Sherman Adventure

I hatched a plan while running Mosquito Pass the other day. The plan included running up the Mosquito Pass Road, then running the ridge including Mounts Evans, Dyer, and Gemini to the summit of Mt. Sherman. When I took to the maps with string and piece of paper to figure out the splits and itinerary it all looked very doable. The snow situation looked good as far as one could see from Mosquito Pass. All of the pieces seemed good and running most of the route seemed probable. And to some degree that was what I found.

The run started, well, a bit rocky. I admit that I had a couple of beers the night before so the run up Mosquito Pass Road was not easy. I was catching up on my hydration all the way to the ridge and needed to take several 30 second breaks to let my heart rate fall below redline.

Once upon the ridge the running looked promising. There was a little talus on the way up Evans and I was able to walk these sections at a rate that was probably comparable to running at that altitude. Upon reaching the summit of Evans I was able to see the route in entirety and from a distance the only holdup looked to be a semi-technical ridge between Evans and Dyer.

The ridge was, in fact, 3rd and some quasi-4th class scrambling. It ended up being the largest time suck on the route but it did add a little pizzazz to the run. I was able to test my speed-scrambling skills a little and they were good.

Due to the amount of time that I spent on the ridge and the continued technical scrambling that Dyer appear to entail I opted to skip summiting Dyer and run what appeared to be meadows to the east of Dyer, connecting to the ridge over to Gemini and Sherman. The meadows turned out to be talus which also ended up being a time suck.

Once I hit the ridge over to Gemini, it was pretty smooth sailing. There was a faint trail on the ridge which was fun running until I got to the steep swale on the side of Gemini. The running here would be good with only a little talus breaking the connection of the the trail between the flattest section of the ridge and the middle of the sandy swale. It would also be good if I had been stronger in running between 13,000' and 14,000'! But this is the reason why I wanted to do this run. The swale is runnable but I didn't run it on this trip.

From Gemini I was able to run the meadow over to the final 150' push up Sherman and was able to run on the summit of Sherman itself as it wasn't so steep. All in all I would say that this route was about 60% to 70% runnable. Not completely ideal.

The trip back was uneventful though I was definitely feeling worked. The weather threatened with lightning while I was on the technical ridge but cleared out for my descent down the Mosquito Pass Road. I am glad I skipped Dyer. That would have been a bit much and would have made the route maybe 50% to 60% runnable in all. 4:38, 14.0 miles, 4,000' climb.

Weekly Run Log - June 19-25, 2011

06/20/2011: Ran 30 minutes out Turquoise Lake Trail then turned around and ran back. A good run. Not too much. 1:01, 6.0 miles. 100' vert.

06/21/2011: 40 minutes out on the Turquoise Lake Trail. Out past a memorable prospect with light colored rock/sand around it. Felt amazing and was running fast up until I had to shit. Lost about 5 minutes there. 1:25, 9.0 miles, 200' vert.

06/24/2011: Back in the Sangres for an Adult Renewal course end. While here I love to take advantage of this amazing trail running location. The thing I love about the Sangre de Cristo mountains is that the trails just go up forever at a beautiful grade because of the rich history of horsepacking. It is just too easy to continue extending the run longer and longer!

Ran up to 11,000' from the top of Alvarado Campground where the course is staying (at 9,200'). What started as a 30 minute "out, then turn around" turned into "just a little further," then "just a little further." I started on the ascent of Comanche Lakes Trail (or the Comanche Trail depending on source) by the Rainbow Trail connectors that run along the bottom of the east side of the Sangres. 0:14 to the Trail Register on the Comanche Lakes Trail, then ascended to the small saddle just above the switchbacks (tops out just above 11,000'). Then ran back. Somewhat technical loose rock on top of dirt. 1:40, 6.0+, 1,800' vert.

Weekly Summary: 21.0 miles, 2,100' vert.

A somewhat shorter week than I had planned. I don't know how I feel about this. On the one hand I am disappointed that I didn't get my planned long run in. On the other hand I have needed a bit of a break in the mileage. I think that having run hard since March by increasing my mileage at rates sometime well in excess of the 10% rule (no more than 10% weekly mileage increase at a time) has put me in a state of feeling "slow" despite my obvious increasing speed. We'll see how this affects how I feel. I do like to feel "peppy" when I run but sometimes running while feeling worked can be good for training. It is just that I haven't really felt peppy in several weeks (since my big week and a half in Boulder). I suspect that it is the fast running that has made me feel like my legs are slow. In the future I will probably be spending some time reflecting on the specifics of my speed work and recovery. In truth this is the first time I have incorporated speed work into my "training." Maybe this is normal?

