Update!

Wow! So, hi, it's been awhile. I've given this blog a few fleeting thoughts over the last few months, but never actually convinced myself to write anything. Now, I report. I'm happy to tell you that since my last few posts in March things have really improved in terms of running--well, and life in general!

I took some time off of running shortly after I was posting about the foot issue and gradually the injury improved and I have no problems now. I think there was a week without running somewhere in March. Totally worth it.  I have built up my miles slowly but surely and have been consistently running 35-60 minutes five days a week. I have raced in two great races (although no Bolder Boulder) and was actually pleased with my results! I signed up for the Imogene Pass Run and this weekend kicks off my training for the race -- right now my goal for a long run is starting off on the South side of Shanahan Ridge and climbing up to the Mesa trail and taking it to Chatauqua and back.

Higgins has made vast improvements, too! First of all, he's grown considerably and now outweighs Byrdie. He's not taller than her yet, but he's longer and possibly wider than her. He runs with me every day with no problems at all. The vet told me it was OK to take him 40 minutes, four times a week when we went in for his last check-up at 5.5 months and to keep him there until he's a year old. Well... you try and leave a super hyper seven-month-old puppy home while you run when he's jumping around like crazy because he knows you're getting ready to go out. I can't! He'd probably pee on me if I did (long story). So I take him. I'm having an internal battle with myself about the long run I have planned this weekend (take him? leave him?).

So running is great! Life is great! I have a packed summer, but it's totally worth the sleep-deprivation and non-stop running around because it means I probably won't have to take another class until I start my program. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. And much thanks to my wonderful, loving boyfriend for the support along the way.

So to catch you up on the last week, since I'm planning to give this a go again, here's my running log:

Monday: 30 minutes, trails
Tuesday: Off - too busy
Wednesday: 35 minutes with V, trails
Thursday: 45 minutes, treadmill (long day again)

My goal for the rest of the week includes another easy run on Friday - maybe I'll go do Marshall to avoid hills, 40 minutesish, Saturday, a couple of hours easy, hills, trails, etc. and Sunday, another easy run.

Week 9: Day 2

I just have to say that I cannot believe it's March already! Gone are my hopes of running that 1/2 marathon in Moab (I'm OK with that, though) and the same goes for my fleeting hopes of a trip to Mexico in April. This week, as it's 55-60 degrees and sunny in Colorado, I'm alright with having none of it. Now I have my sight set on the Apostle Islands (like B. and I talked about at Christmas, but probably won't happen unless I get my butt in gear and plan) for our trip and the Bolder Boulder for my run.

Anyway! I worked late tonight and had the morning free. I was quite productive - took Higgins for a 15 minute run, ran another 15 minutes, baked a pie, finished my exam and even had time for a little coffee before heading to work! The run with Higgins was fun! I took him and Byrdie out on the hilly neighborhood roads and kept my pace in check so as not to burn the little guy out on his first attempt. He was very well behaved, too! He stuck by my side and didn't stray much safe for the time a bus drove past and scared the Dickens out of him. :) He tired around 10 minutes or so of constant trotting (no sprinting, sniffing or pooping along the way!) so we rounded back to the house. Then I was starting to feel the pressure of my morning tasks on my back so I just made another loop around the neighborhood.

Total:
Running: 60 minutes

Week 9: Day 1

OK! To stay on the "we're really busy because we have family visiting" theme, I didn't have much time for running today. I was able to squeeze in a 30 minute run on the Shanahan Loop, but honestly I've built my base to a point where I feel as if these short runs aren't doing much for me anymore. Something is better than nothing, though.

Not much to say about this particular run except that my arch was burning when I finished. This could be a result of snowboarding yesterday though so I won't worry that my injury is worsening... yet.

