Does anyone know how to make it so the "blogs I'm following" in my reading list is just posted on the blog? Before realizing that I don't know how to do this I deleted my entire list of links. Dumb! Here are some more pictures from camp. They were taken by Melissa. She's the hot chica in the pink tank top and red shorts. I like how in the first picture I look bright pink in comparison to the tan Californians.

Camp Report

the Devil's Thumb

Leslie and Meghan

WARNING: this blog post is pretty lame and reflects how tired I still am. The formatting is all wonky and there's little content of interest. I'm sorry.

This past weekend I went to California for Western States training camp. I went to camp last year and had a lot of fun. This year was even funner! I had fun hanging out with friends and running and running and eating and all that and a bag of chips.

Leslie on the bus!
I flew into Sacramento Friday night and drove to Auburn where I met a bunch of awesome folks for dinner at Olde Towne Pizza. We shared some pizza and beers before heading to Foresthill where we would camp for the weekend.
Saturday we ran from Robinson Flat to Foresthill, which is roughly miles 30-62 in the race. I volunteered to help "sweep" which meant I had to stay behind the last runner. This was an excellent exercise in patience and time on my feet. I'm slow but this was slow!!! It was pleasant though and I was in good company. Afterwards there were burritos and Gordy Ainsleigh.
The next day we ran from Foresthill to the river, which is the next section of the course, and finally on Monday we ran Green Gate to the finish. It's great training and a great chance to see the course.

Monday night we (me and Leslie) stayed with Jennifer and Travis, who are so awesome and generous hosts, then I flew home early Tuesday. REALLY early. That wasn't so awesome!!!

Frankly, camp was one big blur. Such a great time and difficult to report on since I'm still a bit fatigued. All in all though I highly recommend camp to anyone who enjoys ultrarunning -- it's not just for people running the race!!!

Spring has Sprung!

On Saturday Ted and I enjoyed our first hike in the Park of the season -- a trip up to Apgar Lookout. This hike treated us to views of Lake McDonald and the outer boundary of the Park. The snow was largely melted though the top -- or above 5,000 feet -- was still snowy.

We then bottled our IPA, which will be conveniently ready just in time for Western States, and stuffed our faces. A very pleasant weekend! Now I'm all excited to go to CAMP (!!!) next weekend where I will be joined by all sorts of cool folks including Leslie in Banff and Meghan in Yosimite! I will also be joined by the awesome Leslie Antonis! And there will be many others. I can't wait for camp!!!



A Crossfit workout last week. Deadlifts and then sprints. I'm takin' off in the above photo and deadlifting below.


both photos were lifted from Buf without his permission. Hopefully he won't mind.

MUSIC

A blog I dig (Melissa Byers' Crossfit Blog) asked people to select their one single favorite Crossfit-doing-song and I've been checking out peoples' choices and having a lot of fun doing it but have exhausted the suggestions there. So, stealing from her, if you had to pick one song for running or exercise, you know, a song that picks you up when you need it, what song would it be? Well, ok, pick your top 3. It's probably too hard to pick one.

This blog allows anonymous comments so you can share without identifying yourself if you're embarassed or just don't want me to know that you read my blog. I guess what I'm saying is that I'm begging for more tunes! Think of it as helping me out since I'm working on my Western States playlist. Which is probably just as important as the training really. I promise your choices will go on my playlist. So, if you really just want to torture me, here's your chance.

I'll start. Lately, I've been running to (and enjoying):

1) Let the Drummer Kick -- Citizen Cope

2) Crystal -- New Order

3) Sex on Fire -- Kings of Leon

I'm going to be bummed if no one plays along. Just so you know.

I will leave you with Ted Bread. I think he bakes really pretty bread. It's nice to have a husband who bakes from scratch. That's a boy who was raised right!

BEARS!!!

On my long run yesterday I ran into a (black) bear family! A mama and some cubs and I think another bigger adult looking bear. One of the cubs was blonde! My picture isn't very good since I had already begun backing away but you can sort of see the blonde cub - click on the picture to enbiggen it. That was exciting. And my first bear sighting since moving to Montana. Although mama bear started slowly walking towards me, I was able to get out of sight and then sprint down the hill I was on. They didn't follow me and all ended well, other than the fact my planned route had to be changed dramatically, thus resulting in a relatively boring 30 miler.

I had planned to run to Eric and Krista's lake house at Rogers Lake, and I still could have made it, but the mileage was going to be on the long side. Instead, Ted and I met at the Cottage in Kila and he drove me to Rogers Lake. We had a nice evening and burned a cake. It seemed like the thing to do with the rest of the ginormous Costco chocolate cake that we'd pigged out on.

Finally, I wanted to post a picture of the nice present Chris' kids gave me when I left Sacramento after Diablo. Chris' daughter is a duct tape artist and I'm thinking I ought to give it a try myself :-)

The best gift ever. I mean, bright green duct tape. Who knew you could buy so many colors of duct tape! I will treasure it.