RECAP : June 17 - June 23

Monday - 06/17/13

Horsetooth Rock Summit and back - 44:53 (round trip PR), 25:55 to summit.

Workout went like this:

Main TH > South Ridge > Audra Culver > Summit > down rock trail > South Ridge

Felt good.  Still feel like I can chop off some time on that downhill split - perhaps by 1- 2 minutes if I commit to a hard downhill effort.  If I can get my climb to hit a sub 25 minute mark I might be able to make the round trip time in about 42 - 43 minute range.

PM - Ran home from work - 24:11

Tuesday - 06/18/13

Pineridge - 37:40

From Spring Canyon Park. Felt solid.

Wednesday - 06/19/13

Twin Sisters Summit - 43:54

Took the day off work and headed up to Estes for a fun run up Twin Sisters.  Was originally planning to run up Flattop in RMNP, but reports had 3 feet of snow punching for about 2 miles of the trail. I wanted to keep the uphill running constant without having to stop and hike a bunch. So I decided on Twin Sisters - 100% clear of snow, gets up to just over 11,400 ft, and is a fairly short drive from the Fort.

about a few hundred yds from the trailhead

trailhead

Starts off in a dense forest like rocky trail

view of Longs Peak - about 1 mile in

some technical rocky sections

Almost to Timberline -- more rocks!

do you see "the trail" --- about 1/2 mile to go

looking up 

Summit view - 11,400 ft

summit with Longs in the background

Me Chilling

Ran the climb up at a moderately hard tempo effort.  First mile or so I could feel the 9,000 ft starting elevation -- my first time this year above 8,000 ft. But got into a groove and felt great the rest of the way to the summit.  My downhill time was actually 1 minute slower than the uphill, as I stopped a handful of times on the way down to take the above pictures.  I wanted to focus on a solid uphill grind without stopping. Total elevation gain was around 2,400' ft from trailhead to summit.

Temps were in the 60's at the summit --- beautiful.

Thursday - 06/20/13

Foothills Trail (medium loop) - 38:25

From Maxwell TH.

Friday - 06/21/13

OFF - busy day at work and after work.

Saturday - 06/22/13

Horsetooth Mountain Park - 70 minutes

Workout went like this:

Main TH > Falls > L up Spring Creek > L on Towers > Westridge > Rock trail > South Ridge > main TH

Spring Creek

Spring Creek

South Ridge looking East

Sunday - 06/23/13

Horsetooth Mountain Park - 75 minutes

Workout went like this:

Main TH > Falls > R on Spring Creek > R on Stout > L on Sawmill > L on Loggers > R up Herrington > R on Towers > L down Herrington > L on Spring Creek > R up Wathan > L on Rock trail > down South Ridge > Main TH

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• Felt great to get above Timberline on Wednesday!

• Been feeling really strong lately on all of my runs, almost everyday of the week....and have lost 7 pounds since Quad Rock 50 last month - not on purpose- just getting into better, more efficient racing weight.

• Next trail race is Barr Trail Mountain Race mid July.

• Thinking about running the Loveland Liberty 5k on July 4th as well. 

RECAP : June 10 - June 16

Monday - 06/10/13

Horsetooth Summit and back - 48:12

PM : Ran home from work - 24:26



Tuesday - 06/11/13

Pineridge - 38:06
From Spring Canyon Park



Wednesday - 06/12/13

Pineridge - 37:27
From Spring Canyon Park -- felt great today.



Thursday - 06/13/13

Ran home from work - 24:41
busy day, no time for an earlier run.



Friday - 06/14/13

Horsetooth Summit and back - 46:08 (26:17 to summit)

PM : Ran  home from work - 23:31



Saturday - 06/15/13

OFF - busy family day.  Zero time.



Sunday - 06/16/13

Horsetooth Rock summit repeats X 2

Summit #1 - 26:40 (46:20 round trip)

Summit #2 - 26:12 (45:27 round trip)

Workout went like this: (same for both repeats)
Main TH > South Ridge > Rock trail > Summit > back down same way.

from Summit - looking East

from Summit - looking North

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• Decided to not run the Fathers Day 5k.  Didnt get time to run on Saturday and figured I would only have enough time for an early morning run on Sunday.  Had to get in more than 3 miles and zero vertical for the weekend.  Used my time on Sunday morning for a couple of Rock Summit repeats instead. --- ~ 10 miles / 3,000' ft....roughly.

• Planning a mid-week run above Timberline sometime next week -- looking forward to that!... It has been too long!

RECAP: June 3 - 9

Monday - 06/03/13

Ran home from work via spring creek trail and side roads (long route) - 41:44



Tuesday - 06/04/13

Pineridge - 38:12

from Spring Canyon Park



Wednesday - 06/05/13

Pineridge - 38:29

from Spring Canyon Park



Thursday - 06/06/13

Ran from doorstep to Pineridge saddle and back - 41:16

Started late @ 9:30pm. 



Friday - 06/07/13

Horsetooth Mountain Park - 58:07

Ran a PR up to the summit without trying to do so - 25:41 to the summit of North rock.

