I planned a big run on Mt. Charleston. I started at the parking lot for the Lee Canyon ski resort, planning to run down to the Deer Creek Highway, which connects Lee Canyon to Kyle Canyon, run up that road until I hit the 5 mile mark, then turn around and head back.
Actually, I was thinking about running to the 6 mile mark, but during the run I realized my big mistake: I grossly underestimated the grade. My Garmin showed the grade reaching 20%, which I doubt is accurate, but I don't doubt it was over 10% at several points.
The first 3.3 miles descended 900 ft, which beat me up pretty good. Then the Deer Creek Highway climbed steeply for 450 feet over 1.7 miles. It was at that point I decided to shorten the run. I have never run longer than 10 miles, and my pace up the hill was in the 13:00 to 14:00 range.
I did the math and determined that the climb up from the Deer Creek Highway up to the finish, 3.3 miles, would take about 45 minutes. After not running for a week and a half, I decided to play it safe.
It was a good decision. I struggled up the climb. I wanted to walk several times, but I just kept saying, "Ok....made it through this half. I will allow myself to shut it down in just a half mile."
At the end, I had run slow (11:25...yikes), but I had finished. I was completely spent. I am glad I did it, but I might wait until I am in a little better shape before I do it again. |