Apex Trail- Snowy Wonderland

Last week we got hit yet again with a load of snowy weather. Although most of us in Colorado are groaning over the ever rising false hope of summer followed by getting kicked in the balls with snowy weather in the 20s, I tend to rejoice in the little things. Things such as silent trails and breaking new trails (being the first to run through the snow). Here was my 9miler at Apex, I wore running pants and a t-shirt with Zoot sleeves. No need for a jacket, the sun was glaring so brightly off the snow I had to put my special snow lenses in my sunglass frames, and I only slid on my gloves for the first few miles to warm up.

 Not a footstep in sight

The "Enchanted Forest" trail was stunning. It was so silent and beautiful. Every few minutes some snow would be knocked loose from atop the trees and slowly cascade down in a billowy cloud. It was breathtaking and I had to stop many times to just stare and feel happiness in my soul.

Snowy Trail Run- A Bit of Bliss

Tuesday's trail run was with a good friend and her pup at Deer Creek Canyon. It was a perfect trail running day: 10.5 miles while the snow was gently falling around us in big fat flakes and licking our eyelashes. The run ended in a muddy downhill, as is usual for DCC this time of year. It was so much fun. The "kids" were happily running ahead then circling back to check on us. Argos dove in the snow a few times and Denali bounced around playfully. I got to share one of my favorite trails and we successfully avoided the park patrol officer who had been seen frequently at the bottom loop.

I felt winded a little too easily (very frustrating) but given my lack of intense exercise I had been so used to lately due to my IVF treatments and restrictions I had to allow myself a little slack.

We ended the perfect day at DaKind Soups to knock the chill that set over us post run. Hot tea, delicious soup, and a melty sammich!

Gear Review: Hill People Gear Snubby Kit Bag

I have finally, and I mean FINALLY (said with exasperation because baby it's been a long road) found the perfect way to run my trail runs and still comfortably carry a firearm. No chafing, no bulk, and yet easily accessible with a relatively fast draw.

Introducing the Snubby Kit Bag by Hill People Gear, a local company here in Colorado (yay!).

 -stock photos from HPG website-

I have tried all sorts of different ways to carry while trail running and all of them failed miserably. Hip grips rubbed open wounds into all parts of my waist, a fanny pack bounced around and was too bulky, and the revolver cylinder poked out like a tumor with a belly band. I considered those 5.11 concealed carry shirts they just came out with but unfortunately they don't make them for women and they only make them down to a men's medium. I also sweated fiercely through my belly band which isn't real good for the working parts of the firearm. Through this I found out that it is important to frequently check your ammunition if you wear it while sweating. The salt and moisture of the sweat can cause your ammo to expand. The option I had been left with for running armed was to have the firearm in the back pocket of my running pack. Not easily accessible but still able to be armed nonetheless.

Enter the HPG kit bag: a while back my husband sent me the link to the HPG stating he would love to get one of these bags to try out. I went to their website and found they also had a community board discussing their products. I asked a few questions about running and whether it would be a good size for a female runner. I immediately got an email from the very guy who designed the runner's kit (the snubby bag is a smaller version of the runners kit) who stated he lived in my neck of the woods and would be happy to lend me his bag to try!! WOW!! Now that is some impressive customer service!

Long story short, he not only lent me the runner's kit bag but he also lent me his Tarahumara pack and eventually ordered a snubby bag which he passed on to me. I was impressed with all three products. They were very sturdy gear without a whole lot of bells and whistles; I did not want bells and whistles.

The first few days of borrowing the runner's kit (bigger sized) bag it rarely left my body. My husband got kicks out of seeing me walking around with the bag strapped to my chest. I cooked a mean breakfast scramble with the bag on:

I did yard work, folded laundry, took out the garbage, and many other daily activities with the bag attached (and loaded firearm...did I really need to say this?).

It was extremely comfortable. Extremely comfortable. I even tried my hand at "concealed carrying" it:

-unzipped slightly to show I have the bag still on-

Next was to try it running.  The halter system is fabulous- fully adjustable on each shoulder as well as around the sides of your chest. For running, there is an elastic adjustable cord (optional for runners kit bag, although comes standard on snubby kit bag) that attaches to the bottom of the bag and wraps around your rib cage area. This prevents the bag from bouncing and works great. The harness straps wrap around to meet in the back and attaches to a mesh panel for breathability.

