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Now that I’m settled in Denver, I wanted to start writing about my experiences on trail runs throughout as I get closer to the Spartan Ultra. I have officially registered for the race which will be held on July 17th in Huntsville, Utah. For the first article, I’m going to outline my 10 mile run at Mount Falcon Park in Indian Hills, Colorado.
Overall Stats:
[/fusion_text][fusion_imageframe image_id=”1136|full” max_width=”” sticky_max_width=”” style_type=”” blur=”” stylecolor=”” hover_type=”none” bordersize=”” bordercolor=”” borderradius=”” align_medium=”none” align_small=”none” align=”center” margin_top=”” margin_right=”” margin_bottom=”” margin_left=”” lightbox=”no” gallery_id=”” lightbox_image=”” lightbox_image_id=”” alt=”” link=”https://omarromero.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Map-and-Laps.jpg” linktarget=”_self” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_display=”normal,sticky” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” filter_hue=”0″ filter_saturation=”100″ filter_brightness=”100″ filter_contrast=”100″ filter_invert=”0″ filter_sepia=”0″ filter_opacity=”100″ filter_blur=”0″ filter_hue_hover=”0″ filter_saturation_hover=”100″ filter_brightness_hover=”100″ filter_contrast_hover=”100″ filter_invert_hover=”0″ filter_sepia_hover=”0″ filter_opacity_hover=”100″ filter_blur_hover=”0″]https://omarromero.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Map-and-Laps.jpg[/fusion_imageframe][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” content_alignment_medium=”” content_alignment_small=”” content_alignment=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_display=”normal,sticky” class=”” id=”” font_size=”” fusion_font_family_text_font=”” fusion_font_variant_text_font=”” line_height=”” letter_spacing=”” text_color=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]I started the run at ~7,700 feet of elevation so it was a little colder than expected. When I was getting ready, I saw that it was 30 degrees (Downtown Denver) but once I got to top, the car thermometer read 21 degrees. This was the first item that got into my head that I didn’t prepare for but I was already there so we had to make do.[/fusion_text][fusion_imageframe image_id=”1137|full” max_width=”” sticky_max_width=”” style_type=”” blur=”” stylecolor=”” hover_type=”none” bordersize=”” bordercolor=”” borderradius=”” align_medium=”none” align_small=”none” align=”center” margin_top=”” margin_right=”” margin_bottom=”” margin_left=”” lightbox=”no” gallery_id=”” lightbox_image=”” lightbox_image_id=”” alt=”” link=”https://omarromero.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Elevation.jpg” linktarget=”_self” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_display=”normal,sticky” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” filter_hue=”0″ filter_saturation=”100″ filter_brightness=”100″ filter_contrast=”100″ filter_invert=”0″ filter_sepia=”0″ filter_opacity=”100″ filter_blur=”0″ filter_hue_hover=”0″ filter_saturation_hover=”100″ filter_brightness_hover=”100″ filter_contrast_hover=”100″ filter_invert_hover=”0″ filter_sepia_hover=”0″ filter_opacity_hover=”100″ filter_blur_hover=”0″]https://omarromero.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Elevation.jpg[/fusion_imageframe][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” content_alignment_medium=”” content_alignment_small=”” content_alignment=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_display=”normal,sticky” class=”” id=”” font_size=”” fusion_font_family_text_font=”” fusion_font_variant_text_font=”” line_height=”” letter_spacing=”” text_color=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]When I was planning the run, I wanted to ensure I was fully warmed up before hitting the climb but not too far in that I wouldn’t have energy. The first 4 miles were a slow decent down to roughly 6,000 feet and immediately to the climb.[/fusion_text][fusion_imageframe image_id=”1138|full” max_width=”” sticky_max_width=”” style_type=”” blur=”” stylecolor=”” hover_type=”none” bordersize=”” bordercolor=”” borderradius=”” align_medium=”none” align_small=”none” align=”center” margin_top=”” margin_right=”” margin_bottom=”” margin_left=”” lightbox=”no” gallery_id=”” lightbox_image=”” lightbox_image_id=”” alt=”” link=”https://omarromero.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Heart-Rate.jpg” linktarget=”_self” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_display=”normal,sticky” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” filter_hue=”0″ filter_saturation=”100″ filter_brightness=”100″ filter_contrast=”100″ filter_invert=”0″ filter_sepia=”0″ filter_opacity=”100″ filter_blur=”0″ filter_hue_hover=”0″ filter_saturation_hover=”100″ filter_brightness_hover=”100″ filter_contrast_hover=”100″ filter_invert_hover=”0″ filter_sepia_hover=”0″ filter_opacity_hover=”100″ filter_blur_hover=”0″]https://omarromero.