04-19-2010
Mon-AM: 16 miles (2:25) Green Mt., up Back down Bear Cyn, 3000'
Very easy, relaxed effort; ended with a mile of barefoot.
PM: 8 miles (1:02) McClintock-Mesa-Kitt w/ Jocelyn, 1000'
Ran 3mi of barefoot at the end.
04-20-2010
Tue-AM: 16 miles (2:20) Green Mt., up Back down Bear Cyn, 3000'
Nice and easy. Incredible clouds.
PM: 8 miles (1:03) Creek Path+4mi barefoot at Kitt
04-21-2010
Wed-AM: 20 miles (3:00) Green Mt.-Bear Pk-SoBo Pk, 5000'
33:38 up front of Green; had to hike the last 5min because of ice and snow. Lovely morning to be up high with the clouds at my feet.
PM: 8 miles (1:02) Creek Path+Kitt
Lunch run with Jocelyn. 4 miles barefoot.
04-22-2010
Thu-AM: 15 miles (2:11) Green Mt., up Back down Bear Cyn, 3000'
Nice easy run with Joe. Creek crossings were epic with all this rain.
PM: 4 miles (:35) Stanford Campus from Zombie Runner in CA
Super easy group run around Stanford goofing off with Erik and Jenn the whole time. It was borderline hot...need to start working on some acclimation maybe?
04-23-2010
Fri-AM: 21+ miles (3:14) Santa Cruz Mts, Woodside, CA, 3800'
Early easy effort run with Gary Gellin before catching a plane back home. He had devised an excellent loop through Huddart Park, Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space, and a bunch of other stuff I don't even know. Had two decent climbs to Skyline Blvd at 2000' where we were treated to inspiring (but fogged in) views of Half Moon and San Francisco Bays. All of the trails were ridiculously perfect cushiony singletrack through groves of redwoods, which was awesome. I will say that by the end, however, I was a bit tired of running through the forest and was craving some sense of topography and wide open views. Great run, though, and afterwards I had the most gigantic piece of delicious blueberry pie for brunch, courtesy of Main St. Coffee in Redwood City.
04-24-2010
Sat-AM: 30 miles (4:31) Green-Eldo-Mesa-Bear Cyn-Green, 7000'
There was ~6" of very heavy, slushy snow above 6800', plus I got snowed on the first time up Green. The snow slowed down the climbs and almost all of the trails were ridiculously wet, often fully-flowing streams. Even so, it was a good run with exceptional scenery given the fresh snow. I couldn't help but compare this run to yesterday's in California. The trails here are often exceedingly technical, but for whatever reason I absolutely prefer their ruggedness to the soft perfection of CA...I guess home is just home and can't be beat. Especially the wide-open views and thin air. Two gels.
04-25-2010
Sun-AM: 16 miles (2:22) Green Mt., up Back down Bear Cyn, 3000'
Relaxed effort. Snow is almost all gone already. 1mi barefoot.
PM: 6 miles (:50) Mesa-Enchanted-Kohler from Law School, 700'
Crazy run with Jocelyn. Decided we needed a break from the library at about 7pm so headed out into threatening clouds. Within minutes it started sprinkling then eventually pouring on us as we charged, underdressed through the wet trails. Pretty miserable, but it made my headache go away, which is what I was shooting for.
Total
-Miles: 168
-Hours: 24h 35min
-Vertical: 29,500'
2010 Summits (Day 115)
-Green: 131
-Bear: 7
-SoBo: 2
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Some photos from the week:
This was the last week of real training before Miwok. The last six weeks have seen tallies of 152, 168, 170, 170, 189, and 168. This has left me feeling pretty good going into the taper week, which happens to coincide nicely with the fact that I really need to devote some extra time this week to finishing up end-of-the-semester academic assignments. But then it's summer! At Miwok, my goal will be to enjoy the fact that I've gotten myself to a place where I'm healthy and fit enough to line up at the start of a 62 mile voyage with confidence after months and months of not racing and feeling uncertain in my health. It's time to go out and have some fun running some new trails in a beautiful location.
Additionally, it was a treat to get the opportunity to briefly visit northern California this week. New Balance was hosting an event at Zombie Runner in Palo Alto where folks had the chance to see some exciting new proto-types of NB minimalist footwear, chat with the product manager of NB's Outdoor line, and go on a group run from the still relatively-new, brick-and-mortar Zombie Runner store (they've been selling stuff for ultrarunners on-line for a number of years now). Although just a casual jog around Stanford's historic campus, I was thankful to go on a run with Erik where he didn't drop the hammer from the get-go, like usual, and we could actually get in some quality gossiping.
