Hammer Run

The Hammer Run has its own blog where you can get race information and download registration forms. Please click the link to visit us.  http://www.hammerrundeclo.blogspot.com/

Lyle Pearson was amazing. That is the ride I've been training for the last couple of weeks. I've been waiting to add a picture of the 8,000 ft summit, but I don't have it yet. So, I will just tell you, it was amazing. It is so much fun to get together with that many people all accomplishing the same goal. The stories and laughter are inspiring. We started at 6:20 am and finished about 7:15 pm. The weather was beautiful, the climbs were hard, and I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday.

This week I started swimming, I mean really swimming. Usually, I just swim the river a couple times before the Spudman and call it good. This year I have the opportunity to learn to swim from some really great swimmers. I went the first time on Thursday, two hours of drills and more drills and more drills. Seriously, today I rode, and had to stop at the bottom of the hill. I was so sore I just couldn't keep up. I had to send the others on their way because I was so tired and sore. It was crazy. I hope that after a couple weeks, I will be over the soreness, and actually be able to swim at least a little faster. Swimming is ......(I am speechless.)

Today I would like to celebrate a very good friend. I am so glad we have reconnected through our love of running. She just finished her first half marathon, and she is nothing short of incredible. Molly, I want to tell you, you are astounding. Thank you for inspiring me to do better. Remember when we were seniors and you gave me  that Bette Midler song, Wind Beneath my Wings, I want you to know that you are my hero. Through your struggles and victories, you help me become a better person. Thank you! You can do hard things!  

Fighting the Wind

Yesterday I fought the wind. I am telling you, it was a knock down, drag out, fight to the very end. But, in the end, I came out on top! Seriously, I was riding my bike in the absolute stongest wind I have ever ridden in yesterday. I could only go downhill like 13 mph...and that was pushing really, really hard. I almost decided it wasn't worth it, but then realized, this was one of those rare chances I had to prove to myself that I could do things I never really thought possible. I can do hard things! After the trial comes the reward, and when I turned around to go back up the hill, the wind was at my back. No kidding, I reached 30 mph going back up the hill! Hard work does pay off.

Today I celebrate the wind. My friend always says, "I love the wind, it makes me strong." I am feeling that today, and I guess I better really embrace this mantra, because I don't think the wind is letting up any time soon. (Gusts up to 50 mph expected today!) I love the wind, it makes me strong!

Keeping the Pace

It was last Wednesday I found out about the ride I will be participating in two weeks from now. Of course, I did what I always do, go crazy right from the start. Thursday I rode 30 miles (15 uphill), Friday I rode 20 (6 uphill), then ran 4, and Saturday I rode 40ish (20 uphill). I don't know how I will keep up with that this week. I wish I knew when, or how, to pace myself. How much is too much, how little is too little? Also, how do I get the miles in on the bike, while still getting miles in running. I train for triathlons and manage, but this is entirely different. Luckily, the race is only 12 days away so I don't have to worry long. I always seem to do better if I only have a couple weeks to train anyway. I don't burn myself out that way. The one good thing I got from last week is, I can ride a lot of miles back to back....therefore, I have some confidence. Now to do those miles and those hills in one day. Ideas about pacing would be greatly appreciated.


Today I celebrate flowers. They brighten my day and smell great. What more can I say. I can't wait to see them, and smell them as I run today. Life is great!

Ignorance is Bliss

I got some exciting, yet equally frightening news yesterday. Some friends and I signed up for a 4 person team ride earlier this year. However, we were put on a waiting list and didn't know our fate until yesterday. So, lucky us, we got in! By the way, it is 187 miles. We do not have to ride the whole thing, it is a relay, so we will break up that 187 miles between us. Easy right, but wait, there is more. Starting elevation for the ride is 2,785 ft. and the highest elevation is 8,464 ft. Yes, we will be climbing nearly 5,700 ft (hence the frightening). Here are four ladies just out to have a good time. Can you think of anything better for fun. We have known we had a chance to do this ride, and had great intentions of training hard for it, but...yeah, it is 2 weeks away. The truly sick part, I can hardly wait. Bring on the torture, bring on the pain. I feel like a little kid at Christmas.

Today I celebrate ignorance. May seem like a funny thing to celebrate, but I have no idea what I am getting myself into with this race; therefore ignorance is bliss. Mark Twain once said "All you need in life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure." Maybe this race will kick my butt, but right now, I don't know any different. I am just going to go ride for fun. Sometimes, the excitement of the unknown allows us to do something that, if we knew how hard it truly was, we would never begin in the first place. Yet, once we start, we just cannot give up. I'll take a picture at the 8000 ft summit! Wahoo!!!

Time for Time

What has gotten into me? These last two days I have actually ran somewhat faster. It has been a long time since I have actually felt strong. I still have a ways to go before I am back down to my goal pace, but I'll take it. Maybe that ride gave me confidence. I haven't taken a watch with me on my runs for a long time. When I first started running, I took my watch every time I ran and worked to run better ever time. I don't think this was ideal, and it made me dread running sometimes. Then, I started running without the watch at all. I became slower and slower. I know I need a somewhere in between. I will take my watch a lot more often then I have, just to keep myself honest. What do you do to keep yourself honest in exercise or just in life?

Today I will celebrate time. Sometimes when I run, I think to myself, " I will never get this minute back. Don't waste it." I waste too much time in my life, yet there are some eternal truths about time. It is always moving, stopping for noone. There is never enough of it and it leaves you always wanting more. It can make the strong weak, and the weak strong. It is always moving forward, never looking back. But in the end, time can help you forget the bad and remember only the good, it can heal old wounds, and it can make a sinner look like a saint. It is only what you make of it. I hope to make every second count.

Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something

stand in the way of your doing it.

The time will pass anyway;

we might just as well put that passing time

to the best possible use.

Earl Nightengale

My Secret Love Affair

100 miles! This has been a goal of mine every year since I started riding. However, I have yet to accomplish it, until now. I remember one New Year's Eve someone saying thier goal was to ride 100 miles in the summer. Most people thought that was a pretty lofty goal. I just rode 100 miles in a day, and I feel great! My body amazes me.

I must admit, 100 miles on a bike is nothing like 26 miles running. Maybe it is because in my marathon, I rested little, and was focused on time. This ride was totally for fun. We stopped at aide stations every 15 miles and joked, ate, and laughed. Our area has an amazing biking community, with some of the greatest people I know. Each week, people from this group help me become a better rider. Today I celebrate summer. I love summer. I love running and riding with my friends. I love going out at 5:30 in the morning to swim or ride. Summer, I am glad you have come back to me. My love for you has picked up right where it left off. Please stay much, much longer. I am so much happier when you are around.

I am looking for inspiration. What have you done that amazes you? What and who have helped you the most to become amazing?