Began my day with a nice, hard early morning hill climb run in light snowfall while most of Steamboat Springs slept. My body woke me up a little after 5a.m., so I listened and complied and got suited up to go out with Benihana. Light jog for the first half mile, as usual. Under dark skies, I could see the hazy glow of the moon behind the clouds. Occasional flakes of snow passed my headlamp and landed on my face. Solid climb effort today, running the entire time, all the way to Second Vista, 800' vertical above the valley floor. I estimate the distance to be 1.5 miles. The average slope grade to be about 30 degrees with one .25 mile flat section. Running up to 2nd Vista is like doing two hill intervals, separated by a quarter-mile recovery run. The first hill is quite long, the one after the flat section, short but very steep. Maybe 45 degrees at the very end. Today, I turned around at the highpoint and whistled for Benny to follow. Fun run down the hill, without being too agressive and took a longer route to the bottom to make sure my run wasn't too short. Finished running in 50:42.
After work, I felt like another workout so I laced up again and went out on the road to get a little mileage. Much warmer than the morning, I actually ran without a beanie for the last 20 minutes or so. The sidewalks were all but clear of snow and ice, only a few mushy sections, but the footing was safe. Felt like a little trail and road mix. Good stuff. I made a loop from the house up to the ski area and around Mt. Werner Circle down to the bike path. Followed the bike path, then veered off and ran around the neighborhood for a little while to make my run time 41:16 for 5 miles, about 8:20/mile.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Catching a little rest for the legs today, but had to write a quick note about snowboarding yesterday. Instead of splitboarding, we rode Steamboat Ski Area (home!) with a couple of hikes out of bounds thrown in for good measure. Met up with Matty G and Louise and proceeded to the top of Mt. Werner, where we found some great steep and deep snow at Gate D. It's a short pitch with a long traverse out, but fun and worthy enough. Matty and I then went over to Pony Express and did a hike out to the canyon from the top of the chair.
Under beautiful sunny skies, we made the short 10 minute hike out to Fish Creek Falls Canyon. I always get a little nervous dropping into the canyon because I don't know the area as well as most. Super deep snow, even on a light year like this one. It's very steep, north-facing with dense pine tree cover everywhere, so it's hard to see a clean line to ride until you are almost on top of it. The area is littered with hidden "alleyways" and rock drops and pillow lines. And cliffs. I've had my fair share of climbling down trees and sliding down rock faces (who hasn't in the canyon?) but have never been seriously cliffed out, although it is a possibility if you take the wrong line. This day, the Snow Gods looked favorably on me and I linked the best line I've ever had down the canyon. Close to 1000' vertical feet of deep, deep snow and trees and "pillow lines." Popping little airs here and there. Only in the last 150' did I have to stop and arrest against some small pine trees, sluff a little snow down a 15' chute and then slide down. Finished the last section by ripping through some tight pines, out and over a small rock into a small aspen stand and a few big slashes at the bottom, before the 15-20 minute traverse out. SICK. That's a guaranteed smile every time I think about it.
Did another short hike after re-meeting up with Louise off of Sunshine Peak. I forget what the local's name is for this area but it's a perfect place to take the splitboard and get turns in big, wide open powder fields and aspen stands. Kind of the opposite of the canyon in terms of topography.
Spent the next couple hours trying to keep up with Matty. It was no use. The man is just a machine when it comes to snowboarding. You should've seen this particularly ninja-esque 360 he casually threw as he dropped into a tree run. So styley. And he rides so freakin' fast. Anywhere, any conditions. I mean, I am a pretty good snowboarder, but Matty reminds me that there is a whole 'nother level to the sport if you have the drive, focus, passion and love for the Ride. A great friend and a fo' real rippah, brah.
Crushed my lactic acid threshold, for sure. Legs were so sore, even after a good hot tub soak, particularly in the back of my right knee and hamstring. I felt pretty good this morning and almost went for a run this evening but thought it was wiser to rest and hit it hard again tomorrow. So that's what I'll do.
