Lead King Loop 25K, September 19, 2010, Marble CO

I figure, the best way to do this race justice is to share the photos I took during the race.

The climb up to the top.


A view on the way up.


Getting closer to the top.


Ahhh - finally done with that pesky hill climb!



Starting the descent.


Lead King Basin


The Crystal Mill

I decided to run this race on a whim. I ran the 12.5K a couple of years ago and have always planned on doing the 25K. I just didn't plan on doing it this year. With that being said - I signed up for the race the Friday before the race and I didn't do any type of training for this race. I've been focused on shorter distances recently and haven't done a run over 8 miles in over 3 months. Soooo....I didn't have great expectations, but as always, I did have some expectations of myself.

The race starts in the town of Marble and follows a 4x4 road through the Lead King Basin. The course gains 2900' in the first 4 miles on a very rugged road. It levels out around mile 5 and then drops sharply into the valley for the next few miles. The road follows the Crystal River past the old town site of Crystal where the 110 year old mill still stands. The last couple of miles rise out of the valley and descend back down toward the town.

Here is a course profile...

In addition to being unprepared for the 15.5 mile course I also was lacking in the sleep department due to a trip to Denver to visit with friends. Two nights of little rest didn't bode well on race day. I think my legs were also a little shot from last weekend's race as well. So, enough of the excuses - here's how it all went down.

Woke up super early on Sunday morning to make the hour and a half drive to Marble. The race is pretty small <200 people between the two races. I picked up my schwag-bag and got myself ready to race.

I decided to wear my trail shoes for a little added stability and was still trying to work out the kinks with my fuel belt until the starting bugle was blown. The belt was driving me nuts for the first mile - bouncing all over the place. I considered throwing the belt at an aid station but then I wouldn't have my camera or my Honey Stingers. I found out real quick that the belt was going to be the least of my concerns of the day. The belt only bounces when you're actually "running". The following three miles included a LOT of walking.

Holy heck - that hill was steep. After the incredible leg burning climb I was rewarded with some amazing views of the Aspen trees at their peak color! I could finally start running at about mile 5 when the road flattened out. It quickly started to descend to the valley below at a pretty sharp grade. Parts of the road were nicely packed dirt but for the most part there was a lot of loose rock. Considering I wasn't even halfway done with the race I didn't want to take any chances and go ass-over-teakettle down the hill so I took it nice and easy. I even walked some of the downhill.

Around mile 8 I started to realize just how fatigued I was getting. I just kept reminding myself to enjoy the view and to not get injured. I was also starting to feel sort of conflicted because running in the mountains is so idyllic and peaceful but also extremely mentally taxing at the same time. Having to be constantly aware of your footing takes its toll. By this time the temperature started creeping up too - it was over 80 degrees by the time I finished. I couldn't do anything at this point except move forward - no matter how slow I needed to move.

I made the final big climb out of the valley and started to head back towards Marble. All I could think about at this point was the delicious BBQ pork sandwich waiting for me at the finish!

I crossed the line in 3:38:20 - a 14:54/mile pace. I said that I had some expectations coming in to this race - approximately a 3:00:00 finish. Initially I was disappointed with my effort - but now, I'm over it. Trail running is a completely different beast than I was prepared to battle with yesterday but the beauty of our mountains was a much more valuable reward than any time could provide.

Mackinac Island Eight Mile Road Race - September 11, 2010

Mackinac Island Eight Mile Road Race
Mackinac Island, MI
September 11, 2010

I can’t remember when I first heard about this race but it’s been bouncing around in the back of my head for a couple of years. The timing isn’t great, since it’s tough to leave me class so early in the year but I decided that this was the year I needed to do it.

I arrived in Detroit on Thursday (after an incredibly long delay in Denver) at nearly 2:00 a.m. Not starting off so great. I finally get to the hotel and my mom and aunt decided to “surprise” me by being in my room. I guess “surprise” was one word for it - I was really looking forward to a good night sleep by myself, but oh well.

