The First Post

So here I am with this brand new blog, thinking what do I write to random strangers on the internet about? Well, that is pretty easy... the thing that takes up a decent portion of my life outside of work, Running. In 4 1/2 weeks I am taking on the Charlottesville Marathon, hoping for a sub 3:30 PR on a hilly course. I have been training my butt off with the help of my coach and training partners, and I am 11 weeks into a 15 week training cycle. I am currently on week 1 of a 3 week build and I am definitely looking forward to the runs coming up. And as I am doing intervals, and hill repeats, and pace runs, and all that road training goodness, I am also planning my summer EPIC ADVENTURE!
So I am training for my second year of running the Twisted Branch 100k in August. I did it last year, and loved it and came in well under the time cut off. But I also definitely have some work to do to be better than I was. I need more hills and more technical trails. It also just so happens that one of my good friends just moved to Washington, right near the Canadian border, which has all of the awesome trails. So, when she suggested I pack up Waylon, my labrador and faithful sidekick, and come out for some trail running this summer, of course I said "Hell yes!". Well as I don't think Waylon would be a great flier (he gets a little anxious), I have decided to go ahead and make it a cross country road trip.  While I am at it I am going to hit some trails I have heard about but never been on, go to some states I have never been to, and see some friends out West. So I sit here planning my route so that I can spend more time in the trails running and hiking than I do driving. The route and map have changed a few times already as people tell me about systems "You just have to hit", however 40 days is only 40 days... I can't go everywhere!
All in all I have a lot of really cool stuff coming up. So stay tuned, because it's going to be quite a ride!