Sierra
Sierra
Friday, November 5, 2010
Friday, 11/05/10 Now I am 6' tall
I'll admit that I have laughed at these Hoka shoes more than once, but I figured I can't knock em till I try them. I got a test pair today and plan to give them a whirl tomorrow. I'll report back soon.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Thursday, 11/04/10 Green Mountain
Ran up Green this morning from Chautauqua, up Amphi/Saddle/Greenman at what started off as a painful effort and not very quick, until I backed off the pace a bit and just gave in to the fact that I was not at all on today. Headed back down Greenman at a very casual pace, intending to continue down Saddle Rock/Amphi, but at the last minute hung a left and took Greenman down to Gregory. I really like technical trails, but that new(ish)/refurbished stretch of trail between Ranger and Saddle Rock, just perfectly smooth, gently twisting and undulating singletrack through the forest is a really nice treat.
Warmup: ~5 minutes
Up Amphi/Saddle/Greenman: 34:42
Down Greenman/Gregory: 28
Cooldown back to Chautauqua: ~4 minutes
Warmup: ~5 minutes
Up Amphi/Saddle/Greenman: 34:42
Down Greenman/Gregory: 28
Cooldown back to Chautauqua: ~4 minutes
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Tuesday, 11/02/10 Green Mountain
As I rolled up to my normal parking spot by the bridge at the base of Flag just a few minutes before 3pm, I was surprised to see that all spots were taken. It turned out to be a great coincidence, as I drove up to park at the Gregory lot, I passed Tony running up the road and asked if he minded company.
We headed up Gregory at a moderate conversational pace, passed the cabin in 17ish (I think, as I was not really paying attention) and kept the pace even until a bit after the Greenman/Ranger junction. Almost imperceptibly, we began to dial up the effort, conversation ceased and we settled into a fairly steady effort. It was a bit harder than I had planned to push, but I had no plan or real reason to hold back, so I just focused on Tony's heels and we cruised up the mountain in perfect sync. We topped out in 36, which was good considering the casual start and might have even been a PR on the upper half then for me at least.
After hanging out on the summit for 5 or so minutes, we decided to take advantage of such a perfect Fall day and headed down Green/Bear, Bear Canyon and then Mesa Trail. We went a solid pace, chatting all the while and stopped a few times for bio breaks, rock in shoe removal, wildlife camera investigating and scoping future bushwhack routes.
Tony bailed off the Mesa Trail at Skunk Canyon to go do some barefoot miles and I continued North back to Chautauqua, or oops, I forgot, back to Gregory TH, which meant a good bit more climbing/rolling terrain on the Bluebell-Baird trail back to the car instead of the nice smooth sail I had in my mind back to Chautauqua. An awesome run on an awesome day. Thanks Tony, I appreciated the company and conversation.
I did not really catch any splits, but we were 36 up Green and 1:29 for the loop with the summit break and a few stops on the way down.
Start: 3pm
Finish: 4:29pm
We headed up Gregory at a moderate conversational pace, passed the cabin in 17ish (I think, as I was not really paying attention) and kept the pace even until a bit after the Greenman/Ranger junction. Almost imperceptibly, we began to dial up the effort, conversation ceased and we settled into a fairly steady effort. It was a bit harder than I had planned to push, but I had no plan or real reason to hold back, so I just focused on Tony's heels and we cruised up the mountain in perfect sync. We topped out in 36, which was good considering the casual start and might have even been a PR on the upper half then for me at least.
After hanging out on the summit for 5 or so minutes, we decided to take advantage of such a perfect Fall day and headed down Green/Bear, Bear Canyon and then Mesa Trail. We went a solid pace, chatting all the while and stopped a few times for bio breaks, rock in shoe removal, wildlife camera investigating and scoping future bushwhack routes.
Tony bailed off the Mesa Trail at Skunk Canyon to go do some barefoot miles and I continued North back to Chautauqua, or oops, I forgot, back to Gregory TH, which meant a good bit more climbing/rolling terrain on the Bluebell-Baird trail back to the car instead of the nice smooth sail I had in my mind back to Chautauqua. An awesome run on an awesome day. Thanks Tony, I appreciated the company and conversation.
