Rocking the Rim Rock Marathon

I feel like this is the moment I’ve been waiting for and trust me I’m so excited to say that I did it! I RAN A MARATHON! Yeah! I also can’t help but fight the “What’s next?!?” feeling. I think that means I’m officially a crazy runner person.

There were times while I was running that I know I was thinking… never again… but now that I’ve had a few days to reflect I’ve forgotten most of the pain. Rim Rock will not be my last, but it will always be my first.

This recap probably would have been slightly different had I written it on Sunday, but I’m going to try to recall all of my come to god moments in as much detail as possible. They are part of the fun of running, after-all!

The Rim Rock Marathon is held in Fruita, Colorado and the course goes through  the insanely gorgeous Colorado National Monument. This year the race happened on Saturday, November 4. A date that seemed so far away when I started this journey a few months ago.

I’ve been training for this race since July! On and off training for something since February. Training for a full marathon is hard and, as I’ve said on numerous occasions, time consuming, but I trust the process. It was so worth it. I went into this race feeling super prepared. The course was challenging. Armed with my training, a perfect playlist and perfect weather, I had the upper hand. I was not thinking about my time during the race but I am proud that I came in with a time of 4 hours: 57 minutes: 37 seconds.

The race sold out at 550 participants (full, half and relay included) and according to the organizers, this is the biggest turnout yet. 107 of us ran the full marathon. From the beginning it was already much different than the larger races I’ve run, no expo, no fancy swag, no corrals.

At 6:45am on Saturday morning all of the marathon runners piled into a school bus and began the trek into the Monument. They dropped us off halfway up a hill in the middle of the monument, in the dark. I couldn’t tell you where we were. Actually I could tell you because there is a map, but at that moment I had no idea.

 

I did my stretches and warm ups, ate a Larabar, took a few pictures, turned on my playlist, then switched my phone to airplane mode. I wasn’t nervous, just a little unsure of what I was getting myself into. There was no official starting line. The Assistant Mayor of Fruita and the Colorado Mesa track coach sent us off with the shot of a handgun at 7am.

There wasn’t a true sunrise that morning. It was cloudy and perfectly cool. As the morning sky lightened, the monument revealed itself. Brilliant red, brown and orange rock formations stood grandly in juxtaposition to the deep canyons that they themselves produced. It was going to be me, my body and my thoughts, traversing this incredible landscape for the next 4-5 hours.

Something happens when your eyes meet the landscapes out here. Since I moved to Colorado I’m constantly in awe when I literally feel emotions conjured up simply by seeing the mountains. You can almost feel them living and breathing. They can change you. I thought about this every step of the way. The monument became this force that I wanted to harness yet control.

I couldn’t begin to document what was going through my head at each mile. I tried not to think of it in terms of individual miles, especially at the beginning. I knew that the course had some challenging uphill portions including 2,600 feet of elevation gain in the first 4 miles. What I didn’t know is that pretty much the entire first half was uphill! I’m so glad we decided not to drive the course the day before because I would psyched myself out.

The first 5 miles were no doubt the worst of the uphill, but I really had to focus when 6, 7, 8 and so on continued uphill. I stopped at almost every aid station along the course. I ate a couple of gels, a waffle, and some gummy bears along the way. So much water, so much Gatorade. I usually avoid Gatorade but it was a lifesaver.

The whole second half of the race is downhill. Those running the half marathon get a full downhill race. For the marathoners, it was a long awaited and welcomed treat. I tried to make up time on the downhill portions but I was cautious not to push my limits. Even on a downhills I didn’t want to see paces that I never hit in training.

For me, the last 6 miles weren’t the hardest. The last 6 miles felt like a victory lap. The hardest part was 16 through 20. These are the miles when I had to dig deep and pull out the affirmations – you can do this… you’re already doing this… you are a badass…

The last .3 miles were also tough! According to my Garmin I had already hit 26.2 but the finish line was not yet in sight. Finally I saw some goats, then some people and then there it was – FINISH. I sped up and blew through the finish line then made it straight to Jim who was waiting with dozen roses and a beer mug. That’s my man 🙂

I was alone for a large portion of the race. For this time and this setting, I preferred that. There were few spectators and few other runners. Few distractions. It was meditative.

