Like the canyon

Easy 6.5 miles on the mill.

Another good morning of Wasatch powder, followed by a few hours of work, followed by a nice 11 mile run on the BST north.  Trail was dry and mostly mud free all the way to the end.  A bit of snow on the last mile or so. 

11 miles, 1800 vert.

Same run as yesterday.  BST north is a great trail, but getting a little monotonous.  Started faster than I wanted as I noticed what must have been one of the local highschool x-country teams about a minute back.  Really didn't want to get passed by a herd of kids running in singlets.  Ran into Jon and Ultrajim hanging out at a corner I call "Scott Rock".  Good to chat for a bit.  Ran in my new Hoka Bondi B's.  Jurry is still out on these ugly dogs.  Very light, not as cushioned as the original Hubble, not as wide which seemed to make them much less stable.  When I wear the Hoka it's for the cushy ride, these seem to be like a slightly overbuilt regular shoe.  I wasn't crazy about my first pair for a bit so we'll see, only my second run in them and first time on the trails.  Funny thing is I spent the entire run splashing through as much mud and water as I could find to get'em dirty, 'cause they're pretty....well.... bright.

Trail is perfect all the way north past the spring/waterfall after that it gets a little snow covered  for the last mile or so before the dead end, but melting out fast and no mud. Get it before the word spreads on the Mtn bike message boards.

11 miles, 1800 vert.

Started at 27th, did my short loop to check out the trails on the south side.  Most of the stuff north of Taylor canyon is pretty dry, south ouf that, not so much.  Mud's thick dropping down to Rainbow though.  After the short loop headed north past Rainbow on the BST.  Passed the go-fasties on their way back.  Turned around just above the service road and took the high trail through Jump Off canyon.  Passed the go fasties again pulled over talking to Jim and Aric, but had no time to stop as I had to get home.  Nice thing about having one dry trail in the areas is that you get to see just about everyone on most runs.  I was thinking about that on the way back and am really suprised at the number of ultra runners in the area.  Counted roughly 19 people who regularly run ultras (most regularly run 100 milers) and trail races that live in the area.  That's a pretty good community of runners for such a niche sport and a relatively small town.  Pretty cool. 

Feeling the miles the last couple of days. Starting ot get kinda spacey and hungry all the time. My body os holding up well. which is good.  My calf Achelles thing is flaring up a bit, but going to ART tomorrow which will take care of that for a few more weeks. Glad it's the last hard week, then a couple of easier weeks before Buffalo 50 mile.  

13 miles, 1750 vert tonight. 1:50 minutes, harder effort than I wanted, but was on a schedual.

Easy paced 6 on the loops north of Taylor Canyon.  Super happy that my "home" trails are dry. I can cruise 6-7 miles of sweet trail and never be more than a couple miles from my front door.  Tired and hungry when I started more tired and hungry when I got home.

Little over 6 miles 500 vert.

Great week of running but glad its over and time to rest for a solid 30 hours or so.  Getting out of bed this morning I knew I wanted a 20 miler, they way I felt I thought, it aint happening.  Got in the car and figured I'd get through it.  Drove the 45 seconds to the 27th street trailhead (I know, but I'm not that much of an eviromentalist and I HATE running on roads) Grabbed  my spikes, kinda groaned and started running.  Funny how it works, within 30 seconds I felt great and was enjoying an easy cruise up Taylor Canyon.  Pulled over to chain up my shoes and savored the easy trot to the summit. As nice as it was I can't belive I didn't see another person unitl I ran into Dennis back down Taylor. (This guy is incrediable!! a couple of years ago he went on a real Malan's bender, get this,  A 1000 CONSECUTIVE SUMMITS!!!, rough math says that's almost 3 years, everyday! 4.5  miles 2220 vert, heat, snow, rain, wind, everyday, and he's in his late 60's, early 70's) 

Cruised back to the car, dropped my spikes and jacket and took off North.  Funny mtn bike encounter, came through the tunnel at 12th a pack of 6 mtn bikes pulled up behind me.  I stepped aside to let them go by, not a thanks or even a head nod, serious bunch.  Sizing them up as they went by, I thought this ins't going to last long.  Sure enough within 5 minutes on the climb everone of them was head hanging and wobbling.  I picked off the first two pretty quick, got the rest by the top.

Ran the BST north out to the dead end. Felt like hell off and on. Legs were heavy and wouldn't come around.  After the turnaround I felt progressively better to the point I had a good pep in the step four the last 4 miles or so heading back to 12th.  I don't know what turned it around, but it was a signifigant change.  I think it's a mental thing.  Ran into BJ on the way back, chatted for a bit, then ran into Oreo and Mtn Goat just above 12th street, chatted for a while, BJ came by and I tried to keep up going back to Rainbow.  Felt great climbing out of Rainbow, took a little shortcut getting back to the BST as I had to get home to go skiing with my 11 year old. 

Got home, changed clothes, hit the slopes for a few hours with my 11 yr old, got home from that, hit the park with the 2 year old for a bit, then hit the trail with the dog for a couple of miles right at dark (walking, but I'm counting it). Now sitting on the couch eating!

Running miles today: 19, or so, no watch, so basing on past runs, 4100 vert,.  Add 2 late, 21 miles total.

Week: 68 miles, 10,000 vert.