Chasing My Joy

My journey to becoming an Ultra Runner and Ironman

Archives for June 2017

Weekly Rundown – Leadville Silver Rush 50 Peak Week 2

I will admit that last week felt really difficult and it seemed really challenging to get the miles in that I wanted. As much as I would like to always be consistent and effortlessly bang out 70 mile weeks, getting in 60 miles took all of my will power.

Cannon came down with a virus on Wednesday and was fighting a fever through Sunday. I can’t complain since Cannon is normally such a good sleeper but he was really not feeling well and woke up about every two hours. I think I averaged between 3-4 hours of sleep a night. Poor little guy had such a sore throat it would wake him up and made him miserable. I tried to keep up on my running but on Thursday all I wanted to do was be with and try to comfort him. There definitely are priorities in life and Cannon comes WAY above running or any race.

Cannon’s fever broke on Sunday and is feeling much better, so now just two more big weeks before taper!

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Monday:  Unplanned rest day. I had hoped to get a few miles in after the 50k over the weekend but life got in the way, I had a lot to do for work.

Sweet Boy

Tuesday: 4 miles in the morning, up with the sun, then 4 more miles on the treadmill in the evening after Cannon went to sleep.

 Sunrise, Run, Morning Run

Wednesday: 5 miles that felt like garbage, lack of sleep was already starting to get to me. Strength training in the evening.

Thursday: Nothing, just cuddles with Cannon after a particularly difficult night.

Friday: Cory had Friday off so I had more time to get out on a run. I didn’t want to lose much time with Cannon so I got up early and drove to Heil Ranch to get some trail time for 19 miles. Even starting early it was HOT. Summer comes on fast here in Colorado.

Trail Run, Heil Ranch, Trail

Saturday: We spent the morning taking Cannon into the doctor since he had a fever for over three days, he was diagnosed with a virus. We ruled out Strep so there wasn’t much to do other than try to keep him comfortable and hydrated. Both Cory and I wanted to get runs in so after Cannon went to bed for the evening Cory headed out for 21 miles around the neighborhood while I took the monitor down to the basement treadmill. I finished my run around 9:45. I grabbed a cheese stick for dinner and passed out.

Sunday: Again I wanted to get my run done early so I could have more family time. When my alarm went off at 4am I wasn’t feeling very enthusiastic. I got some coffee in my system and forced myself out of the door. The first mile was a death march but after getting warmed up I settled into the run. I am so lucky to have nice trails very close to my house that make these runs easier to get done. I got in 20 miles to top off the week, then spent the rest of the day with my family.

Totals:

Running: 60.2 miles, the goal was 65 but I feel good about what I was able to fit in while still caring for Cannon as best I could. Now that Cannon is feeling better I am hoping for 70+ miles this week, again there will be challenges since Cannon’s birthday is on Saturday (How is he going to be 1 already?!?!?!?!?) and Father’s Day on Sunday. Wish me luck!

Colorado Marathon Race Report – 2017

Back in May, Cory, Cannon and I packed up and headed North to Fort Collins. I signed up for the Colorado Marathon as a catered training day in preparation for Leadville Silver Rush. I have completed this marathon twice before in 2011 (my first marathon!) and 2013 and love it. It was a little sad heading out to the buses without Cory as we ran this race together in 2011 and 2013. But I was excited to get to see him and Cannon around mile 20.

For the Colorado Marathon you are required to pick up your race packet on Friday or Saturday before the race on Sunday. Fort Collins is about an hour north of where we live so it wouldn’t be too terrible to dive up and back twice but my brother lives in Fort Collins so it was fun to just crash with him overnight. Packet pick up was smooth and easy this year. There is a very small expo where you could pick up anything you might need for race day. Easy in and out without much excitement.