I thought about the last couple of months and years and how much my life has changed.

I thought about how lucky I was to be in Fruita, Colorado in this breathtaking space.

I thought about my amazing husband who deals with my 5am wakeup calls, my long Sunday runs, my weird diets and constant need for butt massages. He never questions me, he tells me I’m crazy sometimes, but he’s always rooting for me.

I thought about my dogs, my family and my friends.

For my Rim Rock playlist I used my old go-to’s and asked friends to share a song or two with me so that I could think of them during the race. I stole this idea from someone and I definitely plan on doing it again. I put the playlist on shuffle and by a stroke of luck, ended up with an impeccably curated soundtrack for my run.

Knocked Loose, The Gospel, a hardcore song chosen by my hubby, came on around mile 4 when I felt like the uphill would never end. At one point the lyrics go… “F*ck, f*ck, f*ck…” Algiers came on around mile 5, when I was still on the Underside of Power and the uphill was still going strong.

At mile 8, ODB, Got Your Money gave me a much needed lift.

Around mile 11 or 12 I hit a point where I felt like I had crested the monument. It literally felt like I was running on the rim of it. The song Tezeta (Nostalgia) by Ethiopian jazz artist Mulatu Astatke came on up there. I had never heard this song before and the friend who recommended it said she hoped it didn’t mess up my pace, but it was absolutely perfect at that moment. Seriously, just listen to that song and pretend you’re looking out at this and imagine how you would feel!

Around mile 18 Pretty Lights, I Know The Truth came on and then Queen, Don’t Stop Me Now. It was all downhill from here. I picked up my pace and the music picked up. I was actually going to do this, I was going to finish a marathon.

In the final stretch Dead Cross, Idiopathic came on and I powered through. Kelly Clarkson, Since U Been Gone was playing as I crossed the finish line. Don’t judge, it’s a great running song!

It was truly perfect. Here’s the playlist if you’re interested in checking it out.

Melissa’s Rim Rock Playlist 

 

 

Running for Your Body & Your Brain

I’m using today’s post to work out a summary that I’m doing for another project so I am going to get back to running and fitness for a minute here.

Don’t fret, I will tell you all about Europe in a series over the next week or two. Spoiler alert: it was AMAZING.

I’ve also been walking around with a heavy heart due to the tragedy and turmoil that we’re experiencing in the world right now. I have a lot more to say in that regard so expect more like my last post going forward.

As for today. I’m not ready to share the full details of my project just yet but the task at hand is to compile a list of positive impacts that running has on physical and mental well being. Why should people think about starting running?

There is a ton of information out there supporting the benefits of running. Every time you head out for a run you are working your muscles, joints, bones, lungs, heart, and brain. Running is truly a full body workout.

Physical activity is great for the body and necessary for achieving and maintaining optimal health. We are not meant to sit all day! (#sittingisthenewsmoking) It is important that each person choose an exercise program that works best for them but my focus here is specifically on the activity of running because it’s my fave ❤

I’m interested in both how running physically changes your body and your brain. 

In addition to overall fitness, running has been shown to have the following physical benefits:

• Increased muscle, joint and bone strength
• Improved blood circulation and cardiovascular health
• Increased brain plasticity and memory
• Decrease in stress hormones
• Running can get you high. Seriously 🙂

I wish I was a neuroscientist but I’m not so I’m going to refer you to this interview on Marathon Training Academy that discusses the running<>brain connection in more detail. MTA Interview with Dr. Wendy Suzuki. 

With regular running the brain can actually change and grow. Aerobic exercise aids the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain associated with memory, in generating and retaining new cells. Really cool stuff!

