After the stellar success I had running the 4 Pass Loop in Aspen [click that link, then you’ll understand just how much sarcasm I’m using there] I decided to give this run-in-a-circle-and-up-mountain-passes thing another try. This time I headed to Indian Peaks Wilderness to run the Pawnee/Buchanan Pass loop with a group of runners and strict instructions to bail out if it hurt. For the most part I did a fantastic job of listening to my body and playing it safe! Sort of. Mostly.
I was really nervous going into this run. I didn’t know many of the people running and the ones I did know where a heck of a lot more experienced on the trail than I am. There really was nothing expected of me but in my head I had some standards to live up to [or down to…] and I didn’t want to disappoint. I didn’t want to whine too much or be the idiot that ran right through pain and into an injury just to save face. Yea, I was scared to run with these people…but I also knew it would be good to run with some more experienced people, so I showed up and ran.