I'm back in Colorado. Had a greatd trip and ate way to much food in Omaha. Hotel gym hero!
It's brutally cold here. The seven day forecast never goes above 25F. It 5F right now, going down to -7F tonight, a new record low. Sweet! Probably no riding this weekend. Swimming?
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
Monday 11.30.09
Tonight, I roasted brussel sprouts, sweet onion, cauliflower, sweet potato and parsnip in good olive oil and a little spice blend I make. Tossed it right out of the oven with fresh spinach and roasted chicken, then drizzled with a nice balsamic vinegar. I love roasted vegetables and I made a big batch so Kat can have snacks and dinner tomorrow.
Instead of the usual busting out of a pint of Fro Yo, I cut up a Rudy Red grapefruit with a touch of honey.
I fly out to Omaha again in the morning. I'm going back to see how the new menu promotion is going. The trick is to see if I can be a "secret guest" and not be recognized. Most of our General Managers who know me and would sound the alarm are off on Mondays and Tuesdays. I'll stay through Wednesday to say hi and make more rounds. My last trip I was in Omaha, I got spotted and that restaurant called the others and told them what I was wearing. I'd like to think all our guests get the same well executed products and service! Hmmm.
It was really nice here today and I got out at lunch for a Platte River-Highlands loop run. Went nice and easy. Hit the gym afterwards. Of course, I packed the gear for my trip. More oxygen!
NOON) RUN 7.7 miles, 1:00, GPS DATA
NOON) GYM, strength & core, :30 minutes
Sunday, November 29, 2009
22 weeks until Ironman Utah
We had a great weekend. Kat came around and was her normal self on Friday evening. Projects that had been postponed forever finally got finished!
We started in the house and started planning and prepping some remodel projects. We cleaned out closets and downsized a bunch of space. We converted one small closet into a dry goods pantry off the kitchen. It's amazing when you get organized how much space you can create! We added another six giant bags for the Goodwill trip soon to come out in the garage. We also shopped paint for the entire inside of the house and brought home a big handful of color samples. I see some more busy weekends in our future!
This afternoon we went out and got our yard looking like we hadn't neglected it for the last three weeks! We accomplished tons in the last two days!
I got out for some nice runs and rides but kept it kinda "holiday."
Ironman Utah is 22 weeks out and the real training starts tomorrow. My base right now is great and I'm hungry! One big aspect will be nutrition and how we eat every day.... the focus being on fresh and healthy. Stay tuned! It's on!
We started in the house and started planning and prepping some remodel projects. We cleaned out closets and downsized a bunch of space. We converted one small closet into a dry goods pantry off the kitchen. It's amazing when you get organized how much space you can create! We added another six giant bags for the Goodwill trip soon to come out in the garage. We also shopped paint for the entire inside of the house and brought home a big handful of color samples. I see some more busy weekends in our future!
This afternoon we went out and got our yard looking like we hadn't neglected it for the last three weeks! We accomplished tons in the last two days!
I got out for some nice runs and rides but kept it kinda "holiday."
Ironman Utah is 22 weeks out and the real training starts tomorrow. My base right now is great and I'm hungry! One big aspect will be nutrition and how we eat every day.... the focus being on fresh and healthy. Stay tuned! It's on!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Welcome to Bonk City
It was so beautiful here in Colorado today. Kat and Paley kicked me out of the house this morning (and I took it!!) so they could have "girl time" and make sugar cookies. I ran in shorts out Coal Creek Trail to Louisville and looped back to the house. I felt great and wanted to hammer but just went at a nice tempo because I knew there was a possibility of the girls having naps and a bike ride in my afternoon future!
When I got home I ate a banana and some black beans. Maybe 300 calories. This after a coffee, no food breakfast earlier. Shortly after, the girls napped out and I quickly filled two water bottles.... with water, and hit the road.
I had a great ride in the rolling land north of Boulder for about 1 1/2 hours and then I turned into a headwind coming back... and the wheels fell off! It was one of those bonks where my brain was going through the fridge and cabinets! Whew! I've never bonked on that short of a ride.
Lesson... 3+ hours of total aerobic work and 300 calories is a bad idea.
