The Year in Review

Today ends another year of running

Started in 2007 to help quit smoking. Me and a few guys at work signed up for a half marathon in Port Angeles, WA and kept each other motivated. I did a second half and a 10K

2008 was not a good year for running

When we started travelling in 2009 the running was better and I began training for the Mount Desert Island half in Maine as we would be there in October. Problem was there was no half - only a full marathon. Hahaha!

2010 was great though erratic with 8 races of varying success. The good included an 8K & 10K in BC and a 5K in Seattle at a sub 8-minute pace plus a decent half marathon in Estes Park. The bad included a terrible race in Rollinsville - dressed all in black (long sleeves & long pants) under a blazing sun

After the fire - and being only 30 minutes away from having to run in from Rowena over the Sunshine Saddle to rescue Hudson before he was rescued by Gus - the training became more serious. I decided if we were going to possibly live in the mountains then we both needed to be excellent runners - both distance and elevation. And navigating unknown wooded & mountainous terrain. And that training started October 1st 2010

Year 1 was a good year. Hudson did 323 miles and I did 1,180 miles with 81K feet of gain. We both started doing mountians and added some speed - even ran four races at a sub 7-minute pace.

Navigation was / remains "an area for development" - on October 2 (day 2) I got lost in the woods NE of Quandary (Hudson found the way out when I let him off leash). Also got lost on my first attempt of Green and during a 10K

Anyways, after some success decided to take Year 2 more seriously and set some aggressive goals. Let's see how it went:


General Goals
Win lottery FAIL
Buy a house - No, but one is being considered
Be in B.C. in June to celebrate the Vancouver Canucks Stanley Cup FAIL




Miles
Chris 2,000 - Woo-hoo! 2,000.8
Hudson 500 - Hud crushed it with 615

Elevation Gain
Chris 50 miles - Woo-hoo! 59 miles

Hud did 23 summits: 12 Sanitas, 9 Green and 2 Sugarloaf. Here are some of his best pics










"Race PRs"
5K = 19:59 FAIL
10K = 39:59 FAIL
Half Marathon = 1:39:59 - Woo-hoo! 1:38:44 at the Slacker Half Marathon in June

Run "PRs"
1-mile = 5:59 FAIL
Green 5.3M 2,344' (Saddle/Gregory) = 69:59 - Woo-hoo!  69:34 on May 13. Felt like an asshole running like a crazed madman on a social trail


Races
16 Races - Woo-hoo! 17 races
2 > Half Marathon - Woo-hoo! Although on a technicality. Jemez was 13.7 miles and Breckenridge was 13.3 miles. I think the intent was something more like an Imogene Pass


Mountains
5 > 13,000' (with 2 > 14,000') FAIL
1+ Mountain Pass FAIL


Other
100 Sit-ups Hahaha!
100 Push-ups Hahaha!


2012-13 Goals
Keep it mellow and have fun. Some of my fave runs are lazy jogs on the Bobolink or Buchanan Pass trail or Green Mountain. Over the last few weeks did random summits and it was great to run some and to enjoy views while hiking some

Anyways...the goal is to stay healthy enough to off-set drinking and occasional smokes and to see some cool places - and to have fun with Hudson and Maureen (who is committed to another Jemez in 2013)

Week of September 24 to September 30

SUNDAY

Teller Farms with Hud early am. After just a few minutes I heard a noise in the tall grass and looked at Hud. He heard it too and was heading back to the car - fast. No idea what it was

We swung by Dry Creek and did the loop. He has done a lot of activity lately and is tired. I can tell because he constantly has a disobedient look on his face

I needed 1.3 more miles to hit 2,000 so with a sore ankle and a sore groin headed up to the track for 8 slow boring laps

Week ending Sunday September 30
Hudson 15 miles with 2 trips to the pool
Chris 37.2 miles with 2,839' with 1 summit (Flora). A mediocre week

September
Hudson 55.2 miles with 1 summit
Chris 183.7 miles with 27,321' with 5 summits (Sanitas, Green, Bear, Caribou & Flora)

That does it for the year and this blog. One more post - "The Year in Review" - and we'll start a new blog with a new clever title for the new year starting October 1. It will once again include daily runs for Hudson and me so if that bores you I will not be offended if you don't come back. I enjoy it way too much


SATURDAY

2.1 brisk miles at Dry Creek with Hud before we headed into the mountains. It had been awhile since we did a 9-something pace. I'm not sure he was happy running versus lolly-gagging

Ran / hiked Mount Flora, a 13'er just past the town of Empire. 7 miles with maybe 2,000' - starting above 11,000'. Also came across snow - not much but a warning that time to run up at elevation is running out..




