a trailrunner

My "white" xmas bliss

2011-12-25T12:32:00.000-08:00

Drove up to Putnam County to run on the Appalachian aka White trail for the very first time. I knew I needed to bring a lot of time for the 14 miles I had planned so I said to myself as long as you’ll be back before it’s getting dark, you’ll be fine! I was just making sure I understood that there was no need to check my pace today nor make it important how long I was going to need. And the only thing left for the day after the run was cooking an xmas dinner with my husband. So, with all the time in the world I set one foot in front of the other working myself to 7 miles out and 7 miles back.

Some parts were nicely runnable (eh, joggable) and only needed my attention for smaller rocks. Others made my heart want to jump out of my chest while climbing up steep hills. And the downs! They were the hardest part with making sure I wasn’t falling. I tripped a few times but was able to keep myself up. But that’s only half of the trail running fun. Actually my mind likes having to pay attention– kinda keeps me from wandering off somewhere I’d rather want to be. Sometimes it’s not easy to be running alone all the time, especially on those runs that are long and secluded. I didn’t encounter a single soul in those 3 hours and 45 minutes and got spooked a few times by squirrels and moving deer (Bucks, eek). After all I’m just a girl!

Some pics from my trip:

The Appalachian sign: A little bit Wiccan looking if you ask me!

Didn't know I wanted to be a climber, too!

Dancing on rocks! I need cushioned shoes!!!

Xmas tread: Peppermint stick gel! And lesson learnt that I need to bring some real food next time. My stomach was growling!

High Desert 50K

2011-12-06T05:56:00.000-08:00

Oh how I have missed the desert! It was my second time running this race that winds through sandy jeep roads and single track trails surrounded by this mesmerizing empty space called the desert. I had an incredible race but very different than the first time I ran it. Like VT50K I had a strategy: First half of the run take it easy. But easy didn’t feel so easy at times! First few miles into the race I noticed with shock I forgot to take the course elevation print out with me when I decided not to wear my jacket. Luckily I was able to recall the elevation per mile in my head because I had studied it. While this race is a fast course with no steep hills, it has steady inclines for as long as over 3 miles. At times the sand got so thick like running at the beach and at other times footing was hard, because there were lots of tiny dips to take with each footstep…up down, up down….At mile 16.9 it was half time and I was excited to see Thomas at the aid station. To minimize time, he handed me a new hydration pack and my music; kiss kiss, until later, off I went. From now on it was leaving my safety zone and picking up the pace. The first half I was clustered to other runners to make sure I was on pace, I was now on my own. Listening to the music was a real treat and it made the miles fly by. The last 6 miles were all down hill and all I had to do was “sit back” and let it happen. Arriving at the last aid station “Last turn” at mile 29 .4 I could feel my back hurting and the remaining portion of the course had an incline again. My body wanted to break into a walk, but I couldn’t let that happen; the finish was too close. So I plugged along with a movement that wasn’t really running more like cross country skiing through sand, lol! Then it was onto the road, down the road and around the parking lot, into the finish and the arms of my husband. We checked the finishers list and I got all teary eyed when I saw that I placed 4^th female overall (5:08) and 2^nd in my division. However I got the 1^st age award, because the female winner was my age. Lucky me!

I want to thank the amazing Speedgoat for coaching me the past 3 months. Karl has helped me to improve not only my finish times (VT50K: 25 mins, and now High Desert50K: 45 mins), but also how to race in a way that lets me have a fun time and suffer less.

Now I need to go make plans for 2012J

Ridgecrest, CA, 6:30am

Some race instructions from race director Terry Mitchell and off we go!

Can u see how colorful those Californians are?!

Out on the course

"Mein Schatz" and me. Couldn't have done it without Thomas' support.

My award: A pretty metal sculpture and a facial sunburn..haha!

Off to the Desert

2011-11-30T13:22:00.000-08:00

Ridgecrest, CA, 2007

Merely 4 days until I get to run in the gorgeous High Desert again. Today I started making a list with what to bring and putting clothes to the side.

I remember it being really cold in the early morning hours and in 2007 I was not dressed warm enough and had to deal with lightheadedness until the sun came out.

