Week in Review (June 5 -June 11)

Tuesday (16,136 steps) - Barre Express with Gabi. I've decided that at least one of my barre classes a week will be express. Same workout, but 20 minutes shorter. I can sleep a little later and still get in a workout. I don't know if that means I'm getting tired of the classes (I've been taking them for 2 years now), or if I'm just liking the faster pace of class? Sloan's Lake Tap & Burger run club! I was blah, and ran a solo loop. Just one. I was hot and tired. Pasta and then home.
Wednesday (20,484 steps) - Runners Roost Boulder run club!

Another challenging run this week, and hot AGAIN. Struggled with this one, was really happy to be done. Beer, pizza, and then a trip to Southern Sun after.

Thursday (17,446 steps) - Ran at Berkeley Park so that we could go to Lakeside after. It was so much fun!!!

Friday (11,385 steps) - Barre with Gabi.
Saturday (25,953 steps) - Up at 3:45 to go hiking! We got to Lisa's house just after 4:30 and drove up to Buena Vista/Leadville for our first hike/14er of the year. Lisa had picked Mt. Belford, mainly because the trail head would be accessible for her car (not a surprise that many of the 14ers require a high clearance vehicle, which neither of us has). This was one of the toughest ones we have climbed to date. Over 4500' of climbing, and not THAT long comparatively. For some reason both of us thought it was 3.5 miles each way, turns out it was almost 4.5. I think this was the best marked of any of the ones we have climbed, there were a lot of switchbacks (instead of just going straight up), and not a lot of scree.

A marmot!

It wasn't too cold and windy at the summit, so we had lunch/beer at the top (around 12:30, before coming down.

I think this was my favorite picture of the day - taken on the way down after leaving the switchbacks

We had expected the whole hike to take about 6 hours, imagine our surprise when it was closer to 8. When we realized Buena Vista was the opposite direction of home we decided to eat in Leadville at the brewery. Food selections were pretty dismal, but the beer was good.

Made a wrong turn on the way home, taking us out towards Minturn/Vail instead of Cooper Mountain, adding at least a half hour. We also had a scare with Lucky, who seemed to be struggling - so it was a stressful drive home. After we got our car, we stopped for FroYo, then in bed super early. What a long day!!
Sunday (28,985 steps) - The "best" part about training for your "A" race in the summer? Not having to get up early. I managed to sleep until 8:30, had a quick breakfast, then went out for my 10 mile run at the ungodly hour of 9:45. It was hot, but I've learned that once you're already hot, it really doesn't get "hotter" - (as long as you aren't starting in like 50 and ending up at 90. Start at 85 and 90 isn't that much different).

Hey, goats again!!

Pace was better than expected, and I got done with enough time to shower before going to Bear Creek for the trail running festival. Had a great time chatting with vendors (mainly the Brandons from Hoka) and having a burger/beer before we had to head out.

Yes, this was the only picture I took at the festival (and it's even my cooler!)

Next, we were going to Boulder to volunteer at Ironman, like we have every year since 2011. We were at the info tent with Jeannene again, and our volunteering was pretty limited, but we had a great time spectating! Headed home after 4 hours around 8:30. Long day (again).

Only picture (and I actually took it at home) - the backpack A got for being a super volunteer

Monday (18.093 steps) - New Terrain run club! Another hot day, and my legs were SO TIRED. I really felt incredibly out of shape on this one (more than usual, A wouldn't even stick with me on the climbs).

I'm in the back because I barely got there in time for the picture... can you spot my head? lol

Sean & A on the summit (I'm in the bottom right if you look hard enough!)

Once we were back at the brewery, I saw that A had taken her first fall of the season (I had warned her that she needed to move on to her newer trail shoes!) Stuck around for a drink and to clean up A's wounds before going home.

Phil & A

Battle wounds!

Stats:

• 138,482 steps
• 26.8 miles run
• 2 barre classes and one 8.7 mile hike!

Week in Review (August 2 - August 8)

Tuesday (11,494 steps) - Went to barre class during lunch. A moved her gymnastics from Thursday night at 7 pm to Tuesday at 6, so we had to rush a bit to get her there on time. The class was a lot bigger and there were much younger kids with her, we are going to give it another week to see if it is a good fit for her. There was a substitute instructor and I did NOT care for her. Stopped at Target on the way home to get cash and pick up school supplies. RAGE RAGE RAGE. Ugh. I hate buying school supplies so much. It wouldn't bother me so much if she actually got to KEEP what I buy, but our county still does the "communal supply" nonsense. At least she does get to keep her own pencil bag, and she picked out a super cute one with cats.
Wednesday (18,227 steps) - Run club after work! Walked with Maureen again at the track. Jandy had come to see the speaker, Jason Koop, and she walked with A. Maureen and I were determined to get our three miles in. Kinda regretted it when it started pouring on our way back to the store. For the first time, pretty much ever I wasn't into a running presentation. I found Koop to be a little boring, probably because he was talking about training and I'm not running...

