Training in Montana

Went to Grand Teton National Park Friday-Sunday for my wife's family reunion. On Saturday most of us drove to the Moose-Wilson road and the Laurence Rockefeller nature preserve so we could hike to Phelps Lake. I left while the others were waiting to park (limited parking on purpose - very stupid idea) and ran the trail. When I got to the lake I kept going around to the West and ran up, almost to the Death Canyon overlook. I turned around at 4 miles and headed back to the lake and found my wife and her family. I had intended to run the rest of the way and get 8 miles in, but decided to just walk with the family instead. Good idea.

The run was great. Beautiful scenery (although very rocky and rooty so I tended to keep my eyes focused down) and a great single track. Lots of grass, ferns, and weeds brushed against my legs so the compression sleeves were an added bonus. On a few downhills I practiced running fast, as that killed me in the Bighorns this year. I need to practice that more often, I just don't have too many trails in my fair city and the mountains are 1 hour away. Anyhow, really enjoyed this run. If I lived close to the mountains I would be a 100% trail runner.

After the hike we went to String Lake, a family favorite (my wife's family is from the Jackson Hole area so all of these places have 100+ years of history for her). While trying to use our 12V air compressor to blow up a floating mattress, I conceived a brilliant idea to use my keychain knife to cut the plastic inside the valve stem that was blocking the air from going in. It was a good idea, but the little knife doesn't have a locking blade. I ended up pushing too hard, the blade came back to it's resting position, and my thumb was in the way. I neatly sliced the left side of my right thumb and blood pumped nicely. I knew it needed stitches but didn't know where to get them. After stopping the blood with butterfly bandages and eating some lunch we got some calls to the Jackson Lake lodge and found a medical clinic that provided stitches. My wife drove me there and an hour and $672 later I had three stitches. She bought me an ice cream cone at the Colter Bay store because I was brave. I didn't even cry or scream out in pain once. My proudest moment of the day.