Weekend recap

My runs this weekend were both very enjoyable. 4 miles on Saturday, and 7 miles on Sunday. 4 miles is starting to feel like less and less of a run, and I kept up a 8.5 min/mile pace over the whole thing and still felt great at the end. My 7 miles yesterday were awesome as well. Last week I ran my 6 mile route backwards so that the majority of the hills would be on the first half of my run. Yesterday I took the usual "forward" route and left the big hill for the end, followed by a nice little downhill cooldown. It worked out really well and I was able to average a 9 min/mile pace without getting too winded. I think this bodes well for the rest of my training. This week is 4 miles, 6 miles and 8 miles on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. For the 8 mile run on Sunday I'm thinking about going out to the Aurora Reservoir, which has an 8 mile loop around it. It might be nice to have a flat route for a change. Weather was great this weekend, with highs in the 60s. I was out in my shorts and t-shirt and we even got out for a family walk. I'm looking forward to doing that more in the spring and summer.

On the go!

I didn't get a chance to post yesterday as I was on the go all day. Yesterday was supposed to be quiet! Oh well, I still was able to squeeze in my hour run, which was very pleasant. I confirmed that my pace was too fast by going a little slower at the start. I covered more distance than last week in the same time, and my split was almost exactly even. I could have run in shorts and a T-shirt, but I brought my jacket just in case and ended up regretting it. Quite a difference from a week ago, but that's Colorado weather for you. Looks like we'll be busy again tonight, but I am looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend.

4 miles plus 4 minutes of hills

I had to go to Boulder today for a meeting and I didn't get to go for my run until 3. It was nice though, still not shorts weather, but well into the 40s. My pace was a little fast for the start so the hills kicked my a$$ again. I wish I had a better scale for the distances I run at work, either I was much faster than last week, or I'm not recovering enough in between my runs. I guess the solution to both is to go a little slower. I think it's mostly the pace of the 4 mile runs, I'm at work, I'm a little wound up, I think "hey, it's only 4 miles" and it all results in me going too quickly. Well that'll learn me!


I forgot to mention that I bought new socks for running. The arch support on my new running shoes means that a much larger portion of my arch now touches the insole. Over my long runs this has led to a blister the size of a couple of quarters on my arch. It's not that bad as there is not so much pressure on that part of my foot, just rubbing. But after my run on Sunday I was fed up. Cotton socks just hold the moisture next to your foot, which for an hour long run means that 8 oz of sweat are between your foot and your shoe. This means that by the end of an hour long run it feels like you have lined your shoes with sandpaper. The socks I bought are meant to wick the moisture away from the foot so there is not as much chafing. Today they felt really good, and my foot was not overly wet when I was done. Thursday will be the real test. The weird thing is that they are ankle socks, which I have never worn before. It feels very strange having my ankle all exposed like that, what will the neighbors think!?!

Happy Birthday Zelda!

Here's to 20 years of innovation!

Still cold...

...but not as cold as yesterday. It was 6 miles today, but my route ended up taking me 6.8. This weeks workouts are the same as last week. I think the pace was good this week so I'll try to keep it about the same. One week down, 15 to go.

Winter Blast

We've had really cold weather lately. It got cold on Thursday, really cold on Friday, and stayed really cold today. It was 6 degrees for my run today. But Thursday and today were sunny so it wasn't so bad for a run. Today was 4 miles, and was really pretty with the steam rising off the asphalt. The only part of me that got cold was my thighs. Tomorrow it's a 6 mile run and it is still supposed to be cold, but not as bad as yesterday. It's nice to be able to unwind with a morning run on the weekend.

Day 4

Today was an hour run. Unfortunately the weather has taken a turn for the worst so I had to bundle up a bit. It's 17 degrees out, so if the wind had been up I would have skipped it, but the sun came out, so in the end it was quite a pleasant run. It's supposed to stay cold over the weekend too, so my Saturday/Sunday runs will be less pleasant than usual, but having conquered today, I should be able to tough it out. I can't complain too much, it was 55 degrees on Tuesday for my last run and it is February after all.


I finally got my confirmation from the Rock n' Roll Marathon, so it's official. San Diego, here I come!

Day 1 (well Day 2 technically)

Today was my first run of my training program, yesterday was a rest day. It was a 4 mile run with 4 minutes total uphill time. I ran out to Bluff lake, but did not do the circuit of the lake. Instead I ran up and down the hills there a few times to make up my 4 minutes. Worked out pretty well actually, but I could tell that I had run more hills today than usual. They say no pain no gain and they are half right. The pain is half the equation, but thankfully the recovery tomorrow is the other half. I'll sleep well tonight!

