Kendall

AF CANYON

Tibble fork up trail 041 to south on mud flats split. Tough going to the meadow with only one set of (old) tracks--snow very deep. AF Canyon overlook is spectacular and one of the best views of Timp. Back down mud flats to junction up to ridge trail and back down 041. At downhill split headed north on 040 to the north end of tibble. Fun day. Decided I MUST invest in some snowshoes. This hiking up to mid-thigh in snow is wearing me down.

Treadmill

Treadmill Tempo

West mountain group run.

American Fork Canyon--hike/run. Tibble fork loop.

Treadmill Intervals

Treadmill tempo

Treadmill Tempo

Tibble Fork->Pole Line Pass->Cascade Springs->Pine Hollow.

Soft snow made going difficult. Nice groomed section from Wasatch State Park sign (7+/- miles) to Cascade Springs sooooo nice. Finished in the dark.

Treadmill intervals.6 x .3 @ 5:45 mm with .2 mi walk inbetween.

Treadmill Tempo:

1.5 warm-up, 3 middle miles at 9mph (6:40), 1.5 back down.

Another treadmill run. Middle 3 at 5:47--tired legs and difficult. Felt a bit better after realizing I had the treadmill set at 1% incline. Full moon and I'm on a treadmill--agh.

Strides after conference.

Nice day down in St George. Fairly consistent with exception of a couple of slower miles on the hills. Ran with a pretty consistent group helping me chase and keep pace. Hoping to do 1:28, ended up just under and a new PR at 1:27:22. 3 mile warm up/1 mile CD.

Splits:

Variation on half marathon course on way home. Could get used to the weather down here.

Tibble Fork up to Mineral Basin (nearly to Hidden Peak except we kept sliding down and couldn't get traction). Late night run with a nice group of people. Tough group. First 5 miles pretty chewed up trail followed by 5 miles of perfectly groomed, track-less road leading right up to the lift house at mineral basin.

Helping local race mark course. two loops of 5K course for upcoming Run4Phillipines. charity event.

Intervals on treadmill. 

6 x .3 mile intervals at 5:45 mm. .2 rest in between. I like the new format I've settled on (from a purely numbers standpoint--on the treadmill) .3 run followed by .2 rest keeps things even on the half mile (.5) and straight-up on the mile.

Four in the morning helping with charity race. 10 in the evening on the dreadmill.

10 mile hike up AF Canyon (Alpine Loop).

Tempo on treadmill.

Tempo treadmill late night.

Run at work. Tough week with several 1am budgeting sessions. Good to get out.

Hike up to the top of the loop R/T. Great to see fresh snow.

Tempo work:

1.5 mi warm-up, 6 x .5 starting at 10 mph increasing .1 each set (finished last set at 11.1 mph) with .25 rest (jog at 6.5) in between. 1 mile cool down.

Millcreek gate to yurt with group. 8 pm start. Forgot my trail shoes, had to use my indoor trainers with yak tracks--worked fine. 

Tempo on treadmill. 5 middle miles at (7:30, 7:30, 7:15, 7:00, 6:20)

Donut Falls

Alpine Loop--Aspen Grove side. AF canyon closed to avalanche danger.

Tempo run. 1.5 warm-up. 6 x 800 mi repeats starting at 10.1 progressing to 10.5, last 800 at 11 with .2 mile jog at 6.5 in-between. Hard workout. Think I may be getting sick. Ugh.

7 on the JRPT (I spare the details of the multiple stops).

5 on the JRPT--not good.

3 mile shake-out on moab bike path.

Red Hot. Fun to see a lot of friends down in Moab and on the run. Not my best day but a great day nonetheless.

Negro Bill canyon hike.

7 miles spinning at the gym.

5 slowish miles on the treadmill watch Ted rip it up on the GS!

14 miles spinning at the gym. Still feeling lousy but wanting to get the legs moving without jostling the body too much.

JRPT slow miles.

17 spinning at gym.

Alpine Loop 12.2 hike.

Six on the murdock canal. good to be outdoors.

Three terrible miles on the treadmill. Had to abort. Can't kick this thing.

JRP. Much improved today. 

Back-to-back decent runs. Happy day.

