Let's be honest...

I really enjoy reading running blogs. Sometimes on a Saturday before my long run I pull up a few and quickly read them to get motivated for my run. I think to myself if she can do this I can too. I know that many bloggers write to be positive and motivating and that is great! So THANK YOU all for that!

I have read some posts that are on struggles and how a runner got through a tough race mentally. These I appreciate the most. I feel then that I can relate and I feel that the runner is real.

I ran the Palisade half marathon on May 11. I ran it in 2012 as well. I thought I had stepped up my training  and thought I was tougher mentally but apparently not....I ran 2 seconds faster than the year before. 1:49.29 2013 time

Now can I make some excuses? Of course...I am the best at that!
It was a tough course, it was windy this year, the dinner that I ate the night before sat weird in my stomach.
etc, etc....

Bottom line I needed to train more....I thought I knew the course and knew where I needed to step up but running only 15-25 miles a week and some tempos and track workouts aren't enough....it's funny...when looking at my garmin my slowest miles were opposite from 2012.

I was so confident that I was going to better my time by 3 or 4 minutes.

As a life long runner I am constantly growing and know that every race can't be amazing.

Positives:

I was 7th female and last year I was 10th so I thought that was cool!

I really appreciated the course..it was gorgeous hills and all!

I was able to have great conversations with members of the running club and make new friendships.

A great girl weekend in Colorado wine country!

I am grateful that I was able to RUN!

Take away thoughts:

I think instead of re-doing races I need to try new ones!!

I am planning on running a fast course half in June.

Pre-Race

I love this shot!

The Finish!

Wine Tasting!

Ski weekend!

In August a friend told us to go to a local sports store and buy discounted lift tickets. You can only get the discounted price on this specific weekend in August. Well I bought a 4-pak to Loveland ski resort!

This past weekend David and I headed up to the mountains. We had the best ski day! Great runs and weather. I really like Loveland because it is a laid back resort and there were no lift lines! I have skied at many Colorado resorts and Loveland is one of my favorites.

We rented a condo in Dillon, which is about 20 minutes from Loveland and packed tons of food and snacks. We hung out in the hot tub after and that felt awesome!

That night my sister and her boyfriend drove up and then we skied together on Saturday. It was an awesome powder day! We were so lucky!!

Friday at Loveland ski resort

David enjoying the view.

After a long day of skiing :)

My sister and I

The gang...the boys board and the girls skied!

Have you skied at Loveland?

Do you ski or snowboard?

Red Rocks Loop in pics...

Here is another one of my favorite winter runs!

I like it because it's mostly roads but lots of hills. Great run when you can't get onto dirt.

650 elevation gain start at 5,724...




In the parking lot getting ready to go.



A half mile or so through the town of Morrison, CO and then we head into the park.

We came up this.You can see the dirt path.

A little forgiveness before the top.

We made it! Now we get to go down!

A great day! You can make this a 5.5 mile loop or add on dinosaur ridge and make it 7.5 or add on green mountain for more mileage...endless possibilities :) Great for winter training for a spring half marathon.

NightHawks is OVER...Palisade training BEGINS

Hi-

It's been awhile...I have all these ideas to blog about but then never get to it!

Here are some updates:

I completed 4 of the 6 Nighthawk snowshoe races at Eldora (here is what Nighthawks is all about).

I placed 1st in my age group 16-39! I won my AG every time and was second female at every race!

It really trashes my legs but so fun!

Now I am transitioning over to half marathon training.

I am going to run the Palisade half marathon again. I ran it last year in a 1:49...under trained. Yeah I know excuses, excuses but last April a really great job opportunity came up and I really needed to prepare for that and I let my training go....but not this year!

Palisade is about 3 hours away and the course is decent. The course begins and ends at 4,725ft. The course then runs along the base of the Grand Mesa for a couple of miles until you hit the orchards and wineries to the turnaround point.

For the most part, this course gradually ascends and descends throughout the race. There is a hill on mile 4 that climbs 195 ft. as you ascend a scenic overlook of the Grand Valley, but whatever it takes from you will be returned on mile 8.

I want to PR from my time last year...

So far training is going well.

Track workouts start next week with the running club and I will continue to do my tempo runs on the TM.

Since I ran the course last year I have a better idea of how to train and where to push it on the course.
Also last year the group I went with we had to book it home right after the race...as I was leaving the hotel I saw the sun shining on the water of the outdoor pool and people drinking wine...this year we are staying 2 nights so we can relax and enjoy the town.

I normally don't repeat races since there are so many out there and so many that I would like to try but this
one was really fun last year and since I had interruptions with my training I want some revenge!


Do you repeat races yearly?

Are there any new races you would like to try?

