With Hardrock looming less than 6 weeks away (still wait listed), I’ve been determined to put in some solid miles and elevation gain despite the recent fracture of my clavicle. I’ve had to readjust training and get very specific, with my limited ability to run/jog I’ve been focusing on getting in as many steep hike-able miles as possible. As my clavicle has been stabilizing I’ve been jogging on the easy terrain and tip-toeing down the steeps and stairs, mostly out of fear that I might fully fracture the clavicle with one wrong step.
Beautiful day on the Mt Sanitas trail, somewhere in the middle of a 6 lap adventure, 5/25/13.
The week of May 20th-26th started off well, but that Tuesday was the fall and subsequent road rash and hairline fracture to the clavicle. Despite my initial frustration I was able to readjust my plans for Memorial Day weekend; no camping, no high altitude training and no running. I limped my way through the end of the week, but come Saturday I hit it hard, knocking out 6 laps of Mt Sanitas in under 6h (all hiking), 18mi/8100ft gain. Sunday I stepped it up one more notch and did 5 laps of Green Mt, 23mi/1190ft gain. So even though I could barely jog because of my fall I’d still amassed 61miles/24800ft gain for the week, a few less miles than I’d hoped for, but still a solid Hardrock training week.
Looking up at the false summit of Mt Elbert, from around 13k, 6/23/13.
The week of May 27th-June 2nd found me doing much of the same; a lap of Green via Green-Bear Monday, rest Tuesday, another lap of Green Wed, Bear Peak Thur, and another lap of Green on Friday. Saturday I snuck in two quick laps of Green Mt before heading to work at the Golden Gate Dirty 30, dishing out beer most of the afternoon. Then finally it was off to Leadville to crash with a few friends before heading up Mt Elbert in the AM. The morning was chilly in Leadville, but with a forecast high of 65F in town the warmup was coming. We still all over dressed for the day, eventually ending up in tshirts/shorts. I summitted Mt Elbert via the NE Ridge trail in 2:33, not bad considering it was my first time over 11k this year and the effort wasn’t excruciating. I then jogged back down to find Dana, and re-summitted with her, Basit, Amanda and Lexi. While this was my 1st 14er of the summer, it was to be Amanda’s last CO 14er before moving to Seattle, one last summit.
Me on the summit of Mt Elbert 14433ft, calm and sunny day, 6/2/13. Photo by Basit Mustafa.
It was a beautiful day, 40s with only a light breeze on the summit and a mostly dry trail (melting fast). On the way down I did two ladders, running ahead a few miles, then turning around and hiking back up 600-900ft of vertical. By the time we all cruised back into the parking lot I’d netted 12mi/6800ft gain, all above 10k. Definitely the high altitude training I’ve been lacking to date, though I have a lot of acclimating to go before I feel even remotely comfortable above 12k. Amanda and I tacked on an afternoon jaunt up Mt Royal in Frisco before heading back to Boulder. Bringing this week’s numbers to 60mi/23800ft gain, very similar to last week, now I need to step up the mileage a few notches. The most surprising thing has been how good my legs have felt throughout the past two weeks, I expected a lot more fatigue after putting in 49000ft of gain, but we’ll see what this week brings. I’ve also been fortunate to have procured the Hypoxico altitude tent I borrowed last year for Nolans14, so I can start sleeping ‘high’ at home. Run fast, run healthy, but mostly run happy.
Snowy Sawatch Mts, looking south from the summit of Mt Elbert, 6/2/13.
Special thanks to Hind clothing and Vfuel for supporting my habits and powering me through all the weeks of training.