Run Dude, Run!

Christmas Cheer

2009-12-27T18:39:00.004-06:00

Christmas season has come and gone. We had an awesome holiday with friends and family, spent playing with kids, eating delicious food, taking many walks with the dogs, tromping through the snow, and opening a few gifts.

Before heading to New Hampshire on Christmas Eve, we spent a night with our dear friends, Jane, Seth, and Aida, in Northfield. The evening was quite chilly and skies were clear, which made for a nice sunset. We ate venison stew, drank a few Hibernator brews, feasted on blueberry pie, and chatted while playing with Aida's collection of toys.

(Aida, Seth, Cinnamon, and Jane)

(Aida helping out in the kitchen)

(Aida and I close up!)

Christmas Eve was spent in Massachusetts at Dave's brother and his wife's place. Each family member brought a traditional polish dish and collectively we had quite a spread of tasty polish food.

(Christmas Eve watching Santa's progress across the globe on Google Maps)

After breakfast on Christmas morning, I took mom to the heron rookery, a nesting site in the woods by Dave's parents house. We tromped through the woods and took some photos, checked out the nest, and laughed a lot, before heading home.

After our walk, all of the family gathered around the fire for present opening before pulling up our chairs in the dining room for a special feast made by Dave's mom. My mom and I contributed cranberry sauce, sweetened with maple syrup and orange zest, for the meal, otherwise Dave's mom made the rest! We had turkey, potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and apple pie and pumpkin pie. Mmm mmm.

After the meal, we went for a walk before gathering around the piano for carols.

On the 27th we drove home to Vermont. I had a wonderful time with relatives, but was very happy to get home. And, as if to welcome us back, the day after we got home the snow began falling and didn't let up all day or night, making for a nice day of snowshoeing followed by a cup of spicy hot chocolate. Now I have five days off from work and plan to enjoy some nice, long runs; knitting; reading; skiing; and just plain enjoying my little family in the comfort of my home.

'Tis The Season To Bundle Up!

2009-12-20T06:56:00.007-06:00

Thanks to Chittenden County Transportation Authority I am on a new running schedule! My co-worker told me that I could catch the bus for free about halfway into my commute and that the bus would take me right to the front doors of my building. I was so excited! No more driving in rush hour traffic, interstate traffic jams, or icy highways (actually, I'm not afraid to drive on icy highways, but I do get frustrated when drivers go too fast, causing accidents, or too slow, forcing everyone to drive 10 mph when 30 or 40 mph will do.)

I took full advantage of the new bus schedule, going into work 40 minutes later than usual. That extra time in the morning means time to stretch, do sit-ups and pull-ups, and lift weights before hupping to and getting ready for work.

So instead of heading out on my run at 6 AM, I get to fly out the door at 6:20 AM (hey, every minute counts!). Usually, I change into my running clothes about 5 minutes before leaving, but lately more time is needed! Wind and cold means . . . layers. Many layers. So many layers that it takes FOREVER to change.

On Friday morning I started laughing because it was taking so long to get ready for my run. If the temps are -2F (about -20C), I need to wear long socks, running tights, running pants, base layer shirt, short-sleeve shirt, long-sleeve shirt with hood and face protection, another long-sleeve shirt, light wind jacket if it's windy, two pair of gloves, baseball cap, and ear protection. Can't forget the headlamp.

And when I am all ready to go it's Luna's turn. She needs her booties, coat, and harness. Finally, probably 15 minutes later, we are ready to head out the door. Usually, about 15 minutes into the run, I shed the wind jacket, but depending on the direction of the wind, I may put it on again later.

(Winter layering. Luna's booties and coat are on the left of the photo.)

You might think with all of those layers, it would feel like running in a sauna, but the layers are thin, made of polyester rather than cotton, and breath enough to make a perfect combination for temperatures below 0F.

Last week I would return home after each run with frost on my eyelashes and frozen nose hairs. Every time that happens, I think of when my family lived on a property in Alder Flats, Alberta, whose village had about 100 people. My brother, Kurt, and I were in the 6th and 7th grades.

Winter always seemed brutally cold in Alder Flats, -40C and lower, and we received a ton of snow. Going outside meant covering every inch of skin; starting the car meant keeping the block heater plugged in at all times; watering the horses required thawing the spicket with a blow torch. But I didn't mind. As long as we could bundle up in warm clothing, we were okay.

Winter running reminds me of Alberta, home to my heart. I think of my dad stocking each vehicle with survival gear and Snickers bars; my mom making grilled cheese and hot chocolate; my brother and I, puffy marshmallows in all of our winter gear; our horses, dogs, and cats, fluffy as cotton balls in their furry winter coats.

Winter requires warm clothing, a taste for adventure, and an appreciation of frozen facial features. So next time you are daunted by the cold and snow and the wind chill factor, just remember to wear everything you own and then some, and fling open your front door to brave the frozen world.

Spruce Mountain Hike

2009-12-13T13:44:00.005-06:00

Yesterday our friend Jimi came up for the weekend. We met in Montpelier at Capitol Grounds for a java before driving east to Spruce Mountain for a short hike on snow covered trails. It was a chilly windy day, but we had a great time, enjoyed awesome views of the winter sky, and made it back to town in time for another cup of hot coffee! Photos of our journey are below.

(Dave and Jimi enjoying the day)

(Jimi's dog, Willie)

(Spruce Mountain fire tower)

(Top of the fire tower, brrrrr!)

Hodge Podge from The Holidays and Weekend Run

2009-12-12T05:32:00.007-06:00

The last couple of weeks have been quite busy and I haven't had time to give you an update. Before Thanksgiving our friend, Keith from Banff (Leslie's Keith), came for a visit. He brought a super tasty bottle of wine and a lot of positive energy. We had dinner and took the dogs for a walk, chatted about good books and, of course, running, before Keith went on his merry way.

(The dogs, mom, and Keith)

(Dave's parents, Dave, and Jimi)

Thanksgiving was spent in New Hampshire with Dave's family. We enjoyed a great meal at Dave's sister and her husband's place; visited with our friend, Jimi; spent QT with Dave's parents and my mom; and I hit the trails for a nice New Hampshire style run.

(John, Dave, Jimi, Me, and Mom)

(Mom and John, Christmas carols)

(The dog's room)

The following weekend, since I got a late start and didn't hit the trails until 1 PM, I ran on mountain bike trails near our house. The trails skirt a brook that meanders through a hemlock forest before heading uphill and popping out in an open field. It was a pretty run. Mountain bike trails are not the best for running though--the switchbacks can be so close that you basically hop over a few rocks and small bushes and, bam, you have cut off a mile and are on another trail.
(Brook near the mountain bike trails)

(Runner ahead!)

(Bridge is out, time to turn back)

(Mt. Mansfield in a snow storm)

This weekend our friend Jimi is visiting from New Hampshire. We plan to hike Spruce Peak this morning and head out for a run tomorrow morning. Whirlwind of a weekend, here I come!

Route 15 to Bear Hollow, Whiteface, and Smuggs Village

2009-11-25T04:38:00.020-06:00

Last Sunday I decided to spend 4 hours running on the Long Trail--Dave's weekend was filled with Woodworking School, so I had plenty of time to run. Dave and I ate breakfast together and I took the dogs for a walk before busting a move to the trailhead. It was getting late by the time I started, at 11:45, which meant I would have just enough time to finish my run before it got dark. My assumption was that the run would take 4 hours, but I didn't know for sure.

The trailhead was an obscure spot just off of route 15 on English Settlement Road. I parked on the edge of the gravel road, next to a snowmobile track and a logging road, took off my rain shell, and slung my backpack over my shoulders. I hoped that my car would be safe and out of the way until mom dropped me off 5 hours later. English Settlement Road is a dead end road and we had yet to get snow, so I figured all would be well.

The start of the run crawled up a long, gradual uphill, passing many small streams, winding through a small maple syruping site, before curving around to an open field with a small, green cabin next to a beaver pond. After the beaver pond, the trail led into a hemlock forest that smelled fresh and wet and reminded me of last winter when Dave and I snowshoed this section of trail.

After the hemlock forest, the trail opens up again before diving into a stand of hardwoods edging up against a cliff. As I ran this stretch, the sun crept in from behind the ridge and hitched a tally ho in my step. It felt like a warm spring day and I was a spring chicken, ready to rule the roost! I flew through the woods, happy and light.