Treadmill tempo: 1.5 wu, 4 x 800 (10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.5-11.1), .75 mile cd. felt okay despite some coughing fits making those around me uncomfortable.

14 miles from Tibble Fork up into Mineral Basin. Really wet sloppy snow below 7,500 ft level and slightly improved from there. Toward Mineral Basin 8-10 new, ran out of snowmobile tracks and had to turn around.

AF Canyon Hike. Tibble to Silver Lake Flat. Beautiful day.

Suncrest neighborhood loop + downhill on south Utah County side. Fast downhill. Legs feeling it today.

5 slow treadmill miles. Legs pretty beat-up after suncrest downhill.

Corner Canyon run. Nice to be on dirt.

Intervals at BYU track. 8 x 400 with about 400 walk/jog in between. 

1:27, 1:25, 1:24, 1:23, 1:22, 1:22, 1:22, 1:21

Walter was super helpful in coaching about tempo's vs intervals, etc. Trying to make my workouts more meaningful with at least 2 speed work outs per week--(1) tempo, (1) interval.

Easy treadmill miles. late.

Mouth of Provo Canyon up squaw peak road to lookout. "I got my new shoes, I got my new shoes on!" sung to the tight pants tune with Will Farrell and Jimmy Fallon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv7Ts4v5_Bs

AF Canyon trail 085 hike up to Pole Line Pass/Mineral Basin split. Nice day.

Easy 8 on treadmill.

Mud-fest in orem foothills. good to be on familiar ground. love early spring trails.

Intervals: 1.5 miles warm-up. 6 x 400 intervals with 2 min walk in-between: 1:33, 1:27, 1:25, 1:19, 1:21, 1:18. 1 mile cool down.

Monument Valley 50 mi.

http://kendallsrunningadventures.blogspot.com/

Haven't written on this 'blog' for several years. This one required a write-up.

Hike in foothills.

Running on the "Leopards" course. Down and back up.

Treadmill--slowish.

Antelope Island. Messing and running with some 100 mile guys in between the lower frary and mountain view aid stations.

Beautiful warm day on the Alpine Loop. Was on PR pace until the last mile where the snow turned to total mush. Couldn't keep it going.

Las Vegas. afternoon treadmill.

Las Vegas Blvd south from Monte Carlo hotel. Love this north section. Got on some dirt, fewer lights and pedestrians. If you're ever closer to the south end of the blvd, I highly recommed going north vs south.

Las Vegas Blvd repeat. South from Hotel Monte Carlo.

Quick run in the snow and wind after returning from Las Vegas. Good to get out.

Treadmill intervals. 1.5 mi warm-up, 6 x 800 with 400 walk/rest inbetween, Started at 9.8 (1% incline) moving up .1 each interval, finishing at 10.6. 1 mile cool-down.

Around town.

Corner Canyon with Mattley P.

Treadmill intervals.

1.5 WU, 6 x 800 starting at 9.8 with 400 walk in-between. 1 mile cool down. Love this workout. Harder than usual tonight.

.

Five fast evening miles around Murdock trail. 7:08 avg.

7 late night miles on the treadmill (again). 1% incline 4 miles at 7:30, last mile at 6:24. 1 mile cool down.

ZION'S 50K

Worked late on Friday getting frequent updates from friends completing and competing in the Zion's 100K/100 miles races this past weekend. After finishing up at work around 8 pm, suffering from race envy all day long, I decided to get out of town and head down to Zion's for the 50K starting at 6 am Saturday.

Quickly throwing my gear into the truck I was on the road by 10 pm. Arrived at the finish area in Virgin, Ut, around 2 am, checked in the the RD and some of the 100 finishers, got a quick nap in the and settled in the front seat of my truck for some rest. After a restless couple of hours of sleep, up at 5 am, heading to the start.

Good to see some familiar faces at the starting line and at 6 am we were off. On three separate occasion within the first 3 miles I was leading the race--due to the entire lead group going off course three separate times. I think I was more prepared this time, watching more carefully for course markings, after having my own misfortunes at Monument Valley. Word to the wise...at a Matt Gunn (Ultra-Adventure) race PAY ATTENTION!

Had a lousy first 10-12 miles with two different bathroom stops and just feeling out of sorts. The Guacamole loop was not as much fun to race as it is to hike but nonetheless, I very much enjoyed the way-finding and hide-and-seek nature of this section searching for marking and the course.

