...the real bike racing action is in Leadville!
I love this description of the Leadville trail run:
"The Leadville Trail 100, an athletic endeavor beyond most of our aspirations or tolerance for suffering..."
Thursday, July 12, 2007
to the victors go the spoils...
Special awards going to anyone this Sunday who can complete the Barr Trail Mountain Race and the Manitou Springs pub crawl. FYI, it's fucking hard to find glue that will hold a patch to an aluminum can.Since most people who read this couldn't even fathom making up to Barr Camp in the alloted time (good luck to Boobs, QnA, and Tits!) here are the details for the pub crawl:
The crawl will start at Soda Springs Park in Manitou at 11AM. This is the awards ceremony for the BTMR. It is a stong possibility that I'll get some hardware (I placed in my age group last year and plan to run faster this year). BYOB here, but you must have at least one brew to count for the crawl. And if you only have one you're a panzee.
Around noon-ish we'll start crawling down Mantiou Ave to the following bars: Ancient Mariner, Kinfolk's, Royal Tavern, Townhouse Lounge, and the Keg.
Be advised that parking will be retarded on Sunday morning. Park at Memorial Park (by the train just as you come into Manitou) and walk down to Soda Springs.
it's on like donkey kong!
I've gained a lot of knowledge and experience concerning high altitude hiking during my 1.5 years in Colorado (32 named peaks, many of them more than once, 15 of those being over 14,000 feet). But I'm throwing it all out the window this Saturday, and I'm making the summit of Quandry at any cost!
Dark clouds? Who cares. Lightening? I'm not scared. Bigfoot armed with an AK-47? Bring it on! Getting to the top is my only concern, I'll worry about getting down later.
Dark clouds? Who cares. Lightening? I'm not scared. Bigfoot armed with an AK-47? Bring it on! Getting to the top is my only concern, I'll worry about getting down later.
Free pitcher of Pearl to the first person who can tell me how I got that blue shirt in the pic.
go get 'em, joe!
Joe Prusaitis, one of my mentors of trail running, will be attempting his sixth consecutive Hardrock 100 miler tomorrow. For those not in the loop, Hardrock is considered the hardest ultra out there, one of the toughest physical challenges in the world. How folks from sea level can come up to Colorado and finish this race is beyond me. Anywho, Joe can be followed live right here beginning at 6AM Colorado time. Also lookin' forward to the Scott Jurek/Karl Meltzer battle, that should be one for the ages!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Manitou Pub Crawl!
Yup, Manitou Springs Pub Crawl this Sunday. Details TBA. Sometimes Boobs really isn't as dumb as he looks.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Quandry
The chick in this pic is Lowlife from the Boulder hash, on top of Quandry Peak. With an IAH - Austin gimmie too! Not sure how old she is, but she still climbs 14ers on a regular basis. Part of it is because she keeps herself in decent shape, but most of it is because she's fearless and refuses to admit that there are physical efforts out there that she shouldn't be taking part in, no matter what her age is. Unfortunately, most of my friends my age can't keep up with her.Anywho, the following are in for the Quandry hike this Sat:
brownie
Nappy
Free Bus(c)h
Knees Up
(Chinwacker and Pays For Bus(c)h included in that???)
The following have excused absences:
Katie (working)
Tits (BTMR)
Boobs (BTMR)
The BTMR is barely an excused absence. I'm doing it too. I hope to win some hareware in a very competitive age group, yet I'm still going.
Most of the others I e-mailed have given LAME excuses and I won't embarass them by mentioning their names here. Wussies.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
let's be careful out there
Sad day for the Austin trail running community as the search for a missing HCTR member has turned out for the worst. Great to see the club respond in such a big way to help with the search, unfortunately everyone was hoping for better results. Read about it here.
Way too many recreational athletes meeting an early end lately.
Way too many recreational athletes meeting an early end lately.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
shivano/tabeguache
I could bitch about the cost of gas and getting to Salida, the physical effort requited to get up and down these mountains, the 3AM start and how it made me super tired for an entire week, having to buy pizza and beer for some chick I'm not even sleeping with, 2nd degree burns from the sun with lots of blisters, and tons of other stuff. But I can take a beating. And mountains, like life, sometimes reward hard work with simple pleasures that just can't be described.
back to Iraq
Received word today of a possible deployment back to Iraq. Don't want to say too much about it on my blog, it's not comming up super soon, but let's just say that it's borderline if I'll be able to make next year's Traveler show at the Rocks. I'm kinda excited to get the call again, though I was hoping to get to go to Afghanistan.
For what it's worth, I would offer my life for the chance to go hunt Osama in the mountains in Afghanistan/Pakistan. In fact, even if they told me there's a 100% chance I wouldn't come back and a .001% chance I'd be able to be the one to put a bullet in his head, I'd go without taking a moment to think about it. Concerning Iraq, I'm kinda upset I'll hafta get a buzz cut to go. I'll still go, 'cuz that's what I signed up for, but it's kinda obvious that 'ol W and I differ on our thoughts concerning the national security of this country.
For what it's worth, I would offer my life for the chance to go hunt Osama in the mountains in Afghanistan/Pakistan. In fact, even if they told me there's a 100% chance I wouldn't come back and a .001% chance I'd be able to be the one to put a bullet in his head, I'd go without taking a moment to think about it. Concerning Iraq, I'm kinda upset I'll hafta get a buzz cut to go. I'll still go, 'cuz that's what I signed up for, but it's kinda obvious that 'ol W and I differ on our thoughts concerning the national security of this country.
million dollar client!!!
I'm invoking the "million dollar client" rule on Nappy and Net.
Nobody at the hash cares:
A)whether it's harder to raise a child or raise a dog;
B)whether being single or married makes life more difficult;
C)what community college classes you're currently taking are any harder than any other classes that same community college offers.
Seriously, as far as I'm concerned, everyone I enjoy hanging out at the hash with is Paris Hilton. No job, endless bar tab, no reprocussions on your behavior.
So fuck both of yunz for putting me in the middle of a stupid argument. As a matter of principle, I'd take Net's side, though that doesn't mean he's any more right than Dani.
Both Net and Dani live in, while not quite the Broadmoor section of town, pretty nice neighborhoods, and both are doing pretty well for themselves, and they need to take a step back and realize how good they have it before the next time of the month rolls around.
Nobody at the hash cares:
A)whether it's harder to raise a child or raise a dog;
B)whether being single or married makes life more difficult;
C)what community college classes you're currently taking are any harder than any other classes that same community college offers.
Seriously, as far as I'm concerned, everyone I enjoy hanging out at the hash with is Paris Hilton. No job, endless bar tab, no reprocussions on your behavior.
So fuck both of yunz for putting me in the middle of a stupid argument. As a matter of principle, I'd take Net's side, though that doesn't mean he's any more right than Dani.
Both Net and Dani live in, while not quite the Broadmoor section of town, pretty nice neighborhoods, and both are doing pretty well for themselves, and they need to take a step back and realize how good they have it before the next time of the month rolls around.
Friday, July 06, 2007
hahahahahahaha!!!!!
What has seven arms and sucks?
Def Leppard!!!!
Yeah, I tell that one all the time, but I'm always reminded of it when they're on the radio and that joke never seems to grow old.
Def Leppard!!!!
Yeah, I tell that one all the time, but I'm always reminded of it when they're on the radio and that joke never seems to grow old.
hell yeah!
Unfortunately it'll cause me to miss the Kimchi hash, but Saturday's training for my Air Force unit is in using a collapsible baton! Not quite as cool as the elite ATV training we did last time, but still pretty cool.
let's be careful out there...
Lulu recently posted about a cyclist killed in Austin, and we had one over in Manitou Springs last night. As I was headed back to the COG railway for my Thursday Barr Trail workout, I passed a downed cyclist who was surrounded by EMT's and police. I saw the bottom half of the biker and got that weird feeling you get when you see a dead person. Ruxton Ave is always crazy with runners and hikers and bikers and tourists, it was an unfortunate reminder to be alert back there.
To end this post on a good note, congratulations to QnA for making his first trip up to Barr Camp!
To end this post on a good note, congratulations to QnA for making his first trip up to Barr Camp!
Thursday, July 05, 2007
summer tour
Completed my summer tour at Old Chicago's by downing an oil can of Foster's. Foster's was the only beer out of eleven that I really enjoyed drinking, just don't have a taste for the summer brews. But I got the shirt, and got it much quicker than Nappy or Ritz, who all started on the same day as me. I'm currently at 22 beers on my tour. Probably won't be back to OC's until their next short tour, as I'm now going to concentrate on finally getting to #100 on my list of Colorado Springs pubs I've been at.
FYI, the OC's on Tejon here in the Springs was the second Old Chicago's to open, behind only the original one up in Boulder.
FYI, the OC's on Tejon here in the Springs was the second Old Chicago's to open, behind only the original one up in Boulder.
Wed run
Great run to start off the 4th of July. Was supposed to meet some of the CRUD guys, but I got there a bit late so I was chasing them the entire way.