I did not really catch any splits, but we were 36 up Green and 1:29 for the loop with the summit break and a few stops on the way down.
Start: 3pm
Finish: 4:29pm
Monday, November 1, 2010
Monday, 11/01/10 Green Mountain
After walking around Chautauqua with Allison, Amelie, Isabelle and Sierra, I got an hour long pass to hit up Green Mountain while they hung out on the lawn next to the van. After a ~5 minute casual warm up to the Gregory TH, I started my watch and headed up Amphi/Saddle/Greenman at a moderate, but lousy feeling pace. My legs felt like lead and it was as though I were running on a slippery treadmill and seemed as though I was going nowhere, or at least nowhere fast. I debated cutting the run short, as to not hold up the family, but I just kept going, not pushing, but not really holding back either. My time splits were nothing great, but not as terrible as it felt, so I pressed a little bit harder for the next 8 or 9 minutes above the Saddle Rock/Greenman Junction (only because it is flat/down for a short while) and then slowly faded toward the end, topping out in a better than anticipated 33:55. Nothing great, but much better than I would have guessed early on. My final split was actually close to PR pace, so I guess I just needed a bit of a warm up. The final switchbacks were coated in a light dusting of snow, a nice surprise and a reminder that Winter is right around the corner on this first day of November.
Splits:
Up:
6:44
12:52
19:48
33:55
Down in 20:55
Splits:
Up:
6:44
12:52
19:48
33:55
Down in 20:55
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Saturday, 10/30/10 Basic Boulder Mountain Marathon
I was pretty sure that I would be unable to participate in this years Basic Boulder Mountain Marathon (otherwise known as an end of season BTR social run), but at the last minute, got confirmation that I could get out for a few hours. Knowing that a few hours would not be enough to complete the entire circuit, I elected to stash my car at the Cragmoor TH (major thanks to Brandon for picking me up) which enabled me to at least join in some of the fun.
We started off from Phil's house around 9am, where we headed toward Flagstaff at a very casual/conversational pace and it was great to catch up with friends new and old. It was a little crazy how many prolific runners were out to celebrate running in Boulder on such a fine day. Tony Krupicka, Dave Mackey, Scott Jurek, Geoff Roes and Nick Clark to name a few, plus more than a handful of very fast local guys and gals, too many to try to name.
Once we passed Flagstaff Road, Dave and I inadvertantly got a small gap on the group behind, but never deliberately upped the pace, as we were just cruising along at the high end of conversational pace (for me at least) but Dave was having no trouble, nor was Tony, whose voice we could hear chatting away a little ways back over all the other voices.
Dave and I topped out on Green together, less than a minute ahead of the group. I asked if he wanted to wait, but he elected to keep on going, so I led the way back down. We kept a pretty casual pace down Green-Bear and Bear Canyon, just chatting away and joking a bunch, enjoying an absolutely perfect fall day. Once we hit the Mesa Trail, we headed South and at Shanahan, I said bye to Dave and another guy named Scott? that caught up to us and back tracked a bit to chat with the group behind. I got in front of Jurek and went along at the casual pace they were going, behind him was Geoff, Nick, Ryan Cooper, Johannes and a handful of guys I did not know. Before long, we caught up with Dave again who stopped for a nature break and we all just cruised along in sync to the Bluestem Trail, then down to the East end, where I very reluctantly had to bail at 10:55am, missing out on the ascent of Shadow Canyon/SoBo/Bear where I was guessing the intensity would pick up a bit.
Eager to get home and score points for being timely, the hardest running of the day was my trip back to the Cragmoor TH. I was pushing fairly hard and managed to get back there in 13 minutes.
Though I was a little bummed to bail early (as I was feeling great and wanted to go the entire distance) I was elated to get out for part of the run at least on such a perfect day. Cruising along with some of the superstars of the sport/great friends made for a day I will always remember.
