Barr Camp Run

If you can't tell, I love documenting these runs. As I type, I just picture myself 40 years from now reading about these adventures and reliving the experience all over again.

So the PPM course I talked about on Monday follows the Barr Trail up the peak. I've been reading a 12 page course description for a few weeks now. The course features many distinct parts that are separated by landmarks. The guide talks about these parts and how you should plan on running them. Quite honestly, it's a little overwhelming to read and try to visualize what you're going to do on marathon day.

The lightbulb went off and I decided to head down to Manitou Springs early last Saturday morning and attempt running the first half of the trail. I was on the road at 3:30am, drove through a herd of elk, and arrived at the trailhead an hour later. I got there a little too early as I had to wait about 20 minutes for the sky to lighten up a bit.

Once I started, the words I had been reading seemed to come alive as I came across The W's, The Rock Arch, No Name Creek, 7.8 to summit sign, and finally Barr Camp. Barr Camp is the halfway point of ascent portion of the marathon after climbing 3900' from Manitou. I felt great getting up there, but the thought of going another 3900' over six miles to reach the summit was daunting.

The day was overcast, cool & windy. I stopped and talked with several hikers that were heading to the summit. I sure hope they made it, but I have my doubts. The summit shot above was the only time I saw it the whole morning. As you can see, there is still quite a bit of snow, and I can only imagine how much more nasty the wind was up there.

Waterton Canyon to Roxborough State Park

Two Saturdays ago, I went on my first longer trail run. It was a 14 mile loop from Waterton Canyon over to Roxborough State Park. I like to get up and out early so I can get most of my run in while the ladies of the house are sleeping.

Despite living only 20 minutes away from Waterton Canyon, I had never been up the 6 mile dirt road to the Strontia Springs Dam. Wow, what a sight that was. It's 234' high! The water was gushing out the top and thundering as it exploded on the riverbed below.

The five miles of trail over to Roxborough were serene. It had rained the night before so everything glistened as the sun came up. Every twist and turn in the trail brought something new and beautiful to take in. I'm not kidding when I say I almost ran right into my friend in the photo above.

I really enjoyed this first foray into trail running. Leaving the pavement, people, cars, and intersections behind and finding forests, meadows, rivers, wildlife & wildflowers is a gift. Running is a gift and I'm grateful for the opportunity to use my legs this way.

Up next...the PPM!

On August 16th, I'll be heading down to Colorado Springs for what will no doubt be the most challenging running experience of my life. The Pikes Peak Marathon. The mountain is one of Colorado's most famous 14ers. It stands alone and can be seen from all along the Front Range. The race probably wouldn't be that bad if it started up high. No, the start line is in Manitou Spring at 6295' and rises another 7815' over 13 miles. The halfway point of the marathon has you standing at 14,110'...the summit. Then you turn around and head back down.

For obvious reasons, this marathon will be quite different than any other I've done. This is not a road race, nope...except for the first mile, it's all on trails. I've read that I should expect it to take the same amount of time it takes me to run a full marathon + 30 minutes...just to reach the summit. Needless to say, this is not a race that will have me running the entire time. Think power walking!

You're probably wondering why on earth I would ever want to put myself through the agony of ascending & descending 7815' over 26 miles. Well, I heard about this marathon a few years ago. I went to a trusty source for runner reviews, marathonguide.com, and found the following review titles.

"This is freaking crazy!"
"Humbling, Inspiring, Life Changing"
"Holy cow, what a great marathon!!"
"Even Tougher Than I Expected"
"tough, beautiful, exhilarating"
"Remember it Forever"
"WOW"
"A must-do for love of running"
"The consummate running high"

I was amazed that everyone who did it, seemed to be in awe of the experience. Many come back to do it year after year. The full reviews can be found by clicking on the link below.

MarathonGuide.com - PPM Reviews

In 2008, the marathon filled its 800 spots in 20 minutes. Back in March, I thought I'd try to sign up, but figured I probably wouldn't get in. Well, I did. The race sold out in 24 hours this year.

