Halloween

After an afternoon trail run, Christine and I headed to a pumpkin patch, where we walked through the market and had hot apple cider. It was a great place to get us into the Halloween spirit.

We stopped by the store to stock up on candy, in thoughts of having a few trick-or-treaters. I was able to catch one amazing sunset around McIntosh Lake. Here are a few pictures from the day.

Weekly Summary - 10/31

Monday: Off

Tuesday: 7 Miles - Hall Ranch

An extremely windy day, but beautiful nonetheless. I wouldn't choose to work at 1 AM everyday in order to get a decent midday run in, but I'll take 'em when I can get 'em.

Wednesday: 5 Miles - McIntosh Lake

I'm really working to get the "run" dialed in. I'm still having continual right ankle issues and it doesn't make sense. I've taken days off, rested, ran slow, ran fast, etc and nothing seems to help. Today, I noticed that my right foot supenates much more than my left. I can actually see much more of my right calve compared to my left, which leads me to believe the pain is coming from a joint issue. The pain, or should I say discomfort, isn't at all unbareable, but I don't want to "run through" a problem and make it much worse over time. I'm thinking of trying orthotics, which Christine completely believes in. I'm not sure exactly what I should do, but I'd like to get back to those runs when everything clicks and feels good.

Thursday: 7 Miles - Hall Ranch

Friday: Off

Saturday: 3.7 Miles - McIntosh Lake (AM) with Christine
Left really sluggish and stiff on this run. Not sure if it's because of the day off yesterday or what, but my body felt really bad. What a beautiful day though. Christine and I have been enjoying being near the lake, which makes for nice morning runs.

7 Miles - Hall Ranch (Lunch)
Decided to head to Hall for a trail run, attempting to rid myself of this strange tension in my joints. I didn't feel the best of the initial 1 mile climb, but I started to feel a little pep as I moved on up the gentle uphill toward the Nelson Loop. I paused to snap a few pictures along the way, as these warm fall days are soon to be over. It's hard to believe I was running comfortably shirtless on October 30th. Ended the run feeling much better and looking forward to a trail run with Christine tomorrow.

Sunday: 6.5 Miles - Picture Rock (Lunch) with Christine
Neither Christine nor I was feeling very well at the start of the run. We settled into a nice, albeit slow, pace and enjoyed the rolling terrain. We were discussing desires. She asked, "what are the desires of your heart?"......and I went blank. I'm not sure if most people would have a million pictures flash through their brains, but my gray matter had zero spark. Regardless, it spurred on good conversation and we had another enjoyable run. I'm thankful for each of these jaunts with my lovely wife.

Here are a few pictures from my jaunts at Hall and our Sunday outing at Picture Rock.










































Here is the song that has been playing in my head on a lot of my latest runs.....enjoy!

YOUNG FOLKS

Picture Log

I haven't been able to run as much as I'd like in the last week. Christine and I were working hard to finish packing before our move on Saturday. My workouts during that time could be described as strength training, as I was lifting couches, chairs, beds, and boxes stuffed to their limit. Thankfully, most of Christine's family had come into town to help with the move. They were a tremendous help and it actually brought some fun to the hectic move.

Sunday afternoon, Christine and I were able to take her parents and sister for a hike up Green Mountain. You could see that they were captured by the beauty of the hike, especially Christine's Dad, who loves being the mountains and was taking pictures the entire time. I enjoyed being able to share a favorite trail with them and was able see it a little differently through their eyes.

Here are a few pictures I took during the hike.


























The last two days define why I lean away from planning, especially through the week. When working in the manufacturing industry, you never completely know how things are going to operate. Christine has planned some time with her sister and mother for Monday, so I decided to plan a long run for Monday afternoon. Well, my plans failed me, as I worked late, not getting home until around 8 PM. The break from work was only temporary, as there were problems with a piece of machinery, causing late night, or should I say early morning troubleshooting at 1 AM. I worked through the morning, but decided to head out around 11 AM, when I found it difficult to concentrate on the computer screen.

I decided to get a trail run in, even though I was working on less than 3 hrs of sleep and at least 5 cups of coffee. I headed to Hall Ranch in the midst of 54 mph wind gusts and sustained winds of over 30 mph (we have a wind speed monitor at work). I actually enjoyed being out, having the trail to myself.