First part went up the Barr Trail to Barr Camp. Needless to say, I'm pretty sure I'm ready for the upcoming BTMR. Checked in with Neil and Teresa and they said the CRUDers had left less than ten minutes before. So I quickly wrote "Wisconson Sucks!" by Katie's entry in the log (she had been there earlier and was on her way to her first summit of Pikes) and took off down the Elk Park trail.
The Elk Park trail reminds me of why it's so great to be a trail runner. It's a beautiful trail that runs from Barr Camp out to Elk Park along the Pikes Peak summit highway. Some of the best views of Pikes, but most people won't ever get to check it out since it involves a hard physical effort. Great workout to go along with the views, since the entire six miles out is above 10,000 feet.
Finally caught up to some of the CRUD guys just in time to go check out the Oil Creek tunnel. Had heard about it before and wanted to see it. Next time I'll hafta bring a flashlight so I can go deeper into the tunnel.
Anyways, back at Barr Camp I realized I was running out of time so I couldn't join the group for their run up to A-Frame. So I went back down the Barr Trail. Figured I ran a marathon, and I felt really good afterwards.
For those keeping score at home, that's two really good long runs in a row. Starting to get a little bit of my swagger back after the ass thumpin' I took at San Juan.
First part went up the Barr Trail to Barr Camp. Needless to say, I'm pretty sure I'm ready for the upcoming BTMR. Checked in with Neil and Teresa and they said the CRUDers had left less than ten minutes before. So I quickly wrote "Wisconson Sucks!" by Katie's entry in the log (she had been there earlier and was on her way to her first summit of Pikes) and took off down the Elk Park trail.
The Elk Park trail reminds me of why it's so great to be a trail runner. It's a beautiful trail that runs from Barr Camp out to Elk Park along the Pikes Peak summit highway. Some of the best views of Pikes, but most people won't ever get to check it out since it involves a hard physical effort. Great workout to go along with the views, since the entire six miles out is above 10,000 feet.
Finally caught up to some of the CRUD guys just in time to go check out the Oil Creek tunnel. Had heard about it before and wanted to see it. Next time I'll hafta bring a flashlight so I can go deeper into the tunnel.
Anyways, back at Barr Camp I realized I was running out of time so I couldn't join the group for their run up to A-Frame. So I went back down the Barr Trail. Figured I ran a marathon, and I felt really good afterwards.
For those keeping score at home, that's two really good long runs in a row. Starting to get a little bit of my swagger back after the ass thumpin' I took at San Juan.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
friday climb
A bunch of us are gonna meet at the climbing gym this Friday, around 6PM-ish, for some goofing off time. So if anyone wants to join us, feel free. Think it's around $15 for a day pass and shoe rental, or since it's college night if you have a student ID it's only $12. Rumor has it that Nappy is gonna throw a party at her place afterwards...
efficient machines!
Someone handed this bit of info to me at work this morning:
A 2006 study by Texas A&M found that the average American walks about 900 miles per year.
Another study by the American Beer Instutute found that Americans drink an average of 22 gallons of beer a year.
This means, on average, Americans get approximately 41 miles per gallon!
A 2006 study by Texas A&M found that the average American walks about 900 miles per year.
Another study by the American Beer Instutute found that Americans drink an average of 22 gallons of beer a year.
This means, on average, Americans get approximately 41 miles per gallon!
Monday, July 02, 2007
public service announcement
If you're outside in Colorado during the summer, wear sunscreen.
Between Friday and Sunday I bagged three 14ers and hared a shadeless trail up in Golden. Most of it without a shirt. Most of it without using sunscreen.
I'm now a deep shade of red with blisters all over my shoulders, back, and arms. And it hurts just to have a shirt on.
Should be all healed by Wed though, so it looks like another run up Pikes before the Traveler show! Woohoo!
Between Friday and Sunday I bagged three 14ers and hared a shadeless trail up in Golden. Most of it without a shirt. Most of it without using sunscreen.
I'm now a deep shade of red with blisters all over my shoulders, back, and arms. And it hurts just to have a shirt on.
Should be all healed by Wed though, so it looks like another run up Pikes before the Traveler show! Woohoo!
Sunday, July 01, 2007
shivano & tabeguache
Friggin' great climb today! Katie and I bagged two 14ers, Mt. Shivano and Tabeguache Peak, down near Salida. Perfect weather, friendly people on the trails, a difficult but rewarding climb, all added up to an outstanding day.Total time for the hike was just under eight hours, but that included long breaks on top of the peaks. Pretty technical and steep terrain out there, which made the going somewhat slow. Highlights included seeing a weiner dog on top of Shivano, a stranger asking for my picture because he couldn't believe I was drinking PBR on a 14er, and Katie making a snow angel on the Angel of Shivano.
With the two peaks, I now have 15 14ers on my list. Katie is up to five, and yes she has drank a PBR on all of them.
Ofoto is giving me issues downloading pics, so hopefully they'll be up sometime tomorrow.
We weren't the only hashers climbing, I heard Free Bus(c)h made it up Grays and Torreys. Woohoo! Heard Knees Up was gonna attempt a high peak in preparation for the Leadville marathon next weekend, hopefully she was successful too.
By the way, it's no secret that it doesn't take much to get me to head down to Salida, but I finally got to eat at Moonlight Pizza, and holy cow was it delicious! I really like Amica's grub, but the Moon buries it. Defititely try it out if you're ever down there.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
new hash blogger!!!
Been a while since there's been a new hash blogger, but Free Bus(c)h of the Fart Collins H3 is now throwing her hat into the ring!
Friday, June 29, 2007
sunday Sunday SUNDAY!!!
Planned hike for this Sunday summits Mount Shavano (14,229 feet) and Tabeguache (pronounced tab-uh-wash) Peak (14,155 feet). Leaving my house at 4AM. So far myself and three others are going, but I have a feeling they'll all bail on me.
Stats for that hike can be seen here.
Probably stop in Salida on the way home and try out Moonlight Pizza. Their pizza has superpower!
Stats for that hike can be seen here.
Probably stop in Salida on the way home and try out Moonlight Pizza. Their pizza has superpower!
great shirt
Saw a shirt in Manitou today, had a bunch of people standing in the middle of the woods and it said, "bring a compass...because eating your friends is awkward."
Pikes Peak #10
Was successful in my Pikes climb today, it was the 10th time I've hit the summit on my own power. Was also my 25th climb of a 14er (13 different 14ers, 10 summits of Pikes, and double summits of Grays and Torreys).
Pics are over on my Pikes blog.
Pics are over on my Pikes blog.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Pikes Peak or bust!
Off for my first summit attempt of the season! Think of me around 11AM Colorado time, I should be up at the summit house at 14,110 feet drinking coffee and slurping down some doughnuts!
the wall
Another great day at the climbing gym over lunch.
Been on a new kick of doing at least 500 push-ups and 500 crunches every week, as I want to keep the highest PT score in my Air Force squadron. Most of these I accomplish at the wall, where I've been doing at least 100 of each, plus as many pull-ups as I can do (not very many), plus at least 25 minutes on the actual rock climbing wall.
Today, after doing a hard section of the wall and my first set of push-ups/crunches/pull-ups, I started the second half and was able to complete the entire thing without falling off or having to take a break! At this rate, within a few weeks I should be able to nail the entire wall on one try.
That workout was on top of a short (35 minutes) fartlek workout I did at 5:15AM. And I still have the regular Thursday Barr Trail workout coming up! Woohoo!
Been on a new kick of doing at least 500 push-ups and 500 crunches every week, as I want to keep the highest PT score in my Air Force squadron. Most of these I accomplish at the wall, where I've been doing at least 100 of each, plus as many pull-ups as I can do (not very many), plus at least 25 minutes on the actual rock climbing wall.
Today, after doing a hard section of the wall and my first set of push-ups/crunches/pull-ups, I started the second half and was able to complete the entire thing without falling off or having to take a break! At this rate, within a few weeks I should be able to nail the entire wall on one try.
That workout was on top of a short (35 minutes) fartlek workout I did at 5:15AM. And I still have the regular Thursday Barr Trail workout coming up! Woohoo!
happy birthday!
The Austin Duathletes monthly pub run turns two years old today! Hopefully some of yunz Austinites quit whining about how hot or rainy or whatever the weather happens to be today and get off your ass to go for a little run.
I've been running hard and drinking hard since I was about 13, and I'd put the AD pub run right up there with the DIM hash in terms of combining the two. Most hashes don't run enough, most running clubs don't drink enough, Quinn's does neither, but the DIM and the ADers have figured out how to combine the two pretty well.
So I'll be there in spirit tonight, drinking heavily after my time trial up the Barr Trail. Somebody kick Lulu's ass for me tonight and I'll buy them a pint of brew next time I'm in A-town. Peace and love - the best duathlon of them all!
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
I'm OK
Reacting quickly to reports of a tornado in my front yard, I left work early and hurried home only after stopping by the Colorado Running Club for happy hour (and the Pikes Peak Road Runners newsletter stuffing) and hitting Old Chicago's to start working on my summer short tour. Everything is OK. Even the secret stench that has been razing my apartment recently is still here.
