Up, up, up ... and then up some more

Looking for that amazing workout that will really get your heart pumping? Look no further than the Manitou Incline in Manitou Springs,  Colorado (a little town just west of Colorado Springs).

I think most of you know I run with some of the kiddos from school on the cross country team; the coach is a friend of mine whom is an incredible endurance athlete, as well as an amazing coach.  The kids adore him.  With the closing of cross county season a few weeks ago, the kids took a short hiatus from running but are now back at it with pre-season build-up base mileage for track season, which starts in a few short weeks.  As coach said today: The bigger your training base in December and January, the more speed you can do this spring, and the faster you will run.  Ok, I'm trying to listen.  In pre-season track running, the coach is trying to get a few different runs thrown in from the everyday run in the neighborhood, or the state park in our backyard,  for the kids to get psyched-up - and have fun.  And today's adventure took us to the Manitou Incline.

The Manitou Incline was built as a cable car to carry materials to build pipelines on Pikes Peak. After the pipelines were finished it was turned into a tourist attraction. After a rock slide damaged a section of track in 1990, the Manitou Incline was closed down and the rails removed. Some locals started using it for a tough workout. A portion of it is private property and it’s illegal to hike up the ties of the old cable car. That hasn’t stopped it from becoming the most popular hike in the Colorado Springs area.

Below is a picture of Pikes Peak (famous in the running community for the "Pikes Peak Marathon" - 8000' up in 13.3 miles.  Did this a couple times, very hard, but very fun.  Well, not so much fun, but oh so rewarding!  Come and join me in '11) See the line going up the mountain just to the right of the white snow-capped peak ? (just a little off to the right from smack in the middle of the picture.  That long straight line you can almost see)  That is the Manitou Incline.  That's what we went up.  Total crazy steep!!

1 mile straight up with 2000' elevation gain.  The steepest section is at a grade of 68% with the average grade just over 40%.  Intimidating as hell! 

My studette friend, K of Happy Trails, can go up this thing in 32 minutes.  I cannot.  Not even close.  About half way up, I started counting 30 steps and gave myself permission to stop for a short break at 30.  I don't know how many of these 30-step short breaks I took, but it was plenty.  One time I was hurled over trying to get some air in - kinda like when I run mile repeats and gasp for air at the end.  But I didn't time my climb, I didn't want to know - truthfully, I just consider myself lucky to have done it.  Lucky to have the lungs to make it up the thing without them exploding.  Lucky I didn't get dizzy and fall backwards.  Lucky I live in such a place great place where I get the opportunity to run up the side of mountains, despite not thinking so at the time.

Start of my climb up.  See that line all the way to the top?
Yep, that's the trail!

Coach there in the red jacket, who didn't stick with me for very long

The steps.  Can you say holy glute workout!?

At the top with the cross country coach and two of the girl runners

View down below to Colorado Springs, and beyond, from the top

Small group running today, just two boys (one was Ryan, my son) and two girls and the coach (Brian) and myself.  One of the boys reached the top in 28 minutes.  Brian was second in 33 (but he hung with pathetic me for awhile and stopped frequently to check on us below, making sure no mountain lions had us for breakfast), then Ryan at about 40 minutes, followed by me at God knows how long, and then the two girls about 10 minutes after me.  When I reached the top, I told Brain, who was waiting for us all, "I am OUT.  OF.  SHAPE!"  He laughed and told me to do it frequently and soon I'd be in shape.  I guess so!

At the top, you have two options: Go back down the steep incline that you just traveled up or take a spur trail that leads back down to the parking lot.  I think there are two trails, one shorter and one longer (thanks, K, for that info today!!).  Brian wanted the kids to have the miles so long it was.  Pea-sized gravel marked the trail and sections are pretty steep, which make your footing slip on the gravel (or at least mine) - I was grateful only two twisting of the left ankle, but nothing serious, thankfully.  The girls, Brian, and I all stuck together on the way down; the girls decided to go at a neck-breaking pace and Brain even commented it was WAY too fast for his liking (this guy has run 11 Leadville 100's [btw, registration is open, if anyone is inclined to register.  I'll come crew ya :) ] - he knows his descents.  And ascents.  Obviously).

But we made it down in one piece, and had a blast doing so.  I got a killer workout in, my lungs are still intact, and I felt really good - for the first time in what seems like forever - with a run.  I think I need to add a little more adventures like these in my running routine - and I think the Manitou Incline may have to be revisited in the very near future.  I can't wait.

Ryan and I at the bottom of the trail we took down
(totally regretted wearing those pants at the start of the run -
glad I had them at the top, such a huge temp change in 2000')

Today's crew - small, but mighty!

Holiday Blog Gift Exchange:  Ok, guys - this is your final pestering love letter.  I have tried to check in on all to see if gifts have been sent and received - but I have totally lost track.  If you haven't sent your gift yet, and I know of at least one who hasn't (ahem!!), you're going to have to overnight ship that sucker.  For anyone who does not get a gift by mid-week next week, PLEASE email me and let me know and I will email your blog buddy to see what has happened.  I know mail is uber slow right now so be patient.  Please, please, please do a blog post with your gift, picture preferred, as I know the person who sent to you would love to see - and me too.  I put a lot of time into this and I just get really excited to see what everyone got.  Thank you to all who participated - it was a lot of fun and I'd do it again in a heart beat (well, next year anyway).  And no, I'm not planning any New Year's Eve blog party - I'm done with the entertainment in 2010.  A HUGE thank you for all of you for the kind wishes - it was a pleasure to bring us all together with a blog this really awesome connection.

I may try to post again before Christmas (stop laughing - you know who you are!), but most likely I won't - so if not, I want to wish everyone out there in this vast world of runners and athletes galore:

Happy Holidays, from my blog to yours!

Jill