Back from Camp and Back to Training

I got my wish! It finally rained and I was able to go to back to camp. It only lasted for about a week but it was well worth the wishing, the waiting and the many, many rain dances. I also got a couple runs in. Yes, as in 2. However, so worth it. Cool mountain weather, scenic trails, being alone in the forest, etc. I even took the highway for part of my run, as part of my training for the Mt. Lemmon Marathon. It was really really difficult. Sometimes I ask myself if the marathon is the right thing to do. I wonder if I'll switch to the half at one point. I really do want to do this. Everyone tells me I'm crazy, which never helps my attitude about it. But at the same time, I tend to push myself more when people doubt me. I hope I'm doing the right thing for me. *crossing my fingers*

I'm currently in Week 3 of my training. I've missed a good portion so far but I plan to make it up in the next few weeks. Apparently, I have a 14 miler this weekend. Not sure if I'm ready for that. Thankfully, I've taken up the intermediate training plans so I can fall back on the beginner plans if anything goes wrong. 


I'm going to write a "Back to School" resolution list. This will help keep me on track with training and eating, for the most part. School is my biggest fear with training. I can get so off track with either one. One day, school is more important and my training lags, and then suddenly my training jumps to the top of my list and school seems the lesser of the two. I can't have either of those happening. I need to find a harmonious balance. This is my last year of my undergrad (stayed an extra year to finish my minor) so I would like great grades and fantastic recommendations from my professors. But I also want to stay fit and active. I tend to get bored if I don't have any races coming up. So, I'll work on a plan that meets both of those needs. 


A recap in photos of the past few weeks:

I went back to camp and I scared the CRAP out of one of the counselors by hanging these lovely men in her bungalow...

Played Quidditch at camp and bruised my face and almost dislocated my pinkie in the process...


Went swimming all the time...

On Mt. Lemmon after a rain...

On my breaks, I ran, of course!

Much of the forest in my area is burned and the trails are difficult to find, but I still had some amazing runs. :)

“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve.”

                                                                                                          ~ Napoleon Hill

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. 

Time Flies When You're Having Fun!

Awesome, crazy, fantastic fun! 

Love LOVE summer. 

It's the most wonderful time of the year.  :)

Well folks, technically I only have one more year of undergrad. Woohoo? Not too excited about going back for another year (I transferred schools and all of the credits did not transfer, meaning I have to go back for another year...) but excited that I don't have to get a grown up job yet. Yay. 

But I kept myself busy since school got out...

I went for a hike on the most difficult trail in Tucson (Finger Rock if you're interested...)

Twice

And did not make it to the top. Bummer. It was definitely tough! Before I hiked it, I was considering doing some trail running on it. HA. Maybe one day. 

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Then, I went to Vegas!

You know, the usual. Drinking some drinks...

Throwing down the Benjamins...

...and going to clubs, getting our photo taken and put on random websites.
My hair looks craptastic and that is the sign for loser, yes I know. It for Localites, people! Obviously. 

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Then, I met up with a local couchsurfer and went trail running with her on Mt. Lemmon.

And Sookie came with us, of course! 

If you don't know what CouchSurfing is, then go the website HERE and check it out! Basically, it's a community of people all around the world. And you can travel for cheap by sleeping on peoples couches. Brilliant. 

You can friend me if you want. :)

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And right now, I'm in the middle of nowhere:

Grants, New Mexico.

Oh Grants, you're so classy. 

I'm here doing inventory of the collections for the parks El Morro and El Malpais. Not terribly exciting, but it's nice to get away for a little while. And I've never been to New Mexico! Another state crossed off my list. 

It's also crossed off the list of states I have run in.

Yes, even though Grants, New Mexico looks super creepy...I went for a run. There is pretty much nowhere to run here. I found a little side road but it ended quickly. So I found a dirt road off the other side of the highway, but I didn't take far. I have to save something for tomorrow's run. The only other places to run are along the highway (no thank you) or I have to drive to get to another road and I don't want to have that sort of responsibility of a university issued car.

So, I'm limited in my runs but at least I'm running. :)

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I leave for camp next week but I'll be sure to post before then! 

Heat...it's pretty darn hot

It's that time of the year! All the flowers have fallen off of the palo verde trees and the air conditioner is pointless. It's summertime here in the Old Pueblo. Actually, it's been summer for a few months. We don't really have a spring. Or a fall. Or anything really, except hot. Which is fine by me. I was raised here so I''m pretty used to it. Cold is something I cannot handle.

But since I only started running a year and a half ago, I'm not quite used to running in the heat. Actually, I'm not sure if anyone can become accustomed to running in such high temperatures. People sure do try though. Like the Badwater Ultramarathon in Death Valley. That. is. Insane. Temperatures that get up to 130 degrees. No thank you. 

 

It actually sounds awesome, but insane. Definitely. Look at that outfit. 

I am not, however, running in 130 degrees. The high summer temps here in Tucson usually range from the 80's to the 100's, which is still very hot for a run. Most days too hot. Many people usually opt for a morning run or a night run.

