The AM we spent over in Louisville at the Labor Day Parade with member of the WPBA. TZ was a saint and played the poop fairy. Pix by Jeff Valliere.
Afterwards, we headed out to the Mayerhoff property and checked on the new recruit, Boog.
In the evening there was a chapter gathering of the #GOM club. Discussions included asterisks to particular performances, and a traditional round of the game of “My problem with that is …”
Somewhere in there I got in an easy four miles.
KZ and some of her buds headed up for some skiing at Cooper. I headed into Leadville to hook up with its mayor and check out parts of some potential run I might do next summer.
Downtown …
Heading down the Boulevard. I can see why this would allow a fast start. 
I did a few miles on the course and then headed over to Brandon’s house. We joined up for a few, catching up on various and then I headed back into town. It was pretty dang cold, but once I got moving it was not too bad. 12.2 miles, slow and easy as the snow, ice, temps, altitude kept me motivated to keep it that way.
Good to catch up with Brandon. I don’t care what Footfeathers or Pittbrownie sez about that guy, he is a good dude.
Mebulous week continues. I find Mario’s post to be spot on.
SOS does a nice wrap up of the spring marathon season. Earlier in the week SOS agreed that the pack made the “biggest mistake of their lives” letting Meb go. They essentially gave him a 81 second lead for a 12k race.
I have been kicking back at Jeff all year on his offers to hit up Green. Part of it is I have not had the appetite to circle into Boulder, deal with the snow, and frankly, I have been more interested in just getting out and rolling a bit near home. That strategy however ain’t going to cut it if I intend to manage Pikes at some level of self respectability. Yeah, it is time to start getting some vertical in, if I want to have a shot at performing better than last year. So I hit up Green this AM with Jeff and Brandon. My legs were shot more than I care to admit from yesterday’s effort. Brandon was a bit worked as well so we kept it really easy and slow all the way around. We were probably driving Jeff a bit batty as he could have napped for a portion of it and still been faster than us on the trip. Great to get out with these guys on a beautiful spring morning on the local hill. 10.2. My first Green of the year …!
Hit the OSTAC meeting last night - it was my first as a citizen versus a committee member. The Broomfield Trail looks to route a section on the north side of the water treatment reservoir. It might have been the biggest turn out by the citizenship that I have seen at an OSTAC, even bigger than when there were coyote bite issues. The folks that own the dozen or so homes are none too stoked about the project and turned out in force to squash this routing, propose alternative routing. They like to see the path routed around the southern side of the res (away from their homes), but that does not seem to jive with some apparent security concerns of it crossing between the res and the water treatment plant. I am not really sure what those regulations are. While some of these citizens had concerns with some merit, the overall tone of their concerns came across as ridiculous: the routing of a trail behind their homes meant an increase in crime, illegal swimming in the reservoir, and a security risk to Broomfield’s water supply. They tried to play the upside as well to the south side routing: it is nicer over there, you won’t have to hear my dogs bark. A lot of NIMBY. I can’t say what the regs are for the trail being routed near public water sources and works, and I don’t have a good read on the cost of one route option over the other, but I was disappointed that the folks effectively stalled the completion of the trail in this area for probably a couple of years.
Well, the times have changed. I have run Boston … twice. Both times as a bandit. No number. In college so over 2 decades ago now. I recall nearing the line without a number and looking to pull off to the side, but the volunteers told me to go through. I have a different perspective on that now than I did then, and that race has certainly changed. The latest bandit story at Boston has created quite a fervor.
Sluggish this AM because I enjoyed myself a bit too much last night. I got to the track early in an attempt to sweat some of that out. Jogged for 5 miles before folks started to show up … Shad, Brandon, Rob, Laurie, Chris, and Lucho. Tacked on a bit more warmup, did a few light drills and then some turn over work. 4 x 100-200-300 with plenty of rest.
