Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Go buffs in 2005.
Active Rest. I can't get enough of it. Well...

I don't know how many times English instructors have swayed students like myself to stay away from terms like "Active Rest" because it could be two things. One, you're intentionally resting, or two, you're so badass that being active IS resting. That of course means there is something greater than, strenuous activity. Must be those Ironman kids. Right. So, the Ironmen and women out there. They're like, oh yeah, ADD:

swim, bike, swim, eat, nap, run, bike, swim, lift, nap, eat, swim, blah, blah.

But, they've got an idea. (By the way, if you are running regularly, your "rest" could mean keeping you're heart rate from hitting 170 or higher. You figure it out.) So, while "resting" from running, instead of watching Simpson's and eating Cheetos (which are, better than actually running when you shoud be resting) get out your pink flowered swim trunks or peanut bikini and take a dip. Or just take some beers, put them in your beach cruiser basket and take an hour to ride 5 miles (kidding, it's illegal.)

Relax, chill out and go shopping or something. Buy flyfishing equipment. Or better yet, a damn new mattress. New socks. Some homebrew equipment. Whatever.

My point is, you like running, but don't think you are the Lao-tzu of running. He knows there's enough out there than firmly believe they are. Plus, and obviously you are begging for an injury both to your bad hip/knees or to your ego. Yeah, your ego.

Sunday, August 28, 2005

I've discovered that running means more than putting two feet on a path, leaning forward and falling over and over again. With a clear goal in mind, it's always easier to focus on a run. And running has a clear goal. "I'm gonna run 4 miles" or "I'm gonna run for 50 minutes" sit tall with goals. Meaureable ones even. Writing, I've found, is not that at all. There's never a point where you've reached anything other than arbitrary-to-the-content word counts, pages, or final edits where you then stop the footsteps of your fingers to the keyboard, relax and stretch out after something is written. If only it were that easy!

Now that school's back in, it's definitly time for that focus again, and with that it's time to get back on to the AM runs. Yesterday, I went on a run from my doorstep to Cheeseman park, around it and then back to my door. It was thundering, and the goal of the run was to beat the rain. So, I did. Likewise, this semester, I'm going to hear thunder of due dates in my brain. Economics thunder. Marketing thunder. And I'm going to race it, and race it fast.

Thursday, August 18, 2005

Why are off-topic jokes so funny? Because they Arrrrr.

Saturday, August 13, 2005



It's time for the Elk Meadow Trail Race at 9 AM this Saturday!

Sunday, August 07, 2005


Ever wonder what it would be like to be in "always run" mode where you run from your house to your freinds house - to work - to parties - without gel, rest, or strange looks from people strolling around on the street? Yes, the virtual game Second Life is an amazing medium on which to spend your active rest days (you know, those days that you actively wish you were running?)

I joined this fun IM tool in June and it's been a great way to IM with those also involved in Second Life. You create, control, and manuever your own virtual avatar. I know I know, it's not very active and doesn't help you run faster. Still, my friends, I know how hard it is to take a day off of running here and there. Those days when you'd rather be grinding it out on the hills and trails and paths with your running shoes melted on your feet, and that very very real mentality that if you do anything in your life, you will "always run". And maybe even on Thanksgiving Day. And you know what? That's very real - at least for me.

So, loving to run is great, but since you can't run all day and all night, you've got to focus on the other 80% of your year that you do other kickass things - like read, play Second Life, and visit drinking parlors.

More on the highly important "active rest" ideology, soon!
"Top-Notch" verses "Outstanding"

Saturday, August 06, 2005

Elk Meadow Park: 5 to 12 miles; Easy to difficult; 1750 elevation change

Outstanding run for summer. It's cooler during the day (sunscreen) and relatively vacant. In summer it's hard to find trails that aren't packed with hiking and MTB. This trail, for whatever reason, is rarely packed with people and if you do see them, it's across a gorgeous meadow that slopes north. Northern sloping trails have a tendency to hold on to their snow, so prepare if it's closer to colder months by bringing your lightweight ice pick, avy beacon, and short wave radios. Okay, maybe just high collar trail shoes.

The trail works around the upper slope of the meadow, then branches off into Bergen Peak trail (or Too Long trail) and a few others that climb the various mountains around you. Take one of the latter trails and have yourself a lung-breaker. A couple on this trail informed me they've seen mountain lions, but thats about as possible as running across a monk from Uzbekistan.

This trail made a Saturday afternoon nap, a damn good one. It's not convenient to Denver, really, so make this a later/earlier/weekend run. Or, just snooze in your chair at work around 3.