And those are great times for a run...if you have that kind of time.  

Lately, the only time I have for running is during the hottest parts of the day such as when I get home from work. Mornings are too hectic and I now live in a part of town that doesn't have street lights. But my afternoons are wide open. So, I run when it's very hot. I don't call myself heatrunner for nothing you know. :)

The whole point of this post today was to talk about running safely in the heat. But then I went for a run and I thought, "It's really not that hot out". And I lost all momentum for blogging about heat. So. You'll have to wait for that post. 

But my run was very nice. :)

Only 80 degrees today, partly cloudy, and a cool breeze. Unusually nice. 

 

The River Walk

Oh, I forgot to tell you I bought Vibrams awhile ago! They are so awesome! I have pretty much ditched my other running shoes. Don't know why, I just love the feeling of my Vibrams. I feel quicker when I wear them and I don't feel so weighed down. Makes me feel nekkid. :D

It looks like I'm running barefoot! 

 Some beautiful flowers along the path.

End of the run, ran 5 miles, feeling good! Yay for 80 degree running weather! :) 

Running in the River

Lately, I've been spending a lot of time in the Rillito "river" behind my condo. 

Okay, so it's not a river. Currently. It's really just a wash. But you know, sometimes Tucson has rivers. Sometimes.It's true. There's something called monsoon season. And the water usually comes in a form we like to call flash floods.

 

Not my photo, but this is from late July 2006. That's a bridge I usually run under.
See? A river, is it not?

Okay, but yes, most of the time it looks like this:

Dry. Peaceful. Empty. 

and a great place to run! That's a photo of me and my dog Sookie enjoying the freedom of the "river"!

That's why I've been trying to be out there as much as I can! What's also nice is that I can run during hotter parts of the day. The riverbed is usually cooler and the high walls and the bushes give some shade if I need it. 

I really love running here. Since I don't live that close to a lot of trails, this is sort of similar to a trail. It sucks running in sand but I can see a difference in my strength after running in it for awhile. When I ran the Catalina State Park Trail Race, there was a small section of a wash we had to run through and I seriously thought I was going to die. It was awful! Partly because I had never run in sand before and it was such a surprise when I first stepped into it. 

 What's also great is that the Rillito River Path is just above the wash. So, if I get tired of sand, I can switch to a hard surface easily. And it's not street sidewalk or running down a road or anything like that. It's a beautiful path, made for walkers, runners and bicyclists. There is also a little side trail, not paved, so that horses and their owners can use it too. 

It is paved from Craycroft Road all the way to the I-10. That's hella far. I've only run up to Stone.

You can still go farther than Craycroft, I think. But at that point it's only a dirt trail, which is fine by me.

One day I'll run all of it. But for now I'm content with my "river" running. :)

Do you have a favorite place to run in your town? 

Catalina State Park 5.2 Mile Trail Race

I woke up at 5am to a gray and sleepy morning. It was pretty chilly outside, but I assumed it would get warmer (more like desperately wanted it to get warmer) so I dressed in shorts and a tee. Only sort of regretted that later. 

Chance and I drive up to the State Park. I was bugging Chance the night before about getting there early because when I was helping out with packet pick-up the day before, everyone was telling me to get there early or I’ll have to park down the road. And since I have never been there before, I had no idea how far that would be. So, we ended up getting there at around 6:30am and the parking lot was pretty much empty. Oh well. Better safe than sorry!

Since the race didn’t start until 7:40am, Chance decided to take me for a little hike. We walked up the road, down a wash and then walked along a trail to Romero Ruins.
But I forgot to take photos of it. Maybe next time. 

During our hike, the sky seemed to be getting a little darker, making me nervous, but I thought, “hey, it’s Tucson, it won’t actually rain.”  

We got back in time to see some of my Ragnar teammates, Dave and Kendra, who were running the 10-miler. Basically, the 5 miler is one loop of the trail and the 10 miler is two. It was no easy loop. I definitely have respect for those 10 milers now.
The 10 miler started 10 minutes before the 5 miler. So, as it was starting we headed over to the start line to watch everyone.

Right after the race started, I started to take off my warm clothes.  I striped down to my shorts and t-shirt. Super cold!

 I headed over to the start line with minutes to spare and did some warm up stretches to get me ready. I saw a few people with gloves on. I remember wondering if I should have brought some but kept talking myself out of it because I heat up so fast. Then we were off!!

We ran down the paved road for about 30 seconds and then hit dirt. Yay! My first trail race. It was all very exciting. But then we took a left and suddenly had to asend a HUGE hill. We were in single file and shuffling for a little while because the 10 milers were coming down the other side. We were really packed together at this point. Finally, we go to the top of the hill and ran along the top of a ridge. It was so gorgeous! The clouds had moved in through the ranges in the mountains. The air was so fresh and crisp and cold and almost prefect running weather. Soon we made a turn around and headed back the way we came. Finally, the rain came.  It wasn’t hail or anything, just a light sprinkle. It felt great! After all that hard work up the hill, a little bit of rain was just what I needed. :)  It didn’t last long though and only got me partially wet.

