Friday the 13th - yep, snake on the trail

Yesterday was Friday the 13th ... the good news is I was able to get in a 5-mile lunchtime run (Greenway Trail starting from the Boulder Street steps)... the bad news ... SNAKE ON THE TRAIL, of course! Hope you are able to get out this weekend, too.

Garden of the Gods 10 Miler - wow.

I hadn't ran the Garden of the Gods 10 miler for several years ... I thought I would see where I am at as far as endurance and speed almost 5 years apart from the last time I did it. The route has changed a bit (it now starts and ends in Manitou at Memorial Park)... but what a great run ... beautiful scenery ... perfect weather ... I felt fantastic ... lots, and lots of runners and no SNAKES ON THE TRAIL encounters either! I finished (like usual) in the middle of the pack, but with my second best time ever out of all the times that I have done this race. The water stations were manned by area high school running teams - they had their own brand of competition going on. Pretty cool. I liked them all - one thing that they did have in common - water on the right. Gatorade on the left! Hope you got out this weekend, too.

Can you tell the weather is real nice here?

It's been a couple of weeks since my last post. The weather in Colorado Springs (other than the wind) has been ideal for running and not a single SNAKE ON THE TRAIL encounter to deal with either. A buddy of mine did see a bear on the Greenway Trail just below Wal-Mart last Saturday (the Greenway trail veers off over Monument Creek via a pedestrian bridge but another trail goes under I-25 and heads towards Bear Creek Park right there). My friend said the bear was headed east. News reports later said that a bear was sighted as far east as Airport Road here in the Springs, WOW!

Great run on a hot day.

I'm coming off an awesome 6.5 mile run in Palmer Park over the weekend (I used to be able to run consecutive days ... oh, well, at least I'm still out there.) Lunch time, no water, High noon! A HOT 4.25 miler on the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail (I started from the Boulder Street steps) and no SNAKES ON THE TRAIL encounters to report, either. How 'bout that? With this incredible weather, hope you got out, too.

Friday on my mind. Snake on the trail.

Got in a 5-miler last Friday. The usual, started from the Boulder St. steps on the Pikes Peak Greenway trail. I run out 2.5 miles and turnaround. Sure enough, on the return trip, just about to go under the Unitah Street bridge ... I glance over to my left ... SNAKE ON THE TRAIL. Why do snakes cross the trail? To get to the other ssssssssside I guess. This one was no doubt heading for Monument creek. Still a great, great run. Hope you got out, too.

Cinco De Mayo - Snake-Oh! De Mayo

A beautful Cinco De Mayo and I take off on a lunchtime 5-mile run. I start at America the Beautiful Park just off of Colorado Ave., just west of downtown Colorado Springs. I cross the pedistrian bridge from the park and make my way north from mile marker 30 to the turn around at Fonternero (Mile Marker 32.5) on the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail. The trail actually crosses over Monument Creek (a concrete bridge) just below Bijou Street. I'm on the way back and just about to the finish line at mile marker 30 (5 miles round trip) and there, about 6-feet in front of me ... SNAKE ON THE TRAIL! He slithers across heading back to the creek. Glad I saw him when I did! Still it was a great run! Hope you got out, too.

A mid-week run worth talking about.

Did the 4-mile lunchtime run. Started at the Boulder Street steps and headed north on the Pikes Peak Greenway trail. It was down-right hot! So yes, again I was a no-shirt guy. Happy to say no SNAKES ON THE TRAIL encounters to report. However, noticing more and more grasshoppers springing to life and other than that Wilderness dude on the Discovery Channel, what or who enjoys eating a tasty grasshopper? Snake. Watch your step. Hope you were able to get out today.

Shiny, Happy People.

Maybe it was because those tax rebates began showing up in our bank accounts today ... or maybe it was because it's Monday, a bit overcast with temps in the 60s (GREAT running weather ANYWHERE!) ... really not sure, but it seemed like everyone I passed on the trail today either waved or gave me a smile as I passed them by (and I wasn't even a no-shirt guy!) Now add NO SNAKES ON THE TRAIL encounters to deal with and you've got one Colorado runner who thoroughly enjoyed his 4-mile lunchtime run today on the Greenway trail along Monument Creek in Colorado Springs. Hope you got out, too!

It's Friday and I'm going for a run.

TGIF - A 5-mile lunch time run on the Greenway trail in Colorado Springs only this time I start from America the Beautiful Park (there is a pedestrian bridge from the "Downtown Reach" of the trail). Once you cross the bridge, turn right ... there is a mile marker after you go under Colorado Avenue. By doing this, I'm adding a mile to the regular 4-mile run that starts from the Boulder Street steps. A little breezy (what's new). It's a good run. I turn around now 2.5 miles out (Fontenero Street). Happy to report no SNAKES ON THE TRAIL encounters - but what is really neat about running on the trails in the Pikes Peak region ... you never know what you are going to see. Today it's a red fox. He's down on the banks of Monument Creek ... got his eye on something ... after all, it is lunch time! Mild weather expected this week (70s for a couple of days)! See you on the trail.

Second snake of the season.

I have discovered the one word that will stop a family of 5 walking two dogs on the trail ... SNAKE. The second I uttered that word ... the entire family came to a halt. With that being said, my second SNAKES ON THE TRAIL encounter happened today. I was on the 5-mile lunchtime run (a gorgeous day) on the usual route (I started northbound on the Greenway Trail at the Boulder Street steps), yes, I was a NO-SHIRT GUY (had to be in the 70s) had made it to the 2.5 mile turn around and was coming up the only real incline on the run just below Tremont Street when I glanced over to my left ... there he was coming across the trail ... SNAKE. I sped up (of course) and (I hate to admit this) even looked back to make sure he hadn't turned to follow me (oh, brother). Did I tell you .. I HATE SNAKES! Have a great day.

