Dec. 17 to Dec. 23rd

Finally getting the act together and returning to the blog. Really appreciate all of you supporters inspiring the writing to begin again.

As this week starts, it looks to be a simple week at home in Atlanta and that should equal some good running! Where is the Christmas hustle and bustle some of you are asking? Many folks know this ole girl (and associate family) does not get too involved in the shopping mayheim, baking, decorating, wrapping, cards, etc. We tend to keep it simple and this year, it is especially simple. (The Christmas decorations are still in their boxes in the house in Colorado....maybe next year they will have migrated to Atlanta.)

Monday; Dec: 17th: With today being Jim's 48th birthday, it was an early start to ensure talking with him before his work day starts. (Oh no, he does not get the day off from American Airlines.....he can't even get Christmas off!) Today was a day off. Gotta have one of those a week and after yesterday's 24 miler in the north GA mountains with some good friends, it was much needed.

Tuesday; Dec 18th:  Out the door early with Traysen for a nice 8.5 miler. Legs still a bit tired from the trail outing but the cooler weather makes for some easy miles.

Wednesday; Dec 19th:  Wooo Hooo.....feeling good after sleeping in til 5am! Off we went for a great 9.0 miler, most of which was in the dirt. I seem to have perfected the art of running on the side of the paved paths in Peachtree City. With very limited trails, we have to get creative to get the dirt running accomplished.

Thursday; Dec 20th: Finally got the little butt to the gym! Oddly enough, even with reduced running miles, the ole bones are struggling to get to the gym. The head wants to go, but getting the rest of the body there is proving to be challenging! Nevertheless, after abs, legs, and triceps, Traysen and I headed for an easy 8 miler. Nothing special, but yet a good outing on the trails in Peachtree City. In particular, we cruised along the Stinky Trail for a few miles. Honestly, it doesn't stink! It is really very beautiful, quite technical and includes enough mud and hills to keep it interesting.



This is why I don't mountain bike ride! This ole girl can end up face down in the dirt without getting tangled in a bike!
The Stinky trail is full of ditches, tree roots and rocks! My kind of terrain!

Friday; Dec. 21st: Your basic 6 miler. Nothing special except Traysen the doberman.

Saturday; Dec 22nd: Getting the butt out the door at 630am was an effort. At least the motivation was easy.....met up with several (as in about 11) other gals from our Moms Run This Town group. Starting at the Fred, we ventured towards the south end of Peachtree City and found a new 10 mile route with some good hills! Somewhere along the run, I joined up with Kathy who is a bit faster than short legs here! She was able to push this ole girl to a nice finish; then it was a slog fest to get the bones back home!!! Thanks Kathy!
A good 15 mile run in the cool air.

Sunday; Dec. 23rd: A chilly start to a hilly/trail run. Out the door at barely daylight, it was a quick trot towards Planterra and the Line Creek Nature Area. The first few miles of this run are noted for the hills along   Hip Pocket, Terrane Ridge and down to the Nature Area. Luckily, I have been able to find ways of staying off the pavement on this portion so it serves as a non technical dirt run. Once in the Nature Area it is all single track with lots of tree roots, some rocks and the occasional muddy slop. A favorite section of this trail is the Mule Rock Trail as it meanders along Line Creek. This morning the creek  had a few ducks braving the cold water! A good outing of 10 miles.

Line Creek Nature Area

Summary: A nice week of running but the weight lifting is still lacking. Sometimes even when our heads are in the game our time/bodies/life/schedule just can't seem to get it together to get the job done. That's where the weight lifting is at the moment. When these times surface all we can do is analyze where the challenge lies: is it our schedule, is it a matter of excuses, fatigue, or some other issue? Once we find the problem, then it is a matter of putting the weight lifting (or whatever is slacking) higher on the priority list and then apply the effort. It's all about what's more important. 

Total miles of running for the week: 56.5

Total miles for 2012: 2975.5

Yes, I will easily make 3000 miles for 2012!!!! 

A return to the blog.

Well, there have been request to return to the blog. It appears some folks enjoy the humor, the antics, and hopefully find inspiration in this publication....Thanks for all  of the supporters.

Since September, life has been busy but yet somewhat simple. Work is in full swing with the Airbus 320 training department and finally in December some actually flying. The dogs are still doing great and enjoying living in the warm temps of the southeast. Savanna, the dachshund tart, finished her AKC champion title and has begun obedience training. (We have a long way to go before she is "obedient.") Traysen continues to take very good care of his mom and joins on most runs. He is retired from showing and prefers to play stick and stay with Mom. Jordan and Katy live with Grandma full time. They enjoy being spoiled!!!

As for running, it could not be better! Even with a very busy work schedule, the high mileage has continued and I should have 3000 miles for 2012! (And I thought this would be the year to cut back on the miles!?) The quality of the running has been excellent with hill repeats, track work, tempo runs and of course, the favorite of long 20+ milers.
On November 24th, I ran a trail marathon in Macon, GA. It was perfect! 26.2 miles of single track, complete with rocks, tree roots, hills, creek crossings and one very crooked bridge! The concept of running 6 x 4.5 loops was, at first, a challenging thought; however, it was not even an issue. Actually, as the day continued it was enjoyable to see how the trail changed as the lighting changed.
The race itself, Thomson Trails Half/Marathon, was organized well and the RD did a great job for a first time event. Designed as a low key event with less than 100 runners, this race was right up my trail and proved to be challenging and just a purely fun day with fellow runners.
As a side note: my own race went well and I finished 2nd overall female. Taking three diggers and about 40 toe stubs, I know I need more trail running and more hill training.

As for future races, the only "item" on the agenda is the Georgia Death Race. What tha....is this? A way too hard 60 miler through the north Georgia mountains. The course starts from Vogel State Park and meanders through the woods/trails/bridges to Amicalola State Park. The RD claims it has about 30,000 feet of elevation change! A good friend asked if I had done a race this challenging. I dunno....With three Leadville, Colorado races (from 26.2 to a 50 miler) under the running shoes, this shouldn't be any different than those adventures. Right? Nevertheless, there are several of us entered in the race that are getting together for training runs on the course. The low key FatAss runs are always a hoot and provide the much needed miles/trails/hills that we all need.

Having been in Atlanta for just over six months now, many new friendships  have been made along the way. Many of those new friendships have developed through our MomsRUNthistown group. Over the last several months I have had the pleasure of watching many women in this group face running challenges, set personal goals, and in many cases, exceed their own expectations.

Here is the link to the group....a nation wide organization started by good friend, Pam Burrus...

http://momsrunthistown.com/

The Peachtree City Running Club is still going strong. This organization was started in the mid 80s by my dad, Bob and Nora Weed,  and several other hardy souls in the Peachtree City area. It has been rewarding to see many of the same faces that were involved in the club way back in the 80s! (No, none of us have aged one bit! LOL!) A concept that was started many, many years ago by dear friend Nora was the 1000 mile jacket. The theory was that if you ran a 1000 miles in one year, you earned a jacket. This year about 20+ members received their jackets!

The posts should continue as the running continues. I wake up each morning and can hardly wait to get out the door for a run. Sometimes it's alone, sometimes it's with friends, but almost always with my constant companion, Traysen the doberman.

Sept 20, 2012

An Update!

Life has been wonderfully busy. The Captain upgrade/Instructor training for work is almost over with only one more day.. It has been a long haul and many, many hours studying but has been well worth the efforts. After a checkride on Friday, the 21st, work will take on a bit of an easier role, but yet still require quite a bit of "book work."

As for running: It is going very well. The mileage has hung in there and the yearly mileage should be around 2200, which is only about 75 miles behind this time last year. The longest run has been 22 miles and the track workouts have been continued. Weight lifting has been reduced but not completely lost.
Racing goals have changed. The 50 miler in October is definitely off the list, if for no other reason than I am working that day! At the moment, there is the 40 miler in December and the goal of running two 100 mile weeks before the end of the year.

I miss my running buddies in Colorado (Lori, Lynn, Dee) as well as other close friends. The mountains are always missed but life in Atlanta is great. The summer was not too bad in terms of heat/humidity and now we are into the cooler days of September. Mornings are in the 60s and the afternoons are in the 80s. With plenty of rain over the summer, everything is still green but yet showing signs of fall. I envision plowing through mounds of fallen leaves along the running trails in Peachtree City.

