Running in the Rockies

AM: 6.2 miles in ~55:30 (9:00 avg pace) at the Heart and Sole 10k down at the Boulder reservoir. Added on another 3 miles for a total of 9. I signed up for this as a training run, so I am sticking to that plan and not entering this in as a race report. The goal was a heart rate no higher than 160, but that totally went out the window about a mile into the race. 160 felt way too easy, so I kept bumping it up a bit every mile. I suppose that qualifies the race as a 'progression run'. I do not know what my final .2 pace was for the race because I forgot to hit the lap reset before heading back out for a 3 mile cool-down. I had a couple 8:40's in there and they felt pretty good. Avg heart rate: 172, Max heart rate: 191 (not exactly sticking to the 160 plan). Avg elevation: 5,175'; 185' gain/loss. 

Overall, the race was well organized and run by the Boulder Running Company. The after-race party had great food and the T-shirt is neon green/yellow.. sweet! I needed some more early morning reflective gear. Oh and the Saucony mirage shoes were very comfortable. I like running in lighter weight shoes.

AM: 3.04 on trails with pups in ~12:00 avg pace. Avg elevation: 8,500'; 500' gain/loss. Avg heart rate: 147, Max heart rate: 171. L and B pup did pretty well off leash. Although, we did not see anyone, so there were no real tests. Towards the end of the run, B pup refused to come back to me, so she went back on the leash. R knee a little sore today. 

 Mid-morning: Maya Vinyasa Flow yoga

Afternoon: Slow flow yoga

AM: 3.08 on trails with pups in ~12:00 avg pace. Avg heart rate: 145, Max heart rate: 172. Avg elevation: 8,500', 530' gain/loss. R knee pain this morning- need to foam roll today. Also some lower back pain. Not sure what it is from, maybe too much yoga? I've been sitting a lot lately working on manuscripts, maybe sitting too much? I suppose my lower back/abs are not used to sitting for long periods of time coming off the 6 weeks of field geology. L and B pup were pretty good. It was a warm morning, so they were pretty tired at the end of the run. They are passed out on the floor now.. hopefully they will let me work for a few hours. 

AM: 5.08 with pups on trails in ~12:11 avg pace. Avg heart rate: 147, Max heart rate: 171. Avg elevation: 8,500',816'gain/loss. L pup didn't come back to me for about 5 mins during our run this morning. I actually had to stop my watch and walk back along the trail to find him. I called and called and started to get worried that a lion had gotten him (although, I knew I would have heard something if that was the case). He finally came running around the corner, his face covered with dirt. Looks like he was just ignoring me while he was digging up some critter's home. Needless to say, I wasn't happy and he went back on the leash for awhile. B pup was really good this morning, stayed mostly with me once she got a few good sprints in early on. She does have a tendency to run directly behind me and I've kicked her in the mouth a few times. I feel bad, but I figure she will learn that she shouldn't run so close to my heels. Glad to see that my heart rate is coming down slowly (although, sadly the pace isn't coming down any!).

AM: 6 miles in ~9:40 avg pace. Avg heart rate: 158, Max heart rate: 171. Min elevation: 5,350', Max elevation: 5,578' (~430 gain/loss'). Ran along Boulder Creek Path this morning after dropping the pups off for a play day with their friends (neighbors). They will get plenty of exercise today, so I do not feel too guilty about running without them. It was a bit warm around 9am when I started my run, tried to keep the heart rate under 160 and was pretty successful. Legs are feeling okay today, lower back still a bit sore. 

 I got on the scale today and I think I need to cut down on the calories a bit. I'm still eating like I'm hiking 6-8 hrs a day, every day,which is sadly not the case. 

Late AM: 5 miles on trails with pups.  Avg heart rate: 152, Max heart rate: 171. Avg elevation: 8,500', 820' gain/loss. Rather warm for a run..somewhere in the 80's. B and L pup were hirrible. They took after a man that we see fairly commonly with a huge german shepherd whom he always has on a leash because apparently he is not a friendly dog. They were maybe 10 yards ahead of me and flew like the wind towards him barking and wagging their tails.. they were more than mildly obnoxious and I was calling at the top of my lungs for them to come back. Yah.. they didn't even look my way. I ran up to them (they were at the top of a hill- so I wasn't exactly quick) and they finally came back to me. The man didn't seem too upset, I think he would just worried that there would be a fight. His dog could have easily eaten B and L pup if they had gotten much closer.. maybe would have been good for them to get the smack laid down. The guy also had a younger looking smaller black dog- probably a pit bull mix. He said it was only 1.5 yrs old and he had found it tied to a tree in the middle of the national forest so he rescued it a few weeks ago.  (What kind of people do these things- terrible and shameful! Makes me SO angry). I am so glad the guy rescued him. After I had my pups back on leash, his dogs looked like they wanted to play.. go figure.

 Anyways, I obviously felt horrible about my dogs behaviors and probably sound like a broken record. They are just NOT trustworthy with free roam. I know they probably wouldn't hurt a fly, but they refuse to come back when called. This is just unacceptable. Until I can get them into some classes, it looks like leashes for them (my poor arms).