Red Hot 55k, Zion 100k

So I wanted to give me some time to let my last race the Red Hot 55k, Zion 100k, Squaw Peak 50 to sink in a little. Has it really been that long?  Im sorry blog, I haven't meant to neglect you.  Its just life has been flying by with new responsibilities at work, building a new house and well, running. 

First and foremost I wanted to say, wow.  What a difference a year can make.  I feel better overall with my running ability and I can see the improvements against races I did last year. I have made friends with a bunch of people from the Wasatch Mountain Wranglers Group, which has been great in terms of support and knowledge. 

So where does that leave me?

Moab 55k

At the start

Ok ya, so Red Hot. I made the decision to run with less this year.  Experience has taught me that I don't really need as much as I think I do.  In terms of nutrition and being a pack rat, I used to be a big one. This time around I kept it simple with a handheld, shorts and a belt. I packed, 8 Vi fuels (used 7), salt tabs, 2 Nutella tortillas (which i didn't eat), my shuffle (which i didn't use), and a mini survival kit (TP and a small roll of Duct Tape).  

Picture from Kendall Wimmer w/ some really awesome people.

My plan worked out well, except for some cramping at the end.  I learned that I could climb longer and harder than I actually thought.  Which would help me at Squaw Peak. I improved my time by over 30 min but still didn't beat 6 hours.  I was bummed, but for the first race of the year, it felt great and I was just happy to be running in shorts.  I also happened to get a mini vacation out of it with the wife, so hey I can't complain :)

Zion 100k

The Zion 100k was redemption for me.  And I really needed it after my disaster last year at the Antelope 100k.  I was bound and determined to finish.  I pushed myself harder and longer in training than I had ever done, including a couple of 70 mile weeks.  Still, I didn't feel as prepared as I wanted to be.  I let a couple of non-running things stress me out way too much for almost a month before the race. But still I had trained through the winter and I knew I was going to get it done this year.

It was new for me to leave everything behind and head out somewhere else.  I had planned on camping with the Orange Monkeys, Sam, Steve, and DJ.  But I wussed out and decided to stay in a motel instead.   I can't say that it was a much better choice then sleeping under the stars and watching rocky, but it worked, although I think I lost some respect.  I left early on Thursday so I could spend some time hiking around Zion NP.  I just love the raw beauty of that place.

Friday morning came around and I rolled out of bed and made it to the starting line.  It was there I first got a sense of jealousy. I knew I wanted to do the hundred, but I just kept telling myself to have patience and that it will pay off eventually.

Starting off I felt great, I felt my climbing legs engage as we took off up our first plateau. Looking back down I could see the string of headlamps bouncing in the early morning night.  That has to be one of my favorite sights. It felt good, really good as I got to the first aide station I grabbed some food and took off. Steve and Sam were not far behind.  The downhill was good, I met a guy from back east.  I couldn't understand exactly what he was saying between every swear word, but I got the gist.  The thing I love about this community is that everyone cares for everyone else.  There are no enemies, just people you get to share a journey with, and an awesome one at that.

When we hit the flats/rollers between the plateaus I felt like I lost a bit of energy, still I kept going as I got passed by a couple of people.  I hit the cutoff for the 100k route, headed over to the next aide station feeling even more tired.  I pulled out the shuffle, put my head down and went to work.  Then something magical happened for me.  I got a surge of energy that I had not really experienced before.  I started cruising like it was a fun run, for almost 8 miles I took the ups and downs without even a second thought.

Then it happened....  And by it, I mean the monster climb up to the second plateau.  At mile 30 it was a hands on knees  straight up 1000+ ft what am I doing here climb. By the time I got to the top, my thoughts were a wreck, the high was gone, and I was in one bad mood.  After finishing the climb it was nice to see a friendly face. Jennilyn was there crewing for her friend Cherri and she was kind enough to let me mooch off of her whenever I came though an aide station she was at.  And apparently she was making a dance party video as well.  Which I would have known so I could have brushed up on my dance moves...

