I love my job! I have just spent a week in Vail, Colorado in the beautiful, stunning, breathtaking Rocky Mountains! (can you tell that I loved it!!)
The Teva Mountain Games is a huge extreme outdoor-sports event, attracting some of the top athletes in the world and is now in it’s 10th year. If you thought that Teva were just an outdoor sandal company, then think again! Teva now creates funky trainers, beach shoes and water sports shoes as well as running, mountain biking and hiking shoes.
Here is how the trip went:-
Day 1: arrived into Denver after a long 9 hour flight, and settled into a bus for a 2 hour journey up, up and up to Vail and stumbled into bed. (Oh – and can I just mention that The Lodge at Vail has Caroline Sandry’s most comfy bed in the world award! Must buy a mattress topper!)
Day 2: Awake early – a mixture of excitement and jet lag. Headed out to the Steep Creek challenge, where the fittest looking bunch of people I have ever seen were hanging out either in wet suits or cool mountain gear for this extreme kayaking event down a raging torrent of brown Colorado river. The athletes were awesome – my vote was for James Pringle (from the UK – we have to be a little patriotic right?)
After watching all the excitement, we all headed off to a mountain restaurant for superb fish tacos outside in the blistering brightness of that oh-so-different mountain sun. (Plenty of red faces to come!) I ventured out for a quick 40 minute run that evening, to see how the old body would perform at 8000 feet with jet lag: super hard work and heavy leg syndrome, but not too bad!
Day 3: The highlight of today’s events for me were the Bouldering World Cup qualifying rounds – these climbers are unbelievable and it is so exciting to watch. Russia and Austria were looking like the cream of the crop. The Teva Slopestyle event which features crazy off-road bikers jumping, spinning and flying through the air on mountain bikes was another heart pounding event particularly when one of the top riders crashed and face planted after a double somersault. (After a quick visit to hospital he was released suffering from no more than a concussion thankfully)
Day 4: The highlight of today has to be the Mud Run! Every crazy person out there dons shorts & tees to run 5k which includes a huge mud bath! (Watch out for pictures coming soon!) The serious athletes were competing in the Volvo X Country Mountain Bike challenge, kayak freestyle and heaps of other fab events. There was so much to do and see that I was practically spinning!
The evening of Day 4 was the big night time event – The Teva Mountain Ball. I restrained myself and was in bed by 1am ready for one of the biggest physical challenges of my life early the next day, but the rest of the gang partied until the small hours….
Day 5: The Spring Run-off 10K. During my stay I had heard so many tales about this race, that I nearly chickened out: running straight up the black run of a mountain, one of the hardest 10k’s in the world, straight up 3000 feet (taking us to 11,000 feet) all topped off with thin air and jet lag! However….. I am sooo glad that I didn’t listen to my inner demon, because in spite of the fact that all of the tales were true, it was an amazing, up-lifting experience that will stay with me forever! At the top of the mountain, running through the snow and trails with the most spectacular scenery below put a grin on my face that has not yet worn off!
Day 5: A little sad it was over, and with thighs so pumped up that they feel ready to burst!! Today was the last chance to soak up the mountains, sunshine and nature before heading home with a suitcase full of smiles, pictures, vidoes, muddy shoes and Teva goodies. Next year the half marathon methinks!!
Check out my race here – and watch out for upcoming articles in Ultra Fit and Women’s Running Magazine.
