Brandon Fuller

Run: Home-Sugarloaf-Powerline-Home (17.82 mi)

Some days I get up and its a chore to run. Other days, it just comes easy. Today was an "other day". Even coming off of a pretty solid last few days, I felt peppy today when heading out the door. I think I have bounced back from that sulking feeling and hatred of the grind I felt recently. Things are starting to be fun again. For today, I originally thought I would take a rest day. That later turned into "just to the lake and back". That turned into "drive to Powerline". That turned into "just run the whole damn loop from home". So that was what I did.

I left home and ran the mile west until I joined the LT100 course. Running nice and clean and swift today. Took the dirt road to the dam and went up the mini-powerline. Once back on Lake County Road 4, it was time to haul out to the Hagerman Pass turn. I wasn't sure exactly how many miles that would eat up. I think it ended up being 6.5 to the start of the road and 8.5 until I turned up to Sugarloaf. Felt great climbing today but I wasn't pushing hard. Just steady. Topped out at 11,200 in no time and then started the ups and downs across making my way over to Powerline. These damn bees were circling me the whole time up there today. Annoying. Lots of MTBers coming the opposite way. Training camp weekend. I love running by bikers.

Ran reserved down Powerline as I didn't want any extra quad pressure today. Also was testing my old MT100s to see how they held on the terrain without slipping. Did good enough. Powerline continues to be a mindgame with all its ups and downs. But I think I have it mostly memorized now. I was glad to finally see the end as the miles were adding up. Got out to the road at about 14 miles. I had eaten my only GU and was out of water in the solo bottle I brought. Had to dig a little deeper to get back home. I dreamed of a cold Gatorade that was waiting in the fridge for me. Did a few short walks to stretch out the hips but quickly realized I could run again. My body likes to ask for a walk still but it quickly realizes that its not going to solve the bigger goal and it encourages me to speed up again quickly.

Overall, it was a nice mileage day on course. Felt really good other than the hydration and nutrition issue which I just plain didn't prepare for. Good to bonk now and then to remember what it feels like. Still wanting to run up to the pass itself sometime soon. Following in the footsteps I suppose.

That ends a 7 day cycle in Leadville -- 2 races, 1 14er, 2 solid course runs, and some rest. Returning to Longmont now for a few days to do some things that I can't do remotely. Then it will be back to Leadville in just a few days to begin preparing for the Silver Rush 50 mile trail run. Its a week from Sunday. Nerves haven't kicked in just yet. But confidence is building. Going to go out and run steady until the turnaround then see where I stand and how hard I can push it back home. Its an easy PR over my 2008 run there. I probably am more excited to see how my decently targeted ultra training pays off for this one. Feel like I need to get the taper right though. More to come.

Oh, and now I got 2000.28 miles on the year!

I went 17.82 miles with an elevation gain of 2,059 feet in 02:53:51, which is an average pace of 09:45. Heart rate average was 149. View my GPS data on Garmin Connect.