FRIDAY

2.1 miles at Dry Creek with Hud after sunrise. Some sprints for Hud with Tumbles

Headed to South Mesa TH and was planning on running out to Chautauqua and back - which is over 12 miles with maybe 2,000'

Got off to a good start but then got a work call - took it in the bushes so as not to irritate others. Then after 3 miles my phone bounced out of my waistpack and I realized my hat wasn't in there anymore. Tough decision - abandon the run and turn around to look for it or keep going and write it off. It was a cool hat and cost $25 so abandoned the run - which turned out to be the wrong decision since I never found it. Oh well - I've found a pair of sunglasses and lost a hat this year. 6.3 miles with 850'


THURSDAY

Once again we were up early and at Dry Creek in the dark. 2.1 miles - we saw no one else

I had very low motivation to do a longer run and then storms rolled in. Not a good week


WEDNESDAY

It was dark and raining so thought about skipping Dry Creek. Hud went in the back yard and some unseen animal was growling. Skunks do growl

We went to Dry Creek in the dark with headlamp and handheld light. It was so dark I kept Hud on leash which thwarted his attempts to chase a rabbit and a llama. Then we heard louder growling on the other side of a fence. Likely a coyote as it's now just a fact they live in this area. Eventually let him off leash as it grew light and there was another dog to run with

Bobolink late morning. 6.8 miles. 23.5 miles to go...

Took Hud to the pool early afternoon. We've decided it's just not his thing


TUESDAY

Dry Creek with Hud. 4 miles - we did the first loop at a jogging pace then did a loop with Tumbles (pictured here)




MONDAY

15 minutes at the pool was good for Hud

My day:

Week of September 17 to September 23

SUNDAY

Hud and I went to Teller Farms for a change. 4.2 miles - mostly hiking, some jogging

Buchanan Pass late morning. 9.6 easy miles with 1,000' of gain on a great fall day

Week ending Sunday September 23
Hudson 18.4 miles with 4 trips to the pool. A spectacular week
Chris 45.9 miles with 3,687' with 1 summit (Caribou) plus a good race. An excellent weekend salvaged a poor week

So Hudson & I start our year on October 1 - one week left. The 2012 goal for Hudson was 500 miles - he hit 600 today. My goal was 2,000 miles with 50 miles of gain (264,000'). I'm at over 58 miles but with 1,963.6 miles need an injury-free week. Sounds easy but I keep rolling my left ankle (3 times Saturday alone)


SATURDAY

1.8 miles at Dry Creek with Shelly a black lab and her people who threw tennis balls for Hud - he ended up doing a mile with a ball in his mouth

Drove up to Estes Park for the Running of the Bulls 3.75 mile race. Had low expectations as had a relatively unhealthy week but ended up coming in 6th out of 225 at a 7:03 pace. Woo-hoo!

Went to Indian Peaks after and summitted Caribou Peak - bought a book on random mountains last week so gave this a try. It was a 9.4-mile RT with 2,640' gain - topping out at 12,310'. Great run / hike with amazing views. Maureen took a wrong turn and ended going up Rainbow Lakes trail


FRIDAY

2.1 miles at Dry Creek with Tumbles

Took Hud to the pool in the afternoon - a good day with good dogs


THURSDAY

1.4 miles at Dry Creek with Hud

Took Hud to the pool at 4:30pm but Scott Carpenter himself was there for a re-dedication ceremony. No parking available so we took the day off swimming

Went back over to Gunbarrel / Twin Lakes. I ran maybe 2.5 miles while Maureen and Hudson went for a walk


WEDNESDAY

3 miles at Dry Creek. A little jogging for me - Hud hung out with a lot of friends today, including Preston (pictured below)



Took Hud to the Scott Carpenter pool again. He's soooo tired with 8 miles so far this week and and maybe 2.5 hours at the pool. He was definitely the crabbiest dog at the pool

Ran 5K in Gunbarrel / Twin Lakes - checking out the neighbourhood of a house we're thinking about. Ankle was all good. Ran 2 miles with some guy Kenny who lived in the area. There is also a brewery and a gourmet grilled cheese truck in the area - that's definitely a bonus




TUESDAY

Dry Creek with Hud. A brisk 2.1 mile loop - Hud had enough energy to do some sprints with Tumbles and a young black lab

Back to the pool for 40 minutes and a little more time in the water (like 5 minutes)



After 50 consecutive weeks of PR e-mails promising endless schwag I guess I'll sign up for Rudi's Organic Half Marathon in October. Foot is good enough to start running again tomorrow but likely not good enough to head up to Estes Park this weekend for the Running of the Bulls 3.75 mile race




