Taking chances ...

While I've always been a road or trail runner and racer, there's much to be learned from taking chances with different events and stepping outside of our comfort zones.

At least that's what I'm going to be telling myself on Friday night as I give myself a self-induced suffer-fest around a 400m track with some precisely placed black and white obstacles in my way.

Steeple chase is one of my favorite events to watch, but I have never competed in it. Well all that changes in a few days. I'm spiking up to race my first ever steeple race and I hope I survive to tell about it!

This is the year I'm working to break barriers, push limits and make myself uncomfortable. Let's just say I expect plenty of that on Friday night!

What have you always wanted to try, but haven't taken the plunge just yet ... ? Maybe this is the year you ...

Race recap - Heat and Hills for breakfast

The 5 Peaks race series is one of my favorite race series around! Trail races, with a low-key casual atmosphere and a race organization that has increasingly made improvements to reduce their race-day footprint and impact on the environment.

A few weekends ago was the 5 Peaks race at Rabbit Hill (a local ski hill) and although we were warned about the hills pre-race, you never really get the full picture until you're in the race itself. The course was brutal, but fun and very challenging. My strategy from the start was to find a comfortable pace and {try to} stick with it.

High five's to start the race!

The course started off with a bang as we climbed straight up (so much for easing into it!) and across the hill, from there it was up and down 3 more times until the finish. Nothing like taking 10 minutes to climb a hill and 1 minute to get down (or something like that)! EEK.

About half way through ... So far, so good!

No matter the race or the pace, always time for mid-race hugs from my Littleman!

It was a beautiful hot day (which I love!), sun shining and very little wind - It was perfect! And once I had finished, the watermelon never tasted so good - #bestpostracefoodever.

When the results were posted I was shocked to learn that I was 2/43 in my AG and 5th overall female (in a field of 85 chicks!). Does this mean I like heat and hills for breakfast? I guess so ... ?

This bird is all smiles at the finish!

My training has been different this year - more a focus on the running and less on triathlon. I've been *trying* to ensure that my hard days are hard, but that my easy days are easy and that my rest is actually taken. Easier said than done, but so far seems to be working!

Always remember to breathe ...

Seriously.

The last two months have gone by so fast, I don't even think I had time to blink. Gone for three weekends in a row in May, extended weekends at that, was insane - even for us. It was a come home, unpack directly into the laundry machine, take out of the dryer, put back in bags and off to the next adventure all trying to fit in a few days of work, some sleep, juggle soccer, school run club, mountain biking program and entertain company.

Breathe.

We're now home for a while and although they're jammed with racing, training and track meets at least we're home and I have my own bed and my own food.

As I mentioned, racing season is in full swing for us and for me that meant finally getting dirty and seeing where training was at. Being in the mountains and away so much gave me some really great stress-free training sessions. No worries of time, other commitments or schedules. Just eat, train, eat, sleep and repeat.

I need to retire soon. To the mountains. *dream*

The end of April was a night trail race and just a few weeks ago was a duathlon. Both races I was super stoked with the results, and happy that even though my training has been a little different this year, performance-wise I was on track.

 One of my favorite races of the year - night trail race! 

Ended up placing 5th OA female - super stoked!

Beautiful sunny day to race!

You hear that time flies once you have kids and holy man is that ever true! Before I know it, I'll blink and summer will be over. Until then, I'm onto the next race and looking forward to our road ahead ...