Turtle Runner

Ran for about an hour and a half on the tread mill.  It has been too cold to run outside but I am discovering this as a nice alternative.  I think this was my third time on the tread mill. The first time I watched the sun go across the sky for a couple hours while running.  The second time I had Ernie to talk to.  This third time I was able to use James' (our son-in-law) ear phones and Nietzsche's Zarathustra which was a great diversion.  Without the talk tape, I wouldn't be able to run as long on a regular basis.  As much as I love running for hours, without some diversion I would go crazy.  It is fun to learn new strategies to keep up the running!

Ran for 99 minutes on the tread mill.  That is the limit until the settings reset.  With my ear phones and Zarathustra I can enjoy a tread mill for hours.  Otherwise I would go out of mind with bordom!

Ran with Leslie at the olympic oval taday.  It was so awesome.  I decided to have Ernie pick me up so I could run a little longer and it took him until 2:45 PM to get there so I got 5 1/2 hours in.  My legs are a little wobbly and I slept for a couple hours but it is so fun to get a long run in after being cooped up all winter.  I also have to thank Friedrich Nietsche.  It has been so fun for me to listen to his "Thus Spake Zarathustra" on tape while running. I think I could run all day with something like that to listen to.  I'm also extremely excited that we will make this a weekly tradition for Wednesday mornings!!! At least during the cold and wet winter months.  I haven't kept up on my running since October so I'll try to update the most recent runs but there hasn't been that much running. Adjusting to Utah cold has taken me some time.

I had to quit when my recording of Zarathustra ran out of battery power.  I love running on a tred mill for hours when I have something to listen to but can't stand it that long if I don't have something to focus on.

Ran with Ernie for 99 minutes on the tread mill.  Hoping we can do this each night.  It is so fun for us to spend the time together and to exercise at the same time!

Tred mill with Ernie!

Tred mill with Ernie, 99 minutes.

Running with Leslie at the indoor track.  62 laps 4hrs, 40 minutes

Tred mill with Ernie for 99 minutes.  Was able to burn 1065 calories according to the read-out and got up to about 165 heart rate for about 10 minutes. Hope I can keep this up in future running.

Got interrupted about 15 minutes short of my goal but did show over 1000 calories on the tread mill.

99 minutes on level 7. 1200 calories burned. Good run for me. Ernie is still going at it.

Ran at the WJordan oval with Leslie.  Ran from 9am-2:20pm and did 66 laps.  I have been so excited to be able to use these podcasts to listen to interesting talks about Analytical Psychology while running!  This is making it much easier to run for hours on a tread mill or around an indoor track.  I checked out some books on CD from the library and will see if I can figure out how to get them onto the IPOD too.  This is so exciting for me!

1220 calories burned, 99 minutes on treadmill with Ernie.

99 minutes on treadmill, 1260 calories burned, enjoyed listening to "Walden" by Henry David Thoreau and visiting a bit with Ernie while exercising.

from 9am to 12:30pm.  I had to quit early today since we had a dinner appointment with Ernie's brother from Hilo.  Enjoyed 2nd and 3rd disk of Walden by Thoreau.

99 minutes on tread mill.  1444 calories burned.  I let Ernie listen to Walden with the ear phones and ran next to him with just my thoughts.

First four miles on my own on the tread mill and then Ernie joined me for the last 6 miles.  It was lightly raining when we got done.  I was thinking of a plan how I might build up to a 100 mile Pony Express by next fall but certainly not committing to it yet.  Just fun thinking about possibilities.  I do like that running more regularly will help me keep my weight down.  My goal now is to get to a 20+ run once a week and four 10 mile runs on other days.  Then I can eventually try to schedule two 20+ runs a week with shorter runs in between.  With the books on tape, I think it is enjoyable to spend a lot of hours out running.  Also tried taking off my shoes and running in socks for the last 5 miles on the tread mill. If I keep that up I should get tougher soles of my feet.

Tread mill running with Ernie.  Can't remember how I did but I think it was 10 miles - 99 minutes as that was my normal routine.