We started off from Phil's house around 9am, where we headed toward Flagstaff at a very casual/conversational pace and it was great to catch up with friends new and old. It was a little crazy how many prolific runners were out to celebrate running in Boulder on such a fine day. Tony Krupicka, Dave Mackey, Scott Jurek, Geoff Roes and Nick Clark to name a few, plus more than a handful of very fast local guys and gals, too many to try to name.
Once we passed Flagstaff Road, Dave and I inadvertantly got a small gap on the group behind, but never deliberately upped the pace, as we were just cruising along at the high end of conversational pace (for me at least) but Dave was having no trouble, nor was Tony, whose voice we could hear chatting away a little ways back over all the other voices.
Dave and I topped out on Green together, less than a minute ahead of the group. I asked if he wanted to wait, but he elected to keep on going, so I led the way back down. We kept a pretty casual pace down Green-Bear and Bear Canyon, just chatting away and joking a bunch, enjoying an absolutely perfect fall day. Once we hit the Mesa Trail, we headed South and at Shanahan, I said bye to Dave and another guy named Scott? that caught up to us and back tracked a bit to chat with the group behind. I got in front of Jurek and went along at the casual pace they were going, behind him was Geoff, Nick, Ryan Cooper, Johannes and a handful of guys I did not know. Before long, we caught up with Dave again who stopped for a nature break and we all just cruised along in sync to the Bluestem Trail, then down to the East end, where I very reluctantly had to bail at 10:55am, missing out on the ascent of Shadow Canyon/SoBo/Bear where I was guessing the intensity would pick up a bit.
Eager to get home and score points for being timely, the hardest running of the day was my trip back to the Cragmoor TH. I was pushing fairly hard and managed to get back there in 13 minutes.
Though I was a little bummed to bail early (as I was feeling great and wanted to go the entire distance) I was elated to get out for part of the run at least on such a perfect day. Cruising along with some of the superstars of the sport/great friends made for a day I will always remember.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Thursday, 10/28/10 Green Mountain
Went with Allison, started from halfway (we were short on time), up Greenman, down Ranger. Though a long ways from her previous fitness, she is getting her energy back and jogged the flatter stretches and hiked fast on the steeper stuff, then we ran back down to the car. It was pleasantly cool and sunny and the high mountains to the West are dressed in a nice thick, new coat of white.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Wednesday, 10/27/10 Eldorado Mountain
After a few days off tending to babies (not to mention the hideous wind), I was driving toward Boulder intending to run Green, but turned toward Eldo at the last minute with the intention of running up Eldorado Mountain. I parked where the road turns to dirt and took the back way to the Fowler Trail and then up the Rattlesnake Gulch Trail at a very easy pace. About 2/3 of the way up the trail, where it switchbacks near the bench and signs, I got off the trail and headed up the steepish hillside onto the NW ridge. This worked OK, but seemed a bit long and I think was slower than my normal route of staying on the trail, almost to the tracks and heading directly up the very steep hillside at the log fence.
I was cold to start, but since I was going uphill, I was maintaining a decent temperature in shorts, t-shirt and a thermal bike shirt, but once on the ridge, the wind was pounding and I was glad that (reluctantly at the last minute) I stuffed another light long sleeve shirt and light windbreaker into my jersey pockets and frantically put them on. I kept going along the rough ridge, often times getting thrown off balance. I came down with a bad case of "ice cream headache" from the freezing temperatures and hammering wind and was really wishing that I had a warm hat and/or balaclava. Puddles in the rocks were frozen solid, which helped assure me that it truly was cold and I was not just being a wimp (OK, I was being a little bit wimpy). Each step I contemplated bailing, as this was the most uncomfortable I have been in recent memory. I tried working my way up on the steeper and more over grown leeward/East side of the ridge, but progress was painfully slow and at times dangerous, so I alternately took my chances with the wind.
With low motivation, I was just not on top of my game and my coordination, recollection of the route and navigational abilities were a bit off and I constantly found myself taking more time than necessary to route find around obstacles.