AM) RUN 9.4 miles, 1:11, GPS DATA
NOON) BIKE 35 miles, 1:58, GPS DATA
When I got home I ate a banana and some black beans. Maybe 300 calories. This after a coffee, no food breakfast earlier. Shortly after, the girls napped out and I quickly filled two water bottles.... with water, and hit the road.
I had a great ride in the rolling land north of Boulder for about 1 1/2 hours and then I turned into a headwind coming back... and the wheels fell off! It was one of those bonks where my brain was going through the fridge and cabinets! Whew! I've never bonked on that short of a ride.
Lesson... 3+ hours of total aerobic work and 300 calories is a bad idea.
AM) RUN 9.4 miles, 1:11, GPS DATA
NOON) BIKE 35 miles, 1:58, GPS DATA
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thanksgiving
I boned out turkey legs and stuffed them with chorizo and cornbread then braised them in a rich stock. This pic is just before adding browned veggies and the stock and into the oven for 2 1/2 hours.
Here's the finished dish with the stock made into a chorizo gravy. Mmmmmm....
Here's the finished dish with the stock made into a chorizo gravy. Mmmmmm....
Well, Kat made it to Thanksgiving dinner. I knew shortly after waking this morning that it may be a struggle. She was really tired and low energy. I did some last minute prep this morning and by noon, Kat was ready for some sleep. I put her and Paley down for naps and since it was 60F outside, decided to work on building an appetite. Cruised on the road bike out Cherryvale. Perfect outside. I intentionally left the iPod at home to just think and enjoy the day.
When I got home Kat was up and in the shower. We headed out just before 3pm and sat down with family and friends at maybe 4pm for dinner. By 6, Kat was done.
She was a little emotional and really had a hard time toward the end when we were leaving. We tried to talk about it on the way home. A lot of what I think happened was her trying so hard to put on her "happy face" when she really didn't feel good and strong. She doesn't want to worry people.
I brought her home and made her a bed on the couch (she said she wanted to watch ball with me) but she was sound asleep in maybe 30 seconds. She's slept 16 to 20 hours a day since the chemo treatment. Obviously, five rounds of chemo has taken its toll... but from all we've been told, it's working. Her blood numbers from Monday looked like a girl without cancer.
For this alone, we're thankful! Thanks to you all of you who've reached out and offered your support over the last six months. It may not seem like much, but it means a lot!
NOON) BIKE 21.5 miles, 1:14
When I got home Kat was up and in the shower. We headed out just before 3pm and sat down with family and friends at maybe 4pm for dinner. By 6, Kat was done.
She was a little emotional and really had a hard time toward the end when we were leaving. We tried to talk about it on the way home. A lot of what I think happened was her trying so hard to put on her "happy face" when she really didn't feel good and strong. She doesn't want to worry people.
I brought her home and made her a bed on the couch (she said she wanted to watch ball with me) but she was sound asleep in maybe 30 seconds. She's slept 16 to 20 hours a day since the chemo treatment. Obviously, five rounds of chemo has taken its toll... but from all we've been told, it's working. Her blood numbers from Monday looked like a girl without cancer.
For this alone, we're thankful! Thanks to you all of you who've reached out and offered your support over the last six months. It may not seem like much, but it means a lot!
NOON) BIKE 21.5 miles, 1:14
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Thanksgiving Eve
Got out of work a little early and ran some Thanksgiving errands. Spent the evening boning out turkey legs. That's a chore. We're doing dinner with a bunch of foodies friends (19 in all!) and everyone brings a dish and some great wine. Of course, one peson gets assigned a whole bird. That's been me the last two years. I passed this year. This year I'm doing braised turkey legs stuffed with chorizo and cornbread. It's gonna rock! I'll take some pics.
Kat's coming around fast! I think she'll have some fight in her for some feasting tomorrow.
I got out for an easy run around Arapahoe Ridge tonight.
PM) RUN 5.0 miles, 38 minutes, GPS DATA
Kat's coming around fast! I think she'll have some fight in her for some feasting tomorrow.
I got out for an easy run around Arapahoe Ridge tonight.