Did nearly 12 miles this morning. I was going to run the night before but got to the clubhouse after hours.  I decided to run for two hours instead of doing the odd number of 99 minutes which is my usual.  I was just under 12 miles and I think burned 1550 calories or something like that according to the machine I was on.

I did 63 laps at the Olympic oval and then since the day had turned into a beautiful sunny February day, decided to run home (+2 miles).  It was fun watching the speed skaters from Norway and other countries racing the rink, apparently getting qualifying times in order to compete at the next olympics.  I listened to Betts' Jungian podcasts about Fairy Tales, which apparently similar to dreams, can provide insights into imbalances in our psyche that need to be resolved. Its nice Leslie was back from California.

Two hours on the tread mill, while listening to John Bett's podcasts about Jungian Psychoanalysis.  It really struck an emotional cord as he was talking about the symbolism in the Grimm's, "The Pixy of the Mill Pond".  It was talking about how naive we are as we open up to the unconsciouness and its repressed elements.  1335 calories.  It was a comfortable pace and came to 10.15 miles.  Instead of trying to do 12 miles in two hours (6 miles an hour), I think this would be a healthier pace for me (just over 5 miles an hour) if I'm going to try to do this every day.

Tread mill, 8.87 miles for first 99 minutes, 2.84 miles for last 20 minutes.  Burned 1592 calories. Had a nice long talk with my brother Paul on the phone and then visited the rest of the time with Ernie who was also running with me.

Listened to the John Bett's podcasts about Carl Jung's theories while running on the treadmill. This time I did two sets of 60 minutes each.  The first 60 minutes ran 5.17 miles and burned 684 calories.  The second 60 minutes ran 5.16 miles and 677 calories.  Had a nice time!

5 1/2 hours.  63 laps I figure is about 23 miles, and then ran two miles home afterwards.  Listened to recordings of Carl Jung, John Betts, and Christopher Hitchens while running.

Two hours on the tread mill with Ernie.  We had some really fun discussions.  Burned 1288 calories according to the tread mill.  Ran with just socks on.  I wonder if this will help my feet get stronger on the bottom.

1500 Calories.  Ran two hours on the tread mill.  My goal now is to run at least two hours and 10 miles at least 4 times a week in addition to my one long run, we'll see if I can keep it up.

Tread mill at our little clubhouse.

Tread mill out our clubhouse

Ran with Ernie & Leslie at the olympic oval.  We walked home and went from about 7:45am until about 2:30pm but it was fun to spend the day with Ernie.

Another 3 1/2 hour run around Liberty Park while Ernie was swimming at the pool in Sugarhouse.  I was fascinated by studying the trees.  The pine trees along the road on the east and south side of the park I figure must be either Pinus nigra (Austrian Pines) or Pines resinosa (Red Pine/Norway Pine).  I can't yet make up my mind.  I would say Ponderosa Pine except it has only two pine needles to a bundle.  Also loved the Basswood trees (Tilia) and the trees with the bean-pods.  It will be fun to continue running there and trying to figure out these trees.  Kind of drisley weather but the sun did try to come out at one point.  Was a wonderful run!

Took me 2 hours 14 minutes on the tread mill.  Was fun to listen to part of Charles Darwin's autobiography on tape and to meet Barbra, Jason, Amy, & David - the janitors of our clubhouse exercise room.

Tread mill - listening to Christopher Hitchens, "God is not great" tapes.

Five hours running around Leisure world and then down to the  beach and running barefoot along the coast until nearly downtown Long Beach. So wonderful to run in the winter sunshine in southern California!

Nice walk with Ernie & Marilyn down Venice Beach.  Since we parked the car a ways away it gave us a little extra exercise.

Ran from Marilyn's place to her work - showed her how to edit her online website - then ran the rest of the way to Santa Monica Beach.  Took my shoes off and ran barefoot north to the beginning of Santa Monica Beach.  Then ran back to Marilyn's work and got a ride back to her house since Ernie was waiting.