You can read about the freak storm here. That article mentions the intersection of Bijou and Union, which is about 3/4 of a mile from my apartment.
You can read about the freak storm here. That article mentions the intersection of Bijou and Union, which is about 3/4 of a mile from my apartment.
touchdown!
News reports say a twister touched down at Platte and Circle. Hopefully I still have an apartment.
not in Kansas anymore...
As I write this, there is a tornado tearing up Woodland Park. The Springs is under a tornado watch. The skies over the mountains look pretty dangerous. Of course, that won't stop me from running tonight!
FYI, to those who enjoyed the lightening show during the DIM circle on Monday, the news reported that over 1,000 bolts of lightening hit the ground between 9PM and 10PM.
FYI, to those who enjoyed the lightening show during the DIM circle on Monday, the news reported that over 1,000 bolts of lightening hit the ground between 9PM and 10PM.
race pics
Couple 'o race pics from the Slacker. If any of you females are interested, the picture company can get you these shots on a mouse pad, coffee mug, or even a Wheaties box. Personalized autographs will cost extra...
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
red rocks
If seeing your favorite band at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado isn't on your list of things to do, you're not much of a live music fan. Generally regarded as one of the best venues for live music in the world, the place is definitely all it's cracked up to be.The Widespread Panic show was awesome! Can't wait to get a copy of it.
On July 4, I'll be seeing Blues Traveler. It's a tradition for BT to play the Rocks on July 4th, and I've wanted to go to that show for well over a decade now. Can't friggin' wait!
Dani took a ton of pics over the weekend. Include a Thursday hike through Stanley Canyon (on the AF Academy grounds), the Panic show, and the Denver Red Dress hash. They can be seen here.
out to lunch
Went to the Shamrock Brewing Company in Pueblo for lunch today and had a peanut butter and bacon cheeseburger! Yummy!
more slacker
Took a few pics of the Slacker and the drive up Mt. Evans road, they can be seen here.Maybe someday Nappy will finally post her pics, she has some good ones of the Panic show and the Denver Red Dress hash.
slacker results
I've gotten a lot of comments and e-mail over my recent musings about switching to the shorter distances. Most folks tell me to stick with the ultra distances, but take a look at these stats from the Slacker, which I didn't even run at a race effort:
Time: 1:27:57 (6:43 per mile)
Overall finish: 12th (out of 587 finishers); 10th male out of 252 finishers
Age group 30-39: 3rd (out of 76 finishers)
Also beat all eight of the half marathon relay teams.
Overall it was a great event. Scenic downhill course, aid stations every two miles, Widespread Panic playing at the start, good food (including popsicles and Tommyknocker beer) at the end. Gonna try to get a better hash presence next year, including some relay teams.
Time: 1:27:57 (6:43 per mile)
Overall finish: 12th (out of 587 finishers); 10th male out of 252 finishers
Age group 30-39: 3rd (out of 76 finishers)
Also beat all eight of the half marathon relay teams.
Overall it was a great event. Scenic downhill course, aid stations every two miles, Widespread Panic playing at the start, good food (including popsicles and Tommyknocker beer) at the end. Gonna try to get a better hash presence next year, including some relay teams.
mountains
Nappy, myself, Tits, and Bungholio on our way up Mt. Evans on Saturday. We're above 13,000 feet in this pic. Nappy and I would turn around here to get to the Panic concert on time, but Tits and Bung did make it to the top.Looks like I'll be making an attempt on Mt. Princeton this Sunday if anyone wants to join me.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Friday, June 22, 2007
Columbia
Bagged my 13th 14er today, Mt. Columbia (14,073ft) with Knees Up of the Denver hash. Write up will follow, but now I've got to get to Denver for the following:1. Slacker half marathon
2. Quandry Peak
3. Widespread Panic @ Red Rocks!!!!!!!!!!
4. Denver Red Dress
Wow, what a weekend! Until then, pics of the climb can be seen here.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
collegiate peaks
Knees Up and I are off to attempt our first 14ers of the season on Friday, Harvard and Columbia. Have fun at work!
another brick in the wall
I've been going to the nearby indoor rock climbing wall over my lunch hour the past couple of weeks. I'm super lucky to be able to do this, by going four or five times a week I've been able to improve very quickly. Today I reached a milestone by finally nailing the one section I hadn't been able to do along the horizonal bouldering wall, which I do because I don't have a partner over lunch to rope in with. Next up I'll be working on being able to do the entire horizontal section without falling or stopping for a break. Might take me a while on that one.
On top of all the climbing, which is a killer workout in itself, I do at least 100 push ups and 100 sit ups while I'm there, as well as a bunch of different kinds of pull ups. In fact, today I was able to do my first three fingered pull up, where you grab a rock with only three fingers of each hand. My goal is to be able to grip the door frame in my office and knock out some pull ups someday.
On top of all the climbing, which is a killer workout in itself, I do at least 100 push ups and 100 sit ups while I'm there, as well as a bunch of different kinds of pull ups. In fact, today I was able to do my first three fingered pull up, where you grab a rock with only three fingers of each hand. My goal is to be able to grip the door frame in my office and knock out some pull ups someday.
new addition to the backyard
Came home last night to an awfully funky smell - turns out some mold had survived in my mattress from the flood, and the recent hot weather has caused it to grow. Dani had been warning me of a stench over the last few days or so but I didn't think it was too bad and chalked it up to laundry that hasn't been done in weeks. Nope, it was the bed, and now the bed is ruined. Too busy this weekend to get it out to the dump, so guess where it ended up? Yup, my backyard! So now, to go along with the DIM toilet and the wal-mart shopping cart, there's a mattress in my backyard. White trash galore!
run #116 - CRC happy hour
Feeling a lot better after San Juan, so I headed down to the Colorado Running Company for an easy run. Went out and back along the Monument Creek trail, taking it easy and enjoying the awesome summer weather. Taking it easy this week until the Slacker half marathon on Saturday, gonna try for sub 90 minutes there.
Start time: 6PM
Distance: 4.0 miles
Time: 32:25
Pace: 8:03 minutes per mile
Weather: mid 70s! Sunny.
Start time: 6PM
Distance: 4.0 miles
Time: 32:25
Pace: 8:03 minutes per mile
Weather: mid 70s! Sunny.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
the new face of college athletics...
The University of Pittsburgh has changed their logo to the ferocious feline pictured above. I sure wish they'd go back to the old cursive PITT script worn by such legends as Ditka, Dorsett, Green, and Marino.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
San Juan Solstice
San Juan Solstice 2007 - Lake City, CO
The first two or so miles went pretty well. That's about the only good thing I have to say about my race.
Approaching the first stream crossing just after turning off the dirt road onto the Alpine Gulch trail, I suddenly puke. Not a good thing less than three miles into my day. I'm kind of shocked, I've never thrown up during a race before. I continue on, and the first creek crossing really wakes me up. Damn, that water was COLD. Plus, it's flowing real quick. I have to grab wet logs to make sure I don't get swept away, which means not only are my feet freezing, but now my hands are too.
From one miserable experience to another, the stream crossings soon give way to a quad busting climb. From the 4-ish mile mark until about ten miles, the course takes runners from 9,000 feet to above 13,000 feet, with no relief along the way. My stomach is in knots here, I get nauseous if I try to sip water out of my camelbak, I can't feel my feet or hands because they're too cold, and I'm breathing way harder than I should be. I realize it's going to be a long day.
Get a bit of a break heading into the first aid station. My CRUD buddy Jonathan V catches up to me and our conversation, including possible plans of an Austin roadtrip to see Widespread Panic at the Backyard, takes my mind off of how crappy I'm feeling. We stop by the fire at the aid station to try to warm up. I try to down some cytomax, but just the smell of that makes my gut wrench. I settle for a cup of flat Coke as it's the only thing I'm able to keep down.
Continuing to climb out of the aid station, I keep up with Jonathan for a while but he soon leaves me behind. About the ten mile mark we're above 13,000 feet and it's finally time to descend. It was a rough climb, but I realize it took a lot more out of me than it should have. I also realize that during the first ten miles of the race all I've taken in was a glass of pop. I force down some clif blocks but those make me feel sick too. Nothing seems to be going right today.
On a different note, on a short flat section here I noticed a runner coming towards me. Kind of weird, other than this race this ain't the most travelled part of Colorado. As the other runner and I get closer, he jumps off the trail and starts cheering for me. As I pass him, I do a double take and say, "holy shit, you're Scott Jurek!" He seemed kind of embarrassed, but it was him. Seems he was out getting in some altitude training for the upcoming Hardrock 100 miler. Not that there hasn't been enough nice things said about the guy, but the way one of the world's top ultrarunners was out there cheering for us slow folks was pretty cool.
This meeting must inspire me, as I'm able to haul ass on the first big downhill, passing a ton of people. Unfortunately, I lose most of that time when I have to jump into the woodline to see a man about a horse. Now I'm feeling that if I could throw up again, I'd feel better. Soon I'm heading into the Williams Creek aid station, and it's straight off to the port-o-shitter for the old high school cheerleader impression. Finger way down the throat, and out comes what seems like 100 gallons of the nastiest stuff to ever leave my body (and believe me, there's been some nasty stuff over the years...). I come out of the shitter and there are two runners waiting in line, looking at me like they think I should be dead after what I just went through.