MONDAY

Dry Creek with Hud. Did close to 3 miles walking - maybe foot isn't sprained just sore. Finally saw Dick & Trouble - was worried. He had some sort of "-itis" and was hobbling badly. While walking with Barb and Preston, Barb said if I died on the trail she would steal my Canada sweartshirt. Just an FYI - in case I "die" on the trails

Today is the beginning of 2 weeks of Dog Days at Scott Carpenter Park! We bought the $35 pass



After 3 miles and an hour at the pool Hud was out - snoring all day and all night

Week of September 10 to September 16

SUNDAY

Sprained ankle of sorts, not enough icing yesterday so it is swollen and sore. Hobbled a little with Hud at Dry Creek

Week ending Sunday September 16
Hudson 7.4 miles - he was ok with a mellow week
Chris 42.5 miles with 8,036' and 3 summits (Green, Bear, Evans) plus a fun race


SATURDAY

Short jaunt with Hud at Dry Creek early am before my race. Saw an owl carrying off a dead bunny - at least parts of it. Yikes

Ran the Rattlesnake Ramble, a 4.25 mile race with 825' at Eldorado Canyon State Park. Maybe 115 people including several local legends - plus other legends working the race. Went out running behind the women's Masters course record holder at first and settled back with others who I ran with the rest of the race. Narrow single-track on the first climb that was shared on both the up and down. On the way down nearly had a brutal wipe-out but surprisingly avoided and earned a "nice-save" comment. Saw one tumble on the second climb. Near the finish was sprinting trying to hold off someone behind but was unable. Finished 38:09 in 41/105. Left after enjoying free breakfast - which was too bad as it turned out there were raffle prizes for everyone. I missed out on prizes such as a "Women of Climbing Calendar"

Video of the finish. I'm at 1:09. The guy pointing to the finisher's chute is "Homie" the guy who tried to summit all 58 14'ers in less than 11 days (he did maybe 41 14'ers in 7 days before injury)

RSR 2012a from WgH Productions on Vimeo.

Maureen and I headed up to Mt Evans for our annual run to the summit as the road from Summit Lake closes to cars after Labor Day. It was an awesome day - sunny and warm with some chilly winds. 12 miles RT with just under 1,500' of gain


FRIDAY

Dry Creek with Hud. Ran into a lady who chucked tennis balls for her dog and Hudson awhile

THURSDAY

Met up with Leadville Chuck early to run both Green and Bear. Wandered off-trail on Green which is always fun. Saw local legend Anton - who needs to work on a more jolly "good morning" - on the summit

Headed down a new'ish trail to Bear - but it was closed half-way due to the fire. So...we had to take the long way and go out to the Mesa trail and up Fern Canyon. Fun scramble to the summit where we hung out for awhile. Heading back down LC wandered down a steeper section and almost had a nasty fall but all OK

Headed out to Mesa and back to Chautauqua to Gregory Canyon. 14.1 miles and maybe 5,000'

One of my fave races last year has yet again outstanding race shirts this year:




WEDNESDAY

Day off due to rain and drinks last night


TUESDAY

Dry Creek with Hud. Hung with Preston - who was approached by a coyote on Monday apparently

South Boulder TH and goofed around for 4.7 miles - mixed in with having to take a work call with lousy coverage


MONDAY

Dry Creek with Hud

Week of September 03 to September 09

SUNDAY

Took Hud quickly to Dry Creek for a very short jaunt and got ready for the Neder Nederland 10K. Headed out just after 7am and felt good - but then "disaster" - Boulder Canyon was closed for a f%#king bike race. There is no other simple way to Nederland - so no race for me. Boooooo!

Came home and ran 6.7 miles on the Bobolink at a race pace and then took Hud to the school for some tennis

Week ending Sunday September 9
Hudson 12.6 miles with a summit of Sanitas
Chris 42.1 miles with 9,749' and 3 summits (Sanitas, Green, Bear) plus fun on Longs


SATURDAY

Went to Chautauqua with Hud at sunrise. We made our way up and were jogging past the climbing areas when he got spooked by a bear and that was that - he was on a mission to get back to the car. He even missed 3 deer just 25 yards off the trail - although he snapped out of his trance when he ran into a white lab. 1.9 miles with 600'



Went with Maureen to Longs Peak later and ran to Chasm Lake and back. Well, I did - "someone" missed the turn and kept heading up towards the summit itself. 10 miles with 2,400'




FRIDAY

Dry Creek early am on a drizzly morning. A nice jog with Hud and only Taz was around

We were going to do Mount Evans but the forecast up there was stormy - not a good idea to be at > 14,000'

Instead did Bear Peak after work - 5.3 miles supposedly (questionable Strava data) with 2,700' from the Cragmoor trailhead




