New PR today. Couldn't sleep. Existential dread. Anxiety. Wanted to climb Hachibuse. Somehow I thought that was the answer to all my problems. And it kinda was. I did the entire length of the trail running, which isn't necessarily efficient (I stop instead of walking, and catch my breath/regroup), but it's f***in' hard at that incline. To me, much harder than including power hiking. A little game of chicken I play with myself to see if I'll take my own dare. Honestly, I thought I might not make it a couple times. Ran out of water halfway up. Sweating quite a bit. Took a wrong turn. Thick fog and wind made things extra disorienting. But... I made it! Once the mist burned up I was blown away by the panorama. I didn't realize how far up I'd climbed! The alps and Matsumoto/Shiojiri looked so perfect. Even caught a glimpse of Fuji-san! Anyway, the highest mountain I'd shuffle-run up prior to this was Yahiko, in Niigata, at 634 meters. Mt. Hachibuse stands at 1,929 meters. I started from the basin at about 600 meters above sea level. Real happy I did this one today. F***in' rippin' trails.
I hope you enjoy the run!
-Randy G. Lahey
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