Back in Colorado

Well, I made it back from Europe. It was a great trip, but I missed Dan and Noah tons and I am very glad to be home. I hope to start uploading pictures tonight so hopefully there will be more posts soon about Spain and France. It was really fun traveling with Mom and Amanda and Amanda definitely picked a cool place to live for a semester!

I am still totally jet lagged and can't seem to get myself back on mountain time. I am getting there, but not fast enough for my taste. There is so much going on! I was behind at work already before I left and missing 3 work days did not help that any, as you might imagine. Also, one of my admin classes ended while I was gone and another started up, so that is in full swing already. My new class is Strategic Planning for Educational Organizations. It sounds interesting and so far I like the professor.

Noah's soccer started while I was gone and I am the assistant coach, so that is fun but crazy too! I had my coaching debut last night and it was nuts! Those kids run all over the place. I was cracking up half the time and the other half, I was chasing either balls or children who had gone out of bounds. Noah's first game is a week from tomorrow!

Dan is a trooper as always. I don't know how he did everything while I was gone all by himself. He is amazing and I am so lucky to be married to him.

I started the Couch to 5K program yesterday. I know that sounds crazy, but I just think that with all of my injuries, it is better to start up running again really slowly. It is insanely easy, but maybe that is the point. I am going to pick a 5K to run in about 8 weeks and then hopefully I can get back to normal this summer. I am really getting my heart set on an October marathon (or maybe even Pikes if registration is still open by the time I am fully better), so I am focusing on injury prevention.

Watch for another post later today about my first days in Spain!

Update

Me = So lame about blogging lately.

I just haven't had any time. I am now into my second admin class. I really like this one so far. It is about student conduct. If you know me at all, you know I am fascinated with behavior so it's a good one for me to be in. Right now, I am geeking out on Colorado student conduct law for a paper I have due tomorrow. I need to focus and just get it done.

Noah and Dan and Japhy are still wonderful. Dan really helps out when I have to work on school stuff and Noah is really a constant joy! Today he showed me the sign language for "beautiful," and after I praised him for it, he said, "because you are beautiful, Mommy." I had tears in my eyes....

Work is calming down. We have been down 4 people for about 2 months now which means more work for everyone. But we only have one more position to fill at this point, so things are getting much better. I got to be on the interview committee for 2 of the positions, which was a good experience for me. I did that a few times at my previous job, but it is good experience for whatever my next move might be.

My foot is getting better too. I am finally at 3 miles, 3 times per week. That may not sound like much, but I could barely run a mile 2 months ago without my foot feeling like I wanted to cut it off, so I am happy with that. One of Noah's friend's moms (who is a serious runner... like she has done Pikes 4 times) suggested that I do the St. Patrick's 7K in Denver with her, and I am considering it. I am so excited to be able to run races again, but let's face it, I've lost some fitness. The good news is that I've been watching what I eat, and I am down 5 lbs. since New Years (I had gained a little), so that should lessen the pounding my foot is taking.

Planning to Spain trip had gotten to be too stressful for me, so I let it go for a while. We have our plane tickets, so one way or another, we will be there! :)

That's all for now! Yay, Olympics are on! Go US!!!

I Have a Butt Problem

But probably not the kind you are thinking.

Basically, I am pretty sure I jacked up a muscle (either my glute or my high left hamstring) by picking up running again too quickly after Pikes Peak. I probably should have waited longer than 3 days to resume running. The pain started last weekend when I bent down to pick up one of Noah's ridiculously large array of toys and I felt a twinge. That's when I told Dan that my butt hurt. Hence the title of this blog post.

Then I did intervals on Tuesday because I am trying to get speedier for the Denver Half Marathon. While running a 46 second 200M (a 200M PR for me), I felt the twinge again but this time it really hurt.

Yesterday I didn't run at all, which I think probably helped. But this morning I attempted a 3 mile tempo run and it went from bad to worse. As I was going up my first uphill, I saw that a dude running with his dog was gaining on me. Pride goeth before a fall. I know that is true because I really picked up the pace because I didn't want him to pass me. Big mistake. By the time I got to the top of the hill, the guy was passing me anyway and my legs were wasted. Now everything hurts and I am relegated to taking a week off of running.

