Merry Christmas 🎄!
I've had such a full autumn for 2023!
As we head into winter, I'm reflecting on what a fun and joyful season it has been for me, despite being so busy!
I had fun running on Thanksgiving day with the Sunrise Striders, and then went to the first Incline Club run of the season, which is always on the Sunday after Thanksgiving 😁.
I have done a lot of strength work, several longer efforts and a few "push" sessions (like the Incline). I did two runs up Dixon Trail and several larger loops in Section 16, as well as spent a good amount of time on Barr Trail!
And I started December with a 50k+ jog on my favorite loop around the base of Mount Rosa! 🏔️ I last did this same loop on Memorial Day. This time around, I added a little extra high altitude distance by including a new overlook. It was challenging to do this loop in the winter, and it took me over 9 hours with icy trails, when my summer time was 7:20.
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Here are a few photos from the last two months!
Nov 5 - Dixon Trail
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCP8UmlsXk6mtfIC6O-anCZa3V9rdDvXmpm03TrrEnnTKYAJr1ntt3bs7na4iSHvSPGv7RMidHSqm1KVRJDlZwRmVpO7SMz8qqlv59olW31ciBWDQx7Byf_X1L4XODzsZ0JwHhSjPPzdhW8FZ_X51srIf3zVfwoypcAj5ZHycgdQ3Pcg-rnfP7vKSwcQ/s320/20231225_142350.jpg) |
I ascended Talon, North Talon, and Dixon Trail on Nov 5. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJ0-AVXQH4iUzLiW9OmeAOwoCCS3U7WEsifG9KUiE1ZL8ekxtzNixVvDJ5ob7IilJSe_KHj0A7nbyzXDCuEFI202yHHVi1RZGxrcS2kqzO_jNNVkZyTr0MEgFZsWlgEq84iLqrRLpTFU2EbXX_lGI6yVwAMTBCX7nFjnxwsC41yEopDdGn1cRItHMPT4/s320/20231225_142832.jpg) |
It was a beautiful day to go up, and very warm! I easily made the overlook and spent more than enough time on top. About 15.8 miles total. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPeFPX7n3_LQRnPX2V0ruoIK4_GYSPRuq0bXawv89dlfjfahmKQmJuPiKDTE_pYPeg6in0tOSTfwecUtJwlBkb5mz-OgMjU-Dsv33OjBKN9cIkTRN8WWtWJoMEMLm9H1GN52s8gdMYBygbzNekzJ7iJb-Jj1CySRAQfubqsem2KUNfkrGdjCCagDLFzRc/s320/20231106_155844.jpg) |
The next day, we took our children to the Denver Art Museum. I painted my interpretation of Cheyenne Mountain from yesterday! |
Nov 10 - The Incline & Barr Trail
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lYiLjTwkf7ArJ0aC-le1PeTtgtzlRS3AEfzhnEUim31gz1NIilDAxziwLEJftVN0ayM6c-L_hrMy5GyPJ_WLScXRZ15SVenZzO3pIyquTqDEJzlU6PvDSmJva1AwHwUEn45H619u22YJ66CPOj3tG_lWRVS9_0PQz2VjkpOfhrBqxo8EWmsQ6mYXepY/s320/20231225_144244.jpg) |
Dionne and I did the Incline, and ran up to the 7.8 metal sign on Barr trail. I was happy with an Incline time of 34:15, and we saw Jim on our way down! |
Nov 12 - Section 16 Loop
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4KUoZSypvFcGVWSk6TjE3P2HUm0bJp8LDUOoWlIX3pwq0gpJ3h6XG37YZqwfhPqWs0iNFVvLcEiYrywojsTnIUE_dtMeQUN0nte9LWMJ69EVRnkJARkJDC1grYi9qcDTwvBPwFc1oDBRcusxBtj4FGEcc4c7t5LGO1VCsNpTu7RHZXdc4HUjEXq0stQ/s320/20231114_213203.jpg) |
About 10.8 miles total today. |
Nov 15 - Dixon Trail (again)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkdnA3h4ghxr0NswueQsQ3b7f68Rr4kt_bujHrhYIt_oJIo92JQ7z_LhJIv9tmjdEY50GHYZbhEy8Iha7LIHExU7axTc1UyQdmcwStH_0jnk0EKZrIJNZHOZcvgcfYikFKfco47IkE_DdXe9OsSg3ijp2_N3VHdlGulAaMfEbMa3V7p2CYRRyZgZVSZQ/s320/20231115_100037.jpg) |
My second trip up Cheyenne Mountain this month was marked by whispy clouds and a crisp autumn bite in the air. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfS3DEpHDveku5-KxzDg0eQabLe-qhEJ78vOSqta4r4xgPzy0J4Wkm6-MlNsPQ0ZwGdo0M8boFY7HGGUSxmiswURpayiRI9_jEcaKApUHlO7xgNzkS-YUYwgzhxeoBBkcWKx8HPCf-x9XsJ45tDdjpiUEosy4XhRIxWi79aT-m-mNFBGVBs6T8GyU986Q/s320/20231225_155049.jpg) |
Wildlife was abundant. I ascended a different overlook this time and got a little shorter distance, 15.4 miles.