So, I'll be hitting the hills in the early mornings this summer as the shift to trail running is on. No more pounding pavement. Whatever happens on 8/16, I'm excited to bag another 14er and experience what they call "America's Ultimate Challenge"!

Ryan & Bart

When we went to the expo to pick up my packet on Saturday, I was amazed at how big the event was. It took up the entire San Diego Convention Center. After wandering around a bit, I got all giddy when I noticed some familiar faces in the Nissan booth. I couldn't resist the opportunity to get in line for an autograph from Ryan Hall and Bart Yasso.

You may not know who Ryan is. He recently placed 3rd in this years Boston Marathon. He also holds the record for the fastest debut marathon by an American runner (2007 London Marathon). On top of that, he is the US record holder in the 1/2 marathon (the only American to finish 13.1 miles in under an hour) at the 2007 Houston Half Marathon.

Bart, the older guy, is a running legend. He works for Runners World magazine, but it's his amazing running escapades which are chronicled in the book, "My Life On The Run", that have elevated him to legend status. He also invented a training workout called "Yasso 800's", which are a predictor of your marathon finish time.

I've been following Ryan Hall since last year's Olympics in which he placed 10th. The more I've gotten to know about him, the more I'm impressed with his character. I finished Bart's book a few months ago and was enthralled with all his stories. Needless to say, it was an absolute treat for me to meet BOTH of them and get their autographs on my race shirt!

The Finish

About a month or two before the race, James emailed me a link to a YouTube video. The video was of some guy at a past San Diego RnR marathon that did a flying leap across the finish line. James stated that he wanted to come up with his own version of the flying leap. This shouldn't have surprised me as James is the one who introduced me to 14er leaps.

My initial reaction was...he’s crazy!!! He has no idea just how ridiculously heavy & in pain his legs are going to be. Yet, I was supportive and encouraged him to make that decision at mile 26...when he had only .2 miles left in the race.

As we approached the finish, he indicated the jump was on. Still dumbfounded...I figured that it would be a great way to celebrate my 8th marathon by trying the unthinkable with him.

With about 50 feet to go, we moved into a pocket with no other runners in front or behind us. We gathered a bit of steam right before the line and then launch into our synchronized leaps! Amazingly we didn’t land in a pile of crumpled flesh & bones. No we landed on our feet! It was over! I now look at this picture and have no idea how James was able to grab his legs in mid-air. Incredible. My legs don't bend after running 26 miles.

San Diego Rock 'n Roll Marathon Recap

On Sunday, 5/31, I ran the San Diego “Rock ‘n Roll” Marathon with James. It was his first one and let me tell you…he rocked it!

The day started by hopping in a mini-van with six other runners including James & his sister Wendi (who was also running her 1st). We were dropped off at the start at 5:00am by Wendi’s gracious husband, Jeff. Right at 6:30am, all 20,000 runners got it going and crossed the start line.

The weather was ideal. 60 degrees and very cloudy with a light breeze. The course hits many of the sights in downtown San Diego before cruising north and circling Mission Bay. There were a few hills, but the last 12-14 miles were relatively flat. The bands on the course were great. My favorite was one that was playing Dave Matthews songs. They sounded great!

James was our pace setter and we were hitting an 8 min/mile pace for the first 10 miles or so, before settling around an 8:30 pace. What was incredible was that James never slowed down from that pace. He was still hitting it at miles 25 & 26!

With a stellar run going, James shattered his goal of a 3:45 by crossing the finish line in 3:38:48. That is an incredible time for a 1st marathon! Oh yeah…check back tomorrow for more about the crossing of the finish line!

The picture above was taken at the 10 mile mark. At the top of the biggest hill, we had a big crew of cheering fans to greet us. Tanya & the girls, as well as, Steve, Jennifer, Katie & Andrew all got up early to cheer us on.

Boston or Bust!

