Ahh Snow Days, How Do I Love Thee

Last night I decided quite spontaneously, while feeling my pup's sad no-one-loves-me eyes boring into the back of my skull, that I was going to go snowshoeing in the morning.

Just like that.

Done.

Cuz that's how I roll.

I hate planning. I dread it most times, unless it's for a really big trip or race, then I'm all over it.
Planning is torturous to me because, as I have discovered of myself throughout the years:

1. I love to make people smile and therefore get frustrated with planning because I don't want anyone to have a bad time. The more options I have the worse it gets for me. Give me A or B...no problem. Add in a C...still doing ok. Add in D, E, or worse and it could take me all freaking week to decide and believe me it is PAINFUL.

2. I could have a complete itinerary of events and must-see attractions jotted down. All pretty and organized to the T (did I mention I am a fantastic organizer?). However, the potential that mid-itinerary of my "vacation" my ADHD kicks in and I'm like Hammy on "Over The Hedge" getting distracted by something sparkly is 100% guaranteed.

"oooh what is THAT?!!?".....and just like that I'm gone. Seriously, I need a leash.

Anyways, so last night I did what I do best and acted spontaneously. I texted my friend-in-crime, Amanda, to see if she was in with her pups. She responded in a matter of seconds "heck yeah!"

This morning I woke up early and excited, packed my stuff in lightening speed and picked her up on the way to Nederland. I love all things pertaining to snowshoeing. I discovered this little gem when I moved to Colorado and can't get enough.

The trail was awesome, the views stunning, and the temps were perfect. We tromped all over the place, broke new trails because we...um "lost" the trail, and had a great time. We met a few people that seemed to be much more interested in playing with our pups rather than meeting two cute girls. HEY!
One guy said hello to us then literally laid down in the middle of the trail and called Argos to come cuddle. Eddie, the love sausage, beat him to it. It was an interesting and funfilled day.

Once we got back into the warmth of the car the dogs: Argos, Eddie, and Crazy Izzy settled down and actually napped while Amanda and I grabbed some delicious BBQ in Nederland. We both got the "Ned's Mess"- which is a pile of meat (pulled pork for me) piled ontop of two sides. Literally on top....hence the mess. I chose sweet potato fries and asked my friendly male waiter if i could have the mac and cheese off the kid's menu. I have been CRAVING mac and cheese!!! He said he would pull some strings for me and hook me up with mac and cheese.
Lemme tell you. D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!
The cheese coated some of the fries and it was a yummy fantastic mess.

A quick jog over to the cafe for a latte and we were heading back home to reality.
-Amanda, in her own crafty spontaneity, invented a new drink which I declared to be fantabulous....we named it Amanda's drink: Chai with frothy steamed skim milk and egg nog topped with freshly grated nutmeg. YUMMMM.


"Every day should be like this one" Amanda commented over her steaming chai as we walked back to the SUV with sleepy pups, and I had to agree. Great company, great food, and fun in the great outdoors....what a great life.

Drama Mama

Sorry all you fools for not posting in FOREVER! I promise to be back up and speed typing to catch y'all up on the TransRockies and other such goings-on. There's tons of drama at the wildchild's abode but the New Year promises to be similar to the changing of the guards. I am newly single (YAY) and plan to make the very best of the time I have here on this earth. I was given this body to wear the hell out of it so here we go! A new year for me and amazing expeditions await.

Things I'm planning so far for the lovely 2010 year:

May 1st: Rim2Rim2Rim with some fellow awesome runners in AZ. Gonna tackle the Grand Canyon from a view I always wanted to experience: first hand running the darn ditch. Who the hell wants to stand on top and just look down? B-O-R-I-N-G. It will also be my very first near-50 miler.

September 4-11: Gore-Tex TransAlpine Steph and I have been putting our heads together and pep-talking our way into signing up. I think it is gonna happen and I am super psyched. My first 8day staged race....hell if I can do six, what's two more days right???!!!

