Saturday, June 19, 2010
San Juan Solstice 50 - Quick Update
Hard race. Finished in 10:41. 19th place. Sore. Happy. Race report soon.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Sanitas Valley - Easy Run
Time: :33
Distance: 3.6 miles
Effort: Easy
Body: Good
Weather: Cool and not Humid
Great to be back in Colorado. Got home last night, stepped out of the car and was struck by the wonderful smells of the foothills.
Around lunch time, I drove up and parked near the Mt. Sanitas trailhead and did and easy 3.6 miles up the Dakota Ridge Trail to the sign and then down Sanitas Valley to the mid-point where I cut over and ran back up the Dakota Ridge Trail. Finished up with a jog down the Sanitas Valley trail to the car.
Legs felt fresh and ready to climb. Would have loved to run more, but kept things short (and mellow) to respect the taper.
Finally starting to think about Lake City 50 race stuff...drop bags...food...hydration options...shoes...etc. I even pulled out the Trails Illustrated map and looked at the course in all its topographical splendor. It's going to be a fun one.
Todd G. reports word that the course is looking good...melted snow, low rivers, etc... I'll take that. Now, if we can just have great weather. Fingers crossed.
Justin has his Lake City preview up over at RunColo.
Distance: 3.6 miles
Effort: Easy
Body: Good
Weather: Cool and not Humid
Great to be back in Colorado. Got home last night, stepped out of the car and was struck by the wonderful smells of the foothills.
Around lunch time, I drove up and parked near the Mt. Sanitas trailhead and did and easy 3.6 miles up the Dakota Ridge Trail to the sign and then down Sanitas Valley to the mid-point where I cut over and ran back up the Dakota Ridge Trail. Finished up with a jog down the Sanitas Valley trail to the car.
Legs felt fresh and ready to climb. Would have loved to run more, but kept things short (and mellow) to respect the taper.
Finally starting to think about Lake City 50 race stuff...drop bags...food...hydration options...shoes...etc. I even pulled out the Trails Illustrated map and looked at the course in all its topographical splendor. It's going to be a fun one.
Todd G. reports word that the course is looking good...melted snow, low rivers, etc... I'll take that. Now, if we can just have great weather. Fingers crossed.
Justin has his Lake City preview up over at RunColo.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Arlington, VA - Short & Easy Run
Time: :20
Distance: 2 miles
Effort: Easy
Body: Good
Weather: Hot & Humid
Intentionally very short jog from hotel to local high school track. One mile on track at an easy 6:50 pace, then back to the hotel. Got out just to stretch the legs after a long day in a meeting. The day was hot and humid as hell, but an evening rain brought a bit of relief. Felt good to sweat a little, but cut it way short to be mindful of tapering this week.
Great video by Kraig K. of a run up Boulder's Green Mountain (hat tip to GZ).
Spent a little time catching up on Andrew Skurka's Alaska-Yukon Expedition. Great stuff, and a true story of personal perseverance.
Distance: 2 miles
Effort: Easy
Body: Good
Weather: Hot & Humid
Intentionally very short jog from hotel to local high school track. One mile on track at an easy 6:50 pace, then back to the hotel. Got out just to stretch the legs after a long day in a meeting. The day was hot and humid as hell, but an evening rain brought a bit of relief. Felt good to sweat a little, but cut it way short to be mindful of tapering this week.
Great video by Kraig K. of a run up Boulder's Green Mountain (hat tip to GZ).
Spent a little time catching up on Andrew Skurka's Alaska-Yukon Expedition. Great stuff, and a true story of personal perseverance.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
In Search of Dirt - Arlington, VA
Time: 1:08
Distance: 8.46 miles
Effort: Easy
Body: Good
Weather: Hot & Humid
JP and the kids returned home to Colorado today. I'm still in the D.C. area for another two days for work meetings. Hit the streets for a run around 4 p.m. Spent three or four minutes before starting the run waiting for the Garmin 405 to locate satellites. Finally gave up and set off running. It was a good mile before the watch finally synched up with the satellites and was ready to go. That's the second time on this trip I've had that problem. Need to spend some time on the Garmin site figuring that out.
Anyway, easy run along the paved bike paths here in North Arlington. Explored as many dirt tracks heading up hills along Four Mile Run as I could find. None of them went anywhere, though. Still, even for brief moments, it felt great to be back running on the forgiving surface of dirt trails.
Twas a darn hot and humid day. Very grateful for all the water fountains placed in the small parks along the bike paths. Really wanted to dunk my head in Four Mile Run, but the frequent whiffs of sewage and the knowledge that the creek runs through a large urban area kept me out of the water. Made me think about the fact that many folks think nothing of dipping a bottle in the creek that spills down Bear Canyon in Boulder. I have yet to be that cavalier with water sources, but think nothing of dunking my head in that creek or any other creek in the Boulder area. Another reason to appreciate what we have in Colorado.