Looking to the future, Collegiate Peaks is about 8 weeks away, so I need to get some long runs in. At least, a few 3-4 hour ventures. I forgive myself for not running the past weekend because I've had some great days of riding. Still, I need to increase my workday mileage a little over the next 3 weeks. Then, I'm going to Moab for a couple days with my homies and I want to do two long runs there. A few weeks later, in mid-April, I'm going to Florida to see my mother. That will be a perfect time to do some long, flat runs at sea level before coming back, tapering the next weekend and racing the next! Is it wrong to want the snow to melt so I can run trails? I miss dirt. Say it ain't so!
Under beautiful sunny skies, we made the short 10 minute hike out to Fish Creek Falls Canyon. I always get a little nervous dropping into the canyon because I don't know the area as well as most. Super deep snow, even on a light year like this one. It's very steep, north-facing with dense pine tree cover everywhere, so it's hard to see a clean line to ride until you are almost on top of it. The area is littered with hidden "alleyways" and rock drops and pillow lines. And cliffs. I've had my fair share of climbling down trees and sliding down rock faces (who hasn't in the canyon?) but have never been seriously cliffed out, although it is a possibility if you take the wrong line. This day, the Snow Gods looked favorably on me and I linked the best line I've ever had down the canyon. Close to 1000' vertical feet of deep, deep snow and trees and "pillow lines." Popping little airs here and there. Only in the last 150' did I have to stop and arrest against some small pine trees, sluff a little snow down a 15' chute and then slide down. Finished the last section by ripping through some tight pines, out and over a small rock into a small aspen stand and a few big slashes at the bottom, before the 15-20 minute traverse out. SICK. That's a guaranteed smile every time I think about it.
Did another short hike after re-meeting up with Louise off of Sunshine Peak. I forget what the local's name is for this area but it's a perfect place to take the splitboard and get turns in big, wide open powder fields and aspen stands. Kind of the opposite of the canyon in terms of topography.
Spent the next couple hours trying to keep up with Matty. It was no use. The man is just a machine when it comes to snowboarding. You should've seen this particularly ninja-esque 360 he casually threw as he dropped into a tree run. So styley. And he rides so freakin' fast. Anywhere, any conditions. I mean, I am a pretty good snowboarder, but Matty reminds me that there is a whole 'nother level to the sport if you have the drive, focus, passion and love for the Ride. A great friend and a fo' real rippah, brah.
Crushed my lactic acid threshold, for sure. Legs were so sore, even after a good hot tub soak, particularly in the back of my right knee and hamstring. I felt pretty good this morning and almost went for a run this evening but thought it was wiser to rest and hit it hard again tomorrow. So that's what I'll do.
Looking to the future, Collegiate Peaks is about 8 weeks away, so I need to get some long runs in. At least, a few 3-4 hour ventures. I forgive myself for not running the past weekend because I've had some great days of riding. Still, I need to increase my workday mileage a little over the next 3 weeks. Then, I'm going to Moab for a couple days with my homies and I want to do two long runs there. A few weeks later, in mid-April, I'm going to Florida to see my mother. That will be a perfect time to do some long, flat runs at sea level before coming back, tapering the next weekend and racing the next! Is it wrong to want the snow to melt so I can run trails? I miss dirt. Say it ain't so!
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Today was A+ on the solo shred tip. Between 5 and 9 inches of new snow last night, depending on where you were on the mountain, gave way to a few hours of sunshine this morning and the snow was ripping.
