Run because it's fun

The pavement is hot in the afternoon from the accumulated heat brought on by the clear skies of the day. The air is dry but remains surprisingly cool. It is the katabatic winds that drop with their density to bring this cool breeze down the mountains. As I put on my running shoes the loose dirt from my last run floats softly into the air as I tighten the laces together. I notice this hazy cloud because the sun is beaming into my room at just the right angle to cast visible rays across the floor. I grab my water bottle that is filled to the brim and head out the door. My feet strike the ground and the stiffness from the pavement will only be underfoot for a minute or two. A quarter mile from my front door I reach a trail head and I'm engulfed with wild sagebrush and its gentile fragrance. The single track trail that welcomes me is well worn in by the cattle that grazed here earlier this spring. Their hoof marks are cemented into the ground and created divots that require careful attention so as to avoid rolling an ankle. After passing through a second gate the base of the mountain is finally revealed. 

My time in Colorado has flown by. I’m amazed at how quickly I’ve spent my first month in this wonderful state. From the incredible high altitudes I’ve traversed to the beautiful streams and forests, it all overwhelms my senses. The wildlife is incredible and powerful. Not a day goes by without me learning something new about nature or about myself. I worry that at some point I will tire of this adventure but I know that with my passion for exploring and discovery it will be a long while before I tire of this place. My vision of Colorado is one of grandeur, like looking up at the impossibly distant summit from the base of a mountain.

 

The dirt remains loose but small cobbles present themselves along the trail. They are the remnants of the latest rockfall and are strewn among slabs of boulders that the trail meanders through. The vegetation begins to lessen as the surface gradient increases and only the toughest of plants remain. The trail tucks into the shadow of an adjacent mountain and the shade is much welcomed at this point. Since leaving my front porch a half hour ago it has been an uphill climb and still I continue to run.

My new friends in town have continued to show me nothing but good graces. There is always an invite for a get-together or for a dinner every few days. There are also local events occurring with more frequency than I expected for such a small town. I sometimes feel bad turning down some of the invites but I need some time to be on my own and go for a run. When I do go on these invites I enjoy myself but they tend to become all night affairs which in turn impair my sleep and liver functionality. These effects are usually necessary to add joy while in the company of others but I am careful to not get carried away. I know there is much to do and see the next day just like when you're coming around the next switchback of a mountain.

The switchbacks begin right after passing a flat white rock on the trail. The steepness gets close to almost making you want to walk but with my fortitude I push on and keep running. My pace slows but I maintain a rhythm and my heart rate beats rapidly. The shade begins to diminish as I gain altitude and return to warm sunshine. The bushes lining the trail usually shake and rustle a bit as small mammals rush for safety. Nothing has surprised me more in this section than when a ground squirrel took an enormous leap of faith directly in front of me. Coming from my right this creature jumped from just above my head and landed off to my left where the trail drops off. All the while its feet were scrambling back and forth wildly awaiting traction to come underfoot. After what seemed like a few very long seconds it succumbed to gravity and hit the rocks below me while scampering off without skipping a beat. Witnessing this animal's complete awareness of its surroundings and its own capabilities deeply impressed me.

While summiting some of the 14ers I have been taking a shortcut on the way down. I’ve recently learned the joy of glissading on snow and learned how much fun can be had with a jacket, my butt, and the willingness to trust my abilities. I basically butt slide down the mountain until I run out of snow or until the snow becomes cluttered with rocks and would make for quite a bumpy ride. At first it is incredibly frightening just jumping out and letting gravity take over but after a few rides I became confident. I was soon trying to glissade wherever there were any patches of snow. I felt pride knowing I acquired a new skill and could now master a tiny bit more of my surroundings.

The trail continues up more switchbacks and eventually levels off a bit once you reach the red sands. Near the first summit there is red rock exposed and much of its sand and powder covers the trail. Loose shale is also among the rock and crumbles sharply as you step over it. It may feel a bit wobbly if you over think each step so it's better to just keep moving. I continue running while acknowledging that this trail will change the next time as others will pass through and move these rocks creating new variations in the route. As I approach the first vista I pause momentarily as it still takes my breath away. The view is overlooking the entire town and in the distance there are mountains with snow still on the peaks. It won’t be there much longer and neither is my respite while gazing at them. I push on running ahead knowing the summit is still further along.

I still have much to do in Colorado. This weekend I will get to know the Mile High City (Denver) and partake in the 4^th of July festivities. The week after, I will be visiting the San Juan Mountains to be a spectator at one of the most competitive Ultra races known as the Hardrock 100. After that I will make my way to Steamboat Springs to learn some of the trails out that way. I also plan to visit Moab and Arches national park in the neighboring state of Utah. In August I’ll also be heading to Leadville for their own famous 100 mile race. And lastly, I’ll be squeezing in a few 14ers where I can while also training up for Oil Creek 100, my target race in early October. Just thinking about all I have left to do this summer is like having another summit still left to climb. Fortunately, I am an endurance athlete and I know each step forward is progress made even if it’s just one step at a time.

The flowers surrounding the trail are magnificent. Such tiny beauty atop a harsh environment is almost unbelievable. The summit is finally within grasp and my pace can slowly unwind while I take another respite at the top. I reach the clearing and fill out the trail register while catching my breath. I spend a long minute staring at the mountains and enjoying the moment. With a smile on my face and the wind still gently blowing, I turn back to the trail and head down. I fly with so much momentum and reach the bottom back to the trail head in what always seems like way too fast. As my legs regain composure back on the pavement a small child on a bicycle sees me and asks me a few questions.

“Hi, what are you doing?” he asks.

“Running” I reply.

“Why?” he asks with such innocence.

“Because it’s fun” I say without hesitation. As I the distance grows between us I can tell he is thinking over my response.

Then, just as I am turning down the street he yells out to me, “I like to run too!”