A great run in Palmer.

Ran 5-miles in Palmer Park yesterday. (Directions: The park is located in Central Colorado Springs (North East side of town). Take Academy Blvd to Maizeland Rd. The park is on the northwest corner of Academy and Maizeland.) I park off of Austin Bluffs Parkway and access the trails off of the Lazy Land Picnic area.) Other than the Rescue Run on New Year's Day, that's the first time I have ran in the park this year! Wow, I have got to get back to Palmer more often that's for sure. No SNAKES OF THE TRAIL encounters - but then again I realize that there are a lot more people getting out these days. Maybe it's the economy, or gas prices keeping people closer to home. More trail traffic helps keep the snakes away, too. :) Still (and always) a great run. Hope you got out, too.

A word to the no-wavers.

Four mile lunch time run - sunny - but real breezy - weather moving in. I am in shorts but snow is expected this afternoon. Again it's cold enough not to worry about any SNAKES ON THE TRAIL encounters. Headed for the two mile turn around (I start from the Boulder Street steps) on the trail in Monument Valley Park. Not a lot of runners out today. Generally runners will acknowledge each other on the trail. Usually with a wave as you pass by. But then there are the NO-WAVERS ... those runners that for some reason have not learned the art of waving. It's sad actually. This no-waver sees me approaching today. I wave. Nothing. He has to be thinking WHAT DO I DO NOW? WHO IS THIS GUY? I DON'T KNOW HIM. WHAT DOES HE WANT? I see the same no-wavers every time I run on this trail! Listen, a word to the no-wavers ... STOP IT! The wave is just a friendly gesture. You are a runner, I am a runner. You are out running, I am out running. We are on the same trail at the same time. You are going one-way and I am going the other way. It is OKAY to wave back! Hope you got out today and you waved to everyone that passed you by.

I was a no-shirt guy on the trail today.

Wow, today was absolutely beautiful here in Colorado Springs. I took off at lunch time for a 5-miler along Monument Creek (started from the Boulder St. steps). It was awesome. Weather this nice, I actually became one of the "no-shirt guys." That's when male runners boldly remove their t-shirts because it's hot. Now don't get me wrong, there are plenty of runners that can get away with being no-shirt guys anytime. But then there are those guys (like me) that have passed other runners on the trail (especially the ladies) who just by the look in the eyes, you can tell they would love to shout, "FOR GOD SAKE ... PUT YOUR SHIRT BACK ON!" But you go shirtless anyway. Yep, a lot of runners agreed as I scurried along the trail passing one after another no-shirt guy and with no SNAKES ON THE TRAIL encounters to report either. Hope you were able to get out, too.

Running against the wind.

It's Saturday morning and almost 40 degrees! I head to the trail starting from Tiffany Square at I-25 and Woodmen in Colorado Springs and mile marker 38. I head north up the Pikes Peak Greenway trail that becomes the New Santa Fe Trail at mile marker 39 (yes, the entire route is now marked each half mile and mile of the Greenway Trail and every mile of the Santa Fe). It's one of the prettiest stretches along Monument Creek and just after mile marker 40 you head on to the Air Force Academy. By the way, there is a trailhead just off Woodmen after Corporate Drive. If you have not yet experienced this trail - I highly recommend it, fairly flat for the most part and if you're into biking, the trail goes all the way to Denver! Today I'm on a 6-mile run feeling pretty good. I'm running into a pretty brisk North wind and really looking forward to that same wind at my back for the 3-miles back to the car. And of course even better ... I know that it's still too chilly for any SNAKES ON THE TRAIL encounters today which makes this run even sweeter for this Colorado Runner!

Colorado weather, you gotta love it.

Since my initial SNAKES ON THE TRAIL post the weather has been downright nasty here in Colorado Springs (albeit typical for early Springtime in this part of the country). But because of Mother Nature's fury I have not been able to get out on the trail for a good run! It's suppose to be a lot warmer next week and I will get out on the trail this weekend. Hope you do, too.

First snake of the season.

I am an avid trail runner that loves to get out on the many trails in and around Colorado Springs, Colorado. However, there is one thing that I have never been able to adjust to in all my years of running ... SNAKES ON THE TRAIL crossing my path! This blog is to journal whenever I see a snake, or yes, snakes on the trail. Oh, and did I mention that I HATE SNAKES?

Tuesday, April 8, 2008, 12:20 p.m. Mountain Time

Four mile lunch time run - beautiful day - a little breezy - just about to the two mile turn around (when you start from the Boulder Street steps) on the trail in Monument Valley Park (Pikes Peak Greenway trail - Directions: Take I-25 to Uintah Ave. The Park runs along Monument Valley Creek which parallels the Interstate) at Fontenero Street. First snake of the season (seems early to me) crosses my path. I never get use to this ... my heart starts pounding. Which way should I go? Do I stop? Turn around? I hurdle it (didn't know I could jump that high!) and just kept on going. I don't look back. I fear it's going to be a long season of encounters with SNAKES ON THE TRAIL!

Feel free to share your SNAKES ON THE TRAIL encounters with me. I would be happy to hear from you and post your stories.