Here are a few pictures from the trail:






































Lastly, we weren't the only ones in the country to have extremely high winds. Christine showed me these pictures from a local photographer in her hometown of Ludington Michigan. It shows the true power and beauty of Mother Nature.

Ludington Michigan Lighthouse

Weekly Summary - 10/17

Monday: 3.25 Miles @ 784 vert ft (Lunch) - Hall Ranch
A beautiful midday run, with a little excitement thrown in!
PM: Basement strength training

Tuesday: 6.21 Miles @ 128 vert ft - Neighborhood Loop
Still having some ankle issues. Ran in my Brooks, which I'm now certain need to be retired. My newest kicks should be in tomorrow, so I'm looking forward to trying them out. Hopefully improvement is around the corner.

Wednesday: 6 Miles - Skyline HS Track
Broke in the new shoes today. Bought some Nike Free Runs, which I actually liked. I jogged to the HS track and decided to see how I felt doing a 5k. As I was headed West towards the school, the sunset was one of the most beautiful I've seen in sometime. Just one of the many things I love about running is all of the changes you see each day. On the track, my lap times were pretty consistent, and I ended up running 20:20. Track work is just another thing I need to do every week or so to ensure I get some speed work in. I also feel it's a great way to track my progress and improvement. I guess there's just one thing left to do.....sign up for a race or two and see what my legs and lungs can handle!

Thursday: 4.2 - Rabbit Mountain (Lunch)
Beautiful weather for running. It was nice to pull the shirt off and head up the hill, enjoying the sunshine. The weather also seems to be perfect for snakes. During my short run, I saw 3 rattlesnakes, one of which wasn't very happy to see me! He made his presence known, coiled up, and backed away slowly, keeping me in sight in the entire time. Seriously, I'm ready for cooler weather before one of these guys decides to strike.
2.2 Miles - Neighborhood out-back (PM)
Just a short jog to stretch the legs before Christine got home from work.

Friday: Off
Enjoyed dinner and downtime with Christine

Saturday: Green Mountain w/Christine (Lunch)
Nice day to be out. The weather we've had in the last few days has been unbelievable. I'm sure the 70 degree days are numbered, but right now we're trying to enjoy them as much as possible, even though we're in the process of packing our belongings and moving, multiple times.
1 Mile barefoot @ Prospect



















The view from the top of Green....it never let's you down



















Still in bloom, with the Flatirons in the background.


Sunday: 6 Miles - Picture Rock w/Christine
I must say, my wife is getting faster every day. I led outbound and picked up the pace quite a bit for the last mile. She followed suite without missing a beat. She was on my heels even through the more technical sections. After a high five, a drink of water and a few pictures, she lead the 3 miles in bound. I can see how her confidence grows with each trail run and it's really fun to see and be a part of. You know it's a good run when your wife looks at you with a huge smile and says, "that was fun!"

Evening Yoga session at http://www.solar-yoga.com/
Post yoga - 2 Mile jog + 0.5 Mile barefoot - Prospect


















Christine only a few hundred yards from the trailhead. I regretted not having my camera during our last run here. It's hard to imagine ever leaving this area when you're looking across this field into the hills in the distance.

A History of Rap

For many people, music is a major part of life. I've always loved music of all kinds. When I was 16, driving my Nissan 300ZX, I would migrate from Tupac to Alabama to Def Leppard. I still find myself enjoying various types of music, from folk and country to alternative and rap. I love the way music can change your mood, take you back to a certain time or place in your life, or just help you to lose yourself in the rhythm. One of my favorite things is to hang out in a chill place and listen to some good live music while enjoying a tasty beverage.

So, while I was in Knoxville Tennessee a couple weeks ago on a work assignment, I decided to drive to Gatlinburg. I grew up taking trips there from Alabama, but it had been years since I'd visited. I was curious as to how I would react to the place, which is an entirely different story. I took a long route back to the hotel that night, just enjoying the crisp night air, with the windows rolled down, listening to music. During that drive, one of the radio stations played a clip from a recent Jimmy Fallon episode and I was blown away. It was a rendition by Fallon and his guest, Justin Timberlake, doing their own "History of Rap." I had to watch and listen to it in it's entirety as soon as possible. I was amazed by the fact these guys were able to sound so good singing these tunes, and even more amazed that I couldn't tell the two apart on the radio. Take the time to watch this clip.....maybe the tunes will 'jog' some good memories for you!

