tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39152731294635731492024-03-13T20:39:44.569-07:00twenty six point two, etc."your legs will get heavy and tired; then comes the moment of feeling the wings you've grown, lifting"
Love the 26.2heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349210793550020751noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915273129463573149.post-90692350976870424582012-04-29T18:29:00.000-07:002012-04-29T18:29:11.623-07:00SWEEP!Before I get to our ladies' 2nd podium sweep this year (the first was at the Valentine's Day 5k), I have to note that I was on the news! I've been on the news before, but in the past it's been seconds after I cross the finish line and I have sweat stinging my eyes and my brain is totally fried so anything I say could be questionable (when I won my first marathon I told the news I drank a lot in college...?). This time I got to do a sit down interview in a studio with time to fix my hair and put on mascara and overall appear to be somewhat put together. It was a really fun opportunity and I'm stoked that Channel 7 wanted to talk to me! And I don't even sound stupid: <a href="http://www.thedenverchannel.com/video/30971262/index.html">http://www.thedenverchannel.com/video/30971262/index.html</a> (I'm just doing the half this year, in case that was misleading - leaving the full up to Nicole Chyr!! Course record!!!)<br />
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Okay. On to today's glory. Today was the nation's largest 5 mile race - the Cherry Creek Sneak! I, for whatever reason, was not looking forward to this, then got really nervous, then just wanted to go home. I felt tired and scared (?) and not into it. But got my head together for what I think was my best performance of the year. I started just a smidge too fast, thinking I might catch up to my f'ing ridiculously fast teammate Kara Lubieniecki... ha! Psych. I told myself to chill out and focus on a good time because a win was NOT happening today. I was afraid that my start would ruin things later, and maybe it did a little, but I kept it under control and stayed strong and steady the whole race. Another teammate who's super tough to beat, miss Kelsey Jones, passed me around mile 1.5 (and actually my first thought there was "i need to start working out more" 'cause she is FIT) but I let her go and focused on my own race. Staying fairly even, I ran with Dan Spale for a bit and then slowly worked my way to yet another teammate, Jeanne Cooper. She was staying really strong, too, but aparently she raced yesterday as well... She was a little worn and I was lucky :) I passed her around mile 4 and, for the very first time this year, kept a solid pace for the last mile. It was slightly uphill and I could feel the work I was putting in, but, again, felt like I was in control and stayed focused on the finish. Kara won, Kelsey was second, I was third, and Jeanne was 5th (nipped by the speedy Christie Foster in the end, nice work to both of them!). Roost swept the podium and grabbed four of the top five places! I'm not disappointed I didn't win, I'm really really happy with the way this race went. I haven't felt this strong all year and am really glad to see my mental game coming together.<br />
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On the men's side, our guy Keith Solverson was back to defend his win this year and just barely missed it. What a battle he and the winner had going - matching each other stride for stride up til the very last second! I know what it's like to not win a race you really really want to so I hope he knows his performance was top notch and we're all still super proud of him! Tyler rounded out the top five, and looked mighty hot doing it (this course has a few turn-arounds, which, while painful, do allow for some good viewing opportunities)! Here are the results: <a href="http://results.active.com/pages/searchform.jsp?rsID=127117">http://results.active.com/pages/searchform.jsp?rsID=127117</a><br />
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This race has become more competitive over the past few years and it's great to see our team keeping up with (and, um, passing) the competition!<br />
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Native Eyewear marketing maven Jax is finishing up her 365-day running mission (which is super impressive) and ran the 5k today - racing without a single day's rest this year!! My friend Charles Hillig won the 5k ("did you annihilate it?" "yes") and my former teammate and 2:43 marathoner/2nd American at Chicago won the 10 mileer. (Tristan Mitchell, who's on his way to a rockin' race at the Colfax Marathon, ran a great 10 miler, too, but I didn't check the complete results...)<br />
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More than anything, I really needed to have some validation that running a smart race is worth it. I tend to get nervous and want to fight for the win right off the bat. I have the Greenland Trail 25k next Saturday, which is on a challenging course. I really want a course record there and I know it's possible but now, I have a better idea of how to attack it. As in, don't try 5:30 for the first mile. If I can stay strong but conservative the first half, I'll have it in me to push the start of the second half (a lovely uphill stretch for 5 miles) and crush the last 3 miles (downhill!). I can't wait! Til next time...heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349210793550020751noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915273129463573149.post-12884757161303460562012-04-17T10:46:00.002-07:002012-04-17T11:03:18.166-07:00Canyonlands Half, Platte Half, And Everything In BetweenI had a long elaborate post in my head about my trip to Moab for what turned out to be the best 4 days EVER. But I'm a little lazy, waited a seriously long time to write it, and now have 8 million other things to say so... The Moab recap might be a bit abreviated.<br />
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Moab was... perfect. Absolutely perfect. I stayed with the coolest guys in the world, one of which made my 30th (I still am not comfortable saying that) birthday 4 days of awesomeness. <br />
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The race itself was a little rough. We woke up to howling winds, which usually isn't a good sign. The views on the drive up to the start line and along the course were wonderful...<br />
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...but not quite enough to distract me from the heat and strong winds. Any chance of a pr was squashed so my coach said to not fight the wind and focus on place instead of time. I started off with what I thought was a conservative pace but was maybe a bit agressive for the conditions. I felt like I had a second wind around the halfway point but that didn't stick around long and the wind and sun really started getting to me. I stopped looking at my Garmin pretty early on in the race because each time I did I was horrified but I was still fully and painfully aware of how much steam I was losing. I had been in the lead for nearly the entire race but in the last 3 miles started looking over my shoulder constantly - I was sure whoever was in second was creeping up on me. But it seemed like the conditions were wearing on everyone... The last 2 miles got pretty intense. We ran the first 11 miles through a canyon so while it was super windy, we were at least somewhat protected. But then the course went out of the canyon and met an even nastier headwind coupled with a nice little uphill stretch... Holy shit. There aren't really words to describe it, but I know we've all been there - that point in a race where you start hoping you get hit by a car so you don't have to keep running. I was so exhausted and SO relieved to see the finish line. My time was pretty pathetic and I felt embarassed by it, until I saw the pacer for the 1:30 group cross the finish at 1:36. That's right. The pacer finished 6 minutes slow! That made my 1:25 feel a tad better... Here's a little video from the race: <a href="http://moab21.com/archives/751">http://moab21.com/archives/751</a><br />
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I was happy to have a win on my birthday but the best part was still to come. We bummed around town, went for a little evening hike (after accidentally taking my little Saab down a Jeep trail), checked out Moab Brewery, and along the way I realized that I was hanging out with a very attractive and very awesome guy: one Mr. Tyler Sewald<br />
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We stayed up til 5am (no joke) talking about everything but mostly my killer thumb wrestling skills and our mutual awesomeness. The next morning the other guys left early and Tyler stayed behind with me. We packed up our stuff and got ready for an adventure in Arches National Park (but not before I noticed part of my front spoiler fender thing was cracked and hanging off with a tumbleweed stuck in it from the little jaunt down the Jeep trail... don't worry, it popped right back into place). <br />
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Arches was absolutely EVERYTHING I hoped it would be. The weather was insane - unbelievably windy and freezing - so we didn't go nuts exploring but it was still amazing. <br />
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<div align="left">We took the scenic route out of the park and made our way to Fruita for the night. Odd little town but we had a cool run there in the morning through a dinosaur fossil site. Then we headed to Palisade (cutest small town in the entire world) for brunch and a wine tasting at Grande River Vineyards. Then on to Carbondale where we found a natural hot spring in the river outside of town... I don't want to give the location away but look for mile marker 55 - it was perfect!! Eventually the vacation had to end but I'm lucky enough to still get to hang out with Tyler on a regular basis ;)</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Onward. I feel like my training has kicked in and my workouts have been much stronger lately. I had a really good 2 x 3 mile progressive tempo last Sunday with the HTS crowd. The guys were doing a 22 mile "light progression" run (which, trust me, is bananas fast) and I almost caught them twice... next time! Unfortunately I don't really feel like that has shown through in my races. I don't want to sound like I'm making excuses but every single race I've done this year has had craptastic conditions - windy or snowy or super hilly or freezing or something to that effect - and it's exhausting!</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">I was really ready for a strong race at the Platte River Half Marathon this past Sunday and it just didn't happen. First and foremost, I missed the start. I knew I was cutting it close but should've had enough time to get to the start line... But they started a minute or two early and that just killed me. I was pretty intent on winning and really worked to weave through the crowds and run hard to catch up to the first females. Big mistake. I wasted a ton of energy there and really ended up paying for it. I need to start trusting myself and my training and stay more relaxed at the beginning of a race so I can have stronger finishes... For some reason that's really hard for me. I caught up to my teammate Kim and we worked together to get in the lead but I knew she had me beat. (But we whooped a bunch of dudes- including one who, in the past, has said some rude things about me so... Sorry, bud, maybe next time! Here's us going after one of them, but not the rude one, this is just random guy...)</div><div align="left"><br />
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</div><div align="left">I was already tired from hauling the first mile and when the wind picked up halfway through the race, I felt like I was struggling to maintain a moderate pace. The miles were actually going by pretty fast but by mile 10 or so the wind got pretty strong and I started falling behind. Kim started pulling away and I was able to catch up to my teammate Travis and stick with him for a minute. I kept telling myself "She's RIGHT THERE! Just a few feet! Push a little harder!" but after every tiny surge I attempted, I fell back again. Then came everyone's favorite, the 8th Ave Viaduct Bridge - the worst possible thing that can happen to you during a race. As far as I'm concerned, it's the biggest hill in the world. Kim was still in sight but I couldn't quite catch her and as we made our way up the hill she got further and further away. She is seriously one tough cookie. My winning streak came to an end but Kim totally deserves that win - she ran smart and worked hard! And second place isn't too shabby. It would've been nice to have a pr at least, but I was really just happy to be done!</div><div align="left"><br />
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</div><div align="left">So, this is a pretty good summary of how I felt - </div><div align="left"><br />
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Ha! That was a rough one but I'm ready for another! Even on days where I feel like hell, I love racing more than anything. Altogether, Runner's Roost had a really strong showing with the ladies grabbing 3 of the top 5 spots, Logan coming in 4th overall (just ahead of Tyler who wasn't even racing - he's a stud!), and our women's relay team of Stella, Kelsey and Anna kicking ass with a course record and 2nd relay team overall! Here are the results: <a href="http://results.active.com/pages/searchform.jsp?pubID=3&rsID=126115">http://results.active.com/pages/searchform.jsp?pubID=3&rsID=126115</a> And here's RunColo's write up: <a href="http://www.runcolo.com/content/platte-trail-half-marathon-results-2012-1126/">http://www.runcolo.com/content/platte-trail-half-marathon-results-2012-1126/</a><br />
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Oh. And here's Justin Mock's latest project (I was lucky enough to get a rap for my winning streak but knew I had something else coming my way when it ended... Let this serve as a warning - Justin has firecrackers and too much time on his hands and that's a dangerous combo!): <a href="http://www.runcolo.com/content/heather-utrata-s-winning-streak-snapped-1125/">http://www.runcolo.com/content/heather-utrata-s-winning-streak-snapped-1125/</a> It's a little harsh but I told Justin I'd let it go if he did a beer mile. He declined/wussed out, citing that he didn't want me to have a chance to beat TWO RunColo folks (That's right - one of the said dudes Kim and I beat was no other than Simon Escorcia. Now you know I love you guys but... ) Okay. Enough of that.<br />
