Once again, the Mt Evans race has come and gone. I have been feeling pretty good about my training this year, but it is always hard knowing how you are going to perform on race day. I wanted to at least come under 2 hours 30 minutes, but I still have this goal of beating my time from 1997 of 2:25 and change. Kate keeps telling me that I’m not getting any younger and maybe that isn’t reasonable. Anyway, I clocked in a 2:27:56 today, so I more than met my minimum goal and I’m getting closer to my old time. I beat last year by about 4 minutes, and 2 years ago by more than 10, so I like the progression. When you are my age and still getting faster from year to year, it can’t be all bad. The other cool thing is that I beat the pros this year! Granted I had a 40 minute head start, but it still felt kind of cool seeing them come in 2 minutes after me.
For all the times I have been up Mt Evans on a bike, I have never actually made it to the summit. The summit is a few hundred feet above the end of the road. This year after the race I decided to go. The only problem was the bike shoes – not exactly the best for scrambling up a talus field. Undeterred, I headed off in bare feet to the top. It was a little bit of suffering, but totally worth it. It’s a very pretty summit – and besides, it was fun looking down at the finish line.
The weather was very good. The reports sure looked questionable and it was cloudy and drizzling on the drive up to Idaho Springs. It was cool but not cold at the start – by the time we got to the Echo Lake feed zone we were in the clouds and it was cold and windy and I was starting to worry. However, shortly afterwards, we got over the clouds and the wind went away. It was far and away the warmest I have ever seen on top of a 14er. I really wish I had been able to take some pictures on the way up, because seeing various peaks sticking out of the clouds like islands was truly magical.
When I pulled into the lot in the morning, there was a young man that pulled into the lot next to me. We got talking a little – and while he was very nice – I couldn’t help but notice the Garmin Felt bike he pulled out. I didn’t make much of it at the time since I left before him, but when we both came back to the car, I really could help but notice that he had the full Garmin outfit on to match his bike. I asked him how he did; the response: I won. Pretty cool. We chatted for a little while and he asked me how I did and was very complimentary. Sounds like he is heading over to a minor race in Spain in little bit. Anyway, count me a Peter Stetina fan.
Some random pictures below (taken on the way down):
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Summit Lake – 12,830 feet | You have to be careful on the way down, there are some big drop-offs. |
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The road heading up from summit lake. Its actually not that steep, but with the altitude, it sure feels it. | Another pretty vista |