Training Week: 6/20-6/26; Roughly 61 miles

• Monday 6/20: Off

• Tuesday 6/21: 4.42 miles.  Sunrise run in Palmer Park.
  

• Wednesday 6/22: 6.61 miles. Afternoon loop around Palmer Park.
  

• Thursday 6/23: 23.87 miles.  Summit of Pikes Peak.  This day was awesome.  The weather was perfect the entire way.  This was the first time I've ever been on the summit of Pikes Peak and not needed a jacket.  I spent a lot of time stopping to take pictures.  Overall great day (and one of the only times I've done Barr Trail without injuring myself; knock on wood) 
  

• Friday 6/24: Off
  

• Saturday 6/25: 26.39 miles.  In Leadville - Twin Lakes to May Queen.  This was my first time back in Leadville since last year's DNF.  It felt awesome to be back in the area.  My wife and I left Colorado Springs early in the morning and arrived in Twin Lakes around  8:30am.  She crewed for me the whole time, waiting at all the aid stations (except for Half Moon; but, luckily, there was a porta potty waiting for me at Half Moon that was much needed).  The course was still marked from the training camp I assume so it was nice to be able to follow the pink and black streamers just like on race day.  Considering this was my first real run at altitude I was happy with my progress until I hit Powerline.  I had totally forgotten how much of a climb Powerline inbound was.  It sapped all of my energy completely.  I struggled for a while before finally making the summit of Sugarloaf and heading down.  There were some drifts still across the road on the north side  but all of them were perfectly passable (and had well worn tracks from the training camp).  I joined my wife in May Queen and we sat on the shores of (a pretty low) Turquoise Lake while I cooled my legs in the water. This run gave me a boost of confidence considering doing this run at this time last year would have completely destroyed my legs and put me out of commission for a few days.  I felt pretty much fine afterwards and definitely could have kept going.  Based on what we saw from below, there's still quite a bit of snow on the north side of Hope Pass.  I understand the training camp only climbed the south side.  Hopefully it clears up soon.            
  

• Sunday 6/26: Off
  

Total miles for the week were 61.29.  I had originally planned on doing the Leadville marathon next weekend because I loved doing the race last year; but, the $100 registration fee was just too much to swallow.  Instead, I'm going to head up to Leadville on Friday (7/1) night and make an attempt at the entire outbound 50 miles on Saturday (7/2).  We'll see how the snow on Hope Pass looks; I may only make it to Twin Lakes.

Update on the Montrail Rogue Racers: I've been using these as my primary running shoe since I got them and haven't had any issues with them.  I read one story online where someone's pair fell apart after 100 miles.  I have well over that on my pair now and they're holding up fine.  I'll keep updating as the miles add up.  If no issues arise then they'll be my shoes on race day.

Taken at sunrise in Palmer Park

Taken from above tree line on Barr Trail

Turquoise Lake

My wife Lindsey soaking up the sun

The scenery is amazing this time of year.