SKIING through LEAVES in OCTOBER

On October 12, 2016October 12, 2016 By Sunsets and PuffysIn Adventures, Running, SkiingLeave a comment

Crazy it’s October 12th and I’ve already skied three days! After the St George marathon, I posted “Done with running and now I’m ready for winter and skiing!” I had no idea I’d be skiing great powder three days later. It was fun and as we were hiking up it was cold, snowing and windy. I would have thought it was the middle of winter, not the first of October. Teton had fun one day with me but looked was covered with snowballs.

A recent article was written about the influence of social media and backcountry skiing and the decisions people are making. You can read it HERE. I found it interesting in the US 27 people die in avalanches a year. At a conference last weekend, attendees not only heard from physicists but neurologists, behavior scientists, and psychologists. More focus during backcountry ski training, they say, needs to go towards decision making. It is a skill that needs to be taught. Some food for thought as we enter the ski season.

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Backcountry Safety | Early Season Hiking | Backcountry Book | Snow Study Kit

Wasatch 100, yes 100 miles of RUNNING!

On October 10, 2016October 10, 2016 By Sunsets and PuffysIn Adventures, Running2 Comments

So life got busy and crazy the past few months. From logging 80+ miles a week, plus work and side work, making sure Teton got outside for runs too, and an injury, August, and September flew right by. But I’m alive, happy and my body is adjusting to ‘normal’ life again. It seems weird on Saturdays that I’m not out running for 12 hours or more.

The Wasatch 100: AMAZING! I didn’t know what to expect going into it. Was it going to be too hard for me? Was I trained enough, would my knee bother me, would I be able to eat, was I going to be fast enough to make the cut-off times? So many unknowns. I felt great the first 30 miles, my stomach was a bit grumbly but I had my Rolaids to help out. I was even ahead of schedule at every aid-station. At mile 31 I ate a burrito and that’s the last solid food I ate for three days. My stomach bothered me so much I couldn’t eat anything solid and had to slow down. I ran 45 miles on broth, Gatorade and a few bites of cooked potatoes. (Family staple food when hiking. Yes, my dad is a potato farmer.)

Pacers are key to any 100-mile race. They keep you going when you want to give up. They distract you with crazy stories from college and they keep cheering you on, even when you’re the last one into the aid-station. My family was awesome and a big part of the race for me. They cheered me on. Sent me texts, encouraging me to keep moving. They trip as they are running into the aid station with you, and make you laugh, they walk up and down the road because they are so worried that you’re not there yet that they end up with a bigger blister than you do. Smile a toothless smile and tell you “You’re a Huskinson, we can do hard things!”, I laughed and cried at the same time.

Even though I didn’t cross the finish line, I was a champion. I was happy with 75 miles, I was cut because of time. I went 45 miles further than I thought I could that day because I couldn’t eat any food. It was hard but doable for me. I definitely was trained. It was a journey and the memories from the race are my pacers, family, and friends, support crew, and race support crew made it a great experience for me and I had fun along the way. And yes, I’m doing it again!

Wasatch 100 | What to eat race day | Support Crew | Recovery

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the TRUE athlete…

On August 9, 2016August 9, 2016 By Sunsets and PuffysIn Motivational Monday, RunningLeave a comment

Being an athlete is a state of mind which is not bound by age, performance or place in the running pack. ~ Jeff Galloway

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With the Olympics starting, I contemplate a lot of things. An injury I didn’t anticipate, a lot of hard training and sacrifices. A race I really want to finish and know I can but there’s always setbacks. I believe we are the true Olympians, you and me, the average person. Long after the ribbon has been run through or the course record has been set, we cross the finish line.

We push through the heat of the day, endure for hours long after the top three have been announced. And at the end, we wear the medal proudly. I’m not discounting the athleticism of those amazing athletes who win and are good at what they do and I realize they put as much training in as we do. We all endure, we all are athletes and true GOLD medalists. Whether it’s a 5K or 50K, we did it!

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A few years ago I came in almost dead last at a race I never thought I would finish. At the starting line, I knew I would pull out of the race at the tunnel, mile 21. Somehow I finished that race with my family cheering me through the tunnel and to the finish line. I’d ran an extra 22 miles that day and 12 hours later I crossed the finish line.

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That is why I LOVE sporting events and races. We, the average human, have to dig deep, really deep at times and continue on our journey and believe in ourselves when no one else does. Continue on… don’t stop… you can do it! GO US!!

St George Marathon | Grand Teton Relay | Speedgoat 50K | Deseret News 5K

adventures IN RUNNING

On August 2, 2016August 3, 2016 By Sunsets and PuffysIn Adventures, National Parks, Running, Shop, Uncategorized3 Comments

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So…this past weekend was THE hardest run I’ve ever done in my life, ok that’s only a true statement if I exclude Speedgoat 2015 but anyways REALLY hard! Emotions grow strong the more miles you pound out during the day. My goal 34 miles, piece of cake right?! I had already run 42 miles and felt great a few weeks ago! At one point during the last 10 miles of my run, I sat on a rock and cried. I wanted to jump in the creek and meander my way downstream to Jenny’s Lake so I wouldn’t have to take another step.

