Aug 1 to Aug 7

Starting the third week after the Leadville race, it seems most of the recovery process is complete and it is time to return to some good training. The goals this week: run about 55 miles, 1 session of hill repeats, 1 long run of about 3-4 hours.

Monday; Aug 1:  Already another month has started!!! Where does the time go? Anyhow, out the door for a .....well, a basic, slow, my rear is draggin' 5 miler! Just was a slug!

Tuesday; Aug 2:  A nice 10 miler with Traysen at the house. This was the longest run since the Leadville race and it felt great to get a medium distance run under the legs. Even though we did not push the pace, it was a nice effort.

Wednesday; Aug 3: Lazy boy was still sleeping as I ventured out to enjoy the very early morning cool and post rainy evening. A very nice 8 miler where the pace was pushed on several sections of up and down hill.

Thursday; Aug 4: Having been a slacker all week in the weight lifting, it was to the gym in the basement for a good session of back, triceps and P90x abs. Out the door solo again for a good 6 miler with 4 3/10ths of a mile hill repeats on the neighbor's driveway. With all of the rain and no traffic on her driveway, it was a fun adventure trying to run very hard while jumping rivets in the road! The lungs and legs felt strong on the repeats.

Jim, Traysen and I then took for a nice hike in the Catamount Ranch/ North Catamount Res. area. Traysen really enjoyed a good swim!

North Catamount Res.

Friday; Aug 5:  A nice weight lifting of abs, chest, and shoulders and then out the door early with Traysen. A good 9 mile effort from the house. The highlight of the run was the two little spotted fawns.

Saturday; Aug 6:  Took the day off from running; however, Traysen and I went for a nice hike in the Catamount Ranch area. Very beautiful trails just to the west of Woodland Park; awesome views of Pikes Peak, North Catamount Resevoir, and the entire north slope of Pikes Peak.

The north slope of Pikes Peak as viewed from the Vayhinger Trail.

Sunday; Aug 7: Met up with good friend, Lynne and two new running friends, Lon and Shannon, we ventured to the Dome Rock Wildlife Area, just south of Divide. Shannon and Lon took off up the hill while Lynne and I enjoyed a more leisurely paced effort. The highlight was a detour onto a new trail we had not run, the Dome Rock View Trail. As expected, it climbed wonderfully through huge aspen groves and finally topped out with a perfect view of Dome Rock. An about face and it was back to the main Dome Rock trail, complete with several creek crossings and a long steady climb back to the finish. About 14 miles rounded out the warm day.


Dome Rock.


Several crossings of the creek provided for cooler but wet feet!

Summary: A good week of running, maybe a bit shy on the mileage goals for the week, but a good effort on the hills. Lynne asked if I was recovered from Leadville.....the answer is "yes, physically, but mentally I am not ready to take on 6 hour runs again for awhile.
Total for the week: 52.0 with two weight lifting sessions.