Two days after the big birthday, I signed up for the Pikes Peak Ascent. .. or more specifically, the Triple Crown of Running.   After all my reluctance to run another full marathon, I can’t believe I’ve decided to take on this monster challenge instead.    The Triple Crown consists of a series of three races: the Garden of the Gods 10 Mile Run on June 13, 2010, the Summer Roundup Trail Run 12K on July 11, 2010 and ends with the Pikes Peak Ascent the weekend of August 21-22.    These races are all tough with significant elevation gains (needless to say the Ascent is biggest elevation gain ) So the girl who loves to avoid hills and prefers to run at sea level, is gonna run up Pikes Peak…The hills which I’ve abhorred so much will now become my friends (or more likely frenemies).

We are also traveling to Seattle again this year for a family vacation and the Seattle Rock n’ Roll Half Marathon on June 26, 2010.  It was a great race last year and I am looking forward to running this beautiful course again.   It’s likely I will also run the Boulder Bolder on Memorial Day which is always such a good time.

We’ll see what the fall and winter bring.  I think that training for and completing the Triple Crown will be one of the hardest things I’ve done to date.  I know that training is going to be grueling. I know that I will shed some tears and that there will be a great sense of accomplishment if I can pull this off.  I’m both nervous and excited – here’s to the best year(s) yet!

love my new shirt: no meat athlete, powered by plants.. get yours: http://www.nomeatathlete.com/

Colorado is cold.  I know we boast something like 300+ days of sun but when it is 15 degrees outside with some unfathomable wind chill, it’s just cold!  Now granted most days aren’t that cold but temps in the 30s are common during the winter.  Most of us have an array of gloves, hats, jackets, vests, pants in our winter running arsenal.  There is nothing like chilly sweat icicles or trying to suck water out of a frozen water bottle …

And about that sun – it can be intense at this altitude.  I always slather on the SPF 50+ , dependent on that UVA and UVB protection, trying in vain not to end up looking like a sun weather, high altitude Coloradoan runner – you’ve all seen them, you know what I am talking about.

Snow is another fun one.  Just start training for a marathon and it will suddenly start snowing every single weekend.   I am not lying.  This happened to me last spring when I was training for the Colorado Marathon.  I ran many long runs while it was snowing, on snow packed trails/roads, over snow drifts – you know, snow.  I have since made peace with the snow – at least the snow that comes in peace and not with my #1 nemesis – the wind.  

In my opinion, the wind is the worst weather enemy for a runner.  There have been a few particularly windy when I’ve really questioned my sanity.   The feeling of being forced back while trying to move forward, gasping to catch your breath during a particularly powerful gust running backwards for a moment of relief… I hate it.  

Of course there are other elements we enjoy as well including icy roads and magnificent thunder/lightening and hail storms – these are the ones that definitely keep me indoors.  The rest of the elements I battle as the mood strikes – more often taking the challenge but also relying on the treadmill when my weather battling mojo is low.  

The Seattle Rock n’ Roll Marathon is on June 26, 2010 and I’ve been debating the full vs. the half.  I ran the half marathon last year. This debate is a blog post in and of itself…

 (concerns: several out and backs and hills in the 2^nd half)

 On the food front, veganism gets easier and easier especially with articles like these popping up in the news regularly: 

• Meat Safety: How Well Done?  Chicago Tribune , January 21, 2010
• California Firm Recalls Beef Products Due to Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination, USDA website, January 18, 2010
• Safety of Beef Processing Method Is Questioned, New York  Times, December 29, 2009

I do have to remind myself that there is a fine line between being a vegan and an activist.  I think many veg/vegans want to share what they learn about the meat industry, the factory farming abuses, the health issues, the humanity issues etc.. etc… easily becoming an activist or vegevangelist as I’ve come to identify myself on occasion.    But many people simple don’t want to know: “don’t tell me,  “I don’t want to know…”   And on some level, I guess I can relate to the sentiment.  After all, didn’t I run around as a cheese loving vegetarian for the last 20 years – living happily in the dark about the realities of the quality and health risks of milk/dairy and horrific abuses of dairy cows and their little babies? 

 It’s hard, however, to “not know” these days.  The media reports, bloggers like Erik Marcus with his popular and informative blog: http://www.vegan.com/,  best selling books like Jonathan Safran Foer’s  “Eating Animals” all report the realities of the meat, dairy and egg industries and all through mainstream media outlets.   These are the pros, the people I will quote or point to their links for all things vegan…. and that will be the extent of my vege- evangelism.  Unless of course, you do want to know – then I would love to share thoughts, ideas, concerns and recipes!

To be honest, evangelism in general has never been a favorite thing of mine and despite my passionate views on animal factory farming methods, if you dont’ want to know, then you don’t want to know and it makes me uncomfortable to be the one that others might point at and whisper “why that sanctimonious vegan __________!”    

