mt. bike guide with running dreams

a little warmer today and felt light with my first steps however that didn't last. had to stop 15 minutes in but finished and only walked a step or two. It felt great to be running in the quiet of new years morning. Felt like I'm getting started int he right direction for the year and my goals. 

OK i realize that this isn't going to be easy, however i saw some other runners out today and after these super fit men ran by me and didn't even say hi after i said hi, i was a bit bummed. Then 3 amazing woman ran by me with warm welcome and can i just say thank you soo much.

a struggle to get out there, good thing Juancito gives me the puppy eyes. 

I've been out of town and into the wilds of southern arizona the last two weeks. Running down here has been beautiful and warm. Currently we ( Rob my boyfriend and I) are stopped at mom's house showering and doing laundry. Rob talking my ear off with stuff we need to do while I am trying to blog. Maybe he doesn't get how important this is to me.

So we are heading back out today and I won't be back to blog for another two weeks. 

While I was away the running started to get easier however yesterday i failed to go run and am still deciding what i will do about that. It was pure laziness on my part. Going back to old habits. I feel like i am going to have to change the way i live my life to fulfill my running dreams.  

i let you know how the next two weeks go. I'm not giving up anytime soon and thanks for all the hi's!!!

this week i ended up being sick as I could possibly be without having to go to the hospital. Go figure. I had to let go of my mileage plan and realize somethings are going to be bigger than me. Today I finally had some feeling of wellbeing to go out and run. All was not lost. I feel ok

mad at my boyfriend, ran very fast.

longest run so far. easy running for the first 50 minutes then that "i just want to walk" mode sets in. i didn't give in. I also want to say how i have be working really hard to get back into running by running but not by eating healthy. I am a junk food queen. you name it I'll probley eat it. it shows in the fact that instead of getting leaner and healthier I've stayed the same but upped my junk food intake to a very unhealthy level. Gross. So i"m at a bit of a loss what to do because I have tried to change this many times before with only a fail in my own selfcontrol. mmm junkfood i hate you yet you taste so good. i realize my mind has to change how i think about it but how? i don't want to turn into an uptight overthinking food nerd. i want to enjoy what i eat and eat health at the same time.

This week felt sooo good. Running on the Black Canyon Trail in AZ. It had me dreaming. Singletrack, warm in January, peaceful, water crossings in some places for the little doggie and a great remote feeling. I felt like the only one in the world out there. totally relaxed. Saw a redtail hawk about 50 ft in front of me and 10ft off the ground just soaring patiently. Great week :)

In Sedona with some great reddirt. So red orange it is like a fake tan. I'm only here for one day and yet I can't decide if I want to run or not. What do you do? Great trails, sun or listen to the body which feels like the horsepower could use a day off to recharge. mmm 

Was going to run but it only warmed up to -4 degrees. burrrrrrrrr

I ran 8.5 miles in 1 hour and 20 minutes. my first two miles in under 15 minutes. It was cold which i think encouraged me to run faster to warm up and all that rest. Also I am still in Flagstaff at 7,000 ft. but i don't think it has registered with me yet because i can breath just fine.

i never ran yesterday and ran into a friend who did. She is still cold and totally turn down a run with me today. Not her style. People in town call her crazy Melissa because she is always off doing something, running up this mt. biking down that one. However i don't blame her, she could of got frostbite.

p.s. 8.5 miles :) my longest yet this year and feeling strong

I was driving back up to moab today when i decided i'll stop at Hovenweep National Monument and see what kind of trails they have to offer.

First, i ran an out in back equaling 8 miles on the Holly trail. It was peaceful, still a bit snowy so yes i was postholing in spots and searching for the trail. The ruins are massive and built on top of these giant boulders. IT WAS SO COOL!

Second, I ran and walked the little ruin canyon. AMAZING! I'm soo glad i finally visited.

So while running the Holly trail i noticed a lot of animal tracks including this very large 4 pawed pad with claw marks and then i ran into a ton of coyote poo full of juniper berrys mmmm. Wow there are some big coyotes in this area. When i went back to talk to the park rangers they also said there have been Couger sightings just the other day.

