3rd Annual BPL Spring Run -Zion Training Thread

Yes! Greg, thats awesome, man. those kinds of runs are what keeps me going. Sometimes, things just click, the moon is right, the wind is right, and i cant stop smiling the whole way. Thanks for reminding me man!

I tried climbing Baldy at night several weeks back during our first snow of the year. No headlamp, solo, and snow covering large portions of the trail. That was the best hiking I've done in a while. Stumbled and slipped the whole way, but the energy, adventure and just aliveness was palpable. love it.

There is something about saying "f@%k it" and throwing caution to the wind, and heading out for a run, completely engaged in the present, without distraction. I appreciate those runs above all. Adan nailed it in describing the palpability of energy and that sense of "aliveness" we can experience. You know when you're taking part in the unfolding of something really awesome.

Thanks for sharing the stoke Greg, it's contagious.

Hey there, cool thread. I've been looking to do trans zion for a while (I live, run, work in Zion). Is this a pre-determined group of folks? Like, are you guys ok with having more join in? What month is this going down? Everyone running their own pace or trying to stick together?

I've got about a years worth of running experience and many years of suffering in the wilderness in various capacities. Running my first race in Feb (moab 55k).

Here is a West Rim running picture from October:

Mike- details here:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=81998

Mike

Mike,

That photo of yours is excellent. What area are you overlooking?

Definitely refer to the other thread Mike linked that has more trip details. Things may seem fluid at the moment but trip plans and logistics will firm up as we get closer.

Feel free to share any progress on training in this thread. This thread has become part support group and source of inspiration.

Mike S – I'm sure there is room for you to join in.

Moab 55K is a classic race.

Thanks for the info! I think you guys have it right running west to east. You will end with a nice gradual 1000 feet of descent, rather than 1000 foot climb.

That pic was from the West Rim overlooking Phantom Valley – a beautiful and hard to access area. Hope that didn't spoil one of the surprises.

Going on a long run right now!

This Saturday Adan and I “ran” Baden-Powell (9,407′), taking a roughly 10 mile (RT), 2,500′ gain route to the summit….only it turned into a 6 hour postholing festival.
A great day out there nonetheless.
A few more pics here:
Sweeping the Garden: Mt. Baden-Powell

……………

Last night my daughter was sick…After the third time I cleaned vomit covered sheets and showered her, it was 3:50AM and I hadn’t slept at all. I packed a quick bag and stole out the door to climb Mt. Baldy (10,064′). ~10 miles RT and ~4,500 feet of gain, microspikes needed for about 1 mile of it. I summited in 1’50”, was back at the car in 3’07”.

A good last few days in the mountains for me…

Now that looks and sounds like like Real Fun !

sorry about your daughter, but you seemed to be taking care of business there too.

Craig- looks and sounds like a couple of good grinds! My week was so-so, got two 6 mile runs in mid-week, headed out for a 20 miler on Saturday and got blown off the ridge (it was dead calm when I left the house)- I ended up eeking 11 miles out of it. I was going to shoot for another 10 or so on Sunday, but I could feel a cold coming on so I dropped that plan- still in the battle of fighting it, but I might be winning-went out for a quick 6 miles this evening.

Heck of a storm rolling in w/ the wind, but then I saw the lucky horseshoe and knew I was alright :)

Merry Christmas everyone!

Slacked a bit this week and haven't run since this past Monday. I've been enjoying tamales, beer, and family. I also turned 30 on Tuesday, which I hear is some kind of milestone.

Last Sunday I linked up a route that I've been wanting to do for a while, which turned out to be a killer run with a fair bit of climbing and powerhiking the steep stuff. I was on my feet for 5 hrs., and felt a little toasted on my short recovery run on Monday, so a successful long run for the weekend. We had a small low front blow through that Saturday, so it was brisk in the dawn as I headed out by headlamp for the trailhead. The views were great and we could see about 90 miles to our NW the Black Range along the CDT, capped with a dusting of fresh pow.

Tomorrow I'm heading to Dog Canyon at Oliver Lee SP to run up to the National Solar Observatory in Sunspot, NM, about 4,800' of vertical up to the turnaround.

Looks like you're starting to ramp up the Adventure Eugene.

Did you say 30 ?
by Catra's rule you're supposed to do a 30 hour run …

Happy birthday Eugene.

I especially like the 5th picture down. Surreal.

Eugene- Happy Birthday (mine is today :)) not the best week training for me, got a 6 mile run in Monday and then either suffered through the flu or the worst cold I've ever had all through the holiday week; felt better today and got another 6 in for a grand total of 12 for the week.

I do get Wed off and will do the traditional new year in miles run, so 14- just need to pick out a fun route.

Looks like I will hit ~ 1700 miles for the year, that's about 200 more than 2012- all in all, a good year!

Mike

It haven't ran/walked/hiked a 40 miler since April in preparation for the Bob open. I had had a couple of low to mid 30s over the last couple of months but my focus has been more on my treadmill routines and overall fitness. It was time to test out the effectiveness of this training. Friday I headed up to New York for a fast hike of the Harriman/Bear Mountain section of the AT. After hiking in 10 miles I was asleep by 6pm in preparation for my 4am wake up.