All of the zippy stuff was in the 65-70 per quarter for me (16-17, 33-34, 51-54) but I was completely gassed after the third set. It was not that I was greatly tired – as much as my legs were just cooked from the earlier sets.
I was both amused and frustrated at how guys like Lucho can just fire the jets and take off. He just has way more gears than I do. Even Timko has a warp gear when he wants it. I just can’t get that. Good workout as I was moving significantly more quickly than usual – to the point of beginning to rig … and I could feel it in legs later.
10.2 on the day. 70.3 on the week – in one of my more flat weeks in a long time (less than 2k vertical). Off to Europe now for a bit.
World Mountain Running Championship recap.
Eyeballed the results from 2007 XC …which was here in Boulder. Does not seem that long ago! Last year’s results in St Louis. I think I would be hard pressed to run under 30 for five miles right now, but I am increasingly getting fired up to get those wheels back.
It has been nearly a week since Leadville Boom Days. Here is a bit of a pre race report … I have done this run twice, and the two times I have done it – the evening before has been the eventful and enjoyable Brandon Fuller Night Run. Brandon hosts this run from his getaway up in Leadville. Starting at Fish Hatchery, runners navigate the later sections of the LT100 course, at about the time most will hit that section. After only a couple of miles, the runners hit a tough climb – Powerline. The runners end up doing about 21 miles – but it is a good test a couple weeks out from Leadville, and helps dial in the night portion of the course for many.
Given that I have my own 21 mile run (ish) the next day, I have not engaged in this run but instead gone up to enjoy its festive atmosphere. I have tried to contribute my own little part by bringing some water, other beverages and some snacks to the 10 mile spot, a parking lot near one of the lakes. It is pretty cool to be in the total dark, and then see the runners come popping down the trail via headlamp.
The whole event is fun. Smiles, anticipation, some brews, and just nuttiness … (all these shots are via Rob Timko)
Apparently because I know how to fold a Buff, this makes me a freak.
Yeah, Nick has a cute smile but it is clear that Brownie is the charmer here.
If you get lost, it is not this guy’s fault. Next shot is by David Ponak.
“Take a left at the second railroad track where the sign says no trespassing unless you are tired then take the third right at the dirt road after the first railroad track and go through the guy’s yard that says trespassing is okay.”
Leadville in the background. Only 20 to go when you see this spot in the big race. And yes, only 3 chicks in that shot. Sausage fest for sure. Next shot is a Ponak shot.
Yes, there are actually fish at Fish Hatchery. And a little gum ball machine that spits out fish food that you can provide to them.
This will not be a pack in two weeks
After the start at Fish Hatch, I scooted over to the Fairgrounds and checked in with Bill and Brad (and the burros) to assure that all was well there. Back to Brandon’s place, I then spent most the evening with Rob T, shooting the breeze and buzzing around to check on runners. Neeraj E, who lives like 1.1 miles from me but that I have never run with joined us. It was good to get to know him a bit. It gets a little weird waiting for them.
Psuedo aid station out of the back of the Pumpkin
One man’s donut is another man’s opportunity to talk to a fence post about a horse.
Yes, the stars were that epic.
I hit the rack about midnight, choosing to skip Brandon’s offer to let me sleep in his house and took to the back of the Element instead (I did not want to keep people shushed because I was snoozing. Folks were coming in until 1:30).
The Fuller Run has become a bit of a tradition, with fun, a physical test, and some silliness. I hope Brandon continues to host it … and that Kim continues to put up with all of us dirty smelly ugly people. I hope I can continue to contribute by running the aid station (as long as I am not running Pb), as a prelude to Boom Days. Really glad I get to play in this sandbox.
Green. A couple of miles beforehand, then Gregory-Ranger. Easy going, getting up in just over 50, hanging out for a picture or two before coming down via the front side.
Great to get together with this croo of JV, Homie and Brandon.
