A Shout out to High-Five Hoodoo

When I first started running, Duane would take me over to Palmer Park to run the Templeton Gap trail. You might be familiar with the trail. It's death in the form of some dirt and rocks. The terrain involves intense, short climbs that will leave you hating running, and your partner, at least it did for me. Duane is also very fast, and I'm pretty sure he could've hiked the 3.8 mile route faster than my beginner legs could run it.

I had a lot of special stops along this run "The Hill I Hate", "Kill me Now Rocks", and "High-Five Hoodoo", my most favorite. Typically, at these places, I would be doubled over, panting, and all out crying tears of pain and hate for the trail. With the breath that I would have left, I was regularly chanting, "I can't do this, I can't do this, I can't...." High-Five Hoodoo was a little different.

As a beginning trail runner, I found myself constantly watching Duane's footwork and trying my best to move with the same light, quick strides. At the last 0.3 miles of the run, High-Five Hoodoo just seems to jump right into the trail. I'm pretty sure it smacked me on my first couple of runs. Once I caught on to its game, I started hitting it back. My hits started as slaps of anger across it's sandy surface, as if the hoodoo represented all of Palmer Park. After months and months of training in the park, these slaps evolved into a habitual hand brush across the rock. But, somehow along the way, I actually began to enjoy these runs and my hit became more of a high-five.

I run a lot of different routes through that park, now. Some are only 3.8 miles and some are as long as 13.3 miles. Each run gets a visit to High-Five Hoodoo. Somehow, that rock actually pulled me through so much training. But, alas, now that I have two kids and live on the west side, I never get over to Palmer Park any longer. I kind of miss my sturdy, ancient running buddy.

Today, I didn't get over and run in Palmer Park. As a matter of fact, I haven't been in that park for well over a year. But, I offered up my run to High-Five Hoodoo, because with two kids, I ran on the dreadmill. I didn't just run on the treadmill, but I ran 10 miles on the treadmill. I was a little afraid of defeat from this 90 minute run. After all, it is much easier to bail on a treadmill, compared to an out-and-back route. But I did it, and on some level, I'm pretty sure High-Five Hoodoo is pretty impressed.

Garden 10M and Beyond

I finished the Garden 10 mile with a PR. My finish was 1:33.27 compared to 1:34.23 back in 2008...when I was a slower runner....but I'll take it. The race was great and is actually pretty inexpensive for the distance. I'd post some pictures of myself racing, but I truthfully looked terrible, shoulders forward and head back. It looked like my body was still carrying a baby, and has facilitated my increase in core strengthening.  I may be able to physically run the distance, four months after baby, but my body is still recovering. With how much we are bombarded by images of "body after baby" celebrities covering "days after birth", it's important to remember that the rest of us #1) don't rely on our body for our income...and #2) should rely on functionality more than looks...and even if it looks "put together", it might not necessarily be back to one piece.

 In regards to body image, I totally don't care that I'm carrying an extra 15 lbs. I'm not as fast, but I don't care about that either. I'm healthy...and I'm totally enjoying summer with an almost 4 year old and a very jolly little baby. Between soccer camp and zoo camp, running, bike riding, playing and swimming, I'm having way too much fun being a kid, again. How do you stay young forever? My answer, right here and right now, is to have kids.

In addition to running the race, I was also in charge of an aid station. While this seemed like it wouldn't be a big deal, it was a huge deal. Duane was able to decorate and run the station that day, but I did a lot of pre-planning. I've done it a million times, and I always underestimate how much time it really devours. It's a fantastic, team-building opportunity for our high school cross country team, but I always put more work into it than I intend.

In addition to all of that fun, we spent a few days camping. We had planned on four days, but adjusted to three. Aspen has always been the type of kid to "go, go, go" rather than eventually pass out from activity. The girl just doesn't stop, so tons of fun and sleeping in a camper was getting difficult and we bailed on Sunday night rather than Monday morning. We were only in Golden, though, so the bail was easy and home was an hour away.

Regardless, the trip was a blast. We spent three days at the cheapest, smallest, and most family friendly bluegrass festival in the west, the Golden Music Festival. It's put on by the local history museum of Golden. The bands were fun, and Aspen was able to run around an play throughout the event. We also visited the Miners Maze and Adventureland. I found a Livingsocial deal for the place. It was pretty cool. At first, I thought Aspen would be too little or scared for the activities. I was totally wrong. This girl has no fear. She had a blast, Duane had a blast, and Rowan and I stayed snuggled with my two feet on the ground.

Our next big race is The Half on the Fourth in Colorado Springs. Duane and I will both be running. We'll follow that up with the Rocky Mountain Half Marathon in Estes Park. I will run the race, and Duane will run his favorite route through Rocky Mountain National Park. This will also be a multi-day family trip, where we'll stay at the YMCA of the Rockies, which offers tons of family friendly activities. Wish me luck...not so much on the race, but on the four day stay!