Dirt is still my favorite

We really really really could use some snow right about now.  The snowboarding is awful, everything is covered in brown ice and let's not even talk about the water supply.  However, while it's not snowing, I will enjoy dirt!  Katherine and I decided to go over to BST again because it was so awesome last week.  It was a bit icier than last week, but the dirt was still as glorious!

The biggest reason I think about moving from Salt Lake City is because of the pollution.  Here is a lovely pollution sunrise.

The moon was still visible when we started.

More pollution.

It was a pretty cold morning.  About 17º.

Check out this dirt!

There are some new signs posted in Corner Canyon.  I have never seen a cougar.  I've heard a pack of coyote, heard animals being attacked, seen deer, moose, toads, tarantulas, owls, had buffalo run downhill toward me, and seen animal remnants that have suggested cougars had been around, but have been very lucky to have never seen hide nor hair of a cougar.  Let's hope it stays that way.

Some of the ice we encountered was pretty sketchy.  Yay for microspikes!

After looking at the pollution I wonder why I live here.  Then I run in the mountains and remember exactly why I do.

7.01 miles

1:41

14:24 pace

Daily Mile

Today seemed like a good day to run.  Despite some nasty haze outside, the sun is out and the sky is (relatively) blue.  It was also around 20º by the time I got out.  I veritable heat wave!  I felt really good and strong.  The biggest problem is all the damn black ice.  I'd go from a nine minute mile to barely walking every time the road looked even remotely icy.  I am a pretty big sissy about this.  I do not want to fall!  But, it was wonderful to get out and move my legs!  

New Drymax socks.  They were nice and toasty!

Some call it a running belt or fuel belt.  But, come on, let's be honest....  It's really just a fanny pack!

I found this quarter!  It must be my lucky day!

3.5 miles

38:03

10:53 average pace

Too Cold Tuesday

Today Katherine couldn't run due to other obligations, so, despite not wanting to at all I bundled up and headed for the hills.  Honestly, it was brutal.  My toes and fingers were totally frozen and painful.  Plus, after about about half a mile the trail was totally choppy and hardly runnable.  First I told myself I only had to run three miles, then at one mile in, I said to myself, "Self, this is why you wanted to take the winter off from race training.  GO HOME AND WORK OUT IN THE WARMTH!"  So, I did!  I ran two miles in the brutal cold and then went home and did a HIIT workout!  The HIIT workout was much more enjoyable if we're being honest.  

Yeah, it was cold.

I wasn't sorry I wore this mask I used to wear snowboarding.

I love my Kahtoola microspikes!

I love Corner Canyon, but I also love sweating!  Brr!

There were more deer tracks than human tracks!

It was so beautiful, but did I mention how cold it was?

It was a little rough going.

Then, home in my nice warm house I got nice and hot doing this lovely workout!  Yay for heaters!

2.07 miles

31 minutes

14:58 pace

Daily Mile: It's cold out there!

It was brutally cold this morning!  The gauge said 28º, but it felt colder than that, even.  Katherine and I met up at the gully.  Despite numerous runs in the gully over the years, we still managed to find new things!  We even ended up on a main road at the turn around point, and a building that we were pretty sure was a bathroom.  Once we hit about mile three we finally started to warm up, the sun starting coming and I was feeling really good.  It was a beautiful run, despite the horrid air conditions.  Plus, frozen fingers spurred a trip to Target for some new insulated mittens.  I see warmer fingers in my future!

Brr!

Popsicle friends.

Look at all that frost! 

Hey!  I've never seen that before!

Here comes the sun!

 

We're frozen, and we're happy about it!

Here comes Speedy K!

No wonder the first half of the run always seems harder.  Dimple Dell is deceiving, because it doesn't really look uphill but it certainly is!

5.4 miles

1:09

12:55 average pace

Daily Mile

This morning was a lovely jaunt from my place down to Crestwood Park with Katherine. I was feeling rather sluggish, so it was nice to have company to help me along.  

Winter is on it's way.  The park was sprinkled with frost.

Friends <3

5.1 miles

1:01

11:57 pace

It's a Dog Party!

A lovely runner named Britta, who I know through trail running, invited me to join in a group run for her dog's birthday.  Sage the dog was turning five, so we all did a nice trail run and then a tailgate birthday party afterward.  We met at the 22nd street trailhead in Ogden.  This was a whole new area to me, and it was fun to see new sights.  Mostly, I came to run with my running buddy, Lindsay.  Another gal named Jo, joined Lindsay and I at the back of the pack. It was a fun run, but quite cold because of a brutal wind.  

Lindsay, Benji came dressed for the occasion!

Bonneville Shoreline Trail in Ogden.  This is a place where the local sheriffs practice rescues.

Jo, Me, Benji

This was stunning with the icicles.  The photo doesn't quite capture it's beauty.

Sit.  Stay.  Good dog.  Lindsay got a few interesting looks on the trail.

A freezing, but fun day with the ladies out on the trail.  Can't complain about that!

6 miles

1:26

14:20 pace