2k

This cold spell is getting a little bit ridiculous.

4.5 miles to CityRock, then a good workout at the rock while I was regaining feeling in my fingers and toes.  Four miles back home, and with a mile to go the yearly odometer wound past 2000 miles.  Good timing, as it was my last run of the year.

We will be heading down to Canon City on Thursday after work, then off to the Sand Dunes to bring in the new year.  Got some long hikes on the docket, and we're hoping to hit two new breweries along the way - Crestone Brewing and Square Peg Brewerks.

My last post of 2017, hope everyone has a safe and fun end of the year!

Accolade 26

8F when I got up to walk the dog this morning.  Not even the dog wants to be outside in those kinds of temps.  She went out, did her business, then drug me back to the house, where she immediately jumped back into bed.  Smart animal.

I had planned to run to work but decided to head indoors instead.  Probably the last time this year I'll get to the gym.  I was hoping for 34 trips to Accolade this year, and I'll fall a bit short.  $335 per year for the membership, which came out to $12.88 per visit.  Probably not worth keeping, but I won't cancel due to the hassle and the fact that I have some different things planned for '18 that gym training will be good for.

Far exceeded my goals for CityRock.  Needed 54 trips to get to less than $10 per visit, and I'm currently at 83.  A bargain at $6.46 per visit.  I've already re-upped my membership for next year.  Alex Honnold better watch his back.

incline 39

Met some friends over in Manitou for a christmas trip up the Incline.  Good times.

3k

Motivation was lacking due to the low temps today.  But I was only 14.8 miles away from hitting my 2017 goal of 3000 miles on the bike.  And my Red Leg loop is 15 miles.  And Red Leg put their Guidon IPA on tap yesterday.  So I got out there and got it done. 

Interesting year on the bike.  I rode 100 miles at Bikes & Brews in Canon City.  Kircher and I did a weekend of 150ish miles.  I rode to Pikes Peak Brewing (50 miles) twice.  Other than that, most of those miles were either to work or to the pub.  So just by replacing your car with a bike for trips under five miles, you can get some pretty significant miles.

incline 38

5F when I arrived to meet the Incline Club in Manitou.  Did the Incline with the fire road extension, seven miles.  When I got back to the jeep two hours later it was still 5F.

bike commute 85

Sunday - hungover, but I tried to get outside as much as I could.  3.7 mile hike with the dog in the Garden, 5.5 mile run at White Acres, and 14 miles on the bike along the Legacy Loop.  Every inch was at an extremely slow pace.

Monday - bike commute 84.  22 miles on the day which included a trip to Red Leg.  Then I hit Fossil when I got home.  Oreo Stout release, but it was way too sweet for me so I stuck with the Mammoth IPA.

Tuesday - hungover (a common theme during the holidays), but I had a sick day to use.  Four mile run in Red Rock Canyon with the dog, then a trip up to Lakewood to see Dooper.  He looked like shit but was in good spirits.  Got home in time to do my 14 mile Legacy Loop ride.

Wednesday - run commute 62.  Eleven miles on the day.  Also a really good session at CityRock (82).

Thursday - 3.7 mile run in the Garden with the dog followed by a ten mile ride to work.  Holy balls was it cold on the bike this morning.

Have 29 miles running and 45 miles biking left to finish my 2017 resolutions.  Hope to finish them both over the upcoming four day weekend.

Have I mentioned how I hate this city being associated with the Olympics?  Maybe the USOC should relocate to State College where they have a much more favorable opinion of child molesters.  I don't know everything about this case, but it seems Maroney told them she would keep quite for a million bucks.  Then when she got her money she told everyone.  Awesome!  I hope she, and anyone else involved, sue the bejesus out of those in charge.

that was quick...

I will now have to find a new place to leave bags of dogshit as the blue frame was taken down this morning.  Photo stolen from Christian Murdock and I will buy him a beer next time I see him as repayment.

So glad the powers that be are always trying to attach our village to the Olympics. 

incline 35, 36, & 37

I got up to run on Friday morning but it was 18F so I went to the gym instead.  25th trip to Accolade this year.