Over the last couple of months I have become involved/associated with a wonderful group of women. Started by our own Pam Burrus, MomsRunThisTown is now becoming a nation wide organization with over 160 chapters across the US.  We are dedicated to supporting all those women known as Mom in their efforts to live a healthy lifestyle, keep an exercise routine going and yet still juggle everyday life.  In our Peachtree City/Newnan/Fayetteville chapter, we have about 100  members and several groups/friendships have formed  in the two years the organization has existed. As for my own involvement, many new friends have logged numerous miles with me  all over the trails of Peachtree  City. We have pushed each other, provided support, direction, and even provided some needed grief at times. Many of these Moms of two legged kids are training for marathons and triathlons. No excuses here; these are tough gals and get the job done.

Taking a Break from the Blog

Hello All,

With some work changes upcoming and the associated time consuming efforts, the posting on gon4run will be very limited.
Running will continue as usual but plans for an October 50 miler have been squashed. September will be spent in the training for work and getting the key long runs in will be impossible.
We sometimes need a reminder that our lives do not actually revolve around running! And that we are very fortunate to have jobs that force us to be responsible.
Miles for July 30 to Aug 5: 30.0
Miles for 2012: 1753.0

July 23 to July 29

With quite a few work days this week, running will be done on the fly! Oooppss...bad pun!

Monday; July 23: Flying all day and in need of the day off.

Tuesday; July 24:  A good 10 miler in the steamy morning. Traysen made it for the usual 7 miles.

Wednesday; July 25:  Just call us the early birds! To the gym for shoulders, chest, and abs. Traysen then dragged ole Mom out for a good 10 miler. Oh No.....he only made the usual 7 or so but then kicked me back out the door.

Thursday: July 26: With a 630am report time for work, running was an afternoon outing. (Whoever came up with being at work that early should be popped right up side the head!!!)  As expected in the heat and with fatigue, the effort was fairly simple with some walking, some "dog stops" for Traysen, and some slow trotting; a total of 6 miles.

Friday; July 27:  An awesome 19 miler! Don't ya just love those runs that go smoothly? Almost no effort required? Just a cruiser where the miles go easy. And the recovery is equally as smooth.

Saturday; July 28: A quick 7 miler was in order with a day of work ahead.

Sunday; July 29: Slept in til 515am and with a day off, a nice 9 miler ensued. The morning seemed a bit cooler which was a good thing since today was a tempo run day. Oddly enough Traysen and I were both very toasty and worn out after this run. Running hard in this heat takes some pushing and prodding to keep it going when the body is overheated. It is always a fine line between pushing hard enough but not too much so that you have heat related issues. Not sure how others handle the heat but I always know if the pace is being pushed too hard...it starts with a headache that only gets worse as the run continues.
A good session in the gym with abs, biceps and triceps rounded out the day.

Summary: Another nice week of running is complete. Next week is a full week of work and luckily enough it is time for a sloppy week of reduced miles.
With the Summer Olympics in full swing now, another source of human inspiration has come to mind. When we consider the dedication, sacrifice, and love of their sport these athletes endure for many years, how can we not be inspired? Additionally, most to many of these athletes have an extensive support crew that keeps the rest of their lives going. These are the folks behind the scenes who make sure the athlete gets to practice when he/she cannot yet drive, they make sure the best coaches are obtained, they provide encouragement when times are tough. Often, they ensure the athlete has a dinner ready after training or there are clean clothes available when needed. Even as a "normal, everyday" athlete who loves her sport, I have my own form of support crew. The husband, Jim, has given me much of his time and energy over the years of running. There have been many a 4-6 hour run where Jim has taken care of dogs; many times where he has tiptoed around the house when the tired Badass Psycho Bunny needed the daily nap; and many times where he listened to the woes of training or where he watched some tired, sore legs wobble around the house. I am very grateful for all he has given in an effort to allow me to run many miles over the years.

Total miles for the week: 60.0  
Total miles for 2012: 1722.0

July 17 to July 22

Here we go with another high mileage week...well, considering this is the "off" season, 60 miles is high mileage! Work and studying for the upcoming training will put challenges into the running time, but persistence and a commitment to git 'er done will make the miles happen!

Monday; July 17: Time for a day off.

Tuesday; July 18:  Started the day with a nice 8.5 miler with Traysen. Being a Tuesday, the afternoon track session was scheduled; however, Mother Nature decided to present several thunderstorms complete with plenty of lightening, thunder and rain. So, no extra miles today.

Wednesday; July 19: Traysen made it out for the first 7 miles and then wandered back to his pillow. Mom here took off for another 4 miles through the woods, over the hills and in the mud! A weight lifting session of abs, back and chest was also included.

Thursday; July 20:  With an early morning departure, running was an afternoon event.  The delayed track session was scheduled at 6pm and somehow, someway, the ole bones made it. Despite the 90+ heat, it was a decent effort of 1.5 mile warm up; then a few intervals, followed by a 2.5 mile cool down. A total of 6 miles.

Friday; July 21:  Out the door for a nice 12 miler and then off to work.

Saturday; July 22:  With a very late arrival from work, the lazy girl here slept in.....til 745am!!!! Unfortunately, not being the quickly moving spring chicken, I missed the 8am run with the running club. After chores, dogs, etc, I finally just went to the gym and jumped on the elliptical for an 8 miler. Sometimes you just have find a way, mentally and physically, to the job done. With heat, humidity, fatigue, timing, pressure to get to studying, the elliptical was the way to go today.

Sunday; July 23:  After a good night's sleep, Traysen and I buzzed out the door for the start of a long run. He lasted the usual hour or so and then wandered back to his pillow and Mom took off for another couple of hours. At the end, 18 miles had been covered, with minimal effort and an equally nice recovery.

Summary: A good week of combining running and work. Weight lifting was down but that happens as the work volume increases.
Question: Where do you find your inspiration? Many of us have internal inspiration. Personal health..mental and physical...keep us exercising. A pure love of the sport...(running, biking, swimming, team sports) often inspires others to continue their efforts. But what about external inspiration? What/who inspires  you to exercise? Personally, here are some of my own inspirations:
*Mental health....cheaper and better than a therapist
*Physical health...size 4 jeans! and a 42bmp resting heart rate
*Bob and Nora....who introduced me to running many years ago and continue to lead a healthy lifestyle
*Lori, Lynne, Dee...who combine work, family and running and do all with much grace
*Bridget ...who continues to run despite health issues
*Running heroes...Tony Krupicka, Matt Carpentar, both of whom are running icons

*And lately some new inspirations have come to light:  living in the southeast in the heat/humidity of summer, I have realized that folks here just keep going despite the outdoor conditions. Everyday there are numerous runners/walkers/bikers all over the Peachtree City trails at all hours of the day! There are people training for fall marathons...Bob, Don, and Warren...all determined to train hard and improve. Then there are all those kids at the Summer Track Series...Kerry, the 8 year old who runs the 800, 400 and the mile! And Megan who runs a 7 minute mile and she is only 10 years old! Not forgetting my little buddy with the pigtails who kicks my butt in the relay!
All of these folks inspire this ole girl to get her sorry butt out the door and just run ...never mind the heat and humidity....just go git 'er done!!!!
So...what inspires you?
Total miles for the week: 63.0
Total miles for 2012: 1662.0

July 9 to July 15

Finally a few days at home with no work! While the money is good, the ole brain cell could use the break; although studying is in full swing in light of the upcoming training for the new position.

Monday; July 9: In need of a day off but not today. A quick 6 miler was on the agenda.

Tuesday; July 10:  Well, it looked like today would be the day off for the week. With a restless previous night, the ole head and body were not moving very fast at first but somehow, someway it made it to the gym for abs, legs, and shoulders. Since weight lifting had occurred without too much fatigue and pain, running was an option. With the Tuesday night track session coming, I forced myself to get there and start with a 1.5 mile warmup on the track. How hard can that be right? Well, in 90+ degree heat and humidity, it wasn't that easy! But alas, the 800, the  one mile, the 400 and then two mile intervals happened, all at a snails pace. The highlight was the 4 x 100 relay! That is once around the track with 4 runners each running 100 meters!!! Now that sounds easy right? Think again! Being the second runner on the old ladies team, I took off like a bat outta .......only to be smoked by a little pipsqueak who came up to my waist!!! She was very cute with her little pigtails...that I almost grabbed as she flew by! Sometimes it is just plain fun to blow out all the dust and run as hard as you can for a very short distance. 100 meters doesn't seem like a long way to go but when you are pushing as hard as you can, it can seem like forever! A total of 6 miles for the day.

