As my dad mentioned, I am busy training for my first trail marathon with my running friend Katy. We both PR'd last year at CIM and she is also an accomplished 50-miler! We are running the Sierra Nevada Endurance Run marathon on Saturday 9/25 and I am looking forward to it. I just started running on the trails a month ago and I love it so far. It is slower, tougher, more beautiful, you get really dirty, and I love my new Nathan hydration backpack! I have also learned to do a rub-down with Technu to prevent poison oak after my runs! good times. This will be my 8th marathon and we are also signed up for CIM in December.

I am looking forward to an 18-miler tomorrow morning. We are going to run from Twin Rocks in Granite Bay to Auburn, which is the same trail as our upcoming marathon.

Dad, thanks for setting up this blog. I am happy to hear you are "slowly" getting back out there.

Here are some photos that I wanted to share:
1. After a recent trail run
2. Beautiful Folsom Lake where we have been running on the trails
3. Yes, this is dirt on my legs. I was shocked after my first run. I have also purchased black socks, which help because the white ones are hard to clean after that.
4. Here is one of my favorite running photos with my sister Abby (from the finish of Run to Feed the Hungry 10K last year). Abby, I love how much fun you are!
5. And lastly, here is a video from a recent trail run (not the greatest quality, but you get the idea)

Our Newest Member

Eleanor in the hospital.

Gloves On Ready for a Morning Run

With this blog still in it's infant stage, I thought we needed to pep it up a little.  So, of course, I thought about trying to put some pictures on it.  What could be better than to welcome our newest member, Eleanor.  Now I can no way compete with Elizabeth's blog.  I must say that Eleanor is beyond cute (aren't all babies?) and she is more joy than a runner's high (I'm not really sure if I get that).  Anyway Elizabeth and Eleanor have been occupying the heart and minds of many.  After weeks and months of anticipation we Welcome Eleanor.  No marathons for her now.  But ... the other day I was wondering if we just might some day run one together.  How great would that be?  We both will have to do work hard on our training.  Which reminds me.  Since this is suppose to be about running, I thought I might just talk a little about running.

How cute is Eleanor?

Today was my first day out in 17 days.  I last ran on August 4.  Nursing a "hammie" since early July has been miserable.  I tried resting a week but then reinjured it.  Another 9 days off and still no good.  This morning I just couldn't take it any longer.  I decided to do a "walk-jog."  Walking at a 14:30 pace leaving home seemed OK, but when I tried running down the first hill, I felt a slight tightening of my hamstring.  Better back it down to a fast walk!  Seemed like it felt better "running" up the small inclines.  Turned at 1 1/2 miles; still OK.  I followed the same routine to home, jog uphill, walk downhill, with only slight tightening of the leg.  Sitting with a bag of ice under my left leg feels great right now.  What a crazy way to have fun.  Anyway, feels pretty good now.  I may skip tomorrow and try the same on Monday.  The CIM, marathon in Sacramento in December, seems like it is rapidly approaching and it may be hard for me to keep my training at a low enough level long enough not to get reinjured.  It sure is hard to follow my own advise to increase mileage slowly.  All this came about by jumping from 25 mile weeks to 45 miles week as I was getting ready to train for a PR.  Stupid me!

Abby, Elizabeth, Alexa, and Eleanor

You can tell you are a runner by the amount of joy you get when running.  It was a GREAT morning to be out there today.  Leaving home at 6 AM, there was a slight coolness with some clouds in the sky.  Getting ready, I grabbed a long sleeve top and noted it was from the 20th annual CIM in 2002.  It reminded me I have been at this for a while.   Hopefully, I will be able to rehab over the next couple weeks to months.  I started to think about some goals as I was on my way back home and then remembered I just have to get healthy now.  One step at a time.

One of the things I hope to soon add is a page with upcoming races.  I know a lot of us are planning on CIM in December.  Alexa has a trail marathon next month and Todd Y has an ultra 50K trail run in Tahoe.  Not sure what else others are planning.

This blog stuff is confusing.

Finally, this is suppose to be a community blog, and I want the others to WRITE not just comment.  We can give author rights to you.  I look forward to seeing this site grow.  Stay well and I hope to see you at the starting line.