PM) RUN 5.0 miles, 38 minutes, GPS DATA
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
11.24.09
Kat's doing pretty good today. Really tired and some joint pain but all things considered... not bad. She slept most of the afternoon. When I go home around 4pm to check up on her, she was OUT! I couldn't get her to stir. I went out and ran and when I got back, still out! I did get her up and had her eat some veggie soup w/ tofu and now she's back asleep.
I put out an email last night for takers on a headlamp run on the Coal Creek Trail for tonight after work. JV and Brandon met me at the Public Rd trailhead and we did an easy cruise out through Louisville to McCaslin Rd. in Superior and back. I love running by headlamp! A little colder than I thought it was going to be. I'm going to visit REI for some new gloves this weekend.
NOON) GYM strength & core :40
PM) RUN 11.45 miles, 1:28, GPS DATA
I put out an email last night for takers on a headlamp run on the Coal Creek Trail for tonight after work. JV and Brandon met me at the Public Rd trailhead and we did an easy cruise out through Louisville to McCaslin Rd. in Superior and back. I love running by headlamp! A little colder than I thought it was going to be. I'm going to visit REI for some new gloves this weekend.
NOON) GYM strength & core :40
PM) RUN 11.45 miles, 1:28, GPS DATA
Monday, November 23, 2009
Monday 11.23.09
We just got home from the hospital. Round 5 of 6 chemo treatments done!! One more to go on December 14th. I've got Kat on the couch and she should be out like a light shortly. Very draining, long 8 hour day for her.
I got out for a run early before treatment started. Cold and windy and I cut it a little short from what I had in my mind. It looked warmer than it was and I was under dressed.
Thought about trying to get another run in tonight but I'm gonna crack an Avery Dugana DIPA and park next to Kat and watch some ball.
AM) RUN 6.1 miles, 44 minutes
I got out for a run early before treatment started. Cold and windy and I cut it a little short from what I had in my mind. It looked warmer than it was and I was under dressed.
Thought about trying to get another run in tonight but I'm gonna crack an Avery Dugana DIPA and park next to Kat and watch some ball.
AM) RUN 6.1 miles, 44 minutes
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Sunday 11.22.09
Well, we think Paley may have "the pig flu." She's felt sick and has had an off and on fever since Friday night. Good times. 102F last night and got to change out sheets at 3am because of some reverse dinner action.
Kat has tried to stay away from her as much as possible. She went up to visit her folks in Windsor CO this morning. We have round 5 of 6 chemo treatments tomorrow morning and her getting swine flu would definitely suck!
I did manage to get out for 2 1/2 hours yesterday while Paley napped and ride the Boulder Peak Tri course from the house, about 42 miles. Really windy heading out and I had my first flat in forever but it was great to get some saddle time and I felt pretty damn good... even standing on the side of the road changing a tire!
Paley's been pretty close to her bed and power watching cartoons and movies all day today. When she went out after lunch I set up the road bike on the trainer and rode for 1 1/2 hours while watching the Cowboys barely pull out another win. The playoffs are already starting to scare me. They could be short!
Kat has tried to stay away from her as much as possible. She went up to visit her folks in Windsor CO this morning. We have round 5 of 6 chemo treatments tomorrow morning and her getting swine flu would definitely suck!
I did manage to get out for 2 1/2 hours yesterday while Paley napped and ride the Boulder Peak Tri course from the house, about 42 miles. Really windy heading out and I had my first flat in forever but it was great to get some saddle time and I felt pretty damn good... even standing on the side of the road changing a tire!
Paley's been pretty close to her bed and power watching cartoons and movies all day today. When she went out after lunch I set up the road bike on the trainer and rode for 1 1/2 hours while watching the Cowboys barely pull out another win. The playoffs are already starting to scare me. They could be short!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Thursday 11.19.09
Kat and I have had a lot of talks this week. I spent last week in Omaha/Lincoln rolling out a new menu project. I ran everyday while I was there and piddled around this weekend and this week with workouts.
Kat has round 5 of chemo treatments on Monday. Round 6 of 6... the last fucking one, is on Monday, December 14th. We think radiation will start at the end of January.
Kat and I started this year looking forward to our second great year together as a couple and a world of possibilities. That world collapsed shortly after we got back from our Eugene Marathon trip in May when she was diagnosed with cancer. This had been the most stressful, terrifying six months of my life. I can't even imagine what Kat's gone through.
