Scout Camp 2012

As many of you know, I have been a Scoutmaster for a couple of years now.  I have been involved with Scouting on and off for many years due to our church's sponsor ship of Scouting, but this has been my first time as Scoutmaster.  Saturday, I finished up my third summer camp.
You have three choices when it comes to summer camp.

1. Attend an official BSA Scout Camp
2. Come up with your own idea for a summer camp.
3. Pretend like you don't have any idea what a summer camp is and if someone ask you about it, ask them if they could help you by attending camp with you this summer.  It will effectively stop the conversation as they now pretend that they know nothing about Scout Camp either plus they also have something important scheduled for that week even though you haven't told them when it is yet.

I have done options one and two but haven't tried number three yet.
I will tell you a few things from Scout Camp this year to give you an insight of what is involved in Scout Camp.

Mike Terry, Deseret News

This year we attended Frandsen Ranch BSA Scout Camp at Scofield, Utah.  It is about 70 miles away from our city in Orem.  We met at 6 am on Monday so we could arrive at camp in time to set up and get checked in.  You know you are off to a rough start when one of the mother's rushes back with Dramamine so her little scout doesn't get car sick.  On my first trip two years ago, I did have to pull over while one of the scouts puked.  Fun way to start a trip.  This time however the medicine worked.  We traveled for a little over and hour to get to Scofield.
The wind blew hard for at least part of the day, every day we were there.  It made setting up the tents a challenge, but due to our staking the tents well and securing guy wires, our tents all stayed up.  There were several other tents in the camp that ripped and collapsed that first day.
Due to some mixups, we had to guide ourselves around camp and figure out the logistics of the camp, but we got it figured out.  Most of our scouts this year were on their first summer camp and they had a ways to go in rank advancement.  We got them on a program that helps them complete almost all of their requirements for Tenderfoot, 2nd and First class requirements.  This worked out well and most of them now have almost everything passed of.  With a week or two follow up now we are back home, most of our scouts will be at a rank of 1st class which I am really happy about.  Our other scout, worked on merit badges and he was able to get several as well.
It takes a lot of work as a scoutmaster at camp.  Younger scouts are all over the map as far as confidence and comprehension.  Most either doubt their abilities or over estimate what they can do.  If you are familiar with the term herding cats, it really applies in this case.  It is always interesting that you will spend a couple of minutes with them explaining what they need to do and where they need to be and then immediately ask you what they need to do and where they need to be.  It is a scientific fact that their brains are developing so rapidly that all the wiring is not in place.  It takes a lot of patience to help them understand.  But it pays off eventually.
Here is a picture of three scout leaders towards the end of camp.  It runs you ragged!

One thing I enjoy about an organized camp, is to meet other scouters from all over the place.   One of the above leaders (left) is part of a deaf scout troop.  I talked with him a couple of times and found out what an amazing person he is.  He is over a younger set of scouts.  None of his scouts were there.  He was there to help out the older scouts.  He gave up a week of his time to help out these older, hearing impaired, scouts.  He also chose to join the Order of the Arrow, which is a service organization in the Scouts.  You can choose to do it as a scout or as a leader.  Part of the induction involves "The Ordeal."  This requires you to sleep outside, by yourself, with nothing but a pad and a sleeping bag.  For 24 hours, you cannot speak to anybody, you get minimal food and you provide service for the whole day.  Rusty went through this.  The day was hot as we watched Rusty and the others work in the sun, fixing fences and digging trenches in camp.  I then found out on the last day, that Rusty earned the mile swim award as well while he was at camp.  He swam for 1 mile for over an hour in Scofield Reservoir which was a balmy 56 degrees!  This is from a man who is not only hearing impaired, but walks with a pronounced limp when he walks.  Rusty was one of my heroes at camp!
My first few days were a bit frustrating as we tried to figure out what was going on, but as we talked to staff, I understood some of the challenges they were under.  By the time we left, I had a new friend in Colton, the program director, who is a fellow runner.  It was good to get to know him and other scout leaders both on staff and other Scoutmasters who had come up for the week.  The other leader who came up with me has been on all three summer camps with me even though he has responsibility with another
I did get one run in on Tuesday.  It was a good workout, but challenging to do the extra hills and at a higher altitude.  The next scheduled run was the coldest morning.  I could talk myself out of the sleeping bag any earlier than I had to be up.  I ended up being tired and needing the sleep any way for the rest of the week.  I did a ton of walking durning the day to keep track of everything that was going on.
What's up next for me is a lighter week of exercise as I am about 10 days out from the Freedom Festival 10k on the 4th.
Hang in there and I will too!

