VB: Sanitarado

This past Saturday I headed out across Boulder's Front Range to challenge myself on the classic Sanitarado route. I called it The Frozen Front Range Marathon and it was the first of this years Team Sherpa Winter Expeditions. Nine hearty souls ventured out into the frigid cold and enjoyed one epic experience. No one finished the entire route, but I came the closest to completing the task. While the run report is to follow, I hope you'll enjoy the video for now.

RR: Southside 50K Fat Ass

1-21-12
Southside 50K
Superior - South Boulder, CO
32 Miles
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A month or two ago I received a FaceBook Event invitation to a Fat Ass run being organized in the South Boulder area of Colorado's Front Range. It's not often that I'm the one being invited to a Fat Ass event this time of year as I'm used to being the one organizing them. And even though it's a week before my own first fat Ass of the winter, I knew I had to take the chance to hop on board. The starting line was to be at the Superior Town Hall, which is quite literally .93 miles from my front door. It quickly became the first time I'd actually run to the starting line of an event I myself hadn't organized.

2nd Annual Southside 50K Route (Courtesy: Eric Lee)

Yosemite In HD

A friend of mine sent me this video the other day and I just have to share it with everyone I can. It is insanely powerful on so many levels. In my inability to truly find the words, I'm taking a caption from Jerry Armstrong's Blog. Jerry posted the video over there after I shared it with him, and his words capture my thoughts perfectly. 

From Jerry: "This video captures the feeling and experience of a great 100 mile mountain ultra. Time stands still, and the sun rises and falls. The night comes and goes...and we just keep running. As ultra-endurance athletes, we come to experience nature in a much different way...we work with the earth and come to know the subtle changes that happen every day and throughout the year. Changes and adaptation to environmental factors like cold, wind, water erosion, light, and dark, shape the earth into its magnificence. Ultra athletes, too, are shaped by these forces, and the mental and physiological adaptation that takes place develops us into advanced versions of our previous selves."

VB: Eldorado

While I'm working on training and exploring, and exploring while training, this year; It's pretty important to me to continue to not only share my journeys with you but also my passion for my life in the outdoors. In 2011 I made the commitment to purchase the new equipment needed in order to accomplish this goal and now in 2012, my commitment goes deeper. On Monday, Jerry Armstrong and I set out for a trek around some of our favorite Front Range trails. From South Boulder's Fowler Trailhead, we made our way into Eldorado Canyon before attempting to summit Eldorado Mountain. In a little over a week, this same area will be a part of the Frozen Front Range Marathon. For now.. here's a preview of the trails I've easily grown to love.

2012 Preview

As promised a few weeks ago, we're going to take a closer look at what I have in store for 2012. This year isn't going to be like years in recent memory, as my plan is to return more towards my ultra-running roots. This is a decision I struggled with over the final months of 2011, but am assured that this is exactly what I'm on need of. What I've really discovered over the last year or two is that my interests in Ultra-Running had brought me to some of the more popular races. Races with large entry fees, a large running field and a whole lot of flair. But when I entered this sport, I entered as an explorer. A lover of mountains, wilderness and solitude; simply out there looking to push myself and discover what truly is possible while exploring the nations most beautiful locations.

So, as we look ahead to what I hope will be an exciting year; you'll notice that I'm regressing back to my roots. I'm heading back to the mountains. Signing up for the lower key races, where I am rest assured at my entry fee is going to greater causes and not someones pockets. Where I know that these grass roots, scenic and memorable experiences will lead me back to a time when Ultra-Running was still niche, humble and personal.

Colorado Snowpack

The big topic of discussion these days in the Front Range of Colorado, besides Tim Tebow, is a discussion that happens all too often in these parts. From my balcony here in Louisville, I can clearly see the Continental Divide Regions of the James Peak Wilderness, Indian Peaks, Roosevelt National Forest and the Southeast Corner of Rocky Mountain National Park and the closest 14er known as Longs Peak. For much of this winter, and as late as yesterday, I can glance up at the divide and see a snow depleted ridge. During this time of year, the divide should be buried under feet upon feet of snow. Take for instance last year when during a mid June bike ride, we coasted past 22 foot high snow drifts along the famous trail ridge road.

Things are different this year and the locals are not only starting to get worried.. but they're growing restless and down right concerned for the lack of water up high. Obviously the major concern is water woes in the plains as there is no snow to melt and replenish the reservoirs, rivers and streams. Things could get ugly. But it's not all doom and gloom for folks.. as a lack of deep snowpack here in the West actually excites some of us adventurers and ultra-runners. Here's why.

2012 Week 1

I guess you could kind of look at the first week of the new year as an indication of how the rest of your year might go. As with anything, you take the good with the bad, and you may find yourself "up against a fire", or "swimming upstream", or dealing with "rainy days".. but it's really all about perspective isn't it? Certainly the apartment catching fire upstairs and the ensuing deluge was not a good sign... but I think that what I experienced the rest of the week is how I'm choosing to look ahead. This first week of the 2012 Streak was simply amazing. My eyes and soul were treated to some of the most spectacular views on runs since moving to Boulder and I finally decided to hit up some places I'd yet to make it to while on my journey's. Here is how a few of the first 7 days of the streak looked..

Thursday - Mount Sanitas
Adjectives I thought of during my run: Sixty-Six degrees. Shorts. Short sleeve shirt. Sunset. Sandstone rock. Simplicity. Suffering snow. Shimmering. Superb. Silence. Sanitas

Neighborhood Deer on Moorehead Rd.

Intention

Happy New Year Everyone! So here we are, another year. I'm really very glad, and humbled, that many of you continue to check back here from time to time and read the words I put up on your computer screens. It's incredibly hard to find content that constantly engages my audience. I've been at this blogging thing for over 7 years now. What the heck else could I possibly have to say? During the Christmas Break, I enjoyed a wonderful journey back to New England. I spent time with my family and close friends, even managed to run a little with my higher red blood cell count and yes.. it's true.. running is easier at sea level when you live at elevation. I had a great time while back east but it goes without saying that the many conversations I had with family and friends, the time away and time off, allowed me to be introspective about what I'm doing and where I'm going.

“I see my path, but I don't know where it leads. Not knowing where I'm going is what inspires me to travel it.”