Any time I can use lyrics from '80's or '90's music in life I get happy! This particular song was in my head the ENTIRE time I ran yesterday.

How happy are you that the hill of awesomeness times three is over?!?  I have never run the Summer Roundup before so I'm not sure what the course was like in past years.  All I know is that 3 times up that hill made me feel like a champion!!

I started out the evening before the race getting the "pre-race" jitters. No matter what, even if I tell myself a million times in a row that I'm just going to do a little fun run the next day, I always get those jitters. I went to the Full Moon Run with my fellow Brewers Cup teams and got to see a few Marmots there!  It was good to see teammates of all kinds! I woke up super early Saturday morning and was ready to go.  I got to the Norris Penrose Center and I was amazed to see how many people were attending the race! I don't know why that always impresses me, but I was duly impressed again at sheer numbers. I made it to the start line and caught up with a few fellow Marmots.  Before I knew it I was running along with all of the wonderful running souls who came out that day to conquer Bear Creek. The first lap felt great!  I don't often run Bear Creek, but I must say, that little part of the route in the shade right before the bridge was just lovely! I am also happy to report that I did not see any snakes, as I often do when I ride or run in Bear Creek. I feel as though I owe a thank you to those who ran much faster than me for this. I believe that you all scared the snakes away from the trail for me. On lap number 2 I got to run with fellow Marmot Don Sanborn for a while. He caught up me and gave me what we now deem the official and very secret "Marmot whistle call" to let me know a fellow Marmot is near. Next year I suppose we will have to share this very secret call with the 2018 team.  I was able to keep up with Don for a little while, and then he scurried away in true Marmot fashion when I got some water at one of our wonderful aid stations! Big shout out to Shae Lipsey Comstock for being the best supporter ever and cheering all of the Marmots on during the race. She is credited with the photo of Don and me running. The one in the upper left corner of this very page. I was also super surprised and happy to see my coach, Tracy Thelen, stop by and cheer me and her other clients on during the race. I love so much that our community is so supportive!! Lap 3 was uneventful, thank goodness. I was just happy to finish it all and have minimal ankle complaints.

I had resigned myself to maintain 10:00 miles, and I thought I would have to struggle to get to that. My running has suffered a bit lately due to life stuff getting in the way of me being able to train the way I want to.  However, according to the ever so popular Strava, all of my miles, save for Mile 4 and Mile 6, were in the 9:20-9:40 ish range. I didn't feel like running this pace was a struggle either! Granted, the hills were challenging, but I felt good during the whole race! Cheers to bits of progression. I'm still WAY OFF from where I think I should be pace wise.  I mean really, it would be spectacular to be comfortable at 7 Min miles again one day, but instead of getting all wrapped up in that thinking, I'm just going to celebrate coming in a bit faster than I thought I would!! So, woo hoo for that! (I would insert a Marmot whistle here but it won't come across well trying to spell out that sound).

Next on my agenda: Let's get ready for the Ascent!!! It's the big one!! I'm going to be spending as much time up high as I can, and getting in lots of foot time. I am also going to participate in the race that started me on this trail running journey, the Xterra Trail Run in Castle Rock, on 6 August. I'm approaching my one year anniversary of being a bona fide trail runner!!  I hope to run into lots of you on the trails in Colorado Springs!!!

I'm also really trying to hone in the proper nutrition for me. It seems lately that my body is rejecting all of my old methods, so I'm starting from scratch and experimenting with food and hydration techniques.

If any of you out there has suggestions for breakfast, hydration, and fueling during long stretches of running, let me know. I'm an open book right now, as my body seems to be rebelling against me no matter what I'm doing.

Thank you again to our awesome sponsors, the volunteers, and the race directors for all of the hard work that you put in to making the Summer Roundup, and the whole Triple Crown such a great success!!

Soon, so soon, I shall be sharing tales of triumph and intrigue, of battles and peace, of joy and agony, as I count down these remaining 40 days until the Pikes Peak Ascent!!!