Thursday 122310

More post the Hellybuck doping confession, added fellow FF team mate John T’s blog to the feed collector (by the way, if your blog ain’t over there – or one you think I ought to check out, let me know), eyeballing DD’s goals, and part two of a very interesting Brett Sutton interview.

GOALS 2011:  Tentative race schedule 2011 (highly subject to change)

January:  Lafayette Oatmeal Festival 5k (1/8/2011)
Maybe a snowshoe race in here alternatively?
Pikes Peak Ponderous Posterior 50k (1/15/2011)

February:  USATF XC Nationals (San Diego) (2/5/2011)
Xterra Mission Gorge Trail Run  (San Diego) (2/6/2011)

March – probably will do a door to Bear Peak and back run

April: 

May: Collegiate Peaks 50 mile (5/7/2011)

June:  Golden Gate Dirty Thirty (6/4/2011) (?)
Mount Washington Road Race (?) (6/18/2011)

July:  Vail Hill Climb (7/2/2011) or LT Marathon (7/2/2011) (or half)
Barr Trail Mountain Race (7/17/2011)
World Championships of Burro Racing (7/31/2011)

August:  Pikes Peak Marathon (8/21/2011)

September:  Breck Crest (?)

October:  Boulder 100 (?) (10/15/2011)

November:  Anthem Thanksgiving Day 5k (11/24/2011)

December:  Chubby Cheeks 50k (12/17/2011)

I might fill in a thing here or there, but am much more likely to drop a couple, few of these races.  Mount Washington is dependent on the lottery, but if it does not happen I may take another crack at the Mount Evans Hill Climb.  July looks a little heavy but that is just some of the best racing times.  The 100 in October is a total WAG, but the thought is in my head so I will lightly pencil that in there.  All of course, depends on how I hold up physically, and in the more important aspects of life.  September will probably be a little recovery, and I expect Feb, March, April to be some building block months.  Love to get to the Grand Canyon in there but I am not sure I will be able to swing that.  Spring Break in March will be a recovery week as I will be bouncing between Phoenix for Spring Training with the family and a conference I need to present at for work in Portland.  River trip or some other in there too (early July)?  Remains to be seen.

AM – 11 miles.  Yeah, so this puts me at 4000 miles for the year. 

HIGHLIGHTS 2010:  most miles in a year ever, with it coming in at 4000 on December 23.  A bit of a silly number.  I think Anton may have gotten this number in July?  Maybe August?  But a representation to me that I have put down a bunch of good base.  In some regards I guess it is a fair representation of the 10% rule.  I generally got about 10% more miles than I did last year.  I am pretty certain I won’t look to specifically surpass this number in 2011. 

This AM’s workout included the visit to my local hill for the typical 8 up and 8 down session.  I did this last time a bit faster (18:59), and I could feel it a bit today (19:22).  Yet again, while my performance was slower today, my HR was higher!  All good.  It is December.  I have visions of doing up to 20 of these at some point.

Friday 121710

Probably not going to get a run in today. Was completely cooked, felt like crap and so I slept in this AM. Will wrap up with a variety of meetings this AM and then head to the airport to travel home. Given I have been away for a week, I might change up plans, not head to Fort Fun in the AM, and expect to take some well pointed ridicule and sarcasm.

Sitting at 3929 miles on the year.

HIGHLIGHTS 2010: Gonna shift gears for a bit and mention a non running related highlight. The trip down the San Juan river on a raft, with my family and 17 other people was pretty amazing. Amazing environment, amazing people, amazing to have that time with my family. Amazing.

Back to running, I'd be remiss if I did not mention this year's PPM. While I did not break 4:30, an objective I had going into the race, I feel it was a day that I put together well. I had a solid build up of training, I executed well, and I walked away with some hardware. Having run that race where I have not met my expectations, and was unable to do what I thought I could - I have come to realize what a blessing this race was. There are so many things that can go wrong, in the build up, race day, the weather. To walk away with a PR, and some hardware to boot, and most importantly knowing that I did out there what I could do that day ... and with some thoughts of how I can improve ... well, that is pretty damn good.

Snow shoe races in CO link.

Practice ...

Or without trick photography (Thanks SOS)

Thursday 121610

Nick Clark interview

I am no MacDonald's fan, but this lawsuit against them is just plain stupid.

AM - Decided I did not want to handle the mill again, so I ventured outside. Bit chilly (6). In fact just before I headed out I hit my typical weather site, and saw it was 29 - so I thought it was a bit warmer. Of course, that was the weather for CO, and not here. In any case, I had a wicked frozen beard that got great stares as I got back to the hotel. Ventured around the Tech Park here ... over and over again. So not much different than a mill I guess. 10 miles very easy.

HIGHLIGHT 2010: The World Championship of Burro Racing. 29 miles. 10-13k feet in terms of where you are for elevation. And a burro you can push, pull or carry. Absolutely silly. Loved it and got fourth place. Had a PBR beer handed to me by JT at about 25 miles which was heavenly.

Wednesday 121510

Decided to skip meeting everyone for breakfast and extend the run a bit. 15 miles on the mill, with mostly Tool in the ears to keep me lost. Warmed (woke) up for 4 miles and then did the 150 HR thing. I was tempted to make some sort of interval session out of this, but then talked myself out of that (not too hard). Hung out at a HR of 150 for the next eight miles, averaging right about 7 minute pace. Cool down a bit easier to round it out to 15.

HIGHLIGHTS 2010: In my first true foray into the ultra world, I ended up in one of the most incredible locations on the planet - the Grand Canyon. This "run" was gorgeous, challenging, educational, and one shared with good friends. I'd go every year if I could. In fact, I suggest anyone who reads this blog go and do it. I am not one to whoop it up post a run, but I stood at the South Rim when I finished and hollered as loud as I could - I just could help myself. R2R2R ... do it.