Last Big Training Weekend (June 15th and 16th 2013)...

Training for Leadville Marthon:

In one week I will race in the Leadville marathon. I will run 26.2 miles up and down a mountain, gaining 6,000 feet in overall elevation gain, and running up to 13,185 feet along Mosquito Pass. (http://www.leadvilleraceseries.com) I would say this race is up there with Ironman intimidation.  I am excited, well-trained, but still have some apprehension as I approach race day. One thing that I always enjoy about signing up for very challenging races is that you get so much more than fitness out of your training. I would say this training experience has given me many positive experiences:

(1) Strength - both physically and emotionally. I think I am the strongest I have ever been in running. My city running times have improved and my trail running has significantly improved. One year ago I could not run up most of the mountain climbs we ran and now I can run up majority of the mountain trails no matter the elevation profile or altitude. Emotional strength - I had to become much more independent with running alone on trails than I ever anticipated. With Evan training for both the 50 mile trail run and 50 mile mountain bike 'Silver Rush' he has been mountain biking a lot during my training.  And if we were both running the trail I had to get used to allowing him to go ahead of me by an hour or more since we are at such different paces. Even though we were separated on the trail Evan always made sure I was comfortable with the trail system before he went ahead. I would not have been able to train in the mountains without him! Throughout the last 6 months I had to reduce my anxiety as I approached a trail by myself.  I primarily feared animals (both humans and mountain animals) and figuring out trail systems on my own. I now value this experience and feel much more confident in the mountains. It has been an amazing journey. After every trail run I would feel such personal accomplishment by tackling a segment of a mountain.

(Thanks Evan for turning around on many of the trails! Top of "Windy Peak" in Golden Gate Canyon)

(Evan running back on the trail in Leadville)

(2) Experiencing the beauty of the mountains- I have to say that having a lot of your training in the mountains has truly been beautiful. I thoroughly enjoy every time I am on a trail with all of the amazing views around me. I feel so fortunate that we live in such a beautiful state that allows us to do all of the activities we love in amazing places. Most of my trail running training was at Mt. Falcon, White Ranch, Golden Gate Canyon, Apex, North Table, Lair of the Bear, and Leadville.

(3) My dog Ozzy is the best! I have to give Ozzy a shout out. He helped me train for this race and I felt much more safe with him by my side.  He was with me on every one of my training days except for my longest run in Leadville leading up to the race.

(Ozzy after our longest city run, 20 miles! He had a few dips in the river to keep him excited)

(Ozzy in the river at 'Lair of the Bear' after a long trail run)

(Friday evening run at 'Apex')

(Last long trail run at the top of Mt. Falcon)

(Mt. Falcon trail)

(At the top of Mt. Falcon - Last long trail run for Ozzy for a while)

(Thanks Ozzy!)

Love Visitors!

Week of June 9th, 2013: 
Evan and I had a nice week with family coming into town. Mid week my cousin Lauren was able to come over for dinner.  We have been lucky to have her over 2 times in the last few months due to her business travel.  I keep forgetting to get an updated picture of the two of us! But, it sounds like she will make it back to Denver at least one more time this summer. It has been so great having her in Denver and spending time together!

At the end of the week Conor flew in and we had a fun weekend with a trip to Leadville.  Both Conor and Evan are doing the 50 mile bike race in Leadville so Conor came into town get in a great training weekend, which I think they accomplished. I was able to get my last long training run in before the Leadville Marathon (see next post).

(Downtown Leadville)

(Scenic view on my run)

 

(Great stop in Red Cliff at Mangos before heading back to Denver)

(Fun Sunday night 'Game Night' at a Denver Brewery - Renegade)