the week

Very hungover from the annual wine & cheese shindig but I got in a five miler on the Garden trails on Saturday and an easy two hour jog over near Pulpit Rock on Sunday.

For the week:

run - 50 miles, ten hours

ride - nine miles, 55 minutes

hike - 25 miles, 10.5 hours

We are leaving for Florida on Wednesday.  Taking three days for the drive, have a few breweries to camp at and hope to hit four state high points on the trip - Arkansas, Mississippi, Florida, and Missouri.  Shooting for a sub 3:30 'thon but it's been a long time since I had a decent race at that distance so we'll see.

20:18

Ran as hard as I could at the local Turkey Trot today but fell well short of my sub 20 goal.  Decent weather, solid effort, I have no excuses other than I'm getting old.  6:49, 6:44, 5:57 (course is out and back, uphill first 1.5 miles).  My long term goal of breaking 20 at the age of 50 is definitely in doubt.

Shout out to the GOAT, who passed away one year ago today.

the week

Race pic of me at the recent Bridge Burner run:

Another decent week as we head into the holidays.

run - 51 miles, 10.5 hours

ride - 30 miles, three hours

hike - 31 miles, 14 hours

Might be able to squeeze in one more decent long run before we leave for Panama City Beach.  Hoping to go sub 3:30 there.

SAR

Little busy this week but I still got some miles in.

run - 34 miles, 6.5 hours

ride - 15 miles, 90 minutes

hike - 23 miles, 9.5 hours

Saturday was a trip up to Boulder to run the Colleen De Reuck XC classic.  Typical old man XC race for me, I was absolutely gassed about a quarter mile in but ended up running pretty well.  When I started running back in 1989 there was a running prodigy out of Colorado named Melody Fairchild.  This was pre-interweb days, so I'd have to wait for the monthly issue of Runners World to see what she was up to.  Anywho, we had a good duel from roughly one mile until 2.5 miles.  Actually went ahead of her for a bit, but she crushed me over the final half mile.  I ended up running 20:44, pretty good for me on this course.  The Square State Striders won the masters team title.

I have accepted a volunteer position with El Paso County Search and Rescue and will begin that stuff in early 2024.  Training runs until early May and then I'll start heading out on rescues.  Definitely going to shake up my routine a bit but I'm pretty excited.

Bridge Burner

Busy week, plus we got our first real taste of winter with some snow and cold temps.

Tues - bike commute 90.  Five there, eleven back home.

Wed - run commute 42.  Four there and four back.

Thurs - run commute 43.  Six there, four back.

Fri - bike commute 91.  Eleven there, five back.  Took off to Oil Well Flats to spend Friday night.

Sat - Bridge Burner 50k down in Canon City.  Great course that I've always wanted to do.  From Canon you head out Tunnel Drive, up the big, steep climb to the Gorge, over the bridge, and back via Temple Canon.  Not an easy run but I loved it.  33 miles in 6.5 hours.  Sore as fuck after this was over.

Sun - easy 100 minute recovery hike with the Mook at the dog park.  He started agility classes in the evening.

Pretty decent week mileage wise with the long run.  It feels like I've been running a 50K every other day or so lately but the Burner was the last one for a while.  Panama City Beach will be my last long run of the year.  For the week:

run - 52 miles, 9.5 hours.

ride - 30 miles, three hours

hike - 20 miles, 8.5 hours 

Mon - still sore, easy five miler in Red Rock Canyon.

October

Decent month.  A Pikes summit, some decent long runs, and a 5k.

run - 195 miles, 35 hours

ride - 145 miles, 16 hours

hike - 126 miles, 55.5 hours

Went 27/31 on my sober October attempt.  

Also picked May 30 for the attempt on Hood.  Myself and three other locals going.

November will be a few shorter races and getting ready for the Panama City Beach 'thon on December 2nd.  Mook, $100 and I will be driving, hitting some state highpoints along the way.  Maybe a few breweries as well.