running LOCAL ROCKS – new Coal Creek PR, 34th overall
Hooray for Labor Day! Kicked off the 3-day holiday weekend with my favourite 10 miler, Louisville’s Coal Creek Crossing. Running LOCAL ROCKS! (Glad to be back — last year’s event was cancelled due to extensive trail damage from the 2013 Boulder Flood.)
7am start, near perfect weather. Lined at Community Park – ok, go.
Louisville, like most Front Range communities, hosts a highly competitive field. I came out slow – but well remember Aquarius Hill (mile 4 & 9)…I’d catch folks either out or back, it’s a steep climb.
Used today’s local run to fix my mental before Fall marathon season. Tagged a runner at mile 6, closed the gap on Aquarius Hill. Lost him again on the downhill. A mile from the Finish I generally fade (mental lapse)…but not this day. Half-mile upgrade, stuck close & pushed past. Hitting pavement tenth-mile to go, sprinted to the Finish.
Improved my Coal Creek PR by 5 minutes, 34th overall. Good day 🙂
1428 K R Haga Louisville CO 1:24:07
Quick shower, change of clothes, packed the Prius. Tomorrow’s 14er goal: Mount Massive (3rd highest in the continental U.S.)
Whole lotta traffic on I-70 (holiday weekend parking lot). Arrived in Leadville at 3pm, two hours to see the National Mining Museum. I’m a FAN of minerals & big rocks – add history to the mix & I’m well entertained ‘til closing time. LOL>
Quick walk downtown, grocery store provisions, then 11 miles over dirt road, past Halfmoon Campground to Mount Massive Trailhead.
Pulled out the sleeping bag, downed a tub of hummus, kicked back & counted stars. Goodnight Moon.
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- I-70 holiday parking lot
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- tucked off Highway 24 in Leadville CO
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- dedicated to the three Argall women in mining
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- mining claim, issued when Colorado was still a Territory
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- quartz crystal wall removed from Idarado Mine near Telluride
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- iron pyrite from Colorado’s oldest mine, the Eagle Mine at Gilman
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- built in 1879 by Horace Tabor (Leadville’s Silver King)
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- sleeping bag, hummus & stars
2014
Early flight on Sunday [after finishing the Salt Lake City Marathon] meant spending Easter at home – just in time to start a new tradition, outdoor dining at Casa Alegre, our first Mexicana holy holiday feast 🙂
2015
Late Saturday afternoon flight [after finishing the Charlottesville Marathon] meant I was home for Easter 2 years running. Continued our tradition of outdoor dining at Casa Alegre & all-Mexicana holy holiday eats. Holidays with family – FAAANNNTASTIC!
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- continuing with tradition – Easter @ Louisville’s Casa Alegre
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- #whymomwhy
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- this dog LOVES accessories – bandanas, scarves AND bunny ears
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- “There had better be bacon”
Who doesn’t feel all patriotic on the 4th of July – Happy Birthday USA!
This year celebrated the holiday with housemates Ash & Tom and Stephen, visiting from New Hampshire.
Couldn’t think of a better place to watch the evening show than over Waneka Lake, a 10 minute walk from my front door. Have lived in Colorado 4 years now but this my first chance to view local fireworks. Twice I’ve travelled with family over the 4th & in 2012, the show was cancelled due to fire danger (lotta fires along the Front Range that year).
Headed down the Open Space trail behind North End to Lafayette’s Waneka Lake Park – feeling a wee bit guilty leaving the dogs behind (this being one of their favourite local walks). Half circled the reservoir & perched on a couple large rocks, watching water lap below & waiting for night fall.
The night’s celebration started with a lone blast shortly after 9:30, concluding 20 minutes later in a fanfare of brightly coloured bursts.
No our little show doesn’t compete with past light shows I’ve seen over Boston Harbour or NYC’s Battery Park, but I’m home now — happy & content, don’t wish to be anywhere else.
Spent Saturday hiking Fort Collins’ Horsetooth Rock in crazy 90+ degree heat. Unfortunately the dogs tired early (heat) so Ash took Ro & let me solo summit. Goal to run up in 30 minutes, I finished in 29.
3 day weekends ROCK – 3 day weekends with friends & family…even better.
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- perched lakeside for the show – Happy 4th!
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- Horsetooth summit selfie
Waneka Fireworks 2014