She's been unable to work since June. This has given her a lot of time to sit at home alone and be scared and sick and think. We don't know what the future holds. It's been hard to watch her struggle with the treatments and the future. Honestly, I wouldn't have been as strong in her position. I know this.
One of my decisions... I'm blowing off California International Marathon in December. I'd signed up for this race two days after Eugene having missed going sub 2:50 by only 21 seconds. With the last treatment and following PET scans happening that week, I have more important things on my plate. Sub 2:50 is going to happen, just not this year. Family first.
So I'll turn my attention to next year and helping get Kat her normal life back. Ironman Utah is 24 weeks out and we plan to be there... and Kat will have a full head of hair! I'm positive!
NOON) RUN, 7.8 miles, :59 minutes
Kat has round 5 of chemo treatments on Monday. Round 6 of 6... the last fucking one, is on Monday, December 14th. We think radiation will start at the end of January.
Kat and I started this year looking forward to our second great year together as a couple and a world of possibilities. That world collapsed shortly after we got back from our Eugene Marathon trip in May when she was diagnosed with cancer. This had been the most stressful, terrifying six months of my life. I can't even imagine what Kat's gone through.
She's been unable to work since June. This has given her a lot of time to sit at home alone and be scared and sick and think. We don't know what the future holds. It's been hard to watch her struggle with the treatments and the future. Honestly, I wouldn't have been as strong in her position. I know this.
One of my decisions... I'm blowing off California International Marathon in December. I'd signed up for this race two days after Eugene having missed going sub 2:50 by only 21 seconds. With the last treatment and following PET scans happening that week, I have more important things on my plate. Sub 2:50 is going to happen, just not this year. Family first.
So I'll turn my attention to next year and helping get Kat her normal life back. Ironman Utah is 24 weeks out and we plan to be there... and Kat will have a full head of hair! I'm positive!
NOON) RUN, 7.8 miles, :59 minutes
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Saturday 11.7.09
The summit marker on top of Green Mountain
Me and JV hanging out at the peak of Green
I slept in until almost 8am! I met up with JV and Brandon at Chautauqua at 9am and did a nice mountain run. Started out a little rough from the visit to Avery last night! I think I was a bit dehydrated! It felt like Brandon took it out at a pretty good clip! Enough of the whining.
We ran up Gregory Canyon to Ranger Trail to the top of Green Mountain, then west to SuperFlag, down Flagstaff road to the Amphi road jct. and headed down the backside of Flag to the Red Lion Inn, on the bike path to Eben G Fine Park, then back up Flag to the jct. with the main trail and back down into Chautauqua.
For the third long mountain run in a row, my Garmin decided to bag it early and shut down. I'm going to try and contact them and see what I can do. I'm going to have to do ALL my runs with Brandon, as again, I'm poaching his data (and pic!)
Kat and I made it into Denver to the Falling Rock Tap House in the afternoon. 89 craft brews on tap!! I got to sample the Sierra Nevada Harvest Estate Wet Hop, the Port Brewing High Tide and the Bear Republic Racer X. Good times!
AM) RUN 13.83 miles, 4352 ft climbing, 2:26, GPS DATA
Friday 11.6.09
Thursday, November 5, 2009
11.5.09
Record high in Denver of 78F. Not too bad! I woke up early and threw the road bike on the trainer. It's been a while since I've done indoors... and it was actually a nice way to start the day.
I talked Kat out of the house to get some fresh air and meet me for lunch at Bones in downtown. She made it, we had a great lunch and then she went back home and slept the rest of the day.
In racing news, Paley got the green light from the RD today to do the Longmont Turkey Trot 10K next Saturday. She's gonna crush it!
Came home tonight and ran easy around Arapahoe Ridge in the dark with a handheld.
AM) BIKE trainer, easy tempo, 145 avg hr, :45
PM) RUN 5 miles, :39 minutes, GPS DATA
I talked Kat out of the house to get some fresh air and meet me for lunch at Bones in downtown. She made it, we had a great lunch and then she went back home and slept the rest of the day.
In racing news, Paley got the green light from the RD today to do the Longmont Turkey Trot 10K next Saturday. She's gonna crush it!
