Great Workout

I ran 5 miles at the sports center, and really felt good today.  It was snowing and I had about 6 inches in my yard that fell last night and it continues to fall.  Then I went to the Alaska Club and had a good workout with the weights.  All a last minute push to make sure I am in shape for climbing Mt Kilimanjaro next week.  I am all packed and ready to go.  I can't believe how much stuff I was able to cram into my GoLite Peak pack. But it is all in there, except for my camera bag that has all my camera gear stuffed into it.  Although my one giant 200-500mm zoom lens is in the backpack itself.  I don't think I could add as much as a postage stamp without the entire pack exploding!  But thank goodness I won't need to check any baggage for the trip.  It is just too risky to fly all the way from Alaska to Africa on three different planes and expect everything to end up in Africa with me.  With my luck it would all end up basking in the sun in Argentina or something.  So my policy has always been that if I want it, it goes right on the plane with me.

I'm not having much luck with fundraising for Team In Training.  I do wish I could get more donations.  I will do a final push the last two weeks of February and the month of March.  But even if I get no more donations, I will donate the remaining $2000 myself.  The cause is too important to back out now.

I could use some help though.  Please click here to donate:
http://www.race4cancer.org/

Another Five

I got so busy today but finally made it over to the sports center and did another 5 mile run.  I woke up with the intention of cross country skiing but it was -15 and as soon as I walked outside, I promptly changed my mind!  I guess running is still the best exercise for running, so that's what I did. I have to keep training for Madrid and of course for climbing Kilimanjaro.  I leave for the Africa trip one week from tomorrow!  I'm still gathering together the last minute things for the trip.  I am about ready though. 

I am not having much luck with fundraising for Team In Training though.  Right now I am offering my Denali photo to anyone who donates $25 or more.  I have 4 matted copies of it and hope to get that many donations. 

If you want this awesome photo of America's highest peak, click here to make a donation:  http://www.race4cancer.org/

A 5 Mile Run at the Sports Center

I had a nice 5 mile run indoors at the sports center.  Then an hour workout on the machines at the Alaska Club.  Just trying to maintain my conditioning for my climb of Mt Kilimanjaro in less than two weeks from today.  After that trip I will be concentrating on training for the Madrid Marathon for Team In Training.  The cause is what matters the most though.  I am still greatly in need of donations for my fundraising efforts.  I've been giving my photos to those who donate.  I still am over $2000 behind my minimum.

It's all about finding a cure for cancer.
Help me raise funds for that cure:  http://www.race4cancer.org/

Cross Country Skiing Today

What a spectacular day to be outside.  It was so icy cold that I thought my hands and feet would freeze off.  My friend, Diane had some hand-warmers and they helped a lot.  I finally warmed up after about a mile of skiing though the woods and deep snow.  We skied 3 1/2 miles on the ski trails along the Anchorage hillside.  I was so happy to get out on my skis for the first time this winter.  At least it was calm there in Anchorage.  The wind is still howling at about 40 knots in Palmer and at my house though.  It looks like this around Palmer. Drifting snow everywhere and blowing furiously off the mountain tops.

But along the Anchorage hillside where we went skiing, it was a winter wonderland.  Only 5 degrees, but at least it was calm.

It would be hard to beat the view.





Back at the Track

I did a 5 mile run at the sports center track today.  I didn't pick up much speed but that didn't surprise me since I got home after 2 pm this morning.  It was a long flight but at least I did get home.  My original flight to Seattle was canceled so instead of flying out at 6:30 am I didn't leave until 5 pm so landed in Anchorage finally at 12:14 am this morning.  I found a foot of snow on my car but fortunately, it started right up.  It was nice to get home again.  My cat was quite glad to see me.

Now to concentrate for a couple more weeks, making sure I am in the best shape possible for the Kilimanjaro climb.  Also I hope to get some more donations to my Team In Training site.  I plan to offer some of my photos in exchange for donations.  It will be interesting to see how that goes.

1 Mile Warmup Run

Went for a walk then decided to run back just to see if I still had any stiffness from the marathon.  Felt fine, even that last little hill.
Flying home tomorrow.  Back to 15 below zero.  Enjoying my last day of warmer temperatures in the sunny South West.

