This past Saturday, I set out to Rock Canyon with hopes of completing a 32-mile loop I had mapped out on Strava. The success of this run hinged on whether Squaw Peak Road was still buried in snow or if enough had melted to allow a clear passage. I knew one section would be challenging, so I cautiously made my way to where I hoped the snow would have ended.
Unfortunately, by the time I reached the point where I could assess the snow coverage, I had come too far to turn back. I continued trudging through miles of snow, mud, and thorns for what felt like about four hours. Once I finally hit dry trail, the sun exposure, amplified by the snow, had zapped my energy. I had to cut the run short.
I made my way down to the bottom of Spring Canyon and, for only the second time ever, had to call an Uber to bring me back to my truck. I could have slogged back, but I was out of time and needed to get home. Overall, I was out there for a bit over six hours and completed 22 of the 32 miles I had planned. It was still valuable time on my feet, and I encountered a level of suck that typically doesn’t arise until many more hours of running.
I ended the week with 66 miles and just over 10,000 feet of elevation gain. I have one more big week of training before tapering off heading into Bighorn, so here's to one more big adventure. Please like and subscribe!
19 май 2024
