fast feet and feasts

SJS50

2012-02-01T21:40:00.000-07:00

Wednesday 2.1.12

2012-02-01T20:42:00.000-07:00

Early run around Arapahoe Ridge trail and Erie Lake. Work lunch. Paley and I did daddy-daughter date night tonight.

Kat leaves tomorrow to fly out to Indiana to see her Grandma and Great Aunt. If the weather holds, I have Avs tickets for Paley and I tomorrow night sitting in Coca Cola's suite! Miss us, stupid storm!!

AM) RUN 6.2 miles, :48 minutes

Tuesday 1.31.12

2012-01-31T19:14:00.000-07:00

Beautiful sunrise loop around Arapahoe Ridge trail and Erie Lake. At lunch, hit the gym for hard core work and squats. Got home from work and put on PJ20 on Netflix (again!) and did a solid tempo effort with 15 x 1 minutes all out intervals.

AM) RUN 6.2 miles, :47 minutes
NOON) GYM :40 minutes
PM) BIKE trainer :50 minutes

Monday 1.30.12

2012-01-30T20:57:00.000-07:00

Last week ate me alive! I was so buried at work I was lucky to get in what I did. The weekend came and I made up some time with Kat and Paley. A much better start to this week and a little splash in the pool!

NOON) RUN 7.2 miles, :53 minutes
PM) SWIM 2000 yards, :40 minutes

Weekly Totals; Monday 1/23- Sunday 1/29

2012-01-30T09:58:00.000-07:00

RUN: 5 sessions 34.8 miles, 4:18
GYM: 1 session, :35 minutes
TOTAL: 4:53

Saturday 1.28.12

2012-01-30T09:56:00.000-07:00

Progression run on Davidson Mesa w/ GZ, Lucho, Aaron, Bob and Shad. One loop warm up then 19:55, 19:50 and then an easy cool down loop. Cold to start!

AM) RUN 12.4 miles, 1:31

Friday 1.27.12

2012-01-28T05:28:00.002-07:00

Up early for a loop around the Arapahoe Ridge trail and Erie Lake.

AM) RUN 6.2 miles, :46 minutes

Wed 1.25.12

2012-01-26T07:00:00.002-07:00

NOON) RUN 6.2 miles, :46 minutes

Tues 1.24.12

2012-01-24T20:45:00.000-07:00

Up early and had a really nice jog on the trail around Arapahoe Ridge. Gym at lunch and did a bunch of new core work. Beat Kat home tonight and did another spin on the Arapahoe Ridge trail with a nice little bit of new snow on what was dry trail this morning. Gorgeous night!

AM) RUN 5.0 miles, :38 minutes
GYM) strength & core :35
PM) RUN #2, 5.0 miles, :39 minutes

Weekly Totals, Monday 1/16/12 - Sunday 1/22/12

2012-01-22T16:09:00.001-07:00

RUN: 6 sessions, 56.5 miles, 7:18
BIKE: 1 session, :50 minutes
GYM: 2 sessions, 1:20
TOTAL: 9:28

Sunday 1.22.12, Fish Taco Night

2012-01-22T16:03:00.001-07:00

We made fish tacos with guacamole and pineapple salsa tonight.... and I'm playing with the camera on my new iPhone 4s!

Ran this morning up Coal Creek Trail towards Boulder. Hit the new connector in Superior and linked up through Marshall Mesa. A great new link up for us east of Boulder proper! Super windy! Down onto Broadway bike path and into town to grab my car that we had left after our night out on Friday.

AM) RUN 17.6 miles, 2:21

Saturday 1.21.12

2012-01-21T21:17:00.001-07:00

Drinking Old Fashioned's and taking cabs home = feeling < good on runs the next day.

AM) RUN 9.3 miles, 1:11

Friday 1.20.12

2012-01-21T09:45:00.000-07:00

Kat and I went to dinner at OAK at Fourteenth last night for our anniversary. Old Fashioned's, bone marrow, fried green tomatoes, corn bread and blue cheese, lamb canneloni and roasted skate wing....and a cab ride home!!

NOON) GYM :40 minutes
PM) RUN 6.3 miles, :48 minutes

Thurs 1.19.12

2012-01-19T20:43:00.000-07:00

Slept in with Kat this morning (until 6:30a) and then was swamped at work all day. I got out tonight under beautiful stars, a dark trail and no wind. Right after I got back the wind picked up again. I won!!

PM) RUN 10.4 miles, 1:18

Wed 1.18.12, Lucky Pie Beer Dinner Tonight!

2012-01-18T13:58:00.002-07:00

Kat had a bike to work event at Alfalfa's early this morning, so we were up and at 'em early. When she left and I'd had my fill of coffee, I hopped on the road bike on my Turbo trainer and did a nice brisk spin.

At lunch I jumped into the office gym and hit the treadmill again. 2 mile warm up then 1/4 miles on at 6:40 pace and 1/4 miles off at 8:00 pace. 1 1/2 mile cool down.

Beer dinner tonight at Lucky Pie! Here's the menu and beers!!

6 beers 5 courses

Welcoming Beer: Russian River Brewing Co. Pliny the Elder

1st course – Trumer Pilsner, Braised pork nachos with spicy tomatillo salsa, cumin roasted radicchio, and creme fraiche.

2nd course – Odell Myrcenary, Fried Chicken wings with spicy gorgonzola cream sauce, lemon pepper crudite salad.

3rd course – Black Butte Porter, Smoked salmon with tarrogon tartar sauce and and crispy bagel chip.

4th course – Oskar Blues Old Chub, roasted lamb short ribs with smashed potato, green pea puree,and demi glaze.

5th course – Bristol Winter Warlock, Espresso short cake with raspberry sorbet and a dark chocolate drizzle

AM) BIKE trainer :50 minutes @ steady tempo
NOON) RUN 7.0 miles, :54 minutes

Tuesday 1.17.12

2012-01-17T20:34:00.000-07:00

Hit the gym this morning and then decided to test out the toe on the treadmill at lunch. Tender and a little infection. Ran in the new Saucony Mirage and so far, so good!

AM) GYM strength & core, :40 minutes
NOON) RUN 6.0 miles, :46 minutes

Weekly Totals; Monday 1/9/12-Sunday 1/15/12

2012-01-17T11:25:00.001-07:00

RUN: 4 sessions, 50.6 miles, 10:20

Ponderous Posterior 50K - Saturday 1.14.12

2012-01-16T19:26:00.001-07:00

Thurs 1.12.12

2012-01-13T09:48:00.001-07:00

After doing some research, I went out and found the Saucony Peregrine trail shoe to try on. Initial thoughts? Love 'em! So much so that I tried on the road version, the Saucony Mirage, and bought these too!

I'll get one last long run in my Montrail Mountain Masochists on Saturday in Colorado Springs at the Ponderous Posterior 50K.

NOON) RUN 5.0 miles, :38 minutes

Wed. 1.11.12

2012-01-12T10:01:00.000-07:00

Easy lunch jog.

NOON) RUN 6.0 miles, :47 minutes

Tuesday 1.10.12

2012-01-10T21:11:00.001-07:00

Easy lunch jog.

NOON) RUN 7.6 miles, :54 minutes

Weekly Totals, Monday 1/2/12- Sunday 1/8/12

2012-01-08T16:06:00.001-07:00

BIKE: 1 road, 24 miles, 1:23
RUN: 7 sessions, 55.5 miles, 8:16
GYM: 1 session, :30
TOTAL TIME: 10:09

Sunday 1.8.12

2012-01-08T15:55:00.000-07:00

Thought I felt pretty good this morning and took off for run. About three miles in I could feel fatigue from yesterdays long trail run, bagged it and turned for home. A few blocks from the house I ran across a street and into a shaded portion and onto black ice. For one second, I think both my shoes were above hip level but somehow I awkwardly caught myself. It felt like I tried to jam a leg through my pelvis. Hobbled for a second and then it went away. Definitely spiked my heart rate for a minute!

AM) RUN 6.0 miles, :48 minutes

Saturday Trail Run 1.7.12

2012-01-07T19:07:00.002-07:00

28F at the start of my trail run this morning. Started at Bobolink TH and went all the way up South Boulder Trail to the Mesa Trail to Big Bluestem Trail, back onto Mesa up the connector towards Shadow Canyon, down Towhee Trail and through South Mesa TH to the Dowdy Draw Trail, up to Flatiron Vista to the Greenbelt Plateau Trail, down to Marshall Mesa TH, then through the neighborhood back to South Bould Trail and back to Bobolink. Light snow the last hour of the run. Pretty icy and slick wet clay in spots!

Typing it in because the old Garmin still won't download to Garmin Connect. Works, just won't download. Garmin 910 XT on back order!!

Saw a coyote at the gate at the south end of South Boulder Trail in the big prairie dog colony hunting and still there on the way back. He posed for me!

AM) RUN 21.7 miles, 3:40

Friday 1.6.12

2012-01-07T18:54:00.004-07:00

Zilch. Was gonna run after work but hit Backcountry Taphouse with Kat instead.

Thursday 1.5.12

2012-01-06T12:32:00.002-07:00

Up early again for a loop around the Arapahoe Ridge trail. Wanted run #2 but could never find the time.

AM) RUN 5.75 miles, :44 minutes

Wed 1.4.12

2012-01-04T20:09:00.000-07:00

I laid down in our bedroom at 8pm last night to watch a movie with Paley only to hear Kat crawl in bed with no Paley at 10pm. I lasted a few minutes and was out and Kat put Paley to bed.

Woke up at 5am totally refreshed with a solid 9 hours sleep! I had some great coffee and headed out into the dark to loop around the Arapahoe Ridge trail. I think I thought it was later than it was and went sans light. Pitch black once on the trail but I pushed on and was rewarded with a spectacular falling star show!

Out again at lunch for a short, easy jog #2 of the day and then into the office gym for core and a light weight circuit.

AM) RUN #1, 5.75 miles, :46 minutes
NOON) RUN #2, 3.75 miles, :29 minutes
NOON) GYM, strength & core, :30 minutes

Tues 1.3.12

2012-01-04T05:45:00.000-07:00

Easy lunch run.

NOON) RUN 6.o miles, :50 minutes

Monday 1.2.12

2012-01-02T18:59:00.000-07:00

Kat bought me the new Garmin 910 XT for Xmas. What kind of company goes to back order for the holidays?! Still, can't wait to get it! Rumor is mid February. The Garmin Connect site seems to be acting up now also... and that is kind of frustrating. Anyone using a better site?

Pulled the trigger and purchased plane tickets and entry for the Eugene Marathon on April 29th. Goal number one of the year!

Icy run on the Coal Creek Trail followed by a chilly spin on the road bike. Nice day off!

AM) RUN 6.55 miles, 58 minutes
NOON) BIKE 24 miles, 1:23

Wednesday 11.23.11

2011-11-23T21:28:00.002-07:00

PM) RUN 7.0 miles, :52 minutes

Tuesday 11.22.11

2011-11-22T21:05:00.001-07:00

Organic Oven Roasted Chicken Breast, Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts and Brown Rice.

NOON) RUN 7.1 miles, :53 minutes

Monday 11.21.11

2011-11-21T19:42:00.001-07:00

Steak salad!

