Ravings and Blather

Had to get out above the nasty inversion so went to Pipeline from Burch Hollow to Overlook and back.  Was a balmy 2 degrees at the trailhead so no one on the trail today but 2 bundled up dog walkers thoughout the whole 9 miles except a lone wooly sheep hurdled out of the scrub 10 feet in front of me and stopped about 20 feet down the steep slope and looked back up at me as if to say "ya...so what? I'm not going anywhere"  just watched me leave.  Was still there on my return trip 4 miles later.  Was Cold for a bit then warmed up around mile 2.5.  Views amazing above the sludge. Loved the Goat Head Screws that I put in the bottom of my shoes.  Work like a charm and are a lot less bulky than the microspikes.  

Glorious outing to conquer top of Grandeur Peak.  Oreo and I started out at approx 2 degrees in the inversion poison and ended at peak in radiant sunshine. Oreo looked like he stepped out of a thai jungle by the top...sweatfest for sure the temps up there were balmy and toasty.  Wanted a lawnchair to sit at the peak for a bit.  Run down to Pipeline is one of my favorite areas of all time.  Shoe screws worked great to keep slippage to a minimum.  We left a car at Rattlesnake.  Awesome morning.  

Neighborhood snowfest run.  We have had about 20 inches of snow since Thurs.  Cool.  Spikes good

Run Kauai run to spouting horn and to

O freedom Beautiful serene

soulful land that is.

Nu'alolo trail out and back in Waimea Canyon on Kauai.  Stunning.  Jungle then cliff side exit to area overlooking the Napali coast.  Really amazing view of the Jurassic park type vistas of the coastline and canyons.  Super high over the water.  Did this with my sister in law and her sister who are both super fit but not big trail runners.  They loved it.  Was fun to do.  Coming back from the end point (Lolo vista) was not original plan.  There is a loop that I wanted to do but all of us out of gas.  1500 to 2000 elevation 

Felt gross.  This once a week running has left my cardio system week.

Wanted to get off the couch and start this month off with something good.  just a clear cool morning jaunt around the Mill Creek Road loop.  Was just what I needed.  Can tell my cardio stinks overall but felt good miles 4 to 7.  Maybe will start running again haha 

Spikes back in the shoes for a run up Pipeline,  burch hollow to elbow fork.  the trail and the blue sky were in perfect shape.  so stunning how much crap there is in the inversion when you truly get above it.

Pipeline is melting fast.  Firm cool trail 3 days ago is now getting slushy in the sun exposed areas.  Beautiful afternoon but trail littered with dog poo and bagged dog poo.  Getting worse up there every year. Felt like poo for half the run and then alright for the 2 mile downhill.

Neighborhood jaunt.  Felt good today just creaky.  Was going to double digits but snow started coming down and slipping around.  

Snowy chilly windy grizzly perfect run up pipeline, burch hollow towards rattlesnake.  New snow has covered up dog poo.  2 bikers on the trail.

Happy Valentines.  Got a Cold so took it slow around the neighborhood hills.  New Cascadia 8 good but feel huge.  Need em huge though so my toes dont die on the downhills.  Wish I could get a quarter size smaller.  Overall feel familiar.  

What a beautiful sunny day.  Infamous Big Titty Loop with Happy Trail extension.  Sweet slow time.  avg 9:56. Has some hills and some downs.  Totally nice to have some sun in the face and a salty sweaty nose drip. 

Pipeline overlook with Hannah. The some Basketball with Sam.  Then Bruges Waffles.  

Burch Hollow to Elbow Fork Pipeline.  Trail is getting soft with the warmer temps.  Nice to get out.  The initial elevation still giving me chest pain  but a bit better.

Thought I was going for more but to much snow on the trail.  Tried to do Quarry Trail but not packed enough.  So went to little bells reservoir.  Trail up there was great, but posthole ing  around the backside.  Beautiful though.  

Snowy Day in Holladay.  Ski day didnt materialize so went on solo neighborhood jaunt through snow lined streets.  About 3 inches of fluff and slush.  Good to get out but man felt heavy sauce today.  Goat head shoe screws did good.

Reverse Big T loop.  Plodding along today for sure...slower than snot ola but good to get out.  Was sunny day initially.  SO cool to see the blue sky...like a dark shroud being lifted.  

Afternoon around Olympus high construction site and then struggled home to a Silver medal finish.

Beautiful day...sucky bloated run.  Felt like a brunch in my gut...cause there was.  Millcreek road loop.  SUn is Nice

I swear I am got some mitochondrial disease where the ATP production has slowed down dramatically.   Dropped a book off to Hannah and ran around the avenues.  Gorgeous day.

