Friday 052215

Nice write up on Sonia O’Sullivan.  I will probably end up running on the track named after her next week.

A cold wet AM.  Met up with Bob and started up the Flagstaff Road.  Just before the 3 mile mark, JV popped out on the trail ahead of us.  We took to the Summit from West Green.  JV headed down the front and Bob and I retraced our steps for the most part – we took the spur road up to Flagstaff to spread things out a bit.  14.3 miles. 

EP’s latest ATC and I get some play with a question I asked.  Coincidentally Bob and I ended up talking about walking and hiking today.  I think I am getting some of it (even this week with Fern) but it is one of those things I probably get a little more practice with.  Lucho and Tawnee really cover the question in the podcast.  If I have not made it clear to folks who are looking for ultra advice ought to listen to that podcast, let me be clear:  go listen to that podcast.

And later today, I walked 2.6 with TZ.  That lady does not stroll.  It is a WALK.  She was more gentle on the post dinner fooseganer, 1.7 miles.

Friday 120613

I found JT’s link to Parkour fails to be both painful to watch and entertaining.  My kids found it wildly entertaining.  Of course you could take to running in heels instead.

I might build this stove up at the altitude get away.

The weekend:  I won’t make it to the Chubbo tomorrow, or any of the local run and lottery watches, but I might try to get another Green in.  Of course will be checking the results from that loaded 50 in SF.  (Side note, it seems that Jason Koop is the hot coach for several the ultra US elites that use a coach …) USATF MUTs of the year.

Jeff recently tagged Green.  Cold.  But this dude is going to live on an iceberg.  Geez.  Anyway, I got out with Jeff today and did a lap on Green.  Might be the coldest one I have ever done, and in some regards – that is actually easier (when the snow is right in the midst of that melt, it can be more miserable).  Gave me perhaps my best frost beard ever.  A few pix from Lap 51 (and I think Jeff’s 160th if I remember right) on the year.

 

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.

Sunday 070112 Longs Peak.

JV calls me ALL the time.  “Wanna do Green?”  “Wanna come do the Missouri group?”  “Want to do Longs?”  “Hey I am heading to Pikes.  Interested?”  And while I am always interested, I rarely take him up on it.  In fact, this year, I am pretty sure we have only run a handful of times together.  By coincidence, we both called each other on Saturday asking each other, “Wanna do Longs?”  So, this time is was on.

We added Homie and Dr Nick to the mix, and once again, I was slow man on the totem pole.  Nick is prepping for HR, and has a series of stout performances at the 100 mile distance.  John is also a HR finisher, but is one of the most accomplished mountaineer guys I know.  Dude did 10 LAPS on GREEN in one go.  And JV is just a rocket on anything that is steep and gnarly.

Me?  I am a nine toed, slow on the technical, out of shape guy who was trying out poles.

In any case, I was very stoked to get out with some great guys on my initial trip up this Front Range classic.

What I learned today: 

1.)  I am not using poles.  I see the advantage to them on the climbs in SOME cases.  But for as many times as I got some advantage, I was cursing them 2x that for getting caught between rocks, snagged on a tree, etc.  I am sure if I practiced with them a bunch more, I’d get it, but I am not gonna use them in a couple of weeks.

2.)  I am going to pace HR in Hokas.  JV recommended that I run with my Cascadias, and so I did.  I paid for this on the rocky slopes of Longs.  My scar tissue on my left foot was lit up like a Christmas tree by the end of the run because of the abuse it took.  The Hokas will protect that a bit more.  I know some folks think they suck when they get wet, but I can manage that (and apparently it is pretty dry down there this year anyway).

In any case, my legs were fine on the ups and downs, but my feet were not happy in the Cascadias from very early on – and it was slowing me.  A LOT.  REAL SLOW.  EMBARASSING SLOW as the croo had to wait on me several times as we came down.  Hardly a fair comparison to the way  I buzzed down Quandary a few weeks ago in the Hokas .  I was hobbling down the lower stretches today of Long’s like I was in a pair of house slippers.

It might also be a good idea for me to avoid any workouts in spikes until at least after this little event.

3.)  It drives JV (and frankly me) a bit nuts that he has to wait for me on nearly every training run we do in the mountains.  Well, maybe that does not drive him nuts but neither of us can figure out why that is the case and he has yet to nip me at Pikes.  If we do Pikes, I am fairly confident that this year however is his year.  (he is sure to comment and say something that is self effacing and how I say this every year, so just ignore when he does that)

4.)  Longs is not a running peak.  At least not for me.  I know there are some guys doing crazy ass two and a half hour stuff on the Keiners route (you have no idea how sick this is until you see it)  – but for me, this is probably the most challenging peak I have tackled in CO. It is not that it is all that technical.  It is just not runable like say Sherman or Quandary.   Maybe someday it could be a running peak for me, but I am pretty sure that my long history of poor coordination would prevail.

5.)  I will probably just carry a 70 oz hydration pack at HR.  That ought to be plenty and give me room to carry other gear as well.

