Today I thought I'd try this trail above my house that I've allways wanted to run -but never have. The Ice House trail that runs up the Broken Mesa and stays on the mesa up above the turkey farm almost to the base of Pine Valley Mt. The first 11 miles went something like this. From 2,800 ft to 5,300 ft in elevation gain. I ran a good 6:30-7:00 pace effort only resulting from the high 8's to a 10:30 pace mile at one point. In all the first 11 miles took 1:45.30. Not looking good with 9 more miles to go. At the 11 mile mark I drank some water I had carried and took a GU then hit the dirt road and tryed to run 6:30's all the way back. The last 9.2 miles back to the house took about 55 min's. A total of a 2:40 min on a 20 mile run. Crazy. That first half was almost too much for me. I didn't run a mile that first 11 under 7:40 min pace. Some runs you think back and say "I'd do that again"- on this one I wouldn't. Not alone anyways. Came home and felt like I'd just finished a whole marathon. I got on the scale and it said 147.5 lbs the lowest I've been since last summer when I was dehydrated after a long hot summer run. After relaxing at home for a while and drinking everything in the house I felt pretty good the rest of the day. | 