Ed and James joined me for today's 5AM trail run up to the ranger station and back for a 10 mile roundtrip. This run has about 1300 feet elevation gain and is our staple run on Mondays and Fridays. Tollgate and Cold Spring Trail provide plenty of very technical (rocky) sections and plenty of elevation gain. Even better, we're able to get good downhill running in as well on the return leg. As I've learned from way more experienced ultra runners, it is just as important to training downhill running as it is to practice the uphills. The humidity continues to add to the strain of uphill running the last couple of weeks. Hopefully, cooler temps or lower humidity next week will help me run faster, again. Today, we kept a slow and easy pace on my request. The speed workout from last night was still in my legs and I was slightly dehydrated for the first time in a long time.