The hip was appreciative of yesterday's ice bath and that's about all that mattered during this morning's Summer Roundup 12K.  It didn't particularly like the stairs in the middle of the course, but if that was the only complaint, I'll take it.

Now, to get a better idea of the racing conditions this morning (beginning at 7am) feel free to turn your oven to broil and climb in.  Now, once you're in the oven start running. It's a bit cramped in there? Ah well, do your best.  You may…

Second leg of the Triple Crown Series, and also my second race in 48 hours. I won't lie, walking to the start line, I did NOT want to race this. I actually questioned if I wanted to just scrap it and go for an easy trail run. But then reality set in, I realized it was less than 8 miles of running and it was mandatory if I wanted to hold on to second place in the Series.

A few fast guys at the start - Andy Wacker, three Kenyans, Neil McDonaugh...so I knew they were going to throw down…

I know, when you think of "sponsored" runners you think of the Olympics, Meb, Shalane, Kara, and the Nike Oregon Project.  The first group that pops into your head is likely not the PikesPeakSports.us Triple Crown Runners.  We are however, much thanks to Orange Theory Fitness, Mountain Equipment Recyclers, and the Pikes Peak Marathon, sponsored athletes.  While I can't speak for all seven of us here, I am also a mere mortal.  In addition to my awesome summer running gig, I work full-time and…

We'll see how banged up my legs are tomorrow at the Summer Roundup after yesterday's half marathon!

Article from the Gazette -

Sunday is the 2014 Summer Roundup Trail Run and it's a new race for everyone running, as the course has completely changed due to last year's floods.  I hear the race was once known as the Mystery Course Run, so it appears the race has returned to its roots...and the old is once again new.  

I have looked at the new course, which I've attached for curious…

This past week, some of my best college buddies came out to visit.  I had scared up a vision for us to casually hike the Elk Range's Four Pass loop, knowing that in a normal year we may have to deal with a little bit of snow near the passes.  Our plan called for some fairly low-key hiking - we had budgeted three days to complete the loop.  Once we got into Aspen, we learned one of the passes…

As the Pikes Peak Ascent race is just over 6 weeks away, I decided to spend some time on my race strategy this week.

I first looked at the course on the Pikes Peak Marathon website.

This map shows the mileage, elevation, and aid stations along the race…

This year’s attempt to complete the Triple Crown and the Ascent seems snakebitten. Intermittently I’ve lost about two weeks of training due to physical ailments. Now I’m not looking for sympathy because I know there is none to be found, at least not with the crowd I hang with. One of the real joys (not) of aging is the innumerable, inexplicable aches and pains that pop up as in “What did I do to deserve THIS?!” It’s one thing to twist an ankle on a trail and immediately know what’s…