Amazement Just Around The Bend

I've been an all-too absent blogger lately, but not having had the chance to run much lately, I've been sapped of energy to blog about... not running.

Instead of focusing on the negatives (only one run last week, sadness) I will focus on the positives from my recent vacation.

I blogged about one memorable run a week ago but I had two memorable runs in northern Arizona. The second one was to something called Horseshoe Bend. Now, the annual vacation is to Lake Powell and we always stay in nearby Page, Ariz. So when researching Page, it's inevitable to find information on Horseshoe Bend.

This year, I made it a point to go there.

After my run on Saturday, I was encouraged. I wanted to get to Horseshoe Bend the next morning, go do some exploring and see what I came back with. I realized that not only was I within running distance of Horseshoe Bend, but that I was actually quite close. From our hotel, Horseshoe Bend was just two miles away.

I set out early, getting up again before 5 and hitting the asphalt shortly thereafter. The northern Arizona skies greeted me.

It was a strange feeling right from the start. The day before, I'd been running to something visible; my destination was in front of me and there were buildings and signs of life around me as well. But this way, I felt as if I was in the middle of nowhere about one minute after starting off on my way.

I'm not sure if this made the run seem any longer or if it was the slight elevation that was making me feel sluggish but I got through the first two miles in about 21 or 22 minutes, not the fastest time.

Now, I'd read about the turnoff to Horseshoe Bend. It supposedly was a small sign that unless you were specifically looking for it, you probably wouldn't realize it was there. Sure enough, I saw a small sign on the side of the road shortly after Mile 2 and knew I was there.

I turned down towards the parking lot and saw a sign with some warnings and general information. "Do not stand on the edge" seemed like a prominent warning, and since there were no railings, I figured it was a smart warning to heed.

I made my way up the hill, just past the parking lot...

... but didn't see much of anything.

Somewhere out there, though, was Horseshoe Bend. There was an unmistakable ravine over there but the splendid and magnificent glory that Horseshoe Bend holds was nowhere near evident from the top.

The trail there was sandy and the footing wasn't the greatest but I still ran down it. Once I got close to the overlook, the trail ended and there were simply massive rocks to stand on.

I got close to the edge. Not too close, but close enough. Like a giant's open-palmed slap to the face, I was instantly hit with the glory and amazement that was Horseshoe Bend.

I shut off my music, took the headphones out of my ears and soaked in the silence. I was in shock. Disbelief. Awe. Amazement. I felt so meaningless, so completely and utterly insignificant. Here was nature's glory, nature's treasure. This was far more beautiful than any man-made structure could possibly be, more awe-inspiring and stunning than any sight I'd seen since... I don't know. It's been nearly two weeks since and I haven't yet thought of something that took me aback quite like that.

I felt lucky to be there, yet also felt a bit unworthy. Shouldn't something like this be reserved for truly deserving people? Aside from running nearly three miles to get there, what did I do to earn the right to see such an amazing sight?

I'm really sorry that these pictures in no way capture the glory and amazement that is Horseshoe Bend. It's almost like a cheap imitation, looking at these shots. You can't fit such glory and splendor into a photograph, but I tried to capture the scene nevertheless. The ominous cliffs overlooking a mirror-like Colorado River. The protruding rock in the middle that over thousands of years forced the river to bend and twist and swerve to avoid it. The tiny trees and debris down below - part of that debris were kayaks and tents, property of amazing souls who were able to use Horseshoe Bend as their five-star hotel for the night.

Taking in all the scenery, pondering all these thoughts, I was overcome by emotion. I teared up. Couldn't help it. It's not every day a possibly undeserving soul is privy to such sights. This, after all, was nature at its finest, crafting such a beautiful picture on an already gorgeous canvas.

Others were headed down and I felt a tinge of excitement. Soon, they would behold Horseshoe Bend's glory.

I took a few more pictures, and wasn't quite sure how long I'd been sitting there, lost in thought. Had it been 10 minutes? 15? 20? Whatever the case, I knew it was time to head back. I smiled at one of the visitors, and went off running up the sandy trail. I didn't look back. I ran up the trail, legs burning but plowed on through and at the top I kept on going. I didn't want my last memory of Horseshoe Bend to be watching some people standing by the side of a ravine that I couldn't see. I wanted to remember Horseshoe Bend as it stood.

