Boston

So the Boston trip…

It was a perfect day: 50-60 degrees during the race with a northerly wind. I felt really good. I was ready. I went out and ran the first half in a perfect 1:13:39. This was perfect, I was not pushing the pace, just sitting in a pack running along. I was probably about 100th place… right where I wanted to be. I figured I’d come back in a 1:14 or 1:15. This would be perfect because Boston’s 1st half is entirely downhill. Therefore, clocking a similar yet slightly slower 2nd half is the equivalent to negative splitting there. I went through the half figuring I’d run 1:27 maybe 1:30 if I slowed down by a lot. I felt confident clicking off 5:30 miles: click, click, click… and then my calves tightened up entirely. I felt awesome, I was not straining, my breathing was controlled, by body felt great, except for my calves they were too tight to run. I knew the race was over for all practical purposes so I just settled into a shuffle and finished the race in 2:56, yes it was a slow shuffle. Might not have been the most pretty marathon but I finished it. Lesson learned: when running downhill on asphalt, even at an easy pace, if my legs aren’t ready for such pounding I can forget it.

Oh well, it was an excellent first half.

Ode to Signal Peak

It has been a busy last month. The mid march marathon in Salida feels like 3 months ago. Two weekends ago I went down to the Springs to help out at the Boulder Running Store there in Colorado Springs.
It was great hanging out, talking to people about different training techniques, diet, race schedules, etc.
Cody Hill and his wife Lori are the managers there. They also went to Western State and are great people. Their team there is awesome. I’ve always shopped for shoes there over the years (sometimes buying as many as 4 or 5 pairs at a time, no joke) and they have always helped me find the best shoes. If you need some shoes, check out the Boulder Running Company. http://www.brccoloradosprings.com/

In addition to being excessively busy I’ve decided to drastically modify my race schedule for the next year. I dropped some races and kept others, while picking up new ones. As of now my main focus will be the US National Mountain Running Champs in New Hampster, Oh wait, I mean New Hampshire, in June. Then I’ll be running Pikes Peak in August. No 100 mile races scheduled for the year… That was the biggest change.

I’ve been preparing for the Boston Marathon; it is next week. The last few weeks have been stellar for training in Gunnison. The mud has dried up and the trails are beautiful. I’ve been running up Signal Peak quite a bit. Duncan http://www.duncancallahanrunning.com/ and Ryan http://www.ryanwburch.blogspot.com/ both have recorded 25 summits this year. I’m only at a mere 10.

A week ago I ran to the top with Duncan. It was a perfect day where we seemingly summited without any thought to work. It was pure joy, the mountains were buried in snow and we thought about how perfect God’s creation is. We commented on Signal Peak and how it is always so fun to run up it. Like always when I run with Duncan we entertained ourselves and came up with a song, an ode if you will to the tune of “O Tannenbaum,” which has been very much expanded here:

Oh Signal peak, oh Signal Peak
Oh how I love my Signal Peak

Oh Signal peak, oh Signal Peak
You are not a heap
Oh my signal Peak

Oh Signal peak, oh Signal Peak
Oh how I love my Signal Peak
Upon first ascent a rock you must take
Keep said rock or throw in a lake

Oh Signal peak, oh Signal Peak
Oh how I love my Signal Peak
From the top of your Knoll
Your views are so delightful
Oh how I love my Signal Peak

Oh Signal peak, oh Signal Peak
Oh how I love my Signal Peak
From miles around I can see
From the top I look with glee

Oh Signal peak, oh Signal Peak
Miles on you I log
Cody ran to the top, He’s my dog
Oh how I love my Signal Peak

Ever so grand is your view
Ever so soft, with a light hue
Swift are your trials
Dogs way their tails

Oh Signal peak, oh Signal Peak
Oh how I love my Signal Peak
You rise above the valley small
You summon me with a call

Oh Signal peak, oh Signal Peak
Oh how I love my Signal Peak
The views so beautiful
You are there when I need to mull

Oh Signal peak, oh Signal Peak
Oh how I love my Signal Peak
Your trails are so swift
My thoughts low, you lift

Oh Signal peak, oh Signal Peak
Oh how I love my Signal Peak
While buried in mud and snow
Present you are wrapped with a bow

Oh Signal peak, oh Signal Peak
Oh how I love my Signal Peak
Your views are so grand
The grandest in all the land

Grand are your views
Ever so soft, with a light hue
Swift are your trials
Dogs way their tails

Oh Signal peak, oh Signal Peak
Oh how I love my Signal Peak
You have many a rhyming line
But for more, must wait for right time

Oh Signal peak, oh Signal Peak
Oh how I love my Signal Peak

God made thee Signal Peak
Made thee by God in comparison a heap
All honor and Glory to Him
My song is but a lame whim

On the gift from God of Joy
Love of Signal Peak would be a ploy
Love of Christ, joy in surrounding
Honor to Him Love resounding