As the Pikes Peak Ascent race day approaches it is hard to believe that it is just 4 days away. In 4 days I am going to run a race that I set a goal of completing back in November of 2016 and starting training for in November of 2016.  I have set goals for myself in the past but I would rank running the Pikes Peak Ascent among the top.

Running has taken over my life to say the least.  If you have been following my story you will know that I have lost  34 pounds and can run 15 miles on…

They say "Think global, act local," and the same can be applied with racing. After having raced all over the globe from Mungyeong, South Korea to the LA Olympic trials, to Doha, Qatar and Eugene, Oregon; many of our runners have been enjoying the local racing scene right here in Colorado Springs! While qualifying for USA Championships and International races is the big goal…

Thousands of runners from all over the country will attempt to tackle the Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon this weekend. This is a mighty feat with 7,815 ft vertical in 13.32 miles for the Ascent and an added descent for those brave enough to take on the Ultimate Challenge! Each runner has trained for months, if not years, and has mentally prepared herself/himself to persevere to the finish line. With only a couple of days…

With the Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon only a few weeks away, I craved some high altitude training and some longer days on the trails.  Moreover, my birthday was fast-approaching, and I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate!  To kick-start my 31^st, my husband, Michael, and I woke up at 4:30am and drove into Manitou. We loaded up…

So much for a race report after Summer Roundup.  My weekend (I'm off weird days) got cut short because of the Hayden Pass Fire, and it's been a hectic couple of weeks since of long days at work, working extra days, the usual this time of year.  Such is the life of a journalist!

But I'm back!

The Ascent is looming, and with each passing day I'm getting more nervous.  I'm really starting to have a nagging…

The prodigal blogger returns!  My June got away from me with work stuff, family visiting and a stomach bug after Garden of the Gods!  But I'm back...and no whiny freakouts about the Ascent this time, haha! 

Summer Roundup is tomorrow!  My "race" plan (if you can even call it that, hence the scare quotes) is similar to Garden of the Gods...I'm just going to treat it as a fun run since I don't think I'm in traditional…

With the Ascent less than 6 weeks away, I have to admit I'm starting to get a little nervous.

My biggest fear?

Not finishing in the cutoff time and therefore not officially finishing the Ascent.  

Although I am NOT fast, I am in pretty good shape right now.  Even with power hiking most of the course, I think I should have no problem finishing in the cutoff.

However, there are a few things that could happen.…

As the Pikes Peak Ascent race is just over 6 weeks away, I decided to spend some time on my race strategy this week.

I first looked at the course on the Pikes Peak Marathon website.

This map shows the mileage, elevation, and aid stations along the race…

Running can be a very mental sport.  Those who finish races usually have some degree of mental toughness.  There are many barriers you have to push through and obstacles you have to overcome in order to succeed in running.

Henry Ford said, "Whether you think you can or you think you can't you're probably right."

This week I had a major mental obstacle to overcome leading…

March 13 is upon us - the big registration day Colorado!  Register for the Pikes Peak Marathon (PPM) or the Ascent, whichever form of self torture you prefer. For me, I've got my sight set on the marathon this year.  With just one other marathon behind me (the fantastic Big Sur International…

The CC class of 2014 (my class) adopted the class motto "Damn, those fourteeners are high!" this year, and though the intended implication doesn't really resonate with me, it did help to inspire a new goal of mine for this summer. I turn 20 in just under a month, and have decided that I want to have climbed 20 of the Colorado fourteeners before then. I'm a little ashamed to say that, in all my years living here, I've only done 10 of them. This summer is fast becoming the most ambitious of my…

Well, my last paper has been submitted, and my final exam complete. For better or worse, finals are over and I no longer have an excuse to put off my training. My brain is still feeling a little fried, though, and I'm honestly at a complete loss as to where to even begin. Every time I see Pikes Peak, I get this rush of excitement for the Ascent, but it's always followed by a millisecond of feeling sheer terror in the pit of my stomach.

Right now, though, I’m more nervous for the…

Ever since I visited Colorado Springs in the late 70's during a cross-country road trip with my family, I've had a deep respect for Pikes Peak.  My dad towed our 28-ft. trailer up Pikes Peak Highway in the middle of July, and when we reached the summit, we were greeted with a hail storm and had a snowball battle while running around in shorts and flip flops.  In 1996,…