Day #37 - A routine 6 with a little help from technology . . . .

I am still dealing with minor hamstring and thigh muscle issues so a little modern technolgy has come to the rescue.  Based on the recommendation of a few experienced runners I bought a pair of compression shorts and pants.  These are not the Under Armour or Nike shorts and pants you are accustomed too.  This gear is built specifically to assist with leg issues - strained hamstrings, pulled thigh muscle, injured calfs, etc.  The technology is interesting and can really assist the serious runner in many ways.  Take a look at the following website . . . http://cw-x.com/ExploreProducts.aspx?product=tights&by=activity&gender=mens.





Suggested marathon training playlist song - 'Move Along' by The All American Rejects.

Day #37 - 6 Miles, 8.50 Pace.

Day #36 - A routine 6 . . . .

I completed a routine 6 miles tonight.  The challenge for me is to run six miles at a pace set by Phillip Buckley and not run at a faster pace. Six miles at a 9.00 pace is a very relaxing run. It does not feel like I have really worked out unless my heart rate is near its maximum training level.  I know that a maximum heart rate does not need to be reached to have a 'successful' workout - but it does feel like it.  So . . . I ran the last mile at a 6.40 pace.  Don't tell Phillip.  :)

Suggested marathon training playlist song - 'Live and Let Die' by Paul McCartney and Wings.

Day #36 - 6 Miles, 9.00 Pace. 

Day #35 - A rough Sunday and two hours of sleep . . . .

Monday is going to be my rest day this week.  To make a long story short, running was not in the cards for today.  Kelly is leaving town to visit her sister in the morning and spending time together was important. 

I was wondering why the back of my leg was so sore today.  I didn't think I pulled my hamstring again when I skied and snowshoed this weekend.  Then Chris reminded me - while hiking down the mountain I fell into the sharp end of a 6-inch wide tree branch and broke it off with the bag of my leg.  Mystery solved.

On a different subject.  The new North Face jackets Chris, Trevor and I ordered were delivered today.  A Mountain Guide jacket and Catalyst jacket for each of us.  The jackets are for hard-core cold weather hiking.  As a friend of mine who works with North Face told us, "If you get cold with these jackets on, you better head the other direction."

 Mountain Guide

Catalyst

I will be running 6 miles tomorrow.

Day #34 - Sabbath day is a rest day.

Day #33 - It felt like I was on a Stairmaster with 25 pound weights on each leg . . . .

My legs were still feeling the effects of my first ski day of the year as I woke up Saturday morning.  It would have been easy to take the day off.  But no, not us.  Chris, Trevor and I decided to climb the mountain behind the condo. We put our hiking gear on, strapped on our snowshoes and headed up the mountain. We quickly were climbing at an incline that had to be close to 90 degrees - with snow as deep as three feet. The snow became so deep and the ascent angle so severe we had to change course more than once. We were working so hard we started to layer-down immediately.  Off went the hats, zipper vents were opened, Trevor took off his coat - Chris was smart enough not to wear many layers to begin with. We were soaked with sweat 30 minutes into the hike. We traded off breaking trail and leading the group. We had a blast coming down the hill - running down the mountain in snowshoes, jumping off small cliffs into the snow, trying to avoid the 'head meeting tree' syndrome, etc.

Again, no easy snowshoe trip enjoying the beautiful Colorado mountains for us.  Actually, we did enjoy the beautiful surroundings - while testing the bursting point of our heart and lungs.  :)

Here is a good link related to 'layering' and winter hiking . . . 

http://www.hudsontrail.com/brochure.php?brochureid=5

Day #33 - Aggressive Snowshoe Hike, 3.5 Hours, Vail Colorado.

Day #32 - My first ski day of the year . . . .

The colorado mountains have had a ton of early season snow and we took advantage of it today.  Kelly felt under the weather so she watched Liza and the rest of us hit the slopes.  No crowds - we actually skied directly onto the chairlift all day.

The snow was good and we really, really skied hard.  At the end of each run we were all catching our breath.  I love that feeling. You need the chairlift ride to recover. By the time I finished my 15th run and skied to meet Kelly, I was fatigued to say the least.

My knees will not allow me to ski the bumps so I have become a huge fan of long, very steep and aggressive runs.  Some people would say too big a fan.  Chris and I broke 80 MPH last year - not so sure trying to beat that time is a good idea.  Starfire at Keystone is my all-time favorite. Want a good story, ask Clay Shubin about Starfire and speed. 

We were fortunate that Trevor's grandparents let us use their condo in Vail.  After a few hours of relaxation we had a nice dinner in Vail Village.

Day #32 - Downhill Skiing, 5 Hours, 15 Runs.

Day #31 - A rest day . . . .

A few issues got in the way of my run today.  Not to worry, I am going to ski on Friday and snowshoe on Saturday.  There seems to be no 'easy' workouts for me and my family.  We seem to go as hard as we can all the time.  If we don't drive ourselves to the point of exhaustion we seem to be disappointed in our effort.  I know, I know - this is not necessarily always a good thing.