The mental benefits that are not so obvious are what I’m most interested in. Running improves all aspects of your life. This is a bold statement and one that I think most runners would agree with.

Regular running has been shown to improve mood. Running can help with depression. Running boosts self-esteem. Running can help people overcome many challenges and adversities beyond just fitness and weight loss.

Check out the Runners World Human Race Podcast. Each story profiles a person or a group of people who literally changed their lives through running.

Running is a sport where progress is very clear and tangible. If you want to run 5 miles, you have to start by walking 1 and build your way up. Anyone can do it but it takes time and dedication. I think that most people are surprised and satisfied at what they can achieve by following a simple training schedule. Goal setting, hard work and sense of a achievement are all benefits of running that can translate to other parts of life.

I don’t have a crazy transformation story but speaking from experience, when I am active my outlook is positive and I am more productive. When I take a break from working out, I notice that my mood starts to slip. My body is pretty sensitive to activity and diet changes (aka mostly I’m just moody and hungry) so I have to be careful to maintain a balance. If putting on my sneakers and doing something I love helps keep me on an even keel, count me in.

Not everyone is going to be a runner, I get that, but how do we make sure that people who may be interested in running get the opportunity and direction to get started?

Not a runner? The podcast that I link to above analyzes running, walking and HIIT as they relate to mood improvement and the activity that has the most significant impact is… walking!  So get moving!

Have a wonderful day out there people.

Here’s a neat sign I found in Lodo this morning. Generation Wild is a movement created by Great Outdoors Colorado to inspire kids to reconnect with nature. Good reminder for all of us.

 

 

 

Pumped Up

I’m starting the week on the heels of an epic ketogenic diet failure. Turns out, keto isn’t so forgiving when it comes to cheating. I.e. drinking beer and eating the occasional weekly Friday or Saturday night slice of pizza. I feel bloated and I think I’ve actually gained 3 or 4 lbs since I started this whole experiment.  Performance wise, I feel good, but not any better than before.

I’m having trouble wrapping my head around the whole concept now that I’ve been doing it for a couple of weeks. Fat Head Pizza is bomb diggity but how is that possibly healthier than eating a sweet potato or some carrots? Pork rinds are f*cking delicious but I really just want to go back to eating an apple as my snack every day. And if the goal with keto is to not be hungry and not snack at all, I’m not sure if I can get down with that!

For now, my keto experiment is on hiatus and I’m going back to what I know. Paleo-ish. Goodbye dairy, hello fruits and tubers and other non-grain carbs. Over the last year I’ve become accustomed to looking at sugar and ingredient list rather than carb count on labels and I’m sticking with it. I suspect I can stay at least cyclically fat adapted with this model.

My parents I am keeping the meat. Pretty much a total carnivore nowadays. I’ll skip the chicken, but give me all of the beef and pork. I found another great local meat supplier at the farmer’s market yesterday. I’ll plug him here when I get home and find the card. It makes all of the difference when you know that your meat is coming from a few miles away and was slaughtered within the last week. We had some thick, juicy NY Strip for dinner last night.

PSA – A lot of packaged meat in the grocery store is over a month old by the time it gets to you and some companies inject carbon monoxide into their meat for packaging so that it keeps the “fresh” red color. Of course the FDA allows this.

It’s weird how things work out, and I’ve said this before, but I always end up listening to podcasts that seem to speak to exactly what I’m going through. What you seek is seeking you. Last night when I was walking the dogs I listened the episode of the Paleo Solution – Nutrition and Obstacle Racing. In this episode Robb Wolf talks with Elijah Markstrom, who is trainer and obstacle course racer.

In the last few weeks I’ve taken a liking to shows that are focused on athletics and nutrition for trail, ultra and obstacle course running. These guys and gals are badasses and their nutritional needs are different than us average mortals. I enjoy hearing about what diets and they’ve found work best to enhance their endurance performance. Elijah Markstrom has some really interesting thoughts on fat adaptation and (good) carbs and how to make them work together.

