Highly Recommended Hikes for all levels

Winner Creek in Girdwood
Four miles one way, although I've only ever made it to the tram and turned around.  This is a fun, flat, easy hike.  Great for families, but I generally seek a little more thrill when I hike (peaks, scrambling, etc.)
http://alaskahikesearch.com/hikes/winner-creek/

Byron Glacier near Portage
Easy 1.2 hike to a glacier.  I haven't done this hike in a few years, but I know from driving by that many of these glaciers have receded a good amount.  It may be a longer hike to actually get to the glacier, but it's a nice walk regardless.  Also great for families!
http://alaskahikesearch.com/hikes/byron-glacier/

If you like this hike, I would highly recommend Portage Pass (scroll down to see more info or click on link) http://alaskahikesearch.com/hikes/portage-pass/

Powerline Pass
From start to finish, this hike is 14 miles, but you can do any part!  I hiked from Glen Alps to the bridge (2.5 miles) alone and then again with a friend.  The trail is busy and wide enough that I didn't feel too paranoid about running into wildlife alone, but I would still proceed with caution, especially in the spring.  The trail is very flat, making it easy to run, bike, hike, take children, etc.  I can't wait to complete all 14 miles of this hike!
http://alaskahikesearch.com/hikes/powerline-pass/#.V0j-da6rRo4

Mt. Baldy in Eagle River
1.5 miles uphill with a great view on a clear day!  This is an awesome hike because it is short enough to complete in a couple hours and close enough that you don't need all day to drive, hike, etc.  There is a path to the neighboring peaks for those who want to continue.  The link below describes this hike as moderate, but I would say it is somewhat easy.  There are a few steep parts but not as much scrambling as Flat Top.  Would be a good alternative for those who are looking for something other than FT.
http://alaskahikesearch.com/hikes/mt-baldy/#.V0h3La6rRo4

Bird Ridge off Seward Highway, 25 miles south of Anchorage
One of my favorites!  TOUGH 2.5 miles uphill and lots of false peaks.  Awesome hike on a beautiful day as it gives you a phenomenal view of Cook Inlet.  You can also follow the ridge if you wish to continue further.  Bring food, water and layers--you will be hungry, thirsty and sweaty by the time you make it to the top!
http://alaskahikesearch.com/hikes/bird-ridge/

I've been cheating on my treadmill with my yoga mat...

...and it's been amazing!

For the past month, running has taken a back seat in my life, due to the busyness of ending another school year, flying to California for a wedding weekend, wanting to explore/hike Alaska instead, etc.  I also had a frustrating but short-lived case of runner's knee after a measly one mile hike, so I thought it was all a sign that I should take it easy and pass on my favorite half marathon (which is this weekend).  As much as I wish I could run it, I haven't trained, and I would much rather spend Memorial Day Weekend away from the city.

On top of that, about a week ago, I got a one-month yoga pass to one of my favorite places--Anchorage Yoga.  Right now, they have a deal for $59 for one month, and you don't have to commit to a three month minimum and all that.  You just pay $59 for one month.  Best thing ever!

http://anchorageyogacycle.com/ <--- Check it out here!

So, in leu of running, I've been hot yoga-ing.  I've been going about three days a week and the change of pace has been super motivating.  I have even been able to wake up at 5:10 to make the 6am class (those that know me know that I am NOT a morning person).  I've found that waking up that early for yoga is waaay better than waking up that early for a run.  If you are tired, you can still do yoga; but if you wake up at 5am and are tired, your run gonna suck!

Anyway, I finally ran today, and I felt like I was the subject of an experiment.  I wasn't sure if I would be better, worse, faster, slower, out of breath, etc.  I thought I might get shin splints or runner's knee immediately.  I had a dream the other night that I ran after taking this long break and that my new mile time was 12:30!  Thankfully, I was able to run five miles at about my usual pace, a little slower (9 minutes).  I experienced no pain and could've continued running; however, I'm a conservative runner and plan on staying that way.  It has worked so far--I have never been seriously injured, and I've met my race time goals.  I hope to run 6-7 miles this weekend in preparation for the Twilight 12k in two weeks.  I may not PR, but I will definitely have fun and know that my downward dog has gotten better and that my upper body and core are much stronger from yoga :)

Namaste!

