Like the canyon

Easy 4-5 miles from Wheeler's.  Most runs this week were slow, short and easy, with the exception of my knuclehead long run tuesday.  The goal being to get the legs moving and keep the recovery going.  Next week I want to start a steady build up toward the Bear 100.  We'll see if the legs and mind feel ready to go by Monday.

Week: 1 hour ride, 26 miles or so on my feet.

Annual July 4th Ogden Ultra runner Ben Lomond party.  Most people start at Mark C's house in N Ogden and head to the peak from there.  Most of them start at some unholy hour and then have what I consider a nasty dirt road to pavement return back to N Ogden.  I, not likeing dirt roads, pavement, or unholy hours, drove to the trailhead and ran the sweet high mountain single track from there.

All I could think about as I ran along alone in the early light, was finally! Fianlly I was running above tree line toward a distant peak on what has to be one of the best trails in the state.  Finally I felt great, legs felt fresh for the first time since the Squaw Peak a month ago.  I was suprised how effortless it felt today.  I wasn't expecting that.  I had plenty in the tank at the saddle and ran all the way to the big snow field off the summit ridge, at least half of it off trail, straight up.  I have no idea where that came from, felt great though! 

It was good to see so many friends out today.  I caught Phil and Kasey just before the peak and we all tossed a rock on Kasey's carin.  When we hit the top, I asked phil what time it was as I hadn't worn a watch.  It was 7:20, which means I ran up in just under 1:40, which is a good time for me, especially for how effortless it felt! Finally!

Gritty 4 or 5 miles on the BST.  Just damn miserable running that thing this time of year, but it's what I got so got it done.

Absolutely, stunningly beautiful run up Lewis Peak tonight.  Had the whole mountain to myself.  Late evening clouds made for some sweet summer alpenglow, wild flowers were thick and the colors vivid in the late sun. Ben Lomond might be a more popular, and better overall,  run, but not, in my opinion, nealry as pretty as cruising the ridges on Lewis in the late evening.  First time up this year and I ran the whole thing out and back, felt great, much better than it ever did last year, I took it easy and enjoyed every second of it.  Watched the sunset from the high point before dropping down the switchbacks. 

2 hours round trip. 11 mmiles or so, can't recall the vertical, but guessing 2800-3000?

Interesting side note: Pulled in the parking lot at 7:20 and not car or a soul anywhere.  A minute later a mini van pulled up and a kid, guessing mid to late 20's got out and asked if I was headed for a run.  I said yes and he asked which way, then said they were headed to Ben Lomond Peak, then Willard Peak then down to Perry (which is a small town just south of Brigham City on hwy 89! Leaving the trailhead at 7:30 PM on a Wednesday night for what had to be 19+ miles and 4000+ vertical feet of running.  Pretty ambitious I think.  

'nother gritty 40 minutes on the BST. bugs, weeds, snakes, and bluh!

Malan's to the creek and back mid morning.  No intention of going fast so I didn't push, just cruised easy for most of it, cranked it up a little climbing back out of the 'Basin and took it pretty easy on the down, walking the stream/trail sections and stopping to let a family go by at one point. Made it RT in 1:05, which is only a couple minutes slower than my PR last year, which was a 110%, puke all over the trail effort, so I feel good about it. 

2400 vert ish, 5 miles ish.

My good buddy from Logan picked me up a 5:00 AM this morning for a Ben Lomond to Willard Peak run.  We were on the trail a little befor 5:30 and really enjoyed a nice easy paced run up the switchbacks and out onto the west side of the moutnain.  We took our time, taking pictures and ejoying the morning light.  I picked it up a bit as we rolled into the final climb to the peak and was able to run the same section that I did Monday, which I was happy with given the miles and vert on my legs this week.  Cody lost track of me as Iwas off trail to avoid the snow and he ended up kick stepping up th ehuge snow field.  A crappy proposition in Hoka's.  I waited for him and we cruised up the the peak for the first time of the day. 

The run over to inspiration point and Willard Peak was better than I thought it would be and we were able to avoid almost all of the snow.  Saw like 50 goats out that way.   Hiking up the peak I could really feel the miles in my legs.  I was trashed! 

We took the billy goat route back across the the saddle and started th climb back up to Ben Lomond Peak.  On the way up I thougth I could see 2 people on top and thought it was probably  Jon jonstuart.  We ran in to them on the way down and it was him and Forrest.  Cody, Forrest and Jon slid down the snowfield which was nuts! I ran down on nice dry ground.

