Monday 29APR2019

AM – tired.  Like really tired.  But got out for a slow slow 7 miles on the W&OD.  Zzzzzzz.

PM – another four miles.  Got moving a bit towards the end which was good given the slog fest in the AM.

Sunday 28APR2019

Last night was JAM – or the “Just After Midnight” post Prom party.  TZ and I worked the food area again.  It is always fun, but staying up to 4AM has its consequences.  I slept about as hard as one can sleep on a flight from Denver to DC.

I got here and after meeting up with my team, I did get out for a half dozen on the W&OD. 

Pretty solid week for me:  sixty plus miles, 3 quality sessions.

Saturday 27APR2019

Afternoon – got out for 6.6 at a bit of a tempo pace, going around the Ridgeview-Ditch Loop. 

A little later I got out for another 3.9, out to Josh’s Pond.  Saw my first bull snake of the season and there were also some turtles out taking in the sun.

Friday 26APR2019

Last night headed down south with Charles to check out an establishment the acoustic project might play.  We scoped it out and worked the open mic for three tunes (“Squeezebox” by The Who, “Copperhead Road” by Steve Earle and “Green and Dumb” by RCPM).  I am no Ty (our typical singer) on the vocals but they didn’t kick me out and I didn’t barf all over myself. 

It has been a bit of a process for me to get to a point where I am comfortable enough to sing at a live mic.  I am not worried too much about the guitar thing (for most the stuff we play), but putting your voice up there … well, that is a lot different.  Even though I sing at campfires and stuff around folks, doing it in a pub/brewery with my voice being amplified just seemed different enough that it got me nervous.  t was doing this or jiu-jitsu.  This might have been a bit more painful. 

There might be video evidence of this somewhere if you look in the right places.

Afternoon – headed down to the Stutler Bowl (Cherry Creek) for the meet.  The meet itself didn’t end until midnight as the lights went off as the pole vaulters were going (and they started around 10PM).  Greg and I got out when we got down there and he gave me a tour of Cherry Creek State Park.  7.8 miles.

Thursday 25APR2019

I felt pretty spent today – and so kept the volume short but also knowing I have some challenged schedule coming up, decided to get in some quality.  10x1 minute hill repeats on an old favorite near the house.  Well off my best times on this hill (back in 2013), but certainly quicker than anything I have even tried on it in the last three years. 

Wednesday 24APR2019

AM – a very easy five with Greg to start the day.  We started at 8:40 for the first mile and the first half was probably well over nine minute pace.  By the end we woke up enough to be sub 8.  Always a great way to start the day, but better when the weather is kinder like it was this AM (v. a few weeks ago before the bomb cyclone).

Guess what?  Winning big bucks can lead to problems … even for Kenyan marathoners.

PM – 5.2 miles around the ditch, Ridgeview loop.

Tuesday 23APR2019

AM – a very easy waking up 4.2 miles. 

PM – helped out one of the kids through a workout of 4 x 800 on a quarter rest.  2:54s.  8 miles on the afternoon.  Not a bad workout for me.  I felt I could have done another one for sure, maybe two.  Given I am guessing I am in about 5:40 shape right now, doing half miles at 48 pace is fair work for me. 

I’ll look to make the most of this week with training but it is stacking up to be a tougher one – track meets tomorrow and Friday, maybe a band thing Thursday night, working the post Prom party all night Saturday night and getting on a bird for the east coast Sunday morning.  S’all good, just got take it when I can.

Monday 22APR2019 and considering Pikesmas

8.4 miles with Greg at practice.  Easy but as we were animated in conversation the pace rolled along pretty well.

At the HOF event last week I bumped into Corey Dobson.  He and his wife Kim (CR holder on the Ascent at Pikes, and multiple time winner) were also there to see Scott inducted into the Hall.  Each time I meet the Dobsons, I am impressed at just how nice and thoughtful of people they are.  They are just wonderfully positive people.

