Rob Murphy

I ran 4 easy miles in the Salt Lake Cemetary while Andy was at baseball practice in the park adjacent.

As I was running past the grave of John Taylor, 3rd president of the LDS Church which is big in these parts, I saw a herd of 12 deer hanging around his marker. They were eating the flowers people had placed around his grave. They weren't the least bit afraid of me either.

15.25 miles in City Creek Canyon at about 8:20 pace. I'd say about 60% trail and 40% on the canyon road. I saw 7 elk in the canyon just to the west of the water plant. A first!

Heading over to Andy's school now to have lunch with him. Spring Break staycation.

11 miles up Rattlesnake Gulch (no rattlesnakes today) to the Pipeline Trail and back. I took a couple detours up the Grandeur Peak trails just to check them out. 

9:35 pace. Stopped a couple times to appreciate the stunning nature of Utah. I also stopped a couple times to do pull ups from tree branches and to hoist big rocks because I read in Outside that Max King does that on his runs.

AM: 3 mile walk to Andys school and around the neighborhood with Ann. More later but I'm feeling a little achy. 

PM: 4.25 miles around Liberty Park. Easy.

PPM: 2 more walking miles after dinner.

8.25 miles, 20 stadiums, 6 x 100 yard barefoot striders, hot tub, shower.

Heading out to Goblin Valley, Torrey, Capitol Reef for a long weekend.

9.5 miles out-and-back on "BLM Trail 849" along the San Rafael Swell here in Utah. 8:49 pace.

Hiking around Goblin Valley State Park after. Chillin with an IPA watching Sponge Bob at the posh Broken Spur Motel in Torrey now.

Definitely a top 10 run today. We drove to Capitol Reef NP after breakfast and then south on this whasboard-like dirt road along the east side of the park until we got to the Burr Trail. Abby and I ran up and down the Burr Trail Switchbacks. Stunning! Something you have to see to believe. Abby called it a day after about 5 miles and joined Ann and Andy on their hiking/exploring with Andy making as much noise as possible making echoes in the canyons. I felt sorry for anyone who might have been out there seeking quiet and solitude.

I continued west to the Upper Muley Twist Canyon trailhead which is 6 miles out and back and things just kept getting better. Beautiful trail and very runnable. I was able to average around 8:10 pace through here running comfortably and even dipped under 8 for a couple miles. Then I doubled back to the Burr Trail where Ann and the kids picked me up.

We drove to Boulder to eat at the Hell's Backbone Grill but didn't because it was closed. So we ate at the Burr Trail Grill instead. Burger, fries, Cutthroat, apple pie.

After lunch/dinner we drove back to Torrey on Highway 12 through a torrential hailstorm. It lasted about 20 minutes and was a little scary on that already challenging road. 

Relaxing at the Broken Spur now. Ann and the kids are out getting popcorn and taking pictures with cows.

Big thanks to Jake and Amiee for pointing me in the direction of some great routes and trails this weekend. I generally followed them and found a couple of my own.