The firearm is obtained rapidly by leaving a slight gap in the top left or right (depending on left or right handed draw) of the compartment. Quickly grasp the open flap with your opposite hand and tug hard while sliding in your draw hand and grasp your firearm. You could also grasp the pull tab strings to open the compartment but I found I didn't want to rely on strings and the flap grasp works really well for me.

For me (and this is specific to me and my body size) the runners kit bag was just too big and bulky to run with, plus my compact firearm that I only use for trail running bounced around inside the bag as there is no velcro holster in the main compartment. At first I was against not having a holster in the main compartment but after becoming more familiar with the bag I can see the benefits of not having one. This compartment is designated ONLY for the firearm. No extra mags, no lip balm, no keys, no credit cards etc. JUST THE FIREARM. Therefore, if there is nothing in the bag to enter the trigger, why is a holster really needed? This allows you to get a quick, firm, fighting grip on your firearm without fussing with a holster.
There is a full front zipper for things like an extra mag, keys, phone, or such.


A few weeks later when the loaned snubby bag was in my hot little hands I rushed out for a trail run. The snubby kit bag completely fit the bill. It wasn't too bulky, didn't bounce, and didn't chafe. I did 10 miles very comfortably once I adjusted the harness to my liking. I only needed a handheld water bottle for those 10 miles, so obviously if you need more water or a water bladder for a longer haul then you might need to consider other options. I was able to strap on my Ultraspire Spry over top of the HPG snubby kit bag. It was a little bulky and awkward but still was very successful in allowing me to have a good run and still remain armed. The Spry gave me the option of tucking in my jacket (it was cold weather and I was pretty sure I would need it at the summit of the mountain I was climbing) and giving me more pockets to carry my nutrition in for the longer run.

I handed the bag back and promptly ordered myself a snubby kit bag and a runner's kit bag for Cowboy which fit perfectly for his big burly frame. He currently runs with it and loves his. Now he is the one who rarely takes off the bag! Happy times for all.

The only improvements I would make on the bags would be to include a criss-cross elastic cord, similar to the anti-bounce running cord, on the back where the mesh panel is. This could be removable (for those who just want to bag to hike and have his backpack attached to the back) by having four or so fabric loops in each corner to thread the cord through. The cord would have a cinch toggle to allow the runner to cinch in a rain or wind jacket onto ones back for changing weather. As a runner this is very necessary, especially in Colorado's ever changing weather with multiple levels of elevation.

Another idea though not quite as important: The front pocket doesn't hold very much and it would be neat to be able to purchase optional removable mini ditty bag type of cinch pockets that would attach to the upper shoulder areas of the harness for GU packets, salt, etc.

I would still like to eventually purchase the runners kit bag for everything but running. I can see going camping, hiking, and other activities with the larger bag which would allow me to carry my daily carry fuller sized firearm in.

Through all this not only did I find an awesome running CCW pack but I also came out with a new very cool friend. Thanks HPG!!

Product Review: X-1 Momentum Headphones

Why am I so excited over these new in-ear sport headphones?

Ladies!!! Hear this:

Specifically designed for women, X-1's Momentum headphones have solved my long standing issue with headphones: small ears. Although there are a multitude of headphones/earbuds out there, and believe me I've tried them all, they are definitely engineered for the average male and haven't taken into account us ladies with much smaller ear canals.

Too often I would have to pull out my earbuds mid run and massage my throbbing ears from the pressure of the buds. It threw a wrench into my fun party on the trails. During my multi-day staged racing events I would sleep with my earbuds in to drown out the camp noises. I would wake up the next morning with my ears so sore I couldn't stand to touch them let alone listen to music the entire next day's staged run. Miserable.

Then, the makers of earbuds came out with the interchangeable rubber ear tip pieces. This was ingenious but still did not fix the fact that the main speaker part was still very large! Although it didn't fix the complete problem, the tips provided a much longer comfort period for me and this type has been the earphones I have been running with lately.

Introducing X-1, the makers of Women's weatherproof/sweatproof earbuds that are ultra-small, lightweight, and allows ambient noise for safety. They are also reflective and iPod/iPhone compatible with a small remote and microphone built in.

Pretty sweet packaging.

The earbuds have several interchangeable ear tips so you can customize your fit for the best comfort. I tried three different tips before I settled on the small foam buds. These are extremely comfortable, don't slip out when I sweat, and create a great seal without compromising the awareness of my surroundings.

I really like these earphones. They have an adjustable mini clip by the base of your neck so that you can clip the dangling wires to your shirt, bra, or pack. This way they don't bounce around in your face and if you need to remove a bud or two you can just pull them out of your ear and tuck them in your pack's chest pouch without having to make any further adjustments. When you want to put them back in, they are still clipped to you! No extra rummaging around (which is important while racing: efficiency).

