Week 4

Run 23 - 8.8 miles, 726 ft, 9:22/mi

Great View of Gold Mountain!

This was a tough run to get out on after the last few days of running around on Gold Mountain but once again the 31 in 31 challenge loomed ever present so I laced up the shoes and hit the road. The goal was to stay around the neighborhood in the flats but once I got moving I changed my mind and decided to go find a new hill to climb. I took it easy on the uphill off Shay rd and enjoyed the views of the landscape I had been on last weekend.

Run 24 - 18 miles, 2,207 ft, 9:18/mi

Coyote Crag, Holcomb Valley, and San G

After an easy day yesterday I was itching for some more mileage so it was back up Van Dusen Canyon and out to Holcomb Valley before hitting Gold Mountain summit again! I took a nice lap through the pinnacles and scrambled up the side of Coyote Crag to get a good look at the valley and San G. It was a gorgeous day out and being on the rock was a reminder of how running is just another way to be in the mountains and maybe after this 50 miler I'll try a 31 in 31 with climbing!

Run 25 - 3.8 miles, 8:40/mi

Hoka's One One is my footwear of choice.

What's better than going for a Christmas Day run? A Christmas Day run in a new pair of Hoka's! A few easy miles to shake out the legs from yesterday and break in the new kicks!

Run 26 - 14.2 miles, 3,037 ft, 10:01/mi

Cushenberry Summit and no more hills all the way home!

Rachael dropped me off at the bottom of the hill again after our weekly doctors appointment as the baby gets closer and it was all up the road from there. This run is different than being on trails as there are really no steep parts and not a lot of flat or down, just relentless up. Definitely a great way to get in some vert!

Run 27 - 4.5 miles, 1,319 ft, 13:32/mi

Sunset from north shore

Took the dogs out for a nice scramble up the north shore boulders and then bushwhacked our way over to our favorite trail for an adventurous sunset run. Bob Digger got scared in one of the rock gullies and I had to carry him up! It was hilarious and while I was waiting for him to try I was looking at this sunset view. This outing sums up everything I love about running, my dogs, the mountains, Big Bear, etc...

Run 28 - 21 miles, 3,171 ft, 9:51/mi

Bertha Peak as seen from Holcomb Valley

It is pretty much amazing running conditions in Holcomb Valley right now. I had Rachael drop me off at the Pedal Path and decided I would run front 13 of the Holcomb Valley Trail Run Race which is a great loop out in Holcomb and then hits the PCT. I was feeling pretty good so I made a trip up to Delmar peak and then hit Bertha peak and a few more miles of PCT and it was back home for the longest run of the month so far!

Run 29 - 4.8 miles, 503 ft, 10:00/mi

Not a bad view in the neighborhood

Feeling yesterdays enthusiasm on this one. It was hard to get moving so I figured a few laps over at Mt. Doble Track was in order. Ended up extending the "lap" to make it a bit longer with another hill! Was actually feeling pretty good by the end of the run which again goes to show what getting out for just 30 minutes or and hour can do for you!