Ogden, UT

Centennial Trail

Run Time: 60:08 + 2-minute kick

What I have seen of Ogden is not the garden spot of Utah. It is more like the weed patch. Actually, there is a lot of Utah that looks pretty rundown close up. What I saw on this run might actually be some of the best of Ogden. The Weber River is picturesque, but it was running high and had recently run over its banks and made a mess of the east bank.

The high water level created obstacles to my run. The paved Centennial Trail ran along the river for miles, but it dipped low to go under a railroad trestle, and that section was flooded. There were actually muddy footprints – multiple sets – coming out of the dip. So someone had been wading through with restricted headroom above the water level.

A wetlands trail circled away from the main trail, so I tried taking that, but even the wetlands had a high wetness level and blocked the primary loop. I tried a side trail which unfortunately crossed through an active archery range. I did not hear the swish of arrows coursing through the air, nor did I see any stray arrows, so I think I was safe.

West of the trail was a grassy knoll – more of a tall grass than a lawn grass. I found a trail coming down that, so I followed it. The view was way better. It also felt more organic than running along the asphalt trail that followed the big muddy.

At the end of the run, I sat down on some bleachers in the park to watch some youth baseball. Probably 4th graders. Parent and coach intensity was high. I actually heard a mom yell, “Come on guys, stay positive. If you don’t, you will lose.” I hoped, in my heart, that I never sounded like the one coach who shamed one of his players for striking out.

A lot of driving on this trip, almost all interstate, which wears on the senses. I was burnt out before this run, but glad I ran, because I was less burnt out when I finished. A thunderstorm around Tremonton invigorated me, but only temporarily. The thunderstorms forecast for the evening never materialized, at least not where I was.

Back to the Salt Lake City airport in the morning, onto a flight to Denver, then on to home. One of maybe five people on either jet with a mask. It is a small inconvenience. To be honest, I have never felt comfortable being so close to so many people.