Vote for Tim, Bob

We all know that I am a Lucho fan.  I am also a fan of the NKOTB Timko.  Timko has become quite the photog as of late and took the shot above. The Leadville Race Series is running a photo contest.  My plug here:  give the guys your vote.

Friday 113012

AM – 5 miles to wake up.

Viagra helps performance at altitude.  Or maybe not.

Pikes is on the Skyrunning circuit next year.  And so is UROC, meaning two of the three US based events (out of 15) are in CO for 2013.

I have met Pablo at a few races.  Dude is solid.

Thursday 112912

Got out for an easy five.  Mentally I was ready to roll for something harder, but physically I felt pretty tight – enough so in my calves that I decided to delay a harder session.

WSJ does the “too much exercise will kill you” article again.  Here is a decent response.

I will probably see “The Hobbit” first, but this looks to be pretty cool.

RunColo interview

A little interview regarding the fun times I have shared with Jack in Pack Burro Racing has been posted over on RunColo.

Wednesday 112812

Got out in the evening for a run.  I thought I’d get a good couple of hours in as I had a longer window.  I cut it short (10 miles).  I have run in a fair number of cities, but I think this one (Buckhead) has to be one of the most frustrating to navigate as a runner.  I try to look at every run as something positive (better than not going) but this one was pretty trying.  This concrete jungle is some of the least inspiring locale I have ever seen.  I might look for a more residential area that I can hide in and do loops, as it would be more productive and sane than getting around anywhere else.  The traffic is so bad that they have cops at all the traffic light intersections to enforce the traffic light activity.

Tuesday 112712

AM – Alpharetta, dark.  Six miles.  AM tired magnified by the time shift.

PM – 5 miles easy.  A bit road tired.

Both runs today a bit beat so I let it come very relaxed and easy.  Beat from travel and the workout yesterday, and some of the load over the weekend (41 over three days … not a ton when I am loading that way, but a bit more than usual these days).

Monday 112612

I know a few folks who have shared that their GPS data had the Broomfield 5k and 10k courses as short.  Yeah, I know that every RD hates that we all get geeked out with our Garmins these days because we all become some sort of course measurement experts (which we are not).  I don’t get too worked up if a course comes in fairly close but the 5k on Thursday came up as almost a fifth of a mile short and the 10k was closer to a quarter mile from what I have heard. 

I realize that for probably for 95 % of the runners out there, they really don’t care. I probably come across as some sort of old school hard ass that expects a 5k course advertised as a 5k to be 5 kilometers.   I am completely fine with courses that don’t measure up if that is what they are.  Justdon’t advertise them as something that are not.  Historic courses like Manchester Road Race (where else can you race 4.74 miles?) or the Barr Trail or Pikes … they stand on their own and because they have a history.  But if you are going to come out and say 5k, make it 5k.

In this case, the RD actually sent an open note out to all participants the day before and stated:  “I am very particular when it come to distance and time accuracy.”  In a open note out to all participants post the event the RD stated:  “I measure courses based on the "trail etiquette" of staying on the right hand side of the paths. Sorry for not clarifying that, but any tangents that were cut while racing will explain the "short" distances.”  Simply put – that is wrong.  Course are measured on tangents that are run, not some assumed side of a trail (and for what it is worth, the course was even marked short at the mile where you could not run some longer “outside” lane).

I hope the RD corrects the issue as I really want this race to be successful and for the Broomfield event to be one that sets up to be a reputable, competitive and solid race.  I see a crazy irony though … when I have run the Commons perimeter on the paths, it comes out to 5k almost to the meter.  In other words, it is a loop location course that ought to be really easy!

I know, again – most folks don’t care.  The evidence is that the market will accept on a 5k at 40 bucks, with poor course marking, a t-shirt and some results are good enough.  Folks like me come across like “wine snobs” of racing:  we expect that for our buck, we get an accurate course, some good markings, and results put up correctly in short order.  As long as the demand is high for a low end product (races like this), the suppliers will have little motive to deal with the PITA customers like me.