Up Guardsman's Pass in Big Cottonwood Canyon in the snow with Leslie, Harold, Jana, and Ernie.  It was really fun but my feet were wet and cold!

Ran with Lela about 7 miles (1 1/4 hour).  She looked tired and the sun was fast going down so I dropped her at home and went on to the clubhouse and ran barefoot on the treadmill for another hour (4 1/2 miles) while reading about conifer trees.

Ran 6 1/4 hours at the oval and then ran 2 miles home. Fun times!!!

Just two hours on the tread mill.

Just short of three hours.  The clubhouse was closed at 6am so I took our dog Lela and run outside watching the sunrise.  It was very nice!

7am-1pm running at the Olympic Oval with Leslie.  Listening to Hitchen's review of atheists among great thinkers on the ipod.

Two hours on the tread-mill.

Jordan River Parkway from 9am-1pm with Leslie & Ernie.  What a beautiful day.  The trees had buds but haven't broken out into leaves yet.

Ran with Leslie at the oval for about 4 1/4 hours - 60 laps around the track.  Weather outside was pretty miserable for running - good day to run indoors.

Spent three hours on the tread mill.  It said I burned 2100 calories.  That sounds good.  That will make up for all the McDonalds food I ate for lunch today.  We took our two grandsons out to play.  I decided I need to try to do about three hours run each day.  This would be a great way to relax and bring balance to all my brain work during the day - unwind and have a better balance.  I love listening to these academic tapes while I run but decided I'm not going to worry about keeping track and keeping up with it all but will just listen to them over and over again until I remember it better.  The purpose is just to get exposure to more theories.  Where other people listen to music, I can relax to hearing about other people's theories.

Ran to Jordan River and then with Leslie for 9 miles and then home again for a total of 20 miles.  Unfortunately my body reacted to the run, chocolate donut, and stress I've been under such that I had stomach cramps and pain for nearly 3 days and couldn't eat or drink anything.  I didn't have to go to the hospital but I have been thinking my days of ultramarathon competitions may be over and certainly my hope of doing a 100 mile this fall, at least after my run in St. George later this month.

After being laid up for 3 days after last weeks run, I have laid off the running but I ran for 3 1/2 hours yesterday while Ernie was swimming.  Listened to the Dune prequil while I ran.  It was a beautiful day and so far I'm just a little sore the next day but no stomach pains.  Next weekend is our 50 K in St. George.  Maybe I'll get another good run between now and Monday before I start to let off before the run.  I need to take the dog out now that the weather is getting good.

Took the dog for a short run but the rain was bad and we were drenched after only 3 miles.

Had a great run. Leslie and I started out together and finished together although we have slightly different running patterns and she was ahead of me most of the race.  It was the first time I remember feeling insecurities of being the slowest runner in the race and taking the tail end. It isn't a happy feeling but the weather was great and it was great views all along the way and wonderful people and great support and so many other good things.  It only got hot towards the last few miles.  Really one of my all time favorites! Thanks so much to Harold and Leslie who made this so much more amazing with their connections and driving for us!!!

Heading over to the clubhouse to run on the tread-mill but Lela the dog was desperately asking to go with me so I decided to chance the overcast weather. We ran around the airport and no rain and cool temperatures but six miles is enough for the first since my last ultra. We'll see if I'm up to more tomorrow night.

Another trip around the airport

Third time around the airport with Lela this week.

Ran along the steamboat trail but as it was getting dark, turned around when hit the underpass for McKaren Blvd.

Ran along the steamboat ditch trail northwest side of Reno.Then up the mountain and down where Skyline Drive crosses McKaren Blvd.

Ran along the steamboat canal again. Water in it this time. Did a nice look by going up the mountain and coming down Skyline Drive.That saves all the in and outs of the steamboat trail.

Running in Mesquite, Nevada. I ran around the air-field southwest of town and out into the desert. Enjoyed running up the dried water beds and studying the Desert Trumpet plant. On the way back to the hotel I got a call from my brother Paul saying my grandma (age 103) died in St. George about 1am in the morning. I guess we won't be stopping in St. George on our way through to see grandma. Funeral is Saturday so I'll get home just in time to turn around and go back.

