Week in Review (January 4 - January 10)

Tuesday (18,557 steps) - I had asked Steph to modify my workouts for the week since we were supposed to have a severe cold front come through later in the week. I decided to just get my run out of the way before work since I needed to get A from practice. It was warmer than I expected! I ran out on the road and then decided to jump on the trails for a bit after using the bathroom. That didn't last long and I'm glad I tested them out first. The trails were chunky and traction wasn't bad, but I also didn't want to roll an ankle, so back on the sidewalk I went. Pretty morning!

Work in the office. I figured I would double check on the gym situation. Sadness. :(

Wednesday (9,337 steps) - Another early morning. I had actual strength training on schedule, in addition to over an hour of biking. I got my strength training done before work - a core video and lower body*. (*I'm going to be feeling that later). Work in the office. The impending snow storm seemed to be having a slow start. Snow was supposed to arrive around 2, and I kept checking every 15 minutes or so. Ben told me things were getting "bad" although I didn't notice it until after 4. I left work a little early in hopes of avoiding nasty traffic. It was slow-going, but not that bad. Did 70 minutes of Peloton before dinner. LONG DAY.

Thursday (9,097 steps) - Work from home and a rest day, thanks to moving my schedule around. It was FREAKING COLD out, I don't think we got above about 12 degrees the whole day. Took Pika for a walk at lunch, and really nothing else.

Friday (19,546 steps) - I really really don't like having to run on Fridays, but I sucked it up since I had a wonky schedule this week. I was supposed to be running an hour "as fast as I could maintain." I was really shocked at how icy the park was - it's normally really clear, but it wasn't great. I couldn't believe no other runners had lights - it was the only way I could see the black ice. As per the norm, I wasn't really able to get into a great groove and walked more than I would have liked. Really hope I can get back to more consistent running - can I really do that while training for long stuff though? Hmmm.

Went to Stella's with the gang before going into the office. It was a really slow day since Joyce was out. Met up with Ben (late) at Torchy's for a drink and to pick up dinner.

Saturday (33,458 steps) - A was going tubing and snowshoeing with her Girl Scout troop, so I was up pretty early to see her off. After she left, I headed down to Waterton Canyon for my 15 mile long run. I haven't run that far since... October? I was optimistic, but thankfully within 5 minutes I knew it was not going to be my day. My calves were incredibly tight and I felt very out of breath right off the bat.

I was worried I had overdressed when I opted to forego a long sleeve and vest for my Zip & Zoom hoodie. It always gets windy enough in the canyon that I was fine in what I had chosen. (I did see a girl wearing just shorts, a bra and compression socks. Her legs were definitely wind-burned!

The road was actually in great condition. Very few icy and muddy spots, I couldn't believe it. I knew that I had to go at least a mile past the dam to get round trip of 15 miles. Once I got to the single track it was a completely different story. Lots of snow!

The best part of my day was running in this section back towards the main road. I naively thought that my legs would feel better with the gradual downhill, but I was wrong. This was overall a pretty sucky run. At least I saw sheep on the way down!

I got back to my car and saw this email:

I've been trying to get into Vermont 100 for YEARS (seriously, I've been first on the waitlist for TWO YEARS) and to get this email was pretty exciting, although maybe not after the worst long run I've had in ages. I called Ben to see if he wanted to meet up for a beer.

We hadn't been to Over Yonder for a while, and they had a few new beers, so that was exciting.

Sunday (18,060 steps) - Had an "easy" day of 6-8 miles of power hiking on schedule. I didn't want to get up too early, but also wanted to get out early enough that the trails wouldn't warm up and be a muddy mess. I decided to take Pika with me since it was mostly hiking. I figured I would be warm enough in a pullover and vest, and it turned out to be the perfect outfit choice.

I had worn my Kahtool EXO spikes, thinking the trails (at least the ones up top) would be pretty icy. It was a weird mix of conditions. Some of the trail was completely dry, and then we would have sections that were crunchy snow or ice. Thankfully, no real mud.

Steph had wanted me to aim for a 16:30 pace, but between Pika dawdling and the crappy conditions, we didn't get anywhere close to that. Pika loves going to Boulder because she can be off leash since she has a sight/sound tag.

SO ICY!

I planned to easy jog the way down so we wouldn't be out forever. I should have taken my spikes off sooner, because between them, the rocks, the high stack of Hokas and the mostly dry conditions, I was asking for a rolled ankle - which I got. Still had about 2.5 miles to go. Ugh. I took off the spikes and walked a bit to loosen it out and then jogged most of the way down. I realized after getting to the car that I had forgotten a towel to clean a VERY muddy Pika off. Ugh. Met Ben at Westminster Brewing for a beer.

