Estes Park Marathon, Mt. Evans Ascent, and more baby deer!

Still more beautiful weekends running in the mountains of Colorado. How lucky we are to live here and be healthy enough to run everyday.

Sunday June 13th marked the third time I ran the Estes Park Marathon. It is a really challenging course, due to the high altitude, and hilly terrain. This year's weather made it even more challenging. My husband and I woke up to rain and COLD! I had to run fast just to stay warm. At mile 20, I found out I was in solid second place in the women's division. My hands were too cold to open my gels, so I was running on empty as I entered the local high school track. This is a really well organized, well thought out race. The finisher's medals are nice, and the volunteers fo a great job. Thanks everyone!

Saturday the 19th marked my third time running the Mt. Evan's Ascent. I wasn't in the mood to compete, but still had a nice time running up this mountain which climbs to over 14,200 feet. As usual there were mountain goats to greet the finishers near the top. Tim and I camped the night before, and Tim was lucky enough to spot a baby bunny nestled in the forest. How sweet!

Off to the Leadville Marathon on the 3rd, then to Death Valley to run my fifth Badwater 135.

In a few days I am going to post some information regarding a training run for the Leadville Trail 100, to take place in late July. It is low key, unofficial, and free. More information to follow......

Babies!!!!!

What an amazing weekend surprise we had! On Friday, I was given the gift of witnessing a doe give birth to two fawns in our back yard. I am happy to report that mama and babies are doing great!

What was really incredible was that within an hour, both of the fawns were walking.Within three hours they were even trying to run, and were tripping over one another. They both kept their mother busy! She was very attentive, making sure each one was safe and clean. To keep her energy levels up, she ate all our geraniums, blackberry bushes, and primroses. I told her that was OK, as long as she promised not to venture across the street in all that nasty traffic. She obliged!

And I will never forget the adorable cooing sound baby deer make. One even came up to me when I went outside to water the plants. I didn't know they could make such a sweet sound.

Great Weekend at Steamboat Springs Marathon

Steamboat Springs Colorado is a beautiful place for running. Having run the Run Rabbit Run 50 miler in September a few times, I decided to run the marathon there, which they have every June. What a great job the RD and volunteers did! A huge thank you to all who came out and made this race fun, scenic, safe, and successful!

Here are some pictures of the race. There was a lot of snow in the mountains melting with the recent hot weather, and the parking lot at the motel we stayed at flooded, so Tim had to move the car. All the water made for one very green, flower filled race. I took third, which I am happy with, considering I ran a 52.4 mile race just a week earlier. Thanks to Tim for taking all the great pictures and all his support!

A windy Rocky Mountain Double Marathon

Number 61. Ironically, that was both my bib number and my 61st race of 50 miles. (actually this race is 52.6). I was hoping for a PR, but with a bad stomach after accidentally drinking gatorade at mile 22, lasting for almost the entire remainder of the race, and with no crew except for the last 13 miles, and a strong headwind on many of the sections, it just didn't come together. I did manage to take 2nd place female though. Not bad for having run another 50 miler in Bishop CA just two weeks ago.

This was my fifth time running this course, and it never gets any easier. The scenery is beautiful though, and I even got to see a young moose run across the race course. But with wind and long climbs, this can be a challenging race, not to mention the loneliness. I saw a total of three people, only so briefly, for about 20 miles. Rude ATV drivers made parts of this race aggravating too. It is sad to see what ATV's are doing to so many wildlife areas across the country. From the looks of many of the riders, I think perhaps they should have been out running too.

Still, despite the difficulties I encountered during the race, I am still grateful for every footstep, no matter how lonely it is.

Getting Older

Yikes! Turning 39 yesterday wasn't easy. A friend of mine told me that getting older is both painful and expensive. I think she is right. When my youngest sister called me to wish me happy birthday,she, always being the positive one, told me, "but think of all the experience you have now!" Well, trust me, I would much rather have a few less wrinkles than some of of my "experience." ( of which is being detailed in my upcoming book, due out next spring)

There are some experiences that I would not trade for anything, and those are the lessons I have learned out on the trails running, both alone, and with friends. The trails and my true friends have been there no matter what. Through the good times, the bad, when I was broke,insecure, grumpy, happy, first place, last place, on the thin side, on the chunky side, real boobs, fake boobs,married, not married, addicted, and sober, thanks you guys! I love you all!

I "celebrated" turning 39 by running two races. The Bishop High Sierra 50 in lovely Bishop, CA, and a local 10km in Colorado that actually went through the zoo. Although it was rather painful to see caged up animals, I know that the zoo does a lot of good to restore the wildlife that is endangered. Both races had great volunteers and scenery, so a big thank you to all those who made it happen. Finally A run out on the Waldo Canyon loop in Colorado Springs, CO, with some great shots of Pikes Peak in the back ground soon to come.

Umstead 100, WSU 100km, and an upcoming book!

Early Sunday morning of March 28th, I finished by 22nd 100 mile race. It was not a PR as planned, but despite some "issues" towards the end of the race, I was able to drag my sorry butt across the finish line of the Umstead 100, for the 6th time in beautiful Raleigh NC.

Just a few weeks later, my husband and I flew out to Pullman Washington, to run the WSU 100km. I love this race, and am surprised that it isn't bigger. There were more people running the solo division that last year, which motivated me to a PR, and sub 10 hour and 30 minute time, which qualifies me to compete in the 150 mile Spartathalon in Greece next year!!

In the meantime, Princess and I are finishing up my long awaited book about my unlikely ultrarunning career.....which is much easier on the body that running 100 miles.

First Day of Spring!?

It's hard to believe that in just three and a half months that I will being running 135 miles across Death Valley....it's freezing here! The snow is falling, the wind is howling, and I just want to stay inside and eat cookies instead of go outside and run. Good thing I will be in North Carolina in a few days to run the Umstead 100. The weather is calling for the upper 60's with no rain!

Here is what it looks like outside our house this weekend. Good thing I have my lap warmer with me!