Apparently, I'm on the two posts a year program, so I'll try to condense the last six months of training and whatnot to a piece that won't put you to sleep.
This year I finally found my focus and made fast foot travel in the mountains my first priority. Too often in the past I've let my attention run to whatever aspect of training was easiest and most convenient for me. Most of the time this was lifting or breathing hard in the gym. It's not that I found it more enjoyable, it's just that I was strongest where my attention had previously been placed, and running, although it was what I wanted to be good at, was just harder. I've put that behind me, and put in some real work in the mountains this year, along the way having way more fun than ever. The wild places are where I belong and I won't ever forget it. I've run tons of trails this year I've never seen before and followed some routes I've always wanted to. This has not come without a price though, and I am currently dealing with an overuse problem in my right knee. Moderation has never been a strength of mine.
Races haven't been as huge a priority, although there are two on the horizon. I competed as part of a four person team at the 24 Hours of Moab relay, and even though the field of competition was pretty thin, we took second. I'll take it. I did the Salt Lake Century bike ride. I didn't take part officially in the Wahsatch Steeplechase, but I ran the course a week before and managed a 4 minute PR on my own. I'll take that as well. I had very high hopes for the Speedgoat 50K, and although I think I can still set a PR, this knee problem is going to slow me a bit. After that, I'm registered for the Alpine to Slickrock 50 miler, but we'll just see how things unfold. I'm honestly more excited about adventures with my friends. Ridge runs here in the Wasatch and Uintas as well as the Grand Canyon are calling my name.
Dealing with this knee problem has had me thinking ahead to the winter and new goals. Snowshoeing will for sure be a part of my winter as well as starting training at the Front climbing gym again. I predict more climbing and mountaineering scrambles next year. I even got an ice axe. Gym based goals are in the works too. 3000 calories on the airdyne in 120 minutes sounds like fun.
I'll be riding my precious airdyne until the Speedgoat 50K, and probably after that for a couple weeks. Then, hopefully I'll be back in full swing. Enough of that, here's some pictures. Everyone likes pictures.
This year I finally found my focus and made fast foot travel in the mountains my first priority. Too often in the past I've let my attention run to whatever aspect of training was easiest and most convenient for me. Most of the time this was lifting or breathing hard in the gym. It's not that I found it more enjoyable, it's just that I was strongest where my attention had previously been placed, and running, although it was what I wanted to be good at, was just harder. I've put that behind me, and put in some real work in the mountains this year, along the way having way more fun than ever. The wild places are where I belong and I won't ever forget it. I've run tons of trails this year I've never seen before and followed some routes I've always wanted to. This has not come without a price though, and I am currently dealing with an overuse problem in my right knee. Moderation has never been a strength of mine.
Races haven't been as huge a priority, although there are two on the horizon. I competed as part of a four person team at the 24 Hours of Moab relay, and even though the field of competition was pretty thin, we took second. I'll take it. I did the Salt Lake Century bike ride. I didn't take part officially in the Wahsatch Steeplechase, but I ran the course a week before and managed a 4 minute PR on my own. I'll take that as well. I had very high hopes for the Speedgoat 50K, and although I think I can still set a PR, this knee problem is going to slow me a bit. After that, I'm registered for the Alpine to Slickrock 50 miler, but we'll just see how things unfold. I'm honestly more excited about adventures with my friends. Ridge runs here in the Wasatch and Uintas as well as the Grand Canyon are calling my name.
Dealing with this knee problem has had me thinking ahead to the winter and new goals. Snowshoeing will for sure be a part of my winter as well as starting training at the Front climbing gym again. I predict more climbing and mountaineering scrambles next year. I even got an ice axe. Gym based goals are in the works too. 3000 calories on the airdyne in 120 minutes sounds like fun.
I'll be riding my precious airdyne until the Speedgoat 50K, and probably after that for a couple weeks. Then, hopefully I'll be back in full swing. Enough of that, here's some pictures. Everyone likes pictures.
The band after the 24 Hours of Moab. I'm the tall one.
10 mile run in Unicoi State Park in North Georgia.
One of many foothill runs waiting for the high country to thaw.
Gobblers Knob with Mike and Rich.
Heading up the South Ridge of Superior.
Looking east from the west summit of Broads Fork Twin Peaks.
Murray and the goat on Wildcat Ridge.
The Pfiefferhorn from Maybird Lakes.
