We were supposed to ride about 10miles on bikes, but Davis immediately retaliated (he is 4 yrs old) and went on strike. So we had to cut it short: about 5 miles total, with much of it involving me pushing on his bike as I pedaled (he's so short, it's actually hard to do this and maintain my balance!).
Scale says 201lbs.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
My Old Friend
I hadn't been on Flagstaff in a long long time. But it's my favorite uphill trail around Boulder, and I used to "run" it quite a bit.
The "run" is in quotes because I either (a) did it continuously, without stopping, which meant I walked a ton of it or (b) I did it in Matt Carpenter intervals (1min on, 1min off) where I could run most of it.
It's more fun to do (b) for a few reasons: the pain comes in measured doses, I get to stretch in between, and mostly because I can pretend that my overall running time is "real" and compare it to the big name runners.
I past years I had run about 20:50 PR "pretend" time (in other words, it was 40:50 elasped, but I was stopped on the trail for 20 of those minutes). Pretty pathetic when you think that Bill W has run 19:08 and the FKT is 16mins or so. But comparing myself to people who are much fitter is really pointless. I'm just having fun in my own slow way.
I had borrowed a watch that could take splits, but really didn't figure out how it worked very well. I went out at what felt like a roaring pace, doing my 1on, 1off thing. I hit the first road crossing in 14:28 (so 7:28 running time), but had hiked the majority already even with the rest breaks. So out of shape! I weighed just over 200lbs, whereas the last time I had done this I weighed about 165. Potato chips can do that to a person.
The watch wasn't working as I expected, so I gave up on the 1on, 1off thing and just slow-hiked to the summit in 44:41 total. I don't even know what my continuous PR is for Flagstaff.
Sandra picked me up on top. This is part of my "amazing strategy" to not get injured: I'll go uphill only, and avoid running down so my body has very little impact. Uphill running is low-impact (the ground "rises up" to meet you!) but still gets the HR up!
Disappointed at being this slow, but I'll get faster and the weight will drop too, adding to the improvements.
The "run" is in quotes because I either (a) did it continuously, without stopping, which meant I walked a ton of it or (b) I did it in Matt Carpenter intervals (1min on, 1min off) where I could run most of it.
It's more fun to do (b) for a few reasons: the pain comes in measured doses, I get to stretch in between, and mostly because I can pretend that my overall running time is "real" and compare it to the big name runners.
I past years I had run about 20:50 PR "pretend" time (in other words, it was 40:50 elasped, but I was stopped on the trail for 20 of those minutes). Pretty pathetic when you think that Bill W has run 19:08 and the FKT is 16mins or so. But comparing myself to people who are much fitter is really pointless. I'm just having fun in my own slow way.
I had borrowed a watch that could take splits, but really didn't figure out how it worked very well. I went out at what felt like a roaring pace, doing my 1on, 1off thing. I hit the first road crossing in 14:28 (so 7:28 running time), but had hiked the majority already even with the rest breaks. So out of shape! I weighed just over 200lbs, whereas the last time I had done this I weighed about 165. Potato chips can do that to a person.
The watch wasn't working as I expected, so I gave up on the 1on, 1off thing and just slow-hiked to the summit in 44:41 total. I don't even know what my continuous PR is for Flagstaff.
Sandra picked me up on top. This is part of my "amazing strategy" to not get injured: I'll go uphill only, and avoid running down so my body has very little impact. Uphill running is low-impact (the ground "rises up" to meet you!) but still gets the HR up!
Disappointed at being this slow, but I'll get faster and the weight will drop too, adding to the improvements.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Longs or Bust!
My brother-in-law Andy and I have agreed to do Longs Peak this year as a fitness goal.
This blog is now about my training toward getting that done. Wish us luck!
This blog is now about my training toward getting that done. Wish us luck!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Doudy Draw
A week since the last hike. I'm finally well again, without much more mileage, but I'm trying to stay positive and keep moving.
Today it was over 90 in Boulder, so I packed up two bottles of ice water and headed to the Flatirons Vista TH south of the 128 intersection with 93. Being solo, I timed the walk. I had to use my cell phone since I don't own a watch (I ordered a nice Suunto HR monitor watch... it's in the mail). I vowed to stop and drink/stretch every 20mins (roughly once each mile).
