Waldo Canyon & continuation of blog

Waldo Canyon
October 30, 2010
6.84 miles
1:23:05 time
12:07 min/mil pace

First run with my Colorado guys after Leadville!  Okay, I may have had a small one in there earlier in the month; but since I didn't stick with my blogging and have just decided to pick it up, it's my first!
Waldo Canyon; what a great run at elevation, with hills, and rocks, and roots, and ... well, you name it, this trail has it.  It also has some gorgeous scenery of Pikes Peak, the Front Range, and pine-filled canyons.  I love how C-Springs has so many wonderful trails like this that not only challenge you; but also give you great views.

My run today is atypical of what I was able to accomplish before Leadville.  I am so much slower and my hill running ability is practically nil with all the power hiking training I put in for Leadville.  Even so, a wonderful run with my core group of guys is all I need to lift the spirits.  So what if they are always waiting for me?  So what if I am breathing doubly hard?  I'm out and running and living the life!

Part of the canyon section

We started at a little past 8 am and ran up the steps from the parking lot off of Hwy 24.  For those out-of-towners this trail does have a decent parking lot and you just have to look on the right hand side of the road for one of those brown trailhead markers with a picture of a hiker on it. The parking lot is right around the next bend so slow down!

The elevation for this run starts at 7,041' and rises to 8,140'.  As I stated, it's a pretty decent workout all the way around.  It is a lollipop - meaning you run down the trail to a loop, go around the loop and then head back the way you came.  We stop at the loop on the way out and back to catch stragglers in our group -- today that was me -- both stops!

Just a great run and one to motivate me to get out more and think about my running goals for next year ....hmmm.