3 months ago, I thought I was on a clear track for a super fun season of racing road. Then in February it hit me that I was a little discontent with my plan.

Things became clear while reading TrailRunner Magazine and finding an ad for the Steamboat 50 Mile Ultra Marathon. My foot is feeling good and I’m not getting any younger. After speaking with my wife she gave me the thumbs up to explore the idea of completing the 50.

My buddy from work, Mike Porter completed the Old Pueblo 50 Mile Endurance in March of this year. We’ve talked about his experience for hours and I’m finally convinced that I have a shot.

The last step was recruiting my college buddy Brandon Groza who’s recently relocated to Boulder, CO to run the 50 with me, he’s in!

Brandon, Mike and I are going for it! All 3 of us are committed to the ramp up schedule below…

The build up:
Horsetooth Half Marathon – April 18
Medicine Bow Half Marathon – May 30
Leadville Trail Marathon – July 3
La Sportiva Eldora Trail 11km – August 8
The Steamboat 50 – September 18

Right now my weekly training schedule is:
2 days a week of CrossFit at Emergent Fitness
3 – 4 days a week of running with long weekend runs

Weekly training guide:

Monday – Emergent Fitness (CrossFit)
Tuesday – LSD (long slow distance)
Wednesday – Tempo run or hill train
Thursday – LSD
Friday - Emergent Fitness
Saturday - Long run
Sunday – Recovery or off

*Every 4th week is recovery.

It’s going to be a long ride but I think it will be worth it!

Andy B
outsideallday.com

If you’re like me, exercise for the sake of exercise is not super motivating. In fact, it’s pretty boring. Sure, anytime you can get outside on your bike it’s a good day but I’m not wired to get excited about exercise without an end goal.

Right now I’m enjoying…
- CrossFit twice weekly at Emergent Fitness
- Endless hours of indoor rides on the spin bikes at Miramont Fitness
- A weekly run with Mike P at the Devil’s Backbone
- The occasional outside weekend road ride when weather allows

The reality I’m facing is that I may not have the time or the budget to race the type of road cycling season I dreamed of. I’m a husband, dad, employee then cyclist, in that order. I love riding my bike, I love running trails and I love racing cyclocross. I’m just not sure how to make all of these work together. If I run, I’m not being strategic with my cycling, but I’m not sure what my first road race will be due to budget. Races are so dang expensive. Ugghh…

If I’m totally honest I feel torn between cycling and trail running. My first love is running trail and now that my foot is feeling better I’m exploring what it would look like to run more, maybe even run long distances like the old days. My ultimate athletic dream is an ultra marathon. Right now it’s a long shot but its nagging at me.

Lot’s spinning and I think I just need to keep pursuing what I’m having fun with…CrossFit, cycling and some running. We’ll see what shakes out…

Andy B
outsideallday.com