Met Tom at the top of the Hill of Life at 6:00 AM to do 12 miles up and down reps. Had to use the flashlight on the first loop down and back up the HOL. Good news today neither of us tripped or fell down. We had a great workout and saw several folks who wished us their best as we have two weeks until Pikes Peak.
The guy who is going up to the Teton's in two weeks was there too. And we met 3 more Pikes Peak runners and Mike R. was there today as well.
We both set PR's on the descent today, crazy. On our 8th descent today we got into a pace where we were pushing it despite the dangers of the rocks and roots. I had on my new Mizuno Wave Ascend 3 trail shoes and they handled the HOL trail really well today. On the 8th descent we did it in 4min 04 sec. I generally try to do a safe descent at about 4:45 to 5:15, but we pushed it good on the 8th descent.
Then on the 9th descent Tom decided to give it the full push and throw all caution to the wind. He wanted to see what was the fastest possible descent for him, hoping to make it without falling. I told him he was crazy, just two weeks before our Pikes Peak Marathon, why take a chance to get injured? Anyway, he took off and flew down the hill almost without touching the ground, leaping over the rocks, and finished at about a 6 minute pace in 2 minutes and 55 seconds. Absolutely unreal. I'm so glad I didn't find him in a pile of bones and blood on the side of the trail as I did my descent in 4 min 20 sec.
Then we went down to the Barton Springs below the pool and washed off and cooled down in the spring with the other people and their dogs. Tom headed for home and Lynn and I went over to Maudie's and had breakfast with Karen F. and Karen H. They had done a 15 mile run up Mt. Bonnell and down Shoal Creek. What a great start to a hot day in Texas where the temperature will reach 104 degrees today. | 