Four weeks 'til Pikes Peak

In exactly four short weeks, I will be crashing on my sister's futon in Colorado Springs, resting up for our 3AM wakeup call for the 2011 Pikes Peak Challenge! 

This event is a 13.1 mile hike to the summit of Pikes Peak, one of America's most iconic mountains. Funds raised by hikers benefit victims of traumatic brain injury, through the Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado. An important cause, and the hike is a beautiful tribute. 


This will be my second time participating in the Pikes Peak Challenge, and my second ascent of the mountain. I'm really looking forward to it!


My posts from last year's training and event:
Stepping it up for the Pikes Peak Challenge
The Final Countdown (training outline for final 16 days leading to hike)
Pikes Peak Challenge: A little humor, and those famous donuts
We made it!
Pikes Peak Challenge Recap: Part 1
Pikes Peak Challenge Recap: Part 2


While training for last year's hike, my main goal was to get fit in general. I was transitioning out of a more sedentary lifestyle, and trying to wrap my brain around what was necessary for conditioning my body for the hike. I ended up doing a lot of walking and jogging, but not much else. Once I was actually completing the hike on the day of, I quickly realized that strength training and some agility training would have greatly helped me navigate the rocky and steep terrain.This time around, I have focused mainly on running (thanks, marathon training) but clearly need to get aboard the strength training and agility exercises train. I've got four weeks to make this count, and am going to figure this out asap. More on the specific training plan to follow!


My overall mood for this year's hike is excited / laid back, now that I know what to expect. Last year, I was nervous / excited... also freaking myself out, reading stories of horrific accidents in Yosemite on Half Dome (which does not at all compare to Pikes Peak, it's way more dangerous), and the high risk of lightning strikes (which can honestly be said about any mountain of the same elevation). I panicked about my gear, driving my sister crazy with questions like "Annie, will I need technical fabric underwear?" I distracted myself with funny stories about Pikes Peak, like the famous donuts served at the summit house.


I've got my work cut out for me, but am so, so excited to get back on the trail.


You do the talking: Do you like hiking? There aren't many rigorous trails in SE Wisconsin, but there's one super hard one that I can't get enough of (TWSS!), it's my favorite. It's the black loop at the Lapham Peak Unit - Kettle Moraine State Forest, for you locals.


Have you ever visited Pikes Peak? 
A fun story: One of my favorite bloggers, Kath, has a special connection to the mountain. Her mother wrote a book, Purple Mountain Majesties, about the woman who visited Pikes Peak and wrote the poem that inspired "America, The Beautiful." Neat, huh? When Kath blogged about the book, I left a comment and her mother was so sweet to respond. This year, I'll carry a copy of her book in my pack and take a photo with it at the top!

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Side note: In researching a link for Half Dome (Yosemite National Park, California) I came across a remarkable essay from Gina Bartiromo, who survived a fall from the cables and recovered from TBI and other injuries. Her story is truly incredible and inspiring!

All in a day's eats.

Happy Monday, everyone. How was your day?


Mine was okay... I finished about 80% of what I set out to do at work, survived a technology fail with my laptop (knock on wood!), while nursing a sore IT band / knee with a bag of frozen peas under my desk (classy, I know). More on the knee issue later. 


Not to whine, but it was kind of a rough day. Tonight, I arrived at home absolutely famished. I really didn't help myself in that department. Breakfast was typical, 1/2 a PB on whole grain bread, with a giant iced coffee. 

Consumed while driving, tsk tsk.

Later, I had a Clif bar - the new Coconut Chocolate Chip flavor - delish! Also, carrots and a greek yogurt, both of which I ate so quickly I didn't think to snap a photo.

Once I arrived home, I was craving a pasta and veggie dish, and whipped up a quick Laura Pad Thai. I used loads of veggies and regular enriched pasta, added some extra egg whites and thinned out the peanut sauce with coconut beverage. Mmm!

Does this photo look blurry to you? My point-and-shoot camera is on its last leg :-(

I go through phases where I like to photograph and journal my food, to help me keep on track with a) focusing on nutritious foods and b) eating enough in general. When I get stressed, I tend to eat poorly. Hopefully food journaling will help me keep on track this week!


You do the talking: How was your Monday? Have you tried food journaling? 

Fellow bloggers, what are your thoughts on posting daily photos of your meals / snacks? I go back and forth on it... sometimes I feel that my meals are so boring (which they absolutely are), but I like sharing photos of interesting-looking dishes (like the Laura Pad Thai tonight). 


I'm off to read this lovely book:

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Foodie books are my preferred relaxation method as of late. How about you guys, have you read anything awesome lately?

Healthified Pizza + Encino Man Musings

How's everyone doing?


I loved reading all of your comments from my Challenge Nation race recap! Anne, Alison, Paige, Steph, & Sarah - holla :-) One thing that's stinky about using Blogger is that there isn't a way to reply to each comment. I am working on switching over to a different blogging format altogether - a format that allows replies to comments - so stay tuned!


We are having some funky weather in the Milwaukee area tonight. Check out this weird, spotlight-like cloud: 

Creepy, right? 


Anyhow, tonight I was in the mood for pizza. So I made a healthified version!

Toaster oven pizza: whole wheat tortilla with sauce, green pepper, spinach, scallions, green olives and good ol' aged parmesan. Delicious and (for the most part) nutritious!

And covered with the strong stuff. Can't forget that. Recipe to follow!


Tonight, Zak and I are relaxing with a classic movie: Encino Man. Remember this one?

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What's not to love about Pauly Shore and Brendan Fraser, early 90s pop culture references and of course - those ridiculous hairstyles? I remember loving this movie in 5th grade, and laughing over the quotes with my friends at Girl Scout meetings... especially "Aw-oooo! Bud-dy." 

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They even ended the movie with that same reference. Awesome.


Have you seen Encino Man? If not, you probably think I'm cray-cray right now :-) If you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and watch this YouTube of the prom scene, right now. Trust me.


You Do the Talking: What's your favorite 90s movie? Encino Man is probably my favorite, but there are so many other classics out there... PCU, Clueless, The Baby-Sitters Club. Man, my mind was nearly blown when the Baby-Sitters Club movie came out! I just couldn't believe it! 
Oh, and we can't forget Buffy the Vampire Slayer. That one was epic, and without it we would have never had the Sarah Michelle Gellar TV series!