Long story short, I was in my cave for the entire time I was on that plateau, I was hating the slick rock, and having a hard time keeping focus.  When I look back at it, it wasn't that it was all bad, or that I was really hurting, it was my attitude.  Maybe happy on the outside, but inside it was brooding. I had let the course get to me.  By the time I got off the plateau something magical happened again, maybe it was the 20oz of coke that Jennilyn loaded me up with or maybe it was just the home stretch but with a little more than 6 miles to go everything came back.  I fired it up and ran it home.  Feeling great and knowing that  I had finally got my redemption.  13:03 was my time and I was happy with it.  The one thing that still got me was when I saw the buckles for the 100 mile finishers.  I wanted one and it has lit a fire ever since.  I want that hundred mile buckle.  When it comes this fall or next spring, it will be mine...

My awesome custom finisher medal

Soundtracks

A new year, new decisions...

When it came time to think of a title for my end of the year post only one thing came to mind.  Soundtracks...  Or rather Soundtracks of my runs.  It might be corny but I love running to a mix of regular rock songs and soundtracks. For me each run has its own soundtrack depending on its mood, location or effort.  My favorite run is were all the songs that I have on my playlists come together to form that perfect soundtrack.  So I started thinking about my "regular" songs from my playlists that I could pin down for my best runs of this year I had a hard time picking just a few.  But here they are none the less.

#5 - Antelope Island 100k



What else can you say about your first DNF, and why would this qualify for a spot in my top 5?  Well it might sound funny but as I stood there on the top of elephant head everything in the world just felt at peace.  It was one of those moments where I knew that I needed to stop and it felt ok.  I couldn't breathe, I felt like every step on the climb before was a struggle.  Despite not going on I still was able to beat my last years 50k time by well over 20 minutes.  It definitely wasn't the outcome that I wanted. I probably could have walked the course and finished.   But I learned a lot and that is what mattered to me.

#4 - Quest For Kings



This was only my second group run with the Wasatch Mountain Wranglers.  To say I was nervous was a bit of an understatement.  With some prodding from my friend Chris I committed and had a great time.  I had been quite some time since I had been back to the Uintahs.  Its a place that I love and holds a place in my soul with such a strong connection that its hard to describe.  I loved running there, it felt like home and the company wasn't half bad either. I am hoping that Craig puts it on again so I can get back up there this August.  

#3 - Skyline and Sapper Joe 50k



I combined these two runs together because they go together like fire and ice.  Each had its different "feel" this year. I had one heck of a time at Skyline. It was actually a race that I didn't intend on running till I got the itch to try to push myself in preparation for Antelope Island 100k.  The two races were only one week apart, and I got to say that I loved every second of it.  Sapper was another one of those races that was just fun to get out and do.  I did surprisingly well too, compared to what I thought it would be like.  I hope I can do Sapper in 2014, but I am not so sure about Skyline ;).

#2 - Kalalu Trail


I still think about this run often.  Especially when running in sub 10 degree temperatures that have hit us this winter.  The views were simply amazing.  It was a challenging run, one that I hope that I can get the chance to do again.  I don't think my wife would complain about another trip to Hawaii either.  Next time I will just remember to take more food with me! It would be fun to run it with a local that could share the history of the land as you moved in and out of each valley.  Something to think about....

#1 - Squaw Peak 50



Wide eyed and all hopped up on the newness of ultra running I signed up for this race last year in December.  I was simply scared to death and had no idea what I was getting into.  I didn't really know many people who had run ultra's and was completely on my own.  I felt alone and lost in the vastness of everything that I was trying to do.  I simply had no clue.  In retrospect I think it was the best way to run this race.  It had its ups and downs, but in the end when I crossed that finish line and realized what I had done... It was just pure joy. I don't think it could be described any better.