A couple of miles later Bear Hollow Shelter peeked at me from behind the trees. The shelter is perched on a small hill and sits close enough to a stream that you can hear the brook bubble and burp its way down. I stepped inside the shelter and inspected the cabinet filled with Gold Bond, Marlboros, Advil, matches, and lip salve. The cigarettes were fresh and looked fairly dry. I thought about the thru hikers and how some of them would be thrilled at this score. I had to pass and would stick to Gold Bond or Advil over smokes any day!

After snapping a few photos and exploring the shelter, I grabbed a Gu shot and two ginger candies out of my backpack, sucked back some water and took off down the trail--4 miles to Whiteface.

The trail to Whiteface was fairly flat and easy with plenty of sun splashing through the trees. I knew that the trail would get steep soon enough and tried to enjoy the floating feeling while it lasted.

(A big bubble in the tree made for fun!)

Eventually, the trail steepened and terrain become more difficult; I had to get into billy goat rather than bounding deer mode. As I climbed, working my way closer to Whiteface shelter, the shadows deepened, making the trail feel dark, lonely, and cold. I wished for sun, light feet, and the burps of the brook, but I knew it wouldn't come, not on this section of trail. So instead of thinking about it, I told myself to be careful and to RUN!

As I climbed Whiteface's shoulder, the sun came out again and with it the muffled clinking of ice chunks falling from the trees above.

(Sweaty and tired, but happy to be up high!)

(Top of Whiteface)
(View from Whiteface lookout)

Whiteface Shelter welcomed me after a short decent from Whiteface, but I could hear voices inside the shelter and decided to skirt around rather than stopping to say, Hi! That and I had to get off the trail before dark, which was rapidly approaching.

(On my way from Whiteface to the Chilcoot Trail on Smuggs. Sweaty as always!)
The stretch between Whiteface Shelter and Chilcoot Pass, where I would descend to Smuggs Village, required a bit of climbing and a lot of concentration for slippery rocks and foot bridges. I saw two large piles of moose droppings, but no sign of the dropper!

(Yay! Made it to Chilcoot Pass. It was only a decent on the ski hill and gaunt down the highway before I was in the mountain village sipping a hot cup of java with my mom.)

And after all that travel, after 4 hours of running, chomping on Gu, sucking back Nuun water, and taking photos, I made it to the highway, where I would run the final 10 minutes to meet mom at Smuggs Village.
(Mom, picking me up!)
(A wee bit wet and chilly after my run)
(Smuggs)
(Mom, ready to buy me a hot coffee)
(Oscar, mom's best bud, greeting us back in the car)

With hot coffee in hand, I relaxed in the passenger seat as mom drove the 20 minutes northeast to drop my off at my car, where my Sunday Long Trail run began. Oh what fun.

Sterling Pond and Prospect Rock Runs

2009-11-20T19:21:00.012-06:00

STERLING POND

(The pond, view from the trail)

(Luna)

(Pond at 8:30 a.m.)

(Good morning!)
(Ice flow)

(Stowe with snow)
(Notch Road Closed. Yah!)

PROSPECT ROCK TO ROUNDTOP SHELTER RUN

Last weekend I ran over Prospect Rock, a popular overlook and climbing around northeast of my house, to Roundtop Shelter. Unlike the Sterling Peak runs that I have been doing lately, the terrain to Prospect Rock was fairly flat. The steepest section was just before the overlook where the trail mini-switchbacks its way up. The most difficult part of the run came after I popped off the back side of the outlook and crossed the dirt road to get back on the trail. The further I ran down the trail, the more the roots tried to reach out and grab my ankles. Luckily, my ankles roll and recover super quick, so I didn't have problems with a sprain, but I did have to be alert. No wandering mind on this section!

(Hiker bridge)
(Coming down the trail)

(The Lamoille River)
As I ran through the downed trees that are scattered near Roundtop Shelter, I saw a hunter on the trail. He was in camo, walking slowly with his back to me, gun slung over his shoulder. I called out: Coming up behind you! He startled and looked back. I told him that I didn't want to scare him. I asked if he had seen anything. "There's a few over there," he gestured with his thumb. "Not anymore," I said. Then I felt bad for sounding like a smart ass. "Have a good hunt," I said and continued down the trail. Since he was heading toward the shelter, my turn around point, I figured we would probably cross paths again.

(Roundtop Shelter)

(Nice and dry inside the shelter)

At the shelter, I whipped out my Gu shot and pulled on my long sleeve shirt, trying to warm up in the dry space before heading back out in the rain. After snapping a few photos, I jumped out of the shelter and starting running back home. The hunter was a few paces down the trail. "Hey," I said while running toward him. "Where did you hike in from?" He told me he came up from the valley behind the shelter. The hike to the trailhead from where we were standing was pretty far so I was glad to hear that he wouldn't have to drag his deer for miles down the trail. "Nah, I don't really care if I get anything," he said. "I'm just out here to get away from my kids, to get outside and enjoy some peace and quiet." I had to agree. We wished each other well and went our separate ways.

(Snack time)

On the way back I started to get cold and decided to change my shirts. After pulling on a nice dry shirt, I continued running downhill, nearly falling on my face a couple of times due to hidden roots. But I made it back to the overlook in one piece. Near the end of my run the usual thoughts of food took over all else in my mind. I kept thinking of that peanut butter and jelly sandwich, the crispy apple, the ripe banana; some lukewarm coffee. Delight. (Any other time I would be like, Yo, anyone have a turkey sandwich and some HOT coffee? But after a long run, mediocre looks spectacular!)

I made it back to my car, changed my soggy shoes, and pulled on a dry coat before hopping into the car and cranking the heat. After I was satiated by the PB&J, I headed over to mom's house for a hot shower, and coffee.

Ozark Trail 100 Endurance Run - Pacer's Perspective

2009-11-15T19:45:00.002-06:00

My friend from Missouri, Andy Pele, paced Jeff Wells at the OT 100. Read about his experience below.

Ozark Trail 100-Mile Endurance Run November 7-8, 2009

Jeff Browning, Mizzou alumni, former Tryathletics employee and winner of several 100-mile trail runs told me after the race that it was “the most treacherous race he’s ever run at night.” I agreed with him but just because he was running so fast. I’m sure lots of people behind him had sense enough to slow down and try to shuffle through the leaves so their feet wouldn’t land the wrong way on one of the rocks underneath. But when you add abnormal temperatures, near 80 degrees, craters left where the roots used to be from hundreds of blown down trees, and a field comprised of nearly 40% first time century runners to leaf covered trail conditions, you end up with carnage.

I could see it at mile 17.6, the first aid station with access for runners’ crews. Before Jeff Wells showed up, at least two runners had come in scraped up and bloody. Everyone was talking about how difficult the trail was. And at only 10:30 in the morning, they were getting hot. Jeff looked unscathed and so did Allan Benjamin, who planned to run the whole race with Jeff, but they would suffer later as the temperature rose.

After seeing them off, Lisa Wells and I drove to the next crew access point at 43.5 miles. We had time to stop at the little general store in Bixby and get ice for Jeff. I knew he’d appreciate it when he saw us next. And I appreciated the lemon meringue pie they had in the deli. Lisa asked when we would see Jeff next and was pretty surprised when I told her 5 pm. We had a five-hour wait ahead of us but made the best of it by talking to other crews and watching how the experienced ones prepared for their runners.

They fretted over the 15 extra yards their runner would have to walk to get to his crew, about whether he would want the Cheetos or the chicken tacos from Taco Bell, about which shoes he might want to change into next. They set up little transition areas with everything laid out on a towel for quick access. One crew even broke out the backpacking stove to fry bacon for their racer. Their concern seemed amusingly excessive until I saw a couple of the prima donnas rush in spitting out their demands like machine gun fire. “I need the Innov 8’s. I need salt. I’m so dehydrated. I need my tights. No not those. The other ones. I need my lights. Where’s the Cheetos? Oh f--- it! I gotta go. I don’t have time.” Luckily, I was well hydrated with alcoholic beverages and could still laugh at this behavior.

Jeff was nothing like them. He was mellow as always. We’d get him sitting down and try to ask him what he needed. It usually wasn’t much. He had a plan for each aid station so we had some idea of what we needed to do: refill his bottles with more Accelerade and chia, get his shoes and socks off to reapply the Vaseline, put on fresh socks and dry shirts, get him fed, and make sure he had E-caps and lights. He was rationing his water because some of the aid stations were nine miles apart and that could take over 2 ½ hours. But he still looked good at mile 43.5.

