fat and lazy and cold

Lots of things accumulated to let this week get away from me.  Super cold weather, a lack of motivation, a shitty cold I'm trying to shake, a visit from the in-laws.

Mon - 2.5 miles of dog walking and CityRock 131.

Tues - 1.2 mile dog hike, CityRock 132. 

Wed - 2.3 mile AM dog hike, then took the dog over to Iron Mountain for an evening run.  2.7 miles.

Thurs - home sick today, but I got the dog over to Red Rock Canyon for a very easy four miler.

I assume I'm sick because I spent Wednesday helping to clear out a big homeless camp.  I'm guessing our city is going to start coming down on the homeless a lot harder.  I was there trying to get these guys to visit a shelter and/or access other local services.

And instead of resting after that day I stayed up too late and drank too much beer at the Black Sheep for the Pink Talking Fish show.  Great gig and I hope to check those guys out again.  

The Sheep has some good shows coming up, but for some reason I'm super excited to check out Okilly Dokilly.  A death metal band where the guys all dress as Ned Flanders.  

My friend Lauren ran really well at JFK recently, so I got her a mug as a gift for a job well done.

1:40:19 and the NF fleece

1:40:19 at the Rock Canyon half down in Pueblo on Sunday.  Almost bailed since it was 16F when I got up, and was 20F at the race start in Pueblo.  Adjusted my goals from go hard to run sub 1:45 due to the cold.  I could have easily gone sub 1:40 but I just didn't feel like pushing things today.  At all.  I hate the cold.  From the race photographer:

Katie Schwing took this pic at the start line.

The fleece I was wearing.  I have mentioned on this blog in the past how I found this over in the Garden and it is one of my go-to pieces of gear.  And yes, my dog has an Air Force water bowl.

Katie's husband, Lance, is a buddy of mine and we have recently been trying to figure out some good times for early morning, pre-work mountain bike rides in Red Rock Canyon.  He has a kid and a wife who runs in the morning, and I don't ride if it's below 30F, so that makes things somewhat difficult.  He saw that selfie and texted me this:

Apparently Lance had texted Katie about the fleece before he texted me, and she called me homeless.

I offered the fleece back to him, but he politely declined.

November

Highlighted by the JFK finish.  Not much else going on in November for me.

Run - 161 miles
Bike - 27 miles
Hike - 84 miles

DC

A few non JFK pics from the recent trip.  Got to meet up with Bob for a few breweries.  Smoketown Brewing, Harpers Ferry Brewing, and Abolitionist Ale Works.  Good times!

And no, you haven't accidentally stumbled onto GZ's blog, but $100 and I got to visit the DC mall on our way back to the airport.  Super cool place.  My first time there.

CityRock 127

Starting to get back into climbing and some upper body stuff, which I neglected for a few weeks leading up to JFK.  $100 and I have also started the bodyweight foundation program.  Ended Tuesday with an hour of yoga and a beer at Red Leg.

Nearing the halfway point of the Turkey Trot.  As much as I hate the eastside, they do have a fairly decent view of the mountains there.

Annual pic from the first Incline Club run.  Yes, that guy who always wears vibram five fingers and never wears a shirt is still at it.

incline 16

First run of the new Incline Club season this morning.  I headed up the incline.  Easy effort, as I'm still shaking off all the alcohol of turkey weekend. 

Went to my first AF hoops game of the year last night.  The CU Buffs destroyed them by over 30 points.  Going to be a long season for AF, probably not a whole lot of wins this season.  I got to sit in the cadet section last night though, and I scored a free foam finger and a mascot selfie, so the night wasn't a total waste.

19:35

Definitely wasn't ready mentally or physically to be racing hard this morning.  Still some issues lingering from JFK, as well as a cold that $100 and I have both been fighting.  But I had already paid, and I still went as hard as I could today.  Obviously the result wasn't very impressive for me.

After the race we headed up for the final Air Force game of the season and watched them beat CSU.  No bowl for AF this year as they only got to five wins.

Shot of me on the Appalachian Trail during JFK:

Maryland Heights

Legs are still quite sore but $100 and I got out for a three hour hike on Monday.  Started at the Appalachian Trail visitor center and went up to Maryland Heights, including a trip to an overlook with a cool view of Harpers Ferry and the rivers.