A very sad moment here at Williams Creek. I had been wearing my Montrail Hardrocks for the first 15 miles of the race. I've owned them for over 2.5 years. Been through a lot of good times with 'em. But as I'm changing into dry shoes and socks, I notice that I've completely broke the sole of one shoe in half. The other shoe ain't in much better shape. I realize it's time to say goodbye to an old friend, but I can't bring myself to throw the shoes in the trash, so I leave them sitting on a rock at the aid station.
After my tearful farewell, I refill my camelbak with water and chug down a cup of cytomax. I immediately want to hurl again, my body just ain't diggin' the cytomax today. So I take another cup of coke in hopes of calming things down and head out for the next climb.
Coming out of Williams Creek there's a relatively flat stretch of about 2.5 miles along a dirt road. Last year I was able to make up some ground on this stretch, and I expected to do the same this year. But it just wasn't happening. Less than 1/3 into the race, and I was already physically wasted. I knew another killer climb lay just ahead, and I began to wonder if I were headed for another DNF.
Around the 18 mile mark the course takes you up the second major climb. Over the next five miles you go from about 9,200 feet to the high point of the course at 13,334 feet on top of Coney Peak. The climb is on a rugged jeep road, the sun was beating down on me, and I felt finished. As much as I had cursed the earlier creek crossings for making me so cold, I stop by another fast flowing mountain stream and submerge my head to cool off. It provides a brief break from my general feeling of shittiness, but the relentless climb soon reminds me of my misery.
At 22 miles there's an aid station near the ghost town of Carson. My stomach is still awful so I take a mouthful of salt and some pringles and wash it down with water. A volunteer asks me if she can refill my camelbak and I realize that I hadn't drank anything since the last aid station. I'm not a veteran ultrarunner by any means, but that's a big time rookie mistake I had made.
While I'm at the aid station another CRUD buddy, Gordon, comes in. One of my heros for finishing last year's race and, without stopping at the finish line, heading directly to the ambulance, it's good to see him. We'd spend the next few hours pushing each other. Actually, it was more him pulling me.
Leaving Carson, the climb continues for another two miles or so. As we bag the summit of Coney Peak, I can see dark clouds forming. I tell Gordon, "damn, those don't look good" to which he replies, "I'm trying not to think about it."
After Coney Peak the course flattens out, but you're along the Continental Divide, well above 12,000 feet, for the next seven miles or so. Breathtaking is the right word for it. Despite the brewing storm, the only thing I can see up here are the high peaks of the San Juan Mountains. There are five 14ers nearby. Red Mountain is just a few miles away. One of the most scenic places in all of Colorado, and despite the bad day I'm having I feel very thankful that I'm able to take in this view, it's one not a whole bunch of people will ever get to see.
So I continue on, mindful of the incoming storm. I try to outrun it, but I realize it's soon gonna catch up to me. Lots of postholing through snow here, so my warm and dry shoes and socks are now cold and wet. One treacherous 200 foot drop required the use of a climbing rope to rappel down. It was at this point where I told Gordon, "Hey Gordo, next year I think I'm gonna do the Sailin' Shoes 5K instead...."
After the rappel and some more postholing, Gordon sped away and the storm caught up with me. Large hail began to pelt me, which would have really been painful had the nearby lightening not been my bigger problem. There was a runner not far behind me who had been using aluminum trekking poles, and later he would tell me that he had to leave them on the mountain because he felt them starting to build up static and they started making a buzzing sound.
So I ran as fast as my severely dehydrated body could take me, and soon got back to the relative safety of treeline. Lots of mud here, the day just kept getting more and more agonazing. Through a steady rain I kept plodding along and finally came to the next aid station, Divide.
Again, I noticed here that I had hardly taken in any liquids or calories since the last aid station. In fact, I had not significantly taken in anything all day, despite crapping and barfing all over the forest. And just looking at cytomax at the aid station made me nauseous. So I took a cup of water and a bowl of ramen into the yurt to warm up. I contemplated dropping out here due to my exhaustion, and I was afraid if I went on I was gonna do some severe damage due to my dehydration. But just then the rain stopped and the sun came out. I took it as a sign and decided that if I didn't finish the race, it wasn't gonna be my call. I would continue on, and if the medical experts pulled me or I missed a cutoff than so be it, but I wouldn't quit.
It's mostly downhill from the Divide aid station, but I'm so shot it's taking everything I have just to keep moving forward. I slip and fall in the mud a few times, which adds to my misery. I know I'm very close to the cutoff time, but I don't care. In fact, part of me starts hoping I won't make it, I know the final climb is a doozy and I'm not sure if I can do it.
Finally trudge into the last main aid station, Slumgullion. I ask about the cutoff time, and I'm told I made it by 25 minutes. Last year at this time I was finishing the race, this year I still had ten miles to go. I force down some fig newtons and a cup of water, my stomach still giving me problems. Without wasting much time I head out for the final battle of the day.
Shortly after Slumgullion I feel like I'm on a hash as I have to cross another stream and then crawl over some downed trees. Then the climbing starts. The final uphill of the day makes you climb 1,700 feet, back over 11,000 feet, in less than four miles. I felt like I was doing the incline with a 100 pound pack on. I didn't worry about pace or cutoff times, just concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. After what seemed like an eternity the effort finally paid off, as I crested the hill, mucked my way through some swampy fields, and soon came into the small aid station run by the Vickers family.
Blew right through the aid station. My time had just passed 15 hours, and I had four miles, mostly steep downhill on a cool path through Aspen trees, to go. Normally this would be gravy for me, but today I was taking nothing for granted. I soldiered on, the adrenaline and excitement of a finish allowing me to find the strength to run most of the final few miles.
Finally leaving nature behind for the thriving metropolis of Lake City, I ran through a few intersections and suddenly found myself on the homestretch. I was so drained I couldn't even show any sign of emotion, but it was great seeing all of CRUD still out there, even though some had finished six hours earlier. I crossed the finish line and just before I collapsed someone shoved a cold beer into my hand. I took a lusty pull, the most liquid I had taken in all day.
While I'm very happy with my finish, it was a very humbling experience for me. I finished in 15:47:31, 118th out of 121 finishers. For a long time I thought I was in last place. My very first race ever, as a 13 year old freshman high school harrier, I took last place, but ever since then I had generally been, while nowhere near world class, at least in the upper quarter of the field. So during the bad parts of this jaunt, like, oh, the last 48 miles or so, I really started to wonder if I shouldn't stick to the shorter stuff, the 10Ks and half-marathons, an occassional marathon, maybe just concentrate the Pikes Peak races. While I'm still wildly comitted to Leadville (a non-refundable $225 entry fee has that effect on me), I'm gonna take some time after that race and decide which direction I feel I should go.
I'd like to thank Dani for being such a good sport all weekend. I know after the race I wasn't the most fun person to be around. And again, seeing all the CRUD guys still cheering after all that time was awesome, glad all those guys had a good race. Also, I can't say enough kind words about the volunteers who put on the race. Ultrarunning is a sport filled with wonderful people who help out at races, but the folks of Lake City are among the best I've come across. 
The first two or so miles went pretty well. That's about the only good thing I have to say about my race.
Approaching the first stream crossing just after turning off the dirt road onto the Alpine Gulch trail, I suddenly puke. Not a good thing less than three miles into my day. I'm kind of shocked, I've never thrown up during a race before. I continue on, and the first creek crossing really wakes me up. Damn, that water was COLD. Plus, it's flowing real quick. I have to grab wet logs to make sure I don't get swept away, which means not only are my feet freezing, but now my hands are too.
From one miserable experience to another, the stream crossings soon give way to a quad busting climb. From the 4-ish mile mark until about ten miles, the course takes runners from 9,000 feet to above 13,000 feet, with no relief along the way. My stomach is in knots here, I get nauseous if I try to sip water out of my camelbak, I can't feel my feet or hands because they're too cold, and I'm breathing way harder than I should be. I realize it's going to be a long day.
Get a bit of a break heading into the first aid station. My CRUD buddy Jonathan V catches up to me and our conversation, including possible plans of an Austin roadtrip to see Widespread Panic at the Backyard, takes my mind off of how crappy I'm feeling. We stop by the fire at the aid station to try to warm up. I try to down some cytomax, but just the smell of that makes my gut wrench. I settle for a cup of flat Coke as it's the only thing I'm able to keep down.
Continuing to climb out of the aid station, I keep up with Jonathan for a while but he soon leaves me behind. About the ten mile mark we're above 13,000 feet and it's finally time to descend. It was a rough climb, but I realize it took a lot more out of me than it should have. I also realize that during the first ten miles of the race all I've taken in was a glass of pop. I force down some clif blocks but those make me feel sick too. Nothing seems to be going right today.
