Off Days

19 Sunday Apr 2015

Tags

Austin Marathon, Bolder Boulder, LoBo Trail, UT Alumni Center

Can’t be on every day. Not every race runs to plan and not every workout is spectacular. The trick is to not let the bad performances get you down. This is one of the lessons of sports. You have to lose to learn how to win. I felt heavy all weekend, both on my 15 miler yesterday and my 8 miler today. I can’t point to anything. My legs were heavy and my attitude sort of blah. About like I felt here in front of the UT Alumni Center at 25 miles into the Austin Marathon, running one of my slowest miles of the race. But not all miles were like this and it was a good race overall. Looking forward to next week.

I need strong motivation to work speed drills into my workouts. It’s not easy running fast solo. I should maybe consider running with a team. I won’t because I don’t want to work with other people’s schedules, but I’m aware of the benefits. I’ve been adding some fartleks into my daily runs and I like running fast. Unless I’m feeling strong and quick though, I skip the speed workout. Sluggish and speed don’t go well together.

I’m working on speed to prepare for the Bolder Boulder. For some reason my race plan is to beat myself – my time 26 years ago. That race is too competitive to think I can medal in my age division so I’ve contrived my own personal two man race – me against me. My muscles need to re-learn how to run fast though. And I need to work on my cardio for those hills. The snow and rain made my hilly trails too muddy this weekend so I ran the Lobo Trail, which is almost perfectly flat.

A young girl passed me after five miles yesterday and made me realize I’d slowed down for no good reason. I chased after her for the next mile because she wasn’t running a pace beyond my limits. Once she noticed me though she sped up and I lost her. That was arguably a bit early to start racing in a 15 mile run, but it suggests my sluggishness was mental. Today, despite starting out super slow I did in fact loosen up a bit and got in a few faster miles. But then, for whatever slacker reason I quit a quarter mile short and walked in. This weekend was a waste but there are five more weeks. Training starts for reals tomorrow.

NANOspikes

12 Monday Jan 2015

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Running

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Tags

frozen, glassade, Kahtoola, LoBo Trail, REI

I beat the ice today. Probably for the season. My Yaktrax were fine but they disintegrated after a single season. Plus they tended to accumulate clumps of fresh snow. Yaktrax has since improved their design to include a spike plate similar to these Kahtoola NANOspikes, but only under the forefoot. I imagine the rear coils still pick up wads of snow.

Today was yet another frozen ice capade. I was considering the elliptical but then the package from REI showed up on my front porch. I placed the order for these puppies last week after a four mile glassade along the LoBo Trail. I rarely devote a blog to a gear review, but I had a great run today in these spikes. I cruised across rivers of ice with never a fearful moment.

On slopes and turns that called for caution, Kahtoola’s tungsten carbide spikes gripped with confidence. I was prepared to run only three or four miles to try these out but extended my run to seven exalted miles. On my return, for the half mile between Ogallala Road and the foot bridge, I stretched out my stride to race pace. Not sure I’ve been able to run fast like that yet this year. Good to know I still can. By this time the sun was setting and I wasn’t wearing a head lamp, but the NANOspike’s confidence broadened to my running form. These spikes rock!

Tennessee Mountain Cabin

11 Sunday Jan 2015

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Running, Snowboard, Snowshoe

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Eldora Nordic Center, LoBo Trail, snowboard, Tennessee Mountain Cabin

I wasn’t the only one out running on the ice this week. I shared some “are you effin’ kidding me” looks with a few others on the LoBo trail. The week before, I couldn’t get over the snow. My runs were necessarily short given the exhausting conditions. I donned snowshoes one day and ended up with a blister that I’m still feeling. It was a poor week for running. I commended myself for simply getting out at all and figured it couldn’t get any worse. I was wrong. It wasn’t safe to walk down to the coffee shop this week, let alone run. We began with a foot of snow and below freezing temps. Then, in half a day, the mercury rose by 50°. Only in Colorado can that happen. The flash-melted snow refroze as ice later that same night, so perfectly you could ice skate down the sidewalk.

