Trail Running

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Trail Running

    In addition to just running around in the 2-D universe of Flatland, I also enjoy running up and down mountains. Well, okay, sometimes I'm walking up, but watch out when I come down :)  The hills and mountains offer more challenges, scenery, diversity, and solitude. Running in clear mountain air, jumping streams, dashing through mountain meadows, and occasionally surprising wildlife are all a part of trail running, and this is what makes it my favorite type of running. Trail running is simply hiking in hyper drive, but since you're going faster, you get more scenery in the same amount of time. It is most enjoyable as long as you don't get too tied to the stop watch -- actually, your stop watch should remind you to STOP and WATCH the scenery.

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My Personal Records on the trails

    Here are a few of my favorite trail runs and my personal best times.  In most cases, distances have been measured by a GPS or summed by trail map. The longer distances are more like endurance hikes.

Route Name

Location

Date

Elevation Gain (ft)

Distance (mi)

Time

Speed up (mph)

Speed down (mph)

Average Speed (mph)

Trailhead/Route

(if available, click link for course description)
Arthurs Rock via Arthurs Rock Trail Lory State Park 07/04/06 1140 3.4 0:45:38 4.4 8.5 4.5 Arthurs Rock round-trip via Arthur's Rock Trail (set during a 12 mile run)
old PR 05/04/03 1140 3.4 0:46:21 3.7 6.0 4.4
Horsetooth Rock round-trip (S) Horsetooth Mountain Park 10/30/07 1500 5.1 0:43:36 11:00 6:00 8:30 Up the service road to S. Summit and back -- broke descent and round-trip FKT's!
  old PR 09/01/05 1500 5.1 0:47:16 5.1 8.9 6.5 Up the service road to S. Summit and back -- broke ascent and round-trip FKT's!
Horsetooth Rock round-trip (N) Horsetooth Mountain Park 09/26/06 1500 5.2 0:46:56 5.1 10.0 6.7 Up the service road to N. Summit and back -- broke open FKT for descent, PR's for ascent and round-trip!
  old PR 06/08/06 1500 5.2 0:50:07 4.9 9.2 6.2 Up the service road to N. Summit and back -- broke open FKT for descent, PR's for ascent and round-trip!
  old PR 08/16/05 1500 5.2 0:53:40 4.6 8.1 5.8 Up the service road, Audra Culver road, then Horsetooth Rock Trail to N. Summit and back
  old PR 03/23/05 1500 5.2 0:56:36 4.5 7.6 5.5  
  old PR 05/12/04 1500 5.2 0:57:30 4.5 7.3 5.4  
Foothills/Reservoir Loop Horsetooth Reservoir Park 03/09/05 950 6.0 0:52:04 --- --- 6.9 Banyan and Prospect
Devil's Backbone Devil's Backbone Natural Area 05/22/05 1070 6.5 0:55:10 ---- --- 7.6 Clockwise through the three loops of Devil's Backbone (excluding the small Keyhole loop)
Greyrock Mountain Cache la Poudre River Canyon 07/22/04 2180 6.6 1:40:40 3.5 5.6 3.9 Greyrock round-trip via Greyrock Trail (short way)
  old PR 01/05/02 2180 6.6 2:30:00 2.6 3.3 2.6  
Coyote Ridge Coyote Ridge Natural Area 09/27/07 1230 7.0 0:51:57 --- --- 7:25 Coyote Ridge and Rim Rock Trail loop
  old PR 01/06/06 1230 7.0 0:58:37 --- --- 7.2  
  old PR 04/27/05 1230 7.0 0:59:02 --- --- 7.1  
  old PR 01/09/05 1230 7.0 1:03:44 --- --- 6.6  
  old PR 07/29/04 1230 7.0 1:04:19 --- --- 6.5  
  old PR 07/01/04 1230 7.0 1:06:01 --- --- 6.4  
Towers Road Horsetooth Mountain Park 06/27/08 1800 6.8 0:54:37 5.7 11.2 7.5 Soderberg Ranch Trailhead to Tower Hill (picnic bench)
  old PR 10/08/06 1800 6.6 1:02:09 5.1 9.2 6.6  
  old PR 07/14/05 1800 6.8 1:04:56 5.0 8.8 6.3  
  old PR 06/14/05 1800 6.8 1:14:24 5.0 9.4 5.5  
Horsetooth Mountain Trail Race Horsetooth Mountain Park 06/27/07 1900 7.35 1:07:02 --- --- 6.6 Running with Dan Turk. Ran 5 min hard/2 min easy most of the run. Ran the last 0.97 miles in 0:05:02 at HR of up to 189!!
  old PR 06/12/05 1900 7.3 1:08:06 --- --- 6.4 2005 Horsetooth Mountain Trail Race (loop)