Mon-AM: 16 miles (2:25) Green Mt., up Back down Bear Cyn, 3000'
Very easy, relaxed effort; ended with a mile of barefoot.
PM: 8 miles (1:02) McClintock-Mesa-Kitt w/ Jocelyn, 1000'
Ran 3mi of barefoot at the end.
04-20-2010
Tue-AM: 16 miles (2:20) Green Mt., up Back down Bear Cyn, 3000'
Nice and easy. Incredible clouds.
PM: 8 miles (1:03) Creek Path+4mi barefoot at Kitt
04-21-2010
Wed-AM: 20 miles (3:00) Green Mt.-Bear Pk-SoBo Pk, 5000'
33:38 up front of Green; had to hike the last 5min because of ice and snow. Lovely morning to be up high with the clouds at my feet.
PM: 8 miles (1:02) Creek Path+Kitt
Lunch run with Jocelyn. 4 miles barefoot.
04-22-2010
Thu-AM: 15 miles (2:11) Green Mt., up Back down Bear Cyn, 3000'
Nice easy run with Joe. Creek crossings were epic with all this rain.
PM: 4 miles (:35) Stanford Campus from Zombie Runner in CA
Super easy group run around Stanford goofing off with Erik and Jenn the whole time. It was borderline hot...need to start working on some acclimation maybe?
04-23-2010
Fri-AM: 21+ miles (3:14) Santa Cruz Mts, Woodside, CA, 3800'
Early easy effort run with Gary Gellin before catching a plane back home. He had devised an excellent loop through Huddart Park, Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space, and a bunch of other stuff I don't even know. Had two decent climbs to Skyline Blvd at 2000' where we were treated to inspiring (but fogged in) views of Half Moon and San Francisco Bays. All of the trails were ridiculously perfect cushiony singletrack through groves of redwoods, which was awesome. I will say that by the end, however, I was a bit tired of running through the forest and was craving some sense of topography and wide open views. Great run, though, and afterwards I had the most gigantic piece of delicious blueberry pie for brunch, courtesy of Main St. Coffee in Redwood City.
(Map of Gary's redwoods-dominated run up and over the spine of the Santa Cruz Mts outside Woodside, CA.)
04-24-2010
Sat-AM: 30 miles (4:31) Green-Eldo-Mesa-Bear Cyn-Green, 7000'
There was ~6" of very heavy, slushy snow above 6800', plus I got snowed on the first time up Green. The snow slowed down the climbs and almost all of the trails were ridiculously wet, often fully-flowing streams. Even so, it was a good run with exceptional scenery given the fresh snow. I couldn't help but compare this run to yesterday's in California. The trails here are often exceedingly technical, but for whatever reason I absolutely prefer their ruggedness to the soft perfection of CA...I guess home is just home and can't be beat. Especially the wide-open views and thin air. Two gels.
Sun-AM: 16 miles (2:22) Green Mt., up Back down Bear Cyn, 3000'
Relaxed effort. Snow is almost all gone already. 1mi barefoot.
PM: 6 miles (:50) Mesa-Enchanted-Kohler from Law School, 700'
Crazy run with Jocelyn. Decided we needed a break from the library at about 7pm so headed out into threatening clouds. Within minutes it started sprinkling then eventually pouring on us as we charged, underdressed through the wet trails. Pretty miserable, but it made my headache go away, which is what I was shooting for.
Total
-Miles: 168
-Hours: 24h 35min
-Vertical: 29,500'
2010 Summits (Day 115)
-Green: 131
-Bear: 7
-SoBo: 2
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Some photos from the week:
(Deep in the redwoods, on Friday morning. Photo: Gary Gellin)
(Just another empty suit: strange, I know. Photo: Gary Gellin)
(Post-blueberry gorging, with Jim Moyles. Photo: Gary Gellin)
(New snow high on the Ranger Trail, Green Mt.)
(Higher-than-usual creek crossings in Bear Canyon this morning.)
This was the last week of real training before Miwok. The last six weeks have seen tallies of 152, 168, 170, 170, 189, and 168. This has left me feeling pretty good going into the taper week, which happens to coincide nicely with the fact that I really need to devote some extra time this week to finishing up end-of-the-semester academic assignments. But then it's summer! At Miwok, my goal will be to enjoy the fact that I've gotten myself to a place where I'm healthy and fit enough to line up at the start of a 62 mile voyage with confidence after months and months of not racing and feeling uncertain in my health. It's time to go out and have some fun running some new trails in a beautiful location.
