Archive for June, 2009

Running -

I ran 1.53 miles last week.  Seemed a good distance for the condition my condition is in.  Little or no repercussion with the PF.

I ran a total of 6.1 miles for the month of June.  I will sure be happy when I can increase that amount comfortably.

The Plantar Fasciitis is still here with me, but getting better every week.

Bicycling -

Last week was a good week for the bicycle.  I logged 108.38 miles.  That does include 55.6 miles of Long Ride S(aturday or Sunday).  The Sunday before was a 25 mile ride and I rode 30.5 miles on Saturday morning.  I’m working the old bike for all that it is worth.

I rode a total of 255+ miles for the month of June.

We are so lucky to have nice trails on the South side of Denver.  They are always improving the trails, too!

Sami -

The dog is growing in leaps and bounds.  Sometimes, she looks at me and I am reminded of what a mature look she has.  Then she’ll run after something and fall over her own too long legs and large feet.

We’re learning.  All (everything) below waist level in the house is being packed away.  If Sami can reach it, she’ll chew it.  So, packing it away until she stops chewing everything was our solution.

In July, Sami will be spayed.  It will be around the middle of the month.

Sami is going to Obedience One, starting Monday, July 6^th.  I just have to remember that the class is actually for me and not for Sami.  I do hope that I learn and that she will follow suit!

This is Sami after a day in the Jeep on the trail!

Jeeping -

Every year a group of us get together to honor a couple of friend’s birthdays!  This weekend was one of those runs.  We ended up with a group of 11 rigs.  We ran the Mount St. Vrain and the Coney Flats trails.

The trip took a little over 9 hours from meeting in Boulder, Colorado to when we aired our tires back up at Bear Reservoir (I think that might be as most of us like to jaw a bit too much).

We had a good time and it was a great group to roll with.  We took our time and just had a lot of fun.  The trail was challenging enough to keep things interesting and had a lot of water challenges and crossings.

The climb to the major stream crossing was the most challenging, but the water crossing had to be the most fun.  Here are some of the people crossing the river!

Yes! Everybody made it through!  No one stalled out.  As a matter of fact, many people tried it 2 or 3 times!

Finally, Tom posed the Mighty YJ so we could all see the underside of the rig!

We came off the trail tired , hungry and eager to set off for our individual’ Sunday evenings!

And, Mountains as seen from the major stream crossing…

Yes, birthday cake was served!  Brought one in with the face of a monkey just to prove that we can monkey around and still get a fun ride in, too!

The definition of CHANGES is ‘To cause to be different: change the spelling of a word.’

That has happened a lot to me lately.  Some of it was not so good, some of it really was good!

Running

I have run 2.75 miles in June.  That is a major change from what I have done in the past!  The Plantar Fasciitis is getting better all of the time.  I’m hoping when I see my Doctor in July that he’ll give me a green light for running again!

Bicycling

I have ridden my GT bike for 115.3 miles in June.  I’ve done that in 10 rides. With a 4:59 pace and an average of 12 MPH. 

I am riding the bike Geared UP!  That means it ride with the chain on the front largest sprocket AND the back sprocket.  It is tough, but it builds strong muscles and is a work out!

I have some regular rides that have a certain length.  Makes it easier for me to go out and ride while attempting to improve both my time and my endurance.

My last weekend long ride was 20 miles.  I’m planning a 25 mile ride for this weekend.

Sami

I miss Molly very much still.  We were so comfortable together.  Grief still affects me when I see a picture or think about her.  I often dream of her. It is still so hard to believe that she is gone from my life.

A puppy.  That is what Tom said.  Get a puppy!  So, we have a puppy.  There is a lot of difference between an older dog and a puppy!  I’d forgotten what I went through with Molly.  Now, it is coming back as this new life is a major part of my life now.

Sami can be a cute little girl!  She can also be a terror!  I build Lego models and she has found AND chewed a lot of them.

But, you know, I’m learning.  Most of the house has been rendered “Puppy Safe” now.  There is a gate between the kitchen and the dining room.

She is registered for a beginning obedience class starting on Monday, July 6^th.  Then, soon after, she will be visiting the veterinarian for her spaying.

Jeeping

First of all, Sami has been on 2 additional trips since her first memorable one.  We leave with more time to travel, take breaks more often, and she is traveling much better.  She is getting bigger (it seems by the day) and I leave her in the back seat now.  She is just too large to sit on my lap when I am not driving.

The Empire Hilton

As snow clears from the high country in our beautiful Rocky Mountains, jeeps find their way on to trails that have been closed through the Winter. 4 jeeps got together to ride the Empire Hilton (Mill Creek) trail.