Total:
Running: 30 minutes

Week 8: Day 7

Today B., feeling much better, and I headed to Copper Mountain to use some of our passes before the time to use them runs out (which is quickly approaching!). Anxious to get home to our new little Higginbottom, we decided to do as many runs as we could before 1pm and leave the mountain early. We had a great time and I was reminded that I actually do enjoy being out there on the hills, in the cold, with a board strapped to my feet despite the effort of actually getting to that point. We avoided most traffic, thankfully, as our trip home last weekend took 4.5 hours, but still it took a few hours to drive down the mountain and up to Longmont to pick up the dogs and finally head home. We arrived back in Boulder around 4:30pm - plenty of time to exercise if one so chooses. I chose not to. :) Well, to give a little credit to myself, we have two visiting families this week and I have an exam due Tuesday evening, so the time really wasn't there.

I don't like to count my snowboarding time as exercise - activity yes, exercise no - so you won't see it in my pitiful weekly total. My foot is still hovering in that sort-of-injured-but-not-so-serious injury state.

Total:
Running: 146 minutes

Week 8: Day 6

Staying up in Wildernest this weekend which is situated around 10,000 feet and B. and I were both looking forward to getting in a solid run or two at the high altitude! Well, that only happened for one of us (and being selfish, I'm glad it was me). B. was sick all day Saturday - so sick that he couldn't really move from the bed/chair that he laid/sat in all day.

I, on the other hand, ventured out to a trail that was just a half mile or so from our condo, ignoring B.'s cold and envious stare as I left him behind. The trail is listed here and although it was snow-covered, it was still teeming with life (hikers, skiers and snowshoe-ers, that is!). I haven't run at this altitude since B. and I planned to run the Continental Divide. We weren't able to do so thanks to seven foot snow drifts closing Trail Ridge Road, but we did play around for a few hours in RMNP just below Longs Peak. Anyway, a pretty interesting run! Now, it should be said that I do not do well at altitude when it comes to running: my lips turn purple, I get dizzy and slightly confused. Knowing this, I really have no business exercising up there in the first place. Do you think that would stop me? Nah.

I started off running up a pretty decent incline and my lungs cried out right away! Eventually my body adjusted to the change and I decided I could handle it. The run, though rather short, was a fairly challenging one with steep inclines and declines all along the way. The trail was really busy so a few times I was forced to step off the trail when skiers chose to ski through (whether or not I planned to let them through) and I found myself sinking into knee-to-waist deep snow! "Oh, sorry!" was always echoing my efforts to climb out of the sinkhole.  I did have that dizzy feeling a couple of times during the run and once I even stopped for fear of passing out. My pace was fairly quick as running those rolling hills will keep you from settling into a pace.

The whole run (out and back) took me 44 minutes and I'm betting it wasn't much over 4-4.5 miles. :) I ran out to Lily Lake which had really beautiful views surrounding it. I hoped for a clear night and crossed my fingers that Ben would feel a little better so we could hike out to the lake together. Unfortunately it was cloudy and I didn't feel well in the evening. The run was awesome. My altitude sickness can't stop me! I love the feeling of the trails under my feet and the knowing that most people wouldn't even think of attempting what I accomplish while I'm out there. I'm reminded that I want to plan more high altitude runs in the warmer months. Maybe we can make that Continental Divide run happen this summer.

Total:
Running: 146 minutes

Week 8: Day 5

No run. No time. Heading to the mountains tonight to spend time with B.'s family. Should be fun!

Week 8: Day 4

I woke early today. I was anxious about everything that B. and I need to do before leaving for the mountains and then having family stay over next week: exam, CLEAN, pack, take care of dogs, bake pie, date night, work, run. Tonight is date night - which B. and I haven't been able to take advantage of lately with all of our visitors - but alas the task list was too long and we decided that takeout and cleaning would suffice for the night. So I planned my day out - run this am, get ready and head to work, come home and squeeze in some studying and then clean clean clean my little heart out. Well, I almost made it through the list: run - check, work - check, clean - check. The studying part never happened thanks to a late meeting and then heavy traffic thanks to a dusting of snow. Ah, well, the best intentions...

My run was nice! Byrdie and I took the Shannahan Short Loop. Slick! We made it out unscathed and in 32 minutes.

Total:
Running: 102 minutes