So this is "The Catch"?

62 to -17  in 72 hours....

When you have a day in January like we had Saturday, where all is right in the running universe and warm rays of the blazing solar orb radiate across your running form as your well-oiled machine effortlessly glides across the trails, sauntering through a glorious mid-winter run - you take pause to stop and think, I live in the Rocky Mountains and this IS winter - there must be a catch...

And did you notice - close to a 100 degree temperature shift between a balmy 62 to -35 windchill???!!!
Welcome to the Rockies!

Can't beat the weather...

...At least for today!  After a 2 week span where we have had everything from sub-zero weather to fairly mild temps, we hit 62 degrees for the high today by the time we finished our run in Cheyenne Mountain State Park.   We will take that 8 days a week in January if we can get it - especially with single digit highs and snow headed back on Tuesday!!!  We were down at CMSP to have a little preview of a new event headed our way for late April - the Cheyenne Mountain Trail Race - with 25k or 50k distances offered.  Not like we need an "excuse" to hit the trails there, but might as well sniff out some of the race routing while we're at it!

 Coyote Run on a sunny day

Although we have run all the trails here many times, there are some directions on the route that are opposite of our "preferred" way to run them.  This is great because it forces us to see old trails in a new light - freshen things up a bit.  The run out Coyote Run and up Soaring Kestrel is a nice way to start the race, as it is a bit more of a gradual runout to get warmed up.  We were a bit nervous about thick mud with the mild conditions and heavy clay content at the park - and there was definitely some shoe-sucking mud - but for the most part, it was quite pleasant conditions for a mild winter day.

 Kathleen climbs on Coyote Run

 Startled some ladies at the "salad bar" on Soaring Kestrel!

 Catching a breather on Blackmer

All the trails up to the junction with Blackmer we had never run counterclockwise before.  It was all climb, but more manageable on the breathing than the route we typically start with.  Bodes well for a hot start to the race, especially for the elites at the front.  Blackmer gets a bit more technical on the footing and was also our first spot of bother with the thick, slimy mud that the clay top layer produces.

 Can't beat the views...

 Some ice on the upper reaches of Blackmer

 Medicine Wheel - the ankle gobbler

After completing a counterclockwise lap on Blackmer, the route drops down Medicine Wheel - the most continuously technical stretch in the park.  If you fall asleep mentally through here, ankle sprains or premature dentures await - there is not a boulder-free stretch on the trail.  It is a great run down when you are "on" as the mind is engaged and endorphins are cranking!  Due to the long, steep stretches of exposed clay on the upper Talon loops, we bypassed this today in order to spare the trail conditions.  This lollipop adds about 4.7 miles.  We finished out the bottom part of the course, and it appears to come up about a mile shy of being a true 25k - will be interesting to see if the RD actually measures and corrects this by race day...

Kathleen cruising Sundance Trail

After running the part of the race course we were scouting, we added an extra loop around the base of the park.  After all, how could you reel it in on a day like this???  Finished with 13.5 miles and ~2000' vertical, muddy legs, and sheepish grins from pulling off a run like this mid-winter!   This could be the replacement "event" we were looking for instead of running Greenland again - we'll see!  Today (we hope) was the beginning of our climb out of the base-maintenance phase we have been in for a couple of months now.  Time to start rebuilding the fitness!!!

Shoes - K Asics 2150 Trail

S Pearl Izumi SyncroFuel XC

***Must give some props to Pearl Izumi while I am at it:  My first pair of SyncroFuels started to come apart at the bridge under the arch.  I shipped them up to their HQ in Louisville, CO and a week later the spiffy new pair I wore today was on our door step - Fantastic customer service for a "smaller" player in the shoe market!!!***

Pirate Trails???

It seems some road trips have been "interfering" with our running schedule the past few weeks.  Not that we have minded, really.  After six months of quiet in the house, we finally came to the realization that we were not yet meant to be a dog-less family.  We were so afraid we would never find another Sage, and then realized that we weren't in need of a replacement.  It was time for a new, different friend who did not have to "measure up" to any previous friends.  So we have made some trips here and there looking at some dogs that were being kept by various rescue organizations in Colorado.  We at first were looking for another Australian Shepherd however there are not many available for adoption right now in Colorado.  But after seeing some Australian Cattle Dogs out for runs with their humans lately, we decided to look at that breed as well.  (For those not familiar with the name - think Blue or Red Heeler) 

It just so happened that some fine folks at the Second Chance Animal Rescue from Lamar, CO, were fostering two ACD's and would have them at an adoption fair on Saturday in Colorado Springs.  So after a bit of a distracted run on Saturday morning, I headed over to the Wag'N'Wash to meet the pooches while Kathleen was at work.  I had a pretty good idea we were going home with a new friend, and after Kathleen showed up, it was confirmed - a little guy they had named Captain Hook was getting a new home. 

 The Captain

He was named as such because of the patch over his eye and the gimpy leg he had from a barbed wire gash when he was picked up as a stray.  We didn't know if a new name was in order, but after a couple days, we almost think we're leaning toward calling him Hook.  Estimated to be 10 months old, this little guy is quite a lot of fun to be around.   And, no more silence when we come home - jingly collar and pitter-patter of paws fill the house once again.  Bonus side note - he was fostered by a couple who are runners and had been running a few miles at a time with him!

 Finally some nice blue skies

So, Sunday morning we headed over to Ute Valley Park for some good trails.  It was an awesome sunny morning after a few weeks of more than average gray skies in Colorado.  Don't know if it was the emotional drain of looking for a new family member (yes, we take our pet decisions VERY seriously), or just some winter fatigue, but even the blue skies did not have us feeling super peppy for the run.  Do you ever have one of those runs where you feel like you could curl up on the side of the trail and take a nap...?

 Looking across Ute Valley to Pikes Peak

 Kathleen coming through the trees 

Look at that face...

 

We ran about 7 miles and then looped back by the house to get in the first run with "The New Guy".  This little guy is going to be quite the trail runner - he's a natural!  He did not trip me, step on my heels, or make any weird movements that caused me to stumble - just a good straight runner.  Well done Hook!  Needless to say that after his weekend of traveling, moving to his new home, and hitting the trails with us, this is what he looked like after running 3 miles with us:

Who could resist him???

It was a good weekend for us as you can see.  Nice 10 mile run, including the finishing loop with our new baby boy!  Happy Trails this week!