Running in a Winter Wonderland

Oh my goodness! Today's run was soooooo difficult! 11+ miles in 6-8 inch deep snow. I am grateful to be healthy enough to endure it, but not crazy enough to do it again anytime soon. My body is worn out - especially after yesterday's 16+ mile repentance run (I LOVE THANKSGIVING!!!). But, as you can see, winter has officially come to our little neck of the woods. Time to find some cross-training opportunities? It's definitely time to go back to the nice, warm yoga studio!

Running in a Winter Wonderland

Transitions

Our not-so-slow transition from fall to winter. These pictures were all taken over the last three weeks. Fall seems to have been very brief this year, but perhaps it will come back. Today marked the first snow run of the season and I am anticipating that there will be many more. I am glad for the Gore-tex shoes that keep my feet warm and dry, but I'm not diggin' all of the clothing I have to wear for winter running! Ah, the sacrifices we runners make! Anyway, I hope that you enjoy the photos. There are some gorgeous ones in here.

Transitions

P.S. Have I mentioned that I live in an absolutely gorgeous place???

Hood to Coast Movie

A documentary about the Hood to Coast relay - which I enjoyed in 2009 and will run again in 2011 - is being released. I can't wait to see it! The relay is such an interesting, intense, and beautiful experience!

http://hoodtocoastmovie.com/

I just bought my tickets for the big release event on 1/11/11. Hope to see some friends there!

Mind Games

Thanks to my friend, Ray, for posting a link to this video on FB. I think it's important that we realize that it's hard for everyone to get out of bed (or up from the couch or out of the office) to run every day. It's not easy. And it's not easy to keep running. But it's worth it. Why? Because it makes us feel better physically, cognitively, and emotionally. Because it helps us be better individuals. It helps us solve problems. It helps us develop patience. It helps us figure out who we are.

Enjoy!


http://vimeo.com/16774509

Another Misty Morning

Wow! This morning was so beautiful! It was pitch dark when I started running (is it sad that the only reason I know the constellation Orion is back in the sky is because I see it when I get up?), with just a sliver of moon and the tiniest hint of sunrise over the eastern mountains. Over my 5+-mile run, the morning developed into a glinting misty paradise. If I didn't have to work today, I'd head for the mountains. This is about as perfect as it gets!

Another Misty Morning

Happy Halloween 2010

Ryan and I celebrated Halloween with a 12-13 mile run this morning. It was the prototypical fall morning here in Utah - wet ground and overcast skies from the evening's storm, cool weather, leaves on the trail, the whole shebang. The run was a bit tough for me - I'm physically and emotionally exhausted this week - but the joy of being out in the wild of fall was worth the extra effort.

Happy Halloween 2010

Dancing - er, Running - in the Dark

While I love watching the beautiful sunrises, I am looking forward to the end of Daylight Savings Time so that I can actually see where I'm going in the mornings. It's a little, um, interesting running in the dark on a wooded trail. My legs are covered in little scratches from all of the branches that I've kicked into myself! But it really was a beautiful morning!

From Dancing - er, Running - in the Dark

Hood to Coast 2011?

My AMAZING friend just invited me to run Hood to Coast next year. I stepped in for an injured teammate last year just a few weeks before the relay. It was a beautiful and amazing experience, but I hadn't fully trained for it (I generally run for distance rather than running doubles with no food or sleep!) and I didn't perform as well as I would have liked, so I was also a grouch the entire time. I would like to go and redeem myself, and maybe my sweet husband would run, too? Anyway, here are a couple of finish line pics I snapped in '09.

Hood to Coast '09

What Happened to Fall?

A brief glimpse of red and gold consumed by white.

How is it possible that our lovely, slow transition into fall became cold and wintry? I hope that fall will return for another round, but snow before Halloween is never a good sign!

P.S. I'm annoyed because I know I took another picture this morning and it is simply not on my phone!

What Happened to Fall?

More Fall Trail Shots

I love watching the seasons unfold! I have taken a ridiculous number of almost-the-exact-same photos, but the view struck me every time I encountered it. Scenes like this make the early mornings worthwhile!

More Fall Trail Shots

Misty Mornings

Fall mornings out here by the lake/river produce an eerie mist that is quite fun to run in!

Misty Mornings

A Gorgeous Sunday Run

Ten miles turned into twelve as I enjoyed the stunning scenery by Utah Lake last week.

A Gorgeous Sunday Run

"Running" with my kids

We were home for a few days for Fall Break, so I took my kids running with me. My dd rode her bike and my ds ran, then got in the stroller, then ran, then got in the stroller, then walked, then ran, then got in the stroller. It was a fun yet frustrating experience. But I love seeing them enjoying nature and being active.

"Running" with my kids

Provo Canyon Early Fall 2010

For a slight change of scenery, I headed up Provo Canyon on October 11th for a quick 4-mile run. Fall was definitely more apparent up there than it was here in the valley. Here are a few pics I snapped along the way.

Provo Canyon Early Fall 2010

Emerging Fall

Though I've been watching the fall colors slowly appear on the mountainside, on this run I got my first glimpse that fall is on the way in the valley. I LOVE running in the fall - cooler temps, crunching leaves, rainy mornings. Welcome to my favorite running season!

EmergingFall2010

St. George Marathon 2010

I completed the St. George Marathon on October 2, 2010. I wish now that I had taken some pics while running, but I didn't want to slow down. It was an absolutely wonderful event for me. The day was beautiful, I felt very good, and I finished with the exact time I was hoping for (4:00:47).

St. George Marathon

Simultaneous Sunrise/Moonset Fall 2010

A six-mile run turned into a 7+ mile run as I attempted to catch the simultaneous sunrise/moonset. I finally had to head home, but got these beautiful pics along the way!

SimultaneousSunriseSunset

Provo River Trail

My daily runs along the Provo River Parkway yield some of my most beautiful and inspiring running moments. Here are a few pics from early September 2010.

OnTheTrail2010

Summer in Washington

This was our summer vacation to the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. We saw gorgeous trees, cloudy skies, and bald eagles!

WashingtonRunning2010

Spring in Oregon

I went home for my grandfather's funeral just as Spring was emerging in Portland and had the opportunity to run both in downtown Portland and in Forest Park. While the purpose of my visit was somber, it was absolutely lovely being home and I profoundly enjoyed the running. Thanks to my lovely cousin for the company and recommendations.

SpringinOregon

Along the Charles River

Pictures of my solo running adventures along the Charles River in Cambridge, MA, when I went to a conference at MIT.

AlongtheCharles2009

Peachtree City, GA

An overnight stop at my sister's house in Peachtree City yielded some beautiful running pics. Thanks, sis!

RunningPeachtreeCity2009

Running and the Brain

Did you know that running results in neurogenesis - the growth of new brain cells. Even more importantly, those brain cells grow in the hippocampus - an area of the brain that helps form and retrieve memories. So get out there and make some memories today!

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