Silver Mining

I just read the story of the Silver Queen, Baby Doe Tabor. Her life was not easy. Sure, there were times when she was the queen of society, but there were also times when she was living in rags in an unheated, unplumbed shack. Bet she wished then that she hadn't spent so much money on silly trinkets!

It is fitting that I read this the same week that I started doing recon rides on the Silver Rush mountain bike course. The Silver Rush 50 is the second race in the Leadman series. If I want to strike silver I am going to have to dig as deep as those miners did. They led a hard uncertain life and I feel that I will be experiencing many of those things during this race. There are going to be very rocky bumpy times. I hope that I can hold my fortune and not end up burning all my matches on the early climbs. If I do, I'll end up like Baby Doe dying in the Matchless Mine. 

Climbing the back side of Ball Mountain

Not nearly as hard work as what the people who settled this area experienced.

Can It Get Any Better?

Every day I am out on the trails training and every day I think to myself this is amazing. I look at the scenery around me whether I am on the bike or running and am in awe. I think every view and vista is the most spectacular I have ever seen, and then I turn a corner. Perhaps I am in a permanent euphoric endorphin state. 

A good friend sent me the following quote. 'Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls'. Joseph Campbell. Well right now doors are being flung open for me. I am feeling more and more blessed every day. 

I am enjoying my second spring of the year:)

You might remember my post recently about loving my life. Well, my dear sweet friend Cathy sent me my very own necklace. Live the life you love, love the life you live. I don't think it can get any better, but I still have many corners to turn!

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:

Riding Waves

When I came across an old abandoned wave runner in the bushes next to the trail on my last significant run before the Zion 100km I just thought it was funny. Little did I know it was foreshadowing my experience in my first 100km run. I thought about that pile of junk often during the 62 miles as I rode wave after wave.

 



some on trail training

 



When I swim in the ocean I know that some waves I will be able to get through easily, some will give me a push to shore and some will toss me around, hold me under and batter me about. I was soon to discover that running 100km's is much the same way. Some waves would push me towards the finish and others would test my mental and physical strength as I tried to stay afloat. It wasn't the perfect waves that I was seeking on this day though, no I wanted the washing machine style ones that would put my limits under pressure. It is when I am under water being tossed around that I learn the most about my abilities and I grow. While I did appreciate the sets of smooth waves, it was the chop where I gained the most insight.

 



not so pretty when they are in your foot

 





The first time I got tossed around a bit was when I was running on the amazing slick rock trail at the top of gooseberry mesa. Now, as a mountain biker I love slick rock, it is so fun to ride. As a runner I learned it is not so fun to run. Imagine running on undulating cement surfaces and you have a slight idea of what it is like. Therefore, anytime I could see a patch of dirt to hit in order to avoid the rock I would take it. That is until I went a little too left on that patch of dirt and took cacti to the outside of my left foot. I wanted challenges and pulling the cacti out of my foot delivered. After I did some trail side first aid I continued running with a throbbing left side of my foot. It was manageable and since you can only feel pain in one place at one time, a bit of a blessing:)

 





such a fun trail to ride, run not so much;)



 

Everyone knows that waves come in sets and before you know it a good set rolls through again. I tried to remind myself to appreciate the good when it was present because just like the bad it won't last forever. I continued to have highs and lows throughout the course of the day but even when being tossed around in a wave if you take the time to open your eyes and look around the scenery is amazing. Zion 100 had incredible views, even if it meant climbing up the side of a mesa to get to them. I spent the day learning and am happy to say for the most part I felt strong. My legs held up amazingly well, my feet were a different story. I hit my hydration perfectly but my caloric intake needs some tweaking. I am sure if I can dial that in that I will be able to surf past the 50 mile mark without being thrown about. 

 



 how low can you feel when you look up and see these views!

 

When I first was ocean swimming I learned that the most important thing to do when you are being tossed by the massive ocean is to stay calm and relax. The less you panic, the less energy you are using. Being tossed around is when we learn the most about ourselves but I am glad that during this race I also got to ride lots of good waves:)

Marching On

If I am to believe the cute puppy calendar up on my fridge we are already in the month of March. That means I have less than 4 months now until my first race of the Leadwoman series. Four months isn't a lot of time when you look forward so I like to look back. Where was I four months ago in terms of fitness and where am I now. It is about four months since I signed up for this challenge and I have made forward progress. When I filled out my application I had to state my longest run was 50km. I could now put 50miles, that's a few steps in the right direction. Still, it's hard not to panic with such a huge summer looming over me. While I am a huge believer in not looking back in life, looking back in training is always a good thing. It is hard to see the progress in a micro cycle so reviewing the macro is very helpful in keeping the panic at bay. For now my preparation in training is just like the races will be, one step at a time, Marching On.

