Thru Endurance We Conquer!

I had my final long run planned today - hoping for another 25 mile day at CMSP to check out course conditions following the snow on Friday and the blizzard Tuesday. I knew there was more weather moving in, but took my chances. After all, if the weather isn't ideal on the 9th we still have to race and I still have the miles to cover. So even though I really didn't feel like running and all I wanted to do was go back to sleep, I headed down to the park with my warm clothes and the goal to just run as far as I could. Today was one of the those days where I needed a smack on the head to listen. As usual, CMPS was happy to oblige. Snow blowing in from a fast moving storm I didn't get the miles I wanted - tripping over a snow covered rock and landing hard on another rock precludes a long run. My mistake for not really paying attention in the drifting snow. But while the time on feet didn't meet my goals, I definitely learned a lot prior to Stories. I was able to get a ...

I had one goal when I lined up for the start of the 19th Tennessee Pass Night Jam. It wasn't to win or even place top three. It was simply to survive the start corner upright and pedaling. High expectations going into a race, I know! But after 2017 when I was taken out on that first corner and separated my AC joint as well as cracking my shoulder blade, that's all I could focus on. I rode up and down that hill I don't know how many times before the race, rehearsing the corner, trying to stay out of my head. But still, every time I looked down the snow I could remember the feeling of crashing, the adrenaline of getting back on my bike and pedaling like crazy before realizing just how bad my shoulder was. It's hard to put something like that behind you. Five minutes to go and I was lined up right behind Nick to the left of the line. Just stay upright. I was in the gear I needed to be in for pedaling out of the corner - not the downhill sprint and my dropper post was dow...

I’ve wondered more then once if I can run in my puffy coat. Usually when I look at the temperature and it’s reading 5* or lower... But I’ve never actually done more then my warmup in the puffy. Usually even that gets me so toasty warm that the thought of racing in the puffy is the furthest from my mind. However... As New Year’s Day approached and the forecast temperature kept plummeting that puffy was looking more and more appealing. Monday New Year's Eve I watched the dramatic nose dive on the thermometer. Cold, cold and colder. Add in the gusting wind and snow and it was really looking like Rescue Run weather. Picking clothes was going to be a challenge. In the end, I dragged out my heavy fleece tights that I've worn maybe 20 times since I got them,  my heavy craft shirt and a wool jacket under my FH Beerworks Shirt. Add in hat, gloves and face mask and I looked more ready to rob a bank then run a hard 10k. We got a parking spot near the entrance of the park - which was p...

Time for an escape and unplugging from the world. No better place for that then a hut isolated in the snow globe high up in the mountains We decided to try a different hut this year - Fritz's Cabin, to the North East of Aspen. We were able to book the cabin for the nights we wanted without any issues and because it was during the week, we were the only ones there! It was a small group - Nick and I, Todd and Amber and Ian   Since it was a fairly long haul into the hut (6.2 miles, 3000 feet of gain), we decided to stay in Glenwood Springs Sunday night. Might as well get the drive done with Sunday so we weren't rushed Monday morning. Amber had the great idea of going to the Yampah Vapor Caves after we checked into the hotel and managed to convince everyone that we really needed to go. Nick is always up for steaming hot but Todd and I were a harder sell. In the end, it was a great start to the trip.   We started the trek up just after noon, not really realizing...

I have my limits when it comes to fat biking in the cold. Below 10* is about it for me - under that and I'm a wimp. Why I will run in sub-zero without too many complaints but not head out on the bike best equipped for slow snowy miles, I still haven't figured out. But anyway...  Saturday was a balmy 3* in the morning with 5 inches of fresh, fluffy snow and more falling. Skiing would have been the best as Monarch was reporting 21" of fresh snow - but I have my limits with skiing as well! And it was even colder and windier on the pass. So skiing was out, despite the lure of the fresh snow, Instead, we went for a hike up in the canyon. We actually decided to test out some gear for potential backcountry and hut trips with our hike, and it was cold enough to be a very valid test of our new Ibex Shak Hoodies. There were only two other cars in the Mount Cultler lot and the couple getting out of their truck as we pulled in kinda gave us a strange look as we started hoofing up th...

