And there I was in the one running outfit I owned, light blue running shorts and a featherweight long sleeve half zip ‘polypro’.  This race was the Berry Picker Race in Vail, CO, which was being used for the USA Mountain Running Qualifier and the top 4 women finishers qualified for the World Mountain Running “Trophy”/Championships.Which meant a trip to Switzerland.

I had nothing to lose, only a trip to Switzerland to gain.

At this point I have been on a hiatus from world travel for about 6 years.  At the end of that time, I knew, once I was ready to travel again it was going to be to experience the old culture of Europe.

When I stopped traveling it was because I wanted find a place and a community to always come home to.  I found when I was away I yearned for home at some point but I didn’t really have a home.  I would simply put my stuff in storage every time I left and come home time and time again just to start all over again.

At this point, I have spent the last 6 years in Silverton, CO.  Last fall, I bought a house, solidifying it as my home base.

I let the ladies I had raced with at the USATF Trail Championship the month before lead the way. As we started the climb I just seemed to float ahead and I ended up in first place at the end of the race.

Let the traveling resume!