December Always Remembers

 Jeffrey Eggleston, like the NASA Parker Solar probe dabbled in flying as close as he could to the sun in some recent races. 

11/17/24, The Wash Park Circuit (2.25mi), 10:52.57, 10th

Tucked in behind a large pack of generation Alpha(flies) and flashed through the first mile in 4:35. Thankfully the race wasn’t much longer than 10 minutes.

11/23/24, NXR Southwest Citizens Race, 5K, 15:07.64, 3rd

First cross-country race in 19 years (and I probably haven’t been on a golf course in as long). It didn’t disappoint. I took some wise advice and hung back in a very eclectic chase pack. Ran the final 1.1mi in 5:13 to move into 3rd. It was a good day. All 9 of my Peak to Peak High School runners ran personal bests, making me look like a credible xc coach. The family had a fun trip visit to Arizona. Within 24 hours of returning to Colorado we all came down with the flu.

  

Jeffrey didn't send a picture of those races so I found this one on the internet. This is pre-AI folks, real deal. 

I am certain there is a serious  Denver runner or two who feverishly check Denver race results on Saturdays hoping that if Adam wins a 5k that he won't crash that runner's planned race on Sunday. Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucker 

City Park 5k 15:40 for 1st.

The Great Candy Run 3.16 1st 16:22

Pumpkin Pie 5k 3.13 1st 15:52

Ruldophs Revenge 15:36 1st

Rock Canyon 5k 16:22 1st not an easy course

Jingle Jog 6k 1st 19:42

Ugly Sweater 5k 3.13 3rd 16:02

Jeff Mohrmann, a seasoned runner, took a vision quest to California and in the end he came back with the most important prize one can receive. He learned a little about himself. Or maybe he didn't. He might disagree with me because that's what he tends to do. 

The first thing you should know; I think I hate running. 

Not in the actual, functional movement sense. I enjoy moving via running. It is the "I'm going to get in ten miles today as part of my build for XYZ race in three months because I might shave a few minutes off of my PR" sense. That part. That is the part I hate. The unyielding feeling of obligation to train...improve...yada yada yada. I don't think it's for me anymore.

(If it is still for you - I support you and see you. But I don't want to join you for a run). 

I somehow manifested this current state of mind into an early December trip to Santa Monica, CA to run a 50K in the mountains above Malibu. Which was really an oversight on my part. I signed up for this race in January. Forgot about it for 9 months, and then was reminded by my friend who convinced me to sign up in the first place. So, having done exactly zero training for a mountainous 50K I booked a hotel and a plane ticket and showed up to the start line with an average of thirty miles per week of running in my legs and no runs longer than 8 miles since September. 

The course was beautiful - single track in the hills above the pacific, dry valleys, great vistas and conditions. The aid stations were exactly as you would expect for an ultra (think grizzled vets telling you how the next section is "going to rip your legs apart if you aren't careful, plus some pickle juice). My fellow racers were the usual mix of people having a great time and overly serious ultra bros (and gals). Overall, the race organization and event itself was low key and low maintenance. I recommend it. 

And look, I finished. My heart rate never got above 140. My knee didn't explode. Neither did my stomach. I ran the opposite of hard. Experience, sea level and a decent level of baseline fitness got me through. I was grateful for the finish and the experience. But did I love it? Did I even like it? No. Because, like I said, I hate running. 

Colorado XC USATF State Champs and USATF Masters XC National Champs

Boulder was once again the site of the combined CO state (open/masters) & National Masters Cross Country Championships. This year the weather showed out and was a perfect crisp fall day prime (get it) for racing.  Junior Strider Nicole Black, led things off with a smoking fast 9:01 1km in the kids race, with a jazzy tie-dyed Square State jersey. I think age graded she may have edged out her mom Ruth Black! Ruth exacted revenge on the previous CO state champs that was not, due a near homeowners insurance claim. This time she almost barfed which is way better than breaking your butt bone.

 

Nicole trained with one single 5min run. Her race report:

“The part that was most tiring was going up that hill. I didn’t really meet any friends at the race. I liked running and crossing the finish line and wearing my medal. Next year I think it will be warm.” She wore her tie-dye shirt for 3 straight days after the race. Nicole ran the whole 9mins straight! Not bad for being almost 6.

I arrived to the starting line without a broken tailbone this year. My goal was to pace myself and not go out too fast. It was a fun course, although a humble reminder that grass slows you down. It was the closest I’ve ever come to throwing up after a race, and the experience was inspiring enough that I found a new running coach a week later. 2025 will be different!

Logan Wealing, founding Square State Strider, came back to this event after a team podium placing in 2022. Logan laced up spikes for possibly the first time since his days as a Purdue Boilermaker athlete. Logan battled with the mostly altitude based teams to a 12th place finish in 17:59, beating every single sea level runner in attendance (not very welcoming Logan). 

Neil McDonagh also joined Logan and sadly missed teammate Adam Rich shooing away flocks of Canadian Geese from the last champs race. Neil kept a healthy personal space buffer from eventual winner, Joe Gray, placing 2nd in 15:49. 

Club Cross Country National Championships-Tacoma WA

Neil McDonagh - 10k 33:45 2nd

Tempted with the idea of chasing fellow Springs resident Joe Gray in another race, this time in the hometown of Arthur Batanides (guest star of several episodes of Bonanza!). This time the weather was the opposite, despite a well laid out 10k course with a packed masters field, the runners were pelted with bone chilling rain, sleet , hail and 40 mph winds during the entire race. Stuff only mailmen allegedly go out in. In the words of Boulder race director, Lee Troop, the course 'looked like the dog's breakfast', with many deep long mud patches with no alternative option but to think about trench-foot related worm risks. At the risk of bringing shame upon my family back home in Colorado and even my local AirBnb hosts, I was able to surge over the back half of the course and replicate the previous months result finishing 2nd to Mr Gray. This time albeit, distinctly muddier and near hypothermic. 

Gerald and Kari Romero completed all of the Disney Races (are there like 9 you have to do now?). But hopefully it was a work conference trip (wink) and it could all be expensed, because it sure looked fun! They also hopped in the Colorado Springs Turkey Trot with Gerald on the mend from his foot injury with a 22 min clocking for the 5k event.