Category: Climber

  • Day 011 of 2026

    Day 011 of 2026

    And once again our snow has abandoned us here in Aurora, CO. Snow does not seem to like 50+ Degree F weather, it also does not like sun. And we are much closer the the sun here in Colorado then we have ever been anyplace else we have lived.

    Took the kids out for their normal morning walk. Again each on their own but we did a 1.67 mile walk on each time, good for my “fitness hours’” for my logging (more on that later) and really good for Res and Climber as they need the exercise. Climber continues to radiate energy in ways only a young greyhound can do so. She doesn’t turn 3 until May. The interesting part is that Climber and Res have started to play with each other leaving the humans in the house with some “heart attack” moments. Especially when the chase involves three sets of stairs, the loop with the kitchen and living room, and then ends up with Climber on Res’s back with an ear in her mouth. I just don’t understand what it is with Greyhounds and wanting to catch the ears of their playmates.

    On the positive side, Res has told her off a few times when she has gotten too rough, or when he is trying to sleep and she nails him with a flying toy. She just hasn’t figured out yet that him growling and woofing at her means, “Knock it off and leave me alone!” She thinks it means, “let’s rumble!” Oh, well, I hope she learns without a vet visit.

    After breakfast Jesse started in on meal prep for the week which included making the puppy snacks (chicken treats and mackerel treats). I decided to go for my Sunday swim. It was a recovery day so I didn’t push too hard. I am probably going to miss a few days of workouts near the end of this coming week as I will be traveling to an area sort of “devoid” of public pools, so I am trying to get some distance in before I leave. I have a few “challenges” that I am trying to achieve.

    Workout log for 2026-01-11
    Summary of 2026-01-11 Swim Workout

    Still not my best workouts, but it could be worse. I did manage to make 550 yards without stopping which is a good thing, I need to continue to increase that if I want to do my open water swims this Summer.

    My Toy! Not hers, mine!

    And with that I wish everyone good night and we will talk again tomorrow.

  • Day 010 of 2026

    As you can see I am making an effort to post a little something each day. Today is Saturday so I did sleep in a little until Climber decided to wake me up. An hour extra is all I am allowed to have.

    I always get an hour or so of reading time until Jesse gets up. Then it’s out to walk the dogs. On weekends they both get solo walks. Res goes first and then Climber.

    Temps were around 20 degrees F by the time I got them up and out. So jackets for all.

    Res’s main objective on his walk is to stick his nose into and pee on as many clumps of grass as he can.

    For Climber I really dont know what her goal is. But she enjoys her walks and has gotten so much better about her jacket since the first time we put her in it.

    Got them both walked and then had a nice breakfast burrito, homemade of course.

    Then off to the pool for a long swim. Remind me in the future to never go on Saturday morning. Saturday mornings at the pool suck. Swim lessons and way too many kids. But, once I got a lane I finally broke the 2000 yards I have been trying to break. It was awesome! My times suck, my stamina sucks, but I made my first goal. Now since I broke that I have to see about increasing the distance on my sets, and…..much as I do not like it…. I have to increase the use of freestyle rather than breaststroke.

    Swim log from 2026-01-10.

    I really want to be able to do the Mountain Lake Swim Series this Summer and I don’t think I can do it with Breaststroke being 50% of my swimming. Also, I need to try and get a 1 hour swim in for the US Masters Swimming 1 Hour swim competition, though I will never place it is a good activity.

    I finally decided to sync my swimming with swim.com as I am serious about doing a few events this year, and of course that led me down the rabbit hole of the different events in US Masters Swimming. Yeh me. But that’s OK, it will help.

    Dinner was Pork Loin and veggies. Really good.

    Anyways time to wrap up today. See you tomorrow!

  • Day 004 of 2026

    Day 004 of 2026

    Sunday!

    Started the day off with a few cups of coffee and then taking Climber and Res on solo walks. Res went on his normal uphill walk around the park

    For Climber I decided on a different walk, I wanted to take her on a longer option so we went around the block the other direction and then around the park. I think I will probably stick with the Power Line trail with her in the future. I think it is more interesting for her to watch the little Prairie Dogs then the traffic out on Tower Blvd.