Late and Short

I arrived at Scout Camp this morning with one other leader and five scouts! We are at Scofield Utah. It has been a long day with much to do and worry about but I am hoping for a good week with the boys. I got all my traing runs in last week and hope to fit in my scheduled training in while I am here. It's well past lights out so I better get some rest. Hang in there and I will too!

Utah Valley Marathon

I know my blog post tend to be a little bit wordy sometimes.  This one is no exception.  I enjoy processing what running and getting back in shape has brought to my life and recording these events helps me understand what I have gained from all of this.  Thanks for following along!

I run because long after my footprints fade away, maybe I will have inspired a few to reject the easy path, hit the trails, put one foot in front of the other, and come to the same conclusion I did: I run because it always takes me where I want to go.
Dean Karnazes, Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner

"I run because it always takes me where I want to go." I read this quote after I went running on Friday. This was an rescheduled long run. It was hard to get up, but I knew it was my only shot to get the run in. That run did take me where I wanted to go. Not only did a do one of my favorite routes, but I wanted to see how I would do going the longest I've run since the marathon. I finished the run a bit tired, but really happy that I went and I got a little confidence back. That was where I really wanted to go. To a better state of mind and that run took me there. I feel like I'm slowly on my way back.
Saturday was a great experience for me. I got up early and headed over to the finish line area for the Utah Valley Marathon. We were busy from the time I got there until we left in the afternoon. I drove as close as I could to finish line and headed over. I found a group of volunteers that were unwrapping the finisher medals. There were over 7,000 medals to get ready so I found a chair, seated in the middle of University Avenue and started unwrapping. About the time I started, both the half marathon and marathon had begun, but we wouldn't be seeing anyone for well over an hour. The time went by quickly and all went well except for the minor annoyance of one of the volunteers who took it upon himself to be in charge. He was mostly ignored so it was a little humorous.
The first ones in were the wheelchair and mobility assisted racers. They really flew down the canyon! I was surprised there wasn't much of a fuss made about them. No one from the race other than the announcer even acknowledged that they came through. I talked to one of them when I grabbed a medal and gave it to him. He said that it was not unusual. I guess that everyone is gearing up for the mass of runners and the main event that they get lost in the hustle and bustle.
Next the top half marathoners came through and there was a bit of excitement. There was plenty of attention on them as they came through. Most of us were still unwrapping the last of the medals, but it was fun to see the elite runners come through. It is just amazing how fast some can cover the 13.1 miles in a little over an hour. The top time was:

KYLE PERRY M 28 PROVO UT 1:06:43 1:06:43

I have yet to run a 10K that fast!
Less than an hour and a half after the first half marathoner came across, the first marathoner crossed the line.

KEMBOI, PETER 2:28:56 5:41 2:28:56 1:13:12 32 HEBRON KY

Wow!
There were several highlights for me. I saw quite a few of my neighbors finish the half and full marathon. Shout outs to all of them! Wayne Y., Tanya T., Carrie J., Barbara H. Chris D. Bill H. , Skip M. and Nancy H.
Bill and Skip were pacers for the half and full respectively. Pacers are an amazing group who run the marathon, holding a sign the whole way, just to help fellow racers meet there race time. They do these distances several times a year! Thanks to all of the pacers. And a shout out to Michelle B, who had signed up to work the finish line and let me know how to volunteer. She hung in there to the end and it was fun to get to know her a bit better.
One person that I didn't see, ended up breaking my heart when I found out what happened. Super Mom Erin, is a blogger who just a few years ago was overweight and not happy with herself. She and her husband Josh have 12 kids! Many of them special needs adoptions. She trained hard for this race and was excited to run hard and fast. The race blew up on her! You just never know when that might happen. Most of us are lucky enough to have it happen on a training run, but she never had any warning what was going to happen. You can read her heartfelt report here. I choked up a bit when I read about how at 3:15 in the race that her husband and kids would know she wasn't going to make her goal and her not wanting to disappoint anyone. I felt the same way when I just about didn't make it across the Pineview Dam for the cut-off time at the Ogden Marathon. I thought how much I didn't want to disappoint everyone either. I came within 1 minute of getting a DNF!