I flew down the hill and took a left down another trail. Actually, it more like a wash. It was very sandy and extremely hard to get a good footing. A bunch of sand got in my shoe because I don’t have gaiters yet. Lame. It’s on my to-buy list. I saw the photographer up ahead so I tried to look like I was having fun. 

Ran down this trail for a bit. Then the rain started to pick up again. My shirt and shorts were starting to get soaked. I could feel the water in my shoes building up. Every time I took a step I felt the squishiness.

Dislike this photo. I look old. And tired. And pale. I definitely need to work on my trail race photo face.

And then I saw the stair climb. And immediately I realized I should have done some more trail training before this. I did what I could which was walk up it…slowly. I turned around to see if anyone else needed to pass me but instead what I saw was this long line of other runners…all walking up this hellacious stair climb.   I imagine it wouldn’t have been so bad if I just ran it before. I’ll learn one day. :)

I wish I took more photos but it was so wet and so cold it was almost impossible to get the camera out. My fingers were numb at this point so just taking it out for one photo was hard enough. It was even difficult to get my camelback closed! And don’t even get me started on my shoelaces. I swear, I had to bend down to tie them every few minutes once they got wet. 

A water station was at the top of the hill. I took a breather and went on my way. At this point, I was soaked though to my underwear. The rain didn’t feel like ice pellets anymore. It actually felt really good. I felt alive. The next mile felt the easiest. I was taking in the sights, the smells, the cold rain, I was loving every minute of it! My mind was no longer focused on my body, but instead everything else around me. On another section of trail I was able to see everyone in front of me and that helped to distract me as well. I really liked getting a look at everyone. It’s cool to see how many different people come together to run. LOVE IT.

Flew down another hill. I remember feeling how cold the wind was. My thighs, my fingers, my arms were so numb but I couldn’t really feel it. My shoelaces  came untied a few more times before I finished. I couldn’t even really tie them near the end, my fingers were so numb, so I shoved them into the sides of my shoe with my knuckles.

I came out from the last loop, on to pavement and saw the finish line.  I ran as fast as I could when I saw it. It hurt but I love feeling completely exhausted when I cross a finish line. It makes me feel like I accomplished the task I set out to do.  

Miles- 5.2
Time- 1:03:50
Avg Pace- 12:16.5
Overall Place- 156
Age group Place: 3RD!!! So awesome. :)

Chance brought me a towel (thank goodness I keep those in my car for the dogs) while I stood in line to get my t-shirt. Pretty cool design. As soon as I picked mine up  headed back to the car to get changed. Since I wasn’t moving as much anymore it got cold…fast. I began to shiver like crazy! Chance helped me over to the port-a-potties so I could change inside. Not as gross as you may think. It was a small race so they were fairly clean. Also helps if you have a towel to sit on. I warmed up my hands with the towel the best that I could before trying to change. It is impossible to do with numb fingers! I felt stupid and helpless. Finally, they started to warm up a little but it had already taken me about 20 minutes. Poor Chance, standing in the rain, waiting for me. I love you!

I came out and I went to go get the free Mexican breakfast and smoothie that always comes with this race. SO AWESOME. I love Steve Landaus races. They are the best. Especially since they usually have free massages. Unfortuantely I looked over at the ,massage tent and it was empty. :(   I doubt I would have stayed for one anyway. Definitely next time. I took the food back to the car and ate like I was homeless. Seriously. That food was gone in a few seconds.

6 things I learned about trail races:
1.) ALWAYS bring a change of clothes in your car. No matter if it looks like it will clear up or even if it’s a beautiful sunny day. You never know what will happen. This is something I always try to do, no matter the race. It would have been a major bummer if I had forgotten it for this race though.

2.) Bring a towel while you’re at it. So glad it was already in my car. It really made the difference, especially since I had to change in a port-a-potty.

3.) You should probably buy shoes without shoelaces.

4.) Gaiters would have been helpful.

5.) I didn’t wear headphones for this race and I LOVED it. I recommend you leave them at home for trail races. You’ll miss too much of the experience! I believe there’s enough variety in a trail such as turns, rocks, hills, animals, etc to keep you focused and not leave you feeling bored.

6.) Not sure about other races, but this one thankfully had lots of food for the runners afterwards. When I run another one, I’ll be sure to bring my own food just in case. As soon as I finished I was so hungry, I felt like I could eat a horse!!!

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That weekend, I also ran the Race for the Cure 5k. I didn't take any photos because personally, it's my least favorite race. It's for a wonderful cause and I support it entirely but the course sucks. And there's too many people for it to be a fun race. So, I concentrated on finally breaking a 30 minute 5k and guess what? 

 

I DID!

Time- 29:49

Avg Pace- 9:36

Overall Place- 431

A New PR!!!  

You can fight without ever winning, 

but never ever, win without a fight.

--Rush