The High Desert 50K is a fast course, but not that easy footing wise, because the surface is kinda sandy. So I’m excited to see how I’m going to do with all that intense training I’m currently doing. But mostly I wish for a positive attitude, calmness and a great time under a crystal blue sky and purple hills. Crazy!

my yellow rock-fest

2011-11-19T12:36:00.000-08:00

Headed out to Harriman today for a sweet trail run. Mission was to practice power walking again. The "Suffern-Bear Mountain" trail (or yellow!) was perfect for it. A bit rocky, but really perfect. I was just in a really good mood and how could I have not been - it was sunny, cool, but not too cool and I was dressed right. At the parking lot some Boy Scouts gave me directions to the trail head and when I told them I was going for a run they said that these trails are not meant for running! LOL! They were right about the rocky part - really really rocky and I had to do lots of stepping. The almost vertical downs took me the longest time to do, because it would have been too easy to fall. But "yellow" kept me in good spirit and was just easy to follow. 12 miles, a bit over 3 hours and a hunger to die for I returned to the car where I saw the Boy Scouts again. They gave me a thumbs up and "you made it". I guess they didn't believe me - haha. Being a trail runner in NY can be a challenge. But I'm taking it the way it is and use it to train my weaker spots in running and hope that some day this will be easy(r).

12 miles, 2,306ft elev. gain and how many tons of rocks?

Chad Kellogg - or how to get through winter!

2011-10-27T08:59:00.000-07:00

With the winter season coming up, I think this video is an amazing inspiration.

Spontaneous post about?

2011-10-17T15:35:00.000-07:00

I want to be a better blogger again, care about it and keep it active. Easier said than done, but I really don't have an excuse any more. I'm officially a "home-worker" now, means no more long commutes and more time playing. Miles are increasing with every week to prepare me for future adventures, but it also leaves me a bit tired and more hungry. Normally you would think when you run a lot you would lose weight. Well, not sure about you, but with me it's the opposite; I gain weight. Haven't seen a gym from the inside in weeks and eat whatever I want. Time to pull the emergency brake!?

But I feel GOOD. Feel good on the trails and my hill running is paying off. Every weekend I look for challenging trails to run and even practice power walking. Power walking is the one thing that makes me feel like I fail when I have to do it and my heart rate is way too high. So practice, practice, practice...On most of my runs I take Merlin with me - he IS the best running buddy one could have - always runs so disciplined next to me..or uhm, ahead of me, that little macho! We don't need words and he cares, looks back a lot to make sure mommy is coming. Watching his little feet touching the dirt makes me happy. The very best though is when Thomas comes along, too, and the whole pack is out running. So far Thomas has run up to 8 miles with me and he looks like he's ready for more. The other day he told me about the dream he had, that he was heading to a race and noticed he was without shoes. Thomas has never ever run a race in his life! It made me laugh. "What does this mean", he asked. I said, "well, running is starting to mean a lot to you."

VT50

2011-09-26T14:08:00.000-07:00

I’m back from Vermont with some wonderful memories as I always do when I run this race. After a lot of insecurity if this race would be happening and how, super race director Mike Silverman and his crew made it happen. I remember running it the first time in 2006 when we were approximately two docent 50k runners and there was no water to fill your hydration bottle at the start...lol. This race has come a long way but what it always had right from the beginning is the passion and it’s what brings me back again and again.

The very first time I ran this course I came into the finish crying, seriously, I’m not kidding. I merely had been running for 9 months, never done anything that long and hilly before. The weather was the worst with cold, pouring rain and mud that much you could barely make a non-slippery step.

2008 I came back and the race felt much more manageable. What I have always loved is having the mountain bikers around me. Hmm, why would I? Because seeing them suffer makes me suffer less. I can’t imagine being out on those narrow, curvy and steep trails with a bike.

It took me 3 years to come back again and I’m now thinking it’s a shame. But time was not on my site and life got in the way, which does happen.

