“Snow. Sun. Sandstone. Sky. He was doing what he liked and knew. It was now. And this now had no pressure, just permission.” -James Galvin

This weekend called for some wandering with Nick Clark and Joe Grant, high in Comanche Peak Wilderness and Rocky Mountain National Park. Nick gave us an off-trail tour of his turf with a hearty promise to bag a bunch of peaks in the Mummy Range. He definitely followed through, providing a 30 mile journey (over 1/3 off-trail) with over 8,000 feet of gain.

It was a spectacular day to explore the high country. While temperatures loomed in the upper nineties in Fort Collins and Boulder, we enjoyed pleasant 80 degree temps with hardly a cloud in the sky. The daily monsoons decided not pay a visit in the afternoon, and we were thankful as we made a few navigational errors along the way.

My knee cap decided to do battle with a rocky meadow, and the rock decisively won. Sometimes we don’t get to choose the landing of our falls. Need to get my severely bruised patella healed so I can keep up my UTMB training and continue to enjoy the short high mountain wandering season.

Map of the route

Joe making his way to top of Signal Mtn with Mummy Range looming

Atop Signal Mtn with South Signal Mtn and "the Mummies" on the far horizon

Nick wielding the summit log pen on Signal Mtn

Frogger loving the morning light on Signal Mtn

Another view of South Signal and Mummy Range, mtn running at it's finest!

Enjoying the sunrise on Signal Mtn

Descending an old unmaintained trail to the Stormy Peaks

Nick getting a lay of the land on the Stormy Pks Trail

Consulting the map on Stormy Pks Trail in Rocky Mtn National Park

Stormy Pks on the way to Stormy Pass, a wildflower run.

Nick getting a foot on the summit rock

Tagging a rocky summit in the Stormy Mtns. Photo: J. Grant

High on the ridge line of the Stormy Peaks

Rowe Mtn watches as we follow the spine of Sugarloaf Mtn to Icefield Pass

Off trail lunch of homemade ume musubi and sporting some good blood from earlier rock encounter

Leaving Stormy Peaks Pass for a long off trail journey

An icy Rowe Glacier fills the lake. Frogger watches icebergs while Nick navigates.

Rock bounding up towards Rowe Pk with Hagues Pk in background

Rock pile descent off Rowe Mtn in RMNP

Rocks & more rocks, Nick and Joe embracing the descent of Sugarloaf Mtn

Looking for the Mummy Pass Trail in RMNP. Photo: J. Grant

Trail at last! Mummy Pass Trail in RMNP on W. side of Mummy Pass

The road home and where we once were, Mummy Range

B & W photos courtesy of Joe “Frogger” Grant

So you may be wondering why I’ve been off the blog for a stint. I’ve been on what I call “winter hibernation,” where I recharge my batteries so to speak, both mentally and physically. I just needed some down time from running.

So what exactly have I been doing for the past month and a half other than not blogging? Not running! When I say “not running,” I mean NOT running. I’ve always taken 4 – 6 weeks off at the end of every race season to let my muscles and mind mend from the long months of hard racing and training. I truly believe this recovery period has been instrumental in enabling me to churn out top race results year after year.

I first began “hibernating” in my nordic skiing days. At the end of the ski season, the snow would start to melt away, and suitable ski conditions along with it. The warm temps and slush caused me to lose motivation to ski or even cross train. So instead of becoming depressed, I embraced the opportunity to take a complete rest from all types of specific training. Although it seemed unnatural at first, it later felt like the right thing to do. I started recognizing it was not only beneficial physically, but also mentally. Following the hibernation period I was ready to start running and cross training with a newly found enthusiasm for my goals for next season.

Then in my first couple years of ultrarunning, I came across the book Train Hard, Win Easy: The Kenyan Way by Toby Tanser. Tanser traveled to Kenya to learn the Kenyan secrets of success. He interviewed the Kenyan elite and coaches to better understand their training philosophies. A recurrent theme in their philosophies was the importance of rest and recovery during the offseason. Yes, even the Kenyans lay on the couch at the end of their season! Many of the athletes refer to taking time off in which they do not run a single step, sometimes for two months.

Top marathoner, Moses Kiptanui, states that he takes a two month break after the race season. 800 meter runner, Nixon Kiprotich describes the importance of the break for an “opportunity to relax, put on a few pounds, and catch up on family life he has missed while spending the summer on the European circuit.”

So not only was taking a break backed up by the Kenyans, but the restocking of my fat stores was given Kenyan approval. Even though I usually put on a few pounds during all of my breaks, I never worry about it. After a couple of good base building months I am back to my normal body composition. So stop feeling guilty about those pounds you packed on during the holidays!

Cosmas Ndeti says “The marathon recovery cannot be hurried; I like to eat well and spend time with my children, then begin a hard buildup.”

I have been eating well, while my break has hardly been hurried. What I thought would be 4 weeks turned into 6 weeks, and no it was not spent in front of a tv on the couch. I have been enjoying getting back in touch with some of the activities and friends that I was not able to keep up with during my busy travel and racing schedule. The break has been physically and mentally refreshing. In my next posts I will be giving the full rundown of what I did to get recharged and what lies ahead in 2009!

So the lessons learned from the Kenyans and the art of hibernation:

1. Take a hibernation break at the end of every season.
2. During the break, run as few steps as possible.
3. Eat well and don’t be afraid to put on a few pounds.
4. Make time for friends, family, and life outside of running.
5. Hibernate four to eight weeks or until fully recharged!

My good friend, Don Mukai, has often told me, “Stumble seven times, get up eight times.” This is the Japanese proverb, 七転び八起き, nanakorobi yaoki. Perseverance over defeat.

Life is full of challenges, hard times, lessons. To me, these are our gifts. If we honor these times, we grow. We become stronger.

We all stumble. We all make mistakes. These can be made into our best moments. Continue reading →