Cool Running

When I woke up yesterday morning and saw Facebook posts from friends in North Dakota (yes, I have friends in North Dakota) talking about snow I was a little worried. After all, the big race I have been training for since I parked the road bike and strapped on my running shoes is this weekend in North Dakota! While its not exactly like I'm on the Jamaican Bobsled team competing at the Calgary Olympics, the thought of running in the snow in October is a bit disconcerting, even for a guy from Colorado.

Heading out for the Turkey Rock Trot on Thanksgiving day 2007 is was 17F!

The good news is there was no snow on the ground when my flight arrived in Bismarck last night. It was cold and windy (temps in the 20s last night) but no wet stuff. And the forecast for tomorrow is sunny and cold (30s). Should be great running weather. I don't mind cold as long as the sun is shining.

I have run one race in extreme cold, the Turkey Rock Trot  on Thanksgiving Day 2007 in Castle Rock, CO. I have also run in pretty extreme heat. Temps topped out over 90F during the 13.1-mile run leg of the 2007 Vineman 70.3 triathlon. I'd take cold any day!

So I think things are looking good for me to make a run at setting a new personal record in the 10K. Actually, that should be fairly easy given that my best to date at this distance (I've only run two official 10Ks) was 55:29 at the Fans on the Field 10K in 2007. But my goal tomorrow is to break 48:00. That won't be easy. Given that my personal best in the 5K is 24:09, to break 48:00 I would essentially have to run two personal best 5Ks back-to-back!

I am now headed out to check out the course with Kathy Tokach and Sheila Ressler from the North Dakota Cattlewomen, sponsors of the race. Kathy and Sheila have done a great job planning the Inaugural Beefin It Up; Fuel for the Finish 5/10K race. Later this morning I will be conducting two TV interviews today as the official spokesrunner for this is a first-of-its-kind BEEF exclusive running event! Stay tuned for details and results.

Ride on!

Daren

Running into Fall

Wow. Nothing like taking a 2 month hiatus from blogging to help retain readers :) Of course, it helps to have readers to retain (hi mom!). Truth is I haven't had much to write about. I haven't had any events to train for since finishing Ride the Rockies in June so have just been working to maintain my weight and fitness level.


With the Hankster and Woody at the finish of RTR 2012.

I have also been transitioning from riding to running in anticipation of several Fall running events. Its my favorite time of year for running. My two fastest half marathons were run in September and October. Two years ago I set my personal best at 1:46:00 in the Waddell and Reed Kansas City Half Marathon. One year ago  I ran a 1:46:43 in the Rock 'n' Roll Denver half. My goal this year was to run one of these two events in sub-8 miles and break 1:45.

Me and Elvis at the finish of last year's Rock 'n' Roll Denver half.

Problem is I never pulled the trigger and registered for either event! Denver is next Saturday. I have until tomorrow to decide whether to register. I am following my two-week half marathon training program, so will be ready to run. The only problem is pulling the trigger on the $115 registration fee. That's a lot of money to pay to torture myself!

I'd really love to get back to KC to try and break my personal record. Unfortunately the $40 I could save on the registration fee wouldn't offset the travel costs to get there!

So I'm thinking I'm just going to focus my efforts this Fall on the first-ever Beefin It Up; Fuel for the Finish 5K Run/Walk 10K Run in Mandan, North Dakota, on October 6. I was invited by the North Dakota Cattlewomen to be the official spokesrunner for the event! I will be doing some TV interviews on Friday then running the 10K on Saturday.

My goal is to run a sub-50 minute race with a stretch goal to average 7:45/mile and break 48:00. I've only run two 10Ks before and my best is 55:29 at the Fans on the Field run in 2007. So this would be a significant improvement, to say the least. But I think it's doable. I'm running in the low 8:00s around my home at 6,400 ft and above (Mandan sits at 1,944) and I still have three weeks to train.

But there's still the Denver half next week. Should I do it??

Daren

Riding with Big Troy and the Boys

Home on the Front Range of the Colorado Rockies!

I often ride solo when I am in training or out for a leisurely ride. I like to lose myself in thought and enjoy the scenery along Colorado's Front Range. Sometimes, like this morning, I'll meet up with my buddy Troy. These rides are a little more intense, perhaps a bit competitive. As Troy said this morning, "We are perfect training partners. No slackin' when we're riding together!!!"

At the Sprucewood Inn with Big Troy.

Recently Troy and I have been meeting up with his friends John, Mark, Dan and Randy, who push it to a whole 'nother level (I've never tried writng that before and just now realized how grammatically incorrect that is, but I'm still going to say it!). These guys attack Deer Creek Canyon/High Grade Road (a category one climb like those seen on Le Tour) like a pack of wolves on a lamb (OK, so that's hyperbole but you get the picture). Only sometimes I feel like the lamb.

Team BEEF on this year's Elephant Rock ride

I like riding with a small group of strong riders like Troy and the boys, especially in large "event" rides like Elephant Rock, Colorado Bike MS and the Buffalo Bicycle Classic. It's fun to grab the wheel of the guy in front of you and hang on for dear life, taking turns pulling at the front and blowing past riders laboring along on inferior equipment or unconditioned legs.

Riding in large group events does have its challenges, like waiting in line for porta-potties and keeping a close eye out for riders to don't follow the rules of the road. Some people hate it (like my friend Jeff who rode solo from San Diego to Bar Harbor, Maine and wrote a book about it). Others (like me) like the atmosphere and social aspect of riding with a pack of several thousand other riders.

Following the rules of the road is especially important in large group rides and will help you and the other riders avoid serious injury. Nothing puts a damper on the fun like seeing the ambulance cart a rider off the course to the hospital. I've had it happen to friends and have had my own trip to the ER compliments of the Castle Rock Fire and Rescue Department. Not my idea of fun. My first goal in a large group ride is to cross the finish line...on my bike!

My trip to the ER after an unfortunate encounter with a car in 2007. I was lucky that a broken collarbone was the worst of my injuries!

Ride on (and ride safe!)...

Daren