Weekly Review January 24-31 ~ Discovering Trail Running

Another week, another Weekly Review post! 

Photo from Saturday's trail run.

The theme for this past week is definitely trail running and discovery. You can read last week's review HERE.

Fitness
No skiing this week, sadly. All our snow has melted away. It's unlikely that we'll get enough snow again this year to ski at home on the farm, but you never know. Maybe a spring snowstorm with heavy snow??? I suppose it's possible. Earlier in the week it was really icy in the yard and on the roads, so Jeff and I tried out our new YakTrax. They slip on over our shoes and provide really excellent traction on ice.

YakTrax on the ice = awesome!

We went for a light run together on Sunday evening, then I wore mine again on Monday afternoon on my first ever trail run at the new place. You can read about that in this previous post. I also had great road run on Wednesday, than another awesome trail run with Jeff on Friday morning through the pastures for five miles. Trail running out there is a great way to get to know the land in a very intimate way. Again, just super, super thankful for all this great access we have.

Looking back toward the Sweetgrass Hills.

The #RunLoveChallenge continues this week. Wendie and I pushed our distance up to 5 miles. The weekly challenge with that was to "discover" a new run, which I did out on the trails on Monday and again on Friday. So, that Friday run was a double-whammy of increased distance plus discovering a new route. Let me tell you, five miles on trails is MUCH different from five miles on the road. What I really discovered from getting into this trail running stuff is my own strength. Sure, my times are slower, but man is it a workout. One of those hurts-so-good challenges, you know? I know in the long run the trail running will make me a stronger, faster runner, and that's what I'm really going for. I want to know what I'm capable of.

Here's the weekly breakdown:
Sunday- Running 3.2 miles with Jeff
Monday- 3 mile trail run "Discovery" run
Tuesday- 1.6 mile walk, 30 min. core exercises
Wednesday- 3.4 mile HILLY road run at sunset...

The sky can be so beautiful around here! We have had a lot of good sunsets lately.

Thursday- 30 minutes of yoga after school
Friday- 5.2 mile trail run with Jeff

Jeff took this photo of me on our run. That's Sage Creek down below.
Hard to believe not that long ago we were skiing on the creek.

Saturday- 30 minutes elliptical

I guess you'd say the yoga day was my rest day, and I guess you'd call the hill workout and some of the trail running my "speedwork..."  Big week for me overall in terms of mileage and activity.

Filling in my #RunLoveChallenge calendar!

And here's YTD:
2016 Year to Date, through 1/31/16
Running: 45.35
Walking: 8.3
Yoga: 165 min 
CC-Ski: 380 min / 10.8 miles (since I started tracking mileage on 1/17)
Alpine Ski: 2 days

Farm
This week we completed and submitted our Organic Producer application. If you remember a few posts ago, we decided to farm some land organically this year. Well, you have to apply in order to be certified organic. The application is thick and tedious. I think the powers that be will review it and then someone will come out and inspect our farm and our set-up, probably this spring or summer. Sort of exciting. It's an interesting process, for sure.

This is a photo of a poster in the FSA office. 

We also continue to feed cows daily. They typically two hay bales rolled out for them in this feeding pasture each day, plus some more hay and straw in feeders in the corrals. They can wander back and forth between the pasture and the corral as they see fit. They also have an excellent view as they munch. I wonder if they appreciate it?

Our cows graze as the Sweetgrass Hills loom in the distance

Life
We continue to work on small things around the house to make it our own and finish the moving process. We decided to forego our kitchen face lift project for now and put our money toward some much-needed furniture instead. Turns out that I find shopping for furniture online or in store to be overwhelming and stressful. You ever go to a really big lunch buffet and become so overwhelmed with all the choices that you either pile your plate with way too much, or, walk out with absolutely nothing? That's what furniture shopping is like for me. Too many choices make me frustrated and confused, so then we get nothing. But we need things... so it starts again. On and on. We'll get there.

Also, you may have noticed that I changed the name of the blog.... (it's OK, I'll take a moment while you scroll back up and look...) I've been wanting to change it for some time and finally decided on something I like, and Jeff likes, too. A friend of mine is helping with a visual overhaul of the blog, so once that's ready to be unveiled, the URL will probably change too. Don't worry, though, I'll let you all know and give you plenty of lead time before that change so that I don't lose any of you as readers!

Well, that's all for this week! Hope you're all doing well! Catch you on the flip side. :)

Harvey says see you next week!

Lately

No where really to start except to acknowledge that it's been about four months since I last did a blog post. Between now and then, well, a lot has happened, both good and bad. There's too much to get into in one post. Suffice to say, for now, that Jeff and I are doing well and we're thankful for all the many, wonderful blessings we encounter on a daily basis.

