2009 Transrockies Run — Final Thoughts

Lots of people have asked me if the Transrockies Run was everything I expected.  The answer is yes and no.  Yes, I expected an epic week of running and Colorado certainly delivered.  The views were stunning, the TRR staff was incredible, the atmosphere was electric.  But due to Kevin’s injury, we did not get to run hard everyday [...]

Transrockies Run Stage 6 — Vail to Beaver Creek

Total distance :: 21 miles, 1131 ft.
Climbing :: 4623 ft.
This is it…the last stage.  Wow, what a week!  The day started with a long line of runners lined up to get taped, bandaged or otherwise jerry-rigged to get through the last 21 miles.  We started right where we finished inside the Beaver Creek village.  It was a flat 2-mile run through [...]

Transrockies Run Stage 5 — Red Cliff to Vail

Total distance :: 23 miles, 2110 ft.
Climbing :: 4407 ft.
I was sort of sad to be leaving Camp Hale this morning.  This place and the surrounding area really captures the essence of trail running and why we run in the first place.  It has been just us and the trail for two straight days.  Today, we head back [...]

Transrockies Run Stage 4 — Camp Hale to Red Cliff

Total distance :: 14 miles, 1231 ft.
Climbing :: 3009 ft.

Start / finish at Camp Hale

At the start line this morning, I heard people talking about how the tents froze last night.  Another woman tried applying Neosporin but it was frozen in the tube.  Kevin and I could not have been happier with our decision to get a [...]

Transrockies Run Stage 3 — Leadville to Camp Hale

 Total distance :: 24.2 miles
Climbing :: 2930 ft.

TRR staff member Sarah provides taxi service for me.

Today’s forecast:  Partly sunny. Isolated rain showers in the morning… then scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs 54 to 64. West winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
What a difference a day can make.  We started the day in [...]

Transrockies Run Stage 2–Vicksburg to Twin Lakes

Total distance :: 10 miles, 2437 ft.
Climbing :: 3097 ft.
Today we ran the longest ten miles of our life.  Even before we started we knew it would be a run we will never forget.  We were shuttled by buses from our campground about 30 minutes deep into the mountains.  I watched my altimeter reach 9600 ft. before the [...]

Transrockies Run Stage 1–Buena Vista to Railroad Bridge Campground

Total distance :: 20 miles, 2437 ft.
Climbing :: 2721 ft.
113 miles, 20,000+ ft. elevation gain. Let’s get started!
Nervous excitement and anticipation at the start line was palpable.  The race started promptly at 10:00 am.  Kevin and I could not have been happier to get going after laying around doing nothing in Buena Vista for 36 [...]

Transrockies Run Day 0 — Check In

I started my day by watching the sunrise spilling light over Mt. Princeton.  At 14, 197 ft.,  Mount Princeton is one of the 14ers of Colorado (peaks over 14,000 ft.).  It lies in the central part of the Sawatch Range in the San Isabel National Forest.  According to my friend Bob Miller, professor of geology at San [...]

Transrockies Run — Getting There

10 months of planning, 5 pairs of trail shoes, 3 months of serious training, and I’m finally in Buena Vista, Colorado with my teammate Kevin Stuart for the Transrockies Run!  It is very exciting to finally be here.
I arrived in Denver in the early afternoon and met up with Kevin.  A small group of Transrockies [...]

Leki Summit Antishock Trekking Poles

I had never used trekking poles but decided to get some for the Transrockies Run next month after seeing lots of photos from previous years with runners carrying poles.
The amount of speeds and feeds that go into a pair of sticks is rather amazing, but when you consider the history of trekking, mankind has had decades–even centuries–to perfect the [...]