So, what to do when you need to break in trail shoes...go run Lake Mountain! Ding!!
Dave, Kim and I (aka the Solomon crew, since we're all cool enough to have Solomon shoes) hit the trail. Man, I suck. I really am losing any uphill running fast lately. I don't know why I can't run uphill and it keeps getting worse, but it does. Oh well. I was still running patches at 2.5, but then I walked the rest of the way to the top. Oh what a glorious morning!!
First thing, I tagged the peak! The "green" way :)
Took a Picture of The Solomon Crew
Then I took the epic Solomon picture :)
There are some places in this world only your feet can take you :)
(okay, yes 4 wheelers can go up this route, but still...stick with me in the moment here, would ya?!?)
I was excited to start the way back down, because with a packed trail the technical and steep parts I normally have to dance down to not fall and kill myself, were all packed in and ready for easy running. Well, they were still steep! I lost Dave and Kim on the first little trail down to the road, because I still couldn't run down that steep thing! But, after a couple miles I caught Kim and Dave...well, he was long gone. It was an incredible morning!! The worst parts were down near the parking area where the sun melts the snow creating ice. A little ice skating there for the guys, I just stayed on the un tracked out stuff and I was fine :)
New shoes performed well and I had a great time! Legs aren't nearly as sore as the other times either. I'm liking this trail more and more and more :) So, I posted about getting a group together on NY Eve. Anyone and everyone invited!
The most EPIC part of this run, was that I finally surpassed my goal for the year! I made it to QP's house! What a run to finish on as well. This is the first time I've actually made and completed (with breaking my foot and having to compromise) a mileage goal! I know 2186 miels isn't all that many for the majority of you, but it is my biggest year. I've done 12 marathon + distances, a half iron, became record holder for the stair climb, paced a ton of races, met and got to run with some of my favorite people in the world, drove 18 hours (one way) to pace a marathon with my BRF Becca, 3rd overall Oquirrh Man (trail half Friday, road full Saturday - men and women), Epic Boston that changed us all, PR in the marathon this fall and SO many other amazing things. This has just really been an incredible year. I'm SO greateful that I have remained relatively uninjured and didn't have to sideline myself for any reason other than recovery from back to back races. I am one happy girl! I think I really got my cake and got to eat it too!! I won't press my luck next year :) The only thing that would've been better was if I REALLY ended up in QP's driveway Friday morning :(
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