I've lately been reading stuff that people I know have written. Like, instead of random authors' books, I've been reading friends' books. And it's made me delve back into my "writings" folder to peek at all my attempts to write.

It's been a long time since I've written. And much, much longer since I've finished anything. But I read some of the things I started and I like them a lot. I forgot most of them and wish I had more to read, many are so compelling.

I wonder if I could finish any, or work more on any. I feel so discouraged about writing. Maybe I should look into taking a writing class at a local university or community college.

Maybe I should share some of my fragments with others and get feedback?

*shrug*

I've been sorta sedentary this summer. I figured that I trained for and then finished a 50k, why not take a bit of a break? I did not intend for it to last three months and counting. I did run a bit with my boyfriend as he trained for his half Ironman. I have done some recreational trail running for short distances. But I actually might need the nudge of an impending race to get me to really get back into gear.

It's also been hot out and I am very averse to spending much time in the heat, so I looked into other avenues of physical activity. I found a groupon for a very reasonable price for 10 classes at a kickboxing gym. Pretty cool stuff! I went for the first time about 3 weeks ago and it was really great. Nice atmosphere. Challenging, but fun workout. My arms were quite sore the evening after. Then, as I tried to sleep that night, my right arm kept having shooting pains. I didn't sleep at all that night. I called into work the next day and took myself to the doctor to see if I'd damaged something. The answer was sort of disappointing. Probably just a pulled/strained muscle. I was prescribed rest, a sling, ibuprofen and muscle relaxers for sleeping. I used the meds and the sling for about a week. I've been working on mobility, but the strength has not returned yet. I can only do about 5 pushups which is pretty sad as it's been my daily routine for years to do at least 25. I guess I'll have to hold off on the kickboxing class for a bit longer. In the meantime, at least it does't hurt to run.

I tried a new trail this week. An actually new trail, not only new to me. It is a trail that connects two Jefferson County Open Space parks and it's beautiful. A bit on the warm side still (foothills) but will be a great standby that's less than an hour's drive.

Anyhow, I guess I don't write very often these days. Nothing exciting going on.

Greenland Trail

So last week I did one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, physically and mentally. I ran (and walked) 50 kilometers (31 miles) in about 7.5 hours.

Main thought after 5 hours: who pays for this sort of torture?

Because I didn’t know what to expect at aid stations, I brought all my own food. Probably too much, I definitely had a pretty full bag, but it served me well. My stomach was never in trouble. I did have to force myself to eat at regular intervals toward the end, but I was able to keep my energy levels up quite well. I did have to fill my hydration bladder though. And yes, it’s a pain to fill and replace. I can see how hard bottles are easier at aid stations, but the bladder is just so much easier to carry and run with.

My feet were fine! I was so happy. I worried about blisters between my toes, so I brought injinji socks as a backup. I didn’t start with them because the individual toes push my feet just wide enough to crush my pinky toe. I still have a black nail from more than a month ago. I never had to change socks or tape any toes or anything. I did have to dump pebbles out of my shoes from time to time. I like my shoes to be quite loose, so that’s a hazard, but easy to remedy.

The weather was beautiful! It was a tad hot, but not unbearable. It was a bit humid too, but gorgeous. I applied sunscreen before the race, but neglected to bring any along. Luckily the aid station had some and I avoided a burn. It was some sort of very strong "man" scent though. 

The trail was 4 loops of the same course. It got a little draining mentally, especially at the third loop, knowing I’d have to be back again, even more tired. Besides being loops, the trail actually did double back on itself for a short stretch. Getting to that aid station and literally turning around and running the exact same stretch again was rough.

I finished 75^th out of 80 finishers.

I’m not sure how I feel about races. There’s definitely an atmosphere that’s fun, but since I finished so many hours after the winners, everything was packed up and there were only a few people to meet me at the finish. I don’t mind that it wasn’t full of people, but almost all the snacks were gone and it was just sort of sad. I paid the same amount as the others did and I finished in before the cutoff time, but I feel like I missed out a bit at the end.