In conversing with Corey, we of course chatted about Pikes, preparation for it, where we were in that preparation, etc.  Corey mentioned a few things that I recognized were things I knew, but that I had not really thought about in a while: 

- “Pikesmas”  - or how the race weekend is a celebration of another year where we are blessed to break ourselves against that hill.  I had forgotten about this build up of excitement including the thinking about everything that we think about going into the race, like who got a comp entry, last year’s winner, the weather, if Matt Carpenter is going to show up race day and freak us all out. 

I’ll start beating the “Pikemas” drum here a bit with a goal of it crescendo-ing over the summer.

- “just getting to the line itself is something we should be thankful for.”  We discussed tiered goals and Corey’s reminder was spot on.  Getting to the line and being in a position where you can actually seriously consider getting up and down that hill is its own victory itself.  Then getting to the finish line in one piece is another.  After that we can start to discuss goals of times, age group and overall placings.

- “the veteran of the mountain doesn’t need to spend as much time on the hill.”  Certainly to have success at Pikes, getting on the hill helps with vertical training, familiarity with altitude, and all the little rocks on the course.  But at some point, you can know the course well enough and you can get a better bang for your training buck doing it at home (versus driving 5 hours round trip to get 12 miles on the hill in).

Soooo … 124 days until August 25.  Or just about 18 weeks.  Might be time to be getting a little more focus.

Weekend 19APR-21APR2019

Friday - I slept poorly, and woke up at 3AM.  That would be 3AM ET, so even earlier on the home clock.  I was wheels down back in Denver at 7AM.  By the time I got to a run in the afternoon, I felt pretty shot.  Nonetheless, Greg wanted to get in a workout and I agreed.  I felt like crap and was pretty much going to bag it but I figured I could ease into at least the first part of it (4 x 200).  It didn't feel great but once I got through that I lied to myself and did the middle part (3k at 10k pace).  That was particularly ugh-ly because I went out too fast, but with that done I knew I'd finish the game (4 x 200).  Long warm down for 10.2 on the day.


Saturday - it was the BOCO meet.  I pretty worked and decided just to get runs in where I could between events.  This turned into several and change mile affairs, including a set with TZ.  6.3 miles.  I did not look like this.


Sunday - got out before the Easter festivities took over the day.  10.  I was tired and a bit sore and certainly dehydrated some but I managed a sub 80 without really trying (and the first 5 miles being over 8 minutes). 

A sixty plus mile week with 2 workouts in there and some travel.  That is about what it is going to be these days. 

A few other shots as of late ...

The boy has grown a bit.


There were a few high schoolers also recognized at last night's HOF event.


I wonder if I should worry about this thing.

Wednesday 17APR2019 To Indy

I traveled in the AM and got out for an early evening jaunt along the Canal in downtown and the White River in Indianapolis.


I ended up in a park - well I thought it was a park until a security guard flagged me down and wanted to know if I was a Lilly employee.  I was notified politely that the park was for such employees only, and so I agreed to beeline out of the park quickly.


It was a warm and humid day - at least compared to CO.



10.4 miles, with the last 25-30 at tempo.

Tuesday 16APR2019 Colorado Running Hall of Fame

I got word a few weeks ago that Pikes Ascent ace Scott Elliott was getting inducted into the Colorado Running Hall of Fame.


The ceremony was Tuesday night at the Denver Athletic Club.


Scott has definitely lost quite a few pounds since I saw him for a run a few weeks ago.  He also cleans up pretty well, even if he appropriately wore running shoes with his suit.



I met Scott on a Linden workout.  That is a one mile loop, with half of it being up and the other half being down.  There is a tag for here on the blog if you want to go see what that is.  In any case, it was there where I learned that Scott was one of those guys who was willing to turn himself inside out a bit more than the rest of us.  And I began to learn of his singular laser focus on that hill to the south - Pikes.

As part of his speech as he was inducted, Scott read a stanza from a Cerutty poem.
"Running: running: hear the beat!
Busting lungs and pounding feet.
Straining: gaining: 'til your done:
Or you have the race well-won.
Racing: Pacing: rather die:
Than give up or let them by.

It was great to see Scott recognized for his accomplishments.  Eight wins at any race is amazing.  Eight on that beast of a hill, over a span of 17 years is an incredible accomplishment.