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Next up is the Cherry Creek Sneak - the nation's biggest 5 miler! I had a really fun time there last year and am really excited to race it again!heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349210793550020751noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915273129463573149.post-82673022694254637252012-02-28T12:50:00.000-08:002012-02-28T12:50:52.357-08:00Wooo! Tempo Tuesday!It's been a while since I really felt strong during a run. The races I've done have resulted in kind of unimpressive times and my workouts have, for the most part, been struggles. I haven't been feeling particularly motivated lately and have had an overall feeling of blah-ness. <br />
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I think there are a few reasons for my missing spark, the biggest thing being that I'm just tired. I didn't take a big break after Vegas and I've been racing a lot and have a ton of everyday things going on. It's wearing on me a little. In the past I've been able to just get over things like that because I've always been so excited about running. I'm still totally in love with it, but needed something to get out of my little rut.<br />
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That something just happened. I had a little workout to do this morning that went way better than expected. It didn't look hard at all, but ,with the way I've been feeling, I wasn't too confident. All I had to do was a 2 mile warmup, 5 mile tempo between 6:45 and 6:30, then a 1 mile cooldown. I did a 3 mile warmup instead and when it came time to pick up the pace, I barely noticed the difference! I felt so relaxed and strong the whole time. Instead of 6:45 to 6:30, I went 6:40, 6:25, 6:20, 6:20, 6:10 with the last quarter mile at 5:50 and then did a nice long cool down. And it went by quickly, no big deal. Nice! Again, nothing super hard, but, mentally, I really needed that! <br />
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I'm certain that the success of this was in part due to having a partner for this workout. My new teammate Marshall (who you may know from Channel 7 News - fancy!!) ran with me and WOW did that help! There are studies that show running (and I would guess working out, in general) with others helps block pain receptors in your brain. I know I've mentioned it before, but I think previously I only took that into consideration for long runs... I've done the majority of my workouts on my own and greatly appreciate the company! The best part about that is it made for a successful workout, which got some of my confidence back, and, in turn, is helping me feel excited for my next workout. Wooo! Holler at that domino effect.<br />
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So now I feel awesome. Pretty amazing what a little 10 miler can do!heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349210793550020751noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915273129463573149.post-43578971194283628732012-02-19T15:05:00.001-08:002012-04-17T10:56:33.846-07:00Snowman Stampede!I'm so tired and my legs hurt and I can barely move but it was worth it - win number 5 at the RRCA state 10 mile championship, also known as the Snowman Stampede.<br />
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Honestly, race morning I was just NOT feelilng it. I was very unmotivated to race any distance, much less 10 miles which is quite a bit longer than the 5k's I've been doing! After my warm up and a few strides I felt a little more ready to go, but not much. The good part about that was it helped me stay conservative in the first half. The plan was 6:10 for the first 5, 6:00 for the next 4, and then push as hard as I could for the last mile. What actually happened was 6:10 for the first 5, then 6:15 and dwindling the entire last half. I knew about all the rollers on the course, but forgot that on the way out to the turnaround there was a net downhill. So on the way back? Net uphill. And I felt it! I got over my disinterest in racing and found some sort of motivation but couldn't do much with it. <br />
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Maybe it was racing on cement, maybe I just wasn't prepared for the distance, maybe it was the net uphill plus slight headwind, maybe I was just flat out exhausted from the previous races... Whatever it was, I hurt all over. I'm kind of bad about staying in the game mentally when I get tired and last year I totally gave up around mile 7 (I had also started way too fast that year... as per usual). This time around I really tried to focus and push. I got down to around 6:30 at some points but got back to 6:15. For a second or two I thought about backing off but I looked over my shoulder and thought I saw the second place girl on my tail and realized how much I wanted to win. I was gagging (and threw up a tiny bit - so so so gross!) but by the time we got to 9.5 or so I knew I had it and finished up on some super muddy hills - which was by far the coolest part of the race! (this is around mile 7? maybe? right before I got pukey...)<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(and here's the start, with the men's winner Ewen North - in the red - leading right off the bat)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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I thought my time was kind of crappy. 62:43. I wanted to be under 61, thinking that last year I ran 61:23. But. That was false. 61:23 was from a different race later on in the year when I was in way better shape. In actuality, I ran something like 63 and some change and it turns out my time this year was a course record! Such a relief! I really needed to hear that, since my time was a full 2:00 slower than I wanted.<br />
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Maybe I'm weird, but I had to cry a little on the way home. I felt like I really struggled on the course and was just completely relieved and thankful that I pulled off another win. I'm really not sure how I'm doing this... But it's making me tired!! I'm looking forward to a break from racing for the next two weeks. I'm completely in love with running races but I'm very quickly realizing that love and my desire to win gets kinda dull if I do it TOO much. <br />
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Runnin' O' The Green is next. This one terrifies me. It's so hilly! Really glad that I'll be at least a tad more rested for it and hoping for a nice strong race.<br />
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Results from the race are here: <a href="http://www.roost.com/app/index.php/public/roostbar?bid=136324&k=f500e965b1f3c7b3e7cf3f4efeea3d31&roostBDI=136324">http://www.roost.com/app/index.php/public/roostbar?bid=136324&k=f500e965b1f3c7b3e7cf3f4efeea3d31&roostBDI=136324</a> Check out how big this race has become over the past 6 years!! Also check out Tera Moody's event record - this used to be on a <em>way</em> more challenging course and her time from it is just nuts.heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349210793550020751noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915273129463573149.post-16276897286634741262012-02-16T12:00:00.001-08:002012-04-17T11:00:27.194-07:00Race Reports And The Utrata RapGetting a little behind on my race reports here...<br />
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I don't feel like I've been running particularly well, but, I've been able to pull off 4 wins in a row! I'm (of course) excited about that but trying to stay cautious and practical about each race, keeping in mind that the bigger picture right now is the Canyonlands Half Marathon, and then the Boulder Boulder.<br />
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The first win was the RRCA state 5 mile Championship at Frosty's Frozen Five & Ten Miler. After that came the Yeti Chase 10k. Luckily, I did this one last year and was <em>well</em> aware of how hilly it was... Ooof! I love how course descriptions say "rolling" and make it sound all pleasant, when in reality it's pretty gag-inducing. But, despite the hills and cold and slight wind, it was a great race! I was - suprisingly, as this is <em>not</em> my M.O. - able to stay nice and relaxed and keep my pace under control in the first 2 miles, so I dealt with the hills much better this time around. I fell apart a bit in the last quarter mile and could NOT get my legs to turn over any faster, but still managed a time 1:40 better than last year. The course was pretty challenging but the event staff made it so worth it - I learned afterward that only half of their volunteers showed up but I never would've guessed - everyone was still super nice and helpful and never missed a beat. And, of course, there was a yeti. Everyone loves a yeti!<br />
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The next race was the Super Bowl 5k. Two years in a row this race was in the middle of a snow storm, but this year the snow was over and the inner loop of Washington Park (every runner's saving grace for winter workouts) was fairly clear. Fairly, but not entirely. Icy patches were scattered throughout the race and it was kind of terrifying - I fall plenty without the aid of anything slippery on the ground - and as a result times were on the slow end. I had a pretty solid cap on the win (1:30, I think) which is a damn good thing because I had zero intention of throwing caution to the wind and throwing down on the ice. No. Thank you. My favorite part about this one was that a bunch of my teammates were at the park doing a workout and were cheering throughout the race - AW! Runners Roost love! I also kind of like that only 2 men got in front of me... <br />
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The last race was the Valentine's Day 5k... Another couple of loops at Wash Park! I had the idea in my head that the weather would be nice and warm for this one. It was not. It was 22. I've raced in tights a few times and it's just not comfortable so I braved it in the shorty shorts (not bun huggers yet but if you're interested... <a href="http://www.runcolo.com/content/benefits-bun-huggers-1064/">http://www.runcolo.com/content/benefits-bun-huggers-1064/</a>) again (but with 3 layers on top!) and payed for it every inch of the way. The air hurt to breath and it felt like the blood was frozen in my legs but I (and everyone else) survived. It was my slowest 5k in a while but... Eh. I blame the cold. (this pic, with my teammate Todd Straka, 2nd overall finisher, cheering, is from the lovely Amanda Hodges from Colorado Runner Magazine... here's a link to her article <a href="http://www.coloradorunnermag.com/2012/02/13/williams-utrata-win-valentines-day-5k/">http://www.coloradorunnermag.com/2012/02/13/williams-utrata-win-valentines-day-5k/</a>)<br />
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Best part? Runners Roost ladies - with Leslie Hoffman and Janet Rooney - swept it! Love that!<br />
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The last win prompted something amazing and hilarious and touching and <em>slightly</em> disturbing. This guy, Mr. Serious Runner Face Justin Mock:<br />
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</div>This guy shared a bit of his inner G and wrote a little rap song about my winning streak. Honestly, it's not exactly Tupac back from the dead, but, it's pretty impressive. I was really curious as to who actually performed the rap... Turns out it's the aforementioned G and his buddy Simon - this guy (he wants YOU!):<br />
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</div> I know, they don't really strike me as rap stars either, but, technology can do wonders these days! So here it is, the Heather Utrata rap song: <a href="http://www.runcolo.com/content/utrata-stays-undefeated-runcolo-celebrates-first-rap-song-1063/">http://www.runcolo.com/content/utrata-stays-undefeated-runcolo-celebrates-first-rap-song-1063/</a> Pretty damn awesome if you ask me.<br />
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Justin has "something special for when the winning streak ends" which, to me, sounds like some serious motivation to keep it going! Next up is the last in the Winter Distance Series, the Snowman Stampede. The 10 miler is another RRCA state championship. I raced this last year and had kind of a rough time on the course. But the good news is, I'm more familiar with the course now and have a better plan of attack. Whether or not I can actually follow that plan? Well, we'll see in a few days! <br />
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In other news, I got called a slut after my workout on Tuesday. Ha ha <em>what</em>?? Really? I was heading to my car after my cool down and a high school girl from South just went "Uuuugh, <em>slut</em>". Um... Okay. I didn't respond because really what do you say to that? And, I mean, interval workouts are pretty whorish.<br />
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In other non running news, my photo a day for 2012 idea is actually pretty hard! I didnt' think it would be at all but there are some days I really struggle to find something interesting to photograph... I suppose it's teaching me to look more closely and appreciate everyday things. Or something. But overall I'm just being lame and taking pics of my cat and t-shirts that I like: <br />
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Although, I do really like that one...heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349210793550020751noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915273129463573149.post-78363302229696143872012-01-27T18:21:00.001-08:002012-04-17T11:02:19.626-07:00Up And Running!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The first race of the year always makes me nervous. It may as well be my first race ever... But I got it done and snagged my first W(and CR - <a href="http://winterdistanceseries.com/Frosty/">http://winterdistanceseries.com/Frosty/</a> ) of 2012! Sweet! <br />
