Manitou DIM...

Monday, June 23:

DIM hash hared by NIPS. I made the mistake of washing my old, worn-out hashing shoes--making them "look" new. Given ILYBs was doing circle, the rest was inevitable. Drink it down down down down...

Starlight Spectacular...

Last Saturday at midnight I participated in the 2008 Starlight Spectacular bike ride. Hundreds of people assembled at the Garden of the Gods visitor/nature center to ride their bikes either 13.4 or 20 miles. The route took us down Garden of the Gods Road and ultimately down Cascade in downtown CS. We worked back towards the garden and Manitou along Colorado Ave. The longer ride (which I did) took us through Garden of the Gods as well (IMHO: the best part of the bike ride--lots of hills!)

I participated with a team that consisted of Dani (Nappy), Allison (Cherry), Alyssa, Chris (Pork), Nikki, Lauren's cousin Ben, Ryan (Bungholio), Stacey, and Mike (PIMP).

Me and Ben after finishing the long route (while others opted for the shorter):

Without a doubt the most "fabulous" bike at the ride. I think these guys took home the award for best-dressed bike. This thing had computer-controlled lights all over it and nostalgic, easy-going music playing out the speakers on both sides of the bike. The riders sported lighted-earrings and other lighted apparel. These guys also did the entire route (the long route) and maintained a good 8 mph pace throughout--uphill or downhill. This picture really doesn't do the bike justice. I'm envious...maybe next year I'll deck out my ride!

Panoramic 4-mile...

Last Saturday (June 14), I did the Panoramic 4-mile run. I was first in my age group and 5th overall. 00:28:10--7-min mile average. Small turnout--but nice day for a race and good place to have it (Bear Creek).

Pearl Street Running Club

My friend Ryan Shininger (founder of Jack Quinn's Running Club in Colorado Springs - http://www.jackquinnsrunners.com) is trying to start up a new running club in Boulder, CO. It, like JQRC, meets every Tuesday at the Lazy Dog on Pearl Street. I attended the inaugural run last Tuesday.

Kathy's MS fundraiser (on June 15)...

My friend Kathy held an MS fundraiser last Sunday (June 15). She is also planning to ride her bike 150 miles at the end of the month to raise more funds. We assembled at Old Chicago on Tejon and then did a small pub crawl that included McCabe's Tavern, The Rocket Room, The Triple Nickel, and then back to Old Chicago. We raised close to $400 by selling raffle tickets and playing cards (best and worst 5-card poker hands were awarded prizes that Kathy got donated from various local businesses).

Some of the group at Rocket Room:

Sarah looking for the winning raffle ticket:

Charlie re-hydrating:

Chris with the sumo-wrestler biking helmet:

Amy and Kathy:

Me and the celebratory cigar:

GoG 10-Miler pictures...

After:
During:

Tina's birthday...

Friday, June 6: We hung out at Dani, Tina, and Jules' house last Friday to celebrate Tina's birthday. Ate ribs and played lots of outdoor flippy cup. Dani and Matt's team dominated this again:



Rylan was also in town visiting. We said goodbye on Sunday at Navajo Hogan's. What a lush:

DIM hash...

Monday, June 9: Dani and I hared the DIM hash starting at One Sports Bar and Grill (near Constitution and Academy) and ending in a ditch (rather a landfill) behind Porky's (near Powers and Palmer Park). ;) Trail was about 5 miles with shiggy, playground and boob checks, food, and of course PBR...

After circle many of us went over to Porky's to play sand volleyball. Awesome time!

Garden of the Gods 10-Miler

Sunday, June 8: Today was my first Garden of the Gods 10-Miler race:

http://www.gardentenmile.com

Great turnout and great day for a race! I ran 1:13:04. I was pleased with this time. I only did this well because I was trying hard to beat Charlie (my lightweight runner buddy). I kept a few hundred feet behind him the entire race planning to pass him during the last half mile or so. Unfortunately I didn't have it in me to make the final push and he also stepped it up a knotch. I ended up finishing about 40 seconds or so behind him. I've either got to quit smoking or lose 25 pounds to beat him.

JT won 4th place in his age group with a time of 1:07:59. JT kicked butt in his training for this as well--attending quite a few of the early AM training runs. Good work dude!

Many, many, many other friends were at this race too! Fun seeing so many people at one event like that...

Whitewater Rafting

Saturday, June 7: John, Jesse, Dan, Avi, Charlie, Ai Lee, JT, Katie, Harold, Alyssa, and myself did a little whitewater rafting through the Royal Gorge on the Arkansas River. The river was flowing at 2980 CFS (or something like that). Commerical rafters aren't allowed through the Gorge when the river is over 3200. The Gorge had been closed virtually all week--but luckily opened up for us Saturday morning.

One commerical raft flipped spilling people, oars, and other equipment everywhere...and some of our group came pretty close to taking a swim. Pretty exciting ride!

John, Will (raft guide), me, Jesse, and Dan:

The entire crew (less Harold and Alyssa):

Law Day 10K

Crossin' the finish (Friday, May 30):

Weekend at Steamboat Springs (5/30-6/1)

Friday (May 30) I did the "Law Day 10K" race with brownie. Susan Mopper was nice enough to come down and chill with us afterwards. This race was messed up (much like our legal system I suppose). Arrows were provided to indicate the race route only on straightaways (like there is any ambiguity there)--at places where the trail forked off in two or three directions, no arrows, no course marshals! I really didn't care--but it added a good three minutes to my time while I was screwing around trying to find the right way. Eventually I came to the 6 mile marker--while my GPS said ~5.5. So, I quickly made up the distance by running down the street and back before crossing the finish line. Gee whiz...but the PBR and Ruby's burger made it all better! ;)

After all that I took off for our condo in Steamboat Springs and caught up with Allison, Tara, Ryan, and Stacey. After that lovely 3.5 hour drive I was pulling into the condo at about midnight. We still stayed up until at least 3 AM drinking and playing cards...

Harold, Alyssa, Chris, and Nikki showed up Saturday. Sunday morning we were all up around 5 AM and Ryan and I were on the half marathon bus by ~6 AM. Of all the people that signed up for the Steamboat half or 10K--only Ryan, Harold, and myself actually ran. Others (with the exception of Allison) had a bunch of lame excuses! ;) Poor Allison got some weird food poisoning or something (we aren't sure) on Friday that lasted all weekend--but she was a champ and hung with us for the duration.

I kicked butt on this race (granted it was mostly level and downhill): 01:36:58 (52nd place out of the ~1000 half marathon runners):


Finished off the weekend soaking in the hot springs near Steamboat...

Bolder Boulder 10K

Couple of pictures from the Bolder Boulder. I'm pretty sure my official time is lost. Perhaps bad timing chip. I'm providing these as proof that I did this race--note the timing chip on the shoelace and the timing mat that I just crossed! ;)