My early start had me hiking 3 hours in the dark. I had a serious navigation error but it worked out well and I was able to see a remote part of the park and still get in the target miles. It was an incredible hiking day. Cool but pleasant, ground frost crunching under my feet. In the distance I was able to make out the NY skyline, both in the dark and later in the day. This section of trail while not remote had much to offer. I walked through a zoo and across the Bear Mountain bridge to Anthony's Nose where this picture was taken.

the landscape was hills and lakes.

I am guessing that there was 8-9000' of elevation gain. I ran very little, focusing instead of maintaining a fast hiking pace as long as possible and I was strong for the whole 40 miles. I raced the setting sun but the sun won. But I was not a loser in this game. My reward was another beautiful sunset and the final half hour of night hiking in the cool evening air. I ended up maintaining a 3 mph pace including breaks which is a bit slow for this kind of day but this will improve as I increase the ratio of running to hiking.

This was a solid day and confirms that my treadmill routines have succeeded in getting me in much better shape. I am a couple of months ahead of previous years' fitness levels for my spring events. I am hoping to recover quickly. I have two more 40 mile day needed to complete the NY AT twice. Maybe later this week.

Happy Birthday Eugene and please all of you keep the pictures coming. I miss the west.

Cool to see some San Gabriel photos up there. I was in Palmdale for Christmas visiting the folks. Hiked the Mount Emmas with my dad one day, ran into some guys smoking meth near one of the summits…..ahhh Palmdale. For that same week I got in a 9.5 miler (half of which I spent lost in the snow), a 5.5 miler on a wonderful new to me trail in St George, and a 16 miler for a long run.

I applaud those who were able to get any real distance in this week with all the holidays and laziness. I got in two 4 mile runs while I was still in California, an icy canyoneering hike in Zion – 8 miles/2500 ft of gain, and a 12 mile snow run on a groomed trail in Park City today.

No running pics but here are some canyoneering photos from the other day: https://picasaweb.google.com/107561442771983387605/Mystery

Happy Birthday dudes!

best wishes to everyone! I started off the new year w/ a 14 mile (2014) run, temps were great, mid 30’s, trail conditions were challenging w/ lots of ice, but other stretches that were perfectly dry- I ran the entire route in micropikes as the conditions changed too rapidly, the spikes performed flawlessly

week was 0/0/14/6/strength/15/0 for a total of 35 miles

looking east towards the Elkhorns

looking north towards the Big Belts

Happy New Year to Everyone,
Whatever you decide to run.

looking strong Mike, did you decide the screws weren't good enough ?

I'm officially back up to 40 mile weeks,
but was supposed to do a 22 miler yesterday and copped out for a 10 miler with lots of gain. so as soon as I finish this coffee I'm out the door for a make-up 11-12 miler.

Art- most of the winter the screws are sufficient, but when you get a lot glazed ice they just don't cut it- the microspikes dig deeply into the ice allowing you to run across anything

I prefer running w/o the spikes, but they are a godsend when you need them :)

Mike

pic from post yesterday’s run :)

RAD!!!

I have a pair of NB MT20v2 on the way…Heading out to pick up a pair of Inov8 Trailroc 255s this afternoon.
Looking to change my quiver up a little bit.

I've been going long in a pair of NB110s or Brooks Cascadia 7s. The 110s are about worn out and the Cascadias are not my first choice (too much heel), but I got them for free. Looking to get a little more nimble and less drop with the Trailroc 255s. Hopefully I'll be happy with these as my distance shoe.

The MT20s will be my <12 mile shoe (I love minimal but I've found that's about my tolerance level before the lack of support/rock plate starts causing foot issues). I had a few pairs of MT10s back in the day…hands down, my favorite shoe ever for short distances. I wish the durability were higher, but I suppose it comes with the territory for a shoe that feels like a sock.

I really want to try a pair of Trailroc 150s but nobody around here stocks them.

What are all of you liking these days?

I have a pair of Bedrock Earthquakes that I really like, but for really wet/rocky stuff I've been using a pair of MYOG 10mm huaraches with canvas tops that are nice and non-slip next to skin.

Winters are pretty mild up here in the Puget Sound, so dealing with ice and snow is usually optional- stay low. On 30-40 degree days where I know I'm going to be soaked and chilly, I wear some Costco wool socks that I chopped and sewed into "lobster socks" to wear with sandals.

Craig- I've been having good luck w/ either the PI Trail N1's or N2's (N2's if it's rockier terrain), I have been wanting to try a pair of Inov-8's for awhile (my wife is using a pair of 245's), but haven't yet

Mike

my current two shoes of choice are :

Cascadia 7 – yes they are "tanks" as Craig described them once, but they are built for long mileage, meaning more than 50 miles. I feel very protected in them, but yes I do also feel a bit slow and heavy in them.

Pearl Izumi Peak II – no longer made, these are the predecessors to the N1 and N2.
I love running in them for 20 miles or less, they almost make me feel like a runner.
I've used them on a nonstop 45 miler in the Sierra, and on the J-Tree run last spring.
50 miles is probably their limit for a run, but they might handle a multi day fast pack that is longer.

Looking forward to trying out the PI N2's and hoping they somehow meld what is best about the above two models.