(daily ex. update, run 1.2 mi, recovery day, ytd total 1051.45.  am dog walk 3.5 miles, ytd walk total 443.9 miles.  Cooler weather....I like it.)

(ex update, tm 10.3 miles, ytd 1050.25 miles, walk 3.1 miles, ytd walk 440.4 miles.  another month almost done but I am on track to reach 2020 miles in 2020 counting running and walking)

(ex. update, pm tm 4.2 miles, ytd total 1039.95 mi.   am dog walk 2.8 miles, ytd walk total 437.3 mi)

BLM

     I made the mistake of reading headlines this morning, thus my dog walk was faster than usual to stomp off my massive outrage and to get it down to a slow burn to save my health and sanity.  I live next to an elementary school.  Some of the kids are starting back, although most are learning remotely to start the year. From a pandemically acceptable social distance, I walked by two young black Moms walking with their little preschool boys. I see one of them every morning and they waved at me....her 2 year old is fascinated by my dog. He's adorable (the 2 year old, not my dog)..  Usually he's pushing a bubble lawn mower up and down the sidewalk.
     But if I am absolutely enraged by the unpunished murders of black people by police, I can't even imagine the fear these Moms must be experiencing. And to feel that fear, but remain calm and serene and Mom-like for their kids must be an even bigger burden.  I was brought to tears thinking about what those little boys may face someday. 

                                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X3PWBFdFIY



(unrelated,  ex update, tm jog 4.1 miles, ytd total 1035.75 miles run;  am dog walk 3.1 miles, ytd  walk 434.5 miles)

We had so much hope for change in the '70s. What has happened since than?

     Someone shared this on FB today and reminded me of the beauty of this song.

                                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6jKE6YIxmc

     He's right.  Institutions and big business need to start standing up for values to force change. Meanwhile, every individual needs to continue speaking out and voting, both literally and with their wallets.

(ex update tm pm 7.2 miles tempo, ytd 1031.65 miles.   am dog walk 2 mi., ytd walk 431.4 mi)

daily ex. update, pm jog 1.5 mi, ytd 1024.45 mi.  am dog walk 3.8 mi, ytd walk 429.4 miles

Denver currently has the 2nd worst air quality in the world due to wildfires

ex update run pm 1.1 mi streak saver, ytd total 1022.95.  am dog walk 2.2 mi, ytd total 425.6 miles.  a very smoky day

ex update pm tm 3.7 miles, ytd 1021.85 miles.   am dog walk 3.5 miles, ytd walk 423.4 miles. 

ex update pm tm run 7.2 miles, ytd 1018.15;   am dog walk 2.3 miles, ytd walk miles 419.9 miles

ex. update, run 1.5 streak saver mile tm, ytd 1010.95 miles.  Walk dog 2.5 miles a.m., ytd walk 417.6 mi.

Ex update, run 3.5 mi pm tm, ytd 1009.45 miles.  Walk dog am 2 miles, ytd walk 415.1 miles.  Very smoky out, difficult to make out mountains to the west in the haze.
Another quiet covid socially distancing day.  Got groceries.  The person monitoring the door told me I had 10 minutes left before the seniors only hour ended.  I asked her that, since I was wearing a mask, how did she know I was a senior.....ta dum dum!!!! (LOL)   She didn't see any humor in it. Just one of those days I guess.

ex. update, ran 4 miles pm tm, ytd 1005.95 miles.  am walk 2.6 miles, ytd walk 413.1 miles.  Encountered rattlesnake on our walk....my dog was fascinated and really wanted to look at it close- up. 

     I completed my Colorado Trail virtual challenge.  I ran/walked 494.8 miles since June 1.

Today, ran 8.3 miles on TM for ytd total 1001.95 mi.  Walked dog 1 mile for ytd walk total 410.5 miles.

(Ex. update, pm run 1.6 mile streak saver, run ytd 993.65;  am dog walk 3.1 miles, walk ytd 409.5 miles)

Party

(Ex. update, run 3.2 pm tm miles, ytd 992.05 miles; am walk dog 4 miles, ytd 406.4 miles walked).

I hadn't thought about this.....

(Exercise update, ran treadmill 6.2 miles PM to complete #VirtualJusticeRun, year to date run 988.85 miles,  dog walk AM 1.2 miles, year to date walk 402.4 miles. Only 13 miles to go to complete the 486 mile Co.Trail Challenge.  Looks like I'll make it)

Can we delete this year and reinstall it? This version has a virus in it.