Anyway, I am pretty sure I have blogged my way into not getting my age group award, but no sweat.

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Not good.  I read Jim’s post on this and this is the referenced article.
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I figured I’d try to get some quality here at altitude before I headed to the near sea level swamps of the south.  I have been using Strava for about a month now and a few of the segments keep popping up on my runs.  So yeah, Strava motivated me for the day. 

Two segments caught my eye:  the first was the “bench to sidewalk and back” and the second was the "Col D’ Khol” – both of which were held by a fellow local I have never heard of:  Ryan Taylor.  Ryan appears to be a fine fellow and a bit more of a cyclist than a runner.  Maybe he did these segments on a bike.  I dunno, but his HR was pretty dang low on them.    This seems to happen occasionally on Strava when folks fail to note their effort as a run rather than a ride. For example, Buzz Burrell has the climb record on 144th (or so called “Fenton Street”) but he clearly was on a bike as I can say with confidence he did not run that uphill mile 4:19. (note – this is a good mile for uphill mile repeats). 

In any case as both of these “segments” are within a sneeze of my house, and part of my regular jogs, getting the seventh or ninth ranking on them tweaked my ego a bit and hencegave me a bit of motivation to get after it today.  Sure – someone could run these faster (and will or has) but it gave me a workout.  Heck, Ryan was probably out pushing a baby jogger on a regular walk or something versus actually looking to top some silly leaderboard…

I was not completely sure where the “bench to the sidewalk” started.  There are actually a few benches on the trail, and I had an idea as to which one it was, but to play it safe, and to get a bit more of a workout, I started back at Miramonte.  Interestingly, out and back to the top of the sidewalk over by the water towers is just a hair over three miles.  Nice to have that one as a tempo in the back pocket.  After a short warm up (in what seemed suddenly cold because things were below freezing) of 1.5 miles, I got to work.  The up and down nature of this route gives me a pretty good challenge versus the flat stuff I have been gravitating towards.  I finished 19:30 later.   I guessed my effort was probably good enough to get the top of the leaderboard on Strava, but I knew my later two miles on the hills were significantly slower and perhaps I did not get it.

I then jogged back to the last switchback hill up to the water towers (where the turn around is) as this is where the latter segment was at.  Again, I was not completely sure where this started, and so started as a fence line well below the hill to ensure I got the full line.  I was topping out on the concrete at a minute, so again – I was not sure if I had acquired the top of the leaderboard status.  I did several of these hills, also noting that these were tougher than I expected and that this was also a damn good workout for future reference. 

Once I got home my ridiculous ego was put to temporary rest as I saw the results.

9 miles on the day.  In any case, I intend to get back to both of these efforts and hope to improve on both.

Sunday 112512

Family completed the required Colorado Hunter Education course today – and we all got our cards.  Nice.

Afternoon – got out with Timmy G and did 11 miles off the Rock Creek Trailhead off 120th.  Good to run with him again.  We meant to go easy but the pace floated down (faster) a bit as we got worked up talking about short courses, etc.  Did a bit of rope work to finish it out.  Left foot is coming along, but still hugely weaker on that side than the right.

Good week – 72 miles over 9.5 hours, with the 3 mile tempo on Monday, the race on Thursday and a bit of a longer run on Friday (16 miles).  The race taught me that I can be hitting paces under 6 for the first two miles, as I had some doubt about that going into this race with the tempo work I had been doing.  To get to sub 17, I need to run 5:28s or better.  So work to be done there.  Looking forward to it!  I will continue to approach my workouts in a fashion similar to what I have been doing, but I think will tweak the intervals to start with a longer 5:30 to sub 6 mile or longer of some sort, and then run on top of that – just to work through pace once I have done that initial work.  I sort of feel that my goal of sub 37 (just under six minute pace for six miles plus) is closer. 