NOON) RUN 7.1 miles, :53 minutes

Sunday 11.20.11

2011-11-20T10:18:00.003-07:00

AM) RUN 10.4 miles, 1:19

WEEK IN REVIEW
7 RUNS, 58.48 miles, 7:31

Saturday 11.19.11

2011-11-19T11:57:00.002-07:00

AM) RUN 14.55 miles, 1:55

Friday 11.18.11

2011-11-18T16:17:00.001-07:00

Run at lunch. I believe the Garmin is a goner. Still works so I can see the data on the unit but can't download. That's rough with borderline OCD! Here's the beginning of a coming converstation, "Kat. Baby...."

NOON) RUN 7.1 miles, :53 minutes NO GOD DAMN GPS DATA

Thursday 11.17.11

2011-11-18T06:51:00.000-07:00

Woke up early and got out for a run. Cut it short because, well, I don't want to talk about it. Took a couple walk breaks to keep the stomach in control

AM) RUN 5.3 miles, :42 minutes

Wednesday 11.16.11 (Garmin hell!)

2011-11-16T19:02:00.001-07:00

Fucking Garmin! My 305 is now in a state of sometimes uploading to Garmin Connect and sometimes not being recognized by my computer! Hit or miss. Spent more than an hour trying to reload the drivers etc. a few nights ago and nothing. Woke up in the morning and decided to try again and presto.... it worked. Tonight...nothing! Rrrrrrrrr!

NOON) RUN 7.01 miles, :53 minutes

Tuesday 11.15.11

2011-11-15T18:09:00.000-07:00

Out at lunch for a jog. The wind had died down today and it's pretty damn nice

NOON) RUN 7.1 miles, :55 minutes GPS DATA

Monday 11.14.11

2011-11-15T09:37:00.000-07:00

I sooooooooo love the wind! Started a run outside at lunch and couldn't even keep iPod buds in my ears. Yeah, that windy! Killed the plan after 2 1/2 miles and turned back to the gym in my office and ran on the rat wheel. 7 miles total at an easy jog.

NOON) RUN 7.0 miles, :54 minutes

Monday 10.24.11

2011-10-24T20:24:00.002-06:00

Got really motivated this weekend to get after it. Maybe I knew THIS was coming! Congrats, JT!

Long run and a long ride on Saturday. I'm a triathlete at heart! Long mountain run with a big bonk on Sunday.

Tonight I came home, and since it's 80F and sunny today but we're supposed to drop to a high of 32F and 8-12 inches of snow starting tomorrow night into Wednesday, I thought it time to drain the sprinkler lines. I got the water shut off but when I went to remove the cover for the in-ground valve box... YELLOW JACKETS!! The whole box was filled with a nest! Paley was out "helping" me and took the brunt of their anger with her first stings, on the neck and shoulder! Maybe as traumatic for me. A pretty helpless feeling when I knew what was happening.

I'd seen a few in the yard the last two weeks but couldn't find the nest. Found it.

Time for some winter consistency in training. I'm one of the few that love the snow. I'll be replacing last years Microspikes, which are now micronubs, with a new pair this week. Looking forward to plowing my way to the top of the tallest mountain I can find soon!

PM) RUN (mill) 3.0 miles, 22 minutes
PM) GYM hard weight session, :45 minutes

Sunday 10.23.11

2011-10-23T19:53:00.000-06:00

Wednesday 10.12.11

2011-10-12T20:30:00.001-06:00

Paley was at Throwupalooza from about 2 am on . Not much sleep. Kat stayed home with her today and gave the baby lots o' love. Fingers crossed tonight.

NOON) RUN 6.9 miles, :55 minutes

I'm Furious!

2011-10-11T19:48:00.004-06:00

Love the Surly logo!

My favorite brewery in the US right now is Surly Brewing! They only sell in Minneapolis and it's always a treat to head up there! As luck would have it, I was in Chicago and Minneapolis last week training a new menu rollout!!

Surly makes my favorite IPA called Furious! Bold statement, I know, but it's so on!! I've loved every beer I've tried of theirs. They have a DIPA that they run seasonally called Abrasive but I have to wait a few more months. The new ones I hadn't tried are the Bitter Brewer and Coffee Bender.

I shipped two cases back before I left! Arrived today! Plus Surly cans in tallboys!

NOON) RUN 6.9 miles, :54 minutes

Tired Monday!

2011-10-10T19:55:00.000-06:00

Kat and I went into Denver last night for the Foo Fighters show. Met Brandon and GZ at Falling Rock Taphouse for a couple Pliney the Elder preshow! Got to bed way late but worth it! Great rock show!

Four weeks since IM Wisconsin and I'm starting to think about what I want to do this Winter and next year.

Easy run at lunch then hit the gym for some core/strength work.

NOON) RUN 6.92 miles, :54 minutes GPS DATA
NOON) GYM core/strength :20 minutes

Stay hungry, Stay foolish.

2011-10-05T19:03:00.003-06:00

Steve Jobs' Commencement Address to Stanford University, 2005

Back to the Start.... I think this is incredible!

2011-09-27T12:50:00.002-06:00

I got out of work at 3pm to go to the dentist and was out of there and dressing in my my running gear by 4:15. Drove into the Gregory Canyon trailhead and ran up the front of Green Mtn. (Amphitheatre, Saddlerock, Greenman). Ran into JV and Tony as they were coming down. Forgot to start my watch at the beginning.

PM) RUN 4.5 miles, 1:25 GPS DATA

MNF

2011-09-26T21:10:00.002-06:00

Monday Night Football! Grilled Buffalo, caramelized sweet onions with fresh spinach and roasted sweet potato "fries." Kat and I found an awesome natural buffalo this weekend, hence twice in one week! Also tried a Widmer Brothers X-114 IPA for the first time. A great lighter style cirtusy IPA! This brewery is really surprising me lately!!

Hit the gym in the office this afternoon for a light weight session and some core work.

NOON) GYM :35 minutes

Sunday

2011-09-25T20:33:00.000-06:00

I talked my way out of a Chuckie Cheese birthday party with one of Paley's friends (Thanks Kat!!) and got out for some great weather here in Boulder!

