summer shudder

June 24 2010

…. Yeah I got lazy. Anyway I figured that sitting here listening to Brooks and Dunn play something country was a great time to blog about what we have been doing in Boulder, CO.

Run

6:59 and Sam’s alarm goes off before mine… oh well. I jump up from my spot on the floor and run for the bathroom. There is no way in hell I’m getting there after everyone else. I pop my contacts in and go back out into our living room. Max is still on his couch and Sam is just getting off of his. Max and Sam were forced to give up their bed last night because Ashlee and her sister came into town yesterday for her sisters orientation at Colorado state. With Sam and Max out of a bed Wally and I ended up on the floor. As I survey the room further I find Wally sleeping underneath the kitchen table… whatever Sam wakes him up and we are all in the car by 7:10. We drive fifteen minutes south to Marshall Mesa trail head to meet Jeff Boele. We have already run with Jeff once already however it was during my lazy spell and I didn’t write about it. To get you caught up Jeffery Boele ran against Huff in college and now they are friends and Huff gave us Boele’s number. So Wally Called up Jeff and we met for a run on Monday. The run went great and Jeff showed us new trails and the pace was very controlled. Jeff told us, “the faster I get the slower I run” a lesson I will not forget. Anyway at 7:30 Jeff pulls up next to us and tells us about todays run. It will be close to a 70 minute loop where we climb for the first 15 and the middle 30 -45. Sounds good for us and we are off. Boele quickly surrenders the lead as we are forced to go single file on the rocky trail. Wally leads followed by T.J. Max, Sam, Jeff and I. The trail climbs quickly and I am quickly in oxygen debt. One thing I have learned from being out here is how to climb hills. Even though I am in oxygen debt at the moment I know that I will be able to recover on the downhill. So even though I still have 65 minutes to run I am not nervous. Sure enough we crest a hill and then start a decent and cross the major road that runs through boulder. We are currently heading west straight into the mountains which means only one thing, climb. The narrow trail is littered with small loose rocks but this does not hinder our pace as we push up the foot hills. The scenery is unbelievable we are running on a dirt path a little more than 2 feet wide, on either side is short grass. We have been winding through the foot hills next to a creek and eventually we make a sharp left to head south and cross the creek. As soon as we head south we are hit with a steep climb. So far the entire run Jeff and I have been talking about various topics but now that our climb increases our talking seems to be left at the bass. We finally level out and emerge in a valley. To our left 400 meters (east) is a ridge where Broadway (boulders main north south roadway) sits. To our right lie the flatirons as magnificent as ever in the morning sun. Another 400 meters heading south and our path begins to climb again. Boele tells us that this is the steepest climb we will do and that it is, “short and steep, or Colorado flat.” I think to myself… Colorado flat sucks as we have climbed over 100 feet in less than a minute. Wally has also increased the pace but no one complains, the faster this thing is over the better. Our trail has slowly shied away from the mountains and we have begin to ride up the ridge towards Broadway. We pull an abrupt switch back and begin heading north as we continue to climb the wall. Our climb finally flattens enough for us to catch our breath and regain the feeling in our legs, however we our still climbing. Wally and I comment on how the uphill doesn’t feel like an uphill at all… maybe we our getting used to Colorado flat. We cross back over Broadway and begin heading east. The path is now wide enough to fit 3 across, Wally, Sam and Max take point while T.J. and I flank Boele. We continue our conversation as we regain our breathing and it doesn’t even feel like we have already run 45 minutes. The sun is continuing its climb and it seems like we are destined to do the same as our path rolls up and down like a roller coaster. Remarkably it seems like no one notices as we all remain relaxed and in control. Our path takes us north now and we begin a climb that is not steep but very long. It is here that Wally, T.J. and I break away from the group and push the pace up the hill. The pace is still comfortable as we all talk about how we don’t know where we are going. Sure enough T.J., Wally and I over shoot a turn off and are called back by Sam and Jeff. Max has turned off at an earlier path which should lead him to a 60 minute loop. Reunited with Sam and Boele we head down a hill on many switch backs until we reach the parking lot. Jeff stops by the cars at 66 while the four of us continue on the round the run off at 70. We finish our run at the cars and realize that Max is still not back… uh oh. Luckily he comes up the trail one minute later and everyone is accounted for. Another great run is complete and now it is time for some summer living.

Fast forward to 6/25/10. We have all slept in and wait for T.J. to get back from his class. Sam elects to run alone and is out the door earlier to beat the heat… 101 F. We definetly feel the heat as we end our 30 minute run so we head down to the creek to cool down. We swim against the current to get to a rope swing located on the south banks. The rope swing is empty as we all make our first swings. When my head emerges form the freezing water I am surrounded by people. Apparently everyone gets out of class around noon. We stay at the rope swing all day until our skin turns red. Another day down in boulder. Long run tomorrow with Boele should be a good one!