This year VT50 was completely sold out and more bikers and runners shared the trails with me than ever before. My race strategy (heck yeah I had one…LOL) was to go out slowly and pick it up half ways. At mile 8-9 ish I was bit frustrated from powerwalking some steep hills but it was never the case that I thought it wasn’t manageable. I stayed in a positive spirit throughout the run and really picked it up when I saw the “5-mile to go” sign. Looking at my watch and estimating what was still ahead of me I got all exuberant and for one moment I though I could break the 6hour mark. So I took the chance and started running as fast as possible, passing a lot of people. Last mile was all down hill the winding skipass and so much fun coming into the finish under a sunny blue sky.

I didn’t make the 6hours mark, but 6:03 is pretty closeJ I could not be more happy with the way it all went and I would have never have dreamed to come in so soon, making a 25min PR. The rest of the day I spent with Thomas eating and drinking and we finally went on our way back home. A bit tired I am today and my legs feel a bit sore. It’s a good time to start thinking what I am going to train for next.

VT pre-thoughts

2011-09-20T06:28:00.000-07:00

With less than a week until VT, my mind is not where it is supposed to be. I guess my mind has already arrived at the starting line and going through the last days feels like sitting them out. It's not so much the distance that makes me nervous but rather the elevation I will have to overcome. Done this race twice before you would think I know it will all be fine, but still it feels like I'm about to run this course for the very first time. Isn't it always like that!?

Looking back at the training I have done I can say I have trained the hardest I ever did for this race. Never done this much hill work and never done this many weekly miles. But we will see what happens and if I can ran a PR this year. Weather forecast for Sunday is partly cloudy. But the days prior it's supposed to rain, which will leave the course pretty muddy. But what would VT be without its mud anyways - ha!

Change of Plans? Really???

2011-08-30T08:59:00.000-07:00

Looks like mother natures is making it really complicated to follow my race plans. 2 weeks ago "Turkey Swamp" was cancelled because of flooding and lightening. Today I receive an email from the race director of VT stating that the race might need to be re-routed because of too many fallen trees. If VT is not going to happen or too late in the year, I will have to find a new race. But to say the very least I would be really sad as I love this race and my mind is all on it and has been for the past months.

So what options would I have?

Here are some:

Santa Cruz Mountains, CA, 50K, Sept 24

Montana de Oro, CA, 50K, October 2

Slickrock, UT, 50K, October 8

I'm keeping my fingers crossed I won't have to chose from one of those. Please feel free to make some suggestions if you know a great 50K end of September or in October.

Blue Mountain Reservation

2011-08-21T11:10:00.000-07:00

I still keep looking for new trails to run, because it happens that I get bored with a route after some time. And it makes sense to do as much running on single track trails as possible to prepare for VT. Yesterday and today I ran at the Blue Mountain Reservation up in Peekskill. 40 miles of single track mountain bike trails curving along in this 1538 acre park, differentiating between easy, moderate and difficult. And what counts for a mountain biker will count for a runner. Today's long run felt like a run without an end. The first 6 miles were hard to earn and didn't want to go by. I think it's easier to get the miles under your belt when you can see somewhat into the distance. Seeing from curve to curve made me feel like in a hamster wheel. At mile 8.36 I went to the car to change into my road running shoes and finished this 15-miler on Peekskill's streets. It was kind of a heat shock coming from the cooler woods into the sun, but it felt so easy compared to what was behind me and I managed to run all negative splits until the end. Overall I give these trails my thumbs up, however I will not come back to do a long run there, but rather a short one like yesterday with Thomas and Merlin. Thomas has been amazingly disciplined the past couple of months - goes to the gym and runs with Merlin. In fact, he has trained so much, that he can fly up a hill and I can only watch. He's a natural trail runner - but I've always known. I told him if you run like this in a race you can win this stuff. I think he doesn't believe me. Thomas has also been the one to keep me on Paleo and he introduced me to Runkeeper a running app that is super cool to have with you on the trails. It records your route precisely and remembers where you took pictures.

Here are some:
Map via Runkeeper

So many rocks, your feet start to hurt

Grassy portions

Blue Mountain summit. Lots of smaller 400-600ft summits in this park.

