Day One Hundred Eleven to One Hundred Sixteen

There is no sense in trying to go back and recap all of our trip to CO, so I will give you a glimpse of the days with some pictures.

There were a few rides, few hikes and one swim.  I was active the whole trip, but not up to training standards.  The goal was not to lose the fitness I have spent the last few months working for.

This is Chrissy and I on a ride with Ryan.  It may look like I was having fun, but I was not.  As we know the first two days of workouts were difficult with altitude so I was a little down on myself.  We were on this bike path so you can only ride two up, the third person has to follow behind.  Ryan started up front with Chrissy, I trailed behind. This was fine, I was content just keeping pace with them.  Within the first ten minutes of this ride Ryan dropped back and asked if I was okay that I 'was not even keeping up with his coasting speed.'  Geeze that was a blow I did not need.  I felt I was keeping up fine, I just had to stay back as a courtesy to riders that may be coming the other direction.  Ryan felt he was just coming back to check on me and he did not appreciate my frustration at his statement. I felt he was being rather rude.  Anyway we rode for a hour and 45 minutes.  Ryan up with Chrissy most of the time and me following behind.  The only communication between him and me was him asking me to smile for this picture. So if you want to know what my fake smile looks like....check out that picture!

This is a real smile!  As sports fans we went to a Rockies game, wanted to check out the ballpark.  Great fun!  Loved the ballpark and being there with friends!  We were with Chrissy and a couple - Lindley and Ryan.  At the top of the 9th the couple thought they should head back home so they could be rested up for work.  Ryan and I never leave a game early, but the Rockies were down 3-9, and we are not Rockies fans so we all took off at the same time.  No biggie.  Ryan Chrissy and I had come in our own car, so there was really no reason for us to leave, we just did.  Bad decision.  The Rockies had a the best ninth inning comeback in franchise history and tied the MLB record.  Rockies ended up winning 12-9.  We missed it, but we still had a great time.   Check it out

We checked out a few breweries in town.  One day I did not train I just tasted beer.  Maybe not the best decision, but we are on vacation.

We went on a few hikes.  Fun to see new places and spend time absorbing them.  The area was beautiful.  Got to experience beautiful warm sun along with rain, hail and thunder storms.  The last picture is of us picking up the pace so we do not get stuck high up while the lightning passes.

The morning before we left I went on a ride with Lindley.  A couple of hours to ride and visit.  Very nice.  After Ryan Chrissy and I toured Fat Tire Brewery.  Great last day in Fort Collins.

Day One Hundred and Ten

I ran today for an hour and 50 minutes.  It was terrible.  It is so difficult to run at altitude.  It was an out and back run.  On the out I felt good.  I fell three times, but that is no surprise.  The run was on a beautiful single track trail.  It made me feel like a real runner.  On the way back I struggled, struggled is a kind way of stating how I felt.  The way back started with an incline.  I almost hyperventilated. I just could not catch my breath.  I even stopped to try to get deep breath, but it was impossible to completely fill my lungs.  I had to stop a number of times on the way back, almost started crying at one point because I felt so out of shape.  I felt terrible because I know I am in better shape than this run let me feel, but I still felt terrible and I cannot get over that.  I was exhausted when I finished.  I was covered in salt and just wanted to lay down, lay down not even just sit down that would be too much work to keep my body upright.  I was beat.  Ryan was happy to see me defeated since he thinks that I am always too happy with my training.

The afternoon consisted of sitting in an inner tube and floating down the river for a few hours.  Nice way to make up for a disaster of a run.

Day One Hundred and Nine

Today I should run 150, but since we are recovering from the long car ride I am taking my rest day today and will run on Monday my scheduled rest day.

One Hundred and Eight

After a drive that included a lot of traffic and driving through the night we arrived in CO.  Within an hour of our arrival we went for a bike ride (ride was 2 hrs 30 min, schedule was to ride 3 30 but we got out of the car after over 20 hours of driving through the night and rode so I am happy with the amount of time we spent on the bike!!)  Our friends that we are visiting are really active so it was easy for a group of five of us to get out on the road.  The altitude was harder than I thought. My legs felt great but I struggled to catch my breath when riding and talking - kinda embarrassing to feel so out of breath after all the training I have done, but I have to acclimate before I judge myself.

Day One Hundred and Seven

We are headed out to Colorado today.  20+ hours in the car.  We started the day with a early morning run at the beach.  I got in my full hour and five minutes and felt great about it.  I had woke up early to swim, but the pool looked really busy.  This is going to be a week that the training schedule is not followed perfectly.  So no swim today (but I feel great about my swimming) but got a good run in.

Day One Hundred and Six

Two hours on the trainer.  I don't really want to talk about it.  Watched the Botany of Desire which made it even worse. Maybe PBS is not made for trainer workouts

Day One Hundred and Six

Easy run in the morning with the doggie - who was slow from the mountain bike ride yesterday.  Swam in the bay and it was GREAT - really warm day and top layer of water.  Every time I swim at aquatic park someone asks me a stupid question- 'is this where you train for triathlons' 'Does the Escape from Alcatraz end here' 'are you going to swim here (no I just wanted to go get some fresh crab at pier 39 in a swimsuit cap and goggles!?!)' But today was the best question 'are you a professional swimmer' oh thanks for making my day!