A nice guy named Brian ran the 1.4 mile warm-up loop with me. He slowed his pace for me a lot, I'm sure, but I ran much faster than I should have to not slow him down too much. I was really short of breath when...ta-da,,,they started a time-trial! I ran that with my friend Ellen, but did more walking than running since I had done the first loop way too fast. We finished the 1.4 mile time trial in 18min.30sec., which wasn't actually that bad considering how much we walked. It works out to 13.2 min/mile including all the walking. Next time I'll be smarter and do better. This really motivates me because I am so slow. I have inherited endurance genes rather than speed genes and need to work on this.
Additionally, I won a pair of New Balance Minimus Zero road shoes in the drawing before hand. Thank you to New Balance. The store had sold out in my size, but I should be able to pick them up soon. Can't wait.
After the run there were two wonderful endurance runners who spoke to us and answered questions: Anton (Tony) Krupicka who incidentally hails from Nebraska, and Brandy Erholtz, a Minnesotan.
Tony is a long distance mountain runner. He has won the Leadville 100 mile race twice, and came in second in the Western States 100, although he beat the course record. He hasn't competed this past year due to a broken leg, but is starting again now. He will compete in the Hardrock 100 in July which takes place at an average elevation of 11,186 feet, and has 68000 feet of elevation change.
Brandy is on the US Mountain Running Team. Who knew we even had one? She has won the Pikes Peak Ascent half marathon and also the Mount Washington Road Race.
They did answer questions for the crowd. Anton once trained 200-225 miles/week. He now trains a more seasoned 150-180 miles a week. Brandy, since she currently runs shorter distances, trains 100 miles/week.
Brandy is a vegetarian for compassion-for-animals reasons. Anton eats very little meat because he doesn't like it. Both try to eat as many fruits and vegetables as possible to counter all the carbs (sports drinks and gels) they take in during training.
Both commented on the popularity of mountain racing in Europe compared with here. It is much loved, is televised, and is well supported financially. The races there actually offer financial prizes for winners and treat their athletes like celebrities.
Neither has time to do cross-training.
Both were down-to-earth, very friendly people.
Here is a picture from the Boulder Running company Facebook page. We are doing a "Where's Anton?" That's me front row, right.
Another Facebook photo. That's me, 3rd from the left, front row.
If you are interested in learning more, there is a movie documentary out called "Unbreakable: The Western States 100" which we really enjoyed. Also there is an older movie called "Indulgence:1000 miles under the Colorado Sky." Both are about Anton. Here is the trailer for "Indulgence".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ6PkBA8z9U
Here is a Running Times Magazine interview with Anton.
http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=12455&PageNum=1
Here is a Running Times Magazine interview with Brandy Erholtz.
http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=16375
Today I volunteered at Freedom Service Dogs. Instead of doing training, 9 of us, employees plus volunteers, each with a service dog in tow, went to Parker, CO to search for a lost dog. One of the Freedom Service Dogs that didn't make the cut and was adopted out, got away from his brand new owners, still wearing his harness and leash. He bolted across a 4 lane highway and disappeared. This was on Tuesday. Someone sighted him Wed. eve so we all spread out from where he was last sighted to search. I was assigned one side of a river, and my assigned dog and I bushwhacked our way through brambles, bushes, and cacti for a few hours. None of us saw hide nor hair of the beautiful golden/lab mix named Red. We all were exhausted on the ride back, and I've got a great sunburn. Poor little Red must be terrified, being out in that strange area all alone. I hope someone finds him soon, and that he is able to elude highway and interstate traffic.
One more topic for the day and then I'll close. Our local running store (LRS) is the Boulder Running Company--Littleton. It has remade itself into a one stop health shop. Besides selling all sorts of running and sports gear, they offer value-added events such as boot camp class several times a week, a yoga class, a walking group, a Saturday morning running group, a Wednesday eve speed training group, a Thursday eve trail-running group, and they sponsor a racing team. They bring in great speakers such as we heard last night, and the staff is amazingly helpful, as well. I give them two thumbs up. They've earned our loyalty. We won't buy our running gear anywhere else.
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