Monthly Archives: November 2013

Stoned in Long Sleeves

29 Friday Nov 2013

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finisher photoStarted out today’s run at 9am, a bit earlier than my other vacation day jaunts.  Less IBM email to process the morning after Thanksgiving.  Mostly Europe and AP.  Only ran 6 yesterday because the recent surge in miles is straining my left knee.  I was thinking 12 today to chase after that 10 mile per day average.

It was a comfortable 45° and I pocketed my cap and gloves shortly after 2 miles.  Before 3 miles I tugged the long sleeves of my T-shirt up over my forearms.  I was wearing the crimson red shirt from the Durango Ultra I ran with Rob in October’s high country fall foliage.  It occurred to me I absolutely love wearing long sleeved T-shirts.  They exude the essence of my Colorado runner’s lifestyle.

I thought back to a girl I dated in college.  I picked her up wearing my Chilympiad long-sleeved 10K race jersey tucked into faded jeans without a belt.  I was actually into her roommate Karen, but she was out of town for winter break and suggested I take Carol out to dinner.  The first words out of Carol’s mouth when she opened the door were, “Oh, I love a guy wearing a long-sleeved T-shirt.”  Texas Co-ed classy.  I recall we had a fun dinner at Grins.  Carol would begin singing Beatle’s songs at random moments in any conversation.  I remember her goodnight kiss to my lips when I dropped her off back at her apartment.  A bit scandalous but I never told her roommate.  What co-ed could resist a trim NCAA athlete, with blonde Tom Petty bangs, wearing a long-sleeved t-shirt.  That night might have cemented my affection for these sporty shirts.

It wasn’t not only the shirt pulling up long-forgotten memories.  It was the perfection of this run.  The dichotomy of the warm Colorado sun cutting through the cool, late November air.  My view headed west on Ogallala Road of the milky white, frosted mountain peaks of the Continental Divide.  From this trail, I could look down at heaven.  Less than 3 miles into my run and I was already deep into the runner’s high.  My blissful condition held for the next 11 miles.  Every other runner, biker, and dog-walker that I encounter smiled at me.  No doubt in response to my face beaming broadly.  I completed 14 miles at an 8 minute pace.

I can’t imagine the day getting better.  Except the family is home for the holidays.  Music is in the air with Brit playing piano and singing with Ellie all week long.  Being a house of girls, they are currently watching the Hallmark channel with Karen in the family room.  I’m sitting in my office now watching college football.  Iowa is beating Nebraska.  I could almost squeal in delight.  How’s your day going?

Fifty in Five

26 Tuesday Nov 2013

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kickTrue to plan, I just ran for the 5th consecutive day while on vacation.  Ten miles per day.  Actually 8 the first day but I squeezed in 12 today.  Having tapered for the prior two weeks, I’m a bit sore but my pace seems on par.  Today was the strongest with an 8 minute per mile pace.  I expect to run another long one tomorrow and am considering maintaining this routine until I return to work Monday.  That will be a hundred miles in ten days.

This photo is in the final block or two of the Denver Marathon last month.  I need to maintain my mileage because I’ve registered for the Austin Marathon in February.  When you have a marathon on your calendar, the date has a way of creeping up on you.  The last time I ran the Austin Marathon, my winter training consisted of 3 and 4 mile runs.  Not making that mistake again.

Open Trail

24 Sunday Nov 2013

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KeithNo big event this weekend but at least I’m running again.  Just went a second week without running, except for the weekend.  I’m over my cold but was too busy this week.  Working from dark to dark doesn’t leave much time for running.  I’ve yet to begin my plan to run shorter distances over lunch.  I’m off next week for Thanksgiving though.  I plan to get in some miles.

I got in 8 miles Friday since I had the day off and 10 Saturday.  I ran another 10 miles this morning with Keith and Jen on the Picture Rock Trail – finally open again after the September floods.  We ran fairly slow due to some dangerous mud in spots.  Running slow on the Picture Rock Trail though doesn’t necessarily make it a low intensity workout.  Five non-stop miles up have a way of challenging your heart.  I’ve had some pretty fun runs on this trail where I race down but not today.  The footing was way too dangerous.

JenThis was my first drive through Lyons, since the flood, on the way to the trail head.  Jen, owning an insurance firm, told us stories of some  of the destruction during the drive.  She pointed out houses that became house boats.  Lyons had such a nice parkway along the river that is totally gone now.  A real shame.  Massive construction looks under way though.  Hope the best for them.

