big glass (16+ oz) of water, and then went upstairs to the eldest son's room, where he and the youngest son were playing some vigilante video game. We talked about the eldest son's day yesterday, and I told the youngest the he was riding his bike with me on my run. Much bitching and moaning ensued.
We took off, and I started out pretty slow (not a big morning runner). By mile three, started to warm up and hit the groove, as per usual. Went four, had fun talks with the youngest, got home and sucked down a Nuun Strawberry Lemonade electrolyte ("sports drink") tablet with another glass of water, and prepared for the bike ride.
Hubs was dressed and ready to go to Boulder (to see folks for Father's Day) and I was surprised - thought he was going to ride with. Talked him into changing, and coming with me - and shockingly, he didn't complain about going the whole way (Big Dry Creek Trail, from where we pick it up, only goes about 10 miles out, then 10 miles back, for an almost 20 mile ride, that takes 1.5 hours, give or take). The ride was AMAZING. I was marveling at how great I felt. Stopped at mile eight for a Clif Shot (cherry chocolate with caffeine) and water, because I was starting to feel less amazing, and more fatigued. The weather was perfect - 70s and breezy. There were a lot of people out - riding, running, walking. It was really great.
Got home, made sandwiches (great Cajun turkey deli meat from yesterday's trip to RAM OffRoad Park for the Dirt Riot), jumped in the shower, and went to Dad's house. Helped them do some cleaning minutia, then went to Moe's for dinner, as their house was being shown. Good BBQ! DQ was right next door (the one I worked at decades ago) and we went there for dessert.
A fabulous day!
I told Hubs last night that I was going to run, and then go for a bike ride. He said he would ride with me (we are "training" for the MS150 that's coming up on June 28-29). I finally rolled out of bed at 9:00 (oh, glorious comfortable bed). I went downstairs, got two hard boiled eggs, the salt, and a big glass (16+ oz) of water, and then went upstairs to the eldest son's room, where he and the youngest son were playing some vigilante video game. We talked about the eldest son's day yesterday, and I told the youngest the he was riding his bike with me on my run. Much bitching and moaning ensued.
We took off, and I started out pretty slow (not a big morning runner). By mile three, started to warm up and hit the groove, as per usual. Went four, had fun talks with the youngest, got home and sucked down a Nuun Strawberry Lemonade electrolyte ("sports drink") tablet with another glass of water, and prepared for the bike ride.
Hubs was dressed and ready to go to Boulder (to see folks for Father's Day) and I was surprised - thought he was going to ride with. Talked him into changing, and coming with me - and shockingly, he didn't complain about going the whole way (Big Dry Creek Trail, from where we pick it up, only goes about 10 miles out, then 10 miles back, for an almost 20 mile ride, that takes 1.5 hours, give or take). The ride was AMAZING. I was marveling at how great I felt. Stopped at mile eight for a Clif Shot (cherry chocolate with caffeine) and water, because I was starting to feel less amazing, and more fatigued. The weather was perfect - 70s and breezy. There were a lot of people out - riding, running, walking. It was really great.
Got home, made sandwiches (great Cajun turkey deli meat from yesterday's trip to RAM OffRoad Park for the Dirt Riot), jumped in the shower, and went to Dad's house. Helped them do some cleaning minutia, then went to Moe's for dinner, as their house was being shown. Good BBQ! DQ was right next door (the one I worked at decades ago) and we went there for dessert.
A fabulous day!
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Meg's Miles
This morning, I participated in a "virtual run" called Megs Miles in honor of Meg, a wife and mother (of three) who was hit and killed by a drunk driver on her morning run this past Monday. After I ran and cooled down, I sat down to continue my (home-based) billing business work. I had Facebook open behind my billing program. Along with the Megs Miles event, there's a Meg's Miles Supporters Facebook page. All day, and still, people are posting the stories of their runs, their condolences, and in several cases, inspirational stories of their own. There is one amazing young woman, Amanda, who was run over by a drunk driver five years ago, and has to use crutches to get around. She "crutched" four hours to complete a 10K for Meg. She has also done other amazing stuff, like the Spartan Race (see article about her here). There's another young girl who has a disability that necessitates the use of a walker. Andie walked two miles for Meg. There is another woman who is a young widow. She ran for Meg. The stories posted on the wall of that Facebook page could keep you crying for hours, because of the outpouring of love, support, and just the plain, raw glimpse into the good of the human spirit.
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