Came home tonight and ran easy around Arapahoe Ridge in the dark with a handheld.
AM) BIKE trainer, easy tempo, 145 avg hr, :45
PM) RUN 5 miles, :39 minutes, GPS DATA
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
11.4.09
Kat slept most of the day and is in bed early again. There really is no pattern to the side effects of the chemo treatments. Three weeks ago tonight after her 3rd round, she felt almost normal and we we're out celebrating her birthday. Hopefully tomorrow she'll turn the corner and be able to get outside. It's supposed to be mid 70F the next few days. I just tell her to take it easy and listen to her body. If her body wants to sleep most of the day... sleep most of the day. It's the best thing for her right now.
I emailed the question to the Longmont Turkey Trot 10K this afternoon asking if I could push Paley in the "Paley Jogger" next Saturday.
Out for a cruise through the Highlands neighborhood at lunch.
NOON) RUN 6 miles, 46 minutes, GPS DATA
I emailed the question to the Longmont Turkey Trot 10K this afternoon asking if I could push Paley in the "Paley Jogger" next Saturday.
Out for a cruise through the Highlands neighborhood at lunch.
NOON) RUN 6 miles, 46 minutes, GPS DATA
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
11.3.09
Kat finished round 4 of 6 of her chemo treatments yesterday! She fell asleep last night at 7 pm and slept through the night. Again today, not really sick, just really tired. Every time I called from work to check on her (which seemed like a lot), I woke her up. She's in bed early again tonight.
There's a blood marker for this type of cancer called CA-125. Normal levels for woman are below 35. When she was diagnosed, the marker was at 10. The only reason we knew the cancer was there was from biopsies and the PET scan. There they were on the PET scan. Two glowing spots on the film. One in the uterus, one in the colon. The surgery removed the tumors.
A month after surgery and the week before chemo started they did blood work and the marker was at 300! After chemo round 2, the marker was at 910!!! Her nurses, doctors and oncologist were concerned to say the least. These are the things that have been giving me the fucking nightmares! Well... yesterday before they started round 4, they did more blood work and as she's leaving after the treatment, a nurse comes out and gives the best news..... the marker is at 9.
No real explanation. Her oncologist thinks it could have been false positives from all the excess lymph fluid she carried for weeks following surgery. Whatever. We'll take it!
Done with chemo in two more rounds... six weeks!
Ran at lunch on a great day. Total Colorado! Monster snow storm six days ago and 70F and sunny today. No shirt in November! Hit the gym tonight after dinner.
NOON) RUN 7.75 miles, 58 minutes
GYM) strength & core :45 minutes
There's a blood marker for this type of cancer called CA-125. Normal levels for woman are below 35. When she was diagnosed, the marker was at 10. The only reason we knew the cancer was there was from biopsies and the PET scan. There they were on the PET scan. Two glowing spots on the film. One in the uterus, one in the colon. The surgery removed the tumors.
A month after surgery and the week before chemo started they did blood work and the marker was at 300! After chemo round 2, the marker was at 910!!! Her nurses, doctors and oncologist were concerned to say the least. These are the things that have been giving me the fucking nightmares! Well... yesterday before they started round 4, they did more blood work and as she's leaving after the treatment, a nurse comes out and gives the best news..... the marker is at 9.
No real explanation. Her oncologist thinks it could have been false positives from all the excess lymph fluid she carried for weeks following surgery. Whatever. We'll take it!
Done with chemo in two more rounds... six weeks!
Ran at lunch on a great day. Total Colorado! Monster snow storm six days ago and 70F and sunny today. No shirt in November! Hit the gym tonight after dinner.
NOON) RUN 7.75 miles, 58 minutes
GYM) strength & core :45 minutes
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Snowshoe Sunday 11.1.09
Kat and I went up to the Brainard Lake area for a gorgeous snowshoe hike this morning! 5 miles in 2 hours. A good way to stretch out the legs! Kat was super strong and in great spirits. Tommorow is Round 4 of 6 chemo treatments. She's done in six weeks!! Sends some positive thoughts.
We ran into a buddy on the trail!
We ran into a buddy on the trail!