Seriously something wrong with my energy.  Went on horse trails south of Bells Canyon.  Weaksauce dizzy headed jog and walk even at times.  Sad when I cant sustain a running pace for 3 miles.  Need some mojo.

Decided to go before breakfast this morning because I have been so full feeling on most of these runs lately.  Did work out better and something happened that has never happened to me in all my years of running.  I blew a snot rocket out of one side of my nose and it stayed attached and swung up into my eyeball full on.  Pretty cool.

Sunny day.  Trails still mush or slush in my usual haunts so went to the gully trail in dimple dell.  Still slush and horse poop but great time outside.  Slow as crap...but thats my new modus operandi.  

Parked at Rattlesnake in MillCreek Canyon and ran up road to Church Fork then Pipeline Trail to Overlook and down to car.  Shoes too big.  Heart too big. Gut too big.  Beautiful Sunny Day!!!!!!!!

Spin up to Mt Olympus up 45th then along face trail near mt.  Felt aight as Oreo might say.  Looking forward to seeing Antelope Island this weekend.

Easy easy evening shake out... Buffalo on Saturday.  Unless its a muddy rainy day and then who knows...have to find some fun

Ended up being a great day.  Beautiful clear day, but dang cold.  Trail in driest and best condition I have seen it actually...so go figure.  Just wanted to be steady in this one and try to keep running.  I feel like this course is "fun" one with a good but challenging test of runnable ups and downs and some beautiful vistas with the odd buffalo thrown in for coolness factor.

 Whole day was spent trying to cool off or warm up, gloves and hat on then off repeated many times.  Was great to be with 2 brothers on this one as well.  Oreo ran a great race and probably would of beat me if he didnt stop to pack his jacket and hat away.  Nice race dude.

 Was very happy with the day because I was able to keep clip clopping away and feel decent but tired and spent at the end.  Coolio.

Cool...Pipeline in the summer but before the snakes...

Huntsville neck of woods to run to Rocky Point with Oreo...he set a nice steady grinder pace up to overlook.  3 up 3 down...beautiful views and sweet times...then some carrot cake...happy easter

Back to Pipeline Trail...old times are here again.  Perfect cool but clear morning up on the trail.  Starting to get green fast.  Drool Rockwood and such.

Tilsden loop on asphalt.  slow and sure in the cold.  Winter cometh again

Zions West Rim Trail from Wildcat Trail head with a bit of wandering in between.  Oreo chased by a ballsy rogue sage grouse with a mean streak.  jwblack busting out the whupping stick and keeping a mean but entertaining pace.  Hairdog gutting it out to the end.  Beautiful cool scenery no doubt about it.  Little company on this trail which made it awesome until around Angels landing when it became crowded.  

Saved my brothers lives out around Birch miles.  Gotta count the last 4 miles.

1 then blew up

Mt Oly frontage trail and run home with daughter Hannah.  She is awesome and I feel 20 years older than I am.

Huffing and puffing and seeing a cardiologist on Thursday

Overlook Pipeline and back.  Took it easy before my visit to cardiologist.  I will likely live.  So I wont take out my briefcase of cash and had East...just yet.

burch hollow to elbow fork.  delicious.  great to be outside and trail was empty, poo free and snake free...

Burch Hollow to Overlook and back.  There and back again...  This reminded me that aver 6 miles is a long way when trying to sustain effort and not run very often.  But I loved the outing...

LCC Quarry trail.  Loved it actually.  Finally remembered this little gem.  River was really flowing.  Beautiful and huffed and puffed up the 1100 ft rise (mostly)...great times 

one on the mill and 5 on a lovely new trail by Mountain Dell golf course.  had to take a dooky on the trail with leaves only... wheres the boat and a lake when you need one

Mountain Dell loop.  Beautiful for about 4 miles of this then gas line slog down  to the road was a bit bush wack.  Osprey nest on top of a power pole though that was really cool.  Also stepped on a snake tail and it freaked me out. 

Wet fest.  Started with a lovely room at Oreo's house and got to walk to the start with about 5 minutes to spare.  Lovely.  Rained the whole time.  Temps 45 to 50 I would guess.  Was actually kind of cool to run in the rain.  Soaking wet by mile 7.  Finished steady the whole race and was happy with the time.  Oreo busted out an easy 1:42.  Was strong.  

