Week in Review (June 4 - June 10)

Tuesday (22,080 steps) - Strength class during lunch. Wasn't sure if there was run club, but I decided I'd run anyway, and worst case scenario I'd stop by Milk Market and no one would be there.

Only a handful of people - but there was still a big pizza. Had a few pieces and then headed to the grocery store. Home at a reasonable hour.
Wednesday (22,954 steps) - Core class during lunch. Runners Roost Boulder!

Skies were looking pretty stormy, but we lucked out and just had overcast skies and "cooler" temperatures. Because of all the rainy weather, this was our first time back up on the "real" trails in over a month.

Rain didn't come in until the drive home. Frozen pizza (again) for dinner.
Thursday (18,386 steps) - Nicole and I finally went out to lunch for our birthdays! Got to check out a new-to-me restaurant in Union Station - Tupelo Honey. It was DELICIOUS.

Picked up A at her friend's house, then we went to Berkeley Park. "Easy" few loops around the lake and then to Lakeside!

Front row on the roller coaster!

We decided to leave just after nine when the thunder/lightning started. Good thing, it was pouring by the time we headed home.
Friday (17,084 steps) - Core class during lunch. Headed home to get A and have a quick dinner before coming back downtown for the NKOTB MIX TAPE TOUR!! We parked at my office and arrived with plenty of time for the show. I really loved the format - it was nice to not have any weird breaks for set changes.

Probably one of the best shows I've been to! Home way too late, nearly  midnight.
Saturday (18,207 steps) - Up early to meet Lisa for a few easy miles on Rock Creek. I was super meh about running, and glad we opted to run short and only do 6.

I make a super delicious grilled cheese & egg sandwich

Home for a shower, breakfast and nap. The morning got away from us... we packed up our stuff and headed to lunch at Chick-Fil-A (random, but we had a gift card). Then quick stop at Alamo Drafthouse to get tickets for a movie next week (had to go in person because I was cashing in a free birthday ticket!) A bit more traffic than I am used to driving up to Ben's. Originally we had talked about running, but THANKFULLY Ben was easily talked out of it. We met up at Angry James, then home to get Pika. Headed into Breckenridge to meet up with his friend Heather at Broken Compass, where Ben & A proceeded to play a few lightning rounds of life-size Connect 4.

Picked up pizza and wings for dinner.
Sunday (12,318 steps) - "Slept in" until almost 9. Breakfast of coffee and cinnamon rolls before heading up to Vail for the Mountain Games! Fun times, mostly just walked around all day.

Highlights were watching all the dog activities. Bought a LifeStraw - could be a lifesaver during Tahoe. Pizza (again), and a quick trip to Outer Range on the way back to town. Managed to run into Greg (again).

Picked up some snacks at King Soopers, bed relatively reasonable hour.
Monday (23,975 steps) - Ugh - I hate the 4:15 wake up call!! Home before 6 to shower and go to work. Worked through lunch because I had to leave early for a dentist appointment. Went to New Terrain and started my run early because I hoped to get in some extra mileage (which I did). Everything is still super green because of all the rain, and lots of pretty flowers!

One beer before picked up A at Abby's house - dinner & bed before 10. Long day.

Stats:

• 135,004 steps
• 29.5 miles run
• Three gym classes

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!