SWA is correct - Sometime's You Gotta Get Away

Last minute trips these days typically involve St. George, Utah and Zion National Park. After all the craziness for our family, we needed to get away. Grandma and Grandpa driving South from Lehi, Utah to St. George seeing a play at Tuachan was good enough reason for a 2 hour drive up Interstate 15.

Yes, it was a hot one this weekend. I rarely drive anywhere when the merc levels get above 100 degrees. One tire blowout driving 75 mph with my family is enough reason not too. Yet, we needed the break from all things in Vegas. Visiting Grandparents, soaking toes in the Virgin River at Zion and a early AM 6 miler in the red rocked desert was too much to pass up. The above picture was taken just after that run. No, the horse is not real, but the rainbow (if you can make it out) was.

The run was perfect. Perfect even though I had very little sleep thanks to a rock hard mattress and overly soft pillow at the Country Inn in St. George. Not our first choice of Hotels to flop, but it is all we could get at the last minute to fit our traveling family. Maybe Stacey from Runner Girls Blogspot can recognize where I was running from the above photo. It was in a newish area of St. George, actually, the town is called Ivins. I was surprised when I got there to see mulitiple Softball games going on at a nearby ballfield complex. After all I got there at 4:45 AM. I guess they go all night long to beat the heat. The trail looked a lot like this -

Some of the views along the way (taken post run) looked like this -

All in all a solid run. A few tweaks here and there on the back of my left knee this time. I guess my left was feeling unappreciated and needed the attention. There was nothing during the run which had me concerned. Especially, since post run involved pain free hikes though Zion National Park.

Once in Zion, another fun family hiking trek. Although I was concerned for my wife a few points during our hikes. Maybe it was the heat, but she had some noticeable issues at a few spots on the trails. She recovered though and had time soaking the feet in the cool Virgin River. The kids had another fun time in the Canyon. Real troopers who can't wait to go back again even though this was our third time in Zion within a year. It really is special place. Enjoy a few photos from the trail -

Sorry, I am not the photographer my Dad was or Happy Trails is. Yet, as my wife constantly reminds me - I need more pictures in my Blog.

This week running will be getting back to a full schedule of training which will have me running hills. Playing around with my diet as well. Plus, my first double digit run since San Diego Rock and Roll. If Friday works out well, I will be joining Desert Dash running club for a desert trail run near Boulder City.

Good luck to everyone and all the Badwater runners. Stay hydrated! Hope the Missoula Marathon went well for ya Stacey. Tara, great to hear from ya! How is Chicago training going? Good luck as a pacer Happy Trails. Hope the heel stops bugging ya Jill for SF. Jeri, you bet! In fact, come and join us for the Santa 5K. You get a free Santa Suit to run in and keep! I have a feeling my protest of the Vegas Rock and Roll might weaken as well. Everyone else keep running! BTW - Meg you still out there?

Cheers!