Moving to Leadville!

Hello to all. I realize it was a little lame to say I’m back to blogging and then not have the slightest update forever. Part of the problem was I could not edit my blog at home and part of the problem was I was busy applying to jobs across Colorado. The job application process was physically draining and mentally tiresome as I sent out over application after application every week. Low and behold I accepted my dream job teaching high school social studies in Leadville.

This is a great opportunity. I’ll be living and training at over 10,000 feet and teaching students about what I am passionate about: History.

With the application process came added stress and less training. I’m in good shape but not nearly in ultra-shape. I did run a 10k in Leadville this last week and had great success with it. I broke the course record by a little over 30 seconds and averaged 5:41 on my way to a first place finish in 35:23. Results are here: http://my2.raceresult.com/details/results.php?lang=en&page=6&eventid=18609&contest=1&name=Result%20Lists%7COverall%20Results&format=view

The course starts and finishes right where the Leadville 100 starts and finishes and mimics the first and last 3 miles of the course. There is about 1.5 miles of pavement and 4.7 of dirt along with a complimentary 300 feet of gain and lost. I went out fast just trying to maintain a lung burning pace. It worked as I finally got my first win of the year.

Now it is time to hunker down, explore Leadville, and have a blast teaching!

I'm back to blogging!

I’m back to blogging. I had to take an extended reprieve from it simply for time issues. I spent the last 2 years busy earning my teaching license and my Masters of Education. When I was not working my full time job I was busy with school, or running, or living life. There were of course plenty of interesting blogable adventures, stories, and races to share but the time eluded me.

This spring Lynnette, my wife and girlfriend, gave birth to our little Katrina. She is now 3 months old:

I have high hopes for this coming season with races already stacking up. Next week I’ll be running the Black Canyon Ascent http://sanjuanmountainrunners.org/?page_id=173 – a 6 mile uphill run that gains about 2000 feet. The Course Record is right at 40 minutes even. I hope to run fast. In preparation for some of my races this year I’ve been doing repeat miles. Up until last week I was doing the miles on the treadmill. I’ll run 3, 4, or 5x1 mile. My breaks between miles have remained constant at 7.5 mph for 2 minutes which translates into a ¼ mile break at 8 minute pace. January and February miles were a about 5:20 pace. Finally by March I was running low 5 minute mile. Then in April I did a lifelong dream: I ran my first sub 5 minute mile on a treadmill: 4:58.

In the last few weeks I’ve also picked up 2 knew sponsors in addition to SportHill. http://www.sporthill.com/ . They are V Fuel http://vfuel.com/ and Barlean’s Organic Oils http://www.barleans.com/. V Fuel makes great energy gels that are easy to digest. Also they are one of the few gels around that also has fat to help with the fuel absorption into the body. Check out Barlean’s website. They have flax seed, chia seed, coconut oil, other needed oils, greens, etc. I’ve been using their products for the last few weeks for recovery and nutrition. Even their fish oil which is all natural without sugar tastes great… For those of you who are worried that the fish oil might taste fishy… it does not. Great product check it out.

Stay tuned for updates.