Running was unthinkable and I lost a couple of days. I know how unwise running was because I tried the day after the big snow-to-ice conversion. Got in four miles. Not sure how to describe my form. I kept my stride as short as possible without actually standing still. My effort was extremely taxing on my quads and groin. There were countless out-of-control moments where I thought I was going to die. It was not enjoyable and I spent the next two days indoors looking out the window like Sally and her little brother in the beginning to The Cat in the Hat. Conditions were reasonably better Saturday and I skated for twelve death-defying miles, with a similar super short, groin-stressing stride.

This is not ideal considering I’m training for a marathon. I have five weeks to step up my distance. With Ellie’s snowboarding lessons every Sunday, my only chance for the requisite twenty mile training runs is Saturday. Fortunately I ran some twenty milers back in December. I don’t need to run massive miles every weekend, I’d settle for two such runs before February. January has three more weekends in it. This is why Colorado runners plan their marathons for the fall, after a long summer of optimal conditioning. I’ve run two Austin Marathons in February and three Denver Marathons in the fall. Despite the altitude difference, I’ve yet to run as fast in Austin as I do in Denver. It’s difficult to train sufficiently for winter marathons. I’m happy with my snowshoe training though.

I snowshoed the same Lonestar Loop today that I did last Sunday, but this time I found the spur to the Tennessee Mountain Cabin. This added nearly a mile for a five mile, two hour effort. Trekking counter-clockwise, the right hand turn to the cabin is at 2.3 miles, at the second intersection with the Rising Sun ski trail, a full mile after passing the high point sign. That first 1.3 miles present a 700 foot climb. The cabin housed some lodgers but they showed me inside. Nine of them slept comfortably overnight, kept warm by a wood burning stove.

The girls had an awesome day with their snowboard lessons. Zero wind today made the 20° feel warm. This photo captures the only sun I ever saw today. The clouds were black with snow, which fell heavy throughout the day. This completes two of the girls’ six Sunday course. Julianna, their instructor, praised their coordination and balance as they steadily progress up the mountain. The girls are having fun while I get in some high-altitude hill training. Maybe not your conventional marathon workout, but works for me.

Taper Weekend

11 Saturday Oct 2014

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Running

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Tags

Denver Marathon, LoBo Trail

This is taper weekend. Maybe not for you. Runners spend months building up their endurance with ever longer distances. As the date of the marathon nears, runners begin to reduce the distance. There are a number of fairly specialized programs runners can follow. Many are free, just a few clicks away. Runners can purchase others with just one click.

Tapering is a subset of the training program speaking to the last few weeks of the complete regimen. A quick google will enumerate a number of tapering ideas. I didn’t taper with three and two weeks left. That appears to be the prescription. I began this final week. I do subscribe to the notion that tapering improves race day performance. I’m going with it.

I generally set my running goals for the year. I don’t look to a single race to totally achieve that goal. I judge the year at the end. I believe we are near the end of the year. By my count, I’ve only had three events so far and they were all last winter. First January, then February, and another in March. Karen and I were out on snowshoes more than that. Plus, I don’t have any runs planned after the Denver Marathon. That does makes this the end of the year. I’m going to heed the advice of magazine stories and taper this final week. I’m not targeting a specific time but I want to run strong and feel good doing it. I’ll be taking measure of my nutrition plan for success in this. I expect to run an 8:30 pace, which would be fast for me. At 165, I feel like I’m in racing shape.

I ran 12 miles today on the LoBo Trail, rather than my typical 18 to 20 miles for a Saturday. And I won’t exceed 6 miles for any one run over the next week, as opposed to my standard 8 mile run. Now that I’m thinking about it, I expect to taper down to 4 and 3 miles as I approach next Friday. I’ll run 3 miles Saturday too because I believe in working out the day before a big race. Too late to condition of course but it primes the pump. No one workout will be critical the final week and it won’t hurt to miss a day, but I feel good having a light run the day before.