Additionally, it was a treat to get the opportunity to briefly visit northern California this week. New Balance was hosting an event at Zombie Runner in Palo Alto where folks had the chance to see some exciting new proto-types of NB minimalist footwear, chat with the product manager of NB's Outdoor line, and go on a group run from the still relatively-new, brick-and-mortar Zombie Runner store (they've been selling stuff for ultrarunners on-line for a number of years now). Although just a casual jog around Stanford's historic campus, I was thankful to go on a run with Erik where he didn't drop the hammer from the get-go, like usual, and we could actually get in some quality gossiping.
19 comments:
Excited to see what you can do at Miwok! Good Luck.
Glad to see you are healthy again Tony! But hey, let's not kid ourselves. I'll steal a line from Geoff Roes. "I'm in it to win it." Good luck next week. -cr
While you were keeping yourself under the 2 hour run threshold, I was keeping myself running under 2 miles at a time (also because of a knee issue). Then you started running longer, and so did I. You got to a crazy amount of hours day after day (incredibly inspiring) and I got to my very meaningful 3 mile runs (that's a 5K and that's what I need to run in the short triathlons that I like to enjoy every chance I get). This was your last week of training, now you taper and race next week. Well, this was my last week of training, now I taper and race my first triathlon of the season next weekend. How crazy is that? I'm happy I can do this next weekend. And I'm happy you can do your thing next weekend too. May it be awesome for both of us.
I’m glad your training over the last few months has gone so great. You’re going to rock at Miwok!
Hey Tony,
After seeing you descending Green, I went up and over Green, down Green-Bear, up West Bear Ridge and then cut over to Bison drive. Thanks to your footprints I knew I was going in the correct direction. That's the first time I've cut over to Walker via Bison. The signs were kind of scary, but I figured I could dive into the woods if a car came. I did the Walker loop CCW and then over to Eldo, up old Mesa to Bear Canyon and back over Green. For some reason when I logged this run on Map-My-Run it comes out 5 or 6 miles shorter than your maps. Not sure what I'm doing wrong, but I figure it had to be a 30 mile loop starting/finishing from Chataqua.
-Kraig
Bummed I was out of town and couldn't attend the Zombie event. Hope to get a chance to see you in action at Miwok.
I say Miwok will be a "walk in the park" for you. If I had money it would be on you...oh, and Jenn Shelton.
I used to see the Flatirons as beautiful backdrop to Boulder; now every time I look at them I look past to the mountains they adorn and think of your runs up and down them.
Hey tony got any pictures or sites where we could check out those new nb's
Kraig,
Nice run! You're getting a shorter distance because I live (and run from my doorstep) about 2.5-3mi from Chautauqua (depending on which route/streets I take). I often tack on a fair bit of barefoot down at Kittredge Fields at the ends of my runs, too.
Tony
Good luck at Miwok!!
Good luck at miwok! Sure you will kick out a good race.
Go get 'em at Miwok!! They don't have a chance!
Hey Anton! My name is Tim. I'm the winemaker at Arizona Stronghold, and Caduceus Cellars here in northern Arizona. I'm a huge fan of your blog, and your approach to this thing you do. I would imagine you don't consume lots of alcohol, but wanted to invite you to stop by the winery for a barrel tasting next time on your way through the desert. Please contact me to set something up. tim@azstronghold.com. I would say best of luck at Miwok, but i read this blog... you seem quite ready. Take care.
tim white
Kari and I saw you descending the Eldo trail towards the visitor center on Saturday...which got me thinking back to a previous post of yours where you were looking for the spur trail from the Fowler trail down into Eldorado Springs. Did you ever find that?
Here's a map:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3676446
Good luck at Miwok!
- Chris
Anton, I am a novice Ultra runner (3 races of 50+).I am training for my first 100 this summer. I saw you twice on Mesa T. Sunday.
You are an inspiration to us mortals!! You helped drive my 5+ hour run as I reflected on your connection to these mountains. Thanks for the boost.
Chris,
I thought that was you in Eldo...turned into a nice day of running out there. Yes, I eventually found the secret back entrance up to Fowler last fall; love those trails over there.
Brad,
Glad I could be of help in your 5hr effort.
Anon,
Nope, NB isn't quite ready to unveil those bad boys just yet. Still in the early proto-type stages.
T
Stay healthy. Taper. Make it happen. The Douche Rocket is coming to Miwok and taking no prisoners.
Did I mention taper?
When you can, we'd all love to see your take on the new NBs. Any chance you can convince them to make them in wide widths? Fat enough for my Flintstone (EE-EEE) feet?
How do you map the trails so accurately on mapmyrun? i can't seem to figure that out.
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