Squaw Peak 50 Acceptance

Well I am accepted for the Squaw Peak 09' I was put on John's Race committee which means I will mark the trails of the race course or help out with cleaning up ribbons. This will be my seventh SP 50. I have a pulled groin that will not heal so I am not planing on any great times this year. Just another finish.

Here are a few pictures from a mountian run I did this summer. I went to help out out scout camp but did not need to be there later in the day so I did a 20 mile run through the Unita mountains. Here are a few pictures. The one with the lakes is at Rocky Sea Pass. One of the most beautiful sights I have seen on a run. For now it looks like I will be snow shoeing. I need to get out of bed and get going.

That will be my New Years Resolution. Along with staying stronger than my boys as they have started lifting weights and think they are stronger than I am.

New Employment

After 8 years of working with Morinda Holdings and Tahitian Noni I was told they no longer needed my services but that my boss, one of the owners would handle my responsibilities. "It's all yours". I now have the greatest job in the world. I am Senior Assistant building engineer. I take care of all the mechanical, electrical, any maintenance of the building. I also get to do the painting maintenance which I am most excited about. I have always wanted to be able to paint the white door frames in the temple and the crisp white ballasters.

I guess that I have to say that the day of my interview I drove the neighborhood around the temple to make sure that there was a trail head that led to the elevated mountains that the temple sits next to.

I and my family are being blessed.

MRM

Turkey "M.A.S.H." Bowl

On Thanksgiving Day in Phoenix we play in the Turkey bowl. We have been doing it for several years now.

We have had tips to the hospital for separated shoulders, noses reset and Uncle Perry usually finds out a day or two after that he has something structurally wrong. This year he pulled his hamstring and sat in the large puddle to "ICE" it down. He noticed a few days later that the whole back of his leg was black and blue.

I think one year he broke his hand.

It has become the norm that we know someone will get hurt, but we cannot miss it. We laugh and hit hard. Then we laugh again.

This year it rained hard the morning of and it made for a muddy mess. The ground was actually soft. but the hits were hard. "Big Joe" who is huge had cleats on and pushed everyone around. But that still gives us the challengewhen he has the ball. We love to try and take him down.

Here are a few pictures.

Thanksgiving Bird Hunt

Each Thanksgiving we go out as a group to hit the dove an quail hunt in Arizona. Justus got to come along with us for the seconed time. The day before Justus kept asking uncle Perry James if we were going to go to breakfast at Cracker Barrel before we started huntung. He thinks this is the best part of the hunt.

Here is a picture of Justus waiting for Birds. You cat tell how impatient he is. He just had to be shooting at something. Which is why in the picture there is ONE quail and 3 "tweety birds".

But OHH is he proud of them.

MF

Desert Running

In Arizona for the Thanksgiving Holiday. We come each year to celebrate with Lori, Perry and the "Cuzins", Cuz Why! Cuz I said!! (From the Famous Boss Hog on Dukes of Hazzard)

I take my Running shoes where ever I go. Phoenix has the "Phoenix Desert Mountian Reseve" Where you can run for 26 miles from one end to another. This is where I do my running on the holidays. Rough volcanic country but beautifu. Especially when it is rainy and overcast like this morning. Make the desert even more pretty.

Here are some pics.

Justus my boy, Trinitee and Austin went with me back to the trail head to get some pictures since I forgot my camera on the run.

MF

My Three Son's

This fall United Rugby had a Fall developmental season.

Some of the regular players play football. Since my sons have fallen in love with rugby there is no longer football in our family.

I am so proud of them. United also started a 8th grade developmental team.

Tristan got to play and learn the fundamentals of the game. This hitting will come this spring.

Because of this I have started Cotton and Tristan on a weight lifting program so they can solidify before spring. Here are pictures of the boyz at rugby this fall. Cotton the oldest, Tristan the blond, and Justus just can't wait to get to play and hit someone/

Fun to spend the time with my boys in the weight room.

Right now we are all sore.

MF

Capitol Reef

Here are some pictures of our outing to Capitol Reef this year for spring break.

Capitol Reef is the hidden secret of the national parks. Very quiet for spring break because it is so far out of the way. The family and I pulled the trailer to the campground and used it as base camp for our hikes.

We hiked to an arch and had lunch. We did a few day hikes. Tristan and I took off up to the look out over the Fruita valley and were met by Vickie, Cotton and Justus on the way back.

One morning I left before sun up and ran a 14 mile loop thru the capitol reef park.

So the trailer served as base camp.

Now go vickie-fitz.blogspot.com and compare the takes from Vickie's to mine on our camping trip.

We were meant to be. Just see adventures differently. (Baked pies, recipes,) you will know what I mean when you look at her blogspot.

North Column from the back on Mount Timpanogog.

Saturdays Run

I left again on the Pine Hollow Trail Head. After about 5 minutes it god very icy where the snow had been walked on from last week. I put on my traction cleats. Slip on Golash type things with sheetmetal screws coming out the bottom of them. They slip right over my "Montrail Hardrock" running shoes. I run into the Utah County Search and Rescue, they have hiked in and camped for the night. It probably got to about 20 degrees at night. I am thankful for these dedicated people and doing what they like to do.

After I leave them in the cold I come out on the meadow where the sun has just started to shine for a new day. From here it starts to get warm and the frozen mud starts to thaw. Nut enough where I can still run.

I turn around and notice this picture of the North Column of the back of Mount Timanogos.

This is why I run the mountians.
Mountianrunnnermike.

Snow Shoeing

Vickie and I went snow shoeing last year.

She did good although she was not up for a four hour snow shoe hike. Maybe this year. It gets funner the more miles you are from the trail head.

MF