Nutrition is one of my marathon goals. The sort of goal that spans several years. My concern is more around storing sodium, potassium and magnesium. And hydration. From what I’ve read, runners don’t necessarily want to load up on sodium, but I still want to consume it in sufficient quantities. The only vitamin I take is D3, at the advice of my doctor. I’m eating bananas for breakfast to load up on potassium and magnesium. This will address my proclivity for muscle cramps. I’m eating a ton of Kale from my garden. I don’t have a sodium supplement. Do they make one? Is it called salt? I don’t salt my food much after cooking – if I cook – but I’m a big fan of that substance. I’ve never latched on to taking supplements, other than my D3. I find them complicated. I would not have fared well on Lance’s bike team. I also plan to hydrate. I started today. Just after the beer my haircut lady gave me.

I enjoyed the shorter run today and having more time and energy for other weekend activities. Idle feet are the devil’s workshop. I got my hair cut. I downloaded Ken Follett’s trilogy completion. I stripped peeling paint off the carriage house. I’ll paint it tomorrow, first with primer. Fixed Ellie’s broken iPhone screen for $139 (tax incl.). An ounce of prevention, but seriously – my parents didn’t have unplanned smart phone expenses when I was a kid. Add that to the car.

This will be my 4th Denver Marathon. The full res photos from top to bottom are all Denver Marathons: 2013, then 2012 and to the left is 2010.

Sluggish Week

04 Saturday Oct 2014

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Running

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Tags

Denver Marathon, LoBo Trail

I like this photo. Mostly because it has me in it. But also because George captures in this pic the absolutely fantastic backdrop I have all day Saturday as I backpack at 13,000 feet along the Continental Divide. Wish I was still out there. Instead I’m back to running the LoBo trail. It’s a nice trail but it’s not the same thing. I will tell you though that this morning, while still early fall, the peaks of the Front Range are buried under spectacularly, shimmering white snow. What a gorgeous fall day in Colorado!

Despite the cool seasonal weather this week, my legs have been heavy and sluggish. I expected a little speed with the dropping temps but not this week. I went long this morning and started off okay, but my pace slowed down after ten miles. I went for twenty but walked in the last two. When your pace slows to essentially walking, you might as well walk.

I don’t think my sluggish week is related to recovery from my three days backpacking the Continental Divide. I blame work. My boss has been out on medical so I’m covering for her. That woman has quite the schedule. Been working 6am to 10pm almost every day. Part of what she does is report status on the projects I’m supposed to be driving. So I tried to do my day job as well in order to have some status to report. Tried to do it all and probably sucked at everything. It didn’t leave much time for running but I tried to do that too since my marathon is right around the corner. I suspect I was drained mentally rather than physically.

I don’t let this stuff get to me. I know I’m in shape. I had a super three mile race with La Plata from the Bakerville exit to the Grays Trailhead on Sunday. I imagine that included a 1500 foot climb in elevation. We totally smoked it. That felt good. Two more weeks until the Denver Marathon. Time to taper anyway. Jen is prodding me to run eight with the gang tomorrow. Her style, usually effective, is to call me a pussy if I don’t go. Planning on sleeping in tomorrow though.

Momentum and Miles

16 Saturday Aug 2014

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Running

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alsicebucketchallenge, Boulder Marathon, LoBo Trail, LSD

Today’s run was a hot one. Hit 90° later in the afternoon. I suspect the temperature during the three hours I was out there was in the upper 80s. I drank 32 ounces of water. That’s a large amount for me. I might take some electrolytes along for tomorrow’s run. I had to stop after 15 miles today because my legs were ready to cramp. I was targeting 17 miles. Wasn’t the day for it. Great day though to take the ALS ice bucket challenge after the run. It almost felt self-serving to cool off. It doesn’t bother me that I had to walk in the final two miles. I learned young to set goals high. You might not reach them. It’s better though to come close, even if that brings disappointment, than to reach shallower goals. It was during my walk home I determined I would take the ALS ice bucket challenge.