All nice and easy. Amazingly, two weeks after IM Wisconsin, I still can feel fatigue in the legs and core. On the run, it's in the hip flexors (can't figure that one out. thoughts?) and felt pretty good on the bike until the last 10 miles and then felt like the legs filled with sand.

AM) RUN 6.7 miles, :54 minutes, GPS DATA
AM) BIKE 40 miles, 2:03 GPS DATA

Dry Dock Double IPA (Formerly, The Seven Seas)

2011-09-24T22:19:00.001-06:00

I found a few bombers of Dry Dock's Double IPA (The Seven Seas) !!!! It's made with the seven hops starting with the letter C; Chinook, Columbus, Centennial, Challenger, Cascade, Crystal, and Citra. The seven C's. They've since gone to just calling the beer Double IPA after a legal dispute with a 7 Seas Brewery in Washington.

I first heard about this beer from the 2009 Alpha King Challenge where it placed in the Top 10. Kat and I went out to their taphouse in Aurora Colorado to taste it! At the time, they weren't bottling any beers. They've just started doing VERY limited bottling! This beer is really damn good!

Buffalo burger and roasted veggies with maybe the last great corn of the Summer.

AM) RUN (easy) 5.15 miles, :40 minutes
NOON) BIKE (easy) 23 miles, 1:07

End of Season Running Party 2

2011-09-19T11:57:00.000-06:00

Lucho, JP, Jim, Brandon, GZ, Nick P., JV, Justin, Nick C.

Recovery Brews!

2011-09-16T17:43:00.000-06:00

I found a four-pack of Brewdog Hardcore IPA this week and dug into it after work tonight! 150 IBU's of goodness!! A bit of a splurge at $14.99! But it is a recovery week....

Hit the gym again this afternoon and rode for 30 minutes and then got on a treadmill and did easy 8:30 minute miles for 3 miles. Felt like I could race tomorrow!

Ironman Wisconsin Results

2011-09-15T15:56:00.005-06:00

Swim 2.4 mi. 1:21:21, 162/271 45-49 AG, 1390/2426 Overall

Bike 112 mi. 5:38:10, moved up to 42/271 45-49 AG, 349/2426 Overall

Run 26.2 mi. 4:10:28, moved up to 20/271 45-49 AG. 250/2426 Overall

Total Time 11:22:38, 20/271 45-49 AG, 250/2426 Overall

Looks like I needed the swim to be shorter and the bike to be a lot longer!! Passed 1140 racers on the bike and run.

Got almost 11 hours of sleep last night after a rough couple days at a werk conference in Orlando. I was so zombied from Sunday's Ironman and having to fly out of Wisconsin on Monday to Orlando, when I landed back Denver yesterday I was actually in my house eating a breakfast burrito when I realized I didn't grab my checked bag!!!! 1 1/2 hours back out to the airport to retrieve it!

Today I'm almost as good as new. Took gear to work and rode the stationary bike for 30 minutes and then some core and stretching. Felt really good and surprisingly, I wish I had something else on the calendar this year. I am looking forward to some deep snow mountain ascents!

Ironman Wisconsin 2011

2011-09-14T18:38:00.000-06:00

Had a pretty great day given the training. 11:22:38. Hit a pretty good sized wall at mile 17! Took a few miles to get in some calories and fluid and shake it off a bit. Definitely not the run I had hoped for but I loved every second of it!

Paley's 1st Mt. Sanitas Summit!

2011-09-05T17:56:00.003-06:00

Kat had to go into the office this morning so Paley and I decided to try and climb Mt Sanitas. She's been to the top with me carrying her in a pack. She's been about 3/4 of the way up solo. Today she had a blast and made it up the south ridge and down the east ridge!! Awesome morning! She told me she was "made for trails!" Proud Dad!

Here's the Mt. Sanitas aftermath. Paley's gonna sleep well tonight!

I put the race tires on my Cervelo P2 TT and broke it down into the travel case. Of course, I'm obsessing about all the damn gear needed to pack for an Ironman. How many times should you double check suitcases?! Airborne tomorrow!

I hear the swim is flat....

2011-09-04T17:05:00.004-06:00

Double up! # 20 & 21

2011-01-23T17:25:00.003-07:00

It was our anniversary this weekend so instead of traipsing up Green on Friday and Saturday, we had date weekend.

We met friends for happy hour on Friday. On Saturday, we went out for breakfast then came back and stayed in bed all day. Movies, paper, naps! We rolled out of bed around 4pm and finally showered and had an incredible dinner at Oak on Fourteenth!

This morning I played catch up and did a double climb up Green Mtn. Went up the back, down the front, then turned around and did up the front down the back. The back is spotty. Dry for a stretch then an icy bobsled track plus some really crusty wind drift. I had stopped and taken off my Microspikes about 1/4 mile from my car on the last lap and promptly hit the last icy patch and crashed out hard. Thought for a second I'd broken my left wrist. It's sore but I think it's OK.

AM) RUN 9.5 miles, 2:39, GPS DATA

Tried to get first tracks!

2011-01-20T18:09:00.004-07:00

I was out the door at 5:45a this morning and about ten minutes towards Green realized I left my Garmin on the charger. OCD kicked in and I turned around to grab it. They had closed Gregory Trailhead because of the snow and I ended up starting later than expected. When I hit the Baseline Trail, I knew I was now in second place up the hill. Someone and their dog were already leaving tracks.

There was considerable snow but it was so light and powdery that it really didn't help traction much in places. I went up the front side and when I got to the EM Greenman junction, two more sets of tracks had beaten me and snuck up from the backside. When I summited everyone had already gone down the back.

I took in the beautiful pink sky with the sun coming up and then headed back down the front. Ran into a group of four young guys coming up the back at the junction so that path in the morning should be well packed.