Beyond that, I had a really great weekend. The Pirates were in town playing the Rockies so we went to two baseball games – Friday night party game and Sunday afternoon chill game. Nina and I went shopping on Tennyson on a sunny Saturday afternoon. I finally made it to the Yogi Exchange, which is a resale boutique that sells workout clothes. The owner makes incredible jewelry and I picked up a pair of her lotus flower earrings and a few new tops. I also scored a sweet pair sneakers for $18 on sale at Ooh! Ahh! Saturday night Jim and I hung out in Boulder at Mountain Sun Brewery and then played a rad new board game called Settlers of Catan with some friends until late night. Summer is too much fun sometimes.

I also found a new workout class that I’m obsessed with – BODY PUMP. My gym has always had this class but I’ve never tried it. I’m not super into group fitness outside of yoga but I’ve had a few people recommend this class to me. I’m sad I didn’t try it sooner. In Body Pump you use barbells and weights through a series of tracks that isolate and work different muscle groups. It’s meant to get you lean and toned – say no more! The class has very little cardio and very serious strength repetition. I think it’s going to complement my training nicely.

New lotus flower earrings from Yogi Exchange.

Have a good week everyone!

Tree of Life

I had a great weekend with my college friends Rich and Tessa who were visiting us from NYC. It is so refreshing to spend time with friends laughing and exploring. As I get older and life gets crazier, it’a always great to see friends with whom you can pick up right where you left off no matter how much time has passed. Good hangs 🙂

Something cool happened today. I got to take Tessa to her very first yoga class! Tessa is the girl who talked me into running my first half marathon so it was great to be able to introduce her to something new. I had a feeling she was going to love it and she kicked some serious ass.

Last night we were talking about what to wear and Tessa decided she would wear her Tree of Life tank top. Perfect.

We went to the Core Power studio in RiNo. I have done classes with Core Power instructors at Red Rocks and other gyms but never in one of their studios. They’re always legit flow classes that will give you a bit of a challenge. The Rino studio is beautiful and, bonus, we each got a free week for being first timers at the studio!

Our instructor, Leslie, who was amazing btw, opened the class with this quote:

 “When you go out into the woods, and you look at trees, you see all these different trees. And some of them are bent, and some of them are straight, and some of them are evergreens, and some of them are whatever. And you look at the tree and you allow it. You see why it is the way it is. You sort of understand that it didn’t get enough light, and so it turned that way. And you don’t get all emotional about it. You just allow it. You appreciate the tree.

The minute you get near humans, you lose all that. And you are constantly saying ‘You are too this, or I’m too this.’ That judgment mind comes in. And so I practice turning people into trees. Which means appreciating them just the way they are.” – Ram Dass. 

What serendipity that Leslie decided to use this quote on the day that Tessa happened to be taking her first class and very deliberately chose to wear her Tree of Life shirt! So cool when the universe gives you little hints that you are in the right place at the right time.

Namaste.

And, here’s some street art that we spotted in RiNo this afternoon.

Seeking: Strength Training Ideas

I am sitting in traffic on the way to the coffee shop dictating this post. I knew I didn’t want to type a lot today so I’m getting this started in the car. I want to save my coffee time for some good old fashioned journaling I need to do. Pen on paper.

I’ve been thinking about how great it would be to find somebody, not a coach per se, but another person who is on a similar journey to talk through the questions and the successes and believe me, failures of this process.

Right now, I have a lot of questions with respect to strength training. I’ve had a trainer, I know a lot of exercises. I have done Insanity a hundred thousand times (I love you Shaun T but I wore myself out on these videos!). What I’ve never had is someone to help me design a runner specific strength training program. Sure, I can research and do this on my own but I want to know what works for others!

In my current training schedule I have four days of running, two days of rest (or light yoga) and one day of cross. On my shorter mileage days I like to do weights at the gym before I run but I find that if I do a leg day to close to a long run day it makes my run day a lot harder, or if I do arms/abs I end up running out of time if I still want to run. I am strong but I want to be stronger. Should I trade one of my shorter run days altogether for strength training?

