9/11/14 - Plan de l'Aiguille challenge!

In honor of Bucky's last day in Chamonix we decided to take one last run up to the Plan de l'Aiguille.  If you remember from previous posts, Bucky's PR is 1:06:00.  My PR is 1:15:23, on a slightly different route.  We took a quick lap around the parking lot to get our legs warmed up a bit and off we went.  I took the right fork this time, and it resulted in a longer, but less steep route.  Bucky started pulling away from me really fast.  My calves felt really stiff and there were a few moments where I thought for sure they were going to cramp up.  Luckily, that did not happen, and once the steepness of the trail started to mellow out a little bit I started feeling much better.  I did not wear a watch this time, which I think hurt me a little.  When all you have to compete against is the clock, it really helps to actually have a clock on your person.  Bucky pulled further and further away from me and it didn't take long before I was running solo.  Once I made it to the refuge I knew I only had about five minutes to go so I poured it on.  I made it to the top, dripping sweat, in 1:16:45.  Bucky had made it in 1:06:22.  Today marked the first time that Bucky had completed the run without setting a PR.  I think my calves were still a little worn out from the Frendo Spur ascent, and that's why my time was slower, but maybe not.  Maybe the left fork of the route is just over a minute longer than the right fork.  This time I was smarter and condescended to take the tram down.  My quads will be thanking me tomorrow!  We got back to Cham and Bucky finished packing up his last few items, bought some souvenirs, and got on the shuttle to the airport.  This will probably be my last blog post for awhile.  Without Bucky here I will be biking and swimming and having the standard sorts of adventures I have every day.  If by chance one of these biking days turns in to something epic I will be sure to write about it.  For now, however, I am saying goodbye to the blog until the backcountry skiing in Colorado gets good!  This summer in Chamonix has been everything I could have hoped for.  So much so, that by the end I was totally sick of rock climbing!  I have a few more days here in Cham, and I will be making the most of them in my own personal way, but I am looking forward to getting back to the States!  Colorado, will have to wait another week as I will be reuniting with Bucky in NYC to go climb the Gunks, and with some friends in D.C.  I am looking forward to good Mexican food (and crappy Taco Bell), Old Chicago's, speaking English, Mountain Dew, a full suspension bike with 6" of travel, American football, Moab, my cousin's wedding (anyone want to come as my date/dancing partner?), friends, family, and working (and not necessarily in that order)!  Can you believe I am looking forward to working?  Granted my work day involves skiing for 8 hours, but still!