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…

Now I know I am biased because this is where I started my running career, but I am spoiled.  

I was just on vacation in western New York, Bemus Point to be exact, and the humidity just kills me.  I had to go out on runs at 6am and five minutes into the run I was soaking wet and miserable.   I needed the miles so I trudged on not really having any fun.  Last year while…

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…

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…

I read the book, "Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less" by Greg McKeown this past weekend.  It is more of a business book, but really got me thinking about life in general.  He talks about how we often get caught up in doing so many things, we aren't really effective at any of them.  

He also talked about the importance of play.  

Yes, you read that right.  Play.  All work and no play is actually not good for us.

I was thinking of this…

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…

Me (3), Carly Keller (2), and Kelly Ping (1) took home the goods for F25-29. With the awards ceremony a few months after the races, we runners had a chance to actually look presentable for the photos.

My legs have healed. The Triple Crown of Running is mostly a memory. I checked the…

Do I need to do anything different when riding up to 14,110 feet?

For those of you who are taking advantage of the Pikes Peak Highway being open to bikes, you might have some questions about fueling for the trek up the "hill."

If you have run the Ascent or the Pikes Peak Marathon, you may be familiar with these tips, but here we go...

Eat a good breakfast with plenty of carbohydrates. Don't skip this! Get in a good meal 2-4 hours…

What would you do if you had the opportunity to cycle 19 miles up a paved 14er. Would you do it? What if you're a semi-active, new-to-cycling mom in her 30's...would you still do it?!

Well, I had that opportunity and took it. I straight took that bull by the horns.

Pikes Peak and the City of Colorado Springs are running a pilot program in the month of September which allows cyclists to pedal up and down the mountain.…

Above: Victory soak in Fountain Creek. Photo by Christian Murdock. Below: Don and me, the only Pikes Peak Sports.us Triple Crown Runners who signed up for the marathon! Photo by Phoebe Blessing.

We've come full circle. I started blogging…

I will write about this in more detail soon enough, but for now ... HOLY CRAP I DID IT!

The Attack Pack and friends ready to take on the Falcon Trail in the dark.

Whenever I sign up for new race distances or athletic endeavors, I always envision feeling far more "ready" when race day/week/month actually arrives. The time between signing up and executing stretches on forever, week upon week of mythical training runs cascading into the future,…

Me and LB on our way up Mount Bierstadt, July 22

During every training cycle, especially for a new distance, I hit the skids mentally. I'm considering the PPM a new distance, even though I've run…

Upward! Upper Barr Trail, July 15

It has been an eventful few weeks. I've got to get back in the rhythm of writing here; since the fire, the words don't flow like they used to. It put things in perspective. Nature doesn't care about human life. (Actually, anyone who has hiked the upper reaches of Barr Trail knows that nature doesn't care about…

Me, Sharon, Sharon's dad, Don, Don's doughnut, and Bill at 14,115 feet on Father's Day.

I feel good about my training from the past weekend. On Saturday, a few Attack Packers and I ran from Soda Springs Park, up the Incline, past No Name Creek a little ways into the Experimental Forest, then back down Barr Trail. It took us right around two hours to do the…

This is me on my first trip to Barr camp for the season this past Sunday. (Please excuse the overexposure. With my pack loaded up with avocados for Neil and Teresa, the caretakers of the camp, I had no room for a camera besides my cell phone.) I went with Josh, Ramsey, and Brian, three…