24th run on Green this year. Homie and JV were talking it was their 130th each or something to that magnitude. Then again, Homie did 10 in a day back in March. Beautiful day out there with snow just beginning to fall, and fun conversation.
Shot of the croo on the summit from Brandon. I look like I am piggy backing on Brandon like some sort of odd gargoyle.
Annual stuff …
Headed out for a run this AM and had the great luck and fortune to bump into Buzz, Bill, Jeff V, Tony K, Burch, Mike H, Brandon F, Tim L, Rob T, Basit, Dave M, Justin M, Homie, Sandrock, Wes T, Kendrick C. Crazy how that is in here… you can’t head out for a run and throw a rock without hitting someone in the face. Just another day in this wonderful place we live.
I clearly and quickly knew that I had not visited the hills as of late. I could feel the small of my back give off its tell tale “bark” when I have been away from them (the snow seems to magnify this, along with yesterday’s workout). No bother at this point. Flagstaff and Green for the front half and then coming down via Bear Canyon to round it out to 11.5 miles.
All that however was really the footnote to this run. It was great to share a few strides with so many of the wonderful people in this community. Common topic that comes up is how folks’ heads are churning on their ‘13 plans. Interesting to hear the different takes. There are so many wonderful stories. Yeah, cheesy as Swiss, but it lifts me up. It might be that I don’t do a lot of it and so it is a novel thing, but it leaves me buzzing for hours afterwards. I probably am buzzing too much during these sort of runs too, feeling like a kid at Christmas, and talking too dang much.
Couple of shots from a Halloween gig we went to last night. What is scary is that I actually use to sort of look like this when I had hair. No, seriously …
Off to Seattle tonight. Listened to the Endurance Planet show, Ask The Coaches. This show by Lucho and Tawnee, along with TalkUltra are pretty much the only two fitness, endurance, ultra, training podcasts that I listen to anymore (although occasionally I will queue up Marathon Talk. . It has been fun to hear how this show has matured, being a bit of ultra, a bit of marathon, a bit of tri, a bit of all the stuff “we” talk about. I dig it. When not listening to this “genre” I go with Carolla’s stuff for laughs. Most the time though, it is purely music – everything from Winston to Foo Fighters to stuff KZ turns me onto. Go to Pandora when stuck.
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Solid post by Ian S regarding flat 100s. Without a doubt, I am still thinking about the 100, but I am not focusing on it in 13 (given my Pikes goals). And without a doubt, I am still amazed at what Bob did at the Boulder 100 in his last lap. Reading Ian’s post leaves me nodding my head, because it is clearly not how you run the first half but how you can run that damn second half – and really how much from 70 miles to the finish. As I was crushed to a point of “running” a 17 minute mile in my last couple of laps, I clearly have a lot of possible improvement …
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Started getting back to a little bit of core work. Mostly push ups, planks and reverse crunches. I have not done them in a bit so it is leaving me a bit sore. I imagine that as the weather starts to degrade a bit, I will look to get into the gym a bit more. Maybe some rope work. I tend to get a bit nutty with bench press and that sort of stuff when I go to the gym. It is a left over from the AF days I guess. I can’t say that I will totally eschew that stuff, but I think I will try to focus a bit more on some core and leg work (dead lifts, squats). Eh, easily said.
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While I will be focused on Pikes in 2013, I am pondering the burro thing again. And I’d like to finally coordinate a Fairplay to Leadville run (and back) with Fuller. And I am thinking of hosting up a FA type event … my house to Bear and back … whatever route you want with a few checkpoints along the way. Not the cup of tea for everyone with the flat before the climb, but a good 35 miler (ish). Pancakes galore at the finish. Maybe in March.
