Training for Success with Self-Delusion

Another weekend has come around, another week past (passed?). I'm still too big of a wuss to test my leg on the running trails but the biking swimming and skiing are coming along well, which is to mean that my winter has been great even without the running.

I decided several weeks ago that rather than torture myself rehabbing in the pool I would instead be 'training' for a triathlon. My senses much prefer this mental slight of hand and now when in the pool I visualize stomping dudes. When I'm on the bike trainer now I visualize stomping dudes, embarrassing other riders by flying by and blowing their friggin' doors off. Rehab is lame, self-delusion awesome. Getting out on the ski trails during the weekend brings it all together for me. Then I set down, and write it all down here attaching a few images and pictures. It honestly builds a lot of motivation for the next week where, incidentally, I plan to be stomping crowds of imaginary dudes in the pool and on the trainer in front of my television.

My Steelers crapped the bed last week which was quite unfortunate. Better news, March Madness will be here soon and both the Irish and the Pitt Panthers are playing well. Even sooner than that, Enchanted Forest is hosting the New Mexico Cup this weekend. I won't be there but the SWNordic crew plans to be so watch the hell out. Next week is the Mt Taylor Quadrathlon. Been wanting to run in that for years and have just never got the timing right. Should be super competitive again this year, there are cash prizes for the top three men and women. If anyone is competing let me know, I know Lucy Ranney has her snowshoes ready for the summit leg. Juniper Hunter is probably running, and there are usually a few local teams that make the drive.

A couple final notes -

• Tim Wise over at I Heart Singlespeed put together the NM outdoors post of the week. Made me want to drive to 'Burque to ride, have a beer or two, and build a pizza oven in my yard. 
• Apparently February is Belgian beer month at the Second St Brewery, which merits my unqualified approval.
• And a fine video for the weekend of trials legend Danny MacAskill riding through (and over) Scotland.  I've watched it at least a dozen times already but it never gets less awesome. Get out and enjoy the weekend...

music by Loch Lemond, and the Jezabels

Nordic Skiing Pajarito - Los Alamos

Hiking the top of the Front Hill

I skied Los Alamos a couple weeks back and was really blown away by the fantastic Nordic track they have layed out just north of Pajarito. At that time the conditions for skiing just weren't very good but with the new snow last week I couldn't wait to get back up there. After skiing at Norski across the valley the evening before, I was fairly amazed that Los Alamos had almost no new snow except for the inch that had fallen the evening before. With totals of 23" and 4" from the week's storms up at Ski Santa Fe, Pajarito was plainly robbed.  Didn't see that coming. It looked like Tuesday's storm left a bit more for the coming weekend.

Looking south off the hill towards Pajarito

Across the valley through the scars of the Cerro Gordo fire. It was snowing down in Pojoaque

No matter, the 1in. of new snow was sorely needed and the wonderfully maintained track skied great. I actually had first tracks during my loops which was a little unexpected. Was it the snow or the cold temps? Not so much, it turns out half the SWNSki crew was up rocking Crested Butte and their annual Alley Loop Race.

Enjoying the small bit of fresh snow

Canada Bonita

Just before the turn around, looking west to the Valles Grande

Skied out to the turn around in 50min., returned on the multi-use trail in 20min. Headed back out to explore the trail connectors and switchbacks for another 25min. I decided that in addition to the groomed ski tracks, what really  makes this such an enjoyable trail is the broad skating area next to the track. I also noticed that in addition to the designated nordic trails, there are also flagged snowshoe trails that split off from the main multi-use trail. They head out to canyon overlook points to the north.

Loads of fun. Can't wait to give it another go this weekend.

Light on the way back

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Skiing Norski Trail - Santa Fe

Norski Trailhead

Distance: 2.5mi full loop
Starting Elev: 10,400ft
Net Climbing:  400ft

Got up to check out the new snowfall at Norski Trails Saturday afternoon and was greeted with falling snow above 9,000ft. That just made my day. Ski Santa Fe had been reporting 23in from this week's storms but it looked as if it may have settled into 8-10 new inches at Norski. All of it sorely needed and gladly skied.

The snowfall picked up as dusk arrived and temperatures dropped. Had the trails to myself and skied off two loops before it got too dark. Wish I'd had my headlamp with me so I could have kept running laps. 34 minutes round on loop 1, 33min for loop 2.

Fence gate and ski track at .5K

Track and snowfall on first loop

Alpine treadmill of goodness

I was treated to a sublime golden sunset, softened through the snow clouds and trail-side aspens.  Quite a sight. Recovered with an icy cold Samuel Adams and some Marvin Gaye.