When he left it was getting dark. Lisa and I returned to the cabin at Bass River Resort, had some dinner, and rested a couple of hours before driving back to the 3rd crew access point at mile 68.5. Jeff was scheduled to arrive at 11 pm and this was where I begin pacing and would run with him until the finish.

Pacers are usually allowed after a certain point in 100-mile ultramarathons and I was happy to be doing this for Jeff. But I wondered what I would need to do to motivate him. I asked Lisa and she didn’t know. I asked Jeff and he didn’t know either. He did say that I shouldn’t flash him, a motivational technique that Jenn Shelton employed in the book Born to Run. Lucky for me, he never needed much motivation. When he did finally arrive to pick me up as his pacer, I asked him, “What can I get for you?” Jokingly he replied, “A ride home?”

That was the only time I heard him say anything about quitting. All I had to do for 31 miles was keep him and Allan from getting lost and set an example of running the flats and the downhills so they wouldn’t get stuck in complacent walking mode.

Before starting our post-midnight jaunt, I sat by the warm fire and listened to the stories of the racers who were calling it quits. One surprised me because I saw him twice that day with a huge smile on his face as he arrived to meet his crew. But his mind was failing him. He said his body felt great, but he was getting dizzy and confused and was afraid he’d get lost if he tried to go on.

Another just complained about the blisters on his wet feet. Lots of creek crossings! As Lisa and I enjoyed the fire, I warned her not to let Jeff sit by it, not to let him get lulled into its warm comfort. She couldn’t believe that other crews let their runners quit so easily. She was prepared to put up a fight if Jeff balked at going on and finishing. Before he arrived, we discovered that 43 runners had already dropped out of the race. The radio operators told us that Jeff had checked out of the last aid station at 10:42pm so we hoped to see him by 1:30am.

By 1:43am Jeff, Allan, and I were on the trail together, about 20 minutes ahead of the cutoff time. I knew there was just one more cutoff to worry about: 7 am at the Berryman aid station, 20 miles away, but I was confident that we would make it as I monitored our progress with the Garmin.

I think it helped Jeff to know how far he had gone from the last aid station, and how much further he had to go. However when you’re expecting 6 miles to the next aid station and it turns out to be as little as half mile further, it can be pretty frustrating after running all day. Jeff wasn’t very talkative, but from his comments I could tell that he was doing OK.

Allan, on the other hand, I worried about. He just seemed to be more confused than Jeff. His legs seemed to be doing better than Jeff’s, but not his mind. He lost the trail a couple times, but even I had trouble following it in spots. At least he remained positive. Jeff’s quads and hips were getting pretty stiff and sore. They were screaming at him before the sun rose, and he still had hours to go. He dealt with it quietly.

When the sun did rise, Jeff was glad to see it. “That’s a long time to be running in the dark,” he said.

And then we merged onto the Berryman trail, a section he was familiar with since he has run that race for several years now. This seemed to lift his spirits too. Finally after climbing what was the longest hill since mile 68.5, we were at the final aid station at 95 miles. It was mostly downhill from there, but even more exciting to Jeff and Allan, in a mere 3.5 miles they would be done with the single track and onto the stable footing of a gravel road.

Amazingly, Jeff and Allan ran that last section of the race faster than they had run all night. We kept passing people who were walking. And each time I saw one ahead I’d tell them, “Oooh, I smell dead meat.” It was sad in a way, though. I wondered if maybe Jeff felt guilty for overtaking them so close to the end of the race. He sure didn’t want anyone to pass him in the final miles. One man did catch us though, and thankfully he just asked to run with us to the finish. He was limping as he caught us but still babbling happily, amazed that he was going to finish, thinking he was done for fifty miles ago. I don’t know how many times, if ever, that thought crossed Jeff’s mind. But once I saw him at 68.5 and heard him say, “It’s all unknown territory from here,” I knew he was going to finish. And he didn’t let me down.

Jeff and Allan finished in 30 hours and 22 minutes, in 27th and 28th place. Of the 126 starters, only 56 would cross the finish line before the 32-hour cutoff. Most of those brave souls who started this race put themselves through an amazing, grueling, emotional and exhausting experience. And whether they finished or not, they all have a story and should be proud that they even dared toe the line.

Ozark Trail 100 Endurance Run News

2009-11-11T04:46:00.011-06:00

News from the Ozark Trail 100 Endurance Run began flooding the online wires bright and early Monday morning. My friend Andy, Jeff's pacer, wrote me a note:

Jeff was awesome. He ran the whole way with Allen Benjamin. It got a little hot and a lot of people suffered. First half of the course had a lot of blow downs and root ball holes and leaf covered rocks, and consequently lots of blood was drawn. Not from Jeff. Huge DNF rate, over 50%. Wakefield and guy he ran with took ...2nd and 3rd I think. Jeff just 20 minutes behind his goal but finished in top 30!! about 30:20. Pacing was 11 hours of fun. He didn't need me to push much, I just helped him stay on course, took care of him at the aid stations, kept him informed of his pace and how close he was getting to the next aid station, and tried to keep his pace high on the last 7 miles where we passed several people.

(Jeff leading the pack)

(Jeff and his friend, Allen Benjamin)

(Jeff and the best support crew, his wife, Lisa)

The SLUGS listserv started filling up with volunteer reports and race photos. Overall, the volunteers had a great time and enjoyed the warm weather, unlike the runners, who were becoming easily dehydrated.

(Aid station photos)

David Wakefield wrote a note about the race:

OT100 in the bag finished in 23:45 tied with Melcher. Not sure whether that's good enough for 3RD or 4TH . . . . Tough,Tough course. Lots of rocks roots and BORAT...

(Dave Wakefield tearing up the trails)

In less than 24 hours, David would finish the OT 100 in the top 3 overall place. I guess training on the upwards of 150 miles/week will do that for you.

And after more than 24 hours of running non-stop, Jeff, Allen, and their new friend make it to the finish line. 100 miles of running on the Ozark Trail completed!

To Jeff, David, and all of the runners who attempted and completed this race: You are my inspiration. Your determination and motivation sparks my complete love for this life and all the crazy experiences that we as ultrarunners and outdoor enthusiasts face. Thank-you for getting out on a sunny November day and running your asses off!

Ozark Trail 100 Endurance Run

2009-11-06T04:44:00.008-06:00

Tomorrow 142 runners will run the inaugural Ozark Trail 100 Endurance Run beginning in Potosi, Missouri. SLUG members, Stuart Johnson and Paul Schoenlaub planned what looks to be an awesome event.

A few of my ultrarunning friends will be running the race one for whom this is his first 100-mile run. Jeff Wells, my running partner in Missouri, is taking on 100 miles for the first time tomorrow. I met Jeff at my first marathon, the Heart of America Marathon in Columbia, Missouri. He was running a decent pace at the time, had good advice, plenty of experience, and didn't talk to much. That was perfect for me so I tagged along for about the last 8 miles of the race. After that we met up at races and would camp out near each other, chowing on dinner (he always ate a steak while I chomped on spaghetti) the night before and waking to coffee the morning of races. Jeff is headstrong and determined and will do well in this race, I am sure.

Another friend, David Wakefield, has been training like crazy and will tackle the 100 miles like a wildman on high octane coffee. I met David for the first time at the Rock Creek 50K in Kansas and was fortunate enough to spend about 2 minutes of the race near him! He is fast. After that race, he put in a few good words for me with Great Plains Running Company and store owner, Willie Lambert, was kind enough to offer me sponsorship through the store and Salomon running gear. I didn't last long as a sponsored athlete due to challenges in my life at that time, and because I moved to Vermont, but I felt flattered that David thought I was worthy of the offer. Keep your eyes peeled in Trail Runner Magazine for this guy, he has the speed, determination, and personality to be big time.

Another friend who was training for the race is Jerry Frost, my friend who attempted the Grand Slam this year and whose will and determination saw him through his first Western States. Unfortunately, Jerry was in a bike accident last week and due to a broken neck (luckily, he is still walking and has no brain injuries) will not be able to complete the race. Many of his friends from SLUGS are running the race and I am sure they will all keep him in their thoughts.

Ozark Trail 100 Endurance Run, may the day be crisp and clear, the runners safe and full of vigor, and the stories filled with laughter, grit, and most of all, tales of determination for those who finish strong!

Sterling to Spruce--Hills for Jerry!

