Finally! Felt a little better today, and I have been looking up at Malan's Peak with a good degree of longing for a week or so, figured I'd have a go at it, even if it invloved alot of slow hiking. I hesitated even taking a watch as I didn't want to get caught up in how slow my splits would be. I finally put on my old Ironman, promising myself that I wouldn't even look at it unitl the top of the climb, and I'd be happy with what ever it said, though I hoped the time would start with a 3 not a 4. This year a sub 40 minute time has been a pretty easy benchmark, but the way I have felt, wasn't sure it was possible.
I hit start and took off with the goal to keep the pace no more and no less than moderate. As I climbed along, if my effort started to approach work, I would back off a little. My legs felt strong and finally felt like I finally could turn them over smooth and fast-ish. Going past my split markers it was hard not to look at my watch, I felt good and like I was making good time, but if my time was slow, I'd be down myself the rest of the run, and if it was fast I'd be tempted to push too hard.
All felt great, no more than moderate effort, breath was always easy and in control, and kept a good solid run all the way up. Cruised over the top, hit stop my time was 35:05. That's only a minute and a few seconds off PR time and it felt totally easy! nice! finally! I hung out for a bit on the peak and watched the 3/4 moon come up over Mt. Ogden, and the sunset go dark West of the lake. Felt great on the downhill too. Quick turnover, form felt better, legs felt solid, fast pace until it got too dark to run hard. Totally pysched, that's the feeling I've been missing for the past few weeks!
4.9 miles 2250 vert. | 