Mountain View Trail

I was thrilled to be able to meet my new runner friend, and all around great lady, Kristyan today for a run on Antelope Island.  We mostly did the Mountain View Trail, but had to make a detour because of a herd of buffalo that just didn't want to let us by.  It was the perfect post race run, mellow and fun!  Thanks for going with me Kristyan!

Good morning Antelope Island!

Mule deer on the run!

See those large black lumps?  Those are our new friends, Earl and company.

There were at least five of them and once they all turned to look at us and started sauntering our we, we decided it was time to find a new trail!

We stopped to make this cairn along the way.  

We were in matching colorful duds!

We're so cute!

12.22 miles

2:30 

12:16 average pace

When in Rome

Katherine and I decided on a road run today on this wonderfully warm winter day.  It was 54º at 7am so I slipped on a pair of shorts and a fall/spring top and headed out the door.  We went down to the South Jordan Parkway.  The parkway holds lots of fond running memories for me.  I ran both my first 18 and 20 mile runs there along with awesome friends who rode their bikes with me!  Denise rode along with me on my first 18 miler when training for the 2012 St. George Marathon, and only a couple weeks later, Katherine rode her bike along with a very sick (I'd just gotten over the stomach flu) me on my longest run before race day.  Today was immeasurably easier than either of those runs.  It was the perfect running temperature and we had a blast chatting it up about old times.  There was also a lot of stellar Utah graffiti.  There isn't a lot of that around here, so I always stop to enjoy it.  Yes, I'm odd, and maybe it's because of all the graffiti where I grew up, but I like graffiti.  

Look Ma!  No pants!

The Wasatch front

Wow!  Don't get too wild with your graffiti kids!

Katherine decided that today she was the criminal because of her bandanna.  HA!

You can tell it's Utah because even though they're doing something illegal, they're not really cussing.

Damn!  We forgot our spray paint!

Who knew you were so gangsta, Katherine!?

Overall, an excellent run.  I was surprised that I felt so great the entire time despite the fact that my last run of this distance was in December!  Time to get cracking with the 25k training!

10:08 miles

1:52

11:06 average pace

Whose Paw Print?

Sometimes when I'm sick I have the good sense to stay in bed and rest.  Sometimes I don't.  Yesterday was the latter.  But, how could I pass up the only opportunity to run with Katherine all week?  So, I took some sudafed and stuffed my pocket with tissue and waiting for Katherine to get me at 6:45am.  We were originally going to go up to Red Pine, but the avalanche danger was super high, so we opted for life and headed to Corner Canyon instead.  It was raining and windy when we arrived.  We headed up Clark's which was pretty rough going and very sticky.  Luckily the downhill down Canyon Hollow was outstanding.  I actually felt pretty good for having a nasty cold, and as always fun was had by all!

Taking pictures through a zip lock baggie.

We saw these prints, which prompted me to look up cougar prints.  These were most likely dog prints.  They were fairly large, but you could see the claws.  Cats prints don't usually show claws.  

Cougar identification information

Sick?  Who's sick?

Another beautiful day in the Wasatch! 

5.2 miles

1:16

14:36 average pace

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