Fun to see mom and dad at the spillway giving some props and photo ops.  Finish line was a dud as I was freezing and shaking within 10 minutes and it was rainy and cold and the traditional Creamie was not even appealing as I was too dang cold.  Went to Oreos car, stripped down, found a hat and a blanket in there and waited til he could gather the crew.

Fun race.  Star Trek last night awesome as well. 

Neighborhood slow shake out.  Delightful.  Thighs and calves tight.

Pipeline with Hannah.  Burch to Elbow and back and a bit more.  Sweetness.

1000 pound run in the Olympus Trailhead area.  Leaden bones.

Up in God's country early am with Oreo.  Wheelers to Beaver pond(cool pond made by some industrious and architectually and artistically sound beavers) to Maple loop.  I was a bit in the hurt on the up hill but such a beautiful day and cool trail.  this is one of the best for sure.  Sweet 

Wheelers/Icebox/Beaver loop with hairman and Oreo.  Beautiful chilly morning.  I was huffing and puffing on the way up though.  Almost 45 yo though so actually pretty darn happy... where you at Scarification?

just a spin up rattlesnake and down churchfork then down the road.  arms sore from water skiing hehehe

went up millcreek canyon road from gate to mt aire trailhead then up that trail for a half mile then back to the car via pipeline.  Walked most of the second mile.  loved it

Pipeline.  one snake (non rattler but scary none the less), one shirtless wonder (me),  no trail hotties (none) ,  one sweating dog (towing a 90 year old man)

Nice day... I am full of Lead.  need to replace with donuts. 

Reverse Big Titty Loop.  ONe thing I noticed today is that one difference between trail running and road running is on the trail you usually see live animals.  In urban area...dead.  Today dead squirrel, bird and rattle snake and some unidentified road kill.  It made me sad.  Except for the rattler. 

Man I am not in running shape. 

Road junk with some trail junk in front of mount ply... was just getting into it and needed potty...just went back home...slowly

Pipeline overlook and a bit

Road to Cottonwood offices and back.  Trying to get some miles on road to just get the leg turnover back and not worry about snakes.   

With Hannah from Burch to Elbow.  Fun times.  Old man told us we were his heroes so that was cool to make his day.  Letting him meet his heroes was rewarding.

 Heehee 

Pipeline, burch hollow to overlook and back.  Was supposed to be 105 degrees today so actually ran a bit early for me.  730  haha.  Temps not too bad yet.  Got into a good slow rhythm.  Enjoyed it immensely but am tired of the pollution and overuse on Pipeline.  Too many Bags of dog poo that never get picked up again.  

What what what...run from Burch hollow to Elbow....visited the facilities there for a timely sit down...total sweatfest... didnt feel that great but it is record heat and im melting

Man, I dont run much anymore and my body feels it.  That being said, I am still plugging away at it. T**s up in the air run this morning up to dog lake.  Beautiful out, perfect cool conditions.  Really notice how much older this forest is than pipeline area.  Big old pines and quakies.  Pretty cool.

Hot pipeline tour.  heavy and slow

Was hoping for something long but long pull in hospital through night and my mind gave out.  Went up to peak of Lambs pass from Millcreek side.  1800 vert.  Hike up run down...beautiful views up there are lush green on millcreek side with few people yet.  

amphitheater loop along the colorado river before the day got started on the river boat.  lovely

Yosemite.  Was awesome.  One of coolest places I have ever been.  4 mile trail to glacier point then panorama trail to Nevada Falls then mist trail.  Wonderful stuff. Brothers are studs.  Thanks.

Dog lake up and back.  To alone for the whole loop.  Where you guys at?  1400 elevation on this one.  Super temperature.  Always beautiful.

Ran as much of this as I could.  It is a beast up Bells canyon.  Rocky straight up trail for a few sections of this.  Beautiful waterfall at the 2.5 mile mark.  Went to around 4 looking for the upper bells reservoir but started raining and I was tired of the push so I likely needed to go about 800 more vertical feet and about a mile more.   Beautiful scenery.  Punishing downhill.

Heat suffer fest around neighborhood.  

pipeline in the heavy heat of midday.  3 slow miles and 2 slower miles but at least im out, which there hasnt been much of lately

Drove to Big water parking lot at the end of Millcreek canyon and went on Dog Lake to Desolation Lake loop ending coming down Great Western Trail from Desolation.  This is a beautiful loop with about 2800 feet of climbing.   I love the views around Desolation.  I am out of shape for these longer miles.  Kind of a kick in the butt to try and get back to some regular running.  I am in the realm of miles that I am always in some pain.  Difficult to get in any rhythm and have feel good miles.