A was interested in looking at course profiles in his book though

We decided to head over to Old Chicago to use one of Maureen's coupons for bogo pizza. My shoe was feeling weird, when I looked at the bottom, my lugs were coming off?? WTH! I have never had that happen to a pair of Newtons, and I've been wearing them since 2010. Especially annoying since they are like a jillion dollars a pair.

By the time we all got there, ordered, ate and split the bill it was after 10:00 before we got out of there. WAY too late for a week night!

Had to take a selfie with other run clubbers that were there (love the shiny spot on my head)

Thursday (13,828 steps) -  So damn tired this morning, could barely drag myself out of bed. Went to barre during lunch. We decided to skip Belmar run club since we were both tired and we have hardly been home. Stopped at the grocery store on the way home, had dinner, packed and went to bed early. Low key, boring day.
Friday (16,461 steps) - Went to barre after work, since A was at camp with her Girl Scout troop.

Then, I drove over to Lisa's new place. So happy that she is back in Colorado!! We barely made it to happy hour at the Bout Time Pub & Grub that is under her apartments.

I thought this door sign was HILARIOUS

After having a drink we walked a few blocks over to Matador where we had dinner. Great time catching up with her! Both of us thought it was super late, turns out that we were home by 10. Old people.
Saturday (25,111 steps) - Lisa arrived at my house about 5:45 in the morning. We head out on Highway 72 to Nederland, I had suggested we hike at a Arapaho Pass. Lisa was hungry, so we stopped in Eldorado Springs so she could get some food, and then headed out to the Fourth of July trail head. I guess I have amnesia, I did NOT remember the road being so rough to get there! The last 4 miles took probably a half hour. We arrived just before 7:30 am, and I was pleased to see that the lot was not that full. Probably because the sky looked super suspicious. I had only brought a hoodie to wear, and at the last minute, grabbed a beanie and gloves. I wore the beanie the entire day, and gloves most of it. I estimate that it was in the upper 40's most of the hike. We were taking it pretty easy because Lisa is just getting back to Colorado and is not used to the altitude (we were hiking around 11,000 I believe). It started to rain when we were about 3 miles up and we decided to turn around and that it was better to be safe than sorry. It misted most of the way down and it was COLD (but oh so pretty!!).

Wildflowers never photograph well

 The drive back down was even sketchier than the way up, but Bee Rad did amazing and we survived! By the time we got to Nederland, it was about 11:30 and since the brewery was closed we stopped at Sundance Cafe and had lunch. Grilled cheese and a Twisted Pine stout, it was delicious and inexpensive! Got back to my house around 1:20, which gave me time to shower and take a 20 minute power nap before driving down to Runners Roost for volunteering for the GTIS packet pick-up with Maureen. Other than the first half hour, it was pretty slow. Lisa and I were supposed to go out for a bit, but we both sorta bailed because we are old and tired. Instead, I went with Maureen to Denver Beer Co. for their 5th birthday party! It was pretty crowded, but we got a seat on the patio and it was actually enjoyable. I had every intention of going to bed by 9, but then got a message from Jan that they got rained out at camp, so I had to stay up to message with Rose to make sure everything was cool with A spending the night at her house.

They went hiking at the Colorado National Monument before they got rained out

Sunday (36,338 steps) - Beaver Creek half marathon.

It was almost 3:30 before I picked up A at Rose's house. I was so annoyed with being in the car for so long and I was parched from forgetting to grab water for the drive. We immediately headed up to Boulder for volunteering at Ironman. I have volunteered at almost every 70.3 and full Ironman for the lat 5 years and I'm glad I was able to get out there again. This was the first time we were not on the course volunteering. We met up with our teammate Jeannene at the Info Tent where we volunteered for a few hours.

We went over to the finish line to spectate for about 45 minutes, but we were both pretty tired so we were headed home before 7:00. The evening was spent watching the Olympics (gymnastics) and going to bed early.
Monday (13,572 steps) - Even though I had gone to bed by 9:30, getting up at 7 was rough. Ugh. So tired ALL THE TIME! Traffic on the way in to work was horrendous, an accident on the flyover caused me to get rerouted on WEST I-70, adding about 30 minutes of bumper to bumper traffic to my commute. Went to a barre class at lunch. Stopped at Sprouts on the way home to get some groceries, low key night.

