IFTR Women's Runs

I love the Idaho Falls Trail Runners! We had another awesome season of Monday night women's runs. Our group grew a lot this year, and I was able to meet so many great people, and expand my circle of running buddies. It's an 'all abilities' group, and we have ladies just starting out with running, ladies who have run 100 milers, and everything in between. It's nice to be around women who support and encourage each other no matter where you are in the sport.

We mixed it up with where we ran this season too. We mostly stayed in the Kelly Canyon area, but we also did the Manan Butte, City Creek in Pocatello, the foothills (where the early morning running group goes), and some in town canal runs once it started getting dark earlier.

Our first run of the season was up Sidewinder.

Sidewinder again!

We had a big group run at the Menan Butte. I had never run there before, so it was nice to find a new place to go.

Some of the ladies on the butte.

Amanda's birthday run at Buckskin Morgan.

I love that Amanda takes pictures while she's running. I would fall on my face if I even attempted that.

One run was from the Tablerock Campground, but I opted to stay back and watch sweet Ellie so her mama could run. I was recovering from RONR, so it worked out perfectly.

Little Kelly Canyon

This was the first time our group has run Little Kelly's together.

This was probably the most eventful run of the season. We were a little worried about the clouds, but we decided to go out anyways. We got a couple miles up the trail and the thunder, lightening, and downpour started. Holy cow, it dumped on us! There was lightening everywhere, so we booked it back to the cars. Bailey is quite scared of lightening, so she left us all in the dust. I got back to the car shortly after her, and we jumped in and and went to pick everyone else up. We were soaked and muddy! Good times!

The adventure didn't stop there! We were heading home, and once we got off the dirt road, I got a really strong feeling to wait for Amanda to come by with her carload of ladies. I pulled over, but they never came. We eventually realized that something must be wrong, so we went back to find them. They had a flat tire! It was quite an ordeal getting it changed too.

The calm before the storm.

We were soaking wet at this point!

The road was at an angle, so we couldn't get the jar jacked up high enough to put the spare on. We had to call in reinforcements. 

We tried the same trail again, since we didn't make it very far in the storm the week before.

We also did a trash clean up run! I could not believe the amount of trash we collected in just a couple miles distance. People are so inconsiderate! We could have gotten so much more, but we ran out of room to fit trash bags in Jenn's car.

Trash run!

We collected so much!

We also decided to venture out of our usual stomping grounds and run at City Creek in Pocatello. There were a lot of ladies in our group who weren't familiar with those trails. 

City Creek

They have such a pretty trail system.

Enjoying the views at City Creek.

Sidewinder!

Buckskin Morgan!

The trails behind the Y junction. This was a beautiful night. The colors were starting to change, and the sunset was perfect.

Veronika crashed pretty good!

The sunset was great!

So pretty!

Once it started getting dark earlier, we changed our runs to the canals in town. I had no idea we had the canal options that we do.

First canal run.

Second canal run. This one is so pretty, and goes clear down to Shelly. We easily got in a 6 mile run, and didn't have to run on the road. Great option! 

Along the canal.

Angie hosted our end of the season party at the park next to her house. Such a pretty place! Angie's husband grilled burgers for all of us, and we all brought pot luck stuff to eat. Great food, great conversation, and great ladies!

End of the season party!

It's getting cold and dark, but we squeezed in a costume run the week of Halloween. It was hilarious! We left the canals for a short spurt down Woodruff. We got lots of yells and honks.

The shark was my favorite! Every time Amanda ran by me, I would just start laughing!

Amanda (shark)-Tricia (hotdog)-Veronika (gorilla)-Georgina (fire)

Angie (Robin)

This might be my favorite picture from the whole season. So funny!

It was such a great season with these ladies! We may do a few more runs along the canals if the weather holds out. There is also talk of a Christmas light run. We also have some good stuff in the works for next season. We are having shirts made, and we are all planning on running the Spitfire race.