I've sweated all over these buds and haven't had a single issue with them. No static, no slipping and sliding in my ears, and no waxy build-up. I also dig the cool subtle splash of color options: white, pink, purple, teal, or blue.

The cord is thin, soft, and flexible. My current headphones were also fabric bound but if anything touched the cord while running (like brushing up against my neck or shirt) I could hear it in my ears. Also, the fabric bound cord eventually loosened to where the inner rubber cord punched through like a hernia in several locations. The Momentum's cord is much softer and I do not anticipate these same issues.

I have one extremely minor complaint which really doesn't add up to much of a complaint: I wish the bass and volume was a little more intense (they rate an IP4). I love a good hard beat while I run and these buds are just slightly light on the beat. That said, the buds were designed to allow ambient noise so that the runner can still hear her surroundings and stay safe on the trail, road, wherever. I get this and actually think it is a genius idea. With my other buds, unless I was on the treadmill, I had to run with one bud out so that I wasn't tuned out to the world's alerting noises. Being on trails I have to keep an ear out for other runners coming up behind me and announcing their pass, bikers rounding the blind single-track corners in front of me, walkers, hunters, cougars, bears, and rattlesnakes (eek!). As much as I love to have that bass pounding in my ears supporting me up a hard climb, my safety and courtesy to others is more important. Come summer, rattlesnakes are usually heard before seen and being tuned out is just careless.

Overall awesome earphones: love them. They are now my permanent running earphones.

So ladies and fellas (X-1 has buds for you too) go check them out. They even have waterproof buds for swimming and triathletes.

UltrAspire Spry and Surge Pack Review

I have now had several trail runs with both UltrAspire packs to be able to give a complete run down with pros/cons of each pack.

 Spry

* Per label:

Weight 171g/ 6.03 oz

My take on the Spry: stupid simple...just as I like my packs. It is fast, ultra light weight, and no extra doo-dads to fuss with. All my necessities are front and ready for quick access. I don't need to mess with taking pack on and off for stuff in the rear. It is so light it feels like it's part of my shirt. Here's the low down:

Except for the Surge having a second sternal strap, the two packs are identical from the front. There are a total of five pockets:
#1 right drawcord pocket
#2 right magnetic waterproof pouch
#3 left elastic mesh upper mini pocket
#4 left very spacious zipper (appears waterproof also) pocket
#5 exterior mesh elastic pocket.

I store my kleenex/wipes in #1 and also use it as my quick stash pocket for gloves or armwarmers. This is a super convenient change from my old pack where I had to remove my pack every time I took off/put on gloves or arm warmers (or asked a fellow runner to do it for me mid-stride). I like this pocket and it cinches tight with a decent amount of cord to grab onto with gloves. I haven't had any objects fall out of this pocket (unlike my trial with one other Nathans pack where I lost my map). UltrAspire advertises this pocket can also be used to hold a bottle which I haven't tried. For me I think that might be a bit bulky and bang up my poor Ta-Ta. I'll have to give it a try just for future reference.

#2 is cool but teeny tiny. It is meant for salt pills or such but I haven't really had any use for salt tabs in quit awhile. Right now I store my car key and a tampon (sorry guys for TMI) there. I could see this pocket size might be an issue for guys with larger fingers.

#3 I tried putting my iPod Nano here but found it difficult to use the dial control on it. When I put it in the same location on my Surge, the bladder mouthpiece and clip interferes with the access. I now put a gel or gum in it. I would also consider putting my kleenex/wipes here to free up #1 for other things.

#4 I was surprised at how large this seemingly small compartment was. It fit a handful of gels in it with still room to breathe. This will be extremely convenient for ultra runs. With my other pack I had to stash three or four in my breast pocket and the rest on my back. Halfway through a run I would have to stop, take off my pack, and swap out wrappers for new gels. I now keep a little doggy bag in with the gels so I can just toss my wrappers in the baggy for a no-mess Leave No Trace cleanup post race.This pocket also feels as if it might be somewhat water proof or at least water resistant. The pull tabs on the zipper are long enough for a good gloved grasp but not long enough to slap around while running.

One thing I did note while doing a very short 3 miler around our local park, I only had one or two gels in this pocket and nothing in the other. The pocket, being secured slightly high on the actual pocket by the sternum strap, tended to bounce and slap me a little in the ribs. It wasn't painful just ever so slightly annoying. Once I added a little more weight to the pocket the bouncing became less noticeable. Not exactly a complaint by any means just know it can bounce if not weighed down some.

