Holy Moly, I'd forgotten how nasty that canyon is! I did end up heading up Butterfield canyon and unfortunately the canyon was open. Luckily we didn't see many cars. Met Cal and Annette bright and early and we headed up to the canyon. After just the first one mile climb out of my neighborhood I was exhausted. My only thought was "this is going to be a LONG 6 more miles" and I didn't disappoint :) I dropped water at the canyon gate and I'm glad I did. I wished I had brought it to the top! The canyon starts nice and easy with some rollers and it was SO beautiful! Shade, babbling brook, quiet, cool breeze, beautiful flowers in bloom. Amazing! Then the real work starts about 2.5-3 miles up the canyon. Oh, those rollers stopped and it was climbing...just climbing. I felt like I was just crawling up the road. But, I knew I had to make it so I just pressed on! Finally reached the 4 mile turn around and wow...I was exhausted, but ready to fly downhill, until I did. OUCH! After pushing so hard up, your legs don't like to turn around and pound down! Took a while and a couple flats to get my feet under me again. Then I had a wonderful easy paced run down the canyon where we saw a mom deer and two TINY babies follow her across the street. I've never seen deer that small/young! It was nice to finally chat a bit. There was NO way I could've talked up the canyon. Stopped at the gate and chugged the rest of my water then headed home. Only 2 little hills to go on the way home. Cardio and breathing were finally happy, but legs still felt like lead. I just keep wondering when running will feel easy again. I think I need to add this run to my schedule more often, and cut off the last 1/2+ mile :) AP: 9:43 (sad, I know!) splits: 9:50, 9:45, 10:23 (I don't know why this one is so slow), 10:51(start of canyon), 10:59, 11:09, 12:02 (feet were still running...that is all I can say!), 8:42 (downhill? why yes!), 8:38, 8:39, 8:44, 8:43, 8:53, 8:49 total elevation gain on garmin: 2628 ft.
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