That will be the route in the morning!

AM) RUN 4.5 miles, 1:40, GPS DATA

SNOW!!!!!!!

2011-01-19T21:53:00.003-07:00

After a one day hiatus from my January crush, I headed back up in the dark this morning. The trail still totally sucked but it was so gorgeous as the sun came up near the top...... I now forgive her!!!

Ran into Homie while I was descending. He had read my post about how harsh SHE was the day before and, maybe not fully believing me, now fully agreed with how hideous the trail was as we chatted!

Now the great news!!!! The rain that was forecasted to come in this afternoon turned into 8+ inches of new snow!

It'll be hard to beat me to the first tracks up in the dark tomorrow morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AM) 4.1 miles, 1:28, GPS DATA

REST DAY

2011-01-18T19:29:00.002-07:00

I got up this morning for an easy shake out run. Felt pretty beat. My run up Green Mtn last night was great and the descent SUCKED! The trail is in horrible shape!

Late in the afternoon today I bagged what would have been a windy, shitty run up Green for #18. No point in doing something if it's not fun and yesterday was the first day I didn't have fun. The weather says a possiblity of rain tomorrow, so combined with the warmer weather, it may just break up some of the icy stretches of trail.

In #17 runs up this year, I'm definitely feeling stronger in my legs and core. Good start so far to the year!

AM) RUN 5.11 miles, :43 minutes, GPS DATA

1.17.11

2011-01-17T07:05:00.002-07:00

AM) RUN 5.0 miles, :43 minutes, GPS DATA
PM) RUN 4.1 miles, 1:17, GPS DATA

40,371 ft.

2011-01-16T16:25:00.003-07:00

Easy day up Green. Up and down the front. Forgot to hit start button after taking in the sights from the summit.

16th summit of the year, 90.51 miles, 40,371 ft climbing

PM) RUN 4.1 miles, 1:25, GPS DATA

Lafayette to Green Mtn.

2011-01-15T14:06:00.003-07:00

Nice run this morning. Recon trip. I definitely could make it back! Felt super strong but just cruised.

AM) RUN 15.5 miles, 3:00, GPS DATA

Kinda tired.

2011-01-14T18:55:00.002-07:00

Easy day up the back and down the front. Kind of a rest day. Felt really tired.

NOON) 4.7 miles, 1:21, GPS DATA

1.13.11

2011-01-13T16:24:00.002-07:00

Up and down the front. Concentrated on a faster turnover but went pretty easy. The trail was just faster than yesterday. Only two other sets of tracks. The wind has shifted a lot of snow around the top. Very breezy up high. I did run in just tights and a long sleeve, no gloves.

NOON) RUN 4.1 miles, 1:18, GPS DATA

Twelve

2011-01-12T21:20:00.004-07:00

Felt pretty strong today, especially on the down. The wind was blowing pretty good near the top and filling in the tracked trail. I was making great time up until the last 3/4 mile and then the wind drifts slowed me down. Definitely need to learn to move faster through this. I tend to go into a methodical foot plant stride when it gets soft and it noticeably slows down the pace. Almost like kicking a crampon into the ice, only the Microspikes are, well....micro.

Another solid bomber downhill!! The fear of cracking your head on a rock in a big, steep spill lessens in a foot of powder!! NOBODY on the mountain again today!

NOON) RUN 4.0 miles, 1:16, GPS DATA

Lap #11 on 1.11.11

2011-01-11T21:15:00.003-07:00

Slammed at work and almost didn't get out today. Kat's been totally carrying my ass while I try and kick off the year with 30 trips in 30 days. I did get a bit of a lecture on my night run last night after she saw the kitty print picture I posted yesterday.

Up the front, down the back today. Still slow going on the climb. I did stop today and talk to a young guy (late teens maybe) who I saw last night in the dark coming up the bottom of Amphitheatre in snowshoes as I was finishing up. He didn't make it up last night so he had got up and made it all the way up today. He was stoked and loving being out on the mountain by himself! Forgot to stop my watch and probably topped out today in 51-52 minutes.

The back was less tracked than the front but I found a few stretches of pure bounding joy. Pretty quick 28 minute descent given my slow time near the top down sections.

NOON) RUN 4.76, 1:26, GPS DATA

How do you know you're really alive?!!

2011-01-10T19:46:00.022-07:00

Runners High doesn't quite cut it tonight! Fucking spectacular solo nighttime trip up Green Mtn! Three good "submarine" spills on the way down. Fully submerged! Here's some pics.

Driving into the trailhead. The sun has just set. There she is at 8144 ft.

Looking up Green Mtn. from Chautauqua Park. I drove past Chautauqua about 1/4 mile and straight to Gregory Trailhead to start.

The start of Amphitheatre Trail.

The steep and slow stuff on Amphitheatre.

Very few other souls had gone for the top today. Still really loose.

Steep and loose.

Looking back down at Boulder at dusk.

Headlamp on and fewer tracks. I saw three sets up this high.

Scary! These track weren't made by people. Big prints coming down from a rock outcropping, crossing my trail and heading down a canyon about a 1/3 mile from the top! Here kitty kitty!

The summit looking East into Lucho's "hood." Is that his porch light?!

Summit looking towards Denver.

Boulder from the top! Epic!

RUN) 4.1 miles, 1:43, GPS DATA

Do 1/2 laps count?!

2011-01-09T18:51:00.005-07:00

Day 9, Lap 9.

I woke up a bit before 6am this morning. Kat wanted to go to yoga in Boulder at 9am and we'd left our truck at the office and driven home together in the wagon on Friday evening. I coffee'd up and drove into run the hill knowing total time would have to be maybe an hour and a half. I drove straight up to Gregory Canyon TH to save about 12 minutes I usually run up as a warm up from Chautauqua and took off in the dark with a LED handheld. It was snowing heavily and snow clouds were right on top of the mountain. Felt good and started motoring up the front side.