It's odd, after such a long time off, to think about getting back into this again. Getting back into blogging. Thinking about putting into words everything that's happened between August 30 and now seems more than a little daunting. In due time.

For today, mostly to ease myself back into this process, I'm simply going to write briefly about one thing we have been doing lately: skiing. Specifically, we've been blessed with great snowfall this December--perfect snow for cross-country skiing.

Since Jeff and I purchased cross-country/Nordic skis a few years ago for our Christmas presents to ourselves, we've typically had a few opportunities each winter to use them skiing around our farm and in the road ditches near where we live. This year, I've already had my skis out three times and it's only December! Love it! The skis have been a lovely vehicle for deeper exploration of the pastures of the family farm.

Take a look at a few photos...

 We have to make our own tracks on the farm, but that's OK. It's great exercise and it's so satisfying to ski entirely within the borders of one's own land. My ski-in, ski-out chalet happens to be my own home! Just lacking a hot tub... ;)

Abby photobombed in the background, coming down the hill.

 I love the way snow piles among the sagebrush and other plants out in the pasture, and then the wind manipulates and carves into it. Dunes of sparkling snow.

 Lately has also been somewhat chilly. It hasn't been above freezing on the farm for a few weeks now. Sage Creek, which flows through our pastures, is completely iced up and is also great skiing as the wind has blown snow into the creek bed. I managed another selfie (below). No selfie stick required. Just propped the phone up on a tuft of grass and hit the timer.

 Anyone remember Iggy? He's still with us. He LOVES to go for walks, runs, and skis, especially in the pastures. With his shaggy coat, he was made for winter. He's a happy pup.

Old Ig, as we often call him.

 Jeff and I took turns breaking trail on a nice ski on the creek a few days ago. So peaceful and lovely down in there, protected from the wind.

Happy ski faces! 

I think I'll try to tackle some of the bigger events that have happened this fall one post at a time, including our health, the 5K On the Farm, and the big move. Be patient with me as I ease myself back into this!!!

Until next time, everyone! Let me know if you're still reading....

Goldstone Loop Run and Fall Racing Schedule

Harvest has been at a stand-still since it rained last Friday night. It has rained a few more times since then and has been cool and humid. Too wet to finish cutting our spring wheat. Harvest is the only time when we don't really want any rain.

While the cold front hasn't been good for harvest, it has been GREAT for running! I've been having so many great runs lately out here on the gravel roads by my house. Good solid effort in training over the summer is making me feel pretty fast and like I hopefully have some PRs in me for the fall racing season.

In today's post, I'm going to intersperse some of my photos from what I'm calling the Goldstone Loop Run in with my tentative Fall racing schedule. The Goldstone Loop is a four mile box located just a bit north of my house. It's a great training run because it's a route I don't do very often (as in, this was the first time. But it won't be the last!!), it has some hills but none that are completely demoralizing, and it's a four-mile box-- one mile on each side. Perfect square. Great for breaking it down or changing speeds each mile, comparing times, etc.

Harvey and I are at the start of our Goldstone Loop run.
He did not feel like cooperating for a photo and instead was investigating a hole in the ground.

Fall Racing Schedule **Denotes a "confirmed" race, meaning I'd have to come up with something pretty serious to miss this one!

August
**22- Maroon and Gold 1-Mile/5K/10K, 8:00 a.m. Havre, MT. I'll be running the 10K.**

Where the Rudyard Road and Goldstone Road intersect.

September
5- Big Dipper Last Chance Road Run 5K, 8:00 a.m. Helena, MT (not likely to do this one, but there's a chance. You never know)
**12- 5K On The Farm. 10:30 a.m. Bangs Family Farms, north of Inverness, MT. I'm the race director and it's being held on my own farm, but I still plan on running. Of course I plan on running!**
26- Squirrels in the Headlamp 5K Trail Run 8:00 p.m. in Great Falls. This is the evening after a Bobcat game in Bozeman. Again, not likely to actually run in it, but still want to keep it on my radar.

Goldstone Road and Road 105 North intersection. Harvey takes a break (and so did I).

October
**3- Family Violence STOPS here 5K Fun Run/Walk, 10:00 a.m. Havre, MT.**
11- Helena Sun Run, 1:00 p.m in Helena ~OR~ Moose Run, noon, in Livingston. More likely to do Helena on the way home from Bozeman.
**17- Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp Harvest Festival 5K Fun Run, Lakeside, MT. This is happening!**
24- Scheels Pumpkin Run, 9:00a.m. Great Falls. 5K or maybe a 10K? If I can sneak away from MFU Convention for a little while in the morning. We'll see.
Also in October but date unconfirmed as of yet is Run for the Roses in Bozeman, which is a family tradition we'd like to carry on if possible.
Super sad to probably miss the Opera Run in Bozeman this year. Always one of my favorites!

