Summit junkie!

View Benchmark with Jun:

It was either going to be Wire or VB and with threatening clouds moving toward Wire it was an easy choice. The weather was cool and a bit breezy, but almost perfect for running. We actually made pretty good time and I felt fairly good most of the way up, although I still have some soreness in my right calf that has lingered since Wasatch. The fall colors are out in full force and it was very enjoyable cruising up to the summit, although it was windy and cool and we didn't stay long.

We actually ran faster than I thought we would considering how sluggish I was on Saturday. I think the total time RT was 1:17.

Weights at the gym for 50 min working upper body/core. The gym has been closed for a week and this was my first opportunity to get back and hit the weights. I had a great session. My friend Becky bought a new contraption (used for Crossfit) for working your core, so I did a few reps to finish off my workout and I was pretty wrecked.

6 very easy miles on the track at the gym. By time I got a chance to run it was dark and I didn't have time to get to a trail, so it was either the TM, the road in the dark or the track. 3 bad options, but I think it was the best choice.

Timpanogos with Rob:

I love running up Timp. It is probably the best trail run along the Wasatch Front and I had an excellent run with my friend Rob on Sat. I told him to be prepared to be treated like a rock star by the hoards of college students that make the trek to the peak on Friday night/Sat morning. Most of them seem pretty amazed to see people running up the mountain and the comments you get are awesome.

We had to park about .4 from the trailhead because the parking lot is still closed and under construction. We jogged to the trailhead and then set a pretty good pace running up the trail. It was still dark out, but would be getting light soon, so we left the headlamps in the car and we were ok. We hit Scout Falls in 20ish minutes which is about where we usually are and both of us were heating up, so we stopped to make some adjustments. It was pretty cold at the start, but both of us warmed up fast.

At about mile 3 we ran into MattVH who was coming down from the top and was possibly going to join us for a double, but he needed to get home, so we chatted for a few minutes and continued cruising up. We stopped to take pictures and Rob had to stop a few times to make some adjustments, but we were still making decent time.

Just below the saddle I could tell Rob was feeling it and I was yelling at him to pick up the pace which he did. I was feeling strong and having a blast. At the saddle we were greeted by about 10 people that literally clapped for us and cheered. Awesome.

Rob was really slowing down and I waited for him a lot, but with about .5 to go I took off and pushed it really hard all the way to the top where I arrived panting and out of breath in a respectable 2:04. Rob made it up 6 minutes later and we hung out and took a few pictures, chatted with some hikers and both took a gel.

The descent was slower than normal, but we had a total blast cruising down the mountain and passing at least 100 people. It was a lot of fun and Rob was pretty wrecked at the finish and said it was the most difficult trail run he has ever done. I gotta get back up there at least one more time before the snow flies.

Me on the summit: