Here's the Garmin Output for this run.
It wasn't because it was beautiful, although it was. In fact, I say without hesitation that it was most beautiful run I've ever done. Imagine hearing this song on your iPod:
Okay. Now, wait for 2:20 when the chorus sings...wait for it...wait for it...
because it was right at this point in the song that I
rounded a corner--and found myself alone in an aspen grove-- and just as i did that a faint breeze rustled through the trees -not a wind, just a bit of a breeze -
just enough to cause a sprinkling of aspen leaves to flutter down around me.
No, I wasn't closer to god today because it was beautiful.
Although it was.
Here's some more pictures:
Valles Caldera from 10,000 feet.
It wasn't that I was closer to god because I was up really, really high, although I was...
The race starts in a ski resort at 9200 feet, and climbs
up to over 10,000 feet in the first couple miles, which is where this picture was taken...
No, I was closer to god because I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA DIE.
You will never, ever, ever suck wind like you will at 9000 to 10000 feet. More than once I stopped, looked around, took a picture, just to catch my breath. And it was pretty. But also because I couldn't breathe.
But it was so worth it. At one point during the run, when I was in the midst of that Aspen grove, I almost cried, it was so beautiful. Right at that moment, I was just so incredibly lucky that I could power myself up a mountain to that spot and be there right at that moment.
I was the last place finisher, and got some gloves for that prize. I finished behind a woman, who mysteriously finished 30 minutes ahead of me, despite being just ahead of me about halfway through the race. In fact, on an 9-mile out and back, although ahead of me, I never saw her again. Somehow, she managed to slip past me in the woods.
Can you say "CUT THE COURSE?" I can.
Anyway.
It was gorgeous. Totally worth doing again and again and again. Fantastic aid stations, wonderful volunteers, very well run. Even if it took me over 4 hours to do. (Of course, Sweet Baboo finished this in 3 hours. Of course he did) I would do it again. Few things move me to tears with their beauty, and we can
all use a little of that in our lives. Maybe we can use a lot.I assumed this sign wasn't meant for me -->
And now I will eat ice cream and drink chocolate wine.
...
