This weekend was a perfect example of Denver weather.  It’s almost spring!….No wait a minute…It’s still winter! 

Spring hasn't quiet Sprung....

We have sprung forward and the hint of races and spring are in the air.  What a glorious time of year!  Nerves start to set in as race season approaches and we inch our ways towards that “A” race! 

Saturday was my first outdoor bike ride since Ironman Cozumel.  We started off with a warm up around Chatfield Res via Waterton Canyon, then climbed our way to the top of Deer Creek followed by an all-out-effort down Wadsworth and then an  easy spin back to the car.

 As I rode past the Gravel Pond (where we do our open water swims all summer long)…I was amazed that the pond was still frozen solid!  Yes, it felt like spring today as I sweated my way up Deer Creek, taking off my wind jacket and rolling down my arm warmers.  But then I saw the Gravel Pond, and realized it’s not quiet spring yet! 

The ride was fabulous and the feeling afterwards was even better.  This ride helped me feel like a real athlete again.  I mean- because it was outdoors instead of on a computrainer.  I got to feel the breeze and have the sun on my face.  I needed to balance as I raced down Deer Creek.  I had to remember what it was like to use all my gears.  It was simply glorious!  Summer was-a-comin!

And then there was Sunday…..how quickly the weather in Denver can go from 62 to 34 degress.  Like in 10 hours!  So I met Kendra at 10:00 am for a 10 mile run with speed work.  We decided to run in Waterton Canyon. 

Our run started off with overcast skies, the river to our left, and the occasional Big Horn Sheep.  We chatted as we warmed up and had a jolly good time.  When we hit mile 5, we turned around and started our first 1/2 mile of speed work.  Right about then is when the skies opened up and the weather moved in!  We ran our butts off- downhill, both ways, in the blowing snow and howling wind.  No really!  The wind was blowing so hard that snow was landing in our eyes and we couldn’t see.  It was hilarious! 

Here we were the day before sweating our way up Deer Creek, and then a mere 20 hours later we were covered in snow and soaked to the bone!  Winter was back in all it’s 30 degree glory!  But we finished our run, maxed out our heart rates and shivered back to our cars! 

All in all, this was one of the most confusing weekends I’ve had in a long time….I mean…it was warm, sunny, almost down right hot…it was SPRING…but psych!  Fooled ya….winter still has it’s grip on Denver.  Versatility is a virtue if you live and train at 5280.