4 in the AM with Greg, 6.3 a bit later in the AM solo.

Monday 15APR2019

Afternoon - 10 miles.  Nothing to see here.

Weekend-14APR2019

Butt kicker of a weekend.  I sort of felt like I was dragging through most of it.  Woke up Saturday morning and it had snowed again – winter was not dead yet.  Got the kids through an easy practice ..

 
… and then got out for an easy ten.  Mostly was trying to get back on the good habit train,

We got Jack and AJ down here to spend some time at Mayhoffer.  JZ walked Jack at the processional for Palm Sunday at Lutheran Church of Hope.  The boys all seemed to be doing well at the meadow later in the day.


Sunday afternoon I squeezed in 7.1 with a couple of handfuls of 200s.  They were not pretty as I felt tired, slow and sluggish.  The wind that came up certainly did not help.

Ty from the band (caught them Friday night at Mother Tuckers) got me turned on this.  It is amazing.

Fried-ay 12APR2019

Back in CO but spent.  Tired and I think I am actually a bit sore from sitting down so much from the last two days (planes and offices).  Added to the beat legs with a track meet today.  I contemplated taking a day off but the dogs needed a jog anyway.  3 very easy miles. 

Thursday 11APR2019

4 and change to start a long grinding day.  Definitely feeling the second day wake up blues here this AM but managed ok.

Wednesday 11APR2019

After a day of this …

I got on this…


So that I could check this out …

I still dig it.  Every time.

Then I headed back out to where I was at. 

Tuesday 09APR2019

Traveled to IAD, then over to McLean VA for a work day.  This was followed by a wonderful work related dinner.  After a day where I was up before dawn, and not done until after dark with a full belly it was easy to throw in the towel and not run ...

... but I managed to get out and get in 6.1.  Admittedly, warmer temps and some regular sidewalks that were fairly well lit made this much easier (I considered how I may have wimped on it had the warm breeze that was blowing was some 30 degrees colder and if things were iced over).  Slight disciplinary victory for the day to keep the groove going...

Monday 09APR2019

The groove is good, so I'll see if I can keep it rolling.  I'll travel this week so that might throw in a wrinkle or two, but I ought to be able to manage it. 

The groove, or the path, or whatever ... good training begets good training.  I'll try to keep the groove here for a bit.  

AM - 5 miles along the ditch with GW.
PM - 5.2 miles with 8 x 150 hard strides (about 26 for me, which is a little better than 70 pace).  Tired, but good to spin the wheels.

Off to the east coast tomorrow.

Weekend 06-07APR2019

Saturday - AM - 10 something miles, 8 of those with the track team.  Super easy.  Even though I didn't run much the day before, I felt pretty tapped from the track meet.

Sunday mid AM - 12 miles.  Gorgeous day, cruising around getting the vitamin D.  Legs never felt great but I moved all right.  Bounced around down past the hospital, back along Coal Creek and then back up Lac Amora.  Started unhydrated so I felt that a bit but managed well enough. 

The week of running was good.  I got in two runs that had some sort of quality in them, got my first seventy mile week on the calendar year, and had a couple of runs longer than 10 miles.  Definitely not a complete or perfect week but a good one for me. 

Thursday 04APR2019

13 miles. 9 before practice, with 6 x 3 minutes on, 2 minutes off.  Then four more with Greg at practice.  Ended up averaging about 7:30 pace.  Post run, I could had not done middle length longer runs like this (and so that indicates a need to start doing more of those).

Wednesday 03APR2019

AM – back out pre-dawn with Greg for 4.8 easy miles.  Started at 8:35 pace but moved down to sub 8 by the last part.

A few more in the afternoon before the JV meet at the high school.

Monday 02APR2019

Got out with Syd and Greg pre-dawn to get her through a “icing on top” workout for her upcoming Boston Marathon.  6.2 miles, with some low to mid six work.  These are not high end taxing for me, but it is quite a wake up at this hour for the old man. 

Afternoon – an easy five through Lac Amora with Greg. 

Monday 01APR2019

PM – 7.2 miles around the team’s workout.