Had a great run in Moab. I started by running up the Mill stream through town and then toward the east side of town headed up the mountain and ran along the top of the ridge along the east side of town. I realized it was time to be getting back to the hotel but I hadn't found a good trail back down so had to climb down the cliff face rocks. It would have really freaked out others to see me do that but I went slow and tried to remain calm. Just scratched my elbo a little but otherwise I made it down safely and was only 40 minutes later than I said I would be. We then went to Dead Horse Cliff State Park and Canyonlands National Park and I realized another flower I'm seeing everywhere is a very interesting plant they call Mormon Tea. It doesn't really have a flower - rather it is a tiny little yellow cone - it apparently is a reduced for of one of the conifer plant families. I will have to study it further at home. I also loved the beautiful cacti flowers (Claret Cup Cacti). This has been a beautiful trip! 

It was fun exploring around Moab again. I decided to try to find a route that went by where the Colorado River cuts between the cliffs just northwest of the town of Moab. I ended up in the Wildlife Preserve. At one point I was startled by a dozen deer and as they seemed to watch me run by instead of me watching them. That seemed strange since usually people go to places like that to watch the animals. I guess seeing a primate run by was fascinating or a curiosity to them. The cottonwood trees were beautiful as the little seeds caught the wind and had the sunlight behind them. I finally found the road that followed the Colorado river on the south side. I ran out of time but if I am in Moab again, I'll know how to get to the road and perhaps can follow the Colorado River for several miles through the canyon.

This was the day of my grandma's funeral in St. George. I got up before the sun at 4:00am and headed out for a run along the Virgin River as it goes through the west end of the valley. Then later in the day - while the family were meeting before the viewing and funeral, I made a walk along another trail. Finally, after the funeral, I didn't want to talk to all my siblings or cousins who want to pretend that life is so simple and exclude my reality so I slipped out after the funeral and went for a third walk rather than attend the luncheon or visit at my Aunt Carol's house with all the out-of-town guests. I wasn't really looking for a long run but it gave me an excape from my tomo ("totally Mormon") family that doesn't acknowledge the legitimacy of my existence. Apparently my absence created some little bit of stir among some of the relatives. At the funeral I sat away from the rest of the family and thereby avoided having to go up with all the other grandchildren and sing Mormon Jesus songs that I don't believe in - which many of my other secular cousins were pressured into doing. I enjoyed hearing my aunts and uncles talk about their mother and it was a great tribute and I am happy with the way I can begin to reconstruct my relationship to my family as a peripheral member and not a core member of the family.

Did a nice 3 1/2 hour run/hike with Ernie north along the ditch-trail. It was way too windy and cold but I needed to get out anyway. It took me all day Saturday to recover.

Ran for 2 hours at the Gold's Gym here in Reno. It cost $8.00 but they had pretty fancy equipment. I watch parts of Mission Impossible and Bewolfe while running on the fancy machine that was like a treadmill. It has been too cold and windy to run here in Reno much.

Spent 4 hours at 24-Hour Fitness in Reno. They let me in for free since I was only going to be there one day. It wasn't as nice as Gold's Gym but had the same set of equipment so worked for me. Was there from 8pm-12pm while Ernie tried his luck at the casinos.  According to the Elliptical Crosstrainer (precor) machine I did for the first two hours I ran 12 miles. It was fun to get the feet going backwards part of the time. For the last six miles I did a regular tread mill. I enjoyed listening to my atheism tapes - especially Mary Ann Evans' (George Eliot) essay on "Evangelical Teaching". Calories were 770, 770, 840 for each of the 6 miles total = over 2300 calories burned.

Ran for two hours along the railroad and Humboldt River in Elko, Nevada while Ernie was playing the slot machines. It was a little rainy and windy but not too bad. Amazed at how many moble homes there are there. I found two little hot springs which was kind of cool.

