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! 

How I spend my days

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I read a great article a few days ago from a website called catching days. On her website, on the first day of the month she hosts a guest writer to address the topic:  “How We Spend Our Days.”

The story that was so interesting this month was written by Steve Almond.  I was first introduced to him as a speaker at the Washington DC AWP Conference in 2011.  I’ve read many of his books and articles. He’s hilarious and speaks the truth about candy, music, and family. At the conference he even told the audience how much money he made in a year as a freelancer; it was an audience question. None of the other speakers would say [Cheryl Strayed].

Here is the link to the story:
http://catchingdays.cynthianewberrymartin.com/2016/01/01/how-we-spend-our-days-steve-almond/

"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives." Annie Dillard

 The website and story made me think about how I spend my time. When I’m not working, I’m training, outside, reading, writing, and admittedly I watch shows on Netfix (probably too much).

I like my life. I like how I spend my days. I wish for a few things I don't have right now, but for the most part, I get to spend the days how I’d like.

My friends tease me that I’m a homebody. They tease me about making plans. Little do they know that I have to make a plan, I have to have goals, and I need long-term plans or I will be a homebody all year-long.

I like having structure to my day. One of the best things I’ve learned from being an endurance athlete is when you wake up in the morning you must have a plan – a plan of all the things you want to accomplish – then you will most likely get them all done.

When you don’t have a plan – or you don’t list the things you need to do – most likely you will not do them.

This weekend I did most of my plan: I hiked with the dogs, I snowshoed, 

I went Nordic skiing 

and I wrote a blog post. 

I finished a few work tasks. I read a few chapters from The Big Rock Candy Mountain.

I ran out of time to buy and read the New York Times but will try again next week.

I didn’t run.

This is how I spend my days.

2015 Goals – A Year in Review

My mileage goals for 2015 were:

Swim 75 miles or 132,000 yards, Bike  5,000 miles, and run 1,500.

Actual:

Swim: 135,056 or 76 miles ! Yeah, I met my goal.
Bike: 2,684, bummer – goal not met.
Run: 802 bummer – goal not met.

As I was planning my 2015 race calendar I thought these were all possible. And, by living in Tucson for the year I would be able to train all year. Well, it didn’t quite work out the way I planned in January. But that is the way life is: things happen, life gets in the way, nothing goes as planned – and it’s OKAY. I still believe in making goals and plans.

I did a lot of really fun things all year: Egg Nog 5K, Ironman Texas, Oro Valley AZ Sprint Triathlon, Olympic distance triathlon in Tempe, Blood, Sweat, and Beer trail marathon in Las Vegas, Mississippi Blues marathon in Jackson, Surf City Marathon in Huntington Beach CA.

I traveled a lot for work: Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Minnesota.

I saw the Grand Canyon.

And, I moved back to Grand County, Colorado.

It was a very good year!

My 2016 Goals & Adventures are still intact, however I added one more event that I signed up for last night – solo long course at the Steamboat Pentathlon in March.

March – Steamboat Pentathlon

May – Ironman 70.3 St George

July – Ironman Lake Placid

August – Leadville 10K

November – Ironman Arizona

This morning it was -20 so I am hoping that it starts to warm up so I can start running outside again. I need to figure out a mountain bike and downhill skis for the pentathlon. I have a lot of work to do to get ready for races this year. I’m excited to be back in Colorado and get back into racing this year.

Mostly I feel thankful. Thankful for an awesome family. Thankful for my friends in Colorado and Arizona. Thankful for a fulfilling job. Thankful for my health so I can train and race and see the world. I'm thankful to be a part of the Triple Threat Triathlon Team. And thankful to be a TNFLocal. 

Happy New Year!

45 Days into the New Adventure

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After 45 days I finally feel like I’m acclimated. I was able to swim / bike / run inside Saturday and Sunday without my heart exploding.

I’ve been hiking in the morning with the dogs and think it is time to buy some snowshoes. The snow if starting to pile up on the hill above Hot Sulphur and it would be easier to hike up it (and go longer) with snowshoes.

Winnie

But I’ve also been thinking about skate skiing. This sport would really help my biking but I don’t want to invest in even more equipment. I’m trying to stay as minimalist as I can given the fact that triathlon is gear intensive. But the debate in my head rages on.

I want to take the dogs on bigger hikes maybe try Devil’s Thumb. I’ve never hiked that in winter. Maybe try Vasquez Peak, my adopted trail fro living here before. So many possibilities. 

Winnie running free

I am finally feeling like I’m happy to be here. It was more of an adjustment than I thought it would be. After three years in the desert with two of those years longing to wear hats and gloves, I’m finally living somewhere where hats and gloves are a necessity. I no longer watch shows that take place in cold climates and wish I was there.

Living in the southwest was a great experience and I’m so happy I was able to do it but living in the mountains of Colorado is pretty awesome.  By getting more involved in outdoor activities like skiing and snowshoeing (and not just indoor triathlon training) I’m feeling better about all my choices. 

View from the top of Hot Sulphur Springs, CO

 

Now for the Goals – 2016 Goals & Adventures:

• May – Ironman 70.3 St George
• July – Ironman Lake Placid
• August – Leadville 10K
• November – Ironman Arizona

Small races around Colorado to be determined.

Life in the Mountains: Snow & Cold so far

This is my life for the next few months: work, coffee, work, more coffee.

When I wake up in the morning it is usually around 10-15 degrees. I can run outside as long as it's not snowy or too icy. So I'm still figuring out how to train in the cold.

Despite training difficulties and learning a new job, life in Colorado is good.

The dogs are slowly getting used to the cold and now however most mornings they stand in the snow with one paw raised with a pained expression on their face. One extreme to the next they seem to say: pavement too hot or snow too cold.
Which is better: cold, I think.