BACK TO WORK

AM Laur and I started at the same time today.  I went up by the ski lifts and then into town and made a loop back to the hotel.  The run was tough.  I couldn't ever get started.  It seemed like I was running in mud.  I think the travel was working on me today.

We drove through the Tetons.  How spectacular!  We took a ferry across jenny lake and then hiked up to hidden falls and inspiration point.  Saucy loved the little chipmunks and one crazy looking marmet.  The view from inspiration point was great.  Those mountains are seem almost not real, because they are so pretty.  The waterfalls were running high because it is still early in the year.  I loved it.

PM we stopped for a lunch at the main lake, and then went on to Yellowstone.  We hit Old Faithful about fifteen minutes before it went off.  The kids thought it was amazing, so did laurie and I.  There were hundreds of people waiting, so after it went off it was a mad dash to the visitor center and then off to West Yellowstone for the night.     

AM No run today.  We just woke up late and after breakfast went to Yellowstone canyon.  We stopped at the upper and lower falls for a couple mile hike.  It was great to walk down and stand right on the precipice of the lower falls.  The roar of the water was so loud it was necessary to shout to be heard.  The ground would actually rumble as the water hit the bottom.  At +/- 310 ft the power and amount of the water was crazy.  It wasn't as big as Niagra, but since it ran down in the canyon, it seemed more powerful at the bottom.

Kire loved the buffalo we saw standing right on the edge of the road.  Saucy yelled at it and it started bucking and snorting.  I think it wasn't too happy.  As we were going out of the park, we saw a real nice bull elk still in velvet and grizzly bear snoozing up in the trees.  I want to go back and spend a week there next year and hike and bike for the whole time.  The area is beautiful.

AM We stayed in Gillette WY last night.  The hotel had a nice little water park, so the kids swam until late.  I didn't get a run in this morning which turned out better, because we had a major hike today. 

Mount Rushmore always has one of the biggest fireworks shows in the U.S. for the 4th, but since the 4th was on a Saturday, they did it today instead.  We heard it was going to be really crowded, so after a quick stop in Sturgis to see the motorcycle museum, we got to Keystone SD.  By 2:30 PM the closest parking spot was 2.5 miles away.  We ecided to use this as our daily hike, so we piled our coats, snacks, and folding chairs on our backs and took off up the hilll.  When we got to the top, the park was packed already.  There were people that got to the park at 6 AM just to get seats in the ampitheater.  We set our stuff up in the woods on on the right side of the ampitheater.  The monument was neat, but I think I must have expected a little more.  I had always wanted to go to Rushmore, so I may have just built something bigger up in my mind. 

By about 8 PM it started rain and the fog rolled in, so it covered the monument.  We realized the fireworks were not going to be seen, so we started the hike back down the hill.  we decided to run down so that we could beat the traffic.  

We hadn't gotten a hotel room for the day, so the closest that we could find was a little dive on the east side of Newcastle WY.  It was midnight and we were tired and just went right to bed.  

AM Checked out the Crazy Horse monument.  This was unexpectantly one of the highlights of my trip.  The museum was very interesting and informative.  Because it was the 4th, they had brought in some of the Navajo code talkers that fought in WWII.  They had to be late eighties and early nineties.  I grabbed a rock from the monument to bring back for the classroom.  I was impressed with Ziolkowski and the dream he had and more impressed with his perserverance in accomplishing his dream.  Great sight to visit and well worth the entrance fee.

PM We stopped and wind cave national park for a lunch and then took a tour of the cave.  it was a 1.5 mile hike down into the cave which went as far down as 200 feet below the surface.  I started to get claustrophobic even with the lights that were on.   I had to really focus and breath.  My kids on the other hand thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread.  I think that will be one of the highlights of the trip for them. 

We saw quite afew more buffalos as we went out the south end of the park and on to Cheyenne where we stayed for the night.   