On a different note, on a short flat section here I noticed a runner coming towards me. Kind of weird, other than this race this ain't the most travelled part of Colorado. As the other runner and I get closer, he jumps off the trail and starts cheering for me. As I pass him, I do a double take and say, "holy shit, you're Scott Jurek!" He seemed kind of embarrassed, but it was him. Seems he was out getting in some altitude training for the upcoming Hardrock 100 miler. Not that there hasn't been enough nice things said about the guy, but the way one of the world's top ultrarunners was out there cheering for us slow folks was pretty cool.
This meeting must inspire me, as I'm able to haul ass on the first big downhill, passing a ton of people. Unfortunately, I lose most of that time when I have to jump into the woodline to see a man about a horse. Now I'm feeling that if I could throw up again, I'd feel better. Soon I'm heading into the Williams Creek aid station, and it's straight off to the port-o-shitter for the old high school cheerleader impression. Finger way down the throat, and out comes what seems like 100 gallons of the nastiest stuff to ever leave my body (and believe me, there's been some nasty stuff over the years...). I come out of the shitter and there are two runners waiting in line, looking at me like they think I should be dead after what I just went through.
A very sad moment here at Williams Creek. I had been wearing my Montrail Hardrocks for the first 15 miles of the race. I've owned them for over 2.5 years. Been through a lot of good times with 'em. But as I'm changing into dry shoes and socks, I notice that I've completely broke the sole of one shoe in half. The other shoe ain't in much better shape. I realize it's time to say goodbye to an old friend, but I can't bring myself to throw the shoes in the trash, so I leave them sitting on a rock at the aid station.
After my tearful farewell, I refill my camelbak with water and chug down a cup of cytomax. I immediately want to hurl again, my body just ain't diggin' the cytomax today. So I take another cup of coke in hopes of calming things down and head out for the next climb.
Coming out of Williams Creek there's a relatively flat stretch of about 2.5 miles along a dirt road. Last year I was able to make up some ground on this stretch, and I expected to do the same this year. But it just wasn't happening. Less than 1/3 into the race, and I was already physically wasted. I knew another killer climb lay just ahead, and I began to wonder if I were headed for another DNF.
Around the 18 mile mark the course takes you up the second major climb. Over the next five miles you go from about 9,200 feet to the high point of the course at 13,334 feet on top of Coney Peak. The climb is on a rugged jeep road, the sun was beating down on me, and I felt finished. As much as I had cursed the earlier creek crossings for making me so cold, I stop by another fast flowing mountain stream and submerge my head to cool off. It provides a brief break from my general feeling of shittiness, but the relentless climb soon reminds me of my misery.
At 22 miles there's an aid station near the ghost town of Carson. My stomach is still awful so I take a mouthful of salt and some pringles and wash it down with water. A volunteer asks me if she can refill my camelbak and I realize that I hadn't drank anything since the last aid station. I'm not a veteran ultrarunner by any means, but that's a big time rookie mistake I had made.
While I'm at the aid station another CRUD buddy, Gordon, comes in. One of my heros for finishing last year's race and, without stopping at the finish line, heading directly to the ambulance, it's good to see him. We'd spend the next few hours pushing each other. Actually, it was more him pulling me.
Leaving Carson, the climb continues for another two miles or so. As we bag the summit of Coney Peak, I can see dark clouds forming. I tell Gordon, "damn, those don't look good" to which he replies, "I'm trying not to think about it."
After Coney Peak the course flattens out, but you're along the Continental Divide, well above 12,000 feet, for the next seven miles or so. Breathtaking is the right word for it. Despite the brewing storm, the only thing I can see up here are the high peaks of the San Juan Mountains. There are five 14ers nearby. Red Mountain is just a few miles away. One of the most scenic places in all of Colorado, and despite the bad day I'm having I feel very thankful that I'm able to take in this view, it's one not a whole bunch of people will ever get to see.
So I continue on, mindful of the incoming storm. I try to outrun it, but I realize it's soon gonna catch up to me. Lots of postholing through snow here, so my warm and dry shoes and socks are now cold and wet. One treacherous 200 foot drop required the use of a climbing rope to rappel down. It was at this point where I told Gordon, "Hey Gordo, next year I think I'm gonna do the Sailin' Shoes 5K instead...."
After the rappel and some more postholing, Gordon sped away and the storm caught up with me. Large hail began to pelt me, which would have really been painful had the nearby lightening not been my bigger problem. There was a runner not far behind me who had been using aluminum trekking poles, and later he would tell me that he had to leave them on the mountain because he felt them starting to build up static and they started making a buzzing sound.
So I ran as fast as my severely dehydrated body could take me, and soon got back to the relative safety of treeline. Lots of mud here, the day just kept getting more and more agonazing. Through a steady rain I kept plodding along and finally came to the next aid station, Divide.
Again, I noticed here that I had hardly taken in any liquids or calories since the last aid station. In fact, I had not significantly taken in anything all day, despite crapping and barfing all over the forest. And just looking at cytomax at the aid station made me nauseous. So I took a cup of water and a bowl of ramen into the yurt to warm up. I contemplated dropping out here due to my exhaustion, and I was afraid if I went on I was gonna do some severe damage due to my dehydration. But just then the rain stopped and the sun came out. I took it as a sign and decided that if I didn't finish the race, it wasn't gonna be my call. I would continue on, and if the medical experts pulled me or I missed a cutoff than so be it, but I wouldn't quit.
It's mostly downhill from the Divide aid station, but I'm so shot it's taking everything I have just to keep moving forward. I slip and fall in the mud a few times, which adds to my misery. I know I'm very close to the cutoff time, but I don't care. In fact, part of me starts hoping I won't make it, I know the final climb is a doozy and I'm not sure if I can do it.
Finally trudge into the last main aid station, Slumgullion. I ask about the cutoff time, and I'm told I made it by 25 minutes. Last year at this time I was finishing the race, this year I still had ten miles to go. I force down some fig newtons and a cup of water, my stomach still giving me problems. Without wasting much time I head out for the final battle of the day.
Shortly after Slumgullion I feel like I'm on a hash as I have to cross another stream and then crawl over some downed trees. Then the climbing starts. The final uphill of the day makes you climb 1,700 feet, back over 11,000 feet, in less than four miles. I felt like I was doing the incline with a 100 pound pack on. I didn't worry about pace or cutoff times, just concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. After what seemed like an eternity the effort finally paid off, as I crested the hill, mucked my way through some swampy fields, and soon came into the small aid station run by the Vickers family.
Blew right through the aid station. My time had just passed 15 hours, and I had four miles, mostly steep downhill on a cool path through Aspen trees, to go. Normally this would be gravy for me, but today I was taking nothing for granted. I soldiered on, the adrenaline and excitement of a finish allowing me to find the strength to run most of the final few miles.
Finally leaving nature behind for the thriving metropolis of Lake City, I ran through a few intersections and suddenly found myself on the homestretch. I was so drained I couldn't even show any sign of emotion, but it was great seeing all of CRUD still out there, even though some had finished six hours earlier. I crossed the finish line and just before I collapsed someone shoved a cold beer into my hand. I took a lusty pull, the most liquid I had taken in all day.
While I'm very happy with my finish, it was a very humbling experience for me. I finished in 15:47:31, 118th out of 121 finishers. For a long time I thought I was in last place. My very first race ever, as a 13 year old freshman high school harrier, I took last place, but ever since then I had generally been, while nowhere near world class, at least in the upper quarter of the field. So during the bad parts of this jaunt, like, oh, the last 48 miles or so, I really started to wonder if I shouldn't stick to the shorter stuff, the 10Ks and half-marathons, an occassional marathon, maybe just concentrate the Pikes Peak races. While I'm still wildly comitted to Leadville (a non-refundable $225 entry fee has that effect on me), I'm gonna take some time after that race and decide which direction I feel I should go.
I'd like to thank Dani for being such a good sport all weekend. I know after the race I wasn't the most fun person to be around. And again, seeing all the CRUD guys still cheering after all that time was awesome, glad all those guys had a good race. Also, I can't say enough kind words about the volunteers who put on the race. Ultrarunning is a sport filled with wonderful people who help out at races, but the folks of Lake City are among the best I've come across.
I have an announcement to make...
Number of times I've farted this afternoon: 3
Number of times I've had to change pants: 0
Looks like I might be getting better!
Number of times I've had to change pants: 0
Looks like I might be getting better!
congrats!
I wasn't the only one running this weekend. Congrats to all the Austinites who went up and did the Bighorn races. I've run tons of miles with everyone in the above picture, glad to see 'em all run well.Monday, June 18, 2007
crud
Race report should be up tomorrow. Two and a half days since the race ended and I'm still sick as a dog.Sunday, June 17, 2007
Friday, June 15, 2007
I am not afraid...
"Every good soldier should be able to cover fifty miles, on foot, in one day."
-JFK
Off to Lake City for another weekend adventure. Wish me luck.
-JFK
Off to Lake City for another weekend adventure. Wish me luck.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
aim high!
Workin' out at Schreiver AFB today. Early on (early is around 8AM for the Air Force) it's pretty obvious there's not much work to be done. So an airman asks me when the last time I rode a four wheeler. I told him I was never on one and his eyes got all big. "You need to have the 4 wheeler class!" he replies. So I spent the bulk of my day riding around on an ATV. Thank you for paying your taxes!