I ran slow today too, the entire distance. I felt a bit sluggish starting off but figured a little LSD wouldn’t hurt for today. That’s running lingo for long, slow, distance. There are benefits to putting in the miles regardless of pace. Sometimes I’m even in the mood to run slow, and was today. I generally prefer a fast run though. I had a super fast eight miler on Thursday. I hit the LoBo Trail right after a hard rain shower. The cool air felt great. I didn’t wear a watch but I knew I was running fast. Felt awesome. I even ran a half mile fartlek at an accelerated pace. I did this after 4.5 miles when my legs were well warmed up. I’d like to be able to get in a fast run like this once or twice a week. Muscles have memory and mine remember running fast. My workouts are on pace for the Boulder Marathon in October. I’m gaining momentum as I log the miles.

Acclimate

01 Sunday Jun 2014

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Running

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2014 Bolder Boulder, Brainard Lake, LoBo Trail, Millsite Inn, Salomon

Not the best week to jump from 3 to 8 mile runs. At first I thought maybe I fell drastically out of shape. I was running so slow it was hard to keep my balance. I ran faster though under cooler clouds Thursday. That confirmed for me that I am acclimating to the heat. And that I need to increase my focus on hydration.

I ran 12 miles Saturday on the LoBo Trail. The weather was in the 70°s. I can handle that. I wore my camelbak to remain well hydrated. Felt strong. Safe to say I’m recovered and I’m back. My expectations were to not be running for three months after my surgery. It’s only been two months and I’m back to running my old workouts. Maybe I should be bummed over having had cancer. Instead I feel fortunate. And 28 grams lighter.

Acclimating to the heat is one thing. To prep for my 80 mile backpacking trip along the Continental Divide at the end of June, I need to acclimate to the altitude. One mile high isn’t good enough. I need to get closer to two miles high. So that’s what I did this morning with Ellie. We drove up to Brainard Lake and hiked on the snowshoe trail. We could have used snowshoes in fact, the snow was several feet high in spots. It was good we both wore hiking boots and that we brought trekking poles. I didn’t expect this much snow at 10,000 feet, but apparently Brainard Lake is on the northeast side of the mountain. The road up to the lake itself is still closed.

We lunched at the Millsite Inn. The waitress said they just got a four foot dump of snow over Mother’s Day, and that it even snowed a bit early this morning. The Inn was out of many of their menu items – as usual. They said they were low on supplies due to the winter. Never mind they are open throughout the winter. Still, we had some good cheese burgers and listened to live music.

I was happy to test out my new hiking boots today. I post-holed several times into hidden streams flowing under the snow packed trail. The water-proof feature works. I’m not used to wearing boots and they feel a bit odd. Still, these Salomon Quest 4D GTX hiking boots are extremely light. I just need to get comfortable with the large footprint. Ellie and I plan to hike together the next couple of weekends. I need to find some trails at higher elevation that aren’t buried in snow. I’m currently reading through a trail book for Rocky Mountain National Park. Any suggestions, let me know.

Twin Lakes

24 Saturday Aug 2013

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Running

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Tags

Boulder Marathon, LoBo Trail

I extended my distance on the LoBo Trail this morning. Twin Lakes lie 10 miles from my front door. I actually used to live very near these two ponds when I first moved to Boulder 24 years ago and never entered the park. I can’t believe that. It’s an incredible setting with two small lakes, I’d call them ponds, with trails entering from various streets. Trails circle each lake. You could easily get in several miles with a little figure eight route. I’d guess each one is a half to three quarters of a mile in circumference.

Tough run today. Not because it was 20 miles, but because my legs hadn’t recovered from the previous evening’s 8 mile run. I was hurting from my first step and wasn’t confident I’d go longer than 8 or 10 miles. The weather was cool this morning and that helped. I bonked on the return though and started walking some spots after 15 miles. I ran a minute per mile slower pace than last weekend’s 18 mile run. Mostly due to the walking, otherwise I was maybe 30 seconds slower overall.