Workout went like this:
Main TH > South Ridge > Rock Trail > Summit > down Wathan > R on Spring Creek > R on Soderberg > South Ridge > Main TH

Felt great today -- been feeling great all week actually.  Ran a PR to the summit without even realizing I was clipping off a steady uphill tempo effort until I was within 1/4 mile or from the summit. Glanced down at my watch and was like, "I have a shot at sub 26 minutes!"

view from up top

Saturday - 06/08/13

Horsetooth Mountain Park - 47:26

Moderate tempo effort up and down.

Workout went like this:

Main TH > South Ridge > Rock Trail > Summit > back down same way.

overlooking foco

Sunday - 06/09/13

Pineridge - 38:14

Hot -- like 95 degrees. But felt solid.

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• Felt good to hit the sub 26 mark on the Rock summit (25:41) without even really trying to.  Perhaps I will intentionally give the climb a purposeful hard grunt sometime soon and see how much time I can clip off.

• I havent yet, but planning to register for the RRR50 this September in the upcoming weeks.

• I hope to get above timberline in the next 2 weeks or so for run up in the high country -- its been too long!

• Up next --- Fathers Day 5k!   Should be interesting to see if I can get the wheels moving, having only ran one speed workout in the last 5 months or so!

RECAP : May 27 - June 2

Monday - 05/27/13 (Memorial Day!)

Horsetooth Mountain Park - 1 hr 53 mins

Workout went like this:
Main TH > Rock Trail > Westridge > Towers > Spring Creek > up Wathan > Rock Summit > down Rock Trail > Main TH

First time back up on some hills in almost 2 weeks!  Met up with Steve and I was able to drive our one and only working vehicle up there to get in an early run on this Memorial day.  The girls stayed home and made breakfast which allowed me to use our car to get out there for a nice change of scenery.
Dave, my bro in law tagged along and hiked to the summit while Steve and I ran. Dave is new to the Fort, and showing him the local trails for hiking has been fun.



Tuesday - 05/28/13

AM : 22:32

to work via the mason street trail.

PM : 55:12

ran home via Spring Creek trail (long route) to Spring Canyon Park.



Wednesday - 05/29/13

AM : 23:05

to work via the mason street trail.


PM : 21:22

ran home via mason street trail.



Thursday : 05/30/13

AM : 23:17

to work via the mason street trail.

LUNCH : easy track workout -- 6 X 400m w/ 100m recovery

(72, 69, 68, 70, 70, 69) - 1 mile warmup, 1/2 mile cool down


PM : 24:09

ran home via mason street trail.



Friday : 05/31/13

AM : 24:22

to work via the mason street trail.



Saturday : 06/01/13

Horsetooth Mountain Park - 1 hr 25 mins

Originally planned to Race Pilot Hill 25k today, but bailed at 5am...last minute.

Had some time in the afternoon during the kiddos nap time to head out to Horsetooth.

Workout went like this:
Main TH > Falls > R on Spring Creek > L on Stout > L on Herrington > L on Spring Creek > R up Wathan > Rock Summit > down Rock Trail > Herrington > R on Spring Creek > Falls > main TH

Spring Creek over looking Falls trail

The Res from Stout

Summit view

summit

Herrington trail

Sunday : 06/02/13

Pineridge : 38:14

Starting from Spring Canyon Park



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• Well its looking like my truck is permanently out of order.  Time to trade in both our cars and get a somewhat newer minivan/SUV ride, but probably not until sometime in July.  Getting out to the trails has been tough at times, but I sure do enjoy it even it its only for an hour or 2 here and there.

•  Opted out of Pilot Hill 25 last minute. Combination of lackluster training and vehicle logistics aided my decision. I suppose I could have carpooled, but I would have needed a ride to the carpool spot! 

• I also threw in an easy track workout this week. First one in over 4 months!  I figured I needed to get my legs moving a bit, since the lack of trail running has dissipated any and all amounts of vertical I am usually getting in each week, I thought that a speed workout might be good to makeup for the little 5 feet of vertical I have been getting to and from work.  Felt good to get the legs moving a bit.

RECAP: May 20 - May 26

Monday - 04/20/13

Ran home from work : 43:17

via the spring creek trail and side roads



Tuesday - 04/21/13

AM : 23:50

To work via the Mason Street trail


PM : 42:44

Ran home via spring creek trail and side roads.



Wednesday : 04/22/13

AM : 22:55

To work via the Mason Street trail


PM : 46:12

Ran home via spring creek trail and side roads.



Thursday - 04/23/13

AM : 23:07

To work via the Mason Street trail


PM : 41:31

Ran home via spring creek trail and side roads.



Friday : 04/24/13

AM : 22:45

To work via the Mason Street trail


PM : Pineridge from Spring Canyon Park - 40:22



Saturday: 04/25/13

Pineridge (2 laps) - 1 hr 9 minutes

Started from Spring Canyon Park



Sunday : 04/26/13

OFF - Tons of stuff around the house to work on --- no time.



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• Ridiculously boring week of running.  Truck is out of commission and having only 1 vehicle has been tough to get out to the trails.  Running is my mode of transportation to and from work for the most part....until we get a 2nd vehicle. --- which might not be until July or August.  Ugh!

• Trips to the high country to get in some solid high altitude runs are going to have to wait for a bit.  Unless I can figure out some creative ways to solve this dilemma.

• This sorta puts a slight halt on my plans for registering for any  long races during the summer months, since my training is going to be hampered by any minimal amount of vertical and miles I can hopefully get in it here and there.