Did several walks-hikes today. We (Ernie & I) hiked around Wheeler Farm for about an hour looking at the animals and entertaining the children. We then hiked around Liberty Park for a couple hours, admiring nature, discussing life theories, and admiring all the free spirits at the drum circle. We then went up to the end of I-street in the avenues and did a good hike with Ernie's daughter. I carried the baby Fenix so I got an extra exercise as we hiked up the mountainside and down again. James was doing bike jumping while we did our hike.

Memorial Day. Ernie and James both needed to use my printer but I was out of ink cartridges so I decided about 7pm to do a little run with Lela over to Office Depot to see if they were open on the holiday. They had been opened but closed at 6pm so I decided while we were out to go the rest of the way around the airport field. Nice little run.

This time I went out at 8am and got the cartridges from Office Depot and then we continued around the airport field. Picked up garbage along the road while running. Lela was good and so I let her run free almost the whole way. I'm trying to get her to know that "Fence" means I want her to run closer to the fence so that I can let her off her leash and not worry about her running into the road when I'm not looking.

Ernie & I did a run-walk up the Pipeline Trail in Big Cottonwood Canyon. We started at Rattlesnake Gultch and went to where Mt. Aire Trailhead starts and then headed back. It had rained in the morning and the ground was soft and the temperature moderate with a nice breeze blowing. It was a beautiful day.

Ran for 5 hours in the afternoon after reading my sister Deborah's email saying there is nothing but black and white in life. I got sunburned really bad. It was fun to run out to Bingham but several of the trails/roads I ran on were apparently not open to the public. Oops.

Ran with Lela from our house to my brother Don's house and mom gave us a ride back and I ran another two miles on the tread mill with my mom while we visited a little more. Kind of cold day today.

Just took the dog for a loop around the airfield since she was dying to go for a run.

Ran with Leslie & Ernie from the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon, down the Crest Trail into Millcreek Canyon. Still some snow. Had to run an extra 4 miles since the road in Millcreek Canyon wasn't open yet. This gave me something to do so I didn't have to think too much about the family reunion I was missing.

Took the dog for a short run around the airfield. Took me an hour and ten minutes. Thought I would get some sun so I used a tank-top and no hat or sun-block. We'll see what the damage is later today when I can tell if I got burned or browned.Wearing a tank-top and letting my hair grow longer are my ways of being rebellious this summer as I've always been such a clean shaven good Mormon boy in my past.

Ran with Ernie & Lela along the Jordan River

Ran with Ernie & Lela along the Jordan River.

Great run with Harold, Leslie, & Ernie. We met at 6am and went to the top of Big Cottonwood canyon and ran the ridge down to the top of Millcreek Canyon. Very beautiful!

Poor Lela, our dog, was really worn out. I was tempted to go further but didn't want to cripple the dog. I let her drink irrigation water and later she threw it up but seems tired but happy the next day. I was trying to distract myself from family drama by my run. Ran out to the old Bingham Highway and then south almost to Harriman before heading back.

Ran for 3 hours in Elko, Nevada while Ernie had some fun times at the casino. I ran to the top of the mountain with the big "E" on it. Ran past the Elko hospital. Also discovered something new about Juniper trees that I still need to read more about (these look like pine cones and are called galls- discovered on my next run that they were also found on Willows and are caused by the eggs of little insects from the family Cecidomyiidae - see my next entry). It was the hot part of the day but great views of the whole valley and the Truckee River.

Beautiful run along the "Steamboat Canal" southwest Reno. I was amazed to see two types of Milkweed: the climbing milkweed (Saracostemma) and the desert milkweed (Asclepias). The second type was obviously milkweed to me but the former were not obviously milkweed. When I looked close at both types of flowers, I realized they were almost the same and so it was fun when I came home and looked them up to see they were related. Also was fascinated to find that a willow had the same kind of "pine-cone" growth that I had noticed earlier in the week in Elko on a Utah Juniper. As I looked up this I discovered that both the willow and the juniper are attacked by a tiny insect called a gall gnatt or gall midge from the family Cecidomyiidae. The insect injects an egg into the end of the branch and it emits a growth substance which creates abnormal growth, keeping the branch from growing out but the leaves then turn into little cone-like structures. It is so cool the way both the willow and the juniper have these little "pine-cones" on the end of the branches.

Didn't get any other real running in while we were on vacation but I'm back now and trying to get caught up. Ran with Lela around the airfield tonight. I saw the same kind of growth on an Ash tree here as I saw in St. George. I originally thought it was a seed pod but the people at the nursery in St. George didn't know what I was talking about so it occurred to me it might be an abnormal gall-growth. Sure enough it is from Ash-Flower gall mites (Aceria Fraxiniflora) which are from the gall mite family (Eriophyidae). These are like ticks and come from the Arachnid class, whereas the Juniper/Willow gall I noted previously is caused from a fly (Cecidomyiidae) from the Insect class. Amazing.

Just around the airfield with Lela.

Ran around the airfield and to the grocery store to get Ernie some licorice.

Nice summer rainstorm cooled the air so I took the dog for a run earlier in the day than usual. The cool rain felt really great to run in.

Enjoyed running the pipeline (Millcreek Canyon) from Rattlesnake Gulch to Elbow Fork and back again with Leslie & Ernie. Saw a rattlesnake in Rattlesnake Gulch - pretty appropriate I guess. Also ran about 1/2 mile barefoot for fun.

Just a quickie around the airfield to give Lela a chance to get out. It got dark before we got back and I was able to leave her off her leash most of the way back and she didn't have any problems.

Run with Lela

Nice run with Lela.

Nice walk-run with Ernie at the family reunion but forgot to make a turn and went a couple miles out of our way in the dark which wasn't much fun.

Did a nice run with George at the family reunion in North Ogden. He's got tons of great ideas and it is fun to spend time with him and his family.

Ran with Lela to my brother's house. He didn't even bother to come to the door to say hi. Oh well - at least I tried.

Ran to Holleen & Jason's house with our dog Lela. Getting rid of some extra energy since my brother David's eruption about me stopping by his house to say hi unannounced. Seems he is extremely homophobic and doesn't want me to be around his kids.

That's how far Leslie said I ran. We started at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon and ran into Millcreek Canyon and then down the Pipeline Trail and out the canyon to the Park-n-Ride. Hope Leslie was able to get a ride back as I was so out of it that I just took off. Let's see - started about 6:30am and finished about 11:30. That is almost a 5 miniute average, which is good timing for me on the longer runs. Amazing what a little family drama can inspire.

Just a beautiful late night walk with Ernie! So nice to just spend time together.

Ran to my mom's house with Lela. Had a great visit with her and set my mind at ease from the family drama earlier this week. Mom is supportive of me doing whatever helps my mental and physical health, even if that means I have to shut out my brother and sister from my life who have been rude and told me I'm not welcome around their children, etc. Limiting my family, I am discovering can have a beneficial outcome of being able to appreciate those who are valued and central in my life even more.

Ran to our son Jason's house and had a nice visit and water refreshment before following the Jordan canal on our way back.

Ernie, Lela, and I did a late night run-walk along the Jordan River Parkway Trail. Very nice but I was pretty tired by the time we were done - 11:30pm.

Beautiful skies as ran west at sunset and returned as it got darker. Lots of different colors.

One lap with Lela. Moon seems to be waxing. Ground a little damp after hard downpours earlier today.

Hiked with Ernie up the dirt road above where we were camping in Spanish Fork Canyon. Lots of beautiful wildflowers - some smelled like mint.

Did lap around the airfield with Lela.

Did a lap around the airfield with Lela.

Ran to my mom's house in West Valley with our dog. Had a nice long visit with my brother Paul on the phone and that caused me to take a lot longer than normal (walking). Still sore in the chest from epileptic seizure.

Enjoyed walking through Sugarhouse and around Sugarhouse park with Ernie.

Ran with Lela around the airfield. My chest is still sore so I took it kind of careful and slow. Picked up a bag of garbage as part of my little service project.

