Pumped Up Kicks

Not to be confused with these Kicks.



Damn right Raggedy Ann approves with 2 thumbs up.

My only question though, am I expected to go shirtless and sockless while wearing the MT110s?

2011 - A Quick Look Back

I don't believe in luck. However I consider myself the luckiest guy in the world whenever I look at my daughter. The love and joy my little one brings to my wife and I since she entered I our lives back in February is beyond any words I can throw out there. To have so much love for someone still blows my mind and for that I'm a better person.

Speaking more on being lucky, I'm damn lucky having a wife who means the world to me and is so damn supportive of this damn running habit that seems to get worse as each day passes by.

Now on to other exciting highlights that aren't nearly as cool as my family:

Runs - 285 (Roughly 2,300+ Miles, 18,000 Vert Feet)
Workouts - 50 (With a bulk coming in the past 3 months)
Injured - 0 (Specifically resulting in time lost to running)

Never do I look back in my life and want to change things. I learn from my experiences, regardless of how good, bad and ugly they may have been. However there is one thing I would have changed in 2011. That being the breaking of my left arm. Simply put, it sucked and I gained nothing from the experience other then the art of wiping ones ass with both hands is an underrated talent. You try wiping your ass with your other hand and you'll quickly understand.

With regards to my races, which I won't rehash, I had a strong race in June. A poor race in May. An extremely memorable race in September. All great experiences that leave me feeling extremely confident heading into 2012.

I was extremely fortunate to pace 2 friends this past year during 100 mile outings and both experience, while completely different from each other, left me impressed. The mental toughness displayed by SK at Hardrock and PG at Leadville is much more impressive then the physical strength needed to complete 100 miles. Even during their darkest times, the focus to not quit was awesome to watch. It's this mental fortitude that sticks with me as a new year of racing begins.

Lastly, numerous solid runs and encounters with folks on the right hand column who's blogs I read frequently. They continue to inspire and motivate and for that I thank them all.

My favorite (non-daughter) pic of the year is one I already posted. While pacing at Hardrock and getting this amazing view of U.S. Grant Peak with a barely visible Swamps/Grants Pass to the right.

I'm not going to lie, it's not my favorite peak in the San Juans (that would be Sheep Mountain - I'll let you find that one on your own) but it ranks way up on my list. What stands out about this photo is the hell that SK and I went thru to get from that tiny looking pass to the point in which I took the photo. An experience I will never forget.

December F11 Summary

Runs - 24
Workouts - 9
Injured - 0

The Bad:

Mother Nature - December started out with winter in full force and never really let up. While the snow and cold temps never bothered me, the icy road conditions limited my miles on more then one occasion.

The Good:

The Run - While the daily mile average wasn't high, the consistency of getting after it 5 days a week was there. I also got in a few 2 a days due to a rather relaxed work schedule but the mileage was still held in check. Legs and body mentally and physically were great and I was extremely happy with easily averaging over 50 miles a week with never once feeling like I was chasing miles.

The Workout - I couldn't be more happy with my weight lifting sessions. I'm easily the strongest I've been in over a year. The once broken arm still raises a small red flag on certain exercises but overall it's holding up strong. So much so that my mind set during these sessions is to kill it. I'm usually left sore and tight for a few days after each workout. And this applies to upper, core and lower body. I'm still a far distance away from benching 225 like a did a few years back, but the overall balance I'm currently experiencing is so much more beneficial.

The Crazy - On the last day of the year, an invite to run 27 miles was thrown out there from PG. Along with LD and RK, we embarked on a run along the Highline Canal and Platte Trail. Temps were comfortable but huge portions of the trails were a fine mixture of ice, snow, bullet proof ice and heaps of gail force winds. Had I been alone, I would have bagged it after 10. But with the company of some solid folks, we some how persevered through a rather tough day of running. And that 27 miles was more like 30.

Looking Forward:

2012 Baby! A new year with so many new goals on the plate!

Chuncky Cheeks 22 Miler

I have to start out by thanking NClark for opening up his house and hosting such a fun get together.

This past Saturday morning, I got the opportunity to run the Fort Collins FA for the first time. My first ever FA and it was an absolute blast.

Staying at the in-laws the night before up in Loveland saved me an hour on my drive up to Fort Collins for the 7am start. Saturday morning started out brisk, 20 or so degrees, and thankfully calm. At the start, I quickly grouped with PatrickG, RyanK and Jeremiah (whom I hadn't met before) and we all made slow work as we approached the Horsetooth Park some 3/4's of a mile away from Nick's driveway.

