Southwest Road Trip Ideas

I did visit Arizona in 2015 but the fun was limited by uncharacteristically bad rainy weather, so I really could not do it justice. I only spent about 30-45 minutes at the Grand Canyon and could not do any hiking in Sedona at all though I did enjoy the Phoenix area.  I think the best way to do this might be 2 separate smaller trips rather than one epic week-long trip. In fact, the full trip would take 9-10 days so it’s definitely a 2-trip proposition.  I would want to do Northern Arizona in early summer and Southern Arizona in mid-late Fall   In terms of racing, I’ve already got Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Colorado so this will be on the back burner until at least 2021.  There is a downhill race in Tucson that looks interesting, but it will not count towards the 50 states. 

Northern Trip

Day 1- Land in Albuquerque.  Head west on I-40 towards Flagstaff with an option to stop at Petrified Forest NP.  Supposedly, this is the most scenic interstate road in America but it will be hard to top I-70 west of Denver in Colorado.   I’ll drive as long as I feel comfortable.  If I don’t make it all the way to Flagstaff, it’s okay.

Day 2- Hike in Sedona. Drive to Grand Canyon.  Arrive by sunset.  I’ll have to pay a premium to get a hotel anywhere near the Grand Canyon but it will be worth it to avoid backtracking.  It’s about 2:15 from Sedona to the South Rim and less than 1 hour from Flagstaff to Sedona.  If I can get to the Grand Canyon at sunset, it could really be awesome.  

Day 3- Fully explore the Grand Canyon.  Drive northeast towards Monument Valley.  Target town is Kayenta

Day 4-  If I make it to Kayenta, it’s only a 3 hour drive to Durango, Colorado.  Stops along the way would include Monument Valley, 4 corners and Mesa Verde.  From Durango, I would definitely want to go up and down the Million Dollar Hwy.

Day 5- Durango back to Albuquerque via 550 for a flight home. 

Southern Trip:

Day 1- Fly into Tucson and hopefully check out Tucson Mountain Park.

Day 2- Drive up and down Mt. Lemmon then cross the border at Nogales (Sonora).  It’s only 1 hour from Tucson to Nogales.  I’ll get a beer and a steak at a bargain price but don’t anticipate staying too long.  From there, I’ll head east on I-10 towards New Mexico.

Day 3- Stop at Guadalupe Mountains NP then cut back to the West Texas town of El Paso.  Scenic Drive and Franklin Mountain State Park are must dos in El Paso.

Day 4- Brief tour of El Paso and Ciudad Juarez (Chihuahua).  Kentucky Bar, birthplace of the margarita is a must see in Juarez.  2 different states in Mexico add 2 more to my Century club tally.

Day 5- Back to Tucson for the flight home.

Training 7/8-7/14

7/8- Very tired.  Hopefully, I'm just worn out from the travel.  Managed only 1 mile plus a cool at the gym.  Time was approaching 12 minutes.  No excuses with the pills now.
Distance=1.5

7/9-AM- 1 mile at Montreat in 10:40.  Feeling a little better.
PM- 2 miles at Gold's in 17:54 (8:57 pace) plus a half mile cool.  Splits were 9:05-8:49.  Getting better every time.
Distance=3.5

7/10- Similar to yesterday.  I was horrible in the morning then less bad in the evening.  Did the Trak Shak 3 mile loop in 26:45 (8:55 pace) and I'll call the morning session a 1 mile warm.  I suspect caffeine withdrawal is the culprit and if so I'll be a lot better tomorrow.  Strangely, after starting the TRS, my tolerance improved a great deal.  I could be peeling off more layers.
Distance=4.0

7/11- Day 3- The withdrawal symptoms diminished and I feel noticeably better today.  I fought some cravings but stayed strong.  AM- 3 miles in 25:14 (8:25 pace).  PM- 3 miles in 23:57 (7:59 pace).  Each time, splits were pretty even.  Rallied from 3 ticks down in the afternoon to come in under the Mendoza line.
Distance=6.0

