Last night’s @gnar_runners “Into the Hills” 10K with 1700’ elevation gain was quite challenging and equally humbling for both me and Zack. Of course he still finished way before me and his finishing time was still quite impressive for not ever running on a trail that technical let alone many trails before last week’s run and just a little in much less technical Forest Park, Portland. I can at least say I was #1 female over 60, haha. Impressed and encouraged to see a male age 69 who placed 29th through! I am in total awe of my fellow @trailsistersfoco_ who run 50, 60, and 100ks on terrain even more challenging than this! Such admiration and respect!
Nevertheless it was fun and I loved every minute of it. I even made a beautiful new friend, Susanna!
So much fun running 🏃🏻♀️ with awesome fellow Trail Sisters Fort Collins, Colorado and these sweet charismatic donkeys 🫏 full of personality and more…lol. Also, this incredible scenery!!! 😍❤️ A big thanks to Lindsay of The Donkey Way running and to her regulars who are all so welcoming, encouraging and helpful. This reel is a complication of photos and videos from fellow sisters and Lindsay. Much appreciated, everyone! 🙏🙌
This guy (my youngest son, Zack) placed 9th out of 127 last night at the Gnar Runners Lory Summer Series
5k! So impressive given he’s a casual runner and hasn’t been trail running! My heart swelled when he suggested we do this! Why of course! I haven’t been speed training since moving to CO and was far behind him but my heart was full and I finished with a smile. The course is quite lovely too! This was just before the start.
Beautiful day with my lovely, incredible, sister from another mother forever friend, Sandy Barnes.
Happy birthday to our son, Jacob! 🥳🎉
Thoughtful, witty, lover of animals, super fun cousin who is asked for by all the littles and SO much more…how can we not be bursting with pride?! We love him so much. We also greatly miss him since he lives far away from us on the east coast. This photo is from a fun mishap of an adventure we experienced running on a portion of the Appalachian Trail in the Shenandoah National Park this summer! We took a wrong turn and went much further than planned but thankfully it turned out better than expected!
Such fun this morning at Devil’s Backbone with the @trailsistersfoco_ ! Although half of us ran right past a baby rattler 🐍 right in the middle of the trail, sound asleep without even noticing (myself included)! 😮 Guess we assumed it was just another a rock to jump over!? Thank goodness all is well! Soul is nourished, heart is full. 🥰❤️🙏
Nourishing all parts of my heart and soul in this rewarding role at Colorado Sate University Temple Grandin Equine Center! Such an incredible facility and staff. Amazing horses and ponies. I can’t believe I get to volunteer here. Pinch me. My heart is overflowing!
Celebrating these incredibly strong, impressive fellow Trail Sisters Fort Collins, Colorado today as most of them in these pictures here are taking on the Never Summer Ultra in Gould, Colorado!
High elevation, boulder fields, and crazy ridgelines... these women are the definition of badassery. Since moving here, these ladies have welcomed me enthusiastically with open arms and encouragement. Training with them has been nourishment for my soul. I aspire to be at the level of fitness they are so that I can one day join them for a future ultra!
Cheering hard for everyone out there today. Crush it, Trail Sisters! 🙌🏔️🏃🏻♀️💪
Running (& walking due to heat 🥵🔥) with these cutie pie sweet therapy donkeys via with Lindsay/The Donkey Way, Loveland, CO. Did this run with fellow Trail Sisters Fort Collins, Colorado trail sister, Michelle Haley Mead! So fun and rewarding! Can’t wait for the next one! 🫏🏃🏻♀️❤️🥰
Medicine Bow Peak, WY with some of my beautiful fellow Trail Sisters Fort Collins, Colorado…wow, just wow. Felt like I was in an animated Disney movie with the most magical scenery. It was a bit tough but also so rewarding. Most of the flower pictures here are from Jessica Levy - she’s got a special talent of capturing their magnificence! I had over a hundred photos, it was so hard to choose just a handful! What an epic adventure! Nourishment for my soul, indeed!
