RECAP : June 17 - June 23

Monday - 06/17/13

Horsetooth Rock Summit and back - 44:53 (round trip PR), 25:55 to summit.

Workout went like this:

Main TH > South Ridge > Audra Culver > Summit > down rock trail > South Ridge

Felt good.  Still feel like I can chop off some time on that downhill split - perhaps by 1- 2 minutes if I commit to a hard downhill effort.  If I can get my climb to hit a sub 25 minute mark I might be able to make the round trip time in about 42 - 43 minute range.

PM - Ran home from work - 24:11

Tuesday - 06/18/13

Pineridge - 37:40

From Spring Canyon Park. Felt solid.

Wednesday - 06/19/13

Twin Sisters Summit - 43:54

Took the day off work and headed up to Estes for a fun run up Twin Sisters.  Was originally planning to run up Flattop in RMNP, but reports had 3 feet of snow punching for about 2 miles of the trail. I wanted to keep the uphill running constant without having to stop and hike a bunch. So I decided on Twin Sisters - 100% clear of snow, gets up to just over 11,400 ft, and is a fairly short drive from the Fort.

about a few hundred yds from the trailhead

trailhead

Starts off in a dense forest like rocky trail

view of Longs Peak - about 1 mile in

some technical rocky sections

Almost to Timberline -- more rocks!

do you see "the trail" --- about 1/2 mile to go

looking up 

Summit view - 11,400 ft

summit with Longs in the background

Me Chilling

Ran the climb up at a moderately hard tempo effort.  First mile or so I could feel the 9,000 ft starting elevation -- my first time this year above 8,000 ft. But got into a groove and felt great the rest of the way to the summit.  My downhill time was actually 1 minute slower than the uphill, as I stopped a handful of times on the way down to take the above pictures.  I wanted to focus on a solid uphill grind without stopping. Total elevation gain was around 2,400' ft from trailhead to summit.

Temps were in the 60's at the summit --- beautiful.

Thursday - 06/20/13

Foothills Trail (medium loop) - 38:25

From Maxwell TH.

Friday - 06/21/13

OFF - busy day at work and after work.

Saturday - 06/22/13

Horsetooth Mountain Park - 70 minutes

Workout went like this:

Main TH > Falls > L up Spring Creek > L on Towers > Westridge > Rock trail > South Ridge > main TH

Spring Creek

Spring Creek

South Ridge looking East

Sunday - 06/23/13

Horsetooth Mountain Park - 75 minutes

Workout went like this:

Main TH > Falls > R on Spring Creek > R on Stout > L on Sawmill > L on Loggers > R up Herrington > R on Towers > L down Herrington > L on Spring Creek > R up Wathan > L on Rock trail > down South Ridge > Main TH

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• Felt great to get above Timberline on Wednesday!

• Been feeling really strong lately on all of my runs, almost everyday of the week....and have lost 7 pounds since Quad Rock 50 last month - not on purpose- just getting into better, more efficient racing weight.

• Next trail race is Barr Trail Mountain Race mid July.

• Thinking about running the Loveland Liberty 5k on July 4th as well.