Wonderland

Today was one of those days when I thank my lucky stars that I am able to get out and about to enjoy this extraordinary planet of ours.

This has been a heckuva weather week.  The morning the radio announced it was 7 degrees with 7 inches of fresh-fallen snow, I was up and out as quick as could be.  There is nothing quite like running early in the morning of fresh snowfall...a hushed white-blanketed world.  Subsequent days brought more single digit mornings but the snow had turned to ice along the roads, sidewalks and bike paths making running quite a challenge - unless you turned to the trails which is just what I did today.

Running west from home up up up to the trails beneath the flatirons. As I scrunched along the snow-covered trail through the pines I heard chatter ahead of me - a group of walkers and a dog off-leash.  At that moment I realized that one aspect of the run I was most enjoying was the peace and quiet.  How to avoid the chatter? Two options. One: turn around and head back the way I had come, cutting the run short and giving me an out/back - my least favorite kind of route. The second: take a trail heading south that would lead me to a steep downhill route off the mesa top I was on.  I am quite a tentative, fearful, lousy downhill runner (credit a fall down a long steep narrow flight of stairs when I was a youngster). But today I decided I'd had enough of recent wussiness and that it was about time to tackle a challenge head-on.  So down the steep snow-covered trail I went - and it was glorious.  Quiet, beautiful, and a perfect exit to a trail run through a winter wonderland.  Yes, a very good day to be able to be out and about on this planet of ours!

Exquisite Autumn

Taz relaxing post-run on his bed of autumn leaves

The glorious golds - and scarlets and bronzes and greens - of autumn seemed to be in great abundance this year wherever we turned.  And we turned from Colorado to Michigan and back again.  What a great year, and time of year, for a road trip!  And, as an extra bonus, we got to help my mom celebrate her 94th birthday.  Some highlights:

Birthday mom and her partying daughter

Every morning in Petoskey, at dawn, I got to run along the Bear River to Little Traverse Bay of Lake Michigan. Ahhhh

One of the most spectacular autumn views on the planet: Cut River in the U.P.

Back in Boulder. Amber surprises her cousin Paul with a handmade (by Amber) bench for his newly landscaped (by Amber & Paul) backyard

Anita & Connie during our run up Skunk Creek Canyon on a glorious autumn day in Boulder

The waning days of autumn from the Meadowlark Trail

Monument Marathon - simply monumental!!!

Scotts Bluff

 
I finally got to run the Monument Marathon in Scottsbluff/Gering Nebraska. A great event!  Stellar scenery, superb organization, fantastic volunteers.  If you like small marathons (102 finishers in the full, 315 in the half) in back roads locations this is the marathon for you!

The marathon started at a state park south of town where the visitors' center was open for us to lounge in, peruse the exhibits, use the facilities, and ooh-and-ahh over the wild turkeys poking around the building. After the National Anthem (sung beautifully by one of the runners), we headed north on the highway toward Gering where we wound through farm land and neighborhoods before turning west into the Scotts Bluff National Monument where we were treated to magnificent rock formations, signs of the Oregon Trail, and a course that meandered up and down hills and over packed dirt canal paths through Nebraska Badlands before coming back out into neighborhoods with a bit of zig zagging before pointing toward the finish.

About 18 miles into the Monument Marathon

Hot temperatures (rising into the 80s) provided the biggest challenge of the day- and the organizers went above and beyond to make sure the runners were well-cared for. Aid stations had already been planned for every three miles - fully stocked with water, gatorade, gu., portapots and, further into the race, cut up bananas and oranges.  Because of the heat, the race crew added water stations in between each of the pre-planned aid stations.  As further demonstration of how much they cared for the runners, cyclists and cart drivers went back and forth along the course throughout the day asking each and every runner (staring right into our eyes) if we were o.k.  Phenomenal!  Early in the race, one of the cyclists came up alongside me and we got to chatting.  I thanked her for being out there and said I was really impressed by the volunteers.  She replied that every volunteer had to attend training where they learned the right and wrong ways to do their jobs.  It really showed.  Cups were offered perfectly.  Course marshalls were explicit in their directions for where to cross, what direction to turn, which side of the road to run on.  Truly impressive.  And to top it off, every one of those highly trained volunteers was chock full of enthusiasm, cheering all of us on like we were the most amazing people on earth.  What a boost!

