It's on!!! The 2011 Ugly Christmas Sweater Fun Run in Colorado Springs is Back!

Runners and fashionistas unite!The 2011 Ugly Christmas Fun Run is gearing up to take place on Saturday December 3rd, 2011 in beautiful Colorado Springs, Colorado!! (permit pending) There will be both a 5km fun run, and a 1 mile walk. All benefits go to the Cerebral Palsy Association of Colorado Springs, CO.

This is a family friendly event, and we welcome both runners and walkers of all ages and faiths. But please, no pets. The 5km will start at 11:30 am, and the one mile walk will start at 11:35 am, to help reduce crowding and make this a fun,safe event for everybody!

So dust off that ugly holiday sweater that you swore you'd never wear, and start your training. More details soon to follow!

Entry Fee Reduced For Ugly Christmas Sweater Fun Run!!

With the deplorable economy affecting so many people, The entry fee of the Ugly Christmas Sweater Fun Run has been reduced to $25.00!!! This price will remain until 11:59pm December 6th! For those of you who have already entered online at the old rate, you will be receiving a check for the difference.

More to come!!!!!

Most stupid, ugly cake ever!!!!!!!

Warning: Totally irrelevant, needlessly dramatic and stupid story ahead:

A few weeks ago, I decided to try and do something other than run so I decided to surprise my long suffering husband and bake him a cake. and NOOOOO, not from a cake mix either. bad idea.

From looking at the picture in the glossy magazine, it seemed easy enough. I was going to create was supposed to be a scrumptious Apple Caramel Cake. Just three basic steps: make caramel,( an impossible and horrific ordeal) slice apples and place in caramel, then pour cake batter over everything and bake to perfection. This did not happen.

If you've ever made caramel, you know why most people buy it. It's a major pain in the ass. The sugar and corn syrup didn't melt together. They congealed. The cream I added sizzled and boiled over the sides of the skillet, and what did remain in the pan scorched to the bottom along with the sugar. Instead of the golden brown confection promised in the stupid magazine, I ended up with a bug sticky, lumpy glob, which I proceeded to press in the bottom of the cake pan.

Next came the apples. This part I got right. Then again, how hard can peeling apples be?

The cake batter was another story. As an easily distracted and sometimes stupid woman, I forgot that I already had added the eggs, and added twice the eggs. I should have known from the copious number of egg shells strewn about the counter, but counting is hard and involves math and paying attention. Further more, I was still traumatized from the caramel ordeal, so it wasn't my fault. I poured the batter over the apple caramel mess, and put it in the oven.

In about half and hour, a strange burnt sugar, apple smell began wafting through the house. I ran down the stairs to find a smoke filled kitchen, and a sizzling sound coming from the oven. As it turns out, the whole stupid "cake from hell" had boiled over the sides of the baking pan onto the oven floor. Could it get any worse?

YES! Just take a look at the pictures. My husband bravely ate a few pieces, after I tried to conceal the awful looking mess with store bought caramel and ice cream. Princess also made sure she got her share too. I think I'll stick to running for a while!

Hose on the trail, Lean Horse 100, Amreican Discovery Trail Marathon, and I'm tired!

Hello everybody!!!!

Hope you're all strong, healthy, and running happy and injury free! I know it has been a while, but finally life has begun to settle down just a bit and I have time to update my blog!

My fifth Badwater 135 was a total success and PR, thanks to my crew members who all went above and beyond to get me to the finish line. I wasn't sure if I was ready to run another 100 miler in less than two months, but when I asked myself one of my favorite questions," if I had a year to live, would I do this?" the answer was ,"go for it!" So about six weeks later I found myself at the starting line of the Lean Horse 100, in beautiful Hot Springs, South Dakota.

If you've never run Lean Horse, I highly recommend it. Jerry Dunn, the RD, and his volunteers, are fabulous! It is a very well organized, scenic race. It is a good first time 100 miler, and can also be used for a PR. Along with the good spirits and encouragement of lots of the other runners, the volunteers, the fantastic aid stations,(there were Rice Crispy Treats!! Yum!) the RD, and of course my ever loving, patient, and supportive husband, I managed a PR, despite having horrible blisters the last 16 miles. I'll be back to run this one for sure!

