St. Elmo's Ghosts

What do you see in the window? Who was there? What IS there? Does this image speak to your imagination? We all create in our own way. If your passion involves writing, try entering the Your Story Competition at Writer's Digest. I was fortunate to provide the photographic writing prompt in this month's magazine. This image has always been one of my favorites and I'm so excited to see what stories are created with this in mind. There's still a few more days left. What story does this image create for you?

It was a day where many people would choose to sit cozy by the fire reading a new novel and drinking some Chai. After a recent snowfall in the Boulder foothills, it was a winter wonderland. While the sun dipped behind the Hogback Ridge, the temperatures danced just below freezing. A perfect "indoor" day for some.

Lucky for me, it was also a perfect day to catch an ultra-marathoner, exercise physiologist, sports scientist and professional coach to athletes across the globe on the trail. By "catching" I mean having him run loops up and down some serious mountain grades while I tried to snap some photographs of Adam St. Pierre in action.

While I thought about the fingerless gloves I should have probably brought, I paused to admire the icicles frozen in midair as they danced about the ponderosa pines. Suddenly they weren't dancing anymore. The trees became more frenetic and reminded me of the the song Trépak in The Nutcracker (also known as the Russian Dance). Was it that the winds became gusty or was it that Adam St. Pierre just ran by? Most likely, a bit of both. As I pondered the cold, Adam seemed completely ignorant of it. Here he was, running through the snow-packed trails in shorts and a tee-shirt. I told myself that I could handle it and just like that, Adam had coached me through a moment without even knowing it. A true professional.

One of the best things about being on a trail, or in the mountains, or heck anywhere outside when the weather is not considered fair on the daily report, is that you get this huge playground to yourself. In the summer the mountains are inundated with crowds but in winter things are quiet, calm and lovely. I love this time of year and how it makes you slow down..unless of course you are Adam.

Adam could be considered an anomaly by some. I mean who runs 50- and 100-mile races for fun? How many people get up one day and run the Mt. Sanitas trail for 24 hrs straight? Mt. Sanitas is actually a mountain which peaks at 6,863ft for a total elevation gain of 1,343ft over a 3mi loop. There are parts where you have to scramble down the rocks. You share the view with mountain lions, elk and bears. Did you know that if you run for 24hrs straight, you will be running in the dark for a good portion of it? IN-THE-DARK...with the critters! I'm so thankful that Adam did this as now I have a great reason why I will not be trying for the same. For the record, he was able to complete 23 loops in 24 hrs. Not bad for a day's work.

But what really strikes me about Adam is how he does it. Many folks in his position could surely come off as arrogant, condescending and/or intimidating. Adam is absolutely far from any of these things (well except for his accomplishments which are in fact intimidating). Adam is so approachable, helpful, knowledgeable and truly loves coaching others to help them achieve their goals.

Adam provides coaching to athletes of all levels. His services are perfect for trail runners, ultra runners, ski mountaineers, Nordic skiers, marathoners, mountain bikers and triathletes. He takes nearly a decade of experiences on the trails and in the lab to work one-on-one with athletes who are looking to improve their performance. If you are looking for someone who truly understands what works and applies that to each individual based on his/her specific needs, I highly recommend working with Adam. We are so lucky to have him as a resource in Colorado but thanks to the incredible invention of the internet, his coaching services are available throughout the world too. You can find out more about Adam St. Pierre at www.ASTPcoaching.com or go out on a trail any day and despite the forecast, there's a good chance he'll be out there too.

As a photographer, and especially as a parent, one tends to meet a plethora of new folks. In recent years, I've met so many new parents and families and I'm usually struck by how parallel and perpendicular our lives are. That in itself reiterates just how my world is. It's full of similarities and contradictions often at the same time. Anyone with children will most likely agree that the one constant of parenthood is that things are always, ALWAYS shifting and changing. Some parents and children go with the flow, letting the day, the moments carry them along downstream— not forcing things to happen but recognizing what is happening in the moment, enjoying it and living it. You know these types. I've seen them tubing down the St. Vrain Creek in the early summer runoff. Smiling at the sun and passersby in Lyons despite the fact that they are sitting in a tube in water still ice cold from it's recent departure as snow up in the High Country. Perhaps at some point they're smiling because their bum is finally numb and they can't feel the cold. I'm not sure. 

This family is one of those families. While a temperate day was bestowed upon us, celebrating their one-year-old's birthday as well as their toddler's meant that we'd have plans yet the girls would run the show. For our photo shoot we had some ideas of what we'd like to try and where. But, ultimately they all just enjoyed the afternoon, the warmth, the sunlight and spending time together in the beauty that is the base of the Rocky Mountains. I was just lucky enough to tag along.

I had the privilege of photographing baby Maya before she was born. Yes, she was a fantastic model at her mama's maternity shoot. But, Maya had recently turned The-Big-01 and was already a capable walker and climber. I knew it would be a bit trickier to capture her and her energy this time around. However, like a seasoned veteran, she was prepared to shine for the camera. She sat in a chair, picked up a chair, sat in the dirt, went hiking on the trails in bare feet, stood in the tall grasses as the sun sank lower in the horizon, and even sported an absolutely adorable owl hat at times. A true Colorado gal just like her sister. They were so excited to play on the trails by the mountains. Perhaps she's just had a good amount of practice as her mama is a fabulous photographer herself or perhaps she was trying to show me that it is possible for a 1yr old to look at the camera when I'm trying to take a photo (um, Maya, could you please show my boys how to do this). Either way, I had a blast hanging out with the entire family. Maya and big sister Emeryn are as lovely, intelligent, thoughtful and fun as her parents and it's not surprising. When you have parents who focus on the good stuff in life: playing, laughing, living and just being, how can you have anything less than two incredible toddlers?

Happy birthday Maya!