Beach run along crystal cove.  I love this run.  Beach is peaceful in the morning.

around the newport neighborhood with Hannah.  she is a strong runner and a cool chicka and a great daughter

crystal cove beach out and back today... paradise once more

Pipeline to elbow...wow air so thin in mountains.. gut bomb by mile 1... struggle and age and whining and you know how it goes.. i got to schedule a race I guess to motivate some more fitness

yes yes  pre work jaunt

Pipeline up rattlesnake towards churchill and then to overlook.  Pristine trails, tired body...a few to many cookies last night to feel good I believe.  Colors are starting to change.

HFF dog/desolation loop starting at lower Big Water parking.  This was a sweet one with perfect temps and trail and no real crowd yet when we started. Went up with Oreo and the Hairdog.  Black Angus still locked into moving and couldnt join us unfortunately.  Beautiful loop.   I had it at 2860 feet elevation peaking out at 9677'.  

SLowish out and back on the pipeline.  Beautiful stuff.

Neighborhood spin in the heat... just had to get out with limited time... need to see some dirt again

Burch Hollow to overlook with sister in law Liz and daughter Hannah.  Beautiful slightly overcast weather but prime trails.  This kind of kicked my butt.  I'm getting out of shape.

Fun times.  happy labor day

Hot sweaty mess on asphalt...sweet.

Grandeur Peak with Oreo as his Pacing responsibilities fell through.  Always a good thing to stand on top of grandeur.  Cheated a bit by leaving a car drop at Church Fork secondary to time issues, but perfect morning.

Some sweet desert miles between some Maiden and Some Pubbage.  Beautiful country for a sweatfest.  Phone fell off the car on the way out but miraculously survived.  Then to spa for triple eucalyptus sauna, cold plunge, hot tub plunge rotation

Ponderosity after work on the road.

Rheumy late afternoon road miles.  Road was good just to feel a consistent leg turnover and some fresh air.  Been awhile.  Also, had to churn out the two mid morning donuts.  chocolate frosted and maple.

Mt wire.  THis is 2300 feet of up.  Crapola, I had forgotten that it was so steep.  Anyway.  Liked getting on it again.  it has some great views of the valley. Thrashed my legs on the downhill. 47 minutes on the up.  Pretty fast hike all things considered

Pipeline extravaganza.  Birch Hollow to Overlook.  Today was sweet and slow and fairly empty trails.  Good tunes and peaceful times.  Loved it.

Pipeline Burch to Elbow.  Great morning with snow in the upper mountains and mist rising off the lower road area, no one on the trails and great cool temp.  Loved this one.

Pipeline.  Burch down 2.5 then back.  Leaves are cool right now.  Not as vibrant as some other years, but cool none the less.

Clear and coldish day on the Pipeline.  Up Rattlesnake at a hike pace then ran to overlook then up to Burch Hollow. Quite a few people out on the trail today...bikers in bigger than average numbers as well.  Finished up going back to car down the road.  Good tunes good view good day

White Pine attempt.  I ran out of time and got hungry about 2.6 in or so.  Slippery spots from all the snow but stunning views and fresh air. So not to shabby.  

On the road again...  To Old Mill and back.  Took the new paved bike trail they just finished by Old Mill that ends by Big Cottonwood parking lot.  it is sweet.  Thing about the road is it sometimes feels good to just mindless turnover the legs with some good tunes.  Will get back on the trail when it stops raining.

Up to mt olympus area with the 1.5 mile trail and then road.  pretty day. I got into some nasty bush that left a rash on legs and abdomen by end of run.

Pipeline   Leaves   Dogs

Park city for UEA.  Went from rental house to John's Trail and just wanderlusted it around the area.  Packed with cool trails and quakie aspen at prime colors.  beautiful.

Just a hoof up a hill

Morning brisk air jaunt.  Drove to silver lake lodge parking with idea to do mid mountain.  Decided to go the other way and do overlook to jordenelle with sun coming up.  Short and sweet with some deer in view but no other souls in sight.

After work after call shabang through the changing leaves and pavement.

Started up White Pine but snow by half mile and wrong shoes turned me back.  Drove to Quarry Trail.  Good choice.   Prime conditions and beautiful scenery.  

pavement miles on nice new bike path by Big cottonwood canyon

Pipleline overlook.  was planning more but was tired so screw it.  need some grub

Happy Halloween and Happy Trails.  Pipeline today.  Was perfect.  

malans peak with Oreo.  Chill day.  Beautiful out. Cool views from the top.  Egg McMuffin to finish.  Sweet.

