Training and Stress

My training for the Mount Lemmon Marathon starts in a week!

Eek!

Since Mount Lemmon shut down a few weeks ago, I've been pretty depressed about it. I was planning on training up at camp on the trails, but that may not happen for at least another few weeks. And then I was planning to run up the highway, along the marathon course. But no runners or bikers are allowed on the road due to evacuation concerns. So all of my plans thus far have be derailed. I am considering buying a month gym membership at the Racquet Club so I can run on the treadmill. But I don't want it to go to waste. As soon as it rains, my butt is back up that mountain and that could be anytime. And I already told you how hot it is outside down in Tucson.

So I'm in a predicament. And it's kind of really stressing me out. I haven't run in weeks because of the closure. I can't stop thinking about how my training starts in a week. But I also can't stop thinking about much I want to run this thing. I have been waiting awhile to do a marathon. I was so intimidated by it at first and now I know I can run it. I have to run it. I'm going to run it.

I just wish I could stop stressing about everything. Everything will work out. It has to rain soon....right?

Mountain Closures

I left you with intention of living on a beautiful mountain all summer as a camp counselor, running it's trails and enjoying the cool, crisp mountain air. 

Unfortunately, I return from that, a week after I left (which turns out to be a few weeks ago), to be forbidden from returning to that mountain. 

Well, okay, that's a little dramatic, but that's how I see it! 

The Catalina Mountains (where my camp is located), the Santa Rita Mountains and the Rincon Mountains have all been shut down due to overwhelming concerns of the safety of the forests. Understandable. If you haven't noticed my lovely state has been all over the news once again....but this time with extreme fires (one that is now the largest in state history). All human caused. All pretty much uncontrollable. And the wind sure isn't helping. 

http://www.kvoa.com/news/mount-lemmon-closure-cancels-camps-for-boys-and-girls-scouts/

I am saddened by this. 

I am angered by this. 

I don't know what to think or what to do.

Yes, my job was up there, but thankfully the council gave us temp jobs for the summer. So I'm not worried about money and bills or anything. That's all okay. 

What I am worried about is my running. I am running the Mt. Lemmon Marathon in October. So it makes sense that I was training up there. You know, get used to the altitude and all that. Unfortunately, with the closure, I am unable to run any trails. 

At first I thought that would be okay. I'll just find some good trails in Sabino Canyon. That has some shaded parts. Nope, closed.

Catalina State Park? No, they closed that as well. 

Well poop.

Guess what the temperature was today? Almost 110. Running outside right now is not an option...unless you have a death wish. I am so close to buying gym passes for the summer. Just to run on a treadmill. I'm sure you know my feelings about treadmills....

The only reassurance I have right now is rain. If When it rains, we are all allowed back on the mountain. Please PLEASE do some sort of rain dance. Go wash your car. Anything. We need rain so badly.