7/12- AM- 2 mile junk run on Montreat.  No watch.  Didn't feel all that good but I'm not worried.  That's it for today,  Need to be fresh if I want to go long tomorrow.
Distance=2.0

7/13- AM- FAIL!  Didn't even try.  I OD'ed on TRS by mistake and I'll be worthless for the rest of the day.  I'll just have to wait until my system demands it again.  Then, I MUST reduce the dosage.
PM- Forced myself to go 1 mile in 12:50.  OUCH!
Distance=1.0

7/14- VERY IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.  Syntol Probiotics reduce my tolerance for TRS!  That's why my tolerance was limited this week.  I had to look back at posts from 2017 and found that the probiotics TEMPORARILY reduced my sensitivity but it was another false hope.  Given the choice between the 2, it's the TRS.  No question.  Yes, TRS does also improve gut health so the probiotics are completely unnecessary.  Another bottle to be pitched!  I did run 2 miles worth of intervals today to test my tolerances.  Times were embarrassingly slow.
Distance=2.0

-20 miles on the week.  YTD-627

Training 7/1-7/7

7/1-  Good news and bad news.  The good is that the sensitivity to Maca is nearly gone as I predicted.  The gap in performance was only 24 seconds per mile on Montreat.   I DO need to take the TRS every day, with a day off every 10-14 days.  Other than that, I can miss a dose of any or all "key pills" every now and then and I will barely even notice it.  Healthy people take that for granted but for me after so many years of baffling and extremely maddening reaction to stuff as benign as Calcium and Vitamin C,  it's YUGE!!  It would have been unthinkable at this time last year.  MAYBE, this is the end of my long nightmare but I know better than to get my hopes up.

Bad news is that I was awful today for an unrelated reason.  I had been taking excessive charcoal really just to get rid of it and have one less bottle in my cabinet.  Bad call.  Yes, I am upset but because it was an elective pill and not a key pill, I can live with a bad reaction.  Add to that, I exceeded the recommended dosage.  If I had simply taken 1 per day, I might have handled it.  3 laps at Montreat and I was no better than a 3:36 (10:48 pace).
Distance=1.0

7/2-AM 3 miles at Gold's in 29:30 (9:50 pace).  A good deal better than yesterday but I was expecting a LOT better than this.  That's it for today.  I'm traveling this evening.

PM- I was able to squeeze in another 3 after all.  Time is down to 26:28 (8:49 pace).  MINUS 61.  I'll take it.  Should be back to the new normal within about 2 days.
Distance-6.0

7/3- 2 mile trail run in 15:38 (7:49 pace).  Not bad at all.  Done after a long day and after dinner.  Took NO pills except for the TRS spray last night.  Figure I am right around 24 for 3 miles right now.  I bet that I could have broken it with a late rally.
Distance=2.0

7/4- AM- Again, NO pills for the 2nd straight day.  I am starting to feel it but I wasn't horrible, which is encouraging.  Finished with 4 miles in 34:27 (8:37 pace).  Faded on the back half (16:52-17:35) but it was slightly uphill and the humidity was tough.
Distance=4.0

7/5- COLLAPSE!  Took all the pills except for stand alone B-12, which I left in Birmingham.   Only 1 mile at the track in a time of over 10 minutes.  I thought I no longer needed the stand alone B-12 but I was wrong.  Extra B-complex was not enough.  I can go 2-3 days without it, which is better than needing it every day, but no more than that.  Again, it's maddening but I can live with it because it's simple fix.  I'm going with Liver Beef for a couple months as part of the plan to keep the Zinc/copper in balance as part of the rotation.  Unfortunately, this is probably it for the week.  There will be no relief until I get back home on Sunday and can take the B-12.
Distance=1.0

7/6- Unplanned rest day.

