Regular training update + Barr Camp with Sharon

What a busy week for training! I didn't feel like I did that much, but when I reflected back on my week in preparation for my blog post, I realized that I'd done a lot of hiking this week.

While not the same as running, hiking is a good form of training, especially for a mountain race which involves a lot of climbing.

On Tuesday, I ran to the gym. I went through Palmer Park, opting to take the Templeton Trail to the Palmer Pointe Trail and go down through Greencrest.

Thunderstorms threatened, but never materialized.

At the gym, my husband drove over and met with me! He is picking up a more regular exercise routine to get back into better shape. I'm glad for this and I am doing what I can to support him. I warmed up for 15 minutes on the exercise bike with him, then I went to do some weightlifting, and capped it off with a cooldown swim, 15 minutes of laps.

Then on Tuesday night, we did a short sunset hike at the Pueblo Reservoir. It was a perfect lakeside loop that went right by the water near the Fisherman's loop.

On Thursday, we took our family for a short sunset hike at Spruce Mountain Open Space.

This gorgeous little open space is near Larkspur, and it offers shaded trails and rocky mesas.

On Saturday, I took an evening hike with my husband and a couple friends. We hiked up into the Red Rock Canyon quarry, and back around the west side of the mesa. I figured that it would be a perfect back-to-back with my Sunday morning run.

Sunday morning was misty, cool, and overcast.

Sharon and I set out on the Incline. The weather was nice for quick times, and Sharon was ahead of me in the 36-minute range. I was 38:18.

We power hiked most of the way to Barr Camp and got there in about 2:05!

Just before Camp, Lindsay passed us on her way to A-frame! What a perfect day for a long run since the weather was cool.

Sharon and I hung out at Camp for a few minutes before heading down. We went down on the first mile of Lake Moraine trail, which was so much fun to see in the mists, considering I'd just been on it last weekend in the sun.

We also saw plenty of wildflowers!

When we got down to the bottom, the shuttle had arrived so Sharon headed back the parking lot, but I decided to take the "back way" to the parking lot, via Intemann trail.

I'd never done this short section of Intemann, which runs right along the ridgeline, providing views of the whole Manitou Springs valley. Plus, I got to see even more wildflowers!

Finally, to cap off the week, I went on another hike with my family and our friend Felix at the Pueblo Reservoir on Sunday evening.

Now it's already Wednesday and I'm running with Sharon and J'ne again tomorrow morning! I intended to update this blog earlier in the week, but life kept me busy. I've been hiking a lot with my hubby, so I will write more about that in the next update!