It is officially summer time. School is out, graduated seniors are preparing for the next phase in their life and cross country teams are gearing up for the fall season. Undoubtedly this includes lots of tedious miles on the roads and trails across Arizona. Serious athletes might even be skipping outings with friends to log those miles they hope pay dividends for them come the fall season. The monotony of such a regimen can make summer training seem dull and repetitive. This does not have to be the case. There are some fun things that can be done to spice it up.
This is the second installment in a series inspired by a shirt I saw in high school that read “Fall Reveals the Secrets of How Summer was Spent.” It is very possible to make your fall better by training while having fun during the summer months.
Fun Activity #1: Hiking
Arizona has its fair share of beautiful hikes, and for residents of Phoenix any excuse is a good one to get out of the hot summer heat!
Mount Humphreys: Drive 7 miles north of Flagstaff, on US Highway 180, to Forest Road 516. Turn right and follow this paved road 7.4 miles to the Snow Bowl Ski Area lodge. The trailhead begins at north end of the parking lot just below the lodge, you should see a sign. The trail starts out in a nice flat meadow, but quickly gains elevation as it ascends in a series of long switchbacks. After about 3 miles, the trail reaches a saddle at 11,800 feet. This saddle connects Humphreys Peak with Agassiz Peak to the south. From the saddle, the Humphreys Trail continues north for another mile as it passes several false summits. The trail follows the rocky treeless ridge to the main summit. The final mile to the to the summit should not be attempted if thunderstorms threaten. Mount Humphreys is the highest point for hundreds of miles around and a large portion of Arizona is visible from the summit. As you stand on the summit you will gain a real sense of standing on top of the world.
Peralta Trail: From Phoenix take the 60 east to Gold Canyon. At about mile marker 209 (don't quote me) you will see a Peralta. Thankfully its a large enough cross road to have a light and a turn arrow so it is hard to miss. Turn left and follow the road until its end. The last 7 miles will be on dirt. According to my hiking guide its a 6.2 mile hike up to the saddle. I highly recommend this hike as it is easily one of the prettiest in Arizona.
Fun Activity #2: Ultimate Frisbee
This game is used at running camps all over the country to help camper get a little but more exercise without noticing it. Rules are readily available online; playing it is a fun way to get friends together and to get some exercise/speed work. When played right it can be downright exhausting from running back and forth. While it will not replace a fartlek run, it may be an enjoyable summer alternative.
Fun Activity #3: Biking
Living in Utah there are lots of mountain bike trails hidden in the mountains (often times good hiking trails can double as good mountain biking trails too). Getting on a bicycle can be a welcome break in the routine from running. At first to some this might seem as dull as going out for a run, but it doesn’t have to be that way. One can bike for fun or as a means for transportation. Next time instead of taking a car to ride over to your friend’s house or work try bicycling.
While nothing truly replaces going out there and running miles, even doing these small things to help stay active or supplement the set training runs will help prevent injuries come the fall season.