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)
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- 5000ft higher than my Colorado home
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- perfect day for a hike
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- lodgepole pine & glacier-fed water
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- Ponderosa pine
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- thin air & cool temps – LOVE it!
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- Aspen yellow, the beginning of Fall
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- photo credit: sarahontheroad.com
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- website cover art revisited (Long Lake) — my blog’s now 5 years strong
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- Ro’s a smilin’ — sign of a mighty good hike
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- FAVE shot of the day!
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- alpine pallet, so much colour
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- wildlife alert: MOOSE!
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- a drink & a soak before heading home
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- photo credit: sarahontheroad.com
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- high-altitude fine dining
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- 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)
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- Colorado road trippin’
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- next stop: Manitou Springs
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- Pikes Peak — LOVE this shot!
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- whole lotta folks had the same idea
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- this Canadian is crazy STRONG!
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- photo credit: sarahontheroad.com
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- super FUN day
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- feelin’ all Native
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- surprise, surprise — it’s a sugar glider (an omnivorous, nocturnal gliding possum)
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- small body, crazy long tail
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- room with a view
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- tomorrow morning: marathon #69
Labor Day 2016 (Colorado mix)
Late Monday a.m. start – didn’t wake ‘til 8 (slowly settling into lazy vacation life). Yogurt, handful of nuts. Day’s first stop: the Pilgrim Monument.
— The Pilgrim Monument was built between 1907 and 1910 to commemorate the first landing of the Mayflower Pilgrims in Provincetown on November 21, 1620.
— The Pilgrim Monument is the tallest all-granite structure in the United States. The granite came from Stonington, Maine, and each stone is the thickness of the wall.
Toured the tired lighthouse museum. Hasn’t really changed over the years but I go every visit – LOVE history, LOVE our American story. Climbed 116 steps to the Monument top & took in its ocean view. Stunning. Best way to start a Monday morning 🙂
Walked Commercial thru P-town’s West End; met up with a local kayaker just past the Causeway. Paddled to the tip of the Cape three years ago. This trip toured Provincetown’s extensive water estuaries. Launched 2 hours before high tide, meandered thru tall field grasses…like something from the African Queen. Water fowl, fish, green crab & [salty, edible] pickle grass. Beached on a sand bar & enjoyed a short swim while waiting for the tide to come in.
One final dinner, one last evening show – then sadly, vacation time came to a close.
Tuesday morning ferry, another beautiful sunshiny day — AND 4 hours playtime before my airport return home. BOSTON! Day choice: Public Garden and a local cemetery. [Honestly] it’s the history that interests me, not crypts & dead bodies. Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Paul Revere – these early revolutionaries & signers of the Declaration fill our school books.
WOW, whatta summer! Visited both coasts of Canada, family vacationed in St. Louis, road-tripped thru Yellowstone, pony-trekked the Tetons…then ended ‘heat’ season, celebrating the big 5-0 on scenic Cape Cod. #noregretlife
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- 116 steps to the TOP!
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- sunshine & ocean – who doesn’t love Mondays?
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- in 1620, Pilgrims first landed here (before Plymouth Rock)
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- Provincetown Causeway
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- launched 2 hours before high tide
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- sand bar beached & enjoyed a swim
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- European green crab
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- our Nation’s 1st Chief
Quick shower at the Cow Palace in Lamar. 2 hour drive ‘cross the Oklahoma Panhandle, diner dinner in New Mexico. Big thanks to my co-pilot Dave – talk about Sports Trivia…today I chauffeured the King. Completely took my mind off the blowing snow.
2 days, 2 states, 2 marathons — my first DOUBLE!
Met up with Dave’s friend, Cindy, another Colorado 50 Stater – unloaded, snapped a few pics, then diner dined at the Rabbit Ear Cafe (it was this or Pizza Hut – HA!) Our small group of Dust Bowl runners were greeted by the local Chamber of Commerce – super nice – yep, we’re kinda a big deal in Clayton. Ya’ll know that’s how I roll. LOL>
Head hit the pillow early – although tomorrow’s marathon day…so was today 🙂
Doubled our drive time next morning – no more snow but woke to a quarter-inch of ice. Inched down curvy canyon roads into Clayton Lake State Park, no drama…took it slow & easy.
18 degrees. Coldest start of my New Mexico marathons (3rd run this year). Borrowed layers for the Start – had packed short-sleeves & shorts this day.
My legs woke slow – still stiff from Saturday’s marathon…but my head was a go. Cold temps, snow on the ground & SUNSHINE. Days like this, I run with a perma-smile.
AND the view – WOW! Take poor little Lamar Colorado & up the panorama 10x. Course hugged scenic Lake Clayton. Proudly collected 9 rubber bands today – 5 on my left arm, 4 on my right.
Only one small stretch on pavement…all coated in ice. Down to a crawl, still landed on my backside. Luckily sensed it was happening & went down pretty graceful.
Received good advice from a fellow marathoner on running my first DOUBLE. Took my first 2 laps at a slow 12-minute slog. AND she was right! 6-7 miles in the day’s run, my body DID adjust. Warmed up, legs moving, did another 2 laps with Greg & Barbara, a couple from Ames Iowa…then picked up pace – goal to lap them by loop 7 or 8 & finish last lap(s) together.
Trail turned to sloppy thick mud in sections. Not my first rodeo – jumped in both feet & tread thru the middle. No real avoiding it…best to embrace & enjoy the experience. Sunshine, antelope grazed nearby. Temps topped 40, turned into a beautiful day.
Today was about the journey – and training my body to marathon multiple days. 3 miles to go, legs stiffened again, struggled with left knee pain. Different from runner’s wall – today wasn’t mental, first time pushing my body 50+ miles over 2 days. Walked the next mile with a lady from Vegas. Karen, a cancer survivor, had lived a wild early life. Awesome stories – good therapy, body & soul.
Greg & Barbara tagged me as I slipped on rubber band #9 – one short loop ‘round the Dam to go. No concern ‘bout finish time so the 3 of us took a short detour to view the lake’s infamous dinosaur tracks. Far-out experience DURING a marathon 🙂
Marathon/ultra #59. FINISHED an hour slower than yesterday’s 26.2 urban-trail in Lamar – but no regrets. My first ever DOUBLE – two marathons, two days, two different states. FAAANNNTASTIC!
2016 Dust Bowl Day 5 – Full Marathon – March 27, 2016 – Clayton, NM
KR Haga Louisville CO 06:06:15
free State Park shower (AWESOME), then schlepped 6 ½ hours home. Weekend over? Heck no – it’s Easter.
Easter Sunday in March caught me by surprise (honestly, would have never scheduled a marathon run). Barreled home to share holiday tradition with Ash & Tom – our 3rd Easter pilgrimage to Casa Alegre. Mexican fiesta, olé! LOL>
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- first NM marathon in SNOW
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- it was this or Pizza Hut
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- 25 minutes away – tomorrow’s scenic course
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- chilly New Mexico sunrise
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- 18 degrees & ice — packed short sleeves for NM, borrowed layers from running buddies
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- antelope
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- temps warmed past 40; shed layers & soaked in sunshine
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- Clayton Lake [State Park]
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- dinosaur tracks
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- GREAT smiles from Ames (Iowa)
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- snow, ice, sloggy mud, then SUNSHINE — beautiful New Mexico day
Happy Easter 2016!
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- home in time for Mexican — it’s Easter, right?
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- our 3 year Casa Alegre tradition
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- chocolate Bunny magic