We hit the road to the U.P. in the late morning and arrived in the early evening. We headed to my favorite local restaurant - The Driftwood - for dinner. I tried to hit the hay early since I had less than 5 hours of sleep the night before. Sharing a room with two other people who don’t sleep well is not a good idea the night before a race.

So with two nights of little-to-no sleep I was just happy to get out of bed and get going. I started off my day with “the usual” breakfast and walked across the street to catch the 7:30 ferry over to the island.

After I arrived I had about 1/2 mile walk to the resort that was hosting the race - The Mission Point Resort. I grabbed some Starbucks and found my way to the resort to pick up my shirt and bib. At this point I realized I was facing a wardrobe dilemma. I thought it was going to be a bit cooler so I dressed accordingly - but the weather system was delayed in getting here and I realized I would be too hot running in my capris. I had a pair of shorts in my gear bag, however, my gear bag was back on the mainland with my mom who would be coming over later. Rather than be stressed about finding her and my shorts right before the race I decided I’d better buy something from the vendor at the packet pick up. Thank goodness they were there! I was able to get my “usual” Nike shorts for $20 - win-win!

I did a quick warm up and got ready to line up at the start. This race had about 1400 participants - in addition to the 8 mile run they also have an 8 mile walk. With this type of race and the number of participants - I think they should consider doing a wave start. I realized there were a lot of walkers lined up towards the front and decided that I needed to move up even farther to avoid the inevitable traffic jam.

The official “Go!” was shouted and we were off.

My goals for this race were...
Enjoy the scenery!
Stay within an 8:05-8:15 pace in order to finish between 1:04 and 1:08
Enjoy the scenery!

Of course I had my Pixie-Dust dream too of running UNDER 1:04 and run fast enough to be in the Top 5 of my AG. After looking at last year’s race results there was a huge discrepancy between 5th and 6th. I knew if I ran my 8:05 I would land smack dab between last year’s 5th and 6th grade time.

Mile 1 took us right through Main Street on the Island past all of the fudge shops and souvenir stores towards the residential area of the island. The weather couldn’t have been any better - overcast and in the mid-50’s. Perfect for running! As we made the first turn we were presented with a stunning view of the bridge that spans the Straits of Mackinac. Seeing the bridge always brings up a lot of emotion for me. A little over 13 years ago I scattered my dad’s ashes on the shores of Lake Michigan near the bridge. So, I made sure I gave him a big smile as I ran past this morning.

Mile 2-7 were pretty uneventful. The back side of the island has a few residential areas but most of it is an untouched wilderness. Seeing the canopy of pines and deciduous trees along the shores of Lake Huron was enough to keep me entertained. THIS is Michigan in my mind!

Mile 8 greeted us with a bit of a headwind going towards the finish but I was feeling so good and so strong that I just wanted to give that mile everything I had.

This race marks the beginning of a “training hiatus” for me. This was making me feel a bit sad and aimless for the past few weeks. I thought coming in to this race that I would be running away from a lot of frustration. These past few weeks have been pretty rough on me mentally and emotionally, however, none of that pain manifested itself in my running today. Today was all about feeling good and being cleansed! While I was running I felt a huge weight lifted from my heart and my mind. I am ready to give my mind and body a break and spent my time today running towards much bigger and much better chapters in my life! That doesn’t mean that I’m putting my running up on the shelf now - just the back burner. I am so glad that I had such a great running experience to usher me in to the next phase of my life!

By the Numbers:
Mile 1 - 7:45
Mile 2 - 7:51
Mile 3 - 8:03
Mile 4 - 7:45
Mile 5 - 8:06
Mile 6 - 7:56
Mile 7 - 8:04
Mile 8 - 7:41

OA: 1:03:10 - 7:54/mile

5th in AG, 145th OA

Outdoor Divas Tri Like a Girl - Sprint Triathlon

Outdoor Divas Tri Like a Girl - Sprint Triathlon
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Union Reservoir, Longmont CO

The Training
Last May, I decided that I wanted to take on a new challenge. I decided not to train for a Fall marathon because I wanted to give my body a rest from the perpetual training I’ve done for more than 12 continuous months. All that being said - I knew I’d have a LOT of time on my hands during my time away from school this summer. So, the idea of doing a triathlon popped in to my head.

