Springtime in the Rockies
Posted on 05/08/09 11:17 AM| by Kraig
It’s pretty funny how as I get older I come to appreciate routine and consistency. For a mulit-sport racer I guess I’m pretty lame for shunning adventure and excitement but honestly the last couple of weeks have brought me to realize how much I really crave my “same old” routine. With work, a housing remodel, races, and some typically unpredictable weather the last couple of months, I haven’t felt like I have been able to put in the solid training necessary to be at my best. Thankfully, this past week was an exception and I made it over the hump on a few different levels. The weather here in the high country has finally made the turn: no more skiing one day, biking the next and then back to skiing. I know this sounds fun, but it sure makes a mess of the gear room! Work is easing a bit, and I can finally sit in my living room and live instead of fret over the lack of walls, ceiling, floor, insulation, and paint!
So here is my old standby week. I think I would be happy if I could do this 48 weeks a year with a couple of weeks off for PQ and a couple off for beer drinking and couch time afterward! It’s not thrilling, but man is it comforting!
Saturday: I woke up to a some low clouds and a little drizzle coming down… perfect morning for a 45 minute run behind Western State College. It ended up being a 90 minute run since I was enjoying the weather so much!
Sunday: feeling a little sore so I stuck to the plan this time and did 45 minutes behind the school again. There are a number of loops that circle around through the hills and sage at Western and it gives you the opportunity to make it as easy or difficult as you want. I went with easy and just ran the contour out and back. Hartman’s Rocks opened up about 3 weeks ago and I have been jonesing to get out there on my new bike so after some lunch I got out before the wind picked up and did about an hour and a half pretty easy. The trails are in amazing shape for this time of year, and it wasn’t easy to turn around and come home!
Monday: quickie 45 minute run on the contour before work.
Tuesday: out to Hartman’s for 2 hours of the most technical riding I could find. The hills aren’t very long like up the road in Crested Butte but they are pretty steep. I like to play a little game and charge all of the hills as hard as I can then just cruise easy in between – great variable length intervals.
Wednesday: oh man, feeling the lack of consistent training… no motivation and sore as hell! DAY OFF!
Thursday: quickie on the contour before work – 45 min. I can’t think of a better way to start the day!!! After work I headed out to Hartman’s for 1.5 hours and felt pretty flat. Toward the end I punched it a bit and felt awful.
Friday: another gorgeous morning and I’m running the contour. After work I hit Hartman’s for the 4th time this week (I’ve lived in the Gunnison Valley for 18 years and have been riding Hartman’s nearly every one of those years – it never gets old!!!). Rode 2 hours easy but hit the techy stuff as much as possible.
Saturday: as much as I wanted to get out and do a big 6 hour day (the weather was perfect) I opted for a 1.5 hour run behind the school with some hill and then buckled down to some house work.
Sunday: Woke up pretty tired and figured I put in a solid week so I just rested and did some more house work. I considered throwing the boat on the car and heading out for the first paddle of the season but thought better of it- beer and some NBA playoffs seemed much more appealing!
Next up for me is a 12 hour race at Mesa Verde that I’ll be doing with a buddy Travis Scheefer. I haven’t ridden the trails before but from the description it sounds like great riding. I won’t be racing for the win but just trying to put in some longer high end miles while enjoying some fresh scenery!
Only 100 more days left!!!!
-Jon Brown
