Old Man Still running

I got up early 1:30 a.m. to go put in some big miles.   I intended to again run a marathon distance before heading into work, but I slowed down and had enough after 22 miles.  I again ran a 1.07-mile loop up above my home around a bluff known to old Lehi residents as "Rattlesnake Ridge" because of the number of snakes that like to make nests in the cracks and caves. 

 1.07-mile loops.   Alternating direction each time.  The entire loop is dirt and the south-eastern end is pretty rough and rocky because future development has creeped up there.

1	8:54
2	8:41
3	9:41
4	9:19
5	9:37
6	8:56
7	9:47
8	8:32
9	10:16
10	9:44
11	10:02
12	10:08
13	10:07
14	10:52
15	10:59
16	11:57
17	12:20
18	12:01
19	15:38

Total, including the time to get up and back from the loop was about 3:40.   My loop times were pretty good for awhile, but then slowed down and became more painful so I knew I was done.

The morning was very pleasant.   Plenty of critters on the trail.  The mice were pretty active on the east side of the hill and I almost stepped on a couple.  The jack rabbits were active on the other side of the hill.  I startled one and it brushed up against my leg.   Venus rose over the Wasatch mountains and it was cool to watch it get higher with each loop.   I belive my nocturnal run was noticed by a dog in a yard far below because it would start barking when I ran around on the east side.  It probably drove its owner nuts.

Ran up Lott Canyon on Lake Mountain, including both spurs of it. Uneventful, just a good hill workout.

Looking at my miles for the month, this is my top July for my career.   I'll probably have a 100-mile week this week since I will be pacing at Katcina Mosa 100k for about 39 miles on Saturday.   For this year, I'm about 100 miles behind last year, but catching up.

A morning off, healing up some minor stuff and resting.

Ran up Timp this morning.  My third summit of the year and #59 all-time.  I was on the trail a little before 2:30 a.m.   I knew there was no one ahead of me on the trail because I was breaking through the spider strands across the trail.  But as I neared the rockslide below the basin, I noticed sets of lights coming down.   I met this group on the rock slide.  A guy warned me that there were some bears "in the meadow."   I went on, but as I neared the basin, I slowed my pace and made sure I was making plenty of noise.  As I reached the junction to the Emerald Lake trail, I shined my light in that direction and sure enough, saw two pair of large eyes off in the distance.   Pretty spooky.  Thankfully my trail went in the other direction, so I quickly went on my way be continued to make noise.  

I reached the summit in 2:32, not very speedy.   The trail still has a snow traverse below the saddle.  The snow was frozen and pretty slick. I did feel much stronger and faster above 11,000 feet.   Coming down, I met three guys at the chimney section who came up from Aspen Grove.  They were climbing without flashlights.  One guy was holding a sleeping bag.  Pretty funny.

On the return through the basin, I made plenty of noise, yelling, growling, etc.   As I passed by that area, I did hear something large climbing up some scree, but it was still dark so I couldn't tell for sure if it was a bear.   Further down, I practically ran into a deer.  I saw some movement as I reached a corner and when I turned it there was a deer on the trail.  It wasn't too concerned, moved a little of the trail and I came within 10 feet of it.

The streams are still flowing pretty good, but some are disappearing.  I counted 21 stream crossings coming down.  Some were just trickles.   Several streams were gone from last week.   As dawn arrived more hikers were coming up.   When I got at the bottom, a group of young, fast runners were starting out.  They were dressed in skimpy shorts and singlets.  It was 48 at the trailhead, but it was near freezing at the top.  Oh well, hope they didn't get too cold.

My round trip was 4:25.  A slow trip, but a good workout.   I got into work about 40 minutes later than usual.

Ten hours of sleep last night.  Wow!  I guess I made up for only 3 the night before.  Resting up for pacing duties at Katchia Mosa 100K tomorrow.  Deciding if I want to do 39 miles or 45.

At Katcina Mosa 100K, I paced Mark Ellison for the last 40 miles of the course.  I put together a slide-show audio/video about the experience.  The race is a tough mountain race that shares part of the course with the Squaw Peak 50, in the opposite direction.  I had great fun playing the pacer role.  One runner commented, "Boy you are a mean pacer."  Ha, ha, no whining allowed when I pace!  Mark successfully finished in under 17 hours.

Watch the video on Face Book (better quality): http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=228437290693

Watch the video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU_WqZog_XM

I paced Mark Ellison at Katcina Mosa 100K held in the mountains between Provo Canyon and Hobble Creek Canyon.  It was his first attempt to run past 50 miles.   I climbed up to Lightning Ridge, about mile 20 of the course and ran with him to the finish.    It was my birthday today and that was the perfect birthday present to be out running in the mountains with friends.   I really enjoyed running at a slower pace because I had plenty of energy the entire day.  I helped several runners keep their pace going by taunting them, barking orders, or just giving encouragement.   Also, I feasted on solid food at the aid stations instead of running on liquids and I always felt great, with plenty of energy.  Mark finished in about 16:42.   We pushed the last 20 miles pretty hard.   He had a rough recovery, so I drove his van home for him while he lied down in the back.

I will be putting together a video/slide show.  Stay tuned.  I'll update this entry when it is available.  I probably took about 100 pictures.