Get your butt up that hill…

2011-08-04T06:42:00.000-07:00

Lots of hill training for me lately for my preparation for Vermont, which is around the corner, but still I have tons of training ahead of me. I keep remembering what I once read somewhere: “you will run the race like you have trained for it”. Reminds me that my training runs are not supposed to be a walk in the park. It’s easy to slow down when you’re in the woods by yourself and only the birds are watching. Speaking of animals, again, I ran into a bear last weekend. It was a small black bear weighing around 100lbs, on its way climbing down a tree right by the trail. It saw me and froze and so did I. But I’m starting to become an expert…LOL and raised my voice while walking backwards to give it some space and picked up a stick (just in case!). First it made some strange sounds like it was complaining when it finally crossed the trail and ran off.

Most of my runs do bring one adventure at least and I'm starting to enjoy them rather than being afraid. Being face to face with a wild animal is something intimate and I find myself lucky to be experiencing it.

A bit of what it looked like

Holy it's hot outside

2011-07-22T12:04:00.000-07:00

The past couple of days temps are in the high 90's. Right now it's 99F and I'm hiding inside behind my desk in my office. I do my runs at 5:30am, but even then it's already unbearably humid. I do 5 miles and arrive at home draining wet. Thank goodness for our sprinklers that go on exactly at that time - because I'm going under:-)

So getting some good quality miles in has not been so easy and if it stays this way I will have to take lots of my runs inside.

In my last post I mentioned my new "Brooks Cascadias" and today I would like to announce that they are up for sale. A day after my first run in them I could feel my hip bothering me and the cushioning must have done it. So, if you are a size 10 and would like to get those babies, send me an email. I will sell them to you for $50.

Paleo banana/choco pudding

2011-07-13T04:13:00.000-07:00

Options for Paleo sweets are very slim, but I have been creative. It’s easy when it’s summer time and you see people around you indulging in ice cream. So I want to share this refreshing frozen banana/choco pudding.

All you need is:

1.5 bananas

Cacao Powder, Raw

Coconut Milk

Chocolate Protein Powder

In a blender mix the one banana and a little coconut milk, until smooth, but not too liquid, so the chocolate part will sit nicely on it. Fill into a cup or glass until 2/3 full and freeze for 20 minutes. In the meantime blend half a banana and mix in the chocolate protein powder, a tablespoon raw cacao powder and 1/3 cup coconut milk. Blend until smooth, but make sure it’ s not too liquid. Pour the choco blend onto the already half frozen banana mix and put it back into the freezer for 20 minutes or until firm but never completely frozen. The banana mix should turn into a nice pudding like texture!

Upper Nyack to Rockland Lake

2011-07-10T10:58:00.000-07:00

I slept in today, so I was out there running at noon. The route: Beautiful Nyack and 80% sun exposed! But not that humid, actually it felt like a good "hot". Parked in Upper Nyack and ran on the paved road to Nyack Beach State Park, where a flat gravel trail stretches along the Hudson.

After 2 miles a road leads up to Rockland Lake park, where I circled the lake ones (approx. 3 miles long). People were out barbecuing and picnicking, celebrating weddings and other festivities. It was mayhem! From every corner there was salsa music blasting, but today it was fun to run this new route.

Just wished I had a chance to test my new kicks on a better trail condition. I bought them yesterday and was looking forward to trying them.

So far so good. They have lots of cushioning which is uncommon for a trail running shoe. I bought them a bit larger than normally so my feet will feel comfortable on my long runs. Running with them on pavement feels pretty awful I must say. I can not get any connection to the road which I like to feel. Lots of trail races have some road running parts, but I guess it would be fine and you just can't have it all. I made another great discovery on this run - I spotted the Long Path trail. So that's on the plan for next time.

After my run I stopped at Nyack's "Runcible Spoon Bakery" - a mostly cyclist's rest stop. They have some great choices of foods to refuel with and I had a cup of mixed fruit.

Next week it's off to Germany. I expect my miles to be lots lower, but my running shoes are coming along in case I can free up some time.

