Defn: a human male displaying evidence of devolution - exhibits distinctive "caveman-like" tendencies. This man often dribbles in public places; cannot drink a beverage without spilling it on himself, the floor or someone else; may also run into objects like lampposts & bushes; has a definite "sloopish & short legged" running style that is slow and low to the ground, often resulting in the dragging of knuckles.

These throwback neanderthals, along with their questionable diet, should clearly be avoided.

Monday, August 15, 2011

A little over the top (of Pikes Peak)

I don't know if I would have run this run today - if I was doing a "normal" training for the Pikes Peak Ascent.  Mind you, I'm not sure if there is a consensus as to what "normal" training is.

This is my first Pikes Peak Ascent, it's a race I have thought about for 2 or 3 years and commited in my mind to do a year ago.  I'm repeating myself from earlier posts, but never have been so unprepared physically for such a "goal" race.  I have not had much of a choice, knee surgery 5 weeks ago, started running 11 days ago.   Training has indeed been limited.

And yet, I couldn't be more excited about this Saturday.  I will probably post later this week a goal time.  At this stage, I am still quite clueless as to what to expect for a finish time.  But this afternoon I went up to the Summit to get a run in - to both train and to see what I could do.

I got to the Summit about 4pm, skies were looking a little precarious but I hoped for the best and trotted down the Barr Trail.  I saw a 1/2 dozen hikers coming up between the Summit and Cirque - then no-one til I was on the way back, 5 minutes from the top.

So, I basically had the trail to myself.  I'm okay with that - although on race day I expect that to be very very different - not sure what to expect above treeline.  Able to pass people?  Being passed by people?  People passing out?

I went down 3 miles - took it easy as the knee still doesn't like downhills - but kind of surprised myself that I was down 3 miles in just under 40 minutes.  The Garmin put me at 3 miles about halfway between the "3 miles to go" sign and the little turn off trail to A-Frame.  Yet on the return trip it gave me 3.06 miles.  Could be an altitude thing or the multitude of switchbacks.

Took a few minutes at my turnaround to empty the shoes, drink some water and look up - way up.  I told myself to try not to do that on Saturday.

2 Sundays ago my son and I had done the top 3 miles in 70 minutes, today I wanted to beat that.  I did.  Total time up was 1 hour on the button.

Saw a few Mountain Goats on the way down - got quite close especially on the way up, just above treeline - those things are huge.  At the very top a couple of guys were just starting their way down.  I'm certain they are running this weekend, thinking about it they looked very similar and I know there are brothers running one of the races.  (I just checked race website: Marc and Oscar Casal Mir - from Andorra).  Quite possibly could of been them.

As I passed them one of them asked me (phonetically speaking) "did you come from Maan ee toe?" - "no" I managed to say - "just 3 miles down".  The other one responded "Ow, that is goot"

I thought it was too.  And I wasn't even struck by lightning.

2 comments:

  1. Little fresh snow up there this afternoon after the storm - nice! Looks like your reverse taper train cycle is going well - have a great time out there Saturday Craig!

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  2. Thanks amigos. Have a great crew experience at Leadville.

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