It's been a while...

Hello out there....
So school and grad school have been slowly burying me alive... not to mention running! I'm am officially in the "tapering" phase of my training. This means, the training schedule is "calming down". My long runs are shortening, but the speed training continues. Something I realized though: I enjoy slow running SO MUCH MORE! It is actually peaceful and refreshing rather than difficult and exhausting. If I find a good 9:30 minute mile pace and just start running without a route... I could go on for hours. Refreshing, huh? I hope that I can continue to find the enjoyment in this once the god awful speed training ends!

Well folks, it is officially pumpkin season. This has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with running, but out of the kindness of my heart, I am going to leave you with the BEST pumpkin cookie recipe ever! A special thanks to pinterest.com and mommyskitchen.net for bringing me to this deliciousness. Sometimes a girl just needs to bake some cookies.

Welp, folks, this is a short one. I suffered the most vicious paper cut of my life today courtesy of a file folder. Not only is it impossible to type with a heavily bandaged index finger, but I may just pass out from the blood loss, so time to sign off!

Happy running and second half of the week! I'll be headed towards runner's detox next week (the week before the race!!!) after eating my body weight in pumpkin cookies and drinking gallons of delicious beers from the Great American Beer Fest this weekend... try not to be too jealous!

beautiful trails, evil gravel, and "recovery" drinks

Yesterday was the longest run during my training... an actual half marathon... and guess what!! I met my goal! I was able to run my half marathon in under 2 hours (1 hour 59 minutes and 50 seconds to be exact). Cutting it close right? I'm not so worried about the race anymore though, now that I know that I can do it.

For the long run simulation yesterday, a few of us from DetermiNation started running at one of the participants house and caught the Highline Canal Trail (John also came, but rode his bike along the trail). Between dodging horse poop and other people, it was actually quite a beautiful trail. I can only imagine that it gets more beautiful and popular as the leaves change. This trail claims to be the most popular trail in the Denver area... and, well.. I'm not gonna argue with that because it appeared to be the most popular trail in Denver.

Clearly I did not take these pictures... I was too busy huffing, puffing, and generally enjoying the scenery.

The scenery provided everything from rustic barns and buildings (below) to mountain vistas to mansions that resembled 5 star resorts. I couldn't believe some of the houses along this trail, I half expected some A-list celebrities to pop out from behind a turn. I mean, really, who lives in these houses?!?

Anyways... back to the run. Something that I was not expecting was that the trail was entirely gravel. Gravel is very intimidating. I always feel like I am doing about 3 times the work when I'm running on gravel. John confirmed my suspicions after the run that in fact, gravel is more tiring to run on, although much more forgiving on the joints than blacktop or concrete.... soo... pick your poison, I guess. See, from what I understand, friction is required to have traction while running. When there is low friction, like on gravel, you are actually wasting a lot of your energy when your foot is sliding. Therefore, the muscles get tired faster and you run slower. I knew there was validation to my suspicions of evil gravel trails. 

I felt this exhaustion really fast... at about mile 2.5. I was prepared, however. I carried some Power Bar Energy Blasts with me. These are phenomenal. I can't take the regular Gu shots, they make me feel sick and all sorts of nauseous, so I'm all about the chewy gummies. These are a little more difficult to take, since you need to chew them WELL to prevent choking (learned that the hard way) and take them with some water. I took about 4 during my run, but the suggested amount is 1 or 2 every 45 minutes. 

This run, in one word, was EXHAUSTING. I was happy that I participated in the simulation run, because I can take a few things away from it: 1. I was so happy to meet my goal because if I can do it on gravel, I am confident that I can do it on pavement for the real race ... and 2. Don't forget the Body Glide anti-chafe stick... I forgot it this time... enough said. I think that will take longer to recover from than the muscle exhaustion from running on gravel for 13 miles. I'll spare you the photos. 

Oh... and the most important thing:

"Recovery Drinks"- a delicious fall and pumpkin beer sampler =-)

Three creepy things of the day.... plus hamsters.

The 3 creepy things that happened during my run today:

1. Another runner in front of me kept speeding up, slowing down, speeding up, slowing down, etc. etc. Geeez... this is so annoying! You know like when you're trying to merge onto the highway and no one knows about the "zipper effect" or can make a decision so you eventually end up coming to a near stop on the shoulder. Wait... that's never happened to you?

2. I am about to finish running, I turn around real quick to look behind me and theres a creepy dog standing behind me... like literally two feet behind me.. eeeeek!

3. I walked for a few minutes after my run and as I was pulling up my stats ('cause I'm official like that), a wifi network pops onto my iphone named "Psycho Killer".

Yep... It was quite an eventful 50 minutes/5.75 miles. But good news: I joined the Rec Center so I no longer require daylight to run. Instead I get to run like a caged hamster on a wheel. There's just something about running on a treadmill that makes you feel like you're getting nowhere (and maybe it's the fact that you're actually getting nowhere!!!). Oh well... I am sure you can all agree it will be much safer than running amongst stray dogs, hobos, and psycho killers (eek... where's my bear spray?).

