Just in case you haven't seen it...

Here's the best music video ever made (in my humble opinion). And by a great band too. Check em out if you haven't already...

(Be sure to pause the music at the bottom of the page before clicking the video. It also views better if you click the video once to get it started, then click it again to watch it via Youtube.)



Check out some of their other videos out there on Youtube as well. The others may not be quite so ingenius, but still incredibly clever.

Table Trials

More on this late-February foray soon...

Moab Red Hot 50k+

After a quick, relatively last-minute trip to Portland last week, I flew back to Boise on Friday morning, hopped in the car, drove to Tremonton where I met up with Mike and Dan, then jumped in the car with them to complete the remaining 6 hour journey to Moab. Somehow, I'd tweaked my lower back pretty severely early Thursday morning (the day before) almost immediately after getting out of bed (still not quite sure what I did or how I did it) and it was continuing to give me jolts of pain any time I would bend over or twist. Even that night, as we prepared for bed the night before the race, I still had pain moving and when I had tried to even jog a bit in the parking lot of our hotel, I found it excruciating. My race day didn't look too promising. But somehow, someway, I got up the next morning and decided to start even thinking at that point that I may only make it five minutes down the road before deciding to turn back and call it off. Well, again, somehow, someway, I was able to not only run (albeit quite gingerly at times), but my race actually ended up being one of my more consistently paced and evenly run races I've had (perhaps because I was purposely not pushing it as much as I could have with a healthy back?). I ended up running every last step of uphill throughout the course save for a couple of snowy sections and a couple of the steep, more technical rock steps and felt good through to the end. My knees took a beating. Again. And I was losing all kinds of time on the downhills toward the end in my attempt to cushion my back, and my knees, and then my hip that began hurting probably due to my slightly different running posture as a result of my maladies. But all in all, it went well I'd say on a much slower and slightly shorter course than last year. But good times in good weather with a great bunch of people. The usual stuff that makes a great trip possible.

Winter. Table for One.

After my two previous ascents in November and December of last year, I've had it in my mind that I should keep up the pattern and not only continue my monthly check-ups on the summit, but also experience the full scope of a winter ascent. This would be the first time I would have to use winter gear from bottom to top and it would also require a somewhat tedious 4 1/2 mile grunt up Teton Canyon Rd on foot due to the road being groomed for nordic skiing.

My intention was to leave the house at 4:30am, but I hit snooze a couple times and ended up running an hour behind. And given that this outing would take at least 1 1/2 hours more than my last two "half'winter" round trips due to the additional snow and the added length of the approach and return, I was a little aprehensive about reaching the summit and making it back to town by noon for work. My two options: 1. Turn back below the summit and get to work by noon. Or 2. Call work after everyone gets there and tell them I'm coming in a bit later so I can hit the top. For the record, I did ask politely if things would be ok if I came in at 1pm, but my estimate, however, was roughly 45 minutes short so they had to wait a bit longer for me to show up. It was ok, everything was calm thankfully and it didn't appear that I was missed too much. A faithful optimist I am to a fault. Good thing I have a great group of workmates.

I ended up leaving the car at 6am and it took 1:20 to slug my way into the canyon to where the trail begins. My body just wasn't too keen on getting going at first, but I think instinct took over once I got to the trailhead.

There is an unusual lack of snow so far this winter, but everything is definitely covered. The beginning of the trail climbs abruptly through the gap in the trees to the left of the restrooms.

What normally takes 20 minutes in summer conditions took an hour. Clawing up 1,000 vertical feet in under a mile through deep snow with snowshoes is an activity like no other.

It appeared that a few of the south facing walls were letting loose with avalanches after a few warmer days earlier in the week.

Customary view as the mountains pop over the plateau.

4:15 after leaving the car. 2:45 up from the trailhead. 9,500ft.

500 ft and 30 minutes below the summit.

It was a comfortable day on top. Comfortable temps just below freezing, almost no wind, and mostly sunny with wisping clouds.

Looking south across Hurricane Pass and the southern Teton Range.

Les Trois Teton

Cascade Canyon looking into Jackson Hole.

I arrived on top at 11:15am, 3:45 since the trailhead, and 5:15 from the car. I spent 5 minutes enjoying the moment before heading down. The descent took 1:10 back to the trailhead and another hour back to the car (7 1/2 hours roundtrip) which left just enough time to strip off all my gear, change into something a little more comfortable, and get myself to work at 1:45.

8 days in Boise

Just got back home this past Sunday and I still wish I was on vacation. For 8 straight days I went for at least a 45 minute run and, on three occasions, I was out for more than two hours including a tour-de-Boise-foothills jaunt on Dec. 31st that took me out for three and a half. (Oh, and just a sidenote: On Saturday it was 58 degrees and I found myself running along Shaw Mtn Rd in shorts and a sleeveless shirt. Because I could!)

So yeah, it was a pretty good trip. Just hung out. No itinerary. No plans. No worries. Just good runnin and relaxin.