Post script – I should not have said sub 37 there … that is much softer than a sub 17.  Sub 36 would be more in line with that, probably more like sub 35:30.  All that said, while I have confidence that my training is moving in the right direction – I have a good amount of work to do to reach these goals AND I MIGHT NOT REACH THEM ANYWAY.  My 17:30 the other day was probably only nominally better than the 18:20 I did on the track.  I need to work through a sub 18 legit, a sub 17:37 and then from there … one step at a time.

Next week I am back in ATL so it will be a challenge. 

This vid is for JV.  Also check this reference.

Saturday 112412

AM – predawn, ran over to the library to drop off a book that was due.  7+ miles super easy but AM tired.

PM – 7 miles easy easy.  Ran into some Hashers on route so I jogged with them for a bit.  Nice sunset.

   v    


Perhaps perfect timing:  I got the results book for the Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon in the mail today.  First – that is so freaking old school cool.  Love it.  Second, awesome picture of Kim Dobson on the cover.  That was a helluva run.  Third - buried in the text, there is a picture of Dobson and Grauch right next to each other.  They finished a few seconds within a each other 9th and 10th, but apparently they were still going at it neck and neck on Ruxton.  Oh – why perfect timing?  The Incline Club starts their season tomorrow for 2013.

Grauch for the masters win in 13 if he does not crack the top ten.

Next brew

Just bottled up the Decemberfest but I am back on the burner with the next IPA.  “Black Friday IPA?”  “I-PED-A?” “IPArmstrong?”  Leaning towards a total reference to the performance enhancing thing as I am purposely trying to up the %ABV of this batch.    After chatting with Scott Mason (New Englander, dude who ran pretty fast in the day, even better photographer, and top notch home brewer), I added some additional corn sugar at the boil to spike things up a bit.  I am thinking of adding more at the end of primary fermentation to string things along a bit but I have some time to think on that.

Pitched at a SG of 1.044 and 73F.

Friday 112312

Results from yesterday up.  Got to scroll down to the family division to pick me up and they have me at 17:27.7.  Looks like I would have been 13th overall, second master.  This video taken by JV as I connect back up with him and Timko gives you an idea of how windy it was in the last mile.

AM – 16 miles, easy.  Felt surprisingly good.  Went through 3000 miles on the year out there today.

Separately, later in the afternoon, I got out the jump rope.  I have been doing a little of this along the way, and trying to focus on the one leg jumps a bit.  I absolutely SUCK with my left leg.  No surprise as it is the lawn mower foot leg but dayauuum.  I can hop something like 20x better on the right than on the left.  And even fresh, I look like a complete moron with jumping on the left.

Thanksgiving Day “5k” 112212

Short version:  17:30, but course looks to be short – 2.95.

Long version:  The start was delayed by 15 minutes, as it was windy enough to blow over an electronic portion of the start and that messed them up for a bit.  With the wind picking up out of the west, and knowing that we’d be running east from 1-2 miles, and south for nearly all of the first mile with a downhill – I decided to forgo being conservative in the first mile.  I figured I better take some advantage where I could get it – as the last mile would be a bit uphill and definitely upwind.

It seemed that we were at the start forever as they reset the timing system.  Any warm up sweat I had lost.  I did note that I might have had the longest shorts at the start, and I certainly was the only one in a cotton T.  Got out steady, but a bit over my head.  I knew it and was soon in no man’s land between a couple of packs.  JV was on the sidewalk pushing the jogger and cheering me on (dude could have surely left me in his dust today)

5:27, 5:46, and 6:16 for the last .95 (or 6:36 pace).  Totally bit it in that last segment turning into the wind, but almost everyone around me seemed to as well.  Can’t count this as a PR but I am happy with the effort, and think it is a good start for things to come.  I was working that last section. 

