El Scorcho 25k

Why yes, that is a post-race beer at 3:00 am

This is a race that starts at midnight in Ft. Worth.  It's a 5k loop that is a mix of concrete path, grass, gravel and trail.  I LOVED IT!!!  The best part about a loop?  You get to run by your friends at the finish line 5 times.  Courtney was there because Rob and Kris were running so that made it extra special for me to get to see her every loop.  I ran with Kelly the first three loops and just kept a nice, comfortable pace.  Our pace was averaging about a 9:30 mile but with my two bathroom stops and refilling of bottles, the overall time is about 10:23 minute miles.  The good news is that I ran 50 miles last week.  I haven't hit that sort of running mileage since training for the Lake Tahoe Marathon in 2002.  I had done 2 hours on Friday, ran 3 Saturday morning, the 25k Saturday night and then 3 again Sunday.  Except for Friday when my legs were dead, I felt awesome every run.  I could beat myself up about my 10 min miles but in regard to TransRockies, it's really important I focus on how quickly I'm recovering.   That will be the key to me getting out there everyday even when I think I'm too tired.  

I highly recommend this race.  It was really well organized, the aid station was great, and the crowd support was even better.  The Cowtown Marathon had an awesome aid station where they handed out cold paper towels.  That was the best part of every loop!!  The weather was actually not too bad, humid and hot Texas style, but with no sun, it felt comfortable.  

This weekend Diana and I are traveling to Bossier City, LA for the River Cities Triathlon.  I'm incredibly under-trained for the swim and bike but I should do good on the run!  After that I'll have one more hard week and weekend of running then it's time to taper for TransRockies!

More Mt. Wheeler Pictures

From Mitchell's camera! : )

Beth on Day 2

Me and Beth post summit

Beth is SO strong!!!

B-Dog enjoying the view

Dad coming off the summit

Camp Night 1

We tired B-Dog out!!  He would not move from under our tent! ; )

Me Day 2

Birthday Weekend! July 15 - 18

First up: my 31st birthday

Thursday, July 15

Sushi Lunch

Hillbillies post hills, pre birthday dinner

Randa made me a cake!  Doug, Jim, and Jay in the background

"Eat it Michelle"  : )

yum...pizza

Next up!  Evan's 32nd Birthday

Saturday, July 17

Lone Star Park Horse Races

Post Horse: BWW

Me and Mitchell

Presents at the Whittier's

Last but not least! Dad's 60th Birthday!!!

Sunday, July 18

60th!!

Dinner at Urban Crust in Downtown Plano
with Seth, Megan, Michael, Joe, Joyce, Mitchell, me and Evan

Mom and Dad

Seth, Megan, Mom and some seriously good desserts!

Mitchell and Michael

Wheeler Peak Backpacking Trip

I'm hooked!  This was my first backpacking trip that was more than just an overnighter.  We had such a great time and I can't wait to do it again!  The first day was tough because our packs were at their heaviest and the only direction was uphill.  By day 2 though it was awesome.  We spent the morning of day 2 hiking to New Mexico's highest peak, Mt. Wheeler.  I wanted to practice running downhill with poles for TransRockies so I took off on the way down.  I think that was the most fun I've ever had running.  The poles made me so confident that I didn't feel like I needed to break with my quads at all.  Which is ideal...the less I have to put on the breaks, the less my quads will blow up.  The only negative was I had really awful headaches both nights.  I always felt ok when I woke up the next day but they were really awful.  I swear I was drinking enough water, but I just read on a website this morning that when at altitude you should drink 3 liters a day...when it's a REST day.  It you're working it could be up to 8!!  I was drinking about 1.5 liters every morning, but when we stopped hiking, my drinking slowed down.  I already had to pee every half-hour anyway, but maybe I needed to do more.

I'm really excited for TransRockies but also nervous.  We were at almost the exact altitude that TR will be at.  Besides the nightly headaches, my body felt ok at altitude.  I definitely feel behind in my training though from all of June's traveling.  The next 6 weeks are all about building my base mileage as much as I can without getting injured.  I have El Scorcho 25k at midnight on July 25 which I will just do as a training run and then Rivercities Sprint Tri on August 1.  I'm glad I have that so I get out on the bike the next 3 weeks.  Even though I feel like I just need to run, run, run...cross training definitely suits my body best.

Crazy June

I'm so behind on my race updates and vacation updates! June has been crazy for me. This is the first Thursday since school let out that I'm not traveling.

Some quick hits:

June 5: Grapevine Triathlon - Paddle, Pedal, Pound the Pavement XI

This was the most fun I've ever had at a race. Total time: 1:21:17. 2nd Female 30-34, 5th Female Overall. It ended at a winery where we got free drinks and BBQ! It was hot on the run and they didn't do a good job with aid stations (AT ALL!) but still a lot of fun and I was happy with my effort.

June 10 - 17: Iberostar del Mar Resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico! It was a little too close to call because we forgot we both needed updated passports but it all worked out perfect! 7 full days in Mexico doing nothing but enjoying each other, the sun, and the beach. Celebrated our 1 year anniversary at the resort's Japanese Restaurant. A relaxing vacation for me is based on how many books I read and I finished 3!

Not too many pictures because I only had my iphone and I left it in the safe most of the time. Here's a couple:

    In the shuttle on the way to the resort!

    My sweet husband, the shark!

    Beautiful pool, it was huge with the waterfall at the end.

    There was a small pool with jets inside the rock area.

    

    Our favorite pool area, "The quiet pool."

    There's a pool bar in the back left corner

    that kept us hydrated all day!

June 20: Summer Solstice Duathlon, White Rock Lake

2 mile run/9.3 mile bike/2 mile run

This was my first ever duathlon and I loved it! I'm really liking shorter races were I can go all out. I signed up for this even though it was just a couple days after we got back from Mexico to keep me motivated in Mexico. I was 1st in my age group 30-34, and 4th overall female by just 8 seconds! So much fun. My running club buddy Robin was there and I made a couple new friends while we waited for the awards. Really glad I did it, I've always been intimated by duathlon's because my best event is the swim and there's no swim! : )

June 24 - 27: Blackard Family Reunion Camp Cromberg, California (an hour north of Lake Tahoe) This was a great, much needed trip. The last time the family got together was in 1995. Since I didn't come along until '98, I had never met anyone!! Most people stayed in cabins, Evan's parents in their RV, and us in our tent. We went on an epic hike, played 5 games of Settlers of Catan, at least 100 games of H-O-R-S-E (or pig, lobster, ox), watched the final USA World Cup game, and ate delicious food. It was really sentimental for Evan and I being in the Tahoe area. We lived in South Lake Tahoe in 2002-2003 and loved every minute of it. We're ready to get back during the winter so we can tear up Heavenly Ski Resort like we used to!!

    Family picture on the last day

    Before the hike

June 30 - July 5: Backpacking trip to New Mexico's highest peak, Mt. Wheeler. Great pictures from dad, this one deserves it's own post!

Every trip was incredible, but I'm really glad to be home for a while. (5.5 weeks) I've got some serious training to do to get ready for TransRockies. We leave August 19!