Month: December 2022

Denver only got 7″ of snow, but the running trails are covered in semi-hard pack and ice.  Looks like today will be a treadmill day.  I have been using the treadmills in the gym when weather doesn’t permit an outside run.  So far I have been lucky that the treadmill days turn out to be the days I run six miles.  Six on the treadmill is a lot easier than six on the hills.

I’ve settled into a routine of two miles on Mondays, four miles on Wednesdays, six miles on Fridays, and light free-form intervals on Sundays.  Running six every other day didn’t give me enough time to recover between runs.  I’m still a novice at this, but I have been learning a lot watching real runners on the trails.  I have been watching stride, form, how they use intervals, and course changes to train.  I get a lot of encouragement from these people, even though I have never actually spoken to any of them.  Whether it’s a nod, or a thumbs up from the younger runners I pass going the opposite direction, or an “oooooyeah!” from a person my age. Every bit of the encouragement, and common bond is appreciated.

After running the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot four mile race, I lost my motivation to push for anything more. For a while after, I felt like I lost my heart for it. I found a glimmer of light on the horizon, and this afternoon I had enough heart to increase my every other day run to six miles.

With the help of Chopin, and New Balance I did the six miles at my usually 10:12 per mile pace. The extra time and distance was really profound, and gave me a lot more time to think and evaluate. 

I need to work on speed and strength. I still run too stiff legged, and need to use my upper body and hips more to push. The sixteen weeks I have been working on this has convinced me I don’t have the physical ability to do it, but I am doing it, and won’t quit. 

The title of this post is a little deceptive. I did go, and walked the entire parade route looking for a spot to shoot photos and maybe some video. After walking the route and finding the parade did not start on time, I decided to walk back up the hill to home. 

I was tired and hungry from working all day, and fighting Colorado traffic on the way home. While walking the parade route I got in the middle of two fights, and stepped in someones vomit. That was enough Holiday Cheer for me. Ha Ha Ha, or Ho Ho Ho. 

I did take one photo of the 16th Street Mall decked out in the usually Holiday decorations. (While pondering having a drink at the local establishment on the right side of the photo.)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!