Hard to say what I would have done in calmer conditions.  Like to think it would be faster than 18:20 as I was working harder at the end then what I did on the track the other day.  Definitely “remembered” the fun of getting after it from about 1.75 on … tough choices to be made there when you go out a bit over your head.  I was certainly struggling in that last section heading west into the wind – and I could feel how my form was falling apart.  Need to work on that.   I can feel a racing bug in there … simply have not raced anything of significance since Pikes.

Jogged back and caught Rob, and brought him in with JV.  Even though he is apparently in an off season and claims to be eating the door off the fridge, he is in better shape than he was last year.  Then went back and got JZ (still hate seeing him put himself in the hurt locker), then KZ and TZ. 

Hung out a bit with Timmy G, who I am glad to see getting back at it.  If he can stay injury free, he will be a local master threat where ever he lines up.  Good to see a lot of the locals, and a few others like Rob/Laurie and Jeff pop out.  This is no Manchester Road Race but it is always fun to race on T-day AM.

7 miles on the day. 

Word is I won a brew from JT on the day – even with my short run, I think his 21:30 doesn’t edge me.  Justin ran 18:21 on his also short 5k, but his is a little longer.  Not sure where the brew formally goes there …

Wednesday 112112

Two pretty competitively accomplished runners, Zeke and Dakota, comment on their identification of self as a runner.  What I got out of these articles is that a cool and somewhat unique name helps you become accomplished runner.  Other examples, Anton, Lucho, Killian.  If you don’t have a cool name, being of European descent and expatriated helps:  Nick and Joe and Ian as evidence there.  Actually, maybe just being Alternatively you can have a cool beard:  Hal, Timmy.  I guess you can just go the route of living out of your truck or really cheap (remember how Timmy Parr had a near undefeated reason when he was hitchhiking across Montana and sleeping in drainage culverts).   Sure, I know there are guys who have none of these attributes and do well – like Mike Morton – but that guy had to serve in TWO different military branches to overcome all of that.  And clearly if you are going to that route, you have to be BLOGLESS.  Guys like Nick Pedetella, Foote and Wolfe (although those last two might come under the category of cool name … being named after a body part or some animal is pretty cool).

RHR this AM was 39.  I have been wondering about this.  Supposedly your MHR drops a beat each year.  I used to hit 190s in races and workouts regularly even up to a few years ago, but I’d have to say my max is about 185 now, maybe 186.  I do have a bit of a belief that MHR is a bit trainable.  In other words, you might train, or learn to deal with a level of effort of say 180.  You adapt and then next time you find you can eek out 181.  Obviously this is not an infinite cycle.  And it sort of doesn’t matter because race results are not based on HR data.  But I am still somewhat interested in it.  If one’s max drops by about a beat each year, does your resting also drop?  In other words, will I be dead in 39 years because my resting becomes zero?

I was looking at my resting this AM out of curiosity, but also to see if there was any feedback that I might be overextending a bit.  While I am not tapering for tomorrow’s race, I am looking to unload fatigue a bit so that I can make the best of my chances tomorrow to run “well.” (let’s say that is break 18, then break my masters PR 17:37, then break 17).  I sort of still feel a good amount of “gunk” in my legs from the recent work.  This is also another attribute of aging, one that is less measurable than HR but also one that I know better even if the feedback is subjective:  recovery is slower.  I used to be able to do a workout, recover a day, maximum two and be raring to go again.  Now sometimes that third day comes around and I can still feel the load from the workout a few days before.  It is usually not fatigue, but a general feeling of less than “pop” in some muscles … lately it has been the calves but it can be in the butt or hips lately too.

So the RHR says I am okay.  My legs say not so much.  Will see how it goes tomorrow AM.

Curtis is THE storyteller of burro racing.

Mid AM – six miles around the block.  .92 around the block. 

Tuesday 112012

Bottled the Decemberfest today.

It is actually an Octoberfest – which I have never made but given it will be ready in December, well … there you go.  Not sure it will be my favorite … seems fairly malt heavy compared to the hop head nature I have had.  Eh, it was time to branch.  IPA up next for sure.

