Run RF

Ran liberty before jj got in.

Pm 7 miles got to our campsite n Gros Ventre and felt good so went out on the road to Kelly and back.

Started at Jenny Lake Lodge and ran out to Bearpaw lake, several stops for pictures and a few wrong turns at the end left us at the car with 10.5 in. Hiked Gros Ventre Butte in the afternoon for another 4 miles on the legs.

AM ran up to Amplitheatre lake, tough...three thousand feet of climbing in less than five miles, but awesome views. Stopped for a while for pictures and exploring before a big descent, name of the game was rocks and roots. Then pizza and into town for a resupply. After we went to Phelps Lake to jump from Jump Rock, 23' down to 30' water and then a run back.

Up early for the drive to Yellowstone park. Reached old faithful, walked around and watched the eruption then did a loop out to M something lake. Legs were not recovered from the run yesterday so it was a death march up. The gradual descent was very welcome, then we stopped for a quick hike to the grand prismatic spring and over to the grand canyon of Yellowstone to see a big waterfall. Unfortunately there were a ton of clunkers in the way, highlighted by a 350 pound man waddling down steep switchbacks. Then a long drive out to camp and a very welcome shower.

With a long drive and a lot of tough miles, decided to only hike so we did Iceberg Lake at the bottom of a glacial cirque with 3000' sheer walls protecting the lake from sunlight. Hiked quick making it in three hours for a 10 mile hike with a decent rest at the lake that lived up to its name.

Got to do what will be the signature run of this trip , the Highline trail in Glacier NP. We started from Logan Pass and set out on 7.5 exposed miles before a big 4 mile descent. Some of the exposure dropped me to terror induced walking, but by far the most stunning scenery of any run ever. First .25 brought us to a mountain goat and two kits and four bighorn sheep at the grin ell glacier overlook. At 7.5 miles we reached a nice mountain chalet accessible by foot only. After the run we took the shuttle to food and got a huckleberry wheat ale then took a pant crappingly steep drive back to the car. Then we had dinner at the beer garden/Mexican place.

Drove across the border to Waterton Lakes NP and ran half of the Carthew-atherton trail to the namesake lakes. Very steep in places and some fun exposure to boot. But again some amazing scenery before a long drive to Banff dodging a killer hail storm.

In the morning ran toLake Louise and took the trail to the Plain of the 6 glaciers and suffered while doing it, but otherworldly scenery. Arrived at a glacier after stopping by a tea house. Then hiked paradise valley with some cool girls and ended up at an awesome glacial valley for mother 12 miles on the legs.

Sugarhouse and Liberty Parks

City Creek Canyon, felt good.

Did a fartlek on my city creek canyon loop, 21 intervals.  Then back home for a quick bite to eat and my first time to yoga for athletes, as saying I'm not flexible is an understatement a couple things were out of my reach.  But a decent workout just the same.

Not hurting too bad from my first yoga sesh.  Got out and did 10 miles on BST above the U, while starting my add on up red butte canyon a large unleashed dog started loping at me so I stopped.  When it looked like the owner had it under control I continued on my run, but the dog turned around and started charging and jumped on me.  I start yelling at the owner and she calls me an idiot for "running away" from the dog.  Technically yes, but more I was just continuing on my merry way.  I yelled at her about proper leash use, which she was holding in her hand in front of her open liftgate as she prepared to leave.  As she continued to yell at me as I continued on my way I may have called her a dumb female dog.  I just don't understand how people still don't understand how to properly control a dog, it's not the dogs fault it behaves a dog it's the responsibility of the owner to have it under control at all times for everyone's safety.

And no I didn't know that your dog was friendly as it charged at me.

AM: Up dry creek to terrace hills on the shoreline trail, another run and yoga on for tonight so I took it a little easy. Also there's a groupon for a trail race up at Snowbird this weekend for anyone interested.

PM: 5.5 mile run to Liberty with a stop for yoga for athletes at city centered yoga. Yeah I'm pretty hungry.

Got a late start, and was bit by the heat.  But that's ok since it's good training for the 5k back in NY next weekend.  Hidden Peak Hustle tomorrow, Hollah!

Well wasn't planning on racing, but then a groupon for this race popped up so I jumped in.  One guy took off like a bat out of hell and was rewarded by getting lost and not finishing.  If I had known this I would have been a little more reckless on the downhills to beat the guy who won.  He would pull away on the descent and I would make it all up on the climb.  Last half mile was down switchbacks though so I said 2nd is as good as 3rd lets not break myself before TOU in 3 weeks.  But gah he was actually in the lead.  "Appropriated" many hammer gels and fizz tabs and won a holdey water bottle at the raffle so I think I made it out pretty good.  Back to NY on Wednesday for my college cross country reunion weekend!

Been wanting to run to the top of City Creek for a while now, and finally got out today to do it.  Nothing too exciting except for climbing up 6.5 miles with the last mile on the trail at the end.  Turned around and cruised down.  The fun part started out of the canyon with the tame climb up to M St. and 11th, legs felt great just the normal sore from running 2.5 hours.  This makes much more hopeful for the TOU.

AM: Ran on the BST above the U and stopped to pick up my student season tickets to Utah Football!

To school and back, was planning on more but sore legs, hunger cramps and heat made me reconsider.

2 by 3 mile tempo in Liberty park, was very rough.  After the first lap switched to the 'crete since the path is in such bad shape.

3.6 ran down to yoga, yoga for athletes and a run back. Nice amount of activity today.

Liberty Park before flying back to Buffalo.

Back at home, so I celebrated with a 16 mile run at or faster than goal marathon pace (6:35-6:40) for Top of Utah.  Now I know what you're saying to yourself, I bet he could run faster than that.  Well maybe, but suboptimal training and my first road marathon means I'm going on the conservative side to get under the BQ then shoot for sub 2:35 there.  

Well the run went better than I could have hoped, the run is basically two parts run up to Chestnut Ridge Park, grab some water and take of some business then back to home on another route.  Going out was in the 6:30 to 6:40 range then once I hit the big hill about two miles from the park the pace really dropped with the rest of the miles below 6:05 and the last three sub 6.  I felt great and this gives me a lot more confidence about running a marathon in two weeks, plus I feel great both like I didn't run 16 miles and the pace hasn't burnt out my legs.

Nice run out into the boonies before my trip up to college.

Late 4.5 with some of the other alumni.