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Of course (of <em>course</em>!) it wasn't what I wanted time-wise, but I'm trying not to dwell on that. I have more aggressive goals for this year but I'm really trying to take little steps and appreciate all the little things that help along the way. The race felt better than I expected because I've been having some really cruddy low energy issues and that didn't seem to be a problem. I had a really hard time knowing what my pace was as I forgot my Garmin and am a really really really horrible judge of speed. I felt like I was going around 5:40 the last half of the race but had very obviously slowed since my finishing time was a slightly lackluster 30:19. I know I hear a ton of people talk about racing sans watch but I can't seem to get a handle on that! It's really hard for me to gauge my effort level toward the end of a race so a slower pace can easily feel faster than my always too fast start... Gonna try to remember all my gadgets next time!<br />
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I have another race tomorrow - super hilly 10k going after the elusive Bear Creek State Park Yeti - that I hope to do well in. I think it would be fun to see if I can start a little winning streak and see how far it goes... Ha! Well, we'll see I suppose.<br />
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There are a lot of things I'm excited about this year and some of them are coming up fairly fast. The first big thing will be my team's change in sponsorship. We have been with Saucony since I've been on the team and I think everyone knows how much I LOVE love love my Saucony shoes... It was a really great company to work with, but I'm looking forward to working with Nike in 2012! It's been quite some time since I've had a pair of those shoes so I got a fresh pair of their kicks to try before putting in my shoe order (which is due ASAP so I better get my rear in gear!). So far, well, they're not Kinvaras but... Let's face it, the Lunar Racer is pretty sexy:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwjI99m6v0iREEw6OzZjzQh93abzLVG_4Ev2TX2_G9m0aezV_jtPF5-NdWxzaVl4CkVvSoxIgK8KTj1qKpOVrhCmXg1UTZq-AdQGxmxQKRuD2nRBDKsqaEB36y3tTLwnMunsbv7Ca_vc/s1600/nikes.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwjI99m6v0iREEw6OzZjzQh93abzLVG_4Ev2TX2_G9m0aezV_jtPF5-NdWxzaVl4CkVvSoxIgK8KTj1qKpOVrhCmXg1UTZq-AdQGxmxQKRuD2nRBDKsqaEB36y3tTLwnMunsbv7Ca_vc/s320/nikes.bmp" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
Also! In what boils down to a matter of weeks, I will be going to one of the most awe-inspiring places in the country for my birthday and the Canyonlands Half Marathon! Yes!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WuzIii72YKBeIl8rYUrB-igpxZ-KAoId1gonZhOZHIKYKal3akwrAU9jfNXylw4jHLRMdHBE-jqbep8fXXSGLfZUHr-Ti5C7C05m9stT1HbrS-VIizhpPXwI0vq-7YKa5pm8GF6kmKE/s1600/moab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="168px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WuzIii72YKBeIl8rYUrB-igpxZ-KAoId1gonZhOZHIKYKal3akwrAU9jfNXylw4jHLRMdHBE-jqbep8fXXSGLfZUHr-Ti5C7C05m9stT1HbrS-VIizhpPXwI0vq-7YKa5pm8GF6kmKE/s320/moab.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even better? A few weeks after that? Black Keys concert! Spring will rock! Can't wait to hear this song!<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh0cr2PF_5s">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh0cr2PF_5s</a> </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">And I can't stop thinking about summer - tons of racing and hiking to do! My goal is to get in 8 more 14ers, one 13er (James Peak), and go back to Durango and Ouray for a bit and do some exploring. Hiking in the winter can be fun and beautiful...</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1ekWQw5RlH_zy3LLT8U17sDCbFhTTaDlgcxLdXKG3jQHFiTlLud_OlpZAfZiAJzMv_1C-iEw6kfePtZC4YCZnwfat7xSATDJ51KzYBpTIK-ChU2YM_aXu97XO8qcYlzUX_5tLENOOZU/s1600/lily+lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1ekWQw5RlH_zy3LLT8U17sDCbFhTTaDlgcxLdXKG3jQHFiTlLud_OlpZAfZiAJzMv_1C-iEw6kfePtZC4YCZnwfat7xSATDJ51KzYBpTIK-ChU2YM_aXu97XO8qcYlzUX_5tLENOOZU/s320/lily+lake.jpg" width="240px" /></a></div><br />
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<div align="left">...but I'm kind of a baby in extreme cold and... that's it. I'm a baby in the cold.</div><div align="left"><br />
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</div><div align="left">There are a lot of fun things coming up but there's also a ton of work to do so I better get busy...</div>heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349210793550020751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915273129463573149.post-16940840438686956422011-12-30T23:01:00.000-08:002011-12-30T23:01:04.783-08:00End of the Year!I don't even know where to start. I've had so much on my mind lately that I almost can't think at all.<br />
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I suppose I shoud start by noting that while 2011 had a lot of challenges for me, it was by no means a let down. There were some rough spots and a few things that really hurt, but overall I accomplished some long-standing goals, and more importantly got to spend time with some truly amazing people. Running has added so much to my life, but the people I've met because of it are really what keep me going. I owe everyone I know a huge thank you.<br />
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There are, indeed, a few things I wish would have turned out slightly different. But that's life. More specifically, that's <em>my</em> life. I've often been frustrated with the way my life has played out. I'm almost 30, I don't have my dream job, I have absolutely no idea what my dream job even is, I haven't accomplished all my goals, I don't own a perfect little house and have a perfect husband and 2.5 perfect (except for that weirdo half-child) kids, etc, etc. But what if I did? Is that really how life is supposed to go? I used to think so but now I think that all just sounds generic an boring. Over the past year, while celebrating all the high points and trying to find a way through the lows, I've come to realize that I'm incredibly lucky my life has gone this way. I'm lucky to have had all of the opportunities and freedoms I've had, to have met the people I have, and to actually realize that (I think you can have everything in the entire world but if you don't realize that, it's all worthless). <br />
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Moving forward! I usually make some sort of new year's resolution... And I usually break it within a few hours. So this time I'm going to try to do something more attainable. I'm going to try to eat a salad everyday. It's not a huge deal. It's just a salad. But all those little veggies have all sorts of wonderful good healthy things for you and your body. Not that complicated. It goes along with a goal I set a few weeks ago to just take better care of myself. Just little things like drinking enough water and getting enough sleep and so on. Nothing huge. No crazy detox diets. Just a few little changes.<br />
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I, of course, also have some running goals. A few weeks back, after my little trip to Las Vegas, I wasn't feeling very motivated to do more with running, but I knew that would change and it definitely has. I have a fall marathon and a time goal picked out but that's for much much later. Right now my big goal races are the Canyonlands Half in March (countdown to dirty thrity, 79 days), the Boulder Boulder 10k in May, and the Georgetown to Idaho Springs Half in August. GTIS is a big one. I just found out that it's part of the Colorado Race Series this year which means it's gonna be much more competitive than last year... When I read that everything else in my brain just disappeared. This race, for whatever reason, is such a big freakin' deal to me! I love it! Within minutes of getting this news, I started planning and plotting and have a good time goal set. Aggressive, but good. <br />
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I absolutely can't wait til my goal races, but definitely look forward to all of the adventures leading up to them.heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349210793550020751noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915273129463573149.post-84389279792650975552011-12-15T22:43:00.000-08:002011-12-15T22:43:41.904-08:00Oh A Lot Of Things On My MindFirst of all, I just got home from the Runner's Roost end of the year gathering... I've gotta say, I am super excited for next year! After some wine and pizza we watched a slide show with pictures from all of the races our team members have competed in this year and it was pretty amazing. I was reminded of how many wonderful people I'm surrounded by and how lucky I am to have such a network of athletes for motivation, support, and friendship. (One of the coolest girls ever, Kylee, took this pic so she didn't get to be in it, but I definitely have to note that since I've met her, she has consistently been a positive force in my running, and life.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHUPw5LOiNhL284rSNTmcHLX-KZHwvGjdPRv6O38UlJPueCafyJUpPDc-W2sS_M4J_tN86Z_fzgShcx3tkvZpjy3pUgrZzo1Cww2995VGoX7bIn1Qjnl-8QS4utGLaaHuY8IymnzwJUM/s1600/roost+pink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHUPw5LOiNhL284rSNTmcHLX-KZHwvGjdPRv6O38UlJPueCafyJUpPDc-W2sS_M4J_tN86Z_fzgShcx3tkvZpjy3pUgrZzo1Cww2995VGoX7bIn1Qjnl-8QS4utGLaaHuY8IymnzwJUM/s320/roost+pink.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
Second... this one's a little harder. I'm pretty bad about judging people. I think I see what I want to see - more or less whatever will mesh with the way I'm feeling at the time - and often don't take into account anything more than than my current state of emotion. And as a result I've made some mistakes. As it turns out, most people are pretty decent. Even if they do have some ulterior motive or are fake nice or whatever, there's probably some other situation that fully explains that... and even if there isn't, so what? I'm so completely and fully far from perfect that I couldn't possibly expect anyone else to be. So like I said, I've made some mistakes about people, but have over the past few months really started to realize that the cynic in me just needs to shut up because there's a lot more good out there than bad, sometimes you just have to look a bit harder for it. I don't want to say this is a New Year's Resolution (because those tend to be broken within a few hours, like the year I thought I'd never eat candy again... ha! ha ha!), but I definitely think it's time for a few changes in the way I view others, and, honestly, life in general. I don't necessarily think I'm a negative person, but I definitely have some work to do.<br />
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On a similar-ish note, I need to take better care of myself. Raise your hand if you want to hear an old cliche! Yeah, me neither, but it's fairly true that you won't be good to others until you're good to yourself. Ugh it pains me to say that because it's SO Dr. Phil/Oprah/Self Help Book that I could really almost gag but... Seriously, it's a fact. I tend to go through phases with this. Sometimes I'll be super healthy and be all moraly superior about it and other times I have more of the "Psssh. Whatever. I'm eating a whole pizza right now." kind of mentality. I've heard it's all about balance and I believe that's true to an extent. But every now and then I get this panicky feeling that my body will just fall apart if I don't start to take care of it <em>right now</em>. Maybe that's a tad extreme but I look at it like this: I go out and party just like everyone else. I eat my fair share of crap just like everyone else. But beyond most others, I put my body through a ton of training. Sure running is great for you and helps you stay healthy but there is definitely a difference between running for health a training through 1oo+ miles per week. I won't go so far as to say it's unhealthy but it definitely puts stress on your body. So that kind of balance-moderation type of deal may work someone who's out just "doing cardio" but I'm afraid it's not quite enough for me. Sure I still want to go out and celebrate birthdays and whatnot but I really want to start being more conscious of what I'm eating and drinking, how much sleep I'm getting, etc. Might be a little rough to start that way of thinking during the holidays but I'm gonna give it a go. It might not always work out perfectly but at the very least I want to be aware of what I'm putting into my body or how much stress I'm putting on it, so I can <em>at least</em> try to balance it out somehow. I think these are actually pretty easy things to change and I know I've said several times that diet, at least, is super important to me... I've been getting a little busy, and, let's face it, a little lazy and that can make following any sort of remotely healthy lifestyle more of a challenge that it should be. But even if it is a huge and daunting challenge, it is my health and that's pretty damn important. So time to get over the laziness, find time in the busy schedule, and take better control of, well, everything.heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349210793550020751noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915273129463573149.post-2978293854407305142011-12-14T19:49:00.000-08:002011-12-14T19:49:27.012-08:00A Healthy ReadYou've most likely seen this popping up all over social media. But even if you've read it before, it's worth a second or third or fourth look. It's completely full of truth and a lot of good words to live by: <a href="http://www.marcandangel.com/2011/12/11/30-things-to-stop-doing-to-yourself/">http://www.marcandangel.com/2011/12/11/30-things-to-stop-doing-to-yourself/</a>heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349210793550020751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915273129463573149.post-61644789454232971232011-12-13T19:28:00.000-08:002011-12-13T19:28:29.142-08:00That Whole DNF Thing and My Next MarathonSo, actually, first of all, let me just say that I am ready to defend my overall Ugliest Christmas Sweater title at the Runner's Roost-Saucony Ugly Christmas Sweater Run tomorrow night. It is very very important to me.<br />
