5 degree "must run" up Mt. Elden

Some days I just have to run. Early, the day before one of these "must run" days I usually could care less about exerting myself. Then, something later in the day happens like watching a cool clip about a bad ass trailrunner, reading about a new trail to explore or just plain gathering energy throughout the day that needs to be expended through the effort only running can give.

The day before my weekly run up Mt. Elden I felt that slug feeling. I wasn't really psyched about doing anything more than the bare minimum run the next day.

Slowly, but surely, I seemed to gain steam throughout the day and then happened to watch a few episodes of Kilian's Quest on the Salomon Running website. That was it. I was psyched and ready to exert some real effort the next day. Note: I am always amazed at how one moment I can be not psyched in the least and then be totally inspired the next moment to go out and go for it. Just because of a silly video I happen to see on line, no less!

Kilian is an amazing young trail runner that just floats over massive elevation changes like he was running down hill the whole way. Unbelievable. He got me psyched to try and keep getting stronger on hills. I was ready for my weekly bout with Mt. Elden.

So, the only time I had to run up Mt. Elden was before work. I needed to be to work by 9 am so I was going to have to get up early to make it happen. GOOD because when it's early and still cold out the road is frozen like a sticky pop sickle and it is easier running. Sticky morning ice is waayyy better than the super Slurpee that it turns into in the middle of the day. BAD because I was going to be running in the frigid morning temps...meaning 5 degrees on Thursday morning. BAD II because I was going to run in shorts (I have this idea that if I get used to running in shorts no matter what the weather then I will not need to bring the extra weight of pants on ultra length runs).

Seems that there could be a fair bit of suffering on a run like this but, no worries, all turned out well. The road was somewhat deep snow but I moved well on it once I figured out a rhythm to punching a couple inches through the top layer every step. Also, the shorts thing worked out o.k. The front of my thighs were frozen for a while but then warmed up (probably because the temps got a bit warmer...somewhere in the teens to twenties by the end of the run). My beard froze...something that hasn't happened in a long time on a run. Oh my...that reminds me of when my shoes froze running in Paria Canyon a couple months ago...that was not good.

The run itself was really nice. I felt energized and thought I moved well for the conditions.

Thanks to Kilian for giving me the extra little spark to make Thursday a "must run" day instead of a couple mile, I don't really feel like running but need to get my legs moving today, uninspiring road running day.

Here's to "must run" days and the inspirations that get us there! Cheers!

Check out this video of Kilian below (it is just one of many on the Solomon Running website) to get an idea of what an amazing runner he is. Maybe he can get you psyched too!