Relive 'Maryland Heights hike'

       

JFK 50

Not quite the race I wanted but a fun trip nonetheless.  Due to recent rain and snow the Appalachian Trail was a mess, slowing anyone not named Jared Hazen down, and I hit halfway in 4:15.  Still thought I could go sub eight and I pushed hard, but the legs were hurting all of that second half.  8:44:08.  Was pushed hard along the mind numbing 26 mile section of the C&O canal path by my friend Lauren, as I knew losing to her would bring a lifetime of ridicule from her husband.  But I broke her just before mile 40.

Relive 'JFK 50'

       

Super excited to concentrate on the shorter stuff for the next few months.

run commute 61

Not much going on this week.  Dog hikes every morning, ran to work twice, the shortest route possible, and biked the other days.  Very easy efforts, and I'm feeling pretty good for Saturday. 

$100 and I also went to a fly fishing class at Angler's Covey on Wed night.  Not sure how much of that is in my future but the big race plans for the family in '19 include her taking on The Flyathlon. 

Off to DC on Friday morning.  Race on Saturday.  Appalachian Trail and breweries/bars until Monday.  On Tuesday I'll make my first trip to the DC Mall.  We have a Pittsburgh trip in mid December, but after that it will be a while before we fly again.  The dog ain't getting any younger and I want to take her along wherever we go.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

week in review

The week of the time change always depresses the hell out of me.  So it was a perfect time to start a taper.  It was a decent week though with the hard 5k effort and just riding that klunker anywhere is quite a workout. 

run - 33 miles
ride -  20 miles
hike -  17 miles

18:18

Made the trip up to Denver on Saturday for the Park Hill Pizza Pie 5k.  Went in looking for a hard effort and that's what I got.  A 5:58 first mile had me in sight of the lead pack, then at a small hill just before the two mile mark I made a little move and took the lead.  Mentally I really struggled over the final mile and I was sure I was going to get passed, but I actually held it together pretty well, running 5:54 to preserve the W.  It was a tiny field, and there was also a 10k so this was not the main event, but it's still fun to go to the big city and win a race.  There is a possibility I'll run some more of the City Park Race Series, and I will announce those plans here in case any of my Denver friends want to come throw down.

Good weekend on the football front as the Steelers crushed, Pitt showed up to their biggest game in a long time, and Air Force finally pulled away from a pesky New Mexico squad.

 
The good luck continued as I was one of five vets to win a mug at Red Leg.  The mug stays at the brewery and I get to fill her up for five bucks.

klunk

Man, I have been wanting one of these babies for a long time, and things finally fell together.  I see lots of sweet jumps and pub crawls in my future.

No name yet but I'll be listening to lots of Widespread MF Panic for inspiration.

The thing is solid steel.  Feels like she weighs as much as my Mariachi and Beargrease combined.

Canya Canon

Seems like the course changes every year but we always have fun at the Canya Canon.  This year was a five mile run that went up, and I mean up, the Columbine trail and then up Spring Creek.  Tops out where Spring Creek meets Gold Camp Road and then it's blazing downhill the rest of the way.  I settled in to a solid pace up the hill and was able to hold it the entire way.  That perfect effort where had I tried to go any faster I would have blown up.  Not much of a race as I couldn't see either a guy in front of me or behind me.  Really happy with the hard run though.

Relive 'Lunch Run'

       

Peter caught this pic of me.  Super artsy since it's black and white.

boogie

Super stoked that Leftover Salmon will be rocking out for three days not too far from my house.  Not super stoked that my village has such a low reputation for live music that we're not referred to as Colorado Springs but "just south of Denver."

week in review

Mon - 2.3 mile dog walk, bike commute 53, CityRock 121.  Zero effort given today as I spent it recovering from Colfax.

Tues - Three mile dog hike followed by a solid 14.5 mile run.  Also did some hot yoga, which I really need to start doing again.

Wed - balls cold in the AM, but I ran to/from work for run commute 57.

Thurs - good day.  2.6 mile dog hike followed by run commute 58.  CityRock 122 at lunch.  Then another two mile dog hike after work.

Fri - 2.5 mile dog hike in the AM.  Had to pick up the jeep from the shop so that threw a wrench into my workout plans.  After work I just sat on the couch drinking beers and watching Pitt take control of the ACC coastal division.

Sat - 3.2 mile dog hike followed by a good 19 mile run up to the Air Force Academy.  Was hoping to go all the way to Pikes Peak Brewing, 25 miles, but a freak storm blew in and I wasn't prepared.  Had to take cover under a tree during some hail, then the temps dropped and the snow started.  This was not in the forecast and I was in shorts and a LS t-shirt.  $100 was on the Academy picking up our cadet, so I was able to mooch a ride home with her.

