May 2013 Summary

Runs - 17
Weightlifting - 4
Running Days - 17
Average Mile per Running Day - 10.75
Vertical Feet Ran - 24,000
Injured - Missed out on roughly 100 miles for the month

The best way to describe my month of Running is one of running through an injury.  Amazes me how stubborn I can be about an injury that impacts my running.  If I had a friend who asked for advice regarding a similar injury, I would have told them to stop running for a few days the minute the muscle was strained.  And not do what I just did over the past 5 weeks.  

A solid 3 days to start out the month followed by 2 races and roughly 19 days of very inconsistent running.  This chunk of time is where I lost most of my running days.

To stay positive, I did get in some quality long runs in of 22, 25 and 31 over the month.  Ideally would have like to gotten in another 20+ over Memorial Day weekend but was just happy with knocking out Mt Falcon v1 for the 5th straight month and 10th time for the year.

Weightlifting days is exactly where I expected it to be considering the race schedule and family vacation.  Right when I'm feeling my healthiest and fittest in the weight room I start to back off.  Thankfully I still have my own little goofy Push Up Challenge going.  I averaged 139 push ups a day for the month bringing my year-to-date variance down by 1,200 to (1,415).

I'm still wondering if I'll post anything general on my family trip to the State of Washington.  What I will say now is what a wonderful state it is and what a great time I had out there.  The city of Seattle reminds me a lot of San Francisco and the state itself is as diverse as Colorado in regards to the various ecosystems.

A few things came to mind after my trip out there.  Damn I wish Denver was half as cool as Seattle.  If I didn't live in this wonderful State of Colorado, I would seriously consider living in the Pacific North West.

(Seattle Skyline from the Sound/Elliot Bay)

(Ruud Awakening IPA - One of the better beers I've had at one of the cooler breweries I've visited!)

Looking Forward

My right shin muscle strain turned to a slight case of tendinitis is thankfully getting better and allowed for some consistent running to end of the month.  Starting out June will thankfully be positive as I aim to put in a solid 2 weeks of miles and climbing in preparation for my all time favorite race, Lake City 50!   Goals for the race are pretty simple.  To have a blast, to finish strong and to enjoy Lake City with the family for the long weekend.        

Other then that, wait patiently for the snow to melt in the high country to play in the best playground this state has to offer!

Sun Mountain 50k & Kids 1k - Race Report

By far the best part of race day was running the Kids 1k race with my daughter prior to the start of the 50k race.  This was my daughters first race ever...and a trail race at that.  She has now been exposed to a few of my races and is starting to get it.

Cheering at the start of the race, at the aid stations and as runners cross the finish line.

Now it was time for her to be cheered on.

Lining up with 25 or so other kids, we started in the back so the bigger kids wouldn't trample us.  When the RD said go, we all went scampering off.  The smile and laughter my daughter expressed as she chased after the other kids was priceless!  Just another reminder how lucky I am to be the father of such a beautiful little girl!

The crowd quickly thinned out as the big kids continued to run on.  The back of the group started to walk, get distracted by flowers and do what every 2 year old kid does.  The 1k started at 9:45am, my race started at 10am.  So to keep things moving, I would pick up my daughter and run for a minute before she wanted to run again, or as she would say "I run, I run".

(one way to warm up the muscles for a 50k)

We finally arrived to the finish line to a very supporting and loud crowd.  My little girl couldn't have been happier throwing up a high five to the RD as she crossed the finish line.  Second to last place and probably the youngest runner out there.  

I had roughly 5 minutes to get my act together and prepare for my own little race.  By now, my excitement for the race had disappeared, especially compared to what I just got to share with my daughter.  The race itself had also become my last priority of the 6 day long family vacation.

Traveling with a 2 year old is exhausting.  Exhausting but one I would not have changed since I was loving every second of family time.  I also consumed way to many locally brewed IPAs during my trip which didn't help being exhausted.

