Race Across New Mexico, Stage 9

Stage 9 was a pretty good day. I awoke in Capitan, NM (home of the first Smokey Bear) to a very bright sun coming in the window and birds singing in the trees. This weather, however, didn't last long, as a brisk wind came out of nowhere after 6 miles of running. The remaining 20 miles were straight into the wind, over "Indian Peak" at just under 7,000 feet, past a dead elk in the ditch, and through the small, pretty town of Capitan. The temperature dropped so much in the last couple miles that I needed to switch into a warmer jacket.

The highlight of the run was coming into the third aid station at around 19.5 miles. I strummed on the guitar a bit, ate half of a banana and some bbq chips, and hit around the hacky sack a bit with one of the volunteers. Overall, a fun day! Finished feeling pretty good and ready for another day on the road!

 A sunny start!

 Valle del Sol

 Right before the hills started

 The clouds moving in, bringing greyness and cold.

Finishing the day!

Stage 9
Distance - 26.54
Time - 5:04:56
Pace - 11:29
Calories - 2069
Elevation Gain - 1887
Elevation Loss - 1105
Elevation Change - 2992
HR Avg - 146
HR Max - 173
Minimum Elevation - 5326
Maximum Elevation - 6963

Totals (7 stages)
Distance - 186.31
Time - 35:58:31
Pace - 11:35
Calories - 14360
Elevation Gain - 7176
Elevation Loss - 6824
Elevation Change - 14000
HR Avg - 139
HR Max - 183
Minimum Elevation - 6209
Maximum Elevation - 7232