Let the Races Begin!

Tis' the season for racing - for me at least.

I'm already signed up for more races just this year than I've done up to this point in my life and hoping to fit in at least 2 more races if my plans come together. Everything this year is a warm-up for next year w/ the idea that I can work out those first timer nerves and obvious mistakes. As with anything, practice makes perfect (or at least practice makes me better).

What better way to start the season than w/ 54,000 other people?
So seemed the sentiment of my running group, whose constant banter of the event finally persuaded me to sign up so as not to be left out.
The Bolder Boulder 10k Memorial Day Race is the perfect way to feed off some collective athletic energy. So many people, just happy to be running together, for fun, for sport, for whatever, just to run (w/ 54,000 other people). This would also serve as a last training run for my first marathon a week later so I was ok w/ starting out fast, hitting my threshold and maintaining it all the way through.
That morning was cold and overcast, perfect running weather by all accounts. I had no idea what to expect time wise because I've training for the marathon, not a 10k. Three goals were set, which as I've read serves to mentally prepare for 3 different scenarios. First, if I'm feeling like crap, either sore, injured, sick, or just random stomach issues, then an easily obtainable goal set according to my easy pace which I peg as 8min/miles for a 10k or rounded up to 50min. Second, a middle-of-the-road goal. A time that is around my average threshold pace, something slightly challenging but a pace that I've run often during training. Last year's 1/2 marathon was 7:30min/miles so I'm pegging 10k at around 7:15/7:20 or a total time under 45min. And lastly, a dream goal, the pie in the sky if I'm feeling super-human. That dream was sub 7min/miles for a total time under 43:30.
The last time I ran the Bolder Boulder, I just found out via the ever-amazing google, was 1999; which at the sprite age of 26 I ran a 43:25. Hmmm, that can't be right. Nine years ago I did not run, not consistently anyway. I hiked 14er's, albeit very fast, and climbed and lifted weights, but running? No, I did not run and not only did I not run, but at the time, I quite enjoyed every kind of micro-brew available and often partook in smoking a Boulder staple, aka kind bud.
Ok, great reminiscing, but I no longer have a ponytail and can no longer wake up hungover, hit the bong, and haul ass up a a 14,000 foot peak. Snap out of it Matthew, you have children! No, now a days, I have to watch what I eat, sleep, and run, a lot.
Wave B, that's where my Boulder Backroads 1/2 marathon time put me. The 4th wave back w/ an expected finishing time between 43:06 - 44:05 or around 7min/miles. Wait a minute, seriously, 7min/miles? Luckily I hadn't done that math before the race; for some reason, knowing that my 1/2 marathon was 7:30min/miles I just kind of assumed my wave placement equaled that exact pace. Good thing I'm not the race director.
BANG! and we're off. Wow this feels good, running the Bolder, the energy, the people, the excitement all around! Breathing, yes breathing hard; these people are running too fast! They have to be, it's not in my head, I'm not nervous and, damn it, I know my pace and the respective breathing.
Mile 1 - 6:35. Yep, this is too fast, I will not be able to maintain this speed. Ease off just a little Matthew; keep pushing but ease off just a little. Mile 2 - 7:09 (13:45 total). Better, keep going. Look around, the bands are cool, the people cheering, "Hoo Rah", "Whoo Hoo" I start yelling back here and there. Mile 3 - 7:05 and feeling good. More cheering from bystanders and more smiling from me, "Yeah, let's go" I remember yelling. Gotta step it up a bit; we're gunning for sub 7's all the way. Mile 4 - 6:57. Push it a little more! Mile 5 - 6:35! Whew, I'm breathing and the hill up Folsom is coming. Keep going, maybe you can sprint up the hill into the stadium and slam it home. Ughhh! This hill SUCKS! Finish Line! Hit the chrono. Watch says 42:35, YEAH. 6:52min/miles. A dream has come true and I feel solid!
Where's my crew, those great group of runners that unknowingly coerced me into this thing?
First, water, on my head; more water, in my face, on my head again and again. It's cold outside but I am hot and sweaty. Next, restroom, food, stretch then, find the girls.
Sweet, there's Stephanie and some more of the club. High five, congrats and all that! All of you rock and I'm glad to tag along.
Next, a marathon! God help me.

Get High and Run!

Dates: May 16 run, May 17 ride
Route: Mineral Belt Trail
Distance: 11.6miles
Location: Leadville Colorado
Altitude: 9,500 - 10,300 feet
Experience: AWESOME!

