The Hesitating Beauties take the Mount Taylor Winter Quadrathlon

I was very excited (and relieved) after watching some video of the ski portion of the Quad when Nora suggested that we compete as a team in the Pairs Division.  I could bike and run and she would ski and snowshoe.  The perfect solution and so we became the Hesitating Beauties and we were on our way to a one of a kind event in Grants, New Mexico.
The Mt. Taylor Winter Quadrathlon consists of 13 miles of uphill road biking, 5 miles of running up a dirt road, 2 miles of uphill cross country/back-country skiing and a 1 mile snowshoe to the top of 11,301 foot Mt. Taylor and then . . . you do it all again in reverse.  The pairs and teams took off an hour after the solo competitors and we were a smaller group.  It had been a while since I'd competed in a bike race and I hadn't even been on my road bike in months, so I decided to be conservative at the start.  The first couple mile took us through the town of Grants and out on to the road leading up Mt. Taylor.  The top 15-20 riders rode as a pack which I guess was okay.  I was unsure of the etiquette in this race recalling my triathlon days where drafting on the bike was strictly forbidden.  A few of us in the pack talked about this and it seemed no one was really sure so we just rode on taking turns pulling up front.  Once we hit the hill about 4 miles in, the pack started to split up and I was surprised for a while to find myself out front. As the climb steepened and my unconditioned legs tired, I got reeled in and passed (but not dropped) by a few riders. The climb was tough, but the scenery was nice, the sun was warm and it felt good to be out on the bike and hanging in with the lead group. The last 3 miles were pretty steep and I started to look forward to arriving at the transition and getting off the bike to run. I was the 5th rider in from the team/pairs start, quickly found my running shoes, shed my helmet and gloves, grabbed a cup of water and chuck of banana and headed up the road.

My legs were heavy for the first couple miles, but I loosened up and caught three of the four teams/pairs that had started ahead of me. The run continued up a wide dirt road that turned in to mud, snow and ice in the last two miles. I ran in to the run/ski transition where Nora was waiting and quickly snapped into her skis and headed out on to an icier, steeper and more extreme ski course than anyone was expecting.  

Nora of course took it on like the champion skiier that she is, smiling the whole way. . .  with maybe a couple of falls and some cursing here and there.  After successfully navigating the ski course up, Nora strapped on her snow shoes and raced the last mile to the 11,301 foot summit of Mt. Taylor where she took a moment to enjoy the view before turning around and flying back down the slope to clip back in to her skis.  Downhill skiing is where Nora truely excels and after the race, she modestly shared that she passed 23 other skiers on the downhill.  When she got back to the ski/run transition, I was ready and waiting and took off to run the 5 miles back to my bike.  I was looking forwad to the long down hill bike ride where I could push a big gear, tuck in and fly back to the finish, but I was instead hit with some fierce afternoon headwinds that I fought for most of the 13 miles back down to Grants. 

I rolled in to the finish for a combined time of 5 hours 28 minutes which seemed pretty respectable.  I found Mike and Jessica in the beer tent and enjoyed a Santa Fe brewing State Pen Porter while I waited for Nora to get shuttled back to the finish.  When Nora arrived, we watched the finish line for Chris and Steph (the instigator of this whole thing) who showed up all smiles after a long day on the race course.

Nora and I checked the results and found that we placed 3rd overall in the pairs division.  We stuck around for the awards and proudly collected our yellow race caps and glass trophies. 

We left Grants victorious and drove two hours to Santa Fe where we showered and enjoyed a delicious Valentine's + 1 dinner at the Blue Corn Cafe.  It was a super fun weekend exploring a new place, competeing in a unique event and hanging out with some good friends. 

