PORTRAITS FROM A PRIMAL TRAIL RUNNER

     Ask any runner and they'll tell you that they're much better company when they are able to do what they love. Miss a training run here and there and they may get a little edgy. Miss weeks of training or, heaven forbid, a race, and it becomes a potentially volatile situation. You see, running for runners is the consummate…

     I like to think of myself as a dreamer. An ideas man. Sometimes these grand visions fail to come to fruition and remain just thoughts. Other times, they are attempted but for one reason or another, they fall apart. Such was the case when a buddy of mine in NC decided to hike from Mt. Mitchell to Mt. Pisgah. Things went smoothly except we spent the first day hiking in the wrong direction and wound up in Busick, NC (never heard of it? neither had we) only to call his parents to bail us…

     Many weekends as of late have been dedicated to some pretty serious Inclinathon training. But last weekend, despite having less than 2 weeks to go before the big day, I had a hard time stomaching more 30+ minute/mile repeats. So while I probably should have pushed beyond the 1/2 Inclinathon distance, I convinced myself that some actual running was much needed.

     A bout of allergy/upper respiratory gunk had me feeling puny all week so I decided to take Charlie Brown…

     My Monday through Friday gig is incredibly rewarding.  In fact, I still have a hard time believing I get paid to laugh and play with kids while helping them function more independently. Nevertheless, job related stress or perhaps the unwelcoming darkness and cold of the season has contributed to some pretty inconsistent weekday training sessions as of late. But, as one of my professors advised, "you are not your job." So no matter how many pre-work runs I miss, the desire to fill…

     Thankfully last week's snow and wind gave way to forecasted city temperatures in the upper 50's and copious amounts of sunshine. So, as I looked out the window Sunday morning, there was very little doubt in my mind that it was going to be a great day to get the monthly Pikes run in. But while I'd convinced myself of summiting, selection of attire loomed as the big question of the day. How does one embark on a 6-7 hour run with fickle winds and temperatures ranging from 50 to -5…

           We all have our own share of demons and closet skeletons.…

     Well, I originally planned to sit on this idea for a while, thinking perhaps that the infinite wisdom of time would convince me of my absurdity and foolishness so that I may once again live in peace.  But Thursday morning, after a relatively sleepless night, I awoke with a vision that continues to haunt me.  And so, with no other choice now but to share what I have to share, I sincerely hope that doing so will relieve some of my angst.

     Let me preface what I'm about…

     Saturday was the 2nd annual Ponderous Posterior: the culminating event of Colorado's Fat Ass 50k Series (three off-season trail runs with earlier gatherings in Boulder and Fort Collins). The defining (and best) feature of these "races" is the absence of entry fees, age group categories, formal awards, or any semblance of a race lottery. Instead, just an abundance of great trails and an opportunity for some friendly competition with some of the best runners in…

     January 7th 2012: one down, eleven to go. After nearly 6 hours of time on feet, I discovered that running Pikes every month may be more difficult than I initially thought. While it's clear I left my 14,000 ft legs and lungs in 2011 and my pace left much to be desired (especially after last August's performance), it's not the conditioning that worries me. No, I think…

     Last year will be tough to beat. I'm sure I've said that before but 2011, marked by meeting an amazing collection of running friends, some real solid races with even more memorable training runs, and ousting JT as the unofficial Cherry Picker of the…