This one blew the dust of the slow legs. A little rain and cooler temps got me wanting to run Malan's to the creek in the basin and back for my tempo run. There has been a sort of informal competition going on with some of the runners in town for best time on this out-n-back from the top of 27th to the creek in Malan's Basin (gotta touch water). The best time so far this year according to Corey J is 1:06. I made it in 1:08 a month or so ago. So I thought if I was feeling it I would see what I could do.
Hit start on the watch and took it eas y the first bit to see how I felt. Things felt o.k., so I let it go a little. My split at the overlook was 15:18 (PR) so I guess it was on. Gutted it out to the top and crested the peak at 33:39 (PR). Tried to keep the legs moving up the hill past the peak before dropping into the Basin. Finally crested over the short climb to some blessed downhill running, hit the creek in the Basin at 39:40, the hill back out of the Basin had me about ready to kill over dead, back down to the peak, and cranked it back down the descent and finished in 1:02:45 (PR). I've heard that it has been done in the past under an hour, I always thought that was never possible for me, well maybe I can get there. I also thought that sub 30 on Malan's was impossibe for me, well I'm starting to think maybe that's doable too.
Kinda funny that a run with a 11:13 min mile average could be considered fast. And, well, it isnt really, I would love to see what a truely fast guy (or girl) could do. Thing is, the trail is so steep and gnarly that running up is slow and you have to keep the brakes on somewhat coming down to avoid full flight and crash. Perfect temps, perfect run, really felt great to turn up the pace for a shorter fast run.
5.5 miles, 2300 vert.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/46924780 | 