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Moving on. Oh wow does a DNF feel horrible. It's one of those things that happens that really makes you question yourself. Did I really just <em>drop out</em>? Am I really the kind of person that just bailed on something I put every fiber of my being into? I know there are a lot of reasons to not finish a race and many of them you quite simply can't control. I couldn't control the injury in Cleveland, and I couldn't control feeling dizzy and ill in Las Vegas. But I keep wondering why I didn't just try a little harder, even if I had to crawl across the finish line, wouldn't that have been better than that glaring DNF? I'm not sure. And I'm honestly not sure if I even had the ability to do that at that point. But I am sure it won't happen again. Short of actually passing out or somehow breaking my femur, I <em>will</em> crawl if I have to. I can't stand that dull, nagging feeling of knowing I didn't push as hard as I could.<br />
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I've heard of elites dropping out of races if they don't think they'll get a good enough time. Why put that stress on your body? Why not save your energy for a better race? Well, I understand the logic behind that but I think it's crap. Everyone else paid to be there and everyone else is going to cross the finish line whether they run a fantastic time or not. You're an elite and you can't do better than Average Joe? It's your job and you can't work harder? Really? Come on.<br />
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Anyway, just my little opinion. And why I won't ever DNF again.<br />
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I've started thinking about my next marathon and what kind of goals and expectations I have for it. I'm debating between a guaranteed fast race and one that would just be more for the experience. I'm a little torn because I definitely want to see how far I can take my potential speediness, but I also want a unique experience and not necessarily the fastest easiest course I can find. Sometimes the ones that are the hardest are by far the most fun! That being said, I'm looking into a few trail races over the summer to satisfy those "experience" needs (a 50 miler in the mix, in fact!) and will most likely head toward Chicago in the Fall (unless I can get into Berlin).<br />
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But first! I got into the Canyonlands Half Marathon in March! It's actually on my birthday - perfect celebration for me. I'm really looking forward to this one. I've had my eye on it for a few years but never took it any further than looking at a few pictures. I'm very excited for some new scenery and a solid race, and, despite all this wondering about running and what I want from it and so on and so forth, I still have a competitive streak and will definitely be in it to win it.heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349210793550020751noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915273129463573149.post-9040674924513932712011-12-06T17:32:00.000-08:002011-12-06T17:32:26.342-08:00SidenoteA few more things about Las Vegas.<br />
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I wore my compression socks and my legs felt, and still feel, great! My calves are a tad stiff and sore but not anywhere near what I've felt after other races. So those were a success.<br />
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I don't have cable and only watch tv like once a week at the very most. But on the plane there, in the hotel, and on the plane back I watch SO much and it was so fun. I'm not really into tv but it was such a treat! Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is insane!<br />
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This is maybe kind of lame of me but I don't do stuff by myself. It makes me nervous. I think overall I'm a pretty independent gal but things like traveling I really need someone else there to help me along. Had a few small plans to meet up with different people but things went so awry this weekend that I ended up doing everything on my own and I'm fairly proud of myself for that. It was definitely a learning experience and one that I'm glad I had.<br />
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Before I started feeling like my face might be smacking into the ground, I was running a smart race and suprising myself with how fast I was able to go in the second half. It was really good for me to see that I can run that kind of pace at that point in a long race. I know I said I wasn't going to wear my Garmin but I'm glad I did. I saw that I was able to kick it up to a 5:55 pace around mile 14 and it felt effortless. That gave me a ton of confidence about racing in the future and I really do look forward to some faster 5 and 10k's.<br />
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I'm still having some trouble with the whole DNF thing but that's gonna have to be another post...heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349210793550020751noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915273129463573149.post-56408962928147044142011-12-06T12:35:00.000-08:002011-12-06T12:38:44.023-08:00I Forgot To Wear My Lucky UnderpantsNo seriously. I have a specific pair and a specific sports bra that I wear for more important races... Totally had on the wrong underpants.<br />
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What an experience. So much happened - a lot of good and exctiting and a lot of bad and disheartening. I'll start with the bad and get it out of the way.<br />
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Right off the bat things were chaotic. The first part was my mistake though. My flight was delayed and I got checked in to my hotel (which was kind of fun for me since I don't usually stay in such ginormous places): <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0UXVhFAOnSgGOIDeg7_WftfXiC_bOzeEkdF81POBjDLvsg_X1rTwVwvcqhTheHznLM2bWPOv2ZUHDX3c7i2fIX7ywYIylhpRaqWJEEAHuLjJXbZ2i0g1TlDOCBthdm-XoZZr00Dorcg/s1600/strip+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0UXVhFAOnSgGOIDeg7_WftfXiC_bOzeEkdF81POBjDLvsg_X1rTwVwvcqhTheHznLM2bWPOv2ZUHDX3c7i2fIX7ywYIylhpRaqWJEEAHuLjJXbZ2i0g1TlDOCBthdm-XoZZr00Dorcg/s320/strip+9.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I had just enough time to make it over to the expo and get my bib. I got some directions to walk there through other hotels - through MGM, across to Excalibur, through there to Luxor, through Luxor to Mandalay. Each one was like a giant maze and by the time I got to Mandalay I was RUNNING. I finally found someone who knew something about the race and she pointed me down some stairs and down a short hallway. Yes! Just in time! I asked the lady at the desk outside and she said "Hm? No no the expo is at the Venetian." It was going to be over in 2 minutes. I had no time to get there. I shouldn't have just assumed it was at Mandalay but even if I had known the right location, I wouldn't have made it in time. Sent some frantic emails and texts and luckily the elite coordinator (who is awesome and friendly and helpful all the time!) said I would be able to pick it up near the race start at the solutions tent. I relaxed a little. Problem solved.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Race day, I left my room aroun 2:15 to travel the 1/2 mile or so to Mandalay to get ready for the 4:00 start. It wasn't the fastest half mile I've ever traveled but I wasn't feeling too concerned until I couldn't find the solutions tent. The finish area was huge and things were spread all over the place. I finally found it, and after quite a bit of confusion ("Do you have the elite bibs here?" "Ummm... No...") they found my bib. Next stop, Bag check was fairly far away and I was getting a little concerned about the time. I made my way there through mobs of people as fast as I could, checked my bag, waded through the crowd again, and started heading for the start line to warm up. I though maybe you had to show someone your bib to get into the elite corral. As I looked down at my bib, everything inside of me froze. I turned around and ran as fast as I could back to the solutions tent. My bib said F25 Half Marathon. I was running the full marathon. Before I got to the tent I saw someone who worked for the race and told him the problem. He told me to head back to the start line and find a guy in a cowboy hat who would help me. I ran back. Found the guy. He snapped at me for being a little histerical but we did get it straightened out. As long as I had my timing chip, I'd get my correct time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The rest of the bad stuff didn't come until later on in the race. I stopped for the restroom twice and didn't feel so hot after the second time (which was odd because right before I had started picking up the pace and was feeling really really strong). I thought maybe I was getting dehydrated. I had been taking water at every other aid station and had a full gel (one that had sodium, this time) but going to the bathroom can negate that. I started taking more water but started feeling progressively worse. My head was feeling fuzzy and I was getting nauseated. I'm not sure what mile I was at but toward the end of the race I wasn't running in a straight line and really felt like I was going to pass out. I thought about my friend Amy and what happened at the Colfax Marathon. I thought about how much it was going to hurt if I passed out and cracked my head on the pavement, and I kept picturing it over and over and over. I stopped at an aid station and took two waters. Almost immediately they threatened to come back up. And the dizziness was getting worse. I sat down on the curb and just stared.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I really didn't know what to do. Should I walk back? I really couldn't. A guy in a golf cart with another sick girl drove past. He said he'd come back and get me in a minute. It was more like 30 minutes. In that time, in my little spandex shorts, singlet and arm warmers, I got really really cold. I don't think I've ever been that cold in my life. Finally he came back, put me in the cart, and took me to an ambulance. The ride was even colder since the wind was hitting us and I was making enough horrible moaning noises and dry heaving to attrack the attention of a Japanese tourist who found me amusing and took my picture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the ambulance they got me warmed up and took some tests to see what my pulse and blood sugar were. I started crying when she took the blood sugar test - it's just a teeny tiny prick in you finger but I really hate needles and and that point just didn't want anything else to happen to me. My blood pressure was very low (which made sense - my heart was flopping around like crazy but it didn't really feel like it was pumping any blood). I got some Tazamamine (or something to that effect) so I wouldn't throw up, and took me to the medical tent at the finish line. I got all wrapped up in blankets and sat in front of a heater and didn't move for a very very long time. Whatever I got for the nausea didn't help with the dizziness and when I finally got up to go retrieve my bag, I embarked on the longest, coldest, most uncoordinated walk ever. I don't know if people were running into me or if I was running into them but I was getting knocked all over the place. I made it to the bag check though and plopped down on my floor with my stuff and again, didn't move for a very very long time. I just sat and sent some incoherent text messages.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I really just wanted to get back to my room so after an hour or so I got up, put on my extra shirt and jacket, re-wrapped myself in my three blankets, and made my way out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is where things got a little dangerous.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The bag check was in a convention hall in Mandalay Bay. So as people were leaving they were all going out into a lobby area (which looked more like the medical tent in a war zone) and then into a large hallway that lead to the casinos. The hallway was big. Really really wide. And completely packed wall to wall with people. We moved forward for a little bit and then stopped. All completely squashed together. Another huge group of people were trying to go the opposite direction to see a show. But nobody was moving. The entrance to the casino had been blocked off (that was the only way out of the area as turning around was completely impossible) so nobody could get out. At all. It was getting incredibly hot with all those bodies packed together. People started passing out all over the place and I thought I was going to go down any minute. I had this thought - "What if there's a fire? We can't get out." - and started to panic. I saw a medic, told him I wasn't feeling well and asked how we were going to get out. He told me there was a bathroom "overthere" if I needed it and otherwise he couldn't help me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Luckily, there was no fire or riot (which seemed fairly possible with the way people were yelling) and they finally opened up a door to the parking garage and people were able to start moving. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had to walk back to the hotel, since a cab would've been impossible. But a really nice girl saw me not looking so sharp, asked if I was okay and where I was going... She was in the same hotel and she and her friend walked with me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I got back. Ordered some room service and sat in bed. I found one of the little sticky pads they used to take my pulse still on my stomach and started laughing like a maniac - it really wasn't funny but at that point I couldn't do anything but laugh.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was kind of an ordeal. But there were some really good points.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I really didn't think I was going to like Las Vegas. It just seemed so... Slutty? Overboard? But I'm glad I went because it was actually pretty fun. I didn't go out and party or gamble (next time!) but there's just a ton to see - a total visual wonderland.