7/7- Double good news.  As I predicted, I was immediately better after taking the B-12 when I got home.  Didn't have time for a real workout though.  Tried some Charcoal to assess my tolerance and I was actually slightly better with it (2:33 vs 2:28).  Added a lap cool.  The relapse early in the week occurred only because I took mega doses for several consecutive days.  I'm still pitching that bottle but as I expected, I would have been okay by following the directions.
Distance=1.0

-15 miles on the week.  YTD- 607
-2 relapse but 2 important lessons. 
1- I can handle a day or 2 without any pills except for TRS but no more than 2 without a "key pill".  That's okay.  Because of my genetics, I will probably never be free from pills but knowing that if I forget one every now and then, I won't be hurt unless I get stupid 3 straight days.
2- Negative reactions to pills will happen ONLY IF I over-dose it for 3 straight days. 

Summer and Fall Race Picks

I may do a couple local 5Ks but the destinations are a trio of half marathons in the Northeast.

8/2- Kelley Half Marathon in New London, Connecticut. 
This is a free entry race.  I assume that means no T-shirt and no finisher's medal.  I'm okay with that.  I've got plenty of those as it is and probably should toss a few of them.  I'll fly into Boston the previous day and tour Fenway Park.  From there, it will be I-90 W then cut south into Connecticut.  The race starts and ends at Ocean Beach right on the Long Island Sound.  Even in Connecticut, it is liable to be warm in early August but fortunately, the course should not go too far from the shore, which should moderate the temperature. 

After the race, I will head about an hour east and spend the rest of the day on the coast of Rhode Island.  Narragansett Beach looks pretty nice to me.  I expect that the water temp will be around 70 degrees, which will be chilly but tolerable for swimming.  There's also a pretty good chance of decent surf up there too.  That'll be cool.  I'll head back to Massachusetts that evening and may be able to steal a couple more hours in the surf before I have to catch my flight out of Boston.

9/15- Newport Liberty Half in Jersey City, New Jersey.
This is one day after my birthday.  I plan to spend a day or two at home with my parents then catch a flight to Newark the day before race day.  No rental car is needed here.  I'll just take the PATH train from the airport to the hotel.  Supposedly the views of NYC are better in Jersey City than across the river in Manhattan.  After the race, I'll take a PATH into Manhattan.  I'll probably end up at Trump Tower for lunch and a drink and maybe hit the Empire State building if I have time.

10/20- Mt. Desert Island- Bar Harbor, Maine
Fly into Bangor then cut 4 hours north into Quebec City.  I haven't been there in more than 30 years and really need to improve my French skills.  I'll tour the city and hike up to a waterfall then it's back to the USA.  The race course goes through Acadia National Park and it is really beautiful.  This time, it is cold weather that could be a factor.   

If I can finish all 3, my tally will be 45 race states and 44 half marathon states.
I'll be missing only the following:
Maryland
Utah
South Dakota
New Hampshire
Minnesota (official race was a half but the RD cut the distance to 6.7 due to weather)
Hawaii

Training 6/24-6/30

6/24 AM- Opener without the Maca.  Did 1 lap at Montreat in 3:48 (11:24 pace).  As bad as it was, it was better than I did yesterday without the pills.  Went to Gold's and ran the next 2.67 miles in 23:51 (8:56 pace) and it took a rally in the last half mile to get under 9 overall.  Overall time for 3 miles was 27:39 (9:13 pace).  That's better than yesterday but I was hoping for and expecting a greater improvement.  The gap in performance is still massive.  Both the ceiling and the floor will improve in subsequent days but the floor will rise faster than the ceiling.

PM- Noticeably better.  Repeated the Gold's workout for the sake of consistency.  Improved to a 25:52 (8:37 pace).  MINUS 19 compared to the morning and that is enough to be considered significant.  Can I consider this Day 1 of sustained improvement?  Tried the one treatment left that I am willing to risk a relapse and that is Apple Cider Vinegar.  No problem yet but we will see in the morning.
Distance=6.0

6/25- AM Opener- 3:19 (9:57 pace).  With Maca.  2:14 (6:42 pace). plus a lap cool.  The floor improved by 87 seconds in terms of pace.  The ceiling is rising much more slowly but that is to be expected.  Still, the gap is a WHOPPING 3:15 now.  That will close every day from now on.  More good news is that the Apple Cider Vinegar is tolerated.

