Today's Run - Thursday, 2/7

With it being minus 3 degrees when I woke up this morning, I hopped on the treadmill for my run. I have a rule against running outside when there is a fatal factor involved, such as this morning with below zero temps combined with ice. Ran 7.1 miles in 57 and change. Felt good. Last mile in 6:58--hardly worked for it. All good.

Today's Run - Wednesday, 2/6

Managed to get in 8 miles in about 62 minutes this morning. Really jazzed to get in 8--my old standard for weekday morning runs. Did 4 intervals of a 1/2 mile each at about 3 minutes per. Sprinkled in 2 minute recoveries. While I was definitely on the slow side, I felt strong. I do think the dark and the ice slowed me down a bit.

A few days ago, I decided to double my daily consumption of branched chain amino acids. I first started on aminos a few years ago when I learned they were a key part of Paul Terranova's recovery between races during his very successful Grand Slam. Anyway, I'm now taking four capsules daily and I think it's making a difference as I'm noticing better recovery between runs. Only time will tell if this is the real deal.

Today's Run - Tuesday, 2/5 - Colorado Trail Adventure in the Works

6.6 miles in 55 and change this morning. My legs felt responsive--maybe the day off helped? I was tempted to get after it but will save that for tomorrow. The air was moist and had a bite to it. We have snow rolling in tomorrow.

I have been talking for years about a Colorado Trail adventure and I think I'm getting close to doing it. This would not be a run but rather a hike with a big pack and backcountry camping.

Recognizing that I don't have a month to take off from work and do the whole 486-mile trail in one go (I could only wish), I think I could do it in 4-5 big chunks over a period of a few years, starting with the first 120ish miles from Waterton Canyon to Copper Mountain, which follows some incredibly beautiful trail. I think I could do that stretch in 3.5-4 days, preferably in late June (might encounter some snow but all good).

Such a hike would be incredible training if I pull the trigger on a 100-miler this summer or fall.

More to come but it feels like this is becoming real.

Day Off - Monday, 2/4 - Mountain Lion Attack

After an 80something-day running streak, I took the day off on Monday. Kind of regretted it but more because I knew I was breaking the streak. Then again, why obsess over a streak?

Very glad this runner is OK. About five or six years ago, I happened upon a mountain lion on the Barr Trail going down Pikes Peak. This was a little past Barr Camp. It ran off so fast that it took me a few seconds to process what I'd just seen. It moved like lightning and yet was VERY big. I was terrified and didn't know what to do except just stand there. I inched my way down the trail over the next several minutes and then began jogging, looking back incessantly. It was a truly terrifying encounter because I worried that the mountain lion was stalking me and would eventually pounce, which it never did. When you have encounters like that, you are reminded of your vulnerability in nature and of the importance of staying alert, and yet trail running is supposed to be a release.

Also once saw a bear up near Indian Creek Campground. Possible encounters with wildlife are chances you have to take as a trail runner in Colorado. At Bighorn a few years ago, I will admit that I was a bit nervous about grizzlies.

Anyway, I agree with Nick Clark (quoted in the article) that rattle snakes are far more terrifying. I have had a few lunge at me over the years. They are scary.

Today's Runs - Sunday, 2/3 - A Seesaw Day as Far as Motivation

Not sure what the deal was this morning but I hated every step of what was intended to be a 17-miler. I just wasn't into it and so I decided to pull the plug and ended with a paltry 10.7 miles, feeling sorry for myself. The fact that none of the trails are runnable right now (they're mosh pits from the snow melting) isn't helping.

Over brunch, I told my wife I just didn't know what happened during my run this morning and I also told her I have been struggling with a lack of motivation all winter. I'll feel motivated the night before to run but then when I wake up...not so much.

I am sure some work-related stress I've been carrying around hasn't helped. It's not "bad" stress per se. We just have some gigantic projects on the horizon and, oh yeah, we're a short-staffed in a few key areas and trying to get those open positions hired. Being in charge of it all, it's hard for me not to feel stressed and--dare I say--anxious at times. The fact is that I do deal with occasional bouts of anxiety but that is because I'm one of those people who feels highly accountable and is driven to achieve big results.