My other thoughts as of late are in how I stretch. On Tuesday I ran around the Turquoise Lake Trail for 40 minutes out and then turned around. On the way I passed from feeling "overfed" to feeling great and I turned up the speed to high. On my way back I felt the sudden urge to take a shit and knowing that the Tabor Boat Ramp had public toilets, I turned the speed up to "11" to get there in time. It was a photo finish to the toilet, let me tell you. After my high speed run I decided to cool down and stretch. When I got to my butterflies to stretch out my hamstrings I felt a sharp pain when I let my legs relax in the stretching position. Maybe it was too harsh a movement or maybe it was just a bad idea to stretch after a speedy workout, but I felt a bit of pain for a second or two and then it went away. I thought nothing of it until the following morning when I woke up with dull pain in my hamstring. This pain didn't really go away until Saturday but it was the cause of my lack of the planned long run this week.

My thought include many possibilities including:

• that the speedy run should have been considered intense running that warrants rest without stretching afterwards
• that I just need to continue stretching and in time I won't have pain after speedy workouts
• I haven't run many speedy runs like this and that it was a byproduct of the running and not the stretching

Regardless, I will be spending more time thinking and experimenting to trap this down. It is quite fun figuring out how my body works but disappointing when I look at my weekly mileage graphed out.

Weekly Run Log - June 12-18, 2011

The trail contours the lake just above the "beach"

06/12/2011: Ran from the dam at Turquoise Lake around the trail to just a little past the second boat launch. The trail is open and fun with my new Montrail Rogue Racers. They feel so light and fast! This is a great trail to make some miles while the snow melts a little more up high. The running is less strenuous so hopefully my right leg will heal and be stronger. 0:45, 5.0 miles, 100' vert.

06/13/2011: Ran half (or so) of Turquoise lake singletrack with Brenden and Tyler. 1:11, 8.0 miles, 200' vert.

06/14/2011: Ran to the second boat launch and back with Jake. It was a fun, low intensity run. Jake is starting the fun journey of training for a 18 minute 3 mile run! Should be doable. 0:45, 4.0 miles, 50' vert.

06/18/2011: Ran the North Crestone Trail to the Loop Trail (Comanche on the topos) up to the unnamed pass on the spine of the Sangres. It was an amazing run that I hadn't planned on making the top until I got to the OB camp site called "Hell" (stayed there for three nights on a course in 2010 and the mosquitos were TERRIBLE). When I ran straight through Hell (you can call me Dante) I realized how close I was to the ridge and the views down the east side. I felt I had to go for it despite having no food and electrolyte mix. I figured on being trashed when I got back. I was. 

The views are amazing on this run. I am stoked to finally have some positive association with the Sangres. These mountains aren't so bad when I can outrun the flies and mosquitos. One of the coolest parts (literally) was that I started without my t-shirt on and needed to put on the shirt by 11,000'. By 12,000' I had my wind shirt on and was pretty cold when I got to the top of the run at 1 hour and 58 minutes from the trailhead. I was cold enough that I just took a quick look around and then started the descent. I was either mildly hypoxic, hypothermic, or I had a "runner's high" but I felt like I was floating down the mountain. My footfalls never missed though so I don't think it was hypothermia. But man, was it pleasant! Wish I had brought a camera, glad I brought the Rogue Racers! 3:32, 12.1 miles, 4,100' climb!


Weekly Summary: 29.1 miles, 4,450' vert.

Weekly Run Log - June 05-11, 2011

06/05/2011: Fivefingers exploratory run around the Switzerland Trail Trailhead where I have been camped for almost a week. Ran downhill on the ST until a steep unmarked uphill cutoff to the where the ST loops around. Ran out 237C to 237I and back by the ST by way of the "parking lot." Feeling some soreness in my right calf from the massive vert I have been running lately. 0:29, 2.0 miles, 200' vert.

06/06/2011: Ran the Mesa Trail from Chautauqua to Big Bluestem Trail. Got a semi late start. I should have checked he weather but I knew I had gone wrong when I woke up and was able to walk around comfortably without a shirt on at 8 am at altitudes of 2,500' above the City of Boulder. The run was hot and there weren't many cars in the parking lot but I still parked quite a ways away. I figured if it were further to where I had parked than it was to the overflow on Baseline maybe the Boulderati would leave me in peace when I was getting ready to leave. Not so. When I got back to my truck the lot was full and people were bugging me for my spot despite it being closer to park on Baseline. My non-faith in people is restored. At least the run was fun if hot and humid and more rolling than I had hoped for an easy day! 1:50, 8.4 miles, 1560' vert.

06/08/2011: Ran Bear and Green loop with Brenden: Mesa, Fern Canyon, Bear West Ridge, Green-Bear, Greenman, Ranger, Gregory Canyon, and Baseline trails. Whew! Lots of vert, starting out pretty worked already, and lightly hungover, these combined to make it pretty difficult. I am taking at least one day off now. Weather was perfect. Bought some celebratory shoes at Boulder Running Company. Can't wait to try them! 3:16, 11.5 miles, 4,000' vert.

Also ran the small loop of the Switzerland Trail near where I camp. Couldn't wait to test out the Montrail Rogue Racers that I just bought! 0:08, 0.5 miles, 100' vert.