PM- A little worried at times as I felt a little sleepy in the afternoon but I was better by the evening.  Lakeshore 4 in 32:52 (8:13 pace).  Even pace.  Never went above 8:20 or below 8:07.  In terms of pace, I was 24 better than yesterday but it was over an extra mile and done in much tougher conditions.  90 degrees with a dew point near 70.  Day 2 of sustained improvement?
Distance=5.0

6/26- AM- Opener in 2:55.7 (8:47 pace).  MINUS 70.  Closer in 2:07.8 (6:23 pace).  MINUS 19.  This is EXACTLY what I wanted/hoped to see.  Both the floor and the ceiling improved but the improvement in the floor was much greater.  The gap has been reduced from 3:15 down to 2:24.  I predict that by the weekend, the gap will be under 60.  A difference of a full minute per mile is my definition of a "night and day" difference.

PM- 5 miles in 39:53 (7:59 pace).  Back under 40!  YES!  Pace was just a tick over 8 most of the way.  Rallied from 12 seconds down with a mile to go with a 7:41 closer.  Can I sustain this?
Distance=6.0

6/27-AM  Finally, a REAL interval workout.  8x400 at Mountain Brook plus recovery jogs.  Used the first lap as the opener and the last lap as the closer.  Opener with no pills was a continued improvement.  Managed a 1:55 (7:40 pace).  Probably translates to about 8:00 at Montreat.  Aimed for 1:40 for #2-7 after the pills and it was a little too easy.  I usually came through 200 at 47 then just cruised it home.  All were 1:38-1:40 with most in 1:39.  #8 was all out.  Finished in 84.1 (5:36 pace).  Pleased with the improvement in the ceiling.  I bet that I could have gone sub-2 at Montreat (6:00 pace).  The only downer was that the gap remains extreme.  It's still 2:04 per mile!  That's it for today.  Next time, I'll shoot for 95s on all intervals.
Distance=3.0

6/28- Planned rest day.  It will be a day off the pills with no TRS the night before.  It will be a rough day but my liver needs a break every 10-14 days.  I expect to be sufficiently recovered by tomorrow.

6/29- FINALLY a successful group run.  Did 9 miles in 81:27 (9:03 pace).  Not bad overall.  Really struggled in Mile 5-6 but that was only because I didn't have any Gatorade.  After that, I rallied for an 8:45 pace the rest of the way and actually pulled away from the back of the group.  Added a mile cool at glacial pace.
Distance=10.0

6/30- 2 mile recovery jog and it probably would have been better to take a complete rest.  Granted, I have upped both the mileage and intensity this week but I don't think I should be THIS sore and tired.  This is NOT a relapse.  It would feel very much different.
Distance=2.0

-32 miles on the week.
-YTD-592

States to Re-Visit

This list does NOT include states that border Alabama nor does it include those in which I have family ties.  Yes, I would visit all of these WITHOUT a race option.  Here it is:

North Carolina- Blue Ridge Parkway for sure and possibly the Atlantic Coast.  There’s usually pretty reliable surf here.  It’s been a long time since I’ve visited either part of the state though I was in Asheville as recently as 2015.

Rhode Island- Yes, I was just there less than 2 months ago but I want to swim in the Ocean State.  Come August, yes it will be warm enough to do so.

Maine- Acadia National Park looks beautiful and I may very well be able to swing a trip in October that will include a visit to Quebec City.

Alaska- I saw Anchorage and Denali NP with Cara and her boyfriend in 2016 but time was limited.  I definitely want to visit areas south of Anchorage as well as Denali State Park.  Again, the time to visit is in June or July for the summer solstice. 

California- I’ve been a passenger on the Pacific Coast Hwy from Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz but that was way back in 1995.  I want to drive it myself.  Downtown LA, San Diego and possibly Tijuana are must see as well.  Yes, there are some good races in both San Diego and Santa Cruz.  Update: US-395 runs from the LA area up past Mammoth Lakes into Yosemite and eventually Tahoe.  From there, I can cut west to Santa Cruz.