I was definitely slow, I definitely could have benefited from a lot more training. But I finished, and honestly, for my first ultramarathon and first trail race, that’s all I was hoping for.

When I crossed the finish line I was overcome. It was odd. It was surely mostly due to exhaustion, relief. But I definitely teared up. Someone was handing me a medal. Boyfriend was congratulating me and asking me stuff, someone else was offering water and snacks. I wanted to sit and cry.

Recovery was not bad either. My hips and ankles were sore for a few days, but nothing bad. Now I just need to get back out and keep running. 

Photographer had an emergency, so this is the only photo. Huge smile as I neared the finish. 

I am one month away from my first ultramarathon trail race. It will be only the second official race I've ever done. The first being a 5k obstacle race.

I admit, I haven't been training or eating as well as I should for this race. I've been averaging about 20-25 miles a week, for a month or so, mostly in one long run. Lately my right hip has taken to hurting off an on. Usually the day after a long run, but recently during a run, turning it into a very short run. My web-search of the symptoms turns up that it's likely bursitis from over training. I've gone from doing about 10 miles once a week or so, to 20+ and apparently that's bad.

It's also really discouraging. Running trails is something I need. Something I love. It is one of very few things that clears my mind and puts me almost completely at ease. It is my time for introspection. It is my time to clear my mind of all thoughts.

I'm worried that training for this race, and possibly becoming injured is going to rob me of that clarity that I seek.

I'm going to stop running for a week. Tonight I'll try yoga for the first time (officially). I will work on strength training and stretching. I will try to make this better.

Trail Training

So in just over a month I run my first real trail race. It's a big one. And I'm definitely going to be under-prepared. But so long as I run just fast enough to finish in under 8 hours, all will be well. I trained 2/3 of the distance today. I did manage to stay under the necessary minutes per mile, so that's something. I just hope I can train enough in the coming weeks to be able to sustain that pace.

Here's a nice photo from the trail:

We tried our hand at winter camping. I just really like the desert and I hate the heat so I figured the desert during the winter would be great. And it was! Except at night it was really cold and very little changed that. Lesson learned. Anyhow, we drove to Grand Canyon National Park. We arrived after dark, so our first view was sunrise the next morning. A very nice introduction. Hiking at the Grand Canyon isn't much fun, as it starts on the downhill and ends on the uphill. But we did a couple little jaunts and it was quite nice. On the way back home, we stopped by Monument Valley which was beautiful and camped near the southern entrance to Canyonlands National Park in Utah. That night was probably even colder, but woke to a spectacular sunrise. I was super nice to take a vacation and get away for a bit. I don't think we'll be winter camping again anytime soon, though.

Sunrise on the south rim. 

Desert Watchtower. 

Mittens at Monument Valley

Sunrise near Canyonlands. 

Newspaper Rock. 

New Year New You

... Nah.


I'll just update some of my previous goals.

2017 was a pretty 'meh' year. Not a whole lot happened besides the relative madness that is politics. I did get a new position at the shelter that I still mostly really like, even though it can be super busy/stressful at times. My manager is leaving in a month though, so things could take a drastic turn. I don't know how I feel about all of that.

I finished paying of my student loans, so that's cool.

I signed up for my first official trail race in May. I decided to go all in and do a 50k. It's at Greenland Open Space, which is a trail I'm very familiar with. It's mostly flat and I'm hopeful that I'll finish. Gotta get on the training though! My days off are Sunday, Monday and Thursday, so no more "Trail Tuesday."

This year my modest goals are to get out of the country, run some more, maybe buy a house?

Still have the cute and broken foster dog. I really want to know the person who adopts him. He's just a neat dog. That said, I want him to be done with foster and all healed up, because he's pretty annoying in the house with all the cat chasing and not-quite-trained-ness.