These short runs during the taper are great, but are also in stark contrast to the feeling one gets during a 100-miler which is a bit like a one-legged cat trying to bury turds on a frozen pond.
Today was my final pre-Western States run in Maine. Will likely do another short run on Thursday out in Cali (I'll have my laptop with me and plan on posting then). Went very slow and power-walked the steeper uphills on purpose today.
Ran 3.5 miles @ 9:20/mile pace.
Trails.
Very hilly.
Lower 70s, sunny, humid.
Shorts, short sleeved shirt, cap.
Speaking of steep uphills, another WS entrant has posted video of the entire grueling climb up Devil's Thumb (46.1 miles into the course). It's in five parts, and I posted part three below. While it may not initially look steep, keep in mind that the camera is mostly parallel to the slope of the ground, making it seem flatter than it normally is. It climbs 1565' in 1.7 miles and most do it during the hottest parts of the day.
