Week 31 - Winter is Here!

It looks like winter is finally here. Max and I started our run Saturday at -2 degrees Fahrenheit (-19 C). I thought we’d cut it short or at least after a short distance bring Max back. I was afraid he would get frostbite on his feet. He did fine and we ended up running 18+ miles finishing in a balmy +9 degrees F. 

Sub Zero Temps? No Problem!

I find animals amazing. For example a dog can go from a nice warm 65 degrees in the house, and without changing clothes, run outside like nothing is different. I don’t get it. They must have an amazing thermal regulator. When you think about it, the animals that live outside; deer, coyote, rabbits, mountain lions etc. can deal with all weather conditions without air conditioning, heating units, or extra clothes. In Colorado Springs we can have temps as high as the 100s in the summer and well below zero in the winter and they deal with it. What I really find fascinating how a dog can go from a warm house immediately to sub-zero temperatures and it doesn’t seem to faze him. I guess I'm easily fascinated...

Checking out the Frozen Monument Creek

Training is going well despite the cold; actually I’ve been enjoying it, at least running. I’ve sort of wimped out on the bike and spent some time on the trainer. With a four day weekend I didn’t have the need to ride to work on Thursday and Friday and I didn’t really want to deal with the ice and ton of clothing necessary to ride in cold weather. When it comes to icy and cold weather one can actually get a better workout on the trainer. I also discovered podcasts which really takes the boredom out riding one spot in the basement. I find particularly interesting Rich Roll’s podcast and highly recommend it. Rich is an amazing guy with an amazing story for which he wrote a book "Finding Ultra: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World's Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself" that I also highly recommend.

Wimping Out in the Basement
(but listening to some great pod-casts)

So this week’s training was more of the same, nothing sexy. And that is pretty much what training is, just consistent plugging away, getting the right combination of quality and quantity, and sticking with it. Even this far out from the Burning River 100 I’m super psyched and motivated. We should be getting the donation site up soon for the Children’s Hospital Cancer organization that Ben chose. Again I’m super psyched and I hope this really works out to help a lot of kids and their families going through a really rough time.

Even after 18 Miles the first thing Max does is chase the squirrels out of the yard then wants to play ball

This Week’s Training:

Mon:

·         AM: Ride to Work (7.2 Miles)

·         PM: Ride to Gym from work (10.3 Miles), Gym Workout

Tue:

·         AM: Run (8.2 Miles), Ride to Work (8.7 Miles)

·         PM: Ride Home (8.8 Miles)

Wed:

·         AM: Run (6.6 Miles), Ride to Work/Trainer Ride (27.3 Miles)

·         PM: Ride Home (7.4 Miles)

Thu:

·         AM: Run (10.7 Miles), Trainer Ride (36.4 Miles)

Fri:

·         AM: Trainer Ride (20 Miles)

Sat:

·         AM: Run (18.4 Miles)

·         PM: Gym Workout, Trainer Ride (22.4 Miles)

Sun:

·         AM: run (10 Miles), Trainer Ride (38 Miles)

Total: 223 Miles (Bike 169, Run 54)

Week 32: Running with the Dogs!

Remember Primus? Primus is the dog my son, Jesse rescued from Afghanistan in 2011. When Jesse is out of town we get to keep him and he’s always a pleasure to have. Him and Max get along great and Primus loves to run… to a point. I think right now 8 – 10 miles is his limit, but with a longer stayd we could extend that. So this week and next week it is Running with the Dogs. Who knows maybe Primus will have his long wish granted on Saturday; Run with CRUD.

Running with Max and Primus
(Check out Primus's story by clicking his name above)

Training is going very well. The five day a week running format seems to be working fabulously. Believe me there are mornings when the alarm goes off at 4:00 am and its 15 degrees F. out that I contemplate staying in bed for another couple hours. But then I think of why I’m doing this and how no matter what, I have to cross that finish line with Ben running at my side in July. Staying in bed will not get me there, and I do not want to disappoint Ben, the kids we will be raising money for, or myself. So I get out of bed, and once running, everything is awesome. Like doing anything else in life, take that first step no matter how hard, and everything else falls into place.

Max Enjoying an 18 Mile Trail Run

Checking out the Ute Park Christmas Tree

Merry Christmas!

This Week’s Training:

Mon:

·         AM: Ride to Work (8.7 Miles)

·         PM: Ride Home (7.7 Miles)

Tue:

·         AM: Run (10.5 Miles), Ride to Work (8.7 Miles)

·         PM: Ride Home (8.8 Miles)

Wed:

·         AM: Run (5.8 Miles), Ride to Work (8.7 Miles)

·         PM: Ride from Work to Gym (10.4 Miles), Strength Workout

Thu:

·         AM: Run (10.5 Miles), Long Ride to Work (25.5 Miles)

·         PM: Ride Home (7.7 Miles)

Fri:

·         AM: Ride to work (9.2 Miles)

·         PM: Longer Ride Home (22.6 Miles)

Sat:

·         AM: Run (18.3 Miles)

Sun:

·         AM: run (10.1 Miles)

