Top of Bergen peak in Evergreen, Co

Thanksgiving day 2012 I meet up with the Denver Trail runners group in the Elk Meadows trail head parking lot at 9:30am. It is mostly clear sunny morning with a few cirrus clouds whisked high above. Fairly warm for this time of year as it has been since last spring. The group was about 15 people strong. I had brought my running partner Louie. Louie is a black coated terrier, possibly whippet mix that has been hiking and running with me since he was a pup. Women love him as do most people. This day was no exception as it drew a couple women over to say hi to him. The group merged towards the trail map with John explaining our choices of routes today. I had decided early I would do the long route with would take us to the peak of Bergen mt.

I start out slow and at the back of the pack so that Louie can find his pace without all the runner's legs freaking him out which usually happens when he's on leash. We head up the trail and as the runners space out, we start passing to get up towards the lead pack. I am glad I took off my long sleeved shirt in the parking lot as I begin to warm up at this point. At the first junction we stop and I get my bearings. This isn't the branch off trail for the peak yet and I am glad a fellow runner tells me. We begin again and now I am with the lead group as we continue our climb. I stay at the back since running with a leashed Louie makes it a tad more difficult for me to focus on running and I don't want to hold anyone up. We reach the junction for Bergen peak and stop as the other runners meet up with us. I had made the decision here since Louie wasn't panting that he'd be ok for the peak. I didn't bring water as it would be under the time I needed for it and Louie usually won't drink at this point either. 3 other runners choose the peak also. we introduce ourselves and I learn one fellow is Corky Dean, the grand master that won the North Fork 50k. The others were Paul and Ted. Paul is the leader/owner of bungeebootcamp.com that I have run with before with DTR. The funny thing is we were all the older of the group that started.

We begin the climb towards bergen peak. After I while I start to feel fatigued and think I will lose the group but just as I feel I have to stop running the leaders Ted and Corky stop running. Whew, so Paul and I do also. Once it evens out a little we begin running again. The break I needed! Paul and I stay together for most of the climb while Ted and Cork gain about 100yds or so on us. I chat with Paul about nutrition and he mentions coconut oil. I am not a jumper on of fads but this has intrigued me like chia seeds. I also inquire about gluten since he has tried to remove that from his diet. Still not entirely convinced that "gluten free" isn't a fad.  We summit Bergen peak.

Summit Bergen peak looking west towards Mt Evans

On the summit a cold breeze is blowing and cools me off quickly. Here we chat about shoes and other running related subjects. Its a great place to be on Thanksgiving morning! Thank the Lord! After a bit we decide to head down. The downhill running from here on out really pushes me. I can see that I am faster on the more technical parts but slower one the flatter sections. This is good to know about me. We really have a good pace going. Once out on the meadow though I begin to start gaining on Corky and Ted though never catching them. I had pushed myself pretty hard and die on the final climb to the trail head. The end of the run has come and we have our final chat and say goodbye. Corky mentions the fatass run held by Sherpa john and I decide to do it also. Till then.....