Went to church in cheyenne today.  The ward was a little cooky.  It was testimony meeting and there were some interesting comments made-anyway-We also checked out the State Capitol on the way out of town.  I got the feeling it was just a nice down home government center.  I didn't get the feeling of "big city" trying to intimidate in Cheyenne.  I actually quite liked the whole state, although there are areas that are way too remote for me.  For instance-yeasterday we almost ran out of gas going from redbird to Orin, because it shows there are town on the map.  When we got to where they said the town was on the map all we could see was one house or one ranch.  In fact, the sign @ Shawnee Wy, shows the population as 1.  What?!  Why even spend the money on the sign!

PM We drove to Aurora, CO and then took a nice nap after we checked into the hotel.  IN the evening I scouted out a nice trail system to run on for tomorrow.   

AM got up and took a nice run through the cherry creek cpillway and into the cherry creek state park.  I still feel a little sluggish but started to get the cobwebs out about 45 minutes into the run.  I come back a different way and got lost in the town.  I finally cut through a golf course and found the hotel.  It ended up being a very long day this day, so the amount of miles was a little too long, but I want to get a long one in before the Bryce Half.

We went to Water World from 10AM-5 PM.  It is supposedly one of the biggest water parks in the U.S., and it was fun.  The kids had a great time.  It was definitely what they had been looking forward to all trip.  IT did start to rain around 5PM, so we left to get ready for the Rockies game.

We got a late start on the Rockies game anyway, but then there was an accident on the freeway.  By the time we got around the accident and found parking we only ogt to watch the last 3 innnings of the game.  Thhe kids were tired anyway, so it worked out okay.  I was ultra-mad that we paid good money for 3 innings of baseball, but whatever. 

On the way to the hotel, we got a flat tire.  I wsa tired and cranky and the kids were tired.  It ended up being a great experience, though because I thought the jack was up as high as it could go and still couldn't get the tire on.  I took a break and ask for a little help from above and the jack gave me 1/4 inch more.  Just enough to get the tire on, so off we went to the hotel. 

AM We decided we had had enough of our vacaiton, so we started home today.  We stopped to see the Denver temple and get a book at the bookstore for Lex and then we wer off.  The drive thourgh Vail and Copper Canyon was amazing.  I didn't like how the towns set in the bottom of those canyons though.  If there was a flood, it would not be good. 

Stopped in Rifle CO, for a lunch and a handful of redbox movies to keep the kids occupied.

PM got to Richfield by 6:00 PM.  We stoopped just long enough gas and away went for home. 

Got home by 8:00 PM it was great to be home.

8 AM Out and back to the bridge today.  Today it was "hot hot" by 8, so I have to get up earlier if I am going to go any further.  I am must have gotten used to weather in WY and CO!

 PM Went to the washington city center for treadmill today.  Watched a little TV and ran for 30 minutes.  It was okay, but I don't want to have to get on the treadmill every day.

AM Ran an easy day with Laurie and the team today.  We were @ LV park.  I tried going barefoot, but my feet got so cold from the water on the grass my feet wnet numb. 

We played a mean game of ultimate fris after practice.

AM No run today.  We stayed in Hatch last night after getting everything prepared for the reunion.  Went to the Gleave reunion.  Joe, dad, and I cooked for the 300+.  We did nine dutch ovens fool of potatos, grilled chicken, burgers, and dogs.  It was hard work, but it was fun to work with those two.  Dad is still recovering from his knee replacement.  He said the second one has been easier than the first.  He is 5 weeks out as of yesterday, so he is out of the real pain.  It will be nice to get him back out on the golf course and on his bike again.  He said he is up to 10 miles on the stationary bike every day. 

PM got home at 11PM, so I am going to skip my meetings tomorrow. 

AM Ran with the team again this morning.  The downside of having laurie coach XC this year is that I have to get up @ 5:45 if I am going to run, but the upside is that she wakes me up early enough that I don't have to battle the heat.

Chad, Mark, Matt and I ran the loop together, then we went down the trail toward the DC and then back to the Bloom park.  It was a nice run and the kids are great.  All of the kids on the XC team this year are just real good kids.  It is so different working with the football team than with these kids.  There just seems to be a lot of macho with the football team instead of just being themselves.  I know that is part of the game, but it is much harder to crack the facade and really get to know kids when they are trying to be something they aren't. 