Out on the road, I was in a sort of stunned disbelief, not having yet digested what exactly had happened. But I felt good, felt strong. If anything, the visit to Horseshoe Bend had re-energized me. The run back was faster than it had been on the way there

Just at the end of my run, the skies opened up. Rain came down on me and I was helpless to stop it. I was close to the hotel so I wasn't in the rain too long, just long enough to drench me.

But not even the rain could dampen my mood that morning.

Glen Canyon Run

Vacation is a time to unwind, get away from it all and just relax. Being a freelancer, I don't often get to indulge in taking full days off and not worrying about a deadline, a story, an interview or some other work-related task I have to fulfill.

But on Saturday I was able to not worry about work at all. While on vacation at Lake Powell on the border of Arizona and Utah, I was relaxed. Perhaps this played into my mood as I set out on an early-morning run from my hotel room in Page, Ariz., to the Glen Canyon Dam.

Now, I've done this run before. In fact, one previous run was very memorable. So in a way I knew what to expect and the newness of it all was just not there. At least, I didn't think it would be there but it certainly felt like it was a new experience.

Arizona in early July seemed like a daunting prospect. I wasn't quite sure of how the heat would affect me, and actually I wasn't quite sure what time it was. I'd set my alarm for 5:30 but beat it by about 20 minutes as I woke up at 5:10. But it was actually 4:10 Arizona time. My phone, for some reason, was showing Utah time.

I was up and dressed at 4:30 a.m. but stayed in the dark and quiet hotel room for a bit longer, careful not to awake any of the slumbering females in the room.

Around 5 a.m., I finally made my way outside.

What I saw at the start of my run

I figured it was a good thing that I got up super early. After all, the inevitable heat wouldn't wilt me.

Off I went. The road to the Glen Canyon Dam is actually Highway 89, the portion there being a one-lane highway. I did my best to stay on the side of the road but there weren't very many motorists to dodge.

Before too long, the sun started showing signs of life.

Sunrise in Page, Ariz.

I wasn't quite fearing the heat but rather in awe of the sunrise.

I was nearing the end of the second mile and looked ahead to see my eventual destination. Somewhere beyond that terrain was a bridge that stood 1,000 feet above the Colorado River and the Glen Canyon Dam, which allowed for the existence of Lake Powell.

Can you spot the Glen Canyon Bridge?

I glided forward. I was so into the run, so into my surroundings and my environment that I barely felt any strain on my body as I moved forward. I was in running ecstasy, being carried forward on air. I smiled, threw my arms in the air and to my side and thanked myself for the umpteenth time for having taken up running in the first place.

Finally, I made the turn and came upon the Glen Canyon Bridge in all of its glory.

Just don't look down and you'll be okay

I didn't exactly debate whether or not I should run over it. I knew I was going to run over it, but my legs gave the slightest bit of hesitation, a final are-you-sure-you-want-to-do-this? pause before I set across on the bridge.

Right away I looked down. I smiled a nervous smile, and muttered "Holy crap" to myself.

It's a loooong way down.

Luckily, I was safe. A chain-link fence stood between me and an enormous fall. Once on the other side and on firm ground again, I crossed the desolate highway and ran past the visitor's center. Before me was the Glen Canyon Dam in all its grandeur.

The Glen Canyon Dam, magnificent and intimidating

Also bearing its glory to me was Lake Powell, a stunning sight in the early-morning hours.

Unadulterated beauty exists in nature

I stood there for a minute, watching the sight before me. I looked over at the bridge once more moments before I set out to scale it again.

The Glen Canyon Bridge, a sight unto its own.

On my way to the bridge, I was reminded of what sort of area I was in, and the history it possessed.

How often do you see dinosaur tracks during your runs?

Afterward, I set across on the bridge. The second part of the run did not seem as exciting. After all, it was bound to be fairly anticlimactic, what with the payoff already in my rear-view mirror. But that didn't stop me from enjoying the run as my high carried over well into the second part of the run.

I took in the scenery the area had to offer. After all, I didn't get to run with this on my side very often.