Did hit the Incline on Friday after work with $100 and the dog.  Much better weather in the evening than the morning.

On Saturday there was a combined CRUD/Sunrise Striders double Incline run and I got my ass out of bed for it.  Doozy of a workout.  Ten miles in just under 3.5 hours.

Also slogged out an 18 miler on the bike.  Chasing that 3000 mile goal.

Kept busy all day Saturday.  After the ride we took the dog to Old Colorado City.  She is taking another class through All Breed Rescue & Training.  It's their outdoor adventure series of classes, and in this one we just go to busy places and work on having the dog behave.  The dog is crushing the classes so far.

Saturday night was the annual Verly Hudson Manitou pub crawl, BLOS and I have been doing this for almost a decade now.  Started at the Royal Tavern, then hit the Townhouse, Stagecoach, the Keg, and Kinfolk's.  Needless to say I'm a bit foggy this morning.

Major first world problems here in the Springs as a stupid blue picture frame was installed in the Garden of the Gods.  Been a lot of pissed off folks about it, and I hope it is taken down soon.  I also wish the powers that be would stop sucking off the USOC.  I love watching the Olympics but if you're paying any level of attention at all you have to associate anything Olympic related to scandal and corruption.

The dog says the Garden is just fine as it is without catering to the mayor's wife and her tone deaf pet projects.

Carpenter Peak

It's become a habit now that whenever I need to go to our Denver office for work, I hit Roxborough State Park for a run up Carpenter Peak before heading back home.  A little bit out of the way, but Living The Dream Brewing is close by so it makes for a great afternoon.

Met up with JP at the trailhead.  Just under 40 minutes to the top.  JP hasn't been running much so I was able to keep up.  Then back down and over to LTD for a few brews while we talked about how all of our friends who used to run don't run anymore.  Good times!

Totally unrelated, here's a pic of me finishing the Chasing Santa 5k on Sat:

run commute 61

5.5 miles to work, 4.3 miles back home.

$100 and I also went to Accolade after work.  Lifted some weights and rode ten miles on the bike.

Super cold Tuesday morning.  Walked the dog and then biked down to CityRock to climb a few laps before work.

Someone has challenged Killian's recent Everest stuff.  I do find it odd that as an ultra runner he would never think of going six minutes without posting a picture of mountains on social media, but somehow he can't put out a summit pic of Everest?  Guys have been taking Everest summit pics for over 40 years now, this shouldn't be a difficult thing to do anymore.

20:07

I knew this wasn't going to be pleasant but I had pre-registered for the Jingle Bell 5k so I figured I'd at least show up.  I went hard for a mile, 6:10, but I just had nothing in the tank after dealing with the sickness most of last week.  Mentally and physically I just gave up and jogged it in.  Wasn't paying attention at all or I'd have at least gone sub 20.

Probably my last race of the year.  Had fun getting after it during all these 5k's though, and it's something I'll try to do more of in 2018.

bike commute 81

Been a rough week as I've battled this sickness.  Only got in two runs - both very easy walk/jogs with $100 and the dog over in Red Rock Canyon.  And two rides - one of which was indoors at Accolade.  On Friday I was able to bike to work, and this is the first week all year I've used the jeep more than once to get to work.  Still not 100%, but I'm getting there.

Some Rock Canyon pics:

Rock Canyon Half

I figured I was in 1:40 shape, and that's when I told $100 to expect me, but I was definitely down in Pueblo to take a crack at 1:30.  I did well for the first seven miles.  And after that, I didn't do so well.  Not a complete epic failure as I've been known to post on occasion, but I was clearly running faster than I was in shape for.  Ended up crossing the line in 1:31:09.  And that effort crushed me, I was sore all the next day and now I've come down with some shitty flu like thing and I haven't done anything since Sunday.

I had a bet with Jeff and I felt like that 91 would be solid.  He was running CIM and the bet was my Rock Canyon vs his second half.  He finally proved he had a sack and not only won that bet, but went sub three for the first time.  Must be something about that course - his 2:59:22 was only good for 400 millionth 585th place.