I cruised around on line to find one that would be a good first time experience - triathletes are a bit intimidating, in my opinion. My criteria were, a small race (approximately 500 athletes), an all women’s event, and nearby. Outdoor Divas fit the bill to a T! The max registration was set at 500, all women, and in Longmont. Check, check, check!

I can’t remember which plan I decided to follow - however, it was a pretty basic plan. All of the training for each discipline was based on time. There were no specific workouts for speed, intervals, etc. I knew that swimming would be my weakest event so I really worked on my breathing and keeping my strokes even when I was in the pool. I didn’t invest in a road bike but I supped up my mountain bike to have a little less resistance on the road. I locked out my shocks and switched to 1.5” slicks. Made it a bit quicker. My plan for running included some easy runs and “longer” runs of about 50 minutes. I also continued my year of “streaking” while I was training for this triathlon.

I felt pretty confident in my training through the summer - swim was good (I was able to do a couple of open water swim in addition to laps at the pool), biking was good, running was great! I did a few races this summer to gauge my fitness. I had a PR in my Half-Marathon in early June (1:45:48) and a near PR at a 5K in late July (22:14, 30 seconds off of my PR). During the past couple weeks of July and early August my traveling and work schedules got in the way of training - but I did the best I could.

Goals
Since this was my first tri I wasn’t sure what to expect, however, I had some goals in mind. For the swim - I told myself that I would be happy finishing the 1/2 mile in about 20 minutes. For the bike - I thought I could finish between 45-50 minutes based on my rides over the summer. And for the run - I wanted to finish in under 25 minutes. I was guessing I could finish the whole race between 1:30:00 and 1:45:00.

The Race
My friend and colleague, Cindy, agreed to do the race with me. She is a seasoned veteran of Triathlons and it was reassuring and helpful to have her guidance and experience as I prepared for this race. Cindy gave me great pointers on gear and training in addition to being a calming force on the day of the race!

We got on the road early to head to Boulder to pick up our packets and check out “the scene”. We stopped by Boulder Running Company and Whole Foods before heading out to Union Reservoir to check out the course. We were both a little concerned by the dirt/rock paths leading to and from the transition area. Ouch!

I got up nice and early on Sunday morning after a short night of sleep. After a hearty breakfast (oatmeal, surprise!) we headed to the reservoir to get ready for the race!

Cindy gave me great tips and pointers of how to set up my transition area. We chose a rack close to the entry from the swim. After getting everything set up we checked out the course. It was extremely well marked and very user friendly for first timers!



The swim waves were arranged by age groups. Since there were many first timers at this event they had specific waves for age group first timers - so I was in Wave 7 out of 8. It was really helpful to see the other waves go before me so I could sort of visualize what I was in for out there!



The water temperature was 77 degrees on race morning! It was pretty funny when my wave stepped up to the start - everyone wanted to hang back and not be “first”! When the horn blew all of us took off. It got a little crowded until we got to the first buoy. I had to remind myself that I was not “racing” this part of the triathlon, merely surviving! I think a lot of the other girls had this realization too. I was seeing a lot of surprised looks on their faces too that they were working a little bit too hard. I had a quick talk with myself to get it under control and decided that I would do 20 strokes of freestyle, then 10 strokes of breast and alternate until I could stick with all freestyle. When we turned left at the second buoy the swim was seeming a little bit easier. I forgot to take the wind in to consideration. The first leg of the swim we were swimming into the waves - after the turn the waves were on our right side making it a little bit easier. I continued with the 20-10 alternating strokes until we turned the 3rd buoy. At that point the waves were at our backs and I was able to switch to all free. I was actually feeling pretty good about my swim at this point.