Spring flowers are putting a spring in my step

Facing and Embracing

I had the perfect run the other day. It was the day after my 9 mile uphill time trial and one week after I ran 50km with over 6000ft of climbing. In between, I had kept up my training. So, imagine my surprise when Sunday my calves hurt going up hill and my body felt like it was moving through quick sand. I happened to be running with some ultra runner veterans so I just kept on going the best that I could. They wanted to do hill repeats, I was in. Slowly but surely I kept plugging along and loved every minute of it. This was what I wanted, I don't want to feel fresh and fabulous every time I go out and train. I want to know that I am actually doing enough that I am fatiguing my body and building strength and endurance. I had to make some adjustments, walk up a few hills I would normally run up. Slow my pace at times, pick up the pace when I felt good, and just run through the suck. I haven't run 100 miles before, but I am pretty sure that at some point there is going to be something that hurts and I'm going to feel deep fatigue. Not every workout can be fantastic. It is the ones where you have to suck it up and get it done that you gain the most mentally and physically. Runs like these will prepare me best for what I am trying to accomplish this year. The next day I felt great and had no signs of the struggles from the day before. When another 'perfect' day presents itself I look forward to facing and embracing the suck.

Here's a picture of my running buddy the day after.

Fateful First Date

I went on a first date on Fat Tuesday. A Fat Tire date. We had been trying to coordinate a day that worked for both of us, and finally our schedules lined up. The trails were dry, I had no other plans. While it wasn't ideal, since I had been on some pretty big dates over the weekend that left me a little tired shall we say, I really wanted to see if we were compatible.

Like any date, I obsessed a little over whether we would enjoy each others company. If we would be able to fill the time, and if he would treat me well. I shouldn't have worried at all. He was a complete gentleman. He let me choose the route and the pace. I got butterflies in the pit of my stomach just looking at him. Our time together carried me to new heights that had previously alluded me. I will admit that there were a few times that I had to slow him down, things were moving too fast for me. He made a bit of noise about taking it slow, but when I showed him the alternative was completely stopping, he came to his senses. Like any forming relationship we had to push each other a little but when I pushed him, he put up barely any resistance.

When the end of our date approached, I couldn't believe the time had passed so effortlessly and quickly. I entered this date with tired legs but they were soon forgotten. It was just him and I on the trail and I found myself smiling the whole time. He was so easy to be with, we clicked and let me just tell you that the climax of that mountain has never come so easily.

You know it was a good first date when you do the post date analysis and come up with only good things. That happened once before in my life, and I've been married to him for almost 22 years. Looks like this is going to be a long and happy relationship. His previous girlfriend said he was a great bike, but just not the great bike for her. We found each other at just the right time, that's what you call Fate.

Winter Solstice

I survived, and I'm not talking about the so called end of the world. I'm talking about the days become shorter and shorter. From now until June they will become longer and I can slowly come out of my hibernation. I've already noticed that the sunsets are getting later, but now we will have more hours of daylight. I've also survived my 'winter break'. Two weeks of no biking or running or any elevated heart rate exercise ends tomorrow. WooHoo! We made it. There was a time when it wasn't hard for me to take time off, I actually wouldn't even unpack my bike after an Ironman for over a month. But, something at some point switched and it became what I do, not what I have to do. So, as the days lengthen so too will my workouts. It is time to build a huge base for the year and it all starts tomorrow, but not too early because it is now officially winter and that means it's a bit cold in the morning:). Even a bear waits for it to warm up a bit to come out of hibernation and I am definitely resembling a hibernating bear right now. I have put on my winter coat of insulation and I have been sleeping lots! Hey, I figured if the world was about to end I needed some extra fat in case I became lunch for a zombie. But alas, I'm as surprised as everyone else that it didn't happen and now I have some extra fat to squeeze into my lycra.

As hard as taking two weeks off has been I know it is necessary. I need to be very disciplined this coming year and by cutting myself some slack (okay, tons of slack) I have a renewed sense of dedication. So tomorrow officially starts the road to becoming a Leadwoman in 2013. I doubt I'll feel like a leadwoman but I will feel like a lead ass and that's a start:) Today was the end for me, but tomorrow is the start. Happy Winter Solstice:)