Viva Las Vegas!!

Well I made it back from Vegas in one piece!! As a matter of fact the mountain climbing and altitude training around Vegas made my hip feel much better. I got in 75 miles last week. The week started out with an easy 8 mile run on the city streets of North Las Vegas in the morning then a nice 6 mile hike up Gass Peak (the highest peak north of Las Vegas). On Tuesday Brian took me out to Red Rock Canyon for a spin on his 19 mile course. Ran it in just over 3 hours and felt great doing it. Wednesday was a rest day--we headed out for a nice easy hike to the Liberty Arch out by Hoover Dam and Lake Mead (5.5 miles). Thursday 10 miles on the city streets again--actually one of my best runs in a long time. And then on Friday--18 mile hike up and down Mt. Charleston west of Las Vegas. Took Saturday off to travel back to the Kansas heat. Sunday was a hard 9 miler in the heat of the day--man if that doesn't get me in shape for Leadville I don't know what will. So where does this put me mileage wise?? 295 miles from Lecompton. 364 miles to go to Leadville. This puts me near Grinnell Kansas. With another big week this week I will be half way to Leadville next week. Still 9 weeks to go. Not counting my 2 weeks of taper that means I need to average 52 miles a week. My next race is Psycho Summer 50k so I will probably ease up on training the week before that to be ready to go.

Rolling the Dice

Yippy....I am on vacation!!! Pretty much for the rest of the month too!!! Sweet!!! Time for some real mileage. Last week my hip was killing me so I dropped the mileage down and did only 41 miles for the week. The hip had me worried. Should I drop the mileage now for 2-3 weeks and try to see if it gets better or should I push thru it and hope that it doesn't get any worse? Maybe I can make it to my taper time August 1st and hopefully recover enough to make it through Leadville? So many serious questions/concerns. Well the lower mileage must have helped at least a little as I felt better as the weekend closed out. So with the 41 miles for the week that puts me down to 439 miles to Leadville with just under 10 weeks to go. 659 minus 439=220 miles run from Lecompton. This puts me 4 miles outside of Hays America!!! Not bad.

So why did I title my blog Rolling the Dice?? Well I am in Las Vegas this week visiting one of my favorite friends in the world Brian Pawley and his wife Dawn. When ever I come out here to visit it always is a great time. Brian and me usually hit the area trails and hit them hard!!! So much for the easy training on the hip!!! So I am Rolling the Dice this week and I will see what the hip feels like when I get back to Kansas next week. In the 2 days that I have been out here so far we have got in over 33 miles!!! This will definitely will be a big week for me. Tune in next Monday for the details of my adventure in the Western Desert!!!

Wilson!!!

No I am not talking about the volleyball that co-stared with Tom Hanks in the movie Castaway. I am talking about Wilson Kansas....My next stop on my tour to Leadville Colorado. I put in 70 miles this week....a great week training wise and that puts me 70 miles west of Abilene or Wilson Kansas. Now I don't know a lot about the town of Wilson but what I can tell you about is Wilson Lake. Wilson lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in Kansas. It also is the clearest lake in Kansas. Why you may ask? This is because of its grassland drainage basin unlike farmland drainage basins with other lakes in Kansas.
Also, I can tell you that it has some really nice trails. I have been on them a few times and the views are incredible. The only draw back is that there is not many trees around for sun protection. Probably the best time to enjoy the trails there would be in the fall when the temps are cooler. I love the trails out there!!!
The following is info from the "Kansas Outdoorsman Guide" website:
"For those who enjoy hiking and biking, the Dakota Trail gives you one of the most spectacular views of the prairie and the lake. The Cedar Trail in Otoe is handicap-accessible. It is about a mile long and has an asphalt surface. The Rocktown Hiking Trail is found in nearby Lucas Park. This 3 mile loop is full of rolling hills and massive sandstone rock formations that rise up to 30 feet above the ground. The name comes from the formations, which give an impression of a city skyline. The Bur Oak Nature Trail is located in Sylvan Park. This short nature walk has many stops along the way and is self-guided. For bicyclists, the Switchgrass Bike Trail is an excellent adventure. Approximately 20 miles long, this popular trail is enjoyed by many year round."
Hopefully you will get a chance to enjoy the trails of Wilson Lake someday....it is worth the trip!!

Back to my mileage. I was in Abilene 550 miles away from Leadville. Now with 70 more down I am at 480 miles to go with 11 weeks left!!! My total training mileage from the start of this adventure? 659-480 = 179 miles.

The last thing I want to mention this week is about the Wyco Trails Makeover on Saturday. What a wonderful event. I want to thank Sam and Jim for making it happen!! It was good to see hikers, mountain bikers, trail runners, and horse riders all working together to make the trail system a better place to enjoy!! I look forward to another event soon!!!

I LIKE IKE!!!

Well time to update the blog again. As the title indicates, I have made it to Abilene Kansas on my virtual tour to Leadville. Lecompton to Leadville (L to L). Did 9 miles on the river trails last Tuesday then in an effort to try to cure my hip pain I took two days off. Friday I decided to hit the Clinton North Shore trails so I hammered out a 16 miler out there on Friday morning. Then on Saturday I went for another 13 miler on the river roads. That makes a total of 38 to add to my totals (47 miles for the week total when you add in last Mondays 9 mile run). So 38 onto the 71 miles puts me 109 miles down the road and in Abilene Kansas former home of Dwight D. Eisenhower our 34th president from 1953 to 1961. Abilene Kansas is also home to The Greyhound Hall of Fame. I wish I could run as fast as a Greyhound!!!! (they can reach speed of 43 miles an hour!!!!)

Nothing more to say today. 550 miles to Leadville (11.5 weeks to go). Hip still pretty sore. Trying to do some stretching to help stretch it out. For now I am going to just tough it out and see what happens. Also it is time to pick up my mileage...would like to be doing 60-70 mile weeks thru the month of June and then back down for a few weeks in July. At the middle to end of July I will make my final push of 70-80 miles a week...and then it will be taper time. Will just keep moving along.