Amanda, Adelaide, Jason and Kevin heading up a snow covered Bear Canyon on 4/20/13.

Amanda and Jason on the summit of Green Mt, 4/20/13.

…but they don’t always tell the whole story. After receiving another 18-24 inches of snow in Boulder this past Monday through Wednesday, it was no surprise that the trails were a sloppy mess all week long. With the Quadrock 50mi looming only three weeks away I was hoping to put in about 45miles and 12000ft of gain spread over Saturday and Sunday. As I started up Bear Canyon Saturday morning it quickly became apparent that I was either going to have to readjust expectations or spend almost twelve hours out on my feet in order to obtain that kind of mileage and elevation. Most of the trail was slushy and crusty ankle deep snow, though I even found myself breaking fresh trail for about 1/2 mile up toward Green Mt.

A muddy mess on the Mesa Trail. What happens when 2ft of snow melts very quickly, 4/20/13.

After 5h43min on the trails I’d amassed a measly 21miles and 6200ft of elevation gain, for a whopping 16:20/mile average pace. The effort definitely felt like more than 21miles, but my running log won’t accurately reflect that. By week’s end (Mon-Sun) I’d only accumulated 55miles and 14000ft of elevation gain, not quite the 70miles and 16000ft I’d planned on. But add to those numbers several hours of weight lifting, three hours of competitive volleyball on Friday, four hours of downhill skiing on Sunday and a whole lot of sloppy trails and you get a fairly full week. It remains to be seen how well this “perceived” effort translates to actual training, but I’ll know in three weeks time. Just remember, that while “numbers never lie”, they don’t always tell the whole story and sometimes pace and mileage goals might not be reached and that’s ok. Run fast, run healthy, but mostly run happy.

One last partying note, I’d like to welcome the newest addition to my house hold. My little lady Missy, a 4yo tabby from the Longmont Humane Society. She’s a complete love-bug and is just happy to have anyone around.

Missy helping me check messages and edit photos.