I continued on because I had to. No one was going to come rescue me and my poor knee. I had to put one foot in front of the other. I did NOT get a sense of accomplishment as I ran across the bridge at String Lake. But what I did feel was gratitude. I can do hard things. I mentally can do hard things. I realize most people are not as stupid as me and sign up for a 100-mile trail run but really, we can push ourselves a lot further than what we think we can.

My dad was waiting there for me and I was never so happy to see someone. I’m blessed to have many people behind me, encouraging me to continue on and reach my goal. I’m slow. Really, SLOW. But I put one foot in front of the other and know my mom would have loved to be on top of Hurricane Pass that day and that’s what keeps me going.

Don’t give up. Challenges make us better human beings. Some of us sign up for races bringing on those struggles ourselves, but most people have challenges without asking or wanting them in their lives. Keep going, one foot in front of the other. I know I can do it and so can you. As Babe Ruth said: ‘It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.’

Teton Crest Trail | Grand Teton National Park | Trail Running

Shoes | Insoles | Food | Sunscreen | Keep Running | Shorts

moments ALONG the WAY

On July 9, 2016July 29, 2016 By Sunsets and PuffysIn Adventures, National Parks, RunningLeave a comment

Most people ask me why I sign up for super long crazy ultra trail running races, and I always say, because what else am I going to do with my time? But really the reason I signed up for my first 5K to my first 100 mile race was because of the experience to the finish line. The training, the tears, the worry I won’t make the cut-off times, the struggles to continue on during a training run at mile six when you’re exhausted and dying but you have 20 more to go, the people I meet along the trail and their cheers, ‘You go girl!’, the accomplishment at the end and most of all, I do it for those who love me and are cheering me into the finish line.

It’s a lot like life. It has it’s ups and downs, accomplishments and failures but at the end we have someone giving us a hug and saying, ‘you did the best you could.’ Whether you won the race or came in last, we accomplished something for ourselves. We’re all doing the best we can. It’s the little things that matter. The effort and dedication we put into crossing the finish line, to those who support us through the good and the bad, the rain, sunshine and snow. To the constant cheerleaders in my life, I say THANK YOU!

Stop and enjoy that moment right now, because you’ll never get it back. I always stop and take a picture. Ya, it slows me down and I always like to stop, smell the flowers and enjoy that exact moment in time because it will be forever engrained in my memory, captured in a photo most of the time. That’s what gets us to the finish line of any race or life. Moments along the way. HAPPY RUNNING!

the WANDERING mind in NATURE

On June 5, 2016July 29, 2016 By Sunsets and PuffysIn Adventures, Hiking, Running, ShopLeave a comment

Today was a long trail running day…20 miles or longer. Happy #NationalTrailsDay! I’m not quite sure of the exact distance I ran. I was out on the trails for 6 1/2 hours. Some of you may wonder why I do it. 1) because I’m training & 2) the experiences I have along the way.

Disclaimer: Keep in mind I ran 20 miles over many hours. This is a selfie of me w/two hours left. Lake: Upper Palisades Lake, amazing colors. It’s worth the hike!

I do it because I love meeting people on the trail. In the final three mile stretch I passed a couple I had seen earlier on the trail up high. Turns out, they live down the road from the house I grew up in. Small world. I love chatting with strangers I meet along the way. It’s always so fun to hear their story. I also love the different experiences along the way. Today, intense heat! I had to eat three GU’s just to keep going. I found a hidden meadow on the trail. It was so far up a canyon with down trees and not a great trail, I’m sure many people don’t venture up that far. I love the solitude I’m exposed to. As I looked around, I witnessed the snow lined ridges up high, the sun shining down on a trail meandering through the meadow. It was just me and nature.

When I run, I let my mind wander and sometimes I’m surprised what my mind wanders to. Things are presented to me in ways I would never have thought of on my own. There are no obstacles stopping my mind and it becomes crystal clear high in the mountains or on a mountain top. When my physical body and abilities are struggling to keep going, it seems the fog lifts from my mind.

When I’m in nature I easily tap into my true self, my true feelings. Yes, there have been times I have cried like a baby and processed life and situations. No one is around to hear my sobs but as those alligator tear drops fall, I understand and my vision is unclouded and I can accept that situation. My discernment is clear.

You don’t have to run 20+ miles in nature to experience this. A walk at sunset as the rainbow reveals itself, a drive through nature, or a short hike away from the normalcy of life will do the trick. You’ll be refreshed and ready to tackle anything. Just get outside and see what mother nature has to offer you. That clouded mind will see the sunset or rainbow it’s been looking for.

