Back on the trails after a month off

It's been a nice change to have many hours back in my week since I haven't been running for the last month. The slow plodding that I call running takes up a lot of time! I've been pretty tired, eating everything in sight and very unmotivated. As recently as Tuesday, I was not wanting to go out and get exercise (Sorry JL!).

I ran with Nancy and Heather on Thursday up Pole Canyon and we talked about running and races and lots of girl stuff. I came home all energized to create my 2010 goals, wrote all my runs down between now and late September and came up with a weight lifting plan. I love lifting weights and miss it.

Today I went out by myself for a mid distance run up Pole Canyon. It was great to be back among animals (came about 30 feet from a cow moose), get muddy and see beautiful sights.

Pictures below are from the last two days. Up Pole Canyon, over the saddle, up Fogg Hill and near Hunt's corral.

Nancy coming down the switchbacks on Pole Canyon

Heather coming down the switchbacks in Pole Canyon

The three of us on the Pole Canyon saddle

A little bit of fall color. We didn't get much this year, too wet. Trees just dropped leaves, some turned yellow most just turned brown and fell off.

Aspens ready for winter. A nice stretch of trail. I love reading these trees. For some reason, the Basque sheepherders have been carving their names into the trees in this spot for decades.

A really high peak in the Palisades looking toward Hunt's Corral

I came down into one drainage and there were about 12 bluebirds. I had no idea they hung around here so long. They were all congregated in one spot and put on a flying show for me! This one posed for a picture! Apparently the bluebird is the Idaho state bird.

Rime at 8,700 feet

Snow and mud on the north facing slopes

Looking north-west into the Big Holes

My favorite stretch of trail on Pole Canyon. I call it the Enchanted Forest.

BRAND NEW SNEAKERS! GORE-TEX!