Summit junkie!

I went for a run tonight and I just wasn’t feeling it at all. I was sluggish from the beginning and I could never really find my rhythm and I kept waiting to start feeling better, but it just never happened. On mile 4 I started to feel a little better, but I was still sluggish and I really picked up my pace, but it wasn’t anything great. Total time was 43 minutes.

Had an incredible day hiking up Broads Fork and on the Cottonwood Ridge. We had planned on hiking across the entire Cottonwood Ridge, but after we reached the first summit (Broads Fork East Twin) thick black storm clouds started to roll in, so we decided the entire ridge traverse was probably out. We ascended via the Robinsons Variation, which was a fun alternative to the standard route up the Twins. It was quite challenging with a lot of loose wet scree and we had to climb through some sketchy cliffs to get onto the ridge. I think I found a cougar or bobcat den, although the cat was nowhere to be found. It did smell horribly like animal urine though.

The ridge heading up to the first twin is exposed in places and required some fun scrambling with only a few difficult sections. The ridge from the West twin back to the saddle does have one section of cliffs that we had to descent and although the climbing was easy it was severely exposed.

After arriving at the base of Sunrise Peak the clouds had not blown off at all, so we decided to have a nice glissade that cut off about 1000 feet of the descent. It was a fun day with over 5,000 feet of elevation gain and took us just over 9 hours.

On my hike on Friday I started coughing  and have had some fluid in my lungs for the last few days and I have had very little energy and I think that might be why I have been feeling sluggish. I went out just to keep my legs fresh and I took my new dog out for the first time. She was all over the place and I think I should get bonus miles for all of the effort it took to battle her. By mile 3 we found a good rhythm and it was much better.

Did weights at the gym tonight (upper body) for 45 minutes and then ran home after my workout. I didn't feel all that great or I would have kept running.

Ran the Wasatch Crest trail with Jun and Enoch this morning and had the BEST sunrise of the year on the top of Scott Hill. The moon was full above all of the spectacular Wasatch Peaks with an amazing alpenglow to the west, and the sky was lit up with oranges and reds with the sun rising in the east.  The trail was incredible with wildflowers and everything is so green because of all of the June rain. It was a fantastic day.  I finished the route in 1:41 after Jun and just before Enoch.

We did have some significant elevation gain at the start of the trail and my lungs were definitely feeling it with this cough I have had, but once we hit the downhill it was fun and much easier.

Another note: I don’t think you have truly lived until you have had a ‘dirt bag’ shower in the sink at the Big Cottonwood Park-n-ride and the free soap actually smells nice.

Went golfing today at Thanksgiving Pt. and it took us 5 hours to do 18 holes. I was pretty tired after, but I went to the gym and lifted for 30 minutes anyway.

Climbed Little Water Peak this morning with my friend Matt. We started at 5:30 AM and had a nice hike up to the lake, although Matt wasn't feeling well. From the lake it is a bushwhack for about a mile to the summit and we went through one of the most beautiful aspen forests I have ever seen. It was so green and didn't seem real. The view from the top is fantastic and Matt had a grand idea that we would just head south and bushwhack down to the trail coming from Desolation Lake. It ended up being horrific and we got into thick stinging nettle and both fell a few times on the steep terrain. Once we were back on the trail we ran back to the trailhead and it was a lot of fun despite the route finding challenges. (Total 6 miles)

** Updated later***

Ran 3 more miles with Kristina and the dog. I felt really good and could have gone for a while, but Kristina was done after 3. It was a perfect night.

Took the dog out for a mile and then I did 30 minutes on the elliptical. It was a very busy day and it was nice to do something easy on the knees today.

Went to the gym and lifted (upper body) and then took the dog out for a nice 3 mile run.

No working out today. I worked and then spent 8 hours driving to Colorado.

Did 5 miles in Colorado.

On vacation in Colorado and managed to get in 3 miles.

Still in Colorado. I had access to a nice weight room today, so I took advantage and had a nice upper body workout for 40 minutes.

Still on vacation and got in 4 good miles today. I love Colorado and may move there at some point.

Spent the day driving back from Colorado, but I was able to do 30 minutes on the elliptical before I went to bed.

Went to the gym and lifted weights (upper body) for 40 minutes. I was going to go for a run, but I just didn't have time last night.

I wanted to get out for a long run tonight, but I was very busy and didn't get my kids to bed until 10:45, so after they were down I got in 5 miles.

I went out for a nice run tonight, although the sun was up and it was hot for the first few miles. I wanted to push and see how fast I could go doing 5 miles since I haven't tried to go hard for a while. The first 3 miles were really difficult and I had a small stitch in my side that was really bad the first and last half miles. I was surprised to see that I did the 3 miles in just over 20 minutes. I took a quick break and then did two more miles in 17 minutes. The last mile was uphill and I was a lot slower than the first 4.

Total time: 37:35

Up at 4:00 am this morning to climb the Honeycomb Cliffs above Brighton with my friend Matt. It was dark when we started on the Silver Lake trail and both of us were feeling a bit sluggish, but we power hiked at a pretty good pace. We stopped at the upper lake to take some pictures of the sunrise and then we pushed up to the summit. It was an amazing view and a perfect morning. I think I am also going to go bag a summit after work, but I'm not sure where or what I am doing yet.

The website on the internet said the hike was 6 miles, but it sure didn't feel like it.

Update: After work I went back up to Brighton and climbed Clayton Peak (Mt. Majestic) 10,721 ft. The temps were in the 70's and it was a great way to get out of the heat. I'm really looking forward to doing the entire Brighton ridge run soon, hitting all of the peaks (8 named) above the resort.

Got in 3 after the kids went to bed. Busy day.

Took my kids and dog on a hike to Mt. Van Cott today. It was HOT outside and I think I almost killed them. After 2 hours they were all red faced and tired and wanted to keep taking breaks to drink, and the dog didn't want to go anymore, so we didn't make it to the summit. I think I need to make them all (including the dog) a little more hardcore. It was fun though. It took us just under 3 hours.

I usually lift weights on Monday and tonight I decided to run to the gym. It was hot out and I felt sluggish for the first mile and when I got to the gym I was really sweaty, so I felt bad getting on the machines sweating all over them, so I took a quick break to dry off. Lifted for 40 minutes (upper body/core) and I was only sweating a little on the machines. :) I ran home and once again got a stitch in my side. That is 3 times I have run home from the gym and each time I have had the stitch, so I am pretty sure I am getting it because I am running so quickly after lifting. I pushed throuh it though and it was a great workout.

Spent the day in Yellowstone park with my family and I had a nice run from my hotel (Comfort Inn) to the park entrance and back and then I completed it again. The temps were cool and comfortable and it was a nice run. The streets were very quiet after 10:00 pm. Fun run.

Did a 3 mile hike in Yellowstone and had a great day touring the park. I also got in a nice run after the kids were in bed in West Yellowstone.