Credit Where Credit is Due

For some time now, I've been working a pair of Saucony Peregrines into the running mix. I've really liked the shoe's light weight, minimal heel drop and good looks.  I wasn't too happy, though, with the way they (haven't) held up.  So, on April 9th, I posted this Tweet:

This was the picture the Tweet linked to:

Almost immediately, I got a reply from Saucony asking for a direct message with my contact info.  They wanted more information.  After a week of waiting, and straightening out some confusion on Saucony's end with their direct messages, I got a reply:

Wow. That's customer service.

I got the shoes yesterday. A brand new pair of Saucony Peregrines. The new version has some reinforcement in the areas that blew out on both shoes of my last pair.

Can't wait to try these puppies out.

I haven't had that kind of responsive customer service in a while. It's not as if the original pair of Peregrines didn't have some miles on them. They did. Kudos to Saucony, though, for being stand-up and offering a replacement pair with minimal hassle. I wish other companies were as responsive.

Anyone have any similar experiences with running/outdoor companies?

On another topic, I must admit to occasionally having thoughts like these.  In fact, yesterday after a 9-mile run (with a summit of Mt. Sanitas in the middle) followed by a massage table pummeling at In Motion Rehabilitation, the question:  "What the hell am I doing?" did fleetingly cross my mind.

The Week That Was - 4/15 - 4/21. Decent.

A decent week.

• Six runs; one day off
• 72.58 miles
• 9,982 feet o' elevation gain
• 11:27 spent running
• One yoga session
• Daily foam rolling & hip mobility/strengthening exercise routines

Sunday:  A.M. - 1.5-hour yoga session.  P.M. - Bergen Peak Summit (2:04; 12 miles; 2,199 feet o' elevation gain) - Backyard route with Maya to the 9,800-foot summit of our local peak.  Even after not being on a long run in a while, Maya ran strong, leading up and down. Nice and quiet out with a light snow falling.

Maya. Dog tired. Post-run.

Monday:  Off.  Crazy schedule between work and family obligations.

Tuesday:  Bergen Peak Upper Loop (1:17; 7.96 miles; 1,681 feet o' elevation gain) - Neighborhood access route to Meadow View Trail, then climbed the southeastern flank of the mountain via a social trail. Great views of Mt. Evans.

Looking west toward Mt. Evans from southern side of Bergen Peak.

Wednesday:  Bergen Peak Upper Loop (1:31; 9 miles; 1,844 feet o' elevation gain) - From the lower lot at Elk Meadow Open Space.

Thursday:  Marshall Mesa Loop (2:19; 16.42 miles; 977 feet o' elevation gain) - Big loop starting early morning from Marshall Mesa parking lot across from convenience store on road to Eldorado Canyon. Ran most of this loop during the Southside 50K fun run back in January. I guessed it would be about 12 miles. I was about four miles wrong in that guess. Took the pace way easy, just jogging most of the time. Felt good on the run, but a bit bored now and then with the wide-open terrain.  Failed to bring any water or nutrition. Mistake.

The Flatirons from somewhere on Marshall Mesa

Friday:  Alderfer-Three Sisters (1:03; 6.16 miles; 857 feet o' elevation gain) - Easy run from the lower lot around the Sisters rock formation via the Secret Trail, down into Blair Ranch, then back up through the meadow at the base of Evergreen Mountain and back to the lower lot. Nice jog.

Old homestead barn on the Mountain Muhly Trail in Alderfer-Three Sisters

Saturday:  Troublesome Gulch - Soda Creek - Elk Meadow (3:11; 20.03 miles; 2,406 feet o' elevation gain). Easy paced long run around North Evergreen. Nice mix of trail, paved roads, dirt roads and bike paths. Ran with DW, who is training for his first ultra, the Greenland 50K. Pace was very easy.

I'm still taking it easy due to a twitchy right IT band. That means no speedwork and minimal intensity on my runs.  I toss in a few fartleks now and then on undulating trail, and have run a few sets of trail miles in the low 6s, but that's about it intensity-wise.

The week prior, I spent an hour on a "massage" table at In Motion Rehabilitation in Boulder enduring, literally, the most intense pain I have ever experienced as Shirley dug into my hips, glutes, hamstrings, quads and calves. The goal: to loosen up muscles that have been overly tight for years. I'm planning on similar sessions every two weeks in hopes that it will help break my streak of injuries. Additionally, I am making foam rolling and a variety of hip/glute/core strengthening/mobility exercises part of my daily routine.  Finally, I plan to continue twice-a-week yoga sessions, and add in at least one gym weight-lifting session.

The goal:  start August's Leadville 100 healthy.

Still Kickin'...

It's been far too long since my last post. Quite a lot of things going on between work, family trips and jogging.

More to come soon(ish).

Shrine Mountain Inn hut trip 2012:

JP, CP and Paul G hiking last weekend into the Shrine Mountain Inn atop Vail Pass

Alpenglow on the Tenmile Range from Walter's Cabin

Florida Keys Trip w/ jP - happy 10th birthday!

jP swimming with a manatee in Florida Bay off Key Largo