Free weekend between Mississippi & Miami marathons – kick back & rest? That would be a NO. Winter time in Colorado is prime time for outdoor activities. Purchased a Groupon for Ash & Tom at Christmas for ice climbing, couldn’t help but tag along.
Was told it’s harder to climb in Colorado because our ice is river water, not glacier ice like in Alaska. Axe & crampons stick easier in glacier ice – river ice chips so important to stay on belay (rope) should you pop off.
2 hour drive to Colorado Springs (love the Springs), then a short quarter mile hike to Cheyenne Canyon with our guide Andrew (a scrawny rock climber – weighed maybe a buck ten). Had to compete for wall space with a local climbing group – so actually started off on the intermediate wall. Roped up, kicked in my crampons & struck a few blows before I found rhythm (muscle memory – hadn’t climbed since Matanuska, day before my Alaska marathon).
Forgot how much I LOVE ice climbing – it’s a thinking man’s sport. Yeah, there’s physical involved but LOVE picking my route – it’s unique to each climber. Do I use an existing hit (to place my axe)? Go right, go left – where is the better/thicker ice? How far can I reach? Strike high, using that arm (& forward motion) to propel the body UP, kick in again with your crampon.
Struggled up the ice lip but ultimately, SUCCESS! LOVE LOVE LOVE ice climbing!
Ash & Tom took their try at the wall. Not fair their first climb would be on an intermediate wall – no training, little instruction. Luckily, an easier tie soon opened – more ice, less vertical. Lot more fun – both summited, good memories 🙂
We paid for a half day so I took in 2 more verticals before Ash & Tom worked belay and let Andrew climb.
Felt good to be in the mountains. Perfect conditions – sunshine, no wind. Crazy addictive sport. Can see myself hitting it regularly once my running schedule frees next year. So much competition for time – cross country skiing, snow shoeing, another 14er winter summit, ice climbing…& only December to April to get it all in. LOVE LOVE my Colorado life!
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- short hike with Andrew, our guide
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- intermediate wall climb
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- SUCCESS!
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- far right on the wall – more ice, less vertical
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- speed climbing
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- high in the Rockies – awesome view!
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- roped up & ready
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- Killin’ it!
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- “This is really hard. My arms are so tired.”
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- Ash on top of the world
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- Tom rocking his sexy look
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- 3rd to Summit – FAAAANNNTASTIC day!
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- belaying Andrew, our guide
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- fearless ice woman: “every girl should have a pair of spiky shoes”
During off-season (5 weeks between past Saturday’s Rehoboth Beach marathon & next January’s Mississippi Blues full), decided to focus on one BIG weakness – endurance. Not beating myself up – I completed 17 marathons in 17 different states…that’s a great accomplishment – but I gutted out the last 3, hovering at 4:30 finish times. I can do better.
Gonna make peace with the beast – HILLS. Will not only improve marathon results but also increase lung capacity & quad strength for my BIG August 2015 life adventure. 3 days in – breathing like a rookie, sweating hard, struggling.
Day 4: signed up for a 5am meetup at Manitou Incline, 2 hours away – you do the math, mighty early Saturday wake.
Manitou Incline is a popular hiking trail rising above Manitou Springs, Colorado. The trail is the remains of a former 3 ft narrow gauge funicular railway whose tracks washed out during a rock slide in 1990. The Incline is famous for its sweeping views and steep grade, as steep as 68% in places, making it a fitness challenge for locals in the Colorado Springs area. The Incline gains over 2,000 feet of elevation in less than one mile.
2 years ago I hiked Barr Trail (28 miles – crazy long day) but missed the Incline – no dogs allowed. That day Ro & I salmoned 3 miles up the return trail, dodging runners ‘til we passed the Incline junction.
Arrived first & inadvertently introduced myself to spooked hikers ‘til my new running group arrived.
Tough meeting new folks – not sure of pace or even what folks look like plus this would be my first high altitude run in months (perfect match for my off-season hill challenge, huh 🙂 )
Manitou Incline is only one-mile UP – but with a 2,000ft elevation gain.
Was forewarned to go out slow, advised there is a bail-out point two-thirds up, and that the last third was straight UP. Picked up pace ½ in, then waited for our group near the Christmas tree summit. No altitude adjustments needed here 🙂
20 minutes later – MAGIC. Sunrise pinks & oranges coloured the horizon.
Chatted it up with Jim, a local runner who hits this trail regularly. Good guy.
Amazing start to the weekend – thin air, cool temps & a mountain sunrise. FAAAANNNNTASTIC!
Took a spill on the trail run return – mostly superficial scrapes, no muscle damage but busted a toe…will lose the nail in a few weeks. Ouch. Never considered I could fall, didn’t try to catch myself – hit hard. Life lesson.
Big fan of the Springs – beautiful place to run. I’ll be back; highly recommended.
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- colour starting to burst over Colorado Springs below
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- #inclinechristmastree
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- thin air, cool temps & a mountain sunrise – FAAAANNNTASTIC!
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- blue to purple, now black
After Friday night’s ballgame, struggled with the 4 a.m. alarm on Saturday morning.
Up, dressed & on the road for a 25k trail race in Greenland – 30 minutes north of Colorado Springs.
Arrived early, picked up my race bib & shirt – then dozed 45 minutes before the 25k race start. Running at 7,500 ft elevation, stunning view of the Rockies & all trail – my first trail race, LOVED it!
3 hills – 2 huge hills which slowed my pace to just over a fast trot. And since today’s course was a loop, I got to see those same 3 hills twice. Fortunately I was strong this day & continued my trot UP while others walked at miles 10 & 12.
Tough course – altitude & hills – but loved running on trail. Found it easier than marathon road running.
Only 8 days ‘til Maine!
Place Bib#
98 1117 K R Haga M LOUISVILLE CO 2:25:21
Greenland, Colorado