Off the wagon

2011-07-05T11:49:00.000-07:00

Off the Paleo wagon that is. It started last week with increased miles and a hunger no one can imagine. Ok, maybe you can because you run. Anyhow, I started to cheat a bit here and there to accommodate my harder training; threw in more bananas, more fruit in general, lots of fruit (!), then going for a cheat meal (pasta and bread) and not to forget the ice cream. The next day didn't look that much different and I didn't even regret my floury feasts. All I could think of was "I can't do it when I run this much". Today, after grocery shopping at Wholefoods and buying my favorite Paleo foods, things are starting to look good again. But I'm not sure for how long...until my next long run on steep trails?

Having eating Paleo without a cheat meal for 8 weeks prior and only run 30ish miles per week I'd say it's easy to follow this lifestyle without a doubt. However with the increased miles I'm not so sure any more. Recovery does not seem possible to me without some heavier carbs. For now I'll take it by the day and will follow what my body tells me. I will rather eat a bagel than going crazy in my mind. But on days I don't crave I'll stay put.

VT50 it's ON!!

2011-06-27T10:49:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago I made the cut and redeemed myself from the idea of running the marathon again. Every time I run more than 13 miles on pavement I get fed up with the whole thing and want to call it quit. When I told my husband I'll run Vermont instead of the marathon, he put a huge smile on his face and said he thinks it's a very nice idea to ditch the marathon and do VT. In fact, he loves VT just like I do even he has never run it. So yay, I'm super excited to be going back to what I love doing most: Run trails races!

Some pics from todays 12 miler on the BP trail:

Finding an open vista is not easy - a nice change to the mostly dark and wooden trails

Mohonk/Minnewaska

2011-06-19T12:04:00.000-07:00

Every summer I do this one hour trip out to "Mohonk Preserve" to run my favorite trails which are a combination of single track and carriage roads. I park at "West Trapps" parking lot (boy it was almost filled up today with mostly climbers) and start my course running down "Shongum trail" for half a mile until I get to climb "High Peterskill trail" for the next 4 miles. It's a strenuous path with lots of rocks and roots. Not used to such conditions any more my heart rate must have been 190 most of the time. 2 miles in you get to the top and run along the plateau for the next two miles which are still tough as you encounter stones up to your knee's height.

This is the only sun exposed part which can get very hot in summer, but today the temps were just perfect. Once you leave this single track trail at Minnewaska Preserve, the trail changes into carriage roads and the red blaze takes you back to "West Trapps" parking (8.25 miles). Because I still felt pretty good I continued on the Under/Overcliff trail, which added another 5 miles.

Not sure how many times I have run this course, but I never get tired of it.

High Peterskill trail

Me climbing and sweating

It's a ritual: No trail run here without stopping and enjoying the view

When it's really hot I WILL go for a swim!

Overcliff trail

Briarcliff-Peekskill trail run

2011-06-12T09:15:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I had planned writing a short review about some trails I run. And here is my first one for the Briarcliff-Peekskill trail!
Starting at Teatown Lake Reservation , you get on the green blazed trail. About 3/4 mile in and running underneath power lines you get to a point where the trail seems to stop all of the sudden. This is where the trail lacks markers. For today, I did not find my way around. Ran a neighbor trail I had no idea of and eventually intersected my green trail again. Once on the BP again I had lots of fun running this roller coaster type of single track trail: Lots of stones, roots, branches...nicely technical and it felt super good to be running this way again.

Later at the visitor center I learnt that the green marked BP trail turns into the yellow North West trail while on the Park's grounds! DUH! So next time I'm going back I will know my way around hopefully and not having to waste so much time on finding my way around. If all goes well, this trail will run all the way up to the Blue Mountain Reservation, a 12 mile on way! Wouldn't that be nice to run?!

When the iron is low a girl runs slow

2011-06-09T07:17:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I had my blood tested. One: I wasn't sure if my running-blockage came from the "low carb" flu I got because of my diet change or if it was something else. When my coach noticed my sluggish running he right away assumed an iron deficiency. So 2 nights ago my doc calls me to inform me that everything looks great except of my iron, which is too low.