Approaching the finish with Scotts Bluff in the background

As the day went on and the temperatures climbed, two outstanding offerings were made.  Around 21 miles, the aid station had a tub filled with ice water and a fellow with a frisbee ready to fill it up and dump the ice water down your back if you wanted it.  Yes I did and oooh doggies that felt great!  And at 23 miles (the beginning of the only truly shady mile on the course), the cup of gatorade I grabbed was not only my favorite flavor, but also was iced.  The most delicious drink of the day!  (After the race, I chatted with the woman I sat next to on the bus to the start and who finished a couple minutes ahead of me.  She said that, for the first time in a race, she had eaten an orange slice out on the course - and that it was The Best Orange she had ever eaten in her life.)  Yes, 'twas a tough day out there but I'd recommend this marathon to one and all.  One-of-a-kind setting, exemplary organization.

The prize for 2nd place in my age - a framed photo of Scotts Bluff

Am I really going to run it?!?

At the 2012 Bolder Boulder pre-race expo, there was a small booth where a couple of delightful people sat, eager to talk about their new marathon: the Monument Marathon in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.  It sounded fantastic! I was ready!  But life got in the way.  In 2012 it turned out that already-scheduled-and-couldn't-be-rescheduled events conflicted with the timing of the marathon.  In 2013, summer training was a disaster and there was no way I was ready for a fall marathon.  Hooray for 2014!  What a great summer of training.  Every hard run, every long run, hills, speed, everything...check! check! check!

Until....two weeks ago. There I was in the back garden, me, a shovel, and YEOW! a rock.  Ankle twisted...or something. Whatever it was, my ankle became swollen and very sore.  I tried ignoring it for a few days - with no success. Since then, my brains kicked in and I backed off training a bit, pulled out the ice packs and opened the Ibuprofen bottle. Today, there are actually periods of time when the ankle doesn't even hurt. We'll call it good. 

Then two days ago, I was on campus for the class I am senior-auditing.  I walked toward the building where the class is held and decided to try a different door from my usual.  As I approached, I noticed a sign on the door about classroom access.  I stared hard at the sign trying to read it as I approach. Whoops! Who put that step there?!?  I went flying, skidded on my knees and crashed into the door with my head.  Oh lordy that hurt. And bled.  But, nothing that a bandaid, ice and aspirin won't fix.  I hope!

Today the packing began.  We're taking Hedwig (our motorhome), and have a reservation at the campground within spitting distance of the bus pickup for the ride to the start and the finish line. I am psyched!  A road trip!  Camping in Hedwig! A marathon in the Nebraska badlands and along the Oregon Trail! Despite the gardening accident and the walking klutziness, I go into this marathon in pretty good shape.  I owe that in large part, once again, to running partners.  This summer in particular, running buddy Connie was ready, willing, and able to accompany me on all my speed sessions, tempo runs and huge portions of my long runs.  The picture below of Connie is from this week's cruise interval run along the South Boulder Creek Trail where we had the pleasure of cruising alongside the tall grasses glowing in the autumn sun.

Wow running in Boulder

As I was running east on a trail just after dawn today, I was passed by a young fellow.  When I got to the point where the trail crossed a dirt road, the young fellow was standing there, having just taken a look at the trail map.  He glanced up and I saw his mouth form the word "wow".  Now I doubt it was "wow, look at that exquisite runner coming toward me" but maybe it was "wow look how those two cyclists zipped from the road to the trail" or perhaps "wow what a lot of trails there are around here."  But as I continued east, I realized he was looking west.  Yeah. Wow.

Sights of the weekend

This past weekend was action-packed!

Saturday:

• a tempo run of repeat 8s and 3s.  The 8s were a challenge - but even more challenging was making sure we didn't stomp on this little critter as we dashed by on the South Boulder Creek Trail!

•  post-run was our first ever block party.  Lots of chatting with neighbors and good food - and thankfulness for our covered porch when the downpour got going in earnest and the thunder and lightning storm decided to hang out directly overhead!

 Sunday:

•  a 3-hour and 10-minute run from home to Longmont, a truly remarkable run for a number of reasons: it started with a tailwind, I discovered a rock art garden that I'd never seen before along the Boulder Creek Path, and, best of all, running buddy Connie joined me for the last 2 hours 15 minutes...the first time I've ever had company when running to Longmont.  It was the easiest 3+ hours I've run in a long long time!
  