    After we got back and had breakfast I went for my swim. I added a little distance today, not much, just 100yards more. I really need to get up to 2000 yards in the near future if I want to get rid of this extra weight I am carrying. I have just about decided that I want to do the Mountain Lake Swim series this Summer and that means I really have to increase my distance without hurting myself. A very tight balance.

    The rest of the day was a normal sort of day. Played with Climber in the back yard, she likes playing with a tennis ball, and then read some Kindly books I have been working on. Got distracted and went down the Facebook Reels rabbit hole. I also spent some time trying to figure out what and IF I really want to do anymore YouTube training videos. I am not really sure what I want to do yet.

    Have a great evening. See you tomorrow.

  • Day 003 of 2026

    Day 003 of 2026

    And we started off the day with the dogs solo walks. Yes, on weekends they each get their own walks, it allows them a little bit of “me” time and it also allows me to work with them on walking manners and I increase their distance as well. Res…. well he just does his own thing. It’s mainly sniffing and marking every clump of grass along the way.

    Climber got a little bit of a longer walk and had the chance to go explore the power line trail. She was very curious why I would not let her off leash to go “play” with the little prairie dogs.

    “Daddy, Let me PLAY!!!”

    Anyways, once I got them home I was able to go do my long weekend walk. Got another one of Aurora’s trails connected. When I made it back to the car it was just at 6 miles. Not bad.

    Total distance: 6.05 mi
    Max elevation: 5475 ft
    Min elevation: 5380 ft
    Total climbing: 384 ft
    Total descent: -371 ft
    Average speed: 4.16 mi/h
    Average cadence:
    Average heart rate: 122
    Average temperature:
    Total time: 01:27:56

    I know I have done a lot more with faster times in the past, but I have to keep telling myself that I am coming out of a year with many hospitalizations and I need to also loose 20 pounds to get me back to where I need to be. I don’t think I will ever do another marathon, but my endurance needs to be higher than it is now. I would like to do the Mountain Lake Swim Series in the future. May not be this year, but maybe next.

    Anyways, it was a beautiful day in Denver, CO and we will see you tomorrow.

  • Res and Climber Visit Cherry Creek State Park

    Res and Climber normally post about their adventures on their facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/8563662930377524 but Facebook does not make it easy to post sequential photographs and tell a story, so Res and Climber asked me to let them post here. OK, we will give this a shot. Please share on your own social media if you like.

    Res: We have had a busy day! It started getting cold in Colorado so Dad decided to put us in our coats. It was just under 30 degrees and he was muttering something about “this will be interesting.” Well, I like my coat so I had no problem putting it on! It matches my colors.

    Climber: There is no way in HE double hockey sticks I am wearing this.

    Dad: Yes you are. And you better get used to it.

    Climber: You will take me out of this thing! (starts rolling around the grass trying to get her coat off, people around us are taking video).

    Res: Can we leave here? She’s an embarrassment. She won’t go anywhere as she refusing to walk.

    Me: Nope, we can’t leave her. Guess she wins on the coat, for now, we will let the other dad do a few solo walks with her and a coat.

    Res: Ok, but I keep telling you she is trouble.

    [Park walk complete and couple hours later]

    Res: Sis! We going someplace!!! We going for a ride!! [Bouncing around]

    Climber: How you know?

    Res: Dad’s car is out of the garage and we are in our muzzles! Don’t you dare mess this up!

    Climber: He may be taking us to the dawgtor. Me not sure about this.

    Res: Nope, Dawgtor is only one of us at a time. We both on leashes and muzzles. We both go.

    Me: Res, if you can get your front paws up into the car why do I have to lift your back-end?

    Res: It’s good exercise, you are supposed to be lifting anyways and you’re not.

    Me: Climber, I know you can jump a 4 foot wall, why can’t you hop up into the car.

    Climber: Lift me!

    Me: Ok, behave now!

    Res: No chance of that with her in the car. If she steps on me, can I get her?

    Me: Exactly why you both have muzzles on.

    Res: We here! We Here! So much sniffing and looking to do!

    Climber: Look!!!! WATER!!! GO GO GO!!!