It was hot, few people were out. I went west to the Doudy Draw trail, took some photos, said hi to the trail crew working near the bridge, then did the long flat hot Community Ditch trail back to 93. Crossed here, fearing for my life... in fact, crossing this road was the only running I did. It was mandatory!
South up the Greenbelt Plateau trail, across 93 again (with a crosswalk this time) and back to the car. 2:08, so about 19min miles for the 6.7 mile hike. Nothing special, but at least I got some mileage in.
Today it was over 90 in Boulder, so I packed up two bottles of ice water and headed to the Flatirons Vista TH south of the 128 intersection with 93. Being solo, I timed the walk. I had to use my cell phone since I don't own a watch (I ordered a nice Suunto HR monitor watch... it's in the mail). I vowed to stop and drink/stretch every 20mins (roughly once each mile).
It was hot, few people were out. I went west to the Doudy Draw trail, took some photos, said hi to the trail crew working near the bridge, then did the long flat hot Community Ditch trail back to 93. Crossed here, fearing for my life... in fact, crossing this road was the only running I did. It was mandatory!
South up the Greenbelt Plateau trail, across 93 again (with a crosswalk this time) and back to the car. 2:08, so about 19min miles for the 6.7 mile hike. Nothing special, but at least I got some mileage in.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Royal Arch -- Revisited
Ok, since doing Royal Arch 9 days ago I haven't done anything significant: 1-2 hrs of walking around my neighborhood, often pushing my two boys in a bike trailer late at night. They enjoy it, and it's a workout for me.
Today we went back to Royal Arch, again with my brother-in-law Andy and my 4 yr old Davis. This time I carried Davis quite a bit, including during the uphill. I ran a little as well. We took a wrong turn on the way back, ending up on the 1st/2nd Flatirons trail for awhile before turning around.
We spent maybe 2-3 hrs walking around, and I felt spectacular.
Unfortunately the following day I fell ill: dizziness and nausea for 3 days. This is an 11-year old illness for me: I get sick after I push myself athletically. Anywhere from 1-3 days. Sucks.
So I did nothing May 21-23.
Today we went back to Royal Arch, again with my brother-in-law Andy and my 4 yr old Davis. This time I carried Davis quite a bit, including during the uphill. I ran a little as well. We took a wrong turn on the way back, ending up on the 1st/2nd Flatirons trail for awhile before turning around.
We spent maybe 2-3 hrs walking around, and I felt spectacular.
Unfortunately the following day I fell ill: dizziness and nausea for 3 days. This is an 11-year old illness for me: I get sick after I push myself athletically. Anywhere from 1-3 days. Sucks.
So I did nothing May 21-23.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Seems like a good idea
I decided to start a training blog, mostly for my friends who want to keep up with what I've been up to. I don't harbor any illusions about being an amazing athlete... just an old slow guy with a lot of passion and enthusiasm.
After finishing a 7 year stint on the couch, I went out for my first hike on May 11th up to the Royal Arch. This was all walking, and my good friend Scott (a professor from Texas) came along. Also, my brother-in-law Andy joined us, as well as my 4 year old son, Davis (who was mostly carried).
Andy was clearly the strongest of us, so he did most of the carrying.
I had never been to the Royal Arch before. I hear there's a way to climb on top of it, but I couldn't discover an easy way (by "easy", I mean 4th class).
The trail was very steep in the last 1/4 mile, and I was pretty tired by the time we finished; the walk down was casual.
It was after this hike I decided to start trying to get fit again. It's gonna be a long slow painful journey, but I'm already psyched.
After finishing a 7 year stint on the couch, I went out for my first hike on May 11th up to the Royal Arch. This was all walking, and my good friend Scott (a professor from Texas) came along. Also, my brother-in-law Andy joined us, as well as my 4 year old son, Davis (who was mostly carried).
Andy was clearly the strongest of us, so he did most of the carrying.
I had never been to the Royal Arch before. I hear there's a way to climb on top of it, but I couldn't discover an easy way (by "easy", I mean 4th class).
The trail was very steep in the last 1/4 mile, and I was pretty tired by the time we finished; the walk down was casual.
It was after this hike I decided to start trying to get fit again. It's gonna be a long slow painful journey, but I'm already psyched.
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