Spray Park, Mt. Rainier

I Passed!

I am so relieved to be done with this exam, but on the other hand I'm a bit sad. I live for that kind of pressure and excitement - it's very similar to running a marathon, actually. If you put in the work and perform well the day of the event, the rewards are worth all the stress and training beforehand.

Rather than doing an whole writeup of the exam day, I thought I'd distill my experience into a few pointers. Here's my advice and impressions to help you get ready for the big day, which I cross posted in my wine blog.

1. Study the Guild of Sommeliers study guides online. Do the quizzes over and over again. Learn those producers, too.  
2. Draw some maps if you're having trouble memorizing the regions. It helps. 
3. Blind taste whenever possible. 
4. Decide what the grape IS NOT, and then choose from what remains. 
5. The test goes by very quickly. Twelve minutes for two wines is not a lot. 
6. Double check your written answers. Use all your time, because unless you're extremely well prepared there's not a lot of room for error. 
7. Practice champagne service, even if you're a server already. Chances are you're not doing all their steps every night unless you work in a very high end place. 
8. Know the tete de cuvees of every major house. 
9. Be prepared to be quizzed while you pour on food pairings, spirits, cocktails and producers. 
10. Most everyone's hand shook while they poured - it's just going to happen at this level. Masters are intimidating even though they're all nice. 
11. It's harder than you think it will be. About half the class did not pass, and there were a lot of smart people in that half. 

That's all I can offer for now. I will likely decide on whether to go for the Advanced certification later this year. It's a huge financial and time commitment, but I am seriously considering it. I'll let you know...

Sink or Swim

You have the boldness of a much younger woman.

2015 is shaping up to be an interesting year for me. When I injured myself last year and enforced a running and cycling ban, things were looking dark. Work was suddenly slow and I delved into my annual bout of career dissatisfaction. I cancelled my ultra marathon plans and felt a loss of identity.

So I went into the new year on a strict low-carb diet, studying hard for the wine exam in my free time, and sending out resumes left and right. On top of that forward momentum, the weather has been unseasonably sunny and warm which in Portland has a huge positive affect on everyone's mood. Then I had a birthday, and the next day I won a bike in an online contest. The day after that, I got a fortuitous phone call.

Remember when I said a month ago that I wanted to move into a restaurant manager job that would put me in a good position to move into beverage management or to take over a tasting room at a winery in the next few years? Well, in quick succession, it has happened and I am a little bit winded, frankly. Amazingly, I was hired to manage at a busy restaurant I have always respected. It's been crazy, to tell the truth. I'm working under a really fucking smart Somm. And although I am not particularly sure if I can still pass the Certified Sommelier exam in two months, I'm going to try. I am treading water right now, trying like hell to channel my inner Jack Donaghy. Sink or swim, baby!

Five Goals for 2015

I believe in visualizing my goals and for me that means writing them down and taping them to the fridge. Or the internet.

I completed my major goals for 2014, so maybe writing them down here worked. I bought a house we love, ran my second marathon, climbed a couple medium-sized mountains, and completed my dream day hike across the Enchantments. A lot of those smaller hikes on that list from last fell by the wayside, but fortunately will still be there in the years to come.

1) Running sometime again in the foreseeable future. I am currently on a running ban, which to speak the plain truth feels a hell of a lot more sensible than the cycle of injuries and depression that was leading up to ultra training. Maybe next year I'll join those hallowed ranks, but for now I signed up for the Portland Marathon in October. For now I plan to rehabilitate my injuries through cycling and stretching. Blowing out both knees again on Saddle Mountain this weekend was a big wake up call.

2) Somm certification in April. Yikes! Time to hit the flashcards again...

3) Finally take the necessary steps to transition to beverage or tasting room management. I love serving and the freedom it gives me, but I have to think about my future and the stability of a salary. The next step is management... and still somehow paying my mortgage.

4) Travel and outdoors in the summer. Ice Lakes Basin in Colorado, Tank Lakes, Glacier National Park and Banff and Shasta. I plan to keep the list a little smaller this year to allow more time for career, running and my sanity.

It's a modest list this year. I no longer know what to do without running, and interesting things are happening in my head now that there's all that free space...

Running While Injured

This year I've had a bit of experience with Running While Injured. It is TOTAL bullshit and I'm sorry if it's happened to you. Here's what I've learned from personal experience and the internets. Obviously, I am not a doctor.

Rule #1: DO NOT TRY TO DO TOO MUCH TOO SOON.

That's it for rules. Here are my recovery strategies:

Runner's Knee

• Stretch and ice knees after every workout.
• Use a foam roller on calves and thighs daily. For me, the jury is out on whether rolling my IT bands helps or hurts. I use the half-sized one, since I am constitutionally unable to spend $40 on foam.
• Patellar straps placed just under the knee during runs can help. I pretty much never leave home without one since blowing out my knees this summer.
• Take NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen. Do not rely on these for a race, though. Doing so can wreak major havoc during a marathon.
• Ease back on mileage until acute phase has passed and then increase with care. I have learned to recognize the warning signs - discomfort is generally ok, but pain of any kind is not. This is a hard one for runners, who force themselves to run through some dark shit.
• Athletic tape such as KT can get you through a race but I tend to sweat it off anyway.
• I have been taking fish oil and multivitamins. Also a Glucosamine supplement, which has been medically shown to do absolutely nothing. If you want to take it, don't overdo it. There can be side effects.

Plantar Faciitis

• Recognize the symptoms and begin treating aggressively. I work on my feet and half my coworkers have Plantar Faciitis horror stories.
• Break from running immediately for the first week. 
• Continue to do other cardio and strength training, such as weights, cycling and foot strengthening exercises.
• Rest and hydrate.
• Stretch your feet and calves regularly - tight calves contribute to the problem.
• Ice arch and plantar facia multiple times a day.
• Roll arch and pf on a tennis or golf ball
• Do not go barefoot, EVER. Keep shoes next to your bed.
• Put drugstore PF supports in your work and regular shoes. Orthotics aren't necessary right away. I do not put these in my running shoes.
• Ease back into running slowly after the initial rest period
• If none of these work, see a doctor. Plantar faciitis can take you down for weeks or months.

See you out there (I hope).

A Week In Moab, Utah