Everyone in the group was delayed by this Colorado traffic jam.... Following along the lines of trying new things in 2016 came our first ski-in hut trip. Sure, we'd done a trial run a while back with snowshoes - but that was very mellow and not really a true back country experience. This time we had a group and we were trecking into Vance's Cabin outside Ski Cooper. It seemed a fairly straight forward route - east from the parking lot, cross the drainage, through the woods then climbing to a saddle, where we would traverse to an open field for a quick descent into the hut. A short 2.5 mile track that promised to be well packed in and easy to follow. Seemed was the optimal word. Shortly after crossing the drainage, we stopped to regroup and shed some layers. Skinning is hard work and getting sweaty not a good idea. There was a group of skiers descending through the deep snow directly above us, but we didn't put it together. The trail appeared to continue heading through ...

Unlike Nick, I have never struggled with cold hands. I'm usually happy with three layers less of glove then what he's using, or my heavy gloves if he's got his bar mitts on. In the spring and fall, that's fine. I can wear my thin wool liner under a heavy pair of gloves and be happy - despite the lack of dexterity and other issues. Even at the Leadville Winter Bike Series last year, I tried to avoid wearing my really heavy gloves. Had slightly cold hands a few times, but didn't think much of it. But for whatever reason, when Nick and I went out on the fatbikes on Sunday, I wasn't happy with the glove situation. It seemed like no matter how I tucked in cuffs or layered gloves, I just wasn't comfortable. My hands were warm for sure, but I couldn't manipulate the shifters or brakes like I wanted. And I made my discomfort evident to Nick, even mentioning that maybe I should try the bar mitts we had at home. What could it hurt? When I got home from work Mond...

After nearly two weeks of sunshine and warm temperatures, we returned home to sub freezing and snow. More snow was on the way as well. Before, that would have set me to the trainer or to a run. Not this year. I'm thinking except for targeted workout where I have specific goals in mind, the trainer isn't gonna see a lot of use. Nick was right last year with his trainer killers article. There's no excuses to get out and play in the snow now.  Nick heading up into Stratton - no first tracks there. Someone had beaten us there   But we did get first tracks on Spring Creek! What's changed? A new bike of course and Sunday morning was the maiden ride. We got it just before our trip and had enough stuff to do without trying to get a bike fit as well. So when the snow started falling Saturday night, I was jonesing to go. Nick gave it the once over and did the fit Sunday morning while I made breakfast and then it was time to ride. We dressed for the freezing yet ...

Winter does not want to let go this year! All week, they were saying that the snow would move in Sunday morning, with wind and cold. Nick and I took advantage of the perfect weather Saturday for a nice long ride in the mountains. We had the trails to ourselves since most people decided to celebrate Mothers Day early. I was tired from the week and my right knee was aching with hard pedaling. It was a solid ride and I was able to work through the knee pain for a fun day on the bike. I didn't take care of it after the ride - having to dash to work. I paid the price for ignoring the twinge all week - by Saturday night, it was full fledged pain. Yikes. Not good. Sunday morning, I wasn't even sure I wanted to ride. My knee was hurting badly and the light rain was rapidly turning in heavy snow. Nick didn't let me sit around and feel sorry for myself. We have the clothes - we have lights. Might as well get out and have some fun and get muddy. With my knee hurting,I knew riding ...

TRAINER KILLERs - AKA  Specialized FatBoy and Exposure lights out getting some night riding in the snow.  Fresh tracks the Chutes  I took the Procycling demo bike out for a spin. I have ridden a fat bike before but never got the chance to ride one for what I would intend it for which is conditions like tonight. While I would be able to ride a normal bike today I would have been spinning out a bunch, walking, and generally not having a quality ride. Once I got the tire pressure correct I could just drill it up and down the trail. So if you are getting tired of doing the incline in conditions like today. Go ride one of these things. Better yet, ride one at night so you get the trail to yourself and your buddies. Wooplah!! Nick, Specialized FatBoy in it's native environment

Last time there were sub zero temperatures, I bailed on my early am run. I was doing a workout and had no desire to freeze while trying to in fast. Not today. I'm in a taper week and the run today was more fun with a few accelerations thrown in. So when I woke up to fresh snow and -4 on my thermometer, I decided to head out anyway. I rarely get a chance for fresh tracks and the fun of running in powder down in Bear Creek. I couldn't resist it, even if it meant really bundling up. Besides, Nick had ridden in to work. If he could muster to face the cold, so can I! Bundle up I did - with nice cozy layers and jacket. Having good clothes makes even the coldest weather tolerable. I'm getting better at figuring out the right layers and we've invested plenty of time, research and money in nice clothes. So despite the temperature, I was warm during the entire run. Frost formed on my hat, nose and eyelashes, but I was comfortable. Kinda fuzzy crescent moon over the eastern h...

