This morning I ran the Kachina Trail (starting at Snowbowl Ski Area), up Weatherford to Doyle Saddle and back (somewhere in the 19 to 20 mile range). It seemed like a good idea as I have been really excited to run up high on the mountain. In the end it didn't seem like such a good idea after all.
Most of the run was really enjoyable (although I felt pretty tired traversing the Kachina Trail for some reason and had a really hard time keeping a pace that was much faster than a jog) until about the time I got back to the Kachina Trail after visiting Doyle Saddle. At this point the heat really ramped up (the high today was 90 degrees!), I was really struggling to keep running up even the smallest hills and I ran out of water.
To summarize the Kachina Trail...it sucked. I didn't have any fun on it and just wanted to be done which is a real bummer as it is a spectacular trail. Not today though, I walked a large portion of the last few miles and felt like crap! Oh well, sometimes things go great and sometimes it kicks you in the teeth.
I do know one thing that's for sure, I will not run in that kind of heat up there again this summer. Crack of dawn starts from here on out...unless I bring a ton of water which isn't much fun or the temps settle back down.
In the end the run gained a bit over 3,000 feet and I ran it in 4 hrs 24 minutes (geeze). I'll have to get back on that route and redeem myself. I wasn't psyched on that performance at all.
Beautiful run but I most definitely didn't get to enjoy it (well...I did enjoying where I was at, just not how I was feeling). Here are a few photos that show my favorite parts of the run.
(Early on the Kachina Trail)
(More Kachina Trail)
(Yes, there is still snow on the Weatherford Trail)
(Doyle Saddle-man do I look sunburned!)
(Can you believe it-a old wrecked car near Doyle Saddle. I never noticed that car before...)
(Good looking feet after a long run)
Doyle Saddle from Jason Henrie on Vimeo.
Darn it...still not finished with Zion post...almost there though.
I love the Kachina trail, remember when we hiked it with you and you brought your hammock for our break time. I thought that was so funny. Now looking back on it, it reminds me to never overlook an opportunity to really enjoy where I am. Also, nice feet picture!
ReplyDeleteKim-On the run, when I passed that spot where we set up the hammock, I thought about the day we hiked it together. I had fun with you guys up there!
ReplyDeleteIn fact, every time I go past that spot on runs I remember our hike. Memories...