Boulder Backroads Mountain Marathon 10.31.09
Well, Saturday dawned and the mountain didn't look nearly as bad as when I'd gone out Thursday afternoon.
We got the "flier" just before 9 am and chatted about the possibility of the proposed route. From what I'd seen on Thursday, the backside of the Flatirons wasn't passable. In past years, I've done this run with 100+ people bombing into Openspace at one time. The weather and some of the recon reports apparently scared most racers away this year. A small crew of 25 runners, including JV, GZ, Brandon and Justin, took off to see how far we could make it. It was pretty hard from the time we hit the Mesa Trail on. I joined in with Brandon and Justin at Chautauqua and we went really easy the rest of the day.
We topped out on Green Mountain and made the decision to bag the "short route" and add some time and mileage down a safer route back. I didn't mind at all. The weather was perfect and we got 19 miles in 4:31 with about 5200 ft climbing.
This pictures is from the Saddlerock-Greenman Junction on Thursday afternoon looking down on Chautauqua.
This pictures was taken from near the same spot as the above photo but on a beautiful Saturday morning. What a difference 1 1/2 days makes!!
Brandon, JV and me looking at the "race map flier."
Read it and weep!!
Brandon, Justin and Pete cruising up Ranger Trail on a fairly packed surface.
Justin and I watching our footing on some steep climb!
Brandon and Justin on the backside of Green.
Heading down our "bailout" route.
Busting through frozen ice running down will shred bare legs. Justin borrowing some gaiters. Nice look!!
Kat was joking with me that if I took longer than 5 hours she'd punch me in my sore hip flexors and sell my bikes. I checked my iPhone coming down the mountain and she'd texted me this picture with.... "Just a reminder." I apparently made it home in the nick of time and kept my bikes intact. Kat took me to the Avery Tap House to try the new Dugana Double IPA and then we went out for date night dinner at Colterra.
I poached Brandon's GPS DATA. For the second run in a row my Garmin shut down at the top. I have correct time and mileage but when you look at the route, it looks like I was dropped into the middle of the wild and had to make my way out. Both times, I noticed it was off at the top and restarted it. I thought the first time I pushed the off button accidentally in a fall. Any ideas anybody??!!
AM) RUN 19 miles, 4:31, GPS DATA
We got the "flier" just before 9 am and chatted about the possibility of the proposed route. From what I'd seen on Thursday, the backside of the Flatirons wasn't passable. In past years, I've done this run with 100+ people bombing into Openspace at one time. The weather and some of the recon reports apparently scared most racers away this year. A small crew of 25 runners, including JV, GZ, Brandon and Justin, took off to see how far we could make it. It was pretty hard from the time we hit the Mesa Trail on. I joined in with Brandon and Justin at Chautauqua and we went really easy the rest of the day.
We topped out on Green Mountain and made the decision to bag the "short route" and add some time and mileage down a safer route back. I didn't mind at all. The weather was perfect and we got 19 miles in 4:31 with about 5200 ft climbing.
This pictures is from the Saddlerock-Greenman Junction on Thursday afternoon looking down on Chautauqua.
This pictures was taken from near the same spot as the above photo but on a beautiful Saturday morning. What a difference 1 1/2 days makes!!
Brandon, JV and me looking at the "race map flier."
Read it and weep!!
Brandon, Justin and Pete cruising up Ranger Trail on a fairly packed surface.
Justin and I watching our footing on some steep climb!
Brandon and Justin on the backside of Green.
Heading down our "bailout" route.
Busting through frozen ice running down will shred bare legs. Justin borrowing some gaiters. Nice look!!
Kat was joking with me that if I took longer than 5 hours she'd punch me in my sore hip flexors and sell my bikes. I checked my iPhone coming down the mountain and she'd texted me this picture with.... "Just a reminder." I apparently made it home in the nick of time and kept my bikes intact. Kat took me to the Avery Tap House to try the new Dugana Double IPA and then we went out for date night dinner at Colterra.
I poached Brandon's GPS DATA. For the second run in a row my Garmin shut down at the top. I have correct time and mileage but when you look at the route, it looks like I was dropped into the middle of the wild and had to make my way out. Both times, I noticed it was off at the top and restarted it. I thought the first time I pushed the off button accidentally in a fall. Any ideas anybody??!!
