Lars Duening

Demonstrating the importance of a balanced diet

“It's not that life is too short. It's just that you're dead for so long.”

City: Colorado Springs State: CO

Favorite Shoe: currently: Vasqe Velocity Size: 12

Age: 52.5 years old

Marital Status: Once

What I do for work:
Software Developer (still... :-))

Places I’ve called home and why I like where I am now:
Germany, Edinburgh (Scotland), and now Colorado. With its mountains, the wide open sky, and its numerous trails, Colorado is so far my favorite.

When I started running and what got me started:
I started running in early 2001 because I no longer wanted to be the only walker among the runners in a triathlon.

What does running mean to me:
It's a great way to exercise - and over time I've really grown to like it (once I found out that I'm not too bad at it).

Since my PPA/M races I did reduce my running regime, as my joints and tendons are no longer in the same shape as they used to be - but I still head out for a few miles a couple of times in a month. To make up for it, I now work Ops for the PPA/M.

Running accomplishments: View my Pikes Peak Ascent/Marathon results
2003 Pikes Peak Ascent - 3:52:51 on the first time

2004 Pikes Peak Ascent - 3:26:35

2005 Pikes Peak Marathon - 6:45:35

What I like about trail/mountain running:
You get to be outdoors; it's always a new experience, even on the same trail; and you have to pay constant attention to where you're going.

Favorite running trail and why:
Ute Valley Park - close to my home, so it's easy to go for a quick run when I feel like it.

Favorite trail/mountain race and why:
Xterra in Keystone - exhilarating mountain biking followed by a pleasant trail run.

Best running experience:
2004 Pikes Peak Ascent - With only minimal hill and altitude training, I was more willing to pace myself and walk more, and in the end was rewarded by being 30 minutes faster than the year before.

Worst running experience:
See bathroom story.

Neatest thing found on a run:
A rattle snake - I have never seen one before.

Running related bathroom stop story:
Fall Series 2002 in Ute Valley park: I developed a light case of diarrhea early into the run, but Ute Valley doesn't exactly provide a lot of cover, so I kept going. And at some point the fastest way to get to the next potty was to finish the race, but it was a close call.

Running pet peeves:
People wearing headphones - ears are your early warning system.

Other hobbies and interests:
Recreational paintball player, computer geek, cooperative SciFi writer (kinda), home brewer, enthusiast of loud rhythmic music.

Other stuff:
My dream: one day to do a Marathon in the Himalaya.

Page last modified: 8/23/2012