Chasing My Joy

My journey to becoming an Ultra Runner and Ironman

  • Home
  • About
  • Current Gear
  • Race Reports
  • Pregnancy//Baby
  • Travel
  • Bucket List
  • Hikes

Archives for December 2013

December 31, 2013

A Look Back at 2013 in Photos

As I wrote about in my last post 2013 was not my favorite year. Looking back is still fun and while the day to day was a little stressful there were some big sparkly moments that were great and I am sure in a few years I will remember the big highs more than anything else. So here’s a look back at 2013:

January started out with our traditional News Year Day Hungover Half (my families self run half marathon, so fun)
DSCN7725.JPG
And a trip to Miami to run the ING Miami half marathon
DSCN7746.JPG
February was pretty mellow with lots of training on snowy trails and time on the trainer
DSCN7757.JPG
March took us to Cabo San Lucas to celebrate 10 years of being together.
cabo Beach.jpg
As a happy accident Ironman Los Cabos was running while we were there and we got to watch the race, probably my favorite part of our vacation.
IMG_0954.JPG
In April we took our first long training weekend in Moab and had a blast!
IMAG0354.jpg
May was running our second open marathon togetherDSCN8128.JPG
And had me headed to Baja Mexico for work
DSCN8567.JPG
June was fun and exciting with lots of training, my mom’s first triathlon and a half ironman for me.
DSCN8621.JPG

DSCN8652.JPG
July started with a trip to the Oregon Coast, one of my favorite places in the world.
IMG_1165.jpg

DSCN8731.JPG
and finished with lots of climbing mountains
DSCN8815.JPG
In August we raced Ironman Boulder 70.3 to PRs for both Cory and me
IMG_0196.JPG
Then Dad and Cory took third overall for relays at Boulder Sunset triathlon. They took third even through dad did the bike AND run! I was so proud. Mom took first in her age group but I didn’t get a photo =(
IMG_0343.JPG
IMG_0356.jpg
September was a great month, Cory took 8th overall and first in his age group at the Denver Trail Half Marathon
IMG_0398.jpg
Then we all headed to Lake Tahoe for my second Ironman, while it was difficult I am proud that I finished!
IMG_1263.JPG
October was pretty low key running lots of trails, one half marathon and a work trip to Ohio
201312310847.jpg
November came and went quickly ending with our traditional family Turkey Trot
IMG_0711.jpg
December didn’t have any racing for me, but lots of food, family and fun.
IMG_0872.JPG
We end the year on an upswing with a new job for Cory and putting our house on the market to move north. Packing isn’t my favorite but I am so excited to get into a new house, new city, new start.

Happy New Year everyone, have a safe fun night!

Posted by bethcurtis 3 Comments
Filed Under: Uncategorized

December 26, 2013

Transitions

Well hello! Its been quite around here with my focus on Christmas, family and other life changes, but we will get to all of that. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season celebrating with their families. I Had a wonderful Christmas that left my little heart bursting with joy and love.

Christmas pups.JPG

I will admit that 2013 hasn’t been the easiest year for me . Nothing tragic or unmanageable, just more stressful than past years so I won’t shed a tear to see it go and start fresh in a week. I also have had a few significant changes in the last couple weeks, it feels like a great transition to 2014.

I haven’t really talked about it here to respect my husbands privacy but he is the most open and honest person I know so it wasn’t really necessary. Cory was laid off from the company he was with for over seven years in May and diligently searched for a job for over seven months, about two weeks ago he finally heard that he got a job that he really wanted, it was the best Christmas gift we could have asked for.

After Cory started his new job with a hellish commute to Boulder we finally decided to put our Denver house on the market so we could move out of the city. We still love our little 1928 tudor house but finally agreed that it was worth it to move to make commuting easier for Cory as well as having some more modern luxuries (AC, decent closets, master bathroom, storage, etc). The biggest reason we would like to move is lifestyle, we really like to ride our bikes out the door of our home and run on trails. This is hard to do in the heart of Denver so we are looking to move closer to Boulder back roads with great trails. I am very excited about this change but getting our house on the market and selling it will take some work. Showing a home with three dogs and a crazy schedule would just not work so we will be moving out in a week and a half.