Wednesday; July 11: Time for distance today. Traysen and I were off to a late start since running lasted to almost 815pm last night. He lasted about 7 miles and wandered back to his air conditioning. Mom here, not being the smart one, completed another 3 miles in the steamy morning.

Thursday; July 12: Back at it before the heat set in.....but not before the humidity was at full steam! Traysen, again being the smart one, opted to boycott the whole mission and lounged with his sister, Savannah, in the comfort of dry air conditioned dog pillows. But not Mom....what little clothing I had on was drenched within a few minutes of running but nevertheless, 11 miles was tallied and a nice cool shower followed.

Friday; July 13:  Oh My...It's Friday the 13th....remember that series of movies of the same name? Creepy stuff that sent young kids to sleep with their mom's for three weeks!!! But this ole kid was out the door running in the dark at 515am. Traysen joined for the first 7 sweaty miles and then was done; while the Badass Psycho Sweaty Bunny went back for 3 more....a total of 10.0 Then, off to the gym for abs, biceps, and triceps.
Late in the day the dogs and I went for a long walk on some of the trails. Here are a couple of pics as well as the new pic at the top of the blog...these trails are amazing....over 90 miles in length....most of which I can find enough shoulder/dirt/mud/rocks/tree roots to run on instead of the pavement. There are even some hills (as opposed to the Colorado mountains) and some water crossings at times with all the rain lately.

A very wooded section along the trail not too far from Flat Creek Golf Course. Despite the heat and humidity, this place is beautiful!!!

Saturday; July 14th:  whewwww....we made it through Friday, the 13th without any creepy, crawly things happening!
A late start was the order of the day since I was meeting up with the running club folks at 8am. Traysen and I took off at 645am for a quick 6 miler, after which he was done! A quick jog over to the library where about 25 other runners were gathered; with some banter/razzing, we were off for a blast of a 4 miler this morning. (usually it is a 6 miler on Sat. morning, but with the Grand Prix series today, 4 miles at full speed was the distance called for). The ole legs were churning well and for 4 miles I chased Bob....who is very fast, with very long legs, a very lean physic. Never did catch Bob, but it was a wonderful outing of 10 miles total!

It has been a homecoming returning to the Peachtree City Running Club. My dad help start this club over 30 years ago! What has been most interesting is seeing old friends that I knew when I lived here in the mid 80s and early 90s! We all have a few more gray hairs, a few more wrinkles and all of us are a bit slower but our love of running has remained! A few pics of some old friends....


Roy R.. Several Hawaii Iron Man finishes!



Lou and Martha B. Retired airline pilot (Lou) and very fast runner (Martha).



Bob D. Very fast, lean n mean runner! He kicks everyones butt!

(thanks to Normer.com for the above three pics)



And only in PTC will you see this!!!! Ain't it cute?!!!

Sunday; July 15: With work looming this morning, out the door at 450am! A buzz through 7 miles and then off to Belize! That is South right?

Summary:  A great week of running is in the bag. It is interesting to note how well the running is going in the heat and humidity of the southeast. Once I moved away from here many years ago the thought of returning to running in the heat was not pleasant; however, now that I am back and here to stay awhile, it is amazing how the mind has shifted to dealing with the heat and humidity as if the concept was there already. In light of the mind shift, one phrase comes to mind: "You can do more than you think you can." by Ken Choubler, race director of the Leadville 100. We are often only limited by our own minds and once we can past that limitation, anything is possible.
total miles for the week: 60.0
total miles for 2012: 1599.0

July 2 to July 8

Finally a few days off to enjoy at home in Atlanta. Despite summer being in full swing in Hotlanta, it should be a good week of running and weight lifting.

Monday; July 2: A long day of work yielded the day off. Hopefully, nobody noticed there were just two days off in a row!!!

Tuesday; July 3: Needless to say, a bit antsy to get back on the trails, Traysen and I headed out quite early for an easy 10 miler. It was one of those wonderful "floater" runs that required very little effort. After a quick shower, it was off to the gym for abs, chest and back. (yes, a shower is required before going to the gym...gotta get rid of the layers of sweat...just too grimy).

Wednesday; July 4: Usually at work on this day, it was odd to be at home and have a whole day to ? Out the door early for a nice 9 miler. Traysen even made the whole distance and then a quiet day ensued. Peachtree City goes all out for the 4th. A huge parade followed by parties everywhere and then to cap off the day, a fireworks display over the lake. For the afternoon walk with the dogs, the cart paths were full of golf carts, most of which were decked out in the red, white and blue! It's a tradition here that golf carts even get in on the celebration.
As usual the dogs and I wandered off to bed at 730pm, only to be jarred wide awake at 930pm to bombs going off!!!! At least that was what it sounded like....but not to fear, it was only the fireworks being fired about a quarter mile away! Traysen and I walked into the backyard and watched the display....we had the best seats in the house!



Who knew you could dress up a golf cart like this?



Fireworks as seen from the boat dock on the south end of the lake. Thanks to M. Schneider for the pic.

Thursday; July 5: Sleeping in til almost 6am, the ole bones finally wandered out into a very steamy morning. All dogs boycotted the whole mission as Mom here headed over to the track. After a warmup.....as if it wasn't toasty enough.....it was 4x800s and then 4x400s. All times were as expected and consistent. Then off to shuffle through an additional 3.5 miles for a total of 8 for the day.
Finally, the track workouts are happening. With a track within a mile there are no excuses. Now, the key is to keep it consistent. As I have mentioned many times the benefits of running/exercise stem from sticking with the program. Even when there are setbacks, it is important to get right back on the wagon and resume the running/exercise.
A weight lifting session of abs, biceps and triceps rounded out the hot day.

Friday; July 6:  Quite the warm start at 530am and during the first three hours of a 17 mile run, I wasn't sure the whole distance was going to be covered! Traysen gave as much support as he could for the first 7 miles and then it was a solo effort for ole Mom. With plenty of Powerade and not much clothing, the distance was covered and the recovery went quite well.
Sometimes when running in the extreme heat an ugly headache will take place after the run. Anyone else experience this frustration? Maybe it was the fluids, maybe it was the nap, but whatever the lack of a post hot run headache was welcome!

Saturday; July 7:  Back in the old stomping grounds of Salt Lake but yet an early departure yielded an elliptical effort of 8 miles. This was actually a welcome relief from the heat and from the pounding of running.

Sunday; July 8: Waking up in my favorite place on earth, Jackson Hole, Wy, the ole bones greeted the early morning light with a simple 8 miler  on the elk refuge.



There probably are prettier places to run but where? The Tetons as viewed from the National Elk Refuge.

Summary: A very nice week of running with some weight lifting. Summer is in full swing in the south with temps topping out in the upper 90s and even a few 100 degree readings! That can only mean one thing: Home grown tomatoes and watermelon!!!! Ya'll probably thought I was gonna say reduced running!? No way....running is full steam ahead....
Total miles: 60.0
Total miles for 2012: 1539.0

June 25 to July 1

Oh my! Here we go into another month of the year!!! Would someone please slow the clock a little?!!!

With life lately, with a full week of flying, and with a need to cut back on the miles, this week of running will be quite reduced. As we all know, sometimes you just need to cut back and take a mental and physical break from the high mileage.

The wildfires in CO have  not affected the big log house, but many friends have  been displaced from their homes while a few others have lost homes. Prayers and thoughts being sent to all those affected.

Monday; June 25th: A one day trip and back home to a still very sick Katie, the dachshund. I seriously had to come to terms with the fact that she was ready to leave us and even Jim (who is very close to the little weiner dog) was coming to realize we should let her go. This is the hard part of animal ownership. It is often up to us to make the decision that their lives are complete. Running was not an option today, so a day off.

Tuesday; June 26th: Needing some stress relief, it was a quick 6 miler and then off to check on Katie who was staying at Grandmas. Oddly enough that little dog was acting much like her old self, complete with a bad attitude! She was still having issues with the rear left leg but  her system was regulating itself and she was getting around much better. A visit to her vet revealed much improvement on all issues and it appears the little snotty attitude, diabetic, blind, spider bitten, snaggle tooth, immune disorder, stinky breath dog is going to be around awhile longer! So, a good day for us all.
The day was ended with a track workout with the running group. A 1.5 mile warmup was followed by 200, 800, and 1 mile intervals.  A total of 3.0 miles. Then a quick trip to the airport to pick up Jim who was very happy to see his Katie doing well.

Wednesday; June 27th: A busy day ahead yielded a 7 miler before the heat set in for the day.