6.)  My legs are in fair shape.  4000 feet of climbing today and I don’t feel wrecked at all.  From the ankles up that is.

7.)  Longs is just like they say it is:  a very crowded peak on weekends in the summer.  However, travel with the boys in the pix below, and you are guaranteed to take routes that are a bit “less travelled.”  And hence a bit less crowded enroute.

8.)  I am fairly certain this would NOT be the first 14er I’d bring someone up.  It is a pretty stout one when compared to things like Grays and Torreys, the Decalibron, or even Pikes (the only issue with Pikes is how damn long it is to get up the Barr trail)

9.)  Not too bad for me at altitude today, but I probably could benefit to get a few more days of sleep up in Fairplay.

10.)  We had ridiculously beautiful weather today:  No windbreakers needed all day.  This hardly the norm on the ledges on the NW side of the peak.

At the lot around 6:30. 
 
Up we go.  Heading into the Boulder Field and to the Keyhole.
After the Keyhole.
 
On the summit.  Mountain endurance legend Peter B popped up. 

JV pointing out the nuttiness of some routes.

 

I am sure more shots will get added as I get some from the guys.
 
Coming up, there is a downhill mile in Superior on the 4th.  I am not sure if I will do that – as if the family is up, we may opt for an AM hike instead (and there may not be race day reg).  So, Thursday night there is the BRR track meet …

Week was 72 miles, 7540 feet of climbing (bulk of that coming today), over about 13.5 hours (again, most of that coming today). 

Huge thanks to Jeff, John and Nick for a great day today.

Friday 041312

Got together with JV and Brandon in the afternoon for a little peak bagging.  I warned that I was going easy. 

Jeff picked the route, initially defining that we get Green via the “back” way of Bear Canyon.  As we neared the mouth of the canyon, Jeff switched the plan up to heading up Bear to Fern.  I protested, but submitted.  At the top of Bear JV tried to talk us into South Boulder and my protests won this time.  At the three way junction I started heading down but Jeff and Brandon convinced me that actually going over Green was shorter.  And then heading down Green on the front side, they had to stop and wait for me several times.  I ended up developing a blister under the scarring on my left foot.

I traveled very carefully down, muttering to myself that I had bit off more than I ought to chew today.  Yes, ought to.  I could chew it, and would chew it … I probably should not have though.

But it was awesome seeing Jeff and Brandon.  I had not seen Brandon since the 100 in October and that is just plain old shameful.

The guys gave me lots of good feedback on things I could consider to improve this Achilles situation.

Sunday 112011

Something that cracks me up is when folks tell me “how athletic” I am. 

Seriously people.  I got into running (in part) because I outright SUCKED at other sports.  Thankfully I had enough coordination to get through track.  Cross country was a little bit of a gamble, but I was able to fake it there.

I realize how how uncoordinated and how unathletic I actually am when I run with guys like I did today. 

JV put up the bat signal, and Homie, Tony and I took the bait.  I should know by know that this means that the run will be the most vertical in the shortest distance possible, but for some reason I forgot that.  I also thought with Tony in a recovery state, I’d be able to keep up.  Given the route selection, with grades in at times in excess of 40%, I watched Tony walk away from me.  Literally, he walked.
Kindly, the mountain goats would periodically wait for me … probably mostly to assure I was not left for dead by some mountain lion.

But the climbing issue is not athleticism.  That is fitness.  The athleticism and coordination, or perhaps my lack of it, was reflected on the down.  These guys danced the down easily, while I looked like I was wrestling  an invisible version of myself with every step – all in an effort to assure I did not end up on my ass.  I still took a spill or two on some of the ice stretches.  I am after all these years – still a klutz.

All in all, great to be out with some of the strongest mountain guys in the area (nice guys too, but I like ‘em more on the flats – except now JV is also kicking my butt while pushing a baby jogger). 5 miles (and that is with the extra I tacked on with Chautauqua in the mix), and my 22nd run of Green in 2011. 

The steep power walk climb is something I may reconsider as a tool in the training arsenal.  It is not really necessary for the racing I am considering next year, but it is challenging, something I suck at, could be a good mix up recovery workout.  Today felt more like I went to the gym and did squats than run 5 miles.

Solid week for me, and my best since the Boulder 100.  73 miles on the week, and 10.5 hours (my first 70 plus, 10 hour plus week since B100).  I will aim to continue to look to up the overall volume a touch next week, but hopefully in a way that does not compromise the quality.  Given a choice at this point, I will look for quality over quantity.  This next week will be a bit of a challenge with me being off from work (harder to carve time). 3220 on the year and just shy of 250k vertical.

Hike up 2nd Flatiron

  Hiked with TZ, checking out this hike as a possible one for the Scouts.  It is about 5k RT, 1430 of gain, loss and took us at a very easy pace (emulating scouts, or perhaps their parents) 2:15 RT including sitting around at the top and breaks.
 

Tahosa January 2011

Saturday – no running, but playing in the snow at Tahosa BSA camp.