I Love Hills!

Part of the hillier route that I ran today.

Now that the weather has cooled down, it finally feels like Autumn! Encouraged by the change of seasons, I have taken on the challenge of choosing hillier running courses. 

Impromptu 10K

The trail where I ran, along wheat fields, with Moscow Mountain in the distance

   I’ve been keeping up with my running schedule pretty easily over the past few weeks. This Sunday I had 4 miles to run, but that didn’t seem challenging enough, so I decided to do a little over 6 miles instead and call it a 10K!

          My legs were feeling great, and I just knew it would be a good run. However, the weather didn’t know that my legs felt like running fast: it was a VERY windy day!

Eggs over oatmeal: a new approach to training

     I am in my 2^nd week of training for the Yukon Do It Half Marathon, which is on New Year’s Eve. This year will be my 5^th time participating in this particular half marathon! 

In the last mile of the 2014 Yukon Do It Marathon

My approach for training for this year’s race is much different than it has been in the past:

Wedding in Darby, Montana

This gym name would only exist in a place like MT.
I mainly took this photo to send Craig because he likes corny signs.

            This last weekend, I rode up with my friend Melissa to Darby, MT for a friend’s wedding. We left Friday after work. It was exciting to go somewhere new, but I was also a little anxious to go somewhere without my husband. I didn’t want this to get in the way of me having fun though, so I basically just ignored my anxiety.

Building a "Base" (aka wow I'm out of shape!)

     I had a whirlwind of a summer, marrying my best friend. Then we moved. Then the air quality was terrible from wildfire smoke. Basically, I didn't run too much towards the end of this summer, and my fitness suffered. I have new plan, though, to get back into running shape. 

First Run of Half-Marathon Training

     Great news! The air quality in Washington has cleared-up a whole bunch. We were able to leave the windows open all day today. It was so nice to breath fresh air! I was starting to feel suffocated inside with the windows closed.

The trail near my house. It was so nice to get to be outside without  smoke.

Wildfire Smoke and the Trip to Bozeman

This last weekend we went to Bozeman to visit family and friends. We went on a few day hikes and ate good food. We encountered a ton of wildfire smoke during the trip and came home to hazardous levels where we live. These conditions have led me to the decision not to run in the half marathon I had planned for the end of the month. Now, I need to come up with a new training goal!

Bride on the Run

  

     Craig and I are married! Our wedding day was a perfect. Being on the water, the location was serene; we were able to hear waves during the ceremony, which was short and simple. For the reception we also kept the decor simple, relying on the natural beauty of the location. We didn't go overboard and have any running-related items within our wedding, but I did insist on getting a photo of me wearing my running shoes under my wedding dress. 

Half-marathon Eve

At the finish of the half marathon in 2015

     Tomorrow morning I will be running in the Snake River Canyon Half Marathon! I am pretty psyched for it. This will be my third year participating. The prior two years, though, I was having severe shoulder pain. Now, I feel completely healthy! I am excited to see how I perform in comparison. 

8 mile long run & morning snow

     Yesterday, I made the decision to do my long run a day early on Saturday rather than Sunday. This meant that I would be running 8 miles on tired legs. Usually I like to have a rest day before long runs.

The reasoning for this was two-fold:

1. I checked the forecast and there was an anticipated 14 inches of snow beginning that night. There was little change I'd want to run in that. Usually I like to sit in bed all morning, sipping coffee as I watch it fall. 
2.  I was upset. I had woken up to not-so-great news. 

Ready to head out in 25° weather. Craig says this hat makes me look like a  "real" runner