Idaho- I’ve only seen the panhandle in the Coeur D’Alene area.  It was beautiful, but I feel that I’ve missed out on much of what the state has to offer.  Twin Falls is a must see.

Utah- I’ve been to St. George, Bryce Canyon and Zion but not Salt Lake, Moab or Canyonlands.

Arizona- I was here in 2015 but really could not do it justice due to uncharacteristic days of bad weather.  I did get a nice tour of Phoenix and Scottsdale but barely got any time at the Grand Canyon or Sedona.  I’d also like to cross the border in Nogales.

Texas- Another trip to the coast here (Port Aransas) is on the radar as is San Antonio and Acuna, Mexico. 

South Dakota- This is the only state that I have visited as a child but not as an adult.  Mt. Rushmore and Badlands NP are both must see attractions. 

Hawaii- State #50 marked down for 2021.

Southern Appalachia Road Trip Idea

One of the things I liked about living in Upstate South Carolina was that the mountains, beach and big city were all accessible on a day trip.  That is true to an extent in Birmingham but the distances are a bit longer.  A day trip to Atlanta is certainly do-able.  I suppose a day trip to the beach or mountains can be done as well but it’s a lot more comfortable if you take an overnight stay.  I’ve been on all of these roads many times but have never done it on a single trip.  This trip plan will allow you to hit the states of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and South Carolina while meeting the strict standards for all 5 states.  If you are not from this area, I recommend Atlanta as a starting point because you can get a direct flight in or out from pretty much anywhere.

Day 1- Leave Atlanta via I-20 W towards Birmingham.  Stop at Cheaha State Park just off I-20 and hike to the highest point in Alabama.  From there, it’s less than 90 minutes to Birmingham.  Try to time it so you can get to Vulcan Park around sunset. 

Day 2- Leave Birmingham via I-59 N to Chattanooga.  There are several hidden gems on the way including Noccalulu Falls in Gadsden and Little River Canyon/DeSoto State Park near Ft. Payne.  If you have time, Cloudland State Park just across the Georgia line is worth a stop.  There are plenty of options in Chattanooga, but I recommend the Incline Railway, Pt. Lookout and Rock City.  Again, if you can time your arrival for sunset, it can be awesome. 

Day 3- Leave Chattanooga and pick up US-64 E into North Carolina through the Nantahala Forest.  When you get to Robbinsville, you have 2 options.  US-129 is a beautiful drive but the Cherohala Skyway to Tellico Plains, Tennessee is even better.  At any rate, when you get to Maryville, the road that you need to take is US-441 through the Great Smoky Mountain NP from the tourist town of Gatlinburg to Cherokee back in North Carolina. Clingman’s Dome, the highest point in Tennessee, is not far out of the way.   If you have small children, you may want to take a day in Dollywood.

Day 4- Pick up the Blue Ridge Parkway at its starting point in Cherokee.  Stop at Mt. Mitchell, which is the highest point east of the Mississippi as well as Grandfather Mountain in Linville.  Exit the Parkway and cut north to Roan Mountain on the Tennessee border.  It’s a scenic 90-minute ride to Asheville from there.

Day 5- Leave Asheville via I-26 S but eventually pick up US-276.  Caesar’s Head will give you a nice welcome into South Carolina.  From there, downtown Greenville is a good place for a stop, but I would recommend Table Rock and the Lake Country on US-11 towards Clemson.  Feel free to tour the campus.  Pick up US-76 W back into Georgia and stop at the state’s high point at Brasstown Bald.  Either US-19 or I-575 S will be a nice scenic ride back towards Atlanta.  You can catch your flight home the next day or do some touring in the city.  Plenty to see and do.