I was laying down new tracks in about 4" of new powder. Somehow in the darkness, snow and clouds, I missed the right turn by the Saddle Rock post and kept heading up. I knew a few minutes up that I was off the right trail but was so disoriented that I thought I was low and by heading up would hit Saddle Rock again. I climbed forever it felt like and knew I was now officially off course! I came to the top off the ridge and realized I was standing at the descent trail sign for the first Flatiron. Seeing the back of the Flatiron was like seeing the Statue of Liberty at the end of Planet of The Apes. You know you're fucked.

By the time I "crawled" back down the steep, icy mountain, now totally off any trail and hit my intended mark, I knew my time was up and I ran back down to the car. Drag....but kinda fun!

Got home in time, Kat took the car and did her yoga chick thing and then when she came home..... I drove straight back!

Tag. Day 9, Lap 9! Saw right where I made the wrong turn. Just my tracks going the wrong way!! Two other sets of tracks up to the top. They both looked like they'd come from the back side and were coming down the front. Tony I would think being one set!

3597 ft climbing on 2 combined 6.63 mile runs. And GZ, I think TK and I are tied for trips up this year! He does get me in total miles!!

RUN#1) 1.83 miles, :49 minutes, GPS DATA
RUN#2) 4.8 miles, 1:18, GPS DATA

Day 8, Lap 8 and the curse of Brandon!

2011-01-08T14:22:00.004-07:00

I had thoughts of getting up early and padding my total with two laps today. Paley's school called me yesterday at 4pm to come get a sick girl. Three confirmed cases of strep I was told. She was fine until 12am and 3am when she woke up crying with a sore throat. Early this morning I drove her over to an urgent care and fifteen minutes later....confirmed, strep. She feels pretty good considering.

We came home and pulled up just as the lead runners of the Lafayette Oatmeal Fest 5K where coming by our house, so we jumped out on the corner and gave GZ a shout!! He looked happy and smooth. Pretty usual for GZ!

Got the house cleaned up (sanitized!) and Paley ready for a nap and drove to the hill. Decided no traction at all today and went up and down the front. The trail is right in between! Parts are dry and parts are icy and treacherous! We are supposed to get 4-8" tomorrow and I'm looking forward to it. Not looking forward to the arctic temps! I heard high of 15F, low of -10F on Tuesday! That's going to take some balls to head up the hill!

Made good time (for me) on the up today at 46 minutes, so my sub 40 dream ain't a dream. Slow coming down because I'm a scaredy cat on the ice.

AM) RUN 5.11 miles, 1:25, GPS DATA

I'm a bad man, Brandon!

2011-01-07T08:18:00.006-07:00

Brandon is trying to use some voodoo on me!

I woke up early this morning and much to my displeasure, it was as windy as yesterday! It did feel a bit warmer. I decided to go shirtless and just shorts. When I got to Chautauqua at 5:45am I realized I forgotten my shoes and light. I went ahead and just strapped my Microspikes right to my bare feet. When I got up to Amphitheatre Trail it was jet black. I grabbed two 30 lbs. rocks and smashed them together once creating a massive spark. This caught a downed pine tree on fire and I carried this to the top for light.

About a mile from the summit, just as dawn was starting to break, I saw a massive male Black bear on the trail. As I charged towards it, it stepped off the trail to let me pass. It wouldn't look me in the eye. I gave it a pat on the head to let it know that I was on the mountain gearing up to crush dreams, not bears. He seemed to understand.

My route today was up the front, down the front. Day 7, lap 7.

AM) RUN 5.25 miles, 1:32, GPS DATA

A gentle breeze on Lap 6!

2011-01-06T11:15:00.008-07:00

Lap 6 was tough to get out of the car and get going. I sat in my car in the Chautauqua parking lot in the darkness for a bit and got rocked by the 60+ mph gusts. The graph is from the NCAR center on the wind shadowed side of the mountain. The west ridge was much stronger!! After I finally nerved up to head up the mountain, more than once I had to talk myself into not turning back around. I ended up just putting my head down and powering up, but really slow. On the NW ridge, I was physically blown over a few times and had to get a hand out to catch myself! Good times.

AM) RUN 5.88 miles, 1:38, GPS DATA

Green Mtn. Day 5, Lap 5

2011-01-05T18:35:00.002-07:00

Another trip up the hill. Got an earlier start and went with a handheld light up to the cottage. About a 1/2 mile later I caught up to Homie who was in power hiking mode. I've only met him once up in Leadville at the Twin Lakes inbound aid station while I was pacing Brandon in the Trail 100 this Summer. I said hi and went by. At the top the wind was humming this morning! I waited a couple minutes for him and let him take the lead running down the front side. His foot work on the steep, technical, icy terrain is STUPID!! I tried to keep up and mimic his footwork. I found that he really shortens his stride while I kinda keep a "marathon" stride. I ended up taking almost four minutes off my descent from yesterday.

AM) RUN 5.88, 1:29, GPS DATA

Green Mtn., Day 4 Lap 4

2011-01-04T20:11:00.002-07:00

Couldn't get to sleep last night and "snoozed" my way to a late start this morning. Parked next to GZ's ride and left him a note under his wiper to stay off my mountain!! Apparently missed him by seconds as he descended as I was hitting Gregory TH. Didn't see a soul on the whole loop. Spooky at times! Perfect start to a morning!

AM) RUN 5.89 miles, 1:33, GPS DATA

Late Afternoon Green Mtn.

2011-01-03T21:38:00.004-07:00

Got out late this afternoon. Another trip up the hill. Up the back, down the front.

Goal this year when the snow melts..... sub 40 up both the front and back and break 20 on Mt. Sanitas. Steep climbing has always been my Achilles heal! Practice, practice! I have a ways to go.

