Still here! Shannon

Just wanted to put the word out - the Trail Turtles are still HERE.

With the summer weather, we've both been really busy with lots of stuff!  But, yes, we are still out there hitting the trails.

Last weekend we did 20 miles from Granite Bay to Horseshoe Bar, which was very nice.  After having a couple of really rough long runs in the heat, this time we both did very well.  Although, Pam's been suffering from foot pain, and this time it did start to bother her.  But we both successfully ran a nausea-free 20 miler in the heat.  YEAH.

You can see more pics HERE (my pics have yet to be uploaded, computer issues at home - WAAA)

I've started biking and am now addicted.  I've even gotten my hubby out there with me, which is really nice.

What started this new addiction, you ask?  FTR, Bryan, put on a a Tri-4-Fun a few weeks ago.  This was a very low key, lets just get out there and have some fun get-together.  We met at Negro Bar and started off with an hour run on the trails, then met back up at the picnic area on the beach, then headed out for an hour bike ride.  Now I hadn't been on a bike for many years and had no idea how I was going to do.  After some bike mechanical issues (chain kept falling off when I shifted gears) I proceeded to ride around the lake (11 miles), in one gear, with no problem with taking the hills (running ultras has developed me some strong legs :o).  Then we met back up at the picnic area and proceeded to kayak for an hour and a half.  What a blast.  I had never kayaked before and I had a great time.  I realized how much your core is invovled with kayaking - what a workout.

Me and Linda Bombe getting ready to go :)

Me coming in

To see more pics of this really fun event, click HERE.

So since that weekend, I've been hitting the bike trails for a ride each weekend.  Of course, got the bike repaired, have purchased another mountain bike, and just enjoying the time out on the bike trails.  Next, I'm going to dare to mountain bike for real - in the dirt.  Watch out people, I'm dangerous.

Along with trail running and biking my DH and I have finally started working on our hallways.  This was a project we started 3 years ago - stripping the wallpaper proved to be more trouble than we had anticipated.  Apparently, this wallpaper must have been the original wallpaper put up when the house was built in the early 60's and they must've used cement to put it up - sheesh.  So needless to say, we got discouraged and only worked on it rarely over these past 3 years.  Well we dove in this last weekend and it's looking good.  We've gotten most of it painted, but doing the staircase ceiling is going to prove to be yet another challenge.  It's really high up - yikes.  But we're motivated now, and we'll get it done.

This weekend Pam is in cycle down mode getting ready for TRT and she's going for a hike with some friends.  I, on the other hand, am gearing up to start my training for Sierra Endurance Trail Marathon, but I have a few smaller races coming up.  The first being Blood, Sweat, and Beers on Aug 1st and the FTR's are having a training run this Saturday on the course for the race.  There are 2 distances and I'll be doing the 10 miler.  Can't wait to see what's instore for me on 8/1.  Since I'm kind of familiar with the area, I know that beer will be needed after the race, so I'm thinking I better bring an ice chest for Saturday too :)

Next weekend is my anniversary weekend and DH and I are heading up to Gold Lake Lodge which is in the Gold Lakes Basin Recreational Area (Tahoe National Forest) just above Sierra City/Downieville and we'll be doing a lot of hiking (on parts of the Pacific Crest Trail)  and fishing - I promise I will blog about it when I get back.  Also next weekend is Pam's TRT 50k.  She too will HAVE to blog about it.  So be watching, we'll get back on the blog scene, even if it's only a couple of times of month during the summer weather.

Stay cool and dirty!