Holy Smokes...Double digits.  Been a long time, but I had the mojo after reading Scarbacks jaunt.  Just through the neighborhoods where the big houses are...cool to see them and then back to home.  Need to find a donut. avg...9:15

Bonneville Shoreline Trail via the JCC.  OUt and back starting at Drycreek.  Never done this section before and it was sweet.  About 900 vert on way out and down on back.  perfect day here in slc.  A few too many bikes for comfort but not bad for a Friday.  Needed it after a visit to doc for hernia and testicular cancer check.

Up to Snowbasin parking lot for Sardine Loop with Oreo.  Prime conditions, essentially had trail to ourselves.  Cool at start but warmed pretty quick as this a grinder out of the gate.  This loop has it all with great views of basin and then ogden canyon then pineview with some sweet descent.  Cool day.

Bloated run left me hustling for the fine restroom facilities of Millcreek canyon.  Burch Hollow to Elbow Fork

Too late in the day after wonderful roast beef sandwich.

Inversion sucks]

Rattlesnake start to Overlook and then up to churchfork down to road.  Like this loop.  Chilly at start then broke into the sunshine.  beautiful day.  

Gorgeous day.  Did loops around little bell reservoir.  Not many people out but trails perfect.

I noticed I often see a bluebird when I am out trail running.  For years I have noticed this, in all types of weather and in all places.  Why? (multiple choice format)

A.  Bluebirds are common to the area and everyone sees them

B. Luck

C. I am on a Holodeck and it has a glitch..."the Bluebird Glitch"

D. This is one single bluebird named Trevor and he follows me

E.  I am magic

I'm hoping for E.

Neighborhood spin up 45th over to 39th and back.  No big whup.

Got out for a loop to Pipeline overlook and then up to Church Fork and down road in Millcreek to complete a nice loop.  Chilly 25 degrees at start but beautiful day

Liked the pipeline overlook loop so much I did it again this morning.  Cold, but once you get up Rattlesnake the sun hit and it was perfect and above nasty inverson.  Knees hurting a bit.  Could I be getting old?

Happy Thanksgiving to all and to all a good night.  (just chill neighborhood jaunt)

Cool morning pipeline up Rattlesnake to Overlook then up past Church Fork back to Rattlesnake.  SLow but felt good and steady.  Trails perfect right now.  Sun just hitting the trail to take the chill off.  Still in shorts which is nice.

Snowfest on the Pipeline.  Burch Hollow towards Rattlesnake.  Temp 19.  About 6 to 8 inches of snow on the trail and no people to be seen. Beautiful for sure but already ready for Spring.

Pipeline afternoon.  Couple things...no one out on trails...why? ...likely cause its crunchy cold..and phones and ipods die.

Also...what is the number of miles from Bright ANgel to Phantom range and up South Kabib loop?

Post call run up 45 to 39 and back home... road miles sometimes good...reminds me 

Road to Cottonwood Office complex and back.  Cruised like a Bad Mutha....

Burch Hollow down and back for 6.  Cold at start but so nice to be above the nasty air in Slc.  When up there you can see we live in a pool of evil haze.  Iron Maiden on the tunes today.

Man, I was wanting pancakes by 1 mile into this run.  This is always a bad sign as this means my fuel reserve sucked and I had nothing with..so I hiked about half way up grandeur peak and sat in the sun for a bit then back to burch hollow and home for delicious pancakes

Had to get the poison out after a long call shift.  Such a beautiful quiet morning through the streets of Holliday to the S curve and then 33rd.  Good tunes and first morning light coming up to show Mt Olympus...Sweet.  Helped work through the whole family size raspberry cream cheese danish I polished of solo the last few days from Backers.

Happy Christmas Eve!  Big Titty Loop with Happy Trail Extension this morning.  So good to see the inversion cleared out of the valley.  Mountains look crisp instead of Hazy.  Man...10 miles is a long way in my current state but awesome as well.  Enjoy Brothers...

Pipeline snowfest.  Shorts because I am a stud (dang cold 18 degrees at start, but  sun on trail once up Rattlesnake)  Trevor the magical bluebird put in a fine appearance.  Good stuff for the post Christmas round.  Inversion unfortunately creeping back in.

Just down and up to summit of big mountain while son and friends were sledding... valley in a blanket of pollution

Road junk with the bite of exhaust in the air.  Still was good to get out.  Wasnt going to but saw that I had 799 miles for the year.  Need to pass that mark right?  anyway fast for me avg 8:37