Rattlesnake vs. Prarie Dog

Today I was able to witness one of the coolest things I have seen in nature.

I went out for a run during lunch at Hall Ranch. Typically on these short lunchtime runs, I complete the climb at the 2 mile mark and head back. I actually run just past the bench to the 2 mile marker, then jog back to the bench, where I take in the views before descending. Today's run did not disappoint. It was a spectacular day, with temperatures in the low 60's, sun shining and I actually felt good. My ankle was only minimally tight and I felt zero knee pain. I also took it easy up the 1 mile climb.

Just before I headed down the hill, a mountain biker told me to watch out for the snake! Yes, me and another snake encounter.....and what a snake it was. I've seen a lot of prairie rattlers, but this was by far the largest I've ever seen. I think saying it was 4 feet long is probably on the light side. It also had sizable girth. But what seemed funny was the fact that a prairie dog was in the middle of the trail, watching the snake, only a few feet away. Of course, I had to stay and watch because I was thinking the worse (I'll let your mind wander)!

This is where it got interesting. The rattlesnake actually backed away and went around the prairie dog, who appeared to be standing it's ground. Then I noticed the snake was heading toward the prairie dogs den. At this time, the prairie dog stood up, let out an insane amount of noise, which assembled it's allies. Three to four other prairie dogs surrounded the perimeter of the den, while two others stayed close to the snake.

And again, the snake backed away and headed toward another den. This lead to more noise, another team assembly, and the standing of these little prairie dog's territory. These guys were basically saying to the snake, "you'll have to go through us before you enter our home!"

This process continued with about 4 or 5 prairie dog dens before the snake made it through the entire prairie dog area. And even more amazing, some of these guys were within a foot or so of the rattlesnake and it never attempted to strike. It was almost as it the snake was afraid of the prairie dog. It was definitely an unbelievable thing to witness. My only regret is not having a camera to document it. I was really impressed with the fortitude of the prairie dog, protecting their territory and, I'm assuming, their young.

Seeing something this ridiculous can only be found by leaving the desk, the computer, and car behind, and by getting out in midst of nature.

Weekly Summary - 10/10

Monday: As I said in my last post, my plan for ankle recovery started today. So, no running. It worked out well, as I had a long day at work and Christine had a nice pasta dinner waiting when I got home. Did a basement work-out and was amazed at how weak my upper body has become. I definitely need to do more strength training each week.

Tuesday: Hall Ranch - Singlespeed Mountain Bike (PM)
My second day into ankle recovery and I feel like it's improving. Trying not to push it and ensure recovery, I brought my SS to work and headed to Hall afterward. I didn't leave work as early as I'd hoped, but I got a good fast ride in regardless. Fall is definitely upon us. Due to my late start, I was descending just before dark. The good part is that the trails were virtually empty, with the exception of one guy. I passed him after the loop and said thanks as I sped by. I noticed his reply sounded strained and thought something might be wrong. I ended up giving him a ride home, as he had a bad fall and wrecked his wrist.

It was good to be back on the mountain bike, having only ridden a handful of times this summer. It also provided additional evidence that I need to keep my upper body strengthened, as my arms were getting worked being out of the saddle so much. Although I haven't been riding, I feel that my fitness is still fair, as my loop time was solid. I hope to give the ankle a test tomorrow.

Wednesday: Hall Ranch - Mountain Bike (Lunch)
Feeling good on the bike again today. I was actually faster than the yesterday, even though I could feel the soreness in my legs and core. The weather for riding and running can't be beat right now. I hope this sticks around for a while.

Run - 3 Miles - Neighborhood Loop (PM)
The ankle definitely hasn't recovered. I hesitate to even say it's improved from the weekend. I started out really slow, trying to ease into the run. My ankle was pretty stiff throughout the duration, but felt best when I did a few short sprints at race pace. I'm planning on a longer trail run tomorrow afternoon, so I'll gauge it then.

Thursday: 5 Miles - Work Pond Loop (PM)
Long day at work. I'm not sure why I've been so busy lately, other than the fact that I've been traveling for work every other week, which means my projects here in CO fall by the wayside. Right ankle is still hurting, but improvement is there. Felt slow and sluggish.

