PPA and PPM

Pikes Peak Ascent and Pikes Peak Marathon in a month! But first Speedgoat 50K, my nemesis from two years ago. PPA is the World Mountain Running Challenge this year, should be hefty competition!

Late last night, as I attempted to unclutter my mind and fall into a slumber, I read some intriguing articles in Trail Runner that I thought were important to share. First off, coming from a multisport background, I have witnessed first hand the importance of leg strength and running. Particularly trail running. Think of all the leg strength it takes to not only haul your body up 14,000 plus foot peaks but to support it when you are hammering downhill. Runner, Paul Dewitt, made a comment in an article on improving running performance by training on the bike. He said “Just because you can run 26, 50, or 100 miles doesn’t mean your legs are strong.” That being said, I feel really strong right now. Maybe not the strongest I have ever been, but I’ve put in a fair share of biking and backpacking this summer, which definitely paid off during the brutal Kendall Mountain Marathon this past weekend. Two laps up 13,000 foot Kendall Mountain left my legs, well, fried. Great training for Pikes though!

Secondly, a couple notes from the coolest trail runner in the world, Mr. Bernie Boetcher (he is Mr. Trail Runner). LETS PUT THE “TRAIL” BACK INTO TRAIL RACES! Amen to that! Talk to Danelle Ballengee, there’s someone who knows how to put on a real trail race. Oh and with all do respect for Mt. Washington, it hasn’t got nothing on Kendall Mountain, whew!! And thanks Bernie for the shout out to remembering our fellow trail runner’s who passed away this last spring. Feels like just yesterday that Jenna Gruben was in my back seat laughing and planning Trans Rockies after the Red Hot 33K. Every one of my races this year is in her memory. Wish she could be here for them… And to Ted Violet, Gunnison’s running legend, you couldn’t go north of town without seeing him and Martha running. Hopefully we will carry on with the Signal Peak run in the late summer, in his memory.

That’s all for now. It was a huge comfort to see all my buddies this weekend. Nobody can make me laugh like Jane…and who knows maybe someday she will succeed with hey match making quest for me.

Training in the Desert Heat

Practically my entire life has been spent in the cool, mountain air of Colorado. Even my short stints of residency in Cedar City, Albuqurque, Greeley, and Grand Junction have put me close enough to the mountains that I could escape the summer heat. However, being in the Needles, the mountains are close, but definitely not near enough for a quick jaunt to higher elevation. It dawned on me that this could potentially be beneficial to my training. I recall three years ago blowing a 20 minute lead over second place in the Pikes Peak Marathon because the near 100 degree temperatures in Manitou Springs left me cramping and dry heaving on the side of the trail. So, despite the huge amount of suffering that heat can cause on a long run, I've been forcing myself out during the peak heat on my days off, requiring my body to learn to adapt. Again lessons are being learned. Just like my under preparation for the cold, winter days that I have learned lessons from, I am learning about preparing for heat. Most signifcantly, MORE WATER THAN WHAT YOU THINK YOU WILL NEED. Preferably frozen water bottles, but bring one unfrozen to start the run with. Plus electrolyte tablets, Salt Stick seems to work great (plus the owner I met at Trans Rockies is an awesome guy). These keep the leg and foot cramps away (it is amazing how much salt can come out of one person on a hot day).

So what prompted me to write this? A couple interesting incidents in the last week and a half. First I decided to make the trip down Red Lake Graben Trail to the Colorado River and back, what turned out to be a 19 mile trip and 4 hours. I took my standard water pack that normaly lasts for a three hour run. Ofcourse going down to the river in the morning was no sweat (no pun intended) but after a nice refreshing swim in the river the run out took its toll on me. Lets just say it took a good hour to cool down once I returned and I was getting a little nervous when I ran out of water with 3 miles left to go. My mouth has never been that dry. Today I made my third trip to Druid Arch. By far one of the most spectacular places! You feel so small when your standing there staring up at this gigantic arch. Its an 11 mile round trip and I did bring plenty (more than enough) water. However some people I passed on the way down thought perhaps I hadn't. They reported to Ranger Dorita later in the day at the campground that they had passed a crazy woman running with no water at Druid Arch. Dorita assumed it was me and inquired as to whether I had taken any water.

