After these riders passed, I spent about 10 minutes clearing fall leaves and sticks that were preventing the pool from draining, then waited for the water level to go down.
Shoes are never the same after a dose of creek water + several hours of running.
The objective summit is in the middle -- from the 3.5-mile mark:
Two young bucks sparring, just for fun... for now:
At one point there's a little jaunt through downtown Morrison, which is fine through town but quickly goes downhill west of town where there are no sidewalks. Only a tiny shoulder with scratchy grass, broken bottles, and speeding cars between you and the last Red Rocks entrance.
Your best bet is to run through Morrison Park on the south side of the highway, and scramble uphill to the highway. Yep, that's your best option unless you like broken Corona bottles.
I clocked about 55 minutes from the road in Red Rocks Park to the summit of Mount Morrison, mostly hiking. It was warm in the sun and I was running low on water, but it worked out.
Some of the descent from Mount Morrison:
I begged for some water at Red Rocks Cyclery, in spite of the sign regarding the public restroom across the street, thinking they might have some good beta on local water wells, being bike people. I collect water source locations like some people collect Hummel figurines. Seems like the restroom is the only public source in town (other than walking into a business and asking for it).
There are several faucets in Bear Creek Lake Park, but I'm not sure how many of them (if any) are available all year. I've run through and found them locked. I need to ask them about that. Need to bring the bike back here:
Distance was 20.34 miles, time 5:44 (moving 4:19), elevation gain/loss 2,880 feet, avg. pace 16:55 (moving 12:46), and best pace 6:43.
Lately I've been thinking 20 miles is about my limit for an enjoyable run. Anything more and I just wish I was done. Taxi!
I also take walk breaks, often finding some excuse to stop before I run a continuous mile or two. I don't race, and aversion to pain is part of it, but it's also that I don't really like being on autopilot and just zoning out and passing things by. To me, that's almost like I didn't really live it, and I want to soak everything in consciously and appreciate what I've got, which is quite a bit.
I mean, this was just another Saturday afternoon run near the 'hood. Seriously.
