RAIN??

     THIS HAS BEEN THE LONGEST RAINY STRETCH I HAVE SEEN SINCE MOVING. IT HAS BEEN COLD,DAMP AND RAINY FOR 3 SOLID DAYS. IM PERSONALLY NOT A BIG FAN OF THE RAIN SIMPLY BECAUSE IT MAKES MY PREFERED OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES MORE COMPLICATED AND IN EXTREME CASES DOWNRIGHT MISERABLE. SO THAT BEING SAID, I HAVE BEEN WAITING ANXIOUSLY FOR THE SEEMINLY EVERPRESENT SUN TO RETURN.
     TODAY IS THE DAY THAT I TRADITIONALY DO MY LONG RUN, USUALLY IN THE HIGH MOUNTAINS. THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS FOR THIS WEEKLY EXCURSION, MAINLY INCLUDING THE PRIMAL FEELINGS THAT ABOUND WHILE RUNNING ABOVE TREELINE WITH NOTHING BUT RUNNING SHOES AND A PAIR OF SHORTS. THERE ARE OTHER LESS COMPELLING BUT EQUALLY IMPORTANT REASONS. THE FIRST BEING THAT TRAINING AT ALTITUDES RANGING FROM 9,000 TO 12,500FT IS BENEFICIAL TO ONES ABILITY TO PROCESS OXYGEN WHICH, AS EVERYONE KNOWS IS KEY TO RACING. THE SECOND BEING THAT RUNNING ON UNEVEN, STEEP, ROCKY AND SOMETIMES SNOWPACKED TRAILS WILL IMPROVE YOUR FOOTWORK AND INEVITABLY MAKE RUNNING RACES ON THESE TYPE TRAILS MUCH EASIER AND FAMILIAR. THE LAST REASON THAT I WILL MENTION IS THE MENTAL ISSUE, I FIND THAT IT IS VERY EASY TO DRAG MYSELF OUT OF BED EARLY ON A SATURDAY MORNING TO GO SEE AND EXPERIENCE WHAT THE MOUNTAINS HAVE TO OFFER ME ON THAT DAY.
     SO TODAY I WAS THINKING OF DOING TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT HIGH MOUNTAIN RUNS, BUT ULTIMATLY DIDNT. I THINK IN A WAY I WAS INTIMADATED BY THE EVER WORSENING WEATHER OF THE HIGH COUNTRY. IN ANOTHER WAY I FEEL AS THOUGH I MAY HAVE MISSED ONE OF MY LAST OPPURTUNITYS TO RUN UP THERE WITHOUT SNOWSHOES. ANYWAY I CHOSE TO DO A LOOP THAT WAS RIGHT AT THE EDGE OF TOWN, IT IS QUITE SCENIC AND OFFERS REALITIVE SOLITUDE FOR BEING AT THE EDGE OF A CITY WHERE 100,000+ LIVE.
     AS I STARTED RUNNING THE RAIN BEGAN FALLING, I HAD RUN EXACTLY 29 SECONDS WHEN THE SKIES OPENED UP.  I WAS PREPARED AND DECIDED TO FINISH WHAT I STARTED. I RAN A LOOP THAT ENCOMPASSED MANY OF THE FOOTHILLS TRAILS, WHICH WERE VERY MUDDY AS I HAD TO STOP AND SCRAP THE BOTTOM OF MY SHOES OFF EVERY 5 TO 10 MINUTES. THE RAIN FINALLY TAPERED OFF AFTER I HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR NEARLY 1 HOUR AND 30 MIN. THE OVERALL EXPERIENCE OF TODAYS RUN WAS GOOD I SOMEHOW ACTUALLY ENJOYED THE RAIN FEELING VERY AT PEACE HIGH ABOVE THE RECKLESS HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF THE CITY.
     HERE ARE THE ELEVATION PROFILE AND MAP OF TODAYS MUDDY OUTING:

     HOPEFULLY I CAN GET INTO THE MOUNTAINS EARLY NEXT WEEK BEFORE OLD MAN WINTER DECIDES IT IS TIME TO MOVE IN UNTIL SPRING. ALSO MAY BE BACKPACKING FOR A FEW DAYS WHILE THE TEMPURATURES ARE STILL MANAGABLE. LASTLY, HEADED TO LEADVILLE AFTER ELIZABETHS ARRIVAL ON WEDNESDAY FOR SOME HIGH COUNTRY RELAXATION, GONNA BE ALOT OF FUN!