I tagged the summit and paused for not a second and started working my way down. As has happened to me before, the terrain slowly lures one a bit far to the right on the descent, but I was leery of this and only had to make one minor correction through some rough bushes to get back on track and re-find the start of the NW ridge. My descent was slow and cautious as I tried to not get blown off and make a bad mis-step into the talus or take a ~15 foot fall. I bailed off the ridge a bit earlier than on my ascent which made for a more efficient line back down to the Rattlesnake Gulch Trail. The remainder of the run back to the car was relatively warmer and pleasant, even though the wind was still cranking up intermittently. This was really more of a hike/bushwhack with a jogging approach.
Up: 1:07
Down: :53
I was cold to start, but since I was going uphill, I was maintaining a decent temperature in shorts, t-shirt and a thermal bike shirt, but once on the ridge, the wind was pounding and I was glad that (reluctantly at the last minute) I stuffed another light long sleeve shirt and light windbreaker into my jersey pockets and frantically put them on. I kept going along the rough ridge, often times getting thrown off balance. I came down with a bad case of "ice cream headache" from the freezing temperatures and hammering wind and was really wishing that I had a warm hat and/or balaclava. Puddles in the rocks were frozen solid, which helped assure me that it truly was cold and I was not just being a wimp (OK, I was being a little bit wimpy). Each step I contemplated bailing, as this was the most uncomfortable I have been in recent memory. I tried working my way up on the steeper and more over grown leeward/East side of the ridge, but progress was painfully slow and at times dangerous, so I alternately took my chances with the wind.
With low motivation, I was just not on top of my game and my coordination, recollection of the route and navigational abilities were a bit off and I constantly found myself taking more time than necessary to route find around obstacles.
I tagged the summit and paused for not a second and started working my way down. As has happened to me before, the terrain slowly lures one a bit far to the right on the descent, but I was leery of this and only had to make one minor correction through some rough bushes to get back on track and re-find the start of the NW ridge. My descent was slow and cautious as I tried to not get blown off and make a bad mis-step into the talus or take a ~15 foot fall. I bailed off the ridge a bit earlier than on my ascent which made for a more efficient line back down to the Rattlesnake Gulch Trail. The remainder of the run back to the car was relatively warmer and pleasant, even though the wind was still cranking up intermittently. This was really more of a hike/bushwhack with a jogging approach.
Up: 1:07
Down: :53
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Sunday, 10/24/10 Green Mountain
Driving to Boulder, I was feeling sluggish, low on energy and lacking sleep. I was mentally into getting out for a run, but my body was just not feeling all that into it. As soon as I laced up my shoes and got on the trail though, everything seemed better and I was feeling springy. I headed up Gregory/Crown Rock up to the Flagstaff trail at a quick pace, but not really digging too deep. Once at the top of Flagstaff, I looped around on the Ute trail, crossed Flagstaff road and then over to the Ranger Cabin. I hung a right up the Long Canyon Trail, SuperFlag, W. Ridge to the top of Green and was just feeling really solid.
Feeling great at this point, I was itching to crank it down Bear Canyon and Mesa Trail back to Chautauqua. My footwork was spot on and I was in that zen like state of focus and concentration, feeling as though I was flowing down the trail like water. As I got to the Bear Canyon/Mesa Junction, I could see a runner going fast a minute or so down the trail and in an instant, I got that competetive surge of adreneline and was in chase mode. I had already been going near my limit on the descent, but I upped the intensity even more and caught the runner just before the Mallory Cave jct. and kept pushing the pace even higher, dropped quickly across Skunk Canyon and punched it up the other side. I could see the runner hanging tough just seconds back, but I was on a mission to crack him and push to a PR descent back to Chautauqua. I could see I was opening a gap and just kept rolling it, gaining a few minutes by the end.
I hung out until until he rolled in and we exchanged compliments on a job well done and chatted for a while. He admitted that I spooked him, kicking him into competition mode, but he blew on the climb out of Skunk Canyon. I gave him credit for a good fight and he certainly pressed me into giving it all I had. All in all, an awesome day out and I felt spot on, totally in the groove.
