Turtle Runner

Hiked up the Hickman Bridge Trail and also up to Navaho Knobs. Did some running down. It was a lot of fun. Most of the trail we were the only ones up there since it is off season and weekday. It was fun hiking along the top of the "Reef" and later reading about the Navaho Sandstone from the Jurassic period and the Moniter Butte (Chinle Formation) from the Triassic periods (layers of sentiment which seem particularly distinctive). It is fun to realize how insignificant I am compared to all these eons... Looking forward to more running/hiking with Leslie this weekend.

Ran the Grand Wash Trail, the Frying Pan Trail, and the Cohab Canyon trail at Capitol Reef. Unfortunately I didn't get back to the car until about 1/2 hour after dark and it caused a lot of worry for Ernie and Ron who were waiting for about 1 1/2 hours for me. It is really beautiful running up here because around each corner seems to be a new amazing view. It has been fun learning about the geological features and layers, etc. Hopefully Leslie will be up for some running tomorrow!

Had a really fun hike with Leslie/Harold and Ernie. We hiked the Peek-a-boo/Spooky loop hike which is touted as one of the best slot canyons. With peer pressure fromm about five Utah Valley young adults, Leslie was pressured into overcoming her fears and go through with it. I'm not sure she would have done it without the encouragement. It was pretty amazing. Harold tore his shorts open. It was a pretty amazing memory I don't think any of us will ever forget. To get there we take the Hwy 12 to the Hole in the Rock Road through the Staircase National Park area.

I'm probably rounding up for this one but we did a short excursion to Grandpa's rock behind Leslie's parents cabin and earlier in the day made an excursion to the Gorilla face or Lion head formation rocks to the north. There was a third hike we contemplated but we will have to save it for another trip since we were all in need of a Sunday afternoon nap and needed a day of rest to reenergize!

Hiked and ran with Ernie along the Scarlet Ridge on the north side just as you are getting close to the entrance to Capitol Reef National Park. Harold and Leslie were good enough to wait for us for the two hours it took. I think it might have been more like 10 miles but since they said it was six miles, I am making a compromise. It was sure exhilerating as we ran along a cliff edge for half of it and then saw the beautiful sea-blue, green, and yellow hillside colors of eroding dirt and the microorganisms. Ernie and I were both so high from this run, but a little stinky for the ride home. Thanks Harold & Leslie for dropping us off and picking us up and waiting for us...

Ran with Lela for 2 1/2 hours to 5400 S. 6400 W and then west to 7800 S. and back home again.

Ran 5 miles down and back to Winchester Park and then 8 miles along the parkway with Leslie. I crashed afterwards and then my stomach hurt so I basically wasted today in recovery.

Ran the last 25 miles of the 100 mile - Wasatch 100 race from Brighton to Homestead. It is the longest run I've ever done. We averaged about 2-3 miles an hour and it was lots of ups and downs on rocky trails in the dark night. We ran from 11pm Friday night until 11:30 Saturday afternoon. I was so exhausted that it has taken me all weekend to recover! I don't think I'll ever be running a 100 mile race unless it is spread out over a week because I don't like the idea of having to deal with fatigue of not sleeping for two days on top of a long run. This is for super-humans or people who don't mind abusing their bodies. I need to take care of mine, but it was fun to see the route and experience a significant part of the run.

Went for a walk with Ernie, our visiting friend Rod Foster, and Lela our dog. It was nice to stretch our legs after the marathon on the weekend.

Walked around the airport with Rod Foster (6 miles). We then did a walk with Ernie in the evening over to Walmart with the dog (Lela).

Went for a walk with Rod to see two of the houses where he used to live here in West Jordan. Since I discovered George wants to run the Top of Utah marathon in Logan this weekend I decided to just do walking trips with Rod this week so I'm good to run a long one on Saturday.

Walked with Rod to 5400 South checking out grocery stores and dropping a book off at the post office. We were looking for a coconut cake mix. We are learning they are extremely rare in the west coast but apparently something that they have in Indiana.

Went to Alpine, Utah and did a hike. We (Rod, Ernie, & I) had to get back early so we didn't make it to the lake but hiked to some beautiful vistas and then came back. Picked up some beautiful vegtables from Pam Gonzalas, Jessica's mother-in-law.

Wonderful marathon in Logan (Top-of-Utah). George and I ran bandit and his friend Ranjan was an official runner. I had registered for this marathon a couple years ago but had to skip it as it conflicted with an academic conference so it was fun to get a chance to run it. George was not in good shape so I ran a little slower than my normal pace and we stuck together until mile 20 when I took off and let out a burst of energy for the last 6 miles. I then hiked back about 1/2 mile to meet George and follow him in to the finish line. It was mostly downhill and a very pleasant run for the fall time! George's brother-in-law (Kim's brother) hosted the three of us the night before and George and I drove up the canyon and left a car up there about 4am before they closed the canyon to traffic.

Trying to get ready and see how I feel about the 50 miler (Pony Express Run) with Leslie that we are planning. I think it will work out fine but I am thinking after the first 25 miles in the morning I might take a couple hours off during the heat of the day and then start walking again about 4pm until it starts getting cooler and then do a slow jog for the last 15 miles or so. At least a strategy is forming in my mind...

Ran to school from Marilyn's house. Ernie joined me and we had lunch together before he went to the archives and I went to USC for meetings.

Ran to school again from Marilyn's house. I had left my stuff there so didn't have to carry anything except clothes to change into.

Decided to run to school again for my final day in LA.

Ran to the lake on Lakeside Dr. in Reno. Then down Virginia Street  which permeated with Harley Davidsons as they are doing "Street Vibrations" or something like that - a convention for bikers. Then along the Truckee River past McCarran Blvd. Then up the hill to the Steamboat Ditch trail. And finally back home again. Took almost 4 hours mostly in the dark. Ernie was up late doing books (amazon.com).

Took the dog for a walk about a mile this morning and then went on a walk with Ernie around a lake here in Reno for a second mile.

Did a mile with the dog and Andy this morning. Then spent about 3 hours and did a loup from Steamboat Ditch trail in Reno to the downtown and along the Truckee River.

Hiked with Ernie about 10 miles. We did the west end of the Steamboat Canal Trail. It was windy and cold. Made a loup.