AM) RUN 19 miles, 4:31, GPS DATA
Thursday, October 29, 2009
10.29.09... Epic Snow Day and Attempted "Run"
So I didn't get a lot of miles yesterday because of the snow. I had another "snow day" with Paley's school being closed and had planned to run in Boulder on the plowed bike trail when she went down for a nap.
We ran a few errands in the morning and I could see the Flatirons covered in snow. Rumor has it the annual Boulder Basic Backroads Marathon is this weekend (the first rule of the Basic is you don't talk about the Basic, so I can neither confirm, nor deny) and there has been chatter in the blogosphere that it's not possible because of the last two days of snow dump. This "race" is technically illegal because of the lack of permits, but... as rumor has it (and my trashed quads can attest), it's usually 18-26 miles and 6000-8000 ft climbing.
Paley went down early and Kat green lighted me to go on a reconnaissance run in the mountains where the "race" would/might happen.
It was 28F and snowing a light, wet snow when I left Chautauqua with the plan to climb Amphitheatre, Saddlerock and then, depending on time, summit Green or bail down the backside on Ranger Trail and come down Gregory Canyon.
Again... pictures not taken in black and white... just a black and white looking day out. This is the Ranger Station at Chautauqua looking up at the Flatirons. Green Mountain should be visible above but is totally covered in snow clouds.
I ran up the old Ski Jump Trail to the start of Amphitheatre Trail. This area was semi-packed from folks snowshoeing close in to Chautauqua. This was my last real "trail." In about another 1/4 mile, I was on my own.
Here is looking up at the 1st Flatiron from the north, just starting on the Amphitheatre Trail.
There are some big rock steps in the heart of Amphitheatre Trail that are super steep and usually tough. Horrifying with 2 1/2 feet of snow on them!
This is up on Saddlerock Trail looking back down on Chautauqua. I took my first really scary fall in this area. Went into a "hole" up to my armpits! I think I was off trail more than once in the Saddlerock Trail but would always come up on something that looked familiar.... and I just kept heading up!
So I ran around the bend up towards Green Mountain but stopped in the valley looking north towards Flagstaff Mountain. Because of time constraints, I decided to head back and go down Ranger Trail. I think I could have made the summit with an extra hour. In this pic, you can see that I tried (mine are the only tracks) but was hips deeps 50 yards in and had no idea where the trail was. Coming back to this junction, a 100 ft pine dumped it's entire stored snow supply like a sneak attack on me. When it hit me, for a second, I thought I'd been tackled by a mountain lion. It took probably 3-5 seconds to discharge all the snow on me. I curled into a ball and when it was over, stood up and then popped my head out! I was above my waist!
I took three self-pics coming down. I looked happiest in this one and I look like I want to kick my own ass! The others were REALLY surly. I was soaked and freezing.
We ran a few errands in the morning and I could see the Flatirons covered in snow. Rumor has it the annual Boulder Basic Backroads Marathon is this weekend (the first rule of the Basic is you don't talk about the Basic, so I can neither confirm, nor deny) and there has been chatter in the blogosphere that it's not possible because of the last two days of snow dump. This "race" is technically illegal because of the lack of permits, but... as rumor has it (and my trashed quads can attest), it's usually 18-26 miles and 6000-8000 ft climbing.
Paley went down early and Kat green lighted me to go on a reconnaissance run in the mountains where the "race" would/might happen.
It was 28F and snowing a light, wet snow when I left Chautauqua with the plan to climb Amphitheatre, Saddlerock and then, depending on time, summit Green or bail down the backside on Ranger Trail and come down Gregory Canyon.
Again... pictures not taken in black and white... just a black and white looking day out. This is the Ranger Station at Chautauqua looking up at the Flatirons. Green Mountain should be visible above but is totally covered in snow clouds.
I ran up the old Ski Jump Trail to the start of Amphitheatre Trail. This area was semi-packed from folks snowshoeing close in to Chautauqua. This was my last real "trail." In about another 1/4 mile, I was on my own.
Here is looking up at the 1st Flatiron from the north, just starting on the Amphitheatre Trail.