As I approached the exit point I removed my cap and earplugs and took a quick dunk under so my hair could look mildly presentable (I know, vain!). After I exited the water I got my legs under me as I jogged to the transition area. Luckily they laid outdoor carpet over the rocks and dirt (save the tootsies!). I was soaking wet and trying to pull on my tank top and shorts. My next challenge was getting my socks on - I dried my feet as best I could, but it was still difficult. My shoes also were trouble some as my bike shoes have laces. Once I got myself put together I jogged my bike through the transition area to the start of the bike course.

Once I was on the bike I attempted to get my Garmin around my wrist while trying not to fall. Finally got that in place and took my Chocolate Honey Stinger. I ended up getting the Stinger down the wrong pipe and spent the rest of the ride coughing and getting my throat cleared. Annoying. I had my chain set on the middle ring in the front for the entire first lap of the course. As I started the second lap I switched to my big ring so I could pick up a little speed. While I was riding I played leap frog with a couple of other ladies but didn’t get passed by many other riders. That felt pretty good! The course meandered through a residential area and we made three loops before returning to the transition area.

After I dismounted I jogged my bike back to the rack so I could get my muscles ready for the run. I switched out shoes grabbed my visor and started my Garmin. The course started with a few turns and then went out to a county road for an out and back. I glanced down at my Garmin and saw that my pace was 7:22 - oops. Needed to slow it down if I didn’t want to crash and burn before mile one! On the run I realized how quickly the temperature was rising. The forecast included record high temperatures for the Denver area - ooh! lucky me! I was sort of surprised by how many people were walking the course. I was definitely set on running the whole 5K no matter how tired I was feeling or how hot I was. There was a slight incline to the turn around point and I told myself that I had to earn that downhill! Not ONE person passed me on the run! With about a half-mile to go I was getting so excited about finishing my first triathlon! I
enjoyed a most spectacular view of Long’s Peak as I crossed the finish line - at 1:28:36!

The Results
Swim: 18:55, 237/449 Overall
Transition 1: 2:52
Bike: 40:55, 18.2 MPH, 174/449 Overall
Transition 2: 1:35
Run: 24:23, 7:52/mile, 33/449 Overall

Overall Place: 113/449
Age Group Place: 24/74
Age Group First Timer Place: 4th



I was absolutely ecstatic that I met all of my goals for this race and even surpassed some of them. I had a great experience this first time out and have already been hunting around for my next race! Perhaps I’ll tackle and Olympic distance next time out. :)

The Mother's Day Mile - May 9, 2010

Yesterday I ran a local race - The Mother's Day Mile. I wasn't sure what to expect from my legs after the half I ran on Saturday, but I figured I'd just give it the old college try. A friend of mine picked me up and we headed in to town for the afternoon.

This is a really cool event - they have a huge silent auction and it's a benefit for an organization that helps women and children who are in violent domestic situations. They also have a sister-organization site in Eldoret Kenya for women who are HIV+. The women in Kenya create jewelry to sell to support their treatment and housing. The jewelry they make in Kenya are the awards for the race.

Another point worth noting is that the race is a "zero waste" event". That's pretty ambitious for an event that has hundreds of runners!

I did have some time goals in mind, however, I wasn't too committed to them because my legs were feeling pretty spent from the half I raced on Saturday. My PR is 6:47 on the course and last year I ran 7:27 - so I was shooting for something in the middle and hoping for an AG award.

So - I did a light warm up and a little stretching and was ready for the 1:30 start time. This year the race was chip timed, which was great, however it was still a mess at the start line. I broke out of the pack and tried to stick with my friend Karah. I knew she would be a great pace bunny - she's quick, and would make me work. I figured if I could keep her in my sights I'd be okay.

The course starts directly up a hill, ouch. I passed a lot of other women on the way up but my lungs were on fire! After a quick left turn there's a nice little downhill stretch on a residential street. I just continued to push and was able to catch a couple of other gals who started too fast.

After we cut through a parking lot to the turn around I started counting the number of women ahead of me. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. I was really close to number 5 so I thought I'd see what was left in the tank and sure enough I caught number 5. For the last 1/8 mile I was pretty much in no man's land. Karah was a sizeable distance ahead of me and the previous number 5 was a ways behind me.

