What an amazing day! Yesterday I attempted one of the most difficult things I've ever physically done before....The Pikes Peak Ascent (a half marathon to the top of Pikes Peak, ending at an elevation of 14,114 with 7,815 ft. vertical gain). 

I've been training for this race for the past year. Literally.  

And I was chosen to represent PikesPeakSports.us as part of their purple…

As the Ascent is now just a week away, CJ and I decided to get some more high altitude training in before the big day.

CJ heard the Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp offered an A-frame you could rent near the Crags.  He booked us a night there last night.  It was rustic but nicer than we…

It feels like I have been training for the Pikes Peak Ascent since last Fall.  

Oh...it's because I have. :)

First, I had to qualify by running a half marathon.  I trained last fall and ran the Denver Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon last October.  

From there, I have had my eyes fixed on one main goal....finishing the Pikes Peak Ascent August 16, 2014.  I can't believe race day is just a week from tomorrow!  Wow!

When training for a big…

The Ascent is less than a month away.  After my training run to Barr Camp last week, I now have more confidence I can finish the race in the cutoff time.

I usually set three goals for big races:  one I should be able to meet, one that would stretch me a little, and one that is my BIG goal.  Here are my goals for the Ascent:

1. Finish the race before the cutoff times (Barr Camp - 3 hrs, A Frame 4:15, Finish 6:30)
2. Finish in 5:30
3. Finish in…

I've heard about going up to Barr Camp for years now.  It's a very common training route for those getting ready for Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon.

But, until today, I had not done the full route from base of mountain to Barr Camp.  I did take the cog once last year to Mountain View, stopped by Barr Camp en route to the Peak.

I've run to the top of the W's several times.  I've done a workout at the top of the Peak to treeline (top 3 miles).  But, I hadn't been…

With the Ascent less than 6 weeks away, I have to admit I'm starting to get a little nervous.

My biggest fear?

Not finishing in the cutoff time and therefore not officially finishing the Ascent.  

Although I am NOT fast, I am in pretty good shape right now.  Even with power hiking most of the course, I think I should have no problem finishing in the cutoff.

However, there are a few things that could happen.…

As the Pikes Peak Ascent race is just over 6 weeks away, I decided to spend some time on my race strategy this week.

I first looked at the course on the Pikes Peak Marathon website.

This map shows the mileage, elevation, and aid stations along the race…

When I applied to be part of the PikesPeakSports.us Triple Crown team, Tim Bergsten mentioned there would be instant celebrity wearing the infamous purple and gold singlets of the team.  

Little did I know how this would be true for me.

After finishing the first race of the Triple Crown, the GOG 10 miler, my friend Kristina Tabares informed me…

I read the book, "Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less" by Greg McKeown this past weekend.  It is more of a business book, but really got me thinking about life in general.  He talks about how we often get caught up in doing so many things, we aren't really effective at any of them.  

He also talked about the importance of play.  

Yes, you read that right.  Play.  All work and no play is actually not good for us.

I was thinking of this…

Injuries.

They happen to even the best of runners. However, how do you respond when injuries come your way?

Do you...

1.) Ignore the pain and continue to run through?

Or

2.) Listen to your body and allow yourself to heal?

Chronic Injuries

I…

Whether you are winning your age group or simply finishing a race, I believe it is important to celebrate your accomplishments.  

Lately I've been thinking about this as we have an entire fireplace mantle FULL of my husband's running awards.  He is a gifted runner and works hard.  I am very proud of all he has accomplished.

I did…

What is the #1 key to running faster and reaching new PR's?

I recently asked my running friends this question and here were the replies I received...

• "Above all else, consistency is king." - Dan Angeles
• "Milage cures all." - Andy Rinne
• "Don't get injured. And what Dan said." - Shannon Payne
• "Consistent speed work." - Korina Nalbach
• "Two Little Debbie snack cakes right before the workout!! Sorry...couldn't help…

Someone asked me this week at the BRC Wednesday night group run if I wanted to run the Garden of the Gods 10 miler for a certain time. Since I have been running the course, I do have a general time in mind that I will aim for during the race.

However, it got me to thinking about this question:

When racing, should you run by pace or effort?

For me, it all depends. Previous to this past year, I ran mostly road 5k's. During…

Although I have run in some capacity for the past 21+ years, I have NOT consider myself a serious runner. I did some training for a half marathon in 2010; but until I decided to try to qualify for (and finish) the Pikes Peak Ascent this year, I was not running very consistently and definitely was not doing any long runs.

However, once I found out I was chosen for the PPS…

Running can be a very mental sport.  Those who finish races usually have some degree of mental toughness.  There are many barriers you have to push through and obstacles you have to overcome in order to succeed in running.

Henry Ford said, "Whether you think you can or you think you can't you're probably right."

This week I had a major mental obstacle to overcome leading…

"Hills are speedwork in disguise." ~Frank Shorter

My husband (and coach), CJ, has told me for months that a hill workout is similar to a speed workout. Hill training is great for your lungs and your legs. As I plan to do a couple of hilly races this summer and one race with one very big hill (the Ascent), I realize hill workouts will become a regular…

As part of the PPS Triple Crown team, I will be running three tough races this summer...

1. The Garden of the Gods 10 Mile Run
2. Summer Roundup 12k
3. And the infamous Pikes Peak…

My husband, CJ, is definitely a "front of the pack" runner and I love cheering him on! Our fireplace mantle is full of his running awards and I am so proud of all he has achieved. Because he is a fairly fast runner, many of our friends are fast "front of the pack" runners as well.

However, I tend to be more of a "middle of the pack" runner.

It is in this "middle of the pack" where I am joined by so many. And with a lot of hard work, I am improving. Honestly, I…

Last year I hiked several times on the Barr Trail, whether it was hiking back down from the infamous incline or actually hiking to the summit of Pike's Peak.  This year the Barr Trail has a much different meaning to me as I will be running in the Ascent.  Well, I'm not sure I will be running...it might be more of a power hike most of the time. ;)  

However, between now and race day on August 16th, I'll be spending a lot of time on this trail.  

But I don't mind.  At…

I will be honest. I am a "middle of the pack" runner. Granted, as I have gotten more consistent, I have improved. However, I don't know that I'll ever win a race and very rarely will I place for my age group (especially while living in Colorado Springs with so many fast runners).

Now, don't get me wrong. I love to win. I'm not super competitive when it comes to sports, but I do like…