Hiking Adventures

After increasing distance to nine miles for a half marathon in May that I likely won't do (who stays in town on Memorial Day weekend?!), I started experiencing some knee pain.  Rather than run through it, I've been focusing on my favorite outdoor cross training: hiking, hiking and more hiking!

Here are our most recent adventures and some photos:

Lazy Mountain (near Palmer), April 2016
Not for the lazy at all!  Considered "short" because it is only five miles round trip, but the steepness makes up for it.  Let's just say that after this hike, Nathan said he will be researching the descriptions more closely before he agrees :)
http://alaskahikesearch.com/hikes/lazy-mountain/#.Vx7QLq6rRo4 


Reflections Lake (near Knik River bridge), April 2016
Easy one mile walk around lake.  Would be great for picnics and families.
http://alaskahikesearch.com/hikes/reflections-lake/#.Vx7Q-a6rRo4 


South Fork Rim Trail (Prospect Heights, Hillside), April 2016
Easy, short loop.  We took Powerline back, making it about two miles round trip.
http://alaskahikesearch.com/hikes/south-fork-rim-trail/#.Vx7SUa6rRsM


Portage Pass (Whittier), April 2016
Why haven't we done this hike before?!  It's 1.5 miles up a slight hill but totally worth it on a sunny day.  You are rewarded by a view of Portage Glacier, as well as Whittier and the Prince William Sound.
http://alaskahikesearch.com/hikes/portage-pass/#.Vx7Sc66rRsM


Virgin Falls (Girdwood), April 2016
More like a walk than a hike--you are there before you know it.  Lots to explore, but the waterfall (probably main attraction) takes only a few minutes to get to and is worth a pic.
http://alaskahikesearch.com/hikes/virgin-falls/#.Vx7TOK6rRsM


Eagle River North Fork (Eagle River), April 2016
Easy, flat walk to the river.  Great for families!  One mile round trip.
http://alaskahikesearch.com/hikes/eagle-river-north-fork/#.Vx7TtK6rRsM


Dew Mound Trail (Eagle River Nature Center), April 2016
Six mile loop-stops by Dew Lake and Eagle River.
http://alaskahikesearch.com/hikes/dew-mound-trail/#.Vx7UEK6rRsM


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And one for ol' time's sake:
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Alyeska North Face (Girdwood), August 2014
Two miles uphill from Alyeska Resort to the top of the tram.  Nice view of Cook Inlet, and you can take the tram down for free...so yes, you are kinda getting paid to hike (save 20-something dollars)!
http://alaskahikesearch.com/hikes/alyeska-north-face/#.Vx7WFq6rS1s


Quote of the day:

http://appalachiantrials.com/10-appalachian-trail-photos/

Other Long Distance Adventures

It's been a while since I've blogged about running, mostly because my runs are pretty consistent now: short and great, or long and boring.  I'm training for a half that is a few days before my thirtieth birthday.  I hope to crush my PR (1:57:30), but I also am trying to have fun with it since it will likely be my last long distance race.  The longer distances are getting harder and harder on my thirty year old body, and I want to keep my knees.  Instead of continuing to tackle long distances, I'm changing my focus to short and quick runs (5k's in 24 minutes or less).  It will take a new type of training, but I'm ready for some change.

I also have been training my body through long distance hikes, which are less harmful to the body because the impact is not as bad.  Backpacking is one of my new favorite hobbies, but the extra weight is also a concern.  So far, I have not have any issues, and I still get the same sense of accomplishment from conquering long distances via hiking shoes.

So, without further ado, here are my favorite two adventures from this summer:

This summer, we found our favorite place on Earth.  We also backpacked 25 miles in three days. 

This summer, Nathan and I invested in some backpacking gear so that we could hike and stay overnight in remote locations.  Now we are addicted!

