Thu 5/31 - 6 hour run/hike, Keet Seel

High hopes and expectations for this trek, and it didn't disappoint. In fact it was spectacular, in a landscape that defies easy description for a flatlander such as myself. Hiked out the 8.5 miles in a little under 4 hours, with a few breaks interspersed. Walking up the creek bed was an experience what with all the crossing back and forth. By the time the ranger hogan was reached at the end of the trail, I had more dirt than I can ever remember inside my shoes and socks. After an hour or so at the ruins, headed back down the creek bed, hiking the first couple of miles. Then and only then did I start with the running, which was like being in a videogame set inside a geology textbook. As I was looking for the bottle I had cached at the 4.5 mile mark of the trail, I realized I was looking at horses who were looking back at me. Five of them in fact. I proceeded to follow them back upstream for a while so as to herd them toward my traveling companion. Alas, the batteries in the camera were out by this point, my only regret. After this bit of wrangling was done, turned  back down the trail until reaching the spot where the keet seel canyon met two other canyons, a pre-appointed meeting spot. Wandered in the stream barefoot for a while, and continued with the barefoot routine for some more walking down the stream. When it came time to leave the stream bed for the steep climb back up to Tsegi Point, shoes back on and I ran the rest of the way which was 30 minutes of mostly climbing. Some of that was on sand so steep I couldn't believe it wasn't past the angle of repose. Overall maybe 90 minutes or so of running total. Mind blown at the end of the whole thing.

On to the pictures, of which there were many at least until the batteries ran out. Tsegi Point up high first, then the creek bed, and the ruins:

 gate into Navajo land, permit required

 picture doesn't do justice to how steep this is

 arrow pointing the way

 hero pose at the falls

 almost there

note the steps cut into the rock face near the bottom

Wed 5/30 - PM 45 minutes easy

South Kaibab trail. Hiked down to a point a bit above Cedar Ridge, then turned around and ran back up. After yesterday, no intention whatsoever of doing any running down the trail, esp. this trail. Made it to the rim in a little under 30 minutes and jogged the rest of the way along the rim trail to Mather Point. What passes for a recovery run overall, although the climbing of course involved some heavy breathing.

Tuesday 5/29 - 10 hour run/hike, Grand Canyon

Ribbon Falls or bust. Made it in one piece, more or less, although the ascent was an exercise in deceleration and diminished expectations. Started down Bright Angel in the soft light of sunrise, which was nice. Not enjoying the jarring descent much at all though. And Bright Angel is the less steep one.

Brief break at Indian Gardens, then on down to the inner canyon. By the time I got to the river I could feel the fatigue and stiffness building in the quads. Not helping was the fact that I was carrying ten pounds of fluids from Indian Gardens because the water was out at Phantom Ranch.

Crossed the river and through Phantom Ranch, on to The Box which I was looking forward to greatly since it's the only part of the Kaibab trail I hadn't seen yet. Didn't disappoint, and with the early start there was plenty of shade so it was actually pleasant.

 Phantom Ranch pipeline break

 Vishnu glamour shot

 After the gradual incline of the Box, the somewhat steeper sections just downstream of the falls were most unwelcome and a pretty clear indication the climb back out would be a chore. Took a nice long break at the falls of course, cooled off by the spray:

 starting to feel like this agave looks

then the trip back, camera safely stowed for the duration. Kept the intensity level low on the way back down the Box, mindful of the impending bonk. Kept it relatively together until the climbing of course, at which point walking breaks became both more longer and more frequent. At this point my main concern was not running out of fluids. Wondering if Indian Gardens would ever come as the trees and creek show up before the actual stop does. Finally it did, and I knew I wouldn't be running a step further once I sat down on the bench. Another long break before beginning the final 4.5 miles up the trail to the rim. This took 3 hours, and I could feel the right quad ready to go at any moment if I tried any kind of sudden, explosive movement. Which of course wasn't happening anyway. Long hot trudge. I may not know my limits but I know when I've gone past them. Still not quite the ordeal as back in March in Tucson, thanks to having enough fluids. Finally, it should be noted that yesterday three guys went from rim to rim on the Kaibab in under 3 hours. I covered more mileage, so there.

Mon 5/28 - AM 60 minutes incl. 3(400-300-200-100)

First time trying to do a track workout at altitude. Approached the whole thing with some trepidation, as such kept the repeats and overall length of the session short. Hoping to get some kind of turnover, but not expecting numbers worth writing home about. As expected, the 400s felt a little rubber-legged, in fact 200m seemed to be the tipping point after which the hypoxia set in. Numbers:

78.0/57.4/37.5/18.3
77.8/56.8/37.1/18.5
76.5/58.2/37.3/18.3

Recoveries about what they'd be at sea level. Some wind on the backstretch FWIW. Happy to be able to finish the thing in one piece. Later in the day, traveled to the Grand Canyon where I thought about doing a short shakeout, but went for a walk along the rim instead.

Sun 5/27 - double, 2:20 total

AM - 1:55, out and back along Arizona trail from FR 303 to Fisher Point. Took my time getting started this morning, worried I might wilt in the strong midday sun but in hindsight it was better to have waited. Took a while to get going, breathing heavy at first in the thin air, but moving pretty well towards the end. Got a little stumbly after an hour or so on the more uneven terrain as the legs got tired, but thankfully the path was mostly smooth closer to the trailhead. Ten minute break at the point;

Hit the view point near Walnut Canyon NM on the way back as well:

keeping the cattle from the cliff edge

PM - 25 minutes very easy. Shakeout jog over to FHS/Thorpe Park for drills and strides. Took a long comatose nap after lunch, took a while to get going after that. Left adductor stiff, hip flexor twinging somewhat after the morning's run. 

Sat 5/27 - PM 45 minutes easy

Sinclair Wash trail in high and dry Flagstaff. Had to do something after a long day of travel, even though I of course slept poorly last night in the sticky conditions back east. Here in part to escape that stuff of course, although the trade off is that the area is under red flag weather conditions with a freeze warning at night. Made for a windy and cool late afternoon. Shoulder season lasts a little longer around here I suppose, so long as it doesn't snow I can deal with it.

Fri 5/25 - PM 85 minutes very easy

Lincoln woods. Trying to give myself the chance to get up off the mat by taking it as easy as possible, with mixed results at best. Adjusted the pace w/o really trying to such that by the end I was barely moving. Really, really tired right now, anxiety over upcoming travel ruining any chance to get a good night's rest as well. On top of this, the tree pollen was atrocious today. Not the first day of the season that I've seen it coating the car windshield and the like but on the run I was fairly choking on the stuff. The pond had great clumps of it pushed into corners by the wind, icky. Didn't stop me from standing waist-deep in the water for 10 minutes, which was a highlight of the day really. I had thought of going tfor the first full-on aquajogging dip of the year but the water was too cold for that.