I am signed up for two more halves - the Super Half here in the Springs and Platte River - and I'll take one last shot at a sub 90 before retiring from a sub 90 guy to the friendlier sub 100 club.

We did get to take the van out over the weekend.  Lake Pueblo State Park (great place to camp, though steep at $18 per night) on Friday night, and then Music Pass on Saturday night.

incline 34

Brother-in-law was in town on Thursday so $100, the dog, and I took him up the Incline.  Pitch dark at 6PM these days and as far as I could tell we were the only ones up there.  Dog's first incline in a really long time and she crushed it.

Already into December.  November was a decent month - 150 miles running and 295 on the bike.  Keeps me on pace to hit my 2017 goals of 2k running and 3k on the bike.

We are headed out of town on Friday for Lake Pueblo.  Rock Canyon Half on Saturday morning, then some more exploring of the Westcliffe area.  Could be our last van trip until our new years trip to Sand Dunes.

Rego for the Salida Marathon is open.  I'll be run/hiking the full and $100 will be running the half.  I will also be eating a lot of pizza and drinking a lot of alcohol that weekend.

In case anyone thought I was joking about crushing an eleven year old girl at the Turkey Trot, this was taken somewhere between mile 3.0 and 3.1, where I was teaching her some difficult life lessons about failure.  I really wanted to mow that old dude in front of me down as well but he was having none of it.

incline 33

It's back!

Was planning to do my usual turkey evening incline hike whether or not it was legal, but word broke on Wednesday that the steps would be officially open for business.  The top third is much easier now but overall it's still a great workout.  Had some friends from Austin in for the holiday weekend and $100 and I drug one of them up.

The rest of the weekend was mostly spent on the mountain bike.  And at bars.  Or at the house drinking.  Bit too much booze but at least I got some solid riding in, including the Buckhorn loop, and a ride through Red Rocks/Intemann over to Manitou Brewing to see JP and Vanessa.

I watched the last few minutes of the big Pitt upset from the top of Buckhorn.  We celebrated with some PA beers.

The Incline Club started up the new season and I was able to drag myself out of bed for that.  Did the incline and went up a bit higher to Rocky Mountain.  8.5 miles total.

18:43

Rough race but the goal was to break 19 and I got that done.  Our local turkey trot is a tough course if you're trying to run fast.  Out and back, the first half is all uphill so nailing a specific pace is rough.  I was in the hurt locker at the halfway point but I managed to hold things together to the finish.  Splits were 6:21, 6:14, 5:45.  Gerald wasn't too far ahead at the turn around but he crushed me on the downhill.  Luckily I had something left in the tank over the last .1 miles as I had to unleash a kick just to beat an eleven year old female.

Bike Commute 77

Monday - Run commute 59.  6.7 miles to work via Sonderman Park, 5.1 miles home along the Midland Trail.  CityRock 75 at lunch.

Tuesday - AM track.  4 x 400, 2 x 800.  Love this workout in the offseason, as it's hard and works on some speed, but it's not the kind of soul crushing workout that scares me.  After that I walked the dog, then rode ten miles to work.  CityRock 76 at lunch.  Had to drop by Colorado Running Company to pick up turkey trot bibs after work, got in 18 miles on the bike.

update

Had a blast last weekend seeing shows on back to back nights, a rare feet for an old fart like me. 

On Friday we went to the Black Sheep for the Perpetual Groove show.  Loved it, even though they didn't play my favorite Three Weeks.

On Saturday we headed over to Manitou to catch the Trout Steak Revival show at city hall.  Not exactly Red Rocks, but it was pretty cool and I hope they start bringing more bands there.

A few days later, on Friday, I biked home in short sleeves and headed up to Lone Tree where it was snowing.  Nat Geo talk about the Grand Canyon with Pete McBride and Kevin Fedarko. 

I had been itching to get back to the GC since I saw Fedarko speak a month or so ago, and the wheeles are really turning now.   $100 and I might go do this hike sometime around easter.

