The Scene Begins

This week was killer, I’m glad it’s over.  Work was crazy and it was all I could do to hold things together.  Everything felt a little off for the most part, like I was fighting off a cold the whole time.  I cut 4 of the 5 runs shorter than planned.  Thankfully, no serious symptoms developed.

It took me two months, but I finally got my Leadville report written.  Glad to get that one out of the way – it is such a hot topic that I could never really nail down what I wanted to say, so I just ignored it for a long time.  Now I’m working on reports for a great night-time 10k trail race in IL, a do-it-yourself 50 mile trail race, and my very first gravel grinder.  Fun mix of events!

Monday – 7.6 run

Attempting to get 1,000′ of climbing on a lunch run in the Tech Center.  No easy task.  Did laps on ~100′ hill and ended up with about 730′.  Cut the run a little short due to some strange but intense quad pain.

Tuesday – 0

Slammed with work all day/night.

Wednesday – 11.6 run, 3 run

Sort of a decent run.  Heart rate was jacked (from being a little sick, I think).  Maxed out at 181, usually have a hard time seeing low 170 range.  Super nice fall day, though.  Love the blue sky and yellow leaves.

Got out in the evening for a small lap around the neighborhood.

Thursday – 33.1 bike

Steady ride around Cherry Creek.  I like riding the knobby-tires/MTB on the roads for this kind of stuff, makes for a good workout.

Friday – 7.1 run

Another hill run in the Tech Center.  700′.

Saturday – 12.2 run

Up early, out the door in the cold and dark. I usually feel pretty rough for the first few miles of an early run like this, but didn’t have much of a problem today. I was mostly happy just to get up and get out at all after such a tough week. Planned to do some climbing up Goat Peak and did a small loop through Chatfield while I was waiting for the sky to lighten up a little.

This is just a scrubby, often nasty ridge above Waterton Canyon.  Most of the time it is ugly, but capture it in the right light and it becomes postcard material.

Got about 1/3 of the way up the climb and (even though I was going for a Strava segment CR) stopped for a quick photo of the alpenglow lighting up the peak.  As I did, I noticed a hunter dressed in blaze orange up on the ridge – directly in my path.

I didn’t want to cause any grief, so I just turned around.  I did another half-hearted attempt at a repeat climb to my high point, but didn’t even make it that far before bagging the run and heading home.  Wanting more, but happy with what I was able to do.

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Meanwhile, 50 yards from the parking lot…

Sunday – 0

Worked the AM then made RT to Leadville.

Total – 42 run, 33 bike, 8:36

The week started off well, then fell apart.  Stress levels were at an 11 for most of the week, but I kept up with training despite that.  Until Friday when my body just had enough.  I decided to take the weekend off from training as I have been working fairly hard for the past month, especially with the added load of mixing the bike in.

Should have a few things cleared off my plate after this week is over so I can get back to a better schedule, and I finally started working on my Leadville 100 report.

Monday – 13.3 run

Great run. Unexpectedly good. Started off with an 8:30 then very gradually chipped the average down to 7:55. Wouldn’t say it was easy, but felt very controlled. The lack of tension in my legs was big time noticeable. The big ride on Saturday loosened them up nicely. My stride felt really smooth, I wasn’t bracing for impact – just spinning along and creating forward motion. Breathing was good, too.

Tuesday – 24.3 bike

Steady effort.

Wednesday – 7.5 run

Good cruiser. Starting to notice these types of runs are ending up in the 7-range more and more.

Thursday – 21.3 bike

Got my first Strava KOM on the bike.

Friday – 5 run

Body said ‘nope’.  Turned back early.

Saturday – 0

Kids went to a neighborhood Halloween party.  Lumpy the Heffalump, Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, and little Eeyore.

Sunday – 0

Rest day.

Total – 26 run, 46 bike, 6:37

Moderate week with a couple of up-tempo running efforts.  Then I survived my first bike race/event in 4.5 years on Saturday.  Awesome.

Monday – 10 run

I love the opening mile of the road going into Arches National Park.  I’ve always wanted to run it, but it’s not very practical with the traffic.  Fixed that little problem today by getting up at dark:thirty and running from our hotel to the park, then continuing up the road.  Running that in the dark by the light of a headlamp and having the place to myself was so cool.  Definitely a memorable run.

Tuesday – 7 run

Much better than expected coming straight off big Moab trip. Still long way to go, though. Some parts were dialed and smooth, others were choppy and floundering.

Wednesday – 4 run

That sucked.

Thursday – 17 bike

Mostly used ride to test following a course I loaded into my Garmin.  Knowing how to do this will be key for the race on Saturday.

Friday – 8 run

Pushed things a bit for a 2.5 mile section in the middle.  First time I have run multiple miles in the 6 range in a long time.  Slowly working back into it.

Saturday – 46 bike

Greenland Gravel Grinder.  Thanks to spotting a heads-up from JT, I was able to try a grinder for the first time, something I have been wanting to do for at least 5 years.  Decent runner turnout, good to see Shad and Donnie as well.

I’ll write a report later, but the short version is I loved it and can’t wait to do it again.

Credit: RidingGravel.com

Sunday – 0

Birthday.  Halfway to 88.

Total – 29 run, 63 bike, 8:14