Chasing Kris

First chemo infusion When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, the word that resonated with me was RESOLUTE.  It felt so fateful, that diagnosis.  This was the beginning of the end.  As much as my mind was telling me I was being dramatic, I also couldn't completely squelch the fearful part of my brain that envisioned saying goodbye to my husband and kids, and wondering what their life would be like without me. It was only breast cancer, and I'd caught it early, but "only breast cancer" isn't really a thing.  It's freaking BREAST CANCER and people die of that!  I'd never had a disease that had the capacity to kill me. This one had been cut out and come back in less than two years, so the fight was on and I was taking the deep dive into full surgeries and chemotherapy.  Until now, my only risk for death had been by freak accident or my own stupidity. January - 2nd chemo & hair is gone Fast forward through a year and my current mindset is P

Chanoko is a Total Body Fitness Race that starts at the Auburn Dam Overlook park and hugs the North Fork of the American River following the Pioneer Express Trail. In Ultra circles around here, the Pioneer Express is a major artery for big name races like the Western States. Chanoko is a smaller run, less than 75 people were entered into this distance (31k) the day I ran it.  I like that because the trail is yours, for the most part.  We aren't back-to-back people chugging along, worrying about our pace because we don't want to hold up the group.  It's easy to spread out, with the fasties taking the (considerable) lead, then everyone else finding their pace and enjoying the solitude of nature. The overall elevation change of this route was 1,629 feet.  That number is deceptive (as it always is). The beginning of the race is up on the overlook and the first three miles are spent moderating speed as you wind your way down to the river.  We are three miles in, just get