Tracking west, up and over

Winter picture show

Related Posts:
 - Cross Country Skiing Pajarito - Los Alamos
 - Colorado Hut-to-Hut, Neff Mountain
 - Cross Country Skiing Santa Fe



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Winter Weather and National XC and Steelers

Last week's fall-like weather has been done away with by Old Man Winter. He apparently is bringing the pain to make up for what he let inadvertently slip by. The bikes are back in the garage, (well one is in the living room actually), and the skis are back on deck. I plan to be up at Norski this afternoon and the Swnski track up in Los Alamos tomorrow morning.

Psyched to get out on the new snow! My man Perry Farrell knows what's up so I'll briefly defer to him..








On another quick note - the National Cross Country Championships are being run out in San Diego today. Don't know why this isn't a bigger race since cross country is the shiz. They ought to bring back Porter and Kennedy and Williams and Jennings and Drossin and just have an ol' timers race to show these young pups what they're missing. The starting list shows Ben Fletcher, unattached out of Santa Fe. Hopefully Ben can take it to a few of these dudes. In any case, it looks like there will be a live webcast here. Cheers, go Stillers.







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Related Posts:
  - Off Piste, Winter Trails
  - Cross Country Skiing - Cumbres Pass, CO
  - Skiing the Rail Trail & Arroyo Chamiso

Corrida de los Locos - Race Report

A speedy crew at the start - Peters, Juniper, Espo, Abebe, Luis, Juan, Jake

This weekend's 26th annual Corrida de los Locos lived up to its name. In an inversion of annual norms, we had crazy-warm fall weather rather than snow and bitter cold. Don't know if it was the great weather or some other unseen fortune that brought out twice the regular field of runners - more than four times the number from last year.

This year's Corrida wound through the rolling golf course at Marty Sanchez before heading out and along a path paralleling Caja del Rio Rd. At the turn-around runners retraced their route to the finish. In prior years there was hardpack and ice to deal with, particularly black ice in the tree shadows of the golf greens and frustrating stretches of ankle deep post-holing on the Caja del Rio section. All of this make for a fantastic cross country race but were elements that this year's racers did not have to deal with. They did have to deal with burritos from the Santa Fe Baking Company and coffee provided by Java Joe's. More of an advantage than a deterrent actually but I digress.

A pack of runners at the mile plus mark

Another pack unfazed by the beautiful weather

Along with a record turnout this year's field was fairly stacked. Eventual champion Abebe Yimmer (former Las Vegas Marathon champion) and runner-up Luis Chavez pulled away from the returning champ Mike Ehrmantraut early in the 5.5ish mile race, and ran in tandem to the finish line. In the women's race, newcomer and this year's Santa Fe Snow Shoe Classic champ Whitney Dreier built an insurmountable lead over the rest of the field including past champions Newlyn Allison and Gina Ortiz, finishing clear of runner-up Erin Sindewald by a few hundred meters. We also had a fair turnout of prep runners this year with Daniel Romero of Los Alamos running to the front in a finishing time of 32:23, good for fifth overall in a very good field. Podium results were as follows:

Men's Overall: 1) Abebe Yimmer, 29:33; 2) Luis Chavez, 29:33; 3) Mike Ehrmantraut, 31:25.  Women's Overall:  1) Whitney Dreier, 37:41; 2) Erin Sindewald, 39:25; 3) Shiela Van Cuyk 41:06

Full and age-group results can be find at the Striders' website here.
Prior year results can be found here.
A photo album of the race can be found here.

Marc Esposito crosses the line in fourth

Eric Peters closes in sixth

Notables (and training buddies of mine) that finished up front include Highlands University runner and former Big Tesuque champ Luis Chavez; returning Corrida champ and the 2010 Big Tesuque champ Mike Ehrmantraut; former Big Tesuque champ and recent NYC marathoner Marc Esposito (4th), 31:42; All-around speed demon and former Duke City Marathon champ Eric Peters (6th), 32:25; Mt Taylor Quadrathlon front-packer Juniper Hunter (7th), 32:50; Marathoner Matt Dreier (8th), 33:07; Ultra runner (and blogger) Jacob Waltz, 35:04; Boston Marathoners Mike Dobesh 35:37, and Tony Gallegos 35:51; Corrida race director Meredith Schoenfeld crossed in 42:21; trail-runner and marathoner Gina Ortiz, 42:23; and Los Alamos trail runner Tracy Kneisler in 45:38.

A special thanks goes out to race directors Therese Trujillo and Meredith Schoenfeld and their crew of volunteers; to Mike Walsh at Paseo Pottery who provided the overall and age-group awards, and SF Screen Printers who did the printing on the race shirts we ran out of; to Whole Foods and Java Joe's for providing food and coffee. And lastly to the 106 runners that showed up to run on a beautiful January morning. Very well done to all involved and all who raced.

Kristen, the High Desert Babe, and Jen together at the finish line

 Related Posts:
   - Santa Fe Snow Shoe Classic - Race Report  Jan '11
   - Area Race Calendar
   - Area Trails List

Related Links:
   - Corrida Race Report - Santa Fe Trail Runner


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