Oh right, I have a blog...

I'm not sure about y'all, but some days it just seems really hard to write a blog post.  I guess I feel that no one really wants to read about what I'm doing - or not doing - and sometimes it's tough to come up with entertaining posts.  Not that this blog has much entertainment....but I do try to not sound like a complete idiot.  I know I've failed on that a time or two.

Anyhoo, since this is essentially a running blog, I'll start there....

• Official race photo from Carlsbad Marathon.  I constantly have this smirk? on my face in every race photo.  For the life of me, I have no idea why, it is absolutely hideous, and I don't even know I do this when I run.   

Oh warm weather, how I miss you!

• The illustrious PW 5k I ran a week after the marathon.  Same crooked smirk - nothing beats consistency, eh?  Now I also have the added perk of a lovely growth on my hip.  Mike, your hip goiter is nothing compared to this sucker!  And, isn't at least one foot suppose to be off the ground when we run?

• Well, I thought that half marathon from hell in December was the coldest I've ever been in a race.  Oh no, I've manage to one up that race.  On Feb. 12th I ran a half marathon in 8 degrees.  Now, this probably wouldn't have been much of a problem when layered up except that I volunteered at race registration - which was OUTDOORS - for 2 hours before the race.  Aka: I shivered for 2 solid hours, despite popping about 14 hand warmers in every spot I could place them.  When I started the race, I was cold, and I never managed to warm up my core.  If your core is cold, YOU are cold.  Period!  Also got to run up this HILL at about mile 7.5 which had about 6 switchbacks ...  that's where I pretty much decided I was officially done with that race and just sandbagged the rest of it.  Another PW... well, that's not true, the one in December was worse - but not by much.  (notice the progression of more clothing with each race picture?  Um, yeah...and that's a first that I've ever actually kept a headband on my head for an entire race.  It was killing my ears with my headphones and sunglasses on.)

About the only saving grace of this race was that 1) it was actually a very pretty course - or would be if I wasn't shivering to death and could enjoy it, 2) it was very well organized for a first race, and 3) I have some of the best friends ever who came out in this crazy cold weather to cheer me on (and get delicious Mexican food after).

Tara drove about 45 minutes to listen to me whine, Julie's drive a was a tad less; she still got to listen to me whine though.  What awesome friends!

• I think that's it for race updates, aside from the two I bailed on.  One was a 5k the end of January.  We got a whopping 18" of snow two days before and I didn't relish the idea of twisting my ankle and being on the another DL for 6 months.  Injury purgatory for 2 years was bad enough, I have no desire to descent to the inferno of re-injury.  Fellow post-injured runners understand this implicitly.  The other copped out race was a 5-miler last weekend.  Honestly, I wasn't feeling very hot the few days prior and when I woke up to race it, I knew it'd be a sucky race and I wasn't in the mood to be institutionalized as I knew it'd eat at my psyche.  This whole sloth-like process to get my fitness level back is ... well.... sucky!
• I had my first official team meeting for the race team I'm running for: Team BRC.  What a great bunch of runners (about 30 of us, I believe).  What I especially love is that we're all at varying abilities from a couple professional tri-athletes to those who are just starting out running.  Here's a few of the freebies I've received from the team and Brooks:

Official team racing singlet; Brooks warm-up jacket; Brooks PureFlow shoes (not pictured: Brooks warm-up pants, running bra and some socks).

