Minimal running, but some fun adventures

and some new cold weather gear

There hasn't been a lot of running going on, to be honest, since finishing leadville, and a couple since completing virgil crest ultra 50.  Those few runs have proven to be pretty entertaining, looking back on them makes them even more so.

1 run in particular is worth a short story.  I was helping mark the UROC 100k course between Frisco and Copper Mountain, which happened to cross the 10 mile range.  The day started out pretty gloomy, with some snow and rain.

I headed down to Frisco to meet up with Mike and a couple others that were going to help mark the course.  around 12 we started out on the trek which would climb up over the 10 mile range, and take us up around 12,500'.  This promised to have some good weather in store for us, and it made good on the promise.

The first couple miles were spent climbing up a dirt road before turning into some pretty fun single track, that continued climbing.  the 3 of us (Brian, Sandi, and myself) were enjoying a leisurely climb, alternating between a jog and a hike.  Making sure to put surveyor flags every so often to make sure the runners would be able to follow the course tomorrow.

some comments were made regarding there being less snow then expected.  then we got above tree line, and were hiking through snow a little over ankle deep and making our way up to the ridge.  spirits were still high, though it was starting to get a little chilly (good thing i brought my patagonia houdini, a very light and thin wind breaker:  i'm getting better at this preparation thing).  once we were on the ridge, things got pretty real.

the banter stopped, the flags started to get placed a little farther apart.  the wind was howling, the snow was coming down sideways, and we were all getting cold.  everybody added all the layers they had.  Of course, in all my preparation, i had a hat (which was serving as a glove by now), an asics cold weather running shirt, shorts, and of course my magic houdini.  at this point we could see about 100 yards in front of us, and the pace was quickening.  everybody was ready to get off the ridge and out of the winds and snow.

Patagonia Houdini

The houdini stored in it's pocket for convenient carrying

ice covered my legs (literally, i had balls of ice all over my legs, on the windward side), the windward side of my face was starting to freeze, literally, ice was forming on my eyelashes and eyebrows and obscuring my vision on that side. I put my hood up and was thinking how grim things were beginning to look.  My hands were so cold, they stopped working correctly.

1 hand was wrapped in the glove to keep warm, the other i tucked under my shirt next to my body to try and warm it.  i would rotate the hands every so often to try to keep some dexterity.  I was looking around and hoping we'd come to the descent and get back into the trees for some shelter from this beating we were taking.

then about 1/2 way through the ridge section, we lost the trail, or rather re-routed the race course, along a ridge, then down through a rock field back to the actual trail.  at this point we were moving pretty good, the lead runner (yes we were doing everything we could to run at this point, despite the close to knee deep snow that we would punch through periodically) would place a flag, the other two would continue around.  wash rinse repeat.

this continued for what seemed like an eternity, in reality it was probably 1 - 2 miles of extreme discomfort and cold like i haven't experienced in a while (and i've been without heat for all of september).  finally we began to descend and the snow thinned out, revealing lots of rocks and a pretty steep descent on technical footing.  at this point the banter was starting to come back, things were warming up, and we were back to having a good time.

we enjoyed some really fun single track descent over the next several miles and a fun little flat section before crossing the 91, and making our way through copper mountain and into where the aid station would be.

that was a very tough and fun little section.  there were times i was thinking:

 i worked so hard to try and make sure i was prepared so i wouldn't be that guy that search and rescue was looking for, and now i'm galavanting over this pass in some pretty severe weather (temps in the 20's and winds gusting around 40mph with snow:  these are all estimates on my part, so i'm sure it's a bit off), at least i'm with 2 other people, both with tights, gloves, hats, and multiple jackets.  just keep moving forward and get out of this weather.

When it was all said and done, it wasn't that bad (definitely a hindsight thing).  I did learn a bit, and gained more respect for the mountains, and the weather they offer up.  I went out and bought some cold weather gear:

knickers (yep 3/4 tights)

Marmot Mica a more substantial shell than the houdini

Marmot Mica stored in it's pocket

The houdini in it's pocket, next to the mica in it's pocket for comparison

black diamond liner gloves (not as warm as i expected, but definitely has to be better than bare hands)

With that, I believe i'm prepared for this weekends welcome winter run, i forget the details, but its' something like 60k (37ish miles) over 3 or 4 passes, including hope pass (around 12,500'), and of course all the 50 degree weather we've had this week, is leaving.  Being replaced with some nice 20 degree weather, and snow.  looks like i'll be carrying some cold weather gear, good think i'm more prepared than i was last week.

if this goes well, maybe i'll actually get up on some of those ridgelines i've been eyeing??  one adventure at a time.