Fall Break and General Weirdness

Sorry to be late this week.  Busy, busy, busy!

Fall Break Scout Trip

The kids were off school for a couple of days last week so we planned a camping trip for the scouts.  Normally I just take the scout troop out, but for this one we had the Varsity team and Venture crew join us as well.  The 11 year old scouts joined in the fun so we had 13 scouts and 8 leaders and fathers along.

Goblin Valley is a State Park in southern Utah.  Most people are familiar with Moab because of the great mountain bike trails along with Arches and Canyonland National Parks.  Goblin Valley is about 50 miles or so west as a crow flies from Moab so you know it is in some fun country.  

Goblin Valley (Utah State Parks Site)

Goblin Valley is filled with "hoodoos" which are unique formations created through years of wind and water erosion.  The great thing about this state park is that they allow you to go all through and all over the formations.  It is fun for all ages.  The next day, we hiked Little Wild Horse Canyon which is an easily accessible slot canyon that provides a ton of fun.  No worries about flash floods as the weather was perfect.

Little Wild Horse Canyon (zaek.info)

Half Marathon Prep
With the Halloween Half Marathon this Saturday, I needed to get my long run in.  It was another 10 miler.  I was scheduled to run this on Saturday, but being that I was with the Scouts I knew it wouldn't work so I ran on Friday morning before we drove down.  I read about a trick to help your legs be less sore.  Lay on your back near a wall and rest your heels on the wall.  I did this for about 10 minutes.  It really helped.  When I dropped my legs back down, I could feel a rush of blood going back to them.  I was able to drive for about four hours and hike a little in the evening and my legs held up just fine.  I'll have to remember that one!

Weird Things!
Do you ever have weird things happen when you are out exercising?  This morning I took off a little later and walked two miles (taper week).  As I was walking down the sidewalk next to a busy street, I noticed someone cross in front of me into our church parking lot.  As I got closer, I saw an old Volkswagen bug halfway on the grass and half way into the parking lot.  During the week the gate to the busy street is closed. He was attempting to push it off the grass into the parking lot.  I helped him get the car off the lawn and asked if everything was alright.  He said that he was worried leaving his stalled car on the busy street so he was attempting to get it into the parking lot.  I walked away thinking that was weird.

A couple of blocks down the road, I saw something lying on the grass in between the sidewalk and the street.  As I got closer I saw an 8x11 picture of Jesus.  There was nothing but businesses on this side of the street so I figured it had blown over here from somewhere else.  I didn't want the picture to get wet or mangled any further so I carried it home and found a place for it in my garage.  It will serve as a reminder each time I back out of the driveway to be a better person.

I've had many weird and funny things happen while I have been out exercising.  Any of you want to share your experiences in the comments?

Hang in there and I will too.