Winter Running, Snowshoeing, Skiing, and some changes to the plans

I got out last weekend for my first races of the year, first races since Thanksgiving actually, and now my legs are very tired.  I decided on Friday to drop from the 30K snowshoe to the 11.4 mile race which is an out and back on the Sourdough trail just above Nederland.  I have done the 30K race three times, but this year I really didn't feel that I had the fitness. I drove up to Nederland on Saturday morning with Jessie, who was going out for her first snoeshoe race (and her second time out in snowshoes).  When we got to the trailhead at 8:30, it was already sunny and warm and only a little breezy.  Snow condidtions on the trail looked pretty good- packed down and pretty well covered.  I took off at a comfortable and relaxed pace in the back 1/3 of the pack.  I slowly moved my way up keeping the pace very easy.  It was a really beautiful day out on the trails and I was remined of how much I enjoy snowshoeing.  I felt better than I expected to, so as I got close to the turn around at mile 5.7, I decided to count the runners coming back to see what place I was in.  #1 was a good mile ahead of me, then the 2nd, 3rd and 4th runners came along.  #5 was a little further back, probably only a quarter mile ahead and then I hit the turn around in 6th place in 1:20.  I ate a couple fig newtons and filled my water.  The guy behind me that I had passed a little ways back came in to the turn around right after me, and we left at the same time to head back- mostly downhill to the finish.  I tried to stay in the moment running back and just enjoy the time on the trail.  I tend to spend a lot of time (and mental energy) late in a race or long run counting down the distance to the finish.  Today I decided on really trying to just enjoy each moment of the run instead of only thinking about how long it would be before I was done.  I did pretty well with this for a while and vowed to keep running (and living) in the moment as a ongoing goal.  I took a couple of falls on the way back.  Once I caught my front crampon on a root and later the front of my snow show in a deep rut of snow.  Both times I was able to get back up pretty quickly with no damage done besides another tear in my tights.  The forgivingness of snowy trails is another reason I like snowshoeing.  In the final 3/4 mile, I heard another runner closing in behind me and then I saw the guy that had left the turn around with me on the switchback just above.  I was a little frustrated to be getting based in the final mile, but wasn't too worried about it.  I kept running, but moved to the side of the trail to let him pass, but he didn't.  The trail flattened out and opened up and I picked up my pace and opened up a the gap behind me.  With less than a 1/4 mile to go, I saw the 5th place runner ahead (and apparently having some difficulty with a snowshoe, but still having a good time).  I passed him and ran on to the finish in 2 and 1/2 hours for 5th place.  I was awarded with a pair of socks from the raffle (I can always use more socks).  I changed in to dry clothes then hiked back up the trail a bit to run in with Jessie.  I got back home with time to enjoy the last bit of a beautiful warm January day and take an easy bike ride round Fort Collins.
Sunday it was back in to the mountains for the Frost Giant double in Estes Park.  This was my 4th consecutive trip to Estes in January to run a 5K and a 10K in quick succession.  My legs were tired from snowshoeing, but it was another beautiful warm day and there was a big Fort Colling crew in attendance.  I was considerably slower than last year in both races, but I had a good time and felt like maybe all this running and racing would be a good start to getting back in shape.
I decided not to go up to the Snowys this weekend for another snowshoe race and stayed in Fort Collins instead for some good XC skiing around Pineridge with Nora and Shadow.

I'm starting to feel a lot better on the skis although I still have a long way to go.  When I realized just how far last week, Nora and I decided to do the Winter Quadrathlon as a team instead.  I will bike and run and Nora will ski and snowshoe.  It will be a lot of fun to compete as a team.

Today Nora and I joined the FCRC at Fossil Creek Park for the 5K Tortoise and Hare Race.  It was 0 degrees at the start and pretty icy on the course, but many of our friends were there enjoying the morning and there were bagels and coffee after.

Looking further in to the future, Nora, Mari and I have put together the plans for our day by day route for the bike tour in July.  We'll average around 50 miles/day, do a lot of camping in beautiful places on the coast, stay with friends, and enjoy the journey.

What's Next?

