The Past Week

Well it looks as if Sunday is my new day to do blog entries.

Chief was in town this week (my buddy Jonathan from college).  We'll use Chief, so as not to confuse him with Jon(athon) Owens who will be pacing in August.

It was a pretty good trip.  He got plenty of golf in, and I even managed to play a couple of days.  We visited James and June in Nathrop for the 4th of July.

On the 6th, we hiked Mount Sherman.  It is the 14er that I did with Christy the second week I was here.  I felt much stronger this time.  I was able to get some pretty cool shots on the way up as well.

We made it to the top!

That caption is the only thing that really matters.  It hailed on us on the way down.  It was strange, because it did not rain at all, just a fairly long shower of small pea sized hail that only really hurt when it hit you right in the ear.

Later that night the Midnight River Choir were in town for a show.  Back in May when they played our fundraiser, they mentioned they would be in Colorado at the same time as I would, so when I got to Leadville I sought out the owners of the local music venue.  I hooked them up with contact info, and a few weeks later I brought one of my favorite bands to me.  It was a great show, and a pretty good turnout.  I was pleased that all of the locals I had invited really liked the band.

I rested on Saturday, and then today (Sunday) I ran approximately 24 miles in 4 hours and 33 minutes.  It was a good loop around Turquoise Lake, and then up the Timberline Trail to Sugarloaf, and down the infamous Powerline.

As seen from above

This is what it looks like from the bottom

Powerline occurs at about the 18 mile mark of the race, and it is nice then because you get to come down it.  The next time you see Powerline is at about mile 80, and you have to go up it.  I am not looking forward to mile 80.

I ran very well today.  I felt strong, even on some uphills that I did not "powerhike."  Hopefully, tomorrow will be another good day of training.

Tomorrow I am scheduled to run/hike over Mosquito Pass to the next town over called Alma with George Gipson.  His wife works for the race series.  They are from the South as well, and I get along great with their family.  We are starting pretty early in the morning, and it should be about a 30-35 mile day, so I am going to make some pasta, and head to bed relatively soon.