So this morning, after brunch, I felt content that I was in fact burned out and needed to take a few weeks off to recharge.

And then the afternoon came and the sun was out and I decided--what the hell--to go for another run. 6.7 miles and enjoyed--no, loved--every step of it.

So maybe this morning my problem was just that I was feeling off. Maybe it's screwing with me that in the morning it's dark as hell and cold as Siberia (not really). Maybe I'm suffering from seasonal effect disorder and just need more sun. The good news is that it's February and in Colorado in February the sun starts coming out big time.

So 17.4 mores on the day (not bad) and 60.2 miles on the week (not bad, either).

Still no races on the calendar this spring/summer/fall except North Fork 50K. I may upgrade to the 50-miler but we'll see.

Today's Run - Saturday, 2/2

I'm pretty sure the results of this study are highly questionable. Dog owners walk 21 miles a week? Nah--unless they live in Florida during the winter. I have lived in many places and it never fails: Come winter, very few people, including dog owners, venture outside. Then when the spring comes, everyone is outside and there are dogs everywhere. This study appears to have been self-reported. No way it's accurate. People are lazy during the winter, staying inside.

Got in two runs today:

AM: 8.5 miles on one of my favorite loops--the Tomahawk loop, featuring dirt roads and nice rolling hills. Felt good thanks to 9+ hours of very solid sleep the night before.

PM: 4.1 miles, with some of it on a local trail that was insanely muddy. Felt good. Weather was sensational--50s and sunny.

I am conducting an experiment and have doubled the amount of branched chain amino acids I'm taking to see if they give me a recovery boost.

Hope to hit 17+ tomorrow morning.

Today's Run - Friday, 2/1 - Western States Announces Transgender Entrant Policy

Woke up feeling better than the last few days and got in 6.5 miles in 57 and change. Now that it's February, there is hope for more sun in the mornings (and evenings). Looking out east, I can start to see it rising by 5:50am or so.

I am really starting to get the itch to run some trails but, alas, they are either snow- or ice-covered or insanely muddy. In a few weeks...…

***

The Western States Endurance Run has announced a new Transgender Entrant Policy. As expected, there are (disturbing) elements of the ultra world, which is supposed to be an inclusive community or so I thought, going bananas over the new policy. The comments on WSER's Facebook feed made me really sad. As with several things in life, I really question how many of the naysayers actually read the policy and thought about it--you know, using critical thinking skills--before rendering reactive judgment.

First, the numbers: According to what I could find, about .06% of the population identifies as transgender. That percentage is going up. If you carry that percentage into your average starting field for Western States (370 runners, give or take), we are talking about 2 runners who may identify as transgender and run in the gender division with which they identify.

The naysayers are mostly naysayers because they have a world view steeped in dogma and, as per usual, lack critical thinking skills. When they see something they don't agree with, they immediately get reactive and spout off their world view without really thinking through the issue, turning it over in their brains, and actually considering viewpoints other than their own.

Plus, do they pray over these issues? I do and what I hear from God is to be inclusive and welcoming of all who live in good faith. It is not my place to exclude; it is my place as a human to love, include and support others who are seeking to bring their best selves.

All that to say, the naysayers are a reactive bunch and what is being spewed on WSER's Facebook feed on this issue is just more of the same as far as what's going on in America.

In closing, it is a thoughtful policy. The essentials of the policy:

• "A male-to-female transgender entrant can register for the race as a female provided the runner has been undergoing continuous, medically supervised hormone treatment for gender transition for at least one year prior to the race."
• "A female-to-male transgender entrant can register and compete as a male with no restrictions. The only exception is female-to-male transgender runners can no longer register to compete as a female if they have begun hormone treatment related to their gender transition that includes testosterone or any other banned substance."

All in all, a very thoughtful policy.