I'm glad he told me about the cat after the run because i might not have gone. Honesty, i never want to run ( or be hunted) by a giant kitty. ohhh gives me shivers.   

I left for the run this morning thinking i'd make up for my missed mileage and run 13 miles. Ha my legs felt like lead. I'm glad i turned back early because i don't think i would have made it.

So my reasoning to this fail in two parts.

1. who am i kinding i'm pushing to much too soon. be smart and stay around 30ish miles a week or two longer.

2. i didn't eat dinner and i went to run before breakfast. I think if i did have some food in me i could have made it but again pushing that much milage now is supid.

on a happier note i am feeling much fitter then i have in a long time. I can also see my legs changing ( however slowly) which is encouraging. :)

p.s. thanks for the help with the picture, hopefully i get that up soon 

In WA visiting my folks and little sister. They are pretty awesome and I always love coming "home".

So much on my mind while i'm out breathing hard. hear is just an idea.......my family wants to ride road bikes across the US but they are also very nervous about it and novice bike riders so how do i prepare them so they are successful? My mom is freakin' out a bit and decided she woudl rather drive an RV then ride...how do I talk her out of this because i know in the end she'll love riding.

the other thing that is driving my crazy is......Rob (my boyfriend) is proposing a new tour for the company we work for Rim Mt. Bike Adventures :) and put together a three day ride with our boss and some other people. Well one of the invited riders, invited the boss of are competing bike tour company because they want a job at that company. I am sooo pissed! Rob and I have been working on this for the last month keeping it hush hush and this dummy girl in her own selfish world is fu^&^(*^(* us. i know this has nothing to do with running, yet i cAN'T get it out of my mind! the thought that this might get taken away is heartbreaking.

On another note I think I found the course for my first trail race. Down on this very same trail. Hopefully I can work some majic with the BLM and get us both the events we want to put on.

I missed yesterday. I got up early to run but then chicken out. i was awake, the cold or dark scared me off. i'm gonna have to get tougher and just go. then i went on a 2.5 road bike ride with my mom and sister. mellow but we did go 16 miles. soo at least i got something in

so i went out and ran it today. i ended up close to a track at the end of my run and was feeling fiesty, so i ran a tempo mile to see what i'd clock. about 6 in half minutes. i don't have digital watch yet sooo the seconds are a bit blurry for me. anyways i feel like a rockstar. i am coming back faster then i imagined. i might evven have a mile pr in me for this old lady! i thought maybe the fast short distances pr would be over but now i'm hopeful.

every day i run and blog the more i feel like this is something real :) rather then a joke

downpour in WA all day. chicken. tomorrow i fly home to Utah and i need to get a run in. and maybe do a double run later this week. the goal is to break into 40 miles.

maybe run tonight? and tomorrow morning? ok yes

Back in Moab and running up to Slickrock to met Heidi at Fins and Things. Got horrible sick and I thought I'd have to have her drive me home without really hanging out. Sad. however I walked a little and the cold breeze took my fever and cooled me down enough to continue. Never before have I made such an amazing recovery. Remember this

went back up and ran Fins and Things from Tracy's to complete the loop I was attempting to do yesterday. It felt a bit long at the end however i made it :) Good day

the loop from Tracy's. I've been feeling tried today. and the weather kind of grey like my mood too. 

I road biked out to the Red Hot 33K and 55K. Watched Heidi come in first from the 33K. It was sooooooo awesome to see your friend come flying in 1st! OMG! I was thinking about sneaking away and going on a run too. It didn't happen. I think I felt bad wanting to take the time for myself when I said I would volunteer at the race. I ended up doing almost nothing except cheering runners in and maybe having a few surly things to say. 

The road bike home was windy and raining however I had the most fun. I even thought I'll jump out the door and run when I get back to Tracy & Ryon's house ( where I'm staying at). And then again I ended up not because the look on there face at met for riding in the rain and I didn't want to hear what they would say if I went on a run. Like I don't like the attention.  Almost as if I might turn into the crazy Moab lady who shields her face and yells at people not to look at her. 