The trails quickly revealed what was in store for the day. Lots of snow. So much that when we briefly ran on actual dry single track trail, it felt odd and out of place. There was also nothing flat about the day's journey with heaps of vert to be had regardless of distance being covered. Lastly, sun. A beautiful clear calm blue bird day that so often greets a Colorado winter day. Everything set up perfectly for a day of trail running.

(Approaching Horsetooth during the early miles)

(On top of Horsetooth looking south towards the rising sun)

(Our exit chute off of Horsetooth with Towers, aka climb #3 of the day, in the background)

Overall the running pace was good. Making quick work of the downhills, working the uphills and enjoying downtime at all the major intersections. Thankfully none of us were in a rush to get anywhere and we were all just enjoying the day of trailrunning and the great conversation.

(Our footing for most of the day)

The third and last real climb was the longest, snowiest and possibly the steepest and we all we're moving at a respectful clip. And this is where we got lost.

Apparently near the top of Tower Road, before the real steep section, we were to turn left. We would have known had we read the directions. Instead we muttered a "fucker!" or two at the steeps and proceeded to run it and before long we were at the top of one of the dead end towers. A quick turnaround and up another fork of the road and we were at dead end tower #2. Looking at the map revealed that some bush whacking would get us back on course and before long we were finishing off the last long stretch home.

In hindsight, I should have left my yak traks, extra set of socks & gloves in the car in exchange for an extra 15 ounces of water. I was overdressed for most of the run but still had my Tuesday morning run in -15 degree temps fresh on my mind. So I was fine with being extra warm. Other then that, I felt great the whole time and could have ran more had time allowed.

22 Miles - 5,000 feet of vert - Official Time of 5 hours, 29 minutes, 26 seconds. Somewhere between 45 to 60 minutes of that spent at intersection or at high points doing nothing other then enjoying a Colorado day on the trails.

(Jeremiah and Patrick refueling while Ryan wonders if Western States drew his name - which they did!)

November F12 Summary

Runs - 24
Workouts - 5
Injured - 0

The Bad:

Getting Sick - Whatever I caught I caught good and it did a number on me for a good week. The same week in which I had taken time off to spend with the family over a long Thanksgiving weekend. So while I got to spend a lot of time laying low around the house, I can't say it was the most productive use of my time. Guess I'd rather get sick now then say later this winter...I guess.

The Good:

Consistency - I missed 2 days this past month from some type of activity but overall I was very happy with the day to day runs or workouts I've been getting in. I do find it odd that Monday thru Friday I have no issues being awake at 5am to get in my training. But when it comes to the weekend, I can't for the life of me wake up before 6:30/7:00.

Strength Training - I missed 1 day of lifting weights due to being sick. Missed 2 other sessions on purpose as to give my body a little break from 7 straight weeks of hitting it hard. Now I'm starting a 8 week streak of focused lifting to get me thru some dark days of winter. I can't be happier with my trips to the gym as of late. Most please with how quickly my body responds from pushing weights now. Specifically the legs in which I continue to push hard twice.

Runs - Being sick wrecked my shot at throwing up a good mileage run for the month. In hindsight, a few days off during this span would have been more beneficial then a painful 4 mile run around Wash Park. However I can't be disappointed with my nearly 10 mile per run average. Highlighted by long runs of 20.5 (Woody's awesome Pancake Social), 22 and 25 miles.

Mustache - Mild temps this month allowed for exposed skin during the early morning runs. Which is perfect when sporting the 'stache. I got a late start to a work sponsored and supported Movember as I wanted to be clean cut for my 2 year anniversary with the wife. 25 days was thankfully enough time to create this sexy look!


However the wife hated, I mean really, really HATED the look. Thankfully bringing home a few of her favorite seasonal brew helped smooth things over.



Leadville Lodging - I'm always one to plan way in advance for stuff and I'm thankful to have my lodging booked for race weekend. A house just 2 plus blocks from the start/finish line. Now all I have to worry about is training my ass off.

Looking Forward:

Crazy to think that it's almost the end of the year. With no races in the immediate future, I'm sticking with what's worked great the past few months. Consistency, focusing on building a strong base of running and staying lean with the weight lifting.

I'm also hoping to make it up to Fort Collins for a little chubster action. Wow, that just sounds wrong.

Lastly, growing my beard back. My face is way to handsome to let the cold dry air ruin it's fine texture.

Boom Boom Ain't It Great To Be Crazy

So my wife loves playing music for our daughter. When my wife is in control of iTunes, she's normally cranking out a mixture of country and baby songs. When I'm in control, it's usually Pink Floyd, Wu-Tang Clan, The Cure, Beastie Boys...yup all over the board.