Run with Lela around the field. I notice a number of Russian Olive (also called Oleaster) trees growing out in the field. They must not need a lot of water. I looked them up and they are called Elaeagnus angustifolia. They are native to East Asia from Russia to Turkey and East. The berries are apparently eatable - I'll have to try them. They look a little like Olives (Olea europaea) but Olives are from the Oleaceae family in the Lamiales Order, while Russian Olive is in the Elaeagnaceae Family of the Rosales Order (more closely related to roses). The Russian Olive must not need a lot of water, but even more of a reason why it took off here after being introduced in the late 1800s was that its seedlings apparently survive well and its roots are "nitrogen fixing" meaning that they can create their own nutrients and can brow in fairly poor soil conditions. They have long thorns and striking silver colored leaves.

Running with Lela around the loop again. She is getting pretty attached to me now and follows me around the house, everywhere I go. I'm afraid my chest will stiffen up if I don't keep up my running pretty regular.

Ran the loop with Lela twice today. I thought it would be nice if I could run first thing in the morning before I take a shower and again just as the sun is setting before taking a second show so I'm clean for the day and clean for the night. It is a nice idea but I'm not sure if I can get myself going regularly. We'll see. Also picking up garbage along the road. Took a cat off the road whose head had been knocked off by a car and threw it in the weeds.

Leslie organized another "Crest Run" today which was wonderful. It lifts my spirits so much to be able to run along the ridgeline and see the valleys on both sides and then through the flush, shadded canyon as we descend into Millcreak Canyon from Big Cottonwood Canyon. I was reviewing plants that I had previously looked up but couldn't remember very well.Three in particular:

 1) The Nettleleaf Horsemint is a really distinctive plant as its head (like the end of a stock of wheat, hence its scientific name which comes from Greek for 'ear of grain'Agastache urticifolia). It is in the mint family (Lamiaceae, Lamiales order) and has a strong mint odor. The separate "grains" have purplish color on the ends (sepals) and then purple flowers (corolla) extended out further. It also has distinctive square stems.

2) Cranesbill (Geranium caespitosum) is mostly approaching the seed stage and the long "bills" poke out apparently before they hit a point where they explode and throw out their seeds. They are named after the bird Cranesbill because the seed pods look like the long beak of a bird. I thought it might be called an "indian needle" as it sticks sharply out. I found one that was still flowering and the flower was a pretty blue - five peddled flower. This family is the Geranium family (Geraniaceae, Geraniales Order - distant relative to the Rosids). The domestic Geranium plant actually goes by the genus name Pelargonium but is a cousin to the Cranesbill genus that is more hardy in the wild. One of my favorite parts of this plant is the leaves which have such a distictive and beautiful pattern - usually five different clefts each with its own jagged design.

 3) Jessica came home from school and said her biology teacher said there were no pine trees in Utah, only other conifers. I know I see lots of pine trees around town planted in people's yards and in parks so I wondered if he meant "native" to Utah. Yet I know I've seen pine trees while out running. I knew there were some 5-needled white pine trees along the crest so this time as I was running past them I took a small sample of a typical branch with the 5-needle clusters, another branch with the male polen cones, and a typical cone from under the tree. Logan's Utah State has a wonderful website information about native Utah trees and they list six types of pine trees that are native to Utah. This one that I identified from the top of the crest trail is a Limber Pine (Pinus flexibis). The other 5-needled tree native to Utah is the long-lived (4,000 years old) Bristlecone Pine and of course the pinyon pine trees are native to Utah as I know Indians used to eat their nuts before the white man came. Two types of pinyon pines (Pinus edulis and Pinus monophylla). Then there are also two types of red-pine which have 2-3 needles per bundle that are native to Utah as well: Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta) and Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa). Well I'm glad to Jessica's teacher for making such a strong statement that it caused me to prove her wrong and in doing so I learned a lot more about Utah's Pine trees!

 I also loved getting to know Leslie's son Tracy a little better on this run!

I had to burn off some of the calories I gained over-eating at our family party so I took the dog for a run after dark.

First time running since my seizure last Thursday. Seem to have recovered faster this time.

Nice run after the rain had cleansed the air.