I actually like that Miley song…..
Anyway, last week was a pseudo recovery week from my very first Triathlon–I didn’t do a whole lot of running (two days) but I got in a tough trail run/hike at the end of the week.
Monday I headed to the gym and worked out with a buddy. She had me doing some crazy stuff that left me quite sore, lol! It was fun though, because they were workout drills I normally would never do–squats with weights and other fun things.
Tuesday had me running an easy 5 miler (8:53/m) with a friend and her pooch.
Wednesday I picked up the pace on a solo run, 4 miles at 8:04/m. I was really happy with this run because my splits were good–8:16, 8:04, 8:05, 7:51. 😀
Thursday consisted of a 20 minute stationary bike ride and core work and I took a complete rest day Friday .
Saturday was a big day.
I have a 4 year old ❤
It’s crazy how time flies. When she was born, people would tell me that before I knew it, she’d grow up. Now it’s really happening.
We had a fun family day together and in the evening we had a few of her friends over for play. Her big party is this next weekend so there’ll be more pictures then 🙂
Sunday I met up with my run club for a new trail run. I always jump at the chance to run on a new trail because I love exploring where we live.
This particular hike was exactly that, a hike. It was about a 40 minute drive from where I live, but we were told it would be worth it.
Oh, boy.
The trail was labeled “expert” but I wasn’t sure what that meant. I’ve done some pretty tough climbs but this had been talked up as being a really, really tough one.
See those towers way up there? Let’s climb up to them just for fun!
Yep, that was my Garmin read of that hike.
It was a 9+ miler that was basically UP. At the start, you had a few rolling hills, so you thought you’d be okay. But then around mile 2 and a halfish, the ridiculousness started. I was f bombing left and right at how not fun it was. At this point, the trail turned into concrete and there was no running; it was literally a climb.
Pit stop to decide if we *really* want to go all the way to the top, lol!
The trail website describes it:
“The climb provides a serene feeling of ridge-line hiking, offering amazing views along the way as you quickly climb 2000 feet to the peak.”
I somehow missed the serenity feeling, lol!
Anway, I huffed and puffed (and swore) my way up all the way to the very top 🙂
Almost to the top. This was after quite a few Holy Fuckballs
Amazing view of Phoenix
And when we got there, we saw a helipad!! I of course had to take a picture on it! 😀
Helly on a helipad 😀
The way back down had to be done carefully. It was so steep there was no way you could run down that without falling. Once it leveled out a bit though, it was easier to pick up speed. Which I did because I wanted to get the hell out of there, lol!!
Shoefie!
Protruding cactus at the start/end. I wanted to high five it
I was glad I did the hike though. As with most things in life, it’s good to try everything once (most things anyway 😉 )
–Have you hiked a rough trail before? What about it made it tough?
–Do you swear when you run? Or during your regular day?
How funny would it have been had I been there because I dropped in via helicopter? Epic hike.
That’ll be the way I’ll do it next time 🙂
Your daughter looks like an ANGEL in that picture! 🙂
She’s equally an angel in person. I love her so much 🙂
Your daughter and my husband share a birthday! I think I remember that from lat year. Happy birthdays to them both! 🙂
Your hike looks EPIC. I experienced a tiny, much shorter taste of Scottsdale hiking when Matt and I went up Pinnacle Peak in January. That was no where near the climb but it helps me picture the terrain and landscape that you must have experienced. Great job!!
Yay, happy birthday husband!!
I’m sad I totally spaced when you visited but I’m glad you got to experience some of our cacti beauty, lol!
That hike looks awesome! Beastly but awesome. I swear all the time, I used to say too much but nah, it is what it is. I know how to edit when I need to. 🙂
Exactly. 😀
Haha omg that sounds crazy! I have done some crazy hikes living here in Alaska, most notably the Mount Marathon hike. It’s the same route that the runners do every year in the Mount Marathon Race on the 4th of July – it’s only 3.1 miles but it took me 5 hours and I legit thought I was going to fall off the mountain and die! I just signed up for a mountain trail run in August on a trail that I hiked last summer and I’m excited to hike up that thing and then hopefully run down!
I would LOVE to do some trails in your hood….gah!!! I love ALL of your pics!!!!!
I don’t really swear when I run. It is like my filter finally kicks in. Otherwise F*** yeah. I swear like a sailor!
I think when I’m running I swear less too, unless I’m close to finishing then I just tell myself to move my shit and hurry! lol!
Haha omg that hike/trail run elevation puts my recent race elevation profile to SHAME! That’s amazing!! (I’d totally be cursing my way up it too lol)
And what a great week! I love seeing all the balance you’re getting in all your different workouts now. Happy Birthday to your little girl 🙂
Thank you, Charissa! Yeah, when I first saw the elevation I was like, “YES, sign me up!!” I like challenges but I think all the concrete turned me off, lol!
UNREAL. I don’t like hiking that much but I love the views. I’d rather take a helicopter up there lol. I don’t usually swear much, really, only when I write. But now that I think of it, I DID swear the other day when I finished the tempo part of my run. My Garmin beeped and I stopped and yelled the F word.
I thought about Grouse Mountain b/c that was tough but waaaaaay fun. This one just wasn’t.
I’m the opposite. I swear a lot on the daily but not when I write, lol
Happy birthday to your daughter!!
That hike looks incredibly beautiful and incredibly hard! Did you feel it in your legs the next day? I feel like I can feel my quads burning just looking at the elevation profile. Love the picture of you on the Helly-pad 🙂 I don’t usually swear during runs, unless it’s directed toward an a-hole driver, but umm, yeah I tend to swear on a daily basis.
OMG Katrina, my quads are on fire!!! I went for a run this morning to shake things out and they feel a bit better but whoa…lol
I swear on a daily basis, running or not running, lol! I don’t when I write though ja!
OMG that hike elevation…is that a 90 degree angle I see in the middle? LOL! I like tough hikes more now that I’m a runner. I don’t hike often but I’m eager to see how my running has (hopefully!) boosted my hiking fitness. After always running, running, running it’s nice to be able to just slow down and enjoy the view sometimes 🙂
Happy birthday to your little daughter! How adorable!
That’s what I love about trail running–waaaay less emphasis on pace and just about enjoying the outdoors ❤
Happy birthday to your daughter! She is so adorable! That looks like an epic trail but why concrete? When I’m hiking I like to earn my views and it looks like you definitely did!
Your daughter is such a cutie! My daughter is only 8.5 months old, but I can’t believe it. She was born like yesterday. I feel like I’m gonna blink and she’ll be 4 already… Great week! Incredible hill!
Awh Happy Birthday to your daughter! Those trails look amazing but HARD too!!!