Anyways, all in the name of fun at the Needles.

Arches and a Return to Racing for the 4th

It is a bit ironic that my return to racing after an injury hiatus was on the 4th of July because running to me is the epitome of freedom. After a long, educational week of patrol at Arches National Park the desire to race prompted me to take a comp. day on the 4th and travel to Crested Butte for the 42nd annual Gothic to CB 1/3 Marathon. I was anxious to see how my foot would handle the brutal concrete and pavement downhill in the last 4 miles of the race, but much to my suprise and delight it held up amazingly. Strategy wise I chose to hammer the uphills in the first 4 miles of the race and coast in on the downhill, but it wasn't necessary since both my legs and foot held up fine. However, WHEW, I am feeling the soreness today (something I haven't felt for some time). So the results of a month and a half of not running...first place for the women and a personal record on this course!! On the downside I missed my annual Agate Creek/Monarch Crest run with the Jane gang, but word on the street is that my long time running comrade has fractured her knee cap in a horse accident. Best of luck with a speedy recovery Janey.

As for me, back to the Needles today! It feels good to be back in "my park." Good run this morning, weights (still waiting for some muscles to appear in these puny arms), quick road ride tonight, and now Avatar. Sadly (for us), Ranger Brad is leaving in a week, but good for him since he is off for some bike touring on the Colorado Trail and Continental Divide. Not to worry though he will be back come fall.

Desert Sunrise

Leg strength training came in the form of a 63 mile mountain bike around the Needles on Thursday with Ranger Brad. There is nothing like powering up several thousand feet of elevation and then grinding through miles and miles of deep sand. Slow going and 90 plus degree temperatures made it an epic for sure. Well worth it though, great tour of the park and most amazing views EVER! But I will say that if it was epic for me, I'm not sure there are words to describe Brad's trip, fully rigid bike and NO rear break!!

I'm sure you all will get tired of hearing this but this morning was a spectacular run. The sunrise this moring over the La Sals was out of this world! This next comment is for Andrew, I felt as though I was Forrest "in the morning when the sun rises over the desert I can't tell when Heaven ends and the Earth begins." Anyways feeling better every day about my running and endurance.

Mountain Breezes and Weekend Races

First off: Congrats to Duncan, 5th place finish at the Bighorn 100 miler in WY (21:22) and Brandy Erholtz, 3rd place finish at Mt. Washington!! Looks like stiff competition this year at Mt. Washington (US Mountain Running Champs and 50th Anniversary), female course record was broken by a 23 year old! Top four women made the US Mountain Running Team and will be headed to Slovenia for Worlds. This makes three years in a row for Brandy, she defintely deserves it. Way to represent Colorado! Great racing, you all rock, wish I was there!



I can't complain though cause I had an awesome run in the La Sals above Moab yesterday with good friend Greg (Red Hot 50K Greg). Awesome views all around and lots of climbing. Little tired in the legs, I can tell that it has been a few weeks off for me, ahh! Hopefully it will come back before August.

Bear Encounters and Desert Rain

I've been relying on my bikes lately for some cardio/endurance workouts and opted for a long ride on my road bike up the Hartsdraw Road into the town of Monticello and back. The Hatsdraws Road is quite a climb, more than I was anticipating. But I love to climb, so no problem there. Beautiful ride!! The mountains are green and I must say I miss them. This is my favorite time of the year in the high country. As I was huffing my way up I noticed a brown animal lunbering down the side of the road. Thinking it was a cow I didn't look twice. As I approached it, I realized this was no cow but a bear! It was completely unaware I was behind him. It crossed my mind that it is probably not a good thing to suprise a bear, to late...he saw me and took off at a dead sprint through the trees. Am I really that scary? Anyways amazing ride with awesome views, highly recommended!



I've been in the best of moods today because I had a great run this morning. No pain in my heel!! I woke to a steady drizzle, true to me form at 5 am, and seized the oppritunity to experience the desert in the rain. Closest thing to a religous experience, if I were religous, that I have ever had. I ran in and out of a couple canyons with great views of the Needles out to the top of Elephant Hill. I've planned hill repeats in the future on Elephant Hill, great technical climbing and a good anaerobic 3 minute hill climb. Word of caution: Slickrock really is SLICKROCK when wet.