The good news is that Dan fixed my mountain bike today. So I will be biking and maybe swimming for the next week instead of running. I am also due for new running shoes, so I am going to get those tomorrow. Hopefully by this time next week, my legs will feel better and I'll be back on track to my next 1/2 Marathon PR.

Last Pikes Post, I Promise

Pro photos are posted and they are the best ones of any race I have ever run. Click here if you are interested in seeing them!

Pikes Peak Ascent Race Report

Subtitle: Into Thin (and Thinner... and Thinner...) Air

On race morning, the alarm went off at 4:45. My first thought was, "Why is my alarm going off this early on a Saturday?" And then I remembered and I was up. Dan and Noah came with us to see us off (thanks, Dan!). Debbie, my PPA running buddy, showed up just after 5 and we were on our way to Manitou Springs by 5:20. The sun came up and the weather was absolutely perfect by the time we got to Manitou. Debbie and I picked up our race numbers and checked our gear for the top of the peak. We posed for a few pics and it was time to go!

I usually do my race reports by the mile, but you can't really do that for Pikes Peak because the miles are drastically different. Skyrunner.com has a Pikes Peak pace calculator that breaks it into sections and gives you times to shoot for based on your goal, so that is how I'm doing the race report. My goal times are in red. The first time was for a 4:30 ascent and the second time was for a 5:00 ascent. Here we go...

Ruxton: 5:56-6:36 This is the section that goes to the turnoff at Ruxton Street on our way to the trail. I finished this section in just over 4 minutes. I probably should have run it slower, but I was really excited. It is only a gentle upgrade.

Hydro Street: 17:01-18:54 From Ruxton to the turnoff at Hydro Street, you get your first taste of real uphill. I reached Hydro Street in approximately 15:30. I was still running a little faster than I maybe should have, but I was proud to be ahead of goal pace.

Top of W's: 54:16-1:00:18 The W's are one of the steepest sections of the trail and Matt Carpenter (a famous trail runner who has won this race a number of times) says that you really need to conserve energy here. I sort of did, but probably not enough. I about flipped when I looked at my watch at the top of the W's because I was still a full 2 minutes ahead of my dream time goal. I was actually a little frustrated by this section because the trail was really crowded with runners and I couldn't get around anyone because the trail is so narrow.

No Name Creek: 1:19:07-1:27:54 Running 3 minutes ahead of 4:30 pace!!! I felt absolutely great at this point and was running well.

7.8 mi to Summit Sign: 1:47:11-1:59:06 Still 3 minutes ahead. Still feeling great! I saw a few dark clouds move in and started praying for good weather. It pretty much worked because they rolled on out of the area!

Barr Camp: 2:17:10-2:32:24 Almost 4 minutes ahead of dream pace. They had the best aid station at Barr Camp. I was starving by this point and they had grapes and M&Ms and chex mix. I felt fabulous after that aid station!

Bottomless Pit: 2:37:08-2:54:36 Still somewhere near 2:34! I don't remember much about this section except for the fact that the trail started getting drastically steeper. My legs also started to feel tired.

A-Frame: 3:12:14-3:33:36 Here's where I started to really lose it. I hit the A- frame (a shelter near timberline) at somewhere around 3:18. I puked just after the A-Frame and then really started to lose time.

2 Miles to Go: 3:39:14-4:03:36 I don't even know where I was time-wise at this point. I quit looking at the watch. Too demoralizing. I think there was an aid station near the 2 miles to go point that had Skittles. I know I had some somehow that I was eating one at a time with a sip of water, but I don't really remember where they came from. I swear that candy got me to the top. Yay Skittles! It hailed at some point in this section, but I was too sick and tired to even care. Luckily, the hail storm was short-lived and there was no lightning in the area so they didn't have to turn anyone around.

