Winter solstice at the Bottomless Pit junction

On Friday, I made my way up Barr Trail to the Bottomless Pit junction via the Incline.

I like celebrating the solstice by having a nice peaceful run. I usually spend both summer AND winter solstice this way. Since it was winter solstice, daylight was short.

Luckily I felt fast and started the day with a 33:37 Incline. Not bad for a winter Incline, and maybe with a little training I'll be able to break that magical 30-minute barrier this summer.

I did see Jim at the false summit! Unfortunately I didn't get to catch up with him at the top, and I could have sworn I had his contact info, but my phone doesn't seem to have it. So if you're reading this Jim, leave me a message at the bottom.

At the top of the Incline was a very well decorated Christmas tree! The holiday spirit is alive and well in the mountains.

I will say, I was tempted by the summit - I wish I had started earlier so I could push a summit since it was such a nice day. But, alas, daylight was too short to complete a trek that lengthy today.

Instead, I pushed past Barr Camp, and decided to go for the Bottomless Pit junction, which I reached in a solid 2:21! Woah - I felt pretty invincible. That's the type of time I'm looking for in the summer, and considering all the ice on the trail, I can't complain in the least.

I will have to say, my husband got me a new pair of spikes which worked excellently for the trail conditions on Barr, which was packed snow with a thin slick icy melted layer on top.

I still had enough time to stop in at Barr Camp and wish them a happy holiday. On the shortest day of the year, Barr Camp was still pretty busy - at least three others stopped in while I was there, and I only had about 15 to 20 minutes to spend.

I love the long shadows in the afternoon on a winter day at Lightning Point. 

And the summit of Rocky Mountain soaking in the last moments of sunlight as I descended towards No Name Creek. 

And finally, I got to witness sundown on winter solstice while I was still a couple miles up the trail.

I still was able to complete my run before it got dark, and meet my family at the park in Manitou where the kids played for a whole hour after sundown and before it got too dark and cold.

All in all, a perfect celebration of the winter solstice for me!

Last week's Barr Camp trip!

For anyone still out there, I wanted to post about my run *last* week before it was too late. Plus, I haven't gotten to the mountains this week yet, but photos from last week are the next best thing.

I ran to Barr Camp last Monday, and what a great day for it. (Although it always is!)

I didn't bring spikes which is not the smartest thing in the winter, but most of the trail was pretty crunchy-packed, so it wasn't too terrible.

I started on the Incline and landed a 34:51, even though I slowed significantly after the false summit due to ice. I was excited for a sub-35 winter Incline, so I'll take it!

The day started out very sunny and bright, but it quickly grew overcast. I enjoyed the blue skies above the Incline while they lasted! 

The clouds formed over the Pikes summit on my way towards Barr Camp: 

At Barr Camp, I got to catch up with Reagan and Jonathan, and they told me they had pulled down the Men's/Women's signs on the bathrooms and asked if I wanted them!

Let me back up a second here and explain. Recently, the Denver area passed a law that states any place that has two restrooms that are single-stall and lock behind  (intended to be individual stalls) must no longer be labeled men's and women's, but just rather be two restrooms for anyone to use.

The Barr Camp restrooms are simply two identical single stalls. I brought this issue up to my friend Karl and he brought it up to the Barr Camp board, which he sits on. They agreed that it's more reasonable, I mean - this is the wilderness of Colorado! We don't need gendered restrooms. So the caretakers took down the signs some time back, and had spared them from burning for long enough that I could retrieve them as a great momento.

On a different topic here - my Scott Jurek FKT Vest worked so well for  me to carry those signs down the mountain with! I was easily able to run and they did not fall out.

At the risk of sounding like a spokesperson for the brand, I'm most impressed with how *nothing falls out* of the vest, even when taking it off and on (to add or remove layers). I'll definitely be running with this pack for quite some time.

As I jogged down the mountain and the day wore on, I felt immersed in the peaceful winter woods. The view back towards Hurricane Canyon was cloudy, yet very still.

I hope to get to the mountains this coming Saturday. Although this winter I've only been able to get to the mountains sporadically, I'm sure I'll be there more often as the new year comes around. See you all soon.

My first run with my new Scott Jurek FKT Vest (review)

So I've been a gym rat as of late. First it was cold, then icy, then cold again... blah blah excuses blah blah... long story short, the weight room has been a replacement for running lately. I'm not complaining, it's still exercise, but I've been itching to hit the trail.

A couple days ago, my husband gave me an early Christmas gift - the Scott Jurek FKT (Fastest Known Time) vest! My old running pack was literally coming apart at the seams (the phone pocket was almost completely torn through), so it was time. He was so nice to give it to me early so I can put it to use already!

And I have to say - I'm impressed. Running packs have come a long way in the last few years. This thing is lightweight! And it fits perfectly. (I needed a size small, which still leaves me some "room to grow" - you know, when I get this massively wide chest from all my gym days, ha ha!)

