Steak on a Stone

Ok, so I had heard of this place you can go eat called Steak on a Stone <http://www.steakonastone.us/> Basically, this restaurant brings you a plate out with a stone on it heated to about 700 degrees. On it is an uncooked steak. So, while you eat it, it cooks it slowly. Different idea all together. I had to check this place out.

Basically, the principle of it is the first bite and the last are exactly the same. So, Jeff and I headed there and I got the filet. Wow. I have to say, it may have been the best steak I have ever had. Plus, I cooked it. It was awesome.

If you are in the Montrose area, there is one there. I heard there is one up in Cleveland as well.

The wine selection was not the most indepth I have seen. But, it did have some by the glass that were pretty good. You mght be better off ordering bottle serivce is you are there with a group who like wine.

After the weekend I had a steak really hit the spot. I hadn't had a good steak in a long time. Going to have to get there again very soon.

Last Long Training Run for Boston

Every year Vertical Runner organizes the Are you ready for Boston (Hope you Like Hills) Group Run. This is a 19 mile run through the CVNP on the some of the worst hills there. Basically, the course tries to simulate the Boston Marathon course. Long down hill, then some small rolling hills. Then a tough climb up Oak Hill. More rolling hills. Another big down hill to the Valley again. Then up Hines Hill (about a 2 mile climb) to the Hike and Bike to head back.

This year Vince talked me into making it a little different and doing what he did last year which was to double Hines Hill. Hmmm. Ok! What could possibly go wrong. Well, we did it. And it sucked. We even finished off on the Boston trail instead of the H&B. Guess Vince didn't get enough.

Final stats for the day way just over 23 Miles at just under 8 minute pace. The combined vertical was 6,300 feet (3187 gain & 3144 loss).

Elevation Chart

Run For Your Life! 5k

I have to say that this race was completely unexpected. The week got away from me and I started an unintentional taper (which means I blow off some workouts during the week.) This left me pretty well rested. So, I looked for a 5k in the area on Saturday morning.

For some strange reason, whenever I now look for a random 5k and check the results the previous year, my buddy Lloyd has ran it. Never fails. Once again, checking there was Lloyd. The other good token is that this usually means good luck for me.

I had done pretty well in the early part of the season on some very hilly courses and was wondering how I would do on a flat course. After warming up and seeing it, I knew this was going to be a good race.

I went out a tad too fast again (big surprise) but managed to settle in just after mile 1. By mile 2, we had separated ourselves pretty good from the rest of the runners. I glanced back just before mile 2 marker and didn’t see anyone. Hit mile 2 at 11:30 and realized that I had a good chance at PRing. I held the pace and stayed with the guy right in front of me. Rounded mile 3 and head the time 17:30! We pushed in pretty hard and managed to hit an 18:40! PR!

So, my third race of the year and my third PR in a row. I am pretty happy as of right now with my Boston preparation. Going into a half marathon next weekend should be the final test. But all signs are looking pretty darn good.

As for the race, I placed 8th overall out of 500 people and won my age group out of 27 guys. Bad news: I missed the course record for my age group by just 15 seconds. Have to work on my pacing before Boston.

Next up Spring Classic Half Marathon!

Song of the Week: Sex on Fire by the Kings of Leon

26.2 Days to Boston!

That is what the email read from the race I received yesterday. Hard to believe it is that close. Along with the reminder, I did get my bib information and starting assignment. I was pumped to see that my qualifying time got me into Wave 1. Wave 1 starts at 10am with 14,000 other people broken up in 14 1,000 person corrals. Wave 2, with another 14,000ish people, will go at 10:30am.

Crazy.

In my starting corral alone is about 6 times larger than my qualifying race. The gravity of the race is starting to really grow.

Along with my starting info I got my Bib number which is #5675. The bibs are assigned by your qualifying time. So happy to have made the 5000s! You can follow the progress of the runners on the website by the bib number. If all goes according to plan, I should be rounding the last corner just after 1:00pm.