click for race report and pictures
  old PR 02/25/05 1900 7.35 1:11:13 --- --- 6.2  
  old PR 02/13/05 1900 7.3 1:12:59 --- --- 6.0  
  old PR 10/31/04 1900 7.3 1:14:47 --- --- 5.9  
  old PR 06/13/04 1900 7.3 1:14:48 --- --- 5.9 set during 2004 Horsetooth Mountain Trail Race
  old PR 07/15/03 1900 7.4 1:18:11 --- --- 5.7  
  old PR 06/04/03 1900 7.4 1:21:36 --- --- 5.4  
  old PR 06/01/03 1900 7.4 1:29:36 --- --- 5.0  
Park-to-Park Race Route Horsetooth Mountain Park/Lory State Park 10/13/04 2000 8.3 1:32:32 --- --- 5.4 Park-to-Park Race Route from Arthurs Rock Trailhead
  old PR 07/09/03 2000 8.3 1:33:34 --- --- 5.3 pictures of this run
  old PR 06/26/03 2000 8.3 1:36:34 --- --- 5.2  
Arthurs Rock via Timber Trail Lory State Park 05/20/03 1700 7.5 1:33:10 4.3 6.0 4.8 Arthurs Rock roundtrip via Timber Trail
  old PR 08/26/01 1700 7.5 1:46:48 4.0 4.6 4.2  
Mill Creek Short Loop Horsetooth Mtn Park/Lory State Park 07/06/08 1900 8.92 1:11:51 --- --- 8:03 Soderberg -> Nomad -> South Valley -> Mill Creek -> Towers Road -> Soderberg - solo run. Ran 3 miles in 17:17 coming down.
  old PR 09/09/07 1900 8.92 1:15:56 --- --- 8:31 Soderberg -> Nomad -> South Valley -> Mill Creek -> Towers Road -> Soderberg - solo run. Ran 3 miles in 18:01 coming down.
  old PR 05/22/07 1900 8.9 1:24:27 --- --- 9:28 FCTR run with Steve Saleeby
  old PR 07/18/06 1900 9.0 1:25:51 --- --- 9:28  
  old PR 06/23/05 1900 9.0 1:26:52 --- --- 9:33  
Round/Sheep Mountain West of Loveland 06/30/05 3100 9.0 1:45:20 4.1 7.0 5.1 Round/Sheep Mountain, FCTR time trial
  old PR 04/09/05 3100 9.0 2:06:42 3.7 6.3 4.3 Round/Sheep Mountain, just walked up, ran down
S. Boulder Peak/Bear Peak Boulder Mountain Parks 08/25/02 3600 9.5 2:58:12 2.6 5.4 3.2 Speed up for the 3.5 mi up Shadow Canyon to S. Boulder Peak

Speed down for the 5.4 mi down Fern Canyon back to Eldorado Springs Trailhead
Horsetooth Mountain Horsetooth Mtn Park/Lory State Park 05/28/03 2750 10.9 2:13:55 4.3 6.2 4.9 Arthurs Rock Parking Lot:  South Valley -> Sawmill -> Herrington -> Wathen -> Summit -> West Ridge -> Mill Creek
  old PR 05/15/03 2750 10.9 2:21:37 4.3 5.7 4.6  
Mill Creek Long Loop Horsetooth Mtn Park/Lory State Park 07/25/06 2700 11.4 1:47:48 --- --- 9:28 Soderberg -> Nomad -> South Valley -> Mill Creek -> Westridge -> Wathen -> Spring Creek -> Herrington -> Towers Road -> Soderberg
  old PR 05/08/06 2700 11.4 1:52:39 --- --- 9:54  
  old PR 07/28/05 2700 11.4 1:59:25 --- --- 10:29  
Mesa Trail Double Boulder Mountain Parks 04/25/04 3030 13.4 2:40:35 --- --- 5.0 The Mesa Trail Double, starting at the Eldorado Springs Trailhead, with Eric Sigler (trail conditions: extremely muddy with streams of water flowing down the trail)
Longs Peak Rocky Mountain National Park 07/24/06 5000 15.0 3:59:32 3.2 4.8 3.8 Longs Peak Ranger Station: Longs Peak Trail
  old PR 08/11/02 5000 15.0 7:01:45 1.9 2.7 2.1  
Blue Sky Trail Double Larimer County 03/18/07 2700 21.1 3:52:17 --- --- 5.5  Running with Heber from the Soderberg Trailhead
  old PR 10/07/07 2700 20.8 3:00:05 --- --- 8:39  Running with Heber from the Soderberg Trailhead
Pikes Peak Pike National Forest 08/20/06 7815 26.2 5:08:31 4.1 6.8 5.1 2006 Pikes Peak Marathon
  old PR 08/21/05 7815 26.2 5:22:44 4.0 6.3 4.9 2005 Pikes Peak Marathon
  old PR 07/31/05 7815 26.2 6:04:33 3.7 6.0 4.3 Pikes Peak Marathon race route -- training run
  old PR 08/22/04 7815 26.2 6:39:33 3.2 5.1 3.9 2004 Pikes Peak Marathon
  old PR 08/17/03 7815 26.2 7:10:15 3.1 5.2 3.7 2003 Pikes Peak Marathon
  old PR 09/03/00 7400 24.0 9:59:00 2.3 3.2 2.6 Manitou Springs Trailhead: Barr Trail
                   

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Trail Races

    If you're looking for a trail race, here are a few to try. Click on link, if available to go to the official web page for the race:

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Fort Collins Trail Races
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Horsetooth Mountain Trail Race    (2003 results)  

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Park-to-Park Trail Race (discontinued)

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Lory All-Dirt 5K and Duathlon

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Arthurs Rock

 

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Colorado Trail Races
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Pikes Peak Ascent/Marathon

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Barr Trail Mountain Race

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Kendall Mountain Run          

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Imogene Pass Run

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Where to Run

    I'm starting to compile a list of great trail runs in the Fort Collins area and beyond. I'll add route information and maps as I have time.

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