Stats:

• 13.1 miles run (just the Beaver Creek half)
• 135,031 steps (as you can see, my steps were way down most days. I didn't hit my "goal"3 days!
• Still walking for "cross training," plus I got a good hike in with Lisa!
• 4 barre classes!

Everything Else:

• Really trying to not get too obsessed with my weight, but I can't  help it. I am so near the danger zone (which for me, is 130). I know my eating is not on point, and it is SO EASY to get off track. I think I'm in a "funk" or "depression" from not being able to run. I'm loving that barre gives me some exercise, but it is not enough for what I'm consuming.
• Related, beer is getting out of hand again. Sigh.

Week in Review (July 28 - August 3)

Tuesday (21,647 steps) - I did a LEGIT hill run on the treadmill. Of course there was walking on some of the inclines. Because I'm not crazy (nor in shape) to run at 7% incline right now. I did my best to at least slow jog though.

Wednesday (17,408) - Run club! Well, minus the running. Heather is still injured so we just walked around the block and socialized. Isn't that half the fun?

Thursday (18,229 steps) - I had briefly planned on going to the gym. Then decided not to and had a complain-fest with my lovely friend Jessa. In house news, I did NOT close in the morning like I was supposed to. However, miracle of miracles occurred and I got a call at 6 pm that the buyer was able to figure out financing and we would be closing on Friday!

Friday (20,746 steps) - I went to work early because I left early for... CLOSING ON THE SALE OF THE HOUSE?! Immediately after I picked up A and we headed down to Highlands Ranch for volunteering at Chase the Moon. I was a bit bummed to not be running this year, but we had a great time being course marshals.

 

Our shift was from 5:00 to 10:00. We headed down to the start/finish and spent a few mintues chatting with Heather, Phil and Clark. Then I had to drive A over to my parents house since I was racing in the morning. I did not drop her off until after 11. After getting all my gear ready it was after 11:30 before I went to sleep.

Saturday (41,583 steps) - Up at 3:37 am to drive to Estes Park to run the Rocky Mountain half marathon.

On my drive down I stopped in Boulder to pick up my limited edition Newtons. They might be a little "over the top" with Colorado pride, but these are so cool!!

I picked up A, quick shower, and then we went to see Pitch Perfect 2 again (at the cheapo movie theater). Dinner with my parents and then early to bed since I pretty much had not slept at all.

Sunday (13,349 steps) - We went to breakfast at IHOP and then I took A to the skating rink. She is trying to graduate from skates to rollerblades. She was having issues learning to stop as the blades don't have brakes. Hoping SHE doesn't break.

 

Drove up to Boulder to volunteer at Ironman Boulder! Randomly ran into Heather and Dan (go figure, just outside the Newton store) and went to Cheesecake Factory for a pick-me-up. A had the Godiva and had Key Lime. YUM.

 

We were at the same aid station that I volunteered at last year on the run course. Volunteering was fun like always.

 

View from our volunteer posts

My older sister randomly showed up and volunteered with us until it was time to go watch her friend finish. We made plans to meet up at the finish line to get some food. And then, I pulled my phone out and realized I LOST MY DRIVER'S LICENSE. Of course I did. At the most crowded event in Boulder. So after we got done A and I wandered around Ironman Village looking for a lost and found. After speaking with the Boulder police and numerous volunteers, I was told there is NO centralized lost and found and to just keep calling and hope that someone turned it in. Arg. Met up with my sister and we went to Southern Sun for dinner - grilled cheese with bacon. In bed late AGAIN, after 11.

Monday (16,939) - My dad brought A down to my work because we were going to the Rockies game with Heather! We had dinner in the clubhouse and seats right behind home plate. A had a BLAST, and I was surprised she wanted to stay for the entire game.

Can you see A just to the right of the score board? We were on tv all night long

Me, A and Heather

 

 

Since we stayed until the very end, yet ANOTHER late night. (I'm too old for this).

Stats:

• 149,901 steps
• 16.4 miles run
• No cross training
• No strength/stretching

Everything Else:

• Obviously the good news is that the sale of the house is finalized. The bad news is that I'm essentially homeless right now. Lots of things in the works but problem after problem has ensured I'll be sleeping in Jessa's spare room for at least the rest of the month.
• Nothing else right now.