Leslee and Nicki if you are out there want to join me?




Laura and I waiting for the start at the last Nighthawks snowshoe race 2013. I am the one with the bright headlamp on :)

Raffle Time after last snowshoe race..I won $100 to a bar in Boulder :)

Palisade, CO

Wine Country in Colorado!

Palisade, CO

After half marathon 2012

Wine tasting!!

Snow Shoe Racing!

Here we go again! Nighthawks 2013!

My favorite time of winter. You can read about 2012 here: Nighthawks

At Eldora Ski resort near Nederland, CO there are night snow shoe races once a week for 6 weeks in a row on Wednesday nights at 6pm.

These races start at 9,355 feet in elevation and usally have a 500 or more elevation gain while racing. They are anywhere betwen a 3k and an 8k.

There are tough and hard and FUN.

After the race we go back to the nordic lodge (hut) and have a raffle with great prizes.

A group of us girls leave Arvada and drive the hour or so to get up there. We have a blast talking and catching up on the way there. After the race we tailgate and have some wine and cheese and then head back down the hill.

It is a great way to spend a Wednesday night and it also makes the winter go by really fast.

This year my husband bought me a pair of racing snow shoes and they are fast. In the past I just wore hiking ones but I am loving the running ones. You know where I will be next Wednesday night ;)

First race of the season!

After  Race #3

Pre-race..getting ready in the warm car.

The trunk with all of our gear.

Tailgating :)

Raffle Time!

Do you snow shoe?

Have you ever raced?

Apex Trail

I have been meaning to blog about my favorite trail runs, but I always forget my camera. So today when my friend and I decided to run the Apex trail in Golden, CO and I actually remembered my camera and decided to document the run.

First of all this one is about 20 minutes from my house so pretty easy to get to. We haven't gotten much snow this winter so it was runable today!




My friend Jamie :) At the beginning.

One perk is that there is a porta potty at the trailhead.

Today our run was 5.75 miles and average pace was around 12 minute miles with a 1200 ft elevation gain.
It was 27 degrees when we started and by the end it was in the 40's.

The loop we did today was rolling so worked hard on the climbs and enjoyed the downhills except on the snowy/icy sections.

Lots of rocks.



At the top



More views from the top...



Heading down....

We usually see lots of wildlife while trail running!

Great trail run today!

 Overall a great day to trail run in Colorado!

How often do you trail run?

How far are you willing to drive to a trailhead?

Increasing mileage....little by little

My new BFF is my treadmill.

A Monday, Wednesday or Friday morning during a work week looks something like this:

I set my alarm for 4:55 am chug some water and push snooze once.

I have my usually mismatching running outfit laid out on the bathroom floor and then head to the basement to start my day.

I turn on the TV and DVD player and while (currently) season 6 of FRIENDS starts up I put on my shoes and I am on the treadmill.

I usually am starting by 5:10 -5:15

My first mile is SLOW....usually in the 10's but sometimes a high 9.

After that I start speeding things up.

Every workout is different...somedays I just run in the 9's and somedays I go faster after every quarter. Somedays I do 800's or 400's and others a tempo. I usually have the incline at 1%.

I need to start getting ready for work by 5:55 so usually get 3.5-4.25 miles in depending how I am feeling. When I feel good I get in 4-4.25 miles with an 8 something average (including the 10 minute mile).

By working on speed and tempos on the treadmill I have improved my 5k time by quite a bit.

When I am on the treadmill I don't have the fear as much as I do as when I run outside for speed workouts. I seem to push myself more on the treadmill.

I have never run more than 5 miles on the treadmill and am not sure if I ever will. I get my long runs in outside on the weekends.

I am trying to increase my mileage with adding in a 3 mile run after work on trails with co-workers one day a week.  I also will need to add another weekday 3-4 mile run after work. The double days are pretty fun so far :)

The first week of 2103 I ran 20 miles!

The next week only 13 as I had to bike one day because I felt something weird in my leg.

This week I will go back to 20.

The week after I have 23-25 planned

And after that 27+

I plan to run then an easier week.

Eventually I would like to stay consistent and have weekly mileage of 25-30 with an 8-10 mile run on either Saturday or Sunday. The weekend runs are a variety of either trail, dirt paths or roads. My body can't handle too much more than that...

I used to despise the treadmill but with my busy work schedule I cherish the mornings I run on it.

I don't bail on the treadmill either as I have gotten older my brain doesn't seem to have as many commitment issues with working out :)

The only thing is sometimes a girlfriend and I will meet up at 5am outside and run but until the weather gets nicer I am very content with running in my basement!


Do you have a treadmill at home?

What do you watch or listen to while on the treadmill?