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Heart-Rate.jpg[/fusion_imageframe][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” content_alignment_medium=”” content_alignment_small=”” content_alignment=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_display=”normal,sticky” class=”” id=”” font_size=”” fusion_font_family_text_font=”” fusion_font_variant_text_font=”” line_height=”” letter_spacing=”” text_color=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]Once the climb started, my heart rate immediately sky rocketed but that was expected. I knew I wasn’t able to keep up with running for the full climb (~3 miles) so I pivoted to a 1:1 ratio of walk/run (1 minute intervals). This allowed me to start getting hill runs under my belt but also stay warm. The weather was not the best as it would go from windy with snow to sunny and still. It was quite the mind fuck but that’s part of the gig.[/fusion_text][fusion_imageframe image_id=”1139|full” max_width=”” sticky_max_width=”” style_type=”” blur=”” stylecolor=”” hover_type=”none” bordersize=”” bordercolor=”” borderradius=”” align_medium=”none” align_small=”none” align=”center” margin_top=”” margin_right=”” margin_bottom=”” margin_left=”” lightbox=”no” gallery_id=”” lightbox_image=”” lightbox_image_id=”” alt=”” link=”https://omarromero.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Trail-scaled.jpg” linktarget=”_self” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_display=”normal,sticky” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” filter_hue=”0″ filter_saturation=”100″ filter_brightness=”100″ filter_contrast=”100″ filter_invert=”0″ filter_sepia=”0″ filter_opacity=”100″ filter_blur=”0″ filter_hue_hover=”0″ filter_saturation_hover=”100″ filter_brightness_hover=”100″ filter_contrast_hover=”100″ filter_invert_hover=”0″ filter_sepia_hover=”0″ filter_opacity_hover=”100″ filter_blur_hover=”0″]https://omarromero.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Trail-scaled.jpg[/fusion_imageframe][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” content_alignment_medium=”” content_alignment_small=”” content_alignment=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_display=”normal,sticky” class=”” id=”” font_size=”” fusion_font_family_text_font=”” fusion_font_variant_text_font=”” line_height=”” letter_spacing=”” text_color=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]
Terrain:
The terrain was not the best as it seemed like I was consistently being forced to walk (or baby step) due to ice. I connected with a few runners along the way who said it wasn’t the best day. Outside of the ice, it was a beautiful dirt trail with rocks so I was able to pick up my speed at certain points.
Route:
When I originally mapped this out, I was planning to do 13 miles but had a malfunction occur that I will explain in the lessons learned section below. The route had amazing scenery but I felt that it had too many back and forth moments. I am a fan of loops but this is minor. There was a section just before 4 miles where I could’ve added a loop before the accent so I will throw that in next time and map out to share. This should add roughly half a mile or maybe more.
Lessons Learned:
This run occurred on a Saturday which ended my 3rd week in Denver. I started my program back up last week so I finished week 2 with 37 miles. I originally wanted 40 (as I planned for a 13 mile run) but I didn’t realize how much elevation gain can drain you. There was a point where I could’ve done the 13 miles but I knew that would impacted my next week’s training too much so decided to play the long game. The 1st lesson is to respect elevation, terrain, and the weather.
The second lesson didn’t have anything really to do with the running but more so the equipment. I currently use a Nathan running backpack that I absolutely love but the water pouch got a small leak in it. I didn’t learn this until the morning of but I couldn’t have gone without water. The leak was very small but this lead to a small drop of water dripping on my lower back/butt for the duration of the run (2.5 hours). When you’re in ~21 degrees, this isn’t the best feeling but I looked at it as a character building moment. The lesson here is that you can’t control everything so you must adapt to your environment at all times.
Overall:
I loved this run! It was my longest run since moving to Denver and the views were great. I wish there was a little less ice but hey, that’s trail running, right? I’ll definitely hit the park back up and push for longer duration.
You can also find this trail on All Trails if you’re interested to check out yourself.
Thanks for reading!
Omar
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