It's been almost a month now since my 91 seconds after the cut-off finish at the Western States 100.  I've rested, recovered and  had plenty of time to think about what happened out there on the trail between Squaw Valley and Auburn.  There are still some unresolved questions, the biggest is, "Will I put my name back in the lottery and try to go back out to California for another shot at the buckle?"  All I can say for now is, "We'll see."  In the meantime there are some more events on the calendar.  Next week, I'm heading to the great Northwest with Nora to visit the Testermans and see where Nora grew up.  It is going to be a fun trip with visits to Nora's family and friends, sailing, rowing, visiting Seattle's famous sites and the flagship REI store, of course, an overnight on Guemes Island, kayaking in Port Townsend with the Randalls, a trip to Portland to visit my friends Ed and Vickie and their new twin girls, Sky and Sylvia and Nora's sister Jill - looking forward to the famous food trucks.  And of course... a trail race.  The day after we arrive, we are going out to Bellingham, WA for the Chuckanut Mountain 30K.  Jill, best friend Mari and I are all registered for this final race of the Bellingham Trail Running Series.  Nora and I thought it would be fun to do a trail race during our trip when we planned it back in March.  Nora's racing plans changed to allow time to recover from a recent surgery and I didn't really count on how little running I would feel like doing after spending more than 30 hours on the Western States course.  I have run maybe 5 times in the 3 1/2 weeks since WS and all my runs have been less than 6 miles.  Well, I'm not really that worried about it.  It is always fun to run in beautiful new places and the cut-off time is generous . . .  I haven't been doing much running lately, but I have gotten out on my road bike a lot more than I have in the past several years.  On the last day of school, after talking with a colleague, Katy Williams, over several beers about the Fort Collins ProChallenge Experience 108 mile Bike Ride, I signed up.  Why not?  I figured it would be a good idea to have something to train for after WS, Katy said she and some friends were doing it and it sounded like fun.  That ride, which is farther than I've ever ridden and includes some serious climbing and 30 miles of dirt roads in the mountains is now 18 days away.  I have gotten out on a few rides in the last couple weeks.  I did the 46 mile Rist Canyon/Buckhon loop on Sunday and this morning I rode a 62 mile loop through Masonville, past Carter Lake and back up through Loveland around Boyd Lake.  With the trip to Washington, I won't get much more riding in, but I think/hope it should go okay.  It will be tough, but I enjoy a challenge.  I do plan to get back to running this fall, and what better race to get back to it with than the trail race that is nearest and dearest to my heart, The Blue Sky Marathon.  This is the race that some Fort Collins Trail Running friends and I dreamed up and started 5 years ago and it is now a staple on many Front Range trail runner calendars.  For the past 5 years, I have captained the Indian Summer North Aid Station and loved it, but this year I am going to hand that task over the the very capable hands of my daughter Maddie (who has also worked this aid station every year for the past 5 years) and my partner Nora who volunteered with me last year.  Race management has been handed over to the Gnar Runners (Pete and Nick) who I am sure will continue to make Blue Sky (Along with the Quad Rock 25 and 50 and the new Black Squirrel Half) the best trail running events in Colorado, or maybe the whole world even.  Pete and Nick graciously offered me a spot to run Blue Sky this year and I am honored to take it.  This event I am going to train for and I look forward to putting in an honest effort at running a race that I will be proud of.  After that . . . I don't know.  Yeah, I think I'll want to run another 100 next year.  I really would like to figure out how to run a good 100 mile race and the only way I can do that is to keep trying.  There's one out in Washington that looks pretty good and so many others that would be fun to travel to.  I'll let you know when I figure it out.  Summer is not over yet, and there is always more running to do.

July 7 Training ride with Mike, Nora, Jessica Diana and Lara   Photo by Mike

A Good Start to a New Year of Running and Racing

I began this year on the Big Island of Hawaii enjoying warm weather, clear oceans and some wonderful relaxing time with Nora and her family.  While we were there, we did a little running-it was wonderful to be shirtless and sweaty in January- and Nora, Jill and I hiked from the visitor's center at 9000 feet to the summit of Mouna Kea at 13,789 feet on New Year's Eve.  But moslty we slept in, relaxed, snorkeled, visited the volcanoes, kayaked, swam, shopped at the farmers market, ate amazing tropical fruits, and enjoyed the slow pace and lack of responsibilities that accompany a vacation on the island.


Rainbow Falls with Karen, Nora and Jill



Summit of Mauna Kea with Jill and Nora

 

Best Sign Ever

Team Testerman

Papayas, bananas and dragonfruit, oh my

The bay at Milolii

Shelly and Soren at the Halema'uma'u Crater overlook



Halema'uma'u Crater at night



yellow tang

CO trail runners

 

We got back to the mainland on January 6 and it was quickly back to the reality of work and a road marathon on the calendar in February that I was terribly undertrained for.  I did get out and run as much as possible and have managed three long runs, a trip to the track, some speed work at the park and a tempo run on the bike path.  On Jan. 19, Nora and I went out to the Bacon Strip and I ran two solid laps keeping the pace for the last 14 miles sub 8:00 and miles 19 and 20 (bike paced by Nora) were 7:06 and 7:23.  Not too bad.  I am particularly encouraged by this past weekend's running.  On Saturday I ran a steady 25 miles on the bike paths with Cat keeping the pace casual and close to 8:00.  Then Sunday, Nora and I along with a big Fort Collins crew: Nick, Scott, Mike, Kristel, Sarah, Jessie, Rob, Cecily, John and Lane went to Estes Park for the Frost Giant double.  I ran the 5K in 21:44 taking the first couple miles pretty easily- feeling pretty stiff from the previous day's run and then the 10K in 46:23.  Not only were these times good enough for 5th place in my age group, they were close to or faster than my times at this race in 2011 and 2012.  So maybe I'm in better shape than I thought.  I'll take it.