This years stats:
Miles: 1,775.58
Vertical: 269,361

So.. Whats next?  To answer that question... Moab 55k and Zion 100k to start things off for this spring.  Possibly Bryce 50/100...  I would love to shoot for the 100 but the question for me is having a pacer.. Since I haven't done a 100 before it would be nice to have someone with me through the night and possibly another to help me to the finish.  Hopefully I can work out those issues, because I would really like to do Bryce as my first 100.

So here is to a great last year and to a fantastic new year!

Antelope Island 100k

In my office on the wall I have a plaque where all my race numbers hang. I have kept them ever since I first began becoming active again.  They are from Road, Triathlon and Relay races. Each one has a different meaning to me and usually a great story.  Yesterday I added another one, but this one is special and different from all the rest.  Yesterday at Antelope was my first Did Not Finish (DNF).

Antelope Island was beautiful as ever.  I love the rugged landscape.  The full moon reflecting off the water of the Great Salt Lake was something to behold. It was so bright in fact that I started with out a head lamp and ran for over an hour in the dark.  There is something to be said about a good night run.  I had the opportunity to run with Jennylin Eaton as well as a man named Dimitry.  Jennylin went on to crush the women's record at 10:06 and taking 4th overall.  Amazing.

So what went wrong? I had fought through an IT band issue on the last climb coming up over the ridge to the east side. What I could start to feel then was my cold that I had been hoping was gone was manifesting itself into my chest. By the time I hit Garr Ranch both nostrils were in full gush mode. My arm warmers were soaked with snot and I had resorted to solely breathing out of my mouth and could feel a growing labor to my breathing. 

By the time I hit 9 mile gate I realized that this wasn't the normal snot patrol that I deal with when I run, it was different.  I felt like I just couldn't breathe.  After the awesome volunteers helped me on my way I buckled down for the rest of the trip. Occasionally stopping to rest with my hands on my knees as if I had just finished a climb.  I was getting pissed (for lack of a better word).  

Fast forward to the end of the first loop. I think that I knew that it was over by the time I reached the starting line.  I just reshuffled my things into a pack and took off as fast as I could to start the second loop.  It quickly became apparent that that no mater how much I wanted to push myself to finish it just wasn't going to happen.  I walked the entire first hill to the top where I could see White Rock Bay and the Elephant Head Aide station 5 miles away on the far side of the valley.  It was the first time I though I should turn back and DNF.   I told myself that if I could make it to Elephant Head that I would know what I should do.  

I reached the first section of downhill heading down into White Rock Bay knowing what I should do but unable to force myself to do it.  At one point I actually turned around and started walking back to the start for about 10 feet and then got mad at myself and turned back around.  It was at that point I told myself that I needed to prove what I thought I needed to do.  So I took off running the downhill to the ridge line.  I didn't stop no matter how bad my lungs were feeling.  It felt like a brick was on my chest.  Like I was trying to breathe through a wet towel.  I reached the last section of downhill and doubled over to my knees.  I still couldn't bring myself to admit it.  I just didn't want to do it. I reached the dirt road at the bottom of the valley and sat on the bench just looking at the beauty around me.  Even then I still had the fight in me.  I got up and started up the hill to Elephant Head. 

My lungs were screaming but my legs were fine.  I kept telling myself that it was all in my head.  That if my legs were still feeling fine then I should continue the race.  I crested the ridge and walked to the aide station.  I stood there for what seemed like an eternity.  I knew what I needed to do but still couldn't bring myself to do it.  After about 15 min I notified the volunteers and turned around for my 5.5 mile hike back to the start.  

It was a bit emotional at first.  Having trained all summer to prepare myself for this last race of the year. But I felt a peace that I couldn't explain.  I had proved to myself that it wasn't just a selfish desire but rather a need.  Most people that know me, know that I would rather drag my bruised and broken body across the finish line than quit.  It was a long walk back but I was happy.  Jim even gave me a 50k finishers mug which I though was nice but I didn't feel I deserved it.  I wanted that dang 100k!  

So for now I have my last race bib of the season to stare me in the face and light a fire underneath me to help me reach my goals for next year.  Oh and it will be a great year for sure!