Running with Tonks

The Kessel Run 60k was unlike any other Ultra that I have done. For starters, I was in Fruita with a group of about 20 of my friends all running different distances.  It was a true Racecation! We were there celebrating Rey and Brett's birthdays. Rey was turning 60; so naturally he was looking for a 60k to run. We had a small group of friends who always went to the Kessel Run because our friend Amy’s last name is Kessel. We learned the event had a 60k so that became our goal race for the year. The Kessel Run was also unlike any other Ultra that I have done because of the 15 months prior to the event. June of 2023 two big life events happened: 1 - I adopted an 8 week old puppy and started to raise it by myself with her 12-year-old dog sister. 2 - I was diagnosed with a stress fracture in the middle of my tibia.  Unfortunately it did not heal in the normal amount of time for a stress fracture.   I stopped all physical activity until November. The follow-up x-ray showed som...

The Valkyrie Trail Race offered lots of different distances utilizing various loops in Cheyenne Mountain State Park.  It has been on my Race Bucket List for years but the elevation gain always intimidated me.  Well after I finished the Rattler 50k in April, I thought why not?! So, I signed up for the Valkyrie 50k on May 20th.  I also signed up because there was a chance I would get a puppy after school got out and I would be off of distance running for a while.  Why not squeeze in one more challenge before summer vacation? The 50k course was big loop, little loop (soon to be known as the mud loop), big loop, little loop and little loop again.  They were very smart with their aide station placements because where they put the aide station in the big loop actually allowed runners to see it twice while out there.  Runners then ran to the aide station near the start/finish line and headed out on the little loop.             ...

The Rattler 50k is located at Palmer Park in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  The race website states, “Even though the course does not have much vertical gain, it will test runners with its technical trails.” This description I find incredibly subjective. It's like meeting up with a new run friend for the first time and they say I'm so sorry I'm so slow right now: I am only running about ** minute miles… when in reality that's your Tempo pace and you panic a little wondering if you will be able to keep up.  “Not much vertical gain” …sheesh!!! The Rattler covers 3838 feet of gain in 31 miles. Yes, I have done other races similar and I have even completed Bears Ears 50k which had almost 7000 ft of gain. The problem is, I like to tell people that I am “emotionally allergic” to climbing.  Often I will break out in cries about make-believe hives while going uphill.  Well December Erica, who we will now refer to as BERICA, decided it would be a good idea to tackle climbing th...

Bringing up the rear. Lucky Last. DFL. The Red Lantern Award. However you put it, I was the last person to cross the finish line on Saturday.  This was my first time  being chased by cutoffs and to be honest, it is NOT a good feeling.  What WAS a good feeling?  Crossing that finish line was pretty f***ing fantastic. Bears Ears Ultra 54k by Mad Moose Events. Like most industries, COVID has not been kind to the running world.  COVID reared its ugly head at the start of our usual season shutting down all of our events.  When I saw the post that Utah gave MadMoose permission (with many restrictions) to put on the inaugural Bears Ears 54k and 30k, I got super excited.  I was desperate for a real, in-person event.  I signed up almost immediately. I usually choose my big events meticulously by making comparison charts and taking my time with the decision.  Now here is the funny part.  If you know me, you know I like trail running ...