Go, you chicken fat, go away!

Day 6 of the 7SummitsChallenge.  I need to provide the backstory to this run first.  As an ambassador for Ragnar, I often get free stuff from Ragnar/Reebok.  I've received three pairs of shoes so far.  The first pair didn't fit, so I ended up giving them to my wife's sister's ex husband's biological father.  A few months after that his diabetes got so bad that he had to have one of his legs amputated at the knee.  After the operation I asked him if I could have the other shoe back since he didn't need it anymore.  (Sometimes I crack myself up.)  Anyway, it seems his diabetes is once again catching up with him as he's almost completely lost his eye sight.  His girlfriend, Vanessa, who's lived with him for over 30 years is starting to crack under the stress and strain of the whole situation.  It's almost too much for her to handle.  Yesterday she came over because she needed a hug.  My wife, Vickie, who she usually goes walking with in the morning, wasn't home.  So I got to be the shoulder for her to cry on.

This morning we got up early because I didn't have to get ready or take any kids to school.  Vickie and Vanessa came with me because Vanessa really wanted to see the wild horses that I saw a couple of days ago.  We didn't see any on the ride over, so I told them that while I was running, it might be best for them to head the other direction down towards the river in hopes that they might spot a few over there.  I told them I would be gone for an hour.  It was shortly before 7am when I started.  There were already a lot of cars on the road, which I knew there would be since it's the weekend and next week is fall break.  I had to make sure to stay alert.  There were plenty of cyclists, too.  I have been feeling stronger each and every day.  It showed in that today I had my fastest pace for both uphill and downhill.  Today's goal was 460 feet.  I saw a big cactus and thought, that looks like a good place to stop.  It should be well over my goal elevation.  I ran to the cactus and it was 465 feet.  Ha!  Good thing I didn't stop before then.

I headed back down and I didn't see any horses.  At the half mile to go point the road straightens out and I can see all the way to the parking lot.  I spotted Vickie and Vanessa walking back.  Perfect timing.  I asked them if they saw any horses or coyotes or snakes.  Nothing.  They did see the river, so that was nice.  But I wasn't about to give up.  I kept my eyes open as we drove back, this time taking the Power Road route.  To my left I thought I spotted a brown horse behind some brush.  I slowed down a little and saw a white horse.  If I wasn't looking for them, I wouldn't have seen them.  So I swung back around and pulled over.  Turns out it was the same four horses that I saw first on Thursday.  Vanessa got out and was able to take some pictures.  It really made her day.