quick hike UP, then Utah

Published September 9, 2016

Dropped Ro at Divine Canine & vehicle-loaded Thursday after work – weekend destination: Utah. Monday, Colorado Springs; Saturday, Salt Lake City – count it, 5 days between marathons. FAAANNNTASTIC!

8 hour drive to Salt Lake. Well that’s no fun – breaking it up over 2 days however, no problemo 🙂

Lived B-I-G and slept Thursday nite at the historic Hotel Colorado (scored with mid-week, off-season pricing). Presidents Teddy Roosevelt & William Howard Taft plus multiple governors & early-20th century celebrities adorned hotel walls in black-n-white photographs – super cool…unfortunately, little time to browse. Quick ‘express’ hike planned.

Hanging Lake.

Crystal clear water, emerald green hue, and a mountain waterfall. SPECTACULAR view!

That’s the way I described the hike in June 2012. 4 years later – same SPECTACULAR view.

Quick UP & down trek – returned coated in a thick layer of human salt. No wish I woulda. Absolutely no regrets.

Lunch, 3 hours of desert, then north an hour – greeted by the backside of the Colorado Rockies. “Welcome to Cottonwood Heights” and the beautiful Wasatch Mountains. City slogan: “City Between the Canyons”, flanked by Big Cottonwood Canyon to the North and Little Cottonwood Canyon on the South.

Tomorrow a.m. – marathon #70, my third in 13 days.

: world’s most irresistible toy — the teddy bear — received its birth at Hotel Colorado

: 1.2 mile vertical climb

: W-O-W!

: clear, clean & emerald green

: behind the Falls

: life is meant to be LIVED

Hanging Lake (Glenwood Springs CO)

Posted in Western Slope | Tagged hiking, waterfalls | 3 Comments

American Discovery Trail Marathon

Published September 5, 2016

End of holiday breaks are always kinda sad – sharing one chalked full of adventure with my Canadian bestie, definitely bittersweet. Ballooning, hiking, high altitude fine-dining, plus tourist trekking in Manitou Springs & Garden of the Gods – EPIC! Thanks again Sar 🙂

Weekend concluded with a rare Monday marathon – a Labor Day urban-trail run thru Colorado Springs. Early morning start in America the Beautiful Park. Saw many of my Maniac running pals before Race Start. Haven’t run a ton of marathons this summer, 6 total. In perspective, guess that’s not so bad. HA!

One of my most patriotic marathon starts – Star-Spangled Banner sung proudly by many this day.

Went out fast, hung with the 3:45 pace group for 10 miles – finished my first Half in under 2. Relearning to run with pace this past month. Have a PR goal in mind for November (Marshall University Marathon).

Nice mix of bike path & dirt – not overly hilly either. Altitude is always an element when Colorado running but today’s late race obstacle: HEAT. Forewarned temps would kick up to 80, no trees mile 18 to Finish.

Popped a pill at 15 – my first experiment at marathoning with meds. Consistent & beefed-up training are gonna reduce my need for Western medicine. In the meanwhile, plan to stay ahead of nausea – not altering my life, will continue to marathon…even with cancer.

Slowed pace to a 10:30/mile jog from mile marker 18. Sun was there, sure – but I stayed steady/consistent, stopped for water/doused my head, but didn’t walk. Not my fastest, not my slowest – mentally however, HUGE victory. 2^nd consecutive week marathoning & FINISHED feeling GREAT.

American Discovery Trail
September 05, 2016

166 K R Haga Louisville CO 4:56:23

Post-marathon DINER dinner celebration – [presently] diet-restricted from red sauce, but not 1950’s Americana fare 🙂 Shared a few last laughs with Sarah; chauffeured my Toronto-based friend to DIA morning following.

Busy 3-day weekend. Think I need a vacation from my stay-cation. Thank goodness for work days. LOL>

: Colorado LOVE

: marathon #69 (20th finish this year)

: post-marathon DINER dinner

Posted in Marathons/Ultras, the Springs/Pueblo | Tagged urban-trail | 3 Comments

Labor Day 2016 (Colorado mix)

Published September 4, 2016

Last time I saw Sarah, she set up a sweet hike above scenic Lake Louise in Banff Nat’l Park. Hike day culminated in a high-altitude tea aside an alpine lake, Lake Agnes. Set the bar mighty high, huh? Well…she IS Canadian after all.

Early morn hot air balloon, diner breakfast – next up, one of my hike faves, Brainard Lake.

Alpine lake, lodgepole pine, glacier snow on the peaks – all at 10,300ft starting elevation…pretty SPECTACULAR. Ever Google the elevation in Toronto? 249ft. True flatlanders. Whatta sport – thin air, little oxygen, yet not a peep of negativity outta Sarah. Hiked to Long Lake – pic I use as my website cover art. LOVE LOVE this place. Sharing the experience with friends, no words. Full heart.

Anything any better? uh…Cue, wildlife. Chipmunks, pika, black squirrels, elk – easy. How ‘bout MOOSE? FAAANNNTASTIC! Shower, change of clothes, night trek up Boulder Canyon to Gold Hill Inn. Fine dining at 8,000ft. Kinda hard to match Banff but folks – an alpine hike, 2 moose & a 5-course meal at 8,000ft – I attempted to reach that bar. WOW, whatta day!

(whole lotta photo credit: sarahontheroad.com)

: 5000ft higher than my Colorado home

: perfect day for a hike

: lodgepole pine & glacier-fed water

: Ponderosa pine

: thin air & cool temps – LOVE it!

: Aspen yellow, the beginning of Fall

: photo credit: sarahontheroad.com

: website cover art revisited (Long Lake) — my blog’s now 5 years strong

: Ro’s a smilin’ — sign of a mighty good hike

: FAVE shot of the day!

: alpine pallet, so much colour

: wildlife alert: MOOSE!

: a drink & a soak before heading home

: photo credit: sarahontheroad.com

: high-altitude fine dining

: a rare non-hike, non-marathon, freshly-showered dinner pic 🙂

Sunday: [marathon] bib pick-up day in Colorado Springs. 10 minute chore – check, done.

Garden of the Gods. Monolith red rocks curtained by mighty Pikes Peak in the background. 2 ½ hours from home, but I visit this Park at least twice a year. Any excuse, friend/family visit to Colorado – Rocky Mtn Nat’l Park to the North, Garden of Gods to the South. Both treks highlight every itinerary. AWESOME amazing acts of God.

Manitou Cliff Dwellings. Something old, something new – well, at least new to me. LOVE history, LOVE everything Native American. Visited the three-story Pueblo-style Cliff Dwellings, descendants of the ancient Anasazi (existed 1100-1300 A.D.) Honestly not a ton to see & do, but happy to have gone once. Museum’s a bit dated – more walk-thru placards than actual artifacts.

Dinner & a short tourist walk downtown. Highlight: the healing waters of Shoshone Spring & a random local releasing their pet sugar glider (small, nocturnal gliding possum). Startling, unexpected but pretty cool experience.

Night sleeps in Manitou Springs, tomorrow another 26.2.

(even more photo credit: sarahontheroad.com)