Including some bonus “route-finding,” over nine miles running (or barely walking) on the Syncline Trail in Canyonlands National Park.

Several miles hiking into The Narrows with family, followed by a few more miles deeper into the canyon with Wesley and then a run back to our campsite at the Watchman Campground.

Crewed Wesley in the Western States Endurance Run (100-mile trail race), from Olympic Valley to Auburn, California. (I managed to run the first three miles of the course as part of the Hoka High Camp Challenge.)

Western States starting line

Six-mile family hike to Vernal Falls (saw a bear) and Nevada Falls via Mist Trail (completing the loop back via Join Muir Trail), followed by a (solo) 7.2-mile trail run/hike (roundtrip) to the top of Yosemite Falls (2,700′ elevation gain).

Six-mile (3 out and 3 back) family hike into the canyon via Bright Angel Trail, followed by a (solo) seven-mile (3.5 out and 3.5 back) run into the canyon via South Kaibab Trail (camping at Desert View Campground).

Several trail runs in the Sedona area, including a quick, solo trip up Cathedral Rock, followed by a second run with Henry and Jeremy beginning at the Marg’s Draw trailhead – and then seven miles with Jeremy the next day at the Woods Canyon trailhead near Red Rock Ranger District Station.

Waking up sick on race morning (with snow and temperature in the 20s), Henry made the game-time decision to run the Lost Falls trail 10K in DeSoto State Park (Fort Payne, AL) – finishing, remarkably, 15th overall. The race took place exactly one month after my COVID pneumonia diagnosis, so I was just grateful to be trail running again (finishing first overall was a surprising but nice bonus).

Paced Oliver in the “Ultra Donut Dash” trail race in Oak Mountain State Park, requiring him (us) to eat one doughnut at the starting line, one at the halfway point, and one at the finish line (Henry ran solo, finishing 13th out of over 100 finishers).

Paced Henry during the Loch Ness Trail Fest 10K (which was closer to 7 miles), with Henry finishing fourth place overall.  

From the North Trail Head, ran the blue trail (stopping briefly at King’s Chair Overlook) and made the loop back on the white trail (with an inadvertent detour on the “storyteller” trail) (12ish miles).