There are some big rock steps in the heart of Amphitheatre Trail that are super steep and usually tough. Horrifying with 2 1/2 feet of snow on them!
This is up on Saddlerock Trail looking back down on Chautauqua. I took my first really scary fall in this area. Went into a "hole" up to my armpits! I think I was off trail more than once in the Saddlerock Trail but would always come up on something that looked familiar.... and I just kept heading up!
So I ran around the bend up towards Green Mountain but stopped in the valley looking north towards Flagstaff Mountain. Because of time constraints, I decided to head back and go down Ranger Trail. I think I could have made the summit with an extra hour. In this pic, you can see that I tried (mine are the only tracks) but was hips deeps 50 yards in and had no idea where the trail was. Coming back to this junction, a 100 ft pine dumped it's entire stored snow supply like a sneak attack on me. When it hit me, for a second, I thought I'd been tackled by a mountain lion. It took probably 3-5 seconds to discharge all the snow on me. I curled into a ball and when it was over, stood up and then popped my head out! I was above my waist!
Since there was only one way down, the way I came, I sat and put on traction and followed my track back to Chautauqua.
I took three self-pics coming down. I looked happiest in this one and I look like I want to kick my own ass! The others were REALLY surly. I was soaked and freezing.
I took two really scary falls where I kinda braced for the worst. Somehow in one of the falls my Garmin shut off (or froze). I restarted it still going up but for some reason it had my time right but missed all the climb up. I had the auto pause off because I knew I'd be traveling slow enough at times the GPS would think I was stopped. The total time was 2 hours + but I was probably moving for 1:45. The GPS looks like I was helicoptered in and forced to hike out!
What did I learn from this? The "alleged" 21 miles planned for the Basic on Saturday is a pipe dream! It would take 10 hours! I definitely wish I'd taken my collapsible telemark poles today. I've heard that some of the "racers" are now gonna just bag Bear Peak on Saturday and I'm up for that!!
NOON) TRAIL RUN, GPS DATA
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
10.28.09... Early Snow Day!
BIG snow storm came in last night and is gonna run through tomorrow night. An early storm even for Colorado! Boulder Valley School's closed this morning, meaning no preschool for Paley and a snow day for Daddy!
In between work in the home office, I threw on the Montrail trail shoes and got out for a run when she went down for a nap after lunch and got blocked by snow on all my usual routes. It's dumped another 6-8 inches since the pic below. We're probably at 14-18 inches. They're saying another 8-10 inches by tomorrow afternoon.
This was on my run, standing on the running trail around Waneka Lake, almost to the knee. This is called "post-hole" running for all you warm climate folks!
Looking toward the boat house on Waneka Lake.
Daddy doing "core work" and Paley helping
It looks like I took this in black and white... but it really just looked this way!
Lajka, my miniature Australian Shepherd, checking it out. Boddah and Maggie are probably sprinting tracks around the house! Yeah, we have three herding dogs!
Snow Paley!
Tomorrows pictures of the storm, that is supposed to go all night, should be epic!
NOON) RUN 5.5 miles, 46 minutes
In between work in the home office, I threw on the Montrail trail shoes and got out for a run when she went down for a nap after lunch and got blocked by snow on all my usual routes. It's dumped another 6-8 inches since the pic below. We're probably at 14-18 inches. They're saying another 8-10 inches by tomorrow afternoon.
This was on my run, standing on the running trail around Waneka Lake, almost to the knee. This is called "post-hole" running for all you warm climate folks!
Looking toward the boat house on Waneka Lake.
Daddy doing "core work" and Paley helping
It looks like I took this in black and white... but it really just looked this way!
Lajka, my miniature Australian Shepherd, checking it out. Boddah and Maggie are probably sprinting tracks around the house! Yeah, we have three herding dogs!
Snow Paley!
I've been waiting for a day like today to crack this baby. Avery Mephistopheles' Stout, part of their Demon of Ale series! It's a 15.92 % ABV monster!! We may run tomorrow to the their Boulder Tap House to check out and take home some of the new Avery DuganA Double IPA that was released Friday! And now... some baseball!
Tomorrows pictures of the storm, that is supposed to go all night, should be epic!
NOON) RUN 5.5 miles, 46 minutes
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