Finally, running feels fun again. I am not sure why...
Maybe I have a lot on my mind and it is my time away. We are busy getting the non-profit we work with started here in CO, contemplating options concerning job opportunities, buying land, raising a puppy, and blancing the quality time Adrienne and I get to spend together. It is easy to lose that quality time when you have so many good things taking up your time, but we both appreciate the time we have together and know how important it is to maintain that time. Running is a time I can go and think in fast-forward. I have time to contemplate different options and solve problems I otherwise don't have time to think about. It is nice to get out for 10 miles at lunch and come back feeling better and with less on my mind. I think this is how I got into running. That, and I love competing!
So, I will continue to enjoy what I am doing. Add some speed work and get rolling in some races. It is time to face the fact that I might not win every race I enter, but that is not a good reason not to race. I have had some trouble absorbing that thought.
So, I had 50 miles last week, and will have somewhere around there this week. All the miles have been easy and just cruising along getting my legs under me. We are going skiing for the weekend, so I will have to throw on the snowshoes and get in some good climbing. That is alwasy a lot of fun as well. If we get fresh snow I will strap the skis to my back and head to the top of the mountain early in the morning for some first tracks. That is one of the most beautiful things in the world!!! :)
Finch
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
CO Trail
I couldn't decide where to run come Sunday afternoon. I was lacking some motivation, and didn't want to drive too far. The problem is that I am sick of running away from park rangers when Guinness is off-leash (which is the entire run). I already have recieved one ticket for such an offense, and I have some very serious opinions about this law. I understand the problem if everyone's ill-behaved dogs were running around the town off-leash, but Guinness is a great dog, he has very good obedience, and I mainly run out in the middle of nowhere. Not a problem. Anyway, that is the main factor in having a hard time deciding where to run.
I decided, the heck with it, I am heading out to the South Platte and get some miles in on section 2 of the CO Trail. I love this trail, and I would love to run it from Denver to Durango (maybe someday). I did not know how much snow and ice would be on the trail, so I brought my Yak-Trax and snowshoes up with me. I put the Yak-Trax on because the bottom of the trail was looking pretty icy. It was nice to have them on for the first mile of climbing, but most of the remainder of the run was dirt!!! Pretty surprising for a mid-January run at that altitude. As I got started I realized I had no way of telling how long I was running. I ran back to the truck and looked at the clock, just for a reference. Then, off Guinness and I went. The river looked great, and it was tempting just to stay and fish. Very beautiful with a good flow for this time of year. But, I came for a run, and that is what I was going to do. Up the switchbacks I went with Guinness running ahead and exploring. He is great to run with since it is so easy to get lost in "his world". He is in heaven running out in the forest! As we crested the first climb, there is a monument looking rock that overlooks the Hayman fire burn area. Most of the run goes through the burn area, and I found it, strangely enough, beautiful. There was very little vegetation, with the remains of burnt trees and large rock outcroppings for most the run. It is rare to be in an area that is so desolate, but I have an appreciation for the budding plants and the regrowth that will eventually take over the landscape and develop into a lush forest once again. I ran out, not wanting to turn back, but 4-5 miles in, I decided to call it a good day, and turn around. It is still early in my training and I have been taking it easy building up the miles so as not to get injured. It was a short run, but one I needed. I have been spending so much time running at lunch downtown, and not having much appreciation for my running or the places I am treading. It was very refreshing to get back out into nature and experience the sights and sounds of the wild. I will make this one of my key runs as I train this year for the longer races. I can get as many miles as I want on the CO trail, and there are lots every 10-15 miles where I can drop supplies if needed. It is a graet place to train, and a rare trail that Guinness and I can enjoy together, ticket free!
Finch.
I decided, the heck with it, I am heading out to the South Platte and get some miles in on section 2 of the CO Trail. I love this trail, and I would love to run it from Denver to Durango (maybe someday). I did not know how much snow and ice would be on the trail, so I brought my Yak-Trax and snowshoes up with me. I put the Yak-Trax on because the bottom of the trail was looking pretty icy. It was nice to have them on for the first mile of climbing, but most of the remainder of the run was dirt!!! Pretty surprising for a mid-January run at that altitude. As I got started I realized I had no way of telling how long I was running. I ran back to the truck and looked at the clock, just for a reference. Then, off Guinness and I went. The river looked great, and it was tempting just to stay and fish. Very beautiful with a good flow for this time of year. But, I came for a run, and that is what I was going to do. Up the switchbacks I went with Guinness running ahead and exploring. He is great to run with since it is so easy to get lost in "his world". He is in heaven running out in the forest! As we crested the first climb, there is a monument looking rock that overlooks the Hayman fire burn area. Most of the run goes through the burn area, and I found it, strangely enough, beautiful. There was very little vegetation, with the remains of burnt trees and large rock outcroppings for most the run. It is rare to be in an area that is so desolate, but I have an appreciation for the budding plants and the regrowth that will eventually take over the landscape and develop into a lush forest once again. I ran out, not wanting to turn back, but 4-5 miles in, I decided to call it a good day, and turn around. It is still early in my training and I have been taking it easy building up the miles so as not to get injured. It was a short run, but one I needed. I have been spending so much time running at lunch downtown, and not having much appreciation for my running or the places I am treading. It was very refreshing to get back out into nature and experience the sights and sounds of the wild. I will make this one of my key runs as I train this year for the longer races. I can get as many miles as I want on the CO trail, and there are lots every 10-15 miles where I can drop supplies if needed. It is a graet place to train, and a rare trail that Guinness and I can enjoy together, ticket free!