I don’t think it matters given the goal. Part of the reason you get in really long runs before a marathon is to prepare mentally. I don’t need that because I have marathon experience. Shoot, I ran the Austin Marathon after mostly training with 3 and 4 mile runs. Not that I ran it well, but I don’t need the mental fortitude. Running for 3.5 hours though is excellent preparation. I don’t believe the training pace matters much. Hope not because I want to run faster in the actual event. It’s a great question, but I feel like running for a certain amount of time is more important than covering a specific distance. The distance would help mentally, but I don’t need that.

I’m a little disappointed I had to walk some after 15 miles, but my special powers of rationalization have even made that a positive. My legs were so fatigued this morning that the entire run felt like the final 6 miles of a marathon. Running this morning felt like it does after hitting the wall. So I definitely worked on my mental toughness. I was so tired afterward that stepping over the curb was a challenge. Climbing my front porch steps was like hiking up a 14er. I even collided with a biker. I don’t think she was looking but my synapses were firing too slow to get out of her way. We avoided injury – she was biking nearly as slow as I was running – but we both came to a dead stop with me nearly busting her bike basket. This was at 11 miles. I knew then I wasn’t going to make it home without a little walking.

I was able to practice eating and drinking today. I ate a bag of Honey Stinger Energy Chews, 9 Hammer Endurolytes and I emptied my Camelbak of its HEED sports drink. This was made easier by walking. I practiced this last weekend too on my 18 mile run. I struggle eating and drinking while running. It likely just takes practice. Based on my fatigue today I think I also need to focus more on overall nutrition throughout the day and week. Time to start storing some carbs. I’ll start Tuesday. I have to fast Monday for my colonoscopy.

Cottontail Trail

17 Saturday Aug 2013

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Running

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Tags

Boulder Marathon, Flaming Foliage Relay, LoBo Trail, Manitou Incline

It’s time to start training for the Boulder Marathon in September. I officially kicked off my marathon training today with an 18 mile run on the LoBo Trail which included a couple of miles on the Cottontail Trail in Gunbarrel. This is the furthest I have ever run out my door on the LoBo Trail. Maybe one day I’ll take it all the way into Boulder. Cottontail, which winds along the north end of Gunbarrel, is quite charming with Cottonwood lining the creek and trail. I used to live in Gunbarrel, which I guess technically is Boulder, and I miss all the nice trails they have. The White Rock Trail is one of my favorites.

September wraps up my scheduled events for the year. Seems a bit early, maybe I’ll find something in October. Rob and I still need to hike the new 80 mile Collegiate Peaks loop of the Colorado Trail. If I don’t transition to hiking then I might look for a 10K to begin winding down my distance. It’s hard staying in shape for these longer distances. I completed four half marathons this year. I wouldn’t mind maintaining that level of fitness but marathons are a stretch. Interesting point on my four half marathons this year is my pace was extremely consistent. My finish time in all of them was within a 6 minute range. In fact, I ran the exact same pace – a 7:31 mile – for both Moab and GTIS.

I don’t think I need to train any differently for the Flaming Foliage Relay, which is a week ahead of the Boulder Marathon. My second leg over Georgia Pass will present me with 1221 feet of elevation gain at altitude, so I’ll include some hills in my routine. Looking forward to meeting up with my buddy Ken Farmer in Manitou Springs to run the Incline next weekend. The Manitou Incline has been on my bucket list for awhile, and from what I understand it’s no longer illegal to climb. It’s only a mile climb, but can easily take people an entire hour to complete. I wonder what sort of shape Ken is in. He runs the Incline regularly for lunch.

I understand my team is looking for a 10th runner still for the Flaming Foliage Relay. Preferably a woman to add to the estrogen level in the van. Contact me if you’re interested. And really, how can you not be interested in running through the Colorado mountains in the fall?

Alone

24 Sunday Mar 2013

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Running

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LoBo Trail, Moab

You need to click on this pic to enlarge it to see just how cool these sandstone rocks appear. And of course on the other side of the road is the Colorado River. This is why I run Moab. I also visited the Arches National Park on this year’s trip – that was incredible. Believe it or not, there are nearly 3000 other runners right behind me in this pic, as well as a couple hundred more directly ahead of me. I don’t recall ever being this alone during the Moab Half Marathon.

