Goblin Valley Race and Moab

This past weekend a few friends and i headed for Moab. We had been planning on doing this trail run in Goblin Valley for a while now and decided to stay in Moab and try to make a trip out of it. A friend let us stay at his home in Moab so even though its a ways from Goblin Valley it was nice not to have to get a hotel. The weather was really disappointing down there. Friday it was wet and cold so we didn't do much other than go see a water fall and get some dinner. then we streamed Tosh.O on the computer all night and laughed our buts off. Saturday we got up early to head to the race. Turned out only 3 of the 5 of us were going to do it. I was originally registered for the 15 miler but with ongoing aches and pains in my shins i decided to do teh 10k. It was a cool race. the rain from Friday made parts a little slick but over all i had fun and would do it again. Good thing i dropped from the 25k cause my legs killed the entire time. After that we did a fun slot canyon. Its by Little Wild Horse. Not nearly as pretty but with all the rain and some pretty tough scrambles it was way more fun and technical. we go tout of the canyon just in time for "THE NOTHING" to hit and headed back to Moab. We barbecued for dinner and started a movie. it was only 9 pm but i was out. Next morning we cleaned the place real good and took off for home. It was a fun quick weekend trip. even with the rain.

trying to squeeze into a hole in slot canyon

thank goodness someone left a rope

lots of pools. everyone had to get wet eventually but it was fun trying to avoid it.

misty road to Goblin Valley before race

Faux Falls. man made but still cool enough for a look see.

Just outside the house we stayed at. the clouds were cool all day.

LOGAN EAST AND BACK

For a while now Ive been planning a motorcycle trip to New York. I have a sister in Buffalo, brother in Hershey PA, family in Ohio and a old high school friend in NYC so now its time to venture east. 2500 miles east actually.

Heres the plan so far. June 1st ill leave Logan Utah through Mount Rushmore and The Badlands to Buffalo New York. While there seeing Niagra Falls, Palmyra NY and what ever else. Then off to NYC to see Kelli, lady Liberty, Ground Zero, Fire Museum, Fire Boat ride, run through Cental Park and whatever else i come up with. After NYC Im off to Hershey to visit Trey and his fam as well as Gettysburg, Hershey Chocolate Factory, Williamsburg, etc. Then South a bit to DC. Here i hope Nate Miller can meet me coming up from Augusta GA. Ill see everything i can in 2 days then head back west. On the way back home Ill stop in Dayton OH to visit my moms family and head back to Utah a little more south than the way out going through Boulder CO to gawk at all the uber athletes.

I hope to do this trip in 23 days. I dont leave for another 8 months but theres still so much to do to prepare. The route is set for the most part. I have a lot of logistics to still take care of as well as planning how to see the most sights.

If anyone has any ideas for me please share.

what i did to the recruits today

today i had the new recruits for PT again. i decided to take them to my favorite running spot here in Logan"The River Trail". So i had them wear their turnout coats and SCBA packs and also tie a bowline around their waste and a clove hitch (two basic firefighter knots) around the rope of the guy in front of them. They were organized into 3 company's of 3 and thats how they had to stay. we went 1.5 miles up the trail the n took off the packs. they then did a few hill repeats, then 1.5 back down the trail with packs and tied together again. It was fun for me(i was in a t shirt he he). we did get a few cat calls from girls climbing across the street as well.

thats right tie yourself to each other

running as a company

repeat climbs up the switchbacks. i was nice and let em take off the packs.

Been a while

so ive been lazy lately and unmotivated to blog. so heres a quick update. Im still living in my sis's house in Logan till it sells. I love all the space and having a garage for the car and moto but living in a shell of what was her house is still weird. its too quiet too. usually when i came to visit the kids never gave me a moments peace. i also am working as a fire instructor here and i love it. i get to plan some of the PT some days and i love coming up with crazy exercises and obstacle courses for them to do. helping teach the skills is great as well cause i learn so much by teaching.

im getting back on track with my fitness after losing everything i worked so hard for this spring and summer. Injury, vacation and pure lack of desire had me feeling pretty crappy but im rebounding so thats good. Oct 23rd in doing a 25k trail run in Goblin Valley so im looking forward to that. its starting to cool off after very warm fall here in utah and so in the not too distant future ill be able to break out the xc skis and snowshoes.

other than that ive been experimenting with my baking trying new things like baking bread with spelt instead of wheat. its going ok. a lot of ingredients have gone strait to the garbage but well figure it out.

the recruits 3 new best friends(one i resurrected from the Thunder Dome days)

a few attempts into spelt bread. tasted ok not great. a lot more dense than normal bread.