Friday: 5.3 Miles - Union Res (PM)
After the first mile or so, I started feeling good and noticed my time was solid for the first half of the run. Once I hit the turn around, I glanced at the watch and wanted to ensure my second half was faster than the first. With about a mile and a half remaining, pain suddenly overtook me, originating in my left knee. I'm still not sure what happened, but I'm icing both my right ankle and left knee. Hopefully it was some small tweak and I'll be good to go tomorrow morning.

Saturday: 6 Miles - Picture Rock (Lunch)
I was up early for a couple hours of work, which doesn't make for the best start to a Saturday morning. After I got home, Christine and I did some real estate homework, before heading to Lyons to see a house. We were planning to head to Boulder afterward, but we decided to stay in Lyons for a run on the Picture Rock trail, which we haven't been on in quite a while. The weather couldn't be better for running. We headed out at a mellow pace, discussing our housing options. We turned around at the 3 mile mark, which is just about the time my stomach kicked into overdrive.....or maybe I should call it reverse! Whatever the polite way to say it, my last 2 miles were pretty horrible. Christine sped ahead of me and I just focused on making it back to the trailhead. Later, Christine said it was a day of first. The first time she's ran faster than me and the first time Alabama has lost while Michigan State won. However you look at it, I was not in fine form. Between stomach problems, an stiff right ankle and aching left knee, I just hope tomorrow is better.

Sunday: 5 Miles - Mesa Trail (Lunch)
After church, Christine and I headed out for a run. We were planning a run of Estes Cone, but as we were heading west, a sizable storm cloud seemed to be planted on top. We decided to detour and head to Boulder. We ended up at the Mesa Trail, in the rain. Soon after we hit the singletrack, the rain had stopped. We chatted away as we enjoyed the nice cool weather, opting to shed our running shells quickly. It was a nice trail run, one that hopefully is helping my ankle issues to dissolve.

In other news, we're selling our house. I've lived in East Longmont, near Union Reservoir for just over 5 years. Christine has been here since we were married 3 years ago and it's been a great home for us. But after considerable thought and discussion, we decided to pull the trigger and put our house on the market. We weren't in any hurry to sell, or buy for that matter, so we did some uber-cleaning and started playing the waiting game. It took some effort, but we really didn't shop for other homes, on-line or elsewhere, as we had no idea when our house would sell. As our 6 month contract was drawing near, we began discussing possibly finishing our basement, or even dreaming of having a second home in the mountains (especially after I read this http://brandon.fuller.name/archives/2010/09/20/23.44.32/ on a runner's blog). Then, out of the blue, when we had almost resigned to the fact that we'd stay here a while longer, we got the call with a very good offer. The next thing you know, we're rushing around, signing contracts, looking for houses, checking for month-to-month rentals, and trying to wrap our head around actually moving.

So that brings us to today. We spent the afternoon checking a house from top to bottom (our 3rd time there), reviewing market analysis, and boxing our belongings. Decisions....decisions!

Peru Pictures

I've been meaning to post a few of our pictures from Peru. Last night I opened iPhoto, started reminiscing and thought I'd share a few pictures that was my best attempt to show the beauty that Peru had to offer. What a great trip!

Discipline - A Continued Look

A while ago, I shared a few of my thoughts on discipline. This is a topic that is continually on the periphery of my mind. I usually feel that I lack discipline, although I rarely share those thoughts with others, choosing instead to ponder ways of becoming more disciplined with certain areas of my life. My thoughts on discipline usually creep up when I haven't ran very much, realize it's been days since I've read, or when I get behind on projects at work. I also tend to compare myself to athletes I read about, seeing their intense dedication to their respective sport and how much discipline it takes to excel in said sport.

The question that I now ask is this: does it take more discipline to focus on a single activity, whether it be physical such as running, climbing the corporate ladder, or reading your bible religiously (no pun intended) or balance your life, ensuring you focus not on one single thing but rather finding time to exercise, work hard, give back to the community, etc etc.

This topic came up recently in conversation at work, while talking about goals. What's easier, focusing on a single goal that you're working toward, or having to multitask, focusing on an array of projects, trying to do them all well. I must say, after some thought, I'd have to chose the latter. This is my own opinion of course and based on no concrete data, besides my personal experiences.

That being said, maybe I'll start giving myself some credit for working to have some balance in my life. Although, I feel that true "balance" is far from attained. I guess I'll continue to work on my discipline, both to have better balance as well as to attain some of those specific goals.

I'll speak more about short term and long term goals in a future post!!!