Running Articles:

100 miles new marathons? | training ultras | beginners guide to trail running

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MEMORIAL day: SALES for ADVENTURES

On May 30, 2016July 29, 2016 By Sunsets and PuffysIn Adventures, Backpacking, Hiking, Running, ShopLeave a comment

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This holiday weekend I have already put a few adventures in the books to remember. Today on my 15 mile trail run up to Palisade Upper Lake, it went from blue clear skies to a downpour in five seconds. Good thing I was prepared with Rain jacket, beanie, hat w/visor to keep rain off my face, capilene layer, buff to keep my neck warm with the cool wind. The downpour didn’t stop me. I was prepared.

Palisade Lower Lake, Post-run muddiness

The wildflowers on the ridge, Big Holes Idaho

Yesterday I needed a puffy! The ridge top winds were SOOO cold! I was prepared but I would have miserable had I not been. The wildflowers made me forget how cold it was. They are just starting to show off their colors. It was a beautiful day with sunshine (which we have been lacking). It’s been raining for over a week now! So the cold sunshine was a warm welcome!

There’s so many great deals out there. Tomorrow is the final day! Shop before it’s too late.

SHOP great MEMORIAL DAY SALES:

Patagonia Outlet :get additonal % off based on total amount dollar spent
Backcountry.com :get 20% off one full priced item or up to 50% on select items
Alltrec.com : get 20% off select gear
Campsaver.com : 20% off full priced items and 20% off outlet items

LACED up SHOES, cotton CANDY clouds

On May 18, 2016May 25, 2016 By Sunsets and PuffysIn Running, Shop2 Comments

Another morning, I don’t want to get up and run, AGAIN. My body still hurts from the long run on Saturday. I want to sleep in, there’s a million other things I’d rather do and I will name all of them. But… I lace up my shoes, head out the door and start. It’s always hard. Whether it’s a 5K or a 100 mile race, the training regiment is always hard. The diligence of training is not easy. It’s mind over matter. For me the hardest part of running a 100 mile race or training for any race is always the consistency of training. I need to build the muscle strength, the stamina, the mental capacity from daily training. One must be serious about training to cross the finish line on race day. LOVE this article on running consistency: HERE

So today, I started out slow, a lot of things on my mind. As I put one foot in front of the other and two hours later, I felt amazing. I loved the COTTON CANDY CLOUDS and the green valley below and the Tetons watching me from a distance as I ran my miles. All the burdens on my mind, solved, lifted off my shoulders. Running is my personal therapy. I LOVE IT! Nature does that to me. Just me, the clouds, the badger off the side of the road, the little squirrels and deer peering over at me, stopping in that moment to lock eyes with me as I run by. I LOVE nature and the calmness it brings my soul. That’s why I choose to run up a very steep hill for 6 miles and venture into the woods. A great article on Running and the benefits: HERE

Runners, we’re a different breed but a happy one. We know the sacrifices, the journey and rewards at the end. Be it a finish line or our car. WE DID IT! And that’s why we come back the next day for more.

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A great quote from Runner’s World.

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it’s a BEAUTIFUL day, ENJOY it

On May 12, 2016May 12, 2016 By Sunsets and PuffysIn Running, ShopLeave a comment

Monday my training schedule had me running 10 miles. I looked out the window to see the trees were almost horizontal because the wind was blowing so hard. Ugh, I had no desire to run a mile, let alone 10. I told myself, “it’d be good ‘training’ and training for anything is not for the faint of heart, besides, it was a beautiful day, go enjoy it!”

The wild wind blowing my hair.

It turned out to be fun to run. I laughed as the wind literally blew me off the road with some gusts and stopped me dead in my tracks as I ran into it. I was rewarded at the end, I DID IT! That’s the joy of training and pushing ourselves. The sense of accomplishment at the end. HERE is a great article to get over a training hump. Happy Running! Andria

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CROSS training: a PEDAL in the PARK

On May 5, 2016May 14, 2016 By Sunsets and PuffysIn Adventures, National Parks, Running, Shop, Tetons Corner, TravelLeave a comment

I was too tired to run today, so I decided on a cross-training day. Teton and I decided to bike through Grand Teton National Park. I personally KNOW how important cross-training is for your running training, whether it’s a 5K or a 50K, it’s important! The races I didn’t do any cross-training, I could tell. Check out this great article on why cross-training is important: HERE My cross-training is fun and casual, biking, water-skiing, hiking. I keep it light since my training days are more intense.

It’s early season in the park so not too many people. There’s still snow in mountains so we biked from Taggart Lake parking lot to Jenny Lake. A must do! The views were splendid. And Teton LOVED it! Fitting don’t you think?!

Grand Teton National Park: Trail/Bike Map: HERE

Safety While Biking in Park: HERE

A Pedal in the Park Essentials: ON SALE!

Casual Shorts : Patagonia Button Down : Day Pack for Buddy : Sunglasses

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