Sunday's Long Run



Popping out of "The Narrows"

Santa Fe Trail

January 16, 2011

Woodmen through USAFA

11.0 miles

A cool day for a long run.  Temperatures in the low 40s or high 30s, an excellent temperature range.  I have on capris and a long sleeve with a tank underneath and I'm doing great. 

I'm beginning to get the long runs back; slowly but surely and this Martin Luther King weekend was just what the doctor ordered to get me back on a schedule.  Work has been hectic and the short, winter days make it even worse. 

Today I wanted a nice stretch of trail that wasn't flat.  I wanted a bit of scenery and variety so I chose the section of the Santa Fe from Tucker's Tie-In or Woodmen north through USAFA for 5.5 miles before I turned to head back down.  This is the prettiest section of the entire trail in my humble opinion.  In addition, it is the only section that really has a lot of hills in it.  Now you know why I chose this particular part for today's run.  In the fall ... wow, it is just beautiful.  Today, it was pretty. 



After yesterday's run, I put a blister band aid on my right arch and hoped for the best.  After a mile into the run, I had to stop.  The blister was hurting.  I took my shoe and sock off and checked to make sure there was no movement of the bandaid or wrinkles in my sock; nope.  Just bad luck to have a blister there so I replaced all and continued on.  What else is a girl to do?



Ice Lake



After two miles, I stopped at Ice Lake for the porta-pottie and realized that the blister felt a bit better (it finally popped) and the pain was nowhere near as bad as the first two miles.  Once again, pain is temporary, the guilt of not finishing a long ... forever!



There were a few more runners out today and it is always so nice to greet them as we pass each other.  Just a nod, a flick of the fingers or a smile is all that is needed to recognize the brotherhood of runners.



Going up a steep part of trail



I ran up and down through the wooded section I refer to as the narrows and as the half-way mark approaches, I see the bench where my Colorado Springs group of runners stop to stretch when we run down this section from North Gate to Woodmen.  That was as good a place as anywhere to turn around so that's what I did. 



A great run and one I was very glad I was able to do.  My speed is not where it was prior to all the ultra training last year; but I'm okay with that.  I know some intervals on the track will change that in the spring.  I'm just happy to build my base again.