Thursday; June 28th: After a warm 6 miler with Traysen it was to the gym with Jim. Following his workout we started with legs. OUCH! It's been awhile since these ole bones have done full fledged leg presses! Being the stud muffin he is, Jim then pushed us through shoulders and while he finished a fourth exercise there, I opted to hit abs pretty hard.

Friday; June 29th: OMG!!! I can't walk! The legs have aches we never knew existed! Why did I ever stop doing legs that intensely? But still, 8 miles was on the agenda and off we went like a herd of turtles! Traysen kept looking at Mom and asking, "what is your problem today, Slow Poke?" I told him to shut up and trot. And then!!! Back to the gym for bicep, triceps and abs again! Luckily, these areas of ole Mom here are quite used to hard weight lifting and they were able to keep up with the Stud Muffin.

Saturday; June 30th:  Waking up in Missoula, MT at 935am (very late night of work), the day was calling for a leisurely 10 miler along the Clark Fork River and up into the Hell's Gate trails near the Univ. of MT. While climbing up Hell's Gate I came across the fella in the pic below. As I approached, he scampered off into the weeds and was never seen again. Also sighted was the beautiful symbol in the sky, also pictured below. Despite a warm temp of about 80, it was a nice run and the cooler than 100 degree temps of Atlanta were much appreciated. A cool dip in the river made the post run all the better.

Luckily, this fella was not interested in getting too close.



Very beautiful example of the nation's symbol.

Sunday; July 1: An early departure followed by a 2pm arrival in 107 degree temps in Atlanta yielded a day off. This was to be an easy week and so taking an extra day off was par for the course.

Summary: As we all know, life can sometimes deal us one challenge after another. Often these challenges can range from the simple (such as dealing with a sloppy run) to the overwhelmingly emotional (such as dealing with a very sick dog). During these times we may question the meaning of all the series of frustrations/challenges/obstacles but yet we always make it through and keep hoping for simpler times. We also know that sometimes it is only through persistence and patience that we accomplish the goals we have set for ourselves. In some cases the goals are just not obtainable while in other cases we know we can reach the goal but we question just how long it is going to take and how we are going to make ourselves pursue the effort and find the patience. Well folks.....this week it seems as though the continual series of challenges that have been occuring since I moved to Atlanta has finally diminished. Katie the dog is doing very well, the renovation of the duplex is almost complete, the air conditioning in the old Dodge truck is hanging in there in the 100 degree temps, and the personal life is settling down. AND....as many of you who read this blog know one of the reasons I moved to Atlanta was in a hope of being promoted to an instructor job with Delta. (different and better paying than the instructor job I hold now). Well folks....the patience and persistence paid off!!!! The call came on Wednesday and on September I will be the newest Seniority List Instructor at Delta Airlines. Not only will I be the newest but from sources have told me, I will be the only girl in the Good Ole Boys Club!!! They finally let a girl in!!!!
So, just when you think your life has reached it's limits on challenges and you can no longer take anymore, have no fear....the Good Lord knows when you have had enough and will ease the struggle. At this point the families in Colorado who have lost their homes to the fire come to mind. The challenges are only beginning for them; it is not as simple as rebuilding a structure. They will now have to endure months (or longer) of healing, dealing with insurance claims, realizing lost treasures, and yes, rebuilding a home.
Also when we think that our efforts are no longer worth the goal, that is just when the goal is often obtained. We runners often spend months training for a particular race and sometimes wonder if the goal of finishing in a certain time is worth the effort and sacrifice spent. But then in the end, we achieve the goal and know all the training paid off.
The moral of the story is this: Regardless of your situation, regardless of how difficult the goal, hang in there because most often the challenges will subside and the goals will be obtained.
Total miles for the week: 40.0
Total miles for 2012:  1479.0

June 18 to June 24

An interesting week lies ahead as I came home to a very sick dog. Katie, one of the mini dachshunds, was bitten by a brown recluse spider AND developed diabetic ketoacidosis all at the same time!

Monday; June 18: After a long, restless night, it was a day off.  Jim arrived in town and we were preparing to say our goodbyes to Miss Katie. She is really sick and not doing very well.

Tuesday; June 19:  A quick 6 miler in the dark with Traysen and then off to the animal hospital. She is doing better....we think! Mean ole spider! No track workout this evening since we had to transport Katie from one vet to another late in the day.

Wednesday; June 20:  Out the door quite early for a 10 miler and then Jim and I actually made it to the gym during the early afternoon. The weight lifting session was less than "wonderful" but it was good to get in there.
Katie is improving. The diabetes is somewhat stable but not glucose levels are still very high. The spider bite effects are very ugly....the poision has spread from the bite (on her little butt) all the way up her belly to under her front legs! Luckily, she is enjoying a nice cocktail of pain meds.

Thursday; June 21:  A somewhat cool morning produced another nice 11 miler, partly solo and partly with Traysen. (he gave up at 6 miles). Then back to the gym for another odd ball weight lifting session. It is amazing the difference in how running first and then weight lifting changes the quality of the gym outing. Sometimes when lifting first, the run goes very well and sometimes it does not. But it seems that lately a run followed by weight lifting produces a blah weight lifting session. Who knew?
We did see a lady ??? in the gym that could  kick both our little butts! OH MY! That is the interesting part of working out with the rest of society. You just never know what hangs out in the gyms! On the other hand, by seeing what others are doing, it opens our minds to try to new things so our routines and bodies do not stale.

Friday; June 22:  Oddly enough Katie is coming home today. It has been a very expensive and emotional week but she is doing well enough to come home. Not sure what the whole day holds, Traysen and I opted for a run in the dark at 5am. A quick 7 miler and we were in the shower.

Saturday; June 23:  This was a different 515am out the door! I walked 15 minutes to volunteer at the Peachtree City Marathon Relay! Usually volunteering at a race involves driving at least an hour! A quick setup for the race and then I was recruited to run one leg of Team 9, aka..Perfect Strangers. In a marathon relay there are four team members with each person running one 10K leg. Leg #3 was the assignment and according to several other Leg #3 folks, it was the hottest and hilliest (is that a word?) leg! Very nice! So, with about two hours til Leg #3, it was back to the house to walk and feed dogs. Once back at the race, the missing member of Team 9 had appeared and she was now going to run her own hot n hilly leg. Wooo Hooo....I was now free to go run in the shady trails of Peachtree City and only needed to return to help clean up after the race.

https://sites.google.com/site/ptcmarathonrelay/

The race website for those that want to participate next year!

And with that, off I went...in the 9am heat of a hot n humid June morning. A fairly decent 7 miler ensued and then back to the race to socialize and help clean up. Traysen even got in on the fun with visiting many admirers.

Sunday; June 24:  As Traysen and I walked out the door at 545am, the hot n humid air blasted us right smack in the kisser! He looked as though wandering back to his bed would have been higher on his list than trotting through some portion of a 17 mile run! But off we went! First sticking to the lonely roads since it was still dark and then venturing onto the trails with some daylight. After the first hour, ole Traysen was done and did actually go back to bed while ole, not so smart Mom here grabbed the water bottle and took off again! Hoping to explore some new trails near Lake Kedron, the run took me north west for awhile and somewhere along the way a turn was missed and I ended up heading back south onto some known trails near the golf course. Not a big deal since there are still miles and miles of trail to explore. At about the 1:30 mark, one toe forgot to join the rest of the foot and the left elbow was one with the pavement while the right knee was one with the dirt! That is one danger of running along side the paved trails.....a digger usually means some road rash! After dusting the grime off, it was back to work for another 1:45. The day was heating up nicely and the water bottle was empited with about 25 minutes to run. Nevertheless, the distance was covered easily and another 17 miler is in the books!
Now a day in the air conditioning!

Summary:  A good week of running despite the distraction of dealing with a sick dog who may not be with us much longer. As we all know, our running often is a stress reliever and when times get tough is when we need the running even more. Sometimes when the stressful event is also a time consuming event we lose sight of the need to get that exercise done for the day. But if we can find even 30 minutes to get out, we know it will help with the coping skills.

Total for the week: 58.0
Total for 2012: 1439.0; this is 130 fewer miles than last year at this time when I was training for Leadville 50 miler.

June 11 to June 17

Whewwww...working way too much lately but it is actually not stressful at all!!! Not commuting changes everything! A quick drive to the airport and I am  at work!!! Still several renovation items to be done on the duplex in Peachtree City so the checkbook needs a boost!

Monday; June 11: An early wakeup in Missoula yielded a day off.

