Turkey Trots in Kansas and Colorado

The dogs trying to warm themselves after the run.

Bethany finishing the 5k.

Bethany half way through the 5k.

Renae with the dogs before the race.

Renae and mom heading for one last bathroom trip before the run.

Renae and mom at the start line.

Me and mom finishing.

All three of us and the turkey.

So I decided to travel back home to Kansas before the holidays and picked the weekend before Thanksgiving. Renae (travel and best friend) decided to go with and we noticed that Wichita's Turkey Trot was that weekend. We discussed running the 10 mile but as it came time to register and we hadn't done much running down graded to the 2 mile. Since my mom had such a funny reaction to me buying hot pink vibram running shoes at the Air Force marathon I decided to start training in them so that I could wear them during the Turkey Trot. We arrived in Wichita late Thursday night and stayed at the airport hotel and met Tarra for breakfast the next morning at the Beacon. We goofed around in Wichita with mom and Bud and then headed to El Dorado to get our feet rubbed at Heads-N-Toes. Grandma was getting her hair done at the same time so we sat and talked with her for a bit. After a grand day in El Dorado we headed to Grandma Fuller's house.

After getting up at 7am the next morning (race day) we headed to pick mom up in Augusta at 0715. The race started at 0930 and we weren't sure about parking or anything so headed in to Wichita around 0740 and got to the run start around 0800. It was pretty freak'n cold (around 25-30 degrees and by comparison to the Grand Junction Turkey Trot was a tropical heat wave) so we stayed in the car for a while and discussed our strategy. We got our race packet and discussed the awesomeness of the long sleeve shirt. We decided to start warming up around 0900. I got lots of odd looks when I was walking around in my vibrams, one guy even asked, "Are you going to run in those?"

We found out that the 2 mile started at 0940 after the 10 milers started at 0930. So after the 10 milers started we worked our way from sunny spot to sunny spot until we reached the start line. So with about a minute to start I looked over and couldn't find mom and Renae said she moved to the back of the pack. Then the gun went off and I sprinted off feeling pretty good. Of course there were tons of kids in this race who thought there place to start was at the very front. So the first mile or so I spent a good deal of time avoiding kids who would stop right in front of me or would run 4 or 5 across on the sidewalk. I checked my IPOD and it said I was just at a mile and running around 8 min miles. I thought holy crap I'm fast. I was able to keep that pace for only another 1/2 mile or so and had to slow down because I was nearly out of breath. Once I was within 400 yards of the finish I kicked back up and crossed at 19.03 which I thought was awesome.

I started walking back along the course so I could get pictures of Renae and mom. Renae was only a couple of minutes behind me. I think she finished around 23 min. Mom was a couple of minutes behind her and I ran with her the rest of the way in. She finished in 26 min I think. I was really proud of her because she hadn't run in a long time and she said she ran the whole thing. She was so inspired that she said she is going to sign up for the Jingle Bell 5k, awesome job mom.

So by the end of the trip to Kansas I had developed a cold and humidity induced water retention. So slept the entire trip back to Colorado. Fast forward four days and it is time for the Grand Junction Turkey Trot benefiting the firefighters.

Renae worked the night before so I told her I would wake her up at 0830 so she could roll out of bed, get dressed, and get in the car and I would have everything else ready (or at least I hoped). Naturally it's the coldest day to date of the year a whopping 5 degrees when I wake up. What to wear what to wear. I decided on running tights with shorts over them and my really cool new running shirt that my mom got me but covered that with a sweatshirt and what Renae has now termed my "chemo hat", nursing humor I just don't know about it.

So I get the dogs stuff ready, put bottles of water in the car, start the car (after all it is only 7 degrees now), put some breakfast in the car and head to wake Renae. Although asleep manages to dress in record time so I load the dogs and we are out the door. Oh yeah did I mention this was a dog friendly run and somewhere in our screwed up head we thought it would be nice to bring them. We got parked at Albertson's and got the dogs leashed and out of the vehicle and started walking to the race start. Well the dogs needed to poop in the bank grassy area. What is the one thing Julie forgot about, that's right poop bags. I managed to find a trash bag in my car (I don't know why it was there but thankful it was) and Renae scooped up the poop and ran it over the trash can at the gas station.

