Best Summer Ever

Hello human friends, because my dog friends are not able to read you might need to read this to them. I wanted to let you know that I am having the BEST summer of my life, and it is not even officially summer yet. I am loving life in the mountains. At first I wasn't sure about all this white stuff I am encountering on the ground but I am learning that it is pretty good for eating when I am thirsty. Yes, I know, I am a snow dog but post holing through it isn't that much fun. When I can cruise over the top of it, I love it. Don't forget I am OLD, as a human I am closing in on 80. Look good don't I? My human is doing some crazy event this summer and I am doing my best to get her into shape. I walk her twice a day and take her for super fun trail runs. 

I wasn't sure about the start of this adventure, I barely had room to spread out!

I've developed quite the bone collection. The other day I dragged a whole rib home. My hunting skills are getting tuned.

Sometimes I ride shotgun, my bones are filling up my bed:0

I've finally learned that if I listen I get some privileges, it's the summer of freedom!

 There are lots of ground squirrels up above tree line, it's worth the effort to get there

Check out the view, I am on top of the world-almost

After a hard workout everyone should ice their legs.

Today I am resting, HARD. I don't know what my human is planning for me tomorrow and I need to be ready! If any of you want to visit let me know. I can show you where to foxes live, where the best bone hunting grounds are and I've figured out how to get through snow drifts. Like I said, it's the BEST SUMMER EVER! Love Tana

Shouldering the Responsibility

Last week within three days I received two different shoulder surgery photos. One from my mountain bike bud The Todd. He was out training and crashed, ended up shattering the head of his right humerus. Got lucky, didn't need shoulder replacement, they could fix it. BUT, now he is out of the Leadville Trail 100. I have been looking forward all year to spending time riding with him in the mountains. Now that isn't going to happen. 

Speedy recovery The Todd.

Addendum, The Todd now is slowly becoming the 6 million dollar man:)

Three days later it was my running buddy Waynes Worlds turn. We had known he was going to need surgery on his shoulder. All winter and spring though we held hope that he would recover quickly and be back at it fast. He is registered to run the Leadville Trail 100. Now it seems he won't be recovered quickly enough. Not to do the training, but he will be running again by then- just not 100 miles. I was so looking forward to running the start of the race with him. He needs me to hold him back a bit a the start. Keeping fingers crossed that he will be up for some training before the race.

Speedy recovery Wayne's World

So, now that the two boys are on the injured reserve list it leaves me to shoulder the responsibility of getting to the finish line of both 100's. I'll do my best boys but I'll be missing you every pedal and step of the way! Hope my shoulders are broad enough to handle the load:)

Just Another Day in the Office

I can now breathe easily while stationary so it was time to get back to work. I have heard lots of reasons why the training in Leadville isn't good yet. Maybe most of the courses are still covered in snow but there are plenty of options available and where there's a will there's a way. I am not here to vacation and spend my days sitting around a coffee shop whining about trail conditions. I am here to do work. Yesterday, I put on my work clothes and headed to the office for the day. Here is my day in pictures.

Time to punch in and get at it.

Trail looks pretty clear to me

I started out at the lakes

Made it up to 11,700ft from 9.400

Pretty Awesome day, looking forward to more days in this office. I could become a workaholic if I'm not careful:

Making Friends

We haven't been here in Leadville even a week yet. Still, on our morning and afternoon walks we have managed to meet quite a few people and already are feeling a sense of community. Today Tana made a special connection and I know she is going to want to visit her new friend daily. Our circle of friends just expanded, they sure are foxy here in Leadville:)

Breathtaking

I am not at 10,000ft and I can feel it. From the looks of the snowpack on the mountains it is going to be awhile before I am able to train higher. That is okay with me. My body has lots of work to do building oxygen carrying red blood cells so for now we will do what we can at 10,000ft and enjoy the views up higher. For now I'm as high as I can handle and it is breathtaking in more than one way.

LML

A good friend of mine has a necklace that says 'live the life you love, love the life you live'. I feel very grateful daily for my wonderful life full of amazing people. Yesterday, I was driving to meet some of those people to climb our local mountain. It was raining and a bit on the cold side. They were game to ride it anyways. While driving I heard a segment on the radio where listeners called in with their FML (f*** my life) stories. I don't have any FML stories so I am going to share the opposite.

On a day the weather didn't cooperate fully, where I was riding my bike uphill for two hours all I could think of was how lucky I am. My friends were out there with me and we were making a great memory. Normally I love to descend this mountain and open it up. Yesterday, I had to stay on the brakes and at times my bike was rattling so badly from the shivering coming out of my body. I had to stop to warm up, but through it all the only thought I had was I LOVE MY LIFE! Thanks to my wonderful friends for making it so fun out there and joining me in a LML moment:)