Each Day Is a Gift

AM:  6 recovery with Wendy & Carolyn for the first few miles.  AP: 9:56.  Run was a little sluggish but no pain to speak off.

4 circuits of Pfitz's core stability exercises.

Pfitz's 12 stretching exercises.

Need to get some yoga DVDs.

Another busy day with the fam. 

PM:  A few yoga stretches before going to bed.

Should have thrown this week's schedule out the window.  This morning's MLR did not go well.  Very tired to begin with.  Never got in a good rhythm.  Stopped numerous times to stretch.  ITB is very mad at me!  Ran 1/2 outside with Wendy & Carolyn; the other 1/2 at home on the TM as I was having GI issues again...hubby took the entire family, 9 adults, 1 senior and 1 child to UP-Chuck-a-rama...everyone loved it except me.

Off to the store to buy food, taking dinner to my visiting-teachee who's having surgery on her foot today.  Then laundry and pack for our trip to Yellowstone tomorrow!  May be no running the next few days to let the ITB and hip flexors calm down!

Ran on the dirt trails in Lower Geyser Basin.  There were less tourists early in the morning making it possible to run on the trails.  Had to walk on boardwalks, jog when passing tourists or on descends.  Got to run up Geyser Hill at Old Faithful where we viewed a second eruption from a *birds eyes view*, very cool.  

I beat my boys up Geyser Hill.  Hubby promptly sat down!  No blasting down the trail though. 

The view of Old Faithful and the surrounding geysers were so worth the hike/run up!

First bison we sighted.

Second bison we sighted.  Don't know why this year the bisons aren't roaming in herds.

 Hayden Valley.

 Yellow Stone River.  I could live here!

I WISH! :)

 H

Yesterday we visited the south portion of Yellow Stone Park.  Today we explored the northern part of the Park.  

Places I ran/hike:  Artists Paintpots, Norris Geyser Basin, Tower Falls, Lower Falls and Upper Falls.

What's that funny smell?  ;)

It's not me!!! :)  Although I wish I had worn running shirt instead!  :)

 So worth the hike to brim of Lower Falls for this view.

View from Top of Tower Falls.  Hubby refused to hike down, blah!

My boys beat me down to the bottom of Tower Falls!  I liked running UP better than down!  Hubby rewarded us with ice cream at the store's soda fountain!  :)

 View of Artists Paintpots from lookout point, a nice soft dirt trail run of 7/8 mile.

I was the first to spot these pronghorns which I thought were antelopes.  Pronghorns are the fleetest of Yellowstone's animals, able to run for short distances at speed of 45-50mph!

Got up at 5am and out the door by 5:30am.  Hubby asked if I brought my maze...nope, dang!  He said:  "be careful, you don't know this area.  There might be weirdos, loose farm dogs.  Don't go too far.  Be back by 8:30 so we can leave by 9am."  No worries, I have my cell-phone!  These Idaho country roads are so straight I could run miles without having to turn.

Ran straight west on this country road in Teton County down to the river then up to the hillside.  Turned around and ran east on the same road with the gorgeous view of the Grand Teton and rising sun!

The first 3/4 mile was on dirt/gravel road which was wet from last night's thunder storm and rain.  Humidity was 98%.  Temp was low 40's.  I woke up the cows, horses, couple of deer, a skunk (which trotted along and stopped to threaten me...I gave him plenty of distance), two golden eagles, hawks, flocks of Canadian geese, ducks,  couple of cats...thankfully no dogs!  I had the road all to myself for an hour.

There was one scary moment on the return at about mile 11.  I wanted to go to the white port-a-potty I saw on the way out by the river bridge.  When I got close I saw a truck with a 3 wheeler in its bed parked there.  When I got there, the driver circled his truck and parked next to the port-a-potty.  I took out my cell phone and pretended I was calling.  He was shirtless and went inside the pop.  After he got done and drove off,  I went in the pop.  Within seconds I heard him drove back and parked about 20 ft from the pop and got out of his truck.  I froze for a second, and bolted out of there.  I kept running and prayed that he wouldn't follow me.  He drove by about 1/2 mile later.  I got a good look at his license plate and his face.  Thankfully he kept on going down the road.  Whew! 

The run was wonderful.  I drank 21 oz water, 2 Gu and 1 S-cap.  Got back to the house (a former bed & breakfast) in time to clean up and pack up for the trip home.  Stopped for lunch at Pocatello where I called Lowell.  He came to see us.  What a treat!  :)