"Fall in love with yourself, with life and then with whoever you want."- Frida Kahlo
Monday - Wednesday:
Travel day home on Monday then basically just trying to get back to normal life Tuesday and Wednesday. Always hard to get back to the day to day grind after a weekend like that. Lots of naps this week too, basically anywhere I could pull one off. This week will be a low week then we start building again for the Rut series in Montana and Cowboy 100 in Nebraska, both are in Sept.
Got a few cool congrats gifts from Erica and Rey. Thanks guys!!! Those cookies made it to Saturday before I ate them all, think that is a record for how long they lasted in the house.
Also came home to a post card from JT... Gotta run this race in Lake City some year. Always has been on the list but just has not worked out yet. To many things in the month of June.
Also this is now official for 2026... scared shitless.... if interested in pacing next summer in Tahoe reach out, can use all the help I can get. This will most likely be my one and only shot at this distance. Figured I would run the original 200 in the US, plus I have only seen Lake Tahoe from the distance on top of a mountain, never been on the shores of it.
Thursday:
-NOTE: Weight check in: Nope.. been eating like shit all week.
Noon: Bike 10.5 miles w/ 500ft of vert in 46mins. First workout back, more just getting back to movement than a workout. Easy cruise around the hood on the gravel bike. Never pushing just
peddling. Actually felt much better than I expected too. Can't wait
for the Tour to start on Saturday and pumped to be back on the bike
again.
Friday:
HAPPY 4th of July!!
6 AM: 5.6 miles averaging 8min pace. Easy lap of Davidson Mesa plus a few extra miles to hit 45mins. The
first 15 mins or so was very rough, it was a walk/jog the first first
1-1.5 miles then things started flowing again. Muscles are good but
knees are still a little sore.
9 AM: 35mins at VASA lifting shortly after running. Easy lifting at the gym just mostly going through the motions to loosen
up some more. All the leg machines at VASA today but light weights.
Saturday:
6 AM: 5 miles w/ 600ft of vert averaging 8:15pace. Easy Springbrook loop from Dowdy Draw trailhead. Legs were heavy as
expected but pace wasn’t bad at all which surprised me. Great to be
back on real trails
11 AM: Bike 10.3 miles w/ 600ft of vert in 46mins. Another spin around the hood on the gravel bike. This time I went up the big hill on Simms to HWY 127 and back. Legs felt better than expected climbing.
Sunday:
6 AM: 5.1 miles w/ 1400ft of vert averaging 11:30pace. Easy lap of Sanitas going up the ridge and down Lion's Lair. Was a
little bit rough but started to loosen up about halfway down the
backside. Prob was a little bit much this soon after Western but oh
well. Good to get some vert in this week just in case I get the call to start Hardrock next week. 99% chance that won't happen but you never know. Hell I got into Western with a 3% chance. Had plans to lift this afternoon but that did not happen. Both Paula and I were smashed this afternoon so worked on the van and chilled instead.
Total Weekly Numbers
Not to bad of a week after Western but honestly have been pretty smashed all week. Mostly just super low energy levels. Very glad it was a short work week with only having to be in the office on Tuesday and Wednesday which allowed me to get in some afternoon naps this week to help recover. Hopefully will turn a corner next week, heading down to help at Hardrock on Wednesday.
"Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that's the real power." - Clint Eastwood
Solid month with a decent race at Western States. Really don't have much to say about this month than I am pleased overall with how it went considering I was also adjusting to a new daily schedule due to having to return to the office. Hopefully in the months to come I can get back into a groove again. 12 week to the next 100!
"Slowing down reminds you that the journey is supposed to be fun." - Anne Bancroft
"Greatness is not measured by what a man or woman accomplishes, but by the opposition he or she has overcome to reach his or her goals." - Dorothy Height
-- Another 2 quote week, seems right.
Monday:
6 AM: 5.3 miles averaging 7:40pace. Easy miles around the roads by work in a heat suit before work. Trying
to get ready in every way I can. Not sure I will do anymore of these
since we are only 5 days out but will keep in the sauna sessions until
we leave on Wednesday morning.