The more difficult part of this journey has been the realization that so many of our foods have dairy, milk byproduct, egg or egg byproduct in them – even many of the vegetarian convenience foods that Morning Star and Boca offer in the frozen food aisle.  So I have become an obsessive nutrition label reader.  I have learned to look for the “vegan” label.  And I have really reduced my consumption of convenience foods.  More often than not, as a vegan, if I want something good, I have to make it myself.   

One big example: my favorite Mix 1 drinks contain whey, a milk byproduct from the cheese making process – this was a big blow initially but I did my research and discovered that hemp is a more perfect protein than whey and hemp powder is readily available locally. There aren’t any ready made hemp shakes that I can grab while running out the door, but I can make a delicious soy/hemp shake with just a little bit of planning.  Plus all the predictable hemp jokes are fun.   So going vegan hasn’t been difficult in terms of any feeling of deprivation… it’s just a more thought out diet, one that requires a bit more planning. 

 (hemp protein you drink it, not smoke it )

One byproduct of my vegan journey is that my kids have decided to be vegheads.  Not big meat eaters to begin with, they have decided to become vegetarian (not vegan).   I was rather disheartened the other day though when my high school son came home to tell me he skipped lunch because there were simply no vegetarian options available at school– the situation in our school cafeterias is unbelievable.   He normally packs a lunch – but the option to buy was a nice convenience … again, the veg diet is not always a convenient one. 

One more new thing for 2010 – in 2009, I ran in Asics Gel Kayano 15s…  I went thru 3 baby blue pairs… the last ones just hitting 400+ miles at the end of the year.  So last weekend, I went to the shoe store and the Gel Kayano 15s are marked down since the 16s are out now.  As I was getting ready to buy my fourth pair of these baby blue shoes, I eyed the Kayano 16s… the shoe guy was explaining all the new features to me.  I wasn’t really listening though – I was pretty much sold when I saw they are pink with a groovy disco pattern in the background.  After all it’s a new year, right?

January

• began another year, my first full year as a stay-at-home mom to my three kids and our brand new puppy
• completed Sophia’s choice application for 4^th grade at School in the Woods, submitted with fingers crossed
• decided to start keeping a log of my running miles

 race: Chevron Houston Half Marathon, result: 1:58:36  date: 01/18/2009

 February

• eagerly began training for my first full marathon…running all the time

 March

• celebrated my 39^th birthday in Las Vegas with my husband
• Enjoyed a relaxing spring break stay-cation with the kids
• Daniel begins track season
• Began to have first doubts about running a full marathon

race: Runnin’ of the Green, Denver, CO (7 km) , result: 36:01  date: 3/15/2009

April

• my daughter celebrated her 9^th birthday and her choice application for SITW was selected
• I refocused, continued training through regular weekend snow storms

May

• completed my first marathon, the Colorado Marathon. The 42K was not all I hoped but I finished.
• Andrew celebrates his 12^th birthday and we all look forward to summer break

race: Colorado Marathon, Ft Collins, CO (26.2 mi) ,  result: 4:30:25  date: 5/03/2009

race:  Bolder Boulder, Boulder, CO (10 km) ,  result:   54:36 date: 5/25/2009

 June

• started this blog
• all three kids began swim season – swimming through some cold mornings
• my parents came to visit from Houston, TX
• headed out to Seattle at the end of the month for a half marathon and vacation.

race: Seattle Rock n’ Roll Half Marathon,  result: 1:53:30 date: 6/27/2009

July

• Mark celebrated 44^th birthday in Seattle.  Fireworks on Lake Union.
• Headed home for kids to finish swim season
• Maintained my mojo during a long vacation
• Celebrated our 15^th wedding anniversary
• PR 10K

race:  Classic 10K Colorado Springs ,    result: 51:30  date:  7/25/2009 (PR)

August

• my eldest child celebrates his 14^th birthday and begins high school.  This more than any event of 2009 made me feel my age!
• Sophia started her exciting year at School in the Woods
• Depeche Mode – my first concert at Red Rocks
• Boys begin an cross country season

September

• spontaneous weekend in San Diego with my husband – a very relaxing trip to the beach
• Sophia spends the night away – SITW for her first overnight, sleeping under the stars
• Participated in the American Discovery Trail Marathon Relay
• family runs the 4th Annual ThunderStorm 5K except  Daniel who competed in a cross country meet the same morning.

race: American Discovery Trail Marathon Relay (leg 3 = 6.75 miles) ,  result: 59:11  date: 9/07/2009

race: Discovery Canyon Campus Thunderstorm, COS (5 km),  results 25:30 date: 9/19/2009 (PR)

 October

• impressed to watch the boys improve their performance/times in their respective cross country meets
• decided to run Vegas (the half)
• Oktoberfest run

race: 10K Oktoberfest, Denver, CO, result 53:23 date 9/27/2009

November

• I complete 1000 miles for the year
• happy month as my sister and her family come to visit us for Thanksgiving
• we all run the Briargate Turkey Trot together
• ready for Vegas

race: Briargate YMCA Turkey Trot, COS,  result:   26:38 date: 11/26/2009

December

• PR at the Las Vegas Rock n’ Roll half marathon
• Celebrate the holidays at home with my family
• End my love affair with cheese and begin my journey toward becoming vegan

race: Las Vegas Rock n’ Roll Half Marathon,   result: 1:51:56 date: 12/06/2009

race: 25th Anniversary Resolution, Denver, CO (5k) ,  result: 27:28 date 12/31/2009 (very icy conditions)

2009, almost 1200 miles, 180 + hours…

happy new year.  2010 is going to be a good one!