|
Nov 18 - Butterfly Pavilion
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnRoRNFPPDJfrMi97ucus0NKhZSeT6BocJiOAm_mNKdubPydMA32wilBRLQlN6TxUXdYpFVQYg71Sr3-0tpaT9dvzD8UiiDIS2tOP0lrSA2aeMEeUIihQ5TINIzuXrr96A_gxbgj8-aKOCfFhPlcNcJeucE1io8aUABvcRKxshWD1JT2UWpxEnA-xDVIc/s320/20231225_155426.jpg) |
We took the kids to the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster. We saw so many bright colors! |
Nov 23 - Thanksgiving Incline with the Sunrise Striders
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bBxL8_kCxo04rSNkfDUQh_KxKwSB7iuPPsdiuVyJnY5krIQW0GeNDAA3qzndPmPwgyEEvj2J02b9RvkY2wwnAcl4D0Q8AkdOm1W_rcneE_syA8daYjRfnkS_qu0qN-gXnAYaPDGn4cfGds0Sw1_AHIwywA161-vwayTINQsuaxlTOqVvs_NF-ekZCMg/s320/20231123_090520.jpg) |
What a fun day! So many blessings to be thankful for! I got a little extra mileage by going up to the "7.8 mile to summit" sign afterwards. |
Nov 26 - First Incline Club run of the season!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yVyD1jFqj2ZEX7iTs5It5FBnE39umbKT7lUPgyt2kk2VdP_t_uE2ao0fcqAN2LqecgAFKRLJCJcvZ8LU0XSLy4gdyZg2DJHBDSM8ezGnaHOInbT0nGhgF7CDd-UV1w58407qxp_K68n5wgAcTohJZ8G0aeiqnN3HAZqRjYu2LMVg9m3nqM9fPeByiGo/s320/20231225_165145.jpg) |
A big group showed up for a nice weather day after the snow. It was great to see my friend Russ! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrqpSewiFXSuactVi61UgsJLqJO72XjwP7r317we_kPlCwRJ4Km2HOEk2x5CQ9e-4aOH_LpZt8YiK-8qDWvdfPNgCQjcMzXAQSjiia6-JIdtWOYMTuZq3eIq58ghVPjpEyRwejZt67FuoGfMYSLy1ATPZZnTm6kIebxKqzA02rHJLq1PtbGcgDlOdKwI/s320/20231225_165424.jpg) |
The snow was so charming, that I decided to the Experimental Forest loop today for a little extra mileage. |
Nov 27 - Blossoms of Light (Denver Botanical Gardens)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fwRTa-ie0cy4H8Dr0mNnXMb6SCu9JwniO8RLKhJe557gfSykbvwgrUxaxm2HmDYgGrPVvdC_UlHynYMei94lkZtgjCmetVXsUeUYMMA87HdIF-_UVq2vHjPlEltbrI86xP2SP6f2FmhoBExLB7T9s5Jf1hhpc37yVDofNX8ic7XzIKvpnXOpu5uxR48/s320/20231225_171055.jpg) |
We toured the Blossoms of Light with the family. What an impressive display this year! |
Nov 30 - Section 16 Loop (with Paragliders)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77bt9aZmxQzaHGCClS4gnL7FKU0UQMf7edBExqvJAO0fgZJglreD-E0lPdbq6tTnYZQ5-PqT1fuqNxZMhR2KT6biVl5rzTI50ugPcwjX2nQetU9UbMnbAwvJR10bjsIxVNfWOP99ckWjclWX_ewe63jy1P2IimsYrUHfqMdQoVCuwbuPuu5njmc0f1qo/s320/20231225_171242.jpg) |
It was really neat to see some paragliders setting off on their flight today when I summited the Section 16 overlook. |
Dec 5 - My 50k Loop Day!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzF-NNJkR-8Q7K6GgKwmUOGtRo6FflLYn_ar_lLp-aBfmZc8I0KfVTbaY7c8R7GmkWLtYgTKu3pNz02WPoXnwYCI35tU7hUTlIW3hD10bY6gXjPs1tOZepZkbcIUw_8tNYgD-jsv3CMMtHWxcbPM5TsnMoIRv2xwGcQLLDHMu1uSY1pSKwRDwkRQ-Uf8/s320/20231206_084338.jpg) |