2009-11-02T04:54:00.012-06:00

On Sunday, my alarm was set for 5 A.M. and it felt like I hopped out of bed immediately after it went off, so I was confused when I looked at the oven clock while making my coffee and it read 6 A.M. Oh well, an hour behind schedule on a Sunday was nothing to get worked up about, that and it was the day to set the clocks back anyway!

I was just glad to be up and at it and feeling okay about the day. The previous evening, I wasn't sure I would even run my planned route. On Saturday afternoon, I learned that my friend, Jerry, was in an accident on his bike and broke a bone in his neck. Luckily, it looked like he would come out of the accident functioning at full capacity, but the fact that he broke his neck spooked me out and made me wary of going on my run alone. I also felt somewhat depressed thinking of his situation and wished that I could visit him and try to cheer him up. But the more I thought about his situation on Sunday morning, the more I realized that Jerry would want me to get out on my run. He would have wanted to be running on a fine, clear morning himself! So I tried to cling to those thoughts and decided that I would do my planned route of Sterling to Spruce Peak. I would run the hills for my friend!

After my short coffee and bagel breakfast, I changed into my running clothes, double checked my gear: mini backpack filled with a light shell, long-sleeve polyester shirt, granola bar, two GU shots, money, headlamp, camera, map, and one water bottle (with ibuprofen and Nuun tabs in the handle zip), and laced up. Luna sat by the door ready to be leashed and loaded. After tying my Montrail running shoes, I threw on my rain coat and winter hat, and busted out the door.

The day was clear compared to the previous day with wind gusting at over 50 mph on the summits. I was chilly at the start of my run but warmed up on the hills.

Sterling trail was snow and ice free, which made me happy! The trail was wet but not slippery.

Here we are at the junction where I typically turn left, but today I would take a right into new territory.

View of the Notch from above.

Vastness of Vermont.

Luna and I at the viewpoint.

Red moss.

Looks like a comfortable place for a mossy rest.

View to the south from the top of Spruce.

Luna, let's do a timer shot!

On our way down Spruce, Stowe in the distance.

Old dormitory.

Heading back home.

Hey, there's the Notch. Let's go!

Oh good lord, I look tired! That was supposed to be a smile for making it back up to the top of the notch, but it looks more like a death grin.

What a great, difficult run. My legs are still tired and it's already Thursday! I took Monday off from running but ran 8 miles on Tuesday and Wednesday. This morning I am only running 3 miles, but I will run my usual 4 miles at lunch. Tomorrow I am hoping to start my new training: For The Sake of Friday! For the sake of Friday, I'm going to bust out the door as soon as I pop out of bed, at 5 A.M. and run until 6:30 A.M. Then I'll eat my bagel and coffee in the car during my commute, bust out a few editorial duties, and run again at lunch, my usual 4 miles. For the sake of Friday, I'm going to kick it up!

The plan for this weekend? Mansfield trail run. Oh YAH! And celebrate the first ever Ozark Trail 100 Endurance Run. More on that to come . . . .

Mansfield Run: Overland Trail to Nebraska Notch

2009-10-25T04:52:00.007-06:00

I haven't always been a runner. This was my thought yesterday as I ran through the woods of Mt. Mansfield. I was thinking about people who read my blog and think, Man, I wish I could run but it will never happen or I could never do that trail, it's too hard. Well, the thing is: you can. It's really that easy. Once you make the decision and stick with it, running will become a part of your life and will change your life.

Sure, running is not for everyone. Some people like to get their physical activity by mountain biking, cross-country skiing, climbing, hiking, taking long walks, working in the garden, or a combination of these and more. However, for those that want to run or wish they could run, it is possible, but it takes time and determination, and one decision: to start running.

In high school, I ran sporadically. My friend ran in a track club and I decided to join her, but after the first grueling workout (Why do we have to keep running up these hills? What's the point of throwing this heavy medicine ball around? Sprinting? Oh my gawd!), I quit. My throat burned, my muscles ached, my motivation was buried in a dark pit. But during basketball season, our coach told us we would be a better team if we ran more often. I wanted to be a better player so I took him up on it and started to run laps in the gym every day after school (did someone say boring?). Running loops around a small gym was worse than boring, it was torture! So I took my laps to more enticing scenery, running down the highway that passed my house (we owned a bunch of land on a secondary highway), breathing in exhaust as cars sped by. Again, this lasted a few weeks before the novelty wore off.

During high school and after I had self-image issues and an eating problem. I would either gorge on sweets and make myself run to burn the calories, worrying that I would gain weight if I didn't do something--the novel idea of not eating so much junk in the first place never settled itself firmly in my brain--or I would limit myself from certain foods to such extremes that one time I passed out. It was awful, but at that time I did not have a clue how I could begin loving myself and working with my body rather than against it. Running back then was anything but fun.

A year before I turned 20, totally lost in my life and not sure what to do next, I got into rock climbing and, man, did I get fit! Unfortunately, no matter what anyone said, I could not see my strength and talent and loving myself was not an option. Running came back into my life: to be a better rock climber and to get on 5.12s, I needed to run, or so I was told by another solid climber. That attempt at running lasted slightly longer than my other attempts.

Shortly after getting into climbing, I met some great folks who are still close friends of mine, and got into skiing. My friend Chrissy and I decided to run so that we could become better skiers. And so a trend began: run to become better at the other sports I loved.

Off and on it went through college where, with the support from my roommate, I ran to lose the 25 lbs I had gained after many trips to the cafeteria and hours sitting infront of a computer.

Finally, once I moved to Missouri, 6.5 years ago, running stuck and, along with the sport and support from Dave and many friends, I began liking myself, my body image, and my abilities. I was able to lose the self-criticism and constant slanders about my weight. No one wants to hear us cut ourselves down. The less bad things I thought and said about myself, the better I felt. (As my dad would say, Imagine that!) Food became more of a friend than a frightening foe and running built up my confidence.

It took a lot of work and trial and error to get to the point I am at today--to be able to pick up anytime and run 20 miles without a problem. Most days I am more than motivated to bust out the door and feel the steady tempo of my breathing, the schut, schut, schut, schut, of my footfalls, and the wind on my face (freezing my face in the winter). Some mornings and weekends, though, it is hard to get out the door, but I always remind myself that I will be glad I did, that it will feel great once I get warmed up and will feel even better when I get home and think about the day's run.

Yesterday I talked to my brother on the phone (it was his birthday) and he asked, What is it about this running anyway? He couldn't understand the point of it all. The more I think about it, the more I realize, put simply, running makes me feel like a kid again, and that makes me feel alive.

So, of course, yesterday I went for a fun run on Mt. Mansfield. For those of you who have made it this far, the photos are below. Enjoy! And if you get a chance, head out of doors and have some fun, maybe even go for a run!

(The start of our run on the Overland Trail.)

(Check out the nice new shoes. Clean but not for long. Who likes clean shoes anyway?)

(Luna in hunt mode. Alert.)

( Keep on trucking down that trail.)

(Devil's Dishpan, a bunch of vernal pools on the ridgeline. This is a special place, especially in the winter.)

(Tent site. Let's stop for a look.)

(Now that's more like it. Breaking those shoes in.)

(We did it Luna! Now, let's get warm!)

(We stopped at the country store for scones and a dog cookie before heading home.)

Notch Loop Run

2009-10-21T03:46:00.008-06:00

On Sunday I ran up the Notch Road, which was closed to traffic, to Sterling Pond Trail, up to the pond, and down the ski hill back to my car. Thank goodness I didn't have to run down Sterling Pond Trail--it was all ICE! The ice made it difficult to run the entire way up and had me wishing for Yak Tracks or something with a good grip. For once Sterling Pond trail was not busy with hikers! I only saw only one person, an older man who was on his way down to the road.

(Top of the Notch.)

(Trail, here I come!)

(No running up this slick spot! Well maybe a step or two.)

(Who wants to go skating?)

(Sterling Pond)

(Hey, there's me!)

(View of Northern Vermont from the top of the ski hill.)

When I reached the top of the ski hill I climbed up the chairlift stairs to check out the view. When my friends Jerry and Mitch came to visit during the Vermont 100, Mitch climbed up the stairs and I thought, What a good idea, I can't believe I have never climbed up here. After snapping a few photos, I climbed back down and started my decent to the car. I ran into two folks hiking up with their dog, a husky, and chatted for a minute about the snow and how deep it was already. It looked like they were hiking up the ski hill and planning to spend the night somewhere--the lady had a very large, heavy-looking pack on--but I didn't ask if that was the case.