Whatcha say? Anyone up for joining me in AZ?

chao.

T.

Moeben Giveaway Report!!!

Well, it's that time!
And the winner of the fantabulous Moeben Arm Warmers is:

TRISHIE!! thanks for the shoutouts and awesome music choice.
-send me your address to seaturtletrax@yahoo.com and they'll be on their way.

I did have a secret second pair I was going to give as a runner up so FOOL you are in luck:) Send me an email too as I didn't save your address, sorry they won't be on your arms for the marathon but I am sending mucho good luck vibes your way!!!!

Thanks for playin' and keep watching as there will be more giveaways shortly. You sno000oze you loooooose.

Wildchild

Gym woes

I have my very first 24hr fitness weight training appointment scheduled for Friday at 1100. I really knocked my trainer's ego down a few blocks the other day when I signed up for the sessions so I am quite certain he has been taking this week to finalize his plan of revenge to hurt me to the point of painful submission. I tried super hard not to smother his ego (really I did) but he just kept on going on and on about how fantabulously awesome he was. I couldn't contain myself. So what did I say you might be asking yourself? Well the dialogue went a little something like this:

Him: So what do you like to do for exercise?

Me: I like to run a bit.

Him: cool! I am a runner too. I try to do a few races a year and stuff.

Me: Oh yeah? (genuinely interested) So what kind of distances/races have you done

Him: A few 5Ks and 10Ks. I did a half marathon. Oh and check this out (throwing his little head all cocky-like and giving me a smirk) I did the Mount Evans ascent! Man, that thing was a killer. It was so awesome but it was so hard. Like totally. My legs were shredded! (and he goes on and on and on a few minutes about how super awesome he is and how hard this race was) and continues...A bunch of my friends were telling me how they just did a marathon and I was like, "oh yeah? a marathon? Well I did Mt Evans, so there! Yeah go ahead and Google it...It makes your little marathon look like a little bitch!"

Me: Oh interesting. Neat. (trying to sound interested. Ok not really trying.)

Him: So what races have you done?

Me: Oh a few 5ks and 10ks and such. Oh and I just got done racing the TransRockies.

Him: What's that?

Me: A six day race from Buena Vista to Beaver Creek.

Him: All running? Like the whole thing?

Me: Yep. All running. Kinda makes your Mt. Evans look like a little bitch, huh?

Him: ----silence----

Me: So, anyways about this training........



Yeah I am so gonna be toast on Friday aren't I?
In anticipation I just scheduled myself a 90 minute massage with dearest Kendra for Saturday.

PIMP = Party In My Pants...

Party In My Pants
Cloth Pads for the Princess on her Period

Has a tampon ever made you look forward to your period? Does your maxi pad make you smile? Nope. Most menstrual products only make the whole affair more uncomfortable. What's up with that? Women deserve better. Women deserve Party In My Pants.

Party In My Pants will change the way you think and feel about your period. Forget trashy disposables and say hello to soft, gorgeous cloth pads. For the first time you'll actually look forward to that time of the month and when it comes you'll be comfier and happier than ever before. This isn't marketing mumbo-jumbo. It's what women tell us over and over: Even women whose first reaction was, “No way, not for me.” Even women who'd sworn off pads 'til hell froze over turn around and say, “I love my PIMPs!” (PIMP = Party In My Pants)

The secret? A period product designed by real women for real women. A menstrual helper that doesn't leak, bunch, or feel bulky. And did we mention Party In My Pants pads come in the loveliest, wackiest, cutest patterns ever? With Party In My Pants, you'll be sittin' pretty in style and comfort.

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What's even funnier is that I am not most certainly intrigued by the whole thing. Kinda like a train wreck....

Race Report Commercial: Glorious Giveaways!!!

I have been blessed with more freebie giveaways to pass on to my followers and beyond. Unfortunately my giveaways tend to be geared towards the ladies well, cuz really, what use do I have for mens clothes and jockstraps and such...I just don't tend to buy those for some reason.

