It’s true!  I had absolutely nothing in my legs for the Second Leg of the Triple Crown of Running, the Summer Roundup Trail Run, but as I came around for the end of the first loop in Bear Creek Park on Sunday I heard the ringing of a cowbell and a familiar voice shouting out “Come on Dave, the cowbell makes you faster.”  I don’t know that it’s actually true, but it did at least take my mind off the suffering even if for just for a few minutes and I thought I was running faster.  Thank you fellow Marmot Vanessa Shawver, for providing a much needed boost on each loop!  Vanessa came out to cheer on her “ladies”, but was really there cheering on everyone in her usual enthusiasm.  I know I’ve said it before, but I have to say it again, the support and camaraderie is what makes our local running community so great!

I woke up on race day and was not motivated to run at all.  Granted, riding the Triple Bypass, 120-miles from Evergreen to Avon over 3 mountain passes, was probably not the best thing to do the day before the race but I was committed so had to dig deep to get up for the Summer Roundup.  Once I arrived at Bear Creek Park, I was immediately uplifted by the enthusiasm of all the runners and seeing all the friendly faces especially my fellow Marmots!  Plus, the usual anxiety of the pre-race ritual and making new friends in the porta-potty line does tend to distract you.  Then the call to the start line.  Having no idea how the body was going to react, I just tried to get into a decent pace with Danielle at the start.

After about a ½-mile it quickly became apparent that I wasn’t going to be able to maintain that pace so motioned her past me and watched as she pulled away.  The legs were definitely fatigued from the day before and I had absolutely nothing for the hills.  I was at least able to keep them going on the flats and downhill, and then got that little extra boost of energy from the cowbell each loop. At the end of the day, it’s not the result I was hoping for and where I wanted to be at this stage of the TCR series but moving on to the Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon.  Well, after the XTERRA Off-Road Triathlon and Trail Run at Beaver Creek, and the Leadville Trail MTB 100.

The cowbell must’ve worked for my fellow Marmots as well.  Mike E, Anna, Lindsey, and Danielle all took home some age group hardware.  Congratulations to all the Marmots and great job representing the proud Purple & Gold!