We started by going up Red Elephant (on a mountain by the same name). Red elephant is a steep trail with loose dirt and some interesting obstacles.  The first major obstacle is a sudden down hill at a camber.  As you drive it, you think that you will tip over.  You don’t, but that is not the feeling that you get.

There are also areas with large rock outcroppings that you have to find the right line to go up them.

The Mill Creek trail goes off to the side of Red Elephant at the top.  It has 2 creek crossings and a bog area on it.  The most interesting thing on the trail is an aged cabin known as The Empire Hilton.  The National Forest Service maintains it in a living museum state. It has doors and windows and is fairly well sealed against the elements.  It is furnished and has a wood stove in it.  It has all of the elements of a place that you can stay at or live in.

There is a tradition to leave an item of yours on your first visit there.  There is also a register to record your visit in.

Spring Creek

Spring Creek is a challenging trail near the Denver area.  It has rock faces, tight turns, rock obstacles and a “Rock Garden.”

9 rigs attended this “Trail” party.  This is one of the trails where testosterone can reign supreme.  Men (and women) drive their rigs to impress themselves (and hopefully others) with their abilities.  Sometimes after their attempt, they may need some help in getting over the obstacle.

Others can accomplish it with no trouble.

We had a lot of fun and it took most of the day to run those 9.6 miles.  It also gave us a chance to relax, spend time with friends and take a lot of pictures!

Finally…  Here is Tom in The Mighty YJ taking a difficult line in the “Rock Garden.”

 Almost Forgot!

I did finally get access to my old blog at http://why-how-what-where-i-run.blogspot.com/. I wouldn’t go there if I were you as I have transferred all of my data to this new blog already! (Thanks, Tim!)

Ever have one of those months?

Plantar Fasciitis.  A forehead laceration.  A bleeding bum.

One thing leads to another and, we just have fun is all you can do!

Running!

2.5 miles for the month of June.  It was all I could manage.

I was able to get out and bike in the neighborhood of 100 miles!  Still getting the hang of it and doing fairly well. I was not that used to the new seat, and an existing bum condition exascerbated resulting in some blood.  Doing better now though!

The Plantar Fasciitis is getting better all of the time.  I hardly feel it most days.  The combination of the shoe inserts (I do not use them in my running shoes) and the exercises have improved the situation!

Jeeping!

Took Sami out for her first all day Jeep ride!

It was not pleasant.  Poor little thing got car sick.  Jeep still smells even after everything was cleaned.

The Lower Moody Hill Trail (Click on the link to see the video – It will take you off this website)

The day started out dry and climbing the Moody Hill trail was fairly easy.  There was one rocky section that was a challenge but we cleared it fairly easily. It started to rain when we got to the top so, we decided to head down before it got too wet.  The best alid plans oft go astray, you know.  When we got to just above those same rocky areas, we found that they had become a bottle neck for everyone.  A group of 5 vehicles were going up and 7 were going down.  The 5 coming up did not have lockers and could not climb the rocky sections (they did have fun trying, though).   The trail is a narrow trail, but there was enough room to get everyone of ot the side and we even used our winch to pull one of the 5 up.  Eventually, everyone was on their way again.

Last Weekend

Charlie?  Have you explained about the hforehead laceration yet?  Nope.  It happened this last weekend.

We decided to mod the jeep again.  It has a FORD 8.8 back axle set.  We were instally a Superior axle replacement set to strengthen the axle.  It was work as you have to press several parts together on the new axles, remove the “C” clamps from the differential, remove the old axles, then install the new ones.

The old axles came out easily enough, but left a bearing seal inside the axle housing at the outside.  We had a tool that worked great on the passenger side, but broke on the driver side.  We tried everything after that.  It was during one of these attempts that I hurt myself!   I set a flat bar into the sleeve and used the outside edge of the axle housing as a leverage point.  I pressed hard on the opposite end of the flat bar.  All of a sudden, the edge inside the sleeve gave way. There was a lot of energy that needed to be negated.  The flatbar and my hands went through my legs.  My head followed the hands and I hit my forehead on the fender flare.  I didn’t see stars but I did feel pain.  I dropped the flatbar and stepped backwards. I pressed my free hand up to my forehead.  I took a couple of deep breaths, then headed toward the house.  I looked in the restroom mirror and winced.  It was turning purple and was bleeding.  I’ll spare you the details and let you know that I am doing OK now!

The Jeep is doing OK now, too!  The new axles are hardened and can allow 40″ tires on the back axle now!

Well, that is it for this update!