I set out up High Drive on this clear day. From the saddle of Mt. Buckhorn, I could see part of my icy return path on Gold Camp Road. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTaUjdjfzgepBXp8fGwAJxz1jPIqGD6IpRKd3hEbcTLAq_B58wTiFvBA8xMomUEBL19JZDAPY_0weuDGmLPBsUc1M41pdI0j7rH-lUwM76yfd2AxDyc39ZPkJcPeppkDDZLL02o4GzOhEyxe6-crJsLbLz2G33e416bz2_ULPowd-Tu8CAUihOzcvL0UA/s320/20231206_112042.jpg) |
I encountered winter obstacles, like this frozen stream. The Pipeline trail crosses somewhere underneath this ice slick. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPrTavaOFpz0j3Ng_i2UXa8OEZaxADCL6U51wFptqYI1qvc7ghMGcuw5B3SPdexFNJDdY3AM6C7Y1pbkLcFjcLIzRtZxHwejau9DtGjZgBxH3bd2dSwzL3sobZJTr0-Fd40hzG1KWFAk5SUskHjr2bB67mkX08PgaFi9Gr0GnAPTOYKTwRLtmALE_mMk/s320/20231206_130200.jpg) |
I saw my favorite view of Mt. Rosa, with the small pond I love in the foreground. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rGeQAwxGNLsEJiqDiiwGzJhdxYDa038RPKF7iVsVyRyNECp2_eVDGjzb7dYnrhef-4kSj40ZwDiGKYAK2ybzCu9Ll8cXFBg_jo0wNSxYtF5eEUzCU-UP5BdO_g0FwqA07X6cbSfa6f9xfLdsRn6j4ssDrLtbHhnMEjIThket_Lde_tI1aEnfTk-2GjY/s320/20231206_131931.jpg) |
Devil's Slide on my way down Gold Camp Road. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfv-j2cL7lQuLiytuPJr3QBGgylLnGmUSZ6ao8XLW9P92RuWHymQ4ET19wlSZ-13ABU3FziUJmt2nXP3XscUH12Nvc-ktx0Fc4OC8d04txhriuSAvcM2-CCqM75PBg0muaoSun15iZXxKU8BoMsPC6Bj6nvya217K6RmKBdWb7Y2Poip19lknXQruLq8/s320/20231206_150428.jpg) |
I was on the non-motorized portion of Gold Camp Road when the sun receeded behind St. Peter's Dome. |
I finally made it back to my car after my phone died, over 9 hours later and between 31 and 33 miles!!
This run was challenging, but I felt more able to push through. Despite some icy conditions, I just kept moving. I felt like this was a great way to knock out the last ultra-length run of the year.
Dec 18 - Garden of the Gods with Dionne and Pippin
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXEBQHB58tljf12QsbTRCgXTkQ9AmMd5tk7nUNhJXIuoqoW5aZjEucL3HBIPlR_bKbyoJOaV9X5ivZH6a488CCD-WsxC49JHHdnPSVPBdiUWSH-s7HlvUYskW_3607AageUvLw4PYHsEzO3lcjQ5vfmtBazw3urnTqzlp_pp67omEHXHpFTKcuIQ7sew/s320/20231218_155911.jpg) |
A fun casual day in the Garden. Dionne joined me, and I brought Pippin along! An easy, recovery-paced jog. |
These last two months have been great. A jump start to the season, and a big finale of the year with my favorite 50k loop.
I hope everyone has a wonderful and happy holiday season!
Good to see you also. Just FYSA, Incline Thursday runs are right around the corner. Sorry I'm getting to your blog(s) just now.
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