Adventures in the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks

Tad and I took a week-long camping trip to the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks. It was my first visit to the parks and certainly not the last as their incredible awesomeness left a lasting impression on me and a yearning for more.

We flew into Vegas and stayed in a resort where we enjoyed amenities such as indoor plumbing and hot showers before embarking on our adventure

The first sun my feet have seen in months.

It is impossible to go to Vegas and not try your hand at gambling. There is even a casino in the entrance of K-mart. We went into a random casino after dinner and got out as quickly as possible. I don't know, but sitting for hours in a smog of cigarette smoke drinking alcohol and concomitantly losing money does not appeal to me. But hey, to each his own.

We lost $10.00 in less than 90 seconds...

While at the Grand Canyon we hiked down South Kaibab, across the canyon on Tonto Trail, and up Bright Angel for a total of 13.3 miles, according to my Garmin. 

A lone cactus. 

Don't fall off, Tad!

View from South Kaibab.

I have some training to do before I break the R2R FKT.

We left the Grand Canyon and drove four hours to Bryce Canyon National Park where the temperature dropped 20 degrees. While making dinner, an abrupt hail storm started dropping huge ice balls into our pasta and forced us to grab everything and run to the car for shelter.

Isn't this supposed to be fun?

Pasta with tomatoes and ice balls, yum!

After a cold night in the tent, we were not in the mood for making breakfast on our camping stove. We spoiled ourselves with pancakes and coffee next to a fire in the Lodge. 

Overnight low of 30 degrees.

This is more like it!

We hiked the "Figure 8" loop which took us through Navajo Loop, Peak-a-boo and Queen's garden with stunning views of the hoodoos.

Water stop.

Tad on the edge.

The hoodoos.

In a quick 90 minute drive and a couple thousand feet drop in elevation, we were at Zion National Park. We woke up that morning at Bryce with 30 degree weather and snow and now we were in shorts and a pleasant 72 degrees and sun. We hiked the legendary Observation Point which climbs several thousand feet and shows off unbelievable views of the parks massive sandstone cliffs.

Tad and I at the top. 

Coming back down.

After watching some YouTube videos and some disturbing accounts of people's experiences on Angel's Landing, we decided to scratch that hike off of our to-do list and hike the West Rim Trail instead. We were not disappointed.

Looking at the infamous (and terrifying!) Angel's Landing from a safe distance.

A plateau on the West Rim Trail.

Nobody else around to take our picture.

It's hard to believe a tiny river is responsible for this.

One of the many rock mountains.

I wasn't ready to return home, but after another night in Vegas, I couldn't get back fast enough. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to explore these places on a very intimate level. I like to be fit and competitive and receive all of the attention and accolades of a great running performence, but there is something special about being in such a spectacular place with no time frame or agendas. Just me, a trail and an appreciation for life. What a gift!

The Colorado River.

Enlightened Perspective

Today marks three months since the start of my injury. I have had many injuries in the past, but none that took more than six weeks to heal. I am doing better than last month, both physically and mentally. I still have days when I am overwhelmed with grief, but not nearly as often as in previous weeks.

There are a couple of reasons for my improved well-being:

1. Boston. In addition to courage, benevolence and love, horrific events like the Boston Marathon bombing generate an enlightened perspective. I am blessed. I did not lose a loved one. I am lucky. I did not lose a limb. I am grateful. I did not have to experience first hand the sights and sounds of terror that will haunt many people for the rest of their lives.

2. Hiking. Within the last couple weeks I have been able to go on some local hikes that really represent the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. It’s not the same as running, but it gets my heart  beating and lifts my spirits. When I am not running I feel so disconnected to nature. Sometimes when I am out hiking I get the urge to roll around on the ground to reconnect and immerse myself in something that is so pure and wholesome.

3. Hope. God willing, I really think that I will be running within the next  couple weeks. The thought of going out for a hard run makes me squirm with anticipation and puts a smile on my face. I can’t wait to fly over the trail and push myself to exhaustion.  

There is no doubt that I will return to running with a greater sense of appreciation and love for the sport. I will be more determined than ever to work hard to reach my goals, but also take time to celebrate the little victories along the way. It will be nice to be me again. 

