Northwest Running Trip, Greenland 50, errrr, 25K, Training & Upcoming Races

I know, I know, it’s been awhile. In my defense, I’ve been ABSURDLY busy lately – lots of running events, races and work trips. In the past month I’ve been to Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, Amelia Island off the Florida coast, Key Largo and the Ocean Reef Club, and Chicago. The latter three trips were work-related, as I recently moved into the Sales Director position at FSM and have been traveling my tushy off with Miss Amy Mac.

So let’s back it up – hopefully you’ve all been dying to hear about my running trip in the Pacific Northwest. Well, sounds like mum’s still the word as my trip report will be published in the upcoming Colorado Runner magazine (July/August) – below are a few snapshots from the running trip and my recent work travels.

: Cool running trail on Amelia Island, FL.

: Beach run on Amelia Island, FL.

: Biggest paella pan EVER – Key Largo, FL.

: Amy Mac taking her calls on the beach – Key Largo, FL.

: Amy Mac speaking at the Matson Money event – Chicago.

: Lakefront run – Chicago.

: Sunset on the first night – Edmonds, WA.

: Molly showing us who’s boss – Fort Flagler on the Olympic Peninsula.

: Dungeness Spit – Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge

: Marymere Falls near Lake Crescent

: Hoh Rainforest

: Lighthouse – Fort Worden, near Port Townsend

: Deception Pass

: Molly and I cheersing the sunset on Orcas Island

: Turtleback Mountain on Orcas Island

Race Recap: Greenland 50, errrr, 25K

I knew toeing the line of the Greenland 50K race on May 5th that I wasn’t 100%. My foot had been bothering me and a 31-mile trail run didn’t really fit into my training schedule. The race (put on by Colorado Runner) was at the Greenland Open Space in Larkspur, CO and is amazingly beautiful. With views of Pikes Peak and the front range, it was hard to even notice the pretty good climbing on each lap (the 50K course comprised of 4 laps).

Greenland Trail Races

About 2 miles into the second lap I decided that I’d just do the 25K. My foot was yelling at me and I could tell that a 50K would hurt me more than help me in my training schedule. Even though on paper I logged a DNF at the 50K – I still had an amazing 25K training run and couldn’t be happier with it!

Training & Upcoming Races

If you haven’t noticed or heard, I’ve added a few races to this season’s schedule – I received my first elite entry into the William A. Irvin 5K the Friday over Grandma’s Marathon weekend in Duluth, MN. I’ve also decided to run Grandma’s Marathon that next day, as it fits perfectly into my training schedule.

The big race to note is my recent registration in the Gore-Tex Transrockies Run August 14-19. Ben and I will be traversing 120 Rocky Mountain miles and over 20,000 feet of vertical gain over 6 days. The ironic part is that Ben and I had been discussing this race about six months ago but decided not to do it because of costs. I received an email from the CR Publisher asking if I wanted to do it and BAM – we’re in!

Some exciting training runs coming up include this weekend’s running of the third section of the Colorado Trail with Ben – about 22 miles.

I’ll be in Grand Cayman with Momma Hodges over the following weekend, which means nothing but sunshine, beaches and cocktails with little umbrellas :).

The weekend of June 23-24, Ben and I will be throwing down a 30+ miler over Kenosha Pass, and then doing some climbing the following day.

I’ll be in Arizona the following weekend and then running the Grand Canyon – this is a trip with Pete and his family and friends. While they all take the bus from the South to the North Rim, I’ll be running it, and then we’ll camp out that night and hike back.

That’s pretty much what I have planned, for now, as the Leadville Silver Rush 50-Miler is July 15 and then the Epic Relay is the following weekend. I haven’t thought that far ahead in terms of training runs!