Another big change for 2014 will be a new coach for me. I really love my former coach and will still work with him in group workouts but I missed the boat to individually train with him again this year. I gave up the expense of a coach after Ironman Lake Tahoe, but after Cory found a job and a lackluster fall of self coaching I was in the market for a coach again. Not surprisingly a lot of coaches in Colorado are full up with it being so late and so many local athletes signed up for IM Boulder. So I researched and thought a lot about my options and I think I have found the perfect fit. I am very excited and think this change will be really great for me, sometimes a change is just what I need to push me out of my comfort zone. I will let you in on who my new coach will be after we sign all the docs and get going but I am ecstatic to get to work with her.

A lot of new things coming in the next month or so, new schedule, new coach, new commute, new home, new gym, new neighborhood, the list goes on. So 2013 will end on an upswing that will hopefully propel us into a wonderful 2014.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying some time off!

Posted by bethcurtis 5 Comments
Filed Under: Uncategorized

December 3, 2013

Gift Ideas for Runners

Gift Ideas for Runners
1. Lululemon Speed Tight *cozy – I resisted buying Lulu for a long time, it seemed ridiculously expensive. That went out the window when I finally got some shorts as a gift and I realized how much more comfortable Lulu is than other brands. I even ran Tahoe’s marathon in Lululemon Capri’s, they were amazing with no chafing, love them! These tights are lined and perfect for winter, I wear them all the time.

2. Smart Wool gloves that have touch screen capabilities that are great for Garmin operation as well as instagramming your favorite trail

3. Petzl Headlamp great for evening runs when there is little daylight, or if you have an ultra runner on your list the NAO is supposed to be amazing.

4. A foam roller can be the difference between a PR and an injury, I have had my trigger point roller for years and it hasn’t broken down at all. Now if I could get someone to do the rolling for me…..

5. A Garmin 910XT is a great watch for any triathlete or runner, I have the 410 and it’s great but even with a full charge it has died on me, the 910 offers more battery power.

6. Everyone needs to hydrate on runs, even in the winter, this Nathan Hydration Vest makes it easy.

7. Give your favorite runner a nice way to display all the race bling!

What’s on your list?


Posted by bethcurtis 4 Comments
Filed Under: Uncategorized

December 3, 2013

Training For a Hot Race in Winter – Four Months To Go

In (a little less than) Four short months I will be toeing the line at Ironman Los Cabos. It doesn’t feel real yet, it’s NEXT year, it will be warm, it’s a triathlon, and it’s clearly not triathlon season in Colorado (hello lowof -8).

IMAG0310.jpg

But 4 months is not a lot of time and will go by quickly, I need to keep my focus and eyes on the prize. I try to think about warm(isn)aqua ocean water, palm tress and margaritas.

IMG_0975.JPG

My training plan is very similar to my last two ironmans, I am just hoping that I won’t have to spend too much time on the trainer and treadmill (I will run in snow but ice is another thing). The new things I hope to start incorporating some heat training. I have done a little research on how to train for a race in warm conditions over winter. Starting in January I will start:

  • Going to hot yoga to get my body used to moving in the heat
  • sitting in the sauna after swims for increasing amounts of time.
  • No fan or open windows while on the trainer
  • Overdressing for runs

Other than that I think I will just have to gut it out. Regardless, I am excited to head to mexico to race towards the end of a long, cold winter.

Have any additional tips? Have you ever races in the heat after training in the cold?

I haven’t really but I did train in the heat to race in the ridged cold in Tahoe, I guess that doesn’t hep me here.

Posted by bethcurtis 3 Comments
Filed Under: Ironman, Ironman Los Cabos

Meet Beth

Follow

Search

Instagram

Follow on Instagram

Tag Cloud

Baby Baby Update Book Nook Bumpdate Cannon Disney Disneyland Emerald Europe Family Family Adventure Favorites Friday Favorites Gear Goals Hike Hikes Holidays Ironman Ironman Canada Ironman Training Kids Hikes Marathon Marathon Training Moab Monthly Update National Park pregnancy Project 366 race report Races Run run streak trail race trail running training Travel Ultra Ultra Training Ultramarathon Update updates Utah Weekly Recap Weekly Rundown

Monthly Archives

  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • August 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • May 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • May 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010

Easy Instagram

Loading...

Instagram Slider

Theme by 17th Avenue · Powered by WordPress & Genesis