Ta daaaaa...

The first fall of snow is not just an event, it is a magical event. ~ J.B. Priestley

Snow! Not at my house but damned close. I thought we had a good shot at getting some here but it didn't happen (since we have lived up in the hills, the only month during which it hasn't snowed once at our place is August).

I decided to head down to the rec center to run on the treadmill and swim. This, apparently, was enough to get the clouds to lift and the sun to come out. So had I waited an hour or so, I could have had a pleasant run outside. In any event, I got in a good treadmill run, felt great, sunk swam for a bit and was treated to spectacular views of the snowcapped peaks near our house upon finishing up. Good times!

So for my run I did 1 mile warm-up at a 10-minute pace, then another mile at a 4-hour marathon pace (9-minute miles) then 2 miles at a 3:30 marathon pace (7:57-minute miles) then stepped it up for the last hard mile at a 3-hour marathon pace. Then I warmed down for a mile back at 10-minute pace. Interestingly, I was able to keep my heartrate in the 140s at the 4-hour pace and it only jumped up a little at the 3:30. Forget about the 3-hour mark. I would have a lot of work to do to be able to sustain that pace for more than a few miles. And keep in mind this is all on a treadmill, which doesn't really count.

Then I swam for about 15 minutes. Which was plenty. I am less than efficient in the pool.

So send your thoughts out to the poor bastards doing the Leadville 100 today. I am guessing it is pretty ugly up there.

~stubert.