Finch.
Friday, January 15, 2010
I Love to Ski, But...
I recently picked up skiing. I have boarded most of my life, and decided I wanted a change. The change has been good and I have enjoyed the season a graet deal. The only problem is that I don't tend to run when I am up skiing. Seeing as how I will not give up skiing, I better get my sleepless butt up out of bed before hitting the slopes.
Adrienne and I met up with some good friends at Beaver Creek and spent two weeks skiing over Christmas and New Years. Oh how I wish I ran some while I was there! Yes there was a fair amount of alcohol consumed each night, and yes I probably did not sleep more than 5-6 hours each night, but now my legs are screaming at me. It was just today that I felt some bit of normalcy back in my legs. No pop yet, but at least I wasn't counting the steps back to my office during my lunch break. I left for the mountains in pretty good shape and came back hurtin'. Lesson learned, I hope...
Finch
Adrienne and I met up with some good friends at Beaver Creek and spent two weeks skiing over Christmas and New Years. Oh how I wish I ran some while I was there! Yes there was a fair amount of alcohol consumed each night, and yes I probably did not sleep more than 5-6 hours each night, but now my legs are screaming at me. It was just today that I felt some bit of normalcy back in my legs. No pop yet, but at least I wasn't counting the steps back to my office during my lunch break. I left for the mountains in pretty good shape and came back hurtin'. Lesson learned, I hope...
Finch
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
A New Puppy
Adrienne and I got a new Vizsla about a week ago. He name is Haile and she is qutie cute. Puppies are a lot of work, but it has been fun doing socialization, foundation training, and just hanging out. She and Guinness are getting along great and are having fun playing together. It did throw a small wrench in my training for the past few days, but that is easy to get back.
Back to running today. I will do 6-8 easy. I am building up a bit for the next few weeks, and then adding in some light speed and short hill repeats. I committed to doing the half marathon for the SuperFrog triathlon relay. Hopefully it goes better for the team this year than it did last year. That run is HARD. A lot of soft sand and the rest is on spongy hard packed sand along the shore. It is slow and hard. I went 1:19 or something like that last year, but it was about the same time as a 1:10 half marathoner. Ouch! I have a much better base this year heading into the training, and can hopefully drop a good amount of time off. I want to hit up a mile on Westmont's new track, but I will have to see how that works out. I will need to be FAST for that one, so I will have to see if the training is in the cards. It is hard to get good speed training in here in CO during the winter. It is just dangerous. I plan on hitting up a few 50Ks and maybe a 50miler this year. I am enjoying the distance training, and I am not minding running 7:30 pace. I feel like I can go forever, and that will be the challenge in these longer races. Hopefully in a few months, 7:00 pace feels like 7:30 pace does now. That would be a formidable pace for those races. If not, then I guess that is just the way it goes. I'm looking forward to getting in some fun runs with Guinness, and coming out of the ski season with some good fitness. It is always harder to run when the snow is falling and the slopes are calling!!!
Til next time,
Finch
Back to running today. I will do 6-8 easy. I am building up a bit for the next few weeks, and then adding in some light speed and short hill repeats. I committed to doing the half marathon for the SuperFrog triathlon relay. Hopefully it goes better for the team this year than it did last year. That run is HARD. A lot of soft sand and the rest is on spongy hard packed sand along the shore. It is slow and hard. I went 1:19 or something like that last year, but it was about the same time as a 1:10 half marathoner. Ouch! I have a much better base this year heading into the training, and can hopefully drop a good amount of time off. I want to hit up a mile on Westmont's new track, but I will have to see how that works out. I will need to be FAST for that one, so I will have to see if the training is in the cards. It is hard to get good speed training in here in CO during the winter. It is just dangerous. I plan on hitting up a few 50Ks and maybe a 50miler this year. I am enjoying the distance training, and I am not minding running 7:30 pace. I feel like I can go forever, and that will be the challenge in these longer races. Hopefully in a few months, 7:00 pace feels like 7:30 pace does now. That would be a formidable pace for those races. If not, then I guess that is just the way it goes. I'm looking forward to getting in some fun runs with Guinness, and coming out of the ski season with some good fitness. It is always harder to run when the snow is falling and the slopes are calling!!!
Til next time,
Finch
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