Monday (8,914 steps) - Work from home. A rest (or optional bike) day. Just took Pika for a walk, opted to skip the bike since... I am switching coaches. I love Steph (I really do), but I think I have outgrown what she can do for me, and with what I have on schedule for the year I really need someone who can give me better workouts/feedback and be overall more responsive. Spent quite a bit of time working with him to get on track with a new and "improved" training plan - starting tomorrow! Excited to be working with him as he has also done a few 200s and is signed up to run Cocodona as well. Lots of hard work ahead of me, that's for sure.

Stats:

• 116,969 steps
• 32.58 miles run
• 70 minutes of cardio
• 35 minutes of strength training

Week in Review (December 28 - January 3)

Wow - where did 2021 go?? Seriously. It FLEW by. 

Tuesday (18,109 steps) - Work in the office. Went to the gym at lunch and did a chest/back workout. 

Little did I know this would be the last picture I would take in the gym! Came back from working out to an email that the gym will be closed for TEN MONTHS for renovations. Sad :(

After work I headed over to Bear Creek. Since I had the same run on schedule as last week (20/20/02 Build), I was curious if I would be able to improve on it. First off, it was chillier, BUT!! I didn't need to use my headlamp the first mile. C'mon spring, I'm waiting... The run itself wasn't "great," but it went a LOT better than last week. I felt better and I was faster.

Yes, this is the sad state of "speed work" these days

Ben was off, so he met up with us at Green Mountain for a beer. Of course the one time he can actually go, hardly anyone was there. Because it was cold?

Wednesday (7,577 steps) - Work in the office. I *really* should have gotten up earlier and done my workout before work. But I didn't. Sigh. So went for a walk at lunch. After work I met Ben at Woods Boss for a beer. THEN, I had to go home and do my HOUR LONG Peloton ride. I need to be better about planning out my days.

Thursday (18,587 steps) - Work from home. First, here are pictures of the cats in their respective banana beds.

Robin sleeps "across" her banana, but she is using it!

Batman often acts like he does not enjoy his banana, but we alllll know he loves it

Most of the day was fairly uneventful. Ariel and I took Pika for a walk at lunch and noticed that it looked smoky to the north. Tyler had mentioned that he thought there probably had to be a fire somewhere. Our office closed at 3 and Ariel and I ran some errands before heading home. I had a call at 6 and Ben interrupted to say "things are getting really bad." Well as you all probably know, not only was there a "fire," but it turned out to be the most destructive fire in Colorado history. 

I'll preface by saying that thankfully we are fine, our house is fine. But we had an evening full of stress because the evacuation zones kept getting closer and closer. We actually had the mud room turned into a staging area for emergency gear and things we planned on taking with us should we be evacuated. If nothing else, this proved to be a good learning experience as I couldn't find my birth certificate and some other important items. We will have an emergency checklist going forward.

Friday (12,816 steps) - None of us slept well, so it was a "good thing" that we all had the day off for New Years Eve. It was really a slap in the face that after the horrific fire the day before that we were buckling down for below freezing temperatures and a LOT of snow. Ariel and I managed to get out for a walk with Pika before the snow started. No real recollection of the evening, other than it snowed (A LOT), we stayed up playing some dance game with Ariel (that was a LOT of fun) and ACTUALLY MADE IT UNTIL MIDNIGHT. Who are we??

Looks like a pint of snow...

Saturday (15,203 steps) - We originally had plans to do a 20.22 mile run (like last year). However, with the shift in weather and well-below freezing temperatures, we made a judgment call to skip the long run and reschedule(ish) for Sunday. We did not sleep in since apparently we are incapable of doing that. By the time we took Pika out for her walk it was no longer snowing, but it was VERY cold. Maybe 12-14 degrees. Brrr.

Ben and I both decided that we would get out and do at least a short run, although we were doing separate things. In the past, the city does a great job of plowing the sidewalks, but I'd say there were probably still 50% that weren't done yet - which made for some deep snow sections - but at least it wasn't icy yet.

Even though it was still really cold, I was actually fine. The Zip & Zoom hoodie is literally the best running jacket I have ever owned. It will totally replace my puffy coat that I normally have used for my emergency jacket on long running events. 

Sunday (27,962 steps) - The group was a bit smaller due to the date change (and probably weather), but a group of us still headed out for what most of us would modify to a 12.22 (for 1.2.22) run. 

Maureen and I were the only ones that brought spikes, and we were both pretty happy that we had. After the first mile or so of slipping and sliding we figured it was a good idea to put them on before we would start any of the descents. 

At least it was sunny, and much warmer than the day before. 

I had to put my jacket in my pack by the time we were about 7 miles in because I was getting way too hot. 

Astrophysics in one of the tunnels?

I was really not feeling good this whole run. I seem to go through phases where I feel "better," but this run didn't feel that way at all. I felt very sluggish and fatigued, although I am sure that I can blame some of that on conditions. Once we finished our big loop we did a short out and back into the park to hit our distance goal. We met up with almost everyone at New Terrain after.