It finally happened! I'm going to be heading to Boston in April 2010 for the 114th running of the world's oldest and most famous marathon! The Colorado Marathon was a great experience all the way around. The course was beautiful as we ran the first 17 miles down the Poudre (sounds like "pooper") Canyon right next to the Poudre River. The final 9 miles meandered through a small town named Laporte before ending in Old Town Fort Collins.

I needed a 3:15:59 to qualify and with a little help of some downhill running, I was able to finish in 3:09:43. The downhill was nice on the lungs, but for the first time I experienced minor leg cramps from about mile 3 on. It wasn't bad, but it had me more than concerned that it was going to unleash at any moment.

The day started with my alarm going off at 3:00am. The hotel we were staying at had buses waiting outside to drive us the 26 miles to the start. Those buses left at 4:00am. Thankfully they opened the Starbucks stand in the hotel lobby at 3:45, so I was a happy guy for the 50 minute ride.

When the buses arrived at the start (a campground in the canyon), we had a good hour and fifteen minutes until the race started. It was 35 degrees outside and pitch black. Thankfully we were able to stay in the bus for about 35 minutes before we got kicked out into the cold.

Once the race started at 6:15am, I just focused on making it to mile 17 which was the first spot spectators were allowed on the course. I was very excited to see my three favorite ladies! They did not disappoint. Loud cheers, cowbells & signs! What more could I ask for in getting a needed boost.

Everything went great until mile 24. I had a little encounter with "the wall", but somehow managed to hold it together enough to only lose a few minutes due to much slower running.

It's Marathon Time...

I took this shot on a recent morning run. This barn is close to Daniels Park.

Sunday is the Colorado Marathon. I'm excited and ready. I need a 3:15 to qualify for Boston, so check back Monday to see if it happened.

Last Sunday was the London Marathon. It's one of the more popular ones. Apparently, if you want to get into the Guinness Book of World Records, this is the marathon to run. They have officials on the scene to verify any "record breaking" accomplishments. Here are a few recent ones. Enjoy!

* Fastest marathon in superhero costume (2 hr 49 min 50 sec)
* Fastest marathon on stilts (8hr 25 min).
* Most money raised for charity by a marathon runner ($2.7 million)
* Tallest costume worn while running a marathon (14 ft)
* Most linked runners to complete a marathon (24)
* Fastest marathon in a military uniform (5 hr 11 min 42 sec)
* Fastest marathon in a fireman's uniform (5 hr 36 min 12 sec)

Platte River Half Marathon Recap

Saturday was a run in the snow, and Sunday was a tune up half marathon. Many training schedules encourage you to fit in a 10K or half marathon to help work out some of the nervous energy and practice your pre-race routines before the marathon.

The Platte River 1/2 was an excellent race. I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking for a well organized event and fun course. It began in downtown Littleton, followed the Platte River Trail, and finished at Denver's "oldest restaurant", the Buckhorn Exchange.

I ran with Scott, who is in training for the Steamboat Marathon in June. We ran together and had a great time. We hit the pace we wanted while chatting most of the way. It sure made the time go by fast.

When we reached the finish, awaiting us was the best post-race indulgences. Burgers, beer and breakfast burritos! I partook in the two latter items...I know...quite the combination. Actually, it was my first post-race beer ever. Typically, that would be the last thing I wanted after running...or at 10:45 in the morning!

No Running Style...

This winter I've been in an informal email group with three friends (Scott, James & Brian) who are all running marathons in 2009. It's been fun to throw questions out to the group, check in on how training is going, offer encouragement after crummy runs, etc.

One promise I made to the group was that I was going to wear ski goggles the next time I went for a run in the snow. My previous two experiences this winter were not pleasant. Especially when the wind is whipping the snow into your eyeballs. The only thing you can do is run with your head straight down, which gets annoying after several miles.

We were supposed to get a foot of snow on Saturday, but when we awoke, we had nothing. It snowed a bit, but I think we maxed out at a half an inch. So I went running...and fulfilled my vow to wear goggles. I definitely did not get any style points, but it worked like a charm. Now I just need to invent goggles with wiper blades & defrosters on the front so the snow and ice won't build up!