  

Paul, Audrey, Steve, Cullen, Tara, Kitty, pj

• Niece Tara showed up in Boulder for a hike and lunch to celebrate her birthday.  It's always a festive occasion when the Miller clan gets together.  Cheers to Tara!  A perfect ending to a delightful weekend!

Poking around

I sure did wake up excited today! I had laid out a route for my long run that took me to paths and trails I had never seen before.  My kind of day!

The first hour or so was on a road I've often run: concrete, cars whizzing past, and a lot of uphill.  Ah well, one must work for one's reward, eh?  Upon reaching the top of the last hill on this road I kept a sharp eye peeled to the north where what looked like a bike path on gmap pedometer was supposed to appear.  Sure enough, there it was!  And a most excellent path it was: a) it got me away from traffic whoohoo!; b) it put me behind houses and pointed out towards a view of the plains and foothills I'd never seen before; c) it took me right to a most luxurious portapot which I desperately needed having drunk loads of liquids yesterday in prep for the run; and d) it brought me around to a view of the eastern horizon where seven hot air balloons were floating along.  Splendid!

Eventually it turned out that the path I had planned to follow was actually a railroad track so there was much zigzagging, backtracking, coming out onto main roads, and more zigzagging before I got back over to the planned route - but even that showed me new neighborhoods, soft running paths, and quiet streets I'd never had the privilege to run before.  All in all, a lovely run!

Relay for Life: Relay yes, Life certainly.

This past Friday and Saturday Boulder hosted the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.  I was honored to be one of over 140 participants at this amazing event, held at the University of Colorado's Potts Field (track).  From the cessation of rain just as we arrived to set up our site, to the closing ceremonies where it was announced that over $24,000 was raised this was a truly memorable experience.

Just a few of the highlights:

* hearing about promising research,
* experiencing the survivors' and team lap,
* running to the beat of the band under dancing rainbows,

* sharing the luminaria ceremony with friends,
* strolling around the track with my son Paul as Friday turned to Saturday,
* running the midnight 5k, my first midnight race ever (note to self: never again eat an apple fritter minutes before running a 5k!),
* walking hand-in-hand with husband Kendall under the light of the morning star shining ever so brightly in the night sky,
* running my Saturday morning workout with friends who appeared at Relay just at dawnbreak



All of this happily done with the company of 21 Relay teams joined in the battle to beat cancer, the disease that never sleeps.

Relay by the numbers:

• 21 teams, 142 participants
• $27921.65 raised (updated 7/29/2014)
• Top team fundraiser: Boulder Balvihar, $2,773.36 (updated 7/29/2014)
• Top individual fundraiser: me! $1,440 (updated 7/29/2014)
• Relay hours: 6 p.m. - 6 a.m., but there were breaks from circling the track for opening ceremonies and survivor ceremony (~1 hour), and for the luminaria lighting ceremony and reading of names (another ~1 hour), plus a couple hours that I spent napping after the midnight 5k and 1 a.m. pizza.
• My midnight 5k time: 29:52
• Most laps reported by an individual: 100
• My total number of laps: 84 (21 miles)

4th of July

If I were to have to choose a day when I most miss living in Petoskey, it would be the 4th of July.  I am a sucker for parades, marching bands, open air concerts, festivities at the waterfront - all done with small town enthusiasm.  And the Great Lake. And the beach.  And the million dollar sunset that needs no fireworks to evoke the oohs and ahhhs.  But then there are the fireworks shot off over the bay - both Petoskey's and Harbor Springs'.  Yep, Petoskey - and all of the surrounding towns - does the 4th of July up right.


But if not in Petoskey nestled in the Great Lakes North Woods, but in Boulder nestled up against the Rockies, well, what's a runner gal missing her hometown to do but run the trails and revel in the Colorado blue sky, wildflowers, flatirons, hawks and butterflies.
 

 


Of course, being the 4th of July, it must be cherry picking cherry pie time.  You can take the girl out of northern Michigan but you can't take the northern Michigan cherries out of the girl!

 

My kind of running

Not much can beat running with friends.  You cruise, you laugh, you push each other to reach new heights, you commiserate, you build memories and dream up new schemes.  Yep, running with friends invariably brightens the day.

Not much can beat a hard run that squeezes every ounce of energy out of your body, tears at your muscles, covers you with sweat, and leaves you depleted - and with a big ol' sloppy grin on your face because you just conquered the seemingly unconquerable workout.  Yep, busting open a monster workout is magnificent.