06/11/2011: "Excursioned" to the Colorado Trail and back by the Highline. Took some side trips as well to see what the snow situation is. The trail to the CT is runnable but the drifts are too deep and long to make it worth running the CT to Rock Creek. I would guess that we need maybe a week of good weather to melt it down to a reasonable level in order to run the loop. We'll see. 1:30, 6.5 miles, 1,300' vert.

Another "2fer" day with a second run in the new Rogue Racers that I bought at Boulder Running Company. Ran out-n-back to the end of 110B off Halfmoon Rd. 0:23, 2.5 miles, 50' climb.

Weekly Mileage: 31.4 miles, 7,200' of climb.

At the end of this week I am feeling some soreness in my right calf. I took two days in a row off this week and it may have gotten better but as of right now my legs feel a little slower than usual. I am sure it is from hammering Bear and Green so much in Boulder (in the week and a half that I was there I ran Green three times and Bear twice). But I have also been battling with overtraining. Hard to believe with such low mileage but, then again, my mileage has skipped all over the place often ignoring the 10 percent rule. I am going to need to think on this one. In some ways this is good so that I can figure out my body for future training seasons.

Weekly Run Log - May 29-June 04, 2011

05/29/2011: Fivefingers run into the Fish Hatchery up the Rock Creek Trail to the Wilderness boundary. 0:35, 2.5 miles, 400' vert.

05/30/2011: A Memorial Day run around the South Mesa Trail Loop as highlighted in Trail Runner's Guide to Colorado by Mislinski, Cole, and Boubol: Towhee, Shadow Canyon, Mesa and Big Bluestem Trails. Very fun in this longer version of the loop I ran several weeks ago. Almost stepped on a snake. I need to identify it. I conjecture it was either dead or fake after throwing rocks near it to see if it would react. 0:52, 4.8 miles, 1,000' vert.

 The beloved Flatirons on the flanks of Green Mountain (8,144').

 Switchbacks on the E.M. Greenman Trail

06/01/2011: I've been waiting a long time to start really exploring around Boulder. Now here it is! Ran Green Mountain by a big loop. I deviated heavily from the loop laid out in Trail Runner's Guide to Colorado. Followed Baseline Trail, Gregory Canyon, Ranger, and EM Greenman to the summit of Green then down by way of the Green-Bear, Bear Canyon and Mesa Trails. Some uphill on the Mesa Trail was nice added kick in the bum. 

After running these trails it will be easy to figure out some more loops using partial sections of this run. It would appear that other classics in the area include Mt. Flagstaff, Mt. Sanitas, and Bear Mountain/South Boulder Peak. My next step is to figure out good loop or out and back runs that include these. It would seem that the sky is the limit here with length and vertical! 2:16, 9.6 miles, 2,600' vert.

Indian Peaks to the west from the summit of Green (8,144').

Saddle Rock.

06/03/2011: A nice short run to the top of Green. This time I took the loop highlighted in TRG to CO. Gregory Canyon, Ranger, EM Greenman, Saddle Rock, Amphitheater (by accident), Bluebell Baird, Chautauqua Trails. Saddlehorn Trail was rocky and steep. Perfect for descending. It would be a tough ascent (though I did see several runners climbing it). Ranger Trail was relentless and well graded. Overall I was happy with an ascent time of 0:59 by way of the Baseline, Gregory Canyon and Ranger Trails from Chautauqua. Nice views of the Indian Peaks from the summit (missed those he other day looking to the East). 1:48, 6.7 miles, 2,600' vert.

 Green Mountain on the right and Bear Canyon below. 

In the distance Rocky Mountain National Park, I suspect.

Brenden approaches the summit of Bear Peak (8,461').

Me posing near the summit of Bear Peak (8,461').

Brenden on the "Homestead" stretch to the South Mesa Trailhead.

06/04/2011: It is such a treat sometimes to run with folks. Today's run was Bear Peak up Fern Canyon and down Shadow with Brenden. I felt good despite a later start and therefore temps in the 70s I would guess. Fern Canyon is pretty steep for running. A good test of fitness. I was only able to run the first several minutes up the canyon before I was redlining for periods that were too long without recovery "flats." I powerwalked most of the trail to the summit making it in 1:15 from the South Mesa Teailhead. Brenden was only five or so minutes behind and we hung out near the summit (the peak was a madhouse) for fifteen or so minutes snapping pics and talking before bombing the descent down Shadow Canyon. I felt like a Ferrari weaving in and out of traffic going down the seriously technical trail. The run out the Mesa Trail and Homestead was fun. Homestead had a lot of up that I hadn't anticipated. Good for training. Lessons learned:

   1.) parking is unpleasant in Boulder. Get your stuff and dress/prepare elsewhere or risk being barraged with "are you leaving soon?" every two or three minutes from folks who want your spot.

   2.) running on the weekend in Boulder is not so solitary an experience. It might be nice to find more obscure places to run on the weekend.

That's all I can think of right now! 2:19, 8.0 miles, 3,000' vert.

Weekly Summary: 31.6 miles, 9,600' vert.