On the way back down from the Guacamole aid station I started to hit my stride and things (finally) started clicking. I had a good second half, running the flats at a good pace and hammering up the Gooseberry Mesa passing a few runners. Ran the next downhill section really hard dropping into some low 6mm miles (with a couple of picture stops). Passed Ryan and Zac before the final stretch finishing in 5:20--13th overall.

Not my best day but a good second half and great training run. Loved the scenery and good company.

Guacamole Loop (Hike) Day Two. Fun to go back retracing steps from previous days' race. Go a bit off course without the flagging. Amazing rocks....everywhere!

5 mile recovery run on the Murdock Canal pre-NCAA Championships. Forget how fast flat trails can be. 

5 on the Murdock canal trail Avg. pace 7:13.

Treadmill intervals.

 Usual workout: 1.5 WU, 6 x 800's starting at 10, incr .1 each interval. .25 rest/walk inbetween, 1% incline. 1 mile CD. A little tired tonight. Hard breathing and sweating (<- like that's not supposed to happen :)) 1 hour weights post run.

Running around.

BOSHO MARATHON

My 3rd or 4th year of doing this tough little number. 6500 ft vert +/-. Not my best time but a good day. Intentionally started slower than normal today (could be a trending strategy for me) gradually building and feeling stronger as the day wore on. Ran a strong second half and felt great. Only 7 min down on my PR.

Lots of friends on the trail today. Good to see so many great people out.

Fast 10K on the JRPT (7:14 avg). Surprisingly no recovery needed after BoSho on Saturday.

Regular speed routine on TM. Felt good tonight.

5.8 miles race / 2.3 more with warm-up and cool down.

Corner Canyon Race Series (Race #1)

Good times with some of last years groupies. Some damn fast guys out tonight. Ended up 6th out of 30ish. Fast fun series each Wednesday night. http://runontrails.com/

Lame.

8 late night. Work work work.

Grove Creek -> Battle Creek loop. Still knee deep snow up and over ridge. Beyond that one little stretch it's good to go.

8 lunch break. Tired legs today.

CORNER CANYON RACE SERIES #2

Surprise! 10 miles! (didn't realize it was a 10 miler until race start). Having said that, great run, slowed pace some on first lap, both up and downhill. Fun to let loose on the downhill portions on the second lap. Only okay performance but had fun.

Setting and marking course (24 actual miles on 4-wheeler, golf cart, running around). Let's call it unofficially 3 miles of running. Pulling all-nighter out of the course. I'm hoping this counts for some kind of training. Not happy about missing several days of running.

Race day. Running around doing RD stuff. Maybe 3 miles of running--not consecutive but 10.5 miles on my feet, golf cart, etc. Exhausted.

Corner Canyon. Nice to get out and shake out the cob webs from a long weekend. Little bit of rain but beautiful afternoon.

7 miles on the treadmill, intervals.

1.5 miles WU, 6 x .50 mile repeats with .25 walk in-between. Starting at 10.1 graduating to 10.6 last .5 mile raising speed to 13.3. Had no idea that treadmills went past 12mph.

Late miles around the house. Love my new shoes (clearance sale on Pure Flow). Shoes felt like slippers--light weight, 4mm drop. Can really feel the road. Fast pace tonight, intentionally pulling back with race tomorrow evening. Felt really great. Light, fast and quick turn-over. Loved the shoes...we'll see if i continue to like them.

Run on Trails--Corner Canyon Race Series #3

1 mile warm-up, 7.8 race course, 1,300 ft elevation gain.

#3 in the series. All the usual suspects showed up tonight. Taha, Mark (Hammond), although still missing Toby and Toly took the night off. Bigger group this evening with once again 3-4 really fast guys. Mark Hammond torched us all taking the win. My favorite CC course.

Start: Parking lot -- up Lower Corner Canyon Tr. -- right on Fire Road -- left up Clark's Tr. -- right on Ann's Tr. -- right down Potato Hill Tr. -- merge onto Bonneville Shoreline Tr. -- left onto Creek View Tr. -- down to Finish.

