Who and what is the rabbit?  It’s a trail race in Steamboat Springs, CO.  This race should be the most difficult event I’ve ever done.  It runs in the mountains around Steamboat and follows about 8 miles of paved road, 68 miles of trails and the rest rough jeep roads. Total is 102.9 miles, 20,191 ft. ascent and 20,191 ft. descent.   I have 36 hours to do it.

I got to Steamboat yesterday and immediately started following the course up the ski hill.  Half way up, I got rained on as you can see from the pictures below.  I was only gone from Colorado for a week, but the leaves have really changed colors quickly.

The hill below is part of the beginning and ending climb.  There are no switchbacks in this part, it’s straight up and straight down.

On the way up the hill, I met another runner.  His name is Walt and he was also checking out the course.  We ended up meeting today and hiking another part of the course.  Coincidentally, the same trail I just left, The Continental Divide Trail, is part of the course and we hiked on it today.

More views of the colors from the course below