I went up early and scored first chair on Christie Peak, instead of getting on the Gondola. I just cruised the cat tracks down to Thunderhead, slashing the sides up and popping little airs. The snow quality was already impressing me. Jumped on the chair and did a lap from the top to the bottom of Thunderhead, straight Hollywood shredding under the lift. Man, that is one of my favorite runs to get if you're lucky enough to be first on a powder day. Steep with plenty of moguls and natural shapes on the sides and groomed down the middle. (Not to mention the trees on either side of the run.) I chose the skier's right side and had an incredible first run down, catching solid, worthy air at least a half dozen times. I was breathing so hard when I hit the maze at the bottom of the lift. When I got on the chair, an old timer next to me says, "You must've just come down Concentration." I proudly got to show off my line as we went back up the mountain. We both agreed that Pony Express was the next lift to go to but parted company and I continued my solo mission. I ripped down to Pony under the Burgess Creek lift line, ducking in and out of the trees, and starting my line off with a fun, little 10-foot drop off the cat track. The snow was great and I got to be the first one down my favorite way through this section.
Pony Express was great, as well. Took a couple laps on Pioneer Ridge, enjoying the steep, pine tree pitches and open fields that make this area so fun. A few people out charging the same areas, but I had no problem getting fresh lines here. Plenty of natural shapes to pop off of and the snow was perfect for landings. I did take one good tumble on my way over to Burgress Creek chair. I spent a couple minutes regrouping, cleaning out my goggles and brushing off the snow. Then, made my way to BC so I could go over to a south facing side of the ski area.
Until now, it had been a little cloudy but I dropped into the Elkhead trees just as the sun came out. I was the first person here, as well. The snow on this side of the mountain was more spring-like, wet and slushy, but, of course, super good and new. I had an amazing run through the trees, coming out under the liftline and went straight to the bottom of Elkhead to get on and go back up. I ended up making four more laps through here, just owning the area. Nobody was doing this side and I took full advantage and just kept going back and going top to bottom over and over and over. Sunny as all hell and fairly steep with aspens on the entire pitch make this a beautiful and fun area to ride. The snow is just deep enough under the lift now to ride underneath it, and I couldn't resist taking one from top to bottom under the lift most of the way. I heard a few "woo-hoos" of approval coming from the chair on a couple of occassions. :)
After an hour-plus of spring snow, I went back over to Thunderhead to hit up some more north facing pitches. The snow here was still cold and more winter-like powder and I was stoked to be riding such varied conditions in one day. That's March for you. I got to launch off a favorite rock of mine on Vagabond and quickly cut over to do some trees on the skier's left side. Super sick line of untouched snow through here had me super pumped. Big rocks and landings had me super tired. At the bottom, I got back on Thunderhead and decided to take one more lap. At the top, I went into the gondola building to "recharge" my gloves and goggles (dry them out). Feeling refreshed, I took my last run of the day (morning! it was only 11:30am)down through the trees again and caught some fun airs once I got back onto the ski run.
All in all, an A+ morning of hard riding that got me unbelievably tired. In my usual style, I didn't even bother going to top of Storm Peak since I had no trouble finding good lines on lower mountain. It's nice to ride by yourself sometimes because you get to go wherever you want and if you session one area for a while, like I did under Elkhead, it doesn't get all tracked up. Except by you.
Solo mission: accomplished.
Whooped, I cleaned up and spent the afternoon hanging with Jonny B and Creeps at Slopeside, soaking in the sun, drinking a few pitchers of free beer and eating pizza. It certainly doesn't suck to be a local in a ski town.
Tomorrow, looking forward to a splitboard mission into Fish Creek Falls area with Matty G! Doesn't look like I'll be running this weekend.
I went up early and scored first chair on Christie Peak, instead of getting on the Gondola. I just cruised the cat tracks down to Thunderhead, slashing the sides up and popping little airs. The snow quality was already impressing me. Jumped on the chair and did a lap from the top to the bottom of Thunderhead, straight Hollywood shredding under the lift. Man, that is one of my favorite runs to get if you're lucky enough to be first on a powder day. Steep with plenty of moguls and natural shapes on the sides and groomed down the middle. (Not to mention the trees on either side of the run.) I chose the skier's right side and had an incredible first run down, catching solid, worthy air at least a half dozen times. I was breathing so hard when I hit the maze at the bottom of the lift. When I got on the chair, an old timer next to me says, "You must've just come down Concentration." I proudly got to show off my line as we went back up the mountain. We both agreed that Pony Express was the next lift to go to but parted company and I continued my solo mission. I ripped down to Pony under the Burgess Creek lift line, ducking in and out of the trees, and starting my line off with a fun, little 10-foot drop off the cat track. The snow was great and I got to be the first one down my favorite way through this section.
