Coach Cary's Blog
Thoughts, Opinions & Inspiration
The roller coaster of recovery. And some things you will want to try.
I generally have no problem with being in the latter half of my 40s. But this whole recovery thing sure would be easier if I was young. My 46-year-old body just doesn’t think it needs to cooperate. Last Tuesday I had a final follow up appointment with my surgeon. We...
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Back in the Butte! Checking in on my 2018 mission.
The zoo traveled back to Crested Butte late last week. I missed my community and it feels good to be back. I have the extreme fortune to live in several amazing places in the mountains of Colorado. I love Fraser and Crested Butte equally. But Crested Butte is where I...
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A few things I am thankful for this January
It has been a good 2018 so far. Here are some things that have made it special: Snow I’ve never seen a year like this in Colorado. In November, we hoped December would bring good snow. Then we gave up on December and hoped for January. Now we hope for February. But at...
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Proof that Puck is just another teenager
This post really needs no words. I am just thankful I managed to get to my camera in time to capture this on our ski this morning. Enjoy! ...
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Finding beauty in cold, dark winter mornings
The middle of the winter can be tough. It’s dark. It’s cold. The bright cheer of the holidays is over. But I find a quiet beauty in the dark early mornings this time of year. Admittedly my enjoyment dims when it is -20 degrees out. This year, however, has been quite...
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Re-learning how to run, jump and… snowplow?
Let me preface this post by saying that I am doing great. I feel like everything is coming together. Honest. But rehab is immensely frustrating. I just want my left leg to get with the program. Even though I understand it probably won’t be 100% until August (my...
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Montana, thanks for reminding me I’m not so tough after all.
I grew up on a ranch in Montana. But it is easy to forget just how unforgiving Montana can be in the winter. My sister, Morgan, and I had planned a quick trip up to visit my Mom in Big Timber this past weekend. The Big Timber weather forecast was looking pretty rough:...
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Happiness is being back in the mountains!
In a normal year, we would not be in Denver this late in the year. But this has been far from a normal year. It’s hard to believe, but I was formerly a big city girl. Yes, there was a time when I stayed up past 9:00 (or 8:30). I’m not talking Denver – because I know...
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Snow!!! And a casual reminder to get out and cross train.
While it has personally been a terrific year for the snow to hold off, I’m ready. Puck and I spent the weekend in Fraser to check on the house and to shovel the 2 or 3 inches of recent snow. But in the woods there was enough accumulated to snowshoe. Oh boy, did we...
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Take THAT Altra IQ App lady!
I’m a bit obsessed with my Altra IQ shoes. It has become a competition between the app lady and me. To date, she has been the undisputed winner. This week I proved I have the power to shut her up. My Tuesday run started as it always does: 4 minutes in: “It looks like...
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Livin’ it up in SoCal!
Of course, my definition of livin’ it up isn’t quite what it used to be. Going out for a coffee AND a beer in one day is all it takes. But this weekend has been a nice little mini vacation. I came out here for a swim-coaching clinic with Sheila Taormina. For those of...
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Cary vs. Cary’s shoes
The shoes are winning. I’ve become a bit obsessed with my Altra IQ shoes. Though there are times when I want to take them off and throw them out the window. I have the app programmed to talk to me (at most) every 4 minutes. This means that if Ms. IQ app lady is happy...
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Winter is here. Or at least mud season. So the circus is headed to Denver.
It has been a nearly snow-free fall here, for which I am thankful. No snow meant the dirt roads and trails stayed open for me to walk. And we have walked. A lot. I suspect I have mentioned I don’t love walking (unless it is with someone, in which case is much more...
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Rehab: Strength, mobility and the complex brain/body connection.
Rehab is fascinating, if you take the time to think about it. I have had a lot of time to think about it. Many of us believe that rehab is simply about regaining lost strength and mobility. That is critical of course. But perhaps more important – and less obvious – is...
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Can these shoes help me become a better runner?
That’s a lot to ask of a pair of shoes. But these are not just any shoes, they are smart shoes: The Altra IQ are equipped with sensors built in to the soles that transmit data to a smartphone app as you run. After I made it through the shock of my knee blow out in...
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Astonishing tips to simplify nutrition. And keeping up with Franken-dog and pals.
I am not a nutritionist. I just have a lot of opinions on nutrition. It seemed apropos after Halloween – when we hand out buckets of sugary goodness that in no way qualifies as food – to share a few thoughts on nutrition. Don’t worry: I am not going to try to...
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Update on the lemon family.
Weak joints. Weak stomachs. We are a family of lemons. Luckily we are so damn sweet and wonderful. Well, Puck is. I like to think I have moments. The cats… did I mention how sweet Puck is? Puck About a month ago, he developed a limp on his right front leg. Honestly,...
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A trip down memory lane: Our adventure at Le Grand Trail Des Templiers 2007.
I have a horrible memory. Always have. I like to think that I’ve just had too many adventures and my brain can’t keep up. Or something. But when I opened today’s iRunFar email update, my brain lit up. Les Templiers…? Wait… Les Templiers…! We ran that race a few years...
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