#5 I keep my camera here or my iPod when not carrying my camera.

The neck straps are wide. So wide I was a bit uncomfortable with my first run. I was used to my Nathan's pack which snugged my shoulders and neck more. After my first few runs I realized exactly how comfortable the wider shoulder straps were and noticed I wasn't having the mild neck muscle fatigue I sometimes get with really long runs. The fabric is really thin and breathable without compromising it's durability. 

The hole in the back is a bit odd looking but I guess it works. Cuts down on fabric, i.e. weight, and allows my back to breathe. I'm okay with it.

The back of the Spry is simple. I like simple. The pocket closes with a sturdy magnetic snap. I have fit my .38 in here with an ultra-light Gortex jacket without any issues. The butt of the gun doesn't stick up or print too bad as long as I use my pancake Kydex holster my husband made for me. This pocket also fits a minimalist bladder for longer runs with two elastic bands up front for securing your mouthpiece. I will be using this pack a lot on my local 10ish mile trail runs where all I need is a handheld and maybe a light jacket or headlamp. With greater distances, the only time I would chose this pack over the Surge is in the dead heat of summer where I don't need a jacket and can toss extra water back there or purification tabs. 

The Spry sits high between the shoulder blades, front sternum and single side straps are very easily adjusted.

Surge

*Per Label:

Weight: 304g/ 10.72 oz

2L Hydration compartment 

As you can see, same front except this now has a double sternum strap. I was initially concerned about the hook clasp attachment points (my Nathans had a quick release buckle which was indeed quick). After a few times using the clasp, however, I have come to the conclusion that it is very secure and super easy to work, even with numb fingers.

Nice slim profile, nothing bulky poking out or abnormally distributing weight. I could lay (or fall) on my back and not be discomforted while wearing this pack. Notice the front falls slightly lower down on my chest than the Spry. The Surge also has double straps on either side for a perfect custom fit. The extra slack on the straps dangle, which are easily fixed by rolling, tucking, or cutting. I, however, like the extra ribbon lengths and find it easy to grab hold of and adjust mid-stride as needed. I might trim them just a little.

With my last trail run of 25 miles, I carried a full bladder and extra gear to prepare for cold temps at the top of the pass. I had jacket, gloves, hat, Quikclot, silver emergency blanket, HotHands, water purifying tabs, mini foot care kit, extra food, as well as my normal Spry running contents. What would have normally put significant weight on my shoulders and neck with my previous pack, evenly distributed the contents to the point I felt very little weight with the Surge. I was extremely comfortable the entire 25 miles and only had to remove my pack once for rear access.

The rear of the pack has three "pockets":
#1 top accessory zipped pocket. I put my water tabs and foot care kit here with a few extra things of food.
#2 exterior mesh compartment (for jacket etc.)
#3 large main compartment for bladder

Now the Cons:
A) I am undecided about the included bladder. I have always preferred my 1L Camelbak bladder with it's easy big bite valve mouthpiece. This bladder is unique in that to fill it, you slide a plastic bar off the very top then fold up the top of the bag (similar to the closure of a colostomy bag...for those medical people, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about). That part is cool once you get the hang of it but the mouthpiece is "different". To lock or unlock the mouthpiece, you rotate it. You bite down on it to get a slug of water (so far so good, it flowed extremely well) but when I locked it and clipped it to my chest it leaked. Not a lot but a few drops here and there was annoying. I also wonder how durable the hard plastic slide would be long term. The bladder is advertised as a 2L bladder but I couldn't fit more than 1.5L in it. I will take it for a few more runs before I ask UltrAspire if I have a leaky lemon, or just swap it for my previous loved Camelbak.

B) My biggest caveat: there is no separate compartment, even just an ultralight easy access sleeve, for the bladder. I loved how my Nathan's pack had an external zip compartment for the bladder. On races it was so easy to just slide the bladder out, pop off the attachment point (where the tubing meets the bladder), and refill the bladder in seconds. I also didn't have to worry about any objects getting too close to the bladder and puncturing it.