The Reward

I chose REI as my runabout destination for two reasons. 1. They have cool stuff to look at. 2. They have a Starbucks.

It took me about 3 hours to get the 20.5 miles from HR to downtown. I did eat a bit before I left, but I was quite hungry when I entered Starbucks. Before I could indulge in what you see above, I had to visit the restroom to wash my face. Unfortunately, running long distances produces a lot of sweat that dries to a nice white salty powder on my face. No need to give a ghostly scare to the other patrons trying to enjoy their morning coffee!

After my snack, I walked the store a bit. I then made my way over to the 16th Street Mall and found Barnes & Nobles. Forty-five minutes later I was on the light rail beginning my trek home. Upon arriving at the Littleton light rail station, I had to take a bus to HR. The best I could do was get dropped off 2 miles from our house. After sitting for over an hour, my legs had tightened up. That 2 mile jog home was much worse than the 20 mile run downtown!

Oh yeah...I don't get Frappuccinos or any other fancy coffee drinks often, but I can say this one was the best ever!

Denver Runabout

I recently read a book called 50/50 by Dean Karnazes. It chronicles his attempt to run 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days. Dean has many other unbelievable running accomplishments that have earned him the nickname "Ultramarathon Man".

In 50/50 he offers many tidbits of advice to marathoners. One of them was an idea to break up the monotony of training by going on a "runabout". A runabout (Dean-style) is to grab a cell phone & credit card and head out the door before sunrise and not return until after sunset. Just pick a direction and go. The goal is to continue jogging/walking most of the day.

With Tanya & the girls in CA, I decided to go on a runabout (Woody-style) on Sunday morning. I packed up my Camelbak with: 60 oz of Gatorade, phone, wallet, change of shirt, granola bar, and...public transportation schedule! I've learned to be prepared! I left around 8:30am and headed north. My destination? REI in downtown Denver.

I didn't realize how much fun this adventure was going to be. It's not that anything out of the ordinary happened. No, the fun part was venturing out on a gorgeous day and just going somewhere by foot that I would never of thought going before without a car. As I got closer to downtown, I weaved my way through Washington & Cheeseman Parks, the heart of downtown, then out to Coors Field, and finally through Riverfront & Commons Parks which brought me to Confluence Park & REI.

More to come tomorrow...

Boston?

This shot is my favorite running picture of all. It was taken by the course photographer right at the end of the NH Marathon. I posted a similar picture last October, but it didn't have Zoe it in, and it didn't catch the expressions on our faces. I think I can make out a look of frustration on Zoe's face...she tried really hard to keep up.

Switching gears...this May I'm going to give trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon another shot. I'm going to run in the Colorado Marathon up in Fort Collins. I'm just over 10 weeks through a different 18 week training program that is kicking my butt....in a good way. Training can be a bit stressful at points. For an example, read on...

The other night I had a dream that my Boston qualifying race had come. For some reason it wasn't the CO Marathon, but some other race and I have no idea where it was. Anyway, for some reason I was very late getting to it. When I arrived, I absent-mindedly put the envelope containing my race bib and timing chip aside and just hopped into the race. Boy, did I run a good time. I was approaching the finish and happily looked at my watch and knew I was about to qualify. For some reason this was also the time I realized that without a timing chip, I would not receive an official time and thus my effort was worthless.

Most nights I sleep quite peacefully. This particular night, I woke up breathing heavy, panicking, heart-broken, angry for not wearing my chip...and with a light glaze of sweat covering me. You better believe that timing chip will be on securely on May 3rd!

Full Moon Jog

This past Saturday night was special. In the sky that night was a "perigee moon". This huge full moon lit up the night. Spontaneously, I got an email from James saying we ought to go for a "full moon" run. James is training for the San Diego Marathon in May. His idea was awesome.

He came over at 9:30pm and off we went into the backcountry. We hit up some nice trails and marveled at the views of the mountains and city. It was cold, but as you can see, we were dressed well and didn't feel it. In marathon training, you're supposed to do your longer runs at "conversational" pace. We did just that and 7.5 miles were completed quite easily.

