Track Bagging: Platte Canyon High School

Platte Canyon HS Track -- near Bailey, CO

It's been awhile, been feeling a bit out of it for various reasons, but feeling better and time to add some things to the Blog from the summer.

It was a pretty mellow one, with some great pics and adventures (and misadventures) and some fun pacing gigs.  

So how about some track pics, instead?

Spurred on a bit from a discussion on GZ's blog, I realized other folks having an interest in running on random tracks.  I hadn't really gone out of my way for any tracks, but if you're in the vicinity of a cool track, why not "bag" it?

In Colorado, I've enjoyed running at Potts Field in Boulder, and numerous times at CSU's track, both with gorgeous foothills and mountain views.  I checked out UC Irvine's track a few years ago as well.  As a non-collegiate jogging hack, it's fun to check out some of these places.  But otherwise, what makes a worthy track? Completely subjective.

One track that's always caught my eye is Platte Canyon High School.  It's in a beautiful mountain setting, right next to 285, somewhat removed from town facilities.  Yet it's about the halfway point between the Front Range and the mountains, on a popular weekend thoroughfare, so you also have to appreciate the idea of being cooped up in a car for several hours and then being taunted with the freedom of an open track.

Anyway, I passed the track on the way to Leadville last month, driving solo, so figured, "Why not?"  (Although having had a belly full of Chipotle was one good reason not to...) I pulled off on the gravel shoulder near sunset and headed out for a quick 4 laps.

Nothing else much to report, except for I also decided to run barefoot.  I do this occasionally on the much softer CSU track.  This ended up being a worse idea here, with a grippy but abrasive surface.  By the time I finished, one of my big toes was sticky with blood!  That was a bit stupid right before I planned on pacing that weekend, but taping it up the next few days made it tolerable.

So, check out this beautiful track sometime!  But wear shoes.

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If you're in the vicinity of a cool track, why not "bag" it?
I'll report on more cool tracks in the future (which means I'll do this a couple more times and then lose interest), and appreciate suggestions.  The Idaho Springs track is also on the list.
However, I was also able to run on what is perhaps #1 on my list (if I had a list) recently....guesses?