2016: no regrets, nothing left undone

Published January 1, 2016

That time of year when I get quiet, reflect and goal set.

32 marathons, 32 different states in 2015. Attained ‘Titanium’ status in my Marathon Maniacs running group. 2016 however, I intend to limit multi-week, out-of-state travel – restricting East Coast marathoning to only 3 next year. ENJOY vs ENDURE the journey 🙂

**no regrets, nothing left undone**

50 State Quest completion (Hawaii, Illinois & Colorado)
finish 40 marathons/ultra-marathons in 2016
run local: 16+ marathons this year in Colorado
#‎2016whyIrun – marathoning for a greater cause, spread social awareness to something bigger than myself

first repeat marathon: St Louis (sis’ hometown race)
first International marathon (Banff Nat’l Park, Canada)
first ultra-marathon (5 planned; distances > 26.2 miles)
first Double (back-to-back Saturday-Sunday marathons; 6 scheduled)
- ultimate goal: build mental & physical strength necessary to complete a multi-day adventure race in 2017

2017 marathon challenge: 100 marathon club
5-year marathon goal: Canada Quest, 42.2K province challenge
7 years, 7 continents: marathon all 7 continents (including Antarctica)

**future plans, looking ahead**

Hiking & climbing once again will dominate blog posts after 2016.

Multiple must-see National Parks crowd my bucket list. I’ll continue to marathon 10 races annually – met many inspiring folk these past two years – but the mountains, my first love, are calling & I must go. Colorado, Alaska, New Zealand, Chile, Kilimanjaro…Everest.

: 2015: 32 marathons, 32 different states

: best dog EVER — my adventure companion, Ro, awaiting his next hike

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cyber Christmasing

Published December 25, 2015

Home for the Holidays

Since Ash & Tom migrated West 2 years ago, have landed a mighty good place for the holidays. This year celebrated ‘1st Christmas’ in their new Westminster home.

Lucky in life, super grateful.

Traditionally, holidays can be a difficult time of year. Reflecting, memorializing…remembering ‘the good ole days’. Empty nest syndrome.

TECH up, Gen Xers – think, what we didn’t have in 1980? iPhones, iPads, FaceTime, Skype. Face-to-face, real-time communication ‘cross multiple time zones. This is the stuff Disney only imagined in his Carousel of Progress. Folks, we’re there!

Opened presents with family LIVE at 10, noon & 1 – FAAANNNTASTIC!

Blog Familia: Love & appreciate ya’ll 🙂 Hope you feasted BIG, felt spoiled & shared lotta laughs with friends & loved ones. Merry Christmas & God Bless!

: holiday yule-loggin’ w/ Marty

: iPhone/iPad/cyber Christmas holiday

: rare Full Moon (first since 1977)

Patti Labelle: I’m Christmasing with You

snowshoe hike: Lost Lake

Published December 19, 2015

A sudden and unexpected snowstorm hit Boulder on Tuesday, dumping nearly a foot of snow on the city, mucking up traffic and prompting school closures across the county.

The city of Boulder officially recorded 11.3 inches of snow for the duration of the storm…and brings the total snowfall in Boulder during December this year to 14 inches.

Running season over, marathon count holiday-stalled at 49: 2013 (2), 2014 (15), 2015 (32). Long year, lotta travel.

Plans for my first weekend off? Snowshoe hike, nothing like a snow day 🙂 BIG SNOW four days prior – good reason for my first trailhead adventure with the Jeep. Whole lotta sunshine, gonna be a great day for a December shoe-hike.

Loaded up Ro & headed west thru Boulder Canyon to Nederland, center-town right, 5 minutes+ past Eldora Ski Resort – kicked into 4WD & plowed UP County Road 130 to Hessie Trailhead. No stopping ‘til we reached the ranger road closure 2 miles down.

Today’s hike destination: Lost Lake, a 3.6-mile out & back trail.

Super easy summer hike, ridiculously crowded camping. Add a couple feet of snow? Just ‘bout perfect. My shoes are older…probably due for a new pair – but Ro doesn’t care. Off leash & snow, combo my dog lives for.

Surrounded by pine & heavy snow – slight elevation climb 9,000 to 9,800ft – reached Lost Lake in just over an hour. Highlight: listening to the popping, cracking ice – water moving under the lake surface, heating/shifting in the high altitude sun. Twice Ro spooked, barked, charged his invisible predator. LAKE MONSTER!! LOL>

Tick, tick, tick…only 6 days ’til Christmas. Nothing like a snow hike to get ya in the mood 🙂