I listen to a lot of running podcasts and this episode of Run to the Top – If You are Serious About Your Running, Time to Get in the Weight Room with Jay Dicharry got my wheels turning.

A lot of people discuss and emphasize how crucial strength training can be for runners. I have to note that a lot of people also disagree with that claim. Jay is an experienced, athlete, coach, researcher and author. Jay has books that dive deeper into the topic but what I like about this interview is that he summarizes by identifying 3 categories of exercise that are especially beneficial to runners, and why.

Jay’s list includes:

• Postural endurance
• Strength training
• Explosive training

Give the podcast a listen if you’re into this sort of thing. Here is also a link to Jay’s blog.

I’m curious to all of you runners out there, what do you do to incorporate strength training? Do you have any exercises in each category that you recommend? I’d love to hear from you and share ideas on this topic.

Berkeley Lake, taken on my run this morning.

Rim Rock Marathon Training: Day 1

Yo! I’m pretty happy because today is the day that I start training for my first full marathon! I’m running the Rim Rock Marathon through the Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction on Saturday, November 4. The course is said to be one of the most scenic in the country.

I’ve been running for fitness for years. I don’t remember exactly when I started but I do remember my awkward fawn like first runs on the treadmill. I remember the first time that I ran a full mile at 5.5 MPH speed without stopping. I remember running through Schenley Park in Oakland and thinking that if I ever had to run for my life I would be so screwed.

I had a love/hate relationship with running and a 2-3 mile jog to clear my head a few times a week was more than enough to keep me happy. I know the words “People who actually enjoy running and run distance for fun are insane” have come out of my mouth. Well…now I’m one of those people. I am a runner.

At the beginning of 2016 I set a workout schedule at 4-5 days a week because I wanted to be in shape for our wedding in August. I was doing a mix of Insanity, yoga and running. Running days quickly became my favorite days. It’s not hard to get yourself out of bed for a run when you live .5 mi away from two beautiful lakes and your best dog buddy as a running partner.

After the wedding I knew I wanted to find a new fitness goal to keep me inspired. I was thinking about running a half marathon and when my friend Tessa (who had just run the Brooklyn Half) suggested we do the Pittsburgh Half together I was like “Yes. Perfect. Let’s do it.”

So we did the Pittsburgh Half Marathon and now I’m hooked. Crossing a finish line certainly has its appeal, but for me, it’s all about the training. It’s amazing to watch your body do things you never thought it could do and it’s rewarding because it truly does take a lot of hard work and persistence. I can’t wait to hit the road in November but I’m equally as excited to hit the road over the next four months to build up to my first 26.2. A 26.2 that also features 2,500 ft of vertical elevation gain in the first 4.5 miles – bring it on.

I’m using the Hal Higdon Novice 2 plan with a few modifications. I’m am going to try to run a sub 2 hour half at the Rock N Roll Marathon in October, but I have no time expectations for Rim Rock. I’m training at a pace between 9-9.59 minutes and will adjust as I improve (or don’t) over the next 4 months.

Also, nutritionally, I am working towards becoming fat adapted for these runs. I’ve talked about this a lot in previous posts with curiosity and now I’m going all in. I’ll debut more about this later in the week.

Blogging has been a really great way to talk through the challenges and successes of marathon training as well as goals/life inspiration in general. If you are here reading this, thanks 🙂 I appreciate you.

Here’s my life for the next 4 months:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Red Rocks Three Ways

I start training for the marathon in just a few days! Despite having a rough time with my stamina over the last few weeks, I’m really excited and ready to go. I took 3 days completely off this week and today was the first day that I’ve run since last Thursday. Albeit an easy run, this morning and I hit my zone. That spot where you feel like you can and want to keep going. I cut today’s run off around 4 miles but I’m feeling good!