Monday (10,211 steps)  - Work from home. We took Pika for a walk at lunch and then I had a Peloton ride to do when I got off work. Nothing else?

Stats:

• 110,465 steps
• 24.82 miles run
• 105 minutes of cardio
• 25 minutes of strength training

Week in Review (December 14 - December 20)

Tuesday (9,323 steps) - 45 minute Peloton ride before working in the office. In addition to a gift card, work gave us snazzy fleece vests. It's really warm, but I'd have preferred a jacket since I'm always freezing.

Went for a walk at lunch. After work I rushed to get A from practice, take her home so she could grab a snack and change clothes for her orchestra holiday concert. This one included the band also, so it was an hour and a half long. They sounded really good!

Wednesday (5,953 steps) - Rest day! I had switched my in office days because I had a client meeting scheduled for Thursday. It ended up working out nicely that I was at home since we had a crazy windstorm that lasted most of the day - it would NOT have been fun to be out in that. I took the below video of our neighbor's trampoline!

Even Pika didn't want to be out, we just did the neighborhood loop for her walk.

Thursday (17,450 steps) - Work in the office. I had an hour long run to do, so I figured I would go at lunch since the weather was nice. This was a pretty sucky run. I had posed the question as to why my heart rate has been so high even during easy runs, and a friend suggested it could be caused by the vaccines/booster. Hmmm. Either way, this was not the most fun I've had, but it was an unseasonably nice day.

Friday (11,291 steps) - Wash Park and coffee with the gang before work in the office

Last day of covering for Nicole - her desk is so insane!

Saturday (26,534 steps) - I had to get up early(ish) to get my long run done. I was a bit apprehensive for this one as the forecast was MUCH colder than anything I have run in for a long time. I left the house just after 7:30 and it was only 14 degrees, which was a lot colder than it was supposed to be. I had mapped out a bit of a different route to get my 10-12 miler in. I actually managed to pick the PERFECT outfit - Rabbit beanie, INKnBURN fleece with the Rabbit Zip & Zoom hoodie, Smartwool neck gaiter, my trusty New Balance fleece tights and Smartwool gloves. I had actually packed my Oiselle mittens as well, but the gloves actually were fine. The only issue I had with my wardrove was my sunglasses! They kept fogging up and icing over because it was so cold. I eventually had to give up on them - which was annoying because even though it was freezing (substantially colder than freezing), it was SUNNY. 

Will run for cow pictures!

Saw a herd of deer that was not shy at all

A few miles in (less than two I think), I tried to get some water - and the straws for my bottles were frozen! I don't think I have ever had that happen on my bottles. Crazy. I was once again trying to run easy and keep my heartrate down. Unfortunately, it still seems like I am working way too hard for my pace. Bah. The areas in the shade were a bit chilly, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I had built it up to be. The only section that I really noticed any damage from the windstorm was on Doudy Draw - a few trees that I know used to be upright...

I never tire of this view!

The perfect outfit!

I was getting a little discouraged at how "off" I was feeling, but luckily, when I started descending Spring Brook I felt better - obviously because it was downhill, but still. I struggle with this trail in the summer because it is so hot and exposed, but it's quite lovely in the winter. Because it was so cold, the trails were also relatively deserted, which was a big bonus.

Yay! More cows!

Second time I've had frozen hair this season

Rushed home so I could shower. Ben and I decided to go back to the same Mexican food restaurant before going to get the rest of my tattoo finished! I am really pleased with how this turned out - especially Transylvania - the bat looks AWESOME.

We stopped at a few new breweries on the way home - Novel Strand (which I didn't really care for) and Trve - which I LOVED. I had no idea it was a "heavy metal" themed brewery. Dark and spooky and just my style, haha. The most interesting part of the breweries was they both required proof of vaccination to enter - which was a first for us.

Picked up Marco's pizza for dinner and then Ben and I watched "Old" - which was a lot different than I imagined it would be.

Sunday (6,982 steps) - Slept in. Well not really, because my insomnia is definitely back. Sad. I was glad to have another day off. Lounged around and didn't do much all morning. Ariel and I took Pika for a walk.

We wanted to join the Jackalopes for the Ugly Sweater run, but neither Ben nor I was running today. So we just met them for beer. First one at O'Dells, then over to Joyride. We also got some food at Joyride since we were all starving. Fun afternoon!

Monday (10,167 steps) - Work from home. Had a dentist appointment, then took Pika for a walk. Seriously cannot believe this is December.

Checked my email when I logged back in and found out I am not an ambassador for Squirrel's Nut Butter! I love this stuff and have been using it for many years now.

Stats:

• 87,700 steps
• 16.22 miles run
• 45 minutes of cardio
• 0 minutes of strength