THURSDAY

Dry Creek with more energy today. A mellow jog until we ran into Tumbles - then he and Hud were off for some sprints. Poor Tumbles wiped out leaping bushes. Then we ran into Preston. 2.4 miles

Late morning hit Peak 2 in the Boulder Trail Runners 3 Peak Challenge - Green Mountain. Glad I read the instructions just as I was leaving home as it wasn't round-trip and went up Amphitheatre - not my normal start. 47:06 - was happy



Headed down and passed Maureen near the end as she ran a lower loop on Green Mountain for the 3rd time this week

So for this 3 Peaks Challenge I have to use an app called Strava. It's cool in that it knows if I did the correct route for the challenge and then synchs up with the website automatically. What sucks is it seems to be short on distance and maybe a tad high on elevation. The MapMyRun app was the opposite. So for the exact same run Strava said 4.5 miles with 2,385' where MapMyRun had the same route anywhere from 5.1-5.9 miles and never more than 2,100'. I guess on par with most technology - truly amazing yet frustrating...both were free so hard to gripe


WEDNESDAY

Dry Creek with Hud but after the bridge he looked at me and began heading back to the car. 1 mile

My (stupid) ankle was sore so took the day off - which makes for a less fun day


TUESDAY

Mount Sanitas with Hud. 2.6 miles with 1,357'. He was really tired as it was warm at 6:30am - and it's been awhile since he did a mountain

Sunday is the Neder Nederland 10K - an awesome local town race where everyone wins a prize (I won chocolate and Maureen won a shirt). Plus great race shirts with local art - below is this year's




MONDAY

Dry Creek with Hud - he ran with Tumbles then we walked with Preston before running into Pi and some unknown chubby pit bull. 2.4 miles

Went into Denver and eventually found our way to Lair o' the Bear park in Morrison. Just a light jog as my foot was sore - 1.5 miles in a hot sun. Saw a large snake but it wasn't a rattlesnake - it did climb a tree. Great...

Week of August 27 to September 02

SUNDAY

Will do a short post on the other blog but a successful day. Actually beat last year's time by 4m 14s and snuck in under 2:30

Week ending Sunday September 2
Hudson 11.9 miles - solid
Chris 37.7 miles with 5,514' - tapered a little to prepare for the Breck race (which is my tough race)


SATURDAY

Slept in late so Dry Creek was crowded when we showed up. Hud is very tired after running around with several dogs - which is good since no Dry Creek tomorrow

Went to the track after for a slow lap / fast lap (1:37 - ok)

Tomorrow should be a go for the Breckenridge half-marathon. This year I've run 4 races that I've run before and have had a better time in all (although I could have hiked the Eldora 10K faster than last year's "getting-lost" run). That will not happen tomorrow - which is ok. Just not in as good racing shape as last Labor Day - and this is a very tough race:



Likely will be about 10-12 minutes slower than last year's 2:33:56

On the plus side, I'm "carbing" up strongly- so far an 80g-of-carbs vegan cookie, a fantastic breakfast burrito from Moe's, a Jamba Juice protein-berry smoothie and a donut from Dizzy's, a new donut shop up the street...

Took Hud up to the school for some tennis. It was warm and three new friends were there so he was tired




FRIDAY

Woke up early so Hud and I went to Dry Creek in the dark, aside from my headlamp. The nearly full moon was behind clouds. Hud got to chase an owl

Was going to do some late afternoon biking but had to deal with my Yahoo! account being hacked. Irritating

August
Hudson 56.1 miles for the Skunk-boy
Chris 190.2 miles with 29,094

Heading into our last month of our year, Hud will easily hit 600 for the year but I'll need a strong month to hit 2,000


THURSDAY

Dry Creek with Hud. 2.1 miles at a mellow pace

Went to Green Mountain mid-morning. It was 88F when I finished. Worked hard and finally got RT in under 80 minutes - by 1 second. First time since May


WEDNESDAY

Foot was still sore so it was going to be a rest day anyways - but after Hud got skunked at 5:15am much of the next 5-6 hours was spent getting him less foul smelling. He did sneak in about 1.2 miles airing out at Dry Creek - surprisingly the other dogs didn't seem to care he smelled nasty


TUESDAY

Dry Creek with Hud at a fast pace. After taking 1:26 for the first 0.05 miles we did the rest at a 7:54 pace. Hud also got some fast sprints with Kingston and after we were done we hung out with Preston, Kingston and Parker

Went to Green Mountain in the morning - unfortunately I forgot my shoes. Tight on time I decided - after getting some shoes - to do the much flatter Bobolink. 6.7 miles at an 8:18 pace

Unfortunately...



It feels like overuse. May need to take tomorrow off


MONDAY

Dry Creek with Hud at a brisk pace. Hung out with Preston for a bit

Took rest of the day off after a good week