40 Summits

40 Summit Recap

Well in 42 days, I have reached the top of Mt. Royal 40 times. A lot of food is going to the food bank this week - close to 100 pounds thanks to the donations of Pete and Jodie Lefferts and old rowing/running buddy Efren.

The past few weeks have been filled with tons of running. Lots of volume in the realm of both mileage and vertical, and speed. I have put more 3 hours days in the past 2 weeks than I ever have in my life in such a time span. But I am having SO much fun. The cold, snowy days have been really inspiring and have been able to run/hike with my roomies and Steph a whole lot. I am also proud of my 9 miles per hour pace for some shorter attempts, as well as speedy summits.

Over the past 2 weeks I have met some new friends and supporters on the trail which always keeps my legs moving up the steep, snowy mess that makes up Mt. Royal this time of year.

I put a few races on the schedule with the help of Miles and Donna of the Leadville Running Company. These include the Bandera 100k in January and the Badger Mountain 100 in March. I am excited to race with some of the best and learn as much as I can.

With the winter approaching I look forward to meeting new people, helping the food bank, and running as much as I can. Join me on the trails!

Check out  the Leadville Running Company here!

Also, big thanks to Cliff Bar and Udo's Oil for their support!

33 Summits

I can't say thank you enough to those who have supported to the project this far. The reception in the community is bigger than I thought it would be. 

I have been able to speak with numerous Summit County residents out on the trail about a variety of topics, all leaving me inspired to slog up to Mt. Royal another time. We're at 33 summits so far and I am certainly feeling motivated and inspired, even as the cold is coming in.

I am most excited about my numerous trips to the food bank this past month with boxes of great food items.

Thank you for the support everyone, join me for a run or a hike!

28 Summits

Big thanks to Nicole Beltz for her support from back East. Nicole is a great friend, fellow 7 mile islander and TNF teammate.

Also, big shout out to the St. Augustine Prep Community with their post.

Monday: Peak 1 from my doorstep in 1:39. I am certainly impressed with this time because of the techy/sketchy rock scrambling once I got over Mt. Victoria. Hit some side trails on the way down for a 3:02 with about 4300 ft of vertical.

Tues: Got lost on the Ophir Mountain trails before tagging Royal, 2:00, 2k of vertical.

Wed: AM: Met with Jamie for a loop on the Peaks Trail, then linked back up with Steph for a total of 1:53.
         PM: Tired, cold, trek to the top of Royal, back down giving me 2:53 for the day with 2k of  vertical.

Review of the Ultraspire Spry

I'm happy because I am confident in my gear, and playing in the mountains.

People have noticed me on the trail wearing The Ultraspire Spry. People often ask where I got the pack from, and why I am using it the way I am. I figured I would write a review on my new favorite pack to educate some fellow trail goers about the product...

Where to begin? Let me start with my personal background and needs.

I reached out to the good folks at Ultraspire for some support for my charitable project, 365 Mt. Royal Summits for the Hungry. I needed a functional, dependable pack that I could use all year. I expressed my interest in the Spry, and they sent me a pack to use on my daily runs. AMAZING. So, a huge Thank You to everyone at Ultraspire.

I enjoy running in the mountains year round. This means I need a variety of different items, depending on weather,terrain, and distance I will be running. I am not a big fan of dealing with bladder systems all the time (sometimes they're necessary) and I like to keep my hands as free as possible for rock scrambling and accessing energy foods. I also need simplicity and comfort that will work for a  shorter, faster run, as well as for a longer mountain traverse.

The Spry satisfies all those needs. The Spry is super lightweight and has a basic strap system across the sternum. I can throw a bottle or two in the front pouches (I usually use one 20 oz bottle), along with gels, a camera, gloves, hat, and trash (from my gels and anything found on the trails). If you handhold your bottles, there is even more extra room in the front two pouches. A bladder can be placed in the back pouch when needed, however when I have a bottle in front, an extra layer or two in a plastic bag works really well. Sometimes I stash extra foods back there for the group I am running with. Right now, as winter approaches, I am working on rigging an ice axe to the back. Overall, knowing I can store all my needed items while still be light and comfortable, goes a long way.

The Magnon Electrolyte pocket easily stores your electrolyte pills, or even a key or two. Its a magnetic pocket, which allows for easy, simply access. I like the long zipper pulls on the pack so when your hands get cold or if you have gloves on, they can be easily pulled. The extra straps and pockets up high on the shoulder straps allow me to throw extra gels, and like in the picture above,  strap an extra hat that I may need once I reach a peak or pass. You can also put your bladder's tube through the straps if you desire. The adjustable straps on the side of the Spry are super easy to use, and adjusting according to the terrain you are running is easy to do on the fly.

Overall, it is a reliable product, perfect for short or long adventures in the mountains.

Check it out and pick one up.


Thank you for reading and all the continued support.

