Tag: training

moments ALONG the WAY

On By Sunsets and PuffysIn Adventures, National Parks, RunningLeave a comment

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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.

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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!

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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!

Wasatch 100 | Speedgoat | Coal Creek | Granite Canyon | Grand Teton National Park | Moose Lake | Lake Solitude | Cascade Canyon | String Lake 

 

LACED up SHOES, cotton CANDY clouds

On By Sunsets and PuffysIn Running, Shop2 Comments

 

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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

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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.

RUNNING NECESSITIES: (Shop Links below)

SHOES | SHORTS | SHIRT | SOCKS | GU PACKS | HAT | LITE LAYER | HYDRATION PACK 

 

it’s a BEAUTIFUL day, ENJOY it

On By Sunsets and PuffysIn Running, ShopLeave a comment

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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!”

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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

My Road Running Favorites:

Shoes  |  Pants  |  Socks  |  Shirt  |  Vest  |  Sunglasses  |  Tunes   |  Gloves

 

 

 

 

CROSS training: a PEDAL in the PARK

On 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.

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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?!

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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