Monday, March 26, 2012

Thoughts Going Into The Spring Spree 10k and 20 Miler #1

After a distance-covered PR of 45 miles last weekend, and a few easy'ish days to recover, I should be more than ready to race hard at the 10k Saturday then turn around and have a great 20 miler on Sunday. My recovery is noticeably better than ever.

The 10k will definitely take more out of me than the 20 miler, since I'll be going for a PR. The course is easy and flat along the Platte River, so my "A goal" is to run a low 35 minute 10k -about 5:40 per mile. It should be possible if I can fully recover in time. Still, as long as I feel strong and run some 6:00, or better, miles I'll be content.
I've been having tons of fun at shorter races since I've moved my focus to ultras, so I'm really excited for this one.

From now until May 12th (50's For Yo Momma) I'm going to run three to four more 20 milers to prep for summer. On Sunday, I'm running the first 20 miler around Lakewood with some good, long climbs. If I manage to recover for Saturday's race, I'll be dead again Sunday for the 20, so the goal is just to finish strong.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Thoughts Going Into The Highline Canal Fatass

Two days and four and a half hours left until I start running. Once I start I won't stop for at least 10 hours.

Just had to put that in writing for myself.

Since December 2010 I've been focusing on trail marathons and 50k's, as well as some shorter trail races now that I've been in Colorado. I didn't think I was going to do anything this long until I was thoroughly ready to race the entire time, but I think this will be a great way to cap off my winter training.

Goals for this one (in order of importance):
1) Finish the entire 100k
2) Run the first 50k in less than 4:50
3) See Sabrina through her first ultra (the second 50k of my race) and witness the birth of a new ultra runner. This one could be hard since she's gona have to run her own race, and I'm not sure how her pace is gona feel after running a 50k beforehand.
4) Perfect my nutrition/hydration game for 50k, and mess around with real, solid food in the second half
5) Have an obscene amount of fun. Always a huge priority, it's last on the list only because if I do pretty much any of the above goals it'll happen.


Gota love living in Denver! Picture stolen from denvermetrotrails.com.
 Check out the complete course map here.

Last week was training as usual, completing my 15th week in a row at 80 miles and doing a few core/hip sessions. This week I cut back:
Mon: biked about 10 miles easy -just to get around, and some core/hip work
Tues: 13 miles, over to Green Mountain, up it, then back home
Wed: 6 miles on trails with water crossings at Bear Creek, soaked in Bear Creek afterward
Thur: Belmar Run Club, about 7 miles easy
Fri: off
Sat: 100K
Sun: whatever I feel like, but definitely something

I'm as ready for this as I ever have been, and I'm getting more excited by the day.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Camp Tahosa #2

I have good news, then bad news, then good news.

First, my interview for Camp Tahosa went fine. It felt great to get back in the scouting environment and be able to wear my uniform again. This year's camp director at Tahosa is Collin and he is the guy who interviewed me. He wasn't much older than me, and, while he has loads more experience than I do in Denver council, I'm confident that I could take his job in the next few years. I'm not saying he isn't good for the job -I'm saying I'm encouraged by how young he was. If anyone my near my age is qualified to run a camp, I am. And after my life-changing experience running Thunderbird NYLT (a leadership camp for scouts in Illinois), I'd love to get to the top of another totem pole and be able to run another camp.

When I'm in front of a large group people, and I can inspire and energize them with what I say, I get one of the best highs I've ever had. The only other time that I get that feeling is when I run: the moment you take over a race and move from second to first place, or realize that you're going to finish a new ultra distance, for example. There isn't much else in my life has come close to the feelings running and scouting have both given me. And nothing else could compare to what the two things have done for my developement as a person.

Second is the bad news. A counselor job (the job I expected to work) at Tahosa only pays $75 per week, although they do house and feed you. Thats only $600 saved after working all day, six days a week, all summer -and that's assuming I could save it all. I guess that's the price you pay for working at a primier scout camp -probly second only to Philmont Scout Ranch. As I sat on the numbers for a few days I realized that it wouldn't work. It's just not responsable for me to only bring in $300 a month. If I send my earnings to my girlfriend to pay half rent then I won't save anything all summer long. That's not something I can do right now with an 800+ dollar insurance bill coming at the end of the summer and a car that's gona need a new engine soon.

Thankfully, a bit of good news came a few days ago. I got a call from Collin asking if I'd like to be the Archery Director -a job that would pay at least double the original $75 per week. Suddenly, Tahosa is a option again.


God, watching this video makes me realize how ready I am for the simplicity of summer running. There's something magical about throwing on shorts and leaving, without the need to suite up.

thank you topozone.com for the map
Real mountains are back on my summer menu.
More to come as it unfolds