Got up early this morning to get to the airport to catch a flight to Spokane. Going up with the in-laws to help my wifes sister and husband move back to Salt Lake - Flying up and driving back. Ran into Bryce at the airport in the security line, having quick conversation each time we passed in the snaking line. Hope you have a nice vacation, sure am jealous! :)
I figured that as long as I could get one good run in while I was in Spokane, I would be happy with having to help move and driving back! After flying in the morning and then walking around all day, everyone was beat, wanting to lay around a nap. The weather had turned really nice, so I thought that would be the perfect time to go. I had scouted out a route from the Spokane River Run 25K, and so I figured I'd go and see if I could run at least in the general area. Couldn't help but pull out my phone and take some pics - wish I would have remembered my camera.
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Didn't really start running till about 6:30, but there was still plenty of light. Right from the beginning I was in heaven. Greenery everywhere, with a canopy of huge pines overhead. I just picked a trail and started running. I knew that there was a trail right by the river, so as long as I could make my way back to that I could find my way back. I thought I'd do a big loop, so I started running away from the river to get a little vert in.
I ended up getting way off 'course', eventually running into railroad tracks and through a little mountain neighborhood, but eventually I found my way down to the river trail and started heading back. Since this follows the river, it was actually quite a bit longer going back than it was coming out. I kept wondering if I was somehow in the wrong place, but just kept going - there was a big river right next to me, kind of hard to get lost with that to guide you. 
There were parts of the trail where I felt like I could have been in the middle of Yellowstone. I was often surprised by the rockyness of the trail. Very technical in several places. Made it back to the car with just as the last light was fading. I had carried my headlamp with me (wrapped around my bottle) the whole run, since I didn't know how long the sun would last. Despite persistent stomach issues the whole run, this was an absolutely fantastic run! Always fun to run somewhere new, especially when the scenery is so different. I definitely felt the elevation difference as well. While only 1200 feet of vert, it all came in short, steep climbs, and I was able to strongly run them all with little trouble. 
12.55 miles - 1:59:19 - 9:30 Pace - 1200 vert
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