The countdown continues until USAT Age Group National Championships in Milwaukee and while the training is ramping up in intensity and specificity for shorter races it doesn't mean you can't throw some fun days into the mix. This past week I hit the bike for an extended day in the saddle, Jess and I got some beach time, and new trails were explored.
With sport, you have to love the process, otherwise motivation will come and go and so will improvements. I told myself day 1 that I wouldn't stop the little things I love even when I decided to commit my focus to road triathlon.
This past week I joined my buddy, Marcus, for his Ironman Boulder training ride including a backloaded 2,500 feet of climbing from miles 40 through 70. We took the eastern Colorado Springs roads where the only cars seen are the ranchers trucks and you pray it's not a windy day. I found I need more practice shooting with the GoPro on the bike as this was the only real quality shot I managed. This next week I'll promise to do better as I've seen impressive shots on Instagram from other riders.
With sport, you have to love the process, otherwise motivation will come and go and so will improvements. I told myself day 1 that I wouldn't stop the little things I love even when I decided to commit my focus to road triathlon.
This past week I joined my buddy, Marcus, for his Ironman Boulder training ride including a backloaded 2,500 feet of climbing from miles 40 through 70. We took the eastern Colorado Springs roads where the only cars seen are the ranchers trucks and you pray it's not a windy day. I found I need more practice shooting with the GoPro on the bike as this was the only real quality shot I managed. This next week I'll promise to do better as I've seen impressive shots on Instagram from other riders.
Growing up on the east coast, one of the things we constantly discuss missing is the beach. So, Jess and I spent some time on the beach in Boulder at the Reservoir. Who said you can't spend some time shoreside on the sand in landlocked Colorado? The surprising part is how wicked hot it can get when you don't have an ocean breeze at the beach. We are pretty sure our Colorado beach dates hit the heat index harder than our previous home in Virginia. Colorado Springs doesn't have the beaches like Boulder but they are well worth the drive north for the variety.
This summer we have taken on seeing a bunch of new places, whether by bike or foot, and trail running is fantastic cross training for the legs and the brain. When the snow finally melts by the end of June the high elevation running and hiking goes a lot faster and requires less equipment, which is a runner's dream on technical terrain as safety becomes less of an issue. I like trails all year long and I'm not sure when the scars on my back from Crags Trail will go away, but at least in the summer we don't have to worry about the hidden ice!
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