Welcome. Happy New Year

January 2016, better late than never, marks the true beginning of a blog I've been thinking hard about starting for over a year.  I was hoping to create a website, but after a few trial runs last winter, I'm back to Blogger.  January is the month where I can finally settle down after six months working on a wild land fire crew, a month traveling to visit family, and the hectic holiday months of November and December.  I have finally settled into a comfortable flow of CrossFit, Durango Martial Arts Academy classes, winter sports, and friend time.  Oh, how I've missed my friends.

This blog project is motivated mainly by my need for a place for recording past and future athletic events.  I have piles of notes from ultra marathons, starting with my first one in March of 2012.  I want to share what I learned from them, from helpful gear lists to music lists, mistakes to triumphs.  I have a few pictures and many thoughts that need a venue to be expressed.  Throughout the past few years, I have referenced many runners' blogs and they really saved me a few times with logistical tips.  Along with the blogs, reading Ultrarunning, and listening to podcasts, I realized that anything was possible during a race and that the key was to go with the flow, listen to your body, and always keep positive, or at least present.  These conversations were priceless, especially before I met other runners with which to chat.

Along with ultra marathons, I compete in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (as a white belt) and rookie submission wrestling tournaments.  I also compete in power lifting and CrossFit competitions.  And, like most other mountain women I know, I play any number of ways in the outdoors- climbing, boating, hiking, skiing.... I love discussing everything from olympic lifting techniques to the drought situation to avalanche safety to CrossFit mods to the latest learned wrestling move to new recipes.  I am also an Wilderness EMT, trying to get more involved with the local search and rescue association. 

When I am not playing, I am probably working 80+ hour weeks on a USFS fire crew.  During those six months I take dozens of photos and look forward to sharing more of them here, especially for the non-Facebook people.

"Boots" in the "boots to bare" refers to the half of the year I am clothed in heavy logging boots and protective nomex.    The "bare"  is my contrasting personal time.  I hope to post often on this blog.  Posts will probably come in spurts because of my seasonal life.  This winter I hope to share my Susitna 100 experience from two years ago, the goal being before I head back to AK for the White Mountains 100.   My 2016 is full of other goals, to be shared soon.

Happy New Year!  I hope this January finds you happy and healthy and that the year only gets better.  Till next time.