So far this has been the winter of really wanting new toys. Nick wants a fat bike in the worst way. We both want AT skies so we can do something a little different when the snow flies. I don't mind (and welcome) the added running winter brings, but having some options would be nice. We had just gotten to the point where the trails were completely clear and fun to ride - then came Saturday. It was clear when I woke up - sunny and cold. But clouds quickly developed and snow began pilling up. Well then. So much for the group road ride. And three hours on the mountain bike was looking a little iffy as temperature started falling as quickly as the snow. Nick was not to be deterred. He got the bar mitts on Fun and we bundled up for as many hours as we could manage. As we pedaled up Cheyenne Blvd, all the drivers were giving  us weird looks. Three inches of snow on the road and those nuts are riding bikes? Yep! We headed up the canyon to do a few loops on lower Columbine. Up the blacktop,...

Something different last weekend. Instead of battling the snow and near sub zero temperatures on our bikes, Nick and I joined Shad and Steph for some fun in powder. We rented skies and headed to Monarch Mountain west of Salida. Both Shad and Steph have been skiing for years, so it was to have them along. They knew the mountain by heart and made excellent and patient guides for two newbies. While I'd spent plenty of time skiing in high school, it had been years for me. The first two run were petty funny as I tried to remember how to turn, keeping my knees together and my balance points. I'm sure I looked pretty silly. But eventually, I got my act together and started making possible turns. I also attempted a few runs through the trees in the deep powder. Umm, yeah. No powder tree turns for me! I took a few tumbles, but the powder was soft and cushioned my landings. And then there was Nick. He's been downhill skiing maybe three times. His method of getting down? Either straig...

Footprints don't lie - they tell the story so clearly it's impossible to hide. That's one reason I love running or riding right after (or during!) a snow storm. The hidden life of the forest is suddenly plain to see. Epic battles revealed in the snow. On Saturday, Nick and I rode in Stratton and surrounds, making loops of all the trails. Besides the expected dog and human prints, I could see small cat tracks, rabbit and squirrel prints and deer tracks crisscrossing the trails. It was also clear where people decided they didn't need to stay on the trail - all hikers going bush wacking or in some cases just cutting the switchbacks. (I expect dogs to do that, but humans should be smarter - and have more respect.) The snow also changed the nature of the trails, adding challenge to normally easy singletrack. Fat Bike? We don't need no fat bike to play in the snow! Sunday was running - and the dusting of snow allowed the night life of the neighborhood to be seen. ...

Nick went Fat Biking today. While it maybe nice to have a fatbike, all you really need is fat. Because one - fat keeps you warm. Two - fat gives you great traction in the snow. And last but not least - fat gives you great motivation to ride your bike in the cold. That's why it's fat biking!

Every so often, even when most trails are a mess, you have to escape and get out side. I suffered through a good but data-less workout inside on Tuesday because of the ice and slush on the roads. Yesterday, with springlike temperatures, the last thing I wanted was to spend another hour inside. But where to go? Stratton was a mess, Palmer Park and Red Rocks even worse. Nick was waiting on Todd to ride - they were going to head up the canyon and down Columbine. That trail had the best likelyhood of being clear - mostly south facing and exposed. As much as I didn't want to ride up the canyon on my mountain bike, the rest of the ride sounded like fun. So I tagged along, knowing I had to keep it easy on the climb. We left in the light of the setting sun, heading into the coolness of the canyon. I had my Exposure lights mounted and all my warm clothes in my pack. I followed Nick and Todd to the mouth of the canyon and watched them ride away. I had no desire to even try to ride their pa...

We left Tucson just as the snow was moving in and got home to more snow! Yes, I was laughing when I saw the blizzard warnings for Mt Lemmon and higher elevations in Tucson. I did see some of the snow photos on Facebook after we got home and I wasn't laughing anymore. They got a lot of snow down there! Luckily - or so I thought - we'd missed it all. But when we got home, there were several inches on the ground and more in the forecast. Good thing I had another recovery week scheduled... With winter storm warnings scrolling and not feeling like spending time in the garage just yet, Nick and I decided it was time for a hike. We loaded up the Osprey Packs with snowshoes and headed for the hills. Nick's idea of hiking is more like bushwacking, so nearly four hours later, we finally found ourselves back at the car. A good way to spend a snowy, cold day. Lots of pictures.... The snow was deep up in the mountains! I'd be stopping to put those snowshoes on pretty q...