(Mt. Mansfield)

(Cool, snow!)

(Getting close to the base where there was barely any snow.)

The further I descended, the warmer it got. Barely any snow was left at the base of the ski hill.

Back at my car I stretched, slugged some water, hopped behind the wheel and cranked Primal Scream's Come Together, bi-bopping my way to Jeffersonville to stop at mom's place for a hot shower and soup. After our tasty meal, we wandered up to the General Store for Lindt chocolate before I drove home.

The next morning my left thigh was super tight. This is a nagging problem that comes back every time I do a hard run. I am sure it has something to do with the ITB issues. My right thigh was totally fine. So to let my left quad unwind, I took Monday off from running and got Dave to do some massage. I NEED to get to a specialist and find out for sure what is going on with my left knee and see if I can heal it up somehow without a prescription of sans running. If that is what the doctor reccomends, she can take a hike!

Quality Outdoor Time, Parents Included

2009-10-18T05:34:00.018-06:00

I feel fortunate to say that for the past two weekends I have spent a lot of time exploring the outdoors with parents--last weekend Dave and I went canoeing and hiking with his parents, Diane and John, and this weekend I took mom up to Corliss Camp, a 3-mile round trip hike, her first hike on the Long Trail.

NASHUA RIVER AND PACK MONADNOCK

Let's start with last weekend. Dave and I drove down to NH on Friday and got up at the crack ass of dawn to go canoeing. No, not really. I got up at 7:30 and took Luna for a walk before Diane got up for her walk. Diane and I returned from separate walks at the same time and Diane made a delicious french toast fare for breakfast.

After our meal we packed up and drove to the Nashua River for our adventure. The sun kept hiding behind the clouds, which made for a chilly paddle, but we warmed up once we started paddling upriver. Shortly after we began, we were hungry for snacks and decided to pull out our lunches and eat. We rafted up in a side channel and shared a nice meal of turkey sandwiches for John and I, peanut butter and jelly for Dave, and yoghurt and fruit for Diane. I chased my meal with four Dove dark chocolates.

The Nashua River has seen a dramatic change since the 1960s when industrial waste from paper, shoe, and textile mills marred the water rust red. In 1965, Marion Stoddart, an advocate for the waterway, created the Nashua River Clean-Up Committee and worked to clean up the river and its banks. Since then river health has improved and the waters no longer run red, but protection and continual monitoring is still needed to curb human and commercial impacts that threaten the health of the watershed.

As we paddled its waters, the river opened up from a windy, slow moving channel to a wide, lake-like area. As we entered the shallow waters, Diane noticed white forms on the water. We paddled closer and recognized the shapes to be adult and juvenile swans! John paddled up really close to one group of swans while we headed west to the second group, hoping we wouldn't flush them into flight. It always surprises me how close waterfowl will allow paddlers to approach. We watched the swans beat their wings and ruffle their tail feathers before turning our backs and heading home.

On our way back home, Dave and I pulled up to the shore for a pee break. When I stepped out of the canoe to supposed solid ground, I sunk to mid-calf in ankle-sucking, black mud that slurped at my shoes and left me standing in stocking feet. I cracked up and bent over to retrieve my shoes. Once back in the boat, I washed my shoes in the river and wrapped a towel around my feet to keep them warm.

After loading the canoe and kayaks on the cars, we headed for home, but not before stopping for ice cream first!

The following day we met Dave's sister, Karen, her husband, Eric, and their two kids, Maria and Isaac, for breakfast at Parker's Maple House, a neat restaurant located in the New Hampshire woods.

After filling up on sausage, eggs, and toast, Dave, John, Diane, and I did a short, crisp hike up Pack Monadnock, a 2290-foot mountain. The trail was quite busy because of Memorial Day holiday, but we had a nice time.

TO CORLISS CAMP WITH MOM

Yesterday, after waking at 6AM to see Dave off (he is teaching his final two Introduction to Challenge Course classes this weekend at the Bolton Adventure Center), mom and I met at my place, ate grilled turkey, cheese, and spinach sandwiches, savored pumpkin spice coffee with whipped cream, and hopped into the car, heading north to the Neighborhood Trail, which leads to Corliss Camp. The camp consists of a shelter and outhouse built by the Green Mountain Club. This would be mom's first excursion to the Long Trail.

The hike is a gentle climb up a wood's road to the single track trail that tops out below the shelter; just past the shelter is the Long Trail which leads north to Tillotson Camp or south to Laraway summit. Our destination was the shelter but we hiked up to the sign post so I could show mom where the Long Trail went from the camp.

At the shelter we looked at the log book and read an entry from a shelter caretaker who was reminiscing about the days when a stove was available for use inside the shelter. We wrote our own entries in the log book before sitting on a bench and enjoying our snacks.

Small piles of snow on the picnic table and in shady spots around the shelter confirmed the thermometer reading inside the shelter: 0'C. Freezing. We started to feel cold and decided to retrace our steps back to the car.

Today is the Mansfield 5-mile trail run, located on the cross country ski trails on the backside of Mansfield. I did the race last year, but this year the Notch Road is closed due to an early snowfall. I have decided to skip out on the run this year, rather than driving all the way around to get to the race, and am going to run up the closed notch road to Sterling Trail, past Sterling Pond, and down the ski hill (through the snow) back to my car. Should be fun! Stay tuned for photos and a full report.

Top of the Morning with The Sniffles

2009-09-26T05:34:00.004-06:00

Two days ago, on my fourth day of work at my new job, I woke with a sore throat and my body felt weak; the next day, my throat was even more sore and limbs weaker; and this morning, a bit worse (or better if you consider that a runny nose means you are getting closer to the home stretch of getting better). I haven't ran since Wednesday! The weird thing, though, before any of this sore throat business reared its ugly, well, soreness, was that my legs felt really stiff and my feet were painful for three days straight. It felt like someone had tapped my feet with a rubber hammer. On Wednesday I did my morning and lunch run despite the pain (probably not a good idea) and that evening decided to ice my feet and knees. Bam, the next day I was sick. So perhaps this sickness is my body saying, "Girl, can you chill on the running for a couple days!" or maybe it is simply that I caught the University of Vermont Student Funk. Either way, it's a bust! I am taking care of myself though with the best cold remedy: coffee.

My new job as an Editorial Assistant at UVM is going well. The women that I work with are very friendly and welcoming; the supervisors are not uptight and don't worry about your hours--they assume I am an adult who can be trusted to work my expected 40 hours--and my stress level went from ski high to almost none.

The perks for working at the University are endless, but the thing I look most forward to is taking classes. I get up to 15 credits of free classes per year! I have been browsing the course catalogue and have found a few cool classes for next semester. Most of them are artsy type classes, a couple are writing classes, and others are environmental studies classes, such as Introdction to Wildlife Tracking. Here is a list of chosen classes:

Beginner Guitar
Beginner Piano
Nature Drawing
Drawing for Non-art Majors
Advanced Writing
Introduction to Wildlife Tracking
American Sign Language
Russian (I took 13 credits of Russian in college)
Topics in Canadian Literature
Environmental Journalism (I took this class at Unity College but did not get along with my instructor so I did not do very well and didn't enjoy the class)

This list is enough to keep me busy for two years! I need to take a closer look at my focus and figure out if I would like to pursue a masters degree rather than simply take classes for fun. I think both are beneficial but it would be good for me to work toward a masters, especially in these competitive economic times.

The other UVM perk that I am excited about is the one-hour lunch break! I have free access to the athletic facility and plenty of places to run, plus a nature area with 64-acres of trails across the street from my building. I would like to start a training program that incorporates cross-training with my running (lately I have been running 5 days/week and often twice/day. Running is awesome and super convenient, all I need is a change of clothes and my running shoes, but I keep thinking "quality not quantity" and need to get a better workout regime planned so I can acheive higher quality results). The gal I work with showed me where the pull-up bar is located in the gym. I am excited to be able to do pull-ups again (I could only do three that day, but I used to be able to do many more when I climbed all the time and had a pull-up bar in my house.)

The only thing that I am not looking forward to is winter driving. UVM is located 45 minutes from my house. I have to leave an hour ahead of time to incorporate my walk time. So if I leave at 7 a.m. it takes 45 minutes to drive and 15 minutes to walk to my building from the parking lot (I like the walk). In the winter, I imagine that on major snow days, the drive will take an hour or more, depending on how many accidents occur on the interstate. Unlike my old job, I bet my new employers will be more lenient and prefer that I stay home rather than kill myself on dangerous, icy highways. Only time will tell and the best that I can do is take the winter driving season day by day!

