Saucony ProGrid Razor

Next time, I'll take a picture of my muddy versions!

They’re not cheap at $130-$135, but now, I run around in these all weekend.  It’s perfect for running on the trail or around town in the sludge.  And, I will still get some use out of them next winter running, and snowshoeing for even longer.

You don’t have to just take my word for it.  Here are a couple of other reviews:

• GearJunkie.com
• RunnersWorld.com

it’s a mud mud world is a post from: cogeargirl.com

But daylight savings is when I let myself start to believe that Spring is finally coming.  Time to start thinking about packing up the winter gear, and getting ready for mud.  Snow melt makes it hard to go out for hikes or picnics too early in the season here in Colorado, but there’s no excuse for not getting out on the bike.  And better to start out slow, cruising in town and on the bike paths, and work your way up to road biking and mountain biking when it’s a little drier.

One of my favorite things for my pink retro cruiser is my Detour TOOCAN bike rack bag.  It’s a rack bag, but it easily slips out of the rack and has handles and shoulder straps, so you can tote it around.  This model is a little more durable but great for running errands, or a farmer’s market run, and it’s waterproof.  It even comes with a raincover.  I have a black one, actually two, but they come in other colors and new designs.

Check out the Detours site.  They came out with some new designs this year, and also have expanded their product line in the past few years to include some recycled and natural products.

Spring forward at cruising speed is a post from: cogeargirl.com

The Steamboat Pentathlon is held at Howelsen Hill, one of the oldest ski mountains in Colorado, which also boasts a world-renowned ski jumping complex.  The standard course for the pentathlon is comprised of:

(1) Alpine Ski – Ski down 400 vertical feet on the face of Howelsen Hill, but wait, you first have to run up the 400 vertical feet on foot, get your gear on, and then make your way down what is a quick short trip down a steep ice-packed run.   What is nice is that you do have your choice of alpine, nordic, telemark or snowboard.  The trick to this leg is to not wear yourself out running up that hill.  Take it slow and save your heart, you have the rest of the course to catch up.

(2) Snowshoe – 2.5 miles along a windy path.  In my opinion, it has more inclines than what the course description may lead you to believe.

(3) Cross Country Ski – You can classic or skate ski for 4 miles on Howelsen’s intermediate/expert Nordic trails.  It seemed like it was all uphill, but according to Joel, it’s up, then up & down, then up again.  Once you “summit” then the return is downhill very fast back to transition.

(4) Mountain Bike – 12 miles out and back on paved road; turn-around is muddy (so I’m told).

(5) Run – 5 miles out and back, along the Yampa River Core Trail, finishing back at Howelsen Hill.

I am not an athlete, but I have run in four marathons, more half-marathons, and I can’t count how many 10K’s.  Joel will do an Ironman with minimal training, so I thought how hard could this pentathlon be, especially if I can get a team for a relay.  Well, the gal who was going to do the cross-country ski leg couldn’t make it, so I did both the snowshoe and cross-country ski.  I’ll spare you the details, it was not pretty.  We were pretty much last in the first three legs and then DNF’d (did not finish).  Names have been omitted to protect the innocent .

My recommendation is, if you aren’t sure, sign up for the Short Course.  You’ll thank me!

This event is not for the casual athlete.  It is a lot of fun to participate, if you’re in shape; but if you’re not, come and watch.  It is amazing to watch these athletes, who are usually locals or from the nearby ski towns who all boast exceptional athletic ability.

There is a reason why Steamboat Springs, with population of less than 10,000 people, has produced more Winter Olympic athletes than any other town in the USA.  This year, 17 athletes from this town represented the U.S. in the Winter Olympics.  So far, at the time of this post, the cross-country skiers have medaled in three Nordic-combined events. Not sure whether Steamboat is the “egg or the chicken” when it comes to the caliber of these athletes but I don’t think it matters, the exceptionally athletic chickens are here.

So if you’re not of the faint at heart, love a challenge and have your cardiologist’s approval, come out and try this event.  Your friends and family will have a great time watching, and get to spend time here in beautiful Ski Town USA.

I am looking forward to hanging out with Lyllah in her Chariot, sipping hot chocolate and cheering on Joel, and our friend, Mary Beth, as they come over the finish line.  The next time I try the Pentathlon, it will probably be in a dream.  I am a great spectator, cheerleader and support crew.  I love having that job, for now.

If you’re seriously thinking about doing it this year, and need help in putting together your list of gear for the Pentathlon, send me an email and I’ll be happy to help.

Steamboat Pentathlon is not for the faint of heart (literally & figuratively) is a post from: cogeargirl.com

Everything these days requires some kind of gear or need for organization, so wouldn’t it be nice to find a nice simple check-list somewhere?  I am on a quest to build a library of “it-lists” which will provide easy check-lists of the “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves”, with some times product recommendations and warnings, if I happen to have any worth mentioning.

Let me know if you need help on developing a checklist, and maybe I can help put one together for you and post it here.  Just email me at kaela{at}cogeargirl.com or use the contact page on this site.

kaela’s it-lists is a post from: cogeargirl.com

Well, here I am, Kaela, CoGearGirl, ready to make my contribution of bits and bytes on my blog.  Hope you enjoy some of the things I have to share.
I’m looking forward to your feedback.

Hello world… is a post from: cogeargirl.com