June 16th- June 22nd

"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.