Turkey Day 5K

We hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving yesterday. We tried something new. Tanya & I both ran in a local 5K race with about a thousand other people. Scott & Catrina also ran it.

It was a great event and I definitely think it could become a Thanksgiving tradition in the years to come. They also have a short "Kids Run" right after which the girls may take part in next year.

It was quite chilly and overcast, but with the right clothing...and about a mile of running under our belts, we were toasty warm.

Denver Marathon Recap

I was hoping to title this post "Boston or Bust", but unfortunately, my attempt to qualify for Boston was the bust. I needed a 3:15:59 to qualify and I was on pace for about a 3:13...then "The Wall" came at mile 22. I knew I was so close and thought if I could just push it a few more miles I would make it in time. Every attempt to pick up the pace lasted seconds before I slowed way down. It just wasn't meant to be. I came across the finish at 3:19:39.

The race was great and I had a lot of fun. Almost 10,000 runners on a warm, sunny day. I love running through downtown Denver and the city parks. One of my favorite moments was seeing a woman sitting in a lawn chair holding a sign that read, "If Palin can run, so can you!". Not to get political here...but whether you like her or not...you've got to admit that is pretty funny!

I had so much fun this year with the marathons and other races. I'm extremely happy (and a little sad) that it's over. I'm completely at peace with not qualifying for Boston this year. I know I'll get other chances in the future. My first thought after crossing the finish line was....REST! I'm looking forward to taking it easy for awhile. Who knows what 2009 will bring?? I'm pretty sure it won't be three marathons in 29 days.

A big congratulations goes out to my cousin Scott! He bested his previous 1/2 marathon time by about four minutes. He finished with a 1:33:41. We had planned to run together, but it got so crowded at the start, that we never found each other.

A big thanks goes out to Tanya & the girls for showing up at FIVE spots along the course and the finish line. I can't tell you how cool it is to see their cute faces when you're struggling to put one foot in front of the other.

Up Next...Denver!

This was a shot taken by one of the photographers out on the course of the Boulder Marathon back in September.

This Sunday is the Denver Marathon. I'm pretty excited about it because it's the closest I've come to running in a "big" marathon. They're expecting 8,500 runners this year. The atmosphere is electric and the course is really cool. The race director of the Boston Marathon is also the director of Denver, so needless to say, it's very well organized.

I've had two weeks now to dwell on the fact that I missed qualifying for Boston by 12 seconds. I'm going to give this one my all and try to qualify this time. That means I need to finish in 3:15:59. I'd like to say that I'm ready and going to do it, but I've learned you never really know what is going to happen out there, so you just hope for the best. So far the weather is looking great compared to last year.

My cousin Scott is running in the Denver 1/2 marathon on Sunday. My friend James is going to run in the San Diego Marathon (his first!) next May. The three of us are coming together tonight to get pumped up and watch "Spirit of the Marathon". It just came out on DVD. I saw this movie in the theater last May while it was on tour around the US. You probably haven't heard of it, so click on the link below and watch the trailer. Maybe it will inspire you to run one!

Spirit of the Marathon

NH Marathon Recap

On Saturday morning, I ran in the New Hampshire Marathon. This race is small & cozy. So many aspects of the race make you feel like you're stepping into a Norman Rockwell painting. The weather was just right for running (cold & cloudy) and my family was once again an amazing support along the course. Here are some highlights...and one big lowlight:

- The local high school band was all setup at the start playing some rousing songs!

- The race director ascended a ladder to yell instructions to the runners lined up at the start. When he raised the pistol for the actual start, he pulled the trigger and we heard nothing but a faint "click". After a few mild grumblings, he adjusted the pistol and produced the desired "BANG"!

- The first water station was sponsored by the American Legion. There were eight veterans in their seventies & eighties...all dressed in military uniforms...standing in line with cups of water & Gatorade for the runners. To add to the scene was loud "bugle" music playing from a CD player.