In other important news, there's a new, really good pizza joint by my house.

Still getting the dog out, usually twice a day.  This shot is from Red Rock Canyon.  As the crow flies it's probably less than a mile from my house.

track

Monday - run commute 57.  Eleven miles total to/from work.

Tuesday - had to drive to work today, so I got up early for a track workout.  4 x 400m, 2 x 800m.  I usually do this while running to work as 4 x 90 seconds, 2 x 3 minutes.  But it hurts a lot more on the track.  93, 88, 87, 87, 3:06, 3:03.  Also got in some climbing over lunch.

first to worst

Ran the Celebrate Our Vets 5k on Saturday.  19:09, with mile splits of 6:16, 6:02, and 6:10.  But you don't have to be good when you choose races like I do, and I actually ended up winning this thing.  By a lot.  Basically the field was me and a bunch of blind people (And Brandon Staponowhich, who I crushed).

The American Distance Project, which now apparently serves to place Kenyan born folks into the Army, was out there doing speedwork.  They were probably running close to two minutes per mile faster than I was going, but I'm sure I impressed them with my win.

After celebrating my victory at the brand spankin' new Trails End Taproom, I went over to Cheyenne Mountain High School for the open two mile race.  I need to kick O'Day in the balls because he told me there would be some slow people there.  But only one slow person showed up - me.  Bunch of young college dudes in short shorts and sponsored runner singlets, and me out in lane eight rocking NBA style shorts and a Grateful Dead cotton t-shirt.  I ran my first lap in 82 and I was very, very much in last place already.  Only two guys in the ten person field didn't lap me, and those two were pretty close.  Finished in 11:49 after running a solo lap of shame the final quarter mile, about a minute behind the next guy.

I've been running a long time, but I've never finished first and last in the same day.

bike commute 74

Mon - return trip from the Pittsburgh/Titusville area.  Joyful three hour layover at DIA waiting on my 18 minute flight to the Springs.  Did get back early enough to take the dog for a loop of Section 16.

Tues - bike commute 73.  5.5 miles to work, eleven back home.  Went over 2500 miles on the year.  First really shitty cold weather commute, complete with a snow/rain mix.  As an added bonus, our hot water heater blew up, so no shower.  Though that forced me to visit Accolade (22).

Wed - run commute 56.  5.5 miles to work, five flat home.  $100 and I then went to the local showing of Reel Rock, which was awesome this year.  Hopefully "Safety Third" and "Stumped" are put on youtube or vimeo at some point, those were great whether or not you're into climbing.

Thurs - 2.6 mile hike with the dog around Old Colorado City, followed by bike commute 74 and CityRock 70.

Survived a trip home to see mom, which I always assume will be the last time I see her, and having the hot water heater kaput out five months after the warranty expired.  Just what I need for what is always the most depressing week of the year - when it's now dark leaving work at 5PM.  Not everything is depressing this week though, I have an awesome new hat to rock at Red Leg tonight for the Pitt/Carolina game:

October

Not a bad month for the off-season. 

166 miles running.  Low but I'm definitely getting more quality efforts in.  And I think I'll possibly bust a decent 5k sooner or later.  1693 miles on the year, right on pace for my 2000 mile goal.

187 miles on the bike.  All of them either to/from work or to/from the bar.  2481 miles on the year, again right on target for my 3000 mile resolution.

54 miles hiking.  65 trips to CityRock and 21 to Accolade on the year.  Definitely starting to feel the benefits of not spending every waking moment running and hitting the gym from time to time.

run commute 54/CityRock 64

5.5 miles to work, 6.5 miles back home.  Good CityRock session over lunch.

A few of us biked over to Ute Valley Park on Sunday and handed out beers with about half a mile to go to the end of Fall Series III.  Think it was over 70F.  Tonight on my run home it was below 30F and it is about to start snowing.

Creepy Crawl 5k

18:39, but significantly short at 3.0 miles.  Probably 19:19ish for the correct distance.  Atrocious third mile as I went 6:03, 6:12, 6:32.  Getting back into 5k shape is taking longer than I thought it would but I think I'm going in the right direction.

