Thru Endurance We Conquer!

Last year, something new was added to the Growler family of events - the Meowler bike-run-bike duathlon. Ride out to the base of Skull Pass, drop the bike for a running tour of Aberdeen, then finish out the rest of the Growler loop. It sounded like fun, a different kind of challenge - but I was already committed to the Full Growler and the Meowler was on the same day. So there was no way I could do both. I also figured that until I didn't want to do the Full Growler, I wouldn't be able to do the Meowler. To my surprise, this year the Growler and Meowler were separated, with the Growler on the traditional Memorial weekend and the Meowler now the week before with the Sage Burner Trail runs. It would be possible to do both if I wanted to. That seemed like a lot of racing and a lot of travel, so I again put the Meowler on the back burner. My focus would be on the Growler, like it had been for the past few years. Then my mother brought up traveling to do a marathon with her the ...

What a difference a week makes... On April 16th, I was getting ready to run a 50k in a blizzard, only to have that race canceled. But I wouldn't lose my chance at my first ultra as the race directors from the Cheyenne Mountain Trail Race offered all us snowed out Rattler Runners entry into their race. So on April 23rd, I was once again getting ready to run a 50k. I had a small drop bag packed with some food, new shirt and spare socks. My Osprey Rev 1.5 was ready to go with number pinned, food tucked in pockets and a half full bladder. But I still didn't know what to expect - I knew it would be a long day and my legs would be tired at the end. I also knew that the climbs would be the challenge, not the technical running at Palmer Park. I also knew that while I'd done one run of 24 miles and several of 15-20, a well as long mountain bike rides, I wasn't as trained or tapered going into the race like many of the other fast women toeing the line. Not only was it my first u...

Well, I didn't get to run my first 50k on Saturday. At packet pickup, the wind was howling and clouds hung low over the mountains. But no snow or rain yet. We were all hopeful that Colorado Springs would dodge the weather bullet and the race would be a chilly, fun day. The race directors had taken the precaution of moving the aid stations to allow the volunteers to be dry under pavilions and we were all ready to face what promised to be epic conditions.  I had a tub full of clothes for all conditions and all kinds of options for water proof and wind proof gear. I was ready - maybe not looking forward to spending 5+ hours in the howling wind, wet conditions and mud, but I was ready. The first thing I did when I got up Saturday was check Facebook for any news on the race. Nothing at 4:30. Time to eat and get mentally ready for the race. It was just blowing like crazy outside, with some rain and a few white flakes drifting down. I had my breakfast, enjoyed my coffee and made a therm...

Years ago, when I was running a lot more then I am now (and not mountain biking at all...) I wanted to do an ultra. The "normal" path is do the marathon, then a 50k before jumping into the longer distances. My plan was to skip the 50k and go straight into the 50m race, even back then. After all, a 50k isn't that much further then a marathon and I was running a marathon a month during the spring and fall. The 50k didn't phase me and I was looking for something that would really challenge me. Fast forward to now. Not running nearly as much or as focused, but that 50m race I always wanted to do is on my schedule. (Yikes!) I was still planning on jumping straight into the 50m race and not doing a formal 50k before the race. I would be running more then the 50k distance through the course of training for Sheep Mountain, but I really anticipated that the first ultra with a bib number would be that race. Turns out, I wasn't quite right about that one. Sometimes, the lo...