Lost on Falcon Trail at Air Force

For some reason I thought it would be a good idea to do a long run with my marathoner friend on the Falcon Trail (13 miles) at the Air Force Academy.  This is the day after my race simulation 800m at the track the prior day (which left me on the track with my face down and people asking me if I was okay).  I figured running back to back days will be good for the rounds at major races, so I have been doing a lot of this since I’ve been up here in Colorado Springs.

The Falcon Trail IS really pretty; however, because it’s so cold here the snow in many places is slick due to the traffic on the trail and because it’ can’t fully melt. I had to run like a granny in many places as it just wasn’t worth the slip.

My only real concern while running were the enormous FRESH cougar tracks on the side of the trail…they obviously use the trail as well and while running, we would go for miles without seeing anyone. And of course my marathon friend was hammering away ahead of me, dragging my ass like a piece of dead drift wood in her wake so I was running alone in many places…with all of these enormous FRESH cougar tracks all around me.

There was really no reason for me to run 13 miles. It doesn’t serve any purpose.  Once we hit this paved road I knew I could take a short cut and run about 7 miles ( and I would be happy with that), but I kept going for some stupid reason.

Long story short: After 9-10 miles I decided to short cut across campus and ended up running about 15 miles! Might as well just run 11 more miles and have a marathon right?! It was awful. It was getting dark, my face was frozen, everything hurt and I had just enough clothes on to run 8 miles comfortably without freezing…so I ended up freezing (and cussing).

That will be the last time I ever run that far, unless I’m being chased or I’m getting paid six figures….

…. at least the cougars didn’t get me.