Steady 3+ mile climb to Ann's then scorching downhill. Just missed the downhill CR in a couple of sections by Toby (he's untouchable). Lots of bikes on the trail who refused to share (or yield) the trail. Several scrambles up the side of the hill and back on the trail at a < 6mm pace. I'm all about sharing so bikes don't have to stop but it when they hold their course expecting ME to yeild to them--gets me works up. Ran with the Pure Connects (min road shoe) tonight and absolutely loved them. Perfect trail for a very minimal shoe. 

Another great night with a fun group.

Battle Creek->Grove Creek Loop (CR Grove Creek downhill).

I'll write later about this one...big deal for me.

Grandeur fun run double (west face, down to pipeline, up and over on some unknown trail, back to car and repeat). Great day until Francesco got sick...slow, slow, slow 2nd loop.

Grove Creek -> Battle Creek Loop. (Sunday Hike). The meadow is exceptional right now. Leaves starting to come out on the Aspen's giving them a kind of a neon green hue.

Late start. 9:30 pm. Intervals (Treadmill). Usual 7 miles 6 x .5 mile repeats. Legs a bit tired from Saturday long run and climbing but got 'er done.

quick 5 around town.

Grandeur Fun Run. Coming down with some kind of bug. Pushed harder than I should have on this one and am paying the price. 1:02 to the top (west face). 2:19 total. Need to break an hour to the top. Should be doable on a better day.

7 up corner canyon. Kept is really slow. Not feeling great and don't want to dig too deep. Actually enjoyed being a "jogger" tonight rather than a runner!

Late run. bleh. 

Rock Canyon dropping water and supplies for Monday long run.

Started at Nuns Park, ran first 17ish miles of Squaw Peak 50 course. Down Spring Canyon and across BoSho trail to Rock Canyon. Up Rock Canyon and back to Nuns via SP 50 course.

Lots of snow up there. Several feet from big avalanches and debris covering the road to just snow filled road and difficult traverses. Got a little of everything. Sun, rain, snow. Perfect day (10.5 hr jaunt).

Corner Canyon (Wasatch Trail Run Series #4)

1 mile warm up. 8.5 mile race. 1358 vert. Legs a bit tired from Monday but surprising good. Fast on the downhill and better than average day for me on the uphills.

Late run apres work (concert, haircut). Ornery and tired. 

AM: 13.3 Early morning Corner Canyon run with Mattly. Nice run and good company. A bit tired.

PM: 6. Marking and setting course for Running with Angles 5K (Thanksgiving Point Gardens)

Massive bonk. Failed at 20 mile run attempt. Trying for 100 miles this week and missed it by 6 (and I don't care). Too much snow on north side of north timp (timpooneke rd). Impassable with soft deep snow. Wheels came off and no amount of gu or nutrition was helping...may be having iron issues.

Rock Canyon hike.

Incredible run from top of left fork hobble creek following 22 miles of squaw peak 50 course to big springs. Bozung hill and windy pass not bad, snow but not a huge amount. Surprisingly (for me) was the amount of snow of the descent from windy to big springs. very difficult navigating and trying to stay on the trail with 6 ft of snow. got lucky and using my mad radar stayed on course and got the group down. incredible day.

Wasatch Trail Run Series Race #5 (Corner Canyon)

1.6 mile warm-up, .7 cool down, 7.7 mile race.

Great new sections of trail. Red potato, potato hill, ++. Great route. I think I came in 5th? Fast bunch again. Top guys, untouchable.

Happy to have taken the CR (Strava) on Creekside DH (6:03mm) section against some really fast dudes--Tobie Harrell and Nate Blouin. 

AF Canyon

Was ready to hit the trails heading up to Timpooneke area and kept looking up at the hill across the parking lot thinking...I should do that. From the big bend before the parking lot took the ridge straight up to the top--very steep and overgrown. 1500 ft in 1 mile to the AF Canyon overlook. Nice run back via trail #173 (mud springs) to Pine Hollow parking lot. Beautiful meadows up to highly recommend it. 5 mile total. It would be 8 from the parking lot to the overlook and back. Wouldn't really recommend the climb to most as it really chewed my legs up.

No taper or real strategy for this one just using it as a long run. Early miles and climbs difficult as usual. Fell in behind some good guys for a few miles and kept a pretty good pace once on the fire road. After a quick stop, ran solo for the remainder of the race. Held a good steady climb up the green monster and Grove Creek section. Didn't feel particulary fast, just held a nice fast hiking pace.

