March 2013 Training Wrap-up

The month of my come-back...

The bad knee felt better. 

From March 8th, I hit 15 days of skinning and 5 days of mountain biking for a total of 29 miles skinning or hiking, 108.5 miles mountain biking (all off-road) and 37,500' total vert climbing.

Taking a mini-break to watch the Texas Rangers on Opening Night right now, but headed straight West tomorrow after work.

April is key.

Got to get my fat-ass more slender.

Um, Training So Far...

Welp, after a kickass 2012, I'm behind the pace.

Last rear I rationalized the crummy snow year because I was hitting the trails early. I did 281 miles and 44,000 vert climbing in March and lots of that was right here @ 9100 feet in Summit County.

So let's just say I'm a bit behind that.

2013, I was injured from late January to early March, but it seems I'm back and able to train hard now. Its been cold this month, so the snow is deeper and more persistent, but I've skinned up as much as I can. On my last three weekends I've bolted west for Fruita, Moab, and Vernal respectively. I'm getting back.

I've got a way to go to reach my fitness from last summer, but its a challenge I'm stoked to accept. I'll let you know how it goes right here. I've got a CTR problem this year. No excuses allowed.

Goals

I want to finish, period.

No time goals, no outside pressure, no agenda except to finish.

I hate lightning. I think everyone who spends a good amount of time up high in Colorado has a lightning story. Mine was at 14,000 feet cowering in a ditch. I don't wish to repeat it. I know I must deal with this fear in the CTR to some extent, but I intend to avoid that experience if I can.

Sure I have goals. I'm competitive. But I'm zero threat to win so I guarantee I'm going to be careful before I decide to spend most of my day (or night) above 12,000 on the Cataract / Coney segment. If I have to sleep out a storm before heading up there, then so be it.

No time constraints. My only goal is to enjoy my time on the trail.

I've got a problem

I moved to Colorado five years ago and it wasn't long before I learned of the Colorado Trail Race.

I was smitten with the idea immediately even as I knew I wasn't worthy yet. It would  be years before I could actually consider attempting it, but it was inevitable. At some point I knew the time would be right.

So I studied. I rode hard. I read every post on every race prep thread on Bikepacking.com. I followed the race on Trackleaders. I began to feel like I was friends with Jefe and Ethan and Jesse and Toby and Joey Durango despite the fact that I've never met any of them.

Fortunately I live in Summit County so I've had great opportunity to acquaint myself with the first 200 miles of the Colorado Trail. Last summer I purchased my first gear bags. I completed two 120+ mile over-nighters. I got in the best shape of my old life. I crushed all my PR's and I began to wonder if 2013 might be the year.

So let's do this. Let's put it all out there in 2013. No time to wonder anymore. I've got a CTR problem to solve.