Joined a new running group & ran 15 miles of trail from Tom Watson Park, just west of IBM Campus in North Boulder.

Circled Coot Lake & Boulder Rez, then hit the foothills.  Heat kicked up in the 2^nd hour, lagged far behind the pack.  Typical of most marathon finishes however – “never, never will I ever…” signed up for another run in 2 weeks – a ‘sweet 16er’.

[Super Saturday continues]  Met up with Ash, Tom & friend Cliff just after noon on what would be the hottest day of 2015.  Overall’s been a mild Colorado summer – but for Lafayette Peach Festival, temps climbed to 107°F.  Crazy hot!

Fresh Palisade peaches, peach smoothies, peach cobbler – and a smoked turkey leg, promptly devoured caveman style 🙂  Supported the local artist community purchasing a pig welded from junkyard parts…another front porch addition.

[Super Saturday continues]  Home, change of clothes, a second shower, then back to Boulder.  Rare when independent films play in mainstream theatres.  Took advantage & scored tickets to Meru, a Himalayan climbing flic.  Was not disappointed.

Sitting at the headwaters of the sacred Ganges River in Northern India, the Shark’s Fin has seen more failed attempts by elite climbing teams over the past 30 years than any other climb in the Himalaya.

 

In 2008, three American climbers, Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin and Renan Ozturk arrive in India to make an attempt. Surviving a massive storm on the wall and battling for 19 days through sub zero temperatures with only 8 days of food, they are beaten back just 100 meters below the elusive 21,000ft summit. After swearing off the route and returning home, family, friendship, loyalty and the will to continue dreaming of the impossible climb are tested by loss and disasters that conspire to keep them from returning to the Shark’s Fin for one last try.

 

…the film examines obsession, friendship, dreams and sacrifice, on and off one of the world’s most difficult mountains.

3 more local weekends remaining ‘til Fall marathoning season.  I see at least one more 14er in my immediate future 🙂

Meru