Our first major trip was to Reed Lakes in Hatcher's Pass, Alaska (pictured above).  After nine miles of hiking, rock jumping and river crossing, there are two beautiful lakes and no people.  We went with two friends, one of which is also new to backpacking; the other an avid hiker and backpacker.  We learned a lot about what to bring (lots of extra toilet paper) and what not to bring (a box of wine).  After camping in paradise for one night, we had a long trek back but it was worth the effort.  We plan on going back again soon for a day trip.

Crow Pass - 25 mile hike from Girdwood to Eagle River

After our first backpacking trip, we realized we were pros and should spend two nights out in the wilderness in the middle of nowhere.  This time, we went with two newbies and started 45 miles south of Anchorage in Girdwood.  We hiked up a few thousand feet and came across a group of mountain goats; the ram was not very happy to see us.  We had to veer off trail to avoid him (those suckers are big up close)!  Once we were far enough away to feel safe, we camped overnight near the glacier.

The following day, we hiked 10 miles, which included a large river crossing.  I will spare you a few of the embarrassing details—okay, no I won’t.  I cried like a baby as we crossed the river.  It was so cold, our toes were numb for weeks after due to nerve damage.  I was so relieved when we made it across, but when I looked down, my legs were beet red from the cold and I almost didn’t know they were still there because they were so numb.  We quickly took off our wet gear, got dressed and got moving because we learned this was the best way to warm up.  It worked.

There were a few other minor river crossings, none of which were as bad as the first.  That night, we camped between piles of bear scat, clearly in bear country.  None of us slept great, knowing that there could be hungry predators nearby.  In actuality, bears want very little to do with humans, but it’s always better to be more cautious than not. 

Day three was another 10 mile hike, which seemed to go on forever.  By then, we were all tired, hungry, stinky and ready to be home in our own beds and using a real toilet.  We made it to Eagle River, about 15 miles north of Anchorage, and celebrated with a nice dinner out reminiscing about our adventure (and how I wanted to do it all again—I was the only one).

Sadly, we took very few pictures because we were conserving our phone batteries for emergencies and they were hard to access in our bags.  However, we did capture the glacier, valley, and our happy faces as we finally finished the hike! 

NEED to post/reflect/update

So...
It's been over a year since I've blogged, but it will be easy to catch you up to speed (pun-intended).  I have been enjoying running, especially with my puppy (who is no longer a puppy) and new running mates!  (I've been trying to get people to jump on the running band-wagon, except there's no wagon because you have to use your own two feet to stay with us!)  It's been pretty successful, and if I could tag those people on my blog, I would, but they know who they are!!!

But really, I've watched people lose weight, get into shape, get addicted to runners high, and increase lung capacity.  I've also watched people learn that they can enjoy running outside with other runners JUST FOR FUN.  That is a huge enlightenment for some people.  And it all starts with moving your left foot, then your right foot, then your left foot again...it all starts with simply giving running a try!

As for my own journey as a "runner" (still weird when people refer to me as such a thing), I've learned that I can take a week off and then not die when I go for a run again.  I've learned that the 3.5 YEARS of running that I have under my belt, or shoes, or whatever, are MINE, and cannot be taken from me, even if I miss a run here or there.  I've learned that I can sleep, eat what I please, and think better after a run.  In fact, when I'm cranky, my husband often tells me lovingly, "why don't you go downstairs for a bit" (and visit our treadmill).  It is my happy place.  It is time for me.

Aside from that, I've learned what it means to run alone, and how liberating that can be, as well as what it means to run with others.  Sharing a run and runners high is really no different than sitting around a campfire and sharing memories.  Oh, and I like to share memories, especially secrets...
(I've learned that I don't hold my thoughts back when I run.  A day, week, month later, I hear myself say out-loud, "I told you that story?..." when I'm chatting with friends.  Oops.  Your secret is safe with me, until I run and tell everyone everything!)

