Advantages of Training on a Mountain

Finally! A chance to sit down and catch everyone up with my summer.

I did it! I graduated in May! I'm all done with school (for now, I may go to grad school in the future...) and I'm looking on to new job prospects. I am applying for full time at my current job so I hope that works out! *crossing my fingers*

Otherwise, I've been pretty busy. I'm working at summer camp right now on Mt. Lemmon as a counselor and manager, so it's been a little hectic. Haven't had time to post any updates. :/ 

But I've definitely been running! While I'm not specifically training for anything, I've found there are some benefits to living and running on a mountain. 

Advantage #1: The temperature difference! Compared to Tucson (with an current unbelievable high of 115), Mt. Lemmon is much cooler (high temps range from the 70's to the 80's). While there are still days that feel just too darn hot, the air definitely feels cooler and it makes for a nicer run. 

Advantage #2: Trail running! When I'm down in Tucson, I have to carve my own trails in the wash. But up here, there are a vast number of trails I can run.  I love that feeling of running free on a trail in the middle of a forest. 

A trail near Ski Valley. 

Advantage #3: Running buddies! I have a hard time getting people to run with me in Tucson. Not sure why this is. But at camp, I am surrounded with female counselors who love to get outside and exercise. It's never too difficult to find a running buddy (or 3 or 4). Also, we have a bear/mountain lion problem in the area and are discouraged to run alone. Fine with me. I love having someone to run with. Makes the time go by faster and the miles fly by!

Fellow counselors who share my love for running, thank goodness! 

Advantage #4: The strength training! Running at 8,000 feet isn't the easiest thing. First of all, the trails are never flat. This means a lot of uphill running. Usually, this wouldn't be a problem, but remember you are up 8,000 feet. So, breathing gets harder with less oxygen at that altitude as well. While the workout is tough, I feel stronger and stronger with every run. 

Advantage #5: The views! Running on top of a mountain gives you some spectacular views. It's always a nice reward for a difficult run. :)

A view of Tucson. 

So, if you ever have the option of choosing a cool mountain for training versus the summer heat, I recommend opting for the mountain choice. I have a feeling you would anyways. ;)

UPDATE: 3 Weeks until I Graduate!

Hey all. Just wanted to update you on my life. :)

3 WEEKS is all that remains of my college life.  I am extremely happy that I have come this far, but in all honestly, I am ready to move on with my life. Over the past few months, I have created a list of all the things I want to do when I graduate. Some of the things on my list include many running adventures (including a trail marathon, a triathlon and an ultra), volunteering for Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Humane Society, and road trips to visit as many National Parks as possible.

I am extremely excited to start blogging again. I can't wait to fill you in on all the trail running I've been doing. I have banned myself from writing any lengthy blog posts until I graduate, just so I stay focused. I feel like I'm tapering. It's awful. I've been reading all of your blogs to keep me excited. It's definitely been working, maybe a little too much. For example, this last Monday, I was studying for a test when I said "screw this!" and went for a trail run in Sabino Canyon instead.

I am trying very hard to stay focused but graduation is so close I can taste it. And I just want to be done. And I just realized today that I can make the rest of the TTR runs until they end in July. How is that news going to to keep me focused? It's not. News like that makes me the happiest little runner girl around. :D And it makes me want to keep running and training and have all sorts of running adventures.

Keeping my fingers crossed that I will keep focused for these last few weeks. Send me good vibes. See you soon. Can't wait! :)

Tortolita Mountain Loop and 7 Falls Trail Run

Lately, i've been torn between my finals months of school and updating my blog. I really love this blog and all the other running/trail running/triathlete blogs out there. But I only have 3 months of my undergrad left. 3 months!

