Running and Biking..........

In the middle of February I started looking at Trail Runner Magazine, specifically their Trail Runner Trophy Series, and I thought, that looks like fun, how do I sign up? Like most things I find myself drawn to its not easy. I was a runner, well, I ran 50 miles last fall in Chicago, very hard, but I felt a sense of accomplishment, not in the time I finished, but just the finishing it at all. So I said to myself, how many of the series races can I do in a year? Will my running improve? I hardly ever ran on the trails, always beating pavement, and let me tell you trail is so much harder! So far I have done four of the races, and looks like I will do another fourteen before the end of the year, three will be in the same weekend, Friday a 10K, Saturday a 25K, and Sunday a 50K in September! I also have another double weekend with a similar stack up. Right now I am eighth overall in the standings for the series, and mostly cannot believe it! Happy to say my trail running, even the training is enjoyable.
Two weekends ago I ran the Dances with the Dirt-Gnaw Bone, never been at a trail race where we ran thought the woods, no trails, lots of thorns, crazy elevation, snakes, big river crossings, and mostly had fun, I wanted to finish in under 8 hours, and was pleasantly surprised to cross the line in 7 hours 4 minutes, good for 2nd in my age group, and 10th out of all the women.
Biking is good, mostly gearing up for longer races this year, and helping Joe train for Leadville. We will be at the Lumberjack in a couple weeks, looking forward to it! Local races are a fun distraction from lots of miles. This weekend spent both days on the road bike, 65 miles each day. This weekend we will be doing another 200K Saturday, and a century on Sunday.
Keep pushing......it has to make you stronger!