This is me on my first trip to Barr camp for the season this past Sunday. (Please excuse the overexposure. With my pack loaded up with avocados for Neil and Teresa, the caretakers of the camp, I had no room for a camera besides my cell phone.) I went with Josh, Ramsey, and Brian, three friends from the Attack Pack. I was pretty tired that morning, for a couple of reasons, so I didn't do much running on the way up.

Why hadn't I made it farther up the trail than the top of the Incline before now? Any number of reasons. I have a job that can demand long hours, I have a boyfriend, I like to travel, I like beer, all my friends are getting married, sometimes I get lazy, and on and on.

I wasn't worried about my lack of Barr Trail time so far this year until Ramsey emailed the group looking to schedule a Peak run, and I started looking at the calendar.

Because of my regular Tuesday/Thursday morning run routine with the Pack, I know I'll be ready for the Garden of the Gods 10-miler and the Summer Roundup. I ran the Summer Roundup last year, so I've got a handle on it.

It's the marathon that's concerning me. Not just any marathon (which is a feat in and of itself). THE marathon.

When I began this endeavor, I had a grand vision of all the weekend runs I would knock out to fortify my legs for 13+ miles of downhill torture: 3-2-1s. Runs to A-Frame and back. Elk Park. Bottomless Pit. Hitching a ride to the top and running all the way down. But between backpacking trips, family vacations, and the never-ending weddings slowly filling up my weekends, I know now that I have to make the most of the days at home.

I'm not expecting to be competitive at the marathon by a long shot, but I would like to finish the thing with a smile on my face and not in a wheelchair. August 19 will be here so quickly. Several of my fellow PikesPeakSports.us Triple Crown Runners teammates have echoed these thoughts. Anybody else freaking out a little bit? Any advice?