Author: admin

Fast is not my middle name…

The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do. ~ Walter Bagehot

Two good training runs this week. One missed day (thought I had it off on the ole schedule). Feeling generally okay. Not super but not too bad.

On Tuesday, I did some LT training down in Boulder and quickly discovered how hard a 3:30 marathon is going to be. I am just not that fast yet. Getting there for sure, but I was totally maxed out for 4 out of 8 miles and whew… Rolling sub 8s all day is going to be a challenge. I am pretty sure I am up to it but need to put in some focused training to get my leg speed up and get to the point where I can spin those splits over and over. It was warm as well, which never helps me. I did take a dip in the creek after the run, which was nice. Motionbased stats.

Yesterday, I went out for a slow 10-mile trail run. Really the goal was to keep my heartrate down and for the most part, I succeeded. I had to walk the steepest section in the Park but still managed about 9 miles in just over an hour and a half. I felt okay for most of the run. My legs seemed to burn a bit more quickly than I had hoped but that’s how it goes sometimes. It was a beautiful day up in the high country and nice to just get out for awhile. I am definitely noticing that I am able to maintain higher speeds with less effort so I suppose that means I am doing something right. Whee! Here are the stats for any nerds out there.

Also, did I mention that I saw a bobcat on the way home from Ward the other day? Pretty cool. Only the second one I have seen up here. Well, it was closer to Ward but there you go.

Today I’m hoping to cajole Pete into coming out for a slow 5-miler and then to talk my sweet Rach into going to see a movie. Then we’ll rush home before all the Labor Day Weekend drunkards get out on the roads. To quote the Beastie Boys, “If you’re drivin’ don’t drink, and if you’re drinkin’ don’t drive.” Pretty simple, really.

And on one final, political note… Palin quite possibly may be the worst VP pick in history. From the environment, to energy policy, to science… she has it all wrong and zero experience and an ongoing abuse of power/ethics investigation to boot. I am baffled by this selection. We’ll see what happens but I don’t really see how this helps McCain at all. Fine by me. Here’s a great analysis of her credentials if you are interested.

~stubert.

Flow like water…

Nature is trying very hard to make us succeed, but nature does not depend on us. We are not the only experiment. ~ R. Buckminster Fuller

Thunder rumbled in the distance as I pulled on my Sauconys for a slow 13-mile run. I headed southeast, down the Beav, cautiously eyeing the dark bank of clouds building ominously to the north. My steps were punctuated by intermittent claps of thunder and I quickly adjusted my plans to stay closer to home, and in the confines of the forest. My 13-mile road run was abandoned for the trails and easier access to a rapid escape route.

I headed uphill, running strongly and timing my breathing with my cadence. My goal was not a fast pace or even splits but to keep my legs turning over as if driven by a metronome. Tick, tick, tick. The miles slipped by and I soon gained access to the woods along a hidden single track.

This trail, fast but technical, led me downhill through Aspen groves, whispering encouragement as I focused on staying fluid while negotiating tight, rocky sections. The old mining trail is punctuated by large, flat stones placed into a pseudo-flagstone path. Navigating these at speed can be a challenge and as rain began to fall, the task required even more attention.

Thunder built in intensity along with the rain but actual lightning strikes seemed few and far between and when timed, were miles away. I reached the lowest elevation of the day’s adventure and headed up the steepest sections in an increasingly soggy state. Rain turned to sleet as I ran through a section dubbed “Funky Boss” then quickly to rain again as I passed “The Flume”. I sped along in the steady patter of raindrops and quickly reached the summit and the “Tupperware” trail. This new section of singletrack drops quickly downhill to a more frequented artery in this part of Roosevelt National Forest.

Temperatures dropped to the point where a jacket seemed prudent so I donned my Marmot shell and ran back uphill toward today’s second summit. Though soaked, the light cover provided the comfort required and I was quickly able to stow it back in my belt and run on, feeling strong and fit. As the clouds lifted and rain turned to a light drizzle I headed back downhill, towards home.

Geek link.

~stubert.

Did I mention I can’t deal with heat?

If you can’t take the heat, try moving away from the radiator. ~ Anon (probably some jackass named “stubert”

No wonder I felt like crap today. I was supposed to have a nice, steady, aerobic run but that plan went out the window and I just kinda suffered for about 2 hours on the Mesa Trail. Always a fan of changing plans (seems like I had a conversation with myself about this at one point), I started with the tentative goal of doing the whole Trail (out/back) which would have been about 13 miles. After passing NCAR, I tossed that horrendous idea out the window and decided to just go with the scheduled 10-mile.

I couldn’t figure out what was going on but experienced the same sort of high heartrate as Tuesday. I was soaked with sweat and had a tough time running a lot of the hills without really spiking. When I got back to the car, the temp said 96 degrees. Yikes. In any event, I finished and didn’t cry so I am chalking this one up in the “Tie” column.

~stubert.

Heat and Stus do not mix…

I’m Mr. Heat Blister, I’m Mister Hundred and One. ~ Heat Miser

It is amazing how intolerant of heat I am. Yesterday, I was in Boulder and my run got delayed until around noon. It definitely wasn’t what I would consider “hot” down there but I suffered a bit nonetheless. Maybe I had just prepared myself for an easier time but my heartrate was through the roof all day. I must admit, I was having a hard time not running too fast (which contributed for sure) but my heartrate in general was just a lot higher than normal.

This could all be attributed to lots of different issues – from base fatigue to the physiology of how one’s body keeps cool. I am guessing it is a combination of factors. My sleep patterns have been a bit screwed up of late (getting to bed a lot later than normal) and I have been training more consistently as well. I am sure both these have contributed to my current state (which isn’t bad, mind you). Those items, coupled with my heart having to work harder to push blood closer to the surface of my skin in order to cool me off in warmer temps is probably what did it.

In any event, I had a fairly hectic morning then finally got out for an 8-mile loop around central Boulder. I am able to maintain increased speeds on flat roads (which is nice) and aside from the overheating, felt okay. My legs were turning over well and so I worked on form and then did some strides at the end. All in all, a pretty good run.

On Sunday, I did a 13-mile loop up by my place and tried to keep a steady pace of 8:45-9:30 pacing. I spun the loop in just under 2-hours, which is averaging about 9-minute miles. This was supposed to be an aerobic endeavor but trying to keep that steady pace up hills at altitude definitely pushed me up into “going too hard” territory on a few occasions. I may just switch to heartrate training or something to ensure that I don’t overdo it.

Tomorrow, I have a 10-miler scheduled and will be down in Boulder again. Might jump on some trails down there just for kicks or run their awesome network of bike paths. I’ll try to get out earlier this time so as to not get stuck in the heat. Anyone up for a run?

~stubert.