So, the 2007 Bolder Boulder... what a blast! A great race, very well organized (although not so much the release of the results) and a fun course. For those of you who don't know, the BolderBoulder 10K is one of the
largest road races in the country, it also attracts a VERY impressive
group of elite competitors. I just moved to Boulder 2 months ago for a
6 month internship and the first thing I did when I got the job, before
checking airline prices or looking for a place to live, was register
for the BolderBoulder, I was THAT excited about it.
This year's field included over 50,000 runners (I'll update with an
official number when I have one) and the start takes over two hours as
runners are seeded in almost 80 separate waves based on projected
finish time.
The course is fairly flat (for Boulder), with some rolling hills. Much
of the course is through the neighborhoods of Boulder, there were lots
of bands and one house full of college students set up a splash pool
and a slip and slide for racers (yes, i indulged, it was worth the
delay). Unquestionably the worst hill comes right at the end as you
trudge up Folsom road before turning into Folsom Field, home of the CU
Buffaloes (Bison!) football team. It's a heck of a spot for a steep
hill, but then when you get into the stadium, you have a mass of
humanity cheering you on for the last 2-300 meters... it's really
amazing. There is also free beer and free massages at the end, though I
couldn't find the latter.
Personally, I had a great time. I stuck to my race strategy (Tempo pace
with my HR between 80-90% until the last mile, then slowly ramp it up a
little more for the finish) and while my time was somewhat
disappointing (56:50 by my watch) considering the heat and stopping for
the slip and slide, I can't complain. Above all I had a lot of fun.
YOGA! mmmm... stretch you I will... yes...
So I went to my first ever Yoga class on Tuesday night... and boy was I sore today. I was pleasantly surprised with how well i was able to do the positions and I got some very positive comments from my classmates and the instructor. Specifically the instructor was surprised to find out I was a runner since runners are usually very stiff (and I'm terrible about stretching), but he said it seemed like I had a good degree of mental as well as physical flexibility. The mental flexibility he explained as having a good sense of what my body's limits are while still being open to pushing them without forcing them. I was pretty pleased with myself... until this afternoon when the soreness finally caught up with me. Ugh.
Still, I'm looking forward to my next Yoga class.
So, another new bike already? Well, yes. Basically, it comes down to this. I'm doing the 5430 half Ironman and I can't do it on the Trek hybrid. I really like that bike, but on rides over an hour or two, it kills me and I know I'm losing a lot of speed to riding in such an upright position. I strongly weighed getting a road bike and fitting it with aerobars, but barring a disaster at the 5430, i know I'm going to want to do an Ironman once I finish grad school. I found a very good price on a bike I like a lot. More important than anything else, it's comfortable. I'll post some pictures once I've got it. the money is something of an issue (I'm still a graduate student after all) but my job pays pretty well and if it seems like it will really be an issue come the end of the summer, I'll sell the bike before I leave for Hell... I mean, Cincinnati. I won't get all my money back, but I think i could do well enough based on the results I've seen on eBay.
largest road races in the country, it also attracts a VERY impressive
group of elite competitors. I just moved to Boulder 2 months ago for a
6 month internship and the first thing I did when I got the job, before
checking airline prices or looking for a place to live, was register
for the BolderBoulder, I was THAT excited about it.
This year's field included over 50,000 runners (I'll update with an
official number when I have one) and the start takes over two hours as
runners are seeded in almost 80 separate waves based on projected
finish time.
The course is fairly flat (for Boulder), with some rolling hills. Much
of the course is through the neighborhoods of Boulder, there were lots
of bands and one house full of college students set up a splash pool
and a slip and slide for racers (yes, i indulged, it was worth the
delay). Unquestionably the worst hill comes right at the end as you
trudge up Folsom road before turning into Folsom Field, home of the CU
Buffaloes (Bison!) football team. It's a heck of a spot for a steep
hill, but then when you get into the stadium, you have a mass of
humanity cheering you on for the last 2-300 meters... it's really
amazing. There is also free beer and free massages at the end, though I
couldn't find the latter.
Personally, I had a great time. I stuck to my race strategy (Tempo pace
with my HR between 80-90% until the last mile, then slowly ramp it up a
little more for the finish) and while my time was somewhat
disappointing (56:50 by my watch) considering the heat and stopping for
the slip and slide, I can't complain. Above all I had a lot of fun.
| Mile 1: | 00:08:36 |
| Mile 2: | 00:09:14 |
| Mile 3: | 00:09:50 |
| Mile 4: | 00:09:35 |
| Mile 5: | 00:09:01 |
| Mile 6: | 00:08:48 |
| Total Time: | 00:56:50 |
YOGA! mmmm... stretch you I will... yes...
So I went to my first ever Yoga class on Tuesday night... and boy was I sore today. I was pleasantly surprised with how well i was able to do the positions and I got some very positive comments from my classmates and the instructor. Specifically the instructor was surprised to find out I was a runner since runners are usually very stiff (and I'm terrible about stretching), but he said it seemed like I had a good degree of mental as well as physical flexibility. The mental flexibility he explained as having a good sense of what my body's limits are while still being open to pushing them without forcing them. I was pretty pleased with myself... until this afternoon when the soreness finally caught up with me. Ugh.
Still, I'm looking forward to my next Yoga class.
So, another new bike already? Well, yes. Basically, it comes down to this. I'm doing the 5430 half Ironman and I can't do it on the Trek hybrid. I really like that bike, but on rides over an hour or two, it kills me and I know I'm losing a lot of speed to riding in such an upright position. I strongly weighed getting a road bike and fitting it with aerobars, but barring a disaster at the 5430, i know I'm going to want to do an Ironman once I finish grad school. I found a very good price on a bike I like a lot. More important than anything else, it's comfortable. I'll post some pictures once I've got it. the money is something of an issue (I'm still a graduate student after all) but my job pays pretty well and if it seems like it will really be an issue come the end of the summer, I'll sell the bike before I leave for Hell... I mean, Cincinnati. I won't get all my money back, but I think i could do well enough based on the results I've seen on eBay.
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