Brings me to subject "eating red meats" again. Yes, I really tried eating a piece of steak the other day and yes, like expected I did not like the taste and smell of it. And here we are again! Tonight my husband and I will go for dinner and I'll try eating steak for the second time. Maybe not cooking it myself will do the trick.

Hopefully I can report more about the running than eating next time. Plan on running a new trail this Sunday. Really looking forward to it.

Paleo Update!

2011-05-23T11:29:00.000-07:00

Over a week I’ve been eating Paleo now and it’s been so easy! Was down with a cold for a few days last week and couldn’t really decide if lack of energy came from nutrition at all, but I know that I LOVE eating the way I eat now and wonder why I haven’t done so much earlier. Food restrictions have always been hard for me, but not this one. And even though I allowed myself a cheat meal on Sunday I didn’t eat any wheat or gluten foods. And I have been cooking like a madwoman…ehh cavewoman!!! Hours and hours making meals from the book and enjoying them all! The kitchen is the place I spend most of my time at home now and cleaning is part of the craziness. I have also been losing weight! It wasn’t my intention, but seems there is no way around and actually I really like my thinner legs now, LOL.

The most interesting part will be seeing how this is going to affect the running! And I’m not at the point yet where I could judge, as I have been sick. Another week of training and I should be over my set back from the cold. Until then, if you don’t see me anywhere…I’m in the kitchen:-)

Changing things up

2011-05-16T11:11:00.000-07:00

It’s been a few days, since I’ve gone on “The Paleo Diet”, eating like a caveman mostly meat, eggs, veggies, fruit, nuts (No grains, wheat, flour, unless it’s a pre or post workout snack) It’s the most radical diet I’ve ever been on – and “diet” is a word I dislike anyways as it always reminds me of something that’s artificial and only serves the purpose of loosing weight.

For the most parts it’s been going fine, except of some periods throughout the day when I feel full and hungry at the same time. How is that possible??

When I was 16 I started giving up eating red meat (including pork) and haven’t touched it since then. Now, for the first time I am rethinking my meat choice and wonder if I could go back to eating red. Maybe over the next couple of days I will start with picking my husbands food when we go out for dinner and see if I can find my way back to beef, pork (more doubtful than the beef on that), veal (who knows), “ostrich” (considered the leanest mean there is), and bison. It will be an interesting experiment – not only the meat choices, but cutting out the grains completely and observing if my running performance improves.

"The Paleo Diet Cookbook". Been trying a few meals and it was eatable! I'm still new to cooking, but I'm having tons of fun with it, in particular exploring spices, their taste and what goes together with what.

"My" time

2011-04-24T16:47:00.000-07:00

My time is the time it gets warmer outside. When temps are rising and humidity increases slightly - it's when I run best and can really enjoy the time on my feet. Today was such a day; a first real warm day and my pace got faster immediately for my long run. The current long runs I do I mostly do on the Bronx River Path that goes from our village all the way up to Valhalla. It's a bike path that ends at Kensico Dam. Lucky me gets to do one way runs and hubby picks me up so I don't have to run back. Today he was there bringing me my half frozen orange protein shake. Yum! Lots of great runs are coming up - not that many races really, but tons of runs with the group and of course time on the trails.

Happy running!

Colorado and my new teeth

2011-04-05T17:05:00.000-07:00

A few days after the accident we packed our bags and headed to Denver for the second time this year to fix my teeth. This time we loaded the dogs into the car and drove! Over 2000 miles, a long drive, but if Dean can run across America, I can drive! My dentist fixed the mess in my mouth and gave me some good looking temporary teeth. We had some waiting time in between treatments and what better way to spend it than going trail running. And I was glad I had a running partner this time. Merlin and I hit a couple of parks outside of Denver and ran as much as we could at this High altitude of 6000ft. We took it easy and enjoyed it all, even climbed on one of the red rocks to take a break and inhale the air. There is something magical about being out alone in the wild; a mixture of excitement, solitude, the unknown, but then again the very familiar.

Denver has become a city I like very much. One for it’s prettiness, dog friendliness, and mesmerizing mountains that call you when you look at them. And second it gives you the option to get your teeth done at a price a third of what you pay for in NY.

