A whirlwind Fall

I've been absent from these pages for a while.  But trying hard to be present in my life even amidst the long days and travel.

I promised myself time off running, or at least running with a purpose.  So I haven't done much running of note.  In September I did join a team of friends, old and new, for the Colorado Relay - some 170 miles beginning in Georgetown, Colorado and ending in Carbondale.  Each of us had 3 legs to run - varying lengths and varying difficulty - all on little to no sleep.  Talk about hilarity and smelly! I think I will be known from now on as she who summons snow for running races - as our first van started in the twilight of a Friday morning and were almost immediately snowed upon.  I had a beautiful run mid-day - brisk, but not snowy.  It was mostly single-track trail (after the ugly uphill on the jeep road) and I loved nearly every minute of it (photo)!  My middle of the night run was less fun, but we all had one.  And my last run was a short one, just after sunrise as we headed up into the Roaring Fork Valley.  Good fun, good friends, and a fun visit with Stefan who provided SAG for our team. 

After that there was little time for anything but work.  A week in the DC area did bring a visit with the Raab family - always a fun time.  The highlight this time was running with Katie-bug. We found a local 2k (I think that was the distance) and Stefan and I alternated between running with her and snapping photos.  She ran the WHOLE thing - and she had a great time. The first photo is pre-race and the second, all smiles post-race!

Besides DC, my travels took me to San Francisco and a day off to spend with mom and dad, and finally to Hawaii (sunset in Kona).  The latter trip, I think I really earned this year because I also spent nearly two weeks on a jury - the only two weeks I had at home and in the office. Needless to say I am finally surfacing from the fall.

And running again.  With a little purpose, but mostly just loving the feeling of pushing myself again (and nearly everything is a struggle given my much diminished fitness).  I ran 10 miles last weekend - up Gold Camp road - well, okay only half was up.  It was hard.  I hadn't planned on 10 miles, but I had good company the the need to motivate and be motivated.  Then it was up Cheyenne Canyon on a COLD morning, with snow, or maybe it was sleet spitting from the sky.  Syd and I nearly took out our friend - who offered her arm to stop the momentum, as we slipped and slid down the road.  But it was beautiful.  And it was hard.  And it was why I love running.  And I finally got to run with my Friday group again.  And then I got smart and only went to yoga on Saturday - I needed grounding and some good stretching.  Today's run was smart - just under 8 miles, but again with good company on a stunning day that hardly makes it seem like Thanksgiving is this week.

I'm glad to be home and finding time with Syd and friends and my running shoes again.