El Burro Blanco

We up North with family all week. It should be a lot of fun. Plus, I will get some runs in a bunch of places I haven't ran in a while.

Started at my in-law's house in Logan and ran up towards Skyview High School and looped back around. Got back to my in-laws and went around the neighborhood for 1.5 more miles to get 15 total for the morning. 7:06/mile. Good start to the week. I cannot believe how hot it is up here. I was hoping to get out of the heat.

Went the opposite direction from my in-law's house this morning towards River Heights and Providence. I ran through every sprinkler I could find and that helped cool me off. I ran up Logan Canyon to sit in the Logan River and ice the legs off. It added an extra mile but was totally worth it. 7:07/mile.

Met up with Cody Draper at King Park which is at the mouth of Green Canyon. I ran from my in-law's house up to the park to get a little extra mileage. Cody ran Logan Peak last Saturday so this was his first day back running. We went straight up the canyon and stopped at a natural spring for some water. Very good stuff. This trail is mostly single track and absolutely incredible (outside of the fact that we saw way too many mountain bikers on the trail). Good to see Cody again and nice to on a sweet trail with great company. I caught the Bonneville Shoreline Trail back to my in-laws and got 15.3 miles total for the morning.

I guess Jon Allen was in town and is retired from running so I didn't get a chance to see him. He had Cody tell me "Hi."

Until next time Jon.

I am in Logan until today and wanted to go see Ephraim's Grave. I have never been to it but decided it might be fun to do plus get some sweet trailing in as well. Old Ephraim was the last know Grizzly Bear killed in Utah in the mid 1920s. He was 9 feet tall and over 1000 pounds. His skull went back to the Smithsonian once they killed him. He was known for eating lots of sheep, cattle, and lots of other creatures. I talked with my father-in-law and he gave me some suggestions on where to run. I figured it would be a memorable run. Memorable it was!

I started up Right Hand Fork Canyon and started up RIcks Canyon and caught the Steel Hollow trail. This was some sweet single track running climbing up the mountain for just over four miles. I turned left on Long Hollow Road and dropped quite a bit until I came to Ephraim's Grave. It was pretty impressive to see the rock statue out in the middle of the mountains. I was praying I didn't come across the second Grizzly Bear ever in Utah on the rest of my run! I was going to climb back up and come around Cowley Canyon but I just kept going on Long Hollow Road. It was a dirt fire road that came back to Logan Canyon and the main highway. I didn't think it was that far but it ended up being 9 miles when I thought it was going to be 3-4. I got to Logan Canyon and just came down the highway on the shoulder. It helped because I stopped in the Logan River a couple times to cool off. It was much needed. I finally got back to my car and noticed I ran 23.3 total miles. It was quite the Adventure Run but I survived and saw some amazing country. If I went back around Cowley Canyon the run would have probably been 15 miles. Oh well! Saw lots of animals but was not smart because I left my GU gel in the car and forgot my water bottle.

Sweet run but will do a few things different if I ever go back up that direction. Now heading up to Huntsville for the rest of the weekend.

Met up with Cody and Mike McKnight at the North Ogden Divide to run Ben Lomond Peak (9710') and Willard Peak. I was excited to do this run because it has been a while since I have done. They were nice enough to drive down from Logan and meet up for this run.

Lots of people on the trail but it was fun trying to catch some on the way up and also on the way down. Got to the top and I forgot how awesome the view is. It was incredible. Cody and Mike convinced me to go over to Willard Peak. I have never done it before so it was worth doing. In one of the valleys we saw about 40 head of mountain goats. It was amazing! A little bit of bushwhacking up to the top of Willard Peak and then we came back down. I had some family things so I wanted to get down the mountain really quick. I kind of pushed the pace but it made for a really fun run back to the cars. The cool breeze and mountain air were just what I needed.

The last three days have been all on the trails and my legs are pretty trashed. I was nervous for today and how they would hold up but they felt pretty darn good. Great run today and even better company.

I will probably just do an few easy miles in the morning and then go watch my sister run the local 5k. I think I would need a wheelchair if I ran a hard 5k tomorrow. Have a great 4th of July everyone!

The last three days have kicked my behind so I slept in and watched the kiddos while Katey could get some much needed rest. The pregnancy is starting to get really uncomfortable for her.