Really started raining at Indian Springs and through the meadow section. Soaking wet from moisture on plants down low. Once on the downhill heading into Battle Creek, passed a few runners and started to hit my stride. Pretty muddy going into the Curly Springs area--nothing like previous years but slick nonetheless.

Hammered it hard coming down in to Dry Canyon and then from the rock pile to the finish, dropping into the 6's and 7's and passing a few more guys as well as a lot of the half marathoners. On a couple of occasions I heard "oh, not YOU again." It seems I'm getting a reputation for passing runners late in a race, particularly on the downhill sections.

Huge PR for me on this one by 25 minutes. Happy with the result although I really didn't feel much faster in any given section over the previous 3x I've done this one.

Great day with a lot of friends and trail folk.

Hike to AF Canyon overlook. Dragging.

Box Elder Peak.

Trai+ #44 up to stream crossing, took avalanche/stream up couloir to saddle then to peak. From peak went north down on of the westerly ridges. Deep snow, 6ft +, way finding difficult but managed to find trail and got out of there without any issues. Beautiful day up high. Love this late spring jaunt.

Six flat miles on the murdock canal. Craving some flat miles. I've stomped all over these mountains and haven't seen a rattle snake for two years now. Hop on the murdock canal and BAM! baby rattler crossing the trail in the first half mile.

Corner Canyon Loop (Ann's ->Eagle Crest->Back on Ann's). Great loop around Suncrest. Thanks Craig Lloyd and Leslie Ann for the idea.

AF Canyon Trail #151-Bear Canyon Loop. Great 8ish mile run. How have I not known about or run these trails???

Box Elder Peak, White Baldy Summit, Sliver Lake. 

8,635 vert. Great day! White Baldy a bit sketchy.

Timpanogos. 

Up across skree traverse (then snow got deeper than what i was in for--for an evening run. Went up couloir to overlooks to pica cirque overlook. Great skree surfing coming down.

Corner Canyon Loop around Suncrest

Treadmill Tempo. Usual on tired legs.

Fairy Tale 5K course--first run for upcoming event + evening Wasatch Trail Run Series 9.68 + .5 mi cool-down.

Murdock Canal. Speedy.

Squaw Peak 50--pacer. 

Paced my runner to a 10:33 time. Top 5 women and HUGE PR. Great day and kick-ass performance by my runner. So proud.

St. George: Ran around Sand Hollow (lake) from campground. Great little run.

Hike: Angels Landing with church group (5.9). Weeping Rock (1).

Thursday night/Friday morning run from Sand Hollow up to Mollie's Nipple under (nearly) full-moon. Started at 1 am finished just before 5 am. Had some trouble locating the trailhead and nearly gave up but found it. Great run. Surprisingly no cars (14 miles of road), no wildlife, no reptiles, strangely quiet. Kept thinking of Stephen King's "Christine." Waiting for a roaring motor and headlights to come on right behind me. Need a remake of that classic.

Morning run (6). Late morning hike to Red Cliffs area (2.4).

Night run with Sage 2.1 miles. Sage on his scooter.

Aspen Ridge Scout Camp. Got away for a little run. A lot of bushwacking. Very tired...not a good sign going into Bighorn on Saturday. Took a few days off after this run resting legs. Probably was a wise strategy.

BIGHORN 100

Leg one of the Rocky Mountain Slam checked off. Surprisingly difficult course--felt incredibly long (compared to Wasatch/Bear) with large sections of difficult/poor trail conditions (cow trail, dried mud, rutted) but the scenic course more than makes up for the tough trail. Great weekend. Per usual many ups and downs including my first ever nap/melt-down taking an hour to sleep and recoup. Very pleased with 26:26 as I had written off any chance to go sub 30 with 40 miles to go.

http://kendallsrunningadventures.blogspot.com/

4 days off. Feet got pretty beat up at Bighorn. Short slow run at the park.

2nd day of running after Bighorn. Slightly improved still very tired, thick legs.

Exploring around Mt Baldy, High Uintas. Altitude training. Legs slowly coming back.

Short but productive hike at altitude, 11.9K. Mount Baldy.

