Tuesday, August 26, 2008
This semester
So I've managed to do it again. I've overloaded my schedule with entirely too many classes and activities. So things are back to the way I like them. I'm taking a full class load: Advanced Human Anatomy w/ Cadaver lab, Statistics, Biology Seminar, Physical Chemistry, and an Audition Workshop. To top that off, I'm teaching belly dance class on Monday's, doing research in biochemistry, grading organic chemistry, and teaching general chemistry lab. I also have auditions for a play tonight. I'm probably overdoing it a bit, but I'm so excited to be back in school again. I love college. Whee!
Sunday, August 17, 2008
More runs...
One major thing that has happened as a result of this years "Ascent" is that I'm incredibly excited for Imogene. I'm not in nearly as bad shape as I thought. Although I'm nowhere near as fit as I should be, I'm better off than I expected. I hope I can at least maintain that through Imogene on Sept. 6 and the Colorado Relay on Sept 12-13.
Pikes Peak Ascent 2008: America's Toughest 20-Mile Half Marathon
So the decision was made that the 20 mile round trip that most of the Ascent participants did qualified for a finisher's shirt and medal. I'm definitely happy that they decided our extra efforts were worthy of recognition. I gotta say, I love these shirts. This is one of those races that will never be forgotten. Here's some photos from Marathon day.
Me & Jen at the Marathon finish line
Me, Kerry, Paul, and Karen
Me & Ryan
Knees Up!
I know it's cheesy to do, but Matt's a good source of motivation and has been very free with sharing useful input for this race. This is after his 9th Marathon win.
Me & Jen at the Marathon finish line
Me, Kerry, Paul, and Karen
Me & Ryan
Knees Up!
I know it's cheesy to do, but Matt's a good source of motivation and has been very free with sharing useful input for this race. This is after his 9th Marathon win.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
The Pikes Peak 20 miler
So the Ascent was today.... sorta. I met up with my friends from Jack Quinn Running Club that were in the second wave with me. We all took off together at the start, being silly and having fun. There were so many people that it was impossible to run fast. That was fine with me. It was one of the only times my friends were forced to run slow enough for me to get to run with them. I wasn't going for any records today, I just wanted to finish in under 6.5hrs.
When I reached the bottom of the big hill on Ruxton in 15min, I was surprised. I seemed to be doing fairly well. I guess all that early-spring training actually made a difference. My times...
Top of the Ws 53:03
No Name Creek 1:20:17
Barr Camp 2:20:45
A-Frame 3:32:52
Notice that there's no finish time...? That's because of the lightning and sleet (that turned to ice when it hit the ground). Only ~700 out of over 2000 people finished. The majority of the first wave made it, but vast majority of the second wave and some from the first were turned back at the A-Frame. Talk about your major disappointments. I was doing surprisingly well; my A-Frame time was almost an hour faster than I hoped it would be. Having been exposed on the Peak during storms, I completely respect the race directors decision to turn us back. But I have to admit that I'm horribly disappointed. I was expecting to barely be able to make the cut-off and instead was looking at about a 5 hour finish!
There's worse yet to come. No shirts. No medals. At least so far. I talked to Matt Carpenter and asked what was happening about that and he said they hadn't decided what to do yet. On one hand it makes sense. Only finishers should have finisher shirts. But this is such an extreme case. Less than half the racers actually finished! More than anything, though, I'm disappointed about my Triple Crown medal. I worked so hard, for months. I was 3 f'ing miles from the top and kicking ass. I feel a bit cheated. I know its not their fault, but that doesn't make it suck any less. Plus, I had a victory beer waiting for me on the top that went un-drunk. It's a crime.
On the up-side, I got great training in today for Imogene. I have been working my up-hills so much more than my downs. I need to be able to go 10 miles up and then 7 miles down. Today was a 10.2 miles up and about 9 miles back down. So, errr, good training!
When I reached the bottom of the big hill on Ruxton in 15min, I was surprised. I seemed to be doing fairly well. I guess all that early-spring training actually made a difference. My times...
