Icy Spikes Running in the Dark

Had to wear my Kahtoola Microspikes this morning. There was a little bit of snow that started last evening at about 35F and transitioned into a freezing slick surface as the temperature descended with the sun. Check out the pic with my spikes and the frosted sheet of thin ice below.

I ran on the recpath as it circled the Cedar Hills Golf Course hill section. It's a common route for those living within a mile or so. It's a bit dark back down by the creek and ponds. I love the sounds of the creek rolling over the rocks. Every now and then you see the glowing eyes of various critters ducking into the foliage as your headlamp beam reveals them.

It has been really cold and damp. A damp cold. The worst kind that settles into your bones. Today was a little windy, which made it feel worse. I wore a slightly thicker base layer top and it seemed to work while running. While walking the dog prior to the run it was sure cold.

In Seattle my heart strap for my Suunto Ambit 3 Peak had decided to become dead. Not sure if it's the strap or the sender unit. I replaced the battery and still no go. That's why I didn't record heart rate on Cougar or Tiger Mountains, and why I've been mainly using the Tickr Run.

I had gotten a replacement strap and sender combo last year when I thought I'd lost mine, and I finally found it in the secret hiding place I'd never forget. Today I opened it up and it paired instantly. It should, being a fellow Suunto and all.

The main reason I had to get this bad boy up and running is that I am going to run Quandary this weekend. The Wahoo Fitness App is good. It works. It records some interesting data from my Tickr Run sender. Some of it only when I'm moving fast enough. The problem is that cell service is spotty on Quandary. I know the places where it is generally consistent. That's not too much of a problem though, as the packet can be resent to Strava later when I do have good service.

The main problem is that some notifications and any use of the camera can cause the app to die a miserable death. Sometimes the data is recoverable, but sometimes Strava spits it back and says it doesn't taste right.

So I can't take any pics on Quandary or send and receive texts Usually I take a bunch of pics if my hands are warm enough. Generally I text my wife progress reports. So I don't really want to be using the Wahoo Fitness App on Quandary.

That leaves me with having to locate the heart strap. I did. I tested it this morning. Now I'm happy.

Expected Weather on Quandary Summit:

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On another note - Elbrus access might be easier as the US State Department seems to be no longer recommending against visiting the region: Story Here

Hill Repeats Up Silver Fork Road

Monday January 16, 2017

After my great adventure just the day before running Long Hill Repeats at Saint George, Utah, I decided to do some more. This time up American Fork Canyon, on the Tibble Fork Reservoir side of the canyon, from the parking up toward the gate near the Granite Flats Horse Trailer parking. I've done this repeat sequence before a few times. Run from the gate at the parking lot to the gate at the fork to Granite Flats.

That's right, 10F. Dang cold compared to 24 hours prior in Saint George

I wore my New Balance Leadville shoes, and my Kahtoola Microspikes. It was colder than yesterday by about 30 degrees. Yes. 10F was the temperature. It's difficult to judge how warm or cold you might be under those conditions. When running downhill you have to flip up your hood or otherwise bundle up, and running uphill, unzip a bit to let the heat escape.

Running shoes by New Balance. Microspikes by Kahtoola

Three laps is a bit over 5 miles and that's what I normally do up here with the time I have. That gives me almost a thousand feet of vertical and a pretty good workout. I wore softshell fleece pants by Sporthill with Saxx boxer briefs and Columbia baselayers. I wore a Pearl Izumi softshell hoodie and Columbia vest. One nice addition to my collection is an Icebug buff that kept the lower part of my face warm.

I got in 5.2 miles and got my Strava PR for the first uphill segment. [STRAVA]

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Gore-Tex Kahtoola Uphill to benefit Friends of Camp Colton

Race Website HERE

That's actually an incomplete description. The text on the web site, as well as the email I received from my Kahtoola Rep was just a bit vague about it. It's actually round-trip. I emailed and asked about it.

Race Time is Round Trip Time

As you can see, there are three different courses. What you can't see, is there are open and masters categories, as well as team and individual. I registered as a Masters Individual. You're allowed to use a slew of uphill traction devices, and must take your uphill motivators downhill. Um, if you want to ride a snowboard down, it has to be the split-board you shuffled up on.

Uphill Travel is allowed at Brighton Ski Resort

Since I'm training for Elbrus as my long-term goal, I'll be ascending in spikes, and I guess descending in spikes. Unless I don't make the cutoff and have to ride the chairs down. That would be sad. So I'm training outside a bit, within the range of recovery I know I can handle right now. I'm also on the treadmill and stairmaster quite a bit since it's easier to manage recovery.

Uphill Travel Restrictions at Brighton Ski Resort in Utah: CLICK HERE

There are cutoffs for the Agassiz Climb

• Please note to ensure racer safety, the Agassiz Climb has two cut off times enforced by Arizona Snowbowl staff. You will be disqualified if cut off times are not met.
• 1st Cut off Agassiz Climb 50 Minute cut off – Ridgeway and Upper Ridge split – If you are not to this point in the course 50 minutes after race starts you will be disqualified and will be required to follow the Midway Course back down to the lodge.
• 2nd Cut off Agassiz Climb 1 hour 15 minutes cut off- Top of Agassiz Chair Lift – If you are not to this point by 1 hour 15 minutes after race start you will be disqualified and berequired to download on chair lift.

Trail Running Winter Training at Silver Lake, up American Fork Canyon

Here is the list of Suggested Items, Rules and Gear 2016

Suggested Items

• Helmets for Skinning & Splitboard strongly suggested.
• Water
• Headlamp
• Hiking Poles
• Appropriate Clothing for conditions

Traction Options

• MICROspikes® footwear traction
• Snowshoes
• Crampons
• Skis with Skins (skins can come off at top of mountain to ski down)
• Splitboard

Rules

• What you use to go up the mountain, you must use to come down.
• No sledding down the mountain
• No alcohol on the mountain
• No bringing in personal alcohol
• No drinking in parking lot
• No Snowboarding down unless you use a splitboard

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