I lead the preview run for the Cave Creek Thriller and Thrasher races with Aravaipa running a week before the main event. And I was reminded that if given the choice, I’d rather race at night in the dark any day. So, just a few days before the race, I switched from the morning 24k... Continue Reading →
Javelina Jangover 25k- The Race of a Lifetime
On Thursday afternoon, two days before the Javelina Jangover 25k event, I felt the migraine coming. And despite my best efforts, I was up at 2 am doing everything I could to stay out of the ER. If you’ve never had a migraine before and experienced the blinding pain, light sensitivity, dizziness, and nausea that... Continue Reading →
Squirrel’s Nut Butter
I was first introduced to Squirrel’s Nut Butter over 3 years ago when I was volunteering at the packet pickup for the Black Canyon 100k race run by Aravaipa Running. Chris Thornley, the founder of Squirrel’s Nut Butter (SNB), had set up a booth next to the table where I was working. During a break,... Continue Reading →
Hypnosis 5k- Enter the Sufferfest
Another race that almost wasn’t…I woke up yesterday morning with the start of the head cold that my husband and son have been battling for a few days. With tons of fluids, I was hoping to be able to race the 15k that I planned to bump up to. But while I was feeling better,... Continue Reading →
Adrenaline 6k, Sinister, and Dam Good
I’ve come to the recent realization that if I am truly racing, every race is going to hurt. Now, I don’t mean hurt in a fibromyalgia sort of pain way. But rather, if I am truly racing, whether it is a short race that just plain hurts the entire time because I am pushing so... Continue Reading →
Mesquite Canyon 30k- Here I go again
When the race forecast calls for temperatures 25 degrees lower than the previous year, which was insanely hot, you know it’s going to be a good race. It was 45 degrees at the start of this year’s Mesquite Canyon 30k. And due to a rough racing season, I had no race buffer in my trail... Continue Reading →
Trail Running in the Dark- Part 2, Tips and Tricks
In Part 1 of my blog series on Running in the Dark, we covered lighting. Without lighting, you can’t really run in the dark, so while it wasn’t the most exciting topic, it was a necessary first discussion point. But, now we get to tackle a much more interesting topic- tips and tricks for running... Continue Reading →
Trail Running in the Dark – Part 1, Lighting
My first trail run ever was in the dark. Of course, I hadn’t planned it that way. When I showed up to the run that evening, it never occurred to me that I might be running after the sun set. So, I had no lighting with me at all. Fortunately, the group leader loaned me... Continue Reading →
Elephant Mountain 35k- Take Three
I haven’t run 22 miles in 2 years. Not in training, not in racing- nothing over 20 miles period. But with a 25 mile pacing gig at the Black Canyon 100k in two weeks, I toed the line this morning at the Elephant Mountain 35k race in Cave Creek. I had hoped to use the... Continue Reading →