Weekend Re-cap

Saturday, September 29th  (11 miles)

Today was the very first time I actually needed my head light!  I met my crazy runner friends at 5:30 A.M.!  Yes, you did read that right, A.M.  Our goal today, was an easy 11 miles.  I tried to put the headlamp on my head, but it was itchy and uncomfortable. I just adjusted the strap and wore it around my waist.  Krista was all in BLACK, so I gave her my flashing red light to wear.

First Dam in the wee hours of the morning.

Can you see me?

We started in Providence and wound our way through River Heights, the island in Logan, Canyon Road on the island, and over to First Dam. About Herm's, we started fighting a super strong head wind.  When we arrived at First Dam, we decided just to back track around to make an 11 miler.

As we were running past Herm's we could smell their Breakfast!  mmmm, yummy. I will have to try it sometime.

Herm's 

A house on the island has a neon sign that says "EGGS" above their garage. Who puts a sign like this on their house? I was disappointed that it was not lit up.

Found this "shrine" on the island. Or maybe it is the name
of the Subdivision????

Sunday, September 30, (10k)

Ran Blacksmith Fork Canyon today.  I drove everyone up the canyon. My NERC buddies wanted to run 10 or 11, I just wanted to run around 6, so I decided that I would run down a few miles, then run back up to my car. That way, I didn't have to wait for someone to give me a ride back up to my car.  It worked out GREAT.


The colors in the canyon were beautiful. I think that they were at their peak this morning.  I decided to run down 2 miles and turn around to head back up. I would zig-zag to make it 6 miles. When I got to Left Hand Fork, decided to take a detour.

Ran about a half a mile into this area, then turned around and headed back out.  As I was running into Left Hand Fork, I could smell breakfast cooking. Hash browns with onions, and bacon! MMM, thought about following the smell...hee hee, but turned around and headed back to the main road.

Back on the main road I heard these chipmunks or squirrels gibbering when I went by. I stopped and stared at them for a minute.  I think it was a family. They kept running up and around this log. If you look closely, you can see two of them sitting on the log in the middle of the photo.

A car came around the corner and slowed down. It was JoAnna! Apparently she had driven up the canyon, talked to Tansy, Mandy, and Roz. Roz told her that I had headed back up the canyon, and she had been driving around looking for me. She got to my car, and no me, so she headed further up the canyon, thinking that I had gone up.  Thanks Jo for freaking out and looking for me!  Always nice to know that someone has my back!  Next time I will try to stay on the main path.

Thanks for looking for me!
 

Trails are for Sissy's

I saw the sign that said trail.....mmmm should I follow that path??? Hey, there is a little path over here, I wonder where it goes?  I don't need to follow no stinkin trail!




Tonight I chose a new path. I honestly did not know where it went. I figured as long as I could still see or hear the river I would be OK.  The colors in the canyon are AMAZING.  Good thing that I wore my "fall colored" shoes!



















Along the path, I kept finding these caved in pipe things. No IDEA what they are. In fact, not even sure that they are pipe, as some of the wood was inside the circular metal rings.  These were right on the path! I also encountered BIG HOLES, also right on the path.

The trail actually took me to the Bridger Campground, which is Closed for the season, just in case you were wondering.  All in all, it was a great 5 mile run.

Flats, Flu, and Flow.....the 46 tour

September 22, 2012.....CAPSA Ride    

Lori, Jacque, Savanah, Tori, Joy, Roz, Karie

Saturday morning I loaded up the bikes and drove to Wellsville with Jacque to meet our friends.  We are going to attempt to ride 46 miles. I am more than a little nervous about this.  I have not been training on my bike at all. Neither has Jacque!

Our morning starts out with Roz having a flat tire, before we even leave the starting area.  Eric (CAPSA Support Crew) helps her fix this. And we are off. I think we may have been 2 miles into the ride, and Joy's tire goes flat. (what are the odds?)  I call Eric and he comes to our rescue.  While Joy and I were waiting for him, we laughed, saying that we were glad that we did not go over with Roz when he was fixing her tire.  When he pulled up and got out of his car, he laughed and said, "It's your group again!"  Eric patched up the tire, and we were back on the road. Our friends were waiting for us about 1 mile away.