Two quick turns and I was in to the parking lot to cross the finish line. That's when I saw the time clock. Didn't beat my PR on that course but I did much better than last year. 7:03 which ended up being quick enough for 3rd place in my AG and 5th OA. The woman who won my AG (who is also my age) ran in 5:38! Crazy fast!

The Awards Podium - felt a little goofy. :)

Karah and I modeling our race hardware.
She finished 2nd in AG and 4th OA - 6:59.
I finished 3rd in AG and 5th OA - 7:05.

Grand Valley Half Marathon - May 8, 2010

This was not my first choice of Spring half-marathons. Originally I planned on running the Colfax Half Marathon which is next weekend (5/16), however, due to the time and expenses related to travel I decided to stay close to home for a half.

Since I live in the middle of no where, my options were pretty limited. The Grand Valley Series had it's inaugural season last year so I figured they had a lot of kinks worked out and all would be good. The Little Grand Canyon Marathon I ran last September was organized by the same race group and I thoroughly enjoyed that experience so I figured, why not? The only downsides to this race were...it was a week earlier in my training than I had planned for and "the hills".

During the week leading up to the half I took it pretty easy -
Sunday: Long Run - 6 miles @ 9:18
Monday: Easy Run - 2 @ 9:18
Tuesday: Easy Run - 1.6 mile @ 9:18
Wednesday: Speedwork - 1/2 mile @ 9:18, 5 x 3 minutes @ 7:17, 1 minute jogs, 1/2 mile @ 9:18
Thursday: Easy Run - 1.56 mile @ 9:18
Friday: Easy Run - 1 mile @ 9:18

I hit the hay early on Friday night in preparation for the 4 am alarm. Oy. Quick breakfast and coffee before I hit the road. I was excited to use the map feature on my iPhone to help me find my way. :) I made it to Palisade in record time - not much traffic that early in the morning. After picking up my bib and cotton t-shirt (argh) I hunkered down in my car trying to stay warm and avoid the reality of the wind.

I met up with my friend Jen, who was also running the 1/2, around 6:35 - right after the marathoners took off. The start of the 1/2 was at 7:00. I met up with another group of friends from work, some of who were running the 10K and others the 5K. Time kept ticking and before I knew it - it was time to toe the line.

Miles 1-4
We headed out of town towards the bridge crossing for two miles into a stiff wind. I wasn't terribly cold, just annoyed about the wind. After crossing the bridge over the Colorado we headed West - with the wind - thank goodness! It was beautiful running past all of the peach orchards and vineyards that produce the delicious fruits that the area is known for. The course was relatively flat for this section, but I knew that would all change when we made the turn to head up towards the mesa. The legs were feeling really good at this point, breathing was easy, shoulders were loose - I just kept wondering which mile my body was going to revolt and crash and burn. Epic start usually spells a finishing disaster for me.

8:12, 8:14, 8:11, 8:08

Miles 5-8
We were pretty protected from the wind for this stretch but that didn't make it any easier. "The Hill" was the beast to battle in this stretch. I knew it would climb over 200 feet in mile 4 and I just didn't want to have to walk. Daunting is an understatement. Good news is I didn't walk but it was pretty much an ugly shuffle. Anyway...after I got to the top there was a nice reprieve to the turn around at 6.5.

As I approached the turn around I began to count the women who were ahead of me. I had a feeling that I was either in 3rd or 4th and my feeling was confirmed. I was 3rd female at this point. This was pretty motivating to me at this point. I knew I wouldn't hit the time goal but an OA finish would be pretty sweet. I've never done that in a half. I just kept pressing ahead trying to hold steady.

What the course takes away - the course gives back - yeah downhill!!! Jen warned me that we had some company approaching so I tried to pick it up as much as I could. I didn't kick it soon enough because Pink Nike Girl passed me. Argh. I didn't want to let that 3rd place position go! And...remember that wind that was at my back earlier in the course - yup, headwind on the way back. Boo!

