Week 1 totals: about 55 miles over 6 runs, some skiing, one hard snowshoe outing, 3 strength sessions, 3 core sessions. Eating well, sleeping well, eager to step it up a little in the coming week.
AM: core
PM: I decided it was time for my first hard run of the trip and tried a recommended trail unlike any I’ve run elsewhere in the area. I powered through 10.81 miles of rolling, single track, switch-backs through sage brush and pinon trees on the Rift Valley Trail in 1:43:50. 9:36/mile may not sound impressive but I was going about as hard as I could for the entire run. Effort-wise, much of it was like an upper 6min/mile pace equivalent on flat road.
It ain’t just snowy mountains and sunny mesas out here. This was the up-close view for a few miles of today’s run.
AM: strength training
PM: 4 mile snowshoe hike/run (took 1:41!); Climbed from about 10,000 ft to about 12,000 ft. Thin air, steep terrain, got to/had to carve my own path through trees and up the mountainside. Saw a snow bunny (actual rabbit, not a spring breaker) that was all white other than black ears. I think I scared it a lot.
Right before half-mile climb that must have approached 60 degree angle for a stretch. With the snowshoes and the fresh snow it was like climbing a ladder that is set up on a trampoline.
A little bit of wake-up core while watching the UFC post-fight presser (Kampmann totally won), then off to the mountain for a few hours of gear toting, parking lot hiking, and clumsy skiing while it snowed. Back “home” for a stretch out 4-mile run in town. Got to run in my hypervest for the first time in months (that isn’t me in the photo):
AM: jump rope/strength/core
PM: 12-mile mountain-and-mesa country road run in 2:40 (including a few stops for pics and calls, moving time prob averaged about 10 min/mile pace). First/last 0.75 miles on steep switchbacks from river to ridge.
Feeling well, looking forward to food, UFC, sleep, and heading back out tomorrow.
If you aren’t interested in self-indulgent exercise training reports, you might want to hide my posts for the foreseeable future. My FB updates will be of little interest to anyone who isn’t a fitness geek. You’ve been warned…
4 sessions in last 3 days, despite 16 hours of driving. Today’s run was a success – the goal was to get some easy miles while adjusting to altitude. 18 out-and-back trail miles in 3:18 with negative splits. Considering it was solo, at 7000 ft, with rocky terrain, and I had on my full pack, the 11- minute average pace was a solid effort.
Kind of Like Fun 