 

Final mile of the Frost Giant 10K
photo by Lane Eskew

Nora leading the pack up the hill towards

McGregor Ranch in the 10K

 

 

Leadville 100 2012

I trained and prepared and waited a year for the event that occurred on August 19 at 9:42 am at the corner of 6th and Harrison in Leadville, CO.  It didn't go exactly as planned, and it wasn't all pretty, but at the same time it was beautiful and amazing and I wouldn't change anything about those nearly 30 hours.  I am very proud to say that with the support of an outstanding group of my family and friends (Angels) I finished the Leadville Trail 100.
It has been quite a year since my first and unsuccessful attempt at the LT  100.  My whole life has changed in many ways and it has been a time of loss, sorrow, growth, and renewal.  I tried to keep in touch with the reality that this race was just a run in the mountains, but at the same time it was loaded with meaning and significance not just for the unfinished business of last summer, but as part of my new lease on life and a statement of my personal strength and commitment to myself.  Along with all the personal, internal meaning to this race, I was supported in Leadville by a team that included my wonderful children, Micah and Maddie and five of the best friends I could ever ask for: Cat, Celeste, Mike, Mindy and Nora.  To keep with theme of '80s TV shows, our team this year was "Alex's Angels" and the name could not have been more appropriate since these people have been watching over me, caring for me and running/walking along beside me through the many challenges and joys that life has brought during the last year.

Nora, Micah, Maddie and I drove up to Leadville after work on Thursday and were very fortunate to be able to stay in Al and Markey's wonderful blue house on 7th Street just a block from the start/finish line.  We arrived late, unpacked the car, then Nora and I went out for a little walk to stretch our legs and meet up with Rob "Honey Badger" who was running Leadville as well.  We enjoyed some good conversation and a beer with Rob and his friend and then headed off to bed.  Friday morning, the kids slept in and Nora and I walked over to the packet pick-up and medical check-in.  This is where a lot of the very tangible excitement of the race begins and we ran in to a bunch of other friends in town to race, pace and crew.  It was a pretty relaxed morning that included a first and second breakfast enjoyed on the front lawn of the blue house.

We met up again with Rob and Team Honey Badger at the incredibly crowded pre-race briefing.  It was a worthwhile hour sitting on the floor of the Leadville gym listening to the race director, race doctor and a welcome surprise were the inspiring final words given by the son of the race founder, Ken Choubler.  He told the story of how he had lined up on the starting line as an 18 year old and dropped at Winfield.  He shared his 20 experience of regret and the satisfaction of coming back last year and finishing.  He ended his talk and the meeting with a moving chant that we all joined in on of "I commit, I will not quit!"  I was feeling it and I made a silent oath, that I was going to get to the finish line, whatever it took.

 





We spent the morning and early afternoon relaxing at the house, eating, playing Set and then Nora and I went for an easy run to shake out the cobwebs and do a final gear check.  We ran a 3 mile loop on the Mineral Belt Trail from the house and finished with the final mile of the race up 6th Street.  All felt good.

Somewhere mid-afternoon the rest of the team arrived and things got crazy.  We all enjoyed a good pre-race dinner of pasta, salad and bread out on the front lawn and then there was Celeste's famous chocolate cake (a Leadville tradition) and gifts for an early celebration of Maddie's 12th birthday. There were Charlie's Angels poses, jumping pics and pyramids, games of Magic, hugs, laughing, teasing and an all around good time.  

By 9:30, I was getting pretty tired and I knew that race wake-up would be coming all too soon, so I headed upstairs to try to sleep.  I was able to get about 4 hours of moderately restful sleep before my alarm went off at 2:30 am and I got up to put on my running gear and eat a bowl of oatmeal.  Within a few minutes, the rest of the house was up and getting ready, including the kids who seemingly never went to sleep.