As you know, most times I would sign off on a Saturday by saying that I am going for my long run, but due to a visit from this sore throat and runny nose, I am required to rest and recover. Here's hoping that by tomorrow I will feel strong, energetic, and healthy as a horse. Whatever you do today, put in a good bout of energy for me!

My Neice Gets Married!

2009-09-16T18:21:00.009-06:00

On Saturday Dave, my mom, and I will be heading east, to Maine, for my neice's wedding. Meg has grown up from a polite little girl to a strong, witty, beautiful woman.

I remember her as a child: such a goody two shoes, always trying to do the right thing and listen to what her parents told her. Polite, shy, and funny at just the right times. It occured to me back then, in my teenage years, that if I ever had kids, I would want them to turn out like my sister's kids. They were the only kids that I knew who actually listened to their parents!

So here's to you Meg. Happy Wedding!

Meghann (my neice) and Val (my sister). Meg is quite young!

Meghann, Zach (my nephew), Granny Hasse, and me (in my new Christmas gift, a tacky outfit!)

Meghann is on the horse, I am on the left and my mom is on the right.

Meg, my mom, and Zach at the beach!

And suddenly, poof!, she is grown up, a young lady playing a kick ass game of basketball (she is amazing at 3 pointers).

Too cool for school, getting older.

Meg, me, and Josephine at Zach's b-ball game.

Oh yeah, Meg can play! This photo was taken in Missouri when she played in a parade near my house.

Meg and Zach, both grown up.

Meg on a camping trip with Josh (the one and only!).

Getting ready for the big day. It came so fast!

Beautiful! And it's not even the big day, just a fitting.

Good luck to Meg and Josh. May your life be full of pleasant surprises, love, strength through difficult times, and laughter.

I love you Meg!

Tillotson Shelter - Shavings Drop to Privy

2009-09-07T05:20:00.009-06:00

Last weekend Dave and I hiked to Tillotson Shelter, in the northeast kingdom, to refill the shavings buckets at the privy, or as I tell people at work, I hauled shavings to the shitter.

Tillotson Shelter is quite old, with the first nail pounded in 1930 and a total shelter makeover in 2007. The Shelter sits at the edge of a bluff and is dwarfed by Belvidere Mountain to the southwest. The shelter is quite comfortable and is built to allow a lot of natural light to come in the "windows", which is awesome compared to the dark dungeon of Beaver Meadow Lodge, another Long Trail shelter that we visited recently.

We dropped the shavings, cleaned up the crapper, hung out at the shelter reading and munching on snacks, and headed out around 3 p.m., getting home around 5 p.m. ready for a cold brew and BBQ!

Me at the beginning of the hike with a pack full of shavings!

Not too far to go.

Dave coming up the hill.

Fern shadow.

The view from Tillotson Shelter.

Dave checking it out.

Our purpose!

Here she is. What a beauty!

The view from the shitter.

A bit dirty, let's get that straightened up.

Don't forget the instructions.

BEFORE
AFTER

The shelter.

Nice bunk beds!Free reading.

Let the light in.

Dave reading.

One thing about Tillotson, though, is that it is abutted by the Vermont Asbestos Group Mine's massive, forgotten tailings pile. The pile is a couple thousand feet high and covers an area of 1540 acres. It is being evaluated as a superfund site and is barely monitored at this point.

The mine closed in 1993 and was left to erode via water and wind. In 2007, the EPA implemented small berms to retain water runoff due to heavy rains and they also dug sedimentation basins, to catch some of the runoff, but when you see the size of the berms in comparison to the size of the pile, you have to laugh. It's like putting a band-aid on a gutted cow. It is significant though that the EPA is taking action and cooperating with the state to limit access. Currently, anyone can enter the property simply by walking around the single gate covered in no tresspassing signs. Quite a deterrent. See photos of the mine below.

The NO TRESPASSING gate.

Guard dog. Pretty scary. He was quite friendly and a bit lethargic, as you can see! The other dog actually jumped into our car.

Tailings pile.

Oh Canada!

2009-08-29T09:09:00.011-06:00

A few days ago I flew from Burlington to Chicago to Edmonton. Initially, I was only supposed to have a couple of hours in Chicago before flying to my final destination, Edmonton. Unfortunately, I spaced out and forgot to bring my passport so I wasn't able to get on my early flight, which left me catching a later flight and had me hanging in Chicago for over six hours.

Now I am not an indoor type of gal, especially not at an airport, so the first thing I did after arriving to Chicago was found the way out! Luckily for me my terminal popped out next to a Hilton hotel that had a decent size area of green grass and shrubs and a porch type area where I could sit out of the rain. I made the best of six hours in my new space by reading, walking, talking to mom on the phone, snacking, watching birds and, if you can believe it, a bunny, and more reading. Here are some photos from my day at the Chicago Airport.

My very own green to sit and play on.

On the phone with mom, see the phone hanging from my neck? It's on speaker.

Fresh Vermont apple from my yard. Yum.

Great book to keep me company during the 6 hour wait.

This bird sat there and chirped for a long time. I liked its company.Constant noise at the airport. Subways, planes, cars, shuttle buses, big buses, taxis, and on and on.

Shelter from the rain.

Parking lot that I walked around after the rain.

Set of flags at the end of the parking lot.

I made it through the 6 hour wait and arrived in Canada at 1 a.m. my time (11 p.m. dad's time). I didn't get to bed until 3 a.m. my time, which marked nearly 24 hours without sleep. Good training for my first 100 mile race!

After a couple of nights rest, I am feeling back to my old energized self. I have been running every day since I arrived; taking advantage of the extra time to run by putting in 7 miles each day. I run behind dad's cabin, across the Lobstick river, through the field, and on to an old homestead road that leads 3.5 miles through the bush to a highway. At the highway, I turn around and head home.

Lobstick river behind dad's house.

Dad's cabin. Totally off the grid.

Solar panel shack and wind turbine. Dad's source of energy.

Relaxing on a log that dad carved.

My dad!

Yesterday, after my run, dad and I saddled up two of his horses in prep for a nice trail ride. Unfortunately, dad's horse wasn't too into the idea and bucked a bit, throwing dad in the dirt. My horse was a bit more willing and we rode through the woods before I got off, brushed him, and let him go. I spent the remainder of the afternoon saddle soaping my saddle and bridle to keep the leather moist and to prevent it from cracking.

Red, a registered Tennessee Walker.

Scout, the horse dad named "Gizmo" after the Edmonton Eskimoes football player.

Me and Red enjoying a ride.

Today I am going for another long run, taking Red for another ride, accompanying dad to his neighbor's daughter's wedding, and, if I have time, baking raspberry muffins with the berries I picked the day before yesterday. I also want to stain dad's solar shack and clean his truck for him. So much to do, so little time! I'm not sure that I will have time to head to the Rockies. I love the mountains here and would like to spend a day exploring, but my time with dad is limited, only 5 days, and I want to enjoy his company as much as possible in the short time that we have together.

Haselton To Hell's Brook on Mansfield Ridge

2009-08-24T04:15:00.012-06:00

On Saturday I ran from Haselton Trail (spelled "Hazelton" at the trailhead and "Haselton" on the map), along Mansfield ridge, to Hell's Brook Trail and once at the Notch Road, I ran up to Smuggler's Notch and down toward Jeffersonville. My plan was to run all the way to my mom's apartment in Jeffersonville, but a worried mother cut my run short by 5 miles.

I told my mom I would be at her place by 11 a.m., which may have happened on a dry trail day, but Hell's Brook put the brakes on that plan. I brought my cell phone along in the event that my run was going to last longer than planned; however, I couldn't get service until I was well over the notch and by then it was too late. Mom knows that I am generally on time even when running--I gauge the mileage and time it takes to cover a certain distance quite accurately--so when I was over an hour late, she hopped in her car and headed toward the Notch.

It has been over 9 years since I have had the luxury of a parent living close enough to actually come looking for me. I felt happy to see her, to know that she was thinking of me, and I felt bad for making her worry, and for a moment I was bummed that my run was cut short. I quickly kicked my selfish ass and thought of my mother's love and realized that spending time with my mom was much more important than running another 5 miles. After a bit of stretching and a couple of photos, we loaded up in her silver hotrod and headed downhill toward the convenience store and ice cream!

