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...

Mother's Day!

Mother's Day 2013: snow in Petoskey!

Mother's Day 2014: snow in Boulder!

Taz and snow-bent flower on Enchanted Mesa trail, Boulder, Mother's Day 2014

Taz is beginning to wonder what this whole "Mother's Day" thing is about.  Methinks the next time he hears those words, he will automatically start looking for snowflakes!  This year's Mother's Day, Taz and I are in Boulder, elder son Devon is at his home in Kansas City, and Kendall and younger son Paul are on the road back from KC with my brother, Dave, whom Kendall treated to a weekend of NASCAR racing.  So Taz and I spent the morning doing one of my most favorite while-away-the-morning activities: running on trails.  Yes it was snowy and wet. But oh yes it was lovely.  In the two hours we were out there, we encountered only two other people - one woman walking, one woman running.  And we also encountered deer, rabbits, a fox, robins, hawks, flowers bending under the snow, and sparkling white pines.  'Twas like running in a cocoon.  So peaceful, so quiet.

Back at home: a big bowl of oatmeal with walnuts and dried cherries, followed by a pasty-making extravaganza.  I'm trying out a vegetarian version, so not quite traditional but they sure look good - pry even better once out of the oven.  Hopefully a yummy treat for the fellas when they arrive back home!

Overlooking Boulder from Chautauqua trails.  Boulder? Where's Boulder? Mother's Day 2014

Turning the Corner

Westerly view from Singletree Trail - May 3, 2014.  Beautiful.

As mentioned in prior posts, I am attempting to rebuild fitness...an effort that has been taking much longer than in any prior instance where I've had to build back up again.  "Frustrating" would be the word that most aptly describes the current experience.  However!  Progress is being made; the plateau is shifting!

Qualitatively, I am noticing an uptick in energy and runs are beginning to flow.  Better yet, there is quantitative evidence to support the theory that a return to fitness is an achievable goal:

• I got up the gumption to race!  A 15k!  More slowly than years past, but much better than I had expected.  I would have been disappointed with anything slower than 99 minutes, elated (astounded, in fact) if faster than 90.  In actuality, I crossed the line at 91:57 and felt great having run a very steady pace throughout (purposely conservative in the very low 10s for the first 5 miles then dropped into the upper 9s for the last 4+).
• I logged over 200 miles for April - my first over-200 month since last April.  More than a number, the 200+ reflects a consistency which has been sorely lacking and much desired.
• As part of the quest for 200+, I logged 57.5 miles last week - my highest mileage week this year and only the third week in the 50s for 2014.  And they weren't just slogging miles, nope nope!  They included two speed workouts (one 2k, 2x1k, 4x500m workout and the other 4 x 8 minutes hard/3 minutes easy) as well as a very long run.  Which brings me to:
• I completed a 3-hour run yesterday!  On a gorgeous day (as illustrated by this post's pictures), the last hour with two good friends, and finished tired but strong.  My last 3+-hour run: April 28, 2013.  It is good to be back.

Easterly view from the same spot/same time on Singletree Trail.  Peaceful.

I've always considered the true test of fitness to not just be the workout, but the day-after-workout.  How does one feel the next day? How well does the next run go?  So how did today's post-57.5-mile-week/ post-3-hour-run test go?  Splendidly!  Mondays I run to my volunteer job - a run that often takes over 40 minutes (depending on fatigue and weather) but has been done as quickly as 37 minutes.  Today: 39 minutes and feelin' smooth!

Weehaw!  The comeback is for real!