9/24 - 9/30

Mon: Off

Tue: Off

Wed: 10 mi (1:34, 2,000') Mesa Trial to Shadow Canyon junction
After a couple days of rain, including today, the trails were refreshingly cool and wet. Since I started at 5:30 pm without a headlight, I didn't have much remaining daylight, so I ran pretty quick compared to my usual effort on the Mesa. I arrived back at Chautauqua Park in the dark, but could still make out the trail pretty well.

Thu: 10 mi (1:30) Bobolink from work
Another evening run. A little sore from the previous night, but warmed up about thirty minutes in and felt good the rest of the way. Beautiful evening.

Fri: 6 mi (1:06, 1,300') Mesa Trail to top of Bear Canyon
Pretty tired on this morning run. Ended up topping out at Bear Canyon and hung out on the rock overlook for a few minutes.

Sat: 4.4 mi (1:02, 2,400') Green Mtn
Tried to get a PR on the ascent, pushing hard up Amphitheater, hitting the top with a PR 7:50. Then hit the SR/Greenman junction in a PR of 23:40. Then the wheels fell off and I slogged the rest of the way up, tagging the summit in 41:26. Oh well. Had a speedy descent though, :21.

Sun: 10 mi (2:02, 2,000') Mesa Trail to Shadow Canyon
Really slow, mellow run. Pretty warm morning. Cruised up the Shadow Canyon connector for a bit before turning back. This little meadow is pretty choice, affording nice views of Devil's Thumb and smooth singletrack; not a soul in sight.

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Totals:
Miles: 40
Vert: 7,700'
Time: 7:15

The last two weeks of tapering have gone well and I think I'm ready for this year's Blue Sky Marathon. This will be the first time I've run a race more than once, so I'm excited to see if I can improve on my performance from last year. We shall see.

The last month has been a well-balanced mix of running each week with one or two mountain summits,  a couple dead-flat runs, and some long runs with short rolling climbs. Also mixing up the shoes has added a bit more variety, which I believe has helped in muscle recovery and reducing the chances of over-use injuries. The shoes: Montrail Bajadas for long runs; New Balance MT110's (previously, my go-to shoe for every run) for technical mountain runs and flat runs; Pearl Izumi Peak 2's for super rocky, talus-literred runs; Adidas Mana 5's for everything else.

As for the rest of the year, I'm hoping to get back into running Green and Bear much more than I have in the last few months. And I'll likely shoot for 200+ miles each month of the last quarter to maintain a base in preparation for the San Juan Solstice 50 in June.

9/17 - 9/23

Mon: 10 mi (1:35) Bobolink - Mellow spin from work.

Tue: 9 mi (1:19) Twin Lakes & White Rocks - Another flat one from home.

Wed: 3.1 mi (:50, 1,300') Mt Sanitas - First time going up this mountain in the dark. Smooth effort to the top.

Thu: 4.4 mi (1:11, 2,400') Green Mtn - No motivation for speed, tagging the summit in 42 mins.

Fri: 8.3 mi (1:38, 2,600') Amphitheater/Saddle Rock/Chautauqua/Enchanted Mesa/Mesa Trail to Skunk Canyon - Sort of a rushed effort after work to go up Green Mtn, but upon reaching the Greenman junction, my motivation waned and I headed back down to Chat and hit Mesa for a little bit.

Sat: Off

Sun: 13.4 mi (2:30, 3,250') Mesa Trail - Mellow morning run.

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Totals:
Miles: 48
Vert: 9,500'
Time: 9:03

9/10 - 9/16

Mon: 10 mi (1:27) Bobolink - PM run afterwork. Really easy pace.
Tue: Off
Wed: 10 mi (1:19) Bobolink - Quick tempo run after work. Fun to get the legs spinning a bit faster.
Thu: 4.5 mi (1:15, 2,000') Mt Sanitas & Anemone - Took Sanitas slow (summit :25)
Fri: 10.4 mi (1:41, 2,000') Mesa Trail to Shadow Canyon - Mellow going out, quicker coming back
Sat: Off
Sun: 19.4 mi (4:06, 4,700') Flagstaff Mtn/Green Mtn/Mesa Trail - Ugh, bonked pretty hard on the Mesa after tagging the peaks. Should have taken in some more calories the day prior I guess. Oops.
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Totals:
Miles: 54.3
Vertical: 8,700'
Time: 9:50

9/3 - 9/9

Mon: 7 mi (1:09) Bobolink
Tue: 7 mi (1:07, 1,300') Mesa
Wed: 5 mi (1:31, 2,600') Green Mtn - Summit PR, :39:59
Thu: 9 mi (1:35, 1,800') Mesa
Fri: Off
Sat: 7 mi (1:42, 2,700') Green Mtn
Sun: 16 mi (3:03, 3,450') Mesa/Doudy/Springbrook

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Totals:
Miles: 51
Vert: 11,912'
Time: 10:08

8/27 - 9/2

Following the race last Saturday, this week felt like an easy transition back into the rhythm of training. I remember the last time I followed up a race with an overzealous attitude. I kept the effort pretty mellow for the whole week with mild vertical and slow paces. My legs were pretty tight early in the week, but eventually came back around with enough stretching and easy running. I'm now ready to start tallying some more miles over the next few weeks in preparation for the Blue Sky Marathon up in Fort Collins next month.

Mon: 4.1 mi (:37) Twin Lakes
Tue: 4.1 mi (:38) Twin Lakes
Wed: 4.1 mi (:34) Twin Lakes
Thu: 8 mi (1:23, 1,900') Mesa Trail
Fri: 10 mi (1:53, 2,000') Mesa Trail
Sun: 8 mi (1:59, 2,700') Green Mtn, Mesa Trail

Totals:
Miles: 38
Vert: 6,600'
Time: 7:05