

To answer more directly: for bridging the gap, the Walker Ranch Loop really is a good one for that in my opinion. it's about 7.5 miles and rolls up and down without ever getting too steep.benmangelsdorf wrote: ↑Wed Aug 16, 2023 6:38 pm Hello there, I am a trailrunning n00b looking for suggestions for trails that will help me gradually increase my abilities/fitness. Right now my benchmark trail is Lion's Lair on Mt. Sanitas, which is like 700 elevation gain over the course of 2ish miles (4ish roundtrip). Running this trail was a major goal for me, but now I can do it *relatively* easily so I am looking for trails that are a bit more difficult! Largely looking for more elevation gain (my loose goal is 1000 feet in a single run, which I think I am capable of right now as long as the grade isn't too crazy), although I am fine with more distance as well up to like half marathon length. Obviously Bear Peak or Green Mountain would be good ideas in the area, but they feel a bit more beyond my skill level so I am looking for something to help bridge the gapI don't mind driving a little bit, but Boulder area is preferable as that is where I live. Any suggestions are welcome!
Thanks
Second what Seano said. On mountain terrains, feet gained per hour is a good measurement, doesn't matter if it's from running or hiking. Feet gained per hour is different depends on duration and altitude. I'm a back of the pack trail runner. At the maximum, I can gain about 2800 ft per hour at 6000 ft for no more than one hour (measured by my Incline time). However at above 10,000 ft, on long outing, it's more like 1500 to 1800 ft per hour depending on the terrain, assuming adequate calories intake. For me, 200 calories per hour works to maintain my energy level for maximum sustained long effort.seano wrote: ↑Wed Aug 16, 2023 7:22 pm It depends upon what you're trying to accomplish, but if I were you, I'd ignore whether or not you are running, and focus on how quickly you finish a route you care about. For something short and steep, measure your vertical feet per hour; the limiting factor will be your power to weight ratio. For something long and varied, measure your total time; the limiting factors will be calories per hour and efficiency. If you can find Matt Carpenter's notes on training for Leadville (somewhere on www.skyrunner.com), those should be helpful.
I want to ... not so much dissent here, this is 100% correct, unless you're an elite athlete, you'll mostly be fast hiking uphill on longer/steeper runs, but maybe emphasize the last sentence. Running uphill can be good training, not necessarily on long or steep runs, but on shorter, less steep runs, not every day but sometimes. And it sounds to me that that is (at least in part) what the OP is looking for.jimwei wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 10:17 amSecond what Seano said. On mountain terrains, feet gained per hour is a good measurement, doesn't matter if it's from running or hiking. Feet gained per hour is different depends on duration and altitude. I'm a back of the pack trail runner. At the maximum, I can gain about 2800 ft per hour at 6000 ft for no more than one hour (measured by my Incline time). However at above 10,000 ft, on long outing, it's more like 1500 to 1800 ft per hour depending on the terrain, assuming adequate calories intake. For me, 200 calories per hour works to maintain my energy level for maximum sustained long effort.seano wrote: ↑Wed Aug 16, 2023 7:22 pm It depends upon what you're trying to accomplish, but if I were you, I'd ignore whether or not you are running, and focus on how quickly you finish a route you care about. For something short and steep, measure your vertical feet per hour; the limiting factor will be your power to weight ratio. For something long and varied, measure your total time; the limiting factors will be calories per hour and efficiency. If you can find Matt Carpenter's notes on training for Leadville (somewhere on www.skyrunner.com), those should be helpful.
Running on local trails here in Colorado Springs helps me overall when I go hiking/running in the mountains. Generally I walk up hill and run down hill for long mountain outings. I only try to run uphill for short training sessions, less than 90 minutes, and these are gentle hills, less than 300 to 400 ft per mile.
Hi Ben, just seeing this thread from last summer. Are you looking just for slight increase in difficulty/vert or also longer mileage and higher elevation?benmangelsdorf wrote: ↑Wed Aug 16, 2023 6:38 pm I am looking for trails that are a bit more difficult! Largely looking for more elevation gain (my loose goal is 1000 feet in a single run, which I think I am capable of right now as long as the grade isn't too crazy), although I am fine with more distance as well up to like half marathon length... I don't mind driving a little bit, but Boulder area is preferable as that is where I live. Any suggestions are welcome!Thanks