Tuesday; June 12: Out the door early with Traysen for a nice 8 miler. With a track workout this evening we took the morning easy.
Running part 2: Arriving at the track in time for a 1.0 mile warmup, then a 800, 1 mile, 400, and a finish of a 5k run on the track!!! UGGHHHH....The first three intervals went well despite the very warm afternoon while the 5k was more of a mental challenge than physical. One of the ladies I have been running with (she is quite new to the sport) asked if I was going to do the 5k run. After explaining it was more of a mental push than a physical push, she indicated she understood but yet looked at me as if all of the marbles had fallen completely out of the head!!! If she only knew the real truth!!! The 5k run did go well with a finish in the exact time that was predicted.

Wednesday; June 13:  To the gym quite early for abs, back, and biceps... Traysen then joined for a nice 7.0 miler. Unfortunately, about a mile from the finish, the ole body went WHAM! onto the pavement! Oh no, no trail with rocks and tree roots needed...just good solid pavement works just as well for a digger! Not much damage but I would rather avoid a repeat!

Thursday; June 14:  Being a very warm morning and just not into it, we took it easy again for a 6.5 miler. It can be frustrating sometimes when your schedule allows for a longer run but yet your body just  isn't into it. Today was just that kind of a day. When this happens, we have take what we get and know better days are around the corner...most likely on a day when you can only squeeze in a few miles!

Friday; June 15:  Today was a great outing of 12 miles with Traysen. Running in Peachtree City is awesome on so many levels. One key ingredient is that I can walk out the door, hit the trail within two minutes and go in many directions. All runs are different and offer some hills, some dirt, and some golf cart dodging!

Saturday; June 16: Waking up in Boston to a beautiful day, the ole body wandered to the gym late morning for abs, chest, and shoulders. Then out the door for a run along the Charles River. Well, it was more like a slog fest, a "the body really does not want to do this," run. Somehow, someway, 10 miles was completed and in the process I was able to visit Boston Commons, the Public Garden and see many boats along the river. A very beautiful outing on a nice day.



Boston Common on a perfect Saturday.



Several inlets off of the main river boarder the 20 mile running/biking path.



Yuppyville...aka Cambridge, Mass. ....across the Charles River.

Sunday; June 17:  Your basic 10.5  miler. Quick and done for the day.

Summary: A nice week of good miles and good weight lifting. Even as summer is heating up, the miles are coming along fairly easily with a few exceptions. Oddly enough, even living at a lower altitude and not commuting, a nap is on the schedule almost everyday.  This is actually quite normal for the nutjobs of us who insist on high mileage. Many long distance runners squeeze in a daily nap to revive themselves. It is very beneficial to grab a few minutes of shuteye so that the remainder of the day is productive. So those of you who like the high mileage, turn the head off, close your eyes and rest a few!!
Miles for the week:  60.0
Miles for 2012: 1381.0

June 4 to June 10

Work is in full swing this week with only two days off but yet without the commute, the running miles should happen easily enough.

Monday; June 4: Somehow it seems Monday's are a day off. For some folks, starting the week off with a day off can be a bit disconcerting, especially when one of the goals is to run 6 days for the week. The ability to keep the confidence in yourself comes from previous consistent running. With many weeks or years of running behind you, it is often just a mindset to know that even though Monday is a day off, you have the confidence in yourself that you will get your butt out there and get the job done the rest of the week.

Tuesday; June 5:  After flying most of the early part of the day, it was an afternoon with the Peachtree City Running Club summer series track workouts. OUCH!!! It's been awhile since I have done any formal track work (earlier this year?) and with the heat/humidity of the southeast, this was to be a "set the bar" workout. The actual workout went well  despite the heat...although many little kids kicked my butt!! A ladder style interval session produced a 400, 800, 400, a 1 mile and then a 2 mile workout. With a warm up and cool down, total miles was 6.5.

Wednesday; June 6: Somewhat of a short night, then out the door for a quick 10 miler before work. Did I mention that not flying to work is great!!!! Much more time to run and goof off!!!

Thursday; June 7: Ever have one of those days where the workouts are just sloppy despite the head being into it? One of those days where even the lightest weights in the gym are heavy and the run turns into more or less a walk? That was today. Very lethargic from the start. Traysen pulled Mom along for a sloppy 7.5 miler followed by a less than lively weight lifting session of abs, shoulders and triceps.

Friday; June 8:  Finally a good nights sleep produced a great session in the gym with abs, chest and back on the agenda. This was followed by a nice 11 miler. Traysen actually made the whole distance without chasing too many "squirrels."

Saturday; June 9:  Trying to meet up with some folks from the Peachtree City Running Club, Traysen and I headed out quite early since it was to be a 15 mile run. After the first 6 miles, the ole boy was done and opted to hang out in the air conditioning. Mom here took off again and met up with a group of ladies who were just starting out on their own 15 miler. Once we reached a split in the trail I veered right and made my way to the Stinky Trail. Honestly, it is not stinky...it is actually quite beautiful, complete with some hills and plenty of tree roots to trip on. The run went well and it was good to get the miles completed.
It is interesting how well our bodies adapt. Even as the heat and humidity rise in the southeast, the body is handling the increased challenge. One thing has helped is that I have incorporated sugar free Powerade into runs that over 12 miles. The electrolytes are just what is needed in this heat and humidity...quite a bit different than Colorado.

Sunday; June 10: Waking up in one of my favorite places on earth: Missoula, MT. A steady downpour with a cool 50 degree temp made for a nice 8 miler along the Kim Williams trail. Needless to say that hot shower was most welcome.

Summary: A solid week of running and weight lifting. As has been mentioned, our bodies can adapt to new challenges and changes in our lives. It is often a matter of adjusting our mindset and realizing there are no excuses. It would be easy to reduce the mileage and quality training given the heat and humidity of the southeast, but on the other hand, facing the challenge and making a few changes in practice have allowed me to continue with some good mileage.
Total Miles: 57.0
Total Miles for 2012: 1370.0

May 28 to June 3

Oh My!!! Where is the year going? It's June already. Walmart will have Christmas stuff out next week!!! With most of the week off from work, it should prove to be a great week of running and weight lifting.

Monday; May 28: Memorial Day reminds us of our freedoms and allows us to appreciate those who have served. As a pilot there have been times when we have carried a fallen soldier in the cargo hold of our aircraft. Never a pleasant experience and always a reminder to pay tribute to those who gave all of themselves.
As for running: it was a day off.

Tuesday; May 29: Up and at 'em early today with a kickoff of Lois' Muscle Challenge class at 515am. She really kicked my butt today! OUCH! Maybe it was just being tired..maybe it was too hot...maybe Lois slept well and was in rare form....OR maybe she just kicked my little butt!!!! Nevertheless, after class Traysen and I took off for a nice 10 miler. Bet Lois went and ate donuts! NOT!

Wednesday; May 30: Back to the gym for an early session of abs, shoulders and triceps. It has been awesome doing different routines in the gym. Finally getting back into the swing of weight lifting with some vigor instead of just going through the motions. Amazing how just changing the routines gives new inspiration.  A brief 7.5 miler rounded out the day.

Thursday; May 31:  A basic 8..5 miler.

Friday; June 1:  The alarm sent me and the dogs spinning at 4am....well, we all fumbled downstairs anyway and made our way to coffee! Then off to the gym for abs, legs, and biceps! Traysen then pulled Mom through a 9 miler before I flew out to meet Jim to celebrate his parents 50th wedding anniversary. WOW! That is a long time with one person! How does she do it?

Saturday; June 2:  After a decent night of sleep, Jim joined me for a late morning run. I thought he would tag along at my plodder pace for about 3 miles or so but before he knew it we had gone about 9 miles!! With lots of catching up to do, the miles and time passed quickly as we yapped and formulated plans. Then it was off to spend the day with the family. An awesome day in Branson, MO with the highlight being a riverboat dinner cruise.



The Branson Belle.

Sunday; June 3: Waking up after a late night out, I managed to squeeze in about 5 miles before lightening and an oncoming storm forced the day to be done. Weather is usually not an issue with running....rain, snow, sleet, wind, cold, not too much heat, but lightening is where this ole girl draws the line. Running in hail is not an option either. Some folks find it difficult to run in the various forms of weather other than bright sunshine. Honestly, it is a mindset we have to get into to run in weather other than clear blue skies. Often times it is a matter of the right clothing and the right time of day. Personally, I draw the line at an oncoming thunderstorm with lightening and potential hail.