Ran easy with JZ and dogs in the mid day.  The dogs are always a sure ticket for me to run easy, but they were really slow today (the heat?).  JZ agreed to run with the HR monitor for a mile (he hated how it felt).  He had a HR of 216 at the end.  Kidz …

JT and I have bet a beer straight up on our respective 5ks on T-day.  We are both sandbagging at breaking 18 – although I would say it is only 20 seconds off of what I ran yesterday and sub 18 is only 23 seconds off of what I ran as a Masters PR three years ago.

Yeah, I have the tree up and a good amount of the lights.  I asked the kids what they wanted to do on Saturday and they called for that.  I have been pretty much a “not until after Thanksgiving” kind of guy all my life, but I have been extra grumpy lately so I figured it was worth a shot.  JZ has a tunnel in the works for the train that is going through the village so it is pretty cool.

Ice baths are supposedly bunk.  Unless of course they work for you.  I have wondered about this a bit.  I mean, dudes were running 2:10 in the 70 and 80s eating a ton of carbs (bad for you now), wearing thick soled shoes (also bad for you now), not doing core work, etc.  I ain’t saying there is no benefit to those things, but all the extras seem to often get more attention then the basics.

Officially out for the FoCoFA … I’d say sadly but it is the day that my son is having his b-day party.  His plan is a Nerf Gun version of Capture the Flag with the local water ditch as the boundary between teams.  Ummm, all in.

Monday 111912

Sage sets a new mark for the front side of Green – 28:09.  This is sort of becoming “ho-hum.”  (see previous references to runners doing incredible things often enough that those things become expected, almost ordinary)

Good catch up interview with Danelle Ballengee.

Decided that I would still give the tempo run a go today, despite some lingering effects from yesterday’s workout.  As I have not done a tempo paced under six minutes per mile I figured that heading to the track would help that.  I know this sort of training would drive some people nuts.  Yeah, I did a tempo on the track, just rolling around 3 miles out there by myself.   I sort of dig it.  Recently I heard Lucho talk about how he loves the process of training.  I totally get that.  For me, while I love being in great environments, I love the process of training. 

2 mile warm up (16 minutes, AHR 133), then 3 miles tempo (5:50, 5:58, 5:54 so 17:36 for 3, kept it going for another little bit just get 5k and it was 18:20), AHR168, MHR 176).  Legs never felt sharp or zippy, but this was not over the top either.  Sort of fell a little asleep on the pace in mile two.

Finished up with five at 150ish, and surprisingly it was at 7:40 pace.  10 miles on the day.

Again, nuthin stellar here but I am confident on things progressing from where they have been.  Will be pretty mellow for the next couple of days before a 5k on T-day.  If I race it (I might pace one of the kids), I will look to get under 18 first, then see if I can PR as an old man (sub 17:37 from 3 years ago).

Sunday 111812

AM – headed over to MHS to meet the JK1, 2, Lucho and Gary D for some turnover work and other strength stuff.  Probably not the bestest idea a few days before a 5k race given I have not been doing this sort of work, but certainly something I need to do more of.   The running part was 100-150-200 sets (3) that were supposed to build but there really is no difference between any of those gears for me.  I saw 16-17 on the 100s (ack), 24, 25 on the 150s and 34, 35 on the 200s (there you go … too bad I used to hold that for a mile!).  Will just keep carving away … need to keep working on that faster step so that I can keep ahead of this for as long as possible.

Little doubt that today’s work will leave me a bit sore/fatigued over the next couple of days!  6 miles.  81 on the week.  Solid week I think with the Friday half intervals, a good long run on Saturday, the turn over stuff on Sunday, and an okay tempo of 4 miles on Tuesday.  More running than usual with OTHER people … which is why I think it was better on several fronts.

How millennial are you?