At this time, we encountered our first big hill. It was a doosey!  A little more than I had expected. Joy was not feeling well. She was getting dizzy and nauseous.  (not good) I gave her my Powerade, and we walked some of the hill. She called her husband to have him bring her some anti-nausea pills.  We made it to Hyrum Dam. This would be our first aid station.  I had a banana.  Joy's husband was not there yet, so she called and told him to meet us at the Hyrum McDonald's.  We continued on the route, stopping at McDonald's.  I had to make a "pit stop," so we told the others that we would meet them at Maverick.  Joy's hubby came to the rescue with some meds!  As we started the route again, we were riding into the wind.  Even coasting down hill, I was not gaining the speed I usually get because it was so windy.  Hollow Road was a nice ride.  Then we went on the highway. It was SOOOO bumpy! I thought that if I went on the sidewalk, it would be a little softer on my tushy. (bad idea)

Our friends were waiting for us at Maverick. We started off again, only to learn that now I had a flat tire, and it was the back one!  I remember Jim telling me that if I got a flat on the back, to be sure to pay attention to how the chain wraps around!  I decided just to call him, as our house is less than 1 mile away from the Maverick. In the meantime, the others had taken off, not knowing that I had a flat.  ( I think I picked up a "goat head" on the sidewalk!) Joy stayed with me, and while we were waiting, she went and bought a Diet Pepsi, to help ease her stomach.  Jim fixed my flat, and we started again, to rendezvous with our friends at First Dam.

When we arrived at First Dam, the others had been informed that I had a flat. It was nice that the people following the cyclists were relaying info on up ahead, as our group  had no idea why we were so slow.  Jacque and her friend Savanah said goodbye to us here.  Jim came and picked them up and took them to lunch.  They rode 21 miles! I was so proud of Jacque!!! I had one of my granola bars here. I also took Jacque's extra Powerade as she was not going to be using it.

From here we went up 4th North hill ( I made it up the hill without walking!)  and turned right and rode through North Logan. We went down past KMart, and Tori's chain fell off!!  Re-group again.  We headed to 6th West, out to Airport Road, then on through beautiful downtown Benson. When we rode past the Benson Marina, I saw a pelican peacefully floating around.  Not alot of traffic out here, which was nice.  Somewhere out here Joy started feeling a little better. But there were times that I could tell she was really struggling.  She was on a Mountain Bike. She was putting in 4 times the effort that I was on the road bike. Oh, and the night before our ride, she did a 5k and was not feeling well then either.

Our last aid station was in Mendon. I had an orange scone, and boy did it hit the spot. I needed some carbs.  We were the last of the 46 miler cyclists, and knowing that we were last did not bother me a bit!

Back to Wellsville we went.  Joy did not quit. Truth be known.....If I wasn't feeling well, I might have just thrown in the towel.  But not Joy! She is an amazing woman!

We did it. 46 miles. When we came into the finish area, there was no band. No applause. No hurrah. No medal. Just 5 friends knowing that we had accomplished something GREAT. And knowing that, was Satisfaction Enough.

5k....... just not my day

This afternoon, I thought I would drive up Blacksmith Fork Canyon and run at least 3 miles.  Jacque wanted to try my road bike out, so she was my support crew. 


We left around 4:30  pm. I thought that it would be cooler up the canyon, but it wasn't. It was so HOT. There was not alot of shade. I decided to run up first, then come back down. I drank one of my Gatorade bottles, and used the other one that was full of water just to cool my body down.

Today just was one of those crappy runs, that makes you appreciate the good ones. My 5k today was one where I was able to appreciate the beauty of the canyon.

This morning I was unable to get out early with
my pack of Nibley Runners. My NERC friends went early also. 


Today, I was on my own.

I left my house about 7:40 am, parked at the top of Hollow Road, and my plan was to run 4 up and then 4 down.

Hollow Road was pretty peaceful this morning. I passed a group of 5 cyclists, one of which had a flat tire. Bummer.







Not alot of vehicle traffic on Hollow Road this morning, which is a good thing. I did come upon 6 wild turkeys. I wondered if I would scare them, or if they would chase me?  Luckily, they decided to cross the road just in front of me.






As I turned off Hollow Road to start my uphill battle in the canyon, I was met by the the Greek Goddess Zephyr. Goddess of the West Wind. And boy was she MAD this morning! I couldn't believe it.  I passed Dan going down, and he gave me the "thumbs up" and I heard him yell, "Stay Strong!" For every one step forward, I was pushed 2 steps back. I had a hard time catching my breath too. I felt like I was standing in front of one of those wind tunnels that scientist's use! At times I had to turn my head to the side just to suck in some air!

I got to one of the turnouts up the canyon and actually yelled, "It is SOOOO WINDY."  




My struggle up the canyon was soon forgotten as I looked at the beauty around me.  The sun was just peaking over the mountains. The leaves are starting to change color. The river....oh how I love the sound of rushing water.  I passed many a friendly runner coming down the canyon. I also passed alot of road kill! 2 porcupines, and 2 skunks. Luckily I was not one of them today.