And we're done! 

November
Hoping for a Big Sky Wind Drinkers run in early November like the one I did last year. Dates unconfirmed as of yet.
**26--Huffing for Stuffing 10K in Bozeman ~OR~ Burn the Bird 5K/10K in Great Falls** I'll do one or the other depending on where we are for Thanksgiving.

What's on your fall racing schedule?!

Also, in case you missed it, check out the Top Ten Reasons to sign up for 5K On The Farm below! If even ONE of these reasons connects with you, please consider signing up for 1-Mile, 5K or VIRTUAL RUN!

TOP TEN REASONS why YOU should SIGN UP for 5K On The Farm!
10. It's inexpensive-- only $20 and for everything you get for that $20?!?! Are you kidding me?! Add up what it costs to buy a day pass at a gym, a hamburger lunch somewhere else, and a t-shirt, and then tell us what's the better deal. ;) **But don't delay- price goes up to $25 after September 5, including race-day registration! 
9. Fitness and farming CAN go together! 
8. There is a distance and speed for every ability. Run or walk either one mile or 3.1 miles with us on Race Day. Don't tell us "I'm not a runner..." because you don't have to be a runner to enjoy being outside. Sounds like an excuse to me! If you can walk for 20 minutes, you can do 5K On The Farm in the 1-mile distance and be just fine.

Runners and walkers of all ages and abilities can participate!

7. There is a place for every participant! Can't make it to the farm? Sign up for Virtual Run and get your fitness on wherever it's convenient for you.
6. Helping rural economies! Race proceeds are going to help fund leadership and education opportunities for rural women, so the positive ripple effect of community strengthening and growth can continue throughout Montana! If you believe in strengthening rural communities, then this is a cause you will want to get behind.

Women helping women and strengthening rural Montana communities!

5. Race Swag. We're going to have really awesome goody bags and race tees! Just you wait and see!
4. Exercise is good for you! But you already knew that, didn't you?
3. Hanging out with friends. Get a group of friends together to do the race. Walking or running together is a great way to catch up and spend time with friends and family!

2. Truly unique race venue. How many races or runs have you done on a farm!? You can't beat the view of the Sweetgrass Hills from here!

Looking west toward the Sweetgrass Hills.

1. HAMBURGERS! Every participant who joins us on race day gets a free hamburger lunch with their entry fee! Who says there's no such thing as a free lunch?!

Thanks everyone! Stay tuned tomorrow for Thankful Thursday and Friday for Oiselle Flight Friday post number 1! :)

5K On The Farm Website is LIVE!

Hi PrairiePonderingsMT readers!

If you haven't heard yet, Jeff and I are going to be Race Directors!  That's right, we're holding our own 5K run/walk event to be held RIGHT HERE ON THE FARM! The race is happening exactly two months from today, on September 12!

Here's our spiffy logo, created by my friend Kyla of k.raecreations. What do you think of that?!

I also created a simple website for the race with all the info you could want, using the Blogger format. If you read and like this blog, please consider following the 5K On The Farm site: www.5konthefarm.blogspot.com. Guess what-- the race website even has super-offical Race Registration forms!!! You can download and print the PDF and mail it in with your check to sign up for the race. We're hoping to have online registration through active.com set up soon, but until then, you'll have to do it the old fashioned way. :)

I hope you'll check out the website for the race and consider signing up to join us!

Puritan's Pride MadLib and Fun Running Survey

Today I'm doing a MadLib as part of my #1MillionMinutes challenge. By completing this MadLib and sharing it on the FitApproach website, I am supposed to win some sort of prize from Puritan's Pride, which is a natural foods source online. I looked at their website a bit prior to filling this in and they have some things I could definitely try out, so... here goes!

I’m so Interested [adj] to fuel my #1MillionMinutes goals with Puritan’s Pride! All summer I plan to run, bike, hike, and yoga[verb] my way to a healthier, fitter me, and I’ll need help staying hydrated and fueled during all my fitness and recreational [adj] adventures!

I will make sure I stay on track and will rely on  probiotics [noun] to keep me well fueled before, during and after workouts, and my endless supply of delicious drinking water from the spring in the Sweetgrass Hills [noun] to keep me hydrated!

I’m most excited to try ProBiotic 10 (product) and Addiction Granola (product) from Puritan’s Pride because they look like they will help me keep a healthy gut, and will be tasty! (adj).

One supplement I’ve never tried but am curious about is Crystallized Ginger [noun]. I think it might make me extra alert during trail runs![adj].

Bring it, #1MillionMinutes! I’m ready to go!

