A little monsoon run...that's right monsoons!

I know it's Fall but we got a freak monsoon this morning with pouring rain and lightning and thunder! It made for a cooler day than the last few weeks and I was lucky enough to get out in it for a run this afternoon...and, oh, what a run it was.

I had been doing a variety of runs leaving from my house the last few weeks that take me up to the web of trails on the Dry Lake Hills north of Flagstaff. Most of the runs end up being between 12 and 18 miles depending on the trail choice.

I had been struggling to really move on these loops, having a hard time getting under 2 1/2 hours for anything over 15 miles which surprises me because there really isn't too much elevation gain in the runs (most only about 1,000-1,500 ft of gain and loss). Or maybe it shouldn't suprise me because I did run from my house to the top of Humphrey's and back almost two weeks ago...probably had a bit of recovering to do...

Today was different. Maybe it was a good energy day, it was nice and cool or I was just in the groove or getting stronger but I got in a loop of 15 miles and about 1,500 ft of gain and loss in 2 hrs 10 min 14 sec. I felt great the whole time and really cranked the last 7 miles or so back to the house. It was by far one of my fastest runs of that length on the trails and I felt great. Man, some days are good! I'll savor the good feelings of this run and try to build on it. I don't even feel that fatigued afterward. Savoring.........

Here's the loop I did:

Started at my house in downtown Flagstaff and then ran roads over to Buffalo Park, ran straight out the back of Buffalo to the Oldham Trail. I then jumped on the pipeline and Easy Oldham and followed them to Elden Lookout Road (saw a tarantula on the road, surprised him and pissed him off as he jumped and then landed with his front legs in the air ready to strike). After following Elden Lookout Road a short distance I went up the Brookbank and linked into Little Gnarly to get to Schultz Creek Trail. From there, I followed Schultz Creek Trail back down to Schultz Creek Road. I followed Schultz Creek Road a short distance to the paved urban trail along Hwy 180 and followed it back to my house. Got that? Lot's of linking but all of it a good time (well...maybe not the few miles of pavement at the beginning and the paved urban trail (they are doing construction on the gravel urban trail right now that I usually follow). The trail sections are some of my favorites on the Dry Lake Hills. Good Fun!

Savoring...