The run down was tough. I maintained a solid pace for me, but it hurt a bit.  Great day on the trails! Pics from the day below

Day: 20 miles, 5000 vert.

Week: 60 miles, 15,000 vert

Cody running from the sun

Pic from the Ben Lomond Peak looking south. Notice the sweet shadow of Mt Ogden in the center of the valley.

Quick catching up entry.  Easy 5 mile on the East Bench.  Not bad, legs felt o.k  at an easy pace.

5 miles, 500 vertish. 

Nice run up to Snowbasin.  Up Wheeler/Icebox to Maples Trailhead at Snowbasin, back down the same way.  Had some pep today and ran a steady moderate pace.  Trail is in great shape and beuatiful up there.  The new trail they have cut this spring below Maples is a nasty mess though.  Needs to grow in, right now looks like they are building a road not a nice single track trail. 

10-11 miles. ??vert 1800 or so?? 1:18 RT

Tired run up Ben Lomond.  Legs felt soggy right of the bat.  As soon as I crossed the road and started up the trail I could feel I was dragging today.  Made it up to where it flattens out on the West side and it started to sprinkle a little rain, looked West and it looked ok, should have looked southwest! By the time I hit the open meadow just before the saddle heading to the peak, Boom! thunder, wind, rain, lots of lightening! I stopped walked down off the backside a little ways to get off the high ridge and tried to get out of the wind.  Didn't rain long, but the lightening stuck around for a while.  Glad I wasn't on the Lewis Peak side because it looked much worse a little further south. 

After things seemed to calm down I made my way back down, a little bummed about not getting to the peak, but at that point I was soaked, cold, and it was getting too late to keep going up. I ran easy going down, getting more soaked by the many tree branches hanging into the trail dripping wet.  I need to take some hand trimmers up next time to clip the worst of them.  Spent a few minutes sitting on a rock watching the light show as the storm moved over Powder Mountain.  Pretty sweet double rainbow with sheets of rain and lightening striking behind them, wish I'd had the camera.

Up to saddle 1:11, RT 2:13 with stop., 11 miles or so, 2400 vert or so? Need to get the Garmin fixed (or replaced).    

Day off - felt like I had a slight cold or something, went to bed early and felt better.

Easy paced run on the East Bech. A bit over an hour.  Still not feeling 100% from whatevern was going on Thursday, but mostly there.

Wasn't feeling modivated this morning at all.  Slept through my alarm and got out an hour later than I wanted.  I headed to the Ben Lomond trailhead as I missed the summit earlier in the week afer getting stormed off the mountain. 

Starting up the switchbacks, my legs felt tired and the motivation still wasn't coming around.  It took about 10 minutes of easy running to jump start the body and then things were rolling ok. 

I wore a watch, and wans't really interested in going fast, but thought I'd run comfortable to where the trail switches over to the west side, check my split there and see how I was doing.  Checked the time, 46 minutes, which is ok for me.  I thought I'll pick it up to the saddle and see where I am at.  I ran a steady moderate pace up and over the two little climbs rolled through the flatish section to the saddle.  I hit the saddle at 1:10 and realized I might be able to make a sub 1:30 to the peak, which would be a PR. 

Snow still covers the trail to the peak, which means straight up climbing for most of it.  Going straight up elimitates some distance by avoiding the switchbacks, but I think its overall slower. I pretty much went redline 100% up the final climb.  Power hiking most of it, running a few sections where the grade mellowed out. 

Coming over the last steep part and jogging the last 20 yards to the summit, I was suprised to see it full of people.  I had passed a couple of groups on the way up, but had not seen anyone for a while.  Wasatch veterens Jim and Mark were up there and Jim asked how long it took me. I look at my watch and was suprised to see 1:29.  I heard a chuckle from a group of kids that looked like a scout troop and heard one of them say "it took us like 3 and half hours!"  and one of them offerd me a bag of Apple Jacks.  

I took a couple of breaths, Marc asked how fast I would make the round trip, I said hopefully under 2:30 and shuffled off the peak.  It took me forever to pick my way down through the loose scree to the saddle and when I looked at the time I thought there was no way I could make my goal.  I had 48 minutes to make it down and didn't think I had it in me.  I kep the pace up though and figured I would just run it steady and see what happend. 

About a mile later I ran into a couple of guys walking up the trail with about 12 domestic goats in tow.  After tip-toeing around some kinds grumpy looking billy's, I was back running again, noticing a couple of mountain bikers I had been shadowing on the descent not too far in front.  I kept up the steady pace and thought if I get to the last switch back section with 20 minutes to go I'll give it a 100% and see what happens.

