Rave Run

I'm not a big fan of gray - definitely a girl that craves bright, sunny days - that's why I live in Colorado!  But there is something about running in the fog that creates the perfect run.  And fog is different than gray - usually it burns off given a little time - especially here in Colorado.   And it makes for some of the best runs - runs that of course I would love to do over and over again.  The trail is still there so I can do them over and over again.  But they don't ever feel the same in the sunshine.  Snow is kind of like fog, that way.  It changes the way I see the world - softens it I think.

I ran in the fog yesterday in Crested Butte. CB has to be one of the prettiest places in Colorado.  Small mountain town nestled among high peaks.  And it's the pinnacle of beauty in the summer because the green hills are littered with color - red Indian Paintbrush, deep purple Larkspur and Lupine, violet Columbine, yellow black-eyed Susans and any number of other sunflower like plants, and the white daisys.  

The trail is on the west side of town (I think, though I am directionally challenged in the mountains where the mountains surround me, rather than marking the way West) and it follows a river.  It's called the lower loop - nothing fancy.  We hardly saw a soul yesterday - it was early, 7 am start, and the clouds hung low after a rain that saturated the landscape the previous night.  The trail was muddy, but not slippery and it was a soft trail.  Not too many rocks, or other obstacles to watch for and just that soft, bouncy kid of trail.  It reminded me of a forest trail - soft, spongy and gently rolling - but most of it wasn't in the forest.   I felt so light on my feet, like I could run forever, literally.  This is what running is meant to be.  

If I didn't live 4 hours from here I'd be on this trail daily - but maybe once a year will make me appreciate it that much more.  

So easy to find heavenly spots in this glorious state.  8 miles hardly seems long when the trail is soft and the scenery stunning.  Could have run and run and run....