Here is my ongoing journey through 2016: 

Racing log, notes, comments, training, and photos: 

This is my athlinks results page:

http://www.athlinks.com/athletes/geraldromero/Profile#results

It has been a very slow and rough start as I am not feeling good to start out the year-- I have felt tired and as I have expressed to many friends, coaches,  and family- I really put a lot mentally and physically into my season last year for 2015- with a lot of races and racing them all hard and a very tough hard fought Master's win in Pikes Peak last year took a toll on me and I paid for it through the winter- trying to bounce back and get back out there.  I also have an irritated right hamstring I am trying to shake off and even dealt with a little Achilles heel pain for a few weeks back in March.  I am getting treatment on my hamstrings right now. 

1. 1/1/16-- Rescue Run 10k- 19th overall- 17th male overall- 41:34- 5th place 40-44- raced sick, lungs did not feel good- taking some easy downtime. 

The Dopey Challenge-- Walt Disney World- Florida- January 7,8, 9, and 10th--

2.  5k- ran easy- time and place not relevant.

3.  10k-  39:13-  3rd place age division award- 40-44--19th male overall- 21st overall- very humid, hot, raining.

4.  half marathon- 1:34:34- 25th age division 40-44- 142nd male overall- 165th overall- humidity=100%.

5.  Full marathon- easy jog- time and place not relevant.

* Just another hot tub party at G-mans suite in Florida !!

6. 1/16/16- Frosties Frozen 5 mile- Hudson Gardens, Denver- RRCA 5 Mile Championships- 24th overall- 3rd place 40-44 award- 33:05.

7.  1/17/16-  Prairie Dog Half Marathon- Louisville, CO- 1:30:54- 12th overall- 5th-40-49.   Right ankle tender in race. 

*  1/23/16- Winter Series II- Penrose Stadium/Bear Creek- Rolling Trails- Did not race competitively- Made an appearance to get a point for my Team- Bier Works for the on-going Brewery competition.  Not counting this as a race. 

8.  1/24/16- The Yeti Chase 10k- Morrison, CO- cold, sunny- 16th male overall- 21st overall- 1st Master overall- 1st place 40-44.  Rolling hill course on paved paths- 40:25.

*   2/6/16- The Neilson Challenge- Ran easy for the brewers cup challenge race series- did not race competitively- time and place not important.  Not counting this as a race. 

9. 2/7/16-  The Super Half Marathon- Co Spgs, Santa Fe trail- out and back from downtown- many areas of hard packed snow and muddy areas from earlier snow storm that week- race day weather was nice and mild and sunny- 1:29:35- 6th place-40-44- 37th overall- 34th overall male- right hamstring tight- left Achilles tight. 

*  2/13/16-  Winter Series III - Made an appearance for the brewers cup competition- Bier Werks- did not race competitively- paced Coach Spell- time and place not relevant.  Not counting this as a race. 

*      Left Achilles pain/ Right Hamstring pain-Not feeling good- Need to recover and bounce back to the Top.  

 *2/27/16- Winter Series 4- Black Forest-  easy jog- time and place not important- participation for brewers cup competition for Bier Works.  

Left Achilles better, right hamstring still hurts.    Still not feeling good.    I ran so hard at the end of 2014 and all of 2015- my body took a beating, need to recover a little more and make a come back.  

*3/5/16- Neilson Challenge- very easy jog- time and place not important - participation for brewery cup competition for Bier Works.    Continue recovering from a painful right hamstring. 

 10.  3/12/16- 5k on St Pats Day - Grand Prix of Running Race #1-  20:07- 43rd male overall- 46th overall-  7th place 40-44- got out and competed- left Achilles feeling good- right hamstring wrapped and still tight and irritated- no training for two months- getting back to a couple miles here and there.  Nothing structured yet.    BE BACK ON TOP SOON AND KICKING JABRONEES ASSES !!!!!!!!!!!!!

11.  3/27/16- Hams and Hamstrings 5k- Co Springs North-Stetson Hills- out and back course on a crude gravel trail with patches of snow throughout out- cold at the start-slightly uphill going out and slightly down coming back South- 7th overall- 2nd place 40-44- 21:05. 

* building up training and slow short mileage again- getting treatment on my hamstring and Achilles--Needle therapy, massage, and using DMSO.  I put so much work, training, and racing into 2015- mentally and physically- it put a hurting on me-- needed to mentally and physically recover.

* 4/2/16- Neilson challenge easy for brewery cup.       

12.  4/3/16-  Three Creeks Half Marathon- Denver- Cherry Creek Reservoir-  I attempted to race this hard but with very low training mileage, no quality work, and a continuing irritating Right hamstring I couldn't do jack shit-  so I got a pathetic time and place but got out there and competed best I could.   Continue treatment on my hamstring with needle therapy and massage.  50th overall- 1:38- 9th place 40-44.  Same course as last year, light rolling hills, flats, and it was very hot. 