I know, I'm pretty excited about it. So, bear with me as I concentrate on my homework and graduating in May. As soon as I graduate, I swear to you, I will be a blogging machine! :)

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A few weeks ago, I ran my very first "race" with TTR (Tucson Trail Runners). I say "race" because you don't pay an entry fee, there are no awards, it's just a cool group of trail runners planning weekend runs and tracking everyone times. Really fun and it's kind of a big deal to me, the main reason being that most of them are ultra runners. I'd love to build up to this running level one day. 

The run was in the Tortolita Mountains (west of Tucson). I brought Chance along with me (with much protesting from him). We left around 6:45am. This was where I ruined everything. It starts promptly at 7am (didn't realize that) and we ended up getting there at 7:15am. FAIL. Then, I realized I forgot my Garmin. SECOND FAIL. So, by the time we started running, I just wasn't feeling it. My first run with them and I screw it up. 

On our way into the mountains. 

The old ranger station.

The start of the difficult climb up...

We set out on the trail in the early morning, running after the rest of the group (who are way ahead of us at this point). We run in the wash for awhile, arrive at an old ranger station from the 20's, and then make the ascent. This is a hard run! That climb took everything out of me! We didn't even make it 3 miles when I said "screw this!".  

Happy to be heading back...

We headed back down. We were the first to arrive back after 6 miles. I talked to the RD (run director) for awhile and then Chance and I went to breakfast with his parents. I feel bad about giving up so quickly, but some days you just don't feel it. Know what I mean? In the end, I didn't feel so terrible about turning around. I can't be a trail running pro on my very first run... 

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On a another note....

I ran to 7 Falls a few weeks ago! 

Big deal for me. Hiked this trail in high school all the time. It was usually an all day thing. Then, I decided to run 1 mile into the trail. And I just kept going. I couldn't stop. I didn't want to stop. I was having so much fun. And I felt awesome. The whole run was about 2 hours for 8.5 miles. I did a lot of looking around, and I spent a bit of time at the falls. 

Some rocks to guide the way.
There were a TON of river crossings...

Love this trail, nice and shaded at times.
But you have to watch out for snakes...

Another river crossing.

One day, I'll take this trail.
It takes off just before you get to the falls. I think it's a 15 mile loop. 

7 Falls. During the warmer months in high school,
I would  go swimming in the pools. 

On the way back...

I think I was just so amazed I made it there in the time that I did. It's so beautiful to watch the falls..so peaceful. :) 

Beyond Tucson

This past Sunday marked the 1 year anniversary of the Jan. 8th Tucson shooting.

It was a terrible tragedy that shook the whole Tucson community.

Beyond Tucson was a series of events that celebrated the spirit of community and the idea that we will work together to become stronger every day.

There were a few "main" events (at Reid Park, Kino Stadium, and Tucson Medical Center) and a ton of smaller events around town. One of the victims, Gabe Zimmerman, was a avid hiker and runner (also a member of the Tucson Trail Runners - TTR) as well as an aide to Gabrielle Giffords. A trail was named in his honor and a few events were hikes and trail runs. 

The Tucson Trail Runners (Partnered with SAR, Southern Arizona Roadrunners) had a event at Sabino Canyon on Saturday morning. There were 3 options for running: up the road to the beginning of the 7 Falls trailhead, to 7 Falls, and the full Bear Canyon loop. 

Since I convinced Chance and my friend Laura to go, we opted for the shortest run (about 4 miles). 

TTR runners introducing the event.

Lining up to run the different distances.

  The farthest line is the full Bear Canyon Loop. Apparently, there was an issue (as I read later on the TTR google group) with some runners having never run with TTR before. They didn't sign in when they got back so TTR thought they were still out there on the trail! O_O

I would have been freaked out. Please, please, if you run with a new group understand their rules so that they won't send a search team out for you! The 3 runners were apparently at home, without a clue.

Laura and myself, about to run! :)

I think I convinced Laura to run the Mt. Lemmon Half Marathon with me in April. So, I may have a new running buddy!  *fingers crossed*

A beautiful day! The shortest distance was along this road to the trailhead. 

