I got back yesterday from my trip to the Grand Mesa and y’all, it was seriously beautiful over there. At the lower elevations, the aspen leaves were just changing to a stunning golden yellow and I couldn’t get enough of them! Mom and I decided to go trail running on Friday morning as a way to get our sweat on while still taking in the views. Best. decision. ever!
The Grand Mesa is seriously one of the least populated outdoor meccas I have ever explored (I’m even hesitant to type this because I fear that I’ll help spread the word faster!) For example, when I asked Mom where we were going to run, she replied, “Oh, let’s just drive up the hill a ways. I’m sure we’ll find something.” Sure enough, we found a beautiful trail that was completely void of people!
I wore my Mizuno Wave Ascend 7 trail shoes and, because it is the start of hunting season, my neon yellow Columbia Solar Polar Half Zip. I was thinking I was all smart, dodging the hunters and remaining highly visible….until I realized I was the same color as the changing aspens. Moron.
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| Matchy-matchy with the leaves. I’m an idiot. |
Anyway, Mom runs at a significantly slower pace than I do, but I was just excited to be outside in the beautiful sunshine! Although the Denver Metro area received snow on Friday, the western side of the state was just as warm and sunny as ever. It was roughly 55 degrees when we started, and I daresay I used the word “glorious” to describe the weather! Tals was fortunate enough to be able to run off-leash, so she and I would jog ahead for five minutes and then turn around to jog back to Mom. Naturally, Mama said it was fine for us to keep going but Tally was not having that decision at all! She is very protective of “her flock” of people and she doesn’t like it when Grandma is out of sight. As long as we checked on Mom every 5 minutes or so, Tals was kosher with the situation.
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| Mama truckin’ up one of the climbs |
The run was a gradual uphill that started out as a tight, leaf-covered singletrack but turned into a wider, two-lane backcountry road. There were plenty of muddy bogs for Tals to splash around in and drink from (Yuck, I know, but she is a dog!) so she was psyched. I enjoyed watching the trees change as we climbed up the Mesa. The leaves were the previously mentioned yellow at the base, but as we climbed, the aspen trunks grew bare and we eventually turned around in grove free of leaves.
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| My lil’ furball taking a break |
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| View from the top– love the random patches of yellow! |
Annnnnnnnd I was planning on uploading the topo of the run for y’all to see, but my Garmin and my laptop are currently going to battle, so I’ve got nothing for you 🙂 You’ll just have to believe that the run involved some BEAST climbs that explain away the 3.1 miles in 40:07!
If you didn’t win the giveaway but are still interested in a beanie, Suzanne is happy to help! Just use the discount code COGAL20, and you’ll receive 20% off any purchase, good through this Friday. Start shopping!
16 Comments
I love the pictures! The trees look so beautiful.
Wow what amazing photos and that looks like a pretty amazing place to run. Trail running surely is my favorite and those photos show why.
It also looks like fall has truely hit your neck of the woods. It has here too…isnt it nice?
I love fall! Not as awesome as it was in New England, but the neon yellow aspen are a close second 🙂
So pretty!! I really wish I could get out on trails more often.
beautiful! looks like a heanvely place to spend time. i forced myself to notice the changing leaves in denver yesterday while walking my pup – it may not be quite as stunning as the mountains but my little urban street is lined with red and orange leaves!
Our aspens started changing this week. Fall is definitely here, and I’m trying to get as much biking/hiking in as possible before it snows.
Nice to see you have a hat on…. 🙂 🙂
SISSY! I always wear a hat when I run! Seriously. Go FB stalk me right this second and you’ll realize your sis is doing her damndest to prevent skin cancer 🙂
love the grand mesa. only mtn biked there – would love to run too. beautiful!!!
I was reading up on a few mtb trails but I’ve never ridden them…yet! Next year!!
Wow.. beautiful pics! I’ll have to check it out sometime… but I won’t tell anyone! 🙂
Thats such a fine line when I share trails. I want people out there, enjoying them, appreciating them the way I do… I just do not want those same people out there jamming up and dropping trash!
That looks beautiful and makes me think I need to get out to Letchworth with the camera this weekend!
The first thing that jumped out at me when I read this was that you go trail running with your mom – so cool! And holy wow are those photos beautiful. The leaves haven’t quite started changing in Philly, but they sure have in the ‘burbs. Fall is the BEST! And thanks so much for doing the giveaway 🙂
Oh man. Soooo beautiful. Must admit I do miss watching the leaves change colors. Guess it’s a trade off.
Love that you run with your mom! This makes me miss trail running. Of course, that place is much more beautiful than any trails I’ve run!
I live in GJ, so I am lucky enough to experience the Mesa as much as I want 🙂 and GJ is seriously the best-kept secret of CO. There is so much fun outdoor stuff to do around here! Not to mention being an hour away from my happy place (Moab)!