About a month ago I decided I wanted to start running in the mountains. I have been hiking in the mountains all summer, but after seeing how much more ground could be covered in so much less time running, I felt a drive to achieve the level of fitness required. The first few times I tried running up some trails I would usually hike, I quickly discovered how insanely difficult running up mountains really is. Basically, I would run for a minute or two then go back to hiking until I could breath again, then run again, over and over. For the past month, I have been running twice a week in the mountains and attempting to run for longer and longer stretches. On Friday, I decided it was time to go on my first run to the top of something without stopping and hiking. I ran from the base of Alta up Catherine's pass to Mount Tuscarora and Mount Wolverine and was able to do it!
This morning I woke up at 4:30, got ready, and drove to the Timpooneke Trailhead to see how fast I could run up Mount Timpanogos. My goal was 4 hours. I was able to run all the way to the upper basin and then hiked fast up to the summit. I am definitely learning that running in the mountains is even more about developing my mind than my body. I just had to fight that mental fatigue and voice telling me to slow down. This was a good trail for my first major mountain run because it isn't that steep. It ended up only taking me 2 hours and 4 minutes to the summit! I ran back down and got back to my car at 3 hours and 17 minutes from my start time! Not bad for 15 miles and 4,500 feet of elevation gain. I was so excited and consider this my first real mountain run.
