Pikes Peak Triathlon !!!

So I have always wanted to do a triathlon - but I swim like an empty bottle (float around for a bit, gradually taking on water and then eventually sink).  I got to thinking yesterday about doing some sort of Pikes Peak Triathlon.  First of all - in the desire to avoid death anytime soon - I probably would not do it.  But hey, here goes to be the first(?) with the FKT (Fastest Known Time) to do the following: Start at the Ranger / Entry gate to Pikes Peak Highway - buying an entry pass to validate the time of start.  Race Drive up to the top of the Peak and park the car.  Buy something from the Summit house - validating the time, then remove a bike from the roof of the car and bike down the road (insert "hang on for dear life" here) to Manitou Springs to the coffee shop at the round-a-bout at the bottom of Ruxton.  Buy something there (documenting time again).  Then run / walk / hike up Barr Trail to the Summit.  So, don't join me some time this Summer in this unplanned, unsupported, unsponsered, unorganized, uneventful, unrewarded Triathlon.  All signs seem to point that this is something that should be done.

A note of thanks to a local Runner

About 2 years ago my wife woke up one morning and said that she was wanting to try run a 1/2 marathon.  For some crazy reason I asked her if she wanted some company and maybe we could run it together.  Neither of us ran at all at the time, had not ran for many years.  I asked her where she got the idea and she mentioned a guy that we see run by our house almost every morning, no matter what the weather, he had being doing it for years.  The kids and I called him "Mr Tights" - he always wore the same black running tights, w/ purple shorts over the top, a hooded sweatshirt and he ran just about every day of the week.  The wife and I started running and later that Summer we ran the Slacker Half Marathon together - mostly all downhill and we beat our goal of doing it under 2 hours.  In our training before and continued running since, Mr Tights (real name Mike) has stayed the same, running almost every day - probably about at a 11 - 12 min mile pace - past our home.  He runs about 3 miles a day, always the same place and same pace, never runs in any races, seemingly always wearing those same tights.  Mr Tights - my family and I thank you.  You inspired us.

Yesterday I was up near Florissant and drove by the Florissant Fossil Beds, I parked beside the old 1878 homestead to eat a sandwich.  Saw a few of the local athletes carbing up - probably getting ready for the BTMR.

Local runners carbing up

Barr Trail Mountain Race Sign up Day

Thanks to GZ for the reminder.  I just signed up (here).  I might be wrong but it seemed a different sign up process this year.  I already knew that the 2am sign up time for $15 or so was not an option, but the sign up link didn't look familiar.  I think also they have a new RD.   No big deal, I'm in and my knees and lungs both just thanked me for it :(  This will be my second year doing it and will surely help some w/ training for the Ascent.  I'd like to improve on last year (2:20:41). The first born may also do it this year.  He has some Mountain Goat in him.   Speaking which - in my attempt to do better this year, following this guy on this shortcut is likely not a wise choice......

20 better miles beats 20 miles of feeling beat

Did the same 20 miles today as I did last week.   Santa Fe Trail Nth from Woodmen up 10 miles and back.  Similar weather to last week (upper 30's, snow / flurries).  This week I was just smarter.  Ate better the day before (thanks to Fargo's Spaghetti and meat sauce).  More Oatmeal for breakfast helped too.  Throughout the run I took a Shot Block every 20 minutes, w/ water.  Didn't fell like my body was wasting away w/ carb depletion or wanting to throw up.   Sure the knees were creaking  aching at times, but that is something I have come to expect.  Wanted to go out easy and then towards the end try to pick up the pace a little - (which was something I could not do last week - the wheels fell off at 15 miles).  So, first 10 miles up I maintained a fairly easy 8:55 pace.  Turned around and decided I was feeling good enough to pick up the pace.  Through mile 12 I stayed at 8:55, then w/ 8 to go I thought this would be a good time to try to run marathon pace while already feeling tired.  So I set out to go 8 min pace for the last 8 miles.  4 miles in I was averaging 7:55 pace and feeling quite strong.  Thought came to mind, what about seeing how fast I could do the last 5K.  Talked myself into it over the next .9 miles at 7:55 pace.  With 3.1 miles to go I decided to not look at the watch for the rest of the way and push - in hopes of maybe doing 7:40 avg.  I pushed on a little stronger, admittedly looking at the watch a couple of times, mostly at the distance - 20 miles came up and I was quite surprised, quite happy too.  Did the last 5K in 23 mins flat = 7:25 pace.  That's a good 5K time for me, figure in it came after running 17 miles and I patted myself on the back.  Then I collapsed in my car for a few minutes, drove home and could barely walk inside - oh, the reality of being 43.  Overall: 20 miles, total time 2hrs, 49 minutes, 8:26 avg, followed by a good nap.