I came into the first switchback with 21 minutes to make a sub 2:30.  I let it fly at that point and caught up to the guys on bikes who had stopped at a corner to take in thte view.  Seeing me coming,  they clipped in and tried to get off in front of me.  Too late, I was already on top of 'em.  I ran up and around the first one and was right on the wheel of the next guy.  After realizing I was running fster than he was riding I asked him to pass, which he was very nice about.  As soon as I went by, my paced picked up even more to stay ahead. 

I ran hard to the trailhead hit stop at the sign for a 2:28.  A 4 minute PR for me on a very unremarkable day.  Not nealry as fast a my buddy Jonstuart (on the blog) ran it monday, but happy that things continue to improve. 

No Garmin, but 14.5-15 miles and 3700 vert. 

Up Lewis to the high point at the top of the switchbacks.  Got something going on with my breathing, allergies/asthma, slight cold? taking the go out of my legs.  Work has been nuts this week.  12-14 hour days everyday.

Ran an easy 5 monday and tuesday.

Well, where to start with this one.... Nutty week, pretty much worked 40 hours betweeen Monday and Wednesday.  With so much work, there was very little running early in the week, no running Thursday or Friday as I was out of town for work.  This little trip pretty much invloved a circumnavigation of the state of Wyoming with a stop in Rapid City, SD and a quick drive by of Mt. Rushmore. 

I took my running gear, figuring I would try to get a run in somewhere along the way.  I threw in my Teton's map and Windrivers maps as well knowing I would be in the area.  A little web search and it was pretty clear the Tetons's were still too snowed in for much running.  Option two was to head into the Wind Rivers on the Glacier trail to scout it out as it would be part of a full traverse of the range I would like to do at some point.

Looking at the map and reading the guide, the route had the potential to be a 48 mile out and back.  Feeling how I was (no sleep, not eating well, and still have a respiratory thing going on) I figured I'd go in for 5 hours and see where it got me, turn around and head back out. 

Here is the run in pictures.

Early in the run, first mile couple of miles. Much drier on the East side of the range. Got a bit of a late start this morning as I was trying to catch up on a little sleep.

Right off the bat I came to a sturdy (thankfully) bridge across this roaring little gorge.

Wild flowers were out in force in the mid-elevations.

Trail climbed almost 4000 ft in the first few miles up to above treeline and through this a pass at 11,000 ft and through this huge open meadow filled with flowers.  Looking ahead to where I am going.  The Dinwoody creek drainage is the far canyon visable in the distance.  The Glacier Trail goes up that drainage to the foot of the Dinwoody Glacier below Gannet Peak, The highest point in Wyoming.

Double Lake.  About 2 miles and 800 feet below the pass from the previous photoe. Pretty spot and the first snow I encountered was here, though very little on the whole route. Wish I had time to explore above this lake, upper Phillips and Golden lake look like they would be awesome places.  If I were into fishing I would go back to Golden Lake, as a friend of mine caught some huge Golden trout (colored like a Gold Fish) up there last year.  

2-3 miles past the lake pictured above and  after some really rough trail and a fair bit of climbing I came to a shallow pass above Honeymoon lake. The trail descened here past this lake and all the way down to Dinwoody creek.  Getting hot and the mosquitoes are getting very thick! Probably 10 miles in or so at this point.  Saw a few parties on there way out just before the 11,000 foot pass, but haven't seen a soul since.  Starting to feel a bit trashed, low energy and my Anterior Tibial tendon on right foot/ankle was getting really tight for some reason.  Probably the 1100 miles I had driven in the 24 hours before the run.

Typical trail on this route.  Either rocky like this or muddy/swampy and rutted out.  

Dinwoody "Creek", a couple of miles and steep, rocky descent from Honeymoon Lake pictured above.  Water was a cool blue/grey color from the Glacier melt.  Very pretty, but was hoping it wouldn't require crossing. Trail continues up river from here, climbing and descending through many small valley along the way.

Side creek the trail went past.  Crazy amount of water through a really narrow gorge.  Wouldn't want to end up in there.  About 14 miles in, still haven't seen a soul.  Feeling pretty crumby still, haven't hit my 5 hour turn around time yet, but thinking I might call it a day and turn around, but I really want to get to the point the Gannet Peak is visiable up the valley.  Hoping it's not much further.  

