Running in the Rockies

~6.5/7.0 mile hike with pups. We watched our neighbors dogs yesterday and last night, so we had our youngest pups' sister, a cattle dog, and a collie/malamute mix+ our two dogs. Didn't take the oldest one (collie/malamute mix) because he was limping a lot yesterday. Pushed the hiking pace to simulate an 'easy' run. I think it's still harder than the easy run down in Boulder. The two siblings were exhausted when we got home and took a nice long nap in the sun on the back deck. I was surprised that the cattle dog and our other dog (blue heeler/ collie mix) were still somewhat awake/active when we got back. They had to have run twice as long as I hiked because I was playing fetch with them the entire time. I wish I had that kind of energy!

AM: 5.0 alone + 3.0 on trails with pups. No watch and no heart rate monitor. Lovely morning for a run. Need to foam roll and stretch more today. Feeling some tightness.

AM: 6 on trails with pups in 11:57 avg pace. Avg elevation: 8,500', 900' gain/loss. Avg heart rate: 153, Max heart rate: 174. Absolutely amazing morning for a run. Perfect running temperature- slightly warm in the sun, slightly chilly in the shade. Wore gloves- but didn't need them at the end. The snow-capped mountains are looking beautiful and inviting. Maybe a snow shoe  up to the high country is in order at the end of the week. 

PM: 2 miles easy in 9:22 pace.

AM: woke to ~2 inches of snow this morning and by the time I got out the door it was ~4-5"! Love a nice spring snow shower. Went out for a longish run alone: 11 in 9:45 avg pace. Felt pretty good, but the downhills are slower than they used to be and I'm not exactly sure why that is. Maybe just not really in that great of shape yet. Min Elevation: 8,250', Max Elevation: 8,715', Gain/Loss: 830'. No heart rate monitor today. Got thoroughly soaked on the run by really considerate people driving 10-20 over the speed limit and not moving over one inch for me. On the way back, it had warmed up a bit and all the snow became a slushy wet mess that came up almost over my ankles. With the exception of intended stream crossings, my feet have never been so wet.

Got home and the snow was so nice in our yard that I decided to take the pups out for a ~2 mile snowshoe in the woods (after a change of clothes, socks, and shoes because I was pretty soaked and starting to get a chill). It was a really nice cool down and they thoroughly enjoyed romping through the snow. It's still snowing up in the mountains- some forecasts call for another 5-8", which would be great because we still need the precipitation!

AM: 5 with pups on trails. Garmin was acting up this morning, it had 99% battery when I went to bed last night and I double checked that the GPS was off. This morning when I went to put the watch on it said the battery was at 0%.. what?! I suspect that either our cat put it on and went for a 3-4 hour hunt last night or that the watch battery is starting to fail. The bezel has been acting weird and the battery has also been draining a lot faster than it used to. A few days ago after the 11 miler, it started saying low battery on the snowshoe hike I was on the with the pups (only ~2.5 hrs of having the GPS and training on). The watch isn't even a year old yet..lame. 

 Anyways, we got another few inches last night, so ~6-8" total. Most of it stuck around this morning and the wind hasn't picked up yet so it was a winter/spring wonder land. All the trees are covered in snow and it was still snowing some during the run. The snow is a bit heavy and sticky, but not too bad. Some post holing but the downhills were nice and smooth. The pups also enjoyed themselves.

AM: 9.08 in 9:26 avg pace. Min Elevation:8,249'; Max Elevation: 8,659'; ~650' gain/loss. Another beautiful morning for a solo run. Ran up the canyon and realized that two days ago when I ran up the canyon, the wind was from the east. Usually the wind is down canyon (from the west) as it was this morning. I think that snow storm actually came in from the east, which happens occasionally. That would also account for slightly faster times uphill than usual a few days ago. Was a little over dressed, had to wear the warmer tights because the other ones are in the laundry and two long sleeved layers + baseball cap and gloves (the warmer ones again because the light weight ones are in the laundry.. really need to get on the laundry tonight). Felt pretty good overall.

 Went for a cool down walk/hike with the older of the pups. The younger one refused to put on her harness and leash, so after dealing with a spazing out puppy for 5 mins I decided to put her back in the crate. I felt guilty on the walk without her. I know she was just super excited to see me and to go for her walk but she was being impossible. When we got back I took them out into the yard for some playtime before leaving for work today.