Hitting The Ground Running - An introduction...

I initially registered this blog last November in hopes of tracking my training and runs leading up to the Bandera 100K trail race, which I ran in January of 2013 in Texas. Despite my best intentions, I completely failed to record anything beyond my opening post. As such, I've decided to wipe the slate clean and start anew.

Since my initial attempt to start this blog last November things have changed quite drastically. For starters, I completed the Bandera 100K in January. Unfortunately, I had some knee problems develop later in January, which kept me out of running until mid-late April. I slowly worked my way into running a few miles a few days per week. I still feel as though I am rebuilding my legs since the injury, but things are feeling markedly better than they did at the beginning of the year. What's more, I moved out to Boulder Colorado in the beginning of July. My reasons for moving here largely fall in line with my purposes for starting this blog. That is, my love for trail-running, my desire to be in and near the mountains, and my general desire for constant adventure and grand scenery. Boulder seems like a fine place to pursue these things, and I'm already experiencing a feeling of contentment and 'home' in this place. At least as much as one can expect after just three weeks...

Generally speaking, this blog will serve a few purposes. First and foremost, it is a convenient way for me to track my weekly outings in and around the Boulder front range. At this point, I have been focused on enjoyment, exploration, and "vert" more so than distance or mileage. I intend to bring my GPS-device on most runs, so I will probably be tracking my weeks based purely on trail-time and amount of vertical gain. Because I want to get back into ultra racing, I will also log my non trail runs which mostly serve the purpose of increasing/maintaining turnover for longer runs and races. I will probably toy with the format a bit as the weeks progress and I figure out what is and isn't working.

Secondly, this blog will be a way to share my experiences and adventures in Colorado (and elsewhere). Having moved out to Boulder with no connections or family in the area, I think this could be a great way to share some photos and experience with those who care to pay attention. Rather than sending emails or letters, this gives friends and family the ability to check in at their leisure and see what I've been up to from week to week. This leads nicely into the third purpose of the blog...

Beauty. I find the terrain of the Rocky Mountains to be breathtaking, captivating, and awe-inspiring. I have not historically been one to take photos, but I feel the need to do so out here. I think it is only fitting to share these photos, since most will be taken from very scenic places. I am currently bringing my iphone 4 on longer outings, during which I have the space/means to carry it. Unfortunately, the camera on this phone is not ideally setup for the types of photos I want to take. So, I'll be researching the market for compact digital cameras over the next month so that I have something more appropriate for my 'needs'.

The fourth reason for this blog is an amalgamation of forgetfulness and enjoyment. If I don't write or record things, I tend to forget them - especially the little details. I started carrying backpacking journals and it ended up being a great way to recount my trips. I also enjoy the writing process quite a bit. Not only does it help me sort my thoughts (much like running does); it also keeps me sharp and mentally engaged with the things happening around me.

Finally, this blog will be a place to record bits and pieces of other random information that is floating around in my head. I'm not terribly active or consistent on facebook, but I think the format of this blog may be a bit more conducive to my style. Basically, this will be an online bulletin board to spew random thoughts, articles, and probably a fair amount of music-related content. Speaking of which, I tend to go through phases where I listen to music during lots of my runs, and then I will go without for extended periods. When I do get into those 'musical phases', the songs often bind themselves to the experiences and scenery as they become the aural backdrop. So it seems fitting to share some of the standout tracks as they become part of my adventures.

This seems like a fitting place to wrap things up after a lengthy introductory post. If anyone actually begins to follow along, feel free to post comments, questions, or pictorial-requests. I'm more than happy to make this a relatively interactive forum to the extent that I am afforded the time to do so. Whoever "you" are, I hope you enjoy following along. Feel free to share with others. I'll do my best to be consistent with my posting...

-Graham "GPR" Rausch