Summary:  A great week of running with three weight lifting sessions. All systems are working well and life is good!
Total:  50.0
Total for 2012: 1313.0

May 21 to May 27

Whewwww, work is in full swing this week!

Monday; May 21: Waking up in one of my favorite places on earth, Bozeman, Mt, it was out the door for a late morning 10 miler. Amazing how green the hills have become this early in the summer season. Oddly enough, even at 4200 feel MSL, the lungs were working perfectly and it was an easy chug up the trail in the StoryHills section. The highlight of this run was the assortment of cows along the trail. They are a friendly bunch and virtually ignore me running past them at less than 20 feet away. Well....there was this one guy....luckily, he was quite interested in the girl cow and had not need for the Badass Psycho Bunny!



"Hey.... Girl Cow....Lookin' mighty fine in that black coat there Missy..."
 Did ya'll know that a bull/boy   cow can grunt like an elk in rut?

Tuesday; May 22:  The early departure from Bozeman, a full day of flying and then....THE LAST COMMUTE!!!!!  This was the last time I have to commute from base to home!!!! Woooo Hoooo!!!!!Oh..as for running...it was a day off.

Wednesday; May 23:  Sleeping in til about 7am, picking up dogs at Grandma's , and just the usual tiredness after the 20 hour day before yielded a very simple 6 miler. And it was hot...

Thursday; May 24: Getting it somewhat together, a nice 8 miler was the order of the day. Some hills, some dirt, a few squirrels, Traysen and I blazed through Peachtree City with the greatest of ease.  Then off to Gitmo!!! Really!!!! As in Cuba...as in where the trial for the 911 masterminds is being held. What tha? Seriously, it was uneventful  flying into/out of Gitmo. Hauled military personnel working on the trial. We didn't get shot down so it appears we did all the procedures correctly!!



Guantanamo Naval Air Station.

Friday; May 25:  A short night of sleep yielded a short run but at least there was a run! The quick 6 miler was mostly in the dark and then it was off to work and Mexico City.

Saturday; May 26: After hanging out at the Veterans 5k race in Peachtree City, a hot...and I mean really hot!! 9 miler was in store. Summer has arrived in the southeast.

Sunday; May 27:  Well rested and ready for a good long run today! Traysen and I headed just before daylight for the first 7 miles on the trails. Once we had enough daylight, the object was to spend as little time as possible on the pavement and stay on the dirt as much as possible. He thought Mom had completely lost it when she bolted through various sections of woods, grasses, yards and whatever else got in the way. With the temps climbing, Traysen bailed at the halfway mark at the house and ole Mom went back out for a steamy 7 more miles! It was a blast staying off the pavement and spending most the run jumping tree roots, dog piles, and other debris.

Summary: While a great week of running, it was not so good on the weight lifting. It happens....we have to keep telling ourselves that most of us have not made a dime with our exercise/fitness/running,weight lifting passion and sometimes life and work just get in the way of maintaining a perfectly consistent schedule. The key is to keep trying and when a setback does happen, we just have to pick up where we left off and press on.

Total miles: 53.0
Total miles for 2012: 1213.0

May 14 to May 20

A good week of running is in store and despite the temps climbing in the southeast, there are no excuses! Git 'er done!!!

Monday, May 14: Off! Well, we are not gittin 'er done today!

Tuesday; May 15:  Oh my!!!! Waking up way early, I made it to Lois' Muscle Challenge class at the gym. Having no idea what to expect I attempted to act like I knew what was happening by just the lead of others in the class. The first chore was to gather the following from the various corners of the HUGE aerobics looking studio. (yep, I am thinking this is gonna be a sissy class and not hard enough!!): a step, a mat, some 10 lb dumbells, a black stretch band doohicky, two purple feet slider thingies and a exercise ball the size of Big Bertha's Butt!
Lois, of course, has a body harder than mine and is full of way more energy than this Badass Psycho Bunny! It's 5am for crying out loud!!! After an hour of nonstop aerobics with weights, pushups, lunges, curls, dips, and squats, I was whipped! Lois kicked my butt!
THEN,out the door for a nice 8 miler! Take that Lois!!!

Wednesday; May 16; OMG!!! I can't move! Muscles ache in places there were never muscles! But a great 10 miler was the order of the day followed by chest and back with Jim in the gym.

Thursday; May 17: Very time limited today so with a 7 miler, the day was done.

Friday; May 18: An early departure from Salt Lake resulted in a quick 6 miler around the airport.

Saturday; May 19:  The Sheraton in Mexico City has a great gym which is accessible via room key at 430am. After a descent legs/abs session, to the elliptical for 7 miles. Luckily, tunes from the phone keeps the head busy since all versions of TV are in Spanish! Como esta?



Mount Popocatepetl was spewing as we departed Mexico City. The volcano has experienced several eruptions since about 1947, including one significant explosion on April 19 of this year.

Sunday; May 20:  After a bit of sleep, it was 12 miles around Peachtree City. Traysen joined for the first 6 and then decided the heat was too much and back to the air conditioning he went. Mom here, the one with less brains, sweated through another wonderful 6.

Summary: A great week of working out and running. Amazing what not commuting to work via airplane does for the schedule and energy level!
Total miles: 53.0
Total miles for 2012: 1158.0

May 7 to May 13

A busy week ahead with projects around the duplex and work, it will be a challenge to get all the running and weight lifting done.

Monday; May 7:  With work, this was an afternoon in the gym. After a session of abs, back, shoulders, it was onto the treadmill for a 6 miler. Speaking of gym...I joined World Gym which is about 3 minutes from the duplex. A full fledged facility, complete with scrawny women who can kick my butt as well as muscle heads who think they look good in a tank top.

Tuesday; May 8:  Out the door early, it was a nice 9 miler on the trails.

Wednesday; May 9: To the gym again for abs, triceps and biceps. (The body is still sore from the session on Monday; amazing what a serious change will do for the body. Having access to a wide range of equipment, one of the goals with weight lifting is to really mix it up and regain some lost strength.) Being a time limited, Traysen and I opted for a good 6 miler and called it a day.

Thursday; May 10: Off.

Friday; May 11: With work on the horizon,  we had time for a quick 6 miler in the dark. Traysen managed to scare up one very large squirrel! Even in the heart of Peachtree City, there are numerous deer!

Saturday; May 12:  Waking up in Fargo! Oh stop laughing! At least it isn't January, -20 degrees and snowing! Actually a very nice day! Down to what the hotel calls "a fitness center" I managed to get a leg with abs workout in and then onto the elliptical. (Just no where to run outside due to traffic). A nice 9 miler while watching the Food Channel.

Sunday; May 13: Squeezed in a 9 miler in the rain. Did I move to Seattle? Even with a late start it was actually quite nice along the trails in Peachtree City.

Summary: Even though 50 miles was the goal this week, 45 was a job well done considering the tight schedule. Three weight lifting sessions is definitely an improvement.
So what do we do when we fall short of our workout goals? Well, in the short term, NOTHING! Just regroup next week and press on. Missing a few miles for the week or missing a weight lifting session (many of those here) does not mean the whole working out game plan is toast! Sometimes it is helpful to analyze why the goals were missed, try to correct the problem and then do better in the coming weeks. It is also helpful to realize that some missed miles is not going to make a bit of difference in the preparation for a race or in your overall fitness well being. Now, if you miss miles, fall short of your goals week after week, then there could be effects. Also, if you continually fall short of your goals, maybe you need to reevaluate your goals. Are they realistic given your overall lifestyle? Maybe work does not allow you to train at 60+ miles per week; perhaps family commitments are more important.It's all about balance in your life.

Total miles for the week: 46.0
Total miles for 2012: 1105.0

April 30 to May 6

Finally getting settled into the new digs in Peachtree City, GA. The renovation on the duplex is coming along and is going to be very nice once completed.
Perhaps one of the best aspects (other than driving to work!!!) is the fact that Traysen and I can walk out the door and begin running on the trails. As I have written about before, these trails go forever...miles and miles of pure running enjoyment......At this time of year, it is beautiful with the trees fully leafed out and the flowers are in full bloom. Some years the temps are in the 50s in the early morning, but this year the temps are already in the 60s at the start of our run at 6am.

Monday; April 30:  Waking up in the duplex in PTC for the first time, Traysen and I opted to start quite early at 550am. Being very dark (and no headlamp) we trotted on the main drag for a mile or two and then hopped onto the trails for an additional 5 miles.