I was pretty beat and tired but honestly more worrisome was my Right Shin Muscle which had been acting up over the past 3 weeks.  It had prevented me from any specific training since the CP25 race.  I never really gave it a break either and was left in this unstructured 2 week period between races that had left my running mojo all out of whack.

(Rockin the yellow 2010 Loveland Turkey Trot T)

I don't recall much over the first 17 miles and 2 hours, 8 minutes as I entered Aid Station #2.  Other then a beautiful course.  The wild flowers just blinding at times.  The sun and warmth almost overbearing when the shade provided no relief.  Thankfully fueling and hydration were spot on.  I didn't feel like I was moving well at all but my energy was remaining consistent from the start.  Attitude was high as I was simply enjoying the beautiful day.  

My 2 handhelds is all I had.  1 to be filled with water.  1 to be filled with my EFS flask and diluted with water.  Along with 2 gels and 6 SCaps to get me thru the race.  At AS #2 I went for a refill.  Bottle one of water filled...check.  Bottle two of EFS (stashed in a drop bag) and water...ERROR!  I had put my EFS into bottle number 2, asked the kid to top of with water.  He filled with water half way, shook the bottle and proceed to dump out the contents.  Then refilled with water.

I sat there in horror!  400 calories gone like that.  I had 1 gel left for 14 miles with heaps of climbing and a lone aid station left.

But what was I to do?  Get mad?  That wasn't going to happen.  The kids a volunteer and this is a race that I'm only competing against myself in, not for first place or prize money.  I had taken all I could get in at the aid station so I just moved on and put myself into race management mode.

There were 2 short but steep climbs left in the race.  I was hoping to use my only gel for the last climb but ended up taking it in at the top of the first 900 foot climb.  Aid Station 3 came and I slammed 4 small cups of sodas and passed on the Watermelon Gu.  One very exposed 1,100 foot plus climb and roughly 6 miles left.

I got to the top and wasn't tired or anything, but just zapped of any real energy.  I needed some calories and had nothing but 15 ounces of water and roughly 4 more miles.  Down the last climb and I was feeling it.  Got half way down the climb and just needed to walk for a bit.  Whole body tingling and feeling lighted headed from the lack of fuel.  I just laughed it off and just hoped it would pass quickly.

1st place gal passed me 2 or so minutes later.  2nd place gal passed me a minute after that. After about 5 minutes of walking and I began to jog again.  Body was slowly coming around and I just went with it.  Another guy from Canada caught up to me and put 30 seconds on me on the lone flat road section around a lake which lasted a mile or so.  No one else behind me so I knew my forward momentum would hold my place

Finally on the single track and I just put my head down and knew it was an uphill mile+ and I'd be done.  Canadian who passed me on the flat was walking so I passed him with easily.  The 2 gals who left me on the downhill finished 30 and 45 seconds ahead of me respectively.  It was nice to finish on a strong running note.

7th Place Overall at 4 Hours 29 Minutes and 32 Seconds.  It would have been nice to hold my 5th place slot but I honestly didn't care.  It was a great day on the trails.

When all said and done, it honestly wasn't a great day of running for me.  I easily felt the worst so far of my 3 races this year.  I can compare the actual act of running in this race to a normal long run along the foothills on the weekends done alone.  Wasn't a grind or tough but just a shuffle till the end.  

However it was a great day to be running and so happy and luck I finally got to enjoy the some trails in the PNW! Getting out to this part of the country for a race has always been on my wish list and Rainshadow Running did not disappoint one little bit.  Would HIGHLY recommend their events    

The added bonus of running in this location and with this racing group was getting photographed by one of the best in the business.  Glenn Tachiyama.  While I really enjoy the scenic view of this pic taken on the descent off Patterson (also gives you an idea of terrain), I will forever love this pic of me pacing my daughter during her 1k!  Can't wait to frame that shot for my office!
  

Mt Washington Road Race HOF

I'm not one to name drop, especially on a public forum like this.