By 3:15, we were all ready and were unable to contain our energy in the house, so we headed out into the cold, dark Leadville morning for the short walk to the race start.  At the start line, we ran in to Rob, Eddie, TNC and many other friends ready for a full day of running, pacing and crewing.  The excitment was palpable and with a few minutes to go 'till the gun, I peeled off my pants, hat and jacket and found a spot in the starting coral. 

The shot gun fired and we were off down the road with headlamps shining.  The pack of 800 runners stayed pretty thick through the first several miles all the way down the Boulevard and up to Turquoise Lake.  I had decided before the race started, that I was not going to push this section at all, so when I got stuck in the conga line on the single track around the lake, I just settled in and stayed relaxed instead of wasting energy to try to pass other runners.  I came in to the May Queen Aid Station at mile 13 in just over 2 hours as day was breaking, stuffed my head lamp and gloves in to my pack, grabbed a couple things to eat from the aid station and kept moving.  

I ran the Colorado Trail section smoothly and met up with Chris S. on Haggerman Pass Road.  This was Chris' 1st hundred and we ran together for a while and talked about our plans to take these first bunch off miles very easy.  It was on this section last year at 15-16 miles in that my legs felt beat up and I knew things were not going well.  This year, I felt great and cruised up over Sugar Loaf and down the Powerline Trail in to Fish Hatchery with no problems.  I made it to Fish Hatcherery at mile 23.5 in 4 hours and felt good.  So good in fact that when Mindy met me on the way in to the checkpoint to fill my pack and ask me how I was feeling, I replied with a very cocky, "I'm just getting warmed up,"  I ran the road out of Fish Hatchery towards Half Pipe and kept feeling good.  I continued to roll along up on to the Colorado Trail, past the Mt. Elbert Trail and down to Twin Lakes at mile 40 arriving in just under 7 hours.  I took a nice stop at Twin Lakes to eat, check my blood sugar (it was a little high, but okay) and get a leg rub and sun screen applied.  I felt and looked a little like a stock car getting it's tires changed by the pit crew.  My team was good.  They took care of me and sent me on my way for the first trip up over Hope Pass.

Last year I died going over Hope Pass on the way towards Winfield.  I remember every step being tremendous effort and I had to stop and take a break every few minutes.  This year I ran and hiked steadily up to the top and passed people the whole way.  It was still plenty tough and I wasn't moving very fast, but I kept moving and felt pretty good.  Just after I crested the high point of the pass and started running again on the way down, I crossed paths with The Nick Clark, currently running in third place, and his fearless pacer Scott Slusher.  Nick gave me a big smile, a double high five and some heartfelt encouragement.  Scott was full of enthusiasm and positive energy and we exchanged some running hoorahs as I headed down towards the turn around.  Passing these guys, two of my favorite people on the trail and otherwise, was a huge boost and I picked up my pace and ran down the trail.  My pace slowed pretty quickly as the trail on this side gets really rocky and technical and this kind of terrain remains a challenge for me, especially on tired legs.  I got to  the bottom and enjoyed the new side trail in to Winfield as it rolled along above the heavily trafficked, dusty and stressful Winfield road.  It was a great feeling getting in to Winfield- the halfway point, where my whole crew was waiting.  I went through the checkpoint, got weighed 153.2 (my pre-race weight was 156.7, so this was okay), grabbed some food and headed back towards my crew.  At the suggestion of the crew, I changed from my navy blue FCTR shirt to my neon green Blevins Cross Country shirt which meant I be matching my pacer back over Hope.  My pacer for this section was the one and only Celeste O'Connor.

Micah and Celeste waiting happily at Wnfield

Coming in to Winfield 

  

Celeste took me back over Hope as only Celeste could.  She sang to me and the other runners and pacers on the trail.  Some laughed, some cheered, some sang along.  Celeste also kept me moving steadily up to 12,600 feet and then back down the other side.  She encouraged me, she pushed me, she forced me to eat (at the top of Hope she handed me a Gu and when I told her I couldn't eat it, she just looked at me and said, "I'm going to count to ten," . . . . so I ate the Gu), she insisted that I keep drinking, she never let me stop, and she constantly demanded that I run . . . faster.  It was a tough section and I was hurting most of the way, but we got back to Twin Lakes hours before the cut off and even before the sun had gone down (last year it was long after dark by the time I got back to Twin).  60 miles down, it was now 8:00 pm, I was tired and a little beat up, but the big climbs were behind me and I now had Cat to take me through the next 27 miles to Fish Hatchery and on to May Queen.

