Wednesday
I went for another med distance run and clocked one at just over 11 miles. After getting off night shift and grabbing breakfast with some of the crew down at Sandy's, I headed back out to Schriever looking forward to a potluck with an old work group. Knowing I really only had time for 8 miles, I really wanted to run the base perimeter as it is dirt/packed snow vs pavement. I guess I forgot how far around it was because it ended up being almost 11.5. The first few miles, I held a steady 7:30 effort with some decent climbing and then quickly got tired. It had also started off sunny and mid 30s so I went with a T-Shirt, gloves and shorts. With the wind it was great but eventually, I had to face the wind which also picked up and brought clouds to block the sun. The second half got cold and my legs got sluggish. Amazing how just the addition of a tiny bit of speed work over MAF can really take it out of you. I wanted to hop on the bike at home that night but I was just too tired.
Thursday
The legs still were feeling sluggish so I decided to give a go at the new Spinervals cardio video that was a 90 min sesh targeted on Leadville. It was a great workout with higher cadences than I am used to but it kept me up to and right below MAF the entire time. Good 23 miles on the day for the bike and a third 90 min day in a row. Still behind a bit for the week to wrap the month for 60 hours but I'm glad to listen to the body.
Friday
Morning- Incline. It was about five degrees when I started but it felt ok. Somehow forgot my balaclava or any hat but wasn't about to drive back home so I improvised with a hood and hat too keep ears covered. It is really just jogging down you need something for the ears. I dressed up the pup with booties and his coat to keep him warmer and prevent frost bite and we went after it. Keeping my HR mostly at MAF, it was an effort with lots of slippage since there was virtually no wood to be seen. Once it got steep, it was a lot of effort to push the dog as he was slipping too much in the booties and got timid. That rose my HR a tiny bit but all was good. Stepping off the beaten one lane trail yielded to about knee deep snow up higher than the false summit. The jog down started slow but I picked it up a bit in the lower half since it wasn't so cold down there and the face wasn't s numb. Getting back to the car, Baz had icicles all over and was shivering. First time I have ever seen him cold. I covered him with a blanket and my puffy to get out of there. 2.5K' and 6.5 miles done with another 90 minutes.
Afternoon- During the child's nap, I spun the bike for over an hour and forty five while the wife and I caught up on a couple episodes of Grey's anatomy. First half the HR stayed in mid 140s mostly and second half was upper 120s to lower 130s. Total of over four hours for the day and just contemplating my last long run tomorrow before Salida and what I should do. It has been so snowy for so long. I don't want to waste time cutting trail but I also don't think trails will be icy. I would like elevation gain so something on the west side. I was thinking 4 laps of the incline all returning to memorial park or else maybe 3 laps of Barr trail to No name knowing it will be mostly packed. Third option is to repeat my frozen foggy bonanza route from last year but I suspect some of the trails will not be packed and it could take more time than I am willing to spend. I guess I will decide sometime. With tomorrow being the last day of the month, I think I will slightly miss the 60 hour mark unless my run takes over 5 hours. Important thing is that I have listened to my body and not dishing out more than it can handle.
Until Next time...
See you at the top.
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