Training 6/17-6/23

6/17- Gold's 2 in 19:30 (9:45 pace).  Slight negative split but still struggled big time.  It will just take time for the Sarcosine to kick back in.  Perhaps this is the last such episode.  I have a good feeling that the DIM and Maca (last 2 pills to be re-introduced) will be non-factors.
Distance=2.0

6/18- Gold's 4 in 35:52 (8:58 pace).  MINUS 47 over twice the distance.  Okay with this one.  First half was 17:23, 2nd half- 18:29.  The fade was almost certainly due to not taking enough Sarcosine.  That will kick in further down the road.  I expect to be better tomorrow as well.
Distance=4.0

6/19- Repeated yesterday's workout for the sake of consistency.  Finished this one in 33:48 (8:27 pace)  MINUS 31.  Steady progress.  Did much better in holding the pace as well.  Splits were 16:52-16:56.  I am almost certain that I forgot to take the CBS/NOS today so that means I can get by without it.  YES!  Soon, I will be able to get by without the Sarcosine.  Added a half mile cool.
Distance=4.5

6/20- I've gone 2 weeks without a day off the TRS.  That is the limit.  I must go off it for 36 hours at least once every 10-14 days.  Today was a TOTAL failure.  I wanted a light interval workout this morning but knew warming up that it wasn't to be.  Quit after a half mile.

PM- Got home to find that the DIM has arrived but not the MACA.  Tried the DIM and as expected, it does appear to be tolerated.  In fact, it was beneficial.  Without-3:06.  With it- 2:50 plus a lap cool.  I expect Maca will also be tolerated.
Distance=1.5

6/21- Gold's 2 mile in 18:18 (9:09 pace).  This was done without any pills.  The need for TRS has kicked in and whenever that happens I normally take a rest day but I needed to pad the mileage with a junk run today.  Even splits.
Distance=2.0

6/22- Long run FAIL.  This time, I didn't even attempt it.  The MACA did come and as has happened with the other pills, there was no immediate reaction but that next morning, I felt like I got hit by a truck.  DIM wasn't a factor.  I was actually marginally better with it.  The MACA?  OUCH!  If the script goes as expected, I will NEED MACA by tomorrow afternooon.

PM- Getting some clearance from excess Maca.  Montreat Mile in 9:37.  1st half was an abysmal 5:09 but the 2nd half was a decidedly less horrific 4:28 so I was sub-9 on the back half.  Not sure how I will feel in the morning tomorrow but I have a good idea of what will happen by the afternoon.
Distance=2.0

6/23-AM- The need for Maca kicked in earlier than expected.  Could not run at all without it.  Over 4:00 (12:00 pace).  Popped half a pill and improved to a 3:26 (10:18 pace).  Popped another full pill and was all the way down to a 2:23 (7:09 pace).  MINUS THREE OH NINE!!  BECAUSE OF ONE EFFING PILL THAT CAUSED THE OPPOSITE REACTION JUST YESTERDAY!!!  Assuming the script goes as expected, the gaps in performances will diminish and by the end of next week, I will be able to get by without it. This means that I have successfully re-introduced all the pills that I had been taking before the TRS.  IN THEORY, this is the end of it.  BUT knowing my history, it will be no surprise if there is another missing piece.

PM- I was okay over 1/3 of a mile this morning but not surprisingly struggled over longer distances.  Did 2 miles on Canterbury out and back in 18:52 (9:26 pace)with a late rally to get under 19.  UGLY!
Distance=3.0

-19 miles on the week.  NOT ENOUGH!
YTD-560

EPIC Pacific NW Trip Report

6/3- Flew to Seattle the previous evening and arrived late after a short delay in Dallas.  From there, it was just under 3 hours to Vancouver, British Columbia.  The border crossing went without a hitch and despite some problems with the navigation system, I found my way to Stanley Park and North Vancouver, where my first stop was Grouse Mountain, which was a gondola ride up to about 4000 feet elevation with beautiful views of the city and the bay down below.

