Week of March 19 to March 25

SUNDAY

Next Sunday is the first half-marathon of the year. Last year I came in 253/1,017 (24.9%). This year's goal is the top 20% - which based on last year would have required a 1:47:43

A few minor aches likely due to back-to-back 50+ mile weeks so decided to begin "tapering" today and do a little "speed" work at the track, just a few blocks away

First trip was a warm-up - slow / 1:44 / slow / 1:40. All good

Second trip was with Hud for some tennis ball. He gets ripped off. I hit the ball as far as a I can (9 times today) and he sprints as fast as he can and it doesn't count for his yearly total

Last trip was slow / 4x at 7:22 / slow / 1:34 / slow

Week ending Sunday March 25
Hudson 12.9 miles with 1 summit of Sanitas
Chris 28.6 miles with 3,607'


SATURDAY

Betasso Preserve with Hud. Saturday (and Wednesday) is "No bikes day". 3.3 miles with 600' at a mellow mostly hiking pace

Wonderland and Hogback in the afternoon on a perfect 71F sunny afternoon. 6 miles and 900'


FRIDAY

South Mesa with Hud early. 5 miles with what turns out to be 800' (I had always guessed 450'). Hud trotted after a herd of deer - didn't chase which was nice of him. Later heard a noise when we were 2 miles up in the foothills and remembered the bears have woken up. Who knows - could have been a chipmunk


THURSDAY

Day off as Maureen had successful surgery. She had to be at the hospital at 6am. I told her that was perfect - we would drop her off and me and Hudson would go run Green Mountain at sunrise. She did NOT think that was as good an idea as waiting with her until the surgery at 7:30am


WEDNESDAY

Took Hudson to Teller Farms late on a sunny cool morning. He was puzzled at first by the horses but eventually got out for a 2 mile trot and socialization with 4 other dogs




TUESDAY

Hudson shattered his personal best on Mount Sanitas by over 5 minutes - 2.6 miles with 1,357' in 45:37. The cool weather helped - sunny and 28F





Bobolink in the afternoon. Easy and flat. 6.75 miles

MONDAY

Day off

Week of March 12 to March 18

SUNDAY

Went with Hudson to Green Mountain. No intention of a summit as a chain on my microspikes broke last weekend and I haven't fixed it. Maybe 1.4 miles and 750'. I can tell when Hudson is tired - today he endlessly barked at everyone he saw

White Ranch in late morning. 9 miles and 1,750'

Week ending Sunday March 18
Hudson 11.7 miles
Chris 50.4 miles with 8,210'


SATURDAY

After an awesome 10 hour sleep went with Hudson up to Sugarloaf Mountain - a new summit for him. He's quite proud



It's not exactly Green Mountain - 1.8 miles with 477' but the summit is over 8,900'. After goofing around for awhile we did an additional 2 miles on the Switzerland Trail

Later ran on Magnolia Road which apparently is where Olympians train for the elevation (8,600') and it's a relatively flat quiet dirt road. Just as I was about to start the run a guy drove up and asked if we had seen his 3 coonhounds who had taken off chasing a mountain lion. Poor guy



3.4 miles with 200'


FRIDAY

Gave Hudson the day off. After work (1:30pm) went to South Mesa and ran to Chautauqua and back. It was an amazing day - 76 and sunny, but 70% of the run is through woods. The trail is pretty "technical" - which I think means rocky. I was dead at the end 2:47 later. It was 13.4 miles with 2,700' - exactly the Los Alamos half marathon in 2 months


THURSDAY

Went with Hudson to Mount Sanitas but he was having none of that after 5 miles yesterday. So we drove 4 miles west up Sunshine Canyons and did the much easier Bald "Mountain" - 1.5 miles and 230'

After being irritated by work for several hours went to Hogback Ridge on a perfect day - sunny and 68. 4 miles with 900'


WEDNESDAY

Was going to go with Hudson and do Mount Sanitas but slept in until 7am. We went to South Mesa instead - 5 miles with 450' in 53:52 - a Hudson PR. Hud saw those two large German Shepherds - the largest was indifferent but the other gave a snarl and bark but all was good

Met Leadville Chuck at Marshall Mesa. We headed along Community Ditch to Doudy Draw and over to South Mesa and did Towhee Trail to Shadow Canyon. 8.94 miles per Chuck's Garmin watch and I'll guess 600'. Good times, great day off work


TUESDAY

Day off as not too much sleep and a team presentation at work. Felt guilty


MONDAY

Day off

Week of March 05 to March 11

SUNDAY

Teller Farms with Hudson. 4 miles and a little "training" - he got maybe 40 "good boy"s and 15 "Hudson!"s as the trail goes through cows. Strangely he wasn't too interested except in the smells

Mount Falcon in Morrison in the late morning. 9.1 miles with 2,480'

Week ending Sunday March 11
Hudson an awesome 17.3 miles with - not that he's counting - 4,151' and two summits
Chris 50.2 miles with 7,625'


SATURDAY

Hudson and I woke up at 5:30am to hit Green Mountain. Trail conditions sucked for a fast time - stretches of dry and stretches of ice with a layer of melted water from the sun to make it slippery. Not a big deal - we were out for a good time. 5.7 miles and 2,344' - Hud's 8th Green summit




FRIDAY

Wrapped up work early so went to Teller Farms and did a 12.3 mile run with 694' of rolling hills. Sunny and warm


THURSDAY

Sunny morning and 20F so Hudson and I hit the Mesa Trail. 5 miles with 450'. Highlights included Hud playing with a Great Dane and me falling on my ass. Some of the shaded stretches up in the flatirons were steep and very icy. Not sure why Hud looks like he's tipping over




WEDNESDAY

Not a good sleep and a 12-hour work day. Toss in some freezing rain and all-day fog. That's enough excuses to justify a day off


TUESDAY

Awesome morning; sunny and 50 at 7am as Hudson and I started Mount Sanitas. Felt (and Hudson looked with tongue hanging out) as though Sanitas was kicking our ass but Hudson set a record - 2.6 miles and 1,357' in 50:39

Marshall Mesa area in the afternoon for a 4.8 mile run with 300'. It was over 70 degrees




MONDAY

Day 6 since the teeth were removed so I can run again. 6.7 lazy fun flat miles on the Bobolink trail. It was awesome - after 2 weeks of rain in Seattle it was 65 with a blazing sun. I passed through a few hundered grazing cows - including 25 baby cows - and a prairie dog colony and saw a deer

Hud had the day off as he was tired from standing the entire 21 hour drive to Boulder, staring bitterly out the window

Got the results from The Smelt Run 10K - 22 out of 165. Even made the photo section from the start line. Handsome devil...

Week of February 27 to March 04

SATURDAY & SUNDAY

Not allowed to run and drove 21 hours from Seattle to Boulder. Generally ate ok aside from pancakes at McDonalds. Not many options in Idaho & Wyoming along the interstate. Mostly hummus and baby fruit puree packets I brought with me

Week ending Sunday March 4
Hudson no miles
Chris 6.0 miles with 100'


FRIDAY

Not allowed to run


THURSDAY

Signed up for "Rudi's Organic 2012 Boulder Spring Half Marathom" on April 1st


WEDNESDAY

Day off. Not supposed to run until Monday

February
Hudson 38.9 miles
Chris 139.8 miles with 17,236'

Unimpressive but not a disgrace


TUESDAY

Day off as two wisdom teeth were removed


MONDAY

6.0 miles on Watershed Preserve in Redmond. Hud had the day off - since his harness was in the car (which wasn't at home)