PM) RUN 5.95 miles, 1;32, GPS DATA

Green Mtn.

2011-01-02T14:54:00.007-07:00

My run up Green Mtn was wonky on my Garmin 305 yesterday. I compared it to Brandon's and realized I had my 'auto pause' on. I think there are sections where it's so steep that the GPS thinks you've stopped. This made my elevation graph, distance and times out of whack.

I ran Green again this morning and turned 'auto pause' off. I started at Chautauqua and hit lap at the Gregory Canyon TH, the Green Mtn summit and then stopped it back at Chautauqua. I did go a little harder effort today. The elevation was totally smoothed out, so I think this is the trick. There is still some discrepancy between 'time' and 'moving time.' Again, I think that it's thinking I've come to a complete stop even though I pushed straight through without any stops. My total mileage was still .18 miles shorter than Brandon's yesterday but I was off big time on Saturday.

AM) RUN 5.93 miles, 1:39, GPS DATA

New Years Day on Green Mtn.

2011-01-01T17:56:00.009-07:00

Happy New Year! Brandon and I got out at 11am this morning after it had warmed to a balmy 11F! Went easy up the back side and down the front. As of noon, we were tied for the most ascents up Green Mtn. in 2011! Great traction the whole run wearing Microspikes.

NOON) RUN 6.11 miles, 1:54, GPS DATA (Time adjusted off Brandon's GPS)

Mt. Sanitas

2010-12-28T21:14:00.003-07:00

I'm going to have to double check today's run on the Garmin. I ran from my office up to the summit of Mt. Sanitas and I planned to hit lap at the bottom of the climb and get a split but instead hit the stop button. Restarted but I don't know if I got accurate time and if climb is right. Maybe again tomorrow. Easy jog/power hike up in 23:20, I think.

NOON) RUN 5.19 miles, 1:02, GPS DATA

The Girl in the Bubble

2010-12-27T20:45:00.004-07:00

Paley was out of kindergarten on Winter break today and after a failed feeble attempt to take her into the office to get some work done, her and I headed down the block to the Pearl St mall for hot chocolate instead.

I cleaned up the Paley jogger this afternoon (again I was reminded it's not a baby jogger because she's not a baby! Sorry.) and put her in with the weather cover attached. It must have been some time since we pulled out the clear plastic "bubble" because she loved it this time!

PM) RUN 4.4 miles, :36 minutes, GPS DATA

We're back

2010-12-26T20:16:00.007-07:00

Drank coffee this morning while reading the NY Times that Kat surprised me with a year subscription as a stocking stuffer. That's a good morning! Hooked up the new Wii and battled Paley until she needed a nap after Noon then spun on the road bike up towards Table Mesa.

Had a rough patch with Kat and another cancer scare. Thankfully, after extensive testing, it turned out to be negative, then just as we started breathing again she was hospitalized for six days with a post-cancer treatment lymphatic infection. Damage to her lymph system from either the surgery or scarring from the radiation. Fuck.

Every time she gets an ache or pain, in her mind it's come back. The vast majority of my dreams follow along these same lines. Apparently this is common phenomenon after the "all clear" has been given. Phtt.

All is well now....again, and it's on to the new year!!

NOON) BIKE 24 miles, 1:23, GPS DATA

Alfalfa's in Progress

2010-11-24T19:50:00.011-07:00

I got into Boulder this afternoon and checked out the progress on my new world. Alfalfa's is coming along!

This is the back production kitchen. Check out the complete ceiling skylights!!

The trick will be figuring out how to keep these babies clean! Badass though!

This is the new plumbing for my open kitchen in the front. The wood burning oven will be in this corner.

This will be the open front-of- house kitchen and bakery.

The new expanded cafe. The coffee bar will wrap around this corner. There is an exit to the outside patios.

The view of Mt. Sanitas from the outside Cafe.

The view of Green Mountain from the outside Cafe.

Monday

2010-11-22T18:25:00.002-07:00

Hit the gym at work at lunch. I'll miss the gym 100 ft from my office with my new job but.... my new job is in Boulder and I have the trails, the mountains and my gym, Colorado Athletic Club Boulder about five minutes away!!

Today I did an easy 3 mile jog on the rat wheel to shake out the legs and then a big strength and core session.

NOON) RUN 3.0 miles, :24 minutes
NOON) GYM strength & core :45 minutes

Sunday

2010-11-22T17:59:00.004-07:00

Out for a cold, breezy run this morning. Kat, the slave driver, had me out doing yard work in the afternoon but rewarded me with a trip to Avery Tap Room for a pint of Centennial Dry Hopped IPA and the new seasonal Rumpkin, a 14% abv pumpkin strong ale aged in rum barrels!

AM) RUN 13.1. miles, 1:43 GPS DATA

Week 1 Base Mode

2010-11-20T11:20:00.004-07:00

Totals;
8 runs, 56.16 miles, 7:27:54

AM) RUN 10.81 miles, 1:26 GPS DATA

Friday!

2010-11-19T20:23:00.002-07:00

Good day today. One of the prettiest sunrises I've seen in forever as I was a few miles into my morning run. Second run tonight on the trail around Arapahoe Ridge by moonlight.

AM) RUN 6.0 miles, :46 minutes GPS DATA
NOON) GYM strength & core :45 minutes
PM) RUN 5.0 miles, :39 minutes GPS DATA

Thursday

2010-11-18T20:58:00.002-07:00

Felt a little low energy today. Took my gear to work to get out for a second run but didn't feel like going when the time came. Kat's having a girls night out tomorrow so I may go party by myself after work with an extra run.