After the race we got to hit up the Manitou Coffin Races.  Pitt won.  Got to have a few drinks with Becca and Andy.  PSU lost.  Great Saturday!

run commute 53/CityRock 63

Easy five mile run to work.  Hard lunch session at CityRock.  Easy five mile run home.  14 mile bike on the legacy loop in the evening.  Gots to enjoy the warm weather while it lasts.

Juju Smith-Schuster is now tied for my favorite Pittsburgh Steeler (with former Pitt guy James Conner).  Dude is in the NFL but doesn't drive.  Bikes everywhere.  Then his bike got stolen, so he had chose to walk to practice.  Luckily, someone found the bike.  Read about it here.  The bike is a Ghost Square Cross 5 that is currently less than $700 at REI, though when it isn't on sale it's almost a grand.  It's hard to tell exactly how much a player makes, but he earns at least just north of one million per year.

bike commute 70

Five miles to work, eleven miles home on the Mariachi.  Good CityRock workout during the day.  2.7 mile night hike with the dog in Red Rock Canyon.  Good day.

run commute 52

Slowly starting to emerge from the crud I had been dealing with since Thursday.  Was prepared to take down all of Alex's local KOM's, but then this guy got in my way:

5.5 miles to work, four miles home.  Then an easy 2.7 mile hike in Red Rock Canyon with $100 and the dog.

On Sunday afternoon our library hosted a talk by Kevin Fedarko, author of one of my favorite books ever - The Emerald Mile.  Great talk and it really lit a fire for me to get back to the Grand Canyon.

Cheyenne Mountain Run

It's been a rough week and after 2.5 miles of the Cheyenne Mountain Run I had nothing left in the tank.  Walked most of the second half of the climb, only jogging when I saw Tim taking pics, and I even walked a good chunk of the downhill.  Nothing wrong, just didn't feel like running.  Yet it was still great to get outside on a great trail with a bunch of friends.

11.5 miles in Cheyenne Mountain State Park, followed by my return to the Pikes Peak Hash.  Red Leg to Coach's via Ute Valley Park.  Good times!

meh

Not a good week, but at least I'm trying to get out there and enjoy the late spring weather.

Monday - run commute 51.  5.5 miles to work following a three mile dog hike, 4.5 miles home.  CityRock 59 at lunch.

Tues - bike commute 68.  Five miles to the office, four miles home.  Grabbed the dog and the van and headed down to Canon City for the evening, night outside 22.

Wednesday - nice 5k hike on some of the new trails near the Royal Gorge.  Definitely worth checking out.  Got in 26 miles on the Lorax once back in the Springs.  That evening, $100 was having book  wine club at the house, women only, so I hit Red Leg before heading over to Fossil.

Thursday - another day off.  Got in a five mile run in Red Rock Canyon, then took the fat bike back there for a dozen miles.  Very rough day in the Springs running community as word of Mike Safari's death shook us all.

Friday - nice morning hike with the dog.  We saw a bear!  Then I rode five miles to CityRock.  Liquid lunch at the new Oskar Blues restaurant.

Tiger Classic

$100 and I got to see The Brothers Comatose at Bristol on Friday, so I was not feeling very stellar on Saturday morning.  I still drug my ass out of bed for the Tiger Classic 5K over at Colorado College.  Despite the hangover I didn't stink up the joint too bad, running 19:19.  6:21, 6:23, 6:17.  Hope to get under 19 very soon.

After the race it was time to slay the hangover with the Brewery Heavy Half.  17 miles, nine brewries.  Manitou, Fossil, Cerberus, Goat Patch, Iron Bird, Fieldhouse, Gold Camp, Bristol, and Smiling Toad. Good times!

Sunday was spent nursing a hangover as well.  Did get in 7.5 easy miles on the Garden trails, a good hike with the dog, Accolade number 20, and an hour of hot yoga.