Anyways, I have some glorious, oh glorious, Moeben arm warmers to pass on to some lucky reader. If you have been following, I love, Love, LOVE these arm warmers and wear them religiously when I run. They function as a full long sleeved t-shirt in cooler weather (or UV protection if you go with the nylon) that you can just strip off and stuff in your pocket or waistband when you get warmed up. No bulky shirts or jackets to have to tie around your waist and have flopping in the wind. I can't rave enough about Moeben's products. So, as it seems many people's rules to win have been:

1. Comment on my blog and become a follower if not already. (1 entry)
2. Link me in your blog and let me know so I can give you cred. (1 entry)
3. xtra credit: in your comment, write the title and artist of your favorite running song. You know, the one that gets your engine roaring and turns you into a raging animal ready to attack. (1 entry)

So...games on! I will draw on the 28th eve. Have fun and I am super excited to share my love for Moeben.

TransRockies Race Stage II: Vicksburg to Leadville (via Hope Pass)

12,510' max elevation (holy crap) with river crossings
10Miles: Finish time 3hrs 3min.

It was a chilly morning as we were bussed to the start line. We had just enough time to jump out, run to the restroom, snap a pic, and push through the chute. About two miles down the way we both stopped at the first aid station to strip down to our base layers then begin the climb towards Hope Pass.



Along the way up I realized I had passed a familiar face: ISWIMBIKERUN. (in red)
Wow, I was getting to put a bunch of faces to the blogs I had been following! He was such a trooper! His teammate suffered an injury early on and the two of them still trucked on like champs, finishing each day with a great time and even better attitude.


The trail to Hope Pass turned to scree.


Then cleared up and started the big ascent. Surprisingly, this was very very runnable and fun.

I came across a guy from Florida (Matt) who was looking pretty rough from the altitude. He had trekking poles and was just chugging along. I gave him a little pep talk and did my little nurs-y once over to make sure he wasn't going to fall out on me, then kept running. Later I met Matt's teammate Kyle- both were super cool guys and were our "tent neighbors".

I admit, on my way up Hope Pass, I started to get a little teary. The view was beyond description and my words would not do it justice. It was expansive, beautiful, and humbling. I thought about what an amazing world we live in and how very few actually take advantage of the things outside their little bubble of life. I thought about my past and present failures/accomplishments and the emotions just swelled up in my throat. I wanted so bad to have a family member or good friend right there next to me so I could turn to them and share "my moment". To have someone there to be just as awed as I was. To just stop, sit down in silence, and live in the moment of quietness. Then the tears started to swell thinking about how I was here alone...and then I forced myself to snap back into race mode and keep going. "Suck it up & stop wasting energy" I told myself sternly. I had a mission to accomplish and I wanted to see the top. I had four more days to run after this and, by golly, I was going to finish this beast.


I started to chill a bit at the top but waited for Steph. I knew she would want a picture. We made it!
The mountains seemed to just open up for me and beckon, "Come on, tear this trail up...it is a beautiful flight down!" And so I did just that... as cautious runners picked their way down the trail I opened it up and just let my legs tell me where to go.


river crossing!!!


The finish line...the skies opened up just a few minutes after we crossed the finish line. It became chilly and drizzly while we waited for our bus into camp. Once in camp we showered, napped, and then took a walk into town for a much needed latte at Provin' Grounds.
We stopped in a way cool gear store called Sawatch Backcountry. We ended up at Tennessee Pass Restaurant and decided to skip dinner at camp to eat here. We ordered a TON of food (Eggplant and goat cheese tapas- to DIE for...seriously). Our waiter was a young kid who's eyes got huge as we ordered. He seemed to look around to see if anyone else was joining us. "Nope, just us" I said with a sweet innocent smile. I think we truly messed this kid up.

Freebies tonight included a Windstopper scarf (as displayed above).