Loop around Suncrest, Corner Canyon. Good to get some flat-ish miles in. Legs coming back.

AF Canyon. Pinehollow->Bear Canyon short loop. Much improved run this evening. CR up to the first meadow. Felt strong on uphills, purposefully held  back on downhills. Won't say I'm back 100% but this was a great sign.

Timp night run with Wrangler group--DNF. Turned around with foot issues.

Testing foot and getting a little run done in Silverton. All good.

HARDROCK 100 (43 hours, 46 minutes)

I finished. Not exactly the time and day I was looking for but I am offically a Hardrocker. Finishing Hardrock meant the world to me. Things fell apart going over Oscar's Pass (13K) coming into Telluride (mile 27). The short of it is that I did a full reset--new goals, new outlook and slugged it out. Hardest thing I've ever done.

Write-up:  http://kendallsrunningadventures.blogspot.com/

Timpooneke TR Head up to Julie Andrews meadow, down via Timpooneke Rd. 1st run post-Hardrock. Feet a bit tender, legs good.

Fun day at Snowbird chasing and saying "hello" to friends at Speedgoat. Stayed up top for awhile helping friends at aid station. Love Speedgoat day.

Snowbird. Checking out Wednesday's course.

AF Canyon: Tibble Millhollow loop.

Wasatch Trail Series: Snowbird. Took a nasty tumble hitting an exposed wire (loop) across the trail. One minute I'm running, the next I'm on my face. Legs still tired but coming around.

Annual Pie n Beer run. Not 100% yet. Good and bad stretches. Fast final 4 downhill miles.

Love my new shoes! Pure Grit 3

PFEIFFERHORN

Good to be back (w/ Steve F., Jennilyn, Zac, Cherri...Leslie). Such a great day.

Scout Falls. Quick Sunday jaunt. Had a squirrel run up my leg!

Solitude Resort evening run.

Wasatch Trail Run Series:

1.3 warm-up, 7.9 mile race (2 laps), .9 cool-down. Tough course.

Treadmill intervals. Need to get some speed back.

Peifferhorn from Dry Creek TH (Alpine) to summit, down Red Pine, LCC. Big vert coming from Alpine (5,700+ climb). Hadn't really intended on going to the summit, was up there last Saturday from Red Pine looking down the Alpine side thinking "that's doable." Today, just wanted a good look at it from the south side and it sucked me in--up!. Ran out of time to go back down Ut County side and called a friend up top to meet me in LCC.

Pittsburgh Lake. Took some time to find the trailhead (not marked from road). Nice steep hike to Pittsburgh. Approx. 1.5 each way.

Murdock canal post rain, amazing evening.

Wasatch Trail Run Series (Snowbird)--Final run of season.

Great season. Tired legs still. Downhill gear not fully recovered from HRH (4 weeks?). 

7 mile race. 1 mile WU/CD

Grove Creek to spring. Stinging needle neck high--careful in just shorts, no shirt. Still dealing with really tired legs. Kept at aereobic pace. Slowish downhill.

Silver Lake Hike/Run. Flu'ish over the past few days. Think I'm pulling out of it. 

Street running.

Grove Creek hike (trail work).

Grove Creek hike (trail work).

I've become a jogger. Avg. 9:30 mm. Rough.

Cascade Mnt. Fail #3. 

Deer Creek run/swim. Virtual run with Keri Parker.

Mill Spring TH up new Tr No. 157 to Rock Springs->Serenity Point->Dive

Big Cottonwood Half Marathon route. Good to run some faster miles. (1:33:58)

Road PM in the rain.

Timp. R/T to Emerald Lake (no summit). Snow!

Trail 159 ridgeline. Muddy. Colors starting to come out already.

Zoom-zoom. 

Alpine Loop. Ridge trail down little deer creek trail back up to summit. Nice loop.

Road run 7:10 avg. 

Hike w/kids. Tram up to Hidden Peak. Hike down. Fun day at the Bird.

Hike on 157 trail ridge toward rock springs (hike).

Road miles

WASATCH 100

Second race in-a-row where I simply came un-done around mile 25 (20 at HRH). Rough day with low energy and caloric intake reduced piecing at aid stations. Nearly pulled out as I had no interest in walking 60+ miles. Run-walk-nap strategy got me to the finish line. On a positive note, killed the last 3-4 miles. Three of four races complete for the Rocky Mountain Slam. Next up Bear 100.

