Pacer

Just got back from an awesome 1.35 mile run. Why so awesome? Because Sam went with me. It is great that he really seems to enjoy running, he is getting ready for his second Splash and Dash event on Tuesday.

I took tis as a good chance to run in the vibrams, still trying to work a few barefoot runs in to the schedule.

Speeding Up???

Ok, one thing that has been difficult for me to deal with since starting the Ultra training is that I have ultimately gotten slower. This does not happen to everyone, but since my training time is limited it was all long, slow distance runs. Not that I was ever truly fast, but I definitely had more speed 18 months ago than I do now.

Over the last 8 weeks I have been slowly getting a better routine, complete with weights and cycling, even an occasional swim. I have done a bit of track work and some hill repeats, but not really anything that should move the needle very much. That's why it felt sooo good tonight.

I have a normal 5 mile loop I run from the house, that is one of my standard runs. It is nice as it is exactly 5 miles door to door, so it is a good measure of my general fitness. Also, it includes the hellacious Flying W Ranch hill, which is a 1.5 mile grind to finish the run. I have not been able to break 40 minutes this year, in fact I have not broken 41 minutes this year. Tonight I ran it in 38:26. Never mind that I am still about 2 minutes off where I could be, the good news is I am getting there. Since the run finishes with a serious hill, I had to run 7 minute miles for the first 3.5 miles to make the finish, so that was a good test as well.

Just to cap it off, there were three owls hooting to each other from two neighbors houses when I got home, too cool.

Scott

Proud Papa

Today was Sam's first attempt at a multi-sport event, not bad for an eight year old. He is participating in the local "Splash and Dash" series, which consisted of a 150 yard swim followed by a 1.25 mile run. He did great.

He had to compete in the Under 12 category, so there were definitely some bigger kids in the race. We started him near the back of the swim, just to keep him from getting intimidated, and they were staggering the start, so there was no real harm to the overall time to do so. He came out of the pool after a solid swim and just crushed the run. We had no less than 5 people come up to him after the run and compliment him not only on his run, but how much he was smiling as he finished!! It is only worth doing if it is fun, I am just happy that he really seems to enjoy it.

Good Company

I have been doing good at keeping up my 20-25 miles per week, with about 4 days of lifting and some swimming and biking thrown in the mix. I am really feeling like my base has developed well, and I am ready to start some specific training. The question is still "what am I training for?"....

This past Sunday Jen and I got a sitter for the kids and we were able to enjoy a nice 2 hour run together. This was jen's last push before tapering for the slacker half in 2 weeks. It was supposed to be cold and rainy, so we both layered up. Right after we started out the sun broke through and it was hot for the whole run. No complaints, but we were shedding clothes the whole run.

Here is a cool shot of Jen in the garden.




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Hot, Hot, Hot..

2 days of 90 degree weather, gotta love it. I have been steadily maintaining about 23 miles per week for the last month, which sounds incredibly weak unless you really knew how much I blew off running after Leadville. Need to figure out what races to do this year????

I am planning to run the Denver marathon with Jen so long as someone can watch the kids the night before. It will be so cool to be able to help her get through her first 26.2 and see her cross the finish line (from behind, of course. She will finish before me). Other than that I was considering maybe the America the beautiful marathon right here in Colorado Springs. All downhill on a gravel course, it is really a great course.

Other than maybe a marathon, I really want to get a few tri's in. I took my bike into Criterium to have them run new cables and housings and it will be ready Tuesday, so I am psyched! I have never paid someone to work on my bike before, but I got sick of looking at it in the workstand. Let the pros take care of it, I just want to ride it.

Later