Slowly Getting Faster

I've wanted to run this (http://connect.garmin.com/activity/252286222#) course for a while and today was the day. It was snowy but that actually made it more fun. It wasn't really cold on the trails but the firebreak road was pretty windy. I think next weekend I might add a run up to sunset campground on to this loop. That should make the distance closer to 20 miles and the elevation closer to 4,000.

I wanted to get a run in today but by the time I got home it was 20 degrees outside. I like running in the cold and snow when its 32ish and the middle of the day.  But 20 degrees, in the dark, on black top so I can't see the black ice...I'm going to have to pass. 

 Instead I did a series of burpees and box jumps in my garage. I need to get my leg strength up if I'm going to run 32 miles and 22,000 feet of vert in July.

On a related note, I plan on officially entering the world of ultra running this year, one way or another. On January 1 I will be attempting to register for Speedgoat. There are only 350 runners allowed to enter so there is a chance it will fill up before I get in. If it does, I'm thinking about a R2R2R attempt in late May early June. It's a bit longer and more vert, but I have wanted to do it ever since I heard about it. Anyone want to join me for that?    

I did the Bair Canyon out and back from my house. It's just under 6 miles to get there the way I went out, but I didn't have the time or energy to come back the same way so the total ended up just under 11 miles. Fairly slow, 13:34 per mile, but the elevation gain on this run is almost 2800 feet. I think this route is much harder than flag rock.  With Flag Rock only half of it involves climbing, the other half is a fun downhill.  With this, there is always something that still needs to be climbed.  I think in the run up to summer, and as a base building exercise, I will try to run this a couple times a week. eventually I plan on making it part of a 20+ mile route.  For now, 10 miles will have to do.