Lynn K Hall

2015 Dirty 30 Race Report – Redefining Success

Distance: 50K plus, or about 32 – 34 miles…who knows? Vertical gain: Race profile says 7,300, but my GPS argues 8,000 feet Goal time: 8:30 Actual finish time: 9:23 I have a confession: yesterday I was pouting hard-core as I crossed the Golden Gate Dirty 30 finish line. One of the volunteers at the timing […]

Lynn K Hall

May 31, 2015

Ultra-journeying & Mountaineering

Dirty 30

2014 Year in Review – Trail Edition

It’s that season when we reflect on the last 12 months and set goals for the New Year. What I remember most from 2014, in addition to the people whom I have met and my relationships that have grown or strengthened, are the majestic trails I’ve hiked, run, and climbed. I’m often torn between returning […]

Lynn K Hall

December 30, 2014

Ultra-journeying & Mountaineering

My Headache’s Thirteenth Birthday

Yesterday I celebrated my headache’s thirteenth birthday. On December 15th 2001, I was an eighteen-year-old Air Force Academy cadet when I contracted meningitis, the inception of my chronic pain. I mean it when I use that word, celebrate. At least I mean it today. Earlier this year I wrote about perpetual loss, how as someone […]

Lynn K Hall

December 16, 2014

Chronic Pain, Ultra-journeying & Mountaineering

Mt Elbert

Indian Creek Fifties – Pain Isn’t Forever

For my last ultra of 2014, I ran (read: power hiked!) the Indian Creek Fifties, a trail race through Roxborough State Park. The course has 8,000 feet of climbing, the same amount as the Pikes Peak Marathon, but the gains are broken up into several segments along the rolling trail. This is what I learned […]

Lynn K Hall

November 15, 2014

Chronic Pain, Ultra-journeying & Mountaineering

Indian Creek Fifities

Medtronic Global Heroes – My Bionic Family

In my last blog about Medtronic Global Heroes, I wrote about meeting the engineers who designed my nerve stimulator. The other part of the experience that was, well, magical, was meeting the other 24 Global Heroes. I’m not sure what I expected of the program prior to flying to Minneapolis, but I know for sure I […]

Lynn K Hall

October 28, 2014

Chronic Pain

Medtronic Global Heroes

Medtronic Global Heroes – Meeting the Engineers

Several weeks have passed since I participated in the Twin Cities Marathon as a Medtronic Global Hero. I haven’t been able to write about it until now because the experience was so unexpected, so overwhelming, that I think I’ve needed time to process its deep meaning in my life. First, a bit about the program: […]

Lynn K Hall

October 17, 2014

Chronic Pain

Medtronic Global Heroes

Summit Day on Mt Rainier

If my climbing trip has gone to plan, this morning I am making my way up the highest portion of Mt. Rainier, perhaps even standing on its summit. Yesterday, my team and I packed from Paradise trailhead to Camp Muir at 10,080 feet. This portion of our climb should have been straight forward, requiring nothing […]

Lynn K Hall

July 14, 2014

Ultra-journeying & Mountaineering

Managing My Chronic Headache, Rainier Bound

Thanks to WordPress’ handy scheduler, as this blog posts I will be in the air, flying to Washington to climb Mt. Rainier, my first non-Colorado peak. Whahoo! At 14,411 feet tall, Mt. Rainier is a smidge shorter than Colorado’s tallest mountain. But unlike our high peaks, Rainier is a glaciated volcano. It is also the […]

Lynn K Hall

July 12, 2014

Chronic Pain, Ultra-journeying & Mountaineering

Not the Only Pain Sufferer on a Mountain

I’d like to introduce you to my new friend and climbing partner, Zach. Zach and I have something exceptional in common: he and I both use climbing to control severe chronic pain. Along with two other teammates, Zach and I will be climbing Washington’s Mt. Rainier this weekend. More on that in future posts, for […]

Lynn K Hall

July 11, 2014

Chronic Pain, Ultra-journeying & Mountaineering

My 100th 14’er Summit

I did it! This weekend I hiked to my 100th Colorado 14’er summit. Yes, you are correct, Colorado only has 58 peaks above 14,000 feet, but since completing them all in 2012, I’ve returned to many of them. Immediately after summiting Mt. Belford, I hiked to its conjoined twin, Mt. Oxford, for my 101st […]

Lynn K Hall

June 23, 2014

Ultra-journeying & Mountaineering

Mt. Belford, Mt. Oxford