Splits:
Gregory TH to Flag: 17:20
Ranger Cabin: 26:04
SuperFlag: 43:08
Green: 57:43
Green to Bear W. Ridge jct.: 8:24
Wood Bridge getting into Bear Canyon: 11
Mesa Trail: 23:04
Finish at Chautauqua: 42:13
RT: 1:39:56 (plus ~7 minutes of warm up/cool down)
Feeling great at this point, I was itching to crank it down Bear Canyon and Mesa Trail back to Chautauqua. My footwork was spot on and I was in that zen like state of focus and concentration, feeling as though I was flowing down the trail like water. As I got to the Bear Canyon/Mesa Junction, I could see a runner going fast a minute or so down the trail and in an instant, I got that competetive surge of adreneline and was in chase mode. I had already been going near my limit on the descent, but I upped the intensity even more and caught the runner just before the Mallory Cave jct. and kept pushing the pace even higher, dropped quickly across Skunk Canyon and punched it up the other side. I could see the runner hanging tough just seconds back, but I was on a mission to crack him and push to a PR descent back to Chautauqua. I could see I was opening a gap and just kept rolling it, gaining a few minutes by the end.
I hung out until until he rolled in and we exchanged compliments on a job well done and chatted for a while. He admitted that I spooked him, kicking him into competition mode, but he blew on the climb out of Skunk Canyon. I gave him credit for a good fight and he certainly pressed me into giving it all I had. All in all, an awesome day out and I felt spot on, totally in the groove.
Splits:
Gregory TH to Flag: 17:20
Ranger Cabin: 26:04
SuperFlag: 43:08
Green: 57:43
Green to Bear W. Ridge jct.: 8:24
Wood Bridge getting into Bear Canyon: 11
Mesa Trail: 23:04
Finish at Chautauqua: 42:13
RT: 1:39:56 (plus ~7 minutes of warm up/cool down)
Friday, October 22, 2010
Friday, 10/22/10 Green Mountain
Met up with GZ at Chautauqua for a run up Green. Went up the front side at an easy conversational pace and then back via GreenBear/Bear Cnyn/Mesa, going easy and chit chatting the entire time. The foliage is awesome right now and the rain on the way down added to the beauty. As always, it was great to catch up with George, wish we could do this more often.
Up Amphi/Saddle/Greenman: 41 from Gregory (another ~5 from Chautauqua?)
Down Bear Canyon/Mesa: 52
Up Amphi/Saddle/Greenman: 41 from Gregory (another ~5 from Chautauqua?)
Down Bear Canyon/Mesa: 52
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Thursday, 10/21/10 Bear/South Boulder
I was able to sneak out of the house for a bit this morning on the pretense of looking for a furnace filter at McGuckins, yet soon found myself at the Cragmoor TH, ready to get in some quick fresh air. After 4 days off, I felt decent at the start, but my lack of sleep over the past few nights feeding and changing Amelie and Isabelle was quickly creeping up on me. I stubbed my toe and almost fell twice on the way up, as I was feeling a bit lethargic. I just backed off the pace a bit and went back and forth between the high end of moderate and the low end of moderate. I was a complete dope on the downhills/technical and it took all of my concentration to not fall off the edge of the mountain. It was still awesome to be out on a fine Fall day and have a little time to myself.
Splits:
Bear: 43:57
Bear to SoBo: 10:44
SoBo to Bear: 9:30
Descent from Bear: 27:06
RT: 1:31:17
Splits:
Bear: 43:57
Bear to SoBo: 10:44
SoBo to Bear: 9:30
Descent from Bear: 27:06
RT: 1:31:17
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Saturday, 10/16/10 Green/Bear
Had another awesome run on yet another perfect Fall day. Started from 6th/Baseline and jogged easy up to the Gregory TH. Started my watch and headed up Amphi/Saddle/Greenman at a casually moderate pace and topped out in 35:50ish. Not content with just Green on such a day, I continued on over to Bear at a similar trot, just cruising along and enjoying the sunshine on my face. I could have kept going all day if I had enough water, gels and enough time, but I had to get back.
I cruised off of Bear quickly, but not really pushing at all, just on auto pilot, relying on my well choreographed memory of the trail, not to mention my foot accuracy was bomber today. Once on the Mesa Trail, I upped the tempo a bit and cruised it back in to Chautauqua. The trails were quite packed today, I think it is homecoming or something, Boulder was an absolute mess.
