The Ugly Christmas Sweater Run is Almost Here!!!!!

It's hard to believe that Christmas will be this Friday! Hopefully everybody has their shopping done and has time to relax and be with friends and loved ones. For those of us who are doing the Ugly Christmas Sweater Run, on Tuesday December 22nd, at 6:30 pm, at Memorial Park in Manitou Springs, here are a few updates:

Again, this is a FREE, no t-shirt, fun run. It is not competitive. There are NO COURSE MARKINGS, so hopefully my directions will be helpful, and even better, all of us stay together for the 3.5 miles. PLEASE BRING A STRONG FLASHLIGHT or HEADLAMP!!!!!

THE COURSE:

1. Meet at Memorial Park. Go WEST on Manitou Avenue. Stay ON THE SIDEWALK, running past the police department, the Stagecoach Restaurant, Black Cat Book Store, and then cross Canon Ave, staying LEFT of the town clock and statue of Hebe ( Greek Goddess of eternal youth. Also the patron Goddess of Botox, I believe). Stay on the sidewalk that parallels Manitou Avenue, all the way to the end of Soda Springs Park. You will go past the Mate Factor, which is the last business before you come to Soda Springs Park. (who knows. we might get tired and stop at the Mate for a cup of tea to energize us before continuing on our strenuous quest)

2. Go all the way to the end of the sidewalk the runs past Fountain Creek, and is on the right side of Manitou Avenue. Go over and around the little bridge that takes you to the other side of Soda Springs Park. The sidewalk is icy and narrow on this side, so you might want to run SINGLE FILE heading east, (back in the direction you came). You will run past the historic Clif House on your left on Canon Ave. Watch for ice!! You will be able to run on the sidewalk now, and will run past the candy store (we might stop there if we need further nourishment) past the town clock again, past the Glass Blowers, past the Keg (might stop for a burger or beer), and back past Black Cat Books and the Police Department.( it should look familiar)

3. You will now run by Memorial Park again. Keep heading east on El Paso Blvd. It is best to stay single file, because there isn't any shoulder of sidewalk on El Paso. Go up the hill on El Paso, until you come to Mayfair Ave. Go RIGHT on MAYFAIR. It is across from the Craftwood Inn. Again, watch for ice going down Mayfair Ave. Mayfair Ave is downhill, and very short. It will take you back to Manitou Ave. DO NOT GO TO Manitou Ave!!! There is a trail just before you get to the Chamber of Commerce. Make a SHARP LEFT on this trail. Head east!

4. Now that you are on this trail, you will go behind the Manitou Campground, the Manitou Swimming Pool,(the trail will turn to pavement) UNDER Highway 24,and all the way to the end of The Fields Park, (by the skateboard park). Circle back towards Manitou, staying on the sidewalk, back under the highway, past the swimming pool, back to Mayfair Ave.

5. GO RIGHT, uphill, on Mayfair Ave, back to El Paso Blvd. Once you get to El Paso Blvd,turn left, staying SINGLE FILE, back to Memorial Park.

6. You're done!!!!! Now you can tell whoever bought you that lovely sweater that you really, honestly did wear it out. ( you don't have to tell them it was dark) Some of us might go to Adams, or the Mate Factor afterwards.

THANKS FOR RUNNING WITH US AND MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM PRINCESS AND I!!!!!!!!

Ugly Christmas Sweater Run!!!!!

It's hard to believe that Christmas is almost upon us once again! Christmas is my favorite holiday, and I love celebrating it with all my friends and loved ones. This year, friend and training partner Melissa Marr and I have come up with a new way for our running buddies to come together and celebrate the holiday season by doing something we love: RUN!

SO, December 22nd, at 6:30pm, in Manitou Springs, CO, we are having a fun, informal, and totally free UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER FUN RUN!

Here are all the who, whats, and wheres:

WHO: you! and anyone else you think might want to join us.

WHERE: Memorial Park, Manitou Springs, CO

WHAT TIME: 6:30pm, Tuesday December 22nd

HOW FAR: about 3.5 miles

WHAT TO WEAR: That ugly Christmas sweater you swore you'd never be caught dead in! (be sure and wear something warm underneath!)A stupid Santa hat is highly recommended too.

OTHER FAQ's:

DO I HAVE TO BE FAST? NO! In fact, I recommend you run slowly, so that everyone will see just how fashionable you look.

HOW WILL I KNOW WHERE TO RUN? We will have a map for you, although we are going to try and stick together. We will also briefly explain the course shortly before the run, and in a future posting on my blog.

CAN I BRING MY DOG OR CAT? Of course! Everybody knows how pets love to be dressed up in holiday apparel. Just be sure and have them on a leash.

IS THIS AN ORGANIZED RACE THAT I HAVE TO PAY TO GET IN? No! It is FREE, although some of us might go to Adam's Mountain Cafe for dinner afterwards.