AM) RUN 3.66 miles, :29 minutes GPS DATA

Beer Dinner at Lucky Pie

2010-11-17T21:03:00.003-07:00

Kat and I had an awesome night! She surprised me with tickets to Lucky Pie's 1st Inaugural Beer Dinner about a month ago, so we've been looking forward to this. The brewers were all from Colorado Springs (I didn't even hold that against them!) and the food and brews were indeed great! Bristol Brewing, Trinity Brewing and Black Fox Brewing all had their head brewers and beers in for the night. A different beer with each of four courses. A pretty smoking deal for $30!

NOON) RUN 7.71 miles, 1:01 GPS DATA

Big Changes!

2010-11-16T20:55:00.003-07:00

I gave notice at my job yesterday. My CEO wouldn't accept it. It's nice to be loved! We talked more today and I have a final date of December 3rd. I took the Executive Director of Culinary Services position at the newly forming Alfalfa's Market in Boulder! I'm so stoked about the possibility of what I plan to do here and it's such a great team that they're putting together! Can't wait!

AM) RUN 8.5 miles, 1:07 GPS DATA

11.15.10

2010-11-15T19:38:00.001-07:00

2 days in a row!! Super easy jog.

AM) RUN 5.05 miles, :40 minutes GPS DATA

Lung Gremlins

2010-11-14T19:49:00.004-07:00

Absolutely, hands down the worst cold I've ever had in my life. I got out a couple times to try and clear out the head and lungs and ended up walking home in pain. Physical pain in the lungs. I did an easy jog last night that was the first time I didn't feel like I was actually suffocating.

I got out this morning and was able to creep out an easy 9.4 miles. Definitely coughed up some nasty lung gremlins along the way! I soaked in the shower for a good 15 minutes afterwards and felt like my lungs and sinuses finally are coming through the dark tunnel! Kat is now suffering with week 1 of what ever I had.

With almost three weeks of this bitch, I'm hoping I covered my quota for the year!

AM) RUN 9.4 miles, 1:16 GPS DATA

My new blog, unfortunately!

2010-10-30T17:18:00.002-06:00

Here are the numbers. At 8pm last night I was in full-on whiny mode. In bed at 8:15 and slept like the dead for 14 hours! This is a PR that may go back to my teenage years. Woke up and spent a bit of time with the family and then proceeded to top off the afternoon with a 2 1/2 hour nap on the couch. Woke up and I'm tired. Phhhhht.

No Boulder Basic.............

2010-10-29T17:03:00.003-06:00

Still sick and now it's in my chest. First year since moving to Boulder that I'll miss the run tomorrow. Drag! I'm planning to drink some whiskey tonight and kill this bug. If it doesn't work tonight, I'll try again tomorrow.

sick........

2010-10-27T20:06:00.005-06:00

day 2 of feeling bad in the morning and then smacked with the urge to sleep and low grade fevers at around 3pm. doing nada until I have some energy. just a cold but exhausting.

Sunday

2010-10-24T13:37:00.002-06:00

Planned on going a bit longer this morning but I think the wind out by Rock Creek sucked some life out of it. The game plan was to run easy 8 minute miles and see what average heart rate was at the end. I couldn't help but peak at it going into the headwind from miles 3-8 and I was working mid 160's which was probably 10 bpm higher than in no winds. That was the first run of many soon to come where I'll need to put the weather out of my mind and just push through.

AM) RUN 14.6, 1:58 GPS DATA

Saturday Jog

2010-10-23T13:56:00.002-06:00

Easy middle distance run. Again, perfect Fall morning!

AM) RUN 13.5 miles, 1:50 GPS DATA

10.22.10

2010-10-22T22:28:00.001-06:00

Super easy jog after work on a great Fall evening.

PM) RUN 5.1 miles, :43 minutes GPS DATA

A great beer on tap!

2010-10-21T19:59:00.003-06:00

Dinner tonight with the fam at Lucky Pie in Old Town Louisville and got to have Bear Republic's Racer X Double IPA on tap. Wow. Great beer. One of the races this Summer could be Vineman 70.3 triathlon and we'd definitely be hitting their brewery down the street after the race.

NOON) RUN 6.7 miles, :53 minutes GPS DATA

Wednesday 10.20.10

2010-10-20T18:53:00.002-06:00

I was buried at work today. I came home and went for a spin to burn it all off. I threw in a few marathon tempo pace sections just to start to get the feel for turnover again. Felt pretty good.

PM) RUN 6.15 miles, :45 minutes GPS DATA

Kat's Birthday Month

2010-10-19T21:59:00.004-06:00

Kat's Birthday Day Month has been on! Last year consisted of chemo treatment and a quick bite out.... so this year we're going big. Paley got her diamond earrings ( what a good girl!) and I'm buying Colorado Passes and we'll be skiing all winter. Again, something we didn't get to do once last year. Wait... does that make it a birthday Winter?! We have had some big fun with lots of trips and good food and drinks!

It's time to start thinking about snow and how to stay motivated this Winter. Starts today with blog posting training again. Some tentative plans are lining up for next year.

Bought the new Nike Lunar Glide 2 today. I loved last years Lunar Glide but these are better! Love 'em! The new Lunar Racer look sick and appear to have fixed the heal issue that keep me from wearing the initial models.

NOON) RUN 4.9 miles, :38 minutes GPS DATA
GYM) :20 minutes, core
PM) RUN 3.1 miles, :23 minutes GPS DATA

Six month check-up.... all clear!!

2010-10-06T20:19:00.003-06:00

Kat had her six month post cancer treatment PET scan yesterday. Results back tonight and it's all fucking clear, baby!

The butterflies that I've gone through last week have been brutal for me, so I can't imagine what she went through. I'm still in awe that modern medicine can take you from the brink of death to the possibility of growing old.

Truly an amazing, life changing, humbling experience.

Friday!

2010-10-01T07:05:00.001-06:00

AM) RUN 6.72 miles, :54 minutes GPS DATA