Tuesday; May 1: It's MAY for crying outloud!!!! Where is the year going? One added feature of running in Peachtree City...and in the southeast in particular....is the sound of birds in the early morning. They wake up early here and start the day with lots of chirping!

This guy is a favorite and common early morning sight and sound.

Nevertheless, out the door with the birds and Traysen for a nice 8 miler. As I have practiced in the past, I am making a concerted effort to run in the dirt along the paved paths; there are even some excursions right through the woods....just like in the Jewel 100k of a few weeks ago!

Wednesday; May 2:  Well, summer is in the southeast already! The highs have been in the 90s over the last few days but luckily the early mornings are in the lower 60s and the humidity is not too bad...YET! Today Traysen and I did a loop around the neighborhood and then took off towards the lake....Lake Peachtree that is.....over the years I have never discovered an exact route of trails that leads around the lake, but over time we can figure this out. Today; however, was a nice 8 miler down the east side of the lake with a loop back around Braelinn and back to the duplex.

Lake Peachtree covers 230 acres and offers fishing, electric motor boating and swimming.

Thursday; May 3:  Remind me NOT to drink southern iced tea late in the day! Yesterday dad and I cooled off with a tea from Chic Fil A.....around 3pm.....which meant too much caffeine late in the day!!! A restless night of sleep produced a sloppy run of only 7 miles.

Friday; May 4:  Despite being a year older today, Traysen dragged my sorry butt out for a wonderful 9 miler in the rain! We ventured north, towards Lake Kedron. The light drizzle made for a cooler and pleasant outing. Often times many folks opt to forego running in the rain; however, it is usually a very refreshing experience (a hard downpour is no fun). It's a mindset and a matter of putting on your clothes, shoes, and a hat helps...and then getting your butt out the door...once you are soaked it doesn't matter that you are running in the rain and as long as a shower is available soon after finishing, the run can go very well.

Saturday; May 5:  Time for a day off.

Sunday; May 6:  With a 9am check in for work, it was out the door at 5am for a basic 6 miler in the dark. Even though too dark for trails, Traysen and I had a great run on the vacant roads around Peachtree City. During the outing we spotted one owl and one fox. Amazing a run can happen from "home" on the same morning as an early report for work!!!

Summary: A nice week of running and it seems as though life is beginning to settle in here in Peachtree Ctiy. The heat does not seem to be an issue for myself or for Traysen and we are having a blast on the trails.
Total for the week : 45.0
Total miles for 2012: 1059.0

April 23rd to April 29

This week could very well get out of control in terms of time management.  Jim is heading to south GA for a week of RC airplane flying, the duplex is well underway with renovation, Sarah is antsy to get moved in, and the dogs are adjusting to the heat and hanging out with Grandma.  Let's see how this goes:

Monday; April 23rd:  Jim is in town and in fact, he arrived Saturday night with the three dogs and a worn out Dodge Dakota truck! And yes, Jim was quite worn out himself! As for running, I managed a 7 miler around Mom and Dad's. Traysen is getting his first taste of running in the heat and humidity, although the local "squirrel" population kept him busy.

Tuesday; April 24th:  Again, a 7 miler was in order. Nothing special...just gittin 'er done! Very busy with the rest of life!

Wednesday; April 25th:  With Jim in Americus, GA, Traysen and I opted for a nice n slow 6 miler. To say the Heat is On is an understatement! Still lots of work to be done on the duplex.

Thursday; April 26th:  Another sloppy, sluggish 6 miler. It just wasn't happening...too hot, too much going on. The highlight of the day was a drive to work!!!! It was only 30 minutes to the parking lot and then a 10 minute bus ride!!!! I drove to work for the first time in many years! No commuting via airplane!!!

Friday; April 27th:  Even though there was plenty of time, the workout did not happen. The body said to take the day off and don't argue! It is amazing that when life gets the most stressful (and when we need the exercise the most), the body can sometimes revolt and ensure more rest is taken.

Saturday; April 28th: After an all nighter and then a drive to Americus to join Jim for the RC flying, running did not happen....as suspected, the running is falling apart this week...it happens. The hard part is between the ears. One off week does not constitute a total melt down of the exercise/fitness/running/healthy lifestyle program.

Sunday; April 29th: A restless night in the camper, fighting gnats, I could not even muster a walk with Traysen. Jim flew a few flights and we packed up camp and headed north to Peachtree City.

Summary: As suspected, the running totally fell apart this week. While the body felt blah, puffy, and lethargic, the head really did not care...well, maybe not much! It's important to realize that sometimes life gets in the way of running/exercise/fitness and it is also important to realize your commitment to an overall healthy lifestyle. Even with a slightly off week ...or even a month....the whole lifestyle still remains and we can return to our former "badass psycho bunny" ways once life settles down! One other key aspect to dealing with some "life" is to keep the diet healthy. Even though life may seem a bit stressful at the moment, it is very important to eat healthy and still attempt to get some form of exercise a few days a week.

Total miles for the week: 26.0
Total miles for 2012: 1014.0...which is 37.0 miles more than last year at this time.

April 16 to April 22

A very busy week with work, moving to Atlanta and more work. The legs are mostly recovered but yet not ready for any high mileage or intense running. As always the mind is always ready to run.

Monday; April 16:   A very long day with an early flight to Atlanta, a long meeting and then early to bed all yielded a day off.

Tuesday; April 17:  Out the door before daylight in Atlanta...more like  Fayetteville....mom and dad's......a quick 6 miler was the order of the day and then off to an all day meeting with about 600 other pilots! OMG....600 pilots in one room!!!! Very Frightening!



Seriously, this guy is a smuck!!!!

Wednesday; April 18:  A 7am meeting with the hopeful future boss and then a long flight home yielded yet another day off....
It's odd that even a Badass Psycho Bunny is ok with an extra day off after training for and running a 100k race! Most runners  have no problem taking some much needed time off after a hard effort...but then again, most runners have some common sense.....!!!

Thursday; April 19: After sending Jim and three of the dogs off on a long journey from Colorado to Georgia, it was a basic 7 miler from the house..this was the last run at the house for quite some time....by the end of the week I will be living in GA.....

Friday; April 20:  To the ellipitical and treadmill early in Salt Lake....a "push the pace" 7 miler was accomplished in a fairly easy manner. Sooo..two weeks after the 100k, the body and head are ready to push the pace....just a bit!
As I mentioned last week, recovery from a hard race is a personal choice...you have to know your head and your body...and then listen to both!

Saturday; April 21:  Ola! and Buenas Dias! In Mexico City this morning. Attempting to run in the great outdoors in Mexico City is just NOT smart! So, to the hotel gym it was for an upper body/abs weight lifting session followed by 8 miles on the treadmill.

Sunday; April 22:  Back home in the Mother Land and in Atlantato be specific, it was a nice 6 miler in the early morning cool air. Spring is well sprung in these parts and the leaves are fully leafed out. Very beautiful to enjoy the greenery.

Total miles for the week: 35.0
Total Miles for 2012: 988.0

April 9 to April 15

Obviously a week of rest is in order. Taking the day off Monday, Traysen and I made it out for a walk on Tuesday, a walk/three steps of running on Wednesday, and then Thursday to Sunday were a combo of ellip/treadmill and running outside. Two weight lifting sessions rounded out the week.
The legs are recovering and the head is still ready to run....but not too many miles....

What is a proper recovery from a 62 mile race? Who knows? There are many formulas out there....

Here is a marathon recovery guide that is fairly extensive...it highlights recovering the entire body as well as the head....
http://www.marathonguide.com/training/articles/MandBRecoveringFromBoston.cfm

There are theories of taking off a day for every mile run in the race ....What!!!!!??? Sixty two days off? Not gonna happen...Twenty six. point two days off would not happen!

Many experienced runners just go by how we feel physically and mentally. With ultra running, it's almost as important to give the head a break as well as the body. The commitment in terms of time invested, mental fortitude needed to do the training, and the postponement of other activities are all taxing on the mind and body. Personally, I use this method of recovery. The passion for running and the desire to maintain a healthy mind/body keep me from taking too much time off but yet a knowledge of what can happen with burnout pushes me to pull the miles back for awhile.

Total Miles for the week: 30.0
Total miles for 2012: 953.0

April 2 to April 8

Well...here it is ...race week...We runners have all been here before...the miles are logged, the injuries have been avoided...the entry fee has been paid.....we are ready? It is now time for some rest, some reduced miles, some good nutrition, and organization to make sure race morning goes smoothly.