I don't have any "action shots" yet, but here's what it looks like. The back:

And front:

It came with the two water bottles but not the (optional) bladder that can go in the back. My run today was just short of two hours, and I only consumed one of the water bottles, leading me to believe that the two bottles alone will be sufficient for a standard Sunday run (like Barr Camp). And the bottles are much easier to fill at aid stations in longer races, rather than a bladder in the back.

The bottles have good squeezability.

And pockets galore! I'm easily able to fit my phone in the front pocket in front of the water bottle (since I like to take photos for my blog when I run) and I still have lots of room for bars, gels, snacks, etc.

I'm impressed by the fit, the lightness, the utility. Really, I don't have any complaints about it as of yet.

There's even a whistle built in for those rare times you encounter a bear or mountain lion. (Hopefully not, but I *do* run in the mountains fairly often.)

A final nice touch is the small mountain pattern/design. I like the color scheme, although it's more subtle than some of the other vests I've seen. Overall I'm very happy with this vest as an ideal choice for that Sunday long run! Adding a bladder to the back will make this pack go much further, as well - making it a good option for a self-supported ultradistance adventure, as I've been known to do from time to time!

I have been marked absent for the last two club runs (OR rather not marked at all yet for the new season) so I fully plan to change that on Sunday and set out with the Incline club for another great winter day in the mountains. And give the vest a full trial run (I'm sure it'll do great). See you folks on Sunday! (Not going to skip out again like last week.)

Winter Pikes Summit with Sharon + Barr Trail Conditions Report

Had a fantastic run on Barr Trail to the summit with Sharon this morning. With respect to trail conditions, the trail is mostly clear up until about 2 miles to go, upon which it is crunchy snow. Crunchy snow could turn icy later in the week, so I'd recommend spikes for a full summit.

I intended to bring spikes today, but forgot. The icy conditions especially from about 1 to go until the summit really slowed times.

Here are our splits (skipped the pavement):

Top of the Incline: 38:08
Barr Camp: 2:02:02
3 to go: 3:09:49
2 to go: 3:40:12
1 to go: 4:12:40
16 golden: 4:34:08
Summit: 4:53:33

Still I cannot complain about the times for a winter summit! Now for the photos!

We started under a starlit incline! It was amazing and breathtaking. I can't remember the last time I did the Incline before dawn. Considering how often I've been on it lately, the sun is always already up. The first photo is the view from the false summit as the sun began to come up.

This second photo is the sun rising as we are on the connector trail to No Name Creek. 

The sun was bright at Lightning Point! 

Sharon and I at Lightning Point, making good time on a clear trail.

The view down from the trail (towards the southeast) within a mile of the summit. 

Here is our summit success photo! Yes, the coldest part of the day was indeed either on the false summit of the Incline, or just past Barr Camp while the trail runs by the creek. After treeline, I wore only a tank top and shorts all the way up, and I was too warm. Wow, global warming?

With the warm conditions today, some of the top of the snow will have melted and then refrozen over night, so expect icy top conditions over the next few days.

I have to thank Sharon again for going with me, I had so much fun!!

With respect to my overall running/exercise goals of the next decade (see my previous blog post on the topic), I'm beginning to feel more and more like the Sub-4 Hour Ascent will be my goal for the year of 2019. 

I mean, I have to decide early when races require 8+ months of planning in advance, right? I'm looking forward to seeing you all out on the trails soon!

On Running and Gaming: Intersections and Reflections

This is going to be a bit different than the usual blog post from me.

I wanted to speak about, and in support of, games.

This post is also a reflection about our recently passed companion, Toby.

This *is* a running blog though, so I wanted to explore how both games and running  (more specifically trail running) bring positive aspects to our lives, and how these two hobbies are more similar than they initially appear.

I'd like to introduce you to Iburninate:

He's my main on World of Warcraft, a popular multiplayer online game. He looks a lot like other characters I've created in the past. My first character in my first multiplayer game (MapleStory), MaleDudeMan, was a warrior with blue spiked hair. And it's significant to note that I named and created him, a male character with that name, before I was out as transgender - and in fact before I even knew that transgender was a thing!

So what am I getting at? Point one of games - they allow us to reinvent ourselves in ways that are not always possible in our daily lives. This is part of the huge appeal of games, and while it's billed as a bad thing, it isn't necessarily - it can be a healthy outlet for self -expression. This was well-illustrated in the recent popular movie Ready Player One.

Furthermore, beyond self-expression, games offer experiences and environments that are not always available in real life. If you refer back to the previous photo, you will see the mountains in the background  where I'm flying on the bird. It feels a little bit like this:

In case that wasn't clear from the photos, exploring the World of Warcraft is a bit like running on a soft aspen-lined trail until you get gorgeous mountain views. In fact, when properly engaging the core muscles, sitting up and gaming is about as difficult and tiring as running as long. But I digress. My point is, not everyone has the access nor the ability to run through the mountains and float on the trails. I'm thankful every day that I have both good physical health and the blessing to live near the mountains. But not everyone has this, and games are a way for some people to experience this sense of adventure and exploration.