Mellower stretch of the Dinwoody Creek.  The water color is more apparent in this one.  Really pretty.  Getting really hot!

Broad marshy valley about a mile up canyon from the last pic.  You can see the trail along the right side of the river.  I continues up stream on the right side of the broad green marsh and into the pines beyond.  Trail was pretty swampy through this section. LOTS of mosquitos! and very hot.  I think I picked the calmerst day of the year to be out here.  Typically there is a breeze in these canyons and especially on the high passes.  A little breeze does two thinngs, makes it not as hot obviously, but even more important it keeps the bugs down. Not today, hardly a lick of a breeze all day. Hard to put into words the number of mosquitos, they were not terriable if I was moving, but stop, even to tkae a picture like this, and 10-15 would land on my arms alone.  Bug spray was almost useless.   

This was taken beyond the meadow and valley pictured in the last photo.  looking back down canyon to a bridge that crossed Dinwoody Creek at the Ink Wells trail junction.  Very pretty spot, but I'll say it again, bugs, hot!  About 4 hours in and 16 miles or so.  Moving really slow trying to baby my foot which isn't terriable, but don't want it to get worse. The roughness of the trail and temps made it hard to move a whole lot faster anyway. Really hoping Gannet comes into view soon! Ready to turn around and head back to the car.  Havent seen any people yet.  Starting to feel a bit isolated out here.  Figuring if I was going to see a bear it would be in this section.  Great bear terrain and I was starting to see alot of bear crap around. 

Finally! Came around a corner a mile or so above the bridge and there it was! Beautiful view of the east side of Gannet.  I have approached this peak from the West side of the range before, but it looks very differernt from this view! Awesome. Just over 5 hours in, probably 17.5 miles.  Now I just have turn around a do it all over again back to the car.  One thing I didn't pay enough attention to when I set out on this adventure was the climb back out of the river valley to the pass/meadow before dropping back down to the car.  Uggggh! like 3000-3500 ft with all the ups and down in between.. One more time, bugs, hot!

Really feeling bonky and beat at this point with a long way to go to get back to civilization.  That's one thing about these middle of no where adventure runs, there's no DNF.  No matter how bad I felt, there is not other way out but to walk/run.  I hadn't even seen another person for many miles and hours.

I am sure most of the physical low was a result of the days leading up to this run. See stats below for the reason. 

The return trip was pretty much a slog/suffer fest.  Couldn't get a good run going so it mostly a walk even on the downhills.  Some of the big climbs required a mid climb "aid station" stop that involved sitting down until the bugs got too bad and drinking and "eating" some gel. 

Stats:

Miles driven: 1700

Miles run: About 35, vert 8000 or so.

Pace: Slow

Meals eaten that weren't out of a cooler, gas station or grocery bag: 0

Total hours of sleep from Wednesday night to Saturday morning: 11

All right I'm back.  After the back handed beating that was Saturday's run I took a few down days to let things mellow out.  Finally getting a handle on this cold? gunk? Legs finally feeling fresh again. 

Last summer while going through the a deep training cyle leading up to the Bear 100 I had a term, or an image, that I used to remind myself not over do it. I called it the bucket.  The key was to get as close to the rim as possible, but not fall in.  Falling in typically looked like a full on crash and burn, sleep for two days, eat eveything I could carry, not want to run for a week type of wreck. Needless to say, I think I put myself in the bucket over the last few weeks by not being fully receovered from the June races and staritng back into hard weeks and fast (for me) efforts too quickly. Going forward, staying out of the bucket will be the aim.  My body likes to train, but I have to remeber it like to recover too.

Runs...A cruiser 9 miles yesterday up Wheelers et. al.  Ran into Jim S coming down right below the Cold Water trial and we ran back together.  He's a great guy and is doing the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning this year. Western and Vermont down, Leadville and Wasatch to go.  He is in great shape this year and running strong, I think he has it in the bag.....that is if Speedgoat doesn't kill him tomorrow. 

Tonight, easy 3-4 or so up Wheelers/icebox, over toward Art Nord and back the way I came.  Ran from the Icebox sign to the gate in 5:50 coming down, I think it's just under a mile, not bad for me,.....'course it's pretty much straight downhill. 

Ben Lomond/Willard and such. Swithcbacks to the peak are finally melted out, ran every step to the peak for the first time this year, really the second time ever. Finally.  Close encounters of the goat kind coming back from Willard. Billy was not happy to see me so early in the morning.

21 miles or so, around 5000 vert.