PM  - 3 miles with the dogs.

Saturday 111712

JZ was working on some merit badges for Scouts today down south.  I recalled that Woody was hosting a run.  Ding, ding – win  win.  I knew I would miss the start, but as Woody had posted the route, with the mile markers I could figure out where I could potentially catch up to the croo.

In the mix was Becca H, Todd G, Troy H (for some reason because he was a Leadman contender I thought he’d be a lot bigger), Ryan K, Jim P, Patrick G, Jaime Y, Stephen Y, Leila D and at least a half dozen others I don’t know as well.  Lots of good chatter about the summer past, and the seeds being set for the season ahead.  Some pretty trails down there in H-park.
        

Weather was insanely good for mid November!  Lot of crack up quotes in there … “he was the dumbest in his group.  He only had a 3.9 GPA.”  “I'm a lawyer, I don’t know ****.”  I think Todd G had a slew of them that I probably ought to not post here.  14 miles.

Later in the day, got out on some trail in Denver.   I ran on this trail once with Timmy G many years ago, but a different section.  So two new trails, 20 miles total, JZ happy with some merit badge work done and we celebrated with his favorite take out dinner:  Chinese (he is preferential to sesame chicken).

Friday 111612

Got together with Bob this AM over at Monarch.  3 mile warm up and then 2 x 200, 6 x 800 (lap recovery jog between each), 2 x 200. 

I was a tad bit nervous about this workout because I have yet to do any actual work on the track since entering this training phase at the start of last month.  At the same time, I knew having Bob on board would make it easier (and harder at the same time if that makes any sense).  In any case, I can sort of “hide” results a bit on the road workouts, but there is none of that on the track.  400, flat – get to work. 

37, 35 for the 200s.  I suddenly felt like I had done the second 200 a wee bit too fast – simply because I pushed away from Bob a bit, and it is probably the fastest 200 I have done all fall.  Ah, guess that is necessary.

I had targeted starting at 2:50 for the 800s and carving down from there.  I led the odds and Bob led the evens.

2:49 (started a bit quick, we went through 200 in 40, then 400 in 85, 600 in 2:06)
2:48
2:46
2:45 (85, 80)
2:44 (83, 81)
2:38 (40, 80, 2:00 and so 38 for the last 200)

At this point the HS kids began to take to the track for some PE class so we moved to the road to do our closing 200s.

41 (slightly uphill), 38 (slightly downhill)

Finished with a little over a mile for 10 on the day.  Workout went well.  I never felt I was laboring with the lungs but my legs were feeling the load build over the course of the workout, particularly on the second laps in the latter half.  Looking at how it went, how it felt – I sort of think I could do this now all sub 2:45 the next time.  That reflects a bit how I have been approaching these workouts.  I feel that I am learning in my head about this level of effort – and not fearing it – maybe even more than I am getting some physical benefit out of it.  Central governor or something like that.  In any case, an improvement over when I did these last Tuesday (averaged 2:46+ there and 2:45 flat here).

Good of course to get out with Bob – as I had not seen him since the B100.  And he is always crusty tough.
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I got a note from Athlinks the other day noting how performances on many fronts had dropped off over the last four years.  They made this off of the data that they obviously have the ability to mine through.  Here is an except of that letter.

The past four years have seen an alarming decline in U.S. racing performances in distances across the board. 5K times are off by +1:17, that's a 4% decline! Average Ironman times have increased by +21:54, a nearly 3% decline. I ask you - How could we let this happen to this, the Swiftest of Nations?