Pony Express was great, as well. Took a couple laps on Pioneer Ridge, enjoying the steep, pine tree pitches and open fields that make this area so fun. A few people out charging the same areas, but I had no problem getting fresh lines here. Plenty of natural shapes to pop off of and the snow was perfect for landings. I did take one good tumble on my way over to Burgress Creek chair. I spent a couple minutes regrouping, cleaning out my goggles and brushing off the snow. Then, made my way to BC so I could go over to a south facing side of the ski area.
Until now, it had been a little cloudy but I dropped into the Elkhead trees just as the sun came out. I was the first person here, as well. The snow on this side of the mountain was more spring-like, wet and slushy, but, of course, super good and new. I had an amazing run through the trees, coming out under the liftline and went straight to the bottom of Elkhead to get on and go back up. I ended up making four more laps through here, just owning the area. Nobody was doing this side and I took full advantage and just kept going back and going top to bottom over and over and over. Sunny as all hell and fairly steep with aspens on the entire pitch make this a beautiful and fun area to ride. The snow is just deep enough under the lift now to ride underneath it, and I couldn't resist taking one from top to bottom under the lift most of the way. I heard a few "woo-hoos" of approval coming from the chair on a couple of occassions. :)
After an hour-plus of spring snow, I went back over to Thunderhead to hit up some more north facing pitches. The snow here was still cold and more winter-like powder and I was stoked to be riding such varied conditions in one day. That's March for you. I got to launch off a favorite rock of mine on Vagabond and quickly cut over to do some trees on the skier's left side. Super sick line of untouched snow through here had me super pumped. Big rocks and landings had me super tired. At the bottom, I got back on Thunderhead and decided to take one more lap. At the top, I went into the gondola building to "recharge" my gloves and goggles (dry them out). Feeling refreshed, I took my last run of the day (morning! it was only 11:30am)down through the trees again and caught some fun airs once I got back onto the ski run.
All in all, an A+ morning of hard riding that got me unbelievably tired. In my usual style, I didn't even bother going to top of Storm Peak since I had no trouble finding good lines on lower mountain. It's nice to ride by yourself sometimes because you get to go wherever you want and if you session one area for a while, like I did under Elkhead, it doesn't get all tracked up. Except by you.
Solo mission: accomplished.
Whooped, I cleaned up and spent the afternoon hanging with Jonny B and Creeps at Slopeside, soaking in the sun, drinking a few pitchers of free beer and eating pizza. It certainly doesn't suck to be a local in a ski town.
Tomorrow, looking forward to a splitboard mission into Fish Creek Falls area with Matty G! Doesn't look like I'll be running this weekend.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Marchin'...
Took Thursday off from running and went to JD's in the evening to do a little snowboard base repair and general hanging out. I meant to bring my camera and take some pictures of the splitboard and do a blog entry that explains what splitboarding is and all that. That didn't happen, but I will do the aforementioned blog in the near future.
It snowed a few inches of spring snow last night. Started snowing again this afternoon and has been snowing hard ever since. It's supposed to dump all night. That said, it should be a powder day in the 'Boat tomorrow so I don't think I'll go running in the morning and save it for the hill. I'll probably "press glass" (which is a local way of saying you'll be first in line at the Gondola in the morning. Pressed against the glass doors. Get it?)since I haven't done that yet this season. It will be nice to get some killer inbounds turns before it gets tracked up. I'm just hoping for a deep day. Currently, we are just hitting 200" of total snowfall for the ski area, with a little over a month to go before it closes. By comparison, Steamboat averages 350" a year, with our record snowfall, two years ago, being 489". While, I've definitely had a couple of face shots this year, it's been a lackluster year, overall, in Steamboat. But, March is a snowy month in the Rockies, and tomorrow should be good.
