12/31 - 1/6: Leadville 2013

12/31: Lookout Mountain: 1:09:32/1,800ft gained/summit # 48 - First run back in CO and it went better than I thought it would. I felt lightheaded when I got to the top of Lookout, something that normally doesn’t happen, but other than that it was like I never left altitude. The trail was in great shape. Deeper and really packed out snow made for some faster than usual downhill running.


1/1: Off

1/2: Lookout Mountain: 1:10:36/1,800ft gained/summit # 49 - Hit the top in about the same time as I did on Monday. Wasn’t able to run the downhill as fast because of some icy sections.

1/3: Lookout Mountain: 1:14:25/1,800ft gained/summit # 50 - One of those days where I would’ve loved to just stay in my warm bed. Really cold and windy morning. I didn’t sleep well so I was lacking energy but still managed to get the run in. Sometimes during low point in a race I will think about a bad training run rather than a good training run and it will help me get through the low point in that race.

1/4: Bergen Peak: 1:45:04/2,400ft gained/summit # 3 - What a turnaround compared to the day before. Maybe I had a little bit of I just signed up for Leadville adrenaline pumping through me. I hit the summit in 1:01:07. Once I realized how well I was running I was shooting for the summit in under an hour but once I hit 9,000 feet or so I just wasn’t able to maintain the pace I needed. Cruised the downhill and made it back to my car in time for a PR with over 3 minutes to spare.

1/5: Off

1/6: Off

As I mentioned before, I signed up for the Leadville 100. I never thought Leadville would be my first 100 attempt but then again I never thought I'd be living within a couple hour drive to Leadville either. Don't get me wrong, Leadville has a ton of history and prestige that I can't wait to take part in, but it also really makes sense for me to run the race as far as the practicality of it goes. Not much travel, I'm close enough to train on the course, and I can also do the shorter races (marathon and 50 miler) at that altitude to simulate race level effort rather than just a relaxed training run up high.

So that's it... My main goal for 2013 is to finish, nothing more nothing less, Leadville. The rest of the year could be a bust but as long as I do that I'll consider it a good year.

I'm far from any sort of real training schedule but I do have a few main thoughts running through my head...

• The long run: There is no substitute when training for something as long as a 100-miler. I can get caught up in weekly mileage when I'm trying to hit it hard but none of that really matters. My body and mind need to be trained to be on my feet for a long time. I'm not going to accomplish that by running 7, 10 mile runs each week. The long run needs to happen and I'm thinking two a month.
• Get up high: To do well at any event or race one has to train specifically for the demands of the given event. It's no secret that Leadville's altitude makes the race much more challenging than it might normally be if the same course was run at a lower altitude. I don't have to run on the course to get really good altitude training. I have many areas that are much closer to me that can get me up to 10,000 feet plus. 
• Rest: I know I can't train hard for 8 months without getting hurt. I already have a great base level of fitness established so I want to schedule in a few weeks of down time throughout the next 8 months. 
• Don't take it too seriously: It's still just running. I don't want training for a 100-miler to take over all aspects of my life. I think the more well rounded my life is in other areas the better I'll do in the race. 

Lastly... A little Leadville inspiration, as if I need any.