Winter Wolf Run

2:37:26                  2^nd Women 25-29

15 mile trail run – ice, snow, some bushwhacking through woods

This run started in the dark, during the winter in Michigan.  The windchill made the temperature feel like -15 ° F.  Within minutes of starting I was forced to stop and adjust the heat packs in my shoes, but it was so cold that my fingers literally could not untie my shoes.  I sat in a patrol car for a couple minutes to adjust the packs, and by that time the entire race had passed me.  I caught up from dead last to win second in my age group.

The Trail Marathon

4:35:04                 1^st Women 25-29

26.2 mile trail run – dirt, roots, hills

This course was two loops of a pretty technical trail system in lower Michigan.

Dances With Dirt, Gnaw Bone, IN

5:59:08                 1^st Place Overall Finisher

50K trail run – very hilly, very muddy

This was my first ultramarathon and what a race!  The race begins and ends on an ex-ski hill.  It had rained quite a bit the week before the race so much of the first and last 6 miles were deep sloppy mud.  I can’t get enough mud, so I was all set.  There were some pretty intense sections of bushwhacking through pricker bushes while trying to locate the pink ribbons marking the course.  In the end I was the first finisher across the line, and the only person to come in under 6 hours.  It was an incredible experience.

Iron Wolf

6:00:02                 1st Overall Woman (only woman to complete the entire race)

40K Mountain Bike-1.8 mile upstream kayak-10K Bushwhack/Trail run

This was one of the most challenging races I’ve ever competed in.  There were times I was carrying my bike on my shoulders through waist-deep black muck.  The upstream kayak was especially challenging because the sun set during that leg of the race and it became more difficult to judge current and log jams.  The bushwhacking trail run actually seemed easy after the first two legs, but even it had its challenges such as a chest deep river crossing.  This race, more so than others, pushed me out of my comfort zone and into the area where you really begin to question yourself as an athlete.  I was proud of myself for persevering, and being able to garner the strength mentally and physically to not only complete the race, but compete the race.  I was also immensely grateful to all of the cheering volunteers and support crew.

Flirt With Dirt

55:03                     6^th Women 25-29

10K trail run – mud, low-hanging branches

This distance was a little shorter than I am used to, but it was a great test because it required me to push a faster pace than marathons do.

The Legend

1:29:30                     2^nd Women 25-29

10 mile trail run – roots and hills.