Week in Review (July 31 - August 6)

Tuesday (9,150 steps) - Barre Express with Gabi! Also my last class at the studio. In an effort to save money, I'm trimming expenses, and sadly, the studio was a big luxury, so it had to go. I was pretty impressed I was able to get through the class since walking was still a struggle. After work we made cookies for our upcoming RMRR potluck.
Wednesday (13,814 steps) - Runners Roost Boulder! I was obviously in no shape for the trail run, so we decided we would do the road 5K. New Balance was there and we got to demo some of the new road shoes - which I really liked!!

Initially, I planned on walking most of it. However, once I put on shoes (first time I had worn shoes since the race), the back of my right heel hurt and it actually felt better to run (vs walk). We ended up doing 1:1 intervals (much to A's dismay).

Thursday (10.043 steps) - Went to the gym during lunch for another circuit workout. Man, an hour flies by.

Skipped run club.
Friday (23,060 steps) - Up early to meet a bunch of folks at Wash Park for Pete's birthday run! Somehow, I was able to run 3 (fairly speedy) miles, with very little walking.

Rocket was a bit freaked out by the balloon!

After work we headed down to Centennial for the RMRR 5K and potluck! I was unsure how things were going to go, especially since I had run in the morning. I planned a 2:45/:45 interval and started towards the back of the mass start. Interestingly, the intervals worked pretty fantastically, and this was the fastest overall pace I have done in ages - sub 10 minute miles for a whole 5K??!

After, we stuck around for #allthefood - left around 8:15, mainly because we were getting eaten alive. (Damn mosquitos.)
Saturday (23,355 steps) - Runners Edge! Thankfully, no aid station, so we were able to stay in bed a little longer. Met at Lyons Park in Golden and I had planned on 6, and thankfully, the route was a 6 mile loop. I planned on "run/walk" but with no set intervals. The outbound miles were hilly, so I walked a lot more, then took it easy on the flats/downhills. Not too bad of a pace. I dangled my feet in the creek for a bit, which felt great (after I got used to it).

Alexa, Kristin, Randy, Pete, Janet and I all went out to breakfast at the Table Mountain Inn in downtown Golden. Man oh man was the food good. I couldn't even come CLOSE to finishing it all.

Then, we drove up to Boulder for our annual volunteering at IM 70.3. This time we were at the first run course aid station. It was hot and exposed. It was windy and the tables didn't rest flat, so it was tough to fill up cups. The wind really picked up at the end, felt bad for the people that were out in it. Also, I was glad I didn't know until the end that we were volunteering near a rattlesnake nest (den?)

I told A she could have a friend over for a sleepover, but the girl's parents said she couldn't come to our house, but A could go over there. So after we both were showered, I drove her over, then stopped at the grocery store. Stayed up ridiculously late (like 11!)

Sunday (8,356 steps) - The day of nothing!!! I stayed in bed until almost 10:30. I can't even remember the last time I didn't have to do anything. Watched TV until A texted me to pick her up at noon. We went to the mall (ick) to do some back to school shopping. Thankfully, A is thrifty and only picked out a handful of new clothes. We got all her actual school supplies done as well. Glad to have that out of the way. On the way home we stopped by to see Sully. By the time we got home it was after 5. A made me breakfast for dinner and we watched Lifetime. (Life is good!)
Monday (21,117 steps) - Took my first classes at PF. First was core, which wasn't quite as tough as I imagined it would be. (Maybe I'll be feeling it later, who knows). I stuck around to take the PF360 Strength, which I really liked. As always, probably not the best idea if I have a trail run the same day, but eh, I've never made the best decisions.

Thanks to an earlier storm, it was overcast and "cool" for our run at North Table! A decided to stick with Paula and John (and Maya, the dog), while I did my own thing. I didn't feel as awful as I assumed I would, although my ankle was still feeling a little tender. I even opted to do the two mile add-on loop on the new Rim Rock trail.

Even though one of my favorite food trucks was at the brewery, we opted to go home for dinner instead.

Stats:

• 108,895 steps
• 21.5 miles run
• 1 barre class & 2 gym visits

Week in Review (July 17 - July 23)

Tuesday (11,381 steps) - Barre Express with Gabi!
Wednesday (21,026 steps) - Runners Roost Boulder! It was approximately one zillion degrees, and yet I actually had a pretty great run.

After the beer & pizza we went to JT's house and played croquet. So random, yet so fun!

Thursday (15,927 step) - By the way, I am finally canceling my barre membership. After two years, it's just not as fun as it was. With that said, I joined Planet Fitness because there is a location only a few blocks from my office. I went for the first time during lunch and enjoyed doing one of the "Express" workouts.

