Run Rabbit Run is just 5 days away and I am now in Steamboat getting acclimatized. I spent 5 days up at Dumont campground running that end of the course near Rabbit Ears Peak. It was sobering as the course is up and down, muddy and rocky. We just don’t have terrain like this in Central Illinois and the altitude is also a big change. One other factor is that I am dealing with allergies to something here–just have not felt well.

Here is the link to contribute to the Copper Canyon Chicken Project as I run.

Anyway I got here to town and checked into a condo at The West and took off for the course. I headed up the runs–it is 3000 ft  up to the top of the ski runs to the first aid station at Mt Werner. I ran into a couple of newly weds on the way up and took it easy for the first half up to the top of the gondola. Then on the upper half I went for it. I ventured beyond Mt Werner a bit toward Long Lake (so now I have been on all but about 5 miles of the course).

My conclusion is that it will take me almost 2 hours to get through that first aid station–or it should take me that long. what I mean is that I need to cool it at the beginning if I hope to cover the last 18-20 miles strong.

Just for fun I timed myself coming down the 6.2 miles–and I did it in a little over one hour. Now I am sure I cannot do this at the end of the 50 miles–but I am confident I can get down it fairly quickly.

I am getting much more realistic about this course and now hope to finish in 14 hrs.

At the top of the gondola with my new friends from Dallas yesterday.