By now it had warmed up to a balmy 9 degrees. My face hurt like no tomorrow. We walked to the start line managing to avoid about 60 other dogs and 900 people. We stood up on the side walk as the race started because I wasn't sure how the dogs would do. While we were waiting I managed to throw my camera on the ground, dislodge my earphone plug from my IPOD, get tangled with Kyrie's leash, and almost kick someone. I got myself all put back together and looked up and the walkers were already passing us. I told Renae that I didn't want to pass all the walkers because I PLANNED to run so we jumped into the fray and began weaving through strollers, kids, and dogs.

Now those of you who know the dogs know that Zeus is a people greeter and Kyrie, well Kyrie needs to be on heavy doses of Xanex. I wished I had horse blinders on her she yanked, pulled, and skitted every which way while we were trying to weave through the traffic of people. A stroller would go by, she was off this way, then a runner with a dog would go by and she was off that way. Maybe a 1/4 mile into the thing I told Renae I couldn't do this and started walking so Renae who had Zeus, who was running like he had been doing it for years on a leash, was right beside her. I walked maybe 100 yards and stopped on the side of the road trying to decide whether to turn around or continue. I had this little mental debate going on when alas I saw Bethany trotting towards me. The pain in my head said turn around and wait at the finish line, however, the competitor inside me said you can do this. So I sidled up to Bethany and we walked together for about a mile. During this mile Kyrie tried tripping me twice and tried ripping my shoulder out of the socket at least 1/2 dozen times. It's a good thing animal cruelty laws are more severe then child abuse because I'm sure I thought about hanging her from a tree a time or two (just kidding, but not really). I saw Renae on the trip back down the River Trail and decided to jog a little to see if I could catch up. I bid ado to Bethany and Kyrie and I were on our way.

At this point Kyrie was doing really well until we reach the turn around point. I made the turn Kyrie failed to yield the right of way and we got tangled again. I'm sure this was somewhat comical to watch and several people commented that it wasn't the dogs fault. Well of course it wasn't it was her parents fault we all know that. Anywho, I trotted along until Kyrie tripped me and then we walked again. This whole thing seemed to take forever and I wished I were done because my head hurt. Finally, finally I saw Renae and Zeus and just let go of Kyrie's leash so Renae could deal with her while I finished. I crossed the finish line handed them my running number thingy and waited for Bethany to cross the finish line.

On the way back to the car I told Renae that Kyrie couldn't come on any more group runs without being heavily drugged. I checked the temp 15 degrees. Definitely the coldest temp I've run in. We swung by Starbucks on the way home and as I was sitting in the drive through watched as my windshield finished cracking all the way down, fascinating to watch expensive to fix. Oh well.

Once we got home I was dead quite literally. I laid down for a 3 hour recovery nap. Sucks being sick.

VA Sponsored Deer Hunt and Separate Elk Trip

The vets on the VA Hunt (Matt Lucas, John, Darryl, Me, and Riff)

Myself, my deer, and Ryan my guide.

Sunrise one morning on the ranch.

Renae from last weekend. Check out the hi speed hi tech shoe covers.

Sunrise up on the Mesa while hunting elk.

I was approved to go along on the RecreationTherapy and Butch Lowery Disabled Veteran Hunt the last weekend of October. I was super stoked because I've not been hunting since I left Liberal, KS oh so many years ago. I was also a little nervous because there were supposed to be a bunch of people there and I only knew Matt Lucas. I quickly calmed my fears with the help of Glenn White who helped me sight in my brand new 1 year old 30-06. It only took about 12 rounds to get me sighted in at 100 yards. So Friday the 29th of October I headed to the Stop-N-Save in Clifton which is where we were meeting everyone since no weapons can be brought onto VA property. I was transporting Darryl's weapon as he was riding with Matt in the government vehicle.

We got up to the ranch which is 10 miles north of Rifle and waited while D came down to unlock the gate. Then we parked the cars and some of the guys rode up in vehicles while Matt, Vance, and I walked the 1 1/2 miles up to the camp. Nothing like getting the heart pumping. Once we got there we (Matt, Vance, and I) began setting up camp. Matt didn't want any of the other vets to help for fear of getting hurt (lots of paperwork). Matt then headed back down to Junction because he had a funeral to attend and the guides took the vets out around 1530 hours. My guide was Ryan. We walked to our blind which was set up over looking a ravine and two ridges. We sat and talked for several hours before getting restless. We snuck out of the blind (which I didn't realize was that difficult but they are noisy) and walked further up onto one of the ridges so we could see better down in the ravine.