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
CoTex pics
Fresh off the press...Nappy's CoTex pics are here. For those keeping track at home, that summit I'm on top of is Little Baldy mountain, a real hum dinger at 12,142 feet.
not good...
As if I wasn't gonna have enough problems on Saturday, here's the latest updates from the course:
6/10/07 Three experienced ultrarunners tackled the course from Alpine Gulch to Slum yesterday. Again, they said Alpine Gulch snowfields are larger than usual, and you should be comfortable traversing steep snow slopes. The divide section has major snowfields which the runners postholed through and made for slow progress. We will be sending crews up for trail maintenance this week, but be assured the course will be wet, snowy, and slow. We cannot rule out course changes or alterations until later in the week as we see how much snow melts.
6/9/07 Crews on the Alpine to Williams section this morning note the following: swift water in Alpine Creek, many downed trees to climb over, and lots of snow up high. In particular, the snowfield ascent just above the Alpine Aid Station was difficult crossing, with hard snow and a steep grade. Runners may consider carrying something to assist snow crossing and which can also be used to arrest a slide.
6/8/07 Lots of snow on the course! Be prepared for wet conditions, snowfield crossings, and high water in Alpine Gulch. We will have the one steep, snow covered descent on the divide roped, but there will be other challenging snowfields to be crossed.You should be comfortable ascending and traversing spring snowfields. We're expecting warmer temperatures in the next week, and will update this page with course conditions. We have three runners who will attempt to run the complete course this weekend, and we'll post their findings.
6/10/07 Three experienced ultrarunners tackled the course from Alpine Gulch to Slum yesterday. Again, they said Alpine Gulch snowfields are larger than usual, and you should be comfortable traversing steep snow slopes. The divide section has major snowfields which the runners postholed through and made for slow progress. We will be sending crews up for trail maintenance this week, but be assured the course will be wet, snowy, and slow. We cannot rule out course changes or alterations until later in the week as we see how much snow melts.
6/9/07 Crews on the Alpine to Williams section this morning note the following: swift water in Alpine Creek, many downed trees to climb over, and lots of snow up high. In particular, the snowfield ascent just above the Alpine Aid Station was difficult crossing, with hard snow and a steep grade. Runners may consider carrying something to assist snow crossing and which can also be used to arrest a slide.
6/8/07 Lots of snow on the course! Be prepared for wet conditions, snowfield crossings, and high water in Alpine Gulch. We will have the one steep, snow covered descent on the divide roped, but there will be other challenging snowfields to be crossed.You should be comfortable ascending and traversing spring snowfields. We're expecting warmer temperatures in the next week, and will update this page with course conditions. We have three runners who will attempt to run the complete course this weekend, and we'll post their findings.
run #114 - CRC happy hour
Back to a good running/drinking place! Colorado Running Company (much, much better than the Boulder Running Company, FYI) has their happy hour runs on Wednesday, but doesn't seek out the publicity of Quinn's. The runs are harder and the beer is cheaper (free Bristol and various cheap wines). OK, the food doesn't match up (tonight we had goldfish and doritos) but you're talking to someone who has never eaten at Quinn's so I don't care. The best thing is the organization, there's nobody in charge. Just show up, run, and drink. No long wait to get a beer, no boring hour long ceremony that nobody listens to. Good times! Still no AD pub run in this town, but this is as close as it gets.
Start time: 6:00PM
Distance: 4.7 miles
Time: 34:57
Pace: 7:26 minutes per mile
Weather: mid 50s; windy
Start time: 6:00PM
Distance: 4.7 miles
Time: 34:57
Pace: 7:26 minutes per mile
Weather: mid 50s; windy
run #113 - Quinn's 1 year anniversary
As has been my usual MO lately, went on a decent run timed to end at Quinn's to take advantage of their cheap Laughing Lab. Quinn's started out as a fun group of people who liked to run and drink, but over the past year it's gotten lamer and lamer as the CO Springs young professionals have used it as a resume builder. It's the same course every week, starting and ending at the same place, having the same beer and food, yet somehow it takes 50+ volunteers to make it work? I think soon they'll start charging cover, but until then I'll continue to end Tuesday runs there to take advantage of the cheap Bristol. On a good note, over the last mile or so I ran Impotent DryHumper into the ground!
Start time: 5:55PM
Distance: 5.7 miles
Time: 45:55
Pace: 8:03 minutes per mile
Weather: mid 40s; windy, steady rain
Start time: 5:55PM
Distance: 5.7 miles
Time: 45:55
Pace: 8:03 minutes per mile
Weather: mid 40s; windy, steady rain
ID
Got my new super top secret nuclear football ID pass to get onto Schreiver AFB today. Good thing I ran into a tree at the last DIM hash, made for a really great picture on the card.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
black and white
So, after completely drinking myself into the ground these past few days, I'm looking ahead to a weekend with a difficult mountain 50 mile trail run, followed by hiking up two Colorado 14ers.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Friday, June 08, 2007
quick escapes
This is one of the best outdoor articles ever written, if only for the super-expert advice they got for the piece.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
run #112 - Red Rock Canyon
Headed over to Red Rock Canyon open space for a good run this afternoon. Winds were gusting up to 50mph all day today, but it was fairly calm in the canyon. Planned on going for 45 minutes, ended up going for almost twice that. Even did some scouting for a future Kimchi trail.
Start time: 6:30PM
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 1:20:24
Pace: 8:02 minutes per mile
Weather: mid 50s; windy
Start time: 6:30PM
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 1:20:24
Pace: 8:02 minutes per mile
Weather: mid 50s; windy
run #111
Easy morning run around the neighborhood. Felt tired at the start, but was able to pick up the pace towards the end.
Start time: 6AM
Distance: 6.0 miles
Time: 46:32
Pace: 7:45 minutes per mile
Weather: mid 40s
Start time: 6AM
Distance: 6.0 miles
Time: 46:32
Pace: 7:45 minutes per mile
Weather: mid 40s
this city is going to the dogs!
Men's Health magazine has named Colorado Springs the most dog friendly city in the USA! Denver was #6. Austin was #7. Pittsburgh was #19 (but we still have the #1 NFL team).
good times!
I got retardedly drunk with Davey Crotchit last night! Quinns, to Tony's, to Sam's, to Quinn's, and back to Tony's! Woohoo!
Monday, June 04, 2007
quote of the day
"If you always achieve all your goals, you're setting you're goals too low."
-Matt Carpenter
A very close second place goes to my buddy Paul, who was giving me some Leadville tips while running down Barr Trail the other day (yeah, CRUD likes to talk a lot of shit!):
"Remember, it's not only how good you do, it's how poorly your friends do."
-Paul S.
-Matt Carpenter
A very close second place goes to my buddy Paul, who was giving me some Leadville tips while running down Barr Trail the other day (yeah, CRUD likes to talk a lot of shit!):
"Remember, it's not only how good you do, it's how poorly your friends do."
-Paul S.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
john butler trio
Good lord, if you're any kind of fan of decent music at all, rush out to your local independent record store and pick up JBT's new album. Might be their best album yet, and that's saying something since all their albums have achieved "ROWYCO" status on the brownie ranking scale. I could burn copies, but it'll take two CD's, and very few of my loyal readers have ever sent me enough tunes to justify that, so the most I could do is a "best of" and you'd be missing out on whatever I hafta cut off.
Air Force weekend
Push ups: 57 (needed 51)
Sit ups: 57 (needed 51)
1.5 Mile Run: 8:48 (needed sub-9:48)
Waist measurement: 32 inches
Total it up and I got a 100% for my first AF PT test. Highest score in the squadron, and one of only two people to get a 100 (the other was a chick, and we all know how the military relaxes standards so females can take part). I asked when we take the exercise bike portion of the test, and I think I offended some people. AF folks thought I was from another planet for the run time, which I thought was mediocre. Might try to break the eight minute mark for the next test.
Also got to do some infantry-type stuff yesterday. Movement to contact, react to ambusy, land nav, stuff like that. Good times!
Sit ups: 57 (needed 51)
1.5 Mile Run: 8:48 (needed sub-9:48)
Waist measurement: 32 inches
Total it up and I got a 100% for my first AF PT test. Highest score in the squadron, and one of only two people to get a 100 (the other was a chick, and we all know how the military relaxes standards so females can take part). I asked when we take the exercise bike portion of the test, and I think I offended some people. AF folks thought I was from another planet for the run time, which I thought was mediocre. Might try to break the eight minute mark for the next test.
Also got to do some infantry-type stuff yesterday. Movement to contact, react to ambusy, land nav, stuff like that. Good times!
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Sugarloaf mountain
Bagged another named peak on the Wyoming road trip. Medicine Bow Peak was too snow covered for an attempt, but as a nice consolation prize Dani and I were able to scramble up Sugarloaf Mountain. Celebratory PBRs and stogies on top, followed by more celebratory beers back in the tiny town of Centennial, WY (population: 100; number of bars: 4).