*Photos courtesy of Tad Davis

Running’s Got a Hold On Me

The past 8 weeks, have been a roller coaster ride of emotions. One day I am at 

Thank goodness for Kinesio tape.

the very bottom of the well, trapped in a downward spiral of negativity and despair. Then the next day, I wake up and run 3 miles with no pain and life is as good as it gets. My Achilles injury has stumped me and the medical professionals alike. It is no longer bursitis, but not quite tendonitis. My symptoms are unlike any testimonies I have heard. I can walk around pain-free and go for a short easy jog with no problems at all, and then the following day the sharpness in my Achilles manifests itself 1.5-2 miles into the run and I am forced to stop. Aggressive PT with ultra-sound, massage and electro-therapy has helped tremendously, and at the beginning of the week I had another violent encounter with Graston. I’m not sure what else to do other than to work on managing my thoughts because the longer this injury persists, the more I realize how unhealthy these bipolar feelings are. Don’t disclose this to a non-runner as they are likely to schedule you an appointment with the soonest available shrink. Luckily, I am surrounded by a community that is beyond supportive and understanding. I think it is required that you be a runner or at least a runner once-removed to live in the state of Washington. Studies are showing that sugar has effects on your body that make it more addictive than cocaine  but I bet they never looked at what happens when you deprive a runner from running.

My new sweet ride!

On a positive note, I have become quite the yogi (minus the zen state-of-mind). Last week I logged 11 hours of yoga, a statistic in which I am quite proud. Tad surprised me with an early birthday present- a beautiful new mountain bike, which I can not wait to take to the trails. I received the brand-spanking new 2013 Inov-8 uniform in the mail, which I will anxiously and impatiently wait to wear.

Team Inov-8 will be shining brightly this year!

I am entered to run the Yakima Skyline Rim 25K  in Yakima, Washington which will take place on April 21^st. I have no idea what will happen in regards to my training between now and then. One lesson that  I have learned this time around is that you can not let your race calendar dictate your recovery time. You have to get the race out of your head or else you will constantly will yourself to get better and make irrational decisions that more often then not, kick you two steps backwards. 

Not Much is Worse-a than a Hurtin' Bursa

Because the Fragrance Lake 20k was so close to home,  I was able to get up-close and personal with the course in the weeks leading up to the race. I grew to know and love its variety of terrain and to embrace the pain that came with it. The course starts on the Interurban Rail Trail and takes a turn at 1.7 miles up Cleator Road, thus beginning the 1100 foot climb up to Fragrance Lake. The joy of seeing Fragrance Lake’s beauty is short-lived. The climb doesn't stop, but continues up to what the locals refer to as the infamous “chin-scraper,” a steep, relentless, hands-on-your-knees grind that will take you to Chuckanut Ridge. The cruelty continues as Chuckanut Ridge is 2.3 miles of technical, don’t-look-up-or-you’ll-fall-flat-on-your-face (or down the mountain) terrain. If you are lucky, you might look up just enough to catch a glance of Mount Baker on a clear day. The last section of the course is a (relatively) screaming fast downhill of switchbacks that spits you back out on the Interurban Trail for a .4 mile shot to the finish.

I love the Fragrance Lake course.

My goal for the race was to break the previous course’s record. We ran the course with moderate effort once to make sure we knew which way to go and then a second time which was an intentional hard effort about a month out. I came within a couple minutes of the record and was confident that on race day I would be able to shave them off once I was properly adrenalined and caffeinated.

There was time for one more long run on the course 3 weeks outs, but unfortunately, this plan never came to pass. The Sunday after a 16 mile long run at the Redmond Watershed Preserve in Redmond, WA, I was feeling a pain that felt like a blister rubbing on my Achilles. After a slow 8 miler, I got back in the car, took off my shoe and was surprised to see no blister. The soreness on my Achilles never let up throughout the day. Taking time off was inevitable.

The Graston aftermath.

For those of you who have been injured, you know the drill. The first couple weeks of an injury are a guessing game. What is it? What can I do on it? What is aggravating it? Why me? Ahhhhhhh!!! The guess was that I had an acute bout of Achilles tendonitis, so I went to Align Chiropractic to receive Graston work from Dr. Chris Lockwood. This technique is meant to break up scar tissue and increase blood flow to the tendon by taking a stainless steel tool and scraping it vigorously over the inflamed area. Testimonies indicate that this is a fairly effective treatment if you can stand the infliction of pain and bruising.

Well, I wasn't going to cut up a pair of Inov-8's!

I had no such luck. After more research and poking and prodding, we concluded that I have Achilles bursitis which is when a small sack of fluid that sits between the Achilles tendon and a bone becomes inflamed. I could walk around the house barefoot with no pain at all, but the second I put shoes on, the site on my Achilles flared up and was very painful. This explains why it felt as if I had a blister. I stopped going for walks, biking and attempting to test it out. Tad cut a major portion of the heal counter out of an old pair of shoes so that there was no pressure on the inflamed bursa.  I continued doing a combination of Bikram and power yoga, which helped take the edge off, but I was still extremely depressed and angry.

