2013 Training Log – Week 41
For the first time in many years, I’m mostly injury-free in the off season. Other than some perpetual calf tightness in my right leg, I’m feeling better than I have in quite a while. Training is going well and I intend to keep it that way. I’ve missed doing weekly training updates on my blog because it is a great way for me to reflect on things at a little higher level vs. just one day at a time.
I’m not following any plan right now, just running how I feel and finally mixing in some solid bike efforts like I have been meaning to do for a very long time. Feeling optimistic about 2014 and ready to put in the work to make it my best year yet.
Monday – 7 run
Rare weeknight run from home. Was going to head up to state park visitor center, but the gates closed 6pm so headed back and did a loop of west village. Pushed for sub-8 pace and felt pretty good doing it despite a good bit of climbing.
Tuesday – 7 run
Steady lunch run.
Wednesday – 31 bike
Dropped the kids off for school and pointed the car west to Moab. The family was gathering for the weekend, and I was going two days early to get some quality dirt time.
Checked in at KOA and headed up to ride Porcupine Rim. A long-time favorite that I had not been on in this century.
I packed an extra 64oz of water, 2 cokes, and some other stuff to leave as a cache for the run I was planning on doing the next day. My pack was huge and heavy, but the bike responded well and I made short work of the long grind out of town.
When I made it to the high point of my ride, I found a place to stash my loot and made a stick arrow just off the side of the trail so I wouldn’t forget where I had hidden it.
Thursday – 24 run
Started raining at midnight and was super soggy all morning. I waited it out for a while and then ran the Porcupine Rim trail up from the Colorado River.
Nice little aid station at the top…
Friday – 66 bike
Met up with my brother and a couple of friends to spend the day riding all over the place. Our original White Rim plan had to be scrapped due to the park closures as a result of the gov’t shutdown. Those guys were bike fit and I struggled all day hanging off the back, despite putting in a big effort. Fun day, though – and glad we were able to do it.
Saturday – 7 run, 3 hike
Heard the parks had opened due to a last-minute deal with the Utah governor sending a $1.7 million dollar wire to Washington to buy 10 day’s worth of operation for the 5 National Parks in Utah. I got up early and ran from our hotel in town to the entrance of Arches via the nice bike path. My legs were tired, but responded better than I thought they would.
The park was open and we ended up spending the whole day there hiking around and seeing the sights.
Sunday – 0
No run. Headed back to Arches with family and had another great day checking out the park.
Total – 48 run, 97 bike, 19:11
Posted on October 20, 2013, in photography, run, training. Bookmark the permalink. 6 Comments.
The Scene Begins 
Your shot at Arches could be in a USFS brochure. And what a fantastic place.
Re: calf tightness and being injury-free. I hear you. It takes a lot of focus — i.e. stretching, rolling and care — to keep my legs from falling apart, and I don’t do anything nearly as intense as guys who race. I’m just a long-distance fitness runner with a photography problem. Yet, my calves must be just powerful enough to stress out the tendons when I let my guard down for a split second. I’m grateful to be injury-free for most of the year.
The shot of Double Arch did turn out pretty nice. It was mid-day, so the light was harsh, but I created it with a 6 shot panorama (camera held vertically). I get really good results with this technique.
I’m still not doing any stretching/rolling, but I think getting some intense efforts on the bike is doing a lot of good for the calves. Not just riding, but really digging deep for a long time. Helps to break through all of the crap that has been building up for a long time.
That was a big 3 days in Moab! Let’s get together this winter for some weekend long/slow ones, eh?
Hey, Jim. I made the most of the time I had, that’s for sure! I’m definitely up for some running over the winter – let’s do it.
You’re just gonna skip right on by the Leadville race report aren’t you. AREN’T YOU!!!!!!!1!!!!1!1 It’s like it never happened. Awesome pics here though. And Happy Birthday the other day by the way. Finally, what races are you looking at for 2014?
What’s Leadville??