Dani's pics of the trip can be seen here.
Dani's pics of the trip can be seen here.
Friday, June 01, 2007
bolder boulder
Great shot of the cheering section for Bolder Boulder this past weekend. Dani's pics from the epic roadtrip can be seen here.
run #110 - No Name Creek PR
Another Thurs tempo run up Barr trail, pushed it pretty hard and ended up setting all-time PRs to the top of the W's and to No Name Creek. Finished the W's in 23:50 and got to No Name in 38:40, my first time breaking the 40 minute barrier. I'm now doing my workouts on Barr Trail significantly faster than I did the Barr Trail Mountain Race last year, and I ran pretty good there last year.
Start time: 6PM
Distance: 6 miles
Time: 1:13:43
Pace: 12:17 minutes per mile
Weather: mid 50s
Start time: 6PM
Distance: 6 miles
Time: 1:13:43
Pace: 12:17 minutes per mile
Weather: mid 50s
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
bolder boulder
Pics from the Bolder Boulder can be seen here.The BB had over 50,800 finishers. That's probably almost twice the size of the Cap 10K! Some runners took the race seriously, but the vast majority of them did the goofball thing, as evidenced by the pictures.
I actually had my picture taken with the last place finisher, hopefully Dani will post her pics soon so everyone can see it.
run #109 - CRC happy hour
Felt pretty good after the WY marathon, so was able to pick up the pace a bit at the Wednesday Colorado Running Company shindig. Went from the CRC out around Sinton Lake and back. Could easily have broken an hour for this loop, but wanted to save something for the tempo run up Barr trail tomorrow. Good group after the run, small but lively, especially after we killed two growlers of Bristol and a couple 'o bottles of wine!
Start time: 6PM
Distance: 8 miles
Time: 62:29
Pace: 7:48 minutes per mile
Weather: mid 40s
Start time: 6PM
Distance: 8 miles
Time: 62:29
Pace: 7:48 minutes per mile
Weather: mid 40s
run #108 - Wyoming marathon
Kinda expected a DNF to happen sooner or later in my ultra career, as they happen to everyone. Actually kinda glad to get it out of the way before Lake City and Leadville.
Went up to Wyoming for the Rocky Mountain Double Marathon. Did not practice great pre-race behavior by getting shitty drunk in Fort Collins on Friday night, spending a good chunk of Saturday running around above 10,000 feet before getting drunk again, and then skipping my pre-race coffee to get to the start of the race on time Sunday morning.
Still, the race actually didn't go that bad. Physically, I felt fine. Mentally, I was just drained. At the halfway point, the RD came up to me and said, "if you drop now, you'll get an official finish in the Wyoming Marathon." Honestly, I felt fine, I just didn't feel like running another 26.2 miles. So after taking a few minutes to ponder his offer, I decided to bag it.
Special thanks to Meredith, who gave me some diet tips to help with my cramping during races. Not a single cramp despite the heat!
Results aren't posted yet, but I was just under 4:30, not counting the time I sat down before I decided to drop. Wish I woulda decided to run the marathon earlier, I think I coulda ran a lot faster. Still, it was a pretty good effort at a bit higher altitude, should prepare me for my two big races of the year.
For those keeping track at home, it was my 9th race of the marathon distance. And if I ever decide to run one in all 50 states, I only have 46 to go!
Not too disappointed, as you'll see from the pics to be posted later it was one hell of a road trip!
Congrats to Dani for her finish in the half marathon, and also to all the Bolder Boulder folks!
Start time: 6AM
Distance: 26.2 miles
Time: 4:29:59
Pace: 10:18 minutes per mile
Weather: highs reached the 80s, even at the higher elevation
Went up to Wyoming for the Rocky Mountain Double Marathon. Did not practice great pre-race behavior by getting shitty drunk in Fort Collins on Friday night, spending a good chunk of Saturday running around above 10,000 feet before getting drunk again, and then skipping my pre-race coffee to get to the start of the race on time Sunday morning.
Still, the race actually didn't go that bad. Physically, I felt fine. Mentally, I was just drained. At the halfway point, the RD came up to me and said, "if you drop now, you'll get an official finish in the Wyoming Marathon." Honestly, I felt fine, I just didn't feel like running another 26.2 miles. So after taking a few minutes to ponder his offer, I decided to bag it.
Special thanks to Meredith, who gave me some diet tips to help with my cramping during races. Not a single cramp despite the heat!
Results aren't posted yet, but I was just under 4:30, not counting the time I sat down before I decided to drop. Wish I woulda decided to run the marathon earlier, I think I coulda ran a lot faster. Still, it was a pretty good effort at a bit higher altitude, should prepare me for my two big races of the year.
For those keeping track at home, it was my 9th race of the marathon distance. And if I ever decide to run one in all 50 states, I only have 46 to go!
Not too disappointed, as you'll see from the pics to be posted later it was one hell of a road trip!
Congrats to Dani for her finish in the half marathon, and also to all the Bolder Boulder folks!
Start time: 6AM
Distance: 26.2 miles
Time: 4:29:59
Pace: 10:18 minutes per mile
Weather: highs reached the 80s, even at the higher elevation
Leadville week #25
Not a good week, though I was busy getting ready for the Wyoming road trip. Gotta look at the bright side - the chances of me getting an overuse injury are pretty slim right now.
Week #25 distance: 24.0 miles
Week #25 time: 6:22:15
Average week #25 pace: 15:55 per mile
Total quest distance: 774.7 miles
Total quest time: 127:53:08
Average quest pace: 9:54 per mile
Average weekly mileage: 31.0 miles
Average daily run: 7.2 miles
Week #25 distance: 24.0 miles
Week #25 time: 6:22:15
Average week #25 pace: 15:55 per mile
Total quest distance: 774.7 miles
Total quest time: 127:53:08
Average quest pace: 9:54 per mile
Average weekly mileage: 31.0 miles
Average daily run: 7.2 miles
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
quote of the day
If you've been following the saga of Ward Churchill (I have only because it's in the paper all the time here in Colorado) you know this guy ain't the most reputable source, but his rant against the University of Colorado was pretty funny. Please note that this applies to all UCCS students also!
"A random group of homeless people under a bridge would be far more intellectually sound and principled than anything I've encountered at the university so far."
-Ward Churchill
"A random group of homeless people under a bridge would be far more intellectually sound and principled than anything I've encountered at the university so far."
-Ward Churchill
DNF
A longer race report will follow when I have more time, but I was unsuccessful in my bid at the Rocky Mountain Double Marathon. Just wasn't mentally willing to run another 26 miles, so I decided to drop out at the halfway point. Dropping at that point did give me an official finish at the Wyoming Marathon though.
Friday, May 25, 2007
rocky mountain double marathon
In a few hours I'll be off to Wyoming (stopping by New Belgium brewing on the way!) for the Rocky Mountain Double Marathon. If I finish it'll be the second farthest distance I've ever run (52.4 miles), as well as only my second belt buckle. Wish me luck!
Also gonna attempt to bag Medicine Bow Peak (12,013 feet) and possibly a few other 11ens and 12ers up there in Medicine Bow National Forest.
Sunday night it's back through Boulder so I can be up early Monday morning to start drinking and watch the Bolder Boulder 10K, the nations second largest 10K race.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
climbing
Great day at the climbing gym today, finally roped up and went over the eight foot barrier. Was successful on my first two attempts, one on a 5.5 and one on a 5.8! Woohoo! Even managed to get a few moves in on the boulder!
run #107 - Dorothy falls
Garden run #9 this morning, but we got to go on a special field trip today. Went back through the Glen Eire castle to Dorothy Falls. More of a hike/rest trip than an actual run, but it was great to see some good, technical trail with a beautiful waterfall at the end. It was every bit as scenic as Zapata falls, with a better hike to get to the falls.
Hoover and I carried booze back there, me with my PBR and her with some apple martini stuff, and we started drinking at 6:45AM!
Start time: 6AM
Distance: 4 miles
Time: 1:21:05
Pace: 20:16 minutes per mile
Weather: high 30s; new snowfall on the mountains last night
Hoover and I carried booze back there, me with my PBR and her with some apple martini stuff, and we started drinking at 6:45AM!
Start time: 6AM
Distance: 4 miles
Time: 1:21:05
Pace: 20:16 minutes per mile
Weather: high 30s; new snowfall on the mountains last night
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
PPRR newsletter
I wrote two articles last month for the Pikes Peak Road Runners newsletter, one on the hash and one on the Barkley marathon, and they can be seen here. I think I also have a quick blurb in the upcoming issue about the San Juan Solstice. Had to keep it to 100 words, which is fairly difficult to do when describing a mountainous fifty mile race. Anyways, that article: The San Juan Solstice 50 miler is one of the more difficult Colorado ultramarathons. Beginning and ending in the quaint mountain town of Lake City, the course runs a counterclockwise loop, mostly on singletrack trails, through the rugged San Juan mountains. Elevations range from a start point of 8,600 feet and climbs to over 13,300 feet, much of it along the Continental Divide. If that's not enough of a challenge, there are several stream crossings and there is often significant snow at the higher elevations. Well stocked aid stations and terrific volunteer support, much of it provided by the Lake City EMS, make the journey just a little bit easier. This year's race falls on June 16. For more information, check out www.lakecity50.com.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
run #106 - Garden shirt
Finally got run #8 at the Garden, and was rewarded with a long sleeve "GOTG 10 miler" shirt from 2002.
