Ran my 13.1 mile loop up on the trails around Snowbasin for the first time this year. Last summer I managed a 1:51 for the 13 miles of rocky trail with 2000+ feet of climb. I felt good about the effort and it was pretty much a red line effort for a good part of the run.
Starting out toninght, I had no idea what to expect. I haven't felt well for a couple of weeks, most of which I attribute to this http://www.intermountainallergy.com/pollen.html. I figured I'd run at a moderate to slightly harder effort and see how it went. Sure enough, the climb up East Fork and the freshly cut weeds on the side of the trail from the mountain bike race Saturday had me coughing like an old diesel truck. That, and the kid on downhill bike that almost Van Gogh'ed my left ear (caught air off a roller in front of me and his peddle went right past my head, not kidding) I didn't feel on the game at all, but kept on truck'en up the steady, long climb that is first 7 miles of this run. I couldn't remember any splits from the few times I ran this hard last year, but when I crossed Snowbasin Road things seemed a little ahead of schedule despite the poor effort and lack luster feeling in my lungs.
The downhill was fast thanks to the Forest Service grooming as of late. Kept it pretty much sub 7 min pace for the last six miles, with the exception of the Icebox Canyon section, that was a 7:50. Felt good about the last mile being a 6:18 split.
I hit the bottom at 1:46 for 13.07 miles . The Garmin musta gone whacky, it had the vert at 2900, not so much, more like 2000-2200, always a little differnt. I pegged it pretty hard the last couple of miles, other than that the pace was just a bit above comfortable, but not a hard effort. Good to improve, especially as sporadic as my running has been for the last month or so.
| 