Devil's Backbone Loveland

Back on Oct 5th, I ran the Blue Sky 50K. While the weather was almost perfect for the race, the views were non existent due to the low overcast clouds. Spending a few days at the in-laws during Thanksgiving allowed me the opportunity to revisit the trails that connect the various hogbacks between Loveland and Ft. Collins.

I started out at the Devil's Backbone TH just outside of Loveland early Friday morning. Having ran 2 races in the past 6 days, I wasn't sure what I had in me. Once I got on the trails though, I was exposed to the views that hid behind the clouds during race day making for a great run. Gotta love the Longs Peak Porn.



I ran a comfortable 12 miles on the day and was able to revisit both the Hunter Loop and Indian Summer Loop. It was the Indian Summer Loop that damn near broke me on the return trip to the finish line. The Blue Sky trail runs down the middle of the shot below while the hilly Indian Summer Loop lurks on the left.



I look forward to running more of these trails in the future.

Loveland Turkey Trot

I ran this race last year at what is easily my slowest 5K time ever. Expected though since I had been injured for most of 2008. This year I came back to run the race again.

In all honesty, I hate 5Ks. I don't train at all for speed and this distance is simply painful to me. I'd rather spend 5 hours running in the high country any day of the week. To make things more difficult for me, I only had 4 days of rest since the 10+ miler ran last weekend.

But it's a Turkey Trot and the start/finish line is blocks away from Michele's parents house as well. So honestly, there's really no excuse not to run the race.

I got to the race barely with enough time to sign up and get into my running outfit. Toed the starting line with only my walk to the race as a warm up. Weather was perfect with the sun blazing and temps in the mid 40s by 8:30am. As usual there were a bunch of fat fockers and little kids blazing the first 2/10 of a mile. By the time I got to mile 1 I was all alone. I passed 2 other runners over the next 2 miles. I think the runner in front of me had a good 45 seconds with the runner behind me a good 45 seconds behind by the time I finished.

No clue what my time was. 18:30? So rather slow and almost a minute thirty off my PR. Michele said I was 7th overall. In all a rather uneventful race. And in all honesty a race I don't care to do again. However with us likely spending many more Thanksgivings up here, I'm sure I'll be running this race for years to come. I guess it'll help justify all the eating and drinking I do the rest of the day.

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble!

So later in the evening, I went online to look at the results. It appears that while I paid my $30 and ran with both a bib# and chip, my time was never recorded. Email sent to investigate what is going on but haven't heard anything from them.

Bear Creek 10-Spot

I haven't ran much since wedding day. Days of entertaining left me exhausted, then sick. So going into this weekend, wasn't sure if I was going to run the Bear Creek 10-Spot put on by Runuphill Racing. Last night was spent eating way to much sushi and drinking more sake then I needed too. So it wasn't looking good.

However, I woke up early this morning feeling pretty good. Some coffee, water and a Cliff bar and I was out the door heading to Bear Creek Lake Park. Weather was great. Overcast and in the low 40s when I got there a good hour before the race. Picked up my bib and just relaxed till the race started.

The 10 mile race was actually 10.5 miles. It consisted of 2 5+ mile laps around rolling trails. The first lap went well. Never really pushing it hard but keeping a consistent effort. The second lap got interesting with the mud thawing out. Made running up and down the trails rather interesting but really fun. Ran the second 5 miles 1 minute slower. Was hoping for a negative split here but the slippery conditions ruled that out quickly.

Finished the race in something like 1hr 18min. 12th overall and 3rd in the 30-39 age group. Felt good at the end and not exhausted at all. Exactly like I was hoping to feel like.

Over the years I've gotten a few interesting age group awards but this race award was by far the coolest. Hot Sauce in my bag! Extra!

Wedding Day

So I figure my first post should be something of significance. Something big. And what better way then posting a new chapter in my life. My Wedding Day.

On Nov 7th, 2009 at roughly 2:35pm, I married my wife Michele at MPB church in Denver, CO. Some 90 guests, 25 choir members and Father Pat. Never grew up dreaming of my wedding day so never had visions of what I wanted, didn't want. And thankfully so.

Michele was absolutely stunning! Picture perfect weather, great family and friends, and the wedding and reception went without a hitch. Not even in my wildest dreams could this day have gone better.


The morning of course started with a nice 4 mile run around Wash Park. Not my longest or hardest run but a great way to start out what turned into a very memorable day. Love you sweetie!