Gaining more than you lose

Ran the first couple of miles on the BST - conditions were decent until after Adams canyon when they turned to crap (one set of snowshoe tracks). There was a semi tracked out trail up the ridgline from there, so I took that up a ways, until the tracks ended at the 'crown' of one of the rocky outcroppings. Then just bounded my way back down. Took in nice and easy. 1400 vert. 

Another early morning slog with the crew: Jun, Je10, Scott and I. I was tempted to bail since we got a fair amount of snow in Fruit Heights, but figured I needed to get myself downtown for work anyway, so I might as well avoid all of the traffic headaches. 

Started from the capitol and it was snowing and windy. The snow just pelted our faces until we were able to make it to the cover the trees provided on the trail. The BST wasn't too bad, once we got up on the ridge though, it became a lot harder for me to keep up. Those three were just scampering along the top of the snow, while I seemed to break through with every step. I was able to mostly catch up by the base of the second twin, where we all hung out for a couple of minutes once on top.

The way down was more of the same - running downhill never knowing when you'll have a good foothold or whether you will sink thigh deep, but we plodded along, laughing and complaining all in the same breath. I watched Craig try to save himself from falling, but ended up running parallel to the ground, arms flailing, for about another 20 feet before finally succumbing to gravity and faceplanting just as we were approaching a group of skiers. We laughed and continued on as they looked at us with a bid of wonder (and maybe a little awe...we'd like to think so anyway). Cruised on down the rest of the way and then I had to rush off to a meeting.

The funny part is, as stupid and ridiculous as most of our runs seem to be, and despite all of the complaining, I really do enjoy it. 

Took a couple of fellas from work for a lunchtime run on the BST, starting from the I Street trailhead. The weather was amazing, shorts and a T-shirt!! Incredible after the single digit temps we've become accustomed to.

Really, really, really casual run, trail conditions weren't too bad - a couple of soft spots, but it was decently tracked out. Lots of skiers seem to be out lately.

While we were slow, I still really enjoy getting out and helping others get a little taste of what trail running can give you.  

5 miles on the bike (waiting for a TM) and 4 on the TM in the work gym. My 'outside' running clothes were left at the sister in-laws yesterday while we were washing them there. New washer comes tomorrow! Being a runner and a week without a washer makes for some rank clothes.

Threw Kilians "Summits of my life" on the iPad and watched that on the TM..actually made it bearable. Beautiful scenery in the film, just covered the TM screen with my iPad and ran until it was over - didn't worry about pace or distance - decent way to do it.  

Hit up Olympus with a pretty decent crew in the mornin' - Jun, MVH, Warlordblade, my bro-in law Ben, Jeremy and Francesco, a guy who had heard of the run from Jeremy. Had a nice little wagon train going up. As we got higher we started running out of tracks, and pretty soon were following a single set that Francesco had put down the night before. Once starting up after the saddle though, we reached his turnaround point and were scrambling up. Thank goodness for microspikes, they made all the difference on that kind of snowy, rocky and icy (all at once) terrain. We had a fun time taking different routes and 'racing' to the top. I stopped to take pictures of everyone near the top, and then got to the summit to find Craig sitting on about the only visible rock there - looking longingly down the side of the mountain...he had somehow dropped one of his spikes down the hill, so he then had to go retrieve it.

The weather and the views did not disappoint, then we had a blast just goofing off the entire way down. The snow was so deep if you took the tiniest step off the trail you'd go thigh deep into snow and usually end up crashing. I probably fell at least 5 times. It was fun.

Once home, Aaron and I took our wives out for a little run on the Kaysville BST/Vitacourse, with Aaron and his wife going for a couple of extra miles after my wife was done. 

Beautiful Morning!

 Wagons...East!

Aaron and Jeremy closing in on the top