Morning walk on the Interurban Trail

It has now been three weeks since the pain first arrived. This morning I had 15 minutes to do a 20 minute walk down to yoga. So that I wouldn't be late, I picked up the pace to a jog. No pain. I did a little jog home. Still no pain. When I got home I went for a 3 mile run and still no pain. I feel hopeful that if my Achilles continues to feel good and I can prevent the bursitis from flaring up, I will be able to race the Hillbilly Half in Olympia in two weeks. I tried talking Tad into letting me race the 20k tomorrow, but he wasn't having it. He will be taking my place tomorrow and I will be there to cheer him and the Bellingham Trail Running Club on. 

Happy (Belated) New Year

Snowy run at Cooper's Rock

I had a long visit with family and friends in West Virginia for the holidays. Up until the day we arrived they were enjoying 60 degree weather and sunny skies. Unfortunately, the day after our plane landed in Pittsburgh, the first snow storm of the year hit, covering the ground in dense icy snow and the sky with a thick layer of clouds. And it stayed that way. For three weeks.

Despite the weather, I was still able to get in 70 mile weeks while partaking in holiday festivities. I thought that three weeks would be plenty of time to visit with friends more than once, eat at my favorite restaurants and run at all of my favorite locations. That certainly wasn't the case. Between the weather and the dominance of family parties, there left little room (and energy) for extra activities. However, I did get to meet up with some of my long-time friends and spend quality time with my family.

Sun setting on Chuckanut Ridge

I am very optimistic about 2013. I am in a new place, starting a new career and have a slew of racing opportunities to choose from. My race calendar is taking shape, with my first race being a local 20k on February 17^th. Two weeks later, I am set to compete at the Hillbilly Half Marathon in Olympia, WA. From there, we are going to see how the training is going to make any further decisions. I am excited to be an ambassador for Team Inov-8 for a second consecutive year and look forward to trying out their new products.

Spying on the San Juan Islands 

I am blessed to be living the life I have always wanted and hope that I am able to give back to the universe in a way that is influential, motivating and life-changing.

Wishing you a 2013 complete with health, happiness, beautiful trails, fast races and friendship.

My First 25k, Longest Race to Date

There are so many trail races to choose from here in Washington, it’s dizzying. But one race that particularly stuck out was the Deception Pass 25k, a sold-out race that takes place in Deception Pass State Park on both Fidalgo and Whidbey Islands, which are beautiful pieces of land nestled in the Puget Sound. The 15.5 mile course is a mixture of dense forests, mountain tops and beach fronts.

Fortunately, with the help of race director, James Varner of Rainshadow Running, I was able to enter. So, three weeks before the race, we plugged the course into our Garmin and went to check it out. One of the allures to runners is the famous Deception Pass Bridge which racers have to run over twice. There is a narrow strip of sidewalk and a thin metal beam that separates you from the rushing tidal flow and whirlpools 180 feet below. To tell you I was terrified is an understatement. I have an intense fear of bridges, whether it’s walking, running, biking or driving over them. Our first trial run was a particularly windy day and crowded with tourists. Since this was my first time running over the bridge, I was very anxious. I grabbed hold of Tad’s arm/shirt with my over-sized mitten and shielded my eyes with the other hand. It is very difficult to run with no arms and no vision in single file while holding on for dear life. Tad was getting frustrated because I was knocking him into the railing. The more he yelled the more freaked out I was. Eventually we got over it. Whew. Longest quarter mile of my life.

Yikes!

The course covers pretty much every inch of the park in six “lollipops” and loops.  After several wrong turns, backtracks, and a cliff scaling, we figured out five of the six loops with the help of fellow Bhamsters who happened to be out on the course (Thanks, Al and the gang!) and left markings on the trail that directed us where to go. The last four mile loop left us scratching our heads and exhausted so we gave up and decided to try again another day.

We like knee socks

The second attempt went much smoother. Accompanied by my good friend and ex-Mountaineer teammate, Stephanie, we came up with a much more humane approach to crossing the bridge. Positive self-talk and the proper hand-holding technique got us over safely without causing too much of a scene. We nailed the first five loops, but we got lost again on the last loop.

Steph's First Trail Run

 On our third visit, a week before the race, Tad and I did a 4 mile up-tempo run on the last loop of the course. No bridge crossing needed. Three times is the charm. We jogged the loop first and finally got it right. So from the bridge we averaged 8-minute pace for four miles which felt close to race effort. Now I felt as prepared as I was going to be. Time to race!

Ever notice the night before an important race your mind and body is ultra-heightened to the senses? I swear I could hear every WWU college party last night from five blocks over. My bed was so uncomfortable no matter my positioning and I was constantly itchy. Ah well, I guess that’s why they say it’s the night before the night before’s sleep that counts.