(Ex. update, run pm 1.7 miles ytd total 982.65 miles. a.m. dog walk 3 miles, ytd total 401.2 miles walked)

Because you're a runner and an abolitionist

     You have probably been learning about QAnon conspiracists lately just as I have. I do not support them. They are crazy scary, as all conspiracists are.  People who deny all fact and reason. 
     I have supported the Denver Justice Run for several years, however.  It raises money and awareness for human trafficking and its victims. The rash of QAnon FB posts lately reminded me of the Justice Run and its cause....there is no actual run this year but they are still fundraising and have a virtual run available, so I signed up and donated.  On their registration page I read:
Because you're a runner and an abolitionist.
     I like that. 
     I don't like that QAnon is using this cause as a front, as a lure, to further their agenda.


Ex. update, jog 1.5 mi, year to date 980.95 miles.  Dog walk in am 2.5 miles, year to date walk 398.2 miles.  It was hot again, and smoky from multiple huge wildfires burning Colorado.  I wore a mask for the dog walk for the smoke rather than Covid.  It did help.

(Ex. update, pm tm 2.5 mi, ytd 979.45 miles run;  am dog walk 3.1 miles, ytd walk 395.7 miles.  Hot weather and smoky air from multiple wildfires)

Just a song to make your day better......I bet you relax and smile

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2VZkk7wbVg


(Exercise update pm 5.2 tm, ytd run 976.95 mi;  am dog walk 2.3 mi, ytd 392.6 miles.  33 miles to go for the Colorado Trail virtual challenge by the end of the month.  I think I'll make it early.)

Word of the day

derecho

[ duh-rey-choh ]

---

noun, plural de·re·chos.

a widespread and severe windstorm that moves rapidly along a fairly straight path and is associated with bands of rapidly moving thunderstorms.

(daily exercise update, 5 mi. pm tm for ytd run 971.75 mi; 2 mi am dog walk for ytd walk total of 390.3 mi)

Update shared from Courtney Dauwalter's FB page

     This wasn't her year, but she will be okay. She ran over 300 of the 486 miles.

This definitely wasn't in the plan. 😣 Court was wheezing pretty badly in the RV this morning, so we made the call to take her to the ER in Leadville. Her pulse ox was 70 so the doctors here ran a full range of tests for HAPE, blood clots, and other severe conditions. Thankfully those were all ruled out and they determined she has acute bronchitis. It could have been allergy induced, or from all the dust/dry heat, plus an impaired immune system from her run. She's on oxygen until her levels come back up, but she should be perfectly healthy in a few days. We’re crushed it had to end this way, but ever grateful she’s on the mend.

(my ex. update, 1 streaksaver mile pm, ytd 966.75; 2.1 mi dog walk in am, ytd 380.3 miles) 

Update this morning on Courtney Dauwalter's FKT attempt on the Colorado Trail

WOW!

While most of us were sleeping Courtney Dauwalter was working her way through one of the toughest sections of the Collegiate West Route on the Colorado Trail. Now over 258 miles into her 490-mile, FKT attempt of the CT, Courtney is still going strong. She spent her fourth night mostly above 12,000 feet moving through rocky terrain that would be tough to get through fully rested with the sun out. She’s only slept about four hours in four days!

With 90,000 feet of elevation gain, the CT is the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest three times. Now just imagine doing that with only only a few hours of sleep in the dark. That’s what Courtney is doing right now. The 35-year-old is on course to set the record and is over halfway through her FKT attempt.
          shared from Women of the Mountain FB page

(my ex. update, run 8.2 mi long run on tm, ytd 965.75; walk dog 2.3 mi., ytd walked 378.2 mi,  smoky out with poor air quality from western Colorado wildfires.  I'm plugging along on my virtual Colorado Trail Challenge, nothing compared with Courtney Dauwalter but slow and steady wins my race)

It's taken a lifetime....

(Ex update, pm tm run 5.2 mi, ytd 957.55 mi;  am dog walk 2.6, ytd 375.9 mi.  I've done 424 miles of my virtual Colorado Trail challenge, so have 62 more miles to do by the end of the month)

(ex update, pm tm run 4 mi, ytd 952.35 mi;  am dog walk 2.5 mi, ytd 373.3 mi.)

Golden woman sets out Wednesday with goal of running fastest time for 486-mile Colorado Trail

     Courtney Dauwalter, an ultrarunner from Golden, CO, set off Wednesday from Durango to run the 486 mile Colorado Trail to Denver in the FKT .....Fastest Known Time. 
     The current FKT of 8 days and 30 minutes was set in 2017 by Bryan Williams.  The women's record of 9 days, 10 hrs, 52 minutes, was set in 2003 by Betsy Kalmeyer.
     The 486 mile trail has 90,000 feet of elevation gain, goes through 6 wilderness areas and 8 mountain ranges. Read more about it in the link below.
https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/golden-woman-sets-out-wednesday-with-goal-of-running-fastest-time-for-486-mile-colorado-trail

     The reason I mention this is that I am doing a Virtual Colorado Mountain Trail race in which I have 90 days to run or walk the 486 miles.  She is hoping to do it in less than 8 days. 
     I've done 410 of the 486 miles, and have until the end of August to finish. 

