Thu 7/22 - double, 2:20 total

AM - 80 minutes, Hartman Rocks. First 20 minutes or so down Gold Basin Rd, then up on to the plateau and headed north from there. Back down Bambi's, quads feeling better but still not exactly spry on the downhill.

PM - 60 minutes, West Maroon Pass trail. Out and back amidst mind-boggling scenery, but the length of the trail (spur to the four pass loop) was more than I had expected, made the run longer as a result. Very very tired by the end of the day. Getting to the trailhead was extremely nerve-wracking in a tiny rental.

Wed 7/21 - double, 2 hours total

AM - 80 minutes easy, Hartman Rocks. Hard work getting atop the plateau of this place, but once there it's just tremendous. Poked around various side trails, numerous stops to gawk and take pictures. Walked back down off the plateau when I was done with the run, too steep to run down it.

PM - 40 minutes easy, Hartman Rocks. Started up Bambi's trail, further down the road from the main entrance where the morning run started. Got up to the plateau just in time to see a t-storm bearing down, turned tail soon after that back down to the road. Very tired today, long nap in the afternoon. Quads feeling moderately better but still running gingerly on any downhills.

Tue 7/20 - PM 80 minutes very easy/easy

In Gunnison, started with a few laps around the highest intercollegiate track in the country. I had planned on sticking with the track to give my quads a break but doing laps was so mind-numbing I struck out for the trails behind the stadium. Once I found a trail that stayed roughly level along the ridge, this ended up being one of the better out and back runs I've ever done. In due time, I was even able to move faster than a crawl as the legs showed signs of improving.

Mon 7/19 - double, 70 minutes very easy

AM - 40 minutes very easy, Corona to Creek Path. No surprises in that quads are destroyed, only one speed available today. First few minutes less than enjoyable, very stiff. Left hamstring tweaked a bit as well. Right knee swollen up a bit, but hopefully no lasting efffects from the fall.

PM - 30 minutes very easy, Cheesman Park. A shakeout and prelude to post-run stretching more than anything else. No knee lift whatsoever.

Sun 7/18 - AM 2 hours incl. Barr Trail race

An interesting experience to be sure. Very nervous going into this race, no idea if my sea level preparations would hold up to an event that tops out at 10,000 feet. To say nothing of passing hundreds of people on the path going the other way while descending. Pre-race anxiety not helped any by a sudden wave of painful tightness in my back while warming up, which left as quickly and mysteriously as it came. Unable to fully unburden myself beforehand which ended up being much more of an issue. Decided to be even more conservative than I had planned early on. The gun went off and to my surprise, the field went out at a sane pace and I was able to settle right in. It didn't feel that much faster than the training run on this trail three weeks ago much of the time. Passed a few people, passed by a couple others but in general I more than held my own on the way up reaching the turnaround in 12th. Did this despite having stomach pains much of the way up and making a conscious effort to hold back at times. What goes up comes right back down in this race, and the trip back confirmed what's been proven again and again, steep downhill running is not for me. Stomach discomfort increasing, bordering on full-on constipation and of course the jarring and pounding made it feel all the worse. No answer to the people who passed me, including this guy who was the last one to go by and looked like anything but a runner. Not knowing his backstory I was pretty pissed at being left in his dust. Soon after that I hit the deck and fell pretty heavily on both knees but especially the right one, leading to this and this. After eating shit my focus was on surviving above all else, finished at a canter in no-man's land with the slowest descent time of anyone from 10-19th place. Quads of course pulverized, calves felt better than expected. Going in I had goals of cracking the top 20 and running under 1:45, one for two there. I also hoped to be the first flatlander, in hindsight not sure why I should really care. I kept up with the locals on the uphill part. The stomach problems were also a big hindrance, definitely slowed me down on the way back. Possibly from being so worked up about the race but also from what I had for dinner in all likelihood. While I'll probably race on this trail again in the future, it won't be this particular event, racing downhill is for the birds.

Sat 7/17 - AM 70 minutes easy

In Denver once again. Utterly overextended after more travel-related shenanigans, came within an hour or so of being awake for 24 straight. Only a couple of catnaps in there to break up the monotony of consciousness. Took it quite easy once again, a loop around Cheesman Park and then along the Creek Path to Confluence Park for a soak. Maybe not so easy as yesterday as there was no crushing humidity to deal with and the altitude isn't that much of an issue at such a slow pace. Hot here today as it seems to be across the entire continental US, but the dryness makes a world of difference.