 

Average Times for Leading
Race Distances from 2009-2012

Distance	2009	2012	Change	% Change
5K Run	30:30	31:47	+1:17	+4.04%
10K Run	1:01:01	1:02:28	+1:27	+2.34%
Half Mara	3:30:01	3:30:20	+0:18	+0.15%
Marathon*	4:33:18	4:33:13	-0:04	-0.03%
Olympic Tri	2:52:53	2:55:55	+3:02	+1.73%
Half Iron	5:59:43	6:05:49	+6:06	+1.73%
Ironman	12:49:44	13:11:39	+21:54	+2.77%
* Marathon times were the only notable improvement. Sample Sizes('09/'12): 5K (2,705,308/3,431,895); 10K (834,692/954,978); Half Mar (124,606/98,632); Marathon (474,214/405,624); Oly Tri (78,551/86,849); Half Iron (53,285/61,639); Ironman (17,566/18,429)

Dean Herbert took issue with this note and posted about it.  The note’s author responds to the post in the comments.

In any case, the question, “are we getting slower?” seems a bit silly.  Certainly running – across all aspects – has seen a growth of involvement in the past decade and certainly since the early 80s when I got formally involved with competitive running.  Certainly records have improved, and some aspects of competition have gotten stronger (e.g. what it takes today to get a D1 scholarship compared to 25 years ago seems – yes, non scientific – to have gotten a helluva lot harder).  No doubt that the growth has meant that the average finish times have slowed.  For reference, look at the average finish times of arguably my favorite race:  Pikes Peak.  In 1977 the average marathon finish there was sub 6 hours for men.  This past year, it was north of 7 hours (and has been steadily increasing).  There is good news that the participation growth in our sport means more people are moving – and that is good.

Still, I can’t help but wonder if it has diluted a bit of what we all do.  My buddy MK finished Boston one year in 2:22 and change.  His finish place was something like 180th place (seriously, give or take 10 places).  He – and others of that generation (80s types) – have shared with me that they often considered giving up the sport because “they were simply not that good.” 

I find it oddly funny that despite all the improvements in the sport (better tracks, GPS devices, quicker community sharing of results, better insight on nutrition, the imminent closing of Hostess, barefoot running, more focus on core work) AND the increased involvement, we only see significant improvement at the pointy end of the stick.  For the most of us, we are getting slower.  Then again, as Bob noted to me – it has gotten a lot easier to race against where you sit in the percentages.
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Zero interest in climbing Everest … even though this guy is a bit too “Man versus Wild” for me, it is an interesting vid.  Sort of wondering how KJ is gonna take that on in the Summits project.  Ladder training anyone?

Thursday 111512

AM – easy three miles with the Lucifer dog.

Was listening to Pandora this AM.  I have the free version, so it punches an ad in every 20 minutes or so.  This morning’s ad was one for Mitt Romney for President.  Whoops.

Mid day:  JV swung by with his clan and we got out for a bit.  Been too long since I have run with Jeff, and man – that guy and motor for someone pushing  somewhere near 100 lbs.  8 miles.

FKT on Middle Route of Green

Sage C shared this video on twitter (below).

A little comparison … So he is reaching the first bridge in 4:35, when I get there more than a minute after that.  13:35 to the Ranger Cottage and I get there 3 minutes something later.  He gets to the Greenman split in 16:40 and I get there in about 21.  At that point, he is already to the Saddle Rock junction (21:30 for him) and I get there … 27 minutesish.

It was good to see a little power hiking in there before the stairs. 

34:15.  I have yet to break 40 on this route.

And damn it he did it with snow on the trail.  That is the difference between an OT qualifier and a middle aged old man. 

I measure it at closer to 5k (3.1 miles) but no matter.  FKT on this route by a good amount. (like a over a minute)

Wednesday 111412

This is pretty damn cool on several fronts.

I was poking over at Athlinks.  I don’t think of myself as a guy who races a lot (although I do recall that I did race one year over 50 times, maybe in the early 2000s), but when you see all this stuff over there, it is quite a spread.  I am sure some have bigger lists.

 
 
 

Good read by Clay Evans in the local paper about the minimalist shoe trend.

This guy can “ski the stones.”  I’d say that he has a pair.  Of skis!  I mean he has to be destroying those sticks.