Fresh and clean and ready for some mud on my calves.

Going up there, into the mist, to the top of Vermont!

Near the top of Haselton. Sweaty and toasty warm.

Can't even see down the mountain because of the mist.

Only 1000 more!

You are here.

Summit ridge. Can't see the awesome views but at least I am not hot from bright sunshine.

Strings used to keep hikers off of fragile vegetation.

The sign says that the Amherst Trail is a "Bad Weather Trail."

Here I come!

Alpine vegetation.

My view for much of the ridge run.

Wait, is that a mountain over there?

Sweet! My first real view. I like it.

Vernal pool at Hell's Brook trailhead.

We are now way over here.

Hmmm. This should be fun.

I think a few bites of PB and Jelly bagel will help that GU go down real nice.

Try running straight down a slick rock like this without falling. I think not.

My elbow agreed and my ass had about the same sentiments.

More views!

Getting lower on Hell's Brook, near the road. This would make a good shelter in a downpour.

So from Hell's Brook, I need to go up there, to Smuggler's Notch.

At the Notch parking lot.

I made it about 2 miles down the Notch road before bumping into none other than a worried mother!

Sure, I'll take a car ride with you mom.

Especially if we're going to enjoy some QT over ice cream!

Have I ever mentioned how much I love running? How I love the adventures and frienships that it brings into my life? You should try it sometime, you may find that you actually like it.

Mansfield Ridge Run

2009-08-22T04:07:00.005-06:00

This morning I am on my way to Mt. Mansfield for a long run. My plan is to run up Haselton trail, across the ridge, down the Long Trail, up to Smuggler's Notch (on a steep, windy road), down Smuggler's Notch, and past the ski hill to my mom's. On my way down, I will stop at the bright yellow convenience store, near the ski hill, for an ice cream before running the remaining 8 miles to mom's place in Jeffersonville.

Last night I packed my camelback with water, electrolyte tabs (I need to buy more Nuun), ibuprofen, GU shots, a granola bar, camera, map, long-sleeve polyester shirt, light wind/rain coat (it doesn't breath well so it's more like a moisture trapper but it'll work in a pinch), credit card, 10 bucks, and my cell phone. Typically, I don't bring the phone but this is my first attempt at this trek; I don't know how long it will take and I told mom that I would be at her house around 11 a.m. If I am going to be really late, I don't want her to worry. Bringing the cell phone was a tough call, not in my nature, but in some cases I think it is okay. Flexibilty my friends! I will post photos of the main event and let you know how it goes tomorrow.

Two things not related to running:

1. Next Wednesday I will be flying to Alberta to visit my dad for a week! I can't wait!

2. I gave my notice at my job and start a new job with the University of Vermont as an Editorial Assistant on September 21 .

Party on all . . . it's Saturday!

Beaver Meadow Hike

2009-08-15T04:47:00.008-06:00

Last weekend Dave and I decided to explore near Johnson and hike into Beaver Meadow Lodge. This post is a photo essay. Enjoy!

Raspberries and Spotted Touch-Me Not.

Phallic symbols in the forest.

Stream crossing.

Sunny timershot.

The Lodge.

Dave looking at the log book, in the lodge.

Mice love TP!

Clothesline, hiker style.

Welcome to the lodge, my name is Deanna, how may I help you?

New roof, old lodge.

Where to now? There's my friend, Whiteface, but I think we'll head to the meadow.

Muddy.

Bushwacking to find the meadow.

Finally found Beaver Meadow. Incredible views!

Let's explore.

Phoebe on a dead tree.

Moose bed in the grass.

Spotted Joe-Pye Weed. Native Vermont wildflower.

Not sure what this flower was; I didn't find it in my wildlfower book. Dave liked this one.

The world's smallest maple tree.

This weekend we are off to explore Vermont's swimming holes!

Five Ways to Wake up For Your Weekend Long Run

2009-08-08T04:25:00.014-06:00

For any of you who have trouble waking up early on a Saturday for your long run, I can empathize. Sometimes the only thing I want to do after a five days of waking at 5 a.m. is to sleep in; however, I always manage to rouse myself up and at 'em first thing Saturday morning, my 6th day of waking before the crack of dawn. Here's what I do to bust out of bed.

1. Don't make a decision while you are laying in bed the night before. If you are feeling unsure about getting up early the next morning, sleep on your decision. I have found that I am so worn out by the time my head hits the pillow that all decisions made at that time are usually bad choices. So keep your alarm set and get some rest; most likely, you'll feel ready to rock at 5 a.m. the next morning.

2. Choose a place to run that you look forward to. If you are planning to run for 3+ hours, it is important to spend your time in a place that you like. If you dislike road running, don't run on the road! If you love trail running, take the extra time and effort to plan a trail run, perhaps a loop trail, or an out- and-back so you can replenish fluids and food at your vehicle.

3. When the dreaded alarm interrupts your dreams, and as the grogginess wears off, think of something you look forward to immediately after getting out of bed. For me, it's saying good morning to my dog, taking her outside and looking at the sky (sometimes it's already pink or the moon is still out), and most of all, it's my fresh cup of coffee and a bagel, which brings me to my next point.

4. Drink coffee! Obviously, this advice doesn't fit everyone but if you are a coffee hound, go ahead and have a cup! These days I drink only decaf coffee, but still look forward to a hot cup every morning.

5. Find a buddy to run with. Luna, my dog, keeps me company every Satuday morning on my long run, unless I am running on a narrow trail where tripping over a canine who is more concerned with frogs and squirrels than she is with keeping an even pace is a hazard. Generally, though, Luna comes with me every Saturday morning. When I lived in Missouri, often times I would meet with friends at Rock Bridge State Park. Meeting with friends or running with a companion can really help to keep you motivated.

And if after trying all of these things you are still unable to wake for your morning run, why not plan an afternoon run? Who says you have to get up early anyway? The most important thing is to get out and do it!

Green River Reservoir - A Day on the Water

2009-08-02T12:34:00.008-06:00

On Saturday Dave's parents drove north and joined us at Green River Reservoir for a day of kayaking and canoeing. Green River Reservoir became a state park in 1999 after the state bought over 5000 acres of land from the Morrisville Water and Light Department. The 19 miles of undeveloped shoreline are the longest stretch in Vermont. The lake is approximately 500 acres in size and home to a loon nesting island and a blue heron rookery.

No motorized boats are allowed on the lake; however, the lake has become more noticed in recent years by outdoor enthusiasts, such as ourselves, and the nesting sites have become increasingly at risk of destruction by too many visitors. On Saturday in particular we must have seen 40 kayaks. Dave and I like way less traffic when we are exploring, but it was good to check out the area and to take Diane and John (Dave's parents) to a lake near our home.

We saw a number of beaver lodges along the shoreline but didn't see their inhabitants.

Dave and his dad, John, lathering up with sunscreen for the day.

Dave's mom, Diane, sitting in her fancy, steed of a kayak.

John paddling toward the heron nesting site.

In the rookery the waters were shallow and covered in small lily pads.

Snack time! Dave and I munched on ginger treats and tricked John into trying one. He doesn't enjoy spicy foods so the treat nearly blew his hat off!

I don't have an aquatic plant book to identify this plant.

As we were heading back to the boat landing, we saw a loon in the water ahead. I pulled my binoculars from my pfd and watched it dive under. We sat quietly for a few minutes and waited. Sure enough, the loon popped up, closer this time. We watched it preening and waving its wings, its black head swiveling, its dark eyes taking in the scene: the bright kayaks nearby and loud swimmers further away, near the shore. It drew even closer to our canoe, offering us yet a closer look. Loons are on the endangered species list and became a concern to many state and local agencies when the nesting pairs in the state dropped to a total of seven.

Their numbers declined due to loss of habitat, nest disturbance, poison from lead fishing gear, becoming entangled in fishing line, boat collisions, and if you can believe it, gunshot. Vermont Institue of Natural Science (VINS), home to the Loon Project , is working to restore loons to waterways that have "nearly lost them." I like VINS description of loons:

"The common loon is the product of nearly 65 million years of avian evolution. Its sleek form and boldly contrasting, black and white plumage cut a striking figure, gliding along the surface of mist-shrouded waters. The loon's haunting call resonates with the depth of its ancient history . . . and the mystery of its uncertain future."

