Need motivation, watch this: Running In The Rain

So you look outside and the first thing you see through the window is the running conditions are terrible; far from ideal. Your first inclination is to go back to bed, wait until it warms up, maybe hang tight until the rain or snow stops, which the majority of us would find reasonable by the way.
But let me explain the scenario from a different angle because this is the exact situation when it's most important to get out of bed, to put on your running shoes on and head out the front door:

I love Park City and trail signs

I love taking pictures of trail signs. Maybe it is because I love to be guided in an adventurous direction. I like that most times they are made of wood and have arrows pointing in the right direction. Some signs welcome you to the playground behind it. But I believe all trail signs lead to a new place of fun.
Here is today's photo of the rails-to-trails sign in Park City. I ran for about 25 minutes today and it was great to be on a new trail, in a new place.

I get to spend the next few days here and learn all kinds of new skills. Nothing better than learning, traveling, and experiencing new things. That never gets old.

Wind, Hail, Rain, Music, Spinning, Swimming - not in that order

Saturday, April 23 - Grand County, Colo.
I don't always write in AP Style on my blog but I try, sometimes.

Today, someone who will remain nameless, came up to me and the first thing out of his mouth was NOT:  "Hi Kristen. How are you today? What's new?"
It was:
"Wow two typos on the front page."
Blah.
It's always good to know when I make mistakes but really? What happened to leading with a good comment to follow with "what the heck happened?"
Mistakes will always be made since we are human and not robots.
Every mistake I made is not repeated in future editions.

I went to Winter Park Resort to take photos of the participants in Springtopia (aka closing month of the resort). People love to dress up and laugh and dance.

As for me, I was happy to capture the happiness digitally.

Training Update:
Winter Training Spin class at Mountain Life Fitness. 75 hard minutes of spinning equivalent to three hours on the bike. 45 minutes swim at the Fraser Rec, 1500 yards. Five minute run in the rain with the dogs.

Favorite quote of the day, and I do believe.

And then blog about it, LOL.

Yeah, biking outside

Today I rode outside. Happy, Happy, Happy.

I rode with my friend George up to Lake Granby. Hills, Hills, Wind, Wind.

And now, back to work.

Monday, Monday

Today looks like this:

Work, work, work.
Next week I head to Park City for work so I have to get some biking and swimming in before I head out there. Running in Park City won't be a problem.

Training update:
I will try to swim as an active recovery plan. After running just over 11 miles yesterday my legs are dead. I've run 11 miles already but after spin/run on Saturday and a Sunday morning long swim (2700 yards) a long run like this was killer. Thank you Smartwool compression/recovery socks.

There is still snow in the forecast but not as much as this weekend - thank goodness. Maybe by Thursday I will be able to bike outside again.

Ironman Planning Tip and snow

A great tip for Ironman planning to reduce stress on the days leading up to race day:

From Jesse Thomas via Triathlete Magazine, current issue.

I'm a planner and I usually plan out what I need in my race day binder. But I never thought of an hour-by-hour playbook.
I will be doing it this year for Ironman Lake Placid.

Now if I could just bike outside. This is my view today as I write this post:

So I will hike with the dogs then swim at the Y today. And if the roads are clear I will go on my scheduled 12 mile run.

A spring snow storm has arrived

It's a winter wonderland out there:

And Winnie just chillin near the fire:

Hiking and weather update

On our daily hike in HSS:

Daisy is still fast running on the trails despite being 9-years-old.

We have some weather coming in today. Preparing for SNOW!

Training Update: 6 mile run up and down Cottonwood Pass yesterday. Today: swim and maybe a short run. But definitely a swim.

Sky-Hi Page One, training update

I am loving the cover of today's paper. Thanks to Sally DiSciullo.

Training Update:
Hoping for a swim and bike outside.

Gratitude

Training Update:
6 mile flat run up and down US 40 in snow. Yes, snow. Now it's raining.
Hopefully will get a swim in later this afternoon.

That is all.

Fraser River today

The Fraser River as it flows into downtown Granby today.

Training update:
4 mile run this morning.

Hike & Bike in the rain

This morning we took a walk along the Colorado River. We stopped where the river was low under the foot bridge. I thought we would try a stick in the water again, but Winnie would go in. (see yesterday's post).
Despite the rain, I decided to risk it and go for a bike ride. I didn't regret it.
Great ride with George along US 40. It rained a bit but the wind was strong. I felt warm in my Cesium Anorak by North Face. Great wind protection for sure. I got in 21 miles and it was a great recovery ride after a tough brick yesterday.

Now a bit of recovery. Food and sofa time.

It's Mud Season after the Snowiest March in Grand County

Winnie on our trail in HSS

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It’s probably about time to write a blog post. It's been a while

Well, it’s mud season in Grand County. I didn’t write about the end of winter. It was a cold, snowy March.

 Winnie and Daisy loved running the trails behind my rental house. It was good hiking for me, too. 

Now that Winnie doesn't chew everything in sight we now have a dog bed again. 

View from Devil's Thumb Nordic trails.

In March, Patrice came to visit and we skied at Devil's Thumb. That was a great training day. 

Other training consists of running up County Road 20 in HSS. This is one of the roads that was buried under snow. Amazing views up there and tough running conditions, as I was breaking through the snow. 

Elk Mountain HSS

I felt like I was in the middle of nowhere running just three miles from my rental house. 

Cooling off near Cottonwood Pass

Another place I run and take the dogs to hike is the road off Cottonwood Pass. Only saw one car, a logger. It got so warm in the sun that Daisy had to cool off in the snow. 

But both roads/trails have lately been starting out looking like this:

The mud before the snow on County Road 20 HSS

A muddy-mess. 

But thanks to a load of late-season wood, I'll be nice a warm while the end of winter shows itself. 

The bridge over the Colorado River in Pioneer Park, HSS

It's been a treat living so close to the water again. After three years in the desert, it is thrilling to see running water. 
Just yesterday I took the dogs down to the river and it's flowing nicely. Not too fast, yet. I keep introducing Winnie to water but she still doesn't know what to do. I throw sticks in and she just watches them. But then, I finally got her to stand in the water and she see's something and starts running into the water. I thought she was going to be swept away. I'm not sure she knows how to swim yet. Miraculously, she came back since the water wasn't rushing too fast and she could still stand up. 
We may need to try swimming in a pond instead of the Colorado River.

Training Update

Life is good at 8,000 feet. Yesterday was my third bike ride outside - a ride to Grand Lake. And today, Saturday, a long run outside and the winter training spin at Mountain Life Fitness.

it is now 4 weeks until Ironman St. George 70.3. I'm not sure how ready I'll be but the next 4 weeks will be a harder training block. 

Updated Race Schedule:

May 7 – Ironman 70.3 St George

May 21 - McKee Classic Bike Tour in Loveland

June 5 - Casper, Wyoming marathon

July 24 – Ironman Lake Placid

August 14 – Leadville 10K

September 24 - ECS Park City, Utah Marathon

November 13 – Ironman Arizona

It's going to be a great summer and fall!