1:Mile to Go: 4:02:11-4:29:06 No idea time-wise here either. I was essentially brain dead by now. I kept having to stop because I thought I was going to puke again and my head was spinning. I remember that with about 1/2 a mile to go, someone was handing out PBR beer. Just the thought almost made me hurl again.

Top of Peak: 4:30:00-5:00:00 Finish time (on my watch): 5:03:12 I was close, but did not quite hit my goal. Guess I'll have to run it again.

The top of the mountain was a trip, I guess. I don't really remember much of it because I felt so crappy. Dan said that people were crossing the finish line like zombies out of Night of the Living Dead. He said he'd never seen runners look so wrecked at the end of a race. I know I just sort of collapsed to the ground at some point and laid down for a while because my head was dizzy and my whole body was weak. I am not sure why. I have been up there a bazillion times and never had a problem with the altitude. Must have to do with the exertion I guess? A little later, I watched a dude at the finish try to put his warm pants on for about 10 minutes. He couldn't get his foot to go in the leg hole. You get seriously uncoordinated at that altitude.

Anyway, just after I crossed the finish line, I saw Dan and Noah and I just started bawling. Still not sure why except that I was so glad to be done. I forgot to put on my warm clothes right away, so I was totally freezing. I couldn't think straight. Dan took me into the shop at the top of Pikes and bought me doughnuts. I was too sick to eat them at first, but eventually they tasted good!

We waited at the top for Debbie. She made it too in just over 5:30!!! The cutoff for the top is 6:30, so we both blew that away!

I'm so glad I finished because I love the finishers jacket!!! The medal is pretty cool too.

The volunteers at the aid stations for this race are amazing! They have to carry all that stuff in! Also, Search and Rescue people were all over the trail... at least every 1/2 mile for the last 4 miles or so. I just have to send out a big thank you to them because they were so encouraging and it was nice to know they were there in case something went wrong.

At the top, someone asked me if I will ever do this race again. My answer was something along the lines of, "Hell no!" But on the way down in the car, I started thinking about how I will train differently when I run this again. Probably not next year...but someday....

It's Tomorrow

I can't believe it's really here. Pikes Peak Ascent is really tomorrow. I am ready. My sweat check bag is packed, race day clothes are laid out, my carbos have been loaded, and my pee is exactly the right color: not so dark that it indicates dehydration and not so light that I am going to get hyponatremia. After freaking out for 1/2 the day, I finally read what can only be described as an optimal race forecast and started visualizing myself finishing strong. I have my desired splits all written out on a piece of paper folded up in the little pocket in my running shorts. I don't think there is any way I could be more prepared. The rest is up to fate (and a whole bunch of running). It's just a hill, right?

I Am Totally Freaking Out

About the Pikes Peak Ascent. What was I thinking signing up for that thing? I am so nervous. But I am also so excited. In less than 48 hours I will be finished with the thing. I can't beleive it's finally here. Do you think I'll sleep at all for the next two nights? My strategy is to run the first 2-3 miles at a pace that feels slightly challenging. Then, into the "Ws" (a series of insane switchbacks), I am thinking about running the straights and walking the hairpin turns (about 20 seconds each). Then in the middle of the race, there is a 2-3 mile section that is "flatter" (at least not a 15% grade) that I am going to try to get done in a solid time. Then comes the zombie walk/run to the top. Goal time is supposed to be flatland marathon time +30 so I am thinking that is 5 hours. But I am shooting for 4:30 because my marathon was at 5280 feet. We'll see how it goes. Mostly I just want the weather to hold out long enough for me to finish. Right now it looks good.

P.S. I am way behind on blog posts right now because starting school has made my life crazy. I still have tons of pics to post from Uncle Mikey's visit. I will try to catch up next week.

Taper Time

I am fully into my taper for Pikes. I do 12 today and that is going to feel so short after the 20 last week. After I am done, we need to pack up and get out of here. We are headed to Copper Mountain because Dan is riding Copper Triangle tomorrow. Go Dan!! Then, Dan's brother, Mike, is meeting us at Copper and we are headed out for a couple days of camping. I'll probably just do a couple of 5 milers up there. Should be fun!