About mile 4, I saw a dirt road off to the side. Decided I would mix it up a bit and try running up the road. Maybe I could get a little taste of what those that did the Bear Lake Monster last weekend ran. WARNING. This was NOT a good idea!  Son of a NUTCRACKER! I only went .5 up and thought I was going to barf! I was trying to power-walk it. I was leaning way forward, and got a little dizzy too. Wow. New respect for those that do trail runs.  You are AMAZING.

Today I rad 9.2 miles. My time was 1.50, which averaged 11 or 12 minutes per mile, and I am OK with that!  Not my best, but considering that Zephyr was against me, I did pretty darn good!

9.92

Tonight I got bit by the bike bug. I decided to go out for a leisurely ride. 10 miles ought to do it. Things I learned tonight:

Crossing multiple Rail Road Tracks is scary. My front tire got all skee-wampis  and I just about biffed it.

 

Tiny bugs like to commit suicide in my eyes! Even with my glasses on, they found their way in there.

My bum is not liking that tiny hard seat.

I wish I could have a tub of flowers!

Teenage boys in cars like to yell and scare you as they pass you on the road. (twice, same car!)

3 feet between you and a car is not my ideal "safety bubble." 

The good I found on Miller Road

Riding past Miller's makes me GAG!

I wish I had eyes in the back of my head at times.

Bear Lake Monster

On Saturday, Sept 1st, Jim and I volunteered at the Bear Lake Monster Half, 10k, & 5k. This would be my first time volunteering at an aid station.  I was really looking forward to being on the other side.

We were supposed to be to the starting area by 8:00 to pick up our assignment. The last email that I received stated that I would be at aid station #1 (which was also the last aid station) and 2 other people would be at the start/finish line.  I was thinking to myself, "Just me at aid station #1?" The email stated that they figured that 1 person could handle this station. "Have they ever ran a race? Duh, you need more than 1 person at an aid station!" So I talked my sweet hubby into helping me out with this.

Our view from the start!

The night before the race, it rained. I mean cat and jammer kid kind of rain!  I wondered if I would be sporting the "green GLAD" look! We left our home about 6:50 a.m. and drove through Logan Canyon in the RAIN!  I wondered if the rain would tempt some of the participants to not show up.

We arrived at Harbor Village, and checked in to get our assignment. The event staff had already dropped off the water, powerade, and table at our station. We just needed to go set up. I grabbed 200 cups, our volunteer t-shirts, a box of GU,  and then we headed out to find our aid station. My friend Tawnya was assigned to this station too! I am glad that the event directors realized that we needed more than 1 or 2 people out there.

We arrived and started mixing up the powerade. We were told to have at least 40 cups filled at all times. We tried, and tried to open up the table. OMH, you would think we were table disabled! Took up forever to figure it out!

me & Susette (RA buddy)

The half marathoners were the first to arrive. I knew a few people that were running this. Jill, Isela, Adriane, Josh, and Tansy were all doing the half. Charlotte was doing the 10k.  It was fun to see them, and be there to support them.  To my surprise, here comes a blonde and it was my new friend Susette! She is a member of a facebook group that I belong to, Runner's Anonymous. I met her for the first time at the TOU Half.  It was an unexpected joy to see her again!


Jill & Lori



Charlotte

The 10k people were next. I did not know that Charlotte was running this until she ran past us.  Then the 5k people came through.




Sometime between the 10k and 5k people, this Dad and his daughter came through. He was wearing a button up shirt, dress shorts, black socks, and kind of a nicer dress shoe!  What is he thinking!  Tawnya, Jim, and I all figured that maybe he was doing the 10k, but probably the 5k.  Well guess what? He did the HALF!!    And when he came through our station the last time, he still had a smile on his face. He was super thirsty though!  He and his daughter were not the last!  After these two passed us, we called to see if they were the last on the course and we were told no. There was one more runner out there. She had injured her knee out on the course and was walking back. She wanted to finish. We were instructed that we could just set some water and powerade up for her and leave the station, but Tawnya and I are runners, and we were not about to leave one of our own out there to come into an unmanned aid station! 

We waited. And waited. And waited. A man walked passed us, going the wrong way. We figured he was just out for a walk. Then about 15 minutes later, we see this man's had through the trees. It was her husband. He had gone out to find his wife and walk her in! What a sweetheart! When she arrived at our station, we chatted for a few minutes, and she thanked us with a big smile on her face, for staying until she got to the last aid station.

Isela took 2nd place in the female division. This was a tough course. Many a runner came through and said, "What the Hell was I thinking?" It was mostly a trail run. Up, Up, and more Up. As a runner, when I come into an aid station, I get what I need and quickly get on my way. Today,  90% of these athletes stopped and drank their drinks, filled up their water bottles, just took a breather and caught their breath.

Josh before

Josh with 1.5 to go.

Adriane

Turned out to be a beautiful day. I was so glad that I helped out with this event.

Isela, Charlotte, Jill, Tansy