Yesterday morning was my 50th ascent of Green Mountain in the last 48 days, which makes me half-way to my objective of completing 100 ascents in the first 100 days of the year. It was pretty much like any of the other 48 past mornings, except that on this morning Jocelyn joined me. She left the apartment in her car to drive to the Gregory Canyon trailhead while I opted for my usual mode of transportation there: my two feet. This, however, gave her a 10-15 minute head start on me and allowed us to coincide our time of summitting.
(Jocelyn's first summit of Green Mountain this year.)
(My 50th.)
After snapping a couple of pictures, we then ran down the Greenman and Gregory trails together. Jocelyn was pretty impressed with the performance of her new Microspikes. Back at the trailhead, she headed off to class and I scampered home to complete my usual two-hour outing.
(Jocelyn sure-footedly descending the upper Greenman trail.)
After a mid-day acupuncture session, I got out again in the afternoon before my evening Watershed Biogeochemistry class, opting for the more challenging front side (Amphitheater-Greenman). Allison's hour-long brutalization of my left hamstring and right vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) had left me fairly sore but didn't seem to have much of a slowing effect on the subsequent 32:49 climb to my 51st summit. From the top of the surprisingly warm peak I had a great view of the ominous, somewhat sickening, temperature inversion-induced Brown Cloud of the Denver/I-25 corridor (that I subsequently, coincidentally, learned the atmospheric chemistry of in class last night).
(Why I am so annoyingly insistent upon not driving to the trailhead.)
I rounded out the two hours with a couple miles of barefoot striding around Kittredge Fields by the CU Law School where I had the pleasure of meeting and running with Austin Baillie, fresh off an impressive 1:04 half marathon performance last month in Houston. Nothing like a little reality check as to where I truly stand in the pecking order of the distance running universe. (Interestingly, though, Austin had plenty of respect for ultras, having paced at both Leadville and Hardrock.) Nevertheless, I hope the next seven weeks of Green baggin' continue to go at least as smoothly as the first seven have.
13 comments:
I never thought I'd see the day when the infamous Jocelyn would make real life appearance. Congrats on 50 and 51, glad you decided to snap some pics and share it with the rest of us. Run on.
All downhill from here.
Wow, 1:04 half....not only can you go far fast you can run short REALLY fast. That time really tells a story about your abilities. You are incredible (writer/runner), keep it up!
As always inspiring, you have encouraged me to find new ways to get to trailheads without the use of my car, and I thank you for that. It seems to lift a burden of my shoulders and makes the run more fun. Thanks again and stay strong.
I think Disney made a movie about you two called "Beauty and The Shaggy Mountain Runner".
Jeff I think Tony said Austin Baillie ran a 1:04 half not TK.
Charlie,
Correct; Austin ran a 1:04 half marathon...I could NEVER come close to that. My half marathon PR is from the second half of my marathon PR (1:18), but I suspect even in my best shape I'd have a tough time going much faster than 1:12-13.
2 shirts and tights...how the heck did you compensate for all that extra weight? $10 says you made Jocelyn carry the camera.
Long sleeves? Pants? Boulder is making you soft!
There's something wonderful about running with your significant other.
The other day, for my birthday, I got to run with my fiance. She agreed to run with me. I love it. It makes a good thing even better.
It's the love, man.
I live in Portland, OR, and do my long runs on the 30-mile Wildwood Trail, which starts downtown. It's a 20'-40' drive from my house to my favorite trailhead, depending on traffic. But you're making me realize that I could probably run to a closer trailhead in about half an hour. I'm going to give it a try. Thanks for the inspiration, as usual.
Forget the brown cloud over Denver....I'm amazed at the lack of snow down there! Here in NH we're still buried!
Great running, Anton, as usual. Hope the knee holds up. I have Patella Tendinitis also, have for 25 years, and reading your minimalist post helped me on the way to clearing it up. Dump those clunky, restricting shoes, runners!
I've been running the roads in Adidas Adizero now for several months and the knee pain is gone.
Steve
i am an avid fan and a regular visitor of your blog. i am the "Bald Runner" from the Philippines (www.baldrunner.com)and your posts had inspired me to run challenging courses in the country. I am a regular 58-year old runner and i am impressed with your accomplishments and training. i would like to ask permission to "grab" one or two of your pictures to be published on my blog. thanks!
"Why I am so annoyingly insistent upon not driving to the trailhead."
Great post, and visual evidence, sadly.
For those shorter on time or farther from the TH, I might suggest that biking to/from the TH -- a duathlon -- is another good alternative.
Post a Comment