Well, after an almost snowless winter, Colorado has decided to bomb us with some inconvenient blizzards the last couple weeks. Naturally, I’ve decided now is the perfect time to set the stoke for summer racing.

Not sure how things will shake out, but here are a few races and events I’m looking at doing:

Bold – registered

Italics – most likely will race

• Fargo Marathon 5K/10K – May 29/30
• mid-June – Winter Park double-up (if it happens!) – MTB hill climb, 2 hours rest, running hill climb
• June 20 – Bighorn Gravel
• June 20 – VRD summer solstice
• June 28 – Mt. Blue Sky Ascent – 14 mile
• Vail Hill Climb – July 5
• Leadville Silver Rush 15 – July 11/12
• Triple Bypass – Cycling – July 11 
• July 18 – 10K at 10,000
• Mt. Blue Sky cycling hill climb – July 25
• Berry Picker – Aug. 1
• Aug. 8 – Pikes Peak cycling hill climb
• Meadow Mountain 11K OR Joe Vigil Invite 8K – Sept. 12
• PPA/PPM – Sept.19-20
• Cougar Ridge Classic – Sept. 27
• WMRA Mountain Running – Oct. 10-11 – Quebec, City Canada OR Bemidji Marathon – Oct. 9-10

Notes

• I’m really excited about the return of the Mt. Blue Sky events! The road has been repaired, apparently, which means the double-pole up a 14er challenge might be back on the menu this summer. The Blue Sky Ascent is a fun early-summer challenge because of the grade and surface – road + not too steep. In some ways, it’s harder than PPA because you can blow up by going too fast!
• I’d like to get in more biking events this summer, just for fun. I don’t really ‘race’ these, but I’ll view them as targeted training sessions which double as fun story/coverage/work trips!
• But, I AM specifically trying to do as many uphill-only races this year. In fact, I’m going to just do them all (except the Black Canyon of the Gunnison race, which I can’t because I’m in MN).
• Process goals
  • I was motivated by nostalgia mostly to sign up for the Fargo events. Back in 2014, I actually set the 10K course record (see photo at the top of this story). It’s since been broken, and if I were to even get within 1 minute of that time, I’d probably consider it a win. But the goal there is to force myself to do something I’m not super comfortable with: speed work! My ‘road’ season isn’t much compared to Andy Wacker, but, it’s probably all I can handle to be honest. The people who believe my 2:18:40 PPA time actually translates to a 2:18:40 road marathon are going home devastated by this news, but oh well.
  • Cycling hill climbs – I’m in it because 1) their fun 2) they give me something to train for 3) it’s a challenge to do them all in one summer and 4) they’ll hopefully compliment my target running goals
  • Training –
    • I’d like to hit a 95-mile week at some point this summer. (Post collegiately, I reached 100-120 for almost an entire fall after about 5 years of gradually building to that point. I would guess the highest I’ve had in the last 5-8 years is more like 70 or so…)
    • I’d like to run a few new 14ers
    • Get back the south Elbert trail FKT
    • get the Mosquito Pass FKT
    • Antero FKT from Browns
    • attempt the PP triple-double (DP on the highway, bike the highway, and run Barr Trail in a 2-day stretch)
    • DP up Blue Sky
    • Get a 10,000 ft vertical day
    • Bike the entire Mineral Belt with Novi (this might be the most important fitness check of the year)
    • Complete an epic Seder-Skier Scamper Camper training camp with the family
      • Must include Cosco ice cream/pizza visit
    • fix something like a man (can’t be rollerski related….bonus points if it has to do with a vehicle or requires me to open a DIY home-improvement book)
  • Performance goals
    • Fargo – Break 16/33 in 5K/10K double
    • Vail Hill Climb – break 53 and be in the mix
    • Blue Sky – beat my course PR … don’t walk!
    • PPA – 2:15
    • PPM – sub 2:30 for the ascent, don’t fall on the descent, grab more M&Ms at the top, spend less time in the Normatecs at the bottom.
    • Everywhere: Win big, fat stacks of booster-provided cash!
  • Sentimental goals
    • Stewardship in all seasons – faith, family, FKTs!
    • Find a good hotel for the PPA/PPM weekend!!!!!
    • Help my wife compete in and feel good about a couple 13, 14 races
    • If I’m ever interviewed after winning a race, make sure to be ready with, “I just wanna say, YOU DOUBTED US BUT NOW WE’RE HERE!”

***All of this might be made up.