Ran Big Cottonwood half marathon course. Ran down canyon pre-race with headlamp, straightened a few cones, picked up a few mile markers that had blown down, etc. Not recommended--nearly tagged by a bus cutting corners.

Hike on Dry Creek-Deer Creek trail from Silver Lake Rd. Nice hike, esp first mile, beautiful little section. Would be a good family hike.

Roady.

Horse Flat trail to overlook. (new favorite trail)

Ridge line to horseflat trail and overlook + bushwhack bonus with Nate Younger.

Around town. Road.

Deerborn, Mich. 8.1 road + trail find.

Bear 100 (28:46)

Horseflat trail to overlook.

Horseflat trail to overlook (again!).

Grove Creek to lone tree meadow. Great evening right at sunset/near full-moon. Colors are incredible right now. Saw tarantula. 

Lunch break JRPT. Getting these big trail legs to move again is going to be a chore.

Grove Creek re-do. Spiders, spiders, everywhere. Green glowing eyes (after dark). Two large Wolf Spiders bonus.

Road

Lake Blanche, Sundial Summit.

6 Road

Grove Creek. Spiders are out.

Lunch run. JRPT South.

Robert's Horn from North(east) ridge Aspen grove side. Incredible.

Cascade Saddle.

Alpine Loop trails.

PG "G" and up face to south ridge of Grove Creek Canyon. Up to meadow and down Battle Creek.

Up (straight up) north ridge of Grove Creek (nearly 3000 vert in 1.8 miles). Cont. up ridge to Mt. Mahogany and bushwhack from hell down face to AF Canyon in the dark. 5000 total vert.

Deseret Peak with group. Great 11K peak out west desert. Est. 80 mph wind. Beautiful place.

Exploring up above Silver Lake Flat. Right under Twin Peaks. Great little valley. (1.9 early on the loop then 5.3 up toward Twins)

View Benchmark.

Road. 7:40 mm avg.

Walk/run. Road.

Twin Peaks via AF Canyon and FR193. Incredible hike/run. No plans to go that high. Sucked me in. Hit the peak at sunset and returned in the dark. Great trail and peaks.

Snow Canyon Half

Not very high expectations after a big summer of racing and completing the Rocky Mountain Slam. I feel like I'm dragging thick mountain legs and have lost some speed. Suffering from fatigue but had a good few weeks off of racing.

With an aided course, even with low expectations I thought I might grab a PR since I've only ever run an honest half marathon course St. George (Jan.) at 1:27:22. 

Good gradual uphill start (I got a bit annoyed having to weave around several runners who had no business being that far up front that early--I need to chill). 6:46, 6:53, 6:41 for the first three. I felt good. I knew I needed to be in the sub 6:40 range for a PR so the 6:53 concerned me a bit. Dropping into the canyon I dropped a 6:13, 6:02, 6:10. 6:02!! Whoops. I thought how ridiculous that would look on the blog....6:53, 6:02. So many of the elites seem to keep their splits within seconds of each other and I'm all over the place. With a good DH section though, I took full-advantage and hammered it...and then paid for it.

Next three miles at the bottom of and coming out of the canyon were 6:36, 6:57, 6:46--fighting a stiff head-wind.

Back on the streets and really pushing into the wind I could only muster 6:50, 7:03, 6:56 for the next 3 miles. I was losing my PR and stuggling to keep a good pace. I've become better at zero'ing in on and going to my "un"-happy place, really focusing on a quick turn-over and pushing the pace. My legs were shot.

I managed to stay focused and push the pace a bit, passing quite a few runners in the last mile and ending up with a 6:36 mile twelve finishing at 1:27:33--11 seconds off my PR. Happy to win my AD with a really cool trophy and a neat backpack for finishing top 50.

Wish I could have and probably should have got a PR on that course but it just wasn't meant to be. Good times down in St. George and a nice hike to Angel's Landing on Sunday.

2 mile warm-up--beautiful sunrise/ 1 mile cool-down around track.

Angel's Landing in the rain. Great hike. Beautiful with low-hanging clouds on snow up high on the cliffs.