Livin in Denver!

So I made it..and so did our 10 year old Pontiac. It took me almost 17 hours to make the drive to Denver. I was thinking it would be quicker this time since I wouldn't have winter weather. But instead I had construction. I left at 5am PST and arrived at 11pm MDT. After sleeping in on Saturday and unpacking the car we finally made our way tot eh nearest Subaru dealership where we found an Outback that we liked and purchased it on the stop. Bye Bye Pontiac. You were good to me, but its time for a car with awesome all wheel drive.

This moring we got up and headed to Invesco Field to run int he Stadium Stampede 5K. I ran my best Denver time so far, 23:56 (a 7:44 pace). I placed 5th in my age group out of 46 and placed 11th overall female. I'm very glad to see that my times are improving. Now its off to do some shopping so we can get a little more situated around here.

Tomorrow morning I get up and head to my first day of work. It really feels odd that I'm not flying back to Cali and I'm not going to my job in Palmdale. Its going to be a big adjustment.

Denver Bound!

On FRIDAY! I felt like this day would never come!!!! But after much confusion during my hiring process, I am finally starting on the 28th! Yippee!! I'm really excited to start my new position. I have about 3.5 days left at my current job, which should fly by. Then I pack the car and drive to Denver on Friday. We are very ready to get rid of the Pontiac so as soon as I make it Denver we're going to the Subaru dealership. Then on Sunday we both are running a 5K in downtown. I am planing on driving straight through on Friday. Its crazy that on Monday morning I'll wake up and I won't have to go to the airport! SWEET!

I have decided I have to take a break from my big runs - I guess 5ks only right now. I get the worst stomach aches after long running. The Dr says its probably an ulcer or an issue with my gallbladder. What fun! So until it gets resolved, no more half marathons!

Acomplishment Complete!

I seriously ran the hardest race of my running life today. The conditions were not very favorable. It was cold, but I like that. I run so much better in cold weather. What I had working against me was the fact that I was running anywhere from 7500-7900 feet in elevation. Then there was the fact that Colorado got 2 days of rain! So yes I had to run in the cold and the rain! I think my hands went numb after about mile 3. At first I went out wanting the best time that I could get. I knew my times in CA were around the 1:46 range, after about mile 4 or 5 I remember thinking to myself I just want to survive! It was that hard. Miles 4-7 were pretty much a straight and steady climb uphill. So how did I do? I finished about 10 min over my cali time...1:56. But apparently that was good enough for me to finish 3rd in my age group and as the 13th overall female. I am in no way disappointed with that. In fact I am so glad I did it and I feel really good about it. The funny thing is I wanted to do this race so I could run with the view of the rocky mountains, but the weather was so bad we couldn't see anything for the 2 days we were there. We did see some deer and moose though! We even had a deer run in front of us on the course.

Run Forest Run!

I think I've officially been a runner for about 7 years now. I go in waves, cause I battle severe shin splints that WILL result in stress fractures. (been there!). So this spring I was pretty stressed with my job situation in Denver...so what did I do to combat the stress. What any normal human being would do...Run, a lot. Okay, maybe not everyone handles stress that way, but honestly it took my mind off of everything for about an hour out of my day. I was running 30+ miles a week. Before I knew it I was just short of half marathon distance. The last time I ran a half I ended up with a stress fracture. But here I am running 10-12 mile runs on a weekly basis. So what did I decide to do, enter a half marathon in CO. But not any half marathon, one that will be held at 8000 feet in a town where elk and moose are known to roam.

Wish me luck..its next Sunday!

But today I decided to run 12 miles...it turned into 14+ miles, in which 6 was total torture. It was hot, and I guess I've pushed myself so hard for the last few weeks that my thighs decided they had no gas left and couldn't run anymore. Needless to say, I'm taking it easy this week.