Eager to get home and back to altitude. I don't imagine the 10 days at sea level will have a dramatic impact on my performance at the San Juan Solstice 50 next weekend, but it sure didn't help much. Still, it's been a great trip and a heavy dose of U.S. history for jP and CP.
Brandon posted a great preview of SJS50.
Distance: 8.46 miles
Effort: Easy
Body: Good
Weather: Hot & Humid
JP and the kids returned home to Colorado today. I'm still in the D.C. area for another two days for work meetings. Hit the streets for a run around 4 p.m. Spent three or four minutes before starting the run waiting for the Garmin 405 to locate satellites. Finally gave up and set off running. It was a good mile before the watch finally synched up with the satellites and was ready to go. That's the second time on this trip I've had that problem. Need to spend some time on the Garmin site figuring that out.
Anyway, easy run along the paved bike paths here in North Arlington. Explored as many dirt tracks heading up hills along Four Mile Run as I could find. None of them went anywhere, though. Still, even for brief moments, it felt great to be back running on the forgiving surface of dirt trails.
Twas a darn hot and humid day. Very grateful for all the water fountains placed in the small parks along the bike paths. Really wanted to dunk my head in Four Mile Run, but the frequent whiffs of sewage and the knowledge that the creek runs through a large urban area kept me out of the water. Made me think about the fact that many folks think nothing of dipping a bottle in the creek that spills down Bear Canyon in Boulder. I have yet to be that cavalier with water sources, but think nothing of dunking my head in that creek or any other creek in the Boulder area. Another reason to appreciate what we have in Colorado.
Eager to get home and back to altitude. I don't imagine the 10 days at sea level will have a dramatic impact on my performance at the San Juan Solstice 50 next weekend, but it sure didn't help much. Still, it's been a great trip and a heavy dose of U.S. history for jP and CP.
Brandon posted a great preview of SJS50.
Friday, June 11, 2010
National Mall - Washington, D.C. - Easy
Time: 46 minutes
Distance: 6.4 miles
Effort: Easy
Body: Good
Weather: Warm & Humid
Relatively early morning run from our hotel in the Penn Quarter 'hood down to the National Mall. Did a loop up and around the Capitol, then back down past the Washington, WWII and Lincoln Memorials and completed the loop and returned to the hotel.
Felt good to be out early before the temps rise and the humidity really gets going.
Distance: 6.4 miles
Effort: Easy
Body: Good
Weather: Warm & Humid
Relatively early morning run from our hotel in the Penn Quarter 'hood down to the National Mall. Did a loop up and around the Capitol, then back down past the Washington, WWII and Lincoln Memorials and completed the loop and returned to the hotel.
Felt good to be out early before the temps rise and the humidity really gets going.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Washington, D.C. - Short Tempo
Time: 16 minutes
Distance: 2.23 miles
Effort: Easy
Body: Good
Weather: Warm & Clear
Had to drop off a borrowed car at a friend's house, then get back to our hotel in time to get to the White House with JP and the kids for a west wing tour. The quickest way to get from Capitol Hill to the hotel near Chinatown was via foot. We were delayed in getting to D.C. from Philly today (East Coast traffic sucks!), so we had no time to waste.
After dropping off the car, I jumped straight into it and ran past blocks of row houses, across the Capitol grounds, down the National Mall to 7th Street and then over to the hotel. Felt great and easily could have gone for many more miles at the low-6s pace I ran the two miles. Too many stoplights and busy streets, though, to keep the pace as consistent as one might like.
Distance: 2.23 miles
Effort: Easy
Body: Good
Weather: Warm & Clear
Had to drop off a borrowed car at a friend's house, then get back to our hotel in time to get to the White House with JP and the kids for a west wing tour. The quickest way to get from Capitol Hill to the hotel near Chinatown was via foot. We were delayed in getting to D.C. from Philly today (East Coast traffic sucks!), so we had no time to waste.
After dropping off the car, I jumped straight into it and ran past blocks of row houses, across the Capitol grounds, down the National Mall to 7th Street and then over to the hotel. Felt great and easily could have gone for many more miles at the low-6s pace I ran the two miles. Too many stoplights and busy streets, though, to keep the pace as consistent as one might like.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Towson, MD - Morning Run
Time: 1:05
Distance: 8.05 miles
Effort: Easy
Body: Good
Weather: Warm & Clear
Ran again from brother- and sister-in-law's house over to Towson University and cruised around and through the campus (including a quick lap around a sweet track in the football stadium), then through downtown Towson before returning along the sidewalks back to home base.
Felt great on the run. Out the door around 7:30 a.m. The weekend's humidity has dried up a fair bit, making for a perfect spring morning...not hot...not chilly...juuuuuuuuuust right.
Off to Philly later this morning...
Distance: 8.05 miles
Effort: Easy
Body: Good
Weather: Warm & Clear
Ran again from brother- and sister-in-law's house over to Towson University and cruised around and through the campus (including a quick lap around a sweet track in the football stadium), then through downtown Towson before returning along the sidewalks back to home base.
