Life Without Running

Every year, for the past ten, on or right after my birthday I think about what to name my next blog that could be turned into a blog book when the upcoming year is over. If you look back at my first such blog it was called, “Still Running After 50 Years”. That was ten years ago. I would have simply called this blog the same thing but replaced 50 with 60. Unfortunately over the last two years life had other plans forcing me to accept the fact that I’m done running and the only races I’m able to even try to do anymore are simply trying to walk fast. 

HITTING THE ROAD FOR

COLORADO & NEW MEXICO

Someone was definitely ready for a road trip. Of course he gets excited every time I mention getting in the car to go for a ride even if it’s only to the store and back. I’m lucky to have him as a travel companion who never disagrees with my decisions. 😉

We stopped when we needed and got a surprise short but very steep hike at Echo Canyon shortly before leaving Utah and getting into Wyoming where we spent the second night on the road. The Canyon has an interesting history. I had never heard of the Utah War. 

Our first stop on this trip was at Spell’s in Denver to hang out for a couple of days. He took a day of work the day after we arrived so Charlie stayed with Spell’s dog Winky and we went to Waterton Canyon. I had no idea how far I could walk before I crashed but was happily surprised to go two miles up the trail before turning back. 

On the way back to Spells we stopped at the newest Denver Tattered Cover Book Store. I try to go to Tattered Cover whenever I can when I’m in Denver the one in Cherry Creek is still my favorite. 

I was supposed to stay with Joe in Monument while I was in the Springs but I got a text saying he was getting sick. I immediately made reservations for the entire time at Econolodge figuring I could always check out early if it turned out he felt better and didn’t have Covid. He tested negative two days in a row so after staying two days in the hotel we moved up to Joe’s. If he hadn’t tested I would probably have just stayed at the hotel. 

Charlie and I stopped at Palmer Lake on our way down to the Springs for a walk around the lake. Pretty much every time I got out and walked it was trying to get more acclimated to the altitude without overdoing it. 

The next morning Charlie and I drove through Garden on the Gods and stopped for a brief walk on our way to lunch with Ron, Jim and Chris at Amanda’s Fonda. The food was okay but the company was great. 

After lunch and before we went to Joe’s Charlie and I went to North Monument Valley Park to walk. I took a picture of Charlie near the tree where our cross country team set up camp at all of our meets there. I have so many good memories of coaching and running in that park and was even going to do a race there on this trip. 

That night Joe cooked a great meal and we got up early the next morning to meet Spell and do a last minute “Reunion Run “.  It was a beautiful morning to race and even though as usual it kicked my butt just walking it I’m glad we did it. 

The last day in Colorado was the best day in Colorado. I got to see and have breakfast with Stacie on her birthday. We had a nice breakfast with Jen and Charlie in Palmer Lake before they headed to Crested Butte and I headed home. 

Charlie and I made a final stop in Colorado so he could go to the bathroom at the Greenland Trail another place where I have some racing history. 

Then one more at Walgreens in Castle Rock to get oxygen. 

As the heading for this section says I had planned to go on to New Mexico but since my oxygen levels were staying consistently low I didn’t want to risk going up another 1000 feet in elevation. Hopefully I’ll get back there sometime in the future.