Mountain Climbing

I have to give credit where credit is due.  The Zero Runner is saving me.  Splitting my time between running on the Zero Runner  and pounding the pavement outside has given my  joints a much needed rest.  Yesterday I did something that I haven’t done since well before my hip surgery in 2012 – I don’t think I have run this far since before the year 2000.   I ran 18+ miles.  And I ran it on a mountain.

It’s a different kind of running as there are a lot of steep ascents where you are forced to power hike, but never-the-less, it was 18+ miles!  As most of you already know, the SDP boys and I are training for “The Rut“, a killer mountain race on Labor Day in Big Sky Montana.

So on Sunday morning in the early early hours, I met up with SDP boys Christopher Goodwin and birthday boy Andy LeFriec to get our long run in and beat the heat.   We headed to Mt. Spokane to make sure we got some good elevation training in.  These boys are fast and I was lucky to be able to tag along.

I learned a lot about hydration and fuel on this run.  Even through I wore a hydration pack…it wasn’t enough.  We were lucky to run into a few patches of huckleberries.  These sweet little berries helped get me through the run.  I also learned that I drink a LOT of water.  At one point I was out of water and we were only half way into our run.  Luckily there was a restroom with running water at the top of the mountain.  I filled my hydration pack and continued on….only to run out again.  This run was great in prepping for the upcoming Labor Day race. Afterwards Christopher and I bought Andy a birthday lunch (complete with a cold refreshing beer) at the Bear Creek Lodge at the base of the mountain.  It felt great to be done.

It was only a little over a month ago that I felt like I was completely broken.  I was having a hard time running let alone walking.  The Zero Runner and some much needed rest has helped me to bounce back.   Long Mountain Run is done.  Hip is good!  Life is good!  Feeling Confident…and as always…..optimistic.