4 PM: 35mins lifting at VASA after work. Bunch of easy upper body movements just to move some. Last lifting session for a while. Followed this up with 25mins in the sauna, could have easily stayed in a lot longer which is a good sign.
-- Got this postcard from JT today. Thanks bud! I will need all the good luck I can get. Little bit of an inside joke on this postcard from Al-Mart.
Tuesday:
6 AM: 6.1 miles averaging 7:30pace. Easy lap of Davidson and Harper in a half heat suit. Basically all the
layers without the down jacket. Enough to get a good sweat on but not
be super hot. Need to be careful how much stress I put on myself the
rest of the week. Last run in Colorado before we fly out to CA early tomorrow morning. The count down is on.
Wednesday:
- Total rest day today due to travel to Western States. Flew in and out of Sacramento for this trip which worked out very well. Spent the rest of the day catching up with the crew that could join us today and the Speedland guys at the tail end of TrailCon.
Thursday:
10 AM: 4.5 miles averaging 7:15pace. Out and back on the bike path in Olympic valley. Just super chill but
legs actually felt like shit for the most part. Not surprising
considering the travel. Followed this up with 25mins in the sauna at the condo we rented. Got a lecture from Jurek on some race strategies for the canyons.
Rest of the day was chilling out and watching the beer mile put on by Deathmarch Running Company in the evening. GOOD TIMES!
Friday:
8 AM: 3.4 miles averaging 8:40pace. Easy out and back again on the bike path from Olympic valley but this
time with Dan, Donnie and Jeff Browning. Just a super chill jog chatting about
race strategies that I should be thinking about on Saturday.
The rest of the day was filled with pre-race stuff like check-in, watching the crew take on the High Camp Challenge, and the pre-race meeting. Anxiety was running very high today.
Saturday:
5 AM: 100 miles w/ 18000ft of vert in 22:42:46. So much to say about this race that I am not sure what to say to be
honest. Very overwhelming race in all aspects. Honestly still
processing everything that happened. Basics are that the BOA on my
shoes broke at mile 7 so had to run with the shoe duck taped to my foot
until I saw my crew at mile 24 to get new shoes which fucked me up. Then of course over
heated in the second canyon coming into Michigan Bluff which I expected. I had to be
put back together and was way behind the 24 hour pace at that point. From Foresthill
to the finish things finally went my way. Was able to crank all night
with Don to pass a shit ton of people and hit my B goal of sub 24 in
22:42:46. I will take it.
Here are a few photos but I will do a photo blog of this race later in the week or early next week, still collecting photos from people. These are from the first few miles taken with my Meta glasses but after my shoe blow out I did not take anymore photos the rest of the day and have to get those from others.
Sunday:
--- Finished in the middle of the night so of course nothing today. Went back to the house after finishing and slept for a few hours before heading back to the track for Golden Hour and the awards presentation. Pretty wiped after this one, much more than after Blackbeard in March.
Breakdown of the pacing charts for 20 hours, 24 hours and the cutoff with my times put between the 20 and 24 hour. Sort of interesting to geek out on this a little bit.
Total Weekly Numbers
Western States is still pretty raw as I am typing this up on Wednesday after the race and I am still processing everything that happened both in the race and outside the race. More to come on that in the future but will leave it with this statement, "I am very pleased and happy how things turned out considering the cards that were dealt to me.". Onwards to the next adventure.
"You have to train your mind as much as your body." - Venus Williams
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the
strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them
better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly;
who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort
without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the
deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends
himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph
of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails
while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold
and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
-Theodore Roosevelt
Seemed like another 2 quote week to me.
Monday:
6 AM: 5.3 miles averaging 7:35pace. Easy miles over at Davidson Mesa before work in the heat suit. Heart
rate did not climb as high as I thought it would this morning, Not sure
if it just was not hot enough outside (60) or if I am more heat acclimated
than I thought. With that said I did soak through everything I had on so there is that. Need to do this in the middle of the afternoon now.
-- Thought I had this morning at work after my jog is that I really should make sure I cut back a little bit of my food intake the next 2 weeks during the taper, going from 70-90 miles a week to 50 or less requires less food of course. Last thing I need to do is gain 5 pounds just before the race... food for thought.
