I hadn’t been up the old Manitou Incline since January 26th until this morning. My coach doesn’t want me doing it except during the off season since she thinks it damages the legs coming back down. My friend that used to be coached by her really wanted to do it and so she told him to carry his bike up and ride down. He did it but said he’d never do it again.

I hadn’t had poor Kody out since that last time in January. Since I was focused on the bike, he spent his time chasing squirrels in the yard and running along the fence when anybody walked by. I debated whether or not to take him this morning since his nearly 10 years old and it’s a tough hike. He has a way of knowing when I go hiking without him so I decided to let him go. I had to wait a couple times for him on the way up and he was dragging on the way down but he made. If I decide to go next week, he’ll probably kick my butt. It’s amazing how fast dogs get fit.

It was a beautiful morning and a lot of people were out even though I got there at 6 AM. I think there were more than normal because the Pikes Peak Ascent is only a couple weeks away. It’s been at least 5 years since I’ve done it in the summer so I’m not sure what is normal. I’d heard it had gotten crowded. In the winter when I do it, I see a few people but not many. I can understand why the Pikes Peak Cog Railway isn’t happy with all the people parking in the limited parking spots to go climb the Incline.

I wasn’t fast but I didn’t push myself all out. Even if I had I would have been off my good times. The best I’ve done it in is 29 minutes and this morning I was 38:30. I figure I stopped 3 or 4 minutes waiting for Kody. I also went back down a little when he fell into one of the big drainage pipes and got stuck. Since I was stopping for Kody on the way down and I’d taken the camera, I shot several pictures.

Adam wrote an excellent article a few days ago saluting amateur athletes. He talks about how people look to professional athletes for inspiration. He writes how amateur athletes but all their heart into their sport while taking care of their families and working full time jobs. It’s an article worth taking the time to reading. Adam is also an ultra mountain bike racer and writes about his epic rides and races.