Hopefully I’ll keep myself together better than the old Hardrock, which broke to pieces and had to be replaced with this one for 2012. Hardrock’s here, and I couldn’t be more excited. This is my 5th time running the course, but only my 2nd time around in the clockwise direction around the loop. Just as a reminder, because I doubt anyone is really keeping track, the last time I ran...
The course profile. Put another San Juan Solstice 50 in the books. It was Christy’s 4th finish here, and my 5th, and despite us both having a good amount of experience at this race, we’ve found that it is always a tough, unpredictable day. (more…)
Chase and Christy take off down to Snowmass Creek. Snowmass Mountain looks to have the snow cover more typical of August. One silver lining of a light winter is that the summer routes on the peaks and the trails are clear of snow earlier than usual. Christy, Chase Edgerton, and I ran the Four Pass Loop last Saturday, about a month or so before we’ve been able to do it...
A peakbagging and trailrunning day trip to some 13ers above Cotton Lake in the Sangres
That was a close one. Summer’s here. It’s time to change gears. Among other things, that means it’s time to get running. The races are right around the corner. Actually, they’ve already started. The Golden Gate “Dirty 30” 50K was Saturday. I realize we were completely immersed in ski mountaineering just two weeks ago, but that’s just how it is sometimes. We like to keep the calendar full. Christy and...
Is the “tough” part of the slogan meant to describe the lottery? The lottery for the 2012 Hardrock 100 was on Sunday, and I’m thrilled to report that I got in again. Some say the lottery process is the hardest part of the race. While that’s definitely an exaggeration, if you’re not given a chance to run because you can’t get a number, well then it’s sort of true. This...
“Remember: Hiking to the river and back in one day is dangerous and never recommended due to limited shade, extreme heat and a near 5,000 foot elevation change!” – from The Guide- Maps and Information for Grand Canyon National Park, issued to visitors upon arrival. Christy on the snowy descent from the North Rim. Well they got the elevation part right, at least for the South Rim section of the...
When last weekend’s weather forecast wasn’t looking conducive to outdoor activities around Aspen, Christy and I decided to head to Moab.
Saturday’s Bear 100 was about as good as it gets for me. After three consecutive years at Hardrock, and running no other races at the 100 mile distance, I mistakenly came to believe all 100’s are like that massive San Juan suffer-fest. They’re not. And the early July date of Hardrock, being so close to the spring skiing season which has always taken priority, usually means I’m just barely feeling...
The 100 mile course across the Bear Range comes in at about 22,000 feet of gain. Click to enlarge. Time for another long one. The Bear 100 starts at six on Friday morning. (more…)