Celebrating Zack’s birthday today! We couldn’t be prouder of our youngest son. 🥳
View during this morning’s Trail Sisters Fort Collins, Colorado run 🏃🏻♀️! 😍
Last weekend, some of my beautiful, strong, badass Trail Sisters and I hiked (with a little bit of running) to Pawnee Peak (12,943’) in Colorado’s stunning Indian Peaks Wilderness. 🏔️
The trail winds through a forest, wildflower-filled meadows (in peak bloom! 😍), and sparkling alpine lakes and streams that absolutely awed us, along with rugged and challenging granite boulder fields before opening up to incredible views from the Continental Divide.
I’m so grateful for these amazing women. They may be more fit than I am, but they encouraged me through the tough climbs and waited for me when I fell behind, always without judgment. We connected and laughed along the way, soaking in the views and celebrating together at the summit and again later at a picnic table with yummy treats. These are the kinds of adventures that truly fill my soul. #pawneepeak #trailsisters #Colorado #hiking
Goood Morning!!!! 🏃♀️👯♀️⛰️🫶
@trailsistersfoco_ #fortcollins #fortcollinstrailrunner #trailrunner
A little hazy this morning in the mountains ⛰️ but that full moon 🌕 setting was spectacular still! I snapped the shot just before heading out to meet my Trail Sisters for a run 🏃🏻♀️ in this gorgeous Fort Collins setting! 🥰🙏
Running with Donkeys! This is Chicklet (in the first pic and sprinkled throughout) and my friend and fellow Trail Sister, Caroline (we shared/took turns running with Chicklet)! Chicklet is part of The Donkey Way, not far from us in this gorgeous landscape in the Fort Collins/Loveland area. What a beautiful experience! 🥰🫏🏃♀️❤️
Here’s a bit more info from The Donkey Way Website (of the same name)… a little clip from the home page:
“Growth happens through experience and who better to teach us than the wisest equines— donkeys!
At The Donkey Way we believe donkeys are the best teachers and we partner with donkeys in Donkey Assisted Learning (Equine Assisted Learning) and coaching for personal, professional and organizational growth.
The Donkey Way also offers a fun way to work on the skills of connection, leadership and communication via donkey running! Run with a donkey, enjoy the mental and physical challenge of working together as a team!”
Want to try it?
“No Experience Needed
No equine experience is required to grow. Just come with an open mind and heart, and the donkeys will guide you the rest of the way!”
Beautiful Saturday morning run/hike in the Rockies with these lovely, strong, inspiring women.
All was great but I did get a nasty Charlie horse when catching myself from falling and while was able to finish with no problem, I’ve been limping the last two days. Feels like someone hit my calf with a baseball bat! Just part of trail running though…fall down, get back up, keep going (sometimes a bit slower and hobbling 😜)! 💪🏃🏻♀️🏔️
Happy Father’s Day to all the awesome fathers out there including my 2 favorite…my dad and my husband, Tony! ❤️🙏
What a blessing that my beautiful long time friend, Terry Jordan, came to Denver to attend her son’s performance at Bar 404 with his band, One11Twenty yesterday as part of their West Coast Tour. I wasn’t able to attend the performance but I was lucky to enjoy a lovely dinner with Terry at Beet Down (delicious!) and then later meet her talented and charming son, Timothy, and most of his (also charming) band members at Bar 404.
No doubt Terry is on the “favorite people” list of everyone she knows. She’s one of the most incredible people I have ever known. She simply astounds me. Love you, Terry! 🥰❤️
East Coast Recap Part 4: Castleton, Virginia at my parents’ homestead, Rock Springs Farm. I spent a lovely, relaxing time with my parents and their multiple pets/farm animals - not all pictured! My sister Kelly, and her daughter (my niece), Kolby and family came to visit from their somewhat nearby homes too. Their property is beautiful and I especially love walking around the trails my dad mows for me and going down to the river, which I did daily. I took so many pictures, especially of my mom’s flowers but didn’t post them all here. Perhaps a separate photo for those! Indeed a special time! ❤️🥰🙏 Patricia Tompkins Dorsey Kelly Dorsey Noe Kolby Noe Berry