The week before Lean Horse, we found ourselves volunteering for the Pikes Peak Marathon, perched on a narrow strip of single track trail, about a mile from the summit, on what is known as the Cirque Aid Station. The Cirque Aid Station is my favorite, and I think it is safe to say that it is a favorite aid stations amongst the runners. The efforts that the RD and volunteers go to in order to create this aid station are extraordinary. On Wednesday, a bunch of volunteers drove to the summit of Pikes peak to unload all the supplies for this aid station, and also run a hose down the side of the mountain to fill the three huge trash cans for the water and gatorade for thousands of runners. Our efforts paid off: the runners were very grateful and in good spirits, and we kept the water supply going, although it sounded kind of funny after a while yelling out "HOSE ON THE TRAIL!!" to warn the runners not to trip on the hose laid across the narrow trail that filled the water barrels.A big congratulations to Matt Carpenter for yet another win!!! Matt is always an inspiration!

Seven days after winning Lean Horse, I ran the American Discovery Trail Marathon in Colorado Springs. The ADT Marathon is one of my favorite marathons in the country. Not only is it right in my back yard, but it is well organized, and you get a nice shirt, and finisher's medal. I didn't PR as I had hoped, and my knees were killing me after ten miles, but I still managed to get Boston qualifier time.

Now it is time to work on my book, and take a few weeks off! Congratulations to all the finishers of the Pikes Peak marathon, the Lean Horse 100, and the ADT Marathon! Next up is the Mountain Cha Cha in Pagosa Springs, CO, and the brand new Crested Butte Fall Colors Half Marathon, on September 25th and 26th!

Barr Trail Mountain Race Toilet Box!

Just days after finishing my fifth and fastest Badwater 135 (thanks crew people....race report soon to come) I got the opportunity to volunteer once again at the Barr Trail Mountain Race, in Manitou Springs, Colorado.

I love Manitou Springs! You won't find any bog box stores, or strip malls here. But what you will find are awesome trails, a diverse population, lots of trees, flowers, and mountains. It is also home to the Pikes Peak Marathon and Ascent, as well as the very successful Barr Trail Mountain Race, that goes from the Cog Railroad staging area to Barr Camp and back.

Some friends of mine worked the sweat check at the start. As I drove over to volunteer in the wee hours of the morning, I remembered I forgot my box for all the runners to put their things for after the race in. Fortunately, there were plenty of dumpsters brimming with boxes Sunday morning. My husband helped me fish out a really good box, complete with a picture of a toilet on it. I told him that not just any woman would be willing to go dumpster diving at 5 in the morning with him. Ah, the memories!

Here is a picture of the toilet box, now a BTMR heirloom, and some pictures of the race too.

Leadville, Mt Elbert, and a marmot......

A huge thank you to everyone who showed up to run, crew, and hike this weekend in Leadville , CO.

Friday's night run was just what I needed to get me revved up for the Leadville Trail 100, after finishing a tough Badwater 135 less than two weeks ago. Ultra runner extraordinaire Theresa promised me that there only were chipmonks out in the woods at night.....a beautiful full moon over Twin Lakes gave us some really good views. With the exception of some cpmers, we had the woods to ourselves.

On Saturday we found ourselves going up and over Sugar Loaf, my favorite part of the Leadville Trail 100 course. It got pretty hot, (for Leadville) although some evening thunderstroms cooled things off just as we were finishing up. Thanks to Jeff O, June and Theresa for keeping me company.

Sunday we all hiked up Mt. Elbert. The climb was steep, but worth it, because once on top we were surrounded by great views of Rockies. Lots of wild flowers of every color, and one very hungry marmot, made for a happy, successful weekend.

Here are some pictures!

Final Update for Leadville Runs

Hi All,

At 8pm, we are meeting at 8pm at the Leadville Fish Hatchery for a night run. We have at least one persona who has offered ta drive those of us who are running a ride to Twin Lakes, from which we will run to our cars left at Fish Hatchery.Please bring your own headlamps and water bottles, gels, and other snacks and warm clothing you think you may need. So far it looks like it is going to drop only into the 40's Friday night. but it is Leadville, so who knows!

Saturday morning we are all meeting at Mayqueen at 8 am, and getting a ride to Fish Hatchery. From there we are running up "the Loaf", and will love those three false summits! Once we get to Mayqueen, we will refill from our cars, and run back to Fish Hatchery. Will the fun ever end?!

NO! On Sunday, starting at 5 am, weather permitting, we are hiking up Mt. Elbert, about 9 miles round trip. If the weather is bad, we will come up with an alternate training run.

See you in Leadville, where I hope it is cooler than Badwater!