Sunday 113014 – JV’s 1000th Ascent of Green.

I had the privilege of joining JV for his 1000th summit of Green Mountain this AM.  Arguably Jeff did this months ago, as he had some additional 100 summits or so before he started formally keeping track.  In any case, today was his count of the 1000th.  A small crew of us gathered to join him on his trek, and the mountaineering experience was off the charts:  Skurka, Homie, Ralston, Bruce, and then we met Tony and Joe at the top. 

I did a short jog with TZ in the AM and thought conditions would be great.  I went out with her around 8 and it was in the 50s. At 9, as I was prepping to head out, I noticed that the temp was dropping and I could see the haze coming in from the west.  It got colder still.  By the time I was leaving the house around 30, it had dropped probably 20 degrees and it would be in the 20s by the time I got to Boulder.  A haze locked in the Flatirons – but this would set up for a beautiful inversion view from the summit.

We hung at the summit for a bit taking in what Jeff has hundreds of times before, and enjoying the moment.  The inversion was pretty amazing.
We headed back down into the cloud (where it was colder too), casually and carefully as there were sections with socked in ice.  Once at the bottom I was able to entice JV into one of his favorite pre/post race treats – a bowl of cereal.  An amazing day for a great guy with an incredible crew.  I had a blast.  Thanks for sharing it Jeff!

Side note – there was a lot of chatter as to how quickly the weather turned.  I found this graphic from the local wunderground web site that reflects how quick the temps dropped.

8:45, 54 degrees.

 
9:30, 24 degrees – and still dropping.

So 30 degrees in 45 minutes.  Amazing!

I ended up with 5.6 on the day (4.6 on the Green RT), and 101 and change on the week. Largest week of the year – but again, just grabbing it while I can.   In general, I held it together fairly well, but it was a little bit of edge island.  I could feel the calf having issues in the front of the week, but it let up.  I did some squats in the middle of the week and I could feel that niggling in the right side for the rest of the week.  Green today was not too bad, but admittedly the effort was very light for these guys.    Leadville lottery opens this week and I expect to throw my name in the hat.

November was a month that I had hoped to get back at it a bit more after the travel month in October.  As it turns out, the months were nearly the same – in October I had 271.7 miles.  November I had 274.4.  34.8 hours in October, and 38.2 in November.  8 days off in October and 5 in November.  In part I think this was because while I was traveling in October, I could commit to a schedule when not working of getting runs done (when just on work travel).  In November, I had a set back at the start of the month with the calf spinning up a bit … so it took me some to work through that.

Wednesday 060612

These lists are a good reference:  fastest times in Colorado.  Fastest true mile in CO?  4:04.  None of that down hill crap.  Old school and by that we mean 1976.  And no one has broken 14 on CO ground in the 5k yet.

PCTR is done.  

Terri Reilly posted this photo on Facebook.  It is from the 1981 Crim Ten Miler.  I love it because it has so basic and it is similar to much of what I recall from running when I was growing up.  Short racing shorts.  Bad ass mustaches.  Numbers trimmed down to save weight.  Eyes frantically on the road to assure you don’t wipe out. 

… this is the guy I am pacing (or is he pacing me?) at HR.  The more I think about this, the more I think it (like luckily getting to share a stride or two with BF at Denver) will be one of my running life highlights.   If I can keep up.  Hardrock is a bitch.

It is time for me to get my mind right about Hardrock … including:

1.)  When will I get there?  (in other words, where do I need to be to get Tim?) (for what it is worth, exactly there has yet to be determined … need to figure where I will pick pacing up with Timmy)
2.)  What should I have that he will need in terms of physical stuff I should carry?  (food, lights, clothing, poles, water, etc)
3.)  What should I have that I will need in terms of physical stuff I should carry? 
4.)  How much should I call him a loser?   When do we turn the screws to get after it?
5.)  etc …

It is mind boggling that this race is WON at 4 miles an hour average.  Anyone handicapping it yet?

Boulder approves the finish of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge at Flagstaff.

An interesting map for paths in the area, including 36.

(ps – from above, Lindsey - #1, won in 47 minutes and change, George Malley in the foreground and Durden in the background) 

Friday

Beer is a better way to hydrate than water.

Micah’s death: not really new news but not what we like to hear that as endurance athletes.  I don’t run to extend my life but I do like to think it helps my chances of achieving it.  But even if I don’t it does help my health.  I get to do stuff today that a lot of folks can’t do.   That website by the way seems pretty decent.

Transvulcia preview of sorts.  When this interview started, I was scrunching my forehead – but I thought it played out pretty well.

*might* get in a burro training run this weekend.  TBD.

Saturday 032412 SoBo, Bear, Green

Took JV up on his offer for some early morning peaks.  Joining us was 2011 UROY Dave Mackey, 3rd at Chuckanut Jason Schlarb, 3rd at Hardrock Joe Grant, and 10 laps on Green FKTer Homie Prater.

Name dropping?  Yeah, but only to show how I was the anchor for this affair.

Beautiful morning, warmed nicely, great conversation and the trails are in good shape (with perhaps the exception of the section above the SoBo/Bear Saddle heading up to SoBo – that is pretty messy with a mix of ice, and snow that you can drop into hip deep with … plus someone has made a trail that is completely in the wrong direction).

Saw Rob and Laurie Timko at the saddle.  Rob looks skinnier every time I see him.

Pix courtesy of Rob.

 

Jeff showed us a new trail being put in above the current Bear Canyon trail.  It is fair to assume this will replace the trail lower to the canyon at some point.  It is some sweet smooth dirt track.

I managed okay.  I was not as strong on the climbs, but that is to be expected given what I have been doing (or rather not doing).  I rolled my right ankle a touch on the Mesa but nothing horrible.

13 miles, 4185’ of vertical (Towhee, Shadow, SoBo, Bear, GreenBear, Green,  the new trail that is being put in above Bear Canyon, Bear Canyon, Mesa and Bluestem)