MT EVANS ASCENT YIKES WHAT A DAY

This was a day that I will never forget. Kelvin and I arrived at the start area in plenty enough time. I picked up my race package and then went and sat back in the car. We had stayed the night in Idaho Springs so was easier to get up in the am and get to the start area. I was concerned that parking might be a pain. It was not to bad.

People started to gather and pick up there packets and it was warming up a little maybe close to 40. I wore my running tights and running jacket. I had my fuel belt ready to go with water and gatoraide mix. We met some great people from out of state that came to do this event. Always neat to hear why people run let along why this crazy run.

At about 7:45 we all started heading toward the start line. You could hear wispers throught the crowd that Matt Carpenter was there today and was going to try and break the 30 yrs old record for the 14 mile run up mt Evans. I had never heard of Matt until this day. In my eyes he is the god of mt running and high elevations.

The race started in time and we were headed up. I was able to do a jog/walk the first9 miles. I had been told to just keep moving along and that I could make the cut off time of 2.5 hrs for the first 9 miles. SO that was my first goal. along the way you are near some people and can talk a little and then other times it is you and the road and the elevation and that is it! I made it the first 9 miles at a time of 2hr 10 min so I was pleased but starting to feel a bit tired. I had about another 21/2 hours to get the last 5 miles done.

Around mile 11 or so my head was getting a headache and tummy was feeling a bit yuck. I did stop at one of the aid station and got some energy drink and animal crackers. At this time I was walking and it was pretty slow, I talked to God and said just bring me through this! The mental hard part is tryin to not look further up the road! you see that you are still climbing up and it is like HELL.

At mile 13 I seen the alpine rescue vehicle coming down the road. The stopped and picked a lady up that was just a short distance in front of me. They came to me and the vehicle door opened. The driver a older man looked at me and said, "you have 15 minutes and one mile left and you do not look like you are going to make it" I agreed and in tears and a little broken heart I hoped on the paddy wagon. I sat on the floor and just wanted some gatoraide and a plastic trash can to hang my head over I knew I was most likley going to ralph! The medics looked at my hands and knew that I most likely had mile altitude sickness. So down the hill they drove me. They stopped at the half way point and I borded the school bus that would eventually take people back down to the start. BUT the medics seen I was in sad shape so they said come with us back on the paddy wagon and we will take you all the way down to the start. I was so happy to hear that. I sat on the floor again there was NO WAY i wanted to set up and see the drive down this mountain that had just kicked my ass!

It was rough ride down but I knew I would be ok. We even had to stop for some mt goats that were on the road. In my head I was thinking what the HELL who cares if there is one less mt goat on this dam road! JUST GET ME THE HELL DOWN from here LOL.

FINALLY arrived back at the start line. They took me to my car and Kelvin was near there when the paddy wagon pulled up and the doors opened. I saw Kelvin and I was in tears telling him 13 MILES DAMIT I MADE IT 13 miles! I was very emotional and my heart was broke a little. I sat there for a little while and drank my gatoraide like a good girl and started to feel like I was going to be ok. I told Kelvin all about the run and how tough it was.

We then drove town 13 miles to the middle school to the picnic they had for us all. I was not real hungry and just drank fluids and had some chips. The awards ceromony was great! Just to see all the people that made it was great. YES Matt Carpenter broke the record he did it in 1 hr 37 minutes! the ladies time was broke too! What was great too was to see the many older people who did this event. Many of these people do elevation running so they are used to being at 10K 14K elevation. Overall I am really pleased with what I did! considering I have never done an event like this I cant complain. I did not get the finishe medal but I did get a nice sweat shirt.

I cannot say yet if I will try it again next year, I do know that if I do that I have to do more elevation hikes and runs. If you would of asked me 2 yrs ago what I would be doing running 14 miles up mt evans would of not been on my list LOL

Thanks to all my great friends who supported and cheered for me. LOVE YA LL

NEXT STOP MT EVANS ASCENT

Well I have about less than 2 days till I will attempt to run 14 miles at high altitude here in Colorado. No matter what it will be a beautiful run and up the highest paved road in north America. I guess I am going find out real fast how strong my legs and lungs are.