9:29, 7:58, 8:19, 8:45

Miles 9-12
This is where the race really began. Pink Nike Girl was a little ahead of me - I could still catch her so I just kept pressing - in to the wind. And at mile 9 - miracle of miracles I passed her! She kept pressing me and I started to worry that she was playing the game too. At that point I decided I couldn't let her determine the outcome. So after we turned back across the bridge I gave it all I had left. The distance between me and Pink Nike Girl kept growing - thank goodness! That was a tough battle - not with her, but with myself. It took a lot for me to not give up - it's really hard to convince myself that I'm capable of finish a race strong when I'm in the thick of it.

7:33, 8:39, 8:37, 8:17

Mile 13.1
All guts here - my legs were completely frazzled and so was my brain. As we approached the finish line I couldn't believe I actually had a nice little kick left but it felt great to put it all out there!

8:00, 7:00 (.12)

Garmin Time: 1:49:14 - 13.12
Official Time: 1:49:36 - 13.1

Here's the course profile...

I am so tickled about this race that I can't be disappointed about not hitting 1:45:00. I was about a minute off of my PR from Canyonlands over two years ago on a much more forgiving course. I am certain that without the wind and hills I would've had a new PR today. Right now I'm tempted to make another attempt at a PR in the next couple of weeks, however, I haven't totally convinced myself that this is a good idea. We'll see!


Happy Running!

32 Reasons to Celebrate!!!

The calendar tells me that I am now another year older. Older, schm-older, I say! I had a great year being 32 and I'm looking forward to an even better year as I am 33.

1. Running the Little Grand Canyon Marathon and running past petroglyphs!
2. Being able to teach Kindergarten! Why didn't anyone tell me how much fun this was?!
3. Spending Thanksgiving with my mom.
4. Seeing the Cubs play at Wrigley Field!
5. Taking Roan for a walk on the extremely convenient trails in our neighborhood.
6. Traveling to Austin TX for the GOTR Summit - how lucky am I?!
7. Running The Canyonlands 1/2 Marathon and hearing the drums resonate through the canyon!
8. Surviving and returning from my first trip to Las Vegas.
9. Encouraging Bret to run his first 1/2 marathon on Colfax!
10. Snowshoeing in the beautiful Colorado powder!
11. Running the Las Vegas Marathon - 4:04:44
12. Enjoying the fruits (and veggies) of our labor from the garden.
13. Running with great friends.
14. Having an amazing class that is full of energy!
15. Celebrating my mom's 65 birthday with her in Ohio!
16. Racing in my first MTBike Race - I came in last place, but at least I finished!
17. Visiting the farmer's market in the summer for amazing fresh food!
18. Working with great people at my school.
19. Having my BFF from grade school come to visit me in CO!
20. Seeing friends from college.
21. Running Canyonlands 1/2 Marathon - 1:54:30
22. Catching fish on the CO River with Bret!
23. Rafting the CO on every rainy day this summer. :)
24. Vacationing in Puerto Vallarta.
25. Hiking in Crested Butte and camping under the stars.
26. Snowshoeing to the top of A-Basin with Bret!
27. Being the Rifle Rec. League Volleyball Champs!
28. Running The Other Half on a beautiful day in Moab.
29. Buying a treadmill!
30. Continuing my work with GOTR of Western Colorado - I am truly blessed!
31. Making it almost all the way to the top of Electric Pass.
32. Dipping my toes in to the freezing water of Cathedral Lake after a long hike.

Girls on the Run Summit - Austin, Texas

The experience from the Girls on the Run Summit has weighed on my mind heavily since I returned on Wednesday evening – almost to the point of distraction. I have been extremely anxious to find time to sort out the ideas and thoughts I came home with. I’m sure that I am no where near completing the process of analyzing all that was presented to me but I can’t allow the inspiration and love I felt during my time in Austin to dissipate!