Accolade 19

Thurs PM - Had an early work function so nothing in the morning.  Which was OK, because the afternoon weather was fantastic and I'm glad I got out early.  The dog and I had a great 5.7 mile run around the Section 16 loop, and then I took the Lorax out for an hour on the Legacy Loop.

Fri AM - 5k hike with the dog in the Garden, followed by a gym session at Accolade.

Big beer news for Colorado as Surly announced they will be distributing here!

bike commute 67/CityRock 57

AM - Quick 5.6 miles on the Mariachi through Sonderman to CityRock.  I found $1 on the trail!  Score!  But I later gave it to a homeless dude.  Yes, he probably bought alcohol with it.

PM - Fieldhouse to Fossil via Bear Creek and Red Rock Canyon, 12.4 miles.  Great ride.

bike commute 66/CityRock 56

It was 26F at 5AM when the dog and I went for our walk.  Where the hell did summer go?

Hadn't been on a bike since before the Zion/Vegas trip, felt like forever.  Just rode five miles to CityRock since it was so damn cold.

Good workout at CityRock.  Love the new earlier hours.

It was 58F at 5PM when I rode home.  18 miles, including a stop at Marc & Amanda's to see my other two dogs and mooch a beer.

This, from the Gazette today.  Don't Boulder my Springs!

run commute 50

Sunday AM - nice early morning 90 minute hike in Stratton Open Space with $100 and the dogs.  Followed by ten miles on the Garden roads, 1:25.

Sunday PM - one last hike with the three dogs.  Went and did Iron Mountain.  Meesha and Moose definitely had fun during their stay, but their evil mother came and picked them up after the hike.

Monday AM - 3.2 miles in the Garden with the dog, followed by the 4.4 mile run to work, 37:39.  Hit my resolution of 50 run commutes on the year.

YES!

This gal had a pretty decent race as well.  For some reason I can't find any Chicago pics of her on the interwebs yet.

22:32

Not quite what I was expecting at the Venetucci Pumpkin 5k this morning.  But I have a good excuse.  Someone wiped some marks off the course, so I spent a good chunk of change being lost.  Ran an extra quarter mile, stood around a bit, then ran back to catch the pack.  Guessing I would have been right at 19:59 without the mishap.

In the scene wasn't messed up enough, as I caught back up with the pack, a goat jumped out of the bushes and started running with us.  He was having a blast.  He ran a good quarter mile with me before stopping to eat some leaves.

Mile splits of 6:05, 7:29, and 6:39.

Good effort, so I'm happy with the day.  Hope to redeem myself with a sub 20 at the Tiger Classic next Saturday.

run commute 49/accolade 18

So some shit went down while we were in Vegas.  We were drunk and not paying attention to the time, but we were either at the Double Down (two miles from the Mandalay Bay, which sounds close, but we were not in danger) or in a cab back to Fremont Street when the shooting happened.  I heard about a shooting back on Fremont, but didn't think much of it at the time.  Much later a beep on my phone woke me up at 2:30AM and I saw I had a bunch of text messages asking if we were all OK.  Then I found out the extent of what happened.  I went down to Fremont Street (at least six miles away from the Mandalay Bay) at that time, and there were two cops on every single corner, every one carrying either a shotgun or the cop version of the M-4.

And if that didn't cast a shadow on the trip, Tom Petty died the next day.  Sheesh.  Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the show?  It was somewhat creepy on our way to the airport though, when we passed the Mandalay you could see the window that had been smashed out.

I'll get some pics up soon.  Had a blast in Zion and in Vegas.  Happy five year anniversary to $100!

Going to try to get some regularity with the workouts going again, I've been somewhat undisciplined since Pikes.  Ran to/from work on Thursday, seven miles total.  We currently have three dogs so there was a good Garden hike super early on Friday, followed by a quick trip to Accolade before work.

Have a 5k tomorrow down at the Venetucci pumpkin farm.  Not expecting much but I hope to break 20.  A good start point to get back into 5k shape.

Forgot to mention I did my first road hundo down at Bikes & Brews in Canon City two weeks ago.  Eight hours.  Good stuff.