Running the Imogene Pass

For those of you who have heard of the Imogene Pass Run, your reactions to my sentence "I'm running the IPR" ranged from mumbles of disbelief to shouts of encouragement. Never during my 4+ months of training did I doubt my ability to make it over the pass, but at times I wondered "What the hell am I doing!!??"

I was lucky enough to be running the race with my friend Kristi, who had a case of the nerves for days preceding the race that parallelled mine. Not even gluttonous carb loading remedied us! The run course elevation profile might explain our nerves....

Or maybe the course description that states...

Mile 1.85– First view of United States mountain (13,036 ft.), located straight ahead at the head of Canyon Creek valley. Keep in mind that Imogene pass is 84 feet higher than the summit of United States mountain, and adjust your effort accordingly.

or even better yet...

Mile 5.45– Lower Camp Bird bridge (9755 ft.), spanning Sneffels creek. At this point the runner might philosophize a little and consider just where he or she is in this effort called the Imogene Pass Run. At this bridge you have climbed 1945 feet (net) of elevation in 5.45 miles, at an average of 356 ft./mi., or 6.8% gradient overall. To reach Imogene Pass from here you must climb 3365 feet in the next 4.60 miles, at an average of 731 ft./mi., or 13.85% gradient overall. Your effort so far has simply been a warmup. The steep gradients of the named hills below you are now less than the average gradient ahead of you.

If that didn't convince you, maybe pieces from the description of mile 9 (the last mile on the way to the summit) may explain our squirrley stomachs!

Mile 9.00— Elevation 12,310 ft. Your work is cut out for you in that the road makes up for lost time as it climbs 240 feet in the next 0.24 mile at an average gradient of 1000 ft./mi., or 18.9%.

Mile 9.30– As with Murphy’s law, nothing worthwhile ever comes without sacrifice. The road mounts another effort to repulse you with a merciless hill which climbs 230 vertical feet over the next 0.2 mile (1050 horizontal ft.) at a gradient of 1150 ft./mi. (21.8%).

Mile 9.60– The pass is now seemingly within touching distance, but you still have dues to pay. The road steepens again in a final effort to discourage you, presenting a climb identical to the previous merciless hill (195 ft. vertical in 0.17 mi.; 1145 ft./mi., or 21.7% gradient).

Mile 9.77– Even the fittest of mountain runners may consider pausing at the top (12,945 ft.) of this final grind, but only for a second.

Mile 9.85– Yes, it is still a climb (130 ft. vertical in 0.12 mi.; 1080 ft./mi., or 20.5% gradient),

Mile 9.97– Imogene trail/road junction (13,120 ft.). You have succeeded in gaining the summit. The long climb is behind you.

WHOOOOO HOOOOO!!!!! But that was just the climb... now it's only 7.1 miles downhill to Telluride!

UMMM..... yes.... we knew this when we signed up (WHAT?!?!).

Saturday, September 6th, I finished the 17.1 mile race in 4 hours, 14 minutes and 12 seconds. There were just over 1100 participants total. I finished 181st out of 475 females who crossed the finish line. Dave and the puppies were there to cheer me to the finish :o)

Kristi and I have already promised each other we will be running again next year. Who's with us??