Conquering Mountains: My Week in Colorado

May 7, 2013

My relationship with running sometimes feels like climbing a mountain.

Quite often, I’m on the incline – pushing and pushing to run faster, get stronger, be better, reach the next goal, achieve another personal best. Up. Up. Up.

Sometimes I stumble. Sometimes unforeseen challenges like injury or weather or some other unplanned obstacle get in the way. I lose my footing. I doubt myself.

Sometimes the uphill battle becomes so steep I don’t quite make it to the summit.

Other times, I reach the peak and bask in the glorious views from the top of the mountain, cruising downhill with a fulfilled heart, sore legs and a smile on my face. Ready to tackle the next climb.

I spent the last week in Colorado surrounded by mountains. Mr. rUnladylike and I headed out west the day after my recent Divas Half Marathon. That race was a climb. And it was time to take a break.

We went to a fabulous, very remote place called Dunton Hot Springs in Dolores, Colorado. It’s about 40 miles from any kind of civilization and offers a handful of cabins that can house up to 44 people. There were only 4 of us there last week. Heaven. Amazing chefs cooked for us – breakfast, lunch and dinner. Their dishes could rival any fancy restaurant across the country. We soaked in natural hot springs. And we were surrounded day in and day out by nature’s most beautiful landscape that only God could dream up.

Our cabin at Dunton Hot Springs
Our view from Dunton Hot Springs
Hanging out in the natural hot springs at Dunton Hot Springs … this sure beats an epsom salt bath!
Dinner was served every night at 7:30 p.m. And we were always ready! Dessert every night for 5 straight days, too!

I sucked in every moment. No climbing. Just being.

Although I didn’t run once out west, we stayed very active.

We did a lot of hiking …

We started our hiking on the Navajo Lake Trail. Much of the trail was still covered in snow.
The snow was deep in some areas.

And hiking followed by wine tasting, which is really the best kind of hiking …

A private guide took us about an hour and a half away from Dunton Hot Springs to Sand Lake Canyon for a 3-mile hike. We followed that up with a tour, tasting and lunch at Sutcliff Vineyard. It is amazing to see grapes grow in this Colorado landscape.

We did some fishing (but not much catching) …

Check out my sexy fishing suit!
I caught our one and only trout of the day.
Jesica = 1, Mr. rUnladylike = 0

We hiked some more and mountain biked (painfully in the high altitude) …

On our last full day in Colorado, we went on a 3-mile hike and then took mountain bikes and headed out on a 9-mile roundtrip ride, stopping for a picnic lunch.

We celebrated the moment. Appreciated life a little bit more. And remembered that every mountain is worth the climb.

This week it’s back to running and climbing. But the break was truly amazing. Don’t forget to take yours.

What are the mountains in your life that you are constantly climbing? Where is your favorite place to go in Colorado? Have you ever run a race in high altitude?

Comments

Lisa @ RunWiki

Oh my goodness, I am ready to give it all up and move to that very spot. That looks like the perfect vacation and heaven on earth. I am drooling on the screen. So glad you were able to rest, and thank you so much for sharing this with us.

Kristen L

Looks like a wonderful vacation! I have only been to near Denver before, but this looks like a great area in Colorado. A hike with wine tasting sounds fabulous!! Glad you had a great vacation!

Devon Mills

Love this post and the gorgeous photos! Those restorative vacations are the best kind. This makes me really excited to go to Colorado for a week in September with my fiance!

Lisa @ Live and Be Awesome

That looks amazing! Natural springs are the best. I experienced natural hot springs around the island of Santorini when I was in Greece, and it was incredible.

Kimberly @ Healthy Strides

Oh, how gorgeous and amazing that sounds! I’ve been to Boulder but we didn’t get out much in terms of exploring the mountains. It looks like we need to make another trip. So glad you had a chance to unwind and unwine (ha!) after Divas.

Kat

this looked like such an awesome trip, glad you were able to enjoy yourself post Divas!

Cori @ olivetorun

Colorado is definitely in my top 10 places I need to visit ASAP. Ben and I are huge outdoorsy people and would probably be convinced we need to move there immediately if/when we ever went. I loved the fishing picture of you!

Lisa

What a gorgeous location! Add another place to my must visit list. Hopefully your break/vacation was just what you needed!

Letters from Lou

We went to Colorado last year and it was so beautiful and amazing! It is the ONLY place I have ever visited that I can honestly say I have considered moving to. Absolutely breathtaking.

Rebecca@Running.Food.Baby.

Wow – it looks beautiful there!! Colorado is on my list of places I want to visit one day.

Rachel @ Undercover Diva: A Sitcom

So glad you enjoyed your trip and took a well-deserved break! I find I’m always climbing mountains with my running too. And also with calorie-counting. I’ve taken a break from calorie counting and it’s amazing! I’m never going to go back (if I don’t have to).

Melissa@mypeachlife

Oh wow that place looks amazing! What a nice vacation, and well deserved after your half.

Jen@HealthyFoodandFamily

Jealous is an understatement right now! Looks absolutely breathtaking, relaxing and my idea of a perfect get away 🙂

Chelle

So glad you enjoyed our beautiful state. Makes you wonder how anyone who lives here gets any work done, huh?

Lynn pharaoh

The past few years have been filled with major life changes for me. Running has been my mountain and also my retreat. It has helped me stay sane. I grew up in Aurora, Co and spent summers in Ouray. My parents still go every August.

beka

holy moly what an amazing place!!! perfect set up for a get away to unwind 🙂 I have only been to Denver – and to El Dora (the ski resort) – it was beautiful there!

Ricardo Bueno

I’ve never been to Colorado, but I’d love to visit some day. Looks like you had a blast!