Notes
A bit better pre-run today. We drove up Pike's Peak then just did a short 1 hour hike that was generally flat. Then I gave myself an hour between to relax. I headed North out of town, about 2 miles to the trailhead. But going North means going up and I was sweating pretty good just a mile in (in retrospect, a hot day, though you can't ignore starting at 8500 feet).
I wasn't feeling optimistic about my performance once I got to the trails, so I focused on enjoying myself and trying to keep it easy. The trails here started convoluted as well but there was at least an occasional arrow sign and a few more groups hiking. The trail generally went up and got steeper as it went. I made it to the top tired but not dead, which was good as this was a loop and it wouldn't be just downhill from here. Still pretty much downhill, with 1 annoying and steep incline.
I was at an hour when I reconnected the loop and probably made the wise decision to return home as my leg strength was wavering and I had 25min of running left. I made it back content. Maybe not as much running as I'd hoped this weekend, but it certainly wasn't a failure (somehow it was barely more elevation gain than yesterday though).