Grouse 1

Grouse 2

 I then checked into my hotel and took a walk down to English Bay.  There are some misconceptions about the climate here.  In terms of volume, the Gulf Coast receives far more rainfall than both Seattle and Vancouver.  However, in the winter months, almost every day is damp and chilly in the Pacific NW but the ocean moderates the temperatures.  Snow is rare and bitter cold is almost unheard of but when it's 45 degrees at sea level, precipitation will fall as snow at elevation as low as 4,000 feet.  Many people will be surprised to find that palm trees can grow and thrive as far north as Vancouver at low elevations.  Until mid-summer, it is possible to capture a picture of palm trees and snow capped peaks in the same shot.

English Bay

If you come here between June and September, there is a good chance that you will see 70 degree weather with a good supply of sunshine.  After a junk run at English Bay, I stopped at the lounge for dinner then it was on to the Vancouver Tower, where I got some nice shots of the skyline.

Vancouver Tower

 My final stop was the aptly named Sunset Beach.

Sunset Beach

6/4- Checked out of my hotel then it was a 2.5 mile run at Stanley Park before heading north on the Sea to Sky Hwy.

Stanley Park

 That was flat out stunning with views of mountains and the water, which turned from blue to a nice shade of green further north.  I went as far as Whistler where I saw some awesome snow capped peaks at 6,000 feet.

Peak 2 Peak

From there, it was back down south to Squamish for a mile long hike that ended with a walk across a pedestrian suspension bridge and some breathtaking views of the aforementioned green lake from up above.  This was probably the best day of the trip.

Brandywine Falls

Sea 2 Sky

Sea 2 Sky 2

As planned, I made it back to the USA that evening.

6/5- Today was overcast with occasional rain.  I made one stop at a random beach in Washington state, which was decent but paled in comparison to Cannon Beach in Oregon, with its beautiful rock formations.  I would have liked to have seen Olympic National Park, Crater Lake and Crystal Mountain but just didn't have the time.  The skies began to clear by the evening and I got some pretty nice shots of the sunset.

Cannon Beach 1

Cannon Beach 2

Cannon Sunset

6/6- Opened the day with a 3 mile run on Cannon Beach to Haystack Rock and back.

Haystack Rock

 Then, it was a challenging hike up Multnomah Falls before heading east to Mount Hood.

Multnomah Falls

Mt. Hood

 I would spend the night on Hood River, just east of the Cascades with nice cliff side scenery and a much drier climate.

WA Cliff

6/7- Took back roads into  Mt. Rainer NP.  That was my only bad call of the trip.  Part of the road was unpaved and windy and if it had been only 5 degrees colder, the precipitation would have fallen as snow. I made it safely but I say go to Yakima via the Interstate instead then cut back east to Packwood.  Rainier can be spectacular when skies are clear but it didn't work out for me on this day.

Rainier

 I experienced a snowfall in June at 5,600 feet altitude.   I still got some decent shots and arrived in Seattle by late afternoon where I caught a skyline view at Kerry Park and another nice sunset over the Puget Sound.

Seattle 1

6/8- Opened the day with a 3 miler at Myrtle Edwards Park down by the Sound then caught the Space Needle and a walk through downtown for the Mariners stadium tour.

Seattle 2

Space Needle

 That evening, I enjoyed a nice dinner with an old friend from the Clemson Navigators.  Great to see you Beulah!

6/9- RnR Seattle in 1:57:57.  The course started and ended near the Space Needle.  After heading toward downtown, it was a rolling highway from Miles 2-5 then downhill to the Sound followed by mostly flat stretch by the Sound until Mile 10, which was largely uphill but manageable.  Mile 11 and early 12 was a KILLER.  We gained over 300 feet of elevation in about 1 Mile, which equates to about a 6% grade pretty much all the way.  I along with most people around me employed a walk/jog strategy.  The corresponding downhill was even steeper so I didn't gain much time back because I had to brake to stay in control.  Pace was pretty steady around 8:40 through Mile 10.  I was at 43:30 at Mile 5 and just a hair above 87 at Mile 10.  Energy was fading but I was in control and figured that I could hold a 9:00 pace the rest of the way, which would bring me home right about 1:55 flat IF the route was flat.  The hills cost me almost 3 minutes but it was still a 1 minute improvement over Rhode Island last month.  Caught a flight to Denver and drove to Estes Park at the edge of Rocky Mountain NP.

