2015 is set to be pretty exciting – and exhausting.

I’ve never been one to try to get faster.  Pushing myself for speed has just never appealed to me.  There’s nothing wrong with it, and I have tons of respect for people who do it.  I’ve just always been drawn to go farther, or longer.  It seems to be one or the other for most of us runners.

Over the last several years, I’ve found myself always trying to reach for that next big distance, continuing to test my limits.  First it was a marathon.  Then after a few years of those, I realized they didn’t scare me anymore.  So I signed up for an Ironman.  After three of those, the terror has worn off, and I was looking for another thing to be afraid of.

Enter: Ultra running.

Considering I live in Colorado, I guess it’s one of those “when in Rome…” situations.  I find myself surrounded by friends who are all crazy endurance athletes (myself included), and we’re really great at enabling each other.  This is the one place where a typical conversation goes like this:

• Me:  Soooo… I did something crazy last night.
• Friend:  What?
• Me: I signed up for the Run Rabbit 100.
• Friend: Awesome!  I’m doing <insert other insane race here>!

Or this:

• Me: Hey!  Come do this run with us!
• Friend: Where?
• Me: We’re running 31 miles – from Ned to Boulder.  All dirt roads and trails.
• Friend: Fantastic!  I’m in!

Back in upstate NY, the conversations are usually more like this:

• Me: So I signed up for another Ironman.
• Friend: Are you drunk?

Ahhhh… Colorado.  I love you.

I’m excited to test my limits, and get out on lots of trails.  Now that I’ve been “running” those (I use the term “running” loosely here.  It’s really more like power hiking up the mountain and then running down.), the thought of getting back on the roads isn’t very appealing.  There are so many spectacular places to explore here.  I want to get to them all!

So 2015 looks like this so far:

• January 31, 2015 – Fatass Frozen Dead Guy 50k (Boulder, CO) – not an official race
• February 21, 2015 – Fatass Headless Horsetooth 50k (Fort Collins, CO) – not an official race
• May 9, 2015 – Quad Rock 50 miler (Fort Collins, CO)
• August 2, 2015 – Ironman Boulder (Boulder, CO)
• September 18th and 19th – Run Rabbit Run 100 miler (Steamboat Springs, CO)

I’m really excited to tackle these events.  Sure, I may crash and burn here and there.  Others may be spectacular successes.  There’s only one way to find out!

Well, hello there!

I’ve been writing for several years (see my Dec 2009 – Jan 2015 blog here), but wanted to start fresh, since things have changed quite a lot in the last 5+ years.  It’s been a bumpy road, but it’s gotten me to where I am today, and I couldn’t be happier about that.  Compared to where I was in 2009, I’m much happier, stronger, more confident, insightful, and inspired than I ever was back then.  Sometimes major change, while scary, can be an incredibly liberating thing.

Now, I live in spectacular Boulder, Colorado.  By day, I’m a Ph.D. student, but in my free time (because I get loads of that as a Ph.D. student – ha!), I’m an explorer.  2015 is a big year for me.  Not too long ago, I had a moment of insanity, and signed up for my first 50 mile and 100 mile races.  I’ve been doing Ironman triathlons for three years now (2015 will be my 4th), but this is a whole other beast.  I’m super excited, and also terrified, to take this journey.  It will certainly be one to remember!  Fortunately, I have a lot of wonderful friends, and a fabulous support network, so at least I won’t be alone!