Have you ever had one of those runs...one where the minute you step onto the trail, you know you're going to have a great run? A run where the climbs are effortless and one seems to have boundless energy. A run where the descents are fluid, the foot placement is confident and solid and the quads absorb without complaint all the punishment one can dish out. A run where you finish your run at top speed and do a subtle fist pump and think to yourself, "That was GREAT!"
I've had those kinds of runs before...but not yesterday. My 9.5 mile ascent/descent of Bergen Peak in Elk Meadow Open Space was a slog.
Funny thing was that it started out good. It was a perfect fall day. I climbed well up the Bergen Peak Trail, but as soon as I hit the hidden little social trail that climbs the south side of the final stretch to the top, things got tougher.
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| Looking south(ish) from near the summit of Bergen Peak |
By the time I got home, I was feeling like I ran 30 miles, rather than less than 10. Not sure what it was, but the last hour on the trail felt like three. Still, on such a beautiful day, there's few other places I would have rather been.
All-in-all, though, a fine, fine weekend doing things that matter:
Hiking in the Bergen Peak State Wildlife Management Area with CP and dogs Maya and Cisco.
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| CP and Cisco with Mt. Evans in the distance. |
Watching the amazing colors of a Saturday night sunset from the deck at the house.
Flying high with jP on Sunday afternoon.
Life is good.
