Thursday, July 30, 2009

Midgetville

Curtis and I ran our Midgetville route.   It is a 5.5 mile run that goes south of the gym and south of Grand.  The first 2.5 miles are mostly downhill and the rest is mostly uphill.

As usual, Curtis complained that we were going too fast.  Ironic because he was in front of me most of the time.

I didn't feel great today.  I actually felt a bit light headed around mile 3.  I am guessing that I didn't drink and eat enough today??  I have been having trouble getting enough calories...after I cut out the pop and fast food, there isn't much else left.  I can only handle so much whole grain english muffins with all natural peanut butter.

Curtis is also doing Pikes Peak next month.  He isn't nearly as freaked out about the whole deal as I am.  Maybe he knows something I don't?

Not much else to report today.  Tomorrow is my off day but Saturday is a long and tough route.

more detail on the run today   http://connect.garmin.com/activity/10156997

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

More Hills

I was supposed to do a track work out with some of my fellow Pikes Peakers today.  My legs are tired from racing 7 miles on Saturday and three straight days of hard running.  I just didn't think I would get a quality track workout in.  I hope some of the other Peakers got their workout in.

So I went to Booneville to run easy hills.  Is there such a thing as "easy hills"?  With just over two weeks to go, I need all the help I can get.  I started at the Bottom of Ute road where it intersects with Grand Ave.  At the end of this post is a link to my workout with a map.

The first hill is .65 miles from bottom to the top.  I tried to keep my pace going uphill at 8:00 and 7:30 going down.  Traffic was a bit rough...this road is narrow and there a lot of blind turns.  Some people just chose not to get over when they drove by me  Nice.

I then ran to where Ute intersects with I-80 which is 2.75 miles.  I turned around there and headed back.  There are three downhills and three uphills back to the start.  I was feeling pretty good and ended up averaging just 7:30 for the whole run.  When I got back tot he start I ran around the block (literally "the block" there is only one in Booneville) and ended at 6 miles.

Overall not a bad run.  I just hope my legs feel better tomorrow...rest day on Friday!!

here is more info on my run  http://connect.garmin.com/activity/10050691  

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

First Post - First Pikes Peak Ascent


Okay, this my first attempt at a blog and my first post.  I got the idea from reading other people's blogs about the Pikes Peak Marathon and Ascent.  They have been very helpful for me in preparing for my first attempt at the Ascent next month.  That's a lot of firsts.

That is me, the nerd to the left a decked out in my Brooks running gear.  Yep, I'm a homer.

I have run 9 marathons (started 10, finished 9) and completed and Ironman.  Somehow this Pikes Peak Ascent has me a bit freaked out.  I suppose in part from reading all those other blogs.  Maybe this is a bad idea.

I live in the flats of West Des Moines Iowa.  I have done no altitude training and have done very little hill work.  It is difficult to do any true hill work here in Iowa.  The idea of running on a treadmill with elevation while it is so nice outside does not appeal to me at all.  I hope I don't pay the price for that??

Anyway, this is starting to sound too negative.  I look forward to this new challenge and hope to someday do the full marathon or even a double.  In October I will be doing my first 50 mile race in Madison Wisconsin.

For those that have heard of the Bix 7, I will do an update soon on how that race went for my 19th time.