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Yesterday, I was lucky enough to run with some of the elites of Crested Butte. The Crested Butte Mountain Runners put on the run with an 11 or 19 mile course. The 11 mile started at the Canal Trail on Brush Creek Road. The 19 mile started at Camp for Coffee in Crested Butte and ran out to Tony's Trail. Then, up to the Upper Upper, which nearly brought me to tears not because of pain, too early in the run, but because of the shear beauty of the morning. We had received a fair bit of rain the night before and the woods just smelled of damp pine and grass. Everything was glistening in the sunlight streaming down through the trees and the colors have exploded because of this recent moisture. My heart was just overflowing! We finished the Upper Upper down to Brush Creek Road, which to me was maybe the most demoralizing part of the run because of being on the road and the flatness...although later this will be a welcome sight. Was greeted by the hubby on the road with smiles and asking what I needed, at this point I was doing fine though. Then a quick stop at the water stop and picked up Cynther and said howdy to WB. Onto the Canal Trail, lovely trail through low lying scrub and saw two snakes along the way. Then a hard right about a mile up onto Strand Bonus...all I can say is DING DANG it was a kick in the pants. Now at least I have done it, but not knowing what to expect it was a bit of "rolling" hills. From there a quick run on the connector trail and a right onto the 409. I really didn't know it, but none of the uphills counted until I started on this trail which seriously kicked my butt. I've done all of these trails except Strand Bonus before, but I had spaced out some of the killer parts. Cynther was right there with me the whole way, what a blessing, those hills would have seemed like mountains without here there. Up switchbacks, crossing creeks/marshy areas and through flower covered meadows for 3 miles to the Doubletop Trail. The hill prior to and post coming to this trail were brutal and the thought of running almost made me laugh because it was just impossible at that point for me. We say Shamus' pops was up there though and it was a wonderful sight to see a smiling face which helped push at least me on my way. On up the last substantial hill to the ridge, to which I could have jumped for joy, but if I would have I might have crumpled over into a pile of stinky, Hammer gel covered running attire. Then, I knew I could make it because these are trails that I know like the back of my hand. Down the hill for a quick swig of water at the Walrod Cutoff/Caves intersection and down we went again. I thought that all of this downhill would be a welcome sight after all of the m-effing uphill, but it just hurt. We hit Walrod Road and tried our best to speed through it because of the technical nature and pain in the rear that it was. We made it then took a right on the single track that follows Cement Creek Road. Then, onto the road for the home stretch. There were still people that waited there to give a hoorah and it was so sweet of them for a pokey turtle like me, but I did it and earned this dang coffee mug! I feel honored to be able to run in such a beautiful place with such talented people, how many sports can you do this.

Then later when we ran across WB and Shamus, they said they had seen two of the fast pants guys walking the same course backwards to town just because...and I felt like I accomplished something. There are always more miles to go, more books to read and more songs to hear! The excitement of it!!!

Peace...