4:30 PM: 35mins easy lifting legs at VASA going through all the leg machines and some light kettlebell work. Little bit of core work as well.
Followed up lifting with 25mins in the sauna right afterwards. Could have stayed in longer and may later in the week.
Tuesday:
6 AM: 8.1 miles averaging 7:30pace. Easy cruise on the roads in the Colorado Tech Center in Louisville
around work. Started out super slow and warmed up into it somewhat.
Felt much better at the end of the jog than the beginning which is the
norm anymore. Skipped on joining the Boulder Track Club Tuesday workouts today, figured it was time to cut those since we are just over a week out from Western States.
Wednesday:
6 AM: 7 miles w/ 1800ft of vert averaging 10:30pace. Easy lap of Santias and then up to the first lookout on Anemone to get
to my 1:15ish time goal of the morning. Super chill for the most part
and trying to break in another pair of the RX:WSER prototype shoes for
Western. Most likely will stay with the first pair I broke in, they
just feel better.
--- Had a little monthly get together at work over lunch, we do this basically every month with a different department organizing it for each month. June is being organized by my group purchasing. We brought in a coffee truck in the morning with ice cream and games over the lunch hour but best of all? This DUDE came out to play some tunes for us... Thanks GZ!!!!! Had a blast hosting you.
4 PM: 35mins lifting at VASA. Just 3x10 on all the upper body machines. Just a quick maintenance session followed directly with 25min in the sauna.
Thursday:
-NOTE: Weight check in: Nope
6 AM: 40 mins in the garage gym before work. Decided to switch and run this afternoon when it is hot outside.
Warmup: Rowing and mobility.
3 Rounds 40 single arm DB Snatches @ 35lbs 40 GHD Situps 40 calories on the Airbike.
4 PM: 1.5 miles averaging 9min pace. Got super frustrated with my electronics not working correctly, feeling like shit and was
in a bad mindset due to not getting the job I put in for at work. Ended up bailing. I always try to run at least over a mile to
see if things get better, they normally do, but not today so bailed.
All the hay is in the barn anyways.
Friday:
5 AM: 1.5 mile dog walk before running since Paula left to go to race in Kansas this weekend to race. I decided after yesterday just to take the day off and get some stuff done today.
7 AM: 7.6 miles averaging 7:45pace. 2 easy laps of Davidson Mesa and 1 lap of Harper with Dan, Donnie, and
Taylor. I of course did this in a heat suit with them to help get ready
for Western, it was 80 degrees outside this morning at 7am. These are getting easier and easier every time. Great
run and great company.
3 PM: 40mins Easy lifting just going through all the leg machines at VASA. Just trying to maintain strength and mobility at this point. Followed this up with 25mins in the sauna as well. That is getting easier too.
Saturday:
5 AM: 1.5 mile dog walk before running.
7 AM: 10.2 miles w/ 2600ft of vert averaging 10min pace. Easy lap of Mt Falcon with Darian, Don, and Ben. Have not been on some
of these trails in a long time so was great to rediscover them and to
catchup with the guys. Of course we all went out for brunch afterwards
as well.
-- Headed home to jump in the hot tub for 20 mins as well.
Sunday:
7 AM: 6 miles w/ 1300ft of vert averaging 10min pace. Two laps of Anemone with the Deathmarch Running crew. This was supposed
to be for Kody's birthday but guess he was to hungover to join us so we
went without him. Great chill taper run with a little bit of vert.
Felt great today and of course hit the hot tub yet again this evening.
Total Weekly Numbers
Not a bad taper week with the exception of my shitty Thursday. Also found out on Thursday that I did not get the manager job at work that I was shooting for which for sure played into my shitty mindset that afternoon. Looking back on it, it just might be a blessing but time will tell. Just need to keep up the heat training and get my mind right before next weekend.
"Everybody has the choice of being a hero or not being a hero every day of their lives." - George Lucas
Monday:
6 AM: 6.6 miles averaging 7:25pace. Easy couple of laps around Davidson Mesa before work. Should be the
last larger week before the taper if everything goes well this week. Pretty tired
this morning. First mile was rough this morning loosening up but good after that. Can really feel last week on the legs and energy levels.