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I saw a commercial today while on the plane for testosterone applied via a stick to the arm pit. Of course there was the list of all the possible side effects at the end of the commercial. When driving into work, I hear commercials on the sports radio all the time about “low T” this and that. "Are you a middle aged man who is tired of being tired?” This is not new of course, but it seems that this stuff is nearly as readily available as coffee (when is Starbucks gonna provide the Low T Latte?). The question that I am trying to get out of my head (kind of like a bad song that gets stuck in there) is this: with this stuff apparently being so available, is it really okay if someone just gets a therapeutic use exemption (TUE)? Apparently I don’t have low T (but I have not been tested), but if I suddenly did and I got some prescription to bring my levels to some “normal” range, would it be doping if I competed with an appropriate TUE? According to what I understand from USADA, the answer is no – that would not be doping.
This sort of sounds like an argument that I hear pro’s who have been caught making: “I did not use it to enhance my performance, but just to recover.” Uh, enhancing your recovery is enhancing your performance. The guy taking testosterone to get it to some level within his TUE is doing it “to just be normal” – but he is also enhancing my performance. Then again, I enhance my performance too – I drink coffee and I know it will help my performance so it is obviously a performance enhancer … just happens to be legal when I have my two cups in the AM
This leaves me a bit stuck with the conundrum of how everything is a drug of some sort (uuh, yeah, I), and how we legislate and regulate what is normal. And that is sort of arbitrary.
Saturday started with us heading up to Brandon’s Leadville night run. We packed up the family and headed to the hills. We decided to drop the dogs off at the grandparents in Fairplay, so it was a pretty long ride (just shy of 200 miles that way, and with the stops, about 4 hours). We got there and it was quite the event. Brandon and Kim have created quite the grassroots community gathering of all sorts of Pb runners, from front of the packers who will be in contention for the win, to those who will be fighting for the 30 hour cutoff, and a handful of people who are supporting. It is great that they open their home up there for this (THANKS!)
I wanted nothing to do with the big run as I was on tap for the Boom Days Burro Race (20 miles, including a climb to Mosquito Pass). I joined the group for a short jaunt from Fish Hatchery out to Power line, but then bailed back to my car. Shortly afterwards, I jumped in with Tim L and Kara at setting up a mini aid station near May Queen. Pix from Brandon.
No surprise, ultra guys and gals can put away the brew. Even though we were serving up in dixie cups, we quickly served up a 12 pack.
Part of my mission in doing this was to start to scope out some of this event. I have no designs on getting into Leadville soon, but I am certainly a fan and interested. I have spent little time in Leadville and so I am not super familiar with all the terminology - “May Queen,” “Tabor Boat Ramp,” “Powerline” etc. This field trip began to dial some of that in.
Engaging with this community is so invigorating. Like minded folks, wanting to be outdoors, test themselves, break themselves … you could smell both the confidence of training (that might be called BO) and the concern of uncertainty (that might be crapping your pants). This tribe of people … they are GOOD.
I got back to the Fuller compound, had a few brews, chatted it up with Scott J for a bit, and MADE myself go to bed at what was probably a way too late 11:30. I wanted to stay up and see the crew come in, but I knew I had to get some sleep. I retired to the tent with my family.
Boom Days … Brandon has a great post, with awesome pix. Well, my ego centric nature thinks the pix are great. All the pix that follow are his.
We got up pretty early. Some folks were already heading back to the Front Range. We broke camp and headed into town to get some grub. I am not a huge fan of the late start of the burro races (it puts you up on the high ground of Mosquito Pass at O’lightning 30 in my mind), but this does allow you to eat a decent breakfast well before the start without having to wake up at 3AM.
I was nervous! Last week I felt that whatever happened - “it would all be good!” But this week I was nervous! Everyone kept asking me if I was running for the Triple Crown. I kept replying that it was totally dependent on what Jack would provide, “what side of the stable he woke up on this AM,” etc. But I felt that niggle of pressure. I had a little self chat, reminding myself that this was just going to be another wonderful day in the mountains, to enjoy the moment, and if circumstances dealt up such an opportunity, that would be a great blessing.