(ex update, 3.5 miles run tm pm, ytd 948.35 miles;  3.2 miles am dog walk, ytd 370.8 miles)

   

Asking directions

Positive news

     We need more positive news stories today.  I read this one today on the My Attitude-My Life-My Rules fb page.

"Kenyan runner Abel Mutai was only a few meters from the finish line, but got confused with the signs and stopped, thinking he had finished the race. A Spanish man, Ivan Fernandez, was right behind him and, realizing what was going on, started shouting to the Kenyan to keep running. Mutai did not know Spanish and did not understand.

Realizing what was going on, Fernandez pushed Mutai to victory. A reporter asked Ivan, "Why did you do this?" Ivan replied, "My dream is that one day we can have some sort of community life where we push ourselves and help each other win." The reporter insisted "But why did you let the Kenyan win?" Ivan replied, "I didn't let him win, he was going to win. The race was his."

The reporter insisted and asked again, "But you could have won!" Ivan looked at him and replied: "But what would be the merit of my victory? What would be the honor of this medal? What would my Mother think of it?" The values are transmitted from generation to generation. What values do we teach our children and how much do you inspire others to earn? Most of us take advantage of people's weaknesses instead of helping to strengthen them."


(ex update, pm tm run 3.1 mi, ytd 944.85 mi;  am dog walk 2.5 mi, ytd 367.6 mi )

(ex update, 3.5 tm miles, ytd 941.75 mi;  walk dog  2.8 miles, ytd walk 365.1 mi)

Update on Tommy Rivers Puzey from his wife

   Once again I had to share her words after yesterday's comments from his dad. These are equally  beautiful and meaningful. 


 This uplifting update yesterday from Steph Catudal Puzey, wife of the aforementioned Tommy Rivers Puzey, choked me up a bit. “There is life and there is death, but there is so much in between. So much hanging on the precipice when you’re unsure which is closer,” she writes. “But I believe that Rivs is closer to life. I saw it in his eyes as they searched for me, in his lips that moved and tried to make meaning, in the tear that rolled down his cheek when I told him Iris was about to lose her second tooth.”

To echo some more of Steph’s words from her post yesterday, “It was beautiful and it was tragic.” Life is precious and this fragile. Hold your loved ones close. Cherish every moment, no matter how trivial it may seem in the moment. Because at some point, the pendulum will cease to swing and all that’s left are memories of time spent.

                                     shared from The Morning Shakeout by Mario Fraioli

(ex update run 4 mi tm pm, ytd 938.25 mi; dog walk am 3.1 mi, ytd 362.3 mi)

Eyes up. Stout hearts.

Tommy Rivers Puzey is a well known ultra-runner currently fighting for his life. I wanted to share the beautiful words written by his father.

UPDATE on Tommy Rivers Puzey from his dad @kimpuzey via @thebrandonquinn

The thunderstorm of yesterday passed and the transfer was successful.

He’s in the best place with the best people in control of the best equipment and most advanced treatment modalities in the universe.

He’s in the hearts and minds and thoughts and prayers of all of you.

That’s a lot of good news on our side of the Yin/Yang of the perpetual dualities that keep us balanced and centered and grateful.

We meet fear with faith.

We meet terror with courage.

We meet the impossible with grit.

We move mountains with a shovel in our own bare hands.

We travel the miles on our feet.

We help others along the way.

We shine light in darkness.

When the darkness extinguishes the light we grope along the wall until our eyes adjust and we continue for as long as it takes.

We don’t quit, whine, whimper, fade, flinch, falter, or get weak in the knees.

We carry the load, cover the miles, and finish the job.

We were born to live and live we will.

The diagnosis is an extremely aggressive cancer called NK/T Cell Lymphoma.

That’s bad news.

The good news is that we have a reciprocal and proportional response.

At the perfect time we will balance the universe.

Life will prevail and we we taste the sweet fruits of victory.

Eyes up.

Stout hearts.

🖤

(ex update, jog tm 6.9 mi in honor of my birthday, ytd 934,25 mi; walk dog 2.5 mi, ytd 359.2 mi)

(ex update jog 1.1 mi pm, ytd 927.35;  walk dog 2.1 mi am, ytd 356.7 mi)