But I was alone in Moab. Karen and Ellie didn’t make the trip. They’ve traveled to Moab before, and to Manitou Springs and Ouray and Telluride, just to watch me run. But mostly I go alone.

Just like on most of my workouts. I prefer it really. I’m not totally asocial. I like to get in a team run every now and then with my neighbors. But part of what I like about running is being able to step out the door on my watch. Running my pace. And the solitude required for introspection. My personality is dead in the middle of extrovert and introvert. I benefit from time with people but need time alone to think thoughts that wouldn’t come to me otherwise. So running works for me.

My legs were heavy today and I didn’t think I’d go for more than seven or eight miles. But the sun was out strong and the air was still. The snow wasn’t as deep as yesterday, much of it hammered down on the trail from runners, dogs and cross country skis. While my legs hadn’t fully recovered from yesterday’s ten miles, I felt good being outside and kept it slow for a twelve mile run. Not sure when the tracks were made because I didn’t encounter a single runner during my two hour escape. Just me today, alone on the trail.

Sirens

09 Saturday Mar 2013

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Running

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Tags

LoBo Trail, Moab Half Marathon, pretty runners

There was no question but that I would be running today. Despite the media setting this weekend up like a blizzard with 30 mile an hour winds; this morning was a pleasant 33° with big falling snow flakes and otherwise still air. I pulled on my running tights, a compression top and North Face shell, mittens, gaiters and hat, and was out the door onto the LoBo trail by 10:30am. I might not have needed the tights, or gloves, or even the hat. This was ideal running weather. As soon as I hit Creekside Park and saw a couple strolling comfortably by, I realized I was comfortable too. This weather might not appear inviting to others looking out the window from their cozy living rooms, but it occurred to me I felt great running outside in this snowfall. A hard to describe feeling of freedom passed over me. Like a young Tom Cruise jumping on the couch in his underwear. Like making a snow angel naked. It felt good to be outside embracing this storm, feeling the clouds release against my face. This was going to be a nice run.

I pocketed my gloves a little after a mile, about the time a runner was approaching me ahead on the trail. I could make out the runner was a woman, although I’d pocketed my glasses too since they had become caked with snow. But her running clothes were evidence enough to know she was a she. She was wearing a neon yellow, or maybe some shade of green, running shell. And she appeared to be wearing a matching set of wine colored scarf and mittens. The scarf, if that’s what I was seeing without my glasses, was tucked underneath her shell. She was dressed stylish for winter running.

As we passed each other I saw she was Jen and she saw I was Ed. I must not have been obvious underneath my winter gear either. We both shouted out at each other but didn’t stop. Not sure if that was rude, sorry Jen. You didn’t stop either. We were both past the point of no return once we identified each other considering the dangerous footing in the snow. And while I am not saying I was running faster, I do carry a good 70 pounds or so more momentum.

A minute later I saw what appeared to be another girl runner making her way back onto the trail after perhaps taking a pee stop in the field. Hard to say what she was doing and my imagination sometimes gets the better of me on runs. As I drew near I saw she too had on a stylish knit hat, purple I think, with a whitish running shell. Two smartly dressed women in a row. As I passed she shouted out at me that her direction was harder. I quipped back that I didn’t think so. My logic being that I was going slightly uphill, but I think she was teasing.

In fact, I continued thinking about it for the next few minutes and came to the conclusion, or delusion, that there was something unnatural about the odds of passing two running beauties in a row like that. And I got the distinct impression they both wanted me to turn around to run back with them. I have to be careful here because as a guy, I oftentimes believe women want me. But they both laid hints that I should turn around. Stunning looks. Fashionably dressed. The second vixen clearly calling out to me. And although I couldn’t quite make her out, she sounded like Abbie. Was that Abbie? Maybe she was actually running with Jen and fell behind for a potty break. Although I’d suspect that more of Jen.

