(Article written by Kevin Everett)
Running in the teens.
While up in New Meadows the weather was clear, crisp and cold getting down into the single digits at night. Perfect running temperatures. If there is one thing I love about running it is heading out when the elements are unusual or provide a challenge. You truly can run in just about any conditions (save super icy) wearing smart gear. Running in a storm is an invigorating experience that seems to charge my soul with its most basic needs.
I’m still buzzing from the two long runs I did while up in New Meadows. The first one was early Saturday. It was my off-season so I wasn’t doing much other than running here and there, leaving me energized and very motivated. Add to this fact, I was partaking on an exploration run in the surrounding mountains and forests, where I would encounter no people and be scouting new terrain. Another thing I love about running, exploring new terrain.
Milo and I headed out into the brisk air, cool on the lungs, at first difficult to take deep breathes. We ran southwest down a remote road heading towards the flat valley just below us. We came to an intersection with right being towards the valley and left heading up into the frosted forests in the mountains. We headed left and immediately started climbing. It wasn’t long before beads of sweet started rolling down my cheeks. I took my hat off and rolled it up in the back pocked of the long sleeve bike jersey I was wearing. We climbed and climbed still feeling too warm I took off my gloves and pulled up my long sleeves to the elbow. I was eager to see what was around every corner and hopeful that I might be able to crest the mountain. The snow was getting deeper but had mostly melted off the dirt road to expose the tore up frozen mud from someone’s four-wheeln’ in the past few weeks. The contusions in the frozen mud made for good tests of my ankle strength and flexibility.
You couldn’t help but be aware of the almost total silence, save the crackle of snow and ice crunching below my feet and the whoosh, whoosh sounds of Milo ’s paw’s quickly and gracefully striking the ground. I breathed deeply and new it was some of the freshest air around. It felt so basic, being out in the woods, it awakened me in every sense. The road started heading back down towards the valley. I came to an area recently being logged and decided to turn around and head back.
We climbed again back up to the highest point of our run before the very long descent back to the intersection. Running downhill recharged the batteries and the speed quickened. The quick jaunt downhill was a pleasure. Leaving me wanting to run more, to go longer. Alas, I had ran an hour and ten minutes at 5000+ ft and done plenty for the day. Breakfast was calling me and promised to be a most succulent feast.
The next morning I was yearning for another run. I felt good from the previous day’s effort and thought I would go further this time and start with the same route but take a new course once in the mountains. I would head up, every chance I had and try to get near the top of the mountain. I headed up and up finally reaching a point on the old logging trail where trees were now growing in the road some of them 20ft high already. We continued on, blazing through the snow and weaving through the young trees. Still wanting to keep running I made it to a clearing with a vast lookout of the valley below. Being almost an hour into my run I thought it best to head back. I paused for a moment, taking in the scene and enjoying how I felt. “C’mon Milo , Let’s go home”. With that, we cruised the long descent back and finished in just under an hour and a half.
It was a great thanksgiving weekend. Still in the off-season but slowly transitioning into the ‘Base’ season, these two long runs would prove to be some money in the bank.
-Kevin’s background may be in swimming but just like his education he is an extremely well rounded and accomplished athlete in many different arenas. Once graduating college he took an extended break from the hard pace of competitive swimming to paddle kayaks, ski, mountain bike, and with left over time, even play water polo. The competitive spirits of athletes are difficult to hold at bay for long and in the spring of 2003 he returned to intense training with the focus on triathlons, and has enjoyed a more enriching life ever since. Kevin exploits his natural talents as a swimmer, yet is equally at home on the bike and his feet, having placed 1st in his age group at the Wildflower Olympic distance triathlon, and 13th in his first Pro triathlon.
(Team Tamarack Racing excerpt)
© 2007-008 Paul Lundgren of F2R – Manufacturer of Triathlon Wetsuits
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