My Main Vehicle

I think my new bike just became my main vehicle.  Just rode it into Palmer and back to do my grocery shopping, visit the Post Office and the bank.  15 miles round trip and the usual great uphill workout getting back up Wolverine Road.  I can tell I am already stronger just from riding the last few days.  Now to get in some good running too.

New Bike!

I did go buy a new updated bicycle today.  It is wonderful and got me up the long hill on Wolverine Road with no trouble today.  Just a short 9 mile ride but with all the hills it was a pretty good workout.  I'm planning to ride the Denali Highway next week so I need all the biking I can get.  Plus nothing will make it more enjoyable than doing it with a brand new bike!

More Biking

Took another nice bike ride at Eklutna Lake.  But I discovered that my gears were badly out of adjustment so cut the trip short and only went about 6 miles. I took it to the bike shop then took it for another 7 mile ride.  It is working much better now.  But it is a very old bike and I am considering finding an upgrade this week before riding the 130 Denali Highway next week.

Eklutna Lake was spectacular today though.

Eklutna Lake

Bike Ride 24 Miles

I decided it was time to get out on my bike for a change.  I rode it over to visit my friend Mark, and then rode it back.  That was a total of 24 miles.  Had some trouble getting up my long hill but it was a start.  I want to ride it across the Denali Highway next week, so need to start warming up for that long haul.

Too Busy!

I have been really lax in my running this month.  Busy on fishing trips, hiking and yard work.  I am ashamed!  I finally got out for another 5 mile run from the house today, but that is not nearly enough.  I get more running in when I am up north at work! It's really hot today too and the hills were killing me in the heat.  I need to find some ambition though. I am waiting to see what Team In Training events are coming up that don't conflict with my work.  As soon as I find one, I will be signing up.  Right now I am between events but my focus is still the same.  Beat cancer. That's what matters the most.

Run and Hike

I did a 5 mile run from the house then a gorgeous 6 mile hike up at Eklutna Lake.  Always one of my favorite spots. It was pretty cloudy and kept trying to rain but waited until I was back to the car before sending some warning drops.

Eklutna Lake

April Bowl

What a spectacular place to hike!  I drove up to Summit Lake at Hatcher Pass and hiked up the April Bowl Trail.  Beautiful lakes and creeks and ice fields are up there.  At the highest point I had a great view of Summit Lake.  I really wanted to work my way down to Summit Lake but as I wandered along the rocky ridge I didn't really find a place that looked very safe.  I know it could be done because I met a guy who had just come up that way.  But I didn't want to risk a bad fall, so turned around and went back down the same trail I came up on.  It was so nice that I enjoyed going both ways.
I figure it was about 4 miles round trip.

April Bowl View

Hiking Hatcher Pass

I spent 3 hours and about 4 miles, trekking up in the Gold Cord area.  I really wanted to find my way up to the pass to overlook Craggy Creek but by the time I figured out where the actual route would be, it was too late in the evening to give it a try.  They tow your car away if you don't move it by 9 pm and I don't think I could have made it up there that quickly.  I did hike up to an interesting cross someone had place up on a little peak, then worked my way down the steep slope from there through the brush.  That was exciting at times.  But what a lovely place to wander.

Gold Cord Cabin

5 Mile Run

Today was a busy day.  First I got in a beautiful 5 mile run to Wolverine Creek and back.  It was the perfect temperature and perfect day.  I liked that I got to run the hills too.  It is such good practice. Everything is so green now and the fireweed is in full bloom. I stopped long enough to snap this picture with my phone.
 

Wolverine Road View

After that I took my plane up to the glacier.  It was not only a perfect day for a run it was a perfect day for a flight.  I caught this interesting shot from my plane with my phone.
 

Knik Glacier

Then tonight I went to a friend's house and we all hiked up the trail she has cut up the mountainside. It was very steep and quite the challenge but a great workout.  The view from the top of the trail rivals the view from my airplane. I took this one with my camera.
 

Knik Glacier View

 

3 Miles

My ankle is a little sore from the marathon so made my first post marathon run a short 3 mile one on Wolverine Road.  I tried out my new Brooks shoes and they felt great.  I can tell they don't have the thick soles of the Hokas, but they actually felt really good.  I will try some longer runs with them.

I went out with Mark on the inflatable boat on the Knik River in the afternoon.
A lovely day after the morning rain stopped.

Knik River from the Boat

Hatcher Pass Marathon

Wow that was a tough one.  I knew I would not do really well but I still wanted to do it.  It has a 4000 foot elevation gain, and I was not in the best running shape.  Half of June I spent nursing my sore ankle that was still recovering from Mt. Kilimanjaro and the 640 mile walk through France and Spain.  I found that when I got to the really steep parts, no matter how much I wanted to run, my body wanted to walk.  So my time was terrible, 7 hours and 26 minutes.  But there were only 3 of us over 60 in the race, and I was the only woman over 50.  So at least I did better than those who stayed home!!  It is a beautiful run though. Only 47 did the whole 26.2 miles.  There was also a 3 person relay.

Here I am crossing the finish line.

Hatcher Pass Marathon 2013 Finish