Splits:
Green: 35:50ish
Green to Bear: 37:20 (Start W. Ridge: 9:45)
Bear to Chautauqua: 38:15 (Bear Saddle 7:5?, Mesa Trail 16:55)
1:51:25 RT
I cruised off of Bear quickly, but not really pushing at all, just on auto pilot, relying on my well choreographed memory of the trail, not to mention my foot accuracy was bomber today. Once on the Mesa Trail, I upped the tempo a bit and cruised it back in to Chautauqua. The trails were quite packed today, I think it is homecoming or something, Boulder was an absolute mess.
Splits:
Green: 35:50ish
Green to Bear: 37:20 (Start W. Ridge: 9:45)
Bear to Chautauqua: 38:15 (Bear Saddle 7:5?, Mesa Trail 16:55)
1:51:25 RT
Friday, October 15, 2010
Friday, 10/15/10 Green Mountain
What an amazing day, mid 70's, crystal clear blue skies, not a bit of wind, snow capped peaks and brilliant fall colors. Best of all, Allison joined me. Certainly one of the best of my 120 something trips up there this year, days just do not get better than this!
Start of Long Canyon
Mt. Audubon
James Peak
Longs Peak
Bear Peak
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Thursday, 10/14/10 Green Mountain
Brandon and I met up at Chautauqua around 8:45am for a trip up Green. I was going to suggest going up the front, but I know Brandon prefers Gregory/Ranger, as it is a little less steep. My legs were feeling decent and I was feeling like pushing a bit, so I started off quick, intending to break 35 and hopefully PR. I made it to the Ranger Cabin in 15:13, 10 seconds slower than PR pace, but was not too worried. I thought I carried my momentum well into the second half, but my gut feeling told me that I was slowly losing a second or two here and there. I was moving well, but as I made my way through the final switchbacks before the 4-way, I was doing a little mental math and was sure I would not be close and got a little discouraged. Hit the 4-way in 31:46, 23 seconds behind, but pushed hard to the top, recovering 5 seconds, topping out in 34:57, 19 seconds slower than PR, but my second fastest time on that route ever, so I was generally pleased with that all things considered.
After taking a minute or so to catch my breath, I headed back down the trail to meet Brandon a little ways down and followed him back up to the top. I was starting to get anxious to go see my twins and was a little bit more worked over than usual, so instead going over to Bear Peak as previously discussed, we bailed on that idea and just casually jogged back to Chautauqua via Bear Canyon/Mesa Trail chatting it up. It was great to catch up with Brandon, as it has been too long and awesome to push hard and get in a good effort.
Splits:
Cabin: 15:13
Greenman/Ranger jct.: 18:46
Flat spot on ridge: 23:08
4-way: 31:46
Summit: 34:57
Descent to Chautauqua: 50:19
After taking a minute or so to catch my breath, I headed back down the trail to meet Brandon a little ways down and followed him back up to the top. I was starting to get anxious to go see my twins and was a little bit more worked over than usual, so instead going over to Bear Peak as previously discussed, we bailed on that idea and just casually jogged back to Chautauqua via Bear Canyon/Mesa Trail chatting it up. It was great to catch up with Brandon, as it has been too long and awesome to push hard and get in a good effort.
Splits:
Cabin: 15:13
Greenman/Ranger jct.: 18:46
Flat spot on ridge: 23:08
4-way: 31:46
Summit: 34:57
Descent to Chautauqua: 50:19
Wednesday, 10/13/10 Mesa Trail Hike
Allison, Sierra and I got out for a nice, several mile hike on the Mesa/Bluestem trails from S. Mesa TH late in the afternoon. The weather was sunny and pleasantly cool and even a bit chilly as the sun set behind the peaks, but we appreciated the fall colors and temps. Allison is really getting her energy back and is eager to get up Green Mountain again and get in a bit more vertical gain. I am super impressed with her hiking energy, just two weeks after delivering twins.
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