I borrowed a tandem bike from Mike Hall yesterday, since my road bike is getting fixed.  I put Lex on the back and we wnet 10 miles.  It was really fun once I got the hang of the steering.  I think I will take laurie on a little ride tonight.   

AM five miles.  I got up @ 5 and rode out to santa clara with mike.  He went up through SC, but since I am going to do the half, I decided to keep the legs fresh.  I decided to turn out and go around the black hill to bloom park and meet the xc team.  I ran with logan and the boys when I got there.  We only had a few show up, but it was still a nice run from bloom park to sismisters ortho and back. We just chatted and had a good time. 

PMI opened up the weight room for football on monday and today, so I lifted some circuit training and left it at that.

AM Went to the WCR and hit the treadmill today.  I watched the middle of the tour de france while I got in a fairly quick 3.5.  I did a tempo run for 20 minutes and then a cool down. 

8 AM left for the young mens activity today.  We drove to draper and did baptisms, then back to provo. 

PMI had set up a tour of all the BYU football facilities through Coach Tidwell.  The people did a great job and we got to see a ton of good stuff.  I am very impressed with their organization.  I like how they have integrated the church and life teaching into the football program.  Very cool.

 It was 6PM by the time we got down, so I had them drop me off at the Y track to catch the tail end of the track camp.  They were doing the track meet, but I couldn't find Laura D.  I did catch thhe 3000M, but not a lot going on, so I wenet back over to the stadium and had pizza with the YM.  

We stayed up all night at the Quarry to climb and sleep.  The climbing was fun but the rest was none! I got nothing in as far as miles today, because afterward, I just drove home and had a nap.  I got home at 2PM

4PM We are going to head out to Bryce to pick up our packets, and sleep in Hatch tonight.  I am not really ready for a fast half tomorrow, but I am going to go out and enjoy the race.  The summer has been fun and I think besides the big 100 mile ULCER in August, this is my last big HURRAH, so I am going to just enjoy.  Football starts on Monday, and then I am in the classroom on Aug. 10th. (Yuck!)

It was cold and I was tired, so the first two miles counted as my warm up time.  I felt really bad the first two miles.  My right calf was tight and the fire that was in the area raised a little havoc on my breathing.  Interesting enough I hit my splits pretty close on both miles. 

The next two miles I started to settle into the race a little and by mile six I was feeling good enough that I ran a little faster split than I wanted.  Mile eight trimmed my wings a little bit though and I got back to the 7 minute split average.  I really started to feel better on mile 10, 11, and 12.  I didn't train the way I wanted leading up to the race, because of all the activities the last month, but it was fun to run and I could see how it would be very fast if I focused on running through the summer. 

1-7.16  2-missed  3-6.56  4-7.01 5-7.03  6-6.32 7-7.06 8-7.28  9-missed  10-6.57 

11-7.03 12-7.05 Finish 1:32.12

Down to the bridge and back.

Just getting my legs back after the race.

AM Up snow canyon on the bike with mike and some friends of his.  I tried to climb hard.  The new bike is a little long for me, but I think I will get used to it.

RIght after i got home, I went down on the trail to run the mayors loop.  I flamed out at the end, but iced at wells fargo and that was like heaven.

AM - 4

PM - Went above Apple Valley and ran the slick rock while some of the young men bike the same trail.  It was nice and cool.  There were a few crashes, but I think they had fun.

AM easy 4 on the WCR treadmill

AM started at the top of Snow canyon went up to end of white rocks trail, then down lava ridge over to west canyon road.  Took that down to campground, then up to rapelling site and back down to snow canyon drive.  Hooked into the trail before bluff and down to Sunset blvd.  Laur picked me up there then i iced in the river at Wells Fargo.

PM - I talked Laur into riding from Zion to dad's place.  It was so nice.  The views are great, but the weather is still extremely hot.

AM - run the figure eight today and Laur held my water on the bike.  I think I will try to get a little bike ride in this evening.

PM - Took the bike out on Laur's Course for a TT.  I blasted through pretty fast and got a little sick after the ride because of the heat.  I didn't help that I wolfed down two huge slices of watermelon!

WCC Treadmill

WCC Treadmill

AM 5