Sat 8/1 - AM 75 minutes very easy

last run in Denver, puttered around Cheesman Park and then over to the creek. Back via roads. Everything stiff and sore this morning, not surprisingly. Took most of the run to loosen up any.

Fri 7/31 - AM Longs Peak hike

8 hours from start to finish, ran for about 80 minutes at the beginning and then quite sporadically on the way down. Started just before 5:00 to avoid t-storms that never came. The mountain presented its challenges, which of course is what made it worth doing in the first place. Got increasingly ridiculous close to the summit, which was completely enveloped by clouds. A bummer as this left the summit a dimly visible collection of rime-covered rocks. The summit experience left me cold for the next 90 minutes or so as the descent went through exposed and very windy areas. Finally warmed up as I got back to the treeline. Descending the steepest parts left my legs more tired than I expected, but not overly exhausted at the end. The altitude didn't affect me the way it did hiking Mt. Elbert, certainly as acclimated to it as I'll ever be by now.

Thu 7/30 - AM 65 minutes easy

Magnolia Road, a dreary experience this time around. Lethargic after yesterday's travel, took a long time to get going in the morning. Gray overcast along the front range turned into being in the cloud deck at 8,000'. Spitting rain the entire time, got stronger near the end. To top it off, right adductor felt like garbage, took a break halfway out to try and work out the kinks which was only moderately successful. Downhill stretches were especially awkward. Lack of stretching and all the sitting around yesterday on cars and planes the cause of all this. Planned on doing an evening shakeout on the flat path but ended up biking around in search of a rental car for tomorrow instead.

Wed 7/29 - AM 90 minutes

last run in FLG, over to Oldham via Buffalo Park. Very similar to last Wednesday's run but a little shorter as I went straight through the park. Definitely moving slower than last Wednesday afternoon, still not quite awake at the start of the run. Right hip better than yesterday but still fairly stiff, in fact both hips feeling creaky today, not a surprise considering this DOMS is from the GC hike the other day.

Tue 7/28 - double, 1:40 total

AM - 60 minutes easy/very easy, Sinclair Wash trail. Not surprisingly, the right adductor felt like garbage, sore and moving awkwardly. Loosened up some after 30 minutes but still had to favor it. Still worth the trip to see Ribbon Falls yesterday. For the amount of abuse I've put my legs through the last 10 days I'm actually pleased the hip/adductor area has held up as well as it has, my feeling is things will come around further when I return to sea level and take a break from long steep descents.

PM - 40 minutes, Campbell Mesa. Similar pattern to the morning run, i.e. more stiff than I would have liked at the outset, but overall less pronounced than in the AM.

Mon 7/27 - AM Grand Canyon North Rim hike

Ran/hiked the long-awaited trip to Ribbon Falls on the North Kaibab, and it came off as well as I could have expected. Started just after 6, walked down to Supai tunnel, then mixed in some running on the way down to the pumphouse. Ran the rest of the way to the falls on the gentler gradient through Cottonwood CG. Reached the falls by 8:30, after spending a little over a half an hour there headed back up. More running on the way up, able to maintain a fairly steady rhythm until after Roaring Springs when the trail got punishingly steep. Reached the top just before noon. Compared to previous GC jaunts I was better prepared this time vis a vis food and water, as such never felt in any serious distress. Worried (to put it mildly) about the rising sun and temperature as I was ascending back up past Roaring Springs, but there were still shady spots. I only needed one short break between the pumphouse and Supai tunnel stops. Right hip held up relatively well, not about to aggravate it further by attempting to run down the steepest sections. All told, I spent about 5 hours on the move and an hour or so relaxing in the shade.

Sun 7/26 - PM 80 minutes

At the north rim of the GC, out and back along the Ken Patrick trail. Not a bad trail although sandy and overgrown in places. Moving better on the return leg, felt the elevation on any kind of uphill of course. The only downer was tripping on a root while descending a downhill which caused my right foot to slam into the ground, with the force going right up the leg to the hip area of course. Felt like complete ass for a few minutes after that, gradually improved, sure to feel like hell tomorrow.