January 2022 Monthly Running Challenge

I'm at a conference in the mountains and had 4.5 hours of free time between lunch and dinner, so naturally I planned the best route I could find that fit into that time frame. I ate lunch quickly and could see my potential ride up to the trailhead was going to be eating/talking longer than the 15 minutes it would take me to just go on foot, so I decided to just call for pickup if needed on the way back down. Spoiler: ended up not calling because I was feeling great and figured I might as well check off my January half-marathon distance while I was so close.

So it's winter, fresh snow on the ground and light snow coming down. Minus something single digits Celsius when I started out. Within 100 meters some guy selling souvenirs asked how far up I was going and then said it's too late in the day for me to make it there. I said I have lights (didn't mention all the other gear and safety stuff I had on me) and kept going, but of course that made me question myself, as it was coming from a local. So I redid the math. Again. I needed to average 5k/hr, which is typically reasonable for me going up. Factor in unknown snowy conditions and faster descent, and it should be fine, unless the trails are too slippery to come down fast - but I'd know that in time to turn around sooner.

I was sticking to main trails and this one was wide enough for vehicles most of the way (until you reach a lodge, then 2 km of single track) and snow-covered. My Brooks trail running shoes did great, and I didn't need the not-yak-traks-but-similar that I had in my bag. I did use the trekking poles going up and they were very helpful. Everyone I saw was heading down, which added to my self doubting and sense of urgency to get to the top before it got dark. I kept checking and was on pace the whole time. Passed the lodge and the single track got more and more interesting (picture coming) and then got a little steep and somewhat scary. There was one guy ahead of me. As he got up to where I was expecting the lake/view to be, he just kind of stopped, looking ahead. The view was a sheet of white. We were in a cloud. There was no view. It was very disappointing. I dropped my hands and dragged my poles over to the sign for a picture (in spoiler) and tried to imagine what was right in front of me, then tossed some frozen hard jelly beans in my mouth, then tried to drink from my hydration pack and felt like an idiot for forgetting to put it inside my jacket because now everything from the hose to nozzle was frozen. And my fingers were suddenly very cold. I needed to get moving, so I turned around and started back. Got stuck behind slow people dressed like climbers on the single track, even with stopping to put on a second layer of gloves and a headlamp, but when I reached the lodge it was dark and I realized all these people I was seeing up there were staying at the lodge and not heading down. I warmed up a bit inside and readjusted gear (pack inside jacket, folded/stowed poles, got backup light out and easily accessible) and got moving. Running came easily and I was getting decent traction, so I made good time. The hood on my coat had frozen solid though, and was so loud in my ears that it was a relief to warm up enough from running (and descending) that I could put it down. I was wearing a buff folded into a headband over my ears, plus a lightweight tech-fabric hat I got at a race, and for a while also the hood to one of my long-sleeved shirts. But then at some point there was a noise that sounded exactly like a bear/wolf/something was running at me from behind, alone in the dark, which freaked me out until I realized it was my own frozen hood. Yes, it would've been nice to not be alone, but my choices were go alone or don't go, and I feel I took lots of precautions and planned it out well. A few times I stopped, turned off my light and just looked at the stars. It was so peaceful. But mostly I kept moving and soon was back at the trailhead and heading back downhill past rows of guest houses and restaurants. No sign of souvenir guy, and I wanted to check in and tell him I made it. A team of horses passed me also going downhill, pulling a wagon full of tourists, and 2 kids waved at me, so I waved back. Then they stopped at the same place I was staying, just as I got there - the whole group was from the same conference.

Even though the view at the top was a bust, it was very nice getting there and back, and was an excellent training session.

Pictures:
Here's that same spot in summer (with sign and rock) in a picture from the internet:
Oh, and my gear/clothing, if anyone's interested.