With all the above in mind, here are the goals until the race, April 7th: rest, run no more than 30 miles, rest, eat well (as in don't gain weight and feel sluggish), rest, enjoy a bit more free time (oh very funny!!), rest....

Monday; April 2: Up early at home and out the door with Traysen for a nice 8 miler. Oddly enough it was quite chilly and windy!

Tuesday; April 3: What tha......!!!!! We woke up to this:

It's April 3rd for crying out loud!

Well, Traysen would have  no parts of this....and Mom here waited til the worst of the wind left before finally getting it out the door for a sloppy 7 miler.....good thing the miles are reduced this week.....

Wednesday; April 4th:  With the blizzard behind us, Traysen and I had a nice 10 miler in somewhat too chilly for April temps; nevertheless a good outing and the last run of any length before the weekend.

For many of us, with a big race on Saturday, the nerves start kicking in about now.....many runners dwell in the nerves and start race day with a queasy tummy and jitters...others opt to over analyze the whole event and psyche themselves right into a sloppy race.....and then there are the ones who just go with the flow, don't worry about the big event...they just ensure their gear is organized and they stay injury/sick free. Me? Here is how I remained calm all week!

Ally, Laramie, Traysen keep Mom busy!

 Seriously, having two puppies in the house will keep one on the go and there will be no time for race jitters!

Thursday; April 5th: Opting for some quiet time in the morning, Traysen and I finally made it out to Garden of the Gods for a very easy 3 mile walk! This was the heat training for the race as it was about 75 degrees.....

Friday; April 6th:  Travel day to Atlanta for the race so it was a day off.....

Saturday; April 7th:  Well...here it is ...race day...Never having run 62 miles in the same day and never having run an ultra on the east coast, this was uncharted territory. Luckily, plenty of rest during the week put me right where I needed be to start this adventure.

At 7am sharp, someone hollared (that's southern speak) "GO" and off we 50+ runners went....some of the young fellas took off like it was a 5K, but others of us gathered ourselves and began to settle in for the first of four 15.5 mile loops! As advertised, the course went up the hill, down the hill, through the pasture, up the hill, down the hill, through the woods, up the hill, down the hill, through the fire burn, up the hill, down the hill, through the creek (which happened about 4 times on each loop), up the hill, down the hill, around the cottage, up the hill, down the hill, around the barn.....and so it went for four 15.5 mile loops.

Notes about the course:

*Trail running Georgia? What trail? We don't need no stinkin' trail....we just blaze one through the woods! There was very little actual single track trail; it was mostly ATV (complete with tree roots, rocks, and pot holes) trails and an assortment of sections where the course just took a 90 degree turn into the woods and off we went til popping out onto another ATV trail......some sections went right through thickets of brier patches...OUCH.....

*The course was marked as many of us have come to expect in some of these  races....pink/orange ribbon tied to trees....it worked...well, most of the time it worked....for the most part, all 50+ of us had a few off course excursions. Where there wasn't enough pink/orange ribbon, the local cow population had left fresh cow pies to guide us! Couldn't have done it without them!

*It is HOT in Georgia in April! By Colorado standards anyway....a high of about 77 degrees with full sun yielded most of us stripping down the bare minimum and really enjoying those creek crossings. Luckily, aid stations/drop bags were available every 5 miles (well stocked all day).

*Funny to watch runners tiptoe through the wet grass at packet pickup...trying not to get shoes wet....the first water crossing was less a a mile from the start! (My own shoes used for this day are now retired...partly due to mileage but also due to the fact that they absolutely black and would never dry out properly!)

*Sightings: several cows, a few goats, one puppy that liked to step on your heels for about 50 yards, one turkey, several GA mountain rednecks, squirrels, birds and THEN, there was this guy:

Now, I like all creatures...great and small....but I don't like snakes!!! This is a black racer and wouldn't hurt anything except bugs and crickets, but still....it is a snake!!!!

As for my own experience: Wooo Hooooo....it was an awesome day! Even with the very challenging course, all systems were working correctly and the head was in the right place. The hydration/electorate intake was on que as well as 7 gels over the course of 62 miles; while this may not seem like much, this is actually more than normal for my needs. The first 15.5 mile lap was a "race" speed since I was grouped in a pack of guys and went with it. The 2nd and 3rd laps were at a much reduced speed with almost all running on the 2nd lap and some uphill power hiking on the 3rd lap. Those two middle laps were of course, the most difficult....now being solo was actually a welcome relief, they were hard since the temp was rising and knowing there were two and one more laps remaining. What eased the mental work was actually more mental work...this course required constant attention or the runner became one with the dirt/water/cow pie. The 4th and final lap was much welcomed....the body was tiring and head was set to finish this outing. I told myself that if I had to walk the entire last 15.5 miles, that was ok...this was a very challenging course on a hot day and for 45+ miles I had run quite well. Oddly enough it was on that last (and cooler lap since it was past 4pm), that the body was able to continue running fairly well...of course, the very steep hills were walked but for the most part, the legs kept it going at a decent clip given what they had been through. It was also helpful to know from about 35 miles on, I was the lead female and in the top 10 overall...the competitive spirit also added to a solid effort all day. As nightfall approached, the legs blazed through the last ugly downhill deep in the woods (mighty dark in there! and of course, the headlamp was in a drop bag many miles away....opps, a forgetful moment at that aid station) and then it was through the pasture, around the big truck in the field (it's been there since at least 1961), through a creek, past the horses, and a quick trot for less than a half a mile to the finish.....Oh...how did I do? First overall female and 8th overall....kicked some boys butts!!!

Sunday; April 8th: Running today?....OH Paaalllleezzzzz..even a Super Badass Psycho Bunny knows when to back off! Happy Easter!

Summary: Wow...what a week! The 100k is in the books and it is time for much needed rest and reduced running. What's next? Well, not ruling out another 100k race, it will certainly not be any time soon.....in fact, there will not be any races for awhile....some life changes, etc warrant some needed attention and the focus will not be there for the training (not to mention the above said sentence of needing some rest/reduced running). The race director, Karen Pearson, asked if there is a 100 miler in the future...the answer is a basic, "Probably not....100k seems to be long enough for this ole girl."

Would I recommend this race...? Absolutely! Well organized, a very challenging course, and a beautiful setting...just expect some creek crossings and cow pies! Google The Georgia Jewel.

Total miles for the week: 90.0

Total miles for 2012: 923.0

March 26 to April 1

The week ends with April 1st...April Fool's Day! At least  I am working which leaves less chance of me pulling any April's Fools pranks!
Being a taper week and the head/body are both ready for a break, the weekly mileage will be much reduced.


Monday; March 26: A day off.

Tuesday; March 27: With an early departure to the airport to drop off two puppies who are going to new homes and then off to work, it was a second day off! OH, it happens! Even to the hard core of us!

Wednesday; March 28:  Having a full day in Salt Lake meant a trip up City Creek Canyon. Starting at Temple Square downtown, it is an uphill trek to the trailhead where the real fun begins! Much like running in Colorado, it is wonderful single track with lots of rocks and tree roots. Still feeling tired, this was a slow effort of a 10 miler. The good news for the training, it was a 1030am start with already warm temps which allowed for some much needed heat acclimating..

Thursday; March 29: Started the day with an easy weight lifting session of upper body and abs and then out the door in Salt Lake again for a 9 miler; mostly due to time constraints. Having finally found a decent path near the airport, it was a welcome relief from dodging the traffic near the hotel.

Friday; March 30: Waking up in New York City is  always an adventure. You just never know what the day might bring! Nevertheless, down to the gym for a treadmill/elliptical 10 miler. A good session of abs and it was off to work again. Jim gave me grief about not venturing to Central Park...maybe next time....

Saturday; March 31:  Well, this was a slog fest....no really...it was raining cats and dogs in Oakland this morning and all I had time for was a quick 5 miler! Honestly, running in the rain is actually nice....once you are soaked, it really doesn't matter how long you are out there!

Sunday; April 1:  No April Fools here...another day off this week!!! Work related with an early departure from Phoenix and then flying all day with a commute home.....

Summary:  Ever have one of those weeks where the best laid plans fall apart and you are not even sure why it all went downhill? Well, that describes this week! Maybe work, fatigue or ? dictated a very low mileage week....but then again, maybe the break from another 50+ mile week was in order....?

All systems  are feeling great for the race...a little tired but that should get better over the next few days with a reduced running schedule and not working for awhile....
total : 34 miles
total for 2012: 833.0