By the way, coach informed us today that race day is officially 3 weeks and 6 days out! I will hopefully be participating in a "simulation" run this weekend with the rest of the crew along the Highline Canal. I've never done a simulation run before... but the more I think about it... the more I think, "WHY HAVEN'T I THOUGHT OF THIS"!

TIP OF THE DAY: The "simulation run". We are supposed to mimic the few days around race day. So we will eat the same things the day before, wear the same clothes and shoes, hydrate the same way, and use the same gu shots or whatever energy booster/nourishment we plan to use the day of the race. I am totally surprised that I've never thought of this before... seeing as it is completely common sense! I'm especially sensitive to clothing when I'm running, so it will be good to see what works ahead of time and what goes wrong. 


The only downside of this simulation run??? Wake up at the same time I would get up on race day! Uggghhh... I really try to limit my "before 5:00 am" wake ups on weekends to well... NONE! 


Ohh... and speaking of hamsters... enjoy the following video... it's been stuck in my head for a week!

hahahahahahahaha... I hope this made your day!

Attack of the giant MOUSE!

No, it was not a giant mouse, if it was a giant mouse, I would've put my training to good use and been out of there in a flash. We saw a giant MOOSE, sorry for the miscommunication, family. Let me tell you (show you) a bit more about our trip to Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming... it was fantastic and stunning and phenomenal and any other synonym for awesome that you could possibly think of. Plus I was in the last state (alphabetically) of the Fifty Nifty United States. Don't worry if you don't know what that means... because if you do.. you're as big a nerd as I am.

By the way, the leg is feeling great, but I still have not gotten much running in. With grad school and school picking up, I've found that I don't physically have time during daylight hours to run! But, I figure that a long hike at a higher altitude kind of equals running at a lower one... right?

Here goes my visual journey thought Grand Teton NP:

After a 9 1/2 hour drive and a chilly night, this is what we saw upon leaving our campgrounds and heading south: a lovely view of the mountains over Jackson Lake. I believe "The Grand" is the one farthest to the left of this picture. *smiling*

And again...

Our short hike to Phelps Lake...

John in his goofy... err.. I mean *awesome* hat at Phelps Lake

 

Yeah... I went there...

Jackson Lake... so clear!

John posing with his bear spray... safety first folks.. that thing shoots 30 feet! Maybe I should start running with it too, huh Aunt Mary?

Beginning our 11 mile hike into Cascade Canyon.

Past Hidden Falls...

To Inspiration Point... doesn't he look inspired? 

Through the canyon. One word: Stunning!

Laying down for a 30 second power nap...

Only to be awakened by this...

Nom Nom Nom...

And on to a beautiful sunset behind the jagged peaks. (A little crooked, but come on, 11 miles at high altitude, you can't expect me to be standing straight... much less forming coherent sentences)

On the way out... some smoke from the wildfires foggin' up the mountains

And finally... who is ready to donate to Kelly's pedicure fund? Anyone?

Well folks, that was my visual journey through the Tetons, I hope that you enjoyed it because we had a blast (minus the graphic image above.. lo siento). This week I am working on two things: 

1. Getting back into training seriously

2. A gym membership so I don't have to run in the dark with bear spray (to fend of coyotes, prairie dogs, and potential hippie attacks)

As always, If you would like to donate to the American Cancer Society, you can go to my fundraising page or contact me. Of course... if you would like to buy any more cards... please follow the directions on this page. Please pass this on to everyone you know... and thanks everyone for following my journeys... I appreciate all of your support (and so do my ugly toes). 

The day my butt grew 4 sizes.

The other day, I just couldn't bring myself to even think about running after work. I was tired, grumpy, and wanted to see John. You see, between me working and both of us going to grad school, we basically say goodbye on Sunday night and don't see each other again until Wednesday after work (of course, we live together, but the few minutes that we are both in the same apartment, we are normally so mentally exhausted that we can't do any more than lay on the couch).

Wednesdays... they are different though! We decided that instead of me running, we would go for a bike ride. My coach suggested some cross-training since the injury and well... I've been neglecting my poor bicycle even more than I've been neglecting John. Well hello there, old friend!

Ever put on padded biking shorts for the first time in a veryyyy long time? Whoa! Forgot that feeling... It's like my but was channeling Kim Kardashian. Nevertheless... out we went... fighting off the storm clouds and the possibility of a horrific Colorado lightning storm. 

Not my actual road bike, but the only picture I could find
of me on a bike (minus the fat shorts)... I guess I need to show my bike a little more love!

Biking is fantastic because you can cover so much more ground than running (unless of course, you're doing a long run hehe). It just feels like there are so many possibilities when I'm on my bike. I needed that. 

Welp... I must be getting to those kiddos at school. The sooner I get to work, the sooner I get to leave for Grand Teton National Park for the long weekend! Woohoo! Pictures to come...

Speaking of pictures... I have exactly one month from tomorrow to meet my fundraising goal for the American Cancer Society! Please help me support a great cause, especially in the midst of a friend's mother passing away from cancer. Of course, I am still selling cards if you or anyone you know would like to buy any ;-) or you can simply donate on my American Cancer Society fundraising page! Please pass this on to anyone you think may be interested! My thoughts are with the family back home as they live through these rough days and the wakes and funeral this weekend.

Happy Friday =-)