Race Week

This week I am going to run the SLC Half Marathon and it will be the first race for me of this distance. I am excited and actually really calm about running the race. I have been dealing with an IT band problem and went to a doctor on Friday to check it out. He gave me a cortisone shot in my knee to help with it, among doing other things, and I should be good for race day.

So I ask you who have raced before your advice on race week. I wanted to get this out earlier but life is busier then you think sometimes. So here are some questions I have for you:

How do you prepare on your race week?
What do you eat?
How much do you like to run?
Do you have any traditions that help you to prepare?
How early do you like to be on race day?
Have any warm up tips to get your body ready?
What do you like to eat the morning of the race?

Anything else that you feel gets you ready, just let me know. Thanks

Snow Shoeing

About a year and a half ago I was introduced to snow shoeing by a ex-roommate, Jake Jensen. My first time was going to Jake's cabin with some friends. I did a bit of working out during that time and figured it couldn't be that bad, of course I had to be a tough guy. Well, towards the end I was praying that it would be over the next hill of snow and I got my trash kick by my friend Jen.

Even though I was hurting the next day, both legs and pride, the lure of being in the mountains while snow blankets and quiets the wilderness, has always brought me back. I have done it in the early hours of the morning with the sun just coming over the hill side and at night with a big storm lingering ever closer. Some of these places I have been to in the summer when the grass is green but when everything is covered in snow it is a different world. There is a quietness to the world around you when you are out there in the winter that you don't get in the summer.

Here are some trips that I have been on this year.

First Snow Shoeing

This was the first time this year that I went snow shoeing and it was a early Saturday morning. Since there was a big storm coming through Friday and Saturday I thought it was a perfect time to go. We were the first up the trail and there was a light snow the whole time. This has to be one of the most beautiful times I have ever been snow shoeing.


Jake's Cabin

This was a trip that was planned months in advance. Jake went off to school in New York but nothing was keeping me from mooching his cabin and I knew he wanted to go anyway. We went up the weekend after the new year and did a little hiking in a snow storm with wind whipping us the whole way up. Once in the cabin with the fire going and warm food in hand, no storm could bother us. It was a perfect situation with a the snow coming down all night and us warm in side, does it get any better? We slept in the next morning and then sledded out. What made this trip so much fun is the wonderful group that went and how much fun we had together.

Hike of Grandeur Peak

This was a fun trip taken later in the year with my two room mates, Matt Hansen and Christian Ward. There was not very much snow on the way up but we had a great time once we got to the top. There was some fresh snow and it appeared as no one had been as far as we had. We were going up the last stretch to the top and when I got to the top, I saw a bunch of foot prints in the snow, ruining my idea that we were the only ones to make it up there. Guess the other side is easier and had less snow for those hiking without snow shoes.

With summer coming around I will change my outdoor activities to camping and hiking but next year I will continue the adventures in the snowy mountains. If you would like to join me let me know. christianeyring@gmail.com