Today was the last visit to the plastic surgeon for a while…the wounds are healing very nicely and with a bit of luck the scars won’t show too much. However the left half of my upper lip is numb and might stay this way because of damaged nerves.

Training is going to continue now. One thing I’ve learnt from my accident is never to run without a cell phone. Even for the shortest distance I will carry it, because you just never know.

A few pics from our trail running around Denver:

South Valley Park, Green Mountain (my favorite place in Denver) and Red Rocks Park

The Fall

2011-03-19T16:49:00.000-07:00

So you would think running is a safe sport! On Thursday morning I was proven wrong when I ran home on a very busy road from speed workout, tripping over something, falling head first. It happened so fast and it hurt so bad as I had landed with my face first and the pavement put 2 holes into my face and cracked 2 of my frontal teeth. I got up as fast as possible to not lay down on the road and kept walking with bleeding from my forehead and mouth like a waterfall. Luckily I wore 2 layers and used one to press down on the wounds. No cell phone with me to call an ambulance and no wallet I walked home like this for a freaking mile. It was terrible. At home I called my husband and then the ambulance. I was so shaken, had a “mind blowing” headache on the way to the hospital. There I got treated very well and spent the next 4 hours being cleaned, x-rayed and cat scanned and finally stitched up. Everybody being so nice calmed me down over my frustration to be losing two teeth over a stupid tripping. It’s been 48 hours since my fall and I have somewhat adapted to the situation, my swollen face that now heals but actually looks worst than first due to swelling.

Me in the hospital awaiting to be stitched up above my brow, the lip and inside my mouth.

Sunday's long run

2011-03-13T10:59:00.000-07:00

Can you see the rainbow?
Another run around Croton reservoir. This time I closed the circle like planned (13.45 miles). Weather was perfect and I can feel my strength coming back, having taking off the past 2 weeks as I just couldn't stand the cold any longer. This week I'm back with 43 miles and lots of training done including a tough track workout with the Hounds yesterday. Today's first half of my run was sunny and calm roads with small creeks left and right flowing madly from last day's rain and floods. It was just to me and a few cyclists. Mile 8 reaching the bridge I noticed in shock that this bridge has a see-through gutter!

F.E.A.R (false evidence appearing real).
This bridge shattered my peaceful world; a turn back was not possible unless I wanted to run 16+ miles today!!! "I will not fall through", I told myself and moved on, when the wind hit me so strong that my next thought was "ok, you are not going to fall through, you'll be blown away over the railing." I ran and whined, LOL. Next miles the road was really rough with lots of puddles to jump over and windy, too. Was glad to see the Dam's bridge. I stopped for a brief moment to look down and take some pics. More goosebumps, but overall I had a great run today.

Sunday's long run

2011-02-27T10:58:00.000-08:00

I had been looking forward to this run for a week, having discovered this new route around the Croton reservoir. Rolling streets loop all the way around up to 15 miles. However I had to cut my full loop short, because I took one wrong turn which added 2 miles to my run and having no food supplement with me I felt too drained to run 17 today. Still an awesome fun run and so pretty with beautiful homes, farms, barely cars and a couple of runners and cyclist and some strange birds I've never seen before.

12.76 miles @9:11mm

Is it really true?

2011-02-24T14:03:00.001-08:00

I have a new blog! And where have I been after closing my old one? I've been on the the side, over at Dailymile. While it is super duper fun there and I will still continue my logging, I also want to be able share my running adventures by creating my own, personal space.

It's also been 8 months since moving to the lower hudson valley, having been a "city girl" for the past decade. I love it here and already consider it my home where I want to grow old. Yes, being in your mid thirties makes you think about stuff like that. My neighborhoods have so much fun places to offer that are ideal for running and especially trail running, but this winter has been very tough to get out and do the thing you love most. Looking back, there were 6 snow storms which all required heavy snow shoveling, endless treadmill runs and those runs outside that you would call "self torture". Point: I'm no winter runner and therefore I can pad myself on my shoulder for having averaged 30 miles per week the past 3 months. Lots of things to plan, races, training and get aways and mostly just really looking forward to getting back to my local trails.