Cross Country

17 Sunday Nov 2013

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FinishNot running all week due to a cold takes some of the excitement out of this event for me.  But then I thought the same way about last weekend’s Turkey Trot 10K and I ended up running fairly well.  It’s not like I need to run fast to enjoy this cross country 6K race.  This is my first cross country event in 30 years.  Coming in last place won’t take away the fantasy of reliving my youth.  Simply smelling the earthy grass takes me back.  Those high school meets racing against Killeen’s Carlos Quiñones.  Those intense mile interval workouts along the San Marcos River in college.  Six mile repeats averaging a 4:30 pace.  Despite the downer of thinking I’m not 100%, I feel like a kid again!   I did run 7 miles yesterday at an 8.5 minute per mile pace.  Felt so good to run again.  I’m not worried that I fell out of shape.  You can’t in a week.  The callouses on my feet aren’t any thinner.  It is possible I lost some racing edge but simply being here running a cross country race at any pace is priceless.  This is going to be a good day.

Unlike a road race where everyone launches together, the women start first at 9am.  I see Caolan MacMahon, aka the Chronic Runner.  She’s about my age and a badass.  I passed her in a half marathon a year or so ago right at the finish line.  From the subsequent email exchange where I let her download the race pics of us finishing together, I got the impression she thinks I’m a douche bag for passing her like that.  She’s leading her team of 50 year olds named Women Who Run the World.  I see Melody Fairchild, local star runner and coach.  Wasn’t too long ago she was setting national records at Boulder HS.  This park is quite literally her backyard, under the shadow of the flatirons.  She finishes top ten and wins the individual award in the masters division.

They call us guys to the line for a 10am start.  I queue up near the middle of the pack where I notice a clear division between 20 year olds and 50 year olds.  This will be a fast start and I don’t want to be in front of the stampede.  Despite the 39° starting temperature and 16 mph wind, few in front of me are wearing tights.  The guys behind are dressed more for comfort with gloves and tights.  I pocketed my gloves but am wearing black Under Armour tights and a white Under Armour, long sleeve, compression-fit turtleneck top.  The wind is gusting well over 30 mph which can make the air feel well below freezing.  There’s a pack of kids lined up in front of me who look like they might be in grade school.  I’ve already accepted that I’m going to be seriously smoked by some of these older kids.  The millennials who wear their sister’s pink fleece pajama bottoms for warmups.  My new goal for this race is to not get passed by any of them during the 3 laps.  I wonder if I should be concerned over these little ankle biters.  Surveying the field of runners lined up in front of me, I think back to my registration form.  Did it ask me my age, or what grade I’m in?

We start and I settle into a pace that is pushing myself yet feels sustainable.  My first mile is at a 7:20 pace.  Slower than my typical 10K pace but I don’t expect to run as fast on the grass.  Those little ankle biters swarm around me during this first loop.  Their team is the Boulder Warriors, managed by Melody Fairchild.  Ellie read the Warrior series in grade school so that confirms their age.  They come with a huge cheering squad along the course which I’m quick to co-opt.  Still, these pint-sized harriers annoy me because they can’t run a straight line.  I endeavor to surge ahead of them.  About half their team end up beating me.  They cut a sharper turn around trees because they can duck under the low-hanging branches.  They sprint down hills immediately after cresting them while my legs are still considering recovery from the fatigue of the climb.

50 yr old teamI maintain close to the same pace on the second loop but a few runners catch me.  I fail in my goal to not get passed by the leaders as two of them pass me within 10 seconds of the finish line.  This is not the time to let negativity creep in though, I have another loop to complete.  I don’t put on a kick necessarily but I run this final loop faster than the second.  I finish in 29:07 for a 7:38 pace.  I’m happy with my effort and want to do this again.  It would be fun to field a team.  This pic is of the 50 year old men’s team, Revolution Running, that won.  I think a couple of them beat me but I know my neighbors would be competitive.  The next race is in January.  This series leads up to the U.S. National Cross Country Championships in Boulder in February.

Cyclocross

10 Sunday Nov 2013

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katie clouseWatched my first cyclocross today.  Missed Gadget Girl in her inaugural ride in the sport this morning but went later in the afternoon to see the Pro division.  This picture is of 12 year old Katie Clouse who took 2nd place among these elite women riders.  We cheered for Gadget Girl’s friend Kristin Weber who took 4th place in the elite race.

IMG_3061 - Version 2Kristin is fighting for 3rd place wearing black in this picture.  Both the race for 2nd and race for 3rd were awesome spectacles.  It had me reminiscing about my race Saturday.  I had two separate races in the Longmont Turkey Trot.  I passed a lady in the 2nd mile who came back to try retaking me throughout the third, fourth and fifth miles.  I let her surge ahead on the sixth mile to cool down, but it felt good fending her off for three miles.  Then I put on a kick, which I rarely do, to pass a guy in the final 100 meters who appeared to be in my age division.  With 50 meters to go, he passed me back.  Sonofagun!  With 25 meters remaining I found a new gear and surged passed him before crossing the line.  I discovered later in the results that we actually tied with the same chip time.  And he is ten years younger than me.  Sweet.

