So in the last week I've managed to run in about every condition the sky can offer. Up to Barr camp last Saturday with an early AM run in shorts, T shirt and lots of sun screen. One early week day ran with some snow and wind, and this mornings run in GOG was a misty kind of rain. Got to love Colorado weather.

Going up to Barr camp was a reminder of how beautiful a day could be- blue sky, a bit of a breeze, and not too many people on the trail. Trotting up, with the dog doing laps back…

What does 30 women, sweet sticky single track, and hot bikes equal? The first  Women's Mountain Biking Association of COS group ride of 2011, that's what!

The first ride was held at RROS (Red…

To follow up on the above caption, it should be mentioned that this is my first attempt at any type of "social networking",

so, please bear with......

First off, a somewhat expanded bio - started running and racing 35 years ago (at age 43) and did 5K-10mile road races for the first few years (actually for over a decade!) training regularly with he Buffalo Chips R.C. in Sacramento, CA.  At the time, I thought that anyone that ran farther was out of their mind!  In 1989…

As an athlete do you want to be able to go faster, improve your results in a race, or see your performance go to the next level?  If so, you need to add speed-work to your training regimen.  Speed-work, interval training, or anaerobic energy system training are basically the same thing.  The idea behind these forms of training is to improve your body's physiological response…

CALL FOR ARTISTS

7th ANNUAL ROLL BIKE EXHIBITION



The Business of Art Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is hosting a juried national exhibition of artwork for the 7th ANNUAL ROLL BIKE EXHIBITION, an exhibition of artwork in all mediums and concerning any themes around bikes and bike life.  This year’s theme is "Lucky #7."

Exhibition dates:  Aug. 19 – Oct. 2, 2011. 

Opening Reception:  Friday, Aug. 26, 5 - 9 PM.

 

This exhibit will explore themes…

     Okay, so its possible I my have fudged that quote just a little, but its true nevertheless. And in this week's blog, "setting running free" is my euphemism for CROSS-TRAINING. 

     I've never been real good with goodbyes. In fact, I have a distinct memory of childhood me stowing away in the trunk of the family van while my parents packed up to leave my grandparents' house. "If they can't find me, they won't leave. We'll get to stay with grammy and gramps forever!" Upon being…

I posted the first of what I hope will be many videos last night. It's funny, I thought it was 6:30; it was more like 8:30. I'm happy with my pace but am feeling it a bit today.

I have Coach Chris Bittinger helping me work on a plan.

My goal is to knock out the Garden of the Gods 10 Mile in less than 9:00/mile so that I can get into the first wave of the…

This is it...this is the year I start working to be fast like I used to. The last few years I had been working a difficult job that required overnight hours. Needless to say, physical activity was hard to keep up because I was asleep most of the days. The job ( I was a mental health/ drug and alcohol counselor) was rewarding and I helped a lot of people through their darkest days, but being in inpatient treatment left me feeling burnt out. I am in the process of rethinking what I want to do…

I am really good at registering for races.  I mean REALLY good.  Running is playtime with my friends.  Often before the sun comes up I get to spend hours with anywhere from one to ten amazingly talented and incredibly entertaining runners.  So when one of them sends me a link to a run that’s new to me or looks like fun I find it really difficult to say no.  In fact, unless I already have a race that day I don’t say no.  The problem with that is often the training is quite different and…

Somewhere during the eight miles at Garden of the Gods I decided I didn't like how my shoe was tied.

My right shoe, to be exact. It seemed to put pressure on some small bone that I never paid much attention to until today.

I kept running, wiggled my foot to see if it would alleviate the issue, and contemplated my options. Stop and retie, keep going and suck it in, keep wiggleing and adjusting my footplant to see if i could avoid stopping. I'm not fond of blisters, and…

     Be Here Now. Its a mantra that crept its way into my head after listening to a Mason Jennings song years ago. Since then, I've also been periodically reminded of this exact phrase in the not-so-routine yoga classes that I frequent. At first glance, its a simple idea. However consistent application, like Othello (a board game I grew up playing with my brother) "takes a minute to learn, a lifetime to master." At times, my stream of consciousness at work seems to align most closely with…

Just back from the Tour of the Gila.

This was a great race, well staffed and

well organized.  Not to mention they had

plenty of porta-potties located in various

locations.  I volunteered at the Crit on

Saturday in downtown Silver City.  Check…

Forty days.

It's almost biblical in tone. In 40 days I'll be standing in a throng of people wondering if there Reese's Cup station somehwere along the Garden of the Gods 10 Mile Run. It's the first in the Triple Crown of Running series that culminates in the Pikes Peak Ascent/Marathon.

"Why are you doing this?" my wife…

The owners of Boulder Running Company threw a "Halfway Mark" party for the Women's FIT Team this past Friday.  I passed up an Artwalk at Cottonwood, a fundraising banquet for Northern Churches Care, and an Art Auction Dinner for the Alzheimer's Association to go hang out with my fellow runners.  It's so hard to believe we're halfway there already!

I was able…

As I get more fitness-oriented, I'm always looking for new ways to incorporate exercise into my daily regimen.  I recently dusted off my bicycle, bought some new gear for it, and am using in on my cross-training days.  However, with the price of gas these days, I decided I'd start riding my bike to work and got permission from my boss to park my bike in our warehouse on days I feel motivated to ride.

I'll be biking along the Pikes Peak Greenway in the…

Six in the morning sure comes early on a Saturday, but I guess that's the price I pay for being part of a running training team.  Small price, especially since this first-time-runner has no idea what she's doing and needs all the help she can get.  That's not to say I haven't overslept a time or two, but I'm looking forward to getting my Saturday mornings back.

So far, our women's team has trained on the Austin Bluffs Trail (I ran/walked 3 miles our first week) behind Boulder…

When deciding if a project has been a success, most people often ask for the numbers: 

What is your control? 

What is the end result? 

Are those the results we're looking for? 

How can we improve the numbers? 

Based on what direction the project was designed to go, the bigger the difference between the starting point to the…

April 10, 2011, signaled a huge accomplishment for me:  it was the one-year-anniversary that I joined Weight Watchers and started down the road of my new Fitness Journey.  The day gave me a chance to analyze the past 12 months, and not just in terms of a number on the scale.  In the past, I usually quit after I reached a certain amount of weight or specific length of time…

Moving along the trails behind the resevoir I follow my mini Aussie. He scrambles back and forth, impatient with my slow pace, but ready to humor me if it means we get to run where he can be off leash. He is a great running companion. I get to think my thoughts and enjoy the trails while he adventures .

My musings circle and move around as quickly as he does, but eventually settle. I'm here.  Its a beautiful Colorado morning. I haven't fallen on some mysterious rock or branch…