I've learned that races are fun, although they can be a bit defeating at times.  I PRed during my last 12K race, BUT the first half of the race was so disheartening because I just kept getting passed, and passed, and PASSED!  In retrospect, I probably started too close to the finishing line (beginner's move, I know), so I was running with people who clearly had a faster mile pace than me.  However, I kept my head up and just ran for me.  I imagined that I was running alone, running for myself, running to beat my previous time.  And I did!  Of course, the competitive part of me said, "really, you couldn't cut off three more minutes" when I crossed the finish line at 1:03, but then the other part of me said, "no, and shut up!"

The good news is, I cut 10+ minutes off my time.  Did I enjoy the race as people were passing me and I had a heart-to-heart mid-run?  I've been better.  But when my Lady Gaga song came on, everything changed!  And when I saw that hill in front of me, I owned it.  And then I PRed, had some snacks and went home.  I got to run, which means it was a good day.

The next day, I was browsing through my race time, pics, video, etc. and decided to compare it to the last few 12K's I've done over the years.  Here are two pics:

Aside from the fact that I'm wearing pretty much the same thing and look like I'm carrying the world in my front pockets (the new iPhone 6 is larger than life, literally), I noticed...

MY FACE!  I look miserable during my PR (second picture) but happy as a clam as I finished the race with a friend.  My NEW race goal is to stop worrying about my time and have fun.  Less pressure, more smiles.  And then...who cares if someone passes me?!

Totally Tabata

I've been experimenting with new work out routines in order to not be "skinny-fat" (this is what a trainer said about runners/me when I was checking out a gym--NOT joining there lol).  Tabata is one of the latest fitness buzz words, although I'm sure it's been around for longer than we all think.  Here's Tabata, also known as HIIT (high intensity interval training) in a nutshell:

20 seconds of intense exercise (aka push til you puke lol)
10 seconds of rest
Repeat 8 times for a cycle
Complete 4 cycles (or more if desired)

Here's the Tabata wikipedia for more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-intensity_interval_training

The basic 8 rounds of 4 cycles should take you about 15-20 minutes (depending on your water break between cycles), plus you'll want to have a five minute warm up and five minute cool down.  As you can see, this is a great way to fit in an intense workout in a short amount of time.  It's cross-fit meets timer :) The difference between Tabata and cross-fit is that you do what you can in 20 seconds and then move on.  Cross-fit, on the other hand, requires you to complete x amount of some exercise before moving on to the next.  One of the issues with this is that you never really know how long the work out is going to take you.  So if you're short on time, try Tabata!

I was REALLY short on time today, so rather than trying to run my usual four miles, I decided to mix it up a bit.  Here's what I did and the site that inspired me:

http://www.occasionallyaj.com/category/tabata

Five minute walking warm up at 4mph (incline at 1.0 for knee safety)
Cycle 1: Jumping jacks, high knees, push up & burpees (repeat)
Cycle 2: 20-second sprints 8.8-9.5mph/incline 1
Cycle 3: Squat jumps, mountain climbers & lunge jumps (skipped mogul jumps because I didn't know what they were)
Cycle 4: Crunches, heel taps & plank (skipped plank taps)
Cool down

Altogether it took me about 25 minutes.

Here's what I learned:
*Pace yourself!  The link listed above suggests cycles 1-3 twice and then cycle 4 sprints for a total of 7 cycles.  My first Tabata work out was 4 cycles, and that was enough!
*Rather than only doing 4 workout for each cycle and repeating, do 8 different work outs for each cycle.  You have a lot more energy that first cycle.  I felt like my cycle 4 push was a little weak which means I neglected those exercises and favored the first few.
*Save your sprints for cycle 4 like the website suggests.  I was going to alternate strength and sprints, but after cycles 1 & 2, I decided to save myself from a treadmill injury.  Did not want to fall because of tired legs!
*Set your Tabata timer so that you have one minute between each cycle.  I only allotted ten seconds (standard), but that was not enough time to get water AND catch my breath!
*Speaking of Tabata timer, this is the one I use:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pushpress-timer/id826016623?mt=8
*Have fun!  My husband and I have done this together in our downstairs guest/workout room: one of us on the treadmill doing sprints while the other is on the floor doing strength.  When the timer says so, we switch!

