Strummer Days Drifting Away

It's flying by.  Was greeted by this stunning sunrise at the Rez this morning, a sure sign that summer is starting to wind down and fall will be here before we know it.

I'll have to remember to start bringing my real camera and maybe even try some video with the GoPro.  But somehow the craptastic iPhone camera did o.k. this morning.  Some things are so amazing that even crappy iPhone can't screw them up.

I realize I've been neglecting the blog.  I post quick things over on Facebook and forget to come here.  Stupid Facebook, I like reading blogs so much better but I'm in the minority.

I love this time of year and we've been having a stellar summer, relatively cool and just enough rain to keep the fire danger down, I'm not even starting to get burnt out on the heat and sun.  Wish all summers could be like this, it's like it was when we first moved here 24 years ago before all the droughts and global warming and Too Many People driving Too Many Cars.  I've even been able to do some backyard agility training with Strummer in the afternoon if I happen to be home.  Unheard of in August. 

Strummer sez, 'Yay for summer backyard ganes'.

Lola sez, 'Yay for summer backyard naps'.  She's 13 1/2 so she can nap all she wants.

And in other news Strummer went to the Boulder Ironman to cheer on the cyclists and got some cheers of his own from the cyclists.  And some snugs off of a lady with a cowbell.

I have a lot I could write about the Ironman in general but it's long winded and not very positive so I'll keep my yap shut.  Was interesting to watch the race though.  These photos are taken with 4-6 miles left on a 112 mile bike ride all of which had been in blazing sun up until that point.  The course went way out east where you may as well be in Kansas and it was probably poke your eyes out boring and these riders were just returning to town.  Some were happy for some crowd support, others had their heads down and were on a mission.  Some looked like they had a marathon left in them and others . . . not so much.  I avoided the downtown Finish Line hoopla but I did watch a bit of the finish on the Ironman website and it seemed like it wasn't a super deep field, ie not many people finishing at the pointy end.  But I don't know, maybe there are so many races these days that that's normal. 

Despite what the media were reporting this was not Boulder's first ironman.  There was an ironman back in 2001 that lasted a couple few years then turned into a half ironman then the Ironman cartel bought the half and added a full and this is the first year the full has been an Ironman under the official Ironman brand.  Which for some reason matters to people.  There was an ironman in Grand Junction this May and only 17 people went to that one vs over 3000 for the Official Ironman Brand race in Boulder.  Registration fee for the 2015 Grand Junction race was $200 on this year's race weekend, $250 until May 19 of this year and is currently at $400.  Registration for Official Ironman Brand race for this year's Boulder Race?  $760!  And I think the one in New York is/was over $1000.  Being an Ironman vs an ironman is a spendy proposition, not for the weak of wallet.  Whole new tax bracket.  Lots of super fancy cars parked at the Rez for masters swims and races in the couple few weeks before the race.  Quite an education in Ironman Culture over the past couple few weeks.  On the plus side my masters swim group must have made a nice profit this year.

Meanwhile my race season is still in full swing.  I have Xterra Buffalo Creek in 2 1/2 weeks then Xterra Nationals in September.  And maybe a non-Xterra sactioned off-road tri the week before Nationals just so I can get in the open water before Nats.  I'm not as fussy as the Ironman folk, non-Xterra is fine with me.  I'm pretty sure I already have enough points to qualify for Nationals even without Buffalo Creek.  I'm currently sitting in 8th place (top 10 go to Nationals) and with the exception of one person I don't think anyone else below me will do another race let alone 2.  The past 2 years I've finished in 7th place, we'll see if it happens again this year.

Then there's hiking in the high country, another summer treat.  Wildflowers are epic this year due to the snowy winter and wet spring.

I know you're jealous of my loud purple shorts. 

Oh yeah, and the rattlesnake.  We saw 2 on different trails but I only got a photo of this one.  The other one was angry and rattling and there were people between me and it so I couldn't see it before it slithered into a hole right next to the trail.  Still rattling and angry and I could still see it's silhouette.  Let a few other people go past it before I went and put my bike between me and it.  A little scary but I made it past.

Still a few more weeks to squeeze out as much as I can.  Better go throw another load of laundry into the washer.

Sourdough Trail

I don't think this is exactly a great way to recover from a race but summer is so short in the high country, have to get in all the hiking I can.

Somebody was happy to hit the trails and stretch his legs.  Though he did manage to tear the pad up near one of his dew claws.

Didn't slow him down any.  Sporting the pointy up ears look.

And one up, one down.

Stick.  So fascinating.

Last time I was on this trail was 3 years ago and Cody came along.  It was one of his last hikes in the mountains.  He turned 14 last month and these days he goes on a mile loop through the neighborhood most days.  Lola can still hike but even at 11 she's a pain in the woods so she stayed home and kept Cody company.  I feel bad leaving them home but there's no point denying Strummer a nice hike.

Was going to take Strum to the practice field this morning for a quick dogwalk session despite the heat but his pad is still split a bit so he's on rest.  He's got a practice session on Friday with his Nationals teammates so he needs to be 100% by then.  And a DOCNA trial on Sunday - eeks.  We've had no practice other than backyard, 3-pole weave entries and while he's finally starting to get the entries, it doesn't feel like nearly enough prep for a trial.  Hopefully he'll heal up and we can get some good practice in before USDAA in 2 weeks.  I'm only doing Team and one standard run as practice for Nat's.  We're never going to get out of Starters but I thought the more challenging team classes would be more fun and I need to practice those types of courses for Nat's.  Strum has only ever done one Team competition and aside from that one trial with him I haven't done Team in years and years.  Should be fun but we need to start getting back into a practice groove despite the heat.

Cody Baloney Goes For a Hike

Cody turned 11 last month and to celebrate we did...nothing. I know, I'm bad but c'mon, I have time for dog birthday parties? If so please tell me when? But I felt like he's been getting the shaft lately so I decided to pick a hike that I thought he could manage and enjoy. Strum got to come along as well but Miss Lola, she's a bad influence and tends to lose her head in the woods so in the name of Jonny's sanity we left her home. I felt bad about it and she was not happy either and when we came home she immediately went into a pout outside and refused to come in. My special little drama queen.

Mt. Audubon overlooking Beaver Reservoir.


There was much joyful running and carrying on.


Looking good for 11 if you ask me.


Classic Cody Baloney pose.


Trail shenanigans in the woods.


Trail shenanigans in the meadows.


The King of Shenanigans himself.


Classic stick catching pose.


We hiked for around 2 hours/5 miles at around 9000' and saw a couple with a nice dog, another couple sans dog and a mountain biker and that was it. There were steepy rocky bits and nice smooth dirt, flat bits and lots of uppy/downy. Not a lot of scenic vistas but the forest was beautiful as were the meadows which are still full of wildflowers and the quiet, peaceful trail was a treat. There was a little nip in the air though and the flowers were starting to dwindle. I'm taking Monday and Tuesday off of work this week in part because I've had only 1 vacation day this year and I need some time off and also because I want to enjoy what little is left of summer in the high country.