Baby type songs are the ones our little monkey is exposed to the most. Of the hundreds I've listen to over the past 8 plus months, there is only one song that has gotten stuck in my head.

Boom, Boom ain't it great to be Crazy!

It's the "Crazy" part that I'm drawn too. At a few months old, I recall hearing this song for the first time and wonder "how the hell can a 2 month old go crazy?" I've asked myself that same question each month she gets older. It wasn't until recently that my little monkey started throwing her toys and laughing at the harmless act. This is her Crazy and she's loving it.

I've been a runner for almost 10 years now and have since been labeled "Crazy" more times then I can remember. Early on, I remember hating being labeled like this. For doing something that kept me out of trouble, in shape. For doing something I really loved to do.

I think about the connotation of the word crazy. Is being crazy a good thing? A bad thing? To me it's a really good thing.

If my current running state is viewed by others as crazy, then I'm doing something that I really love to do.

Well I better prepare myself for being called even crazier since I've signed up for the Leadville Trail 100 Mile Run. Signed up while sitting on the floor with my laptop and daughter next to me screaming at the top of her lungs, throwing shit around and trying to knock the laptop off my lap all while laughing (aka going crazy!).

I guess I could have posted something a bit more straightforward such as "I'm running Leadville!", but it's not about Leadville. Or the 100 miles. It's about showing my daughter that it's alright to put all your heart and soul into something you love doing. Regardless of people viewing what you are doing as crazy.

So to my little one, here's to never forgetting that's it's great to being crazy.

October F12 Summary

Runs - 22
Workouts - 9
Injured - 0

The Bad:

Wash Park - No comment on the redesign and associated safety concerns. My take is on the time it's taken the folks to finally set up the eastern flanks of the path. Tear up the existing route and do nothing for 3 plus weeks other then fill it with 3 foot high mounds of that gravel/path mix. Leaving that gravel/path mix in a pile for 2 plus weeks.

During this time a new path next to the existing path had been created by those not wanting to run on the street and that mound of gravel mix getting beat up by folks messing around on them.

And when they finally got to laying out the path, they did such a half ass job that the path is left looking and feeling like shit.

I've always felt that Cheeseman Park (please disregard shenanigans that occur within the park) as they nicest park in Denver. With their recent renovations completed, the running path within Cheeseman stands as a model to what all other parks should achieve to be. I really hope Wash Park doesn't think they're done with that portion of the trail.

The Good:

Consistency - The routine for the month was pretty simple. Hit the gym hard twice a week. Get a run in 5 times a week. Only missed one day of a scheduled run due to being under the weather and I made up for it with a double run a few days later.

Workouts - It feels great getting back indoors and pushing some weight. Early on, it was tough physically and mentally to get back into it, but after 5 straight weeks I gotta say I'm loving it. All workouts consist of 40+/- minutes of upper body and core and 20+/- minutes of legs. Goal has been to thrash myself and I've been doing a good job so far. So good in fact that my biceps hurt while typing! Alright, that's a bit extreme but you get the point.

Runs - The running early in the month was low key. Averaging around 6 miles per run for the first half of the month with no long runs the first 3 weekends.

I didn't see a need to do more then that. I figured a mental break from the grind was still needed and physically, it gave my body more time to recover from all the aches and pains that have developed over a long summer of running.

The last few weeks saw a nice steady increase in the running highlighted by 17 and then a 20 mile long run during the last few weekends of the month. Finishing with 53 miles over 5 runs in the last 7 days of the month. Never felt that I needed to do these runs, but more wanting to do these runs.

Durango - Spent a nice long weekend with friends back down in Durango. During their peak in town fall colors. 3 days of easy running along the Animas, up and down Smelter and around the Test Tracks and Horse Gulch. Oh and I can't forget the beer. Ska, Steamworks and Carvers.

Family Time - As has always been the case, my family comes first and with the huge cut back in running, I've been spending a lot of time with the family this past month. Perfect fall temps have meant lots of walks around Wash Park, Durango, Loveland or any other spot we might be hanging out.

Looking Forward:

More of the Same: I can't see my routine changing much during the month of November. I'll continue to slowly increase my miles and even tack on a double here or there. I'll also take one scheduled week off from the gym just to let the upper body do a mini recovery before I hammer on it again for another 8 straight weeks.

I'll also start mixing in some plyometrics into the workout. Nothing intense but enough to remind the body and legs that I do have the ability to move left, right and backwards. Not just forward.

2012 Plans: With nothing left on the race schedule for this year, I'll be putting together my race schedule for next year. Pretty much there but just looking at a few out of state family trips in which I can hopefully squeeze in a race.