I'm Scooter!

You Are Scooter

Brainy and knowledgable, you are the perfect sidekick. You're always willing to lend a helping hand. In any big event or party, you're the one who keeps things going. "15 seconds to showtime!"

The Muppet Personality Test

Sunny Days

I've had great weather for both of my runs this weekend. Yesterday was cold, but with the sun I hardly noticed it. Today I went out expecting it to be just as cold, but ended up being too hot with my jacket and pants on. I took the same route both days, 5 miles long. Yesterday I was slowed a little by icy sidewalks and it took me 47 minutes, but with the nice weather today I was able to shave 2 minutes off that time today. So my total mileage for the week is 20 miles, and I'm in good shape to start training this week. 16 weeks to San Diego!

Time to blog

It's been a few days now and I haven't had time to blog. Work has been busy and the last thing I've wanted to do when I got home was be on the computer. My runs have been good this week though. 5 miles around Bluff Lake on Tuesday and Thursday, but at my 9 min/mile pace. I was surprised at how my lungs were able to keep up with the faster pace over that distance. Even with the faster run I was still able to enjoy the local wildlife, with the eagle and deer making appearances on both days. On Tuesday I was less than 20 feet away from the deer. Hopefully the weather will improve a bit for the weekend, it got cold today and the first flakes of snow are falling now. I'm not looking forward to shoveling the driveway tomorrow.

The Big Game

Today is the Big Game and I'm excited to see it on our big TV with all our friends. It will be a great cap to a great weekend. Friday night we had some friends over for dinner and ended up talking and playing games until 11:30. Then yesterday we took a little trip to home depot to buy a floodlight for our back patio, a must for grilling in the dark. I had fun installing that, and for once I picked a gorgeous day to work outside.


I had two good runs this weekend, but no wildlife to speak of. I was out for an hour yesterday for 6 miles. As I said it was gorgeous, so I was able to run in just a T-shirt and shorts. It was great! Then today I ran down to the track at the local high school for some intervals. Unfortunately today it is windy and cold, and I needed my jacket. I should have taken my pants too instead of shorts as my legs got really cold. The track was nice as I was able to get a better idea of the pace I need to hit for my training runs. I ran a couple of loops at 10 minute per mile pace, then did a couple of 9 min/mile circuits followed by easy jogs around, then an 8 min/mile loop/easy jog and another 9 min/mile loop/easy jog. Then it was back home. The whole run took me 50 minutes, and was a really intense workout. While my distance has improved over the last year my pace has declined and I was surprised at the effort required to hit my target 9 min/mile. But that's what training is for I guess.


The highlight of the weekend was a guys night out last night, with a friendly poker game. We had a blast and were at it until almost midnight. I spent the last week preparing for it the best I could, reading through my poker book and playing a few hands against the computer. The practice ended up paying off as I ended up being able to hold my own and was actually one of the final two at the table!


Well, gotta go get ready for the party. Go Steelers!

Deer John,

Great run today, the wind held off for me until after I got back. Sam the eagle was back again today, but the star of the show was a herd of whitetail deer just on the other side of the pond from me. It was a 45 minute run around Bluff lake again, although it was interrupted by a phone call. I think the hardest part of this job is never being able to be away from the phone. Oh well, that's what vacations are for. I was really busy at work today, and I barely had time to go out, but in the end I was glad to have gone.

Stupid wind

Well running wise this weekend was a wash out. I was hoping to go for a long run on Sunday, but a big wind storm blew through and I did not feel like picking sand and gravel out of my teeth and hair all night. But it was beautiful today, so I got out for a nice 50 minute loop through Bluff Lake again. This is rapidly becoming my favorite run at work. It's long enough to be a good workout, with a couple of hills and of course lots of wildlife. It will be even better once they finish construction, and take down the stupid signs that are blocking the whole sidewalk.


I also put my marathon training schedule into my calendar today (I'm doing the beginner plan). I was a bit surprised as it looks like it will not be as intense as I had first thought. That's good as I want to build my confidence with this marathon, not destroy the desire to ever do one again. It looks like I'll only have to do a couple of runs during the work week and then long runs on the weekend. With the timing of the race, the longest runs will fall right into some of the nicest months of the year here in Colorado, I'm looking forward to that. It all starts on Valentine's day!

Crazy Like a Fox!