The Vermillion Cliffs

I glided on through to the end, and if my feet hit the ground during the run I was blissfully unaware of it. There were no onlookers, there was no medal waiting for me at the end, nor was there a finish line or chute to carry me through the end. But this run was what made running enjoyable, what made running grand.

Seeing these kinds of sights up close, being witness to the sun's rise above the desert and lake and staring at the Colorado River from above... if there is a better way to spend an hour-plus on a Saturday morning, I have yet to experience it.

Spectacular Runs, Pictures

Greetings from Mesquite, Nevada.

We are on the last leg of our vacation, as we spent the weekend at Lake Powell in Arizona/Utah. It was an actual vacation for me as I didn't have work to do, which is rare for me. I also got the chance to go on a pair of absolutely amazing runs.

I will have much more on these runs in the coming days but I did want to share my two best pictures from the weekend. In fact, these might be two of the best pictures I've ever taken. Period.

The first picture was in the middle of my run on Saturday morning. It's of Lake Powell, just after sunrise.

The water is like a mirror as people hadn't quite yet been out on the lake carving it up with their boats and jet skis.

The next one is simply majestic. It's called Horseshoe Bend, a place where the Colorado River carved a unique formation.


That's extremely high up, as in a 1,000-foot drop to the bottom. And there were no railings there so you have to be extremely careful. I was of course.

I took loads of pictures during each run and will share them here soon. Anyway, just wanted to say greetings and share these with you now.

More Pics, With a Twist

I wanted to share more pictures of our Lake Powell trip but figured I'd do so a bit differently. Since the only ones who know the story behind these pictures were at the lake, I figured it would be good to have a bit of a quiz.

So, I'll put a picture up with a question and will provide three guesses as to what is going on in picture. See if you can figure out what's going on in each picture. If you enjoy it, maybe I'll do more of these posts with just random pictures in some sort of semi-regular feature.

Let's see how this works out.

1) Why is Kennedy holding up the flag?

A) If you have a child under five on board the boat, you must have said child hold up an orange flag to warn other boats.
B) When the boat is carrying a water skier behind, you must have an orange flag visible to warn other boats that a person is in the water.
C) As punishment for pushing her sister into a pile of red ants, Kennedy had to hold the flag in the air for 10 minutes.

2) Why do I have a plastic cup in the water?

A) I was thirsty and wanted a drink.
B) I was trying to catch a fish.
C) Kennedy took a poop and I was trying to scoop out the remnants.

3) What am I doing up there?

A) Looking for my shoes - someone tossed them up here.
B) Trying to find somewhere to ditch the silly hat.
C) Looking for seashells or lizards or anything that Kennedy might like to hold.

4) Why am I standing so high on the rocks?

A) Trying to avoid being harassed into jumping off the rocks and into the deep water below.
B) Chasing after Kennedy - and the chase was successful.
C) See the girl in the bikini? Yeah, me too.

5. After Yvie's unsuccessful attempt at water skiing, how did she react?

A) She cried once she got back into the boat and said she never wants to do that again.
B) She complained that her arms and back hurt and admitted at being scared when the boat pulled away.
C) She said it was fun and she would be up for trying it next time we go to the lake.

6. This is Yvie on the edge of the boat, preparing to jump into the middle of the lake by herself for the first time ever. She ended up in the water, but how?

A) She went through with it and jumped in after slightly hesitating (and allowing Dad to snap the picture).
B) After a minute-long delay, she had her uncle drop her into the lake.
C) Kennedy pushed her into the water.

7. How deep was the water where Yvie jumped in?

A) About 10 feet; that's how we convinced her to get in.
B) Close to 30 feet, but we didn't tell her until she had gotten out of the water.
C) Somewhere north of 160 feet.

I'll be back later to post the answers.

If you get them all right, you rule.

Run To The Dam

On my birthday - Aug. 9 - I bought myself some new shoes. It wasn't a birthday present to myself or anything, just happened that the local running store that gives Lopers 10 percent off shoes had a 15 percent sale for us, and I couldn't pass that up.

But I didn't get a chance to break them in until Monday. And did I ever set a high bar with this those shoes.