After walking for about 5 minutes Ryan stopped and lifted his binoculars then handed them to me. He pointed to a group of trees where a doe was laying down. I saw the doe and then looked over to the right and there was a 3x3 buck just standing there looking at me. Ryan told me I needed to take the shot even though it was downhill and about 175 yards away and I was unsupported. He handed me this monopod which I put my rifle on. I'm sure someone looking at this spectacle would have thought I was drunk the way my rifle was waving around on that monopod. Thank gosh when I chambered a round into the rifle it didn't load because I'm sure I wouldn't have been able to hit the broad side of a barn using that dang thing. So when I pulled the trigger it just went click. So I reloaded and told Ryan I didn't think I could take the shot from here. All the while my buck just stood there watching this whole thing play out. Ryan and I maneuvered around so that I would have a better vantage point while sitting on a bucket. Needless to say the buck was still there when I got settled. This time I was sitting and unsupported from about 160 yards with the sun setting fast. I locked in the buck in my sights right behind the shoulder and pulled the trigger. I immediately chambered another round but lost the buck in my sights. Ryan said he jumped up and initially thought I hit him so we waited then went to investigate. By the time we got down to where the buck had been standing it was dark and Ryan and D looked around a bit but didn't see a blood trail.

I was disappointed but one of the other veterans got a buck so I went with the guys to learn how to field dress. We picked up the buck and took it out to clean it and brought it back and hung it so it could cool down over night. We then ate and I headed to bed as I was exhausted.

The next morning I got up and Ryan and I headed out to our blind. All morning long we watched three does dance around the area but never saw my buck. However, as the morning progressed we watched a gaggle of magpie's scavenge at something over in the oakbrush about 50 yards away from where I shot at the buck. Soon a coyote joined them and I noted that it was odd that a coyote would come out in the middle of the morning to eat on something. I got a sinking feeling in my gut and we decided to go over and investigate. Sure enough there was the buck which I shot. I started crying but quickly sucked it up because all of this was very anti climatic. It wasn't until D came down and told me it was a hell of a shot to make and that we could save some of the meat that I felt better about the whole situation. So I helped field dress my animal and we took it up to camp to hang. The rest of the day was pretty much just hanging out. The next morning the other two veterans went out. Around 0730 we heard a couple of shots but apparently everyone who went out forgot to take radio's. So at 0930 we went to pick up Darryl and Vance (Darryl is blind) and Darryl was sitting there by himself. He had shot a deer at 0730 and Vance was out tracking it. So we called for reinforcements and D, Matt, and Vance went to track it and they were soon joined by Randy. Thankfully within a couple of hours they located the animal and were able to bring it down from the mountain it decided to climb. Darryl was pretty happy as this was the first time that he had been hunting since he lost his sight 5 years ago.

I got back and picked up Renae and we headed to Old World Meats to get my deer processed. I turned in 55 lbs and have gotten back hamburger and steaks. Still waiting for my sausage and sticks.

Renae got pretty stoked and asked if I wanted to go elk hunting with her during the next weekend. I was pretty game for it so we went to the DOW and pulled some left over tags for the Collbran side of the Mesa. I looked on-line to see where the migration trends were for that area and we decided to hunt near Atkinson lake were we have previously camped. We headed up on Nov 6th after the Veterans Parade and got there around 5pm and so sat underneath a clump of trees where there were lots of tracks. We never saw anything. The next morning we got up and headed to a place that was down from that first evening and sat and watched. Renae went off down the road to see if she could scare anything up but never did. She got back and said she found fresh poop and lots of tracks. We decided that we would sit there that evening to see if we saw anything. So we picked our firing positions and went back to the motel.

We returned later that afternoon and heard lots of things moving around us but never saw anything. We came back the next morning to watch a more open field and never saw anything. I was a little disappointed but since I didn't know how to hunt elk felt pretty successful in just being out in the snow and not getting frostbite.

We went out the next weekend as well and saw a herd of elk down on private property but never saw any up in the elevation in which we were hunting. But I took some nice pictures of the sunrise.