Marathon, Colorado, Colorado Marathon

The Colorado Marathon in a point to point race so they load all the runners up on nice tour buses and drive you up the Poudre Canyon. I was lucky enough to sit by a really fun family of a father and his daughters who were running the race together. It was nice to chat with them and tell them a bit about the race. This year the weather was much warmer than it has been in past years so I was way overdressed for the morning wait for the race start. The race organizers provide a bag drop so you can send all your morning things down to the finish. I got to the start area about an hour before the start time so I took my time milling around and waiting in line for the bathrooms.

Colorado Marathon Start

Sunrise in the canyon

Soon enough we lined up for the start, ready to get the party started.

The first 10 miles are my favorite part of the race, you run down the canyon, right next to the river through the pine trees, it feels amazing.

In years past the early miles have just clicked by without any effort. This year after just a couple miles I already felt a little tired. I could really feel the lack of taper but I was having fun regardless, I just kept reminding myself that it was a training run and just to take it easy. Since I wasn’t racing I decided to wear my hydration pack as that is what I will be using for my summer races.

We passed the half-way mark and made our way out of the canyon and started making our way towards town.  My brother and parents were waiting for me at about mile 18, it was such a great lift to see them. Cory and Cannon were waiting for me a little further along, it was the best thing to see my little guy.

The last few miles meander into town on a bike path, it’s still nice but as usual the last 6 miles of a marathon feel long. The last mile seemed to go on FOREVER, and according to my watch the course was half a mile long, guess I need to work on running the tangents LOL.

I was happy to cross the finish line and make some deposits in the training bank for the Leadville Silver Rush 50. After finishing we all headed to The Rio for Mexican food and margaritas. Last year we all came out to cheer my mom on when she ran the Colorado Marathon, it’s become a tradition that we head to The Rio, I was almost 9 months pregnant last year so there was no margarita for me. This year I so enjoyed having my margarita and celebrating with my family. Cannon was a champ, but really tied after his morning of cheering, he cuddled with his Grandpa during lunch.

Cannon LOVES his Grandpa!!!

And with that, marathon #6 in the books, I love this race, I hope to run it many more times in the future. Maybe even with my kids one day just like the Dad I met on the bus on the way to the start….life goals.

Three years of the Colorado Marathon

Weekly Rundown – Ultramarathon Week!

It’s been a while since I posted a weekly rundown, the week of my ultramarathon seems like a good time to bring it back to life. The last I updated this I ran the Desert Rats Trail Marathon since then I have been trying to keep my milage up but I haven’t  gotten the time in that I would like.

Last week I didn’t mean to taper for my 50k, I was hoping to keep my milage high, but my mental game wasn’t strong and with summer semester starting I let it slip. Just five weeks until Leadville Silver Rush so I have about 3 weeks to keep the pressure on, then taper.

As usual I am linking up with Jessie at The Right Fits and Jess Runs ATL to recap last weeks training.

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Monday:  On Memorial Day Cory and I decided to take Cannon for a hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. We hiked up to Emerald lake, it was beautiful, but the trails were mostly still covered in snow. I was so glad that Cory thought to pack our Yak-tracks.

Tuesday: 6.7 mile run a 1,000 meter swim, I am so happy that our neighborhood pool has opened for the summer.

Trying to decide if I remember how to swim…

Wednesday: Nothing, sad……but it was the first class of the semester, which is always crazy so I am going to give myself a pass.

Thursday: 3 miles on the treadmill, nothing exciting.

Friday: Nothing again, my father had hip replacement surgery, everything went well but I wanted to visit him and prep for my race.

Saturday: North Fork 50k!!! About 33 miles of gorgeous miles. More details coming soon in a race report so for now I will just say that this is an amazing race and you should totally do it! The weather was perfect and I had a great time.

Sunday: Nothing again, we spent the day celebrating Mother’s Day with my mom. She was off riding bikes in Tuscany in May so we all celebrated her in June.

 

Totals:

Running: 42.6 miles

Swimming: 1,000 meters, impressive, no?

This weeks goal is 65 miles, let’s see if we can make this happen!