Hour at the gym this morning that included a 2 mile run.  Felt ok.  Nothing special.

QOTD: I don't know I really have anything compared to some of you but a more memorable run was just 3 months ago at PA Grand Canyon.  There was a cool trail (only a mile) starting from the east rim to the canyon floor and then a bit on the rail trail at the bottom and back up again.  It was almost peak foliage, was sunny at the top of the canyon, fog in the middle and then clear at the bottom.  Just an overall cool sight, some waterfalls and some gnarly trail.  I think I have pictures somewhere...I should go find them.

Have a good weekend all!

Another URD for me.  I'm declaring this week a rest week and will pick back up Monday.  If I am lucky I will get a few short runs in this weekend but I'm not going to count on it since it is my weekend to work.  Bleh.

QOTD:  Can I count hiking instead of running?  I loved exploring the trails in the Seoul, Korea area.  So different from here. A few of the routes topped out at little shrines.  The shrines were filled with lit candles, incense smoke and people praying.   In the states there are sections of the Appalachian Trail along the NC/TN border that I love, especially the stretches over the balds (get to run as well as hike these stretches from time to time).   Out west we have spent time in Mesa Verde and Bryce Canyon in the winter -- amazing places at a magical time.  We have heard stories about lines and crowds at both places in the summer.  On our visits we saw few people at the overlooks and no other people on the trails.  Quiet and lonely and wonderful.

Busy morning for this old guy, couple more things to do and then paroled for the weekend. Yay!  Not sure what trails I will head to this afternoon yet, it really doesn't matter 'cause it's Friday!

 

QOTD--Oh man, where to begin. I'm an oldster who's been running a long time and while not a world traveller like a few of you I have covered most of North America a few times over.  Some places are just cool because they are different from my normal area and some were just epic.

 

Hoh rain forest-Olympic Park -- check

Redwoods -- check

Big Sur -- check

Devils Backbone-Bozeman

4 pass loop-Aspen -- check

Bahia Honda-Florida keys

Prince Edward Island's coast

Valentine NWR-Nebraska

Baxter state park-Maine -- check

Pictured Rocks-Michigan -- check

Manning Pro. park-B.C. -- check

Etc.

But I still cherish my time on my local trails and never take them for granted.

 Seems like we should have met along the way.  I'll go look up the stops we made in Michigan, Minnesota, and Iowa.

Took LadyB out for a shortish run on the trails at Green Lane at lunch. Still messed up over there (tree damage) so we just did 4 miles. Excellent conditions for a run... 35 degrees, rain, wet/damp leaf covered trails. Very enjoyable except for all the start/stops to hop over or around huge fallen trees. Second season in row where our woods have taken a beating.

QOTD: Hard to pick a favorite. A few unusual ones... Belize, Ambergis Caye. There is a sand/dirt path that is the "road" up north of town past the cut. The locals use it as a footpath and it also is used by golf carts (yes, a means of transportation there). I ran way up there one morning to see if I could find the end and never did... finally turned around at a shuttered up resort 5 miles out. Costa Rica... ran down the road one morning from our hotel and after a very hilly mile or two was shocked to see a sign for a park with footpaths. The owner wanted a few dollars for me to enter so I had to come back another day with some local currency in pocket. A true jungle run,  only maybe 5 miles of trails, but some awesome views of the Volcano Arenal.

Couch - Great photo tour... you can hit those trails from your house?

JohnM - Hehheh on your spouse. She is a sneaky one.

BoyJame - We ran the entire PA Grand Canyon rim trail on year point to point. It was late fall and we missed the colors but it was still awesome.

Unplanned rest day. So much going on this week and my body is finally feeling all the effects. Trying to listen to what it's telling me, and that means it's time for a nap. Looking forward to a great trail run early tomorrow morning 

QOTD: I haven't run anywhere truly breathtaking, but over the past  year I've enjoyed run-exploring these places on vacations: 

-New Orleans 

-Pittsburgh

-Disney (not too many places to actually run!) 

I just looked at my log and realized that I haven't run in over a week. Yuk. Oh well at least I've been on the bike and ellptical so I haven't been totally lazy. Anyway I did get in 3 miles on the elliptical and 17 miles on the trainer today. As soon as fall semester is over I really need to start putting in some serious miles.

QOTD: I think my most memorable run really wasn't a run, just a hike. That was this past summer in the Grand Canyon. A R2R is on my list of things to do someday.

FTYC: I got so busy with school work and other things that I didn't have time to post. Then it took me a while to find my way over here. Classes are winding down now and I will be finished with that by next Wednesday, So hopefully I'll have more time for running. posting and fun stuff. Those are some nice pictures you posted today. It reminds me that I have to sign up for Rothrock soon.

Evening folks,

 

Got in an easy 6 miles this morning.  Tomorrow's 50K will put me over 2,000 miles for the year!  Although we're supposed to have good weather, the RD was saying a good 10 miles of the course is pretty muddy. Slip slidin' fun!

 

qotd: I haven't traveled a lot, but every time I run near Mt. Rainier it takes my breath away.  This past summer we did a run starting at Sunrise, which is the highest point on the mountain you can drive to (about 6,800 feet, I believe).  Our route took us through an incredible meadow resplendent with wildflowers, and the mountain seemed so close as to touch it.  So gorgeous!

 Betsy,  We have some standing water (a rarity out here), but not much mud.

 Deception pass should be about the same.  Today was mostly wind, very

noisy wind now, but lots of clearing sky.

Best wishes for a good run.