Sunscreen

Having fair skin and living at 8000 feet means I have four sunscreen bottles in my bathroom cabinet.  Every area of exposed skin get slathered in spf 50+ before each daytime run, but most dramatic is my face.  Lately I've used a Neutrogena sensitive skin version with supposed spf 60, which gives my face a dramatic nearly white and painted on look.  It nicely offsets my coffee stained teeth.  I am reminded of the Heath Ledger's portrayal of The Joker.  But it stays put the best, so it has become my go-to for my face.

Yesterday, then, I was making my last half mile ascent before another half mile descent to complete my 24 mile long run across progressively loosening and sloppy snow.  It was a cloudy day, and where usually I see a couple hunters or outdoor enthusiasts today I saw none until this final hill.  

I was half way up when the truck stopped at the top - they got out toove their dog from the truck bed to the cab, all the while I pause my watch and yell for Luna to heel instead of racing ahead to check things out.  "Luna, come!" got nothing, but eventually "No!" Got her to stop, look back, and then decide to heed my call.  I was relieved, because one cannot assume all dogs are friendly.  And I was relieved that this person automatically took responsibility for their dog, too.  

With the possible encounter now under control, Luna and I finished our sloshy trot up the hill.  I waved as the truck passed.  

The man slowed and opened his window.  "Sorry, I saw you and figured I should put him inside."

I began to say "No, thank you! I think that was smart."  Before I could even say thank you the man looked at warily my face, did a brief up and down, and he sped down the hill.  

I can get burned on a cloudy day, so despite the clouds I still had loads of sunscreen and sunglasses.  Apparently the meltdown look made me seem more like potential backwoods killer.  Once back at the car it didn't seem so bad....

2014 in Review

2014 was spent acclimating to our new life at 8000' with a car commute.  There were mistakes to learn from, but we finished the year on a stronger note than we started.  

-  All races were on trail.  All included lots of climbing.

-  Races took me to Salida, Creede and the San Jauns (CO); Los Alamos (NM); Salt Lake City, Logan and Bear Lake (UT with a tad in ID). 

-  I have run on every hill or mountain visible from my house:  the "biscuit" and Twin Mtns, Old Woman Creek/Blue Ridge/Natural Arch, Agua Ramon, Del Norte Peak, Bennet Peak, Lookout Mtn (aka "D" Mtn), and our neighbors' rolling foothills.

-  Summited two 14,000' peaks:  Mt Bierstadt and Mt Evans

-  Gained invaluable experience from completely losing my head during Bear 100.  

-  Total running miles: 2026.  Total running elevation gain: 221,800' (~68 miles).  Total running time: 330 hours.

-  After spending all time in the backcountry and losing my speed from focusing otherwise, I finally feel like my head has come around since Boston 2013.

-  Had a peak into our nonagenarian years while tending to Nathan during his puke fest and inability to even bathe himself after a race gone bad

-  Survived my hand getting smashed between two 20+ lbs logs (one log traveling at 9.81 m/s^2) with only an enlarged interphalangeal joint but no greater injury.  Nathan survived cutting his own leg with a chainsaw with only a gnarly scar but, somehow, no greater injury.

-  The efforts delivering such injuries also led to a stockpile of twice as much wood as last year.  

-  Progressed from a single income household for much longer than anticipated to Nathan having a job within an actual profession (not just a job).  For the first time in our lives, we both have retirement funds.  

-  A dogdog joined our household.

-  Branched my dual inpatient/outpatient caseloads into policy development so as to help bring the therapy department into the modern world.  

-  Took work home with me in a way I never expected - facilitating a respectful death for my own Grandmother.

-  Became clinical instructor for a PT student for the first time.  Will have my second student come May.  

-  Bought TWO cars.  And a vacuum.  And a mountain bike.