Panther Open...Indoor Track Begins

I've missed a few days of posting.  Not much happening on the trails as the snow turned to slush and then ice with dropping temps.

Put in 7 on Thursday then another 6 on Friday before scooting out to NIACC to help issue uniforms to the indoor track and field teams.

Saturday was the Panther Open at UNI in Cedar Falls.  NIACC's teams did very well for the first meet of the season and it appears most of the athletes did a good job of working out on their own over the Christmas break.

We had a couple performances that are already qualifiers for indoor nationals.  There were also several top 5 results against larger schools.   Results.

Today was much colder and windy.  The trails were difficult to navigate due to ice and frozen slush.  6 miles today for a 37 mile week.

Melt Down

Started yesterday's run on the snowshoes...it seems that I was just claiming to be enjoying the snowshoes...but the warmer temps allowed for thawing and it didn't take long for snowballs to form in the cleats!  I found it necessary to take the snowshoes off and finish the run on the running shoes.

Today, I simply took off for the trails without even considering wearing snowshoes.  Wore my Salomon Fell-cross and it turned out to be the perfect choice for the snow-packed, melting trails. The aggressive tread was great.

6 miles each day.

Self Grooming

The recent string of mild, yet cold, days has allowed the snowshoe trails to remain rather constant this year.  No drifting or melting to cause any changes.

There has been a lot of use this year, as well.  Especially an increase in the snow bike traffic.

In the past, I've always been proud of running on some of the less conspicuous trails and keeping them self groomed and smooth.  The snow bikes don't cause much of problem with this but boot hikers have a tendency to cause toe digs and result in a very uneven path (actually the wild deer post-hole more than anything and that is where the early melting begins).  There are a few areas that have become very dimpled and wash-boardy.

But yesterday and today I noticed that a few stretches remain that are entirely snowshoe self-groomed and in very good condition.

5 miles on snowshoes yesterday and 6 snowshoe miles today.

Get the Lead Out

I mentioned on Thursday that I was thinking about my running highlight of last year.  Even with training for the Black Hills, hitting my highest total miles ever, and becoming more involved with the NIACC cross country/track and field scene, the highlight was really easy to pick....the trip to the Leadville 100.

I was able to meet and watch some of the elite in the ultra scene, able to relax in the high country scenery that I love, and even get to be a part of the race through pacing over Hope Pass!

Yep, Leadville was an easy winner.

6 snowshoe miles today.

Pleasant Yet Disconcerting

A colder day with plenty of sun.  A small amount of fresh dusting of overnight snow.  And my snowshoe legs seem to be returning....made for a a very pleasant afternoon run.  It was fun to see several locations where tracks in the snow indicated a hunting coyote.  The colder temps seem to have reduced the number of trail users so that my tracks were once again "first tracks."

The only trouble I had with enjoying the outing was some one else's pride as there was distinct evidence  of a successful deer hunt.

I added on an additional pig-tail for an 7 mile run today and the overall time out was encouraging as my pace seems to be improving.  I've been pondering what moments of the past year might qualify as a highlight of 2012....

White Snow and Black Ops

Perhaps the biggest surprise for me under the tree this Christmas was a bottle of beer that my daughter and her husband brought from New York.  A big bottle of something called "Black Ops".  Supposedly difficult to find and apparently not many made each year.  Here's the description:

Barrel-aged in Woodford Reserve bottles. Brooklyn Black Ops does not exist. However, if it did exist, it would be a robust stout concocted by the Brooklyn brewing team under cover of secrecy and hidden from everyone else at the brewery. Supposedly, "Black Ops" was aged for four months in bourbon barrels, bottled flat, and re-fermented with Champagne yeast, creating big chocolate and coffee flavors with a rich underpinning of vanilla-like oak notes. They say there are only 1000 cases. We have no idea what they’re talking about.

Not sure when I'll break down and try this one.

Another great day to be snowshoeing on the trails.  I did the 6 mile loops in my fastest time of this season.

Almost Getting Soft

Nothing sexual intended.

The day began with temps below zero.  TV had scheduled lots of football.  My knees ached from the moment I woke.  It was easy for me to justify a day off.  

However, I didn't have a hangover from any News Years Eve Party (In fact, I had more alcohol on xmas eve than I did on New Years Eve).  I've run in minus 20 degrees in the past.  The football was becoming boring.  I caved in and took some Ibuprofen.  

So at 1:30 PM  I chose to grab the snowshoes and hit the trails.  While the knees still groaned during the first half mile, listening to an Ultra Talk podcast and starting at a reasonable pace, I soon found myself running in the zone and had a fantastic 6 mile run that passed before I realized it!

Just proves the point that you need to get out and start running without letting the mind think too much!

Happy New Year!