Short Runs

I'm having difficulty getting in the runs that I'd like to this week so far. One run was 7 miles but everything else has been in the 3 mile range; yesterday I ran 3.1 miles at 8:16 pace. The weather has been unfavorable for running. The temperature has been great(Ruth was on the couch with a blanket earlier), but it has been raining on and off which isn't that big of an impediment, but navigating around lighting is.

I was feeling bored with my usual runs so I decided to head toward the mountains. I like the trails around Eldorado Springs so I headed over there this afternoon on the motorcycle. Unfortunately, the darkest clouds were right over the canyon. Upon arrival I changed into the FiveFingers and slipped off my jeans. I decided that I would run until I heard thunder and then turn around.

The trail goes uphill rather quickly, but never gets so steep that it can be run. Mapmyrun had the steepest incline as 15%; the overall was about 10%. I had only run about 1.55 miles (750 ft. vertical) before I heard thunder. The sky was darkening as well. The trail was challenging for wearing VFF, descending it was very much like skiing moguls. I was all the way down, parallel to the stream, when I violated my first rule of VFF trail running: Don't take your eyes of the trail. I had come down on a different trail than I had gone up so I took a glance across the creek to see where I was and WACK; I jammed the little toe on my right foot. It was a serious jolt but I decided to just keep going.

I arrived at the motorcycle just as raindrops began to fall. The clouds had been building exponentially. On the way home I was barely able to keep ahead of the impending storm with cold drops pelting my arms.

Maybe tomorrow will be the long run day.