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Up to Gem Lake and back via Twin Owls via Lumpy Ridge Trail

July 10, 2015 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Weather: bright sun and near 80

Comments:
Drove with Lew and the girls to the edge of Estes and the Rocky Mountain National Park. While the girls hiked up, I set off to run to Gem Lake which was listed anywhere from 1.4 to 1.9 miles away. The first half mile or so was brutal... just steady, steep uphill with some stairs built in. If the mileage sign was right it took me 6:30 to go the first half mile. Took a little stretching/gasping break there at a trail crossing. Explored about 3 minutes out and back along the cross trail which led across the face of the mountain I was ascending. Convinced myself to continue up the trail towards Gem Lake, but I was unsure if I'd go all the way there. Happily the next half mile or so was more manageable. (Or maybe I was just more warmed up.) When things got steep again, I continued to revise and second guess my plans. Assuming I was running 12 minute miles or slower, I figured I was getting close. At one point I asked a descending pair how far to the lake, hoping they'd say two minutes. They said 10-15! This took any remaining wind out of my sails and I paused to reflect if I should turn back to meet the girls as I'd assumed they'd turned back early. I was even reduced to a few walking steps on one particularly brutal stretch. Either way, i pushed on and reached the lake at 24:00 (would have been 21 without the cross trail detour.)

Stretched and gasped for thin oxygen at the lake for a minute and then dropped back down the way I'd come until I encountered my family who had just turned back about .7 up from the parking lot. Walked with them for a bit and ran into Lewellyn's cousins and uncle and Aunt who were coincidentally hiking up behind us. Decided to take the cross trail and run down via a little detour. The downhill running was so much easier, but still a challenge to absorb the impact down big steps of rock and lots of treacherous footing. Also was annoyed to find a 100 yard uphill staircase near the end of the descent. I reached the parking lot before the girls and doubled back up the main trail to intercept them a quarter mile up that trail. Then ran down it with the girls. All in all, it was a good run, and I'm pleased I made it all the way to the lake and back. Legs were definitely exhausted anytime I had to go up stairs for the rest of the day. Late afternoon we attended the wedding of my wife's cousin Robby, which was very pleasant.