Starting next week I’m probably going to nerd out about running and nutrition so I thought this was a good time to write a post about Red Rocks Park & Amphitheater, which I’ve been thinking a lot about lately.

I know I said before that Red Rocks isn’t my favorite venue. It’s because it is something so much more than that. From the moment I knew that Red Rocks existed I knew that I HAD to see it. I never dreamt that I would live less than 20 miles away from it!

I’ve been lucky enough to spend a lot of time at Red Rocks over the last few years and have already been four times this summer. Every time I go I’m inspired and that’s what prompted this post. The excitement I feel as I take the Morrison exit off of I-70 and start to see the landscape turn from the brown of the foothills to green and then build up to the jutting red rocks that make up the amphitheater and surrounding park – that excitement never fades.

From the Red Rocks driveway

I’m gonna be honest, there are times when we drive all the way out into the mountains and though we try to always be grateful of our surroundings, the majesty becomes an afterthought because we’ve seen it so many times. Maybe it’s because I’m a huge music venue nerd, but Red Rocks to me every time is going to be one of the most amazing things I’ve ever experienced.

When we were thinking about moving to Denver and came out for a visit it was in March. Pretty much the only thing that was on my list of things I HAD to do on our exploratory visit was to see Red Rocks. That March morning was one of those rare, overcast days and we were peppered with rain and sleet. Visibility was zero. We set out anyway. As we headed out I-70 we could physically feel that the landscape was changing but couldn’t see anything. It was an eerie feeling as we drove up the long driveway to the park. You could barely see the prestigious red rocks for which it is named. I, quite frankly, was devastated. Did I over anticipate? Was this the only time I was ever going to see Red Rocks and this is what it looked like??

Ship Rock in on an overcast day

Red Rocks with a dusting of snow

With many more Red Rocks experiences now under my belt I look back on that day fondly and realize that it was a rarity to see it in that state. We were the only people there.

We went back the next day and the sun was shining. It was like watching a ship sail on calm water after weathering a storm that almost sunk it. There was a dusting of snow and the sky opened up to reveal a view that stretched from the skyline of Denver to a perspective shot of the mountains, all framed in the eponymous red rocks.

Red Rocks is so many things. A mountain park where you can roam and play among natural wonders and wildlife. A perfectly placed by nature amphitheater where you can see your favorite bands and old rock legends. A staircase with close to 400 steps from bottom to top that you can run up and down if you are a masochist, or if you are training for the Rim Rock marathon…

Here are some of my favorite ways to see Red Rocks

MUSIC 

Of course music.

Yes, it rains ALL the time. Sometimes it hails. Sometimes the wind whips down from the back of the venue and reminds you that even though it’s summer, you’re playing by nature’s rules. The best piece of advice I was given about moving to Denver is “If you’re going to Red Rocks, bring a rain coat”. I stand by that. Sometimes it kind of sucks.

Until…

Jack White performs in the rain at Red Rocks in 2014

Until you see Jack White perform barefoot on a glossy white stage that is covered in 2″ inches of water, risking electrocution in the name of rock and roll. Until you huddle together with your friends while trying to eat your burrito bowl before the rain soaks through your tortilla chips. Until you see lightning that has moved off into the distance become a part of the band’s performance. Seriously, check out this video my friend shot at Phoenix a few weeks ago. Until you have those amazing days when it doesn’t rain.

Fun fact: The day after the Red Rocks show, Jack White shot the video for Would You Fight For My Love at the Cruise Room, an historic cocktail bar right around the corner from my office in downtown Denver. The lights in Cruise Room are normally all tuned to red but they made it all blue for Jack’s video. I’ve sat in that booth behind him 🙂

Jack White, Would You Fight For My Love click to view on Youtube

Red Rocks is kind of an odd venue in that it is small for outdoors (9,500 capacity), but they have a killer lineup each season because everyone wants to play there. There’s no open space to move around so if you have a GA ticket you need to get there early to grab a spot. Though there really is not a bad seat in the house, I like to be close at concerts. My eardrums may disagree.

