The wife was up most of Friday night sick to the stomach so my Saturday morning run started later then normal. My initial goal was a Green/Bear/SoBo/Mesa Trail loop from Chautauqua Park. As I made my way to Ranger, the calf wasn't going to allow me to do much. As I started up Ranger, the snow and occasional ice thankfully restricted me to not doing much.
The effort up was honest. Twice my feet just slipped out from underneath me on some of the steeper sections. Thankfully the snow offered up a good cushion. I was surprised that snow dominated most of the trail from bottom to top. No biggie though.
As I got to the top, I reevaluated thoughts of heading up Bear & SoBo. After 5 minutes of enjoying the views, 2 other runners came cruising up. Come to find out that I was chatting with Homie and JV. Now I don't know much about either other then both of them straight getting after it on trails. Something I find extremely cool. And to think I asked JV prior to introduction if he climbs Green much. HA! Both were really cool folks. However someone must have forgot to tell them there was snow and ice on the decent cause those two were gone QUICK!
So my decent was slow as I have a fear of busting my ass while running downhill on snow and ice. Before long I was at the junction of Bear Canyon and the West Ridge. Not wanting to deal with more snow and ice, I headed down Bear Canyon.
(Bear and SoBo from Bear Canyon)
About 10 yards into this section, it dawned on me that I had never run the Bear Canyon trail. Wow, what a great section of trail. Amazing views, beautiful single track almost all covered in snow. Before long I was merging onto the Mesa Trail and that's when I saw....wait for it....another beaver. Seriously, what is up with that.
I might be 50 yards from the Mesa Trail, just focusing on the rocky trail in front of me. I look up as I make myself around a bend and I see this lady bent over, with pants around her ankles and getting reading to squat. I just froze and then blurted out "Yo, you got company. Please don't grow a tail!" I know, classy. The lady, in full stream just responds with an "oops" while her 3 friends to feet from her are cracking up. As I pass them one of them asks "did you really think she was going taking a dump?" I just responded with something like "I honestly don't know what to think right now." as I headed off.
I proceeded onto Mesa and just roamed the trail here and there and finished up my run. Forget the details but something like 11 on the day in 2hrs 15mins. Felt fine the whole time and it was nice to get a big climb into the training equation.
Lastly, a pic of my most recent purchases.
The book I'm halfway thru. The shoes have been worn once Friday at the office. I'll comment on both some time soon.
Homie, one of the most understated climbers in the region, and JV who does Green more than anybody except Tony.
ReplyDeleteCracking up on the tail comment.
Since you seem to collect 'em, you should know the next official full moon (different from "trail moons" is November 21st.
ReplyDeleteGZ - I've read their blogs and seen many comment on their abilities over the years, so yeah, very impressed with what they do.
ReplyDeleteJim - I try not to collect them but I just can't erase them from my mind. Kind of like a bad dream! Let me know if you all are planning some full moon run.
Nice to meet you Jaime. Love the beaver sighting tale (or tail?). I saw what I thought to be a beaver sighting while running up the W's on Pikes this summer, but it ended up being a dude growing a tail I think. I am still traumatized.
ReplyDelete