Speaking of snow, tonight's run was full of it. Free ran 6 slushy miles on the bike path, through parking lots, a field of knee deep snow, up long hills and around the neighborhood and the park in a hard, wet snowstorm. Fun and dark headlamp mission. It was a Runner's run, for sure. I think it's exhilarting to run in really adverse weather. There is something so satisfying about running free, your body warm and your mind alert, with the weather hard on your face. Today was no exception as I caught myself running with a huge smile more than a few times.
One of my most vivid memories of running is from college. I routinely ran a six mile loop from George Washington University to the Capitol and back along the National Mall. One particular day, it was already cold and raining when I left on my run. As I ran around the Capitol and started making my return run to school, the weather just unleashed, the wind picked up and it started hailing! Painful, pelting hail and me with 3 miles to go. I just remember laughing because the weather could not have gotten any worse. There was nothing to do but laugh. Laugh and run home!
It snowed a few inches of spring snow last night. Started snowing again this afternoon and has been snowing hard ever since. It's supposed to dump all night. That said, it should be a powder day in the 'Boat tomorrow so I don't think I'll go running in the morning and save it for the hill. I'll probably "press glass" (which is a local way of saying you'll be first in line at the Gondola in the morning. Pressed against the glass doors. Get it?)since I haven't done that yet this season. It will be nice to get some killer inbounds turns before it gets tracked up. I'm just hoping for a deep day. Currently, we are just hitting 200" of total snowfall for the ski area, with a little over a month to go before it closes. By comparison, Steamboat averages 350" a year, with our record snowfall, two years ago, being 489". While, I've definitely had a couple of face shots this year, it's been a lackluster year, overall, in Steamboat. But, March is a snowy month in the Rockies, and tomorrow should be good.
Speaking of snow, tonight's run was full of it. Free ran 6 slushy miles on the bike path, through parking lots, a field of knee deep snow, up long hills and around the neighborhood and the park in a hard, wet snowstorm. Fun and dark headlamp mission. It was a Runner's run, for sure. I think it's exhilarting to run in really adverse weather. There is something so satisfying about running free, your body warm and your mind alert, with the weather hard on your face. Today was no exception as I caught myself running with a huge smile more than a few times.
One of my most vivid memories of running is from college. I routinely ran a six mile loop from George Washington University to the Capitol and back along the National Mall. One particular day, it was already cold and raining when I left on my run. As I ran around the Capitol and started making my return run to school, the weather just unleashed, the wind picked up and it started hailing! Painful, pelting hail and me with 3 miles to go. I just remember laughing because the weather could not have gotten any worse. There was nothing to do but laugh. Laugh and run home!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Good one!
Excellent day, particularly from a training standpoint. Started the day off by running for about 45 minutes with Benihana on some nice, crunchy snow. Ran the climb up to First Vista, about 600' vertical in a half-mile. Whistled for Benny, turned around and ran back down most of the way only to find the dog had his own agenda. So, I turned around and ran back up about half way up the hill, cursing and whistling for my canine cohort. Hmm...hill intervals, I thought. Good workout. Finally, caught sight of the husky bounding down the trail, so I turned tail and hustled to the bottom of the hill. Felt great to run fast early in the morning! Leashed up the dog as we got to the park and jogged a 1/4 mile home.
I left work around 2pm. Later, in the day, Matty G was in town, so we got the ol' splitboards out and skinned up a scar on Emerald Mountain. Fun, little hour or so hike up before my skins started collecting snow on a rather steep pitch through the trees. My feet kept slipping out from underneath me, so I decided to stop fighting and put my board together, slung it on my backpack and hiked as far up as I could. Eventually, I was post holing to my thighs and decided to strap in there. Matty kept skinning up to the top so I waited for him to come schralping down. The snow was heavy, wet, spring snow, but easy to punch through and slashy. We had a fun section through the trees, then pointed it into the big, flat Orton Meadow on the northeast side of Emerald, and surfed it most of the way back to the car, with Matty's malamute Sooky, running behind us the whole way. Benihana stayed home for this mission. All in all, a couple of fun hours breaking a sweat and making some fun spring turns. Loving the extra daylight. Can't wait to set the clocks back!