If you don’t care about being close, reserved seating is a good option. You will be somewhere in the middle rows and you can come and go at any time and your seats will be waiting.

Bands love Red Rocks too. The Avett Brothers play there 3 times every year! It’s really inspiring when you can not only see your favorite bands but see them knowing that they’re putting on their best show because they are so inspired to be playing in that space, in front of you, at that moment.

Portugal. The Man at Red Rocks in 2014

Local Natives show at Red Rocks in 2017

I saw Portugal. the Man there a couple of weeks ago with Local Natives and Car Seat Headrest. It was the last show of their tour. I’ve seen PTM at Red Rocks a few times and they, like every band, are openly grateful to be playing there. This time they gave us something special. An 8 piece brass and string section joined them on stage and played with them on every song, adding another dimension to their already fervent sound. At the end of the show they told us that they haven’t even practiced together. You would have never known.

This is the kind of thing you see over and over again at Red Rocks, and just another element of it’s magic.

YOGA 

Every summer Yoga on the Rocks provides the opportunity for yogis to come together and practice as the sun rises in this spiritual place that has been here for millions of years! There’s a great write up on the geological history on the Red Rocks website.

The eight Saturday morning Yoga on the Rocks sessions are split between The River and Core Power yoga studios. The classes sell out at 2,500 people and are designed for all skill levels in mind. I find the Core Power classes a bit more challenging and thus preferable but both are great. The instructors, much like what I talked about with bands, are always grateful to have the opportunity to guide practice at Red Rocks. These events are good vibes all around.

Class starts promptly at 7am. It’s an early rise on a Saturday morning – even for us 5am warriors! I think Pig Train is the only coffee shop in Denver that opens before 6:30am on the weekends, but it’s super easy to find parking that early in the day in front of Union Station and also a great place to meet up if you want to carpool with friends.

If you’re late to Yoga on the Rocks you will likely have to run up about half of one of the staircases (200ish steps) which is a good work out but not a stressor you want to deal with before yoga class. I speak from experience.

It is transcendental to be among so many people and sharing movements and breath in total silence. You can hear the birds chirp and the wind as it whispers a soft breeze to cool the rays of the hot, early morning sun.

I honestly can’t think of a better way to start a day. Bonus, I’ve never seen it rain at Red Rocks in the morning.

HIKING 

I didn’t realize until I thought about moving here but Red Rocks is owned by the City of Denver and it’s a part of the Denver Mountain Parks system. Red Rocks is actually a 738 acre park with trail systems that you can hike, bike and run. You can see wildlife including deer, foxes and some really awesome birds.

The rocks themselves are something to be seen. Red Rocks was originally called Garden of the Angels and it’s easy to see why.

During the day you can also visit the on site museums and walk through the amphitheater – even on stage if you want.

Jim found some shade on the hiking trail

Whether you’re visiting for any of the three reasons I discussed or one of the countless events that take up the walls of the red rocks – movie nights, weddings, beer fests, fitness on the rocks, etc. it’s an astonishing feeling.

There is no question that this naturally formed park and amphitheater is a piece of geological perfection. A material symbol of fate. There is nothing like it in the world and I am so lucky to be able to be in a time and place in the universe where I can enjoy it.

Melissa Retrograde

The month of June has been a difficult one for me when it comes to finding a balance. I’m not doing any specific athletic training because I’m trying to give my body a break before I start my full marathon plan in July. I’m still exercising but it’s much less structured. Work has been a little bit crazy. We have some issues with our house, which has me thinking not only about fixing them but also the money it’s going to cost. We have had people staying with us for what will be 3/4 of the month by the time the month is out. I’m not here to vent. Well, maybe a little bit… what else is a blog for??

They say it takes 21 days to make or break a habit. Ironically, and I didn’t even realize this until just this second, it’s June 21. Things feel off for me right now. Mercury is not in retrograde but I feel like I am!

