Running the Arizona Trail (From Highway 83 to Kentucky Camp)

The Arizona Trail is a National Scenic Trail from Mexico to Utah that traverses the whole north-south length of the U.S. state of Arizona. (From Google Maps)

Last Sunday, TTR held a run on the Arizona Trail. The idea was for it to be a 50k, but I decided to run 20-25 miles just so the run director didn't have to wait any longer for me. I knew I would be slower than the group I was running with. We started at a pullout on Highway 83. It was cold and cloudy, but the weather forecast said we would have a high of 75. 

I wore a bright orange shirt because there were hunters on the trail most days. I was the only one who wore one. The majority wore white. I felt I needed to be safe. I'm not going to trust a hunter to not shoot me. I actually had to tell a hunter where I was because they still couldn't see me! Had a few shots fired in my direction actually...

I started a few seconds late because someone brought a dog and I had to say hi (of course, dogs are the cutest). :)

We ran up a dirt road and then up a hill. Suddenly, they all came running back at me. Runner Stampede! Wrong way apparently. So, we took the AZ Trail and got back on course. I kept up with the group for a little while, then they all left me in the dust. But that's alright, I got used to rounding up the group in the back...I make sure there are not any stragglers. ;)

On the Arizona trail, following Robert and Abraham. 

Most of the group up ahead on the AZT.  

Showing off my bright orange shirt. Had to make sure the hunters
could see me! 

What Happens When Your Running Buddy is Injured? (The Dog Edition)

 And I feel terrible about it because I am partly to blame. 

My main running buddy (for short training runs) is my dog, Sookie. We used to head out on the local river path or dog-friendly trails for 3-4 mile runs together. And boy does she love to run! 

The best running buddy. 

Motivate Me! Monday: Rory Bosio

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.

Thomas A. Edison

But how do you keep up that determination to try again? We all have our own forms of motivation. I started this blog in 2010 to keep me focused and connected with the running world. It has also been a huge source of my motivation. I look forward to writing about my trail adventures each week and I love reading about other runner bloggers race experiences, especially if those bloggers are local. I can't tell you exactly what it is about local bloggers, but reading their blogs gives me that extra push I need to get out the door. Maybe it's the fact that their stomping grounds are my stomping grounds and I am familiar with the same trails/roads.  Whatever it is, it works for me and I will have a post later on my favorite local running blogs. :)

I have written about motivation before, but I wanted to focus on a specific thing each time that I write about it now. Recently, I have been following the athletic endeavors of an ultra runner named Rory Bosio. 

From what I have read so far, Rory is a resident of Truckee, California (originally from Tahoe) and is a pediatric nurse. She is currently sponsored by North Face and she is a kick-ass ultra-runner (from my own conclusion). She has won the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc twice (2013 & 2014)! 

At her first UTMB win in 2013. She even set a new course record!
Photo Credit: http://bieganie.pl

First Week of 2015 - Goals and Updates

Happy New Year! A week into 2015 and it's going great! 

I normally don't make New Years resolutions, but I did find a list from Jan. 2014 in a pile of junk in my office. I had wrote a list of possible New Years resolutions (just playing with the idea), and then stuffed it into a stack of papers. Of course, I forgot about it...until I found it a few days ago. A whole year had gone by and sadly, I didn't accomplish half of it. I know, I know, it wasn't a REAL list or whatever. But it was a list of general goals and I am sad that internally, even though I forgot that I wrote it, I didn't not reach more than one or two of the goals. It listed stuff like travel (check!), volunteer more, watch less TV, and become a morning person. 

So general. 

Maybe that was the problem. I had made goals that were not specific enough. I think that may be a problem for many people. Not just me. Possibly why many people don't keep their resolutions? Or maybe they don't want it enough? Not sure, but I guess this could be another post that I don't have time for. I won't try to dissect resolutions any further. :) Let me know your thoughts on them,..

I did however give myself a CHALLENGE for 2015. 

I am going to accomplish (or at least try to, and get really really close!) running
2,015 miles in 2015. 
It is very specific (at least 5.5 miles a day) and very do-able, especially since I am training for an ultra in March. It's that extra push that I need. :) 

For the first week of January, I have completed about 44 miles. I'm a little behind.  But no worries. I am planning some high mileage weeks pretty soon, many of the runs being with my trail running group.

Getting some miles in on the Northwest River Path.