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xppH2m50ozq4WVTr8ZLFHxCqKvX9hcadD6P0DYyjbqPIDeiPMbYct9fJReNmHMy74_F_lLkRCx0_rBRq16HNVopoXSOEsgaKltEP4RUsmOg3fM0XQl1_Ny_HGdU8oamA5sgowWXMt_g/s1600/strip+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xppH2m50ozq4WVTr8ZLFHxCqKvX9hcadD6P0DYyjbqPIDeiPMbYct9fJReNmHMy74_F_lLkRCx0_rBRq16HNVopoXSOEsgaKltEP4RUsmOg3fM0XQl1_Ny_HGdU8oamA5sgowWXMt_g/s320/strip+1.jpg" width="317px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiW_XvM6nHKLSc0acEBDHEZiZMJyWwUoQSTjJVYH2buoDIIGyD9lPkS5NFWWQEFg-5DcJ0T8Ij1wuwX5yxvO9TgrH0aW1l4-lrOu2NRbkStCGXHsg1EzYnnUUoDx_XpiUP2u0b4Z23Yc/s1600/strip+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiW_XvM6nHKLSc0acEBDHEZiZMJyWwUoQSTjJVYH2buoDIIGyD9lPkS5NFWWQEFg-5DcJ0T8Ij1wuwX5yxvO9TgrH0aW1l4-lrOu2NRbkStCGXHsg1EzYnnUUoDx_XpiUP2u0b4Z23Yc/s320/strip+2.jpg" width="317px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKOKyTmvwt5sQ__zt2jv79mt-aTDwSUjyeajcbORDj6Xsoq9HuWnoK061o-KfVrHMXalUrgZm0irjSaQKnMha_GsIhXw3C0MwUhk8o07oEvHzmyWRVSfKyMrvmrme3rP35IMuV4_9hqk/s1600/strip+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKOKyTmvwt5sQ__zt2jv79mt-aTDwSUjyeajcbORDj6Xsoq9HuWnoK061o-KfVrHMXalUrgZm0irjSaQKnMha_GsIhXw3C0MwUhk8o07oEvHzmyWRVSfKyMrvmrme3rP35IMuV4_9hqk/s320/strip+3.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMHs9aU09ihyphenhyphenQWchPT1-L80mB65l80Rt-RhWdDnCcRxloJqqB-b7-V_tLU7RDYc2hBwOaI5ij8tiYdN6DDaBVdZQHOL3cIsJxYhv_v2xwydGy5T64AUJf2XZk2uVf2SIR32V7dz-hSuk/s1600/strip+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMHs9aU09ihyphenhyphenQWchPT1-L80mB65l80Rt-RhWdDnCcRxloJqqB-b7-V_tLU7RDYc2hBwOaI5ij8tiYdN6DDaBVdZQHOL3cIsJxYhv_v2xwydGy5T64AUJf2XZk2uVf2SIR32V7dz-hSuk/s320/strip+4.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNwDpXnHE7mJL89u0xE1mtC1XrYgXLtAhqdKUbbD35aulowb4IOzkOzPf6CJp6y3TAK80YwjJp7Ssn-9dj2G5BJ24VwLdag7pn7vfABp0RLfBgOWjxiVoz95qFclE0NM1KupDAaNheOU/s1600/strip+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNwDpXnHE7mJL89u0xE1mtC1XrYgXLtAhqdKUbbD35aulowb4IOzkOzPf6CJp6y3TAK80YwjJp7Ssn-9dj2G5BJ24VwLdag7pn7vfABp0RLfBgOWjxiVoz95qFclE0NM1KupDAaNheOU/s320/strip+5.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFOLuyHVcVs-4Lhm-AMeqFOputoKeyokwsf79iu0ax6Gx3RtENHVTrf1fxc3el8PWjjzfYSNhll_S7q1YyxOACQwN-c0ADMUvtfnpBOfVn1b8KDhaRmV02B2pWnbHLnEsJuL6xqQUrlU/s1600/strip+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFOLuyHVcVs-4Lhm-AMeqFOputoKeyokwsf79iu0ax6Gx3RtENHVTrf1fxc3el8PWjjzfYSNhll_S7q1YyxOACQwN-c0ADMUvtfnpBOfVn1b8KDhaRmV02B2pWnbHLnEsJuL6xqQUrlU/s320/strip+6.jpg" width="317px" /></a></div><br />
New York New York was my favorite hotel - It just had so much! Roller coasters, bridges, statues, everything! <br />
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I aslo saw my first real life drag queen. S/he was super nice!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHVjG23stQhzhbldWl-l3ea8KggAnDkbBGU7pMwqIUeUkzs-1Yokmafmi2NI_8AFAEKgKO6366oS-coHEuVIczeXzhlgKDpenunJcBi8j-nzLUVRiYA-qcT8HZBGW406NXUXGcVALstM/s1600/strip+7+drag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHVjG23stQhzhbldWl-l3ea8KggAnDkbBGU7pMwqIUeUkzs-1Yokmafmi2NI_8AFAEKgKO6366oS-coHEuVIczeXzhlgKDpenunJcBi8j-nzLUVRiYA-qcT8HZBGW406NXUXGcVALstM/s1600/strip+7+drag.jpg" /></a></div><br />
And this guy was right outside my hotel:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtCLRlpjHJrcX6Z8UzfMOaV5806WnJKueI_b06FKzLLfIbxIkyHMgjh-lJamOFm04I6hJEh7mHvwgM0kRLtRMddyXVUKUHOXEWrBOLuQrjJ7v2QZphyphenhyphenZhgA93wZP8R5VezMYpb9ZnX2Q/s1600/strip+10+kiss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtCLRlpjHJrcX6Z8UzfMOaV5806WnJKueI_b06FKzLLfIbxIkyHMgjh-lJamOFm04I6hJEh7mHvwgM0kRLtRMddyXVUKUHOXEWrBOLuQrjJ7v2QZphyphenhyphenZhgA93wZP8R5VezMYpb9ZnX2Q/s320/strip+10+kiss.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
So there was a lot of cool stuff to see and obviously some very entertaining people watching. <br />
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The race had some great things going on for it, too. The first half of the course was hilly but still pretty easy compared to Denver and there were a lot more spectators. I felt really really good and had a great girl to run with (her name was Melanie and think she was 2nd). I know a lot of people were complaining about the half marathon and the full converging but I loved that. It was exciting for me to see my friends run by and really helped up the energy in the second half. I felt really good and was able to pick up the pace quite a bit with that extra energy. <br />
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A lot of mixed emotions about this. I was okay with everything until the plane ride home when we started our descent into Denver and realitly. It started to settle in that that really just happened - I just got my 2nd DNF this year. I keep wondering if I should've tried to keep going. I keep wondering what happened that made me so dizzy. I've read a lot of comments on RnR's Facebook page <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/RnRMarathonSeries">http://www.facebook.com/#!/RnRMarathonSeries</a> and on RnRLV's Facebook page <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/RnRLasVegas">http://www.facebook.com/#!/RnRLasVegas</a> and one of the things that stuck out to me was that the water was coming from fire hydrants. For a while I was thinking about better nutrition, etc, etc, but now I'm wondering if maybe dirty water didn't have something to do with it. I'm wondering if I should be concerned about giardia, which is disgusting.<br />
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But more than anything I'm wondering about my running. Of course I've had that "I'm never running again!" thought. Of course I'm disappointed. Of course I'm not really excited about racing right now. I'm sure all of that love and excitement will come back and I'll have many more successes (and failures, as well, I'm sure - that's just how it goes) but right now I feel like I got plucked out of my life and dropped in the desert. Maybe that's over-dramatic. But I think it's a little hard when something that you've put so much of yourself into, something that's helped you make a little name for yourself, and something that drives you doesn't work out, repeatedly.<br />
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I think it's time for me to take a look at what I really want from running. Where do I want it to go? How much of myself can I continue to put into this? When I first started running marathons it was just because I wanted to. But it's increasingly become more about hitting certain times and making sure I was on the podium. This year I set some agressive goals and walked away feeling disappointed almost every race. Even after winning GTIS - which will always and forever be my favorite - I cried on the way home because I felt exhausted and couldn't quite get the time I wanted. RnR Denver was another big race that I've wanted to win since I started racing but falling short of my time goal there was heartbreaking. But, without such agressive goals I don't think I wouldn't trained and pushed and gotten the times that I did. I just wasn't prepared to feel so disappointed. <br />
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So I think I need a little break. From the race scene at least. It's a great time to get back into nordic skiing and getting ready for the holidays. In the Spring I'm going to start focusing on some shorter distances and see how I can improve there but it will be some time before I do another full marathon. It's such a fun distance and such an accomplishment but... I just want to make sure I'm doing them for the right reasons and with the right expectations.<br />
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</div>heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349210793550020751noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915273129463573149.post-59960543790510486232011-11-29T22:33:00.000-08:002011-11-29T22:33:55.337-08:00Per Holly's Request......My favorite things list! This is about as random as it gets, my friends! Where to begin?<br />
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Favorite cereal: Barbara's Peanut Butter Puffins<br />
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Favorite nail polish: Essie Geranium<br />
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Favorite animal: fox<br />
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Favorite car: Saab<br />
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Favorite new hobby: photography<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDU6DAZLYFtXEPt_mMRSLImWdB7rjAF7WzRSKeWWqHMGNDDD1K96csCYqAIQu3EL51ti4EvFA-OKV7ruJ1su4sa0opBfESZET5b8FI8RfVWX0y5wbGebULSN7YlqKHBvBp1I4K0GPN484/s1600/dry+flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDU6DAZLYFtXEPt_mMRSLImWdB7rjAF7WzRSKeWWqHMGNDDD1K96csCYqAIQu3EL51ti4EvFA-OKV7ruJ1su4sa0opBfESZET5b8FI8RfVWX0y5wbGebULSN7YlqKHBvBp1I4K0GPN484/s320/dry+flowers.jpg" width="233px" /></a></div><br />
Favorite perfume: Tokyo Milk<br />
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Favorite stores: Anthropologie, Target, Runner's Roost, REI, Northface<br />
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Favorite drink: bloody mary<br />
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Favorite restaurants: Root Down, John Holly's, Ninth Door<br />
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Favorite pet: Mars<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWG93cNPhMk5WynLfvLSgvEy8yXEbIep-ObUnz-hdvH2-piqmL3ZsHNV0L42bRHuafmUxhfRhvsKFIm_Et4u-g-X8OMCaapja7Jh8IAQDWjCghlvKC8Jloedc1DXojinALgRd731jQ5aU/s1600/mars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWG93cNPhMk5WynLfvLSgvEy8yXEbIep-ObUnz-hdvH2-piqmL3ZsHNV0L42bRHuafmUxhfRhvsKFIm_Et4u-g-X8OMCaapja7Jh8IAQDWjCghlvKC8Jloedc1DXojinALgRd731jQ5aU/s320/mars.jpg" width="240px" /></a></div><br />
Favorite color of all time: green<br />
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Favorite movies: Apocolypse Now, Napolean Dynamite, Alice in Wonderland, The Red Violin etc etc etc<br />
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Favorite books: The Illuminated Rumi, A Clockwork Orange, Peace Like A River, Blood Meridian, All The Pretty Horses, The Little Prince<br />
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Favorite author: Cormac McCarthy<br />
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Favorite physical activity other than running: hiking<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7IbXaYDAd0bv0lfuU8yLiDc14W5LOW2ydMUiu7-Mb_6jZlaEEtWcRn8HX1Dke7QRz2-1SyR_OdHsa_s1JlsRyedEEf8fEAMk0kw9tJcGP0CFopmuU2ilX76uxpIz1WFftSFGT-BHCfU/s1600/clake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="302px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7IbXaYDAd0bv0lfuU8yLiDc14W5LOW2ydMUiu7-Mb_6jZlaEEtWcRn8HX1Dke7QRz2-1SyR_OdHsa_s1JlsRyedEEf8fEAMk0kw9tJcGP0CFopmuU2ilX76uxpIz1WFftSFGT-BHCfU/s320/clake.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
Favorite thing on the Twitter: Themeleon<br />
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Favorite place for vacationing: Playa Del Carmen<br />
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Favorite reggea song: Lee Scratch Perry vs Bob Marley - Put It On<br />
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Favorite non-physical activity: cooking<br />
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Favorite phone apps: Photoshop, fxcamera, Facebook , Twitter, and Epicurious<br />
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Favorite race ever: Georgetown to Idaho Springs Half Marathon<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OJBNiISZELYJLLvT1MzFGDrZEp4-TtZhpgi84Omh6XiKGmAocUqIsZD5KvToYKUJT3_e-PtHaexnMDaL-OsmpWK_5eceRBDvP4wZGHdbMFUdz5c_zsJlrNzyU4jogUPd3Ii75gKG8TY/s1600/gtis+win.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OJBNiISZELYJLLvT1MzFGDrZEp4-TtZhpgi84Omh6XiKGmAocUqIsZD5KvToYKUJT3_e-PtHaexnMDaL-OsmpWK_5eceRBDvP4wZGHdbMFUdz5c_zsJlrNzyU4jogUPd3Ii75gKG8TY/s320/gtis+win.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Favorite watch brand: Rado</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Favorite thing to do on Sunday: long run at the res, brunch, and hike</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Favorite brand of outdoor gear: Patagonia</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Favorite junk foods: carmel corn, Jelly Bellies, pizza, and cheesecake</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Favorite artist: Bosch</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Favorite road: Mt. Evans Road </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Favorite game: Scrabble</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Favorite rapper: Mos Def</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Favorite shoes BESIDES Kinvaras: Kenneth Cole suede ballet flats</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Favorite thing to write with: Sharpies!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Favorite time of year: Fall and Spring</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Favorite place to run in D-Town: Highline Canal Trail</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPy-P6x3dRI_hKH3KiBn_buHFo1TtEjD2H-kkaAhyBH31JQkUpumgw2qSTKjxKRCAa1ZO74w1GxdilA71jwTjUSlIyPt2cxuB0SxB-4DxSJ5nIoeQerIabCtrfArKq6RAly4su6FEX-k/s1600/highlinecolor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPy-P6x3dRI_hKH3KiBn_buHFo1TtEjD2H-kkaAhyBH31JQkUpumgw2qSTKjxKRCAa1ZO74w1GxdilA71jwTjUSlIyPt2cxuB0SxB-4DxSJ5nIoeQerIabCtrfArKq6RAly4su6FEX-k/s320/highlinecolor.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Favorite topic to study up on: nutrition</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Favorite sport to watch: basketball</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Favorite flower: tulips</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Favorite field trip in school: St. Mary's Glacier</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Favorite opera: The Magic Flute</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Favorite Cartoon: Thundercats and Jem</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Favorite children's book: Princess Penelope's 365 Dresses</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Favorite place for a bike ride: Cahoon Park, Bay Village, Ohio (don't even say anything - there's a hill with wild strawberries!!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Favorite music to cook to: Gypsy Kings</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Favorite website: Etsy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Favorite possession: grandma's diamond ring</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is getting longish... :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349210793550020751noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915273129463573149.post-90575266398225642042011-11-28T19:00:00.000-08:002011-11-28T19:00:26.666-08:00Watch It, I Have PhotoshopI guess I'm not tech savvy enough to have figured this out before Sunday, but one can get the Photoshop app on one's phone or mobile device. Fancy that! My new photography obsession is on steroids now. And it is awesome.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuSFLO6vJGKFO81leV7mJjWEwSvlphAprD63a3Ux3fRSXKK7_W8Pwowz6ouc2C6lwmgYOIZKtasI_ErPcFicz_-aVTT0SJZ-cy57BShjHyrgukq80WQ1IHsn-WoWPstIw6Q1IKs6TVSc/s1600/doublerainbow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuSFLO6vJGKFO81leV7mJjWEwSvlphAprD63a3Ux3fRSXKK7_W8Pwowz6ouc2C6lwmgYOIZKtasI_ErPcFicz_-aVTT0SJZ-cy57BShjHyrgukq80WQ1IHsn-WoWPstIw6Q1IKs6TVSc/s320/doublerainbow.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSdzk7pQxtMIESJm4xQOwUTwtCoWXO4nYQO5xN6RhWvgHAZiWcaasrhP-cVbCK5ZoSkG0p1-pW5DAyV-pZbl1nGKrBxNrTV9hp0UJYmGUKwftkBId5wG2vN1S2-gvBKCwBc_t8qLTWWo/s1600/dry+flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSdzk7pQxtMIESJm4xQOwUTwtCoWXO4nYQO5xN6RhWvgHAZiWcaasrhP-cVbCK5ZoSkG0p1-pW5DAyV-pZbl1nGKrBxNrTV9hp0UJYmGUKwftkBId5wG2vN1S2-gvBKCwBc_t8qLTWWo/s320/dry+flowers.jpg" width="233px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4fPs6VBxsXNEvPE-jAH8Pg6zaReCeGML6vuizFW_oSwwbO_7jDYTrQY8ykSQ94OqV7qgy9xk94CeBU1pmEuF3jgdBh6uVKHAa1c5kL3hICvE6-94fAnUDGisxinS2eyOdInXC0u_8P4/s1600/yellowflowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4fPs6VBxsXNEvPE-jAH8Pg6zaReCeGML6vuizFW_oSwwbO_7jDYTrQY8ykSQ94OqV7qgy9xk94CeBU1pmEuF3jgdBh6uVKHAa1c5kL3hICvE6-94fAnUDGisxinS2eyOdInXC0u_8P4/s320/yellowflowers.jpg" width="240px" /></a></div><br />