Cat is another amazing woman and good friend.  Earlier this summer, Cat finished the Vermont 100 in 21:40, which besides being an amazing time, it was a nearly 7 hour 100 mile PR.  Cat is one of the toughest people I know and also one of the most giving and caring.  I progressed slowly out of Twin Lakes and up towards the Mt. Elbert Trail.  Cat was patient and encouraging.  She kept me going and engaged with stories of the history of the building that her vet. clinic is in (built in the 1800's) and tales of her family.  Cat checked in to make sure I was eating and drinking.  I was slowing down and pretty quiet through this whole section.  It was very clear by now that I was not going to be finishing in under 25 hours, but I was still feeling very good about finishing.  It was 17 miles from Twin Lakes to Fish Hatchery where my race had ended a year ago.  I knew I just had to get past that point and I'd be on my way to the finish line.  When we got back to the road 'three miles from the aid station, I got a boost of energy, and with encouragement from Cat, I started running again and we moved steadily passing several other runners on the way in to Fish Hatchery.  I was glad to see the whole crew when we got there, including Maddie and Nora who had gone back to the house to rest after  Winfield.  It was 1:00 am, two hours before the cut-off and the time I had gotten here a year ago, I was really tired, but I was still in it.  I ate some soup, drank some coffee, visited the porta-potty and then Cat and I headed out towards the Powerline climb and Sugarloaf.  As soon as we started up the steep section of Powerline, I knew I was in trouble.  My legs were heavy like dead weight and I was very suddenly so tired (sleepy) that I was having trouble staying awake and on my feet.  You'll have to ask Cat about what happened for much of the next 3 hours, because I have little memory of it.  Cat tells me of 38 minute miles and a very cold, very slow, very long trip over Sugar Loaf.  I had some serious doubts about my ability to finish, but Cat never gave up and would not let me stop.  I do remember heading down Haggerman Road with a bunch of other runners and pacers around and Cat calling out, "I need some help, my runner is going to sleep"  Another runner offered us a no-doze and even though I had never taken caffeine pills before, I was willing to try anything.  I popped the pill and within minutes everything changed.  I don't know if it was the pill, a placebo effect or just coincidental timing, but all of a sudden I was awake again and I could run.  We turned off the road on to the Colorado Trail section that would lead us in to May Queen.  Pretty soon, Cat and I were making goals for splits and timing to make it in to the last aid station with plenty of time before the cut-off.  I knew that Nora was waiting at May Queen to run with me the last 13 miles to the finish.  I couldn't wait to see her.  We hopped off the trail and on to the road in to May Queen just as the long night in the mountains was turning in to a new day.  The Angels were all there and glad to see us and they helped us get through the aid station and off towards the finish line. 

Nora was brimming with smiles and positive energy and helped give me a good jolt of confidence that there was a Leadville finish in my immediate future.  I was still pretty tired, but I was inspired by the beauty of the sun rise over Turquoise Lake on this new day.  Nora kept her eye on the time on the GPS watch she was borrowing from Mindy and didn't let me slack on the pace.  She had carefully worked out with the rest of the team what we'd have to do to make it back to Leadville before the shotgun fired at 10:00 am and she was determined.  She was also positive and fun and at one point a few miles in, she turned to me on the trail and said, "There is nowhere else that I'd rather be right now."  Despite my fatigue and sore feet, I felt the same way.  When we crossed the road to head away from the lake and back towards town with 5 miles to go and 2 hours left on the clock, I knew we were going to make it.  The sun was up, the day was getting warm and it was just a short trip up the Boulevard to the finish.  I had been on my feet moving for 28+ hours by this time and I was in good spirits, but I was moving pretty slowly.  Nora and I kept going and talked with some of the other runners and pacers that were doing the same thing.  When we got to the top of the Boulevard to turn on to the pavement with just a mile to go, there was Hinterberg full of energy and encouragement and ready to take us in.  He chastised Nora a bit for not carrying my pack which she quickly corrected and we took off to get this race done.  With less than a mile to go, I started running and then the rest of the Angels joined us and we all ran as hard as I could up 6th street and across the finish line.  At the line, I hugged Nora and Celeste put the finisher's medal over my head.  It was done.

Team Fort Collins