No run yet today, but I might mix it up and run at lunch today since I started work a bit early this morning. Just sort of woke up earlier than normal for some reason. I guess because the AC was off. I did run last night, 6 miles out on the local trail. I know we mentioned zoning out and I had one of those runs last night as I was puzzling out a coding "challenge" in my head during my run. About a minute slower than recent times on this loop, but my brain was distracted. Plus it was a gloomy day/evening and I really wanted to be lazy but just forced myself out there for a few miles.

QOTD: 9/11 today. If you have any comments or thoughts please share.

My last run at Laurel Highlands, we stopped at the Flight 93 Memorial. They recently added a big wind chime tower there, but at the time there were some paths, the memorial wall, and markers showing the path of the crash. It was a very reflective place of course, and I found myself quite moved by it all. Just imagine how the world would have changed (even more) had those passengers not taken action. It was quite an act of bravery.

Sandy - Good knees on the news!

Queenie - Keep up the good taper.

Moonlight - Good to see you back. It's been a weird summer not running with the Lady, but she is no longer cut out for hot running.

strength trained yesterday evening; will hit the trails with Tiny E this evening

qotd: I was traveling to training with a fellow warden, we were listening in shock to the news as we travelled; as we continued on a very rural stretch of highway we came upon a pretty bad wreck- two fellas hauling a camper that got out of control and caused them to roll their truck.  We were the first vehicle there, called an ambulance and administered first aid (they had multiple fractures).  Felt good to do something positive on such a negative day.

I ran 3.1 miles this morning in the dark. It was very easy in 31:00.

QOTD: I have always heard adults speak of where they were when Pearl Harbor was bombed and/or where they were when Kennedy was assassinated. I never thought I would have any profound memories of what I consider to be catastrophic tragedies. I remember when Reagan was shot, but he survived. And Jody Foster never had to answer for it even though she put John Hinkley, Jr. up to it!!! (That was a joke). Anyway, I remember vividly where I was when 9/11 happened. I had worked the 6PM to 6AM shift at Honeywell that Monday night. For some reason, I always had trouble winding down and going to sleep after a night shift. I had the television on the NBC Today show and sort of nodded off. I guess it was something in the way the announcer (Bryant Gumbel or Matt Lauer) changed the urgency in his voice that awakened me. I was watching it live when the second jet crashed into the other tower. It was surreal and horrific. Needless to say, I didn't sleep the rest of the day, and the Tuesday night shift didn't get much done. And no one really cared about how much refrigerant was shipped out that night. It seems like it was just yesterday to me. I still feel for the people who were trapped in that inferno, some jumping to their deaths. I feel horrible for the first responders who charged up the stairs and never came back out. I have no sympathy for radical psychos like the ones who did this or the ones who attack people all over the world today. And I don't spend too much time second guessing police or soldiers who have to deal with them. And I never second guess Marines.

AT: Beautiful pictures. I love Colorado so much. My daughter went out there for a concert at Red Rocks in 2015. She came home, finished school, saved money and moved there. She said she is never leaving. It is a great excuse to visit the mountains more often.

Morning's plan went awry. DS2 has been having some on and off nausea and stomach pains the last few days and it kicked up again, so this morning's long run went on the wayside. I'll get out for 3-4 miles this afternoon. If it stops raining. crap, this year has been awful, weather-wise. What I would give for a stretch of dry, low 70s, sunny days....

qotd: on 9/09, I few into Newark airport and got a fantastic view of the twin towers at night. That image, considering what happened two days later, is one that I don't think my brain will ever let go.

Ran over 8 miles on the Mineral Belt Trail. Paved trail that was an old mining road. 800’ elevation ( after starting at 10,100&rsquo . Really felt the thin air in the climbs, but recovered well.  DW was lagging. She’s a bit slower getting used to the altitude.

Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive.

Some mining remnants left along the way.

Jess found a friend.

Leadville in the distance, and Turquoise Lake.

I slept in this morning so I'll be dodging thunderstorms after work today.

AT - nice photos you have managed to ramp up the jealousy-quotient.  Actually I was going to mention that the paved trail to the east of Leadville is kinda nice. Tough breathing thou.

QoN - happy (late) birthday.

qotd: My office was on the 106th floor of the south tower.  I along with a bunch of my coworkers moved when our headquarters relocated from NY to TX in mid-1999. There were still about 20 of my colleagues working at the WTC on 9/11, but they had moved to a smaller office on north-facing side of the 92nd floor of the north tower.  One of my colleagues watched in disbelief as the first plane came towards him and hit just above him and to his right. They immediately counted everyone and bolted down the stairs, they all got out. My DW called me after the first plane hit and some of went down to our company gym where there was a TV and we watched in horror as the second plane hit and later the Pentagon and PA planes.  It would be 2 days later before we found out that or coworkers were all ok.

Last night...I had a great hike. Should have been a run...but it was still great fun.

Each season has something special. Cool temperatures and early darkness make the transition of summer to fall a source of joy. I love being alone in the woods, surrounded by the soft comfort of the dark. It makes even a mundane trail special.

Dark shapes of trees against the cool grey sky, air perfumed with the unmistakable scent of fall and a soft chorus of insect songs distract me from the task of training. The plans for intervals now gone withwonly fleeting regret, replaced with a need to capture the night's details in memory.

The moonless evening sky begins as soft grey, adorned with only a single bright Venitian light. Each time my eye travels skyward, more stars illuminate the darkening skyscape. A deep darkness settles into the crevices of the landscape, so intense in places it feels like a dark presence standing close. At times I reach out to touch it, but feel only cooling air.  The night is  filled with sounds of a choir. Crickets sing a gentle, melodic background to the rasp of insects that sound both enormous and ancient. As I walk alone, I am surrounded by the soft, gentle conversations of owls. It was a joyous night.

QOTD: 17 years ago I had come home after the nightshift. I turned on the TV when my cousin called asking what the World Trade Center was. I watched TV for the next 12 hours and when I could for days after. I remember feeling like things would never feel "normal" again. For a time everyone stood together, honouring the fallen and joining together against a new foe.

Here we all are, in a new normal. Standing apart. We have come a long way from that crossroads.