Guest Author Blog Post - "Running Sucks"

Yes, today's post is by a guest author, so to speak. I (Kathleen) have been in Blogger Hibernation the last few months but am slowly waking up, and a little cranky at that. I had to bare my teeth at Steve and wrestle the keyboard from his grasp in order to do this rant, er, I mean, post. And yep, you read the title correctly - running sucks. That phrase is what was on the ticker tape rolling through my head while we were out on our run today. In fact, halfway through our run, I had committed myself to go home, throw all of my many pairs of running shoes into a great big box (it would need to be a BIG box because I have lots of shoes), torch those puppies, and have a great big bonfire in the backyard (a shame, really, because I LOVE shoes). I had also made the commitment to become a full time cyclist again because running sucks. Put your hearts at rest, though, as it was only a moment of weakness and I have come back to my senses (a little coaxing and bribery of an extra chocolate-y iced mocha from Steve helped). Here's what happened:

Because we were LAZY and didn't want to do a post- holing run in snow on some of our favorite REAL and FUN local trails, we headed over to the Santa Fe Trail for some good aerobic miles. The Santa Fe Trail is a true local gem, on most days. It is fairly flat, for local standards, and is perfect for distance aerobic training on foot as well as on the bike. We have utilized it extensively over the years and it is a jewel - except for today. Today, for me, from the first step, was an exercise of torture. The trail represented a wide dirt freeway - BORING and MONOTONOUS. Yuck. That consistent ticking of an even foot turnover is the pits. Even the iPod couldn't save me. I tried to "think positive" but the positive-thinking mantra wasn't working. With every step, the thought "I hate this" echoed in my head.
Our goal was 14 miles on the frick'in wide dirt freeway but we settled for a measly, pathetic, and paltry 10. Did I mention I hated every step???

I have come to a self realization. I need interest. Scenery. Variety. Uphills. Downhills. Twists and turns. Singletrack. Running A.D.D.? Maybe. I am not commited enough to slog through long boring runs "just because" it's on the training schedule. Nope, not for me. If that leaves me in the realm of mediocrity, so be it. Life's too short to waste much time on BORING. I know, I know, it's a mind and focus thing but we (very thankfully) live in an area where we don't have to "settle" for boring runs. I love Santa Fe Trail but in most cases, it will have to be in short, fast segments - Git'er done - or speeding over it on a bike. Maybe I am not a REAL runner quite yet.

When we got home, I noticed Steve gathering up all of the matches, presumably to hide. I think we do have a local fire ban on shoes. I also caught him trying to hide Mountain Bike magazine Buyer's Guide under his arm (again, presumably to keep away from me in my frothing state. No worries - I can sniff out his hiding place). Hmmm, a shoe bonfire AND a shiny new mountain bike might not be so bad . . .

At the EVIL trailhead parking lot; Blodgett Peak is in the foreground with Pikes Peak sneaking up behind.

I LOOK happy here - it is an optical illusion.

Steve is genuinely smiling. He enjoyed himself. He had a marvelous run. My smile is really a grimace through clenched teeth.

A view from the trail across the USAFA. At least Pikes Peak is pretty.

Yep, it felt like 45 miles. When will the misery end???!!!

Ok, I have recovered from my earlier meltdown. I am not burning my running shoes (yet). I am not going shopping for a new mountain bike (maybe). Actually, I am feeling pretty good post run. I am certainly thankful for a patient hubby who still saw the beauty in the boring (and coaxed me back to reality that life is good and running is good). It certainly IS a beautiful thing just to be ABLE bodied and GET OUT, regardless.

And hopefully, those of you who really know me, also know I am just having a little fun messing with you! :-) Ha, ha! Fact is, I really LOVE the Santa Fe Trail and I truly was smiling, sometimes!

Get out, whether it's on pavement (sorry), a wide dirt freeway, or luscious singletrack - it's good to be alive - and have HAPPY TRAILS this week! :-)

Shoes: Asics Gel Trabuco - both

Sun and Fun at CMSP

With the warm temps on deck again today, we headed to Cheyenne Mountain State Park for some fine trails. Did the long climb from the base all the way up to the top of Talon North, so the first time the camera came out was near the top. No time for pics when you are barely holding your lung in on the climb!!!

It is March and 70 degrees - any questions?

Kathleen coming through the forest on Talon North.

Awesome view of the southwestern flank of Cheyenne Mountain from Talon North.

Almost to the summit of Talon North...

... and over the top we go!

The mountains meet the plains - looking south and east over Fort Carson from the Talon trail.

Steve catching some rays through the pines on Talon South.

Alert from command central - humans approaching!

Kathleen cruising down the Boulder Run.

Finishing up on Coyote Run - it was a good day with 12 miles out on the trails! We wanted 14 or so, but 12 felt like plenty today. With sun and 70 degrees, we did not want the day to end. Happy Trails for sure!

Shoes - Asics Gel Trabuco

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This post has been marinating since Sunday night, but finally was released to the wild on Wednesday. We are currently under a Winter Storm Warning through Friday evening - if it pans out, we could be running (or not) on snow for a while! We'll see what happens.

Spring in the Garden

The gateway to the Garden of the Gods framing Pikes Peak - I could photograph this a million times and there is always something about it that gets me. If it ever gets old, I'll throw away the camera and stay inside.
It was another unusually warm day for March and we headed over to one of the favorite playgrounds to get some trails in. It was an interesting contrast of lighting today - everything north had clouds for a backlight; everything south was clear blue! Kathleen is climbing the Palmer trail - notice that she was eager to bare those arms! It was so nice it was hard to imagine that it could dump snow next week.
Looking north across the valley - hard to believe now that the grassy area used to be a reservoir.
Steve, under some cloud cover, runs up Palmer trail with Cathedral Rock and the Sleeping Giant in the background. It was no surprise that the Garden was PACKED today. There were people, horses, and dogs all over the trails and roads. It was a great day to be out enjoying life!

High up on the Palmer trail, looking down on the North and South Gateway Rocks.

Kathleen is dwarfed by the Siamese Twins Arch.

Kathleen running on the Galloway-Homestead Trail, South Gateway to the right and Cathedral Spires directly in line with the trail. You really have to see these rocks to appreciate the layering and textures - it is a magnificent park and you often get distracted by the beauty of nature while running there.
Cathedral Rock and Cathedral Spires provide a perfect frame for Pikes Peak. The park will soon start to green as the Gamble oaks are getting buds (wow - pollen season already!) and will be adding some color and texture to the landscape.
Nearing the end of the run on the Valley Reservoir trail. The clouds almost give a three dimensional texture to the photographs as the layers of the landscape in the distance become more prominent. It was another great day on the trails with about 10 miles for the run. We are expecting one more day of really warm temps, so we should get a really nice run in on Sunday as well. Happy Trails!

Shoes- K Asics Trail Sensor
S - Asics Gel Trabuco