Games also allow us to create goals and sub-goals, and fulfill those goals. In other words, they help teach the process of success.

I have goals in running. As an example, I want to run a sub-4 hour Pikes Peak Ascent. Some relevant sub-goals may include attending group speedwork weekly with the Incline club, timing my splits on Barr Trail and focusing on segments to improve, etc. In gaming, sub-goals must often be met before a larger goal can be achieved. This can help teach the ability to prioritize. For a simple example, a quest chain might he required to attain a new piece of armor, so the gamer will have to prioritize quests that give the greatest gear boost.

Games aren't always about escaping reality, either. Sometimes they allow us to connect to our daily lives in different ways. Sadly, we recently had to put down our dog, Toby. The evening after the decision and comforting my kids, I was completing some quests on my warrior. And nearing the end of the quest chain, our ally Rexxar loses his companion wolf.

Needless to say, I felt like this quest was meant to happen. I felt connected to what Rexxar was going through. Games can reflect reality in surprising ways, and this can help process situations and emotions that we experience in our real lives.

Floating down Barr Trail, flying through the skies in Warcraft - both can be experiences that enhance our lives overall. Of course, I would be remiss to not mention that both running and gaming can be overused. I tend to notice that when I spend too long on a game, I get diminishing returns of satisfaction. And as an adult with a family and responsibilities, I can't spend excessive time on either of my hobbies. Life is better lived with moderation. My exception for this is Sunday mornings, when I get to indulge a little in running - usually I run for about 4 to 5 hours, sometimes more or less, but it's always an opportunity to go forth into my week with a renewed attitude. Games can likewise provide a new mindset for life! The key is to incorporate gaming as a healthy hobby in a multifaceted life.

Estes Cone

This weekend was our annual RMNP trip! This year we went with a couple friends, and it was a great time.

We found camping at East Portal, which was super ideal. The East Portal campground is not technically in the national park, but it may as well be, as the Wind River trail begins next to the campground.

I set out around 6:30 when the sun was rising.

The Wind River trail has several designated backcountry campsites along it.

I soon arrived at the junction with the Storm Pass trail. So far, the trail had been rolling, very gradually going uphill, but highly runnable. The Storm Pass trail was steeper, but still solidly runnable.

I got to see some classic Colorado scenery. 

I still felt pretty good with only 0.7 miles to go at the Estes Cone trail! This was to be the steepest part of the run today. Not exactly runnable, the last half mile took quite a bit longer than expected.

The summit views were worth it!

Mt. Meeker and Longs Peak from the summit of Estes Cone:

In summary, Estes Cone is a great little summit to enjoy, and the trail from the campground was almost fully runnable. I'm happy with this year's choice of trail in RMNP. I'm honestly hoping to go back before the end of the year. One trail per year is not enough!

Mount Kineo

I will admit that since the trail re-routing in Bear Creek Canyon, I've had to run the new trails several times to help adjust my mental map of our local mountains.

This weekend's long run task was also a Mount Kineo summit. I knew the shortest and most direct way was Seven Bridges, so I didn't go that way.

Instead I fabricated a pretty nice figure 8 loop by running up High Drive from Bear Creek Canyon to the saddle, then up Mount Buckhorn/667, continuing on 667 until the junction with 622A, upon which I turned up the Mount Kineo summit trail , returning by scrambling down the east face of Kineo (I am not a huge fan of scrambling but somehow I always end up doing it) until 667, then connecting the new 776 trail to where it joins 666 or the old Bear Creek Canyon trail. This gave me an 11.5 mile kinda-figure 8 loop.

Here is the view of Sentinel (left) and Specimen  (right) Rocks from High Drive near the start of my run.

Wildflowers! 

The view down into North Cheyenne Cañon from 667/ Buckhorn trail. 

Here is a summit photo from Mount Buckhorn, with St. Peter's Dome being in the distance in the very center, and Cookstove Mountain being the interesting summit in the midground of the right side. Of course, the long horizontal line along the valley is Gold Camp road  (closed to vehicles section). Basically the hiking/biking down below.

I love this rock outcropping along 667.

The trail to Mount Kineo was so easy to find. Basically, as I came from 667 to the junction with 622A, I turned around (facing east) and found a clear offshoot that was the Kineo summit trail.

The summit area of Mount Kineo has large flat areas with fantastic views.

Pikes Peak in the background.

There are several fire rings and campsites within the summit area. The open and flat nature of the summit is ideal for a local overnight backcountry trip. 

I intend to return to Kineo soon, a summit I thoroughly enjoyed. I underestimated it for far too long because it tops out not much more than 9k.

Here are a few more photos of Colorado's flora.

Next weekend is the Pikes Peak Marathon and Ascent!! I am not racing, but I have many running friends who are. I wish you all so much the best. Crush your goals!

I will be in Rocky Mountain National park next weekend. I'll likely do Estes Cone for my long run, unless something changes.

I look forward to hearing all about the races this year!