Run and Hike 14 ners - Belford and Oxford

I did it!!  We started out at 8:15am from the Missouri Gulch trailhead.  I warmed up by hiking for good 15 min, then I did run up and hike up intervals untill seeing lots of loose rocks toward the top.  It was hard, by the time I got up on the top of Belford(14,197 ft), I was pretty much exhausted.  we had one riceball quickly, then started hiking down and up over the saddle to reach to Oxford(14,153 ft).  The weather looked not so great, getting windy, and little bit of rain..we made it to the top and came down fast... we got rained on little bit at last 10 minutes.  We got back to the car just in time!



at the summit of Oxford 14,153ft.  Freezing~



water was high!!



wow....!!

 

Saddle back to Belford 14,197ft

 There were so many Columbine flowers along the way to the summit.  Amazing! My favorite wild flower! 


Columbines!  My favorite!



Hey, dude!!

After long day, I came back home.  I did another one hour run on Cherry Creek trail.  I feel better... Hope I will be ok on Sunday race...Wish me luck!

Lazy! I need to snap out of funk!

I have not run for 2 weeks... I have been worry about losing my endurance and strength.  I am doing Leadville 50 on Sunday 17th.  However, I am exhaused, no energy, feeling down.... I shook myself out of funk on Saturday night around 7:30pm, went out and jog for one hour.... I guess it is better than nothing! I ran my usual Cherry Creek trail.

I will do better tomorrow.  I am planning to run and hike two 14ners in one day... Hope I can do ok for high altitude.. this will be a good test.  well see..

Back to Denver

Longest flight back to Denver!  I have 2 connected flights  Sapporo to Narita, Narita to San Francisco, then SF to Denver.  At the end of final flight SF to Denver, we  flew into the center of storm.  The plan landed safely, but we could not taxi to the gate.  We got stuck for near 2 hours!  OMG!  Let me out!!!!!

picture from the plane

Otaru - Mt Youtei - Niseko

Otaru, on the way to go to Niseko, is famous for fresh sea food.  We had lunch there, Uni bowl...( sea urchin )

Mt Youtei was beautiful.  This mountain is known as Ft Fuji in Hokkaido.  I hiked while ago, very steep, hard hike!

Team Yuki !   Ready to go!!

Mt Youtei

Attempt to run.. look suspicious! 

I am home!!

I left Denver for Japan on 24th Friday.  I drove to Stapleton Park'n ride.  I expected to park with no cost, but things has been changed since 2009.  When I got there, there is no covered parking spot.  There used to be huge covered garage..I was shocked to see the change.  Then right before I jumped in the bus, I found out I HAD TO PAY?!!!  I had no time to figure out how I pay and how much.  The bus driver gave me the phone number to call. I called RTD and paid by phone.  Hope my jeep is there when I get there...

Anyway, I got to Narita, and I stepped outside for few min, it was humid...ugh...   I needed to take another flight to Sapporo so I hurried.  The flight was delayed for 1.5 hour.. I was exhausted by the time I got to New Chitose Airport. 

Thanks to my brother, I got home safe and passed out on Futon!

In couple of days, The serious allergy reaction showed up in me.  I was very uncomfortable, itchy skin, rash all over my body..
I don't understand why I get this everytime I come home..

Then I got bad cold and I could not get out of bed for couple of days... Bummer! I was planning to run everyday for 1-2 hours to keep my fitness I built up over few months.  I could not run at all...
I jogged for 45 min once, but crow almost knocked me out... No more crows... lease..)-:

I will be here in few days for his race. We will be heading to Niseko, ski resort.   I cannot wait...!! 

Steamboat Marathon

Steamboat Marathon today!!  No expectation!  Just run as fast as I can.  I am running 26.2 miles of tempo run.  I need this!  I don't think I have never stayed in Steamboat springs CO.  I really like this town!!  This race was smaller than I thought.  It was hard course, long downhill to start, then up and down all the way to finish.  I was running in the front group for longest time.  Around 15 miles... my legs were not talking to me anymore.. I had to shift gear to survival mode.  I finished 3:41:04, 10th overall female, 2nd age group.






Sage Burner 50K and Bolder Boulder



Podium!!  Hand-made tea cup from Dave!

 May 28th  Gunnison Colorado, 50k trail race.   This is one of my favorite Ultradistance race!! I was hosting a Japanese trail runner from Tokyo.  We drove my beat-up Jeep to Gunnison on Friday.   It was great day, and I was doing very well but I was battling back and forth with one lady... I felt queezy and I had to sit down on the rock, and threw up couple of time.  This is my first threw up experience during race in the past!!!  I had to walk for few miles after this,  I was able to run last 5 miles... but oh boy, it was hard!  my time was 6:26:23.  2nd my age category.  I will do better next time!

On the way back to Denver, we stopped at Kanosha pass for quick run!  Beautiful view!

Monday 30th Momorial day activity- Bolder Boulder.  I cannot remember when I ran BB last time?!!  There were so many runners and spectators in Boulder.  It was enjoyable event, I did ok.  After the race, Yukiko, fujio, and myself went to Sanitas hiking trail.  Great day, great training!!

First trainning race!! Collegiate Peaks Trail Run 50 miles

May 7th Saturday, Great weather!  Yukiko and I got there Buena Vista on Friday night!!  Yukiko did 25 mile, and I ran 50 mile first Ultra distance this season.  I have done this race 2009.  I ran in 11:10 + that time.  I started out good slow pace and I felt great throughout race until I got lost(?!?!  again) around 34 miles.... I don't know what happened!!  My loss time was 16 minutes.  Despite of 16 min loss, I finished 11:00:25, made 10 minutes faster than 2009.  Not too bad!  This race reminded me that I need to pay attention, LOOK UP! 

100 mile for Cure by Junko

Dear Friends.

I would like to tell you all that I am preparing for the biggest athletic challenge of my life.  On August 20, 2011, I will run the Leadville 100 Trail Run -- 100 miles of trails at elevations of 9200 ft to approximately 13,000 ft, elevation gain 18500 ft, above Leadville, CO.  The cut-off time for this race is 30 hours!  As a 2-time cancer survivor, I am dedicating this run to all others who have been affected by cancer.  I hope to provide inspiration and support for their challenge with this disease. 

In 2005 I was first diagnosed with cancer.  In 2009 I had a reoccurrence.  I first went through a lumpectomy and radiation; then a bilateral mastectomy and chemotherapy.  Thanks to the support of many friends, I got through it all. 

 Now, by running this 100-mile race, I hope to not only find closure to my own cancer experience, but also encourage others who are still fighting their battle with cancer.  In addition, I want to give back to Susan G. Komen, Denver, in thanks for their emotional and financial support during my toughest times.

If you would like to show support for my training effort and race on August 30 -- AND help me raise money for Susan G. Komen, Denver, I would very much appreciate your donation.  Here is the link: http://www.komendenver.org/.

I will be update my training! 

 www.komendenver.org 

Click Donate Now on left hand side

 Scroll down to Donate Now again

 Complete form pulling down “In Honor Of”

 Title is:  Miss

 Full Name is:  Junko Kazukawa

 Amount, any message, etc. 

 Thank you for your support and friendship!!