Back in the snow tomorrow.

Rock 'n' Roll Arizona

I finished in the Rock 'n' Roll Phoenix Marathon, feeling pretty strong but a bit slow still.  I did beat 6 hours but not by as much as I hoped.  5:53.  I could tell that even though I got in one good month of training, I was still at a deficit because of the moose injuries.  I only had the treadmill all of December and didn't get the chance for the really long runs.  So long runs are what I am shooting for with my future training. I am also shooting for much more speed.  I'm going to crank that treadmill up and really push myself while I am up in Deadhorse in March. I'm not terribly sore, and seem to bounce right back.  I seem to be sore more in the chest from the deep breathing but my legs feel pretty good.  All in all, it was a great race with very good weather.

5 Miles at the Sports Center

I ran 5 miles at the sports center today then went to the Alaska Club for a workout.  With about 4 feet of snow on the ground and 10 below zero I am pretty much resigned to workouts indoors.  I would like to get out and do some skiing but had too many other projects going today.  I will be heading down south tomorrow night and maybe get a little running in the great outdoors before the actual Phoenix Marathon on Sunday.  I'm quite tired of treadmills.  The sports center isn't too bad though.  At least I am actually moving from place to place instead of running on a moving platform.  That gets pretty boring. 
I sure need more donations but I did get another one today.  Maybe that will keep happening and I will eventually reach my goal.  I would sure love to reach a much higher goal than the one requried by Team In Training. 

I hear strong winds and more snow are on the way.  I'm glad I will miss most of that!

Big Snowstorm

It has been snowing so hard the last few days that it has not even been reasonable to drive to the sports center to run.  I took the last couple of days off and took care of projects around the house.  But today I broke down and did a short 3 mile run on my own treadmill.  It seems to be a little more difficult than the fancy one in Deadhorse, but it still does the job.  It got so hot in that room that I had to open the back door and let the icy cold air come in.  That helped! I have close to 4 feet of snow in my yard right now and the roads have not been plowed.  Definately not a good place to be trying to run outdoors.  Impossible right now. I'm looking foward to the Phoenix Marathon next weekend because I will finally be able to run outdoors.  I am quite tired of treadmills and even the sports center indoor track.  It's just not quite the same as a good outdoor run.

5 Miles and a Trip to the Alaska Club

I was really busy today but made it to the sports center for a 5 mile run.  I finally got over to the Alaska Club for a weight workout too.  I wasn't sure if my right shoulder would handle it because I still have considerable pain from my collarbone surgery.  But it wasn't too bad.  I could tell my right arm was not as strong, but I didn't have any really significant pain.  So it looks like I can go back to doing my usual weight training again.  That will probably help loosen up my shoulder more than anything else I could do.

No new donations towards my fundraising.  I do want to try to create a fundraiser using my photos.  I'm looking into making notecards with my Alaska pictures and selling them with all of the proceeds going to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  People don't seem to be  willing to simply donate to a cause, but may be willing to purchase something that they find useful if the price goes to the cause.

One more week and I will be flying south for the Phoenix Marathon.

Ran at the Sports Center

Today was a real treat.  I finally got to run where I was actually moving forward instead of staying in one place with the treadmill floor moving beneath my feet.  I ran 5 miles at the Wasilla Sports Center indoor track.  I felt good.  I would have run longer but I needed to go to Anchorage for the planning meeting with the hiking group.  So I cut it short at just 5 miles.  It's probably time to taper a bit because the Phoenix Marathon is less than two weeks away.  I will shoot for one long run sometime this week though.  I'm still pretty tired because of the transition from working nights for a month, and now trying to sleep at night instead of during the day.

I went to REI and got a warmer down parka for the Mt. Kilimanjaro climb.  I didn't really have exactly the right thing, so now I do. The challenge is to figure out how to get everything I need into one pack that I can carry onto the plane.  I would really prefer not to check any luggage.  I think I will be able to do it using my GoLight pack and keeping things really light.  I will do the climb and safari in my true minimalist style.