The last couple weeks have been flying by.

Despite being busy, the gym workouts have been good lately. I could go a little heavier on the leg work, but I've been doing a lot of compound movements and also bodyweight work with the yoga trapeze. Overall, a fair amount of strength work to support and enhance my endurance. 

I've also been consistent in putting in my normal weekly mileage and waiting for the next big mountain run. Consistent town mileage is the base builder for those special marathon-length adventures!

Many of my town runs are now around the 12+ mile distance, about 3 times weekly.

The only thing lacking lately has been my diet, which has gotten a bit off track. Time to reign it back in, focusing on more whole foods and less snacking.

Since my last couple mountain runs above 10,000 ft have resulted in altitude headaches for me, I think I'll try for a 9,000-foot peak next. There's a few in the local area that I haven't marked off my summit bucket list yet. I hope to do this next mountain run soon. 

Here's a few photos from the last couple weeks: 

14 miles loop through Austin Bluffs Open Space on a cool and windy spring day.

A visit to the South Platte River and Sugar Creek Trailhead with the family. I'd like to return and do the Lower to Upper Sugar Creek loop as a run.

Sunset on a peaceful 12 mile loop run in the evening.

A few more shots of the bluffs and their characteristic outcroppings at sundown.

Another calm and perfect evening along Palmer Point Trail. 10 miles.

One final note: I enjoy mixing up my routine with both morning and evening jogs. This helps to not only keep things fresh, (the lighting is different at different times throughout the day, and you notice different things), but also it helps train my body to be comfortable running at all times of the day. Ultimately I hope to utilize this training with more long mileage ultra runs!

A 50-mile self-supported adventure is still the plan for sometime this summer, although I have no definitive route in mind yet.

For the next week or so, I want to focus on some ab-specific training in the gym, and hopefully summit that 9,000-foot local peak!