St. Malachi 5 Mile

The entire week I was out in Boulder, once again. I wasn’t able to climb any mountains this time, but did get a few nice runs in. The Rockies had their snow caps and look amazing in the blue sky. I still managed to get a sun burn while out there. Lucky me.

While out there, my buddy Jim talked me into running the St Malachi race back in Cleveland. I had a late flight coming back, so I know it wasn’t going to be pretty. My flight ended up having delays and I got in even later. Saturday morning came EARLY and next thing I know Jim is in my driveway waiting to head up. We swung through Independence and picked up another runner Courtney and head to downtown Cleveland.

The St Malachi is known for being a pretty big race in the spring. Lots of folks come out to run it. This year, there was over 1,500 people. Not bad for a 5 miler. Not bad if you figure that is almost as many people who run the Cleveland Marathon! Chip timed and everything.

The race went well. I did my usual and went out too fast. Hit the first three miles in 5:50, 6:00. 6:05. Of course, Jim had told me that the course was a little hilly, but all in all pretty flat. Yeah right. This was a pretty hilly course and hit several bridges around the Cleveland Flats.

I ended up being pretty happy with my overall finish. Final time was 32:46 which was good for 71st place out of 1592 total runners and 11th of 141 guys in my age group. Good for a 95% finishing place. One of my highest finishers ever. And a PR to boot! That’s another PR in 2009 already! Not bad on less than 4 hours of sleep.

So, I also found out the best part of this race is the post race party at McCarthy’s. Got to see a bunch of my running friends (many of which I think have been hibernating all winter!) and got to make some fun plans for Boston. Which reminds me…5 weeks ‘til Boston!

Song of the Week: I will Survive (Remix)

Shamrock 15k

It is official, the 2009 race season is here. March always mark the end of winter and the running of the Shamrock. And every year I get my ass kicked on this course. However, I have to admit, this year not so much! My Boston training looks like it may be starting pay off.

Last year, we were not sure if the race was going to happen due to a snow storm the night before. This was a complete change from last year. This year was my kind of weather...cold and rainy. However, it could have been a bit less rainy. During the early miles of the race, it really came down.

My final stats for the day was a time of 1:05 (5 minutes off my PR!) 15th overall and 2nd in my age group. All in all, a pretty good day. Next up...good question. Need one more race or so before I leave for Beantown. Hmmm....

2008 Recap & 2009 Update

Well, it has been a while since my last update. Ok, so I haven't posted one yet this year. Since it is March now, I guess I better get something out there.

2008 recap

Wow...what a year. Seriously, folks. Ok, so the year is over. I was going over things and looking at the year. It was a tough year for me personally. It was also very busy with work and...well...running. My goals were pretty simple for the year: PR in everything and qualify for Boston. For the most part I did that. I didn't actually break my 5k...I tied it. (However, I did tie it running second overall at the race!) But everything else 10k to 100k was set.

Along the way, there were some very cool things that happened:

1. Climbed my first mountain (Bear Peak in Boulder)
2. Ran my first 100k
3. Ran my fist 10 miler...always been on my list of todo's
4. Ran 27 races total...6 were in one month, July
5. Ran 10 races straight finishing in the 90 percentile or higher
6. Ran over 2,200 miles (somewhere between 2200-2400...lost some data early this year)

2009 Update & Plan

So I have been busying trying to figure out the rest of the year and also set some goals like I did last year. Where those are still finalizing I do have things close. At least, I do know my goal races for the year. No surprise that Boston is my number one focus for the first half of the year. For the second half, I am planning on running the Burning River 100. I know that many of you knew this was coming and I jinxed myself by saying that if I made it to Boston, I am going to reward myself with a 100 Miler. What better one to do that one in my backyard.

Of course, this does mean that I mean to make it throw the first half of the year in one piece. This has been a ROUGH winter with the cold, but Spring isn't far off.

Are those my only two races? Hell, no. I hope you all know me better than that! I have some lined up. Beating 27 will be tough to do, so I expect fewer but longer races.