Not much can beat a run through the wildest elements that nature can throw at us humans: torrential rain, hurricane force winds, blizzards.  As Calvin & Hobbes (Bill Watterson) said in March 1993:

But I do believe my very most favorite kind of running is along a trail surrounded by wind, birds, critters and long vistas.  Our recent road trip treated me to a plethora of trails, every one enjoyable, every one unique.

• The Flint Hills Nature trail - of which I ran but 15 miles of its 117 mile length through the Flint Hills and tall grass prairie of Kansas, following the general route of the old Santa Fe Trail.  Rolling, breezy, prairie peace.
  

• The Little Traverse Wheelway is now a bicycle path running along Little Traverse Bay/Lake Michigan from the north edge of my home town of Petoskey to the town just south of Petoskey.  In the "olden days" (pre-bike path) I would run this route via a dirt/sand dune path.  It's a bit more modernized now, and I certainly encounter more people now than I used to, but the views of the lake still can't be beat.  It remains one of my all-time favorite running routes.

Trillium spotted along Little Traverse Bay

 

Little Traverse Bay

 



 

• The Upper Yahara River Trail in De Forest, Wisconsin was a most welcome discovery within a few minutes' running from the campground we stayed at on our way back to Boulder.  A lovely little trail through a park, tree, and wildflower corridor along the Yahara River.

  

  Upper Yahara River Trail - photo from Village of De Forest WI web site

• Kearney, Nebraska's Pioneer Path is newly completed and practically right outside the doorstep of our campground in Kearney.  It made for an easy morning run, off roads, alongside an abundance of wildflowers (and the north channel of the Platte River) and right onto the grounds of the Archway Monument.

So, yeah, trail running - an injection of peace and quiet while providing a delightful tour of whatever part of the country one might find oneself!

A hodgepodge of running this past month!

When last I posted, I had just finished a long peaceful run in the snow with Taz pup.  Many miles have been put on the running shoes since that day and the days have warmed up quite nicely!

Connie, me & Anita post-race

After a whole lot of miles and weeks and weeks of solid training with running buddies Connie and Anita, the 2014 Bolder Boulder came and went.  And, just like last year, I ran it in 58-and-change, beating my age, and placing sixth in my age.
What was my goal for this year's running?  Consistency!
Can't get much more consistent than that!




Two days after the Bolder Boulder, Kendall and I set off in Hedwig for an almost-summer trip to Michigan, this time by way of Kansas City.  It was great to have a change of scenery and what a delightful change of scenery it was!  Some highlights:

The Eisenhower Presidential Library - Abilene, Kansas!

The Flint Hills Nature Trail 

- where I ran east for about three hours.  The entire trail stretches 117 miles from Herington at the west end, then Council Grove where I picked it up, to Osawatomie in the east, passing through Flint Hills tall grass prairie lands.  It also happens to be the 7th longest rail-trail in America and the longest trail in Kansas so I certainly have plenty more trail to run the next time we're in the neighborhood! As it was, 'twas a real treat to once again spend a few hours trotting along a quiet rolling rural rail trail... just me, birds, butterflies and the breeze.... 

wildflowers abound

broken down bridge & butterfly

flint face

Flint-stone fence posts

long view

Hedwig - always a welcome sight at the end of a long run

 Kansas City

From the trail it was straight to Kansas City  for a visit with Devon and Corinne (our son and his girlfriend) and the Stanleys (Corinne's parents).  Kansas City is quite the happening town (actually two towns - one each in Kansas and Missouri): parks, art, food, music, and great people.  A wonderful visit!

Loose Park where we ran & walked each morning

In KC, they even think about the dogs

Mom and her first-born son

"League of Extraordinary Librarians" to Kendall from Devon with love

 Up North!

 On the way from KC to Petoskey, we made a quick stop in Fort Wayne to visit my cousin, Kathleen.  No run there - but a lovely luncheon interlude during a long-drive day.

Then it was on to Petoskey and days filled with visiting mom, reuniting with old friends, enjoying Petoskey's summer playfulness, running in one of my most favorite places on earth - and gazing at the aptly-named Million Dollar Sunsets over Little Traverse Bay.

,

Me and mom - together again

Petoskey Yarn Bombers liven up Central Park's cannon

Great Lakes Rail Cars cruising through downtown

View of Little Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan from a favorite run route

...a good trip...