Today I managed to find half an hour to go for a run. This was quite a feat with all the goings on around the lab today. Today's wildlife encounter was a fox about 15 feet away from me. He looked a little startled to see me, and I didn't hang around for long. So this week that was 2 bald eagles, a falcon of some kind, a fox and too many ground hogs to count. All in all a good week of running, although I've been too busy to really write about it.

A Salute to All Nations (But Mostly America)

Went for a 50 minute run at lunchtime today. I ran down "ground-hog trail," which I named for the hundreds of ground-hogs that live along it, to the Bluff Lake Nature Center and back again. I was running along, enjoying the view of the mountains when I look to my right and see a huge bird in a tree near the trail. When I got close enough, I realized that it was a Bald Eagle! I had to stop and reflect on the size and majesty of this bird, it was quite a treat. After my circuit around Bluff Lake I came back and it was still sitting in the same spot, keeping an eye on me. I couldn't help but wonder at the damage this bird could do with its beak and talons if it decided it didn't like the look of me. The whole experience left me really appreciating being able to run in Colorado.

Long Run!

Today was gorgeous, a little cool, but nice and sunny. I went for my long run, 6.8 miles, took me 65 minutes, and it is a hilly circuit. We have a lot of hills near us so it is a part of every run here. On one hill I was passed by a bicyclist on the way down, and then I passed him on the way up the other side. I think that's the longest run I've taken here since we moved. I used to go that long all the time when we lived in Denver, but my mileage fell off in the fall. This weeks total mileage is over 28 miles, so if I can keep that up I'll be in good shape to start marathon training in February. I think running every day helps as it sets a routine that is easy to keep up. If I miss a day, then that becomes my rest day for the week. Tonight I'm relaxing and enjoying time with Melissa. There truly is no place like home.

Home at Last

Yesterday I left sunny CA to go to snowy CO. Our class finished two days earlier than we thought, so we were able to get a morning flight back yesterday rather than coming in at 11 tonight. That was a nice treat. Elijah showed me his new trick and we spent some time goofing around, but it was still not enough. Oh well, that's what the weekend is for I guess. I had to come in to work today to start catching up on all I had to do, but I still found time for a 40 minute run. It went pretty well considering I'm back at altitude. Since the snow has ended and the sun come out it's perfect weather for a run, just a little sloppy in some parts. Quite a difference from the run I took on Wednesday in Palo Alto. I still liked today's run better though.

Almost Done

Today was the penultimate day of the course! If you are not sure what penultimate means I highly suggest reading A Series of Unfortunate Events. We did nothing but troubleshooting today, which I really enjoy. It's like solving a little mystery. Tomorrow will be more of the same after we wrap up all the little administrative details. I'm still hoping that we will be able to get out on standby on Thursday so that I can get home to see the family; I'm glad that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.


Did a fast run today, only 25 minutes but at a 7.5 min/mile or so. I'm not sure exactly how fast I was going as I decided not to bring my watch. It was a good workout regardless. I took a different route though and ran out of sidewalk at some point. I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised given how often people walk in California, but it's still a pain. I'll probably get to go again tomorrow, but I'm guessing Thursday will be tough. With any luck I might get to go when I get home. We'll see I guess.


I'm not sure where we'll be going to dinner tonight. I'm thinking maybe Italian again. I have to swing by Trader Joe's again and pick up some peanut clusters for Melissa. I'll probably grab something for me too, just to get me through these last couple of nights. Chocolate can make almost anything better.

Day 6 - Pneumatics

Today was a good day at training, we got to do a little more troubleshooting. We have pretty much covered everything now, so the next two days are basically just troubleshooting. Our instructor "breaks" the console and we have to fix it. It is good practice for the real thing. Melissa gets back home today so I will start getting pictures of Elijah again in my mail. The last movie I got from her he was climbing stairs so I'll have to ask her about that tonight.


Did a half hour run today at a 8.5 min/mile pace, which was a good workout. Yesterday's run was 7.2 miles it turns out, so that put me around 10 min/mile. This is good to know because it means my pace hasn't fallen off significantly with my lack of training. If I keep the 10 min/mile pace for the marathon that would put me at 4:20, so the training pace I'm shooting for is 9.1 min/mile. I think I should be able to accomplish that goal.


Went to Chef Chu's for dinner tonight. In case it's not clear from the name it's a Chinese restaurant. I think this may have been my favorite dinner so far. We shared a couple of dishes and still came away under $30 for the two of us. The place was hopping busy, and it's clear why with the quality of the food and the prices. I'm getting really tired of restaurant food, but at least we haven't had to eat at the same place twice so far.