(Poor Daniel had to sit this on out..stress fracture)

Also, this year we celebrated our first completely vegetarian Thanksgiving.  In years past, we’ve had the traditional turkey for the hubbies and kiddos but we collectively decided to go veg this year.  I made a valiant effort to go all the way vegan but we did have some cheese on our vegetarian shepherds pie and our pumpkin pies were baked with what we hope are cruelty-free eggs from Nest Fresh.   Judging from the lack of leftovers, our feast was quite a success for adults and kids alike.

The Las Vegas Rock n’ Roll Marathon and Half Marathon is a week from today.  I don’t have a great expectation for a PR on this one.  Seattle was a great race for me this year and despite my speed workouts, I am sort of stuck at 8:30-9 min as my best pace right now.  It’s kind of discouraging but when I think back on my year of running, it is an improvement.  Early this year, breaking the 9 minute pace was monumental for me … anyway, we’ll see how Vegas goes… no matter what, it’s going to be a great time!

There are so many book reviews for Born to Run and I don’t have anything profound to add to the words of praise already written about this book.  I can only say that I was at times incredulous, more often inspired, awed and impressed by this story.  I fell in love with the Tarahumara, their will, their joy for running and life. 

The journey begins with the author, Christopher McDougall’s quest to run free of constant foot pain attributed to running.  McDougall, despite more than one contradictory diagnosis from doctors (including a prescription to ditch his running shoes and pick up a bike) doesn’t give up; instead he begins a journey to find the key to running without injury.

What follows is an incredible story, unbelievable characters including a barefoot runner named Ted, a couple of hard-partying ultra runners and a self-exiled, gringo Tarahumara, and amazing races in the most extreme conditions.  McDougall argues that until the advent of the modern running age with its vast array of gel-supported stability shoes, humans ran free of pain.  He discovers and learns first hand about the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico who run hundreds of miles in little more than bare feet (thin rubber soled sandals).  These super athletes run through the treacherous Copper Canyons with out pain and with what can only be described as joy. From here McDougall’s journey takes us through ultra marathons (I thoroughly enjoyed paging through the story of the Leadville 100… an ultra marathon right in my backyard), the concept of barefoot running, primarily vegan diets and finally, the ultimate race in the Copper Canyons.

Even though I will never even come close to being an ultra runner or super athlete, somehow reading this book made me feel like a runner… whether you are a runner or not, check out this book – it’s inspiring.

I know, this is just another number in the games I play with myself … but I feel a little victory in achieving this milestone (pun intended).    I have learned so much over the miles.  I had good days and some pretty bad ones.  There were times when I thought I may be done all together but I kept running.    I raced:  5Ks, a few 10Ks, even a 7K and of course the half marathons and the one full 26.2.  I trashed several pairs of running shoes, learned the hard way what not to eat before a long run and discovered the joys of ice massage.  I learned the jargon, joining the society.  I googled running blogs and discovered a community of runners online.  I am in awe of what people can accomplish.  It’s inspiring. 

Today for me is a good day to reflect on how far I have come and contemplate how much further I will go.  1000!

Ok all kidding aside, snow fall totals in our neighborhood weren’t overwhelming or anything but I guess winds were out of the east, because the snow seemed to all pile up right in front of my house – the driveway, the doorway.  Here are a few pictures from our first offical fall 2009 snow day… I am sure there are plenty more snowy days to come!

“You pretended the snooze button didn’t exist. You dragged your butt out of bed while others slept. While others ate their pancakes you had a feast of protein, glucose and electrolytes. You double-knotted.  You left the porch light on and locked the door behind you.  You ran 5Ks, 10Ks, 26.2 miles.  Some days more, some days less.  You rewarded a long run with a short run.  And a short run with a long run. Rain tried to slow you.  Sun tried to microwave you.  Snow made you feel like a warrior.  You cramped.  You bonked. You paid no mind to comfort. On weekends.  On holidays.  You made excuses to keep going. Questioned yourself. Played mind games.  Put your heart before your knees.  Listened to your breathing.  Sweat sunscreen into your eyes.  Worked on your farmer’s tan. You hit the wall. You went through it. You decided to be man about it.  You decided to be woman about it.  Finished what you started.  Proved what you were made of.  Just kept putting mile after mile on your interval odometer… and we ran with you. How much farther will we go?  As far as you will.”