As the focus shifted from the half to the full came on, I hung around for the last of the half-marathoners. who didn't get much attention. I made sure they had someone to congratulate them on making the 13.1 miles and greeting them with the medal that they had earned. The hard work they had put in to be able to finish. I hope it helped them realize what a big deal it was.

After the last half-marathoner came through, I helped out at the marathon finish. The volunteers were slowly disappearing, but I had fun handing out the medals and as it became hot, some of grabbed water cups and got them to the runners as they finished up. Even though the course was downhill, a lot of runners said how hard it was because they had a stiff wind in their face from about mile 7 on.

I also heled a lost kid find his parents, one runner that about collapsed on us and we helped her to the medical tent. Several other runners needed help getting their bearings straight, they had given their all physically and mentally to cross the finsh so we made sure they were ok. I kept my eye on one runner who struggled across the line. I got him some water and poured some on him. He found the nearest shade under a table and sat their looking exhausted. I grabbed him some oranges and talked with him on and off as I grabbed water for the runners coming in. In about a half an hour, he looked much improved.

The last thing I did was to greet the last marathoner in (they closed the finish 6.5 hours after it started). I told her that the last place finisher from Ogden this year, welcomed the last place finisher from this year's Utah Valley Marathon.

As I walked across the closing down expo, I saw a marathoner who was probably in his late teens or early twenties. I remembered him crossing the finish because he expressed so much appreciation to the volunteers. I asked where he was from. He told me San Diego and his goal was to do 12 marathons this year. This marked his 7th completed! I wished him well and headed for the car.

As I drove home, I saw a person with a marathon bib on still on the course and walking it in. They were still several miles out, but I'm sure they were proving something to themselves. I had nothing but respect for that!

Hang in there and I will too!

Starting Over

I had two main fitness goals from last week. I was going to start running again a couple of times and go on a hike. Well, I did go running, but only once on Friday. It wasn't until then that I felt ready to give it a go. The run went well and I really feel that the rest did me a world of good.
Over the weekend, I came up with a plan to prepare for the Provo Freedom Festival 10K on July 4th. This will be my third year running this race. I am on a short training schedule, but I went running this morning on the new plan. It was a bit aggressive after laying off for a couple a weeks, but it wasn't overly hard. If I keep on schedule, it won't be my fastest 10K, but I won't come in last either.
Gordon was game to go hiking so we did a 6.75 mile loop close to home. I have done the loop before and it had enough elevation change and distance to be a challenge, but not overwhelming. We got up early but it was already warm and muggy. The sky was lite up as the sun was coming up with splashes of orange all over the clouds. It was all but gone in the 10 minutes it took me to drive to the trail head so no pictures of that.
We did get a few pictures of the hike. It is still early enough in the year that everything is still really green and beautiful. We started off on a fire road for a little over a mile and then took a trail which took us up towards "the altar". As you can see, we had pretty good views as we climbed.

I even snapped a panorama view. I caught Gordon by surprise when I shot the last few and told him to hold still. I have taken a few panoramas with my iPhone lately and the AutoStitch program does a great job of piecing them together.

Here is a picture of "the altar". So named by the rocks that have been stacked up at a trail junction.

From here we headed up and over and took the adjoining Dry Canyon back down.

From that trail head, we took the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, back to the first trail head where we started. 
We were both a bit tired. Gordon is in better hiking shape that me so I need to keep after it.

Right after the marathon, I weighed myself and I was at the highest I have been in some time. I have gone on about how stressed out the training was on me. I think I was right about the stress because after weighing in this morning, I am down 9 pounds in the little over two weeks since the race. I still have a lot to take off, but at least I am headed in the right direction.

My son-in-law Mike ran a fast half marathon over the weekend. His training and weight loss really paid off as he came in under two hours! Way to go Mike!

I was also glad to hear that Michele (one of my blogging friends) completed her 62 mile bike goal at the Tour de Cure. Great milestone for her!

I signed up to be a volunteer at the Utah Valley Marathon which is a fairly new race, but has grown quickly to 7000 runners total. This includes the half and the 10K runners. I will be working the finish line. Just a little payback to the running community. I'll report in on that next week.

Hang in there and I will too!