We were planning a 6pm start to head up Green Mtn. After thinking about it, I decided this is a bit late for me; my bed time is 8:30ish (after Matlock and Murder She Wrote reruns). So, Shaun picked me up a bit before 4pm and we headed over to Chautauqua.
It was obviously light out when we started. I brought along my cool hand held Cateye (bike) light that I used at Bear 100. Shaun peeled off before the cabin to head back for water, so I headed up alone. Amazing what a difference 2.5 weeks of training has. Last time I "ran" Green with Jeff and Aron I was a gasping wreck. Last night felt great and I was able to maintain a running motion to the top, finally having to click on my light to scramble up the true summit boulder. Clicked off my light and took in the views, eastern view of population artificial lights and streams of headlights commuting from work on 36; western view of pale light behind black silhouette mountains.
Clicked the light back on and headed down the front of Green. About two minutes into the descent I noticed the light was much dimmer than normal and realized I never changed the batteries after using it all night at Bear 12 weeks ago. Uh, oh. (Any dim or otherwise underpowered light is now referred to as "Lucho Lighting" based on the little kitchen, yellow-beamed, 1-candle-power light he brought along at Leadville). My run down turned into a race against the dimming light. It was a combination of panic, focusing, and fun. Finally reaching Gregory trailhead, I just played it safe and ran the road back to Chautauqua where Shaun was already enjoying a fine hoppy beverage. I began hydrating in the same manner.
Lots of fun and great to meet Shaun.
One of the many things I thought about during the run was that even though all this attention has shifted to Green Mtn over the last year or so, I still like Bear Mtn best. Bear was my first summit in Boulder. The run up (both sides) is gnarly and the views are cleaner from the top. Green's getting a bit crowded with folks anyway.
Four hour fun run planned for Christmas day (tomorrow) if anyone is interested in joining me.
I think SoBo is my favorite, but it might be a sort of like which of Charlie's Angels are your favorite. They are all good.
ReplyDeleteLucho lighting. Excellent.
Been caught out on the bike on technical trails with dying light before - no fun! Have fun tomorrow - Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteBear is pretty nice - although "running" might not be the word I would use for going up the front side! Good training for HR though
ReplyDeleteHope you have a good holiday
Nothing like a little fitness return.
ReplyDeleteAnd hoppy post run bevvies.
Merry Christmas, Mr. McDavid.
Have a killer run tomorrow.
Merry Christmas guys.
ReplyDeleteDidn't want to look like a drunk first time running with Shaun, so I only brought two bottles of Flying Dog. Shaun brought four cans of Avery ipa. I pick the smart running partners!
Found out today I'll be doing a live TV segment on KUSA, channel 9 in Denver on Jan 2nd. I'll try to not make a fool of myself.
First on billboards, now TV! Just remember the little people.
ReplyDeleteHave a Merry Christmas run!
dy
As I pointed out to steve (happy trails) when he made a similar comment, I AM the little people. Little people unite! Is that not politically correct?
ReplyDeleteReally, the tv thing is pretty cool for McDavid. Their PR company is hugely connected and was able to line this tv segment up in short order.
They're (McDavid) developing new products that I'm fired up about.
If I'm able to end up RACING the 800-900 miles I'm planning in 2011, that's got to say something about the benefit of McDavid's compression gear (and maybe confirm my insanity).