The part where the kid drops the bike into the water is the best.

Risk assessment of the 10 most common folks when the angry jogger gets out – awesome. 

Afternoon – got out and felt pretty good, so decided to mix it up with some hill work.  It would probably drive some nuts to do the same hill like this over and over again, but I sort of enjoyed it.

Didn’t “tag” this workout too hard.  Just wanted to do something with a little different challenge today.  In the middle did some strides on the steep end (bottom part) of Simms.  10 miles, 1200 feet of climbing in 81 minutes.

Looking forward to getting back to the longer repeats on Simms in the spring.

Tuesday 111312

Bear Peak West Ridge is now open (officially).

I might make Sir Clark’s event this year.

My calves are still “interesting” but recovering.  All good.  I am looking to do my turnover stuff on Friday this week, so today was a tempo.  4 miles in 24:22 – but admittedly with a decent downhill in there.  AHR 167, MHR 174.

Just noticed that I hit 2900 miles for the year (it is the 318th day of the year). 

Burro Races - 2013

I will be looking to get these races up as events on RunColo, ColoRunnerMag, and maybe Active  shortly, but here is the skinny on the 2013 season:

Saturday,May 25th - 9th Annual Historic Georgetown Railroad & Mining Days Pack Burro Race
Georgetown, Colorado
Approximately 8 miles from Georgetown to Empire and back.
Weigh-in time: 10:00 am
Start time: 11:00 am Contact: Bill Lee (Red Tail) - 720-234-8200
Check out Bill's website -- www.laughingvalleyranch.com.
Saturday, July 13th Idaho Springs
Idaho Springs, Colorado
4 - 6 miles - Great distance for first timers
Weigh In: 10:30am
Please check this map for the new weigh-in and parking locations.
Parade - All entrants must participate in the Parade before the burro race
Race Start: 12:00 pm
Contact: Bill Lee (Red Tail) - 720-234-8200
Sunday, July 28th
World Championship Pack Burro Race -- Burro Days
Fairplay, Colorado
1st Leg of the Triple Crown of pack burro races.
29-mile course over rough terrain and elevation gain to the 13,000 ft summit of Mosquito Pass.
Also a Short course (15 miles). Both start and end in front of the historic Hand Hotel in Fairplay.
Weigh In: 8:00 am
Race Start: 10:30 am
Race Director : Ralph Herzog - 719-836-2659
http://www.burrodays.com/
Sunday, August 4th
Boom Days Pack Burro Race
Leadville, Colorado
2nd Leg of Triple Crown .
Open and Women's races. Open course - 22 miles following 4-wheel drive roads to summit of Mosquito Pass through historic mining district. Women's course- 15 miles on roads with a trail loop around Bald Mountain. Both courses bring men and women back to town down, notorious mining area of California Gulch.
Weigh In: 9:00 am
Weight of pack saddle and gear must be 33 pounds for standard and mammoth donkeys, and include pick, shovel, and pan. Post race weigh in required for winners.
Race Start Open: 11:00 am
Race Start Women: 11:15 AM
Race Director: Dave TenEyck 303-437-9898
Race info and entry form: www.leadvilleboomdays.com.
Sunday, August 11th
Gold Rush Days Pack Burro Race
Buena Vista, Colorado
3rd Leg of Triple Crown.
12-mile course crossing suspension bridge over Arkansas River, climbing the Whipple Trail to the historic Midland Railroad grade. Views of the Collegiate Peaks … if you have time to look around!
Weigh In: 9:30 am, in front of the Library on Main Street.
Race Start: 11:00 am
Race Director: Karen Thorpe - 719-221-2424 (cell), 719-539-3135(home)

The previously listed Miniturn race has been cancelled (updated Feb-05-13)

Please note if anyone has any problems reaching a racing director you can alway contact Brad M. Wann the Media Relations for Western Pack Burro Ass-ociation  303-906-2269 wpbamediarelations@yahoo.com