Belmar run club! We arrived late (again) and had to run to catch up with Ang so that we could walk. Another billion degree night. (Getting pretty sick of summer).
Friday (13,373 steps) - Barre with Gabi. After work I picked up groceries at Target and pizza for dinner. A got invited to a sleepover, so I spent the remainder of my night packing.
Saturday (16,814 steps) - Runners Edge. FINALLY at the point in my training schedule where I only had FOUR (yes, 4) miles to run.

I was insanely hot when I finished, which doesn't leave me feeling warm and fuzzy for my race. Did some shopping, picked up my aid station and then had breakfast with Kristin, Sheila, Janet & Pete. I got a text to pick up A later, so I took a nap. After I got A we watched some TV and were in bed early.
Sunday(18,843 steps) - Black Hawk trail 10K!

A had an afternoon meeting, and I don't remember leaving the couch.
Monday (8,171 steps) - Um. Nothing. Went to Culver's for dinner. Made peanut butter & chocolate chip cookies for a work potluck.

Stats:

• 105,535 steps
• 18.6 miles run
• 2 barre classes, 1 PF Express

Week in Review (July 10 - July 16)

Tuesday (16,949 steps) - Barre Express with Gabi! Best class in a while, I was actually able to get through most of it. After work I met up with Lisa and Lucky for a walk around Sloan's Lake. We hit up Joyride for beers. They had the best food truck ever, I got a delicious burger and truffle sweet potato fries. Yum, yum, yum!

Wednesday (15,179 steps) - Work was "exciting." Our firm has moved to doing "group" annual reviews. Even though I have not been here for a full year yet (one year is next month), and I just had a review in February, I got another raise! Pretty sweet! That's where the "good" things stop for the day. I was in a fender bender on the drive to pick up A at her friend's house in Thornton. Thankfully there was no damage to the other vehicle, so no police or insurance. Lucy is a bit sad, however. We still went to run club, although we were late. A didn't want to run, and I had already missed the group so I drove to the trail head and planned to run the route in reverse to meet up (which I did!). Turns out, the one time I wasn't with the group is the one time they saw B E A R S!!!

Went to Southern Sun after and had an entertaining evening listening to JT retell his Silver Rush experience.
Thursday (23,627 steps) - Surprise, barre with Gabi! (I have no idea why I signed up for a Thursday). Belmar run club, we walked with Ang.

Completely not on purpose matchy matchy with Mo!

A in her first "adult" sparkle skirt!

THEN, we drove down to Highlands Ranch to meet up with RER for a night trail run on the Chase the Moon course! To be fair, most of the run wasn't in the dark. Once the sun set it was actually very pleasant. Had a pretty great run, although we didn't get home until almost 10:30.

Friday (10,266 steps) - Nothing?
Saturday (38,509 steps) - Long run with Runners Edge. Was NOT looking forward to this one at all. It's been stupid hot and I had 16 on schedule. Lisa dropped down to my pace group again and we ran the first 8 together. I ran the back half with Alexa and Paul. It wasn't "as horrible" as I thought it would be, although I was fairly nauseous for most of the last few miles.

Stopped at Phil's shop on the way home for their anniversary party. Home to shower, met up with Lisa for our farewell lunch date. :( We hit up Tony P's for pizza slices and then over to Zuni Street for a new brewery. No dark beers, which was sad, but they had a nice patio with misters. We played giant Jenga and Scrabble before heading home so Lisa could clean :(

Back over to Berkeley in time for the beer mile. I had no desire to run and was put in charge of taking pictures. Fun night, including burros and a BBQ!

Sunday (28,722 steps) - No alarm set and I manged to sleep until 8:30. Headed out for my last double digit run. I was super pleased that it was overcast and "chilly" in the upper 60's. However, my first 5 miles were in a headwind (which is always miserable), and then somehow miles in the middle were also into the wind. Blech. 12 miles done.

Sat around at home before heading to barre with A, Maureen & Ben. Went to Denver Beer after, and got caught in a torrential rain storm. Colorado weather, you so crazy!

Monday (17,691 steps) - New Terrain run club! We hadn't been in a few weeks and it was a pretty pathetic showing. We started with the group and then at the top of Lithic we saw Paula, John & Mara, so we stopped to wait for them. I actually had a pretty great run! Stuck around for a drink before heading home.

Stats:

• 150,943 steps
• 43.8 miles run
• 3 barre classes & walking

Week in Review (June 26 - July 2)

Tuesday (15,790 steps) - Barre Express with Gabi. A wanted a rest day since she was tired from camp. I opted to run for 40 minutes by the lake. It was hot, but not nearly as hot as my phone would have liked me to believe (92 degrees).

Wednesday (20,339 steps) - Runners Roost Boulder! Oh lordy was it a hot day. We were just over 100 degrees for a high. I was optimistic that the run might not be horrible because we had some cloud cover. However, we had some weird gusty wind that made it resemble running into a blow dryer. Overall, I didn't struggle as much as usual. Still the slowest, but I got some good speed on the descents.

