Heading West

After I graduate in December, I will be moving to Livingston, Montana to do a year of service with Americorps, working for Big Brothers Big Sisters. I will be working in their offices in Livingston developing and implementing a marketing and public relations plan for BBBS. Livingston is located in south-west Montana, 20 miles east of Bozeman and 50 miles north of Yellowstone National Park. Livingston is a small town of about 8,000, and was named the 6th best outdoor town in the country by MSN. It was the location for the movie "A River Runs Through It." The area is sure to be a trail runners paradise with mountains in every direction. It sits at 4,500 feet in elevation. I can't wait to get out there and start exploring! It's going to be a great year. You should all come visit!

Top 10 Outdoor Towns
Via Magazine Article - about Livingston's extensive art scene

I ran 5.5 miles Saturday on the large loop of the Stone Steps course, at a hard pace, which only equaled 9:30 per mile, but it's hilly :)

I did some 800, 400, and 200 repeats yesterday.

I meant to do a 10 miler on Sunday but never got around it it. I hope to do 15 this weekend which will be my longest run in a while.

3 miles, 6:50 pace, track
1 mile cool down, 9:45

I ran three miles at a comfortably fast pace tonight just to get the legs turning over. I'm going to be doing low mileage with more speed as training for Tecumseh. Not because I think it will help my time, but just because I don't feel like running a lot of miles.

On a side note, don't forget about the One More Mile Challenge which starts November 1st. Sign up now!!

One More Mile Challenge

It was a record breaking day at Mt. Airy Forest today. The trails were dry, clear and fast. The weather at the start was in the high 30's and by the time the runners crossed the finish it was in the 50's. A little chilly for the volunteers at the oval, but perfect for the runners. Jay Smithberger bested his own course record from on year ago by 12 minutes with a time of 4:19:33, after battling it out most of the day with second place finisher Zach Mitchell from Danville, IN, who went on the finish in 4:26. The female course record, which was set by Kim Martin last year, and thought to be unbeatable by RD Dave Corfman (Who would like to tell everyone willing to listen that he got into Western States next year :) was crushed by 17 minutes by Alice Essinger, who became the first woman to run sub 5 hours on the Stone Steps course with a time of 4:55.

I met Dave, Dave, and Andy at Mt. Airy this afternoon to help mark the course for the Stone Steps 50k tomorrow. I marked the 5 mile loop with orange flags, remembering all the places I have gotten lost on that loop in the past. Also, keeping in mind Marla's uncanny ability to get lost during races. Let's just say if you get lost out there tomorrow on the large loop, it will be quite an accomplishment. The trails are in great shape, probably the best I have ever seen them. Dave and Dave even had leaf blowers out to blow the leaves off the trails. Not a single down tree on the large loop, I don't think there are any on the small loop either. The weather is going to be nice. A great day for a race, indeed. I'll be volunteering at the oval.

6 miles, hilly roads

4 miles at 7:30 pace
2 miles at 10:30 pace

Monday: 3 miles at 7:00 pace, track

I'd like to get my 5k time to 18:36 (6:00 pace) by the end of the year.

I think I'll start blogging again. Did ya miss me?