Regardless, these running Sirens were clearly conspiring to turn me around. Assuming that was Abbie, then they don’t want me to train for Moab. Their pleas were intended to send my fitness to the rocks so they can beat me next week. A lesser man might have succumbed but I steered straight ahead. I was planning to run 12 miles today and the weather was ideal.

I came up behind a 3rd runner, passing him a mile after that Abbie-like apparition. Honestly I was a bit disappointed to find he was some clunky guy. My expectations had been set for better running fare. And shouldn’t sirens come in threes? I know Homer settled for only two, and only a demigod would be arrogant enough to require more, but three would have been nice.

As I thought on this more, it occurred to me that I did come across three sirens on the trail today. The first was the big, fluffy snowfall that greeted me outside. And while I still believe the vexing allure of the second two were intended to wreck my training for Moab, this first siren lulled me into a serene mood to run all day long. These thoughts were all in the first three miles. Similar thoughts spanned across the horizon of my mind for the next nine miles. Seeing my house at the end broke my trance enough to stop me from running all day long. I can see the snow blowing sideways out the window as I sit here now by the warm fireplace blogging. Probably a good thing I called it a day.

March

02 Saturday Mar 2013

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Running

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LoBo Trail, Moab Canyonlands Half Marathon

Around here, March means mud and gaiters. Can’t pass up the sunshine though. The best weather is always the sun and slop after a storm. Those are my long gaiters hanging on my gear wall in this pic. I wore my short ones though – these would have been too hot today. My shins could take a little slush and mud, I just wanted to keep my trail shoes dry. I was comfortable today in summer-thin, knee length running shorts and my Denver Marathon hi tech, long-sleeved jersey – also fairly thin. And my orange Boulder Marathon running hat; very cool not because it looks so good on me but because no one else on Team Prospect has one. No gloves required today on the Lobo Trail.

I plan to wear my orange hat at Moab in two weeks, to stand out from my running partners. If the weather requires more of a ski hat, I’ll wear my Colder Boulder winter running hat. None of Team Prospect has one of those either. I’ve got the hat situation well covered for Moab. If anyone wears a cooler hat than me, I promise to down a shot of Mescal before the run. Judging will be subjective.

I was chatting with Abbie last weekend at the Jagger’s rockin’ cocktail party and she asked me what time I thought I would run at Moab. My best time at Moab is 1:49. I told her 1:45. It was a cocktail party. She responded that she could do that and would plan on starting out with me. She said it suggesting she would take off at a faster pace once she was bored with me. I wonder what hat she plans on wearing.

I ran today with Moab in mind, which is to say I bumped up the distance and ran 12 miles. I even ran 8 miles Friday after work. I didn’t plan to run that far but I was feeling good and the sun held out longer than usual. Maybe could have used my headlamp as it was dark near the end but there were street lights once I neared my neighborhood.

Today’s run took me further than I’ve ever gone on the LoBo Trail. Just past my 5 mile turn-around for my standard weekend 10 miler is the Niwot Loop. I wasn’t familiar with it and almost ventured into Somerset a couple of times. They have signs posted declaring their trails for their exclusive use. Seriously. Whatever, it’s been a good day. Started by meeting Brittany for brunch in Denver at Panzano in the Hotel Monaco. Karen and I made the drive in order to drop our leather coats off for repairs and cleaning at Coronets on York Street. Pretty drive past City Park. We did a short walk after we returned home and then I got in my two hour run. Ribs have been slow cooking in the crock pot since before we drove to Denver. Karen is cooking a rice and broccoli casserole to go with the ribs. Later, it’s date night. We’re going to see Silver Linings Playlist – or something like that.

Return to LoBo Trail

27 Saturday Oct 2012

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LoBo Trail

I realize the knee high compression socks make me appear like a school girl, but they are actually in fashion for runners so I don’t look out of place in that venue. At least I don’t wear short racing shorts. And I don’t tuck in my shirt for the same reason I don’t wear a belt with shorts. That’s for old men and golfers. Speaking of old men, the Boulder Marathon marks the first time for me since I returned to running road races that no one 60 or older beat me. It is one thing for a 70 yr old to beat me in the IPR when he lives and trains with the other mountain goats at that elevation, but another thing entirely to be out kicked at the end of a 10K in Boulder by a septuagenarian.