I left work around 2pm. Later, in the day, Matty G was in town, so we got the ol' splitboards out and skinned up a scar on Emerald Mountain. Fun, little hour or so hike up before my skins started collecting snow on a rather steep pitch through the trees. My feet kept slipping out from underneath me, so I decided to stop fighting and put my board together, slung it on my backpack and hiked as far up as I could. Eventually, I was post holing to my thighs and decided to strap in there. Matty kept skinning up to the top so I waited for him to come schralping down. The snow was heavy, wet, spring snow, but easy to punch through and slashy. We had a fun section through the trees, then pointed it into the big, flat Orton Meadow on the northeast side of Emerald, and surfed it most of the way back to the car, with Matty's malamute Sooky, running behind us the whole way. Benihana stayed home for this mission. All in all, a couple of fun hours breaking a sweat and making some fun spring turns. Loving the extra daylight. Can't wait to set the clocks back!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Fun, hilly snow run with Benny and Marvin after work this afternoon. Overcast but not terribly cold. Just a little chilly. The dogs loved it and so did I. Jogged through the Park, did the short hill climb and then a couple Loops of Fury (my name for the half-mile hill loop), then ran downhill and about half-mile home. Definitely felt like running more when I was finished but it was a long day at work and I was happy to just shower, eat and chill. 'Nuff said.
Monday, March 1, 2010
truth hurts, don't it?
Today's work: Ignition coil on a Subaru, glow plug relay on a Ford pickup, diagnosed a bad fuel pump in a Dodge pickup that was towed to the shop over the weekend, move a few cars around from last week and dump a bunch of waste oil. In the afternoon, had Andy's Bronco towed into the shop. Diagnosed it and it needs: new battery cable ends and ground wire, a starter, fuel filter and fuel pump. Did the electrical, installed a starter and the fuel filter, and got the gas tank pulled. Finish it up tomorrow.
Drug my weary ass home and despite a tough weekend on my legs, decided to go for a short but hard run on the bike path to really blast my body and forget about work. But trying to run fast and icy sidewalks/roads just don't mix. All I think I really did was just frustrate myself, as I spent the run looking for icy spots and stepping around them and, therefore, losing my rhythm. Finished my sad little 3.6 mile loop in a pathetic 30:11, roughly an 8:20/mile pace. Not fast.
But the painful truth is, I'm comparing my performance now to what I was accomplishing almost 20 years ago and THERE IS NO COMPARISON. (Get over yourself, Randall. You've gotten older! It's OK!) I may have been young and fast, then, but now, I'm finally embracing real endurance. At 38, I may not be able to bust out a 4:54 mile, but I can run 50 miles! And, by Jove, I'll run 100 miles when I'm 40. (Eat that, young me.)
Drug my weary ass home and despite a tough weekend on my legs, decided to go for a short but hard run on the bike path to really blast my body and forget about work. But trying to run fast and icy sidewalks/roads just don't mix. All I think I really did was just frustrate myself, as I spent the run looking for icy spots and stepping around them and, therefore, losing my rhythm. Finished my sad little 3.6 mile loop in a pathetic 30:11, roughly an 8:20/mile pace. Not fast.
But the painful truth is, I'm comparing my performance now to what I was accomplishing almost 20 years ago and THERE IS NO COMPARISON. (Get over yourself, Randall. You've gotten older! It's OK!) I may have been young and fast, then, but now, I'm finally embracing real endurance. At 38, I may not be able to bust out a 4:54 mile, but I can run 50 miles! And, by Jove, I'll run 100 miles when I'm 40. (Eat that, young me.)
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