The Lake Again

I woke up late again but the weather was wonderful so I did my usual 5 mile run around the lake.  I am really in a rut and way behind on my training.  I have been so spoiled by the nice weather that the last three days of freezing, windy, and foggy weather seemed to give me the lame excuse to do nothing!  I have a collection of treadmills downstairs in the exercise room but for some reason just elected to ignore them.  I'm pretty frustrated because I still don't have confirmation that I will be going home on time, this Sunday.  Trying not to get depressed over it.  Today's run really boosted my spirits like it always does.  As soon as I find out the results of the Nike Women's Marathon lottery on Friday I will decide whether to sign up for Nike with Team In Training or some other run.  If our team doesn't get selected in the lottery I will do it with Team In Training.  If we get selected, I will do a different run with Team In Training.  I am in TNT limbo right now waiting to decide which run to do with them.  I will likely sign up for one on Friday.  I don't like it when I don't have an active Team In Training fundraiser going.  Cancer isn't waiting until Friday but I am trying to hang in there until then!

It was 31 degrees in Freezing fog at 6 am this morning, but 60 degrees with this amazing sky at 6 pm this evening.  Quite a change in 12 hours!

Colleen Lake

Fairweather Run For Your Life

Another fun run here in Deadhorse. The Fairweather Run For Your Life Run.  It was the usual 5 km but I just ran from the hotel to the start line, and when I was done ran back to the hotel for a total of 4.55 miles.  It was pretty muddy but a nice temperature. I actually ran just slightly faster than the last two days.  At this rate of speed increase I should be where I would like to be by the time I am 105 years old!  I was glad it stopped raining before the run though.

5 Around the Lake

Another trip around the lake today.  For some reason I am really sleeping late and don't have time for more than 5 miles lately.  The lake is so convenient though, just 5 miles. I found out today that I will be able to go home on time, so that means I will be able to run the Hatcher Pass Marathon after all. I don't know if I am trained well enough but I am glad I will be able to do it.  Not sure how I am going to work out my transportation though.  I may drive to the finish line then ride my bike to the start line and camp the night before.

It was spectacular here last night at midnight.


Solstice Midnight Rainbow

Dusty Road!

I woke up really late but decided to run around the lake anyway.  How could I resist a sunny day with a temperature of 66 degrees and a nice cooling breeze.  But I have discovered that if I start out after 5 pm I hit the Deadhorse rush hour of people heading down the road to eat.  The trucks were kicking up so much dust that at times I could hardly see, and it was getting in my eyes.  It was still a really nice run in spite of the dust.  Now it looks like I am seeing some towering cumulous clouds building.  Maybe tonight will bring a thunderstorm for my entertainment at work.  I would enjoy that!

I'm still running way to slowly.  My ankle still bothers me, but it doesn't seem to make it any worse by running so I guess I will just ignore it.

Colleen Lake

It was really windy and 50 degrees today.  I've been feeling really lethargic and not very ambitious. I think it is mostly mental because I am distressed because I know I won't be able to go home from work on time.  I still don't know how long I will have to hold over, but it looks like at least until July 5th, which means I will miss the Hatcher Pass Marathon.  That kind of puts a damper on my running ambition.  I am also still having foot and ankle pain, which is really annoying.

But today I did get out and run around the lake.  As I circled the lake the wind took turns freezing my face, back of the neck, and each ear.  But otherwise it was a fairly nice temperature.  But I was running really slowly.

It was pretty there though.

Colleen Lake

Pigging Wallow Fun Run

We had another 5k fun run over on the oil fields today.  I didn't think I would be able to go because I don't have a pass to get through the gate.  But I found someone going who was able to take me and our housekeeper over as guests.  It was neat just to drive that far into the oil fields.  I ran into my friend from Anchorage, Jennifer, and we ran together.  Most people just walk the route but I like the chance to run.  They gave out really nice long sleeved T-shirts.



Me being silly



Beth, Jennifer, and Me in our T-shirts



60 Degrees!

Incredibly beautiful day here in Deadhorse.  Of course I ran around the lake again.  I didn't get much sleep because I got word that I won't be going home on time and will either have to hold over for two weeks or the entire month of July.  That means either way, I have to miss the Hatcher Pass Marathon.  I really love that one and was looking forward to it.  I can't believe how many times I have been forced to hold over for weeks at a time at this job because one of my alternates can't come to work.  I'm hoping he is feeling better and will be able to make it, but for now it doesn't look good.

But at least if I am going to be stuck up here, we are having beautiful clear sunny 60 degree weather.  It was absolutely heavenly running the 5 miles around Colleen Lake tonight.

Around The Lake Again

Another gorgeous day here in Deadhorse.  I ran around Colleen Lake again.  Exactly 5 miles from the Prudhoe Bay Hotel, around the lake and back to the hotel.  It was 55 degrees with only a few high clouds and amazing reflections on the lake.  One of the few days that it was calm enough to actually see reflections.

Colleen Lake Reflections

5 Miles Around Colleen Lake

Wonderful run today around Colleen Lake here in Deadhorse.  It was a beautiful day.  My ankle never bothered me at all!  I think it has finally healed.  A couple of weeks without walking 20 miles a day or running long distance, and it seems to be close to back to normal. My run today was pretty slow.  I kept stopping to take pictures and ran slowly just to enjoy being out there in the sunshine. Maybe I didn't reach any speed milestones but it was one of the most enjoyable runs I have ever done. I'm ready to go back into full time race training.

Along the Road



Colleen Lake



Northwest End of Colleen Lake



North Slope Fun Run

Finally they had one of these little fun runs that I could actually do.  So often they are on the wrong side of the security gate and I can't get in.  But this one was on the Deadhorse side.  It was pretty short, not quite even a 5K.  But it was really fun.  The air was crispy and cold and there was a light fog.  Most people were walking but I took advantage of the opportunity and did run the whole way.  I was surprised that it actually felt good that early in the morning, immediately after getting off work after working all night.  They gave out really cute T-shirts too. 

Maybe it will give me the motivation I need to get out there tomorrow and put on some real miles.

I'm Back

Haven't done any actual running since the Paris Marathon.  But I did walk 640 miles from Lourdes, France to Santiago de Compostela then on to Finisterre and Muxia on the Camino de Santiago.  Still fussing with that sprained ankle the entire time too!

I got a bad cold as soon as I got home and am now back up in Deadhorse at work.  The cold is finally subsiding and my ankle feels a lot better, although it does still hurt. But I did finally force myself to do a short and not very fast 3 mile run on the new treadmill here at the hotel.  Hoping that I am now back to running.  I signed up for the Anchorage Big Wild Life Marathon and finalized my trip plans for the Reykjavik Marathon in August.  I'm waiting to see if our team gets selected for the Nike Women's Marathon.  If we don't then that will be my next Team In Training event.  If we get selected, I will find another TNT event because I always want to have one active.  I will know soon and my new fundraising page will be online.

But for now, just hoping to get back into training.