Yes friends, that was my weekend training locale. Saturday morning, I drove up hoping the trail would be clear as Leadville received 12inches of fresh snow on Wednesday and it was overcast on Thursday but Friday the temp hit 65degF and it was supposed to stay like that through the weekend. I called my local friend Chad once I got into town, dropped off some stuff at his house and we went down to the main trailhead, South of town. He was on his bike, taking pictures for work related stuff and I was set to run the 11.6 mile loop. I wasn't sure what to expect at the altitude, knowing it was going to be a slow uphill climb for the first 5 miles. Sure enough I was breathing much more heavily than normal as soon as I started, slowed a little and adjusted to find a manageable pace and just told myself that it was going to be tough, the only goal to keep running til' the end. After mile 1 my legs felt real heavy; not like they have in the past where the entire leg feels heavy but this time it was only in my calves and it felt like my knees didn't want to fully bend. Nothing to do but keep pushing, taking in the scenery to keep me distracted. Through those first 5miles I went through an emotional roller coaster; feeling, at one moment, like I could run the loop twice, to the next moment, just holding on trying not to slow down, telling myself not to walk, just make it around the next corner. Alas, once the hill was over my breathing quickly recovered and I felt great. The first mileage marker I passed was mile 7 and looking at my time I was running around 8:30min/miles. I was ecstatic because I mentally felt I had been running much slower up the hill. Realizing that my perceived exertion was much more than actual exertion actually made me feel good, like I could just keep going like I was and even though I felt slow, it wasn't half bad considering the altitude. Once finished, I recovered quickly and felt great. I didn't push it too hard and will easily be able to ride it tomorrow.

Sunday wasn't as nice with some cool winds gusting about but I was determined to take advantage of the altitude training and get in a great ride on trail I don't get access to very often. Around the 4mile point, I took off on a dirt road heading up higher into the mountains. Wow was it beautiful. I cranked up it about 3-4miles until the road was completely blocked w/ snow. I was about 12,000-12,500 feet up and surrounded by incredible snow caps all around. Man, this is living. Back down to the path and I quickly finished off the loop. Feeling higher than a kite, I made the journey back to Longmont, relieved to hear the family had been having just as much fun planting flowers and shopping while I was gone. Now THAT'S a win/win weekend.

Consistency/ Thresholds

Today was another long run, 12miles and it was the easiest one yet. Since I've been going out w/ a running group, I've been much more consistent w/ weekly long runs and I think it's paying off. I have to admit a lot of doubts about my ability to run a full marathon when I'm feeling wiped out after 10miles but things are getting better. I've tried to maintain a mindset that I just needed to keep doing longer runs and I will adapt; much like a few years ago when my normal run was 3-5miles and an 8mile run would've killed me. I'm still relatively young when it comes to running, having only been doing it w/ any consistency for the last 3years so hopefully this is just part of the extended base mileage build up and adaptation phase. I have toned down my marathon expectations, shooting for 3hr 3omin instead of a solid 3hrs and in all honestly, I'll be ok w/ any finish under 4hrs.
The bad news I've really slacked off my swimming and really need to get back in the pool. Seeing as I only just learned how to swim a few months I ago, I'm betting I should be practicing that much more.
I'm really on the look out for a road bike. There are so few options for off-road tri's and road cycling is much easier to get in quick workouts around and right outside of town.

Heil No!

This week has been great and painful.

Teller Lake:
Monday was a 14-15mile run through farm land w/ the most amazing views of the front range. No cars, hardly any other people, a full sky of clouds covering up the sun and keeping the 70degF oh so nice and cool. The run itself was as painful as a 14mile run should be I suppose though the pain did stir up some doubts as to my ability to really run a marathon. But I did it, and it was good.

Heil Ranch:
Then tonight was an attempt at flushing out the legs w/ some mountain biking so I thought I'd head over to a trail I just ran the week before last and give it try. First, the run is commented on earlier in my "Trashed by the Trail" blog and a quick recap is that, IT HURT. But that was running the damn thing; surely riding it will be easier. NO. WRONG. It was technically very difficult (for me) and while I was able to ride everything, it sure did seem harder than it should have. The trail was 80% narrow single track w/ extensive amounts of large loose rocks covering the entire path. So while the hills weren't steep, the loose rock made it so hard, slipping and balancing while crawling over, through and around the rocks. But it was gratifying and beautiful. The weather was just like last night's only a couple degrees cooler. The clouds completely covered the sky and left the sun highlighting the mountains all around and the valley below. INCREDIBLE.