Spreading Christmas Cheer

I decorated the commuter bike with some lights for the holiday season. I think I actually have some cold weather gear figured out for my commute, I was too hot on the way home with temperatures in the 40's.

More from the Snow Front

A quick weekend recap:

I went for a ride up Mt. Falcon on Saturday. I love this ride and it usually takes 30-44 minutes for the main climb (about 3 miles and 2000' of elevation) during the summer depending on how much I want it to hurt. This day with the Pugsley and some pretty difficult conditions it took me 90 minutes and was quite the butt kicker.Going up Castle Trail, the snow in the sun was nice

In the rock garden near the top. I know, what rock garden?

I'm finally in a picture with the Pugs on a trail!...sort of.

Sunday I went for a run with Jenny. Earlier in the week she said "Hey do you want to run my 20-miler with me?" and for some reason I thought it was a good idea. We ran on the Big Dry Creek trail and the first 5 miles had some pretty treacherous conditions. John was on the Pugsley in support mode and was having a hard time keeping up with us it was so bad. Needless to say, when we got to the 10 mile turn around I felt like I had already run 17 or 18 miles. So on the way back we took inventory and realized that both of us had sore knees, ankles, hips and I also had a sore right shoulder (what!?) so we called Andie and had her meet us at a bail out point. We still got in 16.5 miles and that took us as long as the 20 should have and left us a little more beat up. The pizza following the cold snowy pummeling was so incredibly delicious.
I wish I had taken pictures as we were quite the odd bunch with Jenny and I out running 20 miles in the snow and John on the snow tank.

Miles is Brilliant

Miles, my cat, wanted to help me and Andie with our Christmas wrapping activities and this gem was created.

Just Puggin' Away

Last night I went for my first real ride on the Pugsley, tons of fun. I rode up Waterton Canyon to the dam and back, ~13 miles, 20 °F. The main road was pretty packed down, but I made sure to try out some of the deeper stuff on some little side jaunts. I was the only one out there around sunset and finished after dark. 15 psi in both tires worked good for the conditions, but I think I would try the 10-12 range for a climb in similar snow.

Those Endomorphs certainly have a bigger footprint than me.

At the intermediate dam 3 miles up.

I guess I should have drank just a little more on the ride.

Paralyzed by Choices

Per my usual, I am paralyzed by choices. I always do this. I need something, so I research the crap out of it and I'm usually paralyzed by the fact that I have many choices and different compromises with each.

The latest is an "insignificant" mini pump for the Pugsley. I know I want something other than I already have, the requirements are to not be a rigid connection to the pump and high volume (I don't want to be pumping those massive tires for 30 minutes).

The candidates:
Canondale Airspeed Maximum
Axiom Enforce Air XL
GT Mini Typhoon 1800 Deluxe
Cyclaire (the most intriguing design of the bunch)
Lezyne Alloy Drive XL
Serfas Grifter
Serfas 2n1
Planet Bike Mini Versair
Topeak Mountain Morph

I will continue to spend too much time researching a $25 accessory and finally breakdown and get something, though I might just get the GT pump to try right off the bat as it is only $10 at Pricepoint right now.

2008 is going to be good!

So here's a look at possible events for me next year. Several things aren't on there yet, like Primal Quest, Winter Park MTB Series, Mountain States Cup MTB Series, BC Vert. Challenge, Vail Trail Running Series. These are all just possibilities though.

16-Feb			24 Hours in the Old Pueblo
15-Mar			America's Uphill
29-Mar			Rim Ride
5-Apr			Moab 12 hour AR
18-Apr			AZT 300
19-Apr			Grizzly Man Sprint AR
2-May			18 Hours of Fruita
10-May			Buena Vista 12 Hour AR
17-May			USARA Sprint Nationals - Boulder, CO
4-Jun to 8-Jun			Teva Mountain Games
14-Jun			Durango 24 Hour AR
4-Jul			Firecracker 50
19-Jul			Breck 100
19-Jul			Silver Rush 50
26-Jul			Laramie Enduro (date tentative)
9-Aug			Leadville 100 MTB
16-Aug			24 Hours in the Sage
16-Aug to 17-Aug			LT100 Run (probably just volunteering)
6-Sep			Vail 12 hour AR
6-Sep			Imogene Pass Run
25-Sep to 28-Sep			Moab Expedition AR
11-Oct			24 Hours of Moab

Spinervals Virgin No More.

So last night I set up the new (to me) trainer and did a quick Spinervals workout.

It was just a short 30 minute technique workout, but it was nice with me still needing another day to recover from the Vegas Half.

It was a quality workout and I'm glad I've got a variety of them.

Las Vegas Half Marathon Race Report

Vegas Baby! (is there any other way to open this post?)

Andie and I flew to Vegas for the Marathon and Half Marathon this last weekend. I was running the half, she was running the full. That'll be the last time that happens, you wouldn't believe the amount of crap I got for it.

I wasn't expecting much since this was a B race for me and I was only running twice a week in training. I figured about a 1:40. My time, 1:40:06, hows that for guessing. I was 272nd out of 8172 finishers.

Andie ran the full in 3:53 and change, her fist time under 4 and only 13 minutes from boston qualifying.

Andie has now bested my best time from Vegas 2 years ago by 5 minutes, I guess I need to do another full and set a new PR.