We watched our loon draw closer, and finally dive and swim further away, before dipping our paddles into the water and humbly, reverently paddling back to shore.

. . .

Today it is cloudy and has been raining for the last couple of hours. I don't mind though. I'm an all-weather kind of gal. Yesterday I woke at 5 a.m. and got in my long run before the canoe trip; today I may do an evening run before our Sunday night feast of BBQ and Long Trail Ale with mom and Dave.

It is days like this, when I have spent a weekend with loved ones, that I feel most thankful for my life. For my clean, warm home, my dogs, Vermont's natural treasures, my parents and siblings (and Dave's family), my health and the ability to run. It's days like these, the thankful, reflective days, that I want to cling to and carry with me on life's journey.

Whiteface Shelter Privy

2009-07-29T04:07:00.006-06:00

On Sunday I woke at 5:30 a.m. and chowed on a bagel and coffee before heading out the door to drive to Smuggs where I would hike up the ski hill to the Long Trail and follow the Long Trail north to Whiteface shelter. As a shavings hauler for the Green Mountain Club, my volunteer duties require me to load my pack with shavings, hike for a couple of hours before dumping the load at the privy, reshoulder my empty pack, and hiking out.

For this trip I had to take a can full of worms with me to dump in the crapper. I guess they enjoy the scene in the deep dark depths of human waste and help the moldering process. A moldering privy works in a cool climate where microorganisms and oxygen work together to break down waste. The shavings are added to keep the waste from compacting too tight which would stop all airflow to the waste and slow the breakdown process.

My pack, an empty bucket to be filled with shavings and left at the privy, and a can of worms (to be secured in a ziploc bag in case of spillage).

(Worm can close up!)

My hiking partner for the morning (Dave was playing music with a friend that morning).

We sure get along good.

Whiteface privy!

As you can see, there was already a bucket in place. Oh well, now there are two and a lot of extra shavings in the garbage bag behind the buckets.

Moldering privy information. Too bad it is stapled on the back wall, behind the reader. Who doesn't like reading while pooing?

A little humor never hurt.

Who stole the toilet seat?

Yay, empty pack!

Cool cobwebs still wet with dew in the early morning fog.

What a fun trip, a bit stinky but well worth the hike.

Vermont 100 Endurance Run

2009-07-19T17:02:00.007-06:00

On Saturday my friend Jerry ran the second race of the Grand Slam, the Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run in West Windsor, Vermont. The course "starts and finishes at Silver Hill Meadow. It is a "shamrock" loop, consisting of 70% dirt or jeep roads with the rest on woods trails (there are a couple miles of pavement). The course both climbs and descends 14000 - 15000 feet."

Jerry's son, Mitch, joined his dad on the flight from Missouri to Vermont to help Jerry run the last 20 miles of his race, pacing him to the finish through the most difficult part of the race. This would require Mitch to get up at 3 a.m. and stay awake and alert through the morning until 10 a.m. at the latest, when Jerry would cross the finish line after more than 24 hours of running.

On Labor Day, Jerry ran his first race of the Grand Slam, the Western States Endurance Run, 100 miles through Squaw Valley, California. For this race, "The trail ascends from the Squaw Valley floor (elevation 6,200 feet) to Emigrant Pass (elevation 8,750 feet), a climb of 2,550 vertical feet in the first 4½ miles. From the pass, following the original trails used by the gold and silver miners of the 1850’s, runners travel west, climbing another 15,540 feet and descending 22,970 feet before reaching Auburn."

So only three weeks after a grueling run at Western States, Jerry is back at it running the Vermont 100 with only a few weeks recovery before running the Leadville Trail 100 Mile Run. After Leadville, Jerry has to complete the Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run in Utah on Labor Day, with yet another short recovery time between races, and he will have officially completed the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning.

Fortunately, Jerry and Mitch came to Vermont early and decided to drive north a couple of hours to spend the night with us! They arrived on Thursday, stayed the night, hiked with us up to Sterling Pond (a steep 3-mile hike) on Friday, and drove back to race headquarters Friday afternoon to pick up Jerry's race packet.

Friday morning Dave made tasty blueberry waffles and we tried to stuff Jerry as full as possible with food before packing up and cruising north for our hike up Sterling Pond. We told Jerry he had to make the call as to when or if we should turn around on the hike because of steepness or overexertion, but he never did so we continued to the top of Sterling Pond trail and higher yet to the lift on Sterling ski hill.

Mitch found a stairway near the lift line that led up to a small boardwalk, offering a vast view of Vermont. We all climbed the stairs and munched on granola bars before heading back down to the car and saying our goodbyes.

As far as I know, Jerry finished the race and, at this moment, is laying in his hotel bed trying to cut some z's. I was tempted to call him yesterday morning to see how he did but figured that after running 100 miles and staying awake for over 24-hours, talking on the phone might be the last thing he would want to do. I decided to wait and to call him later today to get the full race scoop.

Jerry and I talked a fair amount about ultrarunning and injuries; how my injury may seem like a dead end now but that it wouldn't last forever. Jerry said to be careful and not to let the mind spin out of control, causing me to think that ultras are out of my reach. He told me that what may really be going on is plain and simple: I have an injured knee and need to let it heal. After that, once again, the sky is the limit. His suggestion was to buy a new pair of shoes, a different brand than what I ran in when I got injured, and to see how it goes. He said that his ITB flared up due to a ill-fitting pair of shoes that caused him to alter his stride and created pain in his knee.
It was really nice to see old friends and to share our new home and a special hike with them. Keep Jerry in your thoughts as he continues to work his way through two more challenging 100 mile races on his way to completing his first Grand Slam.

Jerry and Mitch on Thursday night after flying from St. Louis to Manchester, New Hampshire, and driving 4 hours north to our house.

Waffle breakfast compliments of Dave!

At the base of Sterling Pond trail.

At the summit of Sterling Mountain.

Mitch found the cool lookout.

Mt. Mansfield.

Group timer shot.

Down we go. Don't fall Jerry!

Mitch and Dave on the way down.

So long friends!

Trail Maintenance on the Long Trail, Belvidere Mountain Section

2009-07-06T04:26:00.011-06:00

On Friday morning of last week, Dave and I hustled out of the house to hit Belvidere Mountain to do trail maintenance on the Long Trail, before driving 3 hours to New Hampshire for a weekend spent with family.

We had hiked Belvidere the previous weekend and at one point in the hike we had to crawl under a huge birch tree blocking the trail. We talked about thru-hikers (people who hike the 274-mile long trail from one end to the other, also known as end-to-enders) and how they would have to unbuckle their packs, set the heavy load on top of the tree, and crawl underneath before putting their packs back on. Soon hikers would get tired of going under and start hiking around the tree, breaking a new trail, which might create erosion problems. Dave decided he wanted to come back to the birch tree with his chainsaw. He asked the Director of the Green Moutain Club, Ben Rose, if it was okay to do some trail maintenance and got the go ahead. So Friday was the day to make it happen.

I carried the saw to get a better workout and to help Dave out--the extra weight on his bad ankle would not be a good thing. While trying to figure out a way to strap the saw on my pack, I came up with the idea of putting a board in my pack for extra stability to tie the saw against. Worked like a charm!

Doo, doo, doo. On we hike up and up to find our first tree. We passed the birch on the way up, deciding to cut it on our way down.

Cutting our first tree off of the trail.

Down we go to find more trees! Our first tree was as high as we decided to hike; we made it pretty close to the summit before heading back down.

The big old birch! Dave is starting his cut and my heart is pounding because it was a big tree!

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz goes the saw.

Now from underneath. Dave work from the top and the bottom of the tree, trying to figure out the best way to keep from pinching the saw with the weight of the tree. If he pinched the saw in the tree, we would have been screwed, unable to get the saw out of the tree.

Once he got through the tree, it sprang back up like a hinge. The weight of the roots, that were still attached to the ground, tugged the tree back into place, making it look like someone climbed up on a ladder to cut the tree in half.

Now for the rest of the tree so we can roll it off of the trail.

We got pretty wet during the hike. At one point, while we were hiking down, the clouds opened and dumped massive amounts of water on us. We decided that if it were raining that hard when we came upon the birch we would just have to step under the tree and keep hiking, not stopping to clear it for fear of slipping. We also wanted to keep the saw from getting soggy! But the rain cleared and we were free to cut.

We did it! The trail was open once again, ready for boot soles to pack it down.

Back at the car and ready for a shower.