My Running Outlook

I used to run in the Marine Corps to stay in shape. When I got out I stopped running for a while because I felt like I was forced to do it for so long. Recently I started running again but for a different reason. It is my stress relief. Since then I have run a number of races and it was fun trying to get in the top three times, but mostly when running now it has been more about the feeling afterwards. The feeling of accomplishment. Most of my runs are not really planed, in fact the ones that are never really seem to work out as well as the ones with no particular distance or time frame in mind, just run. The idea of being able to decide how long or how fast I move along is all mine. The feeling of being in control of this one little thing brings such a sense of power (?) no, relief to me in a world where many things in my life feel like they are out of my control. When I am unable to run, mostly do to my schedule, I get upset and the frustration builds until I am able to release it by once again hitting the trails or the roads or both. As the scenery changes and the miles go by thoughts and worries wash away. It is quite a different feeling from my marine days. I had tried martial arts and hitting punching bags and working out in gyms but they always just left me tired and did little to erase any stress I had. I think it had a lot to do with the fact that during those time I would still be focusing on my problems during the workouts. Leaving me just as upset as when I had started. I guess you could say I run away from my problems but I look at it as taking a break and clearing the mind. This for me is the best part because I feel like it is helping me in my relationship with my wife and family. It's my chance to calm down and regain my focus on life, as best as a scatter brain like me can. When I'm done, facing whatever problem I have doesn't seem so tough anymore.
I enjoy running with a group called the Saturday Morning Runners here in St Joe because of the people. Nobody cares how fast you are, what distance you can run, only the fact that you are getting out and doing just what they enjoy doing too. The SMR group is quite a diverse group of people from all walks of life. The most enjoyable thing about them is they motivate each other and build each other up, with some playing around just like siblings, but in the end we all have a good time sharing the same common bond between us. Running makes us feel good.

Home again, home again...

Another nice family vacation in the books. We did a tour with the idea of following the Lewis and Clark trail up into MT. It was fun, stopped off in Roosevelt National Park, South in North Dakota. WOW.  First let me say that it was really cool to be so close to the wildlife that they would just walk through the

camp sites if they pleased.

  

Yup, those are wild horses strolling through the camp.

Never thought there were still wild horses in America. Anyway is was a good time the kids learned to appreciate a sunset. 

They fell in love with prairie dogs and were excited to see them every time we past a town. We hiked out to see the petrified forest in the area. Let me tell ya...hiking all that way to see some stumps was not what I was expecting. Not that it wasn't interesting, I thought the trees would be all rock but I found a piece that was part wood and part rock. But well... just look...

The petrified stumps of ND.

Another view of the forest.

 I got into a stand off with a young bison on a trail in the park, he won. Had to turn around and hope he wouldn't follow me (booger was blocking the trail, and suddenly was more interested in me than eating). Still it was a nice run and logged some time in ND. One night I was woken up by Bri because she swore somebody was going through or camp and looking in our coolers. Nope, just a big male bison grazing through, one of those moments were you want to take a picture but aren't sure how he'll take the flash. Alas, I was chicken with only a thin layer of nylon between us I decided not to risk it. Medora was nice but it is a typical tourist town complete with a show every night. We did some geocaching but a few of the ones there  were so ...annoying that we just stopped. I enjoyed my time there and would recommend it but don't see myself rushing back anytime soon. However, right as we were leaving we noticed a herd moving through the other end of the campground and had to go take some pics.

We headed into MT stopping along the way to tour some old forts, the kids once again enjoyed themselves even after crossing into MT and ND about 4 times each or so.  Really proud because you would think they would just complain the whole way and during the tours but they really got into it. We crossed into MT going through a couple of reservations and made a stop at Auntie's house for a few days and some more geocaching then it was off to central MT. Made some new friends and saw some family and had a generally good time. Headed home we stopped at Jewel cave National Monument (I recommend) and Wind cave (not so much) then headed south to tour through Oglala reservation and Pine Ridge and look at Wounded Knee. Talk about depressing. I have seen poor in three different countries other than here and I am really sad to see it like that here in America too. I feel fortunate to have not come from a reservation. Wounded Knee was ....I dunno not what I expected. 

After all that and hunting down our stamp from the Badlands, SD for our National Park Passport we turned southeast and headed home. We were going to stop in a National Forest in NE, but everyone thought it was creepy, no cell service, nobody knew we were there, and we were the only people in the park. It was straight outta a "B" horror movie. So we started driving again and finally decided to pull another all nighter home. We arrived at 6 something in the morning and we all hit the rack for some catch up sleep. Speaking of... night all. TTYL

The Family 2012 National Park Tour

Well we are about a week into the Family National Park Tour. The first week was at Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. Pretty cool park (though no showers) and you can really get up close with the herds of Buffalo. 

As you can see from the picture the herds will go where they want, to include your camp ground. In fact I was woken up one night to a male grazing through our camp ground. Needless to say we (Bri and I) were hoping that the bison was more interested in food than us. We also hiked into a (let down) petrified forest ( couple of stumps here and there) which was a nice hike but hot even early in the day. 

Today we have finished up our second day in Wolf Point, MT with a tour of the area and closer towns with points of interest. Bri asked me if I thought anybody here would be trying to speak to me in Spanish. I was able to laugh and say thankfully no. Chippewa and Crow country here. We tried to cache in Ft Peck but it sucked and ended fast. We swam in a lake, first time for the kids I think. They loved it. Then off to another town before home (Auntie's). As for the future....who knows what is in store for us.

Thinking Out Loud

I am really excited to go on a vacation with my family soon. We are heading camping up north and I hope to do some trail running while we are up there. The family wants to geocache and there is suppose to be a lot around in the area we are going. I don't really have much to say right now. School. Work. School. Work. Housework....etc. Trying not break away from a whole blog of negativity and anger here. Guess that's it maybe post some pics of the vacation later. Take Care Ya'll.