  Then when I looked at my mileage I was pissed at myself. I didn't even come close to breaking 40 miles. I'm totally slacking. 

However, there is nothing I can do now and the road bike ride did put the hammer to me. Sooo next week I'm breaking into 40 miles and if I'm feeling dangerous maybe even into 50. yeah yeah I know. don't increase your mileage too soon to fast. and the story is in the end I always listen to my body and take the time I need. and my heart it is solid. cheers

Run with Heidi on Amasa back Jacksons. Sunny

Pipe Dream trail from Angela's house, sunny

Earth Scorch on 2 hours. Heidi showed me the way. Her number one favorite run. It is beautiful. and sooo fun. warm up on the road then long hill climb onto the mesa, followed with a breath taking view on the north eastern part of Canyonlands national park. then a run slightly decending wash following trail to some narrow slots and a rock face that could kill you if there was an ice sheet there. and then boom back on Amasa Back. Almost feels like a secret place. Heidi I heart you for taking me. I also heart you for turning on the gas while climbing the hill back to the car. you left me and I soo didn't want you to but my legs just wouldn't turn over fast enough and then you where gone. I felt a bit like Pre might of felt when he held his juice to sprint to the end only to be past. I'm an attack the hills runner and then a hold the pace runner and a bat out of hell downhill runner however i am not a sprint and pass everyone at the end runner. I get left behind :(

Sooo when that next race comes. Know that i need to act earlier and be as far head as I can been in those last stretches to have a chance at out winning the sprinters

:) Pipe dream with Heidi and Jesse Dog. Stoked about my mileage!

more like 6 total, i was looking for a lost dog and there was lots of stopping and looking and whistling. Found some cool new trails. 

Parked the car at the Moab Rim trailhead and then ran down the road as a warm up ( and later cool down) to Amasa Back, RockStacker and Jacksons. Thinking about the Amasa race in April and I really want to do well.

need to get ride of the guilt i feel when i pass a friend and instead look at it differently like i"m pushing them to there fullest potential and myself. All in. I want to be all in.

Also stocked at last weeks mileage and gonna run equal or maybe a little more this week with my first hill workout midweek and gonna focus on eating more veggies this week and makeing more meals instead of a bar or crackers when ever i get the munchies. :) ohh and drink more water.

I was thinking of running out on slickrock but i ended up back on fins& things. left leg is a little sore from yesterday. I did roll my ankle and stretched the muscle i think. But nothing bad. i'm pretty much gumby flexible.

what would be a fun name for a trail running goup in Moab?

i ended up not running and going on a easy mt. bike ride with some girlfriends. i was planning on running later in the day. NO DICE my legs where tried. 

I ran with Oso ( a friends doggy poo!) in the morning about 4 miles, very easy, stop and go. sniff sniff yada yada. and well mostly figured i'm ready to start up some community runs and wanted to get an easy route down for all that started at paradox pizza in Moab. Fred and Susan who own the shop are totally cool/ sweet people and runners as well. they thought the trail run from the shop was a great idea and maybe i thought i'd order a pizza once and awhile for after the runs so people could just socialize.

Anyways I dropped Oso at home and did the road loop from Tracy's house ( who I'm staying with right now). I felt fast and strong and I also thought of my sister. :)

Melissa is in town!! YEAH!!! we did amasa back, rock stacker, jacksons. She is new to the area and I'm soo excited to show her all these cool runs.

Also some bad news my ultimate running buddy, Heidi sprained her ankle on the run we did last week :(  she said it was bad however i hope it heals soon. i miss her and that just really sucks! damn ankles hold up why don't ya

run with Heidi, looks like her ankle is going to be Ok. :)

Ran with Melissa out by Bar M. Did the new singletrack loops, EZ DEADMANs & the LaZY. then caught Magpie's gluten free pancake breakfast. mmm

and coffee.

