View Workout (Joe Uhan)

Return to Log

Nederland, CO - "High Lonesome Loop" with CA, Ford

September 20, 2016 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Weather: 60, overcast, but really awesome

Comments:
Another coffee shop day - this time a super-good (and Boulder-esque) place in town, while CA had an inspection in the Longmont area. Got a fair amount done, and did a ton of people watching (TONS of fit folks, and good looking women!). CA got done early again (before 2?), so it was off for more trail adventure!

We'd run into Ford Smith at RRR and agreed to touch base back in Boulder. He'd noted that he was in the market for a new coach, so I mentioned that we chat. So he came along with us on this run: back to Nederland and Hessie TH. Ford recommended this "High Lonesome Loop", which is outbound one east-west trail (Devils Thumb), south a couple miles on the CDT ("High Lonesome"), then back eastbound on King Lake trail. It'd be 16 miles(!!), but we all agreed we'd go easy.

Again, super-rocky and technical, but amazing views: up one creek drainage, to a couple lakes on the Devils Thumb loop, up a ridgeline to the continental divide, which - just like at RMNP with Clarkie in '12 - is a major plateau (at times). From there, we went south a couple miles.

The effort was pretty mellow. Ford blasted out front a bit, at first, but - in general - while he likes to grind, he doesn't have the fitness to support it, so he wound up slowing down for us (and at times, more than necessary).

Once we got on the CDT, that was the first time I really felt the altitude. It reminded me of when CA and I did that Long's loop, a year ago, out of RMNP: a little bonky, just technical descending! But we kept things moderate, as Ford would get a little out front, and CA and I would be more conservative, behind.

I wore my N1 roads - the bulkiest shoe I brought! - so that was a challenge on the never-ending rocks. I had to be really gentle, but that only made me be lighter on my feet.

A couple miles south and we were at King Lake trail - the most impressive alpine lake of the loop. SO COOL. CA and I took no calories, but pounded water from a couple high country streams (while Ford took at least one, probably two gels).

The descent was quick and pretty fun. King Lake trail was far more mellow, making for a more expedient descent. I felt a little bonky, and the distance and time were beginning to wear on my 10-day post-100 legs!

Had some solid convos with Ford: CA and Ford, at first on the climb, then me and Ford on the descent. He's gained a lot of wisdom over the past year, but...he's still 20. And, as it turns out, he JUST "signed" to be coached by David Roche (who apparently has ***118 coaching clients**** WHILE having a full-time lawyer job, WTF???). It became clear to me that Ford really values "someone better than him" and, quite frankly, he doesn't believe I'm better than he is. Oh well.

It was good to hear that David addressed social-life balance with him. I didn't pry, but Ford did share that Koop didn't talk AT ALL about anything outside workout minutae, which was why - as Ford admitted -that he majorly burned out, trying to balance "The Training System" and freshman year college party life. (More proof on how "distorted" Koop's style is - all over-the-top physioloigical mumbo-jumbo, without even acknowledging "the elephant in the room"! What an idiot).

Ford also talked about "the ultra scene" - both locally and nationally. It seems that it's ALL about:

- grinding the piss out of every run
- everyone trying to get sponsorships

It was quite nauseating to listen to, even though HE, himself, is WAY more grounded (and "over it") than a year ago. But it makes me thankful that CA and I are fairly detatched from it all, choosing instead to run sustainably and simply "do cool stuff", with some fast running interspersed.

Finished the run nearly in the dark, in 3h44m and about 16 miles. Apparently Roche used to have the FKT from this route (measured from the formal TH is about 14.5 miles) in just over 2hrs! Yeesh!

Post-run:
- changed and drove down the hill
- dinner at Kitchen Next Door, which was solid
- bid adieu to Ford and headed back to our airbnb

Good day!

I felt pretty tired, and my legs still worn, but wow...feel SOLID, only ten days out from Superior!