I hope you find this informative, interesting, whatever!  I plan on looking back at this work out reflection next week, so I don't make the same mistakes twice.  Oh, and I'm going to add a cycle until I can keep up with author!

It's about time I reflect on 26.2

Been very busy since the marathon.  My summer masters classes started and I've been trying to get out and be active in other ways since I know long distance running should not be the only way I get my heart pumping.  My husband and I have a new goal to get in shape by putting on some muscle, which is hard to do when you are running long distances.  So, we've started to incorporate more weight training into our routine and we're cutting back on running.  I ran six miles the other day around my neighborhood and it was perfect.  Great distance, great scenery and great feeling :) Happy to report that I still love running after that damn marathon!

Speaking of the marathon...I always find it beneficial to reflect on things in life as they come and go (my teaching, running, just about everything).  It's been a while since the race itself, but I'm sure it would be good to document those moments of torture that I remember so that when my crazy self tries to sign up for another one, I have documentation of why I shouldn't...kidding :)

Actually, surprisingly, it was a lot of fun!  (I say that now because I am not currently running or training to run 26.2 miles).  No, really, it was a great experience--one that I am happy to look back on.  So, here goes:

The last few days before race day could not have been better.  I was eating the recommended foods from Jeff Galloway's training programs (small snacks and meals every 1.5 hours).  I hydrated with water only throughout the day and took melatonin so I could sleep at night.  I refrained from taking melatonin the night before the race to avoid grogginess.  Because our sleep and eating patterns were in control, we felt in control.

The day before the race, I got everything ready for my husband and I in separate bags (clothes, bibs, snacks, water, etc.).  Our bags were surprisingly full!  This is a great race trick that I would highly recommend: do your laundry, and get your clothes ready as well as other supplies you've trained with.  No one wants to be looking for that one lucky/magic sock that is probably hiding somewhere dirty...so, plan, plan, plan!

Since everything was well planned out, race morning went super smoothly!  My husband and I had already thought about the car/driving situation, thankfully.  Because the start and finish were in different locations, we left one car parked near the finish with a key inside (use padlock to get in).  We didn't have to run with a stupid key!

Throughout the day, I kept reminding myself to savor each moment, and the starting line was no exception.  I looked around, made observations, took in deep breaths.  I know it sounds weird, but it was actually really calming.  I thought to myself, this is my last pre-marathon moment.  After this, I might not be able to run.  Of course, thoughts of doubt went through my mind about not being able to finish or getting hurt, but I had practiced being in control of those thoughts during my training.  (Mind training is almost more important than running training for long distances).  I was in control.

The first few miles were AWESOME, which is usually not the case for me.  It takes me a few miles to get into the zone, which is why I am not a fan of 5K races.  By the time I climb over "the wall" and get into my groove, the race is over.  Long distance running is perfect for me.  I may be slow, but I feel like I can run forever.  

The first half of the marathon was slow.  We told ourselves it was because we were conserving energy to speed up the last half.  Lies!  We ended up going even slower for the last half, but at least we finished.  I was even more thrilled to speed by a half marathoner at the finish line who had started an hour after us.  Evil, I know!

Other highlights & memories:

*I had a hard time getting into the zone THE WHOLE RUN because of the trail we were on—there were lots of rocks and things to watch out for!  In fact, I slightly twisted an ankle at one point and had no other choice than to run it off!  It was beautiful though and certainly beats a treadmill or track!!

*As planned and practice, we passed at least one person on every hill (burn to their ego).

*Nathan had to remind me once or twice to control my breathing (I was listening to music and therefore couldn’t hear my-terrible-self panting for life)

*I’m pretty sure we passed mile marker 18 twice.

*We ran 26.2 miles.

*We ran 26.2 miles!

*We were pretty sore halfway through (hence the slowing down), but I had just enough energy to kick ass the last 0.1 mile, which is the most important part—I fooled the crowd into thinking I am a good runner J

Quotes for the day:

“Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind” – Psalm 26:2

“The person who starts the marathon is not the same person who finishes” -Unknown