AZ Trail Runner

The last few weeks I have really struggled with my running. In the past I have always been able to run through the heat, but last week I almost blacked out and/or puked. It was 103 degrees and I was just going for a run a little over 5 miles. I must be getting old. I have been trying to sneak off and run after the sun goes down so the temperature is something more reasonable. Like 95 degrees. Since I haven't been running as much I decided to come up with a top 5 reasons you know you are an AZ Trail Runner. I needed something for my blog. So here it goes. 5. You have ever burned your tongue on the water out of your water bottle. 4. You never get wet with perspiration because it immediately turns to steam. 3. You have ever considered wearing one of those umbrella hats for the shade. 2. You have had to stand in the shade because your feet were burning through your shoes. 1. You can advise your friends as to which gels, bars, and drinks taste best on their way back up. OK, so I'm no David Letterman, but I tried. I hope you are all having great summers and I promise to do a better job keeping up with the blog.

Stayc

My friend Satyc was in a bad car accident. She was driving on the freeway and a piece of wood was kicked up by the vehicle in front of her. Her window was rolled down and the piece of wood came in the window and hit her in the head. She felt dizzy and tried to pull over, but ended up going over an embankment. Her car flipped end over end. She was badly hurt, but will recover in time. I am grateful that she made it through the crash alive. We had recently had a discussion on her blog about her wanting to buy a convertible. I told her to buy a hard top because I "didn't want to see her melon smashed on the road". I've never been so happy to have someone take my advice. To all of the rest of my friends, no cell phones while driving, no drinking and driving, wear your sunscreen, use your seat belts, check your knot, eat your veggies, and absolutely no convertibles. Get well soon Baby A.

Greer 2009

Every year the Brenton clan goes to Greer, located in the White Mountains of north eastern Arizona. We do some fly fishing and general woods bumming. Amy and I try to get some runs in, but at 8,200 feet plus it is tough on us low landers. All of the good food usually slows us down a bit too.

Last year Ryan told me that there is a sport climbing area at the Big Lake lookout which is very close to Greer. I went and found it when we were up there last year, but hadn't brought my gear. This year I came prepared. I was a little surprised when my brother and niece said they wanted to go along.

Amy did belay duty while I led the climbs we did. It was a little strange not having Ryan or Meagan belay me, but Amy did fine. I tried to pick easy climbs for the kids, but there was a 5.5 and then a couple of what I thought might be 5.8's from the ground but were more like 5.9+? I didn't have any beta so I am just guessing.

This is my niece, Harley working her way over the vegetated ledge on the 5.5. This was her first time climbing outside.

The 5.5 wasn't bolted, but a top rope could easily be set up by walking around the back to the anchors. I had seen some anchors that I was going to use to rapp off of, and look at some of the other routes. It turns out that it was a free hanging rappel. Here is Amy going over the edge.

This is my brother on the free hanging section. Everyone wanted to try it so it cut our climbing session a little short. Most of the other routes were way above my lead climbing ability anyway.

This is what happens when the kids get the camera while the adults are trying to make sure no one decks.

New Shoes

That is a picture of what $560.94 will get you at Discount Tire. When I bought the truck a few months ago I knew I would have to put tires on it soon. Then Sunday I started hearing a squeak from the left rear. It was a twelve inch separation in the tire. I debated weather I should spend the money, or just buy two cheaper car tires to put on the rear since they were in the worst shape. The fronts weren't much better as they were down to the wear bars. I finally decided to get the truck tires I wanted and not waste money on tires I didn't even want anyway. I bought Pathfinders. I had them on my old truck and they lasted for six years and still had quite a bit of life left in them when I sold the truck. These little trucks really benefit from having truck tires. They ride like a truck, and can haul like a truck.

So when I got home It looked really good except it needed a bath. So here is my truck with new tires and clean. We always joke that if I keep treating it like that it might start expecting it. Funny how all I have to do to get motivated to wash it is spend a bunch of money on it. I needed to clean all the climbing chalk out of the interior anyway.

Aravaipa Canyon

We spent the last three days in Aravaipa Canyon. We had planned to backpack the Grand Canyon, but didn't get our permit. We couldn't decide where we should go until Kent suggested Aravaipa. It was a great suggestion. Thanks Kent. It is only about an hour from Tucson, and it is beautiful.

Philip and Caitlin played in the creek when we stopped to camp. In the above pictures they are trying to use their foam sleeping pads as rafts so they can float down the river. They wanted to use my $100 Thermarest Prolite 4, but that was a negative. Philip spent some time fishing for the tiny mosquito fish by hand and skipping rocks.

We had a great time until the Gorgon (think Medusa) showed up on day two. If you don't have a teenage daughter I don't recommend it. Keep them from aging past about five. Ultimately we had a good time. I hope to go back soon and see the entire canyon.

Short Term Memory

I am always a little forgetful, but lately it seems to be getting worse. I usually just come up with a system for the things I commonly do. I try to make it simple and logical so I am most apt to do it the same way every time. It's the things that fall outside of my normal routine that I forget. Lately I have been forgetting the names of people that I deal with on a day to day basis, and have had a hard time coming up with words I commonly use.

Then it started to happen. I locked my keys in my truck on Saturday. Sunday I set my smart phone down, walked away from it, and had no idea where it had gone. Monday I couldn't remember my locker combination at work. I've had that lock for 16 years.

I was discussing it with one of the girls that works in the customer counter. She has epilepsy that started after a car accident when she was 16. Because of it she has a very poor short term memory (she is a good person to borrow money from). When I went out to my truck this is what I found.................

In case you can't read it it says "Rik ...just in case you forgot this is your truck".

The Impression that I Get

You may have noticed the new song. I've been looking for something new for you to listen to, but nothing seemed quite right. Last week while I was running it was very hot. I was uncomfortable, and I was thinking about one of my friends who was going through a very tough time. I often work on things in my head when I am running. It gives me something besides the discomfort to think about. It is one mechanism I use to insulate myself and help me continue to run when it is not easy. I was trying to think of ways I could help. Nothing I came up with seemed like the right thing. Soon my thoughts moved on to what would you do if it would remedy the situation for your friend. Things like "would you hit your thumb with a hammer?", "would you let someone who doesn't like you hit your thumb with a hammer?", "would you run in this heat until you passed out?". I decided that I would, and also that none of these things would be helpful. I'm not sure, but I think I was just letting myself off the hook. Ultimately I tried to put myself in his shoes, and did what I would want someone to do for me. Just know I would hit my thumb with a hammer if it would help you out during a rough time.