    Me: Climber that is going to be cold, but I’ll let you get your feet wet.

    Climber: BIRDS!!!! Get Them!!!

    Me: I wouldn’t do that if I were you.

    Res: Why not?

    Me: Canada’s army is doing maneuvers, those are Canadian Geese and they are mean!

    Climber: I can win! I hear they taste like Chicken!

    Me: Nope, the vets are closed today.

    Res: Look, mountains! When can we go to the mountains?

    Me: We’ll try to go in the Spring. Right now the roads are too snowy through the tunnels.

    Res: Dad, how much longer?

    Me: Until your sister is tired out.

    Res: We don’t have all day! She never tired.

    Me: We have 1.5 miles back to the car. I am sure you can make it.

    Res: Get the sticker out of my paw!!!

    Res: FINALLY!!!! Get me in the car!

    Me: OK, now you both jump right in? You couldn’t do that at home? You suck!

    Res: We are home. Nap time!!!

    Me: So, active day today, first our morning park walk, and then the visit to the State Park!

    Total distance: 3.02 mi
    Max elevation: 5619 ft
    Min elevation: 5552 ft
    Total climbing: 267 ft
    Total descent: -253 ft
    Average speed: 2.89 mi/h
    Average cadence:
    Average heart rate: 105
    Average temperature: 22.4
    Total time: 01:10:38

    Total distance: 1.12 mi
    Max elevation: 5617 ft
    Min elevation: 5560 ft
    Total climbing: 94 ft
    Total descent: -90 ft
    Average speed: 2.74 mi/h
    Average cadence:
    Average heart rate: 101
    Average temperature: 20.4
    Total time: 00:32:20

  • October 28, 2025 – I actually got an office day!

    October 28, 2025 – I actually got an office day!

    Today was what I consider an “office day”, that is a day spent catching up on all the things that I should be doing (and get backed up) when I am out in the field. Spent most of the day working on Commercial Electrical Claim pricing and scope (what repairs are needed to get the insured back to “pre-loss condition”), and other processing support.

    My new Thermal Imaging camera showed up in the Amazon delivery today. I think this one will service my purposes better than the last version that made it about 1.5 years and died. I think the physical connection to the phone is the problem. The new one works via WiFi connection and it won’t have that point of failure. It will also work on either Android or iOS.

    Of course because I have a new tool (toy?) perhaps I needed to test it out on some willing suspects. See if you can identify the dogs in the gallery below. It looks like I will need to calibrate the temperatures the first time I am out in the field.

    On another note, it looks like Winter is almost here. The ski resorts are opening, the first avalanche was caused by a back country skier, and the grass was crunchy when I went out with the dogs this morning.

  • October 26, 2025 – Connections and Winter Prep

    October 26, 2025 – Connections and Winter Prep

    Busy day today. It was Winter cleanup day here in Aurora, Colorado. First Jesse cleaned up the leaves around the rock in the backyard, then it was time to blow out the irrigation system so that the lines do not freeze over the Winter. We are now ready. Of course in the process of blowing the lines out we did find another broken pipe from last Winter. Can’t win on that. At least it is not the constant battle with sand that we had going on in Florida.

    I did get out for a little over an hour to connect the two sections of trails on my workout tracks that have been driving me nuts figuring out how I was going to connect them. Now that nagging space in the GPS maps is gone and I can start on the rest of the trails. My goal for this coming week is to finish the Toll Gate Creek Trail. There is not that much left.

    Climber got into some trouble today. She has re-started her high pitched whining when she can’t see her people. I really thought we were done with that, guess not. She is going to have to learn that this will just result in a loud bang on her crate and a “CLIMBER, KNOCK IT OFF!” Res hates it when we get onto Climber, he leaves the room and goes and sleeps someplace else.

    The photos above are from various activities today.

    My GPS track for today’s workout:

    Total distance: 5.09 mi
    Max elevation: 5518 ft
    Min elevation: 5438 ft
    Total climbing: 347 ft
    Total descent: -341 ft
    Average speed: 4.21 mi/h
    Average cadence: 58
    Average heart rate: 129
    Average temperature:
    Total time: 01:14:42