Top of the Ws 53:03
No Name Creek 1:20:17
Barr Camp 2:20:45
A-Frame 3:32:52
Notice that there's no finish time...? That's because of the lightning and sleet (that turned to ice when it hit the ground). Only ~700 out of over 2000 people finished. The majority of the first wave made it, but vast majority of the second wave and some from the first were turned back at the A-Frame. Talk about your major disappointments. I was doing surprisingly well; my A-Frame time was almost an hour faster than I hoped it would be. Having been exposed on the Peak during storms, I completely respect the race directors decision to turn us back. But I have to admit that I'm horribly disappointed. I was expecting to barely be able to make the cut-off and instead was looking at about a 5 hour finish!
There's worse yet to come. No shirts. No medals. At least so far. I talked to Matt Carpenter and asked what was happening about that and he said they hadn't decided what to do yet. On one hand it makes sense. Only finishers should have finisher shirts. But this is such an extreme case. Less than half the racers actually finished! More than anything, though, I'm disappointed about my Triple Crown medal. I worked so hard, for months. I was 3 f'ing miles from the top and kicking ass. I feel a bit cheated. I know its not their fault, but that doesn't make it suck any less. Plus, I had a victory beer waiting for me on the top that went un-drunk. It's a crime.
On the up-side, I got great training in today for Imogene. I have been working my up-hills so much more than my downs. I need to be able to go 10 miles up and then 7 miles down. Today was a 10.2 miles up and about 9 miles back down. So, errr, good training!
Friday, August 15, 2008
Stupid RA
Leave it to me to have a nice little flare-up of my RA the day before the Ascent. Sheesh. The worst part is that I know it's because of stress. Annoying that I would have so much crap happen the two days before one of my biggest races of the year. Not that this bs is going to stop me from running! I'm too excited. Now to get this final paper done for my chem class....
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Environmental Analytical Chemistry
I can't believe that my first reaction to those words is... "awesome!" This has been an incredibly difficult class, but interesting in more ways than one. First, we're working a lot more with how chemistry relates to the environment and the policies that protect it. It's fun to see how the nerd stuff I do in school can relate to the rest of the world. Plus, it is tying in quite well with the Conservation Biology class I took earlier in the summer. The second thing I like is that I'm working with more instrumentation and learning new techniques. This has me interested in taking an instrumental analysis course that I hadn't planned on taking. Hell, maybe I will stick around another year for the B.S. in Chemistry instead of just the double B.A.
The work load has been a bit brutal, but it'll be over in just a few more days. All we have left is two more field collections of soil samples, one more soil digestion and analysis, a final exam, a lab notebook check, and a scientific journal-style lab report. Whee. The best part is that I might actually get done early on Friday so that I'll have time to hang out at the Ascent Expo in Manitou.
The work load has been a bit brutal, but it'll be over in just a few more days. All we have left is two more field collections of soil samples, one more soil digestion and analysis, a final exam, a lab notebook check, and a scientific journal-style lab report. Whee. The best part is that I might actually get done early on Friday so that I'll have time to hang out at the Ascent Expo in Manitou.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Ascent Buzz.
I'm finally starting to get anxious! The Ascent is this weekend. I don't feel remotely ready for it, but I'm still excited to get out there. Went up to the peak again on Saturday and did a short run down to the 2 mile point and then hiked/ran back up. It felt pretty good considering my legs were jello from the gym on Thursday. Matt Carpenter passed me at the very top and that helped inspire a little bit more effort out of me right at the end. I'll just have to keep that picture in my head on Sat. Well, that and the cold beer waiting for me at the summit.
It's kind of interesting... the medical office that my mom works for will be working both the Ascent and the Marathon. I just found out that my mom will be one of the doctors at the top of the Peak on Ascent day. Hope I don't need her attention! :)
It's kind of interesting... the medical office that my mom works for will be working both the Ascent and the Marathon. I just found out that my mom will be one of the doctors at the top of the Peak on Ascent day. Hope I don't need her attention! :)
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