I Like to Dream

Let me start by saying, I like to dream. I like to dream big. I've got a whole dream list, full of ideas, trails, races and places that I want to go and run. Sometimes, it's even a little bit overwhelming! I've been looking at my calendar for months, trying to shape together some fun running adventures to keep me motivated and inspired. It's a great feeling to start to piece together a plan for the year. It's a feeling of excitement and anticipation, that comes with having some plans, dreams and ideas on the horizon, as the new year unfolds.

This is me on top of Sulphur Mountain yesterday. It was -20c, there was nobody on the trail and I had a great run. It hasn't snowed in a couple of weeks, so the packed snow on the trail was perfect. I was thrilled when I cleaned the ascent! Meaning, I ran non-stop, every step of the way, from my backdoor to the top of a mountain. Of course, I've done this climb many times but yesterday I figured out something new. Usually, when I'm running I listen to the sound of my breathing and I moderate my running pace accordingly. This works well of course, but it makes me slow. I seldom push myself past that perceived effort. Yesterday, I took the tunes and I cranked them just for the top quarter, so I couldn't hear my breathing. It worked great! I flew up the mountain, way faster than I normally would just because I couldn't hear my messy breathing. Today, I have a major lung hangover!

Me and Steppenwolf, we rocked it up to the summit. Once again, I found myself thinking about some dream ideas and the plans for the year.

Magic Carpet Ride
I like to dream yes, yes, right between my sound machine
On a cloud of sound I drift in the night
Any place it goes is right
Goes far, flies near, to the stars away from here

Well, you don't know what we can find
Why don't you come with me little girl
On a magic carpet ride
You don't know what we can see
Why don't you tell your dreams to me
Fantasy will set you free
Close your eyes girl
Look inside girl
Let the sound take you away

Last night I held Aladdin's lamp
And so I wished that I could stay
Before the thing could answer me
Well, someone came and took the lamp away
I looked around, a lousy candle's all I found

Well, you don't know what we can find
Why don't you come with me little girl
On a magic carpet ride
Well, you don't know what we can see
Why don't you tell your dreams to me
Fantasy will set you free
Close your eyes girl
Look inside girl
Let the sound take you away

The Easy Way Up

So what are some of those dreams?? Really, there are soooo many ideas. Some of them will happen this year, but some of them will remain dreams for a little while longer.

A lot of my ideas involve epic runs which I want to do in my own backyard. Further adventure runs in Jasper National Park, Robson Provincial Park and Banff National Park. I won't bore you with the details, but it's a big area and there are 100's of kilometres of trails to explore. I've dreamed of piecing together a long multi day run on all of my favorite trails in Banff National Park. A big, epic, scenic point to point over a few days. I'm going to make that run happen this year.

-I'd love to do further adventure runs in Yosemite, the 105 Mile Maa Daah Hey Trail in North Dakota, the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim (of course!) and Point Reyes National Seashore.

-I want to run a 100 Miler.

-I would love to volunteer at Hardrock and get a taste of this event.

-I want to pace someone at a 100 Miler.

A lot of the dreaming is mostly due to the fact that it is mid-winter. I laughed very hard when I found this blog entry that I could relate to very much! It's exciting to put some races on the calendar, when you are stuck in mid-winter. So here is what I am excited about:

1. I'm embracing winter. It's long and cold, but I still love it! The 2nd week of February, we are off on a one week ski touring holiday to Sorceror Lodge. It's a heli-in backcountry lodge and it's a special place. And the people we are going with like to eat!

2. Hopefully, at the end of March I'll be off to Australia for an ultra running event, in Bogong National Park. I will be playing Support Crew for this crazy, ambitious and talented super-woman.

Norma Bastidas is a hell of a go-getter, and this weekend while you and I were fantasizing about warmer weather and fish tacos, she was running 135miles in the Brazilian tropics. Norma is running 7 tough ultras, on 7 continents, in 7 months. More importantly, she is fundraising for the blind and visually impaired along the way. Her story is quite an amazing one, you should have a look at her website and blog. I wish her all the luck in the world!

3. Diablo 50 Miler on April 19th. Love this race, it's tough and scenic. We'll go to Yosemite to visit Meghan for a few days as well! As well, I'm thrilled that Keith has decided to run the 42km course that they offer at Diablo. Can't wait. We may drag along a few friends as well!

4. Western States training camp in May! Just for fun. Running for 3 days and hanging with other runner folks. Sweet. Meghan and Danni will hopefully join me.

5. Blackfoot Ultra on May 30th. Holly and Keith have committed to their first ultra! I'll be running as well, haven't decided what distance.

6. I've put aside the last week of July, for my multi-day adventure run. I'm christening it the Banff Trail Trash Epic.

Just a few things to dream about, don't you think?