Thursday's Garden run should be pretty good, the trail group is gonna go out to the waterfall. Didn't even know there was a waterfall in the Garden, so I'm hoping it's pretty neat. I plan on carrying a can of PBR with me and downing it at the falls if anyone is interested in joining me. Austin readers can join me by downing a beer at 6:30AM Mountain Standard Time on Thurs.
Start time: 6AM
Distance: 6 miles
Time: 48:06
Pace: 8:01 minutes per mile
Weather: mid 40s
Thursday's Garden run should be pretty good, the trail group is gonna go out to the waterfall. Didn't even know there was a waterfall in the Garden, so I'm hoping it's pretty neat. I plan on carrying a can of PBR with me and downing it at the falls if anyone is interested in joining me. Austin readers can join me by downing a beer at 6:30AM Mountain Standard Time on Thurs.
Start time: 6AM
Distance: 6 miles
Time: 48:06
Pace: 8:01 minutes per mile
Weather: mid 40s
Sunday, May 20, 2007
support the troops!
One of the big phrases I hear all the time today is how people say they don't support the war but support the troops. Which is fine, I feel the same way, but the problem is that most people say that because it's politically correct, and in reality they don't really do anything at all for the military folks.
Well, here's your chance! Fellow Kimchi hasher Grannylingus left for NTC this past weekend. He'll be spending a month there while getting ready to head to Iraq sometime in the future. He'll only be there for a month, but if you've ever been to an NTC rotation you know how much it sucks.
So take a few minutes of your day to drop the guy a line. Most of yunz don't know him, but he's a hasher, and I'm sure he'd be glad to hear from other hashers. I've already sent him a post card, pretending to be his gay lover and saying how I can't wait 'till he returns for his homecoming party at the Underground. I'm sure his Infantry buddies will love that.
SSG Mark Peck
B Company, 1-68 AR
Rotation #07-08
Fort Irwin, CA 92310-5000
Well, here's your chance! Fellow Kimchi hasher Grannylingus left for NTC this past weekend. He'll be spending a month there while getting ready to head to Iraq sometime in the future. He'll only be there for a month, but if you've ever been to an NTC rotation you know how much it sucks.
So take a few minutes of your day to drop the guy a line. Most of yunz don't know him, but he's a hasher, and I'm sure he'd be glad to hear from other hashers. I've already sent him a post card, pretending to be his gay lover and saying how I can't wait 'till he returns for his homecoming party at the Underground. I'm sure his Infantry buddies will love that.
SSG Mark Peck
B Company, 1-68 AR
Rotation #07-08
Fort Irwin, CA 92310-5000
run #105 - Ute Pass/Longs Ranch/Barr Camp
Sheesh, what a slog today! Started at Memorial Park in Manitou. Over to Ute Pass, then up the long ass hill that is Longs Ranch Road. Tried to be a stud and run all the way up Longs, not only did I fail miserably but it really ruined my legs for the climb on Barr Trail up to see Neil and Teresa. Took advantage of the day to stop very often and enjoy the view of Pikes Peak.
Did make it to Barr Camp. No snow at all! Had a good talk with Neil about Leadville, he's hoping to return this year to do his 10th Leadville. You get a special 1000 mile buckle once you finish your 10th.
Start time: noon
Distance: 14 miles
Time: 4:13:04
Pace: 18:04 minutes per mile
Weather: high 50s, cloudy, sporadic drizzle
Did make it to Barr Camp. No snow at all! Had a good talk with Neil about Leadville, he's hoping to return this year to do his 10th Leadville. You get a special 1000 mile buckle once you finish your 10th.
Start time: noon
Distance: 14 miles
Time: 4:13:04
Pace: 18:04 minutes per mile
Weather: high 50s, cloudy, sporadic drizzle
Leadville through week 24
OK, I may have been slacking on my virtual training log, hopefully that lack of excitement hasn't caused anyone's life to lack meaning. These numbers catch me up to yesterday and may or may not be accurate (don't think I have the 50K mileage in there).
Week #24 distance: 93.1 miles
Week #24 time: 15:01:06
Average week #24 pace: 9:40 per mile
Total quest distance: 750.7 miles
Total quest time: 121:25:53 (that's well over five continuous days of running, FYI)
Average quest pace: 9:42 per mile
Average weekly mileage: 31.3 miles
Average daily run: 7.2 miles
Week #24 distance: 93.1 miles
Week #24 time: 15:01:06
Average week #24 pace: 9:40 per mile
Total quest distance: 750.7 miles
Total quest time: 121:25:53 (that's well over five continuous days of running, FYI)
Average quest pace: 9:42 per mile
Average weekly mileage: 31.3 miles
Average daily run: 7.2 miles
run #104 - Spiral Drive
Took a quick trip down to Salida for their Spiral Drive 4 miler. Any excuse for lunch at Amica's...
The race went pretty well. Not the most elite of fields, I figured I had a chance to place pretty high. Starting gun went off and two guys flew away from the rest of us, but I figured they'd both come back.
Being an out of towner definitely had it's drawbacks for this race. I thought the road up Tenderfoot Hill was a lot steeper, so instead of chasing the two leaders I kinda held back. Kept chugging up the hill, slowly moving into second place and holding off another guy who was trying to move up. The top of the hill came very quickly, I was tied for second with the next guy just two or three seconds behind.
The guy in first was pretty much gone, but had I known the hill wasn't that tough I coulda kept a lot closer. As we began the descent, the two guys near me took off, and I figured I'd just hold on to fourth place. I've gotten much better at downhill running since I moved to Colorado, but I'm still not a great bomber. But don't worry, I'll change that before the Barr Mountain Trail Race comes around!
About a mile down the hill, I notice that while second place has jumped way ahead of me, the guy in third hasn't put a whole lot of distance on me and is running horrible tangents. So I tear off after him. Lots of curves, and I use an old high school cross country trick where I wait 'till he can't see me and then I surge. So each time he looks back I've gained significant ground on him.
I'm not known for my ferocious kick, but with about 100 meters to go I let loose and pass the guy to move into third place. He tries to counter, but somehow I'm able to hold him off. I haven't seen his time, but he's probably one second behind me in the standings. Had he just run a smarter race and hugged the corners a little more, I'd have had no chance to catch him.
The big effort at the end really paid off, as the top three finishers each received a really sweet coffee mug. One of the best things about coffee mugs is that they also hold beer!
Congrats to Tits on the Ritz who made the trip and ran really well. She ran 42:58, and quite honestly I thought she woulda been slower. Good job for her first hill climb.
After a few post race beers at the awards ceremony it was of course off to Amicas for some pizza and some yummy Big S brown ale!
Start time: 10AM
Distance: 4 miles
Time: 26:40
Pace: 6:40 minutes per mile
Weather: high 50s, sunny
The race went pretty well. Not the most elite of fields, I figured I had a chance to place pretty high. Starting gun went off and two guys flew away from the rest of us, but I figured they'd both come back.
Being an out of towner definitely had it's drawbacks for this race. I thought the road up Tenderfoot Hill was a lot steeper, so instead of chasing the two leaders I kinda held back. Kept chugging up the hill, slowly moving into second place and holding off another guy who was trying to move up. The top of the hill came very quickly, I was tied for second with the next guy just two or three seconds behind.
The guy in first was pretty much gone, but had I known the hill wasn't that tough I coulda kept a lot closer. As we began the descent, the two guys near me took off, and I figured I'd just hold on to fourth place. I've gotten much better at downhill running since I moved to Colorado, but I'm still not a great bomber. But don't worry, I'll change that before the Barr Mountain Trail Race comes around!
About a mile down the hill, I notice that while second place has jumped way ahead of me, the guy in third hasn't put a whole lot of distance on me and is running horrible tangents. So I tear off after him. Lots of curves, and I use an old high school cross country trick where I wait 'till he can't see me and then I surge. So each time he looks back I've gained significant ground on him.
I'm not known for my ferocious kick, but with about 100 meters to go I let loose and pass the guy to move into third place. He tries to counter, but somehow I'm able to hold him off. I haven't seen his time, but he's probably one second behind me in the standings. Had he just run a smarter race and hugged the corners a little more, I'd have had no chance to catch him.
The big effort at the end really paid off, as the top three finishers each received a really sweet coffee mug. One of the best things about coffee mugs is that they also hold beer!Congrats to Tits on the Ritz who made the trip and ran really well. She ran 42:58, and quite honestly I thought she woulda been slower. Good job for her first hill climb.
After a few post race beers at the awards ceremony it was of course off to Amicas for some pizza and some yummy Big S brown ale!
Start time: 10AM
Distance: 4 miles
Time: 26:40
Pace: 6:40 minutes per mile
Weather: high 50s, sunny
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