Grin & Bear It

Yesterday, it was the annual Crested Butte Mountain Runners' Grin and Bear It Run.  Here's the description from their website:
This course involves a good hill climb on the course from Crested Butte to Green Lake under Mt Axtell and back. Distance is 9 miles with 1600' vertical on single track trails and dirt roads.


Their "good hill climb" is no joke.  The first time Funderson took me on this trail I remember rounding the corner from the single track to old jeep road and just laughing out loud at the steepness of the hill.  Nothing like a good kick in the pants!!!  This is one of many fun trail runs that we get to partake in as part of the group.  Great vibes out on the trail and lots of smiles on a sunny day.  The actual Green Lake is the turn around point at the top of the trail and has been annihilated by a massive (or multiple) avalanches.  Sorry no photos, didn't want to carry it, next time I promise.  Trees just buckled over like toothpicks and a large island in the middle of the lake with snow/ice/trees/debris.  Absolutely beautiful day and ended with a little cookout and a cool beverage:

Rebekah and I post run...can't believe she'd stand next to me I smelled so dreadful.

Song of the day - Empire of the Sun ~ Walking on a Dream

"We are always running for the thrill of it, thrill of it.  Always pushing up the hill searching for the thrill of it..."  Swwwweeeet runnin' tune.

Peace...