Ouch!

My 20 miler is done as of about 2 hours ago. YES! I took a cold bath afterwards, but my feet are still pretty sore. My legs feel good, unless I walk down stairs. SO now it's time to taper, which means the longest run I will do in the next 3 weeks is 12 miles. YES! again. I had some new tunes for the run today thanks to some time spent on the internet googling run songs last night. Here are my 10 favorites:

1. Boom Boom Pow, Black Eyed Peas
2. Waking Up in Vegas, Katy Perry
3. My Milkshakes, Kelis
4. C'Mon C'Mon, The Von Bondies (the theme from Rescue Me)
5. Talk Dirty to Me, Poison (shut up!)
6. Stronger, Kanye West
7. Rehab, Amy Winehouse
8. Anytime, Eve 6
9. Sexyback, Justin Timberlake
10. So What, Pink

Most of this is stuff I wouldn't normally listen to, but it's great motivation/ distraction for running.

Training On the Top of Pikes Peak

My running buddy, Debbie, and I drove down to the peak yesterday to run the top part of the peak as part of our training for the Ascent. We drove to the top (beautiful, by the way) and it was SUPER WINDY! On the way up, we were delayed a little by cars practicing for the Pikes Peak Auto Climb which was this weekend. Dan and Noah would have loved to see all the cool race cars if they were there too. Anyway, so we started at the top of the Barr Trail and ran/walked down just over 3 miles to the A-Frame, a shelter that is right at timberline. Once we got off the top of the peak, the wind died down and it was really a beautiful day; literally there was not a cloud in the sky when we started. The trail up that high has some sections that are really rocky/bouldery, so we didn't run as much as we probably could have. Going back up was a different story. There were plenty of sections that I should have run that I didn't because I was dying from the lack of oxygen. But I did manage to run some of it, and it was a really good workout. I didn't bring the camera because I didn't want to carry it, but I took some pics on my phone that I posted on facebook if you are interested. All in all, we did 6.5 miles 12,000 and 14,000 feet, and we had a great time!

I Like the Stairmaster

Seriously, I do. I think it's because it's something different than uphill running on the dreadmill, which I hate. Anyway, today I did nine miles all uphill and three of them were on the Stairmaster (the kind with the actual steps that move). It felt like I could have kept going when I finished, but now my legs are super sore. Tomorrow will be a leg rest day (I'll still do about 30 minutes of core and arms, hopefully) and then Thursday I am doing my 18 miler. It is going to be insanely hot, so I am planning on getting up around 5:30 or 6 so I can get most of the miles out of the way before it hits 90. The race is in one month and 8 days. SCARY!

Strength Training is Boring

As part of my training plan for Pikes (and because I am getting old and I know I need to do this anyway to stay healthy and strong), I have added strength training to my exercise routine. I am shooting for 30 minutes 3 times per week, but let's be honest, I am lucky to get in 2 of the workouts. If I get in today's workout, it will be the first time that I've actually done all three in one week. It is just so boring, even though I do the exercises right in front of the TV. I would really rather be sitting on the couch. I can see the difference though, especially in my arms. And underneath the layer of fat on my belly, there is definitely the hint of a six-pack. Wow, someday if I lay off the cheetos and candy, I could actually have a six-pack (yeah, right, like that's going to happen).

Pikes Peak Ascent Training Update

16 miles today. I am leaving as soon as I am done with this post so I can get them in before it gets too hot. I can't wait for next week. I only have to do 12 for my long run and that is going to feel great. I've been getting a little bored with my routes so I am trying a new loop today. I'm doing a 2 loop deal so I can come home and refill the water bottle so I don't have the same problems I had on my 15 miler last week. I woke up with a horrid headache, but some Advil should take care of that. OK, better get going!