That pretty much ends my JFK training as the next two weeks will be spent trying not to get hurt.  Not nearly as many long runs as I'd like, but most of my run commutes and runs in general have been at a much higher effort than usual for me.  So we'll see how it all plays out.  I did spend five weeks hiking twelve hours a day with a lot of weight on my back, so hopefully that endurance carries over.

For the week:

run - 52 miles
hike - 16 miles
bike - 17 miles

2019 is all set...

...running wise, at least.

I want to phase out the super long stuff so I can do whatever the hell I want on weekends.  Run, bike, hike, drink, climb, van-dwell with the wife and dog, sit on a chair and hand out beer and hot dogs to CO trail hikers.  A lot of those activities have been pushed to the side over the years with the ultra stuff, as I always felt I should be spending hours and hours plogging along in the woods at 3-4mph.

So this year, I'm going to concentrate on the local Triple Crown.

June 9 - Garden Ten Miler
July 14 - Summer Roundup (hard to keep up but that race is now a half marathon at Cheyenne Mountain State Park)
Aug 24/25 - Pikes Double

It wouldn't be pretty, but I could pull off those races without running at all.  Hopefully that won't be the case and I do want to do well in those three races, but there won't be any pressure to train my ass off.

$100 and I have also discussed doing the Creede Mountain Run in '19, which (I think) is the weekend after Pikes.  Might be a good week to take off in the van and hang out in the San Juans.

Certainly that's not to say I'm done racing.  Besides JFK, I'm signed up for two road halfs (Pueblo and Platte River), and I'd like to do more local 5k's in '19.  But other than Pikes and Creede, nothing that will take more than two hours.  We are also discussing a possible trip to Utah so I could bike the White Rim trail and then we could all hike Kings Peak.

With the extra time I'd like to concentrate on knocking out some more of the 14ers.  I still have a bunch to go and after having spent over a dozen years in Colorado now there's no reason I haven't climbed them all.  Luckily I can fit that goal in with spending more time with the family.

week in review

Another 50 mile run week and I think the fitness is coming around for JFK.  Hoping for a sub eight hour run there.

Run - 50 miles
Hike - 10 miles
Bike - 42 miles

I'll post some pics from the Colfax Traverse soon but we DNF'd the thing.  Too many bars on day two and our ride back to the Springs caught us at the Zephyr Lounge just before Colfax hits 225.

Red Rock Canyon Climb

Climbed 5.8 outside on Thursday evening, sending Wake to Wake on my first try!  Woot!  Didn't lead it, my buddy Mike went up first.  He also took a few pictures.  The first and third are of me climbing, the middle is of me belaying.  A few "oh shit" moments but the climb went pretty well.  Hope to get out after work a few more times, but daylight savings is looming and will probably put an end to weeknight climbing for a while.

Colfax Traverse

On October 27 a few friends and I will attempt to ride our bikes the entire length of Colfax Ave, the longest and wickedest road in America.  A feat so daring it has never been attempted before*.  

Saturday and Sunday.  Staying at the luxurious Ramada across the street from Sancho's on Saturday night.  Starting Sunday morning at 8AM at Nob Hill.  Possibly a few pubs along the way.  If anyone wants to meet up with us get in touch with me.

Not only do we get to see the Nuns of Brixton, but these guys are opening:

*I have done zero research to support this claim and I can only think that if this hasn't been done it's because most would say it's a dumb idea.  I do know this gal has hiked the entire length of Colfax.

week in review

Two weeks, since I think I missed last week.  Fitness is coming around, starting to feel good about JFK.  Also looking forward to a bunch of shorter races I have coming up.

The groin thing seems to have gone away.  Ditched the weight vest on the dog walks, I'll probably take another week away from that just to be safe.

Run - 63
Hike - 16
Bike - 39

Run - 54.2
Hike - 16
Bike - 25

Tim B carried a few dozen pounds of camera gear up Cheyenne Mountain and got this pic:

Cheyenne Mountain Run

Awesome day to be outside and I took full advantage of it.  Early morning 5k Garden hike with the dog, then it was over to Cheyenne Mountain State Park to run up and down Cheyenne Mountain.

