North Loop - Indian Peaks Wilderness Area - Back Again

Not sure what more I can say about this loop that hasn't already been said. Well other then get out there and run it you haven't done so already.

Last year I ran this loop counter-clockwise alone. This year I ran it clockwise along with some fantastic company. I was some how able to talk both a run-in with the law and KM to wake up damn early, stomach a long drive up to the Long Lake trail head and hit the trails by 6:30am.

Temps at 10,500 feet couldn't have been any nicer at the start. Comfortable cool breeze's greeted us at both Pawnee and Buchanan. Typical of Indian Peaks, a bit of rain and thunder, lots of sun, water crossings and heaps amount of wildflowers helped paint a picture perfect day in the mountains high above the Front Range.

(Heading up towards Lake Isabelle and Pawnee Pass)

(Near the top of Pawnee Pass looking west)

(Run-In making quick work down towards Pawnee Lake)

(KM a few switch backs below Pawnee Pass itself)

I've been to the top of Pawnee Pass 6 times now in my life and the views and surrounding area have left me speechless each damn time. Run-In (who is running the Wasatch 100 and gunning for a Velvet Cougar aka Crimson Cheetah) set the pace most of the day but was kind enough to hold back from time to time. I personally felt great most of the run staying well ahead on both fluids and fuel. Also helps that the views and conversation offered up a great distraction to the running itself.

(Run-In leading the way down Cascade and up Buchanan. KM not far behind)

My only bottom happened shortly after leading us down a wrong trail about a mile before Coney Flats. What resulted was an additional 1 mile and damn near 30 minutes of bushwhacking and creek crossings to get back on the Beaver Creek Trail.

Leading the group the wrong way mentally drained me. Just felt bad for doing that even though no one cared. Having zero water on the last big climb of the day didn't help matters either. Most of the trail up to the Mt. Audubon intersection is runnable but not on this day for me. It was a slow slog up. Thankfully things came back together for me and we all made quick work of the last few technical miles back to the car.

Stats for the day were roughly:
27 3/4 Miles
7,100 Feet of Vert
7 Hours 20 Minutes (of that 30 mins spent lost, 30 mins spent just kicking it and enjoying the views)

(Indian Peaks Wilderness Area Single Track. Doesn't get much better then this)

July 2011 Summary

Runs - 25
Workouts - 5
Injured - 0

The Bad: Lots of travel days limited my running.

Is it possible for my left ankle to get even more thrashed? Yes when I seem to roll it every week.

The Good: Were to begin?

1st Weekend of July - Running Mt. Princeton.
2nd Weekend of July - Pacing/Crewing my friend at HR100.
3rd Weekend of July - Family vacation to Durango.
4th Weekend of July - Running the South Loop of the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area.
5th Weekend of July - Running the San Francisco Marathon while on vacation.

The month of July saw me spend the most hours on my feet, the most vertical feet climbed and almost the most monthly miles so far this year. Even more important, a lot of time spent with the family! Damn how I love summer time in Colorado.

Looking forward: There is still plenty of time to be spending in the high country so I'm banking on a few more running trips up high. I also have 6 weeks till Steamboat so I have another month of focused training ahead of me that I'm looking forward to.

Most excited that in a few weeks, along with a few of his buddies, we'll be crewing and pacing PG at Leadville. The tasks of getting PG thru the race is something I'll be taking extremely serious. There might not be one right way to train for a 100 mile race, but the time he's put in over the past 6 months is extremely impressive and one I'm sure will pay off nicely. It's going to be a great weekend for so many folks up in Leadville! Can't wait.

And lastly, a trail running trip report (and pics) I never got around to posting. Columbine Lake attempted 1 day before my duties began at Hardrock. A comfortable 5 1/2 mile round trip route with 2,500 feet of up peaking at like 12,700 feet. A lake I've always wanted to visit. A lake that I got denied visiting due to waist deep snow. And I was only a few hundred yards away.

(Alpine Chicken!)

(Columbine Basin filled with snow)

(Looking towards the area between Ouray and Lake City)

(Looking towards Silverton)

2011 San Francisco Marathon

Heading back home now a days is all about spending time with family and extremely close friends. Nothing else matters. Not even my running. And this "doesn't matter" approach was exactly how I treated the San Francisco Marathon that was held a few days ago on the last day of July.

This year's trip back home was made even more special as my beautiful baby daughter got to meet so many new face. She also had some trouble getting adjusted to her new sleeping arraignment which meant sleepless nights for the wife and I for the duration of the trip.

Mix in a very short 3 day taper (Thur off due to travels, Fri & Sat combined 7 miles, 40 mile week and 21 miles just 8 days earlier) and I wasn't expecting much come race day. For no specific reason a slow 3:40 sounded right.

Sunday race day starts out stupid early. 5:32am to be specific. I won't break down my race but rather share random things that went on during my 26.2 mile training run in San Francisco (aka The City by the Bay, aka The Sucka Free City, aka The 415).


Overheard: "We are 20 seconds behind our goal pace and I already feel like I'm pushing hard." This was at the 1 mile marker

Pace Group Encounter #1: Shortly after watering the plants at mile 4, I saw the 3:40 pace group about 20 yards or so behind and thinking it would be tough to keep up with them.

Golden Gate Bride Crossing: Way to crowded to have it be enjoyable (to me) but still pretty freaking cool to be offered the opportunity to do so. Yup, that's a girl in a tu-tu smoking me early on.


Presidio: Hitting a high point of the course 10+ miles in and realizing I had another 3 or 4 gears in me. This is where the fun began.

Mile 15: Free Beer! Need I say more. And yes I will have another.

Pace Group Encounter #2: Creeping up and passing the 3:20 pace group around mile 18 and thinking their pace was way to slow.

Haight St: Awesome that the course ran down the heart of such an amazing place.


Hills: I love hills and I love watching people suffer up them.

Cell Phones: I called my wife at mile 21 to let her know where I was. The look from other runners was priceless.

Downhill finish: All that downhill over the last 6 miles came within what felt like 10 quad mashing blocks.

Passing Fools: I was maybe a foot or so away before noticing that I was passing up JT. I've only met JT a few times (read his blog all the time) and he seems like a solid guy but reality is I don't know him. So a smack on the ass as a motivation tool to the Sub Elite would have been weird. Now if you're reading PG, I will use this tactic if I see you slacking anywhere between Twin and Fish. You've been warned.

Toughest moment: Doing a healthy size whiskey shot at mile 25. I almost barfed on the party of crazies providing the free booze. Took me a 1/4 mile to be sure my stomach wouldn't come up.

3 Hours, 15 Minutes, 27 Seconds. 7:28Pace. 195th out of 5920 runners (finishers?).

I started out the race extremely slow and ate and drank a bunch early on. Once the legs warmed up I just sped up the pace every few miles till the race was done. 8 miles in I had a 7:54Pace going on. So yeah, I picked it up a bit there after even though I was easily goofing around much more during the second half of the race.

I was actually disappointed that the race was done and I could have easily headed out for lap 2 of the course. And this is what I was most proud of. So much left in the tank to take on more. Mentally wanting more. Yeah a marathon won't prep me for Steamboat but it's these little things that help ensure my current training plan is working.

As for the course layout, for the out of towner, it was great. You do get a great tour of the city. For me though, and as a native, I would have loved seeing the route go thru more of the cities neighborhoods and tackle a few more steeps. I believe that it's these two things that make the city what it is (you can have Pier 39 and the Wharf and I'll take North Beach or the Inner Sunset any day of the week).

I'm not one for finisher medals but the one below is pretty bad ass. Now to plan next weekends adventure in the high country.