I want to say thanks to GOD for letting me even be in the shape that I am to attempt this run. I truly believe this will be the hardest physical thing in my life that I will have done so far. I am only 42 so maybe there are more crazy athletic events for me to come??????? WISH ME LUCK

Boulder 5430 sprint triathlon

I am a bit behind in my blogging. WELL the sprint 5430 went as well as I could expect. Total time was 2:09 not bad considering the practice the weekend before I was at 2:18. The swim this time went much better for me, I felt relaxed and did not panic at all.

My transition times need work but that is why I will practice and keep working at all aspects of a triathlon event. It was just so much fun to come in from the run and see all the people there cheering us all on. There was about 1250 people doing this tri and 200 of them were first timers! is that great or what! YAHOO for us a little new into this sport.

I recovered pretty well this week Monday I was a little tired but legs felt fine. I guess that means I could of pushed harder LOL.

This week I have laid low a little since this Sat I will be trying to run 14 miles up! The Mt Evans ascent run. we start at 10K elevation, if I can make it the first 9 miles in 2hr 30 min then all that is left will be 5 more miles. TO THE TOP OF THE HIGEST PAVED ROAD IN NORTH AMERICA. Now I know I may not make it but hey at least I am in shape to even think about doing this event. Wish me luck!

5430 SPRINT REHERSAL

Last Sunday I did the full rehersal for the 5430 sprint distance triathlon. It was at the Boulder reservoir where the actual even will be June 15th. It took me 2 hr 18 min to swim 800 meter open water swim, 17 mile bike and close to a 4 mile run.

I struggled with the open water swim but what can I say I need to practive that alot more. I purchased my first ladies tri wet suit tonight so I am really excited, I get to break it in at the actual event this sunday. The bike went pretty well considering I had never been on the course before and I really did not realise it was a 17 mile ride LOL.

The run went good. Once I got off the bike and started running it took me about 5 minutes to relax a little and get my land legs back. Kelvin was there as I came in off the bike and said, "ok now you can run so go get it! It was perfect weather and I knew the run course since I had done a 5K up there back in the fall.

It was fun to be there with many of my CWW team mates. cheering each other on the whole way! As I was coming in off the run I could see K along the side and I yelled at him, what a great man he is he had the camera all ready to get my photo! :) I pushed myself very hard at the finish and it felt great and tough! But I was pleased with what I did.

I am not sure where I will end in this sport but I do know I wans to keep doing it. Running and the training for triathlons has really changed my life more than I ever expected! I just turned 42 the other day boy 41 was just a great year for me! Lets see if 42 can top it :)

THE HALF MARATHON

Well sorry it has been awhile since I update my blog. The half marathon was good and I was so glad that I did it. I had to stop and use the port a potties 2 times within the first 6 miles. That upset me but there was not much I could do about it.

I think the reason why I had to stop is I ate to much the day before. I sort a over shot my nuttirtion the day before, thinking that I would need all those calories and I really did not! When I did use the port a potties it was not like I had to go real bad LOL.

There were not many spectators out on colfax that am cheering us so at times it was a lonely run. But I enjoyed looking at the different business along the street. At about mile 10 I was starting to feel some paing setting in, GOOD News it was nothing that I was not able to deal with. I remember thinking wow I am almost done with 13 miles!

The best part of it was when we started to head into the city park area. I knew I was coming home! I saw my friend Becky and I yelled for her! she saw me and came onto the course and ran a short distance with me, she cheered me and said, "you can see the finish line go get it" I do not know where the strength came from but I saw that large finish line and off I went! I ran as hard as I could towards it the whole time looking for Kelvin so he could give me my metal! Make a long story short he was not the one who gave me my medal. Seems that am when he got there it was not very well organized and he said to hell with it. BUT he was close by when I came into the finish area.

I was crying tears of joy! My right calf was aching so I walked around till it felt some what better. We stayed around a little while watching others come in it was a great time! When we did decide it was time to walk to the car I thought how am I going to get to the car LOL. My calf was acting up and I was so scared that maybe I pulled something!

We finally got home and I laid down for a few hours and after that nap I felt almost back to normal. What a day it was something I will always remember! The medals we all received are so pretty! It hangs at my desk with the many other medals I have from other run events.

The great news is I am still running and loving it! In the back of my mind is a marathon for now it will just stay back there.