Time Out

I need a time out. Not because I'm in trouble, but a Time out to tap into the other elements of life I enjoy besides mountain guiding.

I began the guiding season the second week in May almost immediately after finals were over. Thankfully the weather was good my first trip and I made it to the summit on May 17th, but the next three trips we were hit hard with wind, blowing snow, rain and super cold temps. Not summer by any means.

100% summit!  We had the perfect weather window.

After the five trips on Mt Rainier and a thorough a** kicking I ran off with my tail between my legs for a few days away from Mother natures wrath. As usual Josh and I packed up the car with climbing gear, running shoes, biking equipment, fishing gear and anything else we might need for an adventure. Turns out no where west of Boulder Colorado is having good weather right now, so we hunkered down in Missoula.

Web Cam from Paradise on Mt Rainier - This is  40 degrees and Raining.

For an outdoorsy girl its hard to wrap my head around cold rainy weather. I just don't know what to do with myself. So as the rain continued I summoned my mother and sisters creative side. I decided I would do some art projects and spend some time in the kitchen baking my favorite recipes. 

I had a few ideas thanks to Pintrest on what I wanted to create. I was going to make a piece for my room, something colorful but my style.

To the left is the finished project.

I started by painting each canvas a different color ( blue, purple, yellow, and Green). Then I picked and pressed leaves from the yard. I pressed them for 24 hours so they would lay flat when I pinned them to the colored canvas and covered them with spray paint. When I pulled the plants off the canvas I was left with these wonderful images and a set of four to hang in my room.

Once I felt successful and content with my art project I moved on to another activity that I'm a bit more comfortable with. Baking.

I get my love of baking from my mother. I grew up helping make 11ish Thanksgiving pies every year, we  made everything from apple and blueberry to chocolate cream and of course pumpkin. Baking hundreds of Christmas cookies, birthday cakes for anyone, and anything else I could think of. Baking has become one of my favorite DE-stress activities over the years. After a hard exam or stressful climb I like to come home whip up a batch of cookies or muffins and then go for a long run.

On my week retreat in Missoula I whipped up two cheesecakes. I created my own recipes based on what I know about cheesecake and flavors and textures. I made a Strawberry cheesecake and a mixed berry (raspberry's, blueberries and blackberries). I swirled in the berry flavor for visual appeal, and Boy was Josh excited!



Our week is coming to an end and we Head back to Ashford Washington Today. after 6 whole days the weather wasn't all bad. we had  a few moments of sun and we made the most of them. We got to go fishing in Glacier on the South fork of the Flathead river, we went for a bike ride into Glacier National park, and I snuck in a few good trail runs and Mountain bike rides here in Missoula.

The week was a great way to rejuvenate before we head back up on Rainier.

Arizona Rock 'n Roll Marathon

I have now been back for a week and have had time to rec
over, relive and appreciate my trip to Arizona.

Going into the marathon I had very high expectations of myself and what I wanted to accomplish. I was hoping to qualify for the Boston Marathon with a time of 3:35:00. I trained hard to achieve this goal but was unable to finish in that time. I finished with a time of 3:50:07. I started strong, keeping a 8 min mile pace through the 1/2. Around mile 16 I fell off the back of the pace group and at that point I knewI didnt have what it took to keep the pace for another 10 miles. With the hope of qualifying for boston gone, I lost an edge mentally. I feel apart and hit a wall, all things you hope to avoid.

Running is an interesting sport in that sense. When I fell apart, I had no team mate to pick me up, an amp me up to finish strong. It was all me. It's all me in my victories and my failures. Not that this race was a failure, it was a learning experience. I learned a lot about racing, about training, nutrition and my own strength. These things I learned I will use for future training and racing and continue to improve as a runner.

Immediately after the race I was disappointed and

upset and by all means discouraged. But thanks to a few important phone calls and long pep talks (Thanks mom) I was able to really look at the big picture. I have only been running regularly for a year or so now, and finishing my second marathon with a time under 4 hours is very good.

I have also pushed myself very hard this year with 2 marathons, a 30K trail run, Three 10k races, two 10 miles races, two trail 1/2 marathons and numerous local 5k's. Looking at all of that, I am proud of my accomplishments with running.

After a week of rest and recovery I am now ready to start looking towards the next goal. And as most of us do, I have multiple goals in mind. One will remain the same, I will continue to train to run a marathon with a qualifying time for Boston. Its going to take hard work, but I have learned from my mistakes in the last two marathons and will make changes and train smarter and harder.

Traveling down to Arizona for such a big evert is a new experience for me. I knew a few other runners in the race but for the most part I was on my own. This was a nerve-racking feeling but also liberating. We arrived Friday afternoon, 2 days before the race. Friday was mostly

dedicated to getting settled into my hotel, Checking in for the race and visiting the expo. I found a nice Southwest/ mexican restaurant to have dinner at the first evening and then went to bed early for get plenty of rest. Saturday morning I work up early, (5am) to practice getting up early and went for a quick 2 mile jog to get a feel for the temps early in the morning. After a quick shower I headed out to see the sights of Phoenix. I was staying in the heart of downtown and had access to buses, light rail and many attractions. My first stop was the local farmers / public market full of fresh vegetables, local crafts and homemade goodies. I had a great coffee and local organic danish. No better way to get a feel for a new city then its public market.

After wandering the market I purchased an all day metro ticket ($3.50) good for all the buses and light rail. I rode both all over the city until I saw something I wanted to get closer to and would get off and get back on when I was done eating, shopping or taking pictures!

I had to make a stop in the local Lululemon shop and then spotted a trader joe's where I bought a few snacks for race day. I headed back to my hotel by 4 for a big dinner of gourmet pizza and my traditional night before race Guinness. Then it was early to bed, with a few butterflies in my stomach.

The next morning it was on. My alarm went off at 5:00 am. Coffee, smoothie, sports endurance drink and off to the start line. The energy at big events like this is just amazing. It was intoxicating. I warmed up, packed my sports bra with gels and hit the port-a potties one last time.

6,000 runners lined the streets and filled the corrals, and then the gun goes off. All the training, the months of preparation all comes down to that sound, BANG…. and we were off. about to embark on the 26.2 mile journey through Phoenix, into Scottsdale and finally into Tempe at the ASU stadium for the finish. It all kind of blurs together. But after a week, you forget the pain you may have felt, you forget how hard it might have been, all you remember is the energy of the crowd. The exhilaration of crossing the finish line no matter how tired you might have been. You come home and everyone tells you good job!

And here' the crazy things, you start looking for the next big race! And I cant wait!

Off To Arizona

I’m all packed and ready to Rock ’n Roll in the Arizona Rock ‘n roll Marathon in Phoenix! After a brisk run this morning in 12° but sunny weather the reality of my trip to dry and warm and cloudless Phoenix AZ is becoming a reality. I fly out of Missoula tomorrow morning for 3 days down in the heat of the desert. I will have most of the day on Friday to get settled in town, visit the Rock ‘n roll Expo and race check in, and then find a nice local spot for a casual dinner.

Flying all the way to Arizona will be a whole new experience. For one thing I have never been to AZ so it’s a new state to check off the list. I also have never traveled like this for a race. It adds a new element of commitment to the training and the race. I also have never participated in an event so large. There will be roughly 30,000 participants if the marathon and ½ marathon combined, with that many or more attending the event to cheer and support the runner as they (we) endure the 26.2 miles in 75°. Its going to be a great event.

Check back after the race Sunday or Monday for my race results, my adventures around Phoenix and of course pictures!