Tall Tara

A few things that crossed my mind today:

Denver Half Marathon. I ran it last year when the weather was awful (cold, rainy, miserable) and swore I would never run it again. It appears that the desire for a new challenge has clouded my memory because I just registered for the race and want to beat my time from last year. The six-week training program starts tomorrow morning.

Altitude. As much as I try, I always seem to struggle with it. On a hike up Roger’s Pass yesterday, after sleeping at around 10,000 feet, I started feeling the beginning effects of the altitude around 11,000. Slight dizziness and a headache are indicators for me. I drank a lot of water and had only one wobbly moment, but I made it up to the top of the pass, topping out at 11,900. It frustrates me that my body and my mind can’t be depended on at a certain point. So what do I do? Make plans to summit a fourteener next weekend. The only way to get better at something is to do it more often and like Mountain Gazette says, “When in doubt, go higher.”

Backpacking. Still love doing it and long for the day I can do another long trip. As I hike, I think about how similar the trail is to life. The obstacles you encounter, instead of hindering you, can actually help you progress down your path. You carry what you need on your back and if you bring too much, you end up hurting yourself. Picking good company to walk with is important in insuring you have fun when it rains. There is something about being able to pump your own water, catch your own dinner, and survive a storm that makes you stronger.

Gossip Girl. I can’t believe how excited I got for the premiere of a TV show. That isn’t Lost. I came out of the GG closet tonight and showed my fiance the (dark? shallow? trashy?) side of me that LOVES this show. After watching it with me, he called it a teenage version of Sex and the City. And he’s not too far off. What can I say? A girl’s gotta have her guilty pleasures and I cannot get enough of Chuck Bass.

Good sauce. However you define the good stuff, I had lots of it this weekend. Pushing my body to achieve more. Playing cribbage. Eating fish caught out of a nearby lake. Drinking hot chocolate and laughing. Disconnecting from technology and reconnecting with friends. Napping in a tent while it rains outside.

There’s nothing better than a three-day weekend to remind you what all that labor is for…

Here are a few of my favorite things from this year’s conference:

• Partying with the Kirtsy chicks. This is now the fourth state we’ve hung out in and I always enjoy our time together. An inspiring group of women that never cease to amaze me. Thanks for the invite ladies. And thanks
  for your backyard and the paella Guy.

• Hanging with the Boulder and Denver ladies in a different place with the same results.

• Wearing cute shoes and having a straight man compliment me on them.

• Partying in a department store. I’ve never done it before and it turned out to be both weird and awesome all at the same time. The party started off a little awkward in the handbag department, but by the time we had made it up to lingerie, we were ready to roll. (The hot chocolate shots and KY lube samples were highlights of that floor!) While I may have had some flashbacks of Mannequin, I just thank god I didn’t break anything.

• The “lactation lounge”…I didn’t hang out in there, but I challenge you to find something like that at any other conference.

• Ridiculous swag. I recycled almost 2/3 of all the freebies I received and I still had this much…



• The BlogHer Unconference and the amazing amount of knowledge exchanged and connections made.This event is the perfect way to end the weekend. It’s always exactly what it should be.

• Spending time with inspiring mothers who patiently listened as I talked about wanting kids and swooning ovaries. Here’s one trying to ignore me as I continue to talk about it…
  

• Listening, learning, laughing, building new relationships and strengthening old ones. Ironic that at a blogging conference I wasn’t blogging. But I was too busy interacting to be bothered with logging on.

Thanks to all those I met. You’ve restored my hope in the humanity behind the Internet and reminded me just how powerful women speaking their truths can be.