Some really good times

Running is so much fun

Saturday: Met some great friends in Leadville, where we drove to Cottonwood Pass...Ran 23 miles through the snow up and over a mountain pass to Winfield (halfway point of the Leadville 100)..ended the day drinking beer and eating chili...You can read it about it here as Jon Harrison basically wrote the greatest synopsis on a day running ever.

Sunday: Hung out with my mom and pretty much just kept it low key. Body/mind had a rough week so it was good to lounge around with a few walks mixed in.

Monday: Up to Peak 1, tagged Royal on the way up and down. Really techy ridge as I avoided the normal route due to snow. I didnt trust what was under the snow, so I rock hopped the ridge to the summit in 1:39. Slowly made my way down (wishing I had an ice axe for parts) and tagged Royal again. Took some side trails down and made it back to the house in 3:02. Really fun way to continue the snow capped peak mountain running from this weekend.

Seeing a lot of people on the trail up to Royal running. AWESOME. Thanks for the continued support.

The start, 8:15 am, Cottonwood Pass

Im happy in the mountains with good friends

Made it up to the pass!

Beautiful Lake Anna and Mt. Huron

Lots of support and love

More, More, More, love from supporters. Its fantastic. Big thanks to Kyle Lefler, great gal and fellow UMW alumni for her support.

Tuesday: Up and down, nothing crazy. 21st summit. Lots of good convo on the trail.

Wed: Fun 1:40. Peaks Trail to Miners Creek Rd to a Mt. Royal ascent. Side trails down and back to the house.

Thursday: Great news from Kyle Lefler, more support comg my way! Running : Really quick up and down as well. Legs have been tired and mentally totally drained. 23 summits.

Friday: Mom was in town and she tagged her 1st Mt. Royal summit and aided in my 24th. Crazy cold, snowy, rainy, conditions that yielded a ton of fun.

Stay tuned for some sweet pics.

Thanks again friends.

Some pictures courtesy of Steph

Greys and Torreys

Steph and I on the summit Sunday

View of 70 and the Gore Range

The mountains are my home

The cold is coming...

I have been getting a lot of love and support on the trail from fellow hikers. The positive feedback has certainly inspired me when my legs get tired.

I thank everyone who has donated thus far, and who will continue to support FIRC.

If you would like to get together for a run, don't hesitate to contact me, my email is mikeamb1987@yahoo.com. I would love to get together with some fellow trail runners.

Sunday: Post two double shifts at work, I needed to spend some time in the hills. I left in the morning (it was 15 degrees) and my I sluggishly stomped up and down the peaks trail for an 1:05 out with I am guessing close to 1k of gain. I turned back and met Steph at the Mt. Royal TH in 1:57. We tagged Mt. Royal (18) and spent some time soaking up much needed sun and wind at the summit. It was still frigid so we headed down and did a little detour through the woods and through town. Finished the run at 3:05

Later in the evening I put up another summit (19) in a peppy fashion, up and down in 48:05. I then spent the night around the campfire by Rainbow Lake with Backcountry Brewery IPA and Ryan and Chris.

Total 3:53, 4k vertical.

Monday: Miners Creek Road to Peaks Trail to Mt. Royal Summit, back down and around through the woods and Frisco for 1:24. 1800 ft vertical

Stay tuned for some sweet pics courtesy of Steph.

Still no moose sightings in quite some time. Frisco is cold. Working doubles is lame.

Mt. Royal from my house

15,16,17

Running: It has been pretty simple and easy the past few days. Feeling really strong and fit.

Tuesday: :17+1:22. 1500 ft of vertical. 17 mins out with Steph, Restarted the watch and did some intervals on the Peaks Trails and tagged Mt. Royal towards the end of the run.

Wednesday: 70 mins,1500 ft of vertical, put up my fasted summit from the house in 28:20. The rest of the run was tempo pace, feeling really strong.

Thursday: 17 summits thus far. 75 mins, 1500 ft of vertical. Loop on the Peaks Trail, summit, back down around Frisco.

Cold weather coming up, looking forward to some snow covered peak bagging. Welcome Winter 50k in Leadville next week, super stoked for that. Especially with the get together after. Beer and friends.


 Dropping some more food off next week. Thanks!

30 pounds of food, 14th Summit

30 pounds of food is soon to be dropped off at FIRC - awesome job everyone THANK YOU.

If you saw the Summit Daily and would like to get in contact with me to pick up food donations, email me at mikeamb1987@yahoo.com.

Running things:

Sun: Ran with Steph to the TH, and tagged Mt. Royal (12) in 32:xx mins. Hung out at the summit and met Steph up there. I did a Peaks Trail/Town loop  back to the house in 1:05. 1500 feet of vertical.

Monday: 2:23 Total. 3500 ft of vertical. Doorstep to Peaks Trail to Mt. Royal Summit (13), back down out on the Gore Trail, spun, back up to Mt. Royal (14), down through the Peaks Trail/Bike Trail, back to the doorstep in 2:23. Legs felt kind of sluggish today. Still trying to work in the running  mixed with the steep hikes.

30 pounds of food!!