We arrived at the race shortly after 7:00am for an 8:00am start. It was just starting to get light out. I picked up my number, made a couple of bathroom stops and had time for a 1.5 mile warm-up. I decided on my Inov-8 F-Lites because I knew the rocks were going to be slick and the course wasn't going to be muddy. The F-Lites are perfect due to their low profile tread. On the starting line, James Varner cautioned all of the runners that this was the most confusing course, but the most scenic, but the most dangerous of all his trail races. We took off on the roads for a mile before turning onto the singletrack. I went out in 7:30-something, which felt much better than the cross country race two weeks ago! The three miles leading up to the bridge was uneventful and Tad was faithfully there to hold my hand as we crossed. Then I jumped the guardrail to start a series of out and back loops. At this point, there was one woman in front of me that I was running with.  I passed her on the first of the 4 loops. As I entered the second loop, I turned to see that the trail of people that were just behind me were gone. WTF moment #1. I stopped, waited a bit, thought it was very strange because I knew I was going the right way. I asked the leading men as they were coming back for reassurance. They said I was on course and I ran that whole loop alone. When I got to the first water stop at loop 3, someone yelled “Great job; you’re the second woman!” WTF moment #2. How did I get in second if I wasn't passed? As I was contemplating this, the woman who I had passed on the first loop had already done the third loop before I even got there. At this point I was really confused because I couldn't understand how this could be. My miles were right on and I was running hard, under my goal pace. I then saw Tad and was ready to explain to him that I didn’t know how I got so far behind, but he said that she missed a loop and as I was heading back from the third loop, she was backtracking. I figured she must have realized her mistake and was going back to fix it. Ok, justice is served, things are fine. I proceeded for the next couple miles picking my way through the men, feeling really strong on the steep ascents. I met Tad to go back over the bridge and then I was able to have fun and race without the fear of the bridge crossings on my back. 

Finishing in 2:18.54

With about 4.5 mile left, I confidently ran the loop that we just tempoed the week before. That is, until I got to the top of the biggest hill on the course where men were running in circles around the same spot Tad and I got lost practicing the course. I followed a man down a trail that was overgrown, clearly not the right way so I whipped around straight into a low hanging branch. Surprised, but not unconscious, I scrambled back up to where I started and like a guardian angel, Tad was there directing the way. After that, it was smooth sailing to the finish. I crossed the finish line and saw the same woman who had gotten off course and ahead of me earlier in the race standing there. WTF moment #3. Apparently a group of runners took another wrong turn, cutting off a large portion of the course. I was excited about my performance and expected a big hug and kiss from Tad, but instead he was trying to help clear the misunderstanding. After some discussion, it became apparent where they missed the course.  Regardless of the confusion, I was happy to win and break the previous course record by about 15 minutes.  I will be able to take several minutes off next time, not just because of stopping and hesitating, but because I started out a little more conservative than I needed to. This was my first stab at a 25K so the future looks promising for this distance and beyond.

Fantastic Glenn Tachiyama photo!

Thanks to Rainshadow Running for showcasing some of the world’s best landscape in a twisty turny gnarly trail race. I’m excited to start preparing for the Fragrance Lake 20k on February 17^th…after a good meal and a big nap, of course. 

A Short and Sweet XC Season

My cross country season opened and closed at the Canadian Cross Country National Championships in Vancouver, BC. Due to the big move across country I wasn’t able to plan a complete season this year and so specific training leading up to this race was minimal. Regardless, it was fun to jump into this race, especially because three of my ex-Mountaineer teammates were on the line with me. All Canadians, Stephanie Aldea, Kate Harrison and Jessica O’Connell all showed up to vie for a spot on the team to represent their country at the world championship in Poland. The clouds opened up and we were treated to quintessential cross country weather: mid-40’s and sunny skies. The course, however, was 75% mud pit due to the rain storms that came through at the beginning of the week.

Kate Harrison

Steph Aldea

Jess O'Connell

All three had spectacular races with Kate finishing in 2^nd, Jess 13^th and Steph 14^th. I finished the 7k course in 25:58, good for 36^th place. The cool thing was I was just a couple heads behind ultra-running phenom, Ellie Greenwood, who just won and broke the JFK 50 miler record last weekend. I had the opportunity to speak to her at the finish line; she was as nice as could be and I was exciting to take a picture with her. 

Wishing everyone would slow down!

Ellie and me at the finish line

My feet and legs are definitely feeling the spikes this morning as I prepare to do my long run. We are heading to Deception Pass State Park to prepare for my final race of the year, the Deception Pass 25k on December 8th. I'm confident that this race won't go out in 5:20-pace so I will be feeling much more in my element.

Me and Steph celebrating at Boundary Bay Brewery