It's getting Juney...

Nineteen years ago today... this guy stood in front of a tank, and the end result is we Americans get to buy cheap crap from Wal-Mart. Somehow I don’t think that is what he intended. ~ Todd Bellamy

The Aspens are starting to leaf out. It is definitely springtime in the Rockies. The temps are rising, snow is slowly starting to melt in the high country (though it is still hanging pretty tough up really high), the humming birds are in full effect. As much as I will miss the winter it is fun to see the seasons change. One of the many things I would miss if I ever had to live elsewhere.

This week has been a little hectic but good. After our ski last week, I was geared up to go back out on Saturday but that fell through so I went for a run instead. Kind of explored around a bit in the woods near my house and found some cool new stuff. I started out down the Beav then went up to Whispering Hope (a new trail a couple of miles from my casa). From there I climbed back up to familiar territory: Tin Can Alley to Funky Boss. I then did some exploring around an incomplete trail I call Tupperware and hooked up most of it but there is still some work to do to get it completely hooked up. About 9 miles total. Good stuff.

Rach and I cleaned cages at the Bunny Ranch on Sunday then she headed down to stay at the shelter for a week on Tuesday. She usually co-Manages but for this week she is running it on her own. It is a ton of work with help... this is going to be a big week for her running the show solo. Plus, I'll miss having her at home to myself. I'm selfish... whatchagonnado?

The weather yesterday was kinda crappy but it broke mid-afternoon so I headed out for a trail run. I wasn't quite sure how long to go and just played it by ear. Cool and cloudy, it threatened to rain pretty much the whole time and thundered a bit. I was really lucky, however and never got dumped on.

Map of the Big Zoo Popsicle

I ran out my door and into the woods behind my house with the goal of getting up to Golden Gate Canyon State Park and then would decide from there how far to take it. I took it easy on the way out with the goal of running the second half faster than the first (not sure I accomplished that, really) and felt great by the time I hit the Park. I pretty much decided to just go for it and dropped down to what I call the Zoo Loop: Elk to Mule Deer and back up and around to Raccoon. It is about an 8-mile loop and I managed to run most of it - only walking the steepest or most gravely sections. Felt decent most of the way and only started to fade a bit towards the end. Roughly 14 miles total. Good run. Check out the stats.

I am still not sure about Leadville... giving it until the middle of the month to decide on that one. Overall, however, I am feeling pretty decent. I'll keep you posted with progress.

~stubert.