The only thing I've played around with so far is the saturation but it's a pretty fun tool. And...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UOOSlCDKB0DB1vf2WBZhk_JXzZQAOeJWypYAv8qJzkdehJOqvfYGUFhMlrZ2hZzULmXbKCFbqtOSX5n3OiOQWtowuGWvD0IdkNMAN2q93xW8YjMYdIbzDYLeDKu6IwMU7QLja9LpxVA/s1600/blackfox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UOOSlCDKB0DB1vf2WBZhk_JXzZQAOeJWypYAv8qJzkdehJOqvfYGUFhMlrZ2hZzULmXbKCFbqtOSX5n3OiOQWtowuGWvD0IdkNMAN2q93xW8YjMYdIbzDYLeDKu6IwMU7QLja9LpxVA/s320/blackfox.jpg" width="240px" /></a></div><br />
... we saw a black fox! Which has nothing to do with Photoshop but look at it! Absolutely amazing! Totally surreal little creature.<br />
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And... I'm leaving for Las Vegas in just a few days. Yikes. I don't know how I'm feeling about this. Having a cold is not helping in any way, shape, or form. But, at least I'll be able to take some cool pictures.heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349210793550020751noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915273129463573149.post-59191937899573070642011-11-25T18:02:00.000-08:002011-11-25T18:02:15.887-08:00Marathoning and Photographing (not at the same time)Carl has been posting in his blog (<a href="http://kinneyrace.blogspot.com/view/classic">http://kinneyrace.blogspot.com/view/classic</a>) and... it's better than mine. Reading it made me feel a tad jealous and reminded me that I've been kind of/really neglecting my own. I haven't had much to say! Perhaps not... I always have plenty to say, but recently haven't been in the mood to write and haven't had an ounce of time either way. <br />
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But now I have quite the little cold and I've been sitting on my rear all day, so, I suppose I can take a few minutes to work on this.<br />
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Running has been...? I don't even know. I can't believe I'm about to run another marathon. Only 9 days away now. I'm having a hard time really and truly focusing on it because it just doesn't seem factual that I'm racing this so close to my last one. I'm a little afraid that's it's a bad idea and that I'm not good enough/strong enough/experienced enough/tough enough to handle it. I think I'm in good hands and I think I'd have been told by now that it was time to cut my losses if that was really the case, but part of me wonders a little... But that's not to say that I'm not excited for it. How could I not be? There's so much that could come of it. <br />
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I've been really into talking pictures lately. Which, by the way, has absolutely nothing to do with running. I'm not quite sure why the sudden obsession but I would say it has at least something to do with me finding a few new features on the camera on my phone:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGS16doXSc9F4fo7PG_7H2DaBEFh0nCQmNq7bhwe2dOjtdQtrvWsjhp4sRI-fA4V1Un1vWWozRYiWkDJ2o_QQM3Fe3ZKC2nsAwxbU1_GGVzpqn1AgwB8r_5SktUHjkljkr8fz65mUAcEg/s1600/berryneg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGS16doXSc9F4fo7PG_7H2DaBEFh0nCQmNq7bhwe2dOjtdQtrvWsjhp4sRI-fA4V1Un1vWWozRYiWkDJ2o_QQM3Fe3ZKC2nsAwxbU1_GGVzpqn1AgwB8r_5SktUHjkljkr8fz65mUAcEg/s1600/berryneg.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Berry tree branches</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbTQsPutqoTNbndvvVJdH5EXnxAt5GpSsPb1PsRIoAeTUaggVXYp25cLxc7-EoE-88otbh8yHR6kOq_TdMNyOEvmYfft5LDJygnRRlHPfxmVOffGHyJqk7caB2frfQGPkRIo3uBi-SIg/s1600/carl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbTQsPutqoTNbndvvVJdH5EXnxAt5GpSsPb1PsRIoAeTUaggVXYp25cLxc7-EoE-88otbh8yHR6kOq_TdMNyOEvmYfft5LDJygnRRlHPfxmVOffGHyJqk7caB2frfQGPkRIo3uBi-SIg/s320/carl.jpg" width="240px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Carl at Sanitas</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLnrDwJJrwswNdgiKYUev4fyNRd0aIFjTxZM5pRzDy6pgn_ocZGkBY-hJ1llMRD8TsenKYoQEXX34n26q3aBu-rj983QiAbCYUp1yyyCSEY2bP0IBrpId-PkrPNgy_9bLHjnyYpp89zrE/s1600/back+to+the+sun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLnrDwJJrwswNdgiKYUev4fyNRd0aIFjTxZM5pRzDy6pgn_ocZGkBY-hJ1llMRD8TsenKYoQEXX34n26q3aBu-rj983QiAbCYUp1yyyCSEY2bP0IBrpId-PkrPNgy_9bLHjnyYpp89zrE/s320/back+to+the+sun.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Me at Sanitas</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHgq8bsFCM75UCpDi6n0EpnkDt51pQfXRR9_eGnQfT7BKOMbWK-StAR8xBRZkZvUn30rvmj1EyxZvidKV-aqMRyzhUXk2GYbfsknfxF8YvBK-6frTuEj3aL9IfDMC7r7G4PzoLT78Vw8/s1600/cows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="144px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHgq8bsFCM75UCpDi6n0EpnkDt51pQfXRR9_eGnQfT7BKOMbWK-StAR8xBRZkZvUn30rvmj1EyxZvidKV-aqMRyzhUXk2GYbfsknfxF8YvBK-6frTuEj3aL9IfDMC7r7G4PzoLT78Vw8/s320/cows.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some cows in Boulder</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1sp_QXEutIjwmBt0En89ZHT7uQ-gZbVHGxoqh8nprNUVULCJFTOaVCYQMgFQjTIxqQdl_GiOXxE7gbrgb_RLDcQ4OalwniKa8fjfqeBDs1XjKZnSfrnwOSAOu4GOs1IyCckX6-CeCxI/s1600/curly+grass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1sp_QXEutIjwmBt0En89ZHT7uQ-gZbVHGxoqh8nprNUVULCJFTOaVCYQMgFQjTIxqQdl_GiOXxE7gbrgb_RLDcQ4OalwniKa8fjfqeBDs1XjKZnSfrnwOSAOu4GOs1IyCckX6-CeCxI/s320/curly+grass.jpg" width="240px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Really liked the lighting at Sanitas</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUlD0phtrFkSTT7M03IPjFKVFuntKFZqZVNt0u1Sp6lL06l8g7SLGk4-5vOuGP-bLE8400Bed2LGgnXDAu2lJaG9ea8pQPRa98-fZ9ECVujdLR4zWXt4oqgyv7TFLK41djaGaUIVKgO4/s1600/lilacneg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUlD0phtrFkSTT7M03IPjFKVFuntKFZqZVNt0u1Sp6lL06l8g7SLGk4-5vOuGP-bLE8400Bed2LGgnXDAu2lJaG9ea8pQPRa98-fZ9ECVujdLR4zWXt4oqgyv7TFLK41djaGaUIVKgO4/s320/lilacneg.jpg" width="240px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lilacs</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3egTUQcLa49NscLENCdgN8pwAqXC4Lbl3gbVXPm0c-Qqtuk7Ppl3xhyphenhyphenSk3pEIb2lr6vzXyMe0bsukzhsaA0L2RzxQcjMD_jVkbY3N9m4NLE8I_JalJY0w-XpmOwc_9bUCaoI1ueSeZ_I/s1600/leafneg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3egTUQcLa49NscLENCdgN8pwAqXC4Lbl3gbVXPm0c-Qqtuk7Ppl3xhyphenhyphenSk3pEIb2lr6vzXyMe0bsukzhsaA0L2RzxQcjMD_jVkbY3N9m4NLE8I_JalJY0w-XpmOwc_9bUCaoI1ueSeZ_I/s320/leafneg.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pear tree leaves</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-P_UWKUkHPfBAj48ZlweKWgq70Rv8aHvdstXpRDOCQZ2fwWjp9Y-Zv-owAd4W8kdGP325dOZvP_lHm2HUm3d0EjfyY0tB_ssO9AdZxR6BeZTQCKz857uenP7vfvwNvIBo9Kp6pBef4e4/s1600/lightsnow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-P_UWKUkHPfBAj48ZlweKWgq70Rv8aHvdstXpRDOCQZ2fwWjp9Y-Zv-owAd4W8kdGP325dOZvP_lHm2HUm3d0EjfyY0tB_ssO9AdZxR6BeZTQCKz857uenP7vfvwNvIBo9Kp6pBef4e4/s320/lightsnow.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The sky at the end of a snow storm</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAtOxeQQWKgcACnf26OpLsi1neKWmqbFPvLHkZNxo1aAbcsj7_gKgt1XDX48qUZMKOCnqiGOapGNeCLMPyvtdiKk_i-ilHQe6KytAAqIuKVDmz3958g1we0B2vPY_BkeyNV64rrfY5Do/s1600/pearleaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAtOxeQQWKgcACnf26OpLsi1neKWmqbFPvLHkZNxo1aAbcsj7_gKgt1XDX48qUZMKOCnqiGOapGNeCLMPyvtdiKk_i-ilHQe6KytAAqIuKVDmz3958g1we0B2vPY_BkeyNV64rrfY5Do/s320/pearleaves.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More pear tree leaves</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVYUm7I8w1v6xB-omdDdz5A2iHVy0Jut-rI-O4SH_3XViNUSjbFK1rbPN1JczBFEXVpHvUBKNqhuVcXnwTMzVrDw0U6LxpzwYNSgldc6Rmz1j8qK1Ie3zIT9zcHfL4aFSvqk6JenUgs8/s1600/sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVYUm7I8w1v6xB-omdDdz5A2iHVy0Jut-rI-O4SH_3XViNUSjbFK1rbPN1JczBFEXVpHvUBKNqhuVcXnwTMzVrDw0U6LxpzwYNSgldc6Rmz1j8qK1Ie3zIT9zcHfL4aFSvqk6JenUgs8/s320/sunset.jpg" width="240px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sunset</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfLbA480H_x1vjICZmQZHVtDrD8YHo7GSAN2AOAHNl_A6zc95ixOtvoO3eJavcEcr496yPYUGcW8S1f6SB2V5tQETC8bngpTy8L9Bg8ZWzIdGWPavXU8jsm32JMdZ8yR4sYuiTJxoYxs/s1600/treetops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfLbA480H_x1vjICZmQZHVtDrD8YHo7GSAN2AOAHNl_A6zc95ixOtvoO3eJavcEcr496yPYUGcW8S1f6SB2V5tQETC8bngpTy8L9Bg8ZWzIdGWPavXU8jsm32JMdZ8yR4sYuiTJxoYxs/s320/treetops.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even more pear tree leaves</div><br />
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So, there we have it! The (very) amateur photography has been a nice little outlet<br />
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And that will have to be it. The Theraflu is kicking in.heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349210793550020751noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915273129463573149.post-2637366383979738982011-10-22T22:07:00.000-07:002011-10-24T14:49:05.982-07:00A Little Perspective<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A friend just posted this on my Facebook page:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4_o2D_qVrhGBcTQ_F2wL8yiQ49tE_vDlexhLXLrJjWgyQhKSsnSGDOoHxB0_hjQ7PVwSZwr8oBXW96Unt_lzgaNIZ9_aWZhNRft7e4pWlYc_diN79UfJ_TAhrPtR01eXj8epesUddoU/s1600/poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4_o2D_qVrhGBcTQ_F2wL8yiQ49tE_vDlexhLXLrJjWgyQhKSsnSGDOoHxB0_hjQ7PVwSZwr8oBXW96Unt_lzgaNIZ9_aWZhNRft7e4pWlYc_diN79UfJ_TAhrPtR01eXj8epesUddoU/s320/poster.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
"1 in 1,000 run a marathon, you are amazing" I'm not sure if that statistic is exact but it's at the very least a good estimate. Marathons are beasts! If you're among the few who have put sweat, tears, pain, blood, and heart into one, I think you're pretty awesome.<br />
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Can't wait til the next one!<br />
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</div>heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349210793550020751noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915273129463573149.post-11278509819720764542011-10-21T22:25:00.000-07:002011-10-21T22:25:29.457-07:00Race Report: Scream Scram 5kA few weeks ago, my badass friend/teammate Kim asked if I wanted to do the Scream Scram. Sure, sounds fun, we'll dress up as pirates! Ahoy, matey! The thing was just two weeks after my marathon so I was NOT taking it seriously. And that made it SO fun. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq9GPTWMx3WGLhY79T2tL2XEFY0PUbJshhdgT_RnrI_TsZak8mUqRrOFEgTH8T3cgNWGVwsienAslJuF0D7RQ1H94WobIQwBobkzOxg-pyohnVoZaMsHYatt0y_XksvsVUprH345MfFEQ/s1600/scream+scram%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq9GPTWMx3WGLhY79T2tL2XEFY0PUbJshhdgT_RnrI_TsZak8mUqRrOFEgTH8T3cgNWGVwsienAslJuF0D7RQ1H94WobIQwBobkzOxg-pyohnVoZaMsHYatt0y_XksvsVUprH345MfFEQ/s320/scream+scram%2521.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(so this is me, Kelsey - just two weeks off of the Chicago Marathon! - and Kim)</div><br />
Dressed in full pirate garb (which included some very heavy gold hoop earrings) and going garmin free was my ticket to a fairly fast and easy-ish race. I've heard some people talking about how much better racing without a garmin is and WOW is that the truth. I mean, I didn't even intend to race this - I just wanted to go for a run and see how it went - but I felt amazing. Without that constant pressure of "OMG HOW FAST AM I GOING RIGHT THIS SECOND???" I was able to just go. I started out with Kim and Simon Escorcia right in front of us and just tried to stick with someone til I got to the finish. There's a little stretch of this course that never feels good and when I got to that point I slowed a little and didn't worry about it. The end felt a tad rough but overall? I didn't really feel like I was racing, more or less just out for a hard run. Hmmmmm, this is something I could get used to! More on this momentarily...<br />
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...but first, let's talk about the ridiculously rad loot this race had! I didn't even win (2nd place in 18:08) and for my troubles I GOT AN X BOX KINECT! YEAH! I'm not even 100% on what that is but it sounds awesome! First place got round trip plane tickets from Southwest and third got $180 gift cards to Grease Monkey - that's some damn good stuff! There was also a raffle that had prizes such as Roost gift cards (um, ALWAYS an excellent choice) and iPods and to top it all off, the t-shirts are super cute:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaTJSPeo1fU5dbpzzP4oBXuBNLU6ukPvWYtOVwDZ_PLj1P-vQy9j-2ggw-fXhGggo9sqabTnzROnKJgpemsx6RkEYIgymU_tGbpT5EX-r1ewTZX7o6CUzgIlXQfRvly0MRx4fgDwLUak/s1600/shirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaTJSPeo1fU5dbpzzP4oBXuBNLU6ukPvWYtOVwDZ_PLj1P-vQy9j-2ggw-fXhGggo9sqabTnzROnKJgpemsx6RkEYIgymU_tGbpT5EX-r1ewTZX7o6CUzgIlXQfRvly0MRx4fgDwLUak/s320/shirt.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
