11.14.2013

Three Mountain Miles

I'd be lying if I said I was on top of my running game right now. In fact, the last few weeks my miles have really been slacking. There's an off-season training plan I'm *supposed* to be following, but I'm not (sorry Grant!!!). Weekdays I'll shell out a 5k a day, and weekends I'll pound out 5-6 miles. But, with no races in my near future my motivation to run anything over a 10k is seriously lacking.

With that said, while we were up in the mountains my legs were just *itching* to get out and run.
How could I deny myself a run in a place that left me breathless without ever taking a step?
As I was preparing, I told Scott I was going to just get a "quick" 5k knocked out. Scott mentioned altitude, and how the 3.1 would be more difficult than normal. I scoffed at him and brushed off his warning.

The run started out like any other. Within minutes it was obvious my body was not conditioned to run at such a high altitude.

So, what does one do while they're running among such beauty? Stop to take pretty pictures, of course (and suck down some precious oxygen).
When I finally wrapped up the run I was exhausted. That 3.1 miles may have been the most difficult I'd ever run, and my time was definitely one of the slowest I've ever clocked for a 5k - just under 30 minutes - yikes. However, it was an amazing run, one that I can't quite put into words. Between the views, the ascent up the mountain, the elevation and lack of oxygen, it was all so… awesome

Running along the beaches is pretty spectacular, but I wouldn't mind lacing up and seeing this every day.

14 comments:

  1. I do love running in different venues and with new scenery! But yeah, going from 80 degrees to 40 was probably a big hit on the lungs! :)

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  2. I don't think I could tire of seeing these pictures and I don't blame you for wanting to soak in the scenery with a run. Hell, even I would enjoy a run if that was the view! ;)

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  3. I remember talking to a woman who was saying that she lived and trained in Colorado, but she loved signing up for marathons in Florida. Her reasoning was that her body was so used to running in high altitudes, that when she came to Florida, which can actually be below sea level in some places, she felt like she could run forever!

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  4. What a beautiful run that would've been!

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  5. I think my favorite is that you run a 5k a day... No wonder you are so freaking skinny. I may run a 5k in a year. totally am serious. You need to move to St. Louis and beat me into shape.

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  6. Awesome photos! Mountain running in the elevation is no joke! Stay hydrated, my friend. :)

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  7. How could you not want to run in that beauty?! Looks amazing - happy for you!!

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  8. hahahaha, I'm laughing because your worst 5k time is around the same time as my best :D

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  9. So pretty! I don't run, but I'd sit there and take pics all day! :-)

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  10. Maybe if you oh I dunno looked at your training schedule....

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  11. What a beautiful run! Views like that are why I push through my runs and don't mind how slow I am. Running at altitude is totally no joke but so worth it! When I go to MI I can easily knock off a minute or more from my pace just being at sea level and running flat courses! Glad you stopped and grabbed those beautiful pictures :)

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  12. Running at high altitudes is hard! I was pretty sure I was going to die when I did Pikes Peak. The scenery is beautiful though. I miss the mountains.

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  13. Seriously, that is ridiculously gorgeous scenery!

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