The Odds are Good but the Goods are Odd…
The first 10 days of the new year have proved to be nothing but awesome, and I hope that this indicates what the rest of the year will hold. I’m beginning to see glimmers of light within my music career, getting more shows, beginning to get paid more frequently, and writing new material that I think will actually stick.
Last week I played at Hotel Cafe with Nina Storey and the rest of the band. This is the third time I’ve played this show with Nina. I’ve really enjoyed doing this with her because the band is basically the same folks each time around and they are all people I genuinely enjoy playing with and hanging out with.
Singing for Nina at Hotel Cafe
Nina Storey at Hotel Cafe January 2010
I’ve started to notice the positive effects of training harder and higher mileage recently during my training runs and workouts. I’m planning some pretty fun races this year. This is what I have so far:
Feb: Twin Peaks 50 Miler
March: Malibu Creek 50k
April: America River 50 Miler
May: Miwok 100k
June: San Diego 100 Miler
August: Pikes Peak
October: Oil Creek 100??
Yesterday I ran in the Boney Mountain Half Xterra race and surprised myself with a 1st place age group finish. It was a really fun run and I had the benefit of previewing the course last weekend when I ran it with the Coyotes. There are some good climbs in that course which I really enjoyed. My downhill running has improved tremendously over the past few months as well. I used to be pretty tentative and slow in the downhills. Now, I’m sure if I fall I’ll go tumbling down the mountain, but I’m really enjoying the downhill running more and find I’m becoming more natural at handing more technical sections of trails.
At the start of Boney Mountain (I'm far right)
Moeben Love (Bev Carpenter, Me, Erin Chavin)
Team Top to Top/Creative Citizen/Coyotes. All of us placed in our age group. Daniel Weissauer (left) and Dominic Grossman (right)
1st place Women 20-24
I’ve also started running in the New Balance Trail 100’s (WT100) and I LOVE them. Especially coming from a heavier brand like Salomon, the 100’s feel incredible and light, but still possess some essential features of a trail shoe as far as grip and protection goes.
Daniel Weissauer and I both breaking in our New Balance Trail 100's out at Boney Mountain
Yesterday was also the kickoff for my brother’s trail racing series, Forge Racing, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I’m so proud of him for putting this series together. It’s really great to see people come together and get the city of Baton Rouge spending more time outside and being active. Love it.
This week I head to Boston to visit some old haunts before flying to Denver for a few shows and the Parks and Recreation Showcase to try and book some shows through the summer and fall. If I’m lucky I’ll get some good altitude training in and try not to feel left out while my buddies get ready for Rocky Raccoon! It’s okay, many more races to come…
I didn’t realize you were planning on being in SD100 too. I’ll be there. I no longer post a year plan on my blog. I want the freedom to do as I please and not be tied down to some kind of schedule I posted. Slowly but surely I’m coming back. I’ll be ready to run by the time “Way Too Cool 50k” comes around and the “Miwok 100k”.