I don't want it to sound like prizes will make or break a race for me (I mean, I had no idea there even were prizes and still fully enjoyed my race) but it is definitely cool to get a little something to take home (a little something that is NOT the same finishers medal everyone else and their children and grandmothers get). The goody bags also had some good coupons, like one for a free cupcake!!<br />
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Okay, so about this garmin free idea. At my marathon I got way way way too caught up in my pace and ended up blowing my first half and therefor ruining my second half. So I thought for my next one in Las Vegas (one that I'm picturing be fun and less stressful - despite my serious time goal - anyway) I'd try to do it without a watch of any sort. Now, this makes me a little nervous because, as we all are fully aware, marathons and 5k's are fairly different. So while the 5k may have gone okay, a marathon may be a way different story and I know I'm gonna care tons more about this race than some little local (though relatively competitive) 5k. But I want the same feeling I had today. I want it to be enjoyable. I want it to feel good. So. That's that. Still warming up to the idea but I think it just might work. About 6 weeks out from the next one! Holler at that!heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349210793550020751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915273129463573149.post-74268282739497736642011-10-14T22:08:00.000-07:002011-10-14T22:08:11.291-07:00KaleKale is one of the most horrifically gross things I've ever eaten. It's like hard and gaggy pond weed. But that gross pond weed crap is really really really good for you. I've been trying to choke it down in salads and literally smothering the life out of it with dressing. But I decided on something today...<br />
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My grandpa has cancer. He had surgery yesterday to see if they could just remove the tumor and/or his lung. That would've been hugely invasive but it would've taken care of it pretty well. No such luck. For whatever reason they couldn't remove it and so he has to go through chemo therapy and radiation. Of course everyone's trying to stay positive. Of course we all think it will work out. But I'm scared to death for him. I'm scared for everything he'll have to go through. I'm scared for my mom and how upset she is. I'm just flat out scared. I don't want anything like this to happen to anyone I know, especially not my grandpa. And I never want it to happen to me. <br />
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There are a lot of shitty things in the environment and in our food that put carcinogens into our bodies. There's a lot of crap our bodies have to process. But there are also a LOT of things we can do and eat to help counteract all that. Besides the vitamins and minerals that your body needs every single day to perform every single one of the millions of functions that keeps us all alive, fruits and vegetables have these amazing little phytochemicals that go beyond maintaining general health. Since I'm talking about gross disgusting nasty kale, I'll use that. Kale, though it tastes like rotten oak leaves, has: glucosinates including indoles which protect your body from carcinogens (cancer causing agents, if you're not hip to that) and reduce the activity of estrogen which can slow the roll of estrogen related cancers, bioflavonoids which combine with metals in your body and make blood platelets less sticky so they won't clot as easily so you're less likely to have a stroke or heart attack, and sterols which help maintain healthy blood fat levels. The phytochemicals also help trasnport oxygen to tissues, aid in liver function (because we all know how much delicious beer Colorado has...), and help your body use energy from food. Vitamins and mineral make your body work. Phytochemicals make it work better.<br />
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So, if this nasty leaf can do that for my body and if it can help keep me from going through what my grandpa is going through, I can handle chewing it for a minute. I put this little body through a lot. Gotta feed it properly.heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349210793550020751noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915273129463573149.post-85703366231171128722011-10-09T21:36:00.000-07:002011-10-09T21:36:46.147-07:00I Didn't End Up In The Emergency Room This Time! Success!Well, that was a hard one. Really really really hard. <br />
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I felt pretty ridiculously awesome going into this race but not so much while I was racing. I KNOW I started too fast, but even at mile 8 or so I felt like I was working too hard - none of that magic effortless first 20 miles. I think what got to me was the fact that I was checking my Garmin constantly and really stressing over what to do if I went too slow up a hill - I overcorrected for every fraction of a second I was off pace and wore myself out mentally and physically by mile 17. The temperature was not quite in my favor - I know a lot of people prefer cooler but my muscles never warmed up so my legs were a hurtin'! The other little problem was that I thought I was gonna pass out several times during the last 10k. It was definitely because I wasn't getting enough electrolytes but for whatever reason my stomach can NOT handle anything during a race. Even the three or four tiny sips of diluted Gatorade I had were threatening to come right back up. This happens at every race and I have no idea what to do about it. <br />
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But. I won!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXJKKpml3rL_luzITyXfOsFX7iVd3lp6atskc-6b37fM2wHaqKzySZELHmU1GxPHpr-euo2n5A6jvppFaA4DU6kBTnzXupJ_3a1T_893pUJEmw29Aw7QwxNW7XmcgBQML1MwCdmNDXSg/s1600/tape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXJKKpml3rL_luzITyXfOsFX7iVd3lp6atskc-6b37fM2wHaqKzySZELHmU1GxPHpr-euo2n5A6jvppFaA4DU6kBTnzXupJ_3a1T_893pUJEmw29Aw7QwxNW7XmcgBQML1MwCdmNDXSg/s320/tape.jpg" width="212px" /></a></div><br />
I don't look so hot there but... nobody really looks pretty when they run. <br />
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So, I had two goals for this: to win, and to qualify for the trials. I wanted them both equally. But I only got one. My finishing time was a kind of miserable 2:50:35. All of my runs had gone so well that I wasn't really mentally prepared for how hard this was going to be. I just thought I was gonna go out and do it (I guess kind of the same way I thought I was just gonna go out and do the Pike's Peak Ascent... yikes). I was really disappointed in my time but as the day went on I realized that I just got my 3rd marathon win at race that was really important to me and that's fairly rad. <br />
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It was literally INSANE how much support I had. I can't believe what amazing friends I have. There were so many people out there today and I've gotten so many kind notes - it really made all the hard work worth it! There were some really funny things I saw too, like two little kids flipping out when I passed by them and screaming and clapping like they had rabies or something and a lady that kept running up to me going "GO JOANN!" which is not my name. But seriously, all the support meant the world to me! I had to cry a few times reading all the notes! I've been getting super emotional about this race... like when I got my fancy bib:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIONsV1GvnPkep1c507Q5Wg-xQCIbSzpIeOIcI7AdcRfmoJqzMZgEaN8F7EwxeSS031qMFWCfxN-oAOIGbLIM3hGAxjSN4mTJzjAymwg3uStVfRTZHZzPCofG2LGABYKs-k022fKBA4mg/s1600/f1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIONsV1GvnPkep1c507Q5Wg-xQCIbSzpIeOIcI7AdcRfmoJqzMZgEaN8F7EwxeSS031qMFWCfxN-oAOIGbLIM3hGAxjSN4mTJzjAymwg3uStVfRTZHZzPCofG2LGABYKs-k022fKBA4mg/s320/f1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I felt pretty rad wearing that thing!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, anyway. I didn't make the time I wanted but I also didn't end up the emergency room like last time AND I won! That's good stuff. I was thinking during the last part of the race that I could never do this again. But you can guess how long that lasted... like an hour. RNR Vegas, here I come!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ready for some media on this? Here's a story from News 4 (I think I did an interview with them but my brain was a little fried at the finish) <a href="http://denver.cbslocal.com/2011/10/09/thousands-run-rock-marathon-in-cool-temps/">http://denver.cbslocal.com/2011/10/09/thousands-run-rock-marathon-in-cool-temps/</a> (and just fyi, it was like 17,000 runners, not 1,700). And there's some video from 9 News <a href="http://www.9news.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=1209870033001&odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|featured">http://www.9news.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=1209870033001&odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|featured</a> I'm right after the dude with the two new lungs. And an article from Colorado Runner <a href="http://www.coloradorunnermag.com/2011/10/09/siemers-utrata-win-sports-authority-rock-n-roll-denver-marathon/">http://www.coloradorunnermag.com/2011/10/09/siemers-utrata-win-sports-authority-rock-n-roll-denver-marathon/</a> And one from the rad Kim Bogin <a href="http://www.examiner.com/running-in-denver/rock-n-roll-denver-marathon-2011-results-chris-siemers-heather-utrata-win">http://www.examiner.com/running-in-denver/rock-n-roll-denver-marathon-2011-results-chris-siemers-heather-utrata-win</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My teammate, Nicole, who just f'ing WON the Maui Marathon like yesterday crushed the course today for 3rd place!! Our team has dealt with the motherload of injuries this year but we still have had some amazing performances!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Woooooo! Omg I need to go to sleep immediately.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349210793550020751noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915273129463573149.post-16267497526561241902011-09-20T08:47:00.000-07:002011-09-20T08:47:19.792-07:0019 Days MY MARATHON IS IN 19 DAYS!!!<br />
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Oh. I, for some reason am not allowed to comment on my own blog. Thank you Google for that one. So I'm not being rude and ignoring you, I just can't reply to comments anymore. <br />
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BUT MY MARATHON IS IN 19 DAYS!!! Ahhhh! I'm super excited. I don't know if I've ever felt this good about a race. I know I've never trained this hard, though. I've been putting in more mileage than I thought was possible... I've wanted to do a 100 mile week for a long time but just kind of for fun - just to see how hard it would be. But after a few of them? It's actually not that hard and it was damn fun! The training has been beyond awesome. There have been times where I was totally beat - like I'd literally wake up, run, and then get right back in bed - but I got used to it (I guess?) and now I feel amazing. My longs runs have been phenomenal and at the end of each week I'm so excited to see what's planned out for the next one. It's all I can talk about anymore (which may or may not be extremely irritating). And it feels rad. It feels like everything else I've done as far as training goes was just pretend and this is the real deal.heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349210793550020751noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915273129463573149.post-53885609530298696292011-09-11T18:50:00.000-07:002011-09-11T18:50:08.122-07:00TodayToday is the 10 year anniversary of 9/11. I didn't plan on anything special. It's not that i'm careless or unsympathetic or unpatriotic or ungrateful... I just... don't really do things like that? Does that make sense? Well, continue reading...<br />
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So I woke up early and drove to Boulder for a long run. It was quite possibly one of the best runs I've had ever. It started on a dirt road that turned into the Eagle Trail. But we turned off that trail and took to some single track that went through these fields (there were about 4 or 5 gates that were locked where we either had to climb over them or through a barb wire fence... very adventurous!!) The single track was really fun to run on and I completely stopped caring about how fast I was going - I was just really happy to be running. There were itty bitty little toads hopping across the path at one point and I stopped to pick one up. It peed on me. Be it was so tiny and cute! I continued on and glanced at my garmin just out of curiousity. 6:38 pace. Now we're talking!<br />
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The single track ended and I was sad to leave it behind, but the run only got better. Dirt roads through what I'm guessing is Niwot (???) went through fields and farmland. The air was so fresh and smelled like grass and the end of summer. It was so perfect. There was a farm around mile 14 that had little lambs and llamas! I mean, I've seen lams and llamas before but it was totally unexpected (I did not try to pick up any of them, therefor, I did not get peed on again). A little further down the road was a field of sunflowers. It was like that the whole time: bright blue sky, fresh air, fields, wild flowers, grassy hills, animals just relaxing and grazing. While I didn't start running on my own, I ended up on my own and for a while I was really wishing one of my firends was there to share the views with me. But then I was completely happy with the solitude. Everything was peaceful and I felt strong and refreshed and just totally satisfied. <br />