Skipped the weight session I had planned this evening, just to damn tired from the weekend and work today. Need that recovery but did spend 20mins in the hot tub which was actually really hard when it is over 80 degrees outside and the hot tub is set at 104 degrees. Sweating bullets.
Tuesday:
6:30 AM: 10.2 miles averaging 6:55pace.
Boulder Track Club Tuesday Track workout.
Warmup 3 or so miles.
16 x 200 hard/ 200 jog - hard pace was between 4:20-5mins pace
Cooldown until I was over 10 miles total.
I
really liked this workout, the last 3-4 reps were hard as hell. Might
have been pushing a little bit to hard but all good. I need every
increase in fitness I can get right now before the taper
4:30 PM: 45mins Studio Red HITT class at VASA followed by another 25min in the sauna. Sauna is getting easier and easier, the hot tub at home not so much.
Wednesday:
6 AM: 8.9 miles w/ 2200ft of vert averaging 10:30 pace. Lap of Santias and Anemone trails. Legs were dead this morning from
yesterday's track workout but still got it done. Ate to much last night
before bed so stomach was a mess as well. All good, but was a lot
slower today than normal, especially on Anemone and the downhills.
6 PM: Got stuck at work and missed Studio Red class and by the time I got home just threw in the towel. Plan was to make up the weight session I missed on Monday but that did not happen. Might miss tomorrow as well since I have a job interview that will last until 5:30pm. I try not to workout in the evenings since I went back to the office because that is basically the only time Paula and I get together.
Thursday:
-NOTE: Weight check in: Nope
6 AM: 9 miles w/ 2200ft of vert averaging 10min pace. Same run as yesterday but 4 mins or so faster and added a few out and
backs on that I did not do yesterday. Lap of Santias and Anemone
trails. Might have been my second or third fastest time up the ridge at
22mins and was not pushing that hard. Helps when I don't over eat the
night before too. Tomorrow will play it by ear with all the work shit
going on. I have 3 interviews tomorrow after having one late this afternoon. Good times....
-- Missed the gym session again tonight due to interviewing for a new job until about 5:30pm this evening. All good, tired as hell anyways. 2 more interviews tomorrow and 2 more on Tuesday, long process and I don't think the chances are that good but never hurts to exercise that muscle, been a long time since I have been the one getting interviewed.
Friday:
7 AM: 10 miles averaging 6:40pace.
Boulder Track Club Friday workout
4x500@threshold 3200 @threshold 2 x 400 @ mile-3k pace
(Rest: 1 min after 500s, 3 min after the last one/5 min after 3200/90 sec after 400)
Tough
one today to get the pacing right on the shorter stuff, prob ran those
to hard but think we got the 3200 just right running that between
5:30-5:50 pace.
Saturday:
7 AM: 17 miles w/ 4500ft of vert averaging 12min pace. Mini Skyline traverse with Donnie. Did the large 5 mile lap of Sanitas
then headed over Flagstaff and Green before running down to Bear Canyon
Trailhead where Paula picked us up and took us back to the cars at Santias. Super chill for me today and a
little warm which is needed. For some reason I thought the whole
skyline was 17 miles but I was way off in what I remembered, if we would
have done the whole thing it would have been more like 23 miles. Next
training cycle maybe.
Sunday:
7:30 AM: 13 miles w/ 1000ft of vert averaging 7:10pace. A loop of Marshall Mesa, Flatiron Vista, Dowdy Draw and Community Ditch
with the Sunday Boulder Track Club. Ran the first half with the front group of 3 who are all 2:20-2:30 marathoners but could not speed up when they did, I had NOTHING left in the legs to
make them go faster so finished it out solo. Totally cool with that,
time to taper!!!
-- 20mins in the hot tub this afternoon too.
Total Weekly Numbers
Good week overall considering all the challenges this week with interviewing for a new job through out the week. Ended up in the office everyday for about 9-10 hours so all of this was done around that and making sure I spend time with Paula as well. Did miss 3 lifting sessions this week which I am not happy about but it was a choice on those days between lifting or running, of course I choose running with Western States coming up. So ready for the taper even though I wish I had one more month to get ready, feel like I am just hitting my stride with balancing everything.
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