My nephews John and Jeff, Brian, and I and maybe Taturcakes are invading Poteau this Saturday to conquer this little hill in SE Oklahoma. Poteau has two claims to fame. They are the home the most esteemed school (I will let the picture speak for itself!)
The other attraction in Poteau is The World's Highest Hill: Canaval Hill. It rises 1,999 feet from the base to the summit, just one foot short of being classified as a mountain. 
It is not the highest point in Oklahoma, but offers the most distance you can climb in the state without being called a mountain climber.Oops, sorry! Actually, that is not really the real hill. I am a sicko! Here is the real mccoy, Canaval Hill photographed from a distance. 
It is actually quite an impressive"mountainous" looking hill. It shadows the whole town of Poteau and the sun goes down there 2 or 3 hours before it does anywhere else in Oklahoma. In fact, there are 3 weeks in the winter when the sun never even comes up! 
A view from near the top shows some of the nice foliage we will get to see. This should be maybe the absolute best week for seeing the fall colors.
Once we run our 5 miles to the top, and climb 1/5 of a mile in the process, we get to stand in awe in front of this monument and drink a couple beers.
I plan then to jog back down. Why drive for 2 hours to a race in Poteau and not get at least a 10 mile run in?
Mike, Brian, Kathy, and I ran the part of the 25k Turkey and Taturs course today. Mike and I carbo-loaded at McDonald's beforehand, and we ran at a leisurely pace. Brian and Kathy caught us at the upper parking lot, and we went back and forth on the major trails on the east mountain. 
We tried to mark the course's mile markers while we went, and playing with Garmins and tape and such slowed our overall pace. A nice beer stop along the way also added 20 minutes to our time. So, after 10.5 miles, we cut is short and headed home to clean up....after all, dinner at Mike and Diana's was waiting!
We were treated to Turkey, dressing, a couple of yummy casseroles, and 10-12 pies!!! So, for all those miles ran and all those calories burned, I more than replaced them. Tomdog and Julie and their family, along with Tatur Dave and his bride Marilyn joined us. Here is a pic of the Fearless Six and Lake Tahoe this past summer. Such great memories!
Time is now 8:15, seems like 9:15 due to the time change, and it is the eve of another work week. Blah! I'll need a long run tomorrow to get past the downer of a Monday
I will run with my great friend Mike tomorrow. Mike "Toe Stumper" paced me last year at the Arkansas Traveller. He also Co-directed the T & T 50K this past September. Tomorrow, we'll run 1/2 of the 50K and he'll get a dose of the wicked course he designed. 
I will run with my great friend Mike tomorrow. Mike "Toe Stumper" paced me last year at the Arkansas Traveller. He also Co-directed the T & T 50K this past September. Tomorrow, we'll run 1/2 of the 50K and he'll get a dose of the wicked course he designed. 
After that, we'll eat to our heart's content at his house enjoying an early Thanksgiving meal. I'll need all the refueling I can get after today's 21 miles!!After that, we'll eat to our heart's content at his house enjoying an early Thanksgiving meal. I'll need all the refueling I can get after today's 21 miles!!
This evening, I had a quick 4.5 mile run with my friends from RunnersWorld to the river and the pedestrian bridge, and back. I ran it fairly quick, in my terms. Dave and Carmie probably thought of it as just an easy pace, but it was definitely a tempo run for me. It sure dusted the cobwebs out.
Running across the old railroad bridge has always been a treat for me. Dave and I took turns running wild and passing each other....just running like kids! It was fun. Dave has his sights on a sub 4 hour at the Route 66 Marathon, and I suspect he will meet that goal easily, maybe a 3:45. He has really improved since I have known him.
Sunsets always have a certain mystique with me. I watch them develope and fade away and slowy drift out of sight. 
A margarita, maybe a Corona, once upon a time a good cigar might be the perfect compliment to viewing such art in the sky....
Today, I had time for a short run up at Turkey before I ran with the group at the river. It was Ginger's turn since I had run with Rocky last. Jake is just barely a year old and 
I have not ran with him on the trails yet. I went to the fence to the back yard with leash in hand, and who could deny these longing eyes?I decided to take them all with me!Ginger pulls with the power of a plow mule, and does not settle down to a light pull until she reaches the trails. Rocky has to mark every tree, mail box, and patch of weeds for the 1st half mile or so. Jake was just along for the ride, neither pulling too hard, or getting his leash tangled. He was better than I had expected. I headed up Lip Buster hill with all of them still leashed, and they ran me up the hill so fast I had to put on my breaks with every step. I even fell at one point. I have never had to worry about being too fast running up THAT hill before! Rocky and Ginger knew where the 1st pond was and wasted no time getting there. This was Jake's 1st time getting 
to actually swim in a pond, but he waded in, and actually swam a few strokes, got a drink, and was done. No problem there.
At this time, I decided that I would let Rocky and Ginger run off-leash. Jake wanted to run with the big dogs (although he is actually taller than Mom or Dad) and I decided I would let him. Rocky and Ginger always stay close by, but Jake wanted to explore the whole mountain and away he went. Rocky stayed right with him, but Ginger came back several times to check on me. I had intended to run the snake trail, just an easy 3 miles, hit the big pond over there and then head home, but the dogs headed right down the powerline trail. 
Right now, that trail is really tore up, what with all the Slashosaurus damage and the loose rocks from them grating. I had trouble making any time at all, but Ginger kept running ahead to the boys, and then running back to me. Luckily, and I hate to say I am thankful for these huge tree crushing machines, but one of these huge tired tree slashers was ambling right back towards me on the trail, smashing the natural tall grass and trees on its way, and it also shooed my dogs right back to me. I leashed Jake, and we finished our run. Rocky and Ginger stayed close, and Jake was tired enough that he ran like a laid back trail-dog.
After a couple more swims, I took the dogs home, showered to wash off the chiggers and mud, and went to run with my road running friends at the river.
It is not the highest point in Oklahoma, but offers the most distance you can climb in the state without being called a mountain climber.
It is actually quite an impressive
I plan then to jog back down. Why drive for 2 hours to a race in Poteau and not get at least a 10 mile run in?