In a similar theme to this post, here's a fun random running survey that I got from The Right Fits. She filled it out for herself and suggested that anyone who wants to could fill it in on their own blog. Read my responses below!

Would you rather run along a beach path or on a mountain trail?
I would rather run on a mountain trail! Beaches are great, but they're for lounging and swimming. Running in the mountains is definitely where it's at! Good thing I live in Montana!

If you could choose the flavor of Gatorade at your next race’s aid stations, what would it be? Bleh! I'll just stick with water, thankyouverymuch! 

If I gave you a $100 gift card to a running store, what would be the first thing that you would purchase with it? I would definitely most prefer a giftcard to Oiselle. I could buy any number of items from there, but the top items on my list right now are: Lori Shorts in Brill Blue, Classic Verrazano Bra in any color, and pretty much any tank top from the summer collection. My $100 would be spent VERY quickly!

Do you prefer to follow a training plan or wake up and decide then how far and how fast you want to run? I haven't followed a training plan for myself much at all in the past. I typically plan very little before I head out the door. I typically have a general idea in my mind of runs and workouts I want to accomplish in a given week and then shuffle around as necessary as things come up in my schedule.

Today's running route and accompanying sky drama.

Would you rather start your run with the uphill and end on the downhill or start your run with the downhill and end with the uphill? DEFINITELY start on the uphill and then fly down to the finish! I don't have a ton of hills in my area, so I think this question would be more applicable referring to wind. I'd rather run into the wind on my way out and then let it push me back home when I'm tired.

When you can’t run, what type of cross-training do you choose to do? I do yoga, ride my mountain bike through our pastures and gravel roads, and use the elliptical. In the winter, I'm all about Nordic skiing and snowshoeing for cardio and downhill skiing for fun! 

Nordic skiing this past winter in Glacier National Park! 

What is your preference->  Out and back, point to point or loop runs? I prefer loop runs but I mostly do point to point out of necessity.

If you could recommend ANY running related item to a new runner, it would be a->Buy a GOOD pair of running shoes that are appropriate for your gait, mileage, and type of surface. Spend the money to buy the best shoe for you! Your body will tell you if you don't! 

Do you ever see any wild animals while out on your runs? Yes, all the time! I live out in the country so it would be more rare to not see wild animals. What I see most frequently are all kinds of birds, including hawks, owls, and songbirds. I also see antelope pretty much every time I run. I've seen deer, coyotes, foxes, porcupines, badgers... And typically I have at least one dog running with me!

Iggy is helping me with a little pre-run yoga. :)

Ever gotten lost while out on a run? Nope. I've really only run in places where I live and know my way around very well. Otherwise, I make sure to plan my route thoroughly or take a buddy who knows the area.

If you could have one meal waiting and ready for you each time you got home from a run for the next 30 days… what would that meal be? I couldn't handle eating the same thing each day for 30 days. I like variety. 

Capris or shorts… what do you run in most often? Definitely shorts. I wear my Distance Shorts and Embossed Roga Shorts from Oiselle as often as I can. 

At what mile (or how many minutes) into your run does your body start to feel like it is warming up and ready to go? If I want to have my best race, I make sure I get in at least 10-15 minutes of light jogging, lots of dynamic stretching, and several sprints before the race begins. 

What do you do with your key when you run? I almost never drive anywhere to run, so this is rarely an issue. When I do have to carry a key, I put it in my shorts pocket or carry it in my hand. 

If you could relive any race that you have done in the past, which one what it be? Probably when I did Kickin' Assphault last fall. I was really proud of myself for finishing my first 10K! 

Photo from finishing Kickin' 10K. 

What type of run is your least favorite type of run? Any run that is a long, flat straight line run where you can see the end long before you reach it. Again, I like variety.

What has been your biggest motivation lately to get out the door to get your run on? I'm really inspired by seeing other women getting out there and being active themselves, so reading other running blogs motivates me. I also am very motivated by thinking about the kids I work with at school or the young adults that I coach on the track team. I strive to be a good example of how to live an active life as an adult, using fundamentals learned as a kid or high school athlete. 

When you go for a run, do you leave right from your front door or do you drive somewhere to start? Most often, I do out-and-backs right from my house. Sometimes I drive to my in-laws' house and do out-and-backs from there so that their dog can come with me and Harvey, too. Very occasionally, Jeff will drop me off somewhere and I'll run home. 

When running in daylight->  are sunglasses a must or an annoyance? I absolutely have to have sunglasses any time I'm outdoors, running or not, even if it's not really sunny. I can't stand to squint. 

When you get tired, what keeps you from quitting? I think about the crappy situations that some kids at school deal with and it puts things in perspective that my run isn't so bad. I think about the awesome feeling of finishing a tough workout. 


Thanks for stopping by!