Turquoise Lake Camping Trip

So we finally got our act together and made it out of Denver at about 1:00 on Friday. Noah slept almost all the way to Leadville, so it was a nice peaceful trip. After a stop at the Leadville Safeway for some essentials (you know, marshmallows and stuff), we went straight to the lake and to our campsite. Father Dyer Campground is beautiful! All forested with lodgepole pine and a short walk to the lake. I highly recommend it if you want to camp at Turquoise Lake, but all the campgrounds there were gorgeous.

We got our camp set up, Noah met the neighbors, and we had dinner. While Dan was cooking the brats, I met our campground hosts who recommended that I run the Turquoise Lake Trail for my 8 miler in the morning. They were from central Louisiana and I think they thought I must have rocks in my head when I asked them if they had a trail recommendation for my run that gained some elevation. The lady was very worried and kept saying, "Don't you need to take at least a day to acclimate?" and "Don't forget to take water and energy bars." Very sweet!

After dinner, Dan and I took Noah to fish down by the lake. We didn't catch anything, but we had a great time and took tons of pictures. I am too lazy to download them right now, so I will post them later.

Two hours later, we were making s'mores and then it was bedtime. Noah slept the whole night and didn't even need to pee until about 8:00 a.m. That's the most he's slept in for ages! The morning was great because Dan got up and made coffee, pancakes, and bacon. I stumbled out of bed to a fully cooked breakfast and hot coffee. Heaven!

The weather on Saturday was not so heavenly though. I did my run around the lake trail and it was cloudy, windy, and not too warm (although it really was pretty good running temperature). While I was running, I saw 2 families hiking, one other runner who looked like some kind of mountain man with his long hair and no shirt in spite of the cold, and 3 mountain bikers. It was a great trail, a little elevation gain, and nice and rugged.

I got back to camp just before noon and Dan and Noah were just setting up for lunch. Dan's plan was to have lunch and then ride his new road bike up over Fremont Pass. It started sprinkling just as he was leaving. By the time Noah and I went into the tent for nap less than an hour later, it was pouring. I was getting a little worried about Dan, but my cell reception was good so I figured he would call if he needed us. Noah and I both fell asleep and slept for about 2 hours. Maybe 10 minutes after we woke up, Dan called from the Safeway in Leadville asking, "Can you come get me?" He sounded horrible, like he was shivering uncontrollably, so Noah, Japhy, and I hopped in the car as quickly as we could and went to get him.

He was still shivering when we got there. He was already drinking coffee and that wasn't helping much, so we took him to the laundromat where he could get a hot shower. He also changed into the dry clothes Noah and I brought for him and that helped. By the time he finished the shower, he was doing much better. He said it was hailing on him as he was riding and getting colder and colder as he went up the pass, but he just kept thinking that it would stop raining any minute now....

It kept raining for most of the rest of the night, so instead of making turkey burgers in the rain at the campsite, we decided to eat dinner at this Mexican restaurant in Leadville called Casa Blanca. It was pretty good and their margaritas are crazy strong.

After another fairly decent night's sleep, Noah and I got up early on Father's Day and made coffee and breakfast for Dan: bacon, cheesy eggs, and whatever pancakes were leftover from the day before. Then we packed up camp, went fishing one more time (still didn't catch anything), and headed back to Denver. It was really nice to get away from the city and felt like a great mini-vacation. I came back very relaxed and very grateful that I live in Colorado.

Packing Up

We are packing up to go camping in the mountains this weekend. We're going to Turquoise Lake up by Leadville. Dan is going to do this huge bike ride up over Fremont Pass and I am going to do an 8 mile trail run that starts at 10,000 feet. I just hope there's not still snow up there on the trail.

What I Learned on my Long Run

I did 15 miles today. It was slow and painful, but I learned a few things:

1. Don't start a long run "only slightly dehydrated."
2. Don't wait until 9:45 to start a long run on a hot summer day.
3. My water bottle is NOT big enough for a 15-miler.
4. Those gels just make you want more water.
5. Don't "miss a spot" when you put on sunscreen.