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The last time I did a long run up in Boulder, I was running with a bunch of people who are WAY faster than me. I don't know my way around (we got little papers with directions to take along this time) so I had to keep up or I'd be lost. It turned out to be an awesome run but I was a little worried that it wasn't something I could handle on my own. But this morning I did it. There were quite a few hills toward the end (and I made a wrong turn so I ended up running an extra 2 miles, so the last two weren't super fast - more aroung 7:00) but on average my pace stayed around 6:35 and felt amazing! <br />
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It was all so pleasant. Late summer sun. Clear skies. The kind of day you'd see in the movies when the main character is daydreaming.<br />
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So I didn't have anything planned for today. Nothing I did was specifically in rememberance of 9/11. But looking back on it right now, if I had put some thought into it and planned out even just a minute to dedicate, I think I would've wanted to do exactly what I did: get out and enjoy life. Enjoy and be thankful for the fact that I'm alive and healthy and have the freedom to do as I please. <br />
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Instead of just having a minute of silence or a small block of time on a single day, I'm going to try to keep this frame of mind and be more grateful all the time. Because, really, it's not just about today, it's about having gratitude for every day.heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349210793550020751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915273129463573149.post-3914224725625333822011-09-02T21:34:00.000-07:002011-09-02T21:34:34.186-07:00Okay, Fine...This morning I got a text message from fastest guy ever and new state half marathon record holder Mario Macias. He told me I was slacking on my blog. And he was correct.<br />
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I haven't really been in the mood lately, especially since this seems to bring about so much drama. People. Calm down.<br />
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But It's not because things haven't been going on. Oh no. Things have definitely been going on. Perhaps the coolest of those things was finally winning my favorite race - the Georgetown to Idaho Springs Half Marathon. Holy mackeral. That one I can't put into words - it really meant a lot to me and I didn't know if I'd be able to pull it off. And to be honest I just got lucky this time. Of course this wasn't without a hitch though... somehow a girl on a bike had a timing chip and rode through the finish line about a minute before me and she was originally announced as the winner. But they got it all straightened out (seriously, most awesome people ever work at that race) and I got my ginormous gold pan trophy. OH YES!<br />
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</div>The next weekend I tried to race another half marathon and completely fell apart in the last 4 miles. It was not a pretty race. I finished in 1:25 and some change. Ooof. Although I guess I can't be too terribly upset if on my worst day on a brutal course I can go 1:25... Right? But I quickly erased most of that from my memory with a nice hike to one of my favorite lakes and a bottle of wine. And some Russian photographers. Don't ask.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also hiked up Mt. Evans. I've run up the road before, but took the trails this time. Um, it gets a little technical up there... But it's such a gorgeous summit!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvoopwKKQ4Y50_rvVzu-j5neArt3x58IygT1iSV6EPgS6EeMd-ycMXTH8rYuKLO1oyF-TYFq7v3QUBz8Cf1tw3upfPvhrq5GzKRooMtq8UfUXFCjR-gME9FWppOL3UDL7ii4XMAjGV_Q/s1600/2011-08-18+13.28.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvoopwKKQ4Y50_rvVzu-j5neArt3x58IygT1iSV6EPgS6EeMd-ycMXTH8rYuKLO1oyF-TYFq7v3QUBz8Cf1tw3upfPvhrq5GzKRooMtq8UfUXFCjR-gME9FWppOL3UDL7ii4XMAjGV_Q/s320/2011-08-18+13.28.39.jpg" width="320px" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh. Also. I got myself a coach. Or coaching posse, I should say. Hello, Hudson Training Systems. <a href="http://hudsontrainingsystems.com/">http://hudsontrainingsystems.com/</a> Yeah. I've never done anything like this before... At all. And it's kicking my ass! But I think it's gonna be worth it. I mean, it's a pretty legit group of pros... And everyone is super nice. Not gonna lie - it's hard. I'm f'ing tired. I had to cry a little bit before my run on Thursday because I just couldn't wrap my mind around running 14 miles at that point. And this morning I had a hard workout to get through. But I did it. And I will be stronger and faster for it. It really amazes me that people (myself included) can do workouts that are really hard and exhausting and painful and not just stop and be like "um, no, this is stupid and I'm not doing it anymore". Runners are just that rad.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I have a race in a few days here... The Park to Park 10 miler. I really want to be in the top three this year. I mean, I was stoked to come in 7th last year. Originally I wanted to go under 60 but I just don't see that happening so I'm gonna try to get under 61, but anything under 63 (which would be a pr) would suffice. My main goal for the day is seriously going to be the speed at which I down mimosas at brunch after.</div>heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349210793550020751noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915273129463573149.post-35145487090105963432011-08-02T19:45:00.000-07:002011-08-02T19:45:12.479-07:00I BiffedAt approximately 11:00 this morning I was at mile 9 of 13 and I biffed.<br />
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Nothing like your body skidding across cement to get the adrenaline flowing! My hip took the brunt of it and I have some lovely scrapes on my ribs, elbow and hands. Oh. And there was dirt all over so when I got up, not only was I sweaty and bloody, I was also dirty. Even worse? It was across the street from a busy Starbucks. Awesome. Hey coffee enthusiasts! Look how great I am at running! Yay! Boom.<br />
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I was a hot mess the last 4 miles of my run. Blood from my hip trickled down my WHITE shorts mixing nicely with all the dirt on them. I looked like some maniac drunk who had just escaped a mid-day bar fight. But a fight only involving midgets who could only swing at my hips and elbows, I guess.<br />
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This isn't the first time this has happened. FYI. Last summer (and actually about a block away from this morning's little trip) I tripped over a dog leash during a run and smacked my knees into the ground and broke my wrist. The winter before that I was running up a snowy and slick hill and wiped out, smashing my forhead into someone's retainer wall, resulting in a ginormous welt.<br />
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And it's not really that any of it hurts all that much. I mean, it does, but not as much as the fact that as an adult I have trouble moving without falling. What the hell? At least I haven't done that at races. Oh, except that I have.heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349210793550020751noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915273129463573149.post-90442115323757672992011-07-31T14:14:00.000-07:002011-07-31T14:14:19.298-07:00Race Report: What the...???On the agenda for this edition:<br />
1. What just happened?<br />
2. How do I feel about this?<br />
3. This whole "I'm on the edge" song really really really makes me unhappy.<br />
4. Carl Kinney wants to be in my blog.<br />
5. Oh, so you're running Leadville?<br />
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1. So. Yeah. What? I really have no clue what to say about this race. It was the E-Race Loneliness 10k benefitting Bessie's Hope and I'm friends with a lady involved with the charity. She asked for my help in getting more people to attend their race and for suggestions on how to make it better. I had some ideas and it looks like attendence was up this year and they had a lot of sponsors and donations. Good! But. Several things that I didn't even think of went a little awry... The conformation sheet that I got said the race started at 7:00. I got there at 6:30 and not a whole lot was going on. Tables weren't really set up. There was no start line. They didn't have the bibs. There were no other runners. I asked just to make sure of the start time and a lady confirmed 7:00. 7:10 rolled around and a few more runners trickled in. I saw a friend and asked him what time he thought the race started. He said 8:00. Hmmm. 8:00? Why did my sheet say 7?? <br />
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Not a huge deal. So I woke up an hour earlier. So I needed to go warm up again. No biggie. What kind of WAS a big deal? When the lead bikes made a wrong turn within the first quarter mile. And then another wrong turn two miles later. The second wrong turn resulted in pretty much everyone out front scattering in different directions. I ended up turning up a hill, meeting up with a few guys ahead of me, stopping, joining the small chorus of "what the f's", jogging through the grass and maybe or maybe not getting on the right course. The course was twice around a 5k loop. But since we didn't go the right way the first time (and at this point I had absolutely no idea where the lead bikes were) we didn't know which way to go the second time. People were all over the place going in every direction and after the second mile I was having a really hard time staying motivated to reach my time goal. So I more or less jogged in the last few miles. Including the chaos, wrong turns, complete stops and a 10k course that could have been anywhere between 5 and 7 miles, I managed to snag the win in 38:24. But let's be honest, I ran faster than that at run club.<br />
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2. Well. I'm irritated with myself for not pushing for my 37:12 goal. I think it would be very attainable at this point and I'm bummed I lost that motivation (but you can see how that happened, right??). After that little rant one might think that I'm annoyed about the race but I'm actually totally not. Despite all the logistical mishaps (oh, and after the race the lead bike ladies were like "I guess we should've gone through the course once before the race"... hi okay? Yeah I think that would be a good idea), or maybe because of them, it turned out to be really fun. The race staff was SO super friendly and funny so no way can I be upset. I also feel pretty happy that Runner's Roost dominated that! My teammate Marc LeBlanc took the men's win even after going so far off course he ended up way behind me at one point and had to play catch up.<br />
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3. Has anyone heard this song where some woman is wailing "I'M ON THE EDGE! OF GLORY!"? What is that? It sounds like a Meatloaf-Lady Gaga-Tina Turner collaboration where something went horribly wrong but someone in the music industry with awful taste decided he or she liked it enough for it to be a radio single. I want to cry when I hear it.<br />
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4. Carl Kinney wants to be in my blog. So much so that he tried to push me into the Boulder Creek during our run on Thursday to get involved in a gossip-worthy bodily assault. Couldn't he have just asked? I mean... I don't want to be in physical danger or anything. Especially while in Boulder. You know how I feel about that. Ha ha :) Okay Carl here ya go. And a big congrats on an awesome race at the Freeman Myer Corporate 5k Challenge!<br />
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5. I have a kind of ridiculous amount of friends running Leadville this year. And while I think it's awesome that you all are going after a huge and amazing adventure, I'm just gonna go ahead and say you're all batshit crazy. Do you know how far 100 miles is? IT'S ONE HUNDRED MILES. Um, have... fun? Or something? Ahhhhh you guys! Crazypants people. But good luck. You're getting close and I hope you're all ready and healthy and please don't fall.heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349210793550020751noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915273129463573149.post-10776321632097861392011-07-18T21:04:00.000-07:002011-07-18T21:04:41.297-07:00The MileComplete 180 from yesterday's race. That did not feel pleasant. At all. I knew it would hurt but not that much. Holy shit.<br />
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I don't suppose it helped that I raced yesterday. And I think it's probably harder to do a longer race first then a shorter race second than it would be the other way around. But I really have no clue. All I know is that I can't remember ever feeling that terrible during or after a race. I mean, it's actually pretty funny!<br />
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I kept saying that I thought I was dying, which was, pretty clearly, an exaggeration. But. I most definitely have a cold now. My throat is killing me (which is typical), but my nose is stuffy and I'm freezing and achy. Yay instant flu! What the hell?<br />
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That was seriously quite the experience! I don't even know what to think. 5:08 for my first ever mile attempt? Is that good? Is that slow? It's so far on the other side of the spectrum from what I normally do! But at least now when someone asks what my mile time is, I can say something less lame than "I've never raced a mile". My teammate Matt Kempton apparently dove for third place (the men's field looked FAST) and got a very pretty scrape on his shoulder! Unfortunately due to rules that are different from normal track rules (oh no no no this wasn't on a track...!) he got 4th.<br />
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And now it's time for theraflu and bed. Up early to run and then summit my 6th 14er, Mt. Bierstadt! My legs will definitely be shot on Wednesday!heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349210793550020751noreply@blogger.com2