• Anyone wearing the new Brooks PureFlow shoes?  I think I found the new love of my life.  Black isn't my favorite color in running shoes, but I guess I'll suffer though the miles in them beings they were free and all ;) (new color out: Pink.  I'll be all over those for the next pair!!).  Love the lightness and low-heel drop of these babies, plus they are just loaded with some great cushioning.  I have learned the hard way that my feet just need something between them and the pavement.
• Because I have this little 50k race in a mere 3 weeks in Iowa, I plopped my body on the treadmill today and had one of the better long runs I've had in ... years!  21.4 miles.  And you know what?  I felt AWESOME.  I implemented a run/walk ratio thingie, only because that's how I want to run the 50k since I know my sorry out of shape bod will not be ideally prepared to run 31.something continuous miles in 3 weeks.  So I slowed the pace to a crawl (9:49) and did a 15:2 walk/run.  15 minutes running at 9:49 and then 2 minutes walking.  I've never done this before.  I have a brain dysfunctionalality, you see, and think that if I'm not out there killing myself at mile 1 then why bother and then I end up resorting to something similar to a shuffle at the end.  But the goal of this 50k is to finish, and nothing more, so I read a lot about pacing for a ultra and this walk/run thing was highly suggested if you want to finish strong.  I knew if I did this run on a treadmill, I'd be forced to keep the pace moving and not slow it down.  So that's what I did...and I have to say, aside from my feet being totally pissed at me when I was done, I felt really good.  This was a huge confidence 50k  boost.  Just not sure how I will endure 10 more miles on super angry, tired feet.  But somehow, I will (this angry feet thing has nothing to do with my heel - thankfully  This was just tired "you've been running long enough, Stupid, stop for heaven's sake" feet).

• I have a 5k next weekend, a 7k the following weekend (love, love, love this race!!) and then...*gasp* that 50k the next weekend.  So yeah, my need for speed work is going to force itself into my running world, finally.  This is probably a good thing.  
• Finally, my good friend and last year's Pikes Peak buddy, Too Slow for Boston, has put together this incredible running blog database.  I'm very impressed of all the work he's done to it, I'm sure my computer illiterate brain would still have me imputing data for the first entrant, but Jon's up to over 670.  It is the neatest thing ever, I can't believe he's developed such a cool database.  If you want to be a cool kid in the blog world and are not in the database, please contact Jon here to be added:   http://2slow4boston.blogspot.com/

In snowshoeing news (because you all knew there was snowshoeing news)....

My son, Ryan, was up in the mountains a couple weekends ago for the high school state snowshoeing championships; several of those on the track team decided to participate and Ryan was all over this ....

He finished 9th overall and 2nd for his team ......

The tall one is Ryan.  The he-man guy in front is our top runner for the school and came in 2nd overall.   Yes, they are wearing Viking hats, their prized prize for placing.  Ryan thought this was the coolest thing on the planet .... he wears that thing around the house constantly!  :)

Yesterday those who placed from the state meet (Ryan!!) headed back to Summit County High School, up in the mountains, and competed in the National High School Snowshoeing competition.  Kids from all over the country were there - I was in total awe that this thing even existed and that Colorado was hosting such an event (next year it's in Bend, Oregon).

Ryan's towards the back in the orange jacket

Ryan knocked 7 minutes off his 5k snowshoe time this week and placed about 14th overall.  So cool!  What a great opportunity for these kids to get involved in snowshoeing, a great pre-season cardiovascular activity (it totally wipes my sorry out of shape butt out).

Of course, since we were off school Monday and Tuesday last week, Ryan wanted to go up to the mountains and practice some of his snowshoe skills to prep for the state meet.  Despite the fact I think I'm still thawing out from that little half marathon mid-February, I'll never pass on an opportunity to borrow a friend's gorgeous condo in Frisco and hit the trails....

Little lung-sucking trail run on day 1.  Gorgeous day!

Snowing a little on day 2 as we started out....

....but that doesn't stop the beauty.

Doesn't everyone end their chilly adventure in the snow for 3 hours with yummy frozen yogurt?  Especially when someone leaves their wallet at the condo and has no way to pay for such deliciousness.  

I think that brings y'all up to date on my exciting boring life.  I will be sure try to update more often...I bet you're all chomping at the bit to see if I can get yet another PW at my 5k next weekend.  I know I am!  :)

Until next time...

Run strong, my friends!

P.S.  My friend took the picture on my header, it's near Mayflower Gulch in the high country, where they winter camped.  My other son, Brendan, was suppose go to with them, but bailed because he wanted to go to the school dance with his date.  It's really tough living in Colorado sometimes!  ;)