Travel Thursday: 10 Non-Traditional Things To Do In Steamboat Springs, CO!

Happy Friday-eve! OK so I’ve been wanting to this type of post for a while now, but honestly it always felt pretty daunting to write it all out. BUT it’s a new year and I’m up for the challenge! I’m getting in some easy miles this morning (5-8) and strength training as well. Also resting up for another ‘longer’ run Friday morning (12-15)!

Here are some non-traditional things that you should totally do if you’re ever in Steamboat Springs, CO. I’ve collected this list through my adventures around the valley over the past five and a half years.

• Walk along Yampa Avenue at night. They put up the best lights and it’s so beautiful (reminds me of that scene in The Notebook where they meet and dance in the middle of the road- I’ve always wanted to do something like that!)

• Eat at Haymaker in the winter and do their sleigh ride dinner. It is 100% amazing.

• Snowshoe hike out to Fish Creek Falls in the winter. It’s so beautiful and quiet in the winter. Snowshoes are highly recommended to get to the Falls and then beyond if you’re feeling in shape!

• Camp out along Seedhouse Road north of Steamboat Springs. This is my favorite area that I’ve been to in the Valley. So beautiful and relaxing out there.

• Cross Country ski during the full moon along Stagecoach Reservoir. The groomed trails make it easy to follow among the moonlight.

• Participate in one of Steamboat Running Series’ races. Their half marathon or Steamboat Stinger are both amazing races (and well put-together!)

• Eat at Mazzola’s and get their pizza. It’s incredible and you will not be disappointed.

• Run along Emerald Mountain’s trails in the summer. You can’t go wrong with any trail you choose.

• Stay at Strawberry Park Hot Springs overnight and enjoy a fresh soak first-thing the next morning.

• Rent one of the yurts at Pearl Lake. We did this in the winter and it was so nice to wake-up there the next morning among the snow and quietness of the park. I’m sure it’s just as beautiful in the summer too!

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Ever been to Steamboat? Tell me something that you’d add to this list!

Travel Thursday- Pike's Peak

Happy Friday-eve! This week has both flown by and also slightly gone slow....Our kittens are still waking JUST ME (not Alex...I think his snoring scares them away) up at 2am and proceed to try to bite my face. Really hoping they'll get over this stage quickly because it's not so great when they try to pierce your nose with their teeth (but also they need to stay this cute & cuddly AS LONG AS POSSIBLE). 

Anyone ever been to Pike's Peak before? It's a 14,000' mountain and located in Colorado Springs. It's a great travel destination for those that are visiting because the views at the top (which you can drive to) are incredible. I took my Dad there a few years ago and we drove to the top (via Pike's Peak Highway) and walked around the gift shop for a bit. It was late June and there was STILL SNOW at the top (still people skiing off cliffs as well...). You can also take the Pike's Peak Cog Railway (located in Broadmoor), which I think would be really interesting. You can also hike up it, but it's a 13.5 strenuous hike to the summit.

Not wanting to hike it, but still looking for a challenge? You can also RUN up it during the Pike's Peak Marathon (or half-marathon). I've considered signing up for this race before (they have amazing swag), but it definitely would be a challenging course. The marathon consists of running UP 13 miles to the top and then running DOWN 13 miles...yikes!

After driving up the mountain, I'm not sure if I could ever see myself running up it. I'd have to be in REALLY good shape! There are so many beautiful views along the way, that it would make the ascent less terrible....

Ever been to Pike's Peak? Favorite part?

Would you ever run up a 14,000' mountain as a half-marathon or marathon?

Mountain Monday- Sarvis Creek

Happy Happy Monday my friends! I hope you had a fantastic weekend. We finally got our Charlie Brown Christmas Tree and went out to eat for Chinese food! I also did a 10 mile run around the lake on Sunday (with wind gusts over 20 mph!), which went ok- definitely a bit run-down and sluggish from the chinese food the night before ; )

This trail is one of our favorites because it is less than a 10 minute drive from our house to the trailhead! It's located in Sarvis Creek Wilderness and we normally hike out for roughly 1.5 miles until we hit a fantastic little creek that pools and some spots are deep enough for you to swim in!

You can definitely also use it as a great trail run (I haven't YET). The trail continues on for about 5 miles (one way, I believe) and it's also a great backpacking option (we've always wanted to camp along the creek). 

Ever hiked in the Sarvis Creek Wilderness?

Favorite thing you did this weekend?

Charlie Brown Christmas Tree- Yay or Nay?

Mountain Monday- Mt. Elbert 14,440'

Hello from Maine! I knew you are waiting on the edge of your seats for my Mtn Monday post and I didn't want to let you down! Forgive me for any funky misspellings or odd format views- currently writing this post from the Newark Airport during my 3.5 hour delay (insert eye roll)!  

I wanted to share with you my first 14er that I hiked several years ago (SOLO!) because although it was the highest 14,000 foot mountain in the Rockies, it's also one of the easiest! This hike took me roughly 4.5 hours and I started it around 8am (later than I would recommend)! My skaters had a competition in Vail, so I decided to take advantage of that and drive the 1.5 hour drive from Vail to Leadville!  

The scenery almost the entire hike was stunning (I hiked it in mid-July), but it was definitely pretty crowded!  

There was still snow everywhere on the actual hike and the road out to the trailhead was pretty rocky dirt roads (I drove slow and my civic made it out there just fine).  

I would say that in-shape older children could do this hike and I'd recommend trying to score one of the campsites along the road that leads to trailhead (so you can get an early start). Also if you can swing to do it during the week, when there are less crowds, I would!! It's a great beginner 14er (it still is very challenging) and make sure to give yourself 5-6 hours to complete the full  7.6 mile round trip . 

not my dog but look how cute?!?!

Happy Hiking!​

Have you ever hiked a 14er? Have a favorite?​

Any must-do hikes for Fall that you would recommend?​

Favorite way to pass time in an airport?​

Snow in April & first post!

Well hello there! Welcome to my blog- I am so excited to start this journey with you. I hope to entertain you, bring a little joyfulness into your life, and share my corner of the world with you! It is April 27th and it has been snowing ALL week here. Can you believe it? We are expected to get up to 20" of snow by Saturday night- so much for the flowers blooming & green grass... oh mother nature how much you love to torment us runners!

Spring & Winter collided in Colorado this week. Goodbye green grass for a bit longer!

I did my fourth run on the treadmill this week seeing how it's been freezing rain/ sleeting/ snowing early in the mornings when I normally do my runs. Switched up my long run on Saturday and did that today since the weather is supposed to be pretty terrible and I also want my legs to have enough time to rest between now and my half in Albuquerque next weekend (eeek!). 

BEAUTIFUL drive into work the other morning...alright snow, you win this time!

My next week and a half will consist mainly of easier runs (with some speedwork) building up to my half. I also have a 20-miler scheduled for that day (running the Run Revel Rockies Marathon in June! 45 days away!), so I'll see how I feel and add in some warm-up miles and take it from there. I've already done one of three 20-milers on my training schedule, so feeling pretty confident in my training to take me into my final stretches of this marathon training cycle.

Enough about me! How are YOU? Any exciting plans to look forward to this Spring? Any races you are working towards? How's the weather in your corner of the world?