I found myself talking to Chris last night at the Burlington Elementary Fall Ball about what age division is the easiest – relatively. My thought is that the two 30 year old age divisions are the least competitive. Not by number of participants, but by how competitive their times are. Said another way – these guys are the biggest slackers. Most likely their focus is on family and careers. Still, thirty year olds are the relative slow guys.

I’m prepared to slow down. The 2012 season is over for me. Had a great run today on the LoBo Trail but overdressed a tad. I said this to a runner who passed by in the other direction around the 2 mile mark. He was wearing leg tights and a jacket. Shortly after I removed my top layer – a Broncos orange long-sleeved t-shirt – and laid it on the ground at the LoBo singage near the Ogallala Road crossing. I also ran the furthest I ever have on this trail. I’ve done ten miles before so know where the five mile turn around is. I suspect today I ran to the six mile turn around for a twelve mile run. The course winds into Niwot housing developments and is spectacular. The trail is nearly invisible under the broad leaves from Cottonwood trees. The path under the canopy of Cottonwood dripped with melting snow so hard it was like running behind a waterfall. Or like dining at the Rainforest Cafe. Metaphors depend on your personal experience.

I began scanning the trail for a meaningful turn-around as I trotted past a smaller dirt path branch off to the right via some open source bridge across the creek. Looked like it just continued along in the same direction on the other side of the creek. Would have been more interesting than this pedestrian trail but I ran past it before having that thought. A quarter mile later I determined to turn back at a spot I thought I could remember because some nice homes came up close to the trail at this point. As I reached it I discovered the other end of the dirt path crossing the creek again. This time I took it. Perfect because I already know where it comes back out now. And it changed up the scenery by changing my running surface with a narrow, slightly muddy trail.

I could have kept going I felt so good but that was an awesome spot to turn back around. I maintained a slow stride the entire run. I collected my shirt at Ogallala Road and tied it around my waist for the last couple of miles. I think now for the winter I will plan to run nice, long slow routes on weekends just like this out my backdoor.

Boulder Half Prep

30 Friday Mar 2012

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Running

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Tags

Boulder Half Marathon, CPTR, LoBo Trail

I ran into Keith on the LoBo Trail this afternoon. We finished up the second half of my run together. I took advantage of the opportunity to try shaming him into running the Boulder Half on Sunday. We’ll see if he shows up at the Boulder Res on race day. This is another pic of me running the Moab Half two weeks ago, apparently later in the run as the crowd is a bit thinner.

I’ve been putting in some decent distance since Moab. Now that it’s daylight savings time I’ve begun to run after work and that gives me more time for longer runs. And I hammered out 23 miles over the weekend. I’m not considering resting my legs for the Boulder Half. Like last year, I’ll treat it more like a workout. If things go the way I want, I’ll start off slow the first half – which is uphill, then run faster the second half back downhill. In a sense, it’s really only a 6.5 mile run.

Of course, the entire run could turn into a giant 13 mile slog but I’m hoping for a fun downhill 6.5 miles after an easy 6.5 mile warmup. The whole thing is a warmup really to prep for my next big event – the 25 mile Collegiate Peaks Trail Run on April 28th. That’s the big enchilada I need to get in shape for. That’s almost like a marathon. Seriously, despite being a mile short, it stands to be much tougher. And longer time-wise. Trail runs at altitude usually are.

This puppy will begin at 8000 feet and rise to 9200 feet after 10 miles. Then it drops back down to 8400 feet only to rise yet again to 9400 feet at 18 miles. By contrast, Moab only changed 100 feet in elevation – several times – but hardly the same as this. The Collegiate Peaks are awesome. I hiked this area for the first time last summer as part of the Colorado Trail. These trails will be different, east of Buena Vista, but I’m excited to get back out there. I’ll be blogging more on this over the next month as I train for my first big run of the year.