Long Trail Run - Last Long run and the last of the heavy mileage until the Pocatello 50. Next week will be easier, (at least that is what I keep telling myself). Today capped off my highest mileage week ever with a tough 22 miler. I started my run at Providence Canyon and headed on Deer Fence Trail to Dry Canyon. I chugged up the canyon until I hit the snowline at 6000'. That trail is frustrating since the walls of the canyon are bare of snow, but the bottom (aka the trail) is covered. This time it was pure ice. There were lots of footprints in it which gave some traction, but it was slow going. I made it maybe .25 past where I went on my birthday run. I could have kept going on the ice, but it was not very time productive so I turned around. Before long, I was back at the car changing water bottles and eating a banana. 10.35 miles in 1:38. Slow. Oh well, it may still get worse. I continued on the Deer Fence trail all the way to Blacksmith Fork Canyon. The sun was out now and warming me up quickly. I thought about the runners doing Ogden Marathon and though that the weather was ideal today for that race. No wind, cool. Hopefully the weather is the same in Ogden Valley. Anyway, fatigue set in and things got tough, but I merely continued on using my "run all day" gear. I was back at the car at mile 20, but wanted to get 22 and hit 90 miles for the week so I pushed on past the car and did another 2 miles. I sure have spent a lot of time on the Deer Fence trail this spring, and now have it memorized, but I sure like it. It kicks my butt and is tough, but very runnable and clear of pesky cars and people. T- 3:20:40 (9:07) 150 ave *3600' Vertical gain Weekly summary - 90 Miles 8650' Vertical Gain -PR for both of those items
|