Palo Duro 50 Mile Run, Palo Duro Canyon, TX

Three 50 mile races in 14 days! Despite being tired and a little achy,every foot step is a blessing. Especially when that footstep narrowly missed a tarantula crawling across the race course of the beautiful Palo Duro 50 mile ultramarathon in Palo Duro Canyon, TX, which is just outside of Amarillo , TX. They say they make things BIG in Texas. This must include the spiders.

I managed to tie for third place, along side a friend and running partner of mine. Although bad weather and poor traveling conditions forced me to stay put for my fourth planned 50 miler, I still plan on running at least two more races of at least marathon distance before the year is out.

Here are some cool photos of what the locals call the "Grand Canyon of Texas."

#2 Le Grizz 50 Mile Ultra Hungry Horse, MT

I love the Le Grizz 50 Mile Ultramarathon! The scenery is spectacular, the RD is very nice, and the course is runnable, and if you are looking to PR at a 50, this is a good course for that.

This year's race presented quite a challenge. A cold front moved through, and it was zero at the start! Hard to believe that I was running in a lush, warm, deciduous forest just seven days ago, and now I was standing in the middle of a boreal forest on an icey, snow covered road. What was even more amazing was that a record number of people showed up at the start! Including an 83 year old man, and a man who ran the race now 28 times! There goes my "now that I am approaching 40 I can slow down a bit " excuse.....

My quads were hammered from Tussey, and I was getting over a cold, but I still managed to finish in 9 hours and 39 minutes, with the help of my husband, and mom, dad, and youngest, (most lovely) sister, who came up to beautiful Hungry Horse Montana to crew and cheer me on. Thanks you guys!!!

Here are some pictures of the coldest le grizz 50 Mile Ultramarathon on record.

Four 50 Mile Runs in One Month. #1 Tussey Mountainback

The Tussey Mountainback 50 Mile Ultramarathon in Boalsburg, PA was the first of what will hopefully be four 50 miles ultra-marathons in the month of October.

Fall colors and temperatures in the mid 60's and low 70's greeted my crew and I along this moderately difficult course. But the fall colors of Pennsylvania helped make up for any discomfort,( and there was quite a bit) along with great race organization and one very fat timber rattlesnake. I read that a rattle snake's venom is more potent in the fall, and that over the past few decades, their venom has become more toxic. I don't care to find out!

I ended up finishing third female overall, in 7 hours and 56 minutes. Here are some pictures of this beautiful, hilly course.

Lots of Running!

My how the summer has flown! Before I knew it, it was time for the infamous Leadville Trail 100, Augst 22nd and 23rd. With the help of two dedicated crew members, I managed to cross the finish line just under the 30 hour cut-off in a time of 29:40:16. As far as I am concerned, any time is a good time at Leadville, provided that you finish!

Just two weeks later, I ran a PR at the beautiful American Discovery Trail Marathon in Colorado Springs, CO. I crossed the finish line in 2nd place overall in the women's division, in a time of 3:26:00. My goal was to break 3:30:00, and I did. I really believe that if you believe you can do something, and you train hard for it, you can accomplish it.

Less than a week later, I came in 2nd place yet again at the lovely Mountain Air Marathon. This marathon takes place in lovely Crested Butte, CO., and goes to Gunnison, CO. It starts at 8800 feet, and runs down to 7700 feet. You couldn't ask for a nicer race director, and the post race food and awards were a nice ending to another beautiful day in the mountains. Tim too had a nice time when he got to go fly fishing on the way home.

Its Been a While.....

It has been quite a while since I updated my blog. Since my last post I have been all over the country, following or running races.

Here are some pictures from the Barr Trail Mountain Race, in Manitou Springs, CO. I was fortunate enough to be a volunteer in this unique race, where all the race's proceeds go back to the mountain, and supports local schools. The day before, I was breathless in Leadville , CO, where I ran the Mosquito Pass Marathon. As usual, I was treated to wonderful Leadville weather.

Just two weeks later, I got to run the scenic Silver Rush 50 Mile Trail Run, again in Leadville. Despite a slower than anticipated time, I still had fun, and once again was treated to wonderful Leadville weather, (rain, lightening, hail, thunder, temperature variations, all above 10,000 feet!)

Just one day later, after running and freezing in a hail and lightening storm in Leadville, I was in Death valley, where is was over 120 degrees. It was nice watching the runners from all over the world run and finish the badwater 135. Have to admit, I felt myself wanting to run it again next year........

Soon, I will find myself on the summit of Pikes Peak, as a runner and volunteer for the Pikes Peak Ascent next weekend. You knw you are ready for the Leadville Trail 100 when a training run consists of a run up a 14,000+ feet mountain. lets hope all the runners and volunteers have better weather than last year! There's me, breathless on a training run in Leadville, on Sugar Loaf.