ZombieRunner Marathon

ZombieRunner Marathon, San Jose, California.

What a fabulous marathon!  The weather was beautiful, warm and sunny with just the right amount of cooling breezes.  It was a little hilly but no steep or long hills.  Only 31 runners finished the full marathon.  As is quite typical, I was dead last. But, I still won a medal for first in my age group. 

People were encouraged to wear costumes for Halloween.  So I dressed in my Hello Kitty outfit. I enjoyed being a little silly.  My awesome step family was out there to cheer me at the start and the finish too. Their signs were hilarious.  I was wondering if I could improve my time enough to feel comfortable running in Indianapolis next weekend.  The Indianapolis race has a 6:30 time limit.  In Wisconsin two weeks ago I took 6:57.  But today I surprised myself with a time of 6:07!  I improved by 50 minutes!  This race was warmer with more hills, so I feel encouraged about next week.

My Cheering Section

Rainbow Ridge

Not really a run, but a rather steep hike on Rainbow Ridge along Turnagain Arm. I was already tired from the Ski Patrol refresher yesterday and the CPR class this morning.  The classes were not so tiring but the early morning drives to Anchorage were.  This morning it poured rain the whole way.

But the weather was beautiful for my little climb with Diane and her dog Tobi.  It was very windy, but a nice temperature. I loved the views of the inlet from the viewpoint at the highest point of the trail.

5 Miles on Wolverine Road

I've been working non stop since I got home from Deadhorse, cutting the 50 trees that I had cut down in August.  I've really missed running so decided that no matter what, I was starting my day with a run.  It was a beautiful day for it too.  37 degrees, calm, and sunny.  I even enjoyed the many hills!  Then back to cutting branches with my chainsaw, then dragging hundreds of them to the spot where I hope to burn them tomorrow.  My next marathon is a week from Sunday.  So I don't want to totally neglect running in favor of cleaning up the forest.

Gandy Dancer Marathon

A beautiful marathon in Luck Wisconsin.  I felt great the whole time. I ran the whole time, never had to slow down and run.  But was still way too slow.  I was exhausted from flying all night, grabbing my race bib, then up at 5 am to run.  But much too slow.  There were 5 runners behind me, but I was still too slow for my own satisfaction.  I was first in my age class but there was only one other in my group. It was 30 degrees at the start but I knew how to dress for that after running all month in Deadhorse in the same temperature. I'm hoping that the previous 10 days of chainsawing, dragging and burning brush and logs were part of what was making me slow.  But I'm going to just assume I need to train better.  This race gives me Wisconsin so now I only need 6 more states to complete all 50.

Eklutna Lake Trail

Took a break from the chainsaw and the tree cutting project.  Then went for a hike with my friend Diane along the Eklutna Lakeside Trail.  It was beautiful and calm.  Most of the autumn leaves have already fallen, but the aspen trees are still brilliant gold.

Home Again

My first run back home after my month at work.  It was kind of cold at 41 degrees and a little windy.  I'm glad I grabbed my gloves, and wish I had added one more layer.  But it was really pretty with the golden trees.  I had a tough time on the big hills running 5 miles down to Wolverine Creek and up the hill on the other side.  Running every day for a month on flat land wasn't much help for those steep hills.  I was still kind of tired from spending 2 hours yesterday with my chainsaw working on the pile of downed trees that I need to cut up.  That will be an ongoing project, most likely well into spring.  I managed about one hour of that this afternoon too.

Fall colors on Wolverine Road