Tue 7/26 - PM 65 minutes elliptigo plus 24 minutes in Walden

Originally thought I was going to do some running as well but with the late start thanks to long work day it became clear that wouldn't be happening. Made it a cross-training day instead, with an extended dip in the pond. Much needed on an exceedingly sticky day. Right calf tight and feeling something in the piriformis as well, no doubt the two are linked.

Mon 7/25 - PM 75 minutes plus 16 minutes in Walden

Lincoln woods. Back to the cloying embrace of humidity. In fact it was less of an issue than the right calf/peroneal area which is stuck in an obstinate place that's tough to release. Not hobbling but difficult to get moving.

Sun 7/24 - double, 25 minutes plus 40 minutes elliptigo

AM - 25 minutes incl. 10x100. Not a planned thing but I found myself awake in the pre-dawn hours with little prospect of going back to sleep. Rather than lie in bed waiting for the alarm to go off went for an out and back jog down the street with strides at the end. On to breakfast and travel back home.

PM - 40 minutes elliptigo. Roughly 12 hours and 2,000 miles flown after the morning run. To the lake and back for a quick cool off. Somewhat tired but not as much as I was expecting.

Sat 7/23 - AM 50 minutes very easy

Lakewood, attempted to run in Green Mountain Park but found the trails near where we were staying to be both too steep and choked with vegetation. In fact I was in need of a gentle effort after yesterday's climbing and the park was simply too hilly. Headed back to the roads and wound up doing a loop around the local high school's ballfields before tooling aimlessly around some neighborhood streets. Mostly unsatisfying and happy to cut it shorter than planned. Already getting quite hot early in the morning as well.

Fri 7/22 - AM 80 minutes

CR 3 to Mosquito Pass, or nearby to it. Made it to the ridgeline anyway, just below to be accurate as I caught up to the CH who was hiking the same route with headstart. Immediately felt the effects of the thin air upon heading up the road. As it got higher, the road got steeper, and the footing more problematic, which made for a triple whammy. Kept up the running until reaching the first major switchback crisscrossing the steep sides of the ridge, at which point I had to mix in walking breaks on the steepest pitches or else risk losing consciousness. Topped out somewhere a little below 13,000' which will certainly do. I had plans of trying to tackle one of the local 14ers but in hindsight the views were just as spectacular from the pass and the route smoother and more compelling. The CH and I hiked back down to the point at which the road changes from smooth wide gravel to rocky 4WD, where the car and lunch were waiting for us.

Thu 7/21 - AM 75 minutes

Out and back along the Difficult Creek Trail. First run of any substance since the race four days ago, finally feeling like something other than slow jogging. A junior version of the race in fact, with half the climbing and 2/3 the distance. And I wasn't racing which was the key thing, although at times I was rolling along at a pretty good clip. Some gnarly footing and steep pitches, more of an issue on the way up than down. In the afternoon drove back over Independence Pass and on to Leadville, soon after our arrival the daily rains rolled in harder than any of the previous days.

Wed 7/20 - PM 50 minutes easy plus 4.5 hour hike

After a strenuous morning hike in the Maroon Bells, up to near Willow Pass and back down, feeling rather strung out. Rallied enough to head back out on the bike path before dinner. Timed it just right to coincide with heavy rains, with big winds and the light show as well. The monsoon pattern has been both reliable and strong wherever we've gone it seems. Not unexpected but still it rained an awful lot. Legs tired after the hike.

Tue 7/19 - double, 80 minutes total very easy

AM - 40 minutes very easy, out and back at San Luis SP. An easy shuffle along the main drag next to the lake that's spawned the bugs that have been eating us alive the last two days, plus a short stretch on the highway before turning around and heading back in. First 15 minutes or so with the CH then the rest by myself, with only a very minor pickup in pace the last couple minutes. Legs still sore unsurprisingly. 

PM - 40 minutes easy out and back along the East of/East Aspen trail. As luck would have it, a dirt sidewalk/bike path/walking trail starts up at the entrance to the campground where we're staying, ever so gradual downhill heading into town then slight incline heading back to camp. Very relaxed putter and just the type of recovery I needed. Plus I got to avoid going into Aspen itself. Beat the afternoon rains.