Highline Hypnosis

What a difference a week makes!  This Saturday the high temperature was 54 degrees.  What little breeze there was came out of the south-west.  It gently pushed me along the outward leg of my 15 mile loop. 

When I left my house at 6:30 a.m. the temperature was 31 degrees.  As the saying goes, hot air rises, and the temperature steadily dropped while I followed the creek near my house downhill towards the Highline Canal Path.  Once on the Highline Canal Path I felt distinct changes in temperature as I ran past places where the canal was dry and where there was still some frozen water.  Those large ice cubes accounted for major swings in the air temperature.  I was dressed appropriately: tights (the required uniform), a long sleeve t-shirt, a wind breaker, cotton gloves and a lycra cap. 

Once I made the turn at the Big Dry Creek trail (at the 11 mile point) and started the four mile ascent towards home, the temperature steadily rose.  As a result of the combination of climbing away from the creek coupled with the sun warming the air, by the time I arrived back home I was sweating nicely. 

While running, I recalled when I registered for the 2005 Boulder Backroads Marathon.  The web site made a remarkable claim.  It said that for over 100 years, there had been no precipitation on that date (September 25^th) in Boulder.  As runners, we experience all kinds of weather in the Mile High City.

Because I run so many miles on the Highline Canal Path, I am able to recall a mental image of the path during the latter stages of races.  This is particularly helpful on courses I have not run before.  During the early stages of the marathon I concentrate on conserving energy.  The last miles of the marathon are all about focusing on finishing and finishing strong.  I relate the miles I have left with points on the path.

My reference points are the Goodson Rec. Center and my home.  Here are my benchmarks:

            It is ten miles from Hampden Ave. to Goodson.

            It is seven miles from where the Highline Canal passes under Belleview Ave. to Goodson.

            It is six miles from my dentist’s office on South Broadway to my home.

            It is five miles from the white bronco statue to Goodson.

            It is about four miles from Orchard Rd. to Goodson.

            It is also about four miles from Writers Vista Park (where I stop to use the loo) to home.

            It is two and a half miles from where the Highline Canal passes under University Blvd. to Goodson.

            It is about one mile from the little park by the church on Orchard Rd. (where I used to take my girls) to Goodson.

In the latter stages of races when I am suffering, I mentally put myself on the Highline and that gives me the confidence that I can finish the race.