As I prepared to attend the Summit I felt so blessed and lucky to have the opportunity, but it wasn’t until I was there – in the thick of it – that I really started to understand the depth of this opportunity. I felt humbled by the strength and passion of the women who are part of GOTR. I was truly in the presence of greatness and feel that I need to take that feeling and pay it forward.

The Logistics
To start off I’d love to give the logistics of the trip and the conference because they definitely augmented the experience.

I went to Austin with five wonderful women who are a part of our local council in Western Colorado. We were on a plane bound for Austin by way of Dallas early on Sunday morning. We touched down in Austin on time even though we flirted with a possible side trip to Abilene to refuel. We were dealing with heavy fog in the Dallas area and made several stomach churning loops in a holding pattern.

During my time in Austin, I was able to see a sizeable area of downtown. I made a pilgrimage to UT, Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop, and the original Whole Foods! We also took a walking tour of 6th Street and had the authentic Austin experience of live music – I think my favorite locale was Maggie Mae’s where they had ‘live band karoke’! Austin is a wonderful town for runners – that’s for certain!

The Takeaways
My time at this conference left me feeling rejuvenated, inspired, and full of passion! I am itching to do more for my Girls and my community! It also forced me delve into myself. In some ways that sounds really narcissistic, but it’s not meant that way. I think we really need to know ourselves – who we are and what we stand for, in order to be ready to give of ourselves fully.

I really started thinking about my own experience of “being a girl”. I think I’ve just realized how lucky I was growing up and how much thanks I truly owe to my mom. I was never told, “No, you can’t do X because you’re a girl.” Any activity I was interested in was fully and completely supported by my mom. I NEVER felt like my gender determined what I could do with my life!

It also never occurred to me that many girls and women did and do go through life feeling that they couldn’t attempt something meaningful to them due to their gender! Hello, wake up call!!! Take the rose colored glasses off! I feel like such a doofus for not realizing this sooner!!!

So this realization is helping me to determine what I NEED to do – the GOOD WORK that needs to be done!!

I started thinking about what the ‘good work’ would look like when I got home…and I believe there are three facets of impact I need to persue. These are the questions and queries I need to keep in mind so I can live and love BIG!

What does it look like on a personal level?
I need to define what drives me.
I need to explore and share my gifts.
I need to cultivate and grow my confidence on the inside.
I need to surround myself with women who are also confident on the inside.

I feel like I get bogged down in the mundane minutiae of life and that stops me from truly enjoying my experiences! I must keep the big picture in mind and enjoy the moment!

What does it look like for the girls?
I need to model first and teach second.
I need to be willing to be seen in order to be understood.
You gotta’ walk the walk if you’re gonna’ talk the talk!

What does it look like for my community?
It really does take a village. We are all responsible for our children. I heard this quote at the conference and it really struck a chord.

You can’t build a future for your youth but you can build youth for our future. - FDR

This is what I want! This is what is right!

Thank You’s
Not that I think anyone really reads this blog, but I have to put this positive energy out there in to the universe…so, here goes.

Molly –
Thank you for your inspiration, your passion, and your enthusiasm! I had to pinch myself every time I was in your presence – seriously! The gift you have shared with the countless girls who have participate in GOTR is amazing! You are a changing force in the world!

Jenny –
After hearing you speak, my initial reaction was “YES!”. You ‘get it’ and 'give it'! The power of running is truly amazing – it provides the opportunity for personal discovery and the cultivation of one’s true potential. Not just in a physical sense, but, more importantly, spiritually and mentally! You are such a steward for our sport – and for women!

Jill –
Thank you for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to be a part of something powerful. I am so thankful you took a chance on Garfield County and I am so excited to explore and seize the opportunities we have.

Melanie –
Thank you for ALL of your support and encouragement getting GarCo up and running - literally! You are a amazing woman – I have learned so much from you – you are always ‘grace under fire’!

I have found my passion – I will continue to explore and define how to do what is right for me, my ‘family’ (the Girls and women of the world), and my community. I want to share the fire and passion with any and all who will listen! Molly – I think you’ve created a monster!!! ☺