Boulder Valley Ranch - Boulder Rez - Easy

Time: 1:15
Distance: 9.68 miles
Effort: Easy
Body: Average
Weather: Clear and Hot


Mid-afternoon figure eight loop around Boulder Valley Ranch Open Space and the Boulder Reservoir. May have to start carrying a water bottle. I'm not yet used to the heat. I was parched and running out of gas by the end of the run.


Long run planned for early tomorrow morning.  South Mesa trailhead in Boulder - 6:30 a.m.

Boulder Rez - South Valley Ranch - Steady

Time: 1:15
Distance: 10 miles
Effort: Easy
Body: Good
Weather: Clear & Warm


Easy 10 miles around the Boulder Reservoir and the South Valley Ranch loop.  Average pace 7:30.  Just 296 feet of elevation gain. Felt good to run on this relatively flat, low elevation dirt route.

Signed up today for the Pike Peak double...the ascent and marathon. I was on the fence right up to registration time as to whether or not to sign up for both races. I kept meaning to think more about what I wanted to do, but never got around to giving it much thought. At the last minute, I decided it would at least be an interesting challenge. The three times I have run the ascent, I had a great time. So, with the double, I guess it'll be twice the fun, with a healthy dose of suffering to go along with it. August sure seems like a long way off.


JM also is doing a double at Pikes.

Thursday, November 5 -- Boulder Rez & Boulder Valley Ranch

Run: Boulder Reservoir - Boulder Valley Ranch

Time: 1:08

Distance: 9:03 miles

Effort: Moderate

Body: Good

Weather: Unseasonably warm and clear

Mid-afternoon escape on a remarkably warm and beautiful November day.

Did a loop around the Boulder Reservoir and then did a quick loop through Boulder Valley Ranch open space. Felt really good today, just cruising along at a comfortable pace (average for the run was 7:28).

Had a relatively mellow mix on the iPod (Avett Brothers, Drag the River, Son Volt, Mark Kozelek, Mike Doughty, Death Cab for Cutie, and so on...), which added to the great vibe out there today.

Some days this run bores me to tears. There's not much up and down, the reservoir ain't all that pretty and the dirt roads can be a bit tedious, compared to a mountain trail. Today, though, the miles rolled by, the stillness of the Rez was awe-inspiring and the fields of brown grass and leafless cottonwoods in the open space were somehow as welcome as a visit from an old friend.

A very good day.