We went fairly slow (considering I haven't run in awhile) but tried to push ourselves at certain points. 

We arrived at the trailhead to 7 Falls quicker than I thought. Chance was waiting for us (he took off awhile ago because we were talking about girl stuff lol). I tried to convince them that we should run along the 7 Falls trail for a bit (that's the distance I really wanted to do) but they were not having it. Laura wanted to wait for her mom and Chance wanted to go back home and relax. 

Oh well, it was still a beautiful day for running. Glad I got to experience it. And I got a little trail running in at the end. :)

We ran back along this trail to the parking lot.

So many saguaros! Beautiful!

It is so nice this time of year in the Southwest!

Since I start school tomorrow, I want to take full advantage of the beautiful weather and head back out to Sabino Canyon today to run along the 7 Falls trail.

It's turning out to be a great year! 

Mt. Lemmon Half Marathon Race Recap!

Seriously...

The Most Beautiful Race I have EVER Run!

My day started at 3:00am. I woke up, got dressed, ate a few bananas and raspberries, and hit the road. I had to be at the buses at Tucson Medical Center no later than 4:30am.

I got to the buses, and we were off! I tried to get a photo of the long line of red bus lights along the dark, mountainous highway but there wasn't enough light it get it. It sure looked cool.  

We finally arrived at Windy Point. It was about a 30 minute bus ride. I was hydrating like crazy and I knew everyone else was as well, so that meant...everyone had to go to the bathroom when we got off the bus. EVERYONE. 

And there were only 5 port-a-potties.

And the race was set to start in 10 minutes.  

And I was in the last bus, out of 4 buses.

This is the line after the race started:

And this is the start line after the race started:

You can see a few runners up ahead.

So, I didn't get to start with the gun and, well, everyone else. I was a little bummed about it. 

But the announcer kept reminding everyone in the port-a-potty line that our individual time doesn't start until we actually cross the line.
So, I was relieved and tried to calm myself down. But at the same time I was still upset that they didn't have more port-a-potties and they didn't think to get the buses there earlier.

However, the serenity of running alone during a race sure made up for it. And the amazing views didn't hurt. 

 

Got a great view of the sun rising. It was so beautiful at Windy Point, which is what I'm passing in this photo:

Finally! A good photo!

It was so peaceful. I ran without music (I emailed the race director beforehand and he was pretty serious about taking people off the course if he saw headphones. However, I saw a ton of people doing it anyways...grr) which may have helped my time. I sang songs in my head that I semi-memorized and worked through an issue I was having at work in my head. I thought I would be bored out of my mind, but that little issue I was working through really gave me something to think about. 

So beautiful! And so alone. :)

These are some great views of the other side of Mt. Lemmon, looking east. I had to stop for these views. 

Different from the route last year, this year we took a left and went down a "residential" road. It had a ton of cabins I never even knew existed! A lot of people were out in their lawn chairs cheering us on. :)

Almost there! 

I finished!!

Time - 2:46:58

Avg Pace - 12:44

Place - 128th
Elevation Gain - about 3190 ft. 

The food afterwards:

Lots of fruit, muscle milk and eggs and tortillas. :)

Me and my parents. After this, we decided to go eat in Ski Valley (at the very top of the mountain) at the Iron Door Restaurant. Unfortunately, the staff couldn't get through the traffic so it wasn't open. :(

I actually emailed the race director later that day hoping to get more businesses involved next year (like the General Store and the Cookie Cabin). I would have loved to stay in Summerhaven for at least another hour. But there really wasn't much to do with all the businesses being closed.

Back in Tucson, about to eat at the Good Egg when I realized that I didn't get a photo with Chance.

Pretty sweet medal. :)

Overall, this race was amazing! Definitely a MUST. Yes, it's tough, but it feels great to finish. :)
I loved the solidarity, but next time around, I'd like to run with someone by my side. Or perhaps a group of people. Be prepared, you may see a Girl Scout team running this in April. :)