However I've got to name drop one person here simply because I'm so proud of the honor she's about to receive.  I'll be honest, I'm not all that knowledgeable when it comes to the famous race back east.  The Mt Washington Road Race.  What I do know is it has a rich history, loyal following and the course from my understanding is one tough SOB.

On June 14th, J'ne of Denver will be inducted into their HOF.  Being inducted with a few other runners who are well known around the world in the mountain running community.

I first met J'ne after my 3rd running of Imogene Pass Run in like 2004.  I'd only been living in Denver for a few years and just picked up running.  I knew a few people in Colorado at the time.  I knew no other runner in Colorado at the time.  J'ne quickly introduced me to her group of running gals.  I would join her and a group of older faster gals on the weekends to run trails.

Since then we've all become good friends and have gotten to know each others family well.  I've run countless miles with them.  Ran numerous races (including last weeks CP25) with them.  They were even there to celebrate my wedding celebration.  

Now all in their 50s, these ladies may have lost a step or two, but offer up so much inspiration.   Still running and having a blast doing so.  Never loosing sight of the pure joy associated with running trails.

Congratulations J'ne!

Starting with the CP25....ending with a Cigar

The week leading into the Collegiate Peaks 25 didn't go exactly like planned (but does it ever?).  I caught a nice cold, mixed in a few long work days and ran thru snow/20 degree temps to start out May.  Instead of being at 55 miles for the week to start the race, I was closer to 48ish.  Regardless, 73ish miles was a solid week of running.

As noted in my prior post, I would gauge this race on how well I hydrated and fueled.

Goal:
70 to 90 ounces of water
900 calories
3:45 to 4:00 completion time (an arbitrary time I randomly threw out there)

Actual:
90 ounces of water
700 calories
3:33 completion time

My only hiccup was my calorie intake.  At the second aid station (mile 11.7) I took in a gel but it went down the wrong hole.  My lungs loved being coated in Vanilla Honey Stinger and I proceeded to cough like some old smoking hag for the next 4 miles.  I intended to take in a gel at aid station 3 (mile 14.6) but was still trying to get gel substance out of my lungs.

As for the race, I took it really easy for the first 15.  One thing I noticed right away was my legs were ready to climb.  Too bad I wasn't on the Quad Rock course instead.  Regardless, I walked a lot of the small early climbs during the first 15 miles.  Just to keep the pace easy.  Upon leaving aid station #3, one is greeted with the longest sustained climb of the day.  I didn't run the section hard, but damn did I run strong.  Passed some 15 runners in this stretch.  Got to the top (aid station #3 mile18) and felt fresh.  Sat up there for a good minute plus taking in a gel, drinking water and knowing I could just cruise it in for the day in comfortable fashion.

The last person I passed on the climbed got to the aid station a minute after I did.  We fist bumped each other on a job well done on the climb and proceeded to the finish line together.  I had never met the guy from Boulder before, but conversation was really good and pace was solid.  Around 2 miles before the finish, we caught up to some slacker which made for more good conversation.  That slacker bumped me near the end to edge me out at the finish line by 0.1 seconds.  The last 6 miles may have been faster then I intended for but conversation was had a huge majority of the stretch so I know I still had a lot left effort in me.

Ended the race feeling fantastic.  Reinforces my training as of late that I'm doing the right thing and that quality over quantity will always be better for me.    

Instead of heading to Eddylines for a beer, we stuck it out for the awards ceremony to cheer on my friends 2nd place overall women's finish in the 25M.  That a girl Hillary!

So what does one do after that?  Well I bombed it to Denver with a quick stop to Macy's to pick up a wedding gift.  By 4:00pm I was in a suit and tie (damn I was looking good) and off to a dear friends wedding.  Fast forward to midnight and there I was smoking a cigar with the groom and a dozen other friends celebrating an amazing & beautiful wedding celebration.

What a great weekend spent with so many friends on the trails and at the wedding.  Damn does my life not suck one little bit!