On a more positive note, I also learned that these cute little lizards live by the new paved trail down by Plum Creek. And tons of butterflies! And tons of wildflowers! I also saw a mom and baby red hawk and one other lone red hawk. It's pretty down there, but I don't like having to run up at the end. I guess I'd better get used to it.

Sad News

A man died on the Manitou Incline on Sunday. It looks like he had a heart attack. Click here for the link to the story. The Incline is a trail that a lot of people training for mountain races use for training runs. It is in the same area as the Barr Trail and actually intersects the Barr at one point. I ran a little of it when I was there on Thursday and it is TOUGH!!! At least he died doing something he loved, but how sad!

UPDATED: Just found this update online.

I am in love...

...with the Barr Trail. That's the trail that runs up Pike's Peak. I am racing on it August 15, just in case anyone forgot. Debbie (my running buddy) and I went there today to test out how prepared we are.

The answer: pretty good!

I actually think that if we ran the race today we could beat all of the cutoff times and make it to the top. That means I've got 2 months almost exactly to work on my speed. I was pleasantly surprised at how much better I've gotten at running on the ups. There is no way I will run this whole race (no one does), but I will be able to post a decent time. I am sure of that now.

We got to the start of the trail at about 10:30 today because Debbie had to drop off her kids. This is a really late start and we paid for it later. It was overcast and about 55 degrees. You couldn't even see the tops of the nearby hills because the cloud ceiling was so low.

We started at a pretty decent pace up the part called the W's. They call it that because the switchbacks literally look like W's. That means it's pretty steep. The average grade of the section we did today was 13.4%. Ouch! We stopped every 1/2 mile or so for about a minute to stay hydrated. It was beautiful! About 45 minutes into our ascent, we were literally in the clouds.

The bummer was when we started to hear thunder when we were 3 miles up the trail. I didn't want to stop, so we did another 1/2 mile. Then it started to rain and lightning so we bolted back down to the trailhead. All told, we did 7 miles, which was a bummer because we were shooting for 12. Oh well, we'll just go back in a couple of weeks and try again. Next time we will get an earlier start so that we can avoid the storms that get more common later in the day.

I would love to do a section that is higher on the mountain next time. But there is still a TON of snow up there and the trail is impassible farther up from what I have heard without special equipment. That might have to wait for late July.

Girls Weekend

Dan and Noah are going camping with Dan's parents this weekend. So as of about 3:00 today, I am a temporarily free woman. Tonight, some of my buddies from my old job at Kunsberg are coming over for cocktails. Then tomorrow, my friends Kate and Jen O and I are going to Big Head Todd at Red Rocks. Should be fun, but I am not sure if I will be able to handle all that partying. I am getting old.

On another note, I ran almost 13 miles yesterday and my shin splints only bothered me slightly. YAY! I am not running another big run until Debbie and I go to Pikes Peak mid-next week to try out the trail. I should be completely healed by then.

School's Out For the Summer, Yeah!

I am now officially on summer break. That means I only work 6 days between now and August 10, which is our first day of the new school year. On Friday, I got my first ever massage to celebrate my first day off. Thanks, Dan, for that gift certificate you got me for mother's day!

It is a good thing that school ended when it did because the politics were getting unbearable for everyone. My boss is not returning next year and no one knows who the new boss is going to be. The old one was "forced out" and people are freaking out. I am just trying to stay out of it.

The running isn't going very well right now. I am down to running 3 days/week for 2 weeks now because I am trying to let my shin splints heal. It sucks and I am going nuts. I am really afraid I am going to have to take time off running completely to get them to heal. Right now, I only have 3 runs scheduled for this coming week too. A 4 miler at 12% grade on the treadmill, a 7 miler with Debbie on Tuesday, and a 12-13 miler on Thursday. Then I am planning on taking 3-4 days completely off to see if that helps.

What is going great right now is all this extra time I have with Noah. In fact, I need to get off the internet because he just got up from his nap and I am taking him to the pool. I have pictures to post from Randi and Sophie's visit last week, but I'll have to do it later.