[Announcer]: This week on The Running Channel: It's animal week! You may remember our show two days ago when we introduced you to a mother and baby moose, as well as a couple of more domesticated animals, horses. Today's program continues by exploring Logan Canyon with our host, Jon.
[Jon]: Thanks for joining me today. Let me tell you about today's run and the animals we encountered on it. The run started at the canal trail and wound it's way to the mouth of Logan Canyon, continuing all the way to Guinavah Malibu campground. We wanted to see plenty of wildlife so we didn't start the run until after 7:30 pm, figuring the animals would be out around dusk once the oppresive heat of the day was gone. We started at a fairly easy pace, between 7:30-8:00 minutes per mile on the way up, and it was a good thing, too. Had we been going any faster, we might have stepped on the rattlesnake that was stretched across the gravel trail just below Third Dam. It was a beautiful diamondback, stretching 3 or 3 1/2 feet long and as big around as a tennis ball. It could easily eat my water bottle whole. After observing him and waiting for him to get off the trail, the run continued. There were plenty of birds and small mammels, and a large number of canines, but nothing larger. At least not yet. Join us after this commercial break for the return trip.
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[Jon]: After turning around at the 7.5 mile mark (60 min running time), we quickly ran into a very large animal in the brush just above the trail. I didn't get a good look but am sure it was a deer. The next animal was of the slightly smaller version- insects. They were out in large number tonight along the trail and river, and I tried to identify specific species by swallowing them, inhaling them, and getting them stuck on my chest and in my eyes. Alas, I was never able to conclusively determine what they are. It was getting dark at this point, so the return trip was slightly faster, between 7:00-7:30 pace for the first 3 miles. Once I reached the end of the singletrack, I increased the pace to around 6:30 per mile and tried to maintain that the rest of the way, hoping to cover more distance and observe more animals. I was richly rewarded as I rounded a corner near the Nature Center and startled a deer on its way to the river. We raced for a while before he veered into the brush. The run exited the canyon but there was one more exotic animal to be seen on this journey. Just before the canal trail, I passed the elusive and speedy Polpy, also known as Paul P. in some parts of the country. This creature relies on speed to escape predators/competition, and is indiginous to Indiana but has migrated to Utah and integrated himself quite well with the local habitat, though he did stand out with his reflective vest this evening. Polpy escorted me back to my car, and also confirmed that my pace was sub-6:30, which was good to hear. By this point it was 10 pm and dark, so I ended my animal trek for the evening. Return trip was 52:45 for 7.5 miles, giving an overall average pace of 7:31 min/mile.
[Announcer]: Join us tomorrow when Jon journeys up the new singletrack in Green Canyon in search of the rare mountain lion. This week on The Running Channel: Animal Week!
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