TZ asked if I had a race plan and I told her that as I had not been up on this side of the pass, I was not sure of the course. I decided I’d hang back at the start, working my way up as well as Jack would let me. I would not look to lead it out and get off course. If things set up well, I’d look to make a break for the pass. On the down, once the road smoothed out a bit, if Jack was up for it, I’d look to open it up again. Where ever this landed me, I’d be content with that.
The morning flew by with the typical burro racing stuff: weighing the pack, packing your gear, suiting up, brushing out Jack, saddling up the burro. It was a bit hot so I tried to hide in the shade and remain “cool.”
The crowd seemed markedly larger here than in Fairplay, but the the race field was much smaller. Jack seemed skiddish and was interested in going anywhere but the start line. I tried to bring him over towards some people to socialize but then determined that might not be a good idea as he seemed fired up to move anywhere at some pace.
We started, and I stayed well to the rear as we moved down Harrison.
Once we hit the first climb on 6th however, we began to move up pretty quickly. By the time we made the turn towards Mosquito (CO RD 1), a small lot of us had created a pack. Jack was ready to roll it up, but I decided to hold back and not lead this out. I knew there was a bunch of folks around, but I figured that would play out on the climb. Some burros would not want to go, others would be struggling themselves. I keyed off of Hal, simply because the guy knows what the heck he is doing.
About 3 of 4 miles out of town, the pitch got a bit steeper and Hal /Laredo and I/Jack were moving pretty well. We had suddenly distanced ourselves significantly from the pack. Frankly this does not mean much. In fact, holding any sort of lead in these races does not mean much until you get to where you are wanting to go. A burro can elect to stop and any lead you have can quickly vanish and turn around into a huge gap.
We were moving pretty easy up the climb but steady. Hal and I thought the burros were going rather slow, and it could be because of the heat. I am also thinking that Laredo and Jack might have a comfort around each other and have an unspoken pact to not push it too hard.
A big difference in this course versus the Fairplay course is that it is much more rolling. Fairplay has its ups and downs, but it is mostly up for the first half and mostly down for the second half. That is certainly true here too, but after some climbs, you get some significant downs before churning back up to Mosquito. This is also true in the down, you are heading down, but then get some hills of significance that you don’t get in Fairplay. While it is only 20 miles compared to the 29 at Fairplay, the Leadville course might be harder because of this.
Hal and I went into the typical game of “taffy.” I’d be ahead for a bit, and as soon as I’d contemplate that I was getting a break, Jack would stop or slow and Hal would be right there. Hal would get a lead and Jack would steadily move up and we’d be back on Hal’s shoulder.
I have to say, I feel really fortunate that Hal is out there. In both talking to him and observing him, I was learning alot, the miles were clicking by, and I was enjoying the day in the mountain with a veteran of the sport – and a great guy. 
As I suspected, as the grade began to pitch up, both Laredo and Jack slowed even more. It seemed like they were moving even slower than last week, but we were moving. I’d see Curtis Imrie later in the race, and as he would say “Steady does it.” I know over the weekend, in talking to folks, they’d hear the times for the races and I could see the gears turning. I could run that. Yes. Yes, you could. For most of the runners I know, this is less about how fast you can run. It is about how well you can keep your burro moving. I talked to Hal about this, and he laughed. “Tell ‘em to grab the rope.” He has seen his fair share of strong runners show up and walk away from this event as they realize it is not about their running. (This was Hal’s 34th year at Boom Days!).
We continued the climb up. We looked back and figured we had a pretty sizeable gap over any other competitors and kept chugging. About a half mile from the summit, the grade leveled slightly and I was able to motivate Jack to get moving. I was able to build a gap over Hal and Laredo, and make the pass summit before them by about 50 yards. I did this in the case that there was some “First Ass up the Pass” award (there was not). I significantly felt the altitude this week – even more than last week.