So, it's been a while since I won a raffle. You will all be shocked to hear that I won the grand prize (again) of new shoes! The only pair of Mizunos I have ever owned were Cabrakan trail shoes (eons ago). Turns out, Mizuno no longer makes trail shoes in the US. Actually a good thing for me, as I'm running out of road shoes! I opted for the Wave Sky - they seem a bit more cushiony, which is kind of what I was looking for.

Thursday (11,101 steps) - Once again, A said it was too hot to run. I could not disagree, PRETTY MUCH THE HOTTEST DAY EVER EVER EVER.

I did, however, talk her into a walk to the lake (with the promise of a Dairy Queen reward). Gorgeous day, but ick. So steamy.

Friday (12,986 steps) - Barre with Gabi. Pretty sunrise, but the only place I could take a picture was on the pedestrian overpass, so it didn't come out great.

After work I finally tackled more of the cleaning/organizing that I've been putting off for the last few weeks. Riveting evening!
Saturday (42,859 steps) - Looooong run with Runners Edge! Lisa had asked if I wanted to run with her. I definitely wanted to run with SOMEONE, since I haven't run over 14 miles since Romania. Lisa, however, is substantially faster than I am, so I was concerned that she would end up dropping me. Turns out, the run actually went way better than expected, and the wheels didn't start to come off until after mile 17. Only picture I apparently took all day...

If I remember correctly, there was more cleaning (I think I even cleaned the bathtub?) and of course we got in some TV watching. No recollection of the evening.
Sunday (40,180 steps) - Lisa had also asked if I wanted to run in Waterton Canyon with her and Jandy for 16 miles. I was actually more worried about THIS one. The first 6ish miles of Waterton are on a dirt road. Not technical at all, but a gradual uphill the whole way. I've run out there a dozen or so times over the years and have ALWAYS struggled. Both Jandy and Lisa are faster and I really didn't want to be taking walk breaks all the time, so it was tough, but I managed to run the whole way up, with only two short drink breaks. What a confidence booster!

About a mile before we reached the actual trail we happened to run into Michelle and her boyfriend. I love seeing people I know when I'm out for a run!

Scott thought a Garmin picture would be cool!

I hadn't run this far up the canyon in a few years, and I'm always a little googly-eyed with how pretty it is! So worth the time it takes to get that far up! Jandy and Lisa are definitely stronger runners on the climbs, I ended up doing a lot of power hiking.

We had plans to turn around at 8 miles. We were also all hungry, so we were planning on a snack before coming back down. We stopped near Lenny's Rest (bench is actually missing right now) and were talking about having to go a quarter of a mile further so I would have 8 on my watch. Two guys on mountain bikes suggested that we do the Roxborough Park loop, and that it was "almost exactly 16 miles." None of us had done the loop before, but it's always nice to run different sections, so we thought that would be fun. There was a little bit more climbing that I think any of us expected. But it was SO PRETTY.

It was pretty obvious that a lot of this section was created for mountain bikers as it was very rutted. The downhills were a little rockier than I like, and I was very surprised at how much faster I was able to get down than Lisa and Jandy. Our 16 miles was over 17, but at that distance, does a mile make any real difference? Of note, I wore the Hierro 3's, and they really bothered the bottom of my big toes. So I guess they will NOT be my ultra shoe later this month.

I had to rush right home after finishing to take a 2 minute shower and grab food so I could take A and Madi to their Summer camp! Both girls decided they really wanted to go back to the wizard camp (basically a Harry Potter themed camp). The drive was over 2 hours each way, but at least it's pretty!

I was STARVING on the drive back, and stopped to get some food at Garbanzo's before meeting up with Lisa.

We originally went to a new brewery near her house, Oasis. The beer was good, but at $7, we stopped at one. Instead, we picked up some beer, chatted on the patio, and then I helped her pack (waaaah) for a bit before heading home.

Monday (18,114 steps) - With A gone, I opted to skip the trail run at New Terrain and go to the special off-site run club for Denver Runners Roost at Homegrown Tap & Dough. I got there ridiculously early and ran two early miles with Carol. I decided I would demo a pair of Saucony Rides.

Maureen & Colfax and I ran a big loop around Wash Park. Supposedly it was over 90, but the cloud cover made it soooo bearable. The shoes were fine, but I couldn't seem to get the lacing right and my toes kept going numb.

There was plenty of pizza left when we got back, and Locovore was onsite, each runner got a free beer. Then, Maureen talked me into a "froze" (frozen rose, I think). I'm not much of a wine drinker, but this was pretty darn tasty!

It was fun to see folks I haven't seen in a while, although turnout seemed a bit sparse with it being a holiday week.

Stats:

• 161,369 steps
• 52.9 miles run
• 2 barre classes