Felt great on the run. Out the door around 7:30 a.m. The weekend's humidity has dried up a fair bit, making for a perfect spring morning...not hot...not chilly...juuuuuuuuuust right.
Off to Philly later this morning...
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Towson, Maryland - Steady II
Time: 49 minutes
Distance: 7.06 miles
Effort: Moderate
Body: Good
Weather: Hot & Humid
Brother-in-law dropped me drove me over to Towson University and showed me a loop of sidewalks around the school. Sidewalks seems to be a rare commodity in these parts.
Ran a loop around the university campus, then explored a few neighborhoods in the area before running back to the house. Another very humid day. Feels good to sweat so much while exercising, but wonder how one could keep up with fluids on a day like this. Of course people do it all the time, but the thick air does make it more challenging.
Was feeling feisty today, so I pushed the pace a bit. Started with a hilly 5K in just a few seconds over 20 minutes, then kept the pace around 6:20-6:30 the rest of the run. The air my be humid here, but there's a hell of a lot of oxygen.
438 feet of elevation gain.
Distance: 7.06 miles
Effort: Moderate
Body: Good
Weather: Hot & Humid
Brother-in-law dropped me drove me over to Towson University and showed me a loop of sidewalks around the school. Sidewalks seems to be a rare commodity in these parts.
Ran a loop around the university campus, then explored a few neighborhoods in the area before running back to the house. Another very humid day. Feels good to sweat so much while exercising, but wonder how one could keep up with fluids on a day like this. Of course people do it all the time, but the thick air does make it more challenging.
Was feeling feisty today, so I pushed the pace a bit. Started with a hilly 5K in just a few seconds over 20 minutes, then kept the pace around 6:20-6:30 the rest of the run. The air my be humid here, but there's a hell of a lot of oxygen.
438 feet of elevation gain.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Towson, Maryland - Steady Run
Time: 1:10
Distance: 8.32 miles
Effort: Moderate
Body: Average
Weather: Overcast and Humid
It's humid, and hot here in Towson, Maryland. Ran along a rails-to-trails path through the woods of Robert E. Lee Park and along the shore of Roland Lake, one of Baltimore's reservoirs. From the park, ran back to my sister- and brother-in-law's house via the windy, shoulder-less roads. Beautiful area, filled with rolling hills, massive trees and stately neighborhoods. Not at all pedestrian (or trail runner) friendly.
Very humid day. Felt like I had to part the air before I could run through it.
Sleep low/train low strategy is working brilliantly.
777 feet of elevation gain.
Distance: 8.32 miles
Effort: Moderate
Body: Average
Weather: Overcast and Humid
It's humid, and hot here in Towson, Maryland. Ran along a rails-to-trails path through the woods of Robert E. Lee Park and along the shore of Roland Lake, one of Baltimore's reservoirs. From the park, ran back to my sister- and brother-in-law's house via the windy, shoulder-less roads. Beautiful area, filled with rolling hills, massive trees and stately neighborhoods. Not at all pedestrian (or trail runner) friendly.
Very humid day. Felt like I had to part the air before I could run through it.
Sleep low/train low strategy is working brilliantly.
777 feet of elevation gain.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Elk Meadow - Plus - Steady
Time: 1:02
Distance: 7.26 miles
Effort: Easy
Body: Average
Weather: Clear and Warm
Evening run from the house, up and down Quarterhorse Road, through the dog park and then did the Meadow View loop in the open space before returning home via the roads. Not feeling great through the day. Felt better during and post-run. Too many late nights and too much food/drink for dinner last night, I reckon.
Launching a super-secret new training regimen tomorrow in preparation for the San Juan Solstice 50, which takes place in just over two weeks. A hint...the regimen entails spending an inordinate and inopportune amount of time at sea level to acclimate the body for running an excessive number of miles at 12,500 feet of elevation. The cool thing is that this plan came with a pair of X-ray Specs, disappearing ink and a Superman comic book. I can't wait to try it out on June 19th. All the pros are using it.
Off to Washington, D.C. tomorrow.
Distance: 7.26 miles
Effort: Easy
Body: Average
Weather: Clear and Warm
Evening run from the house, up and down Quarterhorse Road, through the dog park and then did the Meadow View loop in the open space before returning home via the roads. Not feeling great through the day. Felt better during and post-run. Too many late nights and too much food/drink for dinner last night, I reckon.
Launching a super-secret new training regimen tomorrow in preparation for the San Juan Solstice 50, which takes place in just over two weeks. A hint...the regimen entails spending an inordinate and inopportune amount of time at sea level to acclimate the body for running an excessive number of miles at 12,500 feet of elevation. The cool thing is that this plan came with a pair of X-ray Specs, disappearing ink and a Superman comic book. I can't wait to try it out on June 19th. All the pros are using it.
Off to Washington, D.C. tomorrow.
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