60º in FEBRUARY?!? i'll take it

we have had some ridiculously beautiful weather for the past week or so now.  it has given me the chance to run on my favorite trails.  slow but beautiful given the amount of mud, standing water, and ice lurking about.  i started training for iceage 50K on monday (2/13) and the runs were nothing short of extraordinary!

i ran in the sloppiest of conditions over the weekend... it was perfect!  there is nothing i love more than trail running.

lapham peak - wednesday 2/15

lapham peak - sunday 2/19

so much mud!  the ascents were easy peasy... the descents not so much... had to be very careful.  it was a lot of fun
the slipping down ice wasn't so fun, but what can ya do?  keep on keeping on... that's what!  there was a section of trail where the ice went edge to edge for maybe 10 yards or so... down hill.  this was a bit scary because as i was bombing the edge my right foot landed on the ice... i was unable to correct and ended up slippin' and slidin' down to the bottom.  i'm proud to say that i stayed upright the whole time in spite of the trail trying to take me down.  that'll get your heart pumping!

so because i've been feeling so awesome, and the weather has been so great i decided to take advantage of a couple of races that InStep Physical Therapy & Running Center offered to the Trail Team (which i am honored to be a part of).  today i signed up for a 5K this coming weekend.  unfortunately, it is looking like it will be only a high of 30º instead of this lovely 50-60º we've been experiencing.  this is still warm enough for me to feel good about racing.  plus it's in delafield and on a trail so it's really a win/win all around.  i'm going to rock a flannel to make it official too so there's that!  given that it will be cool i should be comfortable enough in the flannel to make it worth the weirdness of racing in one.

there is still time for you to sign up for this race... in fact, i'm pretty sure they have race day registration.  come one come all!  

this was on saturday (2/18) on IAT from the nordic trail head... it was such a beautiful day!

i've also been going to crossfit semi-regularly beginning back january 1st.  i had a week there i was sick so no running or crossfit from 2/3 to 2/10.  i hate when i have such a large break in training because i (erroneously of course) believe that i'm losing fitness.  i feel so good when i'm hitting all my weekly goals.  it also helps keep my mind right.  i've been unemployed since 9/15/16 and it is at best frustrating.  running and crossfit have helped me stay sane during these difficult few months.  it is so important to stay positive.

lapham peak on sunday was glorious!

i also signed up for beartrax 20K today.  i was supposed to run it last year, but ended up dropping out of almost all of my races due to whatever weird thing that happened to my left hamstring.  this race is in one of my most favorite places, lapham peak.  lapham peak is where i began this trail running adventure, and therefore holds my heart as my favorite trails to run.  it is where it all began...

if you're new to wisconsin trail running i highly suggest coming to run this race (or any race at lapham for that matter).  this park is really runner friendly with a mixture of wide groomed ski trails, and then the IAT which runs through and is more technical and adventurous.  this race tho' is only on the groomed trails so i think it's good for someone who wants to try out trail running, but might be a little apprehensive.   prowl the peak 5K (possibly now defunct) was the first trail race i ever participated in.  it was definitely an experience and one i wouldn't trade for the world.

looks like i'm back in the saddle which is a glorious place to be.  with any luck 2017 will shape up to be a banner year all around.  big things in store for me this year...