I took the shoes with me to the Lake and was happy to have gotten a chance to run early Monday morning. Like clockwork, I'm up by 5 a.m. most mornings, whether I need to or not. Vacations of course are for lounging around, sleeping in, enjoying some relaxation. And while I don't get the first two while running, getting in a run in the wee hours of the morning is very relaxing and the perfect start to any day.

It was the perfect start for that day, and the perfect way to break in my new shoes.

I got up a few minutes before five, laid in bed for about 5-10 minutes and then got my stuff together. By 5:30, while everyone else was sleeping, I was stretching next to my truck, picking out a playlist. There is a bridge near where we were staying, a bridge that on one side features a the Glen Canyon Dam and on the other a very deep gorge. Very deep. I had clocked the distance from the bridge to the hotel on the way past the day before and it was about 2-3 miles.

So I set out for it. With the sun just beginning to cast its light on our sliver of Arizona, I ran down the street our motel was on and turned onto the highway, State Route 89 I believe. It wasn't dead - there were cars cruising past - but it was light traffic even compared to the light traffic around my block that early in the morning.

The only thing I noticed right away was the ridges on the side of the road. Not sure if they are commonplace on most roads outside of SoCal but I've only seen these ridges on my long drives out of the state, the ones that will jar you awake if you doze off and start to slide off the road. Anyway, they were a minor hindrance on my run but I did well to avoid twisting my ankle on them.

Now, as I hadn't run since the Monday before, I didn't want to try and set any new speed records. I figured a good five- or six-mile run would suffice, and really would just be happy with running to the bridge.

I approached the bridge and realized that I would be quite a ways up. I wasn't scared or anything but certainly being on the bridge on foot would be a different experience than driving over it.

Now, the Glen Canyon Dam dams up the Colorado River in Page, Ariz., where we stayed. So not only would I have the pleasure running next to a colossal structure like a dam, I'd be able to say that I ran over the Colorado River.

It was almost perfect timing when I approached the river. Playing on my iPod was one of my favorite running songs, Highwayman by Johnny Cash. While Waylon Jennings was singing about being a dam-builder "where steel and water did collide... on the wild Colorado" I was looking at it. By the time I got on the bridge, though, Cash gave way to Metallica.

As I ran close to the bridge, I had to take a deep breath, not because I was tired or fatigued or anything. It was just a bit surreal to think that I was about to scale this massive divide.

How massive?


Pretty steep (I didn't take this picture but it's a great shot of the bridge).

I ended up running six miles on the nose in 59:55.

Not sure what order my runs rank but this one is certainly in my Top Five.

Lake Powell Pics

Well, we're back in SoCal, back home. Our family vacation lasted about three days, and while that's not the longest time, Mrs. LB is off work this week and we'll have time to spend together as a family.

A few pictures from the lake...

This was right before we got to the lake on Sunday. We'd been in the truck for about eight hours and I'd driven about five of them. I was beat. I actually was sad that I didn't get to run with the Lopers on Sunday. We left our house at 6 am and usually at 6 am I'm driving over to Loma Linda to run with the Lopers. I missed out on a six-miler... but I ran a wonderful six-miler in Arizona on Monday that I'll have to blog about later.

Anyway, check this out:

Guess who that is being ultra-adventurous? Yup, that's Yvie in mid-air. Those swim classes she took were great. She never would have been willing to try this jump otherwise. Of course, she has on a life jacket and we wouldn't let her jump without it, or be without it period (except on the shore) but her desire to be in the water has increased significantly. Mrs. LB told me afterward that while Yvie was about to jump and in the the air, Mrs. LB's stomach was in knots and she was short of breath, kind of like a mini-anxiety attack. Not me. I was too busy taking pictures.

And remember the raft thing I blogged about?

Guess who is in the middle crying? That would be Kennedy. She was terrified! We weren't even going that fast and there was little chance of her falling off. But that didn't matter. I guess Mr. Toad's Wild Ride didn't properly gear her up for Ms. Kenna's Wild Raft Ride. She cried almost as soon as the boat pulled away. Yvie enjoyed it, though.

I've got more pictures and may post some later. The girls enjoyed the lake and with any luck they'll be swimming fully on their own and will be looking for bigger cliffs to jump from in 2010.