Never Summer training week eighteen recap
This was my biggest week of training ever. I aimed to surpass my efforts in week nineteen of my 2019 season and I did it.
17 hours, 34 minutes
77.3 miles
15,279 feet D+
I ran on six days, including three long runs and one hill workout. My hamstring continues to feel fine at a slow pace. Saturday's long run was in hot weather, and I managed the heat well. Sunday's was at high elevation, up to 12,324 feet, and I handled that well, too.
The wildflower season at Horsetooth and Lory is evolving. The State Flower is in bloom, as is our showiest penstemon and the bright yellow and red blanketflower.
Colorado columbine (Aquilegia caerulea) in Lory State Park
Penstemon strictus (Rocky Mountain Penstemon) in Horsetooth Open Space
Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) in Horsetooth Open Space
It's great to live close to Rocky Mountain National Park and have relatively easy access to high elevation trails. My family I drove to the shuttle lot on Bear Lake Road, masked up for the short bus ride to Glacier Gorge trailhead, and were on the trail soon after. I'm going to do this again soon, to run and to pick up the permit for our family backpacking trip at the end of the month.
Snowfield on Flattop Mountain
View north from Flattop, snowy Never Summer peaks in the distance
Big news this week is that the Never Summer 100k race is officially on. There will be rule changes and constraints to keep runners and volunteers safe: wave starts, no parties, reduced service at aid stations, masks required when not running or eating or drinking. If I'm healthy on July 25, I'll be on the starting line. For a few weeks I've been making plans for an alternative adventure in case Never Summer didn't happen, but I didn't think it would be feasible to run the entire course by myself due to the high elevation and remoteness. I'm pleased to be able to do it with support. Thank you, organizers, volunteers, and our State Forest hosts.