The Incline!

April 20, 2010
Incline and Barr Trail

Total miles: 5.87

Total time: 1:40 hours

I haven't been on the Incline since January and felt like a slug for not getting on it Feb or March. Even more so when Tracey did the Incline 3 times in one day! FYI - she's certifiably crazy!

So, knowing I'm a slug and lazy slug at that, I decided I needed to get on the Incline. Besides, the memory of how painful it is to actually do the Incline faded significantly in the last two months.

I parked downtown Manitou Springs and jogged up Ruxton Avenue for my warmup. Construction crews on the road made me jog the entire time since I didn't want to look like a wimp going up the road. Picture it, men in hard hats watching a crazy chick run up the hill with a silly smile on her face and a wave to them as she pretends not to breathe hard while passing them - that was me.

At the base of the Incline I paused to take a picture (above) and reset my garmin so I would have a true time at the top of this workout.

I began slowly but steady and tried to maintain the same speed/intensity all the way up the Incline. This is the first time I've tackled it since the snow has melted from it and it was easier to walk/hike up over the massive railroad ties.

I stopped once to take a picture about half way up it; however, I placed my phone in my jog bra and was covered with sweat. Consequently, the photo came out hazy; however, I was breathing so hard I didn't notice how bad the photo was at the time.

The Incline, according to my Garmin is .75 miles straight up with an elevation gain of about 2,200-2,300 feet. As you drive toward it from Colorado Springs, you see this "scar" going straight up the mountain -- that my friends is the Incline. But I digress.

I continued up the Incline with a pretty steady pace and was happy that I did not feel like puking this time. At the top, I stopped my Garmin and saw that it took me 44:44 minutes from bottom to top. A good time; however, I think I've done it faster with the guys in the past. I did pass 9 people on the way up and that wasn't counting the baby in the backpack!

Top of the Incline looking down.

Yes, the distant trail down there is

still a part of the Incline.

I elected to run down the Barr Trail and was glad I did since I heard thunder after catching the trail. It is never a good idea to be on Pikes Peak when there is bad weather. I ran down steadily but not as fast I could -- memories of falling on Waldo Canyon trail are too fresh in my mind. However, I still passed 15 people on the way down. I know, I know, I'm a numbers person! When I run by myself, it's a great motivator for me.

A good run and a very hard workout. I'm always glad I do it once it's over!