- About 45 minutes in, I heard someone on a bike coming up behind me. It was a man in his seventies with a bright red jacket. The words "Marathon Coach" were printed on the back. He told me, "I'm out here to encouraged you all along. I've done 76 of these, so I know a little about what you're going through!" He rode by me several more times shouting things like "Great Form" and "You're looking strong". He rocked!

- All throughout the course I was treated to beautiful leaves, chimneys with smoke puffing out, and a cool crisp breeze...there was no mistaking Fall was all around.

- When I hit the critical miles around 18-22, I overcame some hills and realized I still had some gas (the good "energy" kind) in the tank! My family was stationed at mile 21 and gave me a HUGE, much needed boost.

- When I arrived at the finish, my nieces Lauren & Dana, ran the last tenth of mile with me! Little Zoe tried to join them, but couldn't keep up!

- When I crossed the finished line, the clock read 3:16:11. I was shooting for a 3:20, so I was ecstatic to come in below that and finish in the top ten.

Now for the big lowlight:

My brother informed me yesterday that I had my facts incorrect pertaining to qualifying times for the Boston Marathon. I "thought" I needed a 3:10:59 to qualify...and that next year I would gain an extra five minutes when I turn thirty-five. No, beginning at the end of September, they opened up qualifying for the 2010 Boston Marathon and even though I wasn't 35 on Saturday, my qualifying time would be 3:15:59 now since I'd be 35 by the time the 2010 BM came around. This all boils down to the fact that I missed qualifying for the Boston Marathon by 12 seconds. Ugh.

Boulder Marathon Recap

The Boulder Marathon is in the books. It started with meeting Scott at 4:45am to begin our trek up to Boulder. We arrived while it was still dark out, but the sun made it's appearance shortly thereafter and the marathon began at 7am. Scott ran in the 1/2 marathon and was kind enough to drive us up there even though it meant he had to wait around an hour before the 1/2 started at 8am.

Those clouds you see in the background were a huge bonus for the day. They stayed around for several hours and kept the sun away while the air was perfect for running. The marathon went well. I didn't know this course at all, but enjoyed the run through the backroads of Boulder. It was very scenic as we ran on dirt roads through farmlands that featured the mountains is a backdrop.

All was going well until I hit a four mile stretch of uphill running around mile 17. It was much steeper and longer than I had anticipated. The end result was I burned through all my reserve energy and my pace drastically dropped. The last 5 miles were slow going. Fortunately, I had built up a nice cushion so I was still able to beat my previous marathon best time by about a minute. I came across the finish at 3:27:56.

Scott also had a personal record for the half. He completed it in 1:37:28. He's going to give the Denver Half Marathon a go in about a month and I predict he's going to set another PR! He also gets extra props for going straight to the Broncos game after the race...without a shower!

78.6 miles to go...

This Sunday is my first marathon of the year. I'm going to be running in the Boulder Marathon. I've had a great summer of training and am feeling ready and excited.

This Fall I'm shooting for three marathons in twenty-nine days. It's going to be a stretch, but I think I can recover quick enough to be ready for the next one. In two weeks, I'll be heading off to visit my family and run in the New Hampshire Marathon...and then it's back to CO for the Denver Marathon.

Needless to say, my running has been a huge part of my life. It is a way to relieve stress, while feeling alive! By that I mean, it gives me the chance to use my body & mind to it's fullest extent. Running builds space into my life to relax (I know you're thinking there are much better ways to relax than while huffing it for 20+ miles). Overtime, the discomfort of running has done a 180 and now I look forward to it. I don't listen to music, so I usually have a lot of quiet, early morning time to think while I run. I have never appreciated sunrises as much as I do on my runs (the above photo was from my last training run on Thurs AM). I've come to value this "space" that is a refuge when the rest of life's demands press in.

The actual marathons are more of a celebration of the journey to get there. Thousands of runners coming together...all with unique journeys and reasons to run...all attempting to accomplish the same goal that is 26.2 miles away. For some reason the whole experience is very powerful. I'm thankful to be a part of it.

I didn't mean to give a sermon here, but thought I'd share a bit about why I do this.