On The Loose: June 23rd to June 29th

Monday, 6/23--Table Top Mt., Lee Metcalf Wilderness

3,464', 2:04

The legs felt surprisingly good after a day off, so I took it easy up the mountain. A good bit of snow blocked the trail by the summit, so I reverted to a goat trail for the last half mile. The only rock glacier I know of is right below this mountain (a talus field that slowly moves, like an actual glacier). The trail heading down from Lava Lake is a little rocky, and the legs felt responsive enough to breeze down this section.

Tuesday, 6/24--Intervals w/Run Wild Missoula

5 x 1k w/2 min. rests + a 200 meter sprint, then a 3 mile cool down w/Taylor & Eric, ~1:15

I started out a little slow, at about 3:35 (~5:40 pace), gauging how my legs were feeling. I hung out around 3:30 until the second half of the last k, getting somewhere under 3:20 (~5:20 pace). 30 seconds for the 200 meter sprint. This was an encouraging workout, since I haven't run flats for a while. 5:40 pace feels really sustainable right now. Afterwards, I ran a slightly hilly cool down with some of the faster guys, but couldn't keep pace with them on the one steep hill. Ugh, my legs are still a little dead on inclines.

Wednesday, 6/25--Sheep Mt. Wandering

3,476', 2:24

Ran up to 7,000', and then took a right turn onto a double track that ended up going the wrong way. I followed the ridgeline for awhile until I finally got a good view of Sheep Mt., way to the north and on an entirely different ridgeline. I doubled back and took the correct trail, but it was still under a couple feet of snow, which was now soft and mushy. I decided to turn around, since I didn't want to compromise my recovery anymore than I already am.

Thursday, 6/26--Off (Al & Vic's, Sean Kelly's)

Friday, 6/27--Kim Williams Trail Progression Run

10 miles, 1:04

This went pretty well, but I had a bit of GI distress at the end, which kept me from really pushing the pace. First 2 miles were at 7ish minute pace, then 3 at 6:30ish pace, and then 5 miles at 6ish pace. I was hoping to get the last 2 miles at 5:40 pace, but that wasn't going to happen. This was a bit of a sobering reminder for what 6 flats feel like on not fresh legs, but I'm also taking comfort in the fact that I was running on dirt and not paved trail at the end, and the first run after a late night out drinking is always a little crappy.

Saturday, 6/28--Blue Mt. Bushwacking

4,056', 5:16

I got so lost. I cut over to the Hayes Creek trail from the Blue Mt. Trailhead, took that to the summit, and then mistakenly figured I'd be able to find my way down alright. I went off a traveled road to an unused road winding beneath some powerlines, and this took me to a dead end after several miles. Then I decided to travel cross country down a creek, which ended up being O'Brien Creek. This took a really long time, despite being able to run short stretches of game trail, and I got really dehydrated (I had no water with me). When I finally hit road, I laughed out loud at the first sign I saw--"Private Land Next 1/2 Mile, Please Stay On Road". I was so glad to be on the road again. I made it, and now I know what cross country travel here is like in the woods. I also acquired quite the collection of burs, if anyone wants a few.

Sunday, 6/29--Off

I wasn't planning on taking today off, but I need a break--I basically went right into work after yesterday's epic, and then had another shift this morning. I'm actually putting running on the back burner today--it's a tough decision, but I want to not be dead when I go to the Fitz and the Tantrum's concert tonight.

10,996', 12:03

Not much vertical this week, but a fair amount of time. It's a recovery week, and I'm getting into the flats a bit for the Missoula Marathon in two weeks. This was a bit of a wonky week, with a few social activities, which were good and needed, but have definitely left me a little more mentally exhausted than usual. I'm looking forward to getting back to the grindstone this next week.