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

Marathon Finish Line Pic

Here is our pic from last weekend's race.  Hope to blog about it tomorrow--been gathering my thoughts since race day about highs and lows :)

18 hours until MARATHON!

Savoring this moment of excitement.  My poor husband--he's been having to deal with my "inspirational-ism," like when I was taking a bath last night and saying things like "this is the last day we will wonder what our marathon time will be...let's just savor this."  LOL.  Yeah, I've run myself crazy, but I've enjoyed every minute of it and am especially happy to be capturing it via blog (and sharing it with people in Germany and Russia--who'da thought?!).

I've taken tapering to a whole new level by pretty much quitting running completely (oops).  After a 20 mile run and 4 mile walk two weekends ago, I've been cross training (hiking, weight lifting, kayaking) to give myself a change of pace.  I know myself enough to recognize that if I cut back on running, I will miss it dearly and enjoy the next run that much more.  I DID run a 5k this weekend, slowly, more for pleasure, and ran three miles Monday morning and evening.  I find the short runs to be less enjoyable than the long ones--by the time I get into my "groove," it's over.  Strangely, yes, I'd rather run 20 miles than 2.  The sense of accomplishment makes it completely worthwhile.

I spoke with a long time friend a couple days ago who has run over 10 marathons, 5 of which were Boston.  She was surprised by my level of calmness and confidence.  I know I'm fairly motivated, but confident???  I figure I've done what I can, and I'm as ready as I'll ever be; there's no point in wishing I would've done more or less or whatever.  I did the training that made the most sense at the time given the circumstances (time, weather, fatigue, health, etc.).  The way my friend put it: I've done all the work; now the race is the opportunity to celebrate it.  Phew--that certainly takes off the pressure!

At this point, my husband and I would LOVE to finish in four hours, but if it doesn't happen (which it probably won't), oh well.  Realistically, we'll probably finish more like 4:30.  My back up goal is five hours, which seems totally manageable.  As long as I'm not injured (which I better not be), we just want to finish!  And of course, savor it! :)

Quote of the day: "If you want to run, run a mile. If you want to experience a different life, run a marathon" -Emil Zatopek, Czech long distance runner and winner of three Olympic gold medals