Longmont Turkey Trot 2013

09 Saturday Nov 2013

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DaveI know what you’re thinking.  The Thanksgiving Turkey Trot seems to come earlier and earlier every year.  That’s okay because Longmont had some nice weather for today’s turkey trot – 45° with a 4 mph wind.  I saw half my neighbors on the course this morning.  Jabe and Eve, Fran, Barb, Kathleen, Jen and the Sebesta family.  Lindsey was stylish in her matching set of black Under Armour running tights and turtle neck top.  This pic captures her dad Dave crossing the finish line.

I didn’t know what to expect running with a cold.  Initially I had hopes of running under a 7 minute pace but gave up on that idea.  I decided a couple of times this morning to skip the run but finally decided if I’m going to be miserable, I might as well be running.  Running with a cold might not be advisable medically speaking, but I felt like some deep breathing might help my lungs and sinuses.  That’s how a runner thinks.

I didn’t bother warming up since I didn’t plan to push my pace.  I was surprised to see my Garmin display a 7:04 for my first mile.  I felt pretty good.  I ran the second mile in 7:11 and third mile in 7:13.  By then I knew I would likely hold this pace because I was feeling comfortable.  The cold wasn’t much of a factor.  A lady, who at first I thought was Beth Risden because I met her and her husband Ken before the run, caught up to me and started racing me.  Click on the link to read about Beth’s recent IronMan triathlon.  This lady, who I learn later is Katie Hegg, looked like Beth so I thought I would mess with her by not letting her pass me.  I ran the fourth mile in 6:53 and the fifth mile in 7:07.  This really is a decent pace for me so I’m pleased.  Katie surged on me in the final mile and I let her go.  The cold might have taken the edge off my racing mentality.  I felt like cooling down and finished with a 7:23 mile.  I did put on a bit of a kick which felt good.  My final time was 44:39.  Not bad for running under the weather.  Katie won her age division in 44:27.  The results are posted here.

ParkI’m happy with my form in this pic – taken in Washington Park at 17 miles into the Denver Marathon.  Good to see my toes are pointed down.  I recall fatigue setting in around this point and beginning to focus on form.  That’s what I did today.  I focused on form, on keeping my toes pointed down and arms at a good angle moving forward.  I didn’t start breathing hard until I started racing Katie with a sub 7 minute mile.  I’m glad I got outside today.  I’ll be ensconced on the couch for the remainder of the day watching college football.  I love November.

Left Hand Trail

02 Saturday Nov 2013

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jen and keithI thought twice about running this morning.  The plan was to run with my neighbors at 8am.  It was 33° at 8am and I was still sipping coffee and reading the Journal.  Steve changed his plans to 1pm.  It would be 61° by that time.  Then Jen and Keith pushed their target out to 9am.  I can do 9.  Plus, this week is going to feel like winter so best to start getting acclimated.

Turns out my reluctance was silly.  Even this early, the weather was perfect for running.  Temps in the 30s with full sun and no wind in Colorado can be gorgeous.  Today it was.  I kept my tights on but didn’t really need them.  I left my jacket in the car though.  Good call.  I didn’t need my gloves either. We launched from the Eagle Trailhead and turned on to the Left Hand Trail a mile and a half later where the Sage Trail reaches the Boulder Valley Trailhead.  That’s where we took this first picture.  Left Hand Trail leads mostly north to Neva Road.  We turned back around at the Left Hand Trailhead for a 9 mile run.  Really beautiful day.

jenNot sure what you’ve been doing since my 2013 racing schedule completed a couple of weeks ago, but I’ve been planning my winter running plans. The Longmont Turkey Trot 10K is just a week away.  I haven’t registered yet but this is in my backyard.  I’m obligated to show up to compete for my age group.  The following weekend is a 5K in Denver that Ellie and Karen said they are interested in.  I’m going to wait a bit to make sure they are committed before registering for that one.  The same weekend is a Cross Country 6K in Boulder.  I’m waiting to see if I can form a team before registering for that event but am fairly certain I’ll do it regardless.  The final race of the year might be the ColderBolder 5K across the CU Campus.  I did sign up for this already.  I ran it last year and got a cool ski hat.  Last year my neighborhood ran another 5K on the same day – I ran both.  Have yet to hear if it’s on this year.

  • Longmont Turkey Trot 10K – Sat Nov 9th
  • City Park 5K – Nov 16
  • Cross Country Run – Nov 17th
  • ColderBolder – Dec 7th
  • Yeti Chase 5K/10K – Jan 26
  • Ralston Creek Half – Feb 9th
  • Austin Marathon – Feb 17th

My friends are thinking of two winter runs to start the new year.  A 10K in January and a half marathon in February.  I have to think about these.  I’ll likely run the Yeti Chase in January – weather permitting.  I’ve already registered for the Austin Marathon in February and expect to be down there all month so will likely miss the Ralston Creek Half Marathon.  I don’t intend to focus my training on any of these winter events other than to keep up my distance to be prepared for the Austin Marathon.  That can be tough once DST ends tomorrow with shorter days, but that’s why I set myself a target marathon.  Motivation.