6/10-  Drove Trail Ridge Road to Grand Lake then US-40 back to Denver.  Late Spring and early Summer is definitely the best time to visit here with the snow capped peaks.  Got back to Birmingham by early evening.  Back to reality now. 

US40

Trail Ridge

Final thought:
Truly an EPIC road trip!  Anything that should have been done differently?  I'd take more of the Interstate down the coast in Washington and avoid the back roads to Rainier.  If possible, be flexible with your plans in Seattle and choose a clear day to visit Rainier NP.  Olympic NP is too far out of the way and would have required an extra day.

Training 6/10-6/16

-Totaled 25 miles on the vacation week.  Locations included Stanley Park in Vancouver, Cannon Beach in Oregon and Myrtle Edwards Park in Seattle.

-Finished the RnR Seattle half in 1:57:57, which was just about in line with my expectations.  More details will come later.

6/10- Planned rest day.  Took an overnight layover in Denver and finally got to drive the full Trail Ridge Road.  Back in Birmingham now and should get back into the routine by tomorrow.

6/11- Lakeshore 4 in a solid 31:44 (7:56 pace).  Encouraged by how I felt.  Good leg and lung power.  1st half was 15:44 then slowed to 16-flat on the back half but that was by design.  I was actually holding back to hit the splits.
Distance=4.0

6/12- Unplanned rest day.  The moly arrived today so I decided to try it along with the methyl to see if it would control the sulfur.  BAD call.  It knocked me out and I had to take a nap when I got home.  Moly may not have helped but it didn't hurt.  The methyl folate was a DISASTER.  I'll be better tomorrow and I won't try this again for a while.

6/13-AM- No pills- 4:09 (12:27 pace)
4 CBS/NOS caps- 3:43 (11:09 pace)  MINUS 78
Less than 20 seconds per pill.  Not a night and day difference.  It's good news that I am likely getting better without CBS/NOS but the methyl was a DISASTER!

PM- 3 miles on Canterbury in 26:54 (8:58 pace).  Getting better.  I figured that methyl would cause me to slip to 25-26 for 3 miles and I'd be back to normal today.  Instead, it left me bedridden.  Good news when I got home.  I took a Taurine pill and still managed a 2:59 lap, which is the same pace I ran the workout.
Distance=4.0

6/14- As has been my history as of late, a pill that knocked me out two days earlier has now become a necessity.  I could not function at all without methyl folate today.  With it, I wasn't much better.
2 miles on Lakeshore in 19:11 (9:35 pace) with a significant fade on the back half.  I do expect to be better tomorrow.
Distance=2,0

6/15- 4 mile Trak Shak loop in 38:08 (9:32 pace).  Marginally faster over double the distance and was able to pick up the pace at the end.  An improvement over yesterday but I hoped for better than this.  Tried to add back the Sarcosine and it knocked my out.  I'll be worthless tomorrow too.
Distance=4.0

6/16- AM- The need for methyl folate remains VERY STRONG!  I managed only a 3:50 lap at Montreat without it (11:30 pace) but improved to a 2:51 with it (8:33 pace) plus a cool.

PM- I expected the need for Sarcosine to kick in but I expected it to happen at the very end of the day today if not tomorrow morning.  Again, I was knocked out this afternoon.  Woke up in the evening and barely broke 4:00 for 1 lap but once again, I was MUCH BETTER after taking just 1 scoop of Sarcosine.  Improved all the way to 2:57, or fully THREE MINUTES FASTER PER MILE!  I know the drill.  The gaps in performance will eventually decrease and by the end of the week next week, I'll be able to get by even with a missed dose.
Distance=2.0

-Measly 16 miles on the week, which just won't cut it.  I have re-introduced all the pills that I had been taking before except for DIM and Maca.  I'll try to re-introduce those 2 as well.  I may have a similar reaction but sincerely hope that they will be non-factors.
-YTD- 541