I didn't want to get out of bed today but Rob my friends woke me up. Sooo we headed out to Amasa back with our bikes and ended up riding a yeti demo bike, and going up to the false summit. honestly i feel tired but still feel pretty amazing but i did want to run at all

i haven't run yet today and i put down that i wanted to run 9 -11 miles. it is already 2 pm and i have to work at 5 pm which tells me i have to go on a shorter run or do my first after work run, which could be interesting. i had a nother hard day getting out of bed. i think my body is just being really honest. 58 miles last week. wow for me. maybe only aim for 50 this week. i got 5 days left to do it if i don't run today, et one of thoses days will be mt. bike guiding all day. pretty much figured out riding my bike before running is horrible. Another thing to think about is my diet. Heidi wants to get toegther to do a cleanse. i think this is a good idea. and i:m also suggle with my eating. Rob also isn't drinking this week and suggested i support him by not eating chocolate. not eating chocolate for a week! i know did deal right. i might go crazy. how can I change the way i eat and think about food? and still enjoy my life

ran a new route with Heidi and Melissa. It has been hrad to motivate this week, not really sure why i'm bumming. stuck someone in my brain

this was an interesting run. i felt soooo sluggish. like i was barely moving then somewhere i got this powerful kick at the end and raced home. my normal hour 5 minute loop turned into a 55 minute 7 miles. amazing. felt good afterwards after my bad mood these last couple days. still don't really know how i ran this fast?

ran with Chris, on pipe dream and up hidden valley trail. brutal. Chris is an animal. He can climb like no other. left me gasping for air and walking cause i blew out my legs to early. i can tell i haven't been running as much, i'm going backwards in my running. however i told myself i wouldn't beat myself up about it. just adjusting to working again. yeah working, my life is pretty easy soooo i'm figuring out how to run and work together  better this year. and not turn into a fat mt. bike guide

windy, running with Chris again. almosted snowed on Jon dog and I after Chris bailed out because of the broken zipper on his jacket and well it was pretty cold. felt my lips turning blue, after running in shorts and sweating buckets he day before.  

thing my normal route from tracy

Amasa back, backwards. Not the plan but Maria was at the trail head with a message for Travis so I went to delivier with two doggies ( not Jon today he went out with the boyfriend on trail work) I took Oso and Jesse. It was a blast. lots of people out riding and starting to feel the heat. nervous about the amasa back race. I feel like my training as been stacking however the race is coming up quick and too late to put more miles on unless i want to waste my legs

started up the trail run and had a taker tonight. Jason :) thank you, showed me a new route on pipe dream that the guys just finished up behind the water tower :) also had three dogs on the run so that makes 5. I'm not gonna give up

ran up hidden valley and beyond with Melissa! She called the route trail porn! because you see this one section in all the running magazines. little does it tell you that it is a rocky.bouldery climb to the valley, not for the light of ankle.

fins and things with John dog, finally getting warm and putting the shorts back on. someone asked me if i needed water. it's not that hot. :)

no running today, I did a full day LPS Porcupine down with two Australians. My friend, Beth helped me with the beginning and I brought them the rest of the way down. First time I did the ride as a tour, big day and they rode really well so thank god. I work tonight so I'm gonna save my legs for a big ride tomorrow 

all on road, very windy, 3 hours, tough

6 in the morning 3 at night

5 in the morning 4 at night. Jon dog limping after 4 miles run. it was very slow but hot. 

Amasa Back 9.5 mile race. I ran it in 1hr. 22min and 49 sec. A PR from last year. yeah. and 50 seconds behind Heidi. we ran so fast. I wanted to beat her however she just keep getting away from me on the downhill stretches. good race. best race of my life so far. 

with running group i started up. Boyfriend bought some shoes yesterday and came out. it was great to run with my boyfriend :) although it kicked his butt. 

i basically have taken the week off. i had plans of running after the race and then i thought about how i felt and my body pretty much sad no, take a break, you're tired. soooo i kind of want to run today. but i also want to be rested well before i start to train rtrain