Love the new Dixon trail and I think it will become a regular run for me.  Just as hard as running up to Barr Camp and back without the zoo that Manitou and the Incline bring (admittedly I'm part of that zoo quite a bit).

Wasn't sure how the race would go.  I'm feel fit, but all my work has been on flat stuff with almost no climbing.  Started very conservatively, but the day went well and I moved up the entire race.  The effort was exactly what I wanted today, definitely sweating a bit but I also had another gear or two in reserve had I wanted to use it.

Made it up in 1:26:04, down in 61 flat for 2:27:04.  Spent about two minutes at the top taking in the view, then the first 1.5 miles of the downhill was little more than walking due to me taking the technical terrain very carefully and the mass of people making their way up the trail.  A lot of people passed me on that part of the downhill, but I ended up getting most of them back once the trail smoothed out a bit.

Relive 'Morning Run'

       

bike commute 50

Sunday - Nothing.  I was hungover and it was approximately -156F outside.  Global warming my ass.

Monday - Two mile hike with the dog, run commute 53, CityRock 113.

Tuesday - 2.4 mile dog hike, CityRock 114, and bike commute 49.  The bike day included four rides between the office and home and a downtown meeting I had to attend.

Wednesday - 2.3 mile dog hike, run commute 54, CityRock 115.  My old body is failing once again as I tweaked something in the groin area crushing ten minute miles on the run home. 

Thursday - Off work.  5k dog hike followed by a 17.6 mile run on local trails.  Physical activity is fine on the groin, but I'll be doing something like texting a friend or getting a glass of water and a quick jolt of mild pain will shoot up.  Getting old sucks.  I did go climbing outside in Red Rock Canyon, and cleaned an anchor for the first time.  I am at the point where I believe I have the gear and the knowledge to go climbing with someone who is newer to the sport than me.

Friday - 2.4 mile dog hike, bike commute 50, CityRock 116.  Was going to do the Incline after work but I think the body needs some rest.

bike commute 47

Mon - two mile dog hike, run commute 51, and CityRock 110.  $100, the dog, and I got in another two mile dog hike after work down to the library and back.

Tues - bike commute 47.  Dreamer, my fat bike, turned three years old.  My Mariachi is Barstool, and the two are named after a Widespread Panic song.  My Lorax is named Larry, after my 4th grade teacher and the first person I remember coming across who biked to work.  Anyways, went a bit longer on the ride home, and it was the first time this season I thought I was going to lose some toes and/or fingers.

Wed - 32F and snowing when I got up.  Damn near bailed and went back to sleep, but I got out for a quick four miler.  My cold weather mental fitness is currently lacking, but this was at least a small step in the right direction.  Did not bike or run to work as I was supposed to climb in Red Rock Canyon today, but that will likely be cancelled due to the wet weather (not a sissy call, climbing on the RRC sandstone when it's wet is bad).

run commute 50

Mon - morning dog hike followed by bike commute 45, including a good ride through Ute Valley Park after work on the way to garage run.  CityRock 108.

Tues - 6.5 mile morning Garden run.  Had to go up to the Air Force Academy in the afternoon, so I rode the 13.5 mile Falcon Trail.

Wed - 60 minute morning dog hike followed by run commute 49.

Thurs - 60 minute dog hike followed by run commute 50.  We were passing a driveway and the dog barked at a cat who was sleeping there.  I thought it was a bit big for a cat and sure enough when I fired up the headlamp it was a bobcat, not five feet from us.  The dog is a peaceful animal and left the bobcat alone.

I got this in the mail the other day, so at least I have that going for me:

Nebraska

First, a little background music for this post.



Made the drive to Scottsbluff/Gehrig, Nebraska, to nab my 20th state marathon.  Using this as a long run for JFK, I was planning on a four hour effort.  Got in a bit faster than that, running 3:37, and it was a really good 20 miler with a terrible 10k added on.  But I'll take it.

The trip was pretty meh.  Long drive, mediocre brewery, a local population that is all grumpy because Nebraska football is terrible (one of the few teams in the country that might be worse than Pitt, and folks in NE take college football a lot more serious than folks in the 'burgh).  Even the national monument was lackluster - it reminded me of Palmer Park which is a cool place but not quite cool enough to get me to cross I-25 for.  Not trying to rip the nice people of western Nebraska.  But sometimes when you drive to the middle of nowhere there's not much to do there.

Carhenge

Quick roadtrip to western Nebraska this weekend so I took advantage of the opportunity to visit Carhenge.  Pretty cool place.