WARNING - long overdue blog post....enjoy my ramblings.
Afton, Wyoming 2015 - El Vaquero 50K and fishing with this guy! Go early and stay late is the theme of running races this year. I haven't run as many as I would have liked to but I have been stoked to spend time mixing running and family time.
Ryan catching fish is a given, me....not so much.....they hate me I think.
It rained sooo much the day before the race and continued to be a conglomerate of weather conditions all day long! I felt great climbing and this view was amazing at the start of the day. No idea who this girl was but found out later she was suffering with hypothermia and had to be evacuated out by horse..... been there done that before and my over-preparedness was a definite bonus for this day. Note my lovely poncho...this saved me from freezing my ass off!
I LOVE this race and the views are amazing throughout, was eating, drinking, and feeling great except for the fact I knew a pretty large thunder storm was brewing and I was not looking forward to the return trip as it would be directly in my path at the highest point on the course.
Views and more views I could have kept running for a long, long, time except for the rain, hail, wind, mud, falling in a creek, being cold, thunder and lightening......kind of the theme of the summer for me. I just tried to embrace the weather and not freak out too much. The mud made for some slow slogging on the last section of climbing and so hopes of getting a good time were pretty much out the window. I felt much stronger climbing than last year and I was looking forward to running the downhill back to the campground. Not a stellar time but I ran to the finish feeling great! Was especially nice to get to the water-pump and see my husband there serenading me with his guitar!
RATINGS: Beauty=9 (weather) Toughness=10 (mud&climbing) Race Sweatshirt=10 I love tye die!!
Me Post Race=10
Me Post Race=10
PATAGONIA PLEASE SPONSOR ME SELFIE.
No shame in trying right? Wyoming fishing recovery day.
The coolest water pump ever, yummy water too!
NOW BACK TO O-TOWN! and the SKYLINE 50K, Marathon, and Half that I did not run but worked...okay I ran most of it.
Marking course for Skyline Marathon and 50K, it was nice to enjoy good weather and the scenery.
Hiking in with Noah and Carter my nephews, Skye and Wynter and my Dad. They ran the Lewis Peak aid station for the race. They did an absolutely fantastic job and were troopers despite getting rained on the night before while sleeping out under the stars.
These cute girls were the most fashionable backpackers ever, brought dresses and prayer flags for the occasion! I love them so much!!!! Felt like it was a successful race but was truly exhausted by the time I got home that night. Kuddos to all race directors/organizers out there...you are a rare breed.
I definitely learned a lot this year about 'working' a race.... I am SOOO grateful for volunteers and friends and family who go above and beyond for these races. I don't mind marking course but put in way too many miles in two weeks including teaching classes in between. My husband is the best for putting up with me being on the phone constantly and obsessing over details. I definitely prefer actually running the race but also had a blast hanging out at Aid Stations, meeting new runner friends, sharing beer and stories, ultra runners are fun, entertaining people.
Did I mention that I am so thankful for friends and family!
Thanks to everyone that helped out with Skyline!
