Training.

For what, you may ask?  The Moab Trail Half Marathon http://www.moabtrailmarathon.com. It's coming up in about a month, so I'm putting in the miles. This race is a sort of adventure half marathon, run on trail and over Utahs famous slick rock, through rivers, sand, and also requires ropes/scrambling in some spots!  I cannot wait. So, my friend Susanne (also signed up for the race) and I headed to the mountains to get 10 long miles in on a trail with tough climbs and varied terrain. It was an absolutely beautiful fall day that felt like midsummer.  We drove up to Evergreen and hit the Bergen Peak trail. It boasts an 1800+ft climb and awesome trails.  

I should say, trail running is by far my first fitness love. A close second certainly backpacking and hiking (followed by skiing, but that's totally different). I find trail running more freeing than hiking - still so connected with nature, but with much less gear, swifter, more graceful movements, flying over rocks, churning away on the climbs and letting your legs fly on the descents, picking your step in a split  second.  Ahhh...trail running. 

The view on the way up, a short refuel break. 

Susanne on the trail, still heading up. 

The aspens were still amazing in spots. 

The final trail to Bergen Peak, looking downhill. 

On the top!  Looking towards the 14er Mount Evans. 

It was a great afternoon and the time flew by. After stopping for some post run smoothies and heading back down the hill to Denver, I iced BOTH knees and enjoyed the rest of this magnificent fall weather we're having.