With the Surge, there is only one large compartment that fits the bladder (a small half-zip entry) and an elastic band that crosses horizontally midway down the compartment. I am not sure what purpose this band serves since the compartment isn't very big and therefore holds the bladder snugly without it. If you carry a full bladder there is very little room to put anything else in there and you have to be mindful not to put anything sharp next to the bladder. I stuck my ziplock bag of blanket, HotHands, and QuikClot there.
When I went to refill the bladder, I had to take out my ziplock (I wouldn't want to put anything small in this compartment that might get flung out unnoticed), refill bladder, than awkwardly restuff bladder then my ziplock back in. Not very speedy. I see the benefits of having a single compartment (mainly cut down on weight) but I do wish it had it's own divider or area for quicker, easier access.

C) Lastly, the exterior mesh pocket is not sewn all the way on the bottom for obvious reasons: there is a girdle-type band that stretches across the bottom and allows the lower part of the pack to fit tight and snug to your body. I like this feature but might find a way to stagger-sew some or all of this opening shut in a way not to hinder the function but so I don't lose any objects through this hole. As of now, I haven't had any reason to put anything small in this part of the pack. I save this for my jacket, gloves, hat, etc. Also, I had a little bit of an issue with the top pocket (#1) flopping while I ran. I secured the buckle down as much as I could but it still flopped. Minor annoyance. I might need to recheck to see if I really have it secured as tight as it goes....




Overall opinions: Absolutely love these packs and can't wait to get more runs in with them. I would highly recommend them to other runners/hikers over the Nathan's brand.

***4/4/13: I'm updating this blog since I just found out a friend of mine ordered a brand new Nathan's pack and I got to check it out in person (although haven't run with it). It is designed almost exactly like the Ultraspire Spry pack. I highly approve of Nathan's design here and would definitely recommend them! I think the pack ran about $45-ish***

Kenosha Pass to Georgia Pass

 Loved this run.... (pic from MtnRunner)

Hooked up with my good friend, Karl, who I met in TransRockies 2009 as well as MtnRunner (check out his post on the run here) for a 25 mile trail run from Kenosha Pass to Georgia Pass. Neither of us had done this run before so we were psyched to tear it up. Cowboy hiked with the pup while we ran.

 Karl said, "Pose!" as he took this pic. This was all I could come up with... I'm such a girl.

 Filtering some ice cold water. Upon research of this trail I couldn't find any good info on water sources but saw lots of biker bloggers complaining they ran out of water. I have no idea how this happened as creek crossings were in abundance! I had carried one bottle plus a full 1.5L bladder and my purifying tablets. I did not need that much water on my back.

 Mount Guyot (Mtnrunner in top right corner)

It was cold at Georgia Pass so we headed back right away and followed Jackson Creek Trail (beautiful trail!). Here we stopped for "lunch". I swooned over my summer sausage and Gouda cheese.

We passed a certifiable cowboy and his wife riding horses on the way back to Kenosha. He had the kind but stern face, handlebar stash, big hat, chaps, and kick ass boots. He tipped his hat at me and said, "Ma'am" as he passed. I would have instantly tossed my panties at him had I been wearing some. Karl educated me in the importance of always carrying a back up pair just in case for such reasons as this. Thanks Karl for the lesson...notes were taken. 

The day was perfect, even with a little snow sprinkling at the top of the pass. My first trail run with the UltrAspire Surge pack: gear write up soon but bottom line, I absolutely love this pack.

We stopped at some local BBQ joint on the way home and scarfed down some delicious ribs, collard greens, mac and cheese. 

TransRockies Take Two!

It's been a bit over a week since I got back from running the six day staged trail race across a beautiful mountainous section of Colorado. My partner and I placed sixth in our division and we're pretty darn happy about that. We ranked 9th last time we ran this in 2009, so sixth is a good place to be not to mention neither of us were even slightly injured or beat down. Steph had some serious altitude adjusting issues the first and somewhat into the second stages but seemed to dig deep and burn through it. Overall we had so much fun, to be honest, probably the most fun in all the races we have done together. We had communicated and discussed our goals and expectations multiple times throughout the months leading up to the race that when the race day came we were laid back and chillaxin about the entire thing.

I couldn't tell her enough how extremely happy I was to have her as my sidekick through these races. She is, by far, the most positive and outgoing person I know and love to be around. We nicknamed her "The Voice" this time around due to her constant attraction to chatting with anyone, anywhere, anytime. I'm a bit more anti-social on the trails as I enjoy becoming lost in my own thoughts, music, or the soothing environment (nature) around me. I will chat with others on occasion, mostly when the incline has slowed me to a hike, but I am pretty selective with who I chat up. We teased the hell out of her the entire week but frankly, we meant it all in the kindest way. We (myself and the other pair of runner-friends we headed to the race with) love her to pieces, even with all the chatting. She is truly the best running partner ever.