Headed to Leadville, CO this weekend..... All of you have suffered a year of me whining about timing out @ mile 70 last year. It is time to redeem what I now refer to as Leadzilla.
It has been 4 weeks since Vermont, what have I been up to? Sophie, Stella and I spendt a fabulous 10 days at the cabin on Whitefish Lake, MT with friends Ben, Tina, 2 poodles, and Annah. We spent most of the time in or near the water. The only time we had to run into town for more provisions was when we ran out of Hershey bars for the beach fire S’mores. Since we have been home, I have been Volleyball mom. Sophie attended a camp and the past 2 weeks she had been involved in tryouts at West High School. She will be a freshman but is aspiring to be on the Sophomore team. We also attended registration and have mastered the public transport TRAXX + bus from West High to home.
I continue to train, still relatively injury free. I am babying the tendonitis on my anterior ankle, doesn’t bother me when I run but I just don’t have much range of motion. It took awhile for the swelling to go down after Vermont, and my ankles seem to be my limiting factor in yoga.....I am sure my back bends are weak because of my ankles! I am also trying to ruff-up my feet, the skin on my pads and both 2nd toes is thin after the blisters healed. I am going to try this blister powder stuff for Leadville and I hope not to have to resort to taping.
Every race seems to have some crisis, and Leadville 2009 already has had its drama. My pacer Julie, who was going to pace me 40 miles, fractured a rib. Poor Julie, she is training for Wasatch and did the unspectacular trip on a twig and fall on her water bottle just on the wrong spot. We have all fallen with all levels of consequences. I just hope she heals well. So, I figure that is enough drama for my Leadzilla 2009 and hopefully there won’t be anymore glitches until after I cross the finish line.
My crew/pacers will consist of the Luckett-Thurston & Kryger families. Of course Peter and Sophie will be there in our Eurovan, and Sophie warned me that she doesn’t want as much drama and excitement as there was at Western States. Clan Kryger include Moira, Dan and boys Declan (4) and Collin (8 mos-ish). Moira and I were introduced by a mutual friend who set her up to pace me my first Wasatch in 2004..... and believe it or not but we have remained friends and she has continued to offer to pace me.
The current plan is that Peter will take me from Winfield mile 50 over Hope Pass and down and across the river to Twin Lakes mile 60. Then Moira will pick me up for Twin Lakes to Fish Hatchery (20 miles that I am really going to have to push and Moira is perfect because she can be very motivating.....and sometimes MEAN - and she knows when she needs to be mean). Dan will take me from Fish Hatchery mile 80 over SugarLoaf mtn and down to May Queen mile 87. And, then it will be a group effort for the last 13.5 miles. I can see Moira and Peter playing rock-paper-scissors.... not really but it would be funny. If time allows Sophie could be dropped off for the last 5 or so miles and that would be fun. I just hope that it doesn’t turn into the big stressful finish like Western States. Anyway......I am sure there will be a fabulous story to tell after this adventure....