But Jack then refused to move. Ah well. I waited for Laredo and Hal. Much like last week, Laredo seemed much more sure footed on the rocky down than the more cautious Jack. For the most part, we stayed behind them as we started the journey down. About 10 minutes off the summit, we passed a group of four or five going the other way – exchanging high fives and good spirits. Another great tribe out there enjoying a day in the mountains.
I decided that with the slight climbs back up to climb that I’d probably not look to push the pace at all until we neared the last downhill. I simply thought that Jack might not be motivated as well without Laredo. But then we hit a long steady stretch of down and Jack was moving nicely. We got a little day light and a little more over Hal and Laredo. We moved slowly on the ups, but seemed to be getting little gains over the multi time World Champ.
Once we hit the longer and smoother stretches of California Gulch, I figured we were in good shape – but again, I knew it could all come to a halt pretty quickly. I took long looks back and could not see Hal, but I still – I was – like last week – running scared. Jack held a great pace on the down, particularly on the road. We came into town, and I got the treat of Brandon taking pictures and cheering for me, and JZ joining me for about the last 3/4 of a mile.
Brandon’s video captures the finish well. I was coming through the women’s race finish. It illustrates two things that I think are important about pack burro racing. 1.) The burros don’t know where a finish line is. In fact, when they get to town, they are done. Given that the race line is about 3 blocks past that – it makes the last section a bit challenging (although entertaining for the crowds). 2.) You can see how much the back and forth change between Emily and myself in that last 100 yards. This is exactly why I don’t want this race to come down to a kick between me and anyone else. It leaves too much to chance.
Admittedly, I am really not sure what to say in these sorts of circumstances. I feel incredibly lucky and blessed, and being put on the spot like I am something other than feels uncofrtable to me. I want to be gracious to my family, to the people supporting the event, the burro, to the community – but I am not sure I have been able to effectively do that. I want to come across as humble, and maybe even humorous, appreciative … heck, I want to role model to my kids.
The official time has not been posted, and as they are working that through for the “guess the winning time” contest, I am going to hesitate posting that, but I finished a good clip under four hours. We weighed the pack out. I was concerned about Jack, more than the Fairplay race. He seemed hot (he was sweating more than last week) and I wanted to get him water and hay. Rather than wait at the finish, I got him up to the trailer and tried to get him onto recovery.
The Fullers were a huge help post the race, in helping me get Jack situated, getting a shower. Just more great hospitality from those folks. My family of course was incredibly awesome. I am always a bit amazed that they want to hang out for four hours while I am off in the hills doing this nuttiness.
We enjoyed a dinner and awards assembly at the Elks Lodge a couple of hours post the race. I did not get to hang out as much as I would have liked to post, but we needed to get back home – and were looking at another long stretch in the car. The awards were fun, and it was clear that these folks are indeed – as Curtis said – a tribe. There was a lot of people enjoying the company of each other through this event, and it was very nice to be able to soak in that for a few.
Thanks to all in the Boom Days event, and those who support the Burro Race. I feel incredibly blessed and lucky to have been a part of it. Winning it is an incredible “frosting on the cake.”
Thanks to all of my family, the Wann Family, Bill Lee, Hal Walter, the WPBA, Boom Days, the Fuller family, and of course JACK.
I really want to get in the head of this burro. There are times, like with my dogs, I feel pretty connected with their thoughts and desires. I get that occasionally with Jack in the mountains, but it is less clear to me. I know that sounds bizarre - to mentally connect with an equine … but I really wonder what he is thinking while we are doing this. Sometimes I have no clue.
It does look like we will make the trek to Buena Vista next week. It is described as a very different course: shorter and flatter and lesser altitude. I am not sure how that will play out. Clearly the longer courses with altitude have played to my benefit. Additionally there are apparently various CHOICES on the route as to which way a race team can go on this course! I have some homework to do.
Finally, I’d say if you are a Colorado MUT type, you really need to put one of these events on your bucket list. They are incredible.