*  4/9/16- Tortoise and Hare 5k predict- brewers cup competition participation.  Monument Valley Park trail.    I started with 1:56 left to go on the countdown clock. 

13.  4/10/16- Platte River Half Marathon- Point to Point from Hudson Gardens to 8th street downtown Denver-  A very nice mild overcast day-  slightly downhill from start to finish- mostly paved concrete and blacktop-  I had a nice start off but just didn't feel good for the rest of the race after about 5 miles-  right hamstring better just a little irritated-  lungs could not get going from the start- legs very tired- I had to slow up- did not feel good-  107th overall- 1:41:52- 83rd male overall- 13th -40-44.   Keep driving on with treatment and get back to training !!!!!

me and the queen.

me and the rocket (coach spell) at the after party.

* Had signed up for the Rattler 10k on Saturday- 4/16/16- At Palmer Park-   The Rattler Trail Races(Mad Moose Events- Justin Ricks) were cancelled due to a bad snowstorm over the weekend- good call by Justin as the safety of the runners was at stake and it would have been miserable to try and race on Palmer Park. 

14.  4/17/16- Horsetooth Half Marathon-  a brutal hilly start as we climb 500 feet to the first hill in the first one mile and a half- cold snowy weather-  another set of hills and then a gradual descent with one more hill and a flat finish- I felt better and stronger in this race at least until about mile 11 then I felt the fatigue and my right hamstring flared up-- will have another session of needles and massage on my right hamstring-- 1:39:59-- 97th overall.   The first place female- Brianne Nelson kicked all of our asses by beating out the first male by 4 seconds winning the whole race.  

15.  4/23/16- Cheyenne Mountain Trail Race 10k- Cheyenne Mtn. State Park- rolling hill course- 2nd overall- 43:32.2- $50 bucks prize money for 2nd overall and medal.  This is my first good racing weekend I have had all year plus it was a double racing weekend.    For the first time this year, my hamstring held up ok with no serious pain experienced in the race.   Of course I need to see if my hamstring will be ok in a longer race on a harder surface.   No other issues.  The needle treatment is really helping.  I am getting in some trail training on the chutes, Cheyenne trail by the reservoirs, and section 16.   I have also started doing my infamous "Craig Young" lactate workout which will make me unstoppable soon !!!!!

* Keeping in mind I have lost valuable training time but I have an unmatched ability to come back quick and strong.   

16.  4/24/16- Cherry Creek Sneak- 5 mile- Very nice day in Cherry Creek, Denver- 5 mile mostly flat road race with a couple mild inclines with an awesome after race party.   I performed better than I thought today and my hamstring again held up for 5 miles on the road at this time.   So great news for me.  I am just worried about a longer race.   I guess I will find out how I am holding up when I do the Colorado Half Marathon this coming Sunday.     32:25--6:29 pace per mile-- 31st place out of 1,472-- 4 place age division-40-44- out of 72. 

* my training weeks right now consist of 4 days of easy trail running which consists of a climb up and then come back down.   One day of my "Craig Young" lactate.  Then race on the weekend. 

*I am going to continue my needle therapy until I feel comfortable that I am ok and then I will use it as a maintenance treatment mayby every three weeks. 

2nd place podium overall at Cheyenne Mtn. Trail Race 10k 

$50.00 Bucks Prize Money

Cherry Creek Sneak after beer party with the Rocket

                       17.  4/30/16- Greenland 8 mile-- Monument Hill/Larkspur-- 1:04 on a cold and very snowy day-- I placed 4th overall and won the 40-49 age group and got a $20 gift card to Runners Roost.  Hamstring held up ok.  Almost no irritation.    Just tough running through the snow-- made my legs sore for the Colorado Half Marathon.   Right toe joint a little tender. 

18.  45/1/16- Colorado Half Marathon-- Fort Collins, CO-- 17th overall-- 1:29:51-- 1st place 40-44-- 4th Master overall--    Hamstring held up until about halfway-- but only some slight irritation -- mayby a 5 at the most out of 10 with 10 being the worst pain.  

*  this week completed uphill treadmill running at 15 % grade with my weight vest on and on of my infamous lactates.   I continue to improve and climb back up the ladder to the top and THE BEST EVER !!!!!!!!!!!

2016 RACING LOG CONTINUED IN NEXT  BLOG

*  I Am going to have to continue my blog post in another blog in my blog section as it looks like I am at the max characters for this section.   I am also going to start a new fan page on facebook with running photos and my 2016 blog sometime soon on facebook.        I will post the link when I get that going on facebook.   It will be awesome -- I will continue all my racing photos, 2016 racing and training blog,  and I will put some old classic photos, wedding, and other cool stuff and high light my Pikes Peak Ascent memories !!!!