I like structure. I like having goals and knowing what’s up next. As we all do, I have quite a few anchor habits.  They’ve all been in disarray this month.

Waking Up Early/Morning Routine – I go to bed around 10pm and wake up at 5am. I have my mornings to work out, listen to music or podcasts, write, spend time in the kitchen, whatever I need to do to rule my day. With everything that’s going on we’ve had a lot of late nights and I’ve had a lot of unproductive mornings.

Running – I’ve had a frustrating time with running the last few weeks. I admit I may have pushed it a little too much after the half marathon and should have taken a longer break. Plus lack of sleep and too much splurging on food and drink have left me sluggish and uninspired.

Cooking/Grocery Shopping – I love going to the grocery store. I’m a freak, I know. I’m usually hitting up at least 3 grocery stores a week because I have certain things that I get from each place. If you’ve ever had Natural Grocers’ Almond Butter you know why it’s worth the extra trip. Most of the food I like to eat takes a bit of prep time and my kitchen time is also time that I get to relax. This hasn’t been happening for me either.

Just as important as habits, it is important to learn to be flexible. Even with chaos – patterns emerge. I have some trouble with that. We have an insanely busy summer ahead. I’m grasping for ways to rest and reset.

What do you do to reset? How to you get your groove back?

The last few days I’ve been going to my main gym and staying downtown in the mornings before work. It’s been a really nice change of pace. Cold brews from Ink Coffee and enjoying the energy at Union Station have given me wind to think and write (another thing that’s been a struggle for me this month).

Yesterday I had my first good run in a while. There was a point a couple of weeks ago that I hit a wall. I was out for a run and after a mile I physically could not run any longer. I knew that was it. A wake up call to take a break. A real break. Not an “Oh I’ll only run 4 miles today instead of 6” break. I’ve slowed it down a bit for the last two weeks and as expected, it’s helping.

My intention in yoga this morning was to turn my mind off. You’re always supposed to turn your mind off and be present on your mat but that’s easier said than done. I did a pretty good job this morning and I feel a little more grounded because of it.

I’m going to try to have a relaxing evening and spend some time cooking. Shockingly I have never tried Cauliflower Pizza Crust. Tonight might be the night!

 

 

Find Your Spunk

I finished my first half marathon last weekend and it was nothing short of inspiring – Pittsburgh Marathon, two thumbs up to the organizers! I completed 13.1 miles in 2 hours 6 minutes and 33 seconds. A time that far exceeded what I ever dreamt I could do for my first race. I’m happy to be among the ranks of people who have gotten into the sport. Admittedly, I have rolled my eyes at the 13.1 and 26.2 stickers that adorn passing cars, but I understand now that those stickers are earned.

I used the Hal Higdon half marathon training guide. My goal going into the half was simply to complete the race but quickly became hooked on pushing myself be my absolute best. I’ve been running for fitness for about 5 years now and let’s be honest, running can suck. Except that feeling you get after running, it rules. Feeling your body get stronger, it rules. Pushing your limits, it rules. You get it.

I already signed up for the Denver Rock n’ Roll half marathon in October.

Today I did yoga for the first time in over 2 months. (TL;DR the gym where I do yoga is far more expensive than the Planet Fitness where I do my running so I put my membership on hold while I was training for the half). I knew I was missing yoga. While my body was gaining strength from running and weight training, mentally and gastrointestinally I was feeling the ill effects of not having that time to meditate and work on my spirit.  The feeling walking out of yoga = high as a kite on cloud nine.

OK, no more long breaks from yoga.

I’m just a normal girl with slightly above average fitness aspirations. I am lucky to live in a gorgeous part of the country where fitness is everywhere. I want to run my next race better, stronger, faster and I want to incorporate yoga into my training. I haven’t even mentioned the dietary struggles I have as a mostly paleo, mostly vegetarian athlete. This is my journey as I continue to chase my spunk and I hope I can share some cool things with you.