Kinda p---ing me off...

I know it's been quiet for awhile, but for the better part of the last two weeks, I've been getting in some serious work. I've gotten in a 6.6-mile training run around the Albuquerque Academy a week ago Saturday and a 7-mile training run this past Saturday. I've gotten in all of my assigned training runs each week, including a couple with the dog in tow and another one that included an additional Academy appearance, and I'm noticing that my times are coming down, albeit slowly and in small amounts. I've gotten in roughly four separate 18+ mile bike rides, usually on days when I also got a training run in, during the same span. Hell, even got a good 20 minutes in on a rowing machine and another 30 in on a stationary bike. The eating's not always been great, but it's definitely been better overall, and you know what I've got to show for it? Look at the right-hand column. Yeah, that's right.

Pinche working out...

Yeah. That's right.

So, where were you Sunday morning at 7? In bed sleeping, or maybe reading the paper with a cup of coffee? Really? That's nice...for you, anyway.

For the first time in what seems like an eternity, I got up to spend at least part of a weekend with CS and his family. Reminded me how much I miss all of them and how much more often I need to get back up there. And part of the plan for the weekend was to tackle the Incline in Manitou Springs (which we wouldn't really do because it's illegal). The Incline is an abandoned cog railway track that goes up one of the lower hills at the foot of Pike's Peak. It's basically a mile-long staircase of railroad ties, some with a 2-3 foot rise between steps/ties. The track is actually a little treacherous in spots and since lawyers can ruin any and everything, it's posted as private property and illegal to hike up, down, or maybe even look at. Hence, neither I, nor CS, nor any of the other 50ish people we didn't see not on the trail were there on Sunday. Because that would be illegal.

I can't believe it was that long ago, but a little over 2 1/2 years ago, CS and I went up and hit the trail (which we wouldn't really do because it's illegal) before going to one of the li'l CSer's soccer games. Now, this trail is almost exactly a mile long, it starts at 6,574 feet above sea level and finishes up at 8,585 feet. A gain of 2,011 in altitude. In just over a mile. And I'm already breathing heavy just from walking from the car to the start of the trail. Anyway, first time out, I made it up maybe 2/3 of it before we had to bail off of it onto a nearby trail and get to the game. Never felt good about not being able to finish it, and have wanted to go back and beat it ever since. Which, of course, I wouldn't ever do because it's illegal.

Fast forward to Sunday morning. CS and I were out of the house at 6:15 and started up the trail before 7. Like last time, which never happened, I was already breathing heavy by the time we got to the trail head. Started off at a slow but steady pace, which I was able to keep up for about the first 1/3 of a mile. Then the slope really kicked in (as much as a 68% grade), and I slowed waaaaay down. But dammit if I didn't get to the top and finish that bastard. Except I didn't, because that would be illegal. CS, of course, bounded up the thing, then came back down a little less than 1/4 of the way, and pep talked me the rest of the way up. Some day I'm going to be able to run like that guy.

Just not up the Incline, because, you see, that would be illegal.

Where's Waldo

It's been awhile and I'll get to el foto in a bit. Last week I went up the Barr trail to No Name Creek - first time since the DNF 20 miler (of a 13 mile race). Took it easy, walked the whole way, and was only a few minutes off my PR. Total roundtrip is only about 7 miles and about 1:38. Felt good to get up there again.

Thursday I did the running group 1 min hard/easy for 30 minutes workout. Pushed it hard, and was satisfied with my effort. My 4 hill repeats at the end were a bit slower than previously, all four times were over :40.

Sunday went for a long run hoping to get in 2:30 of total time, with the goal being to run most of that. Went to Waldo Canyon (does the picture make sense now?). This is a lollipop trail with a 1.7 m hike in, a 3.5 mi loop and then of course the 1.7 back. I haven't done this in awhile and had no idea what kind of time I was looking at, so I was trying to plan some extra time in the event I finished well before my 2:30 goal. Got to the loop in :28 min. HR high the entire time. Completed the loop in :58 min which then put the whole workout at 1:26. I was pondering what to do: a) down to the trail head and back and then back (the problem being when i got to the car i was probably going to stop b) another loop (though that may put me well past 2:30) c) past the car and continue on another trail for a bit and return. I was favoring option C until I got to the beginning/end of the loop and BAM, i decided to go for it again! My thought this time was to walk more of the first part, as it climbs quite a bit, and then really push the rest of it. My thought was that the time would be a little over an hour for the 2nd loop, then the 20 ,inutes back down for a total closer to2:50-3:00, with sub 3:00 being my goal.

So I ended up finishing the second loop in :50 min - 8 minutes faster, despite walking more of it! This is a perfect example of why there are plenty of PPA Wave 1 "runner" who walk the entire race. Total time 2:40.

Quiet = Not Always a Bad Thing

OK, so usually me going quiet is a bad thing, but this week it's just that I haven't found/made the time to get in here and keep things up to date. Doesn't mean I wasn't thinking of y'all.

Got in all three of my training runs this week. Not terribly impressive when you realize that, per the program, we're only supposed to be running for 20 minutes each run, but been trying to run them a bit faster than usual and see if that'll make a difference in the long run. If I can keep that up for awhile, especially while the training runs are still relatively short, I'm hoping to see some results.

Also got in a nice ride after work last night, riding from my house to the kickball game and back. You never think about how far uphill a place is when you're in a car, but boy does it become apparent when you're on a bike. Didn't wear the HR monitor, but you can tell from the time/avg. speed how much a hill it was to get up:

To: 7.04mi/43:51/714C/9.6mph-avg
From: 6.65mi(started the clock a bit late)/27:48/368C/14.4mph-avg

Needless to say, the ride home was sweet. May not have had to pedal the bike for about 5 minutes at one point. Still, looking at my effort and then looking at Lance's down in the Tour de la Gila, well...



suffice to say I ain't sipping champagne on the bike on the Champs Elysees anytime too soon.