Tuesday, 10/11

10.4 miles, 1600 feet elevation. 

The thunderclouds in the distance to the east were quite puffy.

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Wednesday, 10/12

Rest.

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Thursday, 10/13

One hour on the elliptical. 

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Friday, 10/14

Front raises (swings) with a single 15 lb kettlebell. Done in a quick motion, these are different than doing heavier, slow front raises.

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Saturday, 10/15

Rest.

My lower back was a little annoyed from the previous two days' workouts, so I took some time off from exercise today.

***

Sunday, 10/16

I'm craving to go to the mountains for a long one again soon. Today started off nice and cool and the mountains tempted me. My back was feeling better, but I didn't want to overdo it either.

So I set out for 10 miles on the bluffs instead.

The nice cool wind was perfect for a light jacket and shorts today.

I topped out at my favorite overlook in Austin Bluffs Open Space, and spent some time looking out at the mountains and thinking about where I'd like to go for my next long one.

I considered many different routes, like:

1. The usual route from lower High Drive, up to Frosty's Park, and down Old Stage Road. (~23 miles)
2. Limbaugh Canyon/ Mt. Herman Road loop. (~20 miles)
3. Almagre Mountain out-and-back from N. Cheyenne Cañon. (~15 miles)
4. Almagre Mountain, up standard route and down 370.C and Old Stage. (~26 miles, like the time I got caught in the storm)
5. Up the trail from Blodgett Peak Open Space to road 303 and down Rampart Range Road. (~21 miles)

Of course all this brainstorming took a while! As I got ready to head back, the sun ☀️ came out. It created lovely blue skies with streaked clouds above the tan sandstone rock formations of the bluffs.

I was able to take off my jacket and finish this run, warm in the sunlight in my tank top. I got 1900 feet of elevation and 10.5 miles in total.

I hope I'll be able to hit the mountains sometime mid-week in the coming days (once I decide on a route!)

***

Monday, 10/17

Dumbbell overhead presses with the 15 lb weights. Unilaterally, and alternating. Then together.

Felt good to work this range of motion today.

Then I did some reverse planks. I wanted to do a core-based exercise, but something different than the usual planks. Reverse plank holds were the perfect complimentary exercise for today. I need to do these more often!!

***

Tuesday, 10/18

Housework!

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Wednesday, 10/19

Rest.

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Thursday, 10/20

Another bluffs run day! I went to my overlook spot.

Instantly when I hit the Palmer Point trail a mile into my run, I could feel the heat.

I can definitely tell there's global warming when a late-October trail run is as hot as today. The heat radiated off of the yellow sandstone spires as I encircled the west side of the park.

I sweated as I climbed Marconi Heights and connected to Austin Bluffs Open Space at the overlook. As I sat on top and soaked in the views of the mountains, I debated my previous list from Sunday and decided tentatively on #5, the Blodgett Peak Open Space to road 303 run.

First off, I haven't been on that route in a while. It would allow me to add a little bit of adventure detouring, possibly either summiting Ormes Peak (a summit I have yet to tag), or climbing atop the huge overhanging rock outcropping in the National Forest that I keep wanting to go to. I love overlooks, and sometimes I enjoy the thrill of being right on the edge of an overhang with a significant drop to the valley below. I don't think I have a fear of heights, or I wouldn't go to overhangs, ledges, and rock outcroppings like this. But I do have a healthy regard for heights that gives me a rush of excitement, and I like to experience that.

Since this coming weekend will be busy, I hope to be able to do this mountain run sometime mid-week of next week. 

One final note from today's run - I am trying out a new electrolyte tablet and it seemed to help me maintain my energy despite the heat. I think taking these small salt tabs, especially on hot days, will help me with my endurance and avoid that crashy feeling on my longer runs. They are beneficial for even mid-length runs like today's 11 miles.

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Friday, 10/21

Just a few pull-ups.

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Saturday, 10/22

30 minutes on the row machine.

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Sunday, 10/23

4 miles, a moderately challenging hike with Alex and our friend. We hiked all the way up Strawberry Fields to the upper trailhead and then into the National Forest.

It ended up being a warm and beautiful day, even as a cold front slowly rolled through.

We got a really unique view of all the dramatic rock outcroppings, and the Will Rodgers Shrine up above.

***

All in all, a busy last couple of weeks, but no complaints! I have been able to fit in a balanced amount of strength and cardio.

Winter is beginning in the Colorado high country! I hope to be able to experience the winter woods soon. And, hopefully, a little bit longer run sometime this coming week.