Total: 173.5 Miles (Bike 117.5, Run 55.7)

Week 33: Running with an Old Mountain Biking Friend

This week I had the opportunity to hook up with a friend from many years back and introduce him to running with the CRUD. Mark was among the first mountain bikers I met when we moved to Colorado Springs from Germany over 20 years ago. He is responsible for getting me involved in mountain bike racing in Colorado and arranged for my first sponsorship and pro-deal on a bike; a Schwinn Homegrown, a top of the line bike at the time. Ironically we ran the newly constructed Iron Mountain Trail that crosses over the former property of the “Troll on the Hill”. We were chased off that mountain by the “Troll” himself 18 years ago. Although the Troll is long gone not much has changed with Mark; he still leaves me in his dust, only now it’s running instead of mountain bikes.

Long Time Friend from Early Mountain Biking Days - Mark Tatum

This week’s training was pretty easy. I was kind of dragging Monday morning, so I took Monday off and skipped a day at the gym to let the batteries recharge. With semester final exams, final papers and final presentation due, this was a good week to back off from training. I continued to feel a bit worn out through mid-week so I continued to keep the runs and rides easy and to a minimum but started feeling energetic again by the weekend. Saturday’s CRUD run was 18 miles and a bit of a shock to the system.  Typical of a CRUD run, we did a ton of climbing (4,472 ft) and descending (4.452 ft), which I haven’t been doing. My legs got tired from all the climbing and beat up from all the descending. But also typical of CRUD, everyone is so awesome and fun to be with that no matter how hard it is, it's fun. Plus I got the extra bonus of running with a long-time friend.

Heading up the new Ute Trail

It's steeper than it looks!

New Overlook off the Ute Pipeline Trail

Long's Ranch Road - Climb from 7,290 ft to 9,111 ft in 2 miles
Max gives me that disgusted look as I start falling behind

Mark & Max checking out the Ruins from the Experimental Forest

What today's ruins used to look like

This Week’s Training:

Mon:

·         Day off from training

Tue:

·         AM: Run (8.5 Miles), Ride to Work (8.5 Miles)

·         PM: Ride Home (7.7 Miles)

Wed:

·         AM: Run (5.8 Miles), Ride to Work (8.7 Miles)

·         PM: Ride Home (7.9 Miles)

Thu:

·         AM: Run (8 Miles), Ride to Work (8.7 Miles)

·         PM: Ride Home (7.7 Miles)

Fri:

·         AM: Ride to work (8.7 Miles)

·         PM: Ride Home (7.7 Miles)

Sat:

·         AM: CRUD Run (17.9 Miles)

Sun:

·         AM: run (8 Miles)

·         PM: Road Bike (30 Miles)

Total: 149 Miles (Bike 101, Run 48)

Week 34 - Running with the CRUD

Coloradans Running Ultra Distances that is. One of the great things about training for an Ultra is running with CRUD. This is such a great group and every run is a fun little adventure. And  some of the runs especially if Steve Bremner is along can turn into fun BIG adventures. 

Cap'n Jacks Trail with CRUD

The first time I decided to run a 100 mile race I sought out a group of runners that could help, motivate, and teach me how to take on such an endeavor. I found CRUD and they are the greatest group of runners that can be found anywhere. It was running with CRUD along with their ton of advice and support that got me to the finish line. When it comes to ultras, running is only a small part of the equation. Nutrition, logistics, crew, pacers, what to take, what not to take, how to train, how to start, and most important, the mental aspect, are all factors in running 100 miles. Hooking up with a group like CRUD greatly enhances one’s chance for success. Also training with such awesome people helps to make the whole journey a lot more fun. So naturally after I signed up to run The Burning River I’m back to running with the CRUD!

An Awesome Group to Run with!
Photo by Steve Bremner

As far as training goes, I’m still just preparing to train; hanging around in the 40 – 50 mile range, with the normal amount of cycling and some strength training thrown in. I don’t really think it is a good idea to begin training in earnest until February, about six months out from the race. In the meantime, my goal is to keep generally fit through the holidays and have a good foundation to begin serious training in February.

This Week’s Training:

Mon:

·         AM: Ride to work (8.7 Miles)

·         PM: Ride Home (8.5 Miles

Tue:

·         AM: Run (8.3 Miles), Ride to Work (8.7 Miles)

·         PM: Ride Home (7.7 Miles)

Wed:

·         AM: Run (6.6 Miles), Ride to Work (8.5 Miles)

·         PM: Ride from Work to Gym (10.7 Miles), Strength Workout

Thu:

·         AM: Run (9.2 Miles), Ride to Work (8.5 Miles)

·         PM: Ride Home (7.7 Miles)

Fri:

·         AM: Ride to work (8.7 Miles)

·         PM: Ride Home (7.7 Miles)

Sat:

·         AM: Run (15.8 Miles)

·         PM: Road Bike (25 Miles)

Sun:

·         AM: run (6.1 Miles)

·         PM: Mountain Bike (29 Miles)

Total - 186 Miles: Run - 46 miles, Bike 139 miles,