Long Run...Long Post

So I needed to run a pretty good distance today, but it is still early on so I bought a forest service trail map, talked to Marge, and settled on the Turquoise Lake Trail.  It is part of the race course (near the beginning and the end.  It is relatively flat, so that is why I chose it.

That video was what the trail looks like.  I wish you could see the mountains in the background better.

I ran on some more, and came to this crossing that I thought someone might like a picture of:

The trail is about 12 miles if you do the out and back.  I knew I needed to do more, so I thought I would drive somewhere else afterwards, or just tack on some side trails.

I got to Mayqueen (the turnaround spot) in about an hour and a half, and was feeling really good.  I had researched a place called Hagerman Pass, and knew it was close by, so I decided to go for it.  The Lake Trail is between 9500 and 10000 ft, but not Hagerman Pass ("this one goes to 11).

I ran on some paved road uphill, and then turned on the pass road that was dirt, and went up hill for a really long time.

Check out this video  and photo on the way up Hagerman.  There is a cool creek in the bottom, and huge mountains everywhere.

I had changed my mind from the first video where you heard me mention I was on about a 4 hour run.  I was feeling so good, I decided to go for more.  I was going to turn around at 3 hours.  I checked my watch, and just about 2 minutes before 3 hours I saw something up ahead.  Right at 3 hours exactly I came upon...

That is right, I ran to the snow.  It was totally unplanned, but a really cool way to mark my turn around.

They way back would be easier because I had climbed so much, so I probably should have gone further to make it a full 6 hours.

I started back down the mountain, got to Mayqueen, and got back on the Lake Trail.  I was getting hungry, was out of food, and almost out of Gu.  Then I noticed something that I had not noticed on the way out:

This picture shows it a little better:

I finished up in exactly 5 hours and 35 minutes.  It took 3 hours to get to the top of Hagerman, and only 2 hours and 35 minutes to get back to my truck.  It was an awesome day, and a great run.  I can't believe I acclimated in 5 days, and ran about 22 miles over 5.5 hours on my 7th day.  I am beyond happy, and look forward to more runs in the mountains.

Peace

PS...I should probably replace some electrolytes, since I took off my visor, and it looked like this: