tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21210234029184162582024-03-20T03:17:21.714-06:00Refuse to Quitjunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03483517319335792896noreply@blogger.comBlogger308125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121023402918416258.post-42926565834152656012015-02-24T22:39:00.001-07:002015-02-27T13:12:57.306-07:00Antelope Canyon 50 Milerby Craig<br />
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Some ultras are about self-discovery. For me that's what running 100 miles often comes down to in the later miles. I feel pretty comfortable at the 50 mile distance, however, I don't generally go through that same process since much of it takes place much later in a longer race. But I also haven't really run a 50 miler since 2010, so I didn't know what I was in for (I did attempt one last fall and DNFed at mile 28 due to injury). What I found was that racing at that distance is more about the other people I am with rather than about myself.<br />
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My race at the Antelope Canyon 50 miler can be broken down into 5 main sections, each associated to a specific person or group of people. They are what made my race-day so successful; not my time or overall placement, but the people they were and the experience I had with them.<br />
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Matt Gunn, race director, and the <a href="http://www.grandcircletrails.com/" target="_blank">Ultra-Adventure</a> crew put together a monster race this year. With 30 miles of miserable sand, the course was relentless. But thanks to widely spaced and incredible slot canyons and pristine overlooks, the sand became secondary to the whole experience. I would be remiss if I didn't thank Matt and his team for putting on such a great event. If you can mentally grasp running through that much sand then this is a race you can't miss.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horseshoe Bend aid. Photo: Matt Williams</td></tr>
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<b>The Wasatch Mountain Wranglers</b><br />
Our local running group was at the race in full force. We had spent most of Friday together, playing at Horseshoe Bend, eating dinner, drinking Slurpees, and just laughing and enjoying each other's company. I love this quality time with them, so to have spent the first 5 miles of the race running with Jennilyn, Scott, Steve, and others was a real treat. The hardest part about running with Scott is that he makes me laugh so hard I nearly have to stop running to catch my breath. I had hoped to run with all of them longer, but they stopped at the first aid station to drop headlamps and jackets and I continued on. I didn't know then that it would be the last time I would see them until the finish. It was because of them, however, that my mood was so high and that emotional foundation carried me through the rest of the race.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jumping onto nothing. Photo: Jenna Bradford</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scott Wesemann near Page Rim aid. Photo: Matt Williams</td></tr>
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<b>Matt Baird and Laverne Lindsay</b><br />
Matt was kind of tucked in behind me from pretty early on. After Antelope Canyon things spread out a little and we were able to converse more. We ran all the way out to Horseshoe Bend together, chatting about nothing important and just taking in the beauty of the course.<br />
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At one point, as we made our way across the rim of the canyon I came across a 50k runner who was struggling to get down a tricky portion of the course. I stopped to grab her hands and help her down a series of small drop-offs. She was so concerned she was messing up my race and slowing me down. I assured her I had no intentions of just leaving her there. The most important aspect of racing is that everyone gets back to the finish successfully. There were times throughout the day when I'd get to a tricky section and think about her and hoping she would be ok as she moved through there.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laverne Lindsay at Waterhole aid. Photo: unknown</td></tr>
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<b>Jesse Scott</b><br />
Jesse latched on behind Matt and I at the rim of Horseshoe Bend. He's speedy and I'm very comfortable on technical slickrock, so it was no surprise that after only a few minutes of running across it he and I were on our own and making our way across the desert to the other canyon. We talked about our running backgrounds, work, and other random things. It was hot, one of the few times the sun was directly on us and his company made the crossing easier, even when we got off course and had to redirect a few times. He fell back just before Waterhole Aid station and I never saw him after that.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jesse Scott above Horseshoe Bend</td></tr>
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<b>Steve Kent</b><br />
After exiting Waterhole Canyon there is a steep, sandy climb to the top of the canyon. I could see several 50k racers ahead of me on the climb and one person just finishing it who took off at a good trot. I immediately pegged him as a 50 miler and began to follow him. He was maintaining a better running pace than me, but he must have stayed longer at Horseshoe Bend aid station (2nd time) longer than me because I caught him within a quarter mile of leaving. We exchanged pleasantries and then ran together for the next hour and a half. If we weren't running next to each other I was out front and felt like he was pushing me, which was great. Finally, after a couple of fast miles beyond Page Rim aid station, at mile 38, I had to step aside and get my electrolytes under control as I was really dizzy and he pushed quickly on ahead. I only saw him one more time as we passed each other on the short out and back to Lake Powell aid. He would go on to finish 10 minutes ahead of me. That's really impressive.<br />
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<b>The Wasatch Mountain Wranglers x2</b><br />
Finishing my race in 8:25 was very satisfying. I had exceeded my own goals and done so feeling very proud of the effort. I came into the finish with none of my closest friends there. They were all out either still running, pacing, or shooting film. I don't have any ill feelings of finishing alone, it's something I have gotten used to. And to assume I was alone is incorrect, there was a full finish line of people there, many whom I did know or quickly got to know. I would go on to spend the next several hours watching and filming friends finish, something I value more than my own.<br />
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<i>Jennilyn</i> was the first of my friends to finish. She ran 9:15, took first female, and set a new course record. I had spent the last 4 miles of my race expecting her to pass me at any minute. It's amazing how strong she has gotten in the last 8 months. I was really proud to see her finishing so strong.<br />
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<i>Scott</i> was the next to come across. What I love about any finish Scott has is that he looks like he just got run over by a car. It's because he gives everything he has in those remaining miles and leaves it all out on the course. I respect that in him in a way I've never understood of myself.<br />
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<i>Steve </i>seems to represent the heart and soul of ultrarunning; always positive and continually supporting others along the way. Even as he crossed the finish line he was all smiles and quick to congratulate others.<br />
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Finally, <i>Jenna</i>. I've been working and coaching her for a few months now in preparation for this race. I went out and saw her at mile 43 to take her a jacket. Watching her cross the finish line was one of the most rewarding moments of my running career. I was and am beyond pleased for her and her performance.<br />
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There were other Wranglers who also had great races - Kendall, Pete, Davy, Jim, and more. Too many to speak individually of, but all worth recognizing.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jennilyn Eaton crossing the finish line, 1st Female</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kendall Wimmer near Horseshoe Bend. Photo: Matt Williams</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pete Stoughton Photo: Matt Williams</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jenna Bradford near Horseshoe Bend. Photo: Matt Williams</td></tr>
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And while Matt, Ashley and MVH didn't run the race this weekend, without their help and support it would not have been nearly as good as it turned out. The selflessness to travel down and crew and pace friends is immeasurable. I am so grateful they were there.<br />
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I could have written every detail of my race, most of which would have been some repetitious sentence about the sand. I could have detailed the turns and beauty of the slot canyons or the immensity of the Colorado River gorge. But while the images of those places will remain, it is the influence of the individuals I met and shared that day with that will stick with me far longer. It is they who deserve my voice and my gratitude. And to them I am forever grateful.<br />
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Finally, a big thank you to Matt Gunn and <a href="http://www.grandcircletrails.com/" target="_blank">Ultra-Adventures</a>. What a massively awesome race. Thank you so much. And to Gnarly Nutrition for making the best products ever. I'm so pleased to be associated with them.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4_eNydludnM" width="640"></iframe>junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03483517319335792896noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121023402918416258.post-54756028589290552722015-02-14T15:00:00.000-07:002015-02-14T15:00:32.838-07:00I Heart Sand . . . . and Slot Canyonsby Craig<br />
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Just before the beginning of the year I was selected as an ambassador for<a href="http://www.grandcircletrails.com/" target="_blank"> Ultra-Adventures </a>- a series of races in Utah that represent the Grand Circle. For a few years now I've admired Matt Gunn, the Race Director, and his Green philosophy to racing and the fact that he chooses courses that share his great love for some of the most beautiful places in Utah. As an ambassador I get to the privilege to race several of his events free of charge. The first of which will be this coming Friday, the <a href="http://www.grandcircletrails.com/antelope-canyon-general-info/" target="_blank">Antelope Canyon 50</a> miler.<br />
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Training since the Zion Double Crossing with Jennilyn last November has been spotty, at best. However, the last couple of weeks I've felt like I've put in decent miles and a solid effort. More importantly, I am starting to feel strong and fast again and my foot is only giving me rare pangs of remembered injury. It would be easy to say that I feel like I'm ready to run well. I'd like to say it. But I can't.<br />
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The Antelope Canyon course only boasts 3800 ft of vert along the 50 mile course, a profile I drool for, know I can move fast. However, this course is tough. There are miles and miles of sand, then technical scrambling through slot canyons. And finally there are the stunning views of the Colorado River. Link all of these spectacular sites and the sand together and I fear I won't be moving very fast. And that's just fine.<br />
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This will be a ramp-up race for the Bryce 100 in June. It will be a way for me to test my legs and fitness as I refocus my training on a fun mountain ultra. Regardless of my time it will be a great way to re-introduce my legs to the ultra distance for the first time in the last four months. Better yet, I'll be surrounded by friends and have a great weekend with a group of people I care a great about.<br />
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<br />junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03483517319335792896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121023402918416258.post-4187566355355269622015-02-09T19:27:00.001-07:002015-02-09T19:27:21.203-07:001st Annual Wasatch Mountain Wrangler Formal Meet-Upby Craig<br />
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It's natural for people to generate an idea and make plans toward that idea with the hope that it will evolve into something successful, something that people will appreciate and the organizer will feel satisfied with the results. Thus was my vision for the 1st Annual Wasatch Mountain Wrangler meet-up.<br />
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I've been receiving pressure for months to host an all Wrangler get together. On a few occasions I explored locations to host it, researched catering, and was even ready a few times to put down deposits. But time after time something stopped me from progressing. Eventually someone suggested that we host an adults only 'formal' party. For no other reason than my own self desire to get dressed up with my wife, I immediately agreed that it was a fine idea and thus the vision began.<br />
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All photos taken by Morgan Williams</div>
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Thanks to many amazing connections within our own community (Kendall Wimmer at Thanksgiving Point, Jennifer Hanna at Zenergy Massage, Altra Footwear, Jim Skaggs with the Buffalo Run races, and others) I had what I thought was a genuinely good plan for the biggest bash of the year - a celebration of all this incredible running group accomplished in 2014. I even went as far as to create awards in different categories for Wranglers who stood out. These were decided by public vote on an anonymous survey.<br />
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I spent the better part of the 3 days prior to the event nearly sick to my stomach with nerves and anticipation. Every part of me wanted it to go well. But what actually transpired transcended even my wildest imagination.<br />
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Hosted in the main banquet hall at the Thanksgiving Point Clubhouse we were greeted with an immaculate spread of tables and decorations, with a large area in the middle for dancing. At 7pm people began to trickle in, then in groups, all decked out in beautiful formal wear. The men mostly in suits (a few in tuxes) and the women in beautiful formal gowns and dresses. While not all participated, most came in suggested running shoes. We were a running group, so it only made sense.<br />
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At 7:30 dinner was served as people sat at tables with old and new friends, introducing normally uncomfortable spouses. This was no regular running conglomeration, it was date night and non-threatening, where everyone, runner or not was able to feel comfortable and welcomed. By 8pm most people had gotten through their meals and I stood to deliver a message of welcome and raffle off a few of our donated prizes, followed by our awards. In due respect, you can read them below:<br />
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Mr Wasatch - Kendall Wimmer<br />
Ms Wasatch - Jennilyn Eaton<br />
Most Improved Female Wrangler - Kenzie Barlow<br />
Most Improved Male Wrangler - Aaron Williams<br />
Most Inspirational Wrangler - Matthew Van Horn<br />
Peak Bagger Award - Same Jewkes<br />
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My idea for the awards was to just honor a few people for their accomplishments. What became quickly apparent was that these awards were a big deal. People were genuinely moved and seemed to have taken great pride in their winning. I had no idea it would have such an impact. Congratulations to everyone who was nominated and to those selected.<br />
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After the awards and a few more prizes to raffle Matt Van Horn debuted his trailer to his forthcoming Pony Express 100 documentary. It was truly beautiful and we are all excited for the full length story. Aaron Williams collected video from all sorts of Wranglers over the last month and compiled what might be the greatest and most hilarious collection of running vidoes I've ever seen. Finally, Brendan Rensink presented a photo highlight of the Wrangler Christmas gift exchange, something so cool I would have to write an entire additional post to describe it.<br />
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With the formalities of a get together over, the presentation table was moved out of the way, the lights were turned low, and the music turned up. The next two hours would be spent dancing and partying with some of the greatest people I've ever had the honor of knowing. Personally, it was a night to remember as my wife has not looked that beautiful since the day we were married. She was a vision and stole the scene in her beautiful gown and magnetic personality. While many left to get home to children those who stayed laughed and danced, made new friendships and solidified others. Eventually the last of the party trickled out to get home to their beds. The few who remained helped to take down the set-up and make sure we said our appreciations to the establishment.<br />
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I don't know where to begin to express my gratitude to this amazing group of people who attended, who sacrificed a night with family or other commitments, who made the financial commitment to attend, and then show up and support their friends. I'm blessed to have had the support of close friends who offered to help and take up responsibilities I just didn't have time for (Matt, Jenna, Aaron, and others). I love this community and I thank each of you who have allowed me to be involved, to have an influence, and be allowed to host something that is now so special to me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Until next year!<br />
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To our sponsors:<br />
Altra Running<br />
Trail and Ultra Running<br />
Zenergy<br />
Buffalo Run Races<br />
Ultra Adventures<br />
Wasatch Running<br />
Dugway Proving Groundsjunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03483517319335792896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121023402918416258.post-9185914539074888382015-02-03T10:49:00.003-07:002015-02-03T10:49:47.826-07:00Lone Peak- Winter ascent 1/24/15In early January Matt Van Horn posted his plans to make a winter attempt on Lone Peak. MVH has been climbing Lone in winter for several years now and knows the mountain very well. In summer Lone peak is one of the more challenging peaks to climb in the Wasatch, gaining 7400 feet of elevation, crossing some very rugged terrain and finishing off with an exposed summit ridge scramble. In winter the peak becomes much more technical and provides more of a mountaineering challenge, as the rocks on the summit ridge become icy and the risks of a fall are significantly increased. The winter difficulty varies depending on conditions, so it is advised to make this attempt with someone that has experience navigating the sketchy sections, as well as mountaineering experience to make judgements on conditions.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Craig at sunrise</td></tr>
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Craig and Jennilyn both expressed an interest in joining the group, but they had commitments later in the afternoon, so the 3 of us decided to start early ahead of the others, hoping we could make it up and back a little faster. We met at the Orson Smith trailhead and set off at 4:50 AM. We made quick work of the first few miles of Cherry Canyon until we reached the snow. It had been 5-6 years since I had been on this route and a few years for Craig as well. We took a wrong turn and ended up on the wrong side of the ridge. We post-holed for a while and finally got fed up and put on the snowshoes. We had to navigate some pretty awful terrain and it was quite cold. We were on a steep snow slope with a hard crust on top and then sugary powder below, making it difficult to move even with the snowshoes. After negotiating some boulders on the snowshoes and then getting into more bad snow our stoke for the summit was quickly dying. Getting off route slowed us down a lot and the mood wasn't great.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/LP4_zps45804a09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/LP4_zps45804a09.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jennilyn on Enniss Peak</td></tr>
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Eventually we made it back to our route and started climbing the frozen slopes of Draper Ridge. The climbing was much faster and my attitude started to change, but it was very cold and now we had a stinging cold breeze to contend with. About a half mile from the top Craig started having issues with his new snowshoes. Jennilyn made a stop to change her socks and I started to get very cold. We got moving again and topped out on the ridge where Craig's foot came completely out of the snowshoe squashing any hope of a summit bid. Jennilyn was running out of time and both of them decided they were going to turn back. I was pretty bummed because I was really looking forward to getting to the summit, but I was hopeful that I could possibly meet up with the other group. After a long stop for Craig to mess with the snowshoe we started up to Enniss Peak. About half way up we saw the front-runners from MVH group traversing the slope up to Enniss and my mood quickly changed because now the summit was back on for me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/LP3_zps695ee56a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/LP3_zps695ee56a.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Travis A. ans Steve B. with Lone Peak</td></tr>
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MVH had started with over 30 people at 6:00 AM and now a group of about 20 remained for the summit push. After tagging Enniss Peak we went down to the cowboy camp and then up and into the cirque, traversing high on the western wall to the shoulder of the mountain. The sun was out, the sky was blue and I thought we were going to have great weather for the summit bid, but as soon as we reached the shoulder a large cloud quickly moved in and enveloped the upper mountain. The wind picked up, the temps dropped and we were treated to a rare snow rainbow to the northwest. Incredible.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Navigating the cirque. Photo by: Kendall Wimmer</td></tr>
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MVH gave everyone the 'don't die' speech and warned those without mountaineering experience to stop at the safe spot and not attempt the summit. Most of the group dropped their snowshoes here and started to head up the slope. I needed to take care of some 'business' in the trees and got behind the group, so I tried to quickly catch up. High up on the shoulder the wind was really whipping around and I stopped to put on my crampons and get out my ice axe. It was nasty trying to get geared up and my hands went numb making what should have been simple adjustments more time consuming. I finally got geared up about the same time as Sam and we both went up to tackle the ridge. The wind was really blowing over the ridge adding to the challenge. It no longer felt like a typical group run up a foothill peak, this was real winter mountaineering and climbers started turning back as the comfort level just wasn't there. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/IMG_57891_zps9c5cdb5a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/IMG_57891_zps9c5cdb5a.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting the ridge. Photo by Sam Jewkes </td></tr>
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The last time I was up there in winter the conditions allowed you to get very close to the summit without getting into the serious terrain, but this year the angle of the snow required the use of my axe a lot sooner and Sam decided to stop there because he didn't have an axe. It was a smart decision and he snapped a few pics of me as I ascended up higher on the ridge. The wind had really picked up and that added some spice to the already challenging ridge. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/IMG_58002_zps1a14d047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/IMG_58002_zps1a14d047.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ridge. Photo by Sam Jewkes</td></tr>
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After a few short knife-edge sections I came to the first technical rock. KalinaZ and another guy were there and decided to stop because they didn't feel comfortable getting over the rock. This was one of the most sketchy moves to be made. In summer I think this is the crux of the whole ridge. There is a boulder you have to either climb over or around. The boulder was covered in snow/ice and the ledge to the left where I go in the summer was covered in ice. There isn't a very good hold on the boulder, so I took my time and worked around on the ledge. At that point it is about 4 feet to the ridge and you have to jump down and land on the small step (with sheer drops on both sides) or down-climb the icy boulder. AaronW was there waiting for me and after taking some time I finally jumped down. From there you have to traverse a small knife edge section. The exposure is significant and I took my time on each step and used my ice axe as a self-belay.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MVH on the first technical rock. Photo by: Kendall Wimmer</td></tr>
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After the knife edge you come to the Big Bad Rock. Depending on snow conditions this can sometimes be the crux of the route. This year there was a nice ledge to the left and it wasn't too bad traversing around it. Another knife edge brings you to the ledges just below the summit boulders. The exposure is severe, but there were good holds and some decent snow piles that I could get purchase with my ice axe for protection. There was one scary move just below the summit that didn't have a very good foot hold. You had kind of swing onto the slope and really trust that you could get your foot to stick in the snow. From there it was a short quick scramble to the summit boulder.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/Lone3_zpsf03cebef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/Lone3_zpsf03cebef.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making the final move before the top. Photo by: Stephen Lindsay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
MVH, KendallW, TravisA, me, SteveB Aaron, and a few guys that I didn't know were there on top. Stephen Lindsay had already summited and was on his way down. I think 10 of us made it to the summit. What an adrenaline rush. After some celebratory high fives, yells and pictures we made our way back across the ridge. After negotiating the first boulder I knew I was safe and could breathe a lot easier the rest of the way. Back at my pack the hose on my hydration bladder was completely frozen and I was starting to feel dehydrated. Kendall gave me some of his burrito, some nuts and some water and SteveB gave me some candy. I could immediately feel the energy boost and we quickly put on our snowshoes and made our way off of the shoulder and back down into the cirque. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/1505518_10155090518255627_7686850199983780788_n_zps5eb47cc3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/1505518_10155090518255627_7686850199983780788_n_zps5eb47cc3.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the summit with Aaron Williams and Brian Peterson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I spent about 15 minutes with the bite valve for my bladder in my mouth trying to thaw it out and eventually I was able to get some water flowing again. The descent back down the mountain was a slog. I was pretty tired and really wanted to get down. The views of the valley below were stunning as we had some really cool cloud formations forming. I stayed with MVH, Kendall and SteveB most of the way down. We finally took off the snowshoes with about 3.5 miles left and it felt great to get them off. The lower trail was now pretty icy which slowed us down some and then we had a little mud and I finally reached the trailhead about 10 hours after starting. It was definitely one of the most memorable days I've had in the Wasatch with old friends and new ones. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/10953548_755102717953371_507533651_n_zps736ac4ab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/10953548_755102717953371_507533651_n_zps736ac4ab.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going home. Photo by Kendall Wimmer </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Scott Wesemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135008809898732686noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121023402918416258.post-14102287243433685482015-01-11T18:30:00.001-07:002015-01-11T18:30:59.374-07:00A Year That is Coming Togetherby Craig<br />
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Several months ago I was inspired to start writing again; not the remedial journalistic stuff I drop on here, but real, meaningful writing that expresses a deeper side of me. Sometimes it comes out in the form of poetry, other times as a short story or even just a random series of words and incoherent sentences. None of it really sees the light of day. But it has become important to me again. This exploration into deeper self-evaluation has seeped into other aspects of my life, including running.<br />
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This year, after some running soul searching I have chosen to do a few things differently than the last couple of years. And as long as I can stay injury free and get in some good training, I plan to be very busy.<br />
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First and foremost my focus this year will be to make <a href="http://trailandultrarunning.com/">http://trailandultrarunning.com</a> (TAUR) as successful as possible. We have refocused the store on selling our own brand. We currently sell hats and stickers, will move into buffs in the next week, and will introduce shirts and sunglasses in the next month. As advertising on our site increases and revenue grows the plan is to start growing and visiting the community we've worked so hard to build. We firmly believe in brand authenticity and will continue to strive to protect that.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yKqb6qjfJWvH181cQWbt_cuFWQQY5mNjHzVHkX-VtCh784GOPMpdh2SmdZJkA6MF_6whVBs8ghdxmukoEJSQ9AjaaIdY_TvLyxJMvfknfKW1FAeJAfWcDt4nyVW4wHZKzI4h6biPLnI/s1600/Trail+and+Ultra+Running+Store.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yKqb6qjfJWvH181cQWbt_cuFWQQY5mNjHzVHkX-VtCh784GOPMpdh2SmdZJkA6MF_6whVBs8ghdxmukoEJSQ9AjaaIdY_TvLyxJMvfknfKW1FAeJAfWcDt4nyVW4wHZKzI4h6biPLnI/s1600/Trail+and+Ultra+Running+Store.jpg" height="368" width="640" /></a></div>
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Because of that focus on TAUR I have decided <b>not </b>to take on any sponsors that I feel would be in conflict with the work I'm doing there. We do a lot of product reviews and it would be ungrateful of me to review and promote several brands, while at the same time representing an obvious bias towards the one that is sponsoring me. Therefore, the only actual product brand I will continue to represent in 2015 is <a href="http://gognarly.com/" target="_blank">Gnarly Nutrition</a>, a health nutrition company. Since we don't review, sell, or promote any recovery nutrition brands there is no conflict and I am happy to once again be a part of the team. More importantly than that, they are a brand I truly respect and I know understand and respect my vision towards running.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjru4vuoHBxCOaS6dUa2Z0-SC8SUweJ5AwUxgenbeBcVUmhMEB5b6P-1B_wfBrf32rQqEjs2laoPEiZwWKCgIn-QeMkwhJGHL_VDeeEJSw6Bx2UAeNSimrPHz7Hz78W5y3214ttGiZ4Hdo/s1600/Gnarly+Sports+Nutrition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjru4vuoHBxCOaS6dUa2Z0-SC8SUweJ5AwUxgenbeBcVUmhMEB5b6P-1B_wfBrf32rQqEjs2laoPEiZwWKCgIn-QeMkwhJGHL_VDeeEJSw6Bx2UAeNSimrPHz7Hz78W5y3214ttGiZ4Hdo/s1600/Gnarly+Sports+Nutrition.jpg" height="322" width="640" /></a></div>
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The one other sponsor I have taken on this year is <a href="http://www.grandcircletrails.com/" target="_blank">Ultra-Adventures</a>. These races, directed by Matt Gunn have always been a favorite of mine. At first glance it might just seem like an easy way to race without the weight of heavy fees, but it is so much more than that. I have gotten to know Matt over the last few years and it is his running philosophy and race direction attitude that really makes me want to represent the company. I would encourage all of you to go to their site and read their <a href="http://www.grandcircletrails.com/what-we-do/" target="_blank">What We Do</a>. They are much more than that and I plan to spend this year expounding on the relationship they have with some of the most beautiful places in this country.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxk_HysTNToCLyBxtqtXNXEp86v57rA5QduxeyRf27mW5WtPPrs6nN0ntFvEmdtjZSaxCKLLqH8yCxtDDZj88-9UlkGwmN7KZ1G4vvuN4myXiyLHEDxuXzsIk6VvpJK0MspsFAj-8be0/s1600/The+Grand+Circle+Trail+Series.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxk_HysTNToCLyBxtqtXNXEp86v57rA5QduxeyRf27mW5WtPPrs6nN0ntFvEmdtjZSaxCKLLqH8yCxtDDZj88-9UlkGwmN7KZ1G4vvuN4myXiyLHEDxuXzsIk6VvpJK0MspsFAj-8be0/s1600/The+Grand+Circle+Trail+Series.jpg" height="362" width="640" /></a></div>
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With that relationship I plan to do the following races (UA races will be indicated as such):<br />
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<ul>
<li>February - Antelope Island 50 (UA)</li>
<li>May - Grand Canyon 100 (UA)</li>
<li>June - Bryce 100 (UA)</li>
<li>August - Tushers 100 (UA)</li>
<li>September - Wasatch 100 (acceptance pending)</li>
</ul>
<div>
Unorganized adventures are where my heart truly lies, therefore I also plan to do a bunch of adventure running (no surprise there). Much of that calendar is still up in the air, but I can say that the adventures of 2015 will be much bigger and more aggressive than ever. My current plan is to push to new distances (hoping to get close to a 150 miler) and do bigger peaks. More to come on that later.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5SweTbVbpapTEwMKUiIgEDP_09Y-Ow3nM_bDxq2jVJY2tCo7o-h1vLiaNXIUCGMsqeVZJgvZd_8xLNZSJNWLT1a6ebFSHWplmaPeZguFlT4sWImZ-cGyHmJLwR-prhdPwjr9YdylpB4w/s1600/10645221_10204165350561537_7650573105448260898_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5SweTbVbpapTEwMKUiIgEDP_09Y-Ow3nM_bDxq2jVJY2tCo7o-h1vLiaNXIUCGMsqeVZJgvZd_8xLNZSJNWLT1a6ebFSHWplmaPeZguFlT4sWImZ-cGyHmJLwR-prhdPwjr9YdylpB4w/s1600/10645221_10204165350561537_7650573105448260898_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Skyline Drive (photo by Scott Wesemann)</div>
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In all, 2015 should be an absolute MONSTER year and one I hope to bring to all of you. Much of what I write and focus on will be on TAUR, but I do plan to share all of my adventures here, along with the rest of the Refuse 2 Quit crew. Best of luck everyone and I can't wait to see you all out on the trails.</div>
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<br />junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03483517319335792896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121023402918416258.post-33068435331914618282015-01-06T15:33:00.000-07:002015-01-06T15:41:45.027-07:00119 peaks in 2014: By Scott WesemannI've been a peak bagger for over 20 years now. When I stood on my first major summit, Lone Peak, back in the early nineties I had a series of emotions rush through my body. While standing on that lone summit rock filled with adrenaline I took in the 360 degrees of vistas and I knew right there and then that I wanted to climb 'em all. I spent the next several years making lists of peaks and slowly bagging them. Fast forward to early 2009. I was out of shape and fat. I was reading the intro to one of my favorite books, The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Chuting-Gallery-Wasatch-Mountains/dp/0962193577">Chuting Gallery</a> by Andrew Mclean and I was inspired by this motley crew of back country skiers that got up in the middle of the night a few times per week to climb up their favorite chutes in the Wasatch for a good ski before work. If they could do it so could I and I decided I would get up early a day each week for the rest of the year to climb a peak in the Wasatch. My good friends Craig and MVH were with me on most of these climbs. My lack of fitness prompted me to start running to get into better shape and within a year I had discovered trail running and the rest is history. Since the start of 2010 I've stood on 467 summits. Each peak has been an adventure and I can say without question that I've enjoyed every one. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/4035661_zps31dd5083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/4035661_zps31dd5083.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fat me on the top of Colorado circa 2000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
By the numbers: I climbed 27 unique peaks throughout the year with 119 total summit ascents. Mt. Wire had the most summit visits at 26. Here are some of the highlights:<br />
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<br />
- January group run from Tibblefork reservoir in American Fork to the summit of Hidden Peak. With an approach of 10 miles on a snow packed track we made our way to the backside of the Alpine ridge. It was very cold, but we never noticed except when we stopped for a quick break. It was fun to see the looks on the faces of the Snowbird employees that were in a shack high on the back side of the mountain when they saw us there. We took a direct route straight up to the peak, going off the groomed track and hit the top in the middle of the night. 11,000 feet in the cold dark night can be intimidating 10 miles from your car, but we took a few minutes to warm up in the shack before the run down. Incredible.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/1609638_10202721887383846_1030914307_n1_zpsb1d953dd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/1609638_10202721887383846_1030914307_n1_zpsb1d953dd.jpg" height="249" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hidden Peak with Leslie, Craig, Me, Jennilyn, Jen</td></tr>
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<br />
-In April I climbed Dude Peak with Jennilyn and MattW from City Creek Canyon. We had great conversation and a lot of laughs on the way to Dude and then from there stayed on the ridge hitting two more peaks covering terrain where I had never been. Then we did a bush-whack descent back into City Creek that was far too long and arduous, but full of laughs and colorful language. We also found poop on a stick and a moose rack that Matt carried back to the car. 15 miles of awesome. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/IMG_0401_zps075acc6a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/IMG_0401_zps075acc6a.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dude!</td></tr>
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<br />
-Mt. Mahogany/Big Baldy with Jennilyn and Craig on June 1st- One of the best runs of the year. I loved seeing Jennilyn's face when I told her we were going straight up the steep loose shale/scree slope on the south ridge of Mahogany. This run had it all: Mountain meadows filled with wild flowers. Craig and I taking engagement photos. Fast downhill ridge running. Singing in the meadows. Moose. Not another soul in sight. Multiple summits. Fun downhill trails and a shower in the cold falls. Heaven. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/10376044_10203642081068113_1561613787367069926_n1_zpse9f6d783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/10376044_10203642081068113_1561613787367069926_n1_zpse9f6d783.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes its not about the summit at all</td></tr>
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<br />
-In July I took my wife Kristina up Squaw Peak for the first time. We had a blast talking and laughing on our way up and the views from the top are always good. Summits are always sweet, but enjoying that view and solitude with my girl was one of the best memories of the year. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/IMG_0530_zps42509e54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/IMG_0530_zps42509e54.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kristina on Squaw</td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
-On July 24th MattW and I celebrated Pioneer Day by climbing an old friend, Kessler Peak. It had been 15 years since my last visit. What was I thinking? Kessler has one of the best views in the Wasatch and Matt and I laughed while we explored some old mines and playfully bounded across the summit ridge smiling the whole time. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/IMG_2773_zps2071ccde.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/IMG_2773_zps2071ccde.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kessler</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
-Hidden, AF Twins, Red Baldy with Craig & Jennilyn- Pre-dawn start from Snowbird. In typical fashion we made our way up the service road laughing and chatting away when someone yelled COUGAR! With Craig as our human shield we pushed ahead only to find a small deer just off the trail. All of the smoke in the valley made one of the best sunrises of the year from Hidden Peak. The next few hours we spent laughing and scrambling across the rocky ridges tagging the AF Twins, Red Stack and Red Baldy. Views. Smiles. Bliss. We ended with a dip in White Pine lake and then smiled all the way back to the White Pine trailhead. One of my all time favorite trail runs. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/10410325_10202412414895284_3332680102792288959_n1_zps0817588e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/10410325_10202412414895284_3332680102792288959_n1_zps0817588e.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American Fork Twins</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
-Timpanogos: I tagged Timp 4 times in 2014. If you go at the right time to avoid the crowds this is the best run in the Wasatch. I was fortunate to see mountain goats 3/4 trips up and the most memorable summit was an early weekday morning with Craig, MattW and Brent. We laughed so hard from the saddle to the summit and then our jaws dropped on top as the clouds that had enveloped the summit parted just in time to expose the incredible views below. Wow. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/IMG_0589_zpse1cdd502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/IMG_0589_zpse1cdd502.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just below the summit of Timpanogos</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
-Mt. Raymond: This summit provides some of the sweetest vistas you can taste in the Wasatch. An early morning run with Bob, Craig and Ashley was one of the best of the year. An early morning storm brought clouds and the threat of bad weather, but we lucked out and missed just about all of it. What we did have were lots and lots of laughs with new friends. Bonds were formed, friendships made. Another perfect morning in the Wasatch. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/photo_zpsdb419ab7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/photo_zpsdb419ab7.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Raymond</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
-Ben Lomond/Willard: With MattW, Jennilyn, Bob and Ashley- This is the second year in a row that we have made an early morning visit to these two incredible peaks. This is one of the best runs in the Wasatch, probably in my top 5. We had a perfect day laughing and running on stunning single track trail with views in every direction. The run from BL to Willard might be the best ridge running I did all year. We spooked up a herd of mountain goats just below the summit of Willard and enjoyed one of the best peak bagging days of 2014. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/IMG_0753_zps35e2bc4d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/IMG_0753_zps35e2bc4d.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Willard Peak</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
-Devil's Castle with MattW, Aaron and Cait: This is one of the best ridge scrambles in the Wasatch. With some early fall snow we had a few dicey sections on our way to the ridge, but from the saddle conditions could not have been better. We had a stupendous time tagging all 3 peaks from west to east and then enjoyed a little spice on the snowy descent back to the cars. It was another perfect day. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/10660160_10204816810482319_9020327946332046366_n1_zps1e3502b1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/10660160_10204816810482319_9020327946332046366_n1_zps1e3502b1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Aaron on Devil's Castle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
-Box Elder Peak- In 2013 Craig, Jennilyn and I thought we tagged Box Elder on a really fun early morning fall run. What we tagged however was South Box Elder, so we had to go back again this year on another gorgeous Fall day. The colors were absolutely brilliant, probably the best I have seen all year in the high mountain meadows. This remote summit doesn't see as much action as her next-door neighbor, Timpanogos, but the views might be just as good. It was definitely a stunning day in the hills. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/IMG_60021_zpsb3fd9f2f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e351/climb14ers/IMG_60021_zpsb3fd9f2f.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jennilyn just below Box Elder Peak</td></tr>
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-Mt. Wire/View Benchmark, #118 and 119: With a few days left in 2014 I decided to count up my peaks for the year. Mistake. I discovered that I was one short of tying my record for ascents in a year and two away from breaking it. The problem was the forecast until the end of the year was the coldest weather of the winter so far and high winds. Tara, Jennilyn and Matt met me at the Mt. Wire trailhead early on Dec 31st. The wind was howling. I noticed one of the street signs swinging wildly and the temperature was reading 1 degree. Somehow we all got out of the car and found our way on the trail. This was crazy! The wind chill had to be in the negative-thirties or somewhere in that range. The wind gusts were over 50 mph and we suffered our way up the snowy slopes. The final push up the ridge was surreal. Wind so strong it was pushing us over. Cold. Unlike anything I have ever felt before. On top we fiddled with my pack to find my phone for a picture. I took my glove off for 30 seconds to snap the shot and my hand went numb. Then tingly. It felt like a surge of electricity went through it for the next 10 minutes. Even in the harsh conditions we all laughed and had a great time and I'm sure none of us will ever forget it. After we finished Wire I was done. There was no way I would go back up to break my record. Not a chance. After talking with my wife she convinced me to go tag another peak, so on my way home from work I met KendallW for an ascent up View Benchmark from Vintage View in Draper. For every peak I count I have to gain at least 1500 feet of vert and with this run I'd get over 1700. We had a fun time chatting and grinding out the final summit of the year on snowy trails. It was still bitter cold, but nothing like Wire earlier in the day. The final day is what it was all about for me in 2014. Great friends. They rallied at the end to help me achieve my goal in spite of the harsh conditions. Heck, it's hard enough to get MattW up Wire in perfect conditions, so it meant a lot that they stayed and went up with me and Kendall joined me up VB with almost no notice. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">119!</td></tr>
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It was a great year, an incredible year with new friends and old ones. I'm psyched for 2015- More adventure, good times, great friends, laughs and peaks. <br />
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<br />Scott Wesemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135008809898732686noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121023402918416258.post-68578096317438480572014-12-22T12:48:00.001-07:002014-12-22T14:18:41.599-07:002014 - Finding the Love, Againby Craig<br />
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I think I'm on year #5 of writing this post. It's odd to think that I've been running in the mountains and deserts for this long, that I have this much to look back on. Gratefully, I'm not looking back on the entirety of those 5 years, only the last 12 months. And then looking forward to 2015.<br />
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This past year I only ran one race. Hard to believe, even for me. And it was early, March, to be exact. I went into the Buffalo Run 100 with high hopes, only to walk away disappointed with the result. No excuses, it was my race to kill and I didn't, simple as that. Not every race is going to be stellar, unfortunately this one was the last in a long line of poor races. So much so that I chose not to race anything for the rest of the year. Instead, I made adventure running my focus and by so doing rekindled my love for not only the trails and deserts of Utah, but also for the 100 mile distance.<br />
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2014 transitioned from a year of accomplishments to a year of relationships. It was something natural and nothing I sought after. I solidified existing ones; those so familiar already, but always fragile. Knowing that because of this year they are now immortalized makes me happy and comfortable. Then to rekindle old friendships that I never would have expected to resurface, how invigorating that is. I'm grateful for those. It means that over time, while people can change and be separated by distance and circumstance, friendships can remain and continue. Finally, to create new ones. Creating new acquaintances is simple, we do it every day. But having one develop into something truly genuine and real is rare. These are what I cherish most. This is what running is to me.<br />
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My relationship with nature is what drives me to move. 2014 offered moments of such clarity in that relationship that by November I had rekindled a relationship I felt had been tarnished through poor racing results.<br />
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Mine and Jennilyn's blind attempt at the WURL (Wasatch Ultra Ridge Linkup) was that first moment of connectivity I had been longing for. I recall sections of the Cottonwood Ridge as I moved ahead of Jennilyn and Ben where I had instances of emotional kinship with my surroundings that were almost surreal. While the attempt itself was unsuccessful, what came from that was the beginnings of what would come to define my year.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvYk2V8ga1vDo3EQAKBjtosjcZGFMIQsdca5Ek-UuFd8o_pgZ0p2OM-JZllTVtE86C09U-lzjBeU1QYzyHKpvhrjcZ-hwbCuLiuPeopWPE-lfXlip65z8Y2bHVRhOkf7H-P9YUlm5GZE/s1600/cottonwood-traverse-2014-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Photo by Ben Eaton" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvYk2V8ga1vDo3EQAKBjtosjcZGFMIQsdca5Ek-UuFd8o_pgZ0p2OM-JZllTVtE86C09U-lzjBeU1QYzyHKpvhrjcZ-hwbCuLiuPeopWPE-lfXlip65z8Y2bHVRhOkf7H-P9YUlm5GZE/s1600/cottonwood-traverse-2014-23.jpg" height="480" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Ben Eaton</td></tr>
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Quest for King's is always a highlight for me. I love the community that comes out to attack the Uintas. It seemed that most people had some plan that differed from running just the actual peak this year. How exciting it is to see people tackle bigger goals than they previously thought possible. While not everyone was successful in their attempts, they definitely learned something about themselves and their relationships with the mountains. For myself, I found a greater love for being solo on bigger peaks. As I ran from King's to Fortress Peak and back to Anderson Pass I rediscovered my passion for doing big mountains solo and hold that as one of the major accomplishments of 2014.<br />
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In 2011 I attempted to run the 110 mile long Skyline Drive with Davy Crockett. We got about half way through before we both called it quits due to some pretty severe mud for about 30 miles, so it has always been on my bucket list of things undone. I went back this year with Matt and Scott as my crew and tackled the end-to-end run solo. Running 112 miles alone (crew stops aside) is revelatory and an experience I truly cherished. I faced some demons on that run and came out victorious. Those lessons have and will continue to make me a better runner and person.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Scott Wesemann</td></tr>
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My final 100 miler of the year was a somewhat impromptu Zion Double Crossing with Jennilyn. She wasn't planning for a double and I didn't think I would ever have any desire to do it again, but when she asked if I wanted to go to Zion I just blurted it out. The result was a new FKT and the best feeling 100 miler I've ever run. Beyond that, the moments of intimate connectivity with Zion National Park were so pronounced that I found a flame for running long distances I'm not sure have ever been comparable. Normally, after running 100 miles I am ready for some serious downtime. But after Zion all I wanted to do was start planning my next big run.<br />
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Since that time I've run very little, by comparison. I've been dealing with a foot injury and generally not caring. I've renewed my membership to the climbing gym and have been enjoying what it feels like to have that movement back in my life. The past several weeks have offered me the ability to truly develop my relationships with friends again. I can't express how grateful I am for each of those and I am excited for what the new year has to offer.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Aaron Williams</td></tr>
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I owe a great deal to my sponsors. They have not just provided me with the essential gear I need to be successful, but they have given me the confidence and support to succeed in my adventures. While I'll say goodbye to a couple of them in 2015 I will continue to support them and promote them, as appropriate.<br />
Altra Running - I wore the Lone Peak 2.0 and Torin 1.5 for most of the year. What awesome shoes. Truly game-changing.<br />
Ultraspire - I've always pegged myself as a Spry fan, but if I'm really honest I have to admit that the Revolution is my favorite vest.<br />
Gnarly Nutrition - I live and die by Boost when I'm running. Being able to dictate how powerful I want it really matters. And knowing that what it offers me in the way of electrolytes is invaluable.junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03483517319335792896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121023402918416258.post-36183402195479896712014-11-25T08:22:00.003-07:002014-11-25T08:22:39.694-07:00Momentsby Craig<br />
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Either my wife hates having me around or she really, really loves me. I'd like to believe it's the latter. It was only two weeks ago that I completed a tough 100 mile effort in Zion National Park. Now, barely recovered I was getting into a car with four other people (and two more who were in another car) and heading down to the San Rafael Swell to run the up-to 31 mile Good Water Rim trail at the Wedge, part of the Little Grand Canyon, a beautiful area about 25 miles south of Price, UT.<br />
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Either I hate spending time with my family or I really, really like running with amazing friends in the desert. I can say with certainty that it is the latter. When I started running I had about 2 friends that also liked moving speedily up mountains. Now I have more friends than I can count, quite literally. On any given day or weekend I am able to jump into a group run from 3 - 10 people or bigger. I have the privilege of running just about anywhere in the state on any given day and not run alone. Fingers might be pointed that my magnetic personality draws people to me. But I know better. The simple truth is that I am surrounded by the most incredible and accepting community of runners you'll find anywhere in America. And I know this for a fact. So at 5:30am I found myself driving four other people (and two more in another car) into the desert.<br />
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A life is filled with a series of short moments. Even experiences that last days are looked back upon years later as flashes in time. It is up to us to determine how we live inside those moments and how we allow them to impact future moments. On a 40 degree day in the middle of the Central Utah desert I spent 4.5 hours running 22 miles with people that, if I couldn't have said it before, can now assuredly state are some of my closest and cherished friends. Needless to say, I chose to spend that moment in bliss.<br />
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I will linger back, years from now, on simple memories from that day; sitting under a blanket eating a thawed burrito on the edge of a cliff, watching others do stupid human tricks, and the hugs - oh so many hugs. And there will be one or two additional memories that I won't share, ones that are now special enough to me that I choose to keep them to myself. Those are my favorite moments, the ones that I choose not share with others. And they might be the most simple of all.<br />
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Running with the Wasatch Mountain Wranglers is always a good time. No run or day will disappoint. But there are other times when a special group of people get together and it becomes something more than just a day of running with friends. This was one of those days.<br />
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<br />junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03483517319335792896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121023402918416258.post-32245963704838935742014-11-09T20:16:00.000-07:002014-11-11T15:39:09.340-07:00Zion Double Crossing - Again<div style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">by Craig</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">Some pictures can't be taken, only seen. Visuals so clear, so delicate, in situations so intimate - that moment between yourself and nature - that they can't be duplicated outside of that one instance in time. Likewise, some experiences can't be retold. The immensity of it all is so great there simply aren't words to describe it succinctly enough to pay it the appropriate amount of respect. Yet, allow me to try. </span></div>
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I never planned to return to Zion for another double crossing. The single Zion Traverse (48 miles and approximately 9000 ft of climbing) has become a goal and/or memorial run for many ultra runners. In 2012 I became the first person to do a full traverse and then immediately return the opposite way to my original starting point. Unlike a race where you have aid stations or crews every 5-8 miles, Zion offers only a few places along the route where crews have access to you. Beyond that runners are in extremely remote parts of the park where few travelers go. If an accident were to occur it could be hours or days before help were to come. While I felt that the time I put up of 26:55 was extremely soft, I knew it was respectable and felt enough closure with the accomplishment that I had no plans to return. And yet, for some strange reason, when my friend, Jennilyn Eaton, approached me about taking a trip to do the Zion Traverse, I instinctively said, "we should do a double". How short my bewildered memory is. </div>
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My goal for this attempt was nothing more than to have a great experience running through Zion National Park with my friends. I didn't care about speed, an FKT, or any notoriety. All I wanted was "the perfect day". We started our run at 5pm on Friday, November 7th. Our plan was to do the first crossing under the light of a full moon, then return early the next morning with two friends in tow to spend a beautiful Fall day in the park together. Running so early in the evening came easy, effortless. We cruised down into Laverkin Creek as the sun and light faded behind the cliffs to our southwest. Hikers and backpackers stared at us in awe as we cruised by in tiny shorts and even smaller hydration packs. You could see in their eyes that they couldn't comprehend the enormity of what we were doing, starting so late in the day. And then darkness.</div>
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As we ran into the night we were greeted by the rising moon. Like an old guard keeping vigil as we ran we pressed on into the abyss. The backcountry of Zion, normally an envelope of black became a painted canvas of every shade of gray. We frequently stopped to appreciate the spectacle, even stopping once in Telephone Canyon to sit and give thanks for that moment, for that site, the one that could never be duplicated through the lens of a camera. Crew stops at miles 13 and 35 were more like reunions than race pit-stops. We stayed to chat, eat, and most importantly, laugh. Matt, Jen, Josh, and Derrick, always so positive, made sure we stayed and left with everything we needed. Their contribution to our journey is incalculable. </div>
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We completed our first crossing in a little over 11 hours, something like 11:14 (I haven't uploaded my GPS data yet). After a relaxing and lengthy stop we set off for our second crossing, this time with Josh and Jen in tow. Josh was there the first time we ever tried the traverse back in 2011. We dubbed that one the Zion Trainwreck because we got caught in a rain and snowstorm, with an overwhelming amount of mud, and had to turn back. Josh had unfinished business. Jen completed the traverse for the first time earlier this year in an uninspiring time. Both of them, like us, had a goal of enjoying the park and the company and nothing more. While we left under the illumination of our headlamps, it was only little more than an hour later that we had them turned off and running under the glow of a rising sun. </div>
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When we dropped into Echo Canyon the alpenglow lit up the topmost spires of the highest points in the park like a torch on fire. We snapped picture after picture trying to capture the moment, only to look back with disappointment at what simply couldn't be duplicated as well as what we saw with our eyes. Instead, we stood inspired, mesmerized, and thankful. Now, 60 miles or more into our run and we were being rejuvenated with the heating rays of the sun. </div>
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Up to this point I had yet to go through any type of low point. My energy was always high, my spirits high, and my attitude positive. My stomach never got upset and I never went through a true "bonk". Only twice did my energy taper as I got slightly behind on calories. Each time I pumped myself full of calories and I was back and flying. Jennilyn had a goal not to throw up for the first time in a 100 mile run and was doing great. While she battled an upset stomach a couple of times, for the most part she felt great and moved with methodical strength. She is truly an inspiration.</div>
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By the time we got to Potato Hollow, mile 73 (mile 27ish for Josh and Jen), everyone had settled into a groove and were feeling the distance and vert. I took it upon myself to play a little joke on them, so I ran ahead, sat down on a log, and started crying. When they approached they could tell something was wrong. Jennilyn put her arm around me while Jen tried to encourage me to get up and get moving, both without success. At the right moment I dropped the charade and laughed. They were good sports, gave me the hassle I deserved and we were off again. Within an hour we were running along the West Rim trail towards Lava Point when Jen went down, falling over a bush and off the trail. As I approached she sat holding her knee and wincing in pain. I felt bad for playing a joke on her as I tried to help her up. She was unable to weight her leg and the outcome of our run was now at risk. When I asked if she might be ok after a few minutes she said "Yep" and took off bounding with laughter down the trail. Retribution had been granted. </div>
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Our fourth and final crew stop came at Hopp Valley with only 13 miles left. We picked up another friend, Becky, to run the final miles with us. She was a quick reminder of how tired we were as she kept running ahead and turning around to wait, uncertain as to why we couldn't keep up. The sand, water, and miles of Hopp Valley were weighing on us, but we were closing in on the certainty that we could complete our trip in under 25 hours. As we dropped into Laverkin Creek the sun was setting once again. Like the night before, in the same place, we ran below the splendor and majesty of a place so aptly named, Zion. </div>
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With four miles left we turned west to climb up to Lee Pass. I couldn't run anything uphill at this point, but Jennilyn could and pulled ahead. I came up with reasons for why I couldn't keep up and settled into my first true low in attitude. A mile later, now on the home stretch, I got tired of my own excuses and took off, leaving everyone behind me. I was running the final miles at or below an 8 minute mile. I could have easily run into the finish by myself, beating Jennilyn by a couple of minutes, but that's not why I was there. I didn't care about my time or an FKT, I came to start and finish with my friend, so I waited atop the final climb for her. We ran in the last quarter mile together, as it should be, before darkness had finally settled in. There, waiting for us, were friends and family. We had done it, completing the Zion Double crossing in 24:50, over a 2 hour improvement on the previous Fastest Known Time. </div>
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More important than any formal time was the experience I had with Jennilyn, Josh, Jen, and Matt. I had the perfect running day, my best feeling 100 ever, with some of my closest friends. There are moments I didn't share and won't because they are sacred to me. There were visions that can't be duplicated, pictures that were impossible to take but will always remain in my mind. And finally the words, the laughter, and companionship of my friends. I thank them for simply being themselves and allowing me to share that experience with them. I'm a better person, not because I ran 100 miles, but because I spent time with them. And I will be forever grateful. </div>
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I would be remiss if I didn't thank my sponsors who's products allow me to achieve my goals. Without them I wouldn't have accomplished what I've wanted to.<br />
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Altra Running - Lone Peak 2.0<br />
Gnarly Nutrition - Alternated Boost and water, a perfect combination<br />
Ultraspire - Omega hydration vest. Perfect for what I needed to carry</div>
junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03483517319335792896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121023402918416258.post-15259654309957080772014-11-04T19:26:00.003-07:002014-11-04T19:26:54.671-07:00Returning to HeavenEveryone should have a place they unquestionably love above everywhere else. That one place that makes them happier and more at home than anywhere else. For some it is a building, others a mountain top. And for many it is their physical home. Mine is Zion National Park. I doubt anyone would find this a surprise as I talk about Zion as though it were actually <i>my</i> park. I love every aspect, every cliff, canyon, stream, and trail. Whenever I return it's like visiting an old friend and I'm immediately welcomed with open arms.<br />
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This weekend I'll be traveling down to my favorite playground again in hopes of completely the Zion Double Crossing for a second time. Along with Jennilyn we will trek from west to east through the night, then return the following morning with a few friends in tow.<br />
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A single crossing is approximately 48.5 miles with up to 8500 vertical feet of climbing (direction dependent). From the west entrance in Kolob Canyons all the way to the east entrance of the park we will pass sandstone walls standing more than 1000 ft above us and drop hundreds of feet into canyon bottoms, crossing streams and sandy desert. We'll run among the cactus and Ponderosa Pines. In our entire trek we'll likely pass only a few people except for the time spent in the main part of the canyon.<br />
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What makes Zion so special to me isn't simply the beauty of my surroundings, but the comfort I feel in the backcountry. Having gone to Southern Utah University, Zion was my backyard and I became familiar with the trails and slot canyons. I knew how to read the weather and local conditions. I feel comfort in Zion the same way hardcore mountaineers feel on the biggest peaks in the world. So whenever I return I know I'm going home. And I'm at peace.<br />
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When the chaos of the world overwhelms me and I feel buried by the minutia of the daily whirlwind, Zion becomes my escape. With a relatively short drive I can be at Zion's door in just a few hours. And minutes later I can get lost in my own mind. Zion is what I need now, especially now. She calls to me and I heed her subtle whispers. See you all very soon.<br />
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<br />junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03483517319335792896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121023402918416258.post-61507613547529158502014-09-29T10:12:00.002-06:002014-09-29T10:34:09.662-06:00Wasatch 100 report: By Scott WesemannThe Wasatch 100 mile endurance run is my favorite race. I love everything about it. I had the opportunity to run and finish my 4th consecutive Wasatch and it was once again an incredible experience. <br />
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2011- This was my first Wasatch and while I had an idea of what I was getting into, I really just wanted to finish. The terrain ate me up and had me limping to the finish in a foggy exhausted state. I was thrilled to get that 32:40 finish. <br />
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2012- I was trained, fit and shooting for a sub 30 hour finish. Once again the course destroyed me and after doing well for 75 miles, the last 25 were a total nightmare and I came in hobbling in just over 31 hours. <br />
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2013- I came into this race more prepared than any other. I was strong, fit and determined to get that sub 30 buckle. We suffered through the hottest start in the history of the race and I was a complete dumpster fire. I spent over 4 hours throwing up, whining and sleeping at aid stations until my pacers finally gave me a kick in the rocks and pushed me to my slowest finish yet. 34 hours. <br />
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I really didn't know what to expect coming into the race this year, but I was well trained and feeling great. Matt Williams and I decided to run the first 39 miles together and then hopefully go as far as we could as long as we were both feeling good. We decided to take a very conservative approach to the first 50 miles and save some juice for a faster push on the last 50. After 4 straight finishes I will say that the most important thing that will lead to a good time in this race is to get to Lambs Canyon (mile 53) feeling good. That was our goal and we executed it perfectly (See Matt's report below). <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going up Chinscraper. Photo by Lane Bird</td></tr>
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The first 25 miles of the race were fun. Matt and I did not go out fast. We spent a lot of time chatting with good friends and making new ones. The weather was perfect and we really enjoyed the morning climbing up to Chinscraper where Lane Bird was waiting to cheer us on with his cowbell. What a great guy. I was taking a gel every 45 minutes and staying on top of my electrolyte replacement by taking an S-cap every hour. We took the descent to Francis Peak aid station (mile 18.4) very conservatively and rolled in feeling great. The next section to Bountiful B aid (23.8) is always tougher than you think. We grinded it out with a few new friends and came into the aid in great shape. We picked up KendallW and KenzieB there and shared some laughs and fun and then KellyA joined in the party after a few miles. Around mile 27 our good friend Matt Van Horn had set up a living room in a high mountain meadow and had signs for each of us. What a stud! I jumped in his lap and gave him a juicy kiss on the cheek (sorry for that) and a hug. That really lifted our spirits for the next few miles. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MVH. Photo by Kendall Wimmer. </td></tr>
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Miles 25-53 might be the toughest section of the entire course. This is exposed mountain ridge running without any cover from the sun. Even though the temps were cooler than in years past it was deceptively hot. There are some brutal climbs from Sessions aid (28.1) to Swallow Rocks (34.6). This section seems to take forever and it is a total grind. We made some new friends and tried to lighten everyone up with some inappropriate humor at times which always seems to help. Just before Swallow my stomach went south and I felt a bit nauseated for the next 30 minutes. We took a few minutes at the aid cooling off and walked out to settle my stomach. After a few climbs we picked up RyanL and all of us picked it up as we ran into Big Mountain aid (39.1). This is one of my favorite sections on the course, as you hear the crowds cheering and cowbells below. The adrenaline flows and it always makes me smile. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our running train. Photo by Aaron Williams.</td></tr>
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At Big Mountain we picked up Tara and Aaron and they were great pacers. Tara filled my bottles, grabbed me food and was such a big help. The next 14 miles are tough. It is probably the most exposed section of the course at the hottest time of day. We had a really good train with DJ joining in. We kept up a pretty good pace and just listened to Tara and Aaron telling stories and grinding out the miles. We took some extra time at Alexander Ridge (mile 46.9) to cool off and get some calories. There were some runners there that looked horrible. Luckily we all felt good. Out of the aid we picked up Kenzie and Kendall again and had a great time riding the train for the next several miles. What a fun group. Eventually Ryan caught up and we all ran into Lambs (mile 53) together feeling good. Goal accomplished. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few miles before Lambs. Photo by Tara Summers</td></tr>
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We picked up CraigL and JennilynE at Lambs as they would be pacing us to the finish. While the mood stayed jovial and fun for the rest of the way, they went to work like a skilled physicians making sure we were on top of everything. We were given strict instructions in regard to how we would be moving and how we were to approach each aid stop. It worked great and we moved efficiently and quickly for the remaining 47 miles.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Tara Summers</td></tr>
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While the night tends to be very difficult for a lot of ultra runners our night seemed like a party. We are all great friends and know each other well, so we laughed a lot and had a great time. Matt and I took turns pushing the pace when we felt good while Jennilyn and Craig mixed in the perfect doses of love, fun and ass-kicking. <br />
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We arrived at Brighton (mile 75) feeling great and in good spirits. We took our time eating, hydrating, changing clothes and applying glide. This was one of our strategic stops where we knew we would take a little more time to make sure we were in great shape for the last 25. The climb out of Brighton was tough with Matt pushing what seemed like a fast pace. I was out of breath and really working hard when we hit the 'beach' just below Point Supreme where MattV was again waiting for us with some great music and a beach set up. I had been totally dreading the descent to Ant Knolls and seeing Matt gave me the juice I needed to tackle that thing feeling good. Thank you Matt for the kindness. It was the highlight of the race for us. <br />
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The descent to Ant Knolls (79.1) is one of the worst on the whole course. It is steep, rocky and comes at a time when your toes and feet are sore and tired. It hurt a lot and I tried not to whine and just focus on each step. We finally hit the aid and it was such a relief. The MRC boys were manning the aid station and I only remember a few things. I had some coke and sausage and made the guys laugh with a comment about sausage in my mouth. The climb out of the aid (The Grunt) is one of the toughest you do on the course and Matt decided he was going to hump that thing hard. I couldn't keep up and luckily he waited for me as I was panting and out of breath at the top. <br />
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We hit Pole Line Pass where Davy Crockett shared some laughs with us and I choked down some calories and Coke. It was good seeing friends there and the aid station was perfect. The descent down to Pot Bottom was rocky and tough on sore feet and I was so happy when we hit the bottom. I was even ok with the climb that followed. The course was altered this year and we were expecting it to be much easier the last 15 miles and while I think it was a little bit faster it was not easy. Those roads were so rocky and it was tough to get into any sort of groove, but we continued to have an excellent time laughing with good friends while we suffered. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We finished! Photo by Lane Bird. </td></tr>
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The descent down to Decker Canyon (93.9) was rough on my feet and Matt and I really slowed down. It was the first time I think we weren't moving with purpose and the miles were taking their toll. After the aid station the sun was up and getting hot and we just wanted to get done. The trail by the lake was actually pretty decent and we were able to get running again and picked up our pace. It felt like we were running fast. Eventually we popped out onto the pavement and we could see the finish which always gets the juices flowing. Jennilyn and Craig ran ahead and Matt and I ran in together. What an incredible experience. We spent 28:29 together laughing, making new friends, hanging out with old ones, suffering, sweating, grinding. We had a plan and had executed it perfectly. We ran a near negative split the last 50 miles and both got our sub 30 buckle. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That was hard. Photo by Lane Bird.</td></tr>
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Thank you to my incredible pacers. They were perfect and helped me so much. Thank you to the volunteers. I can't say enough bout them and how stellar they are. Thank you to the race committee for all of your efforts that allow us to do what we love. Most of all thank you to my wife, Kristina and family. They have always supported me with my crazy passions. I love you!<br />
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I love this race. I love everything about it. The trails, the rugged climbs, the incredible views. But most of all I love the people. The great friends and volunteers that come back year after year to make Wasatch the best race in the world and I can't wait to go back and do it again.<br />
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KSL did an article on our race. You can see it Here: <a href="http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=31470120&nid=1010&title=2-friends-run-entire-wasatch-front-100-mile-race-together">KSL article</a><br />
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Check out a #reallyneat video of our run here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DDIX77v3ok">Wasatch 100 2014</a><br />
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<br />Scott Wesemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135008809898732686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121023402918416258.post-40298357467579675242014-09-19T23:38:00.001-06:002014-09-19T23:38:53.675-06:00Skyline Drive FKT - a 112 Mile Run<span style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">September 13, 2014 - 2:30am</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Is that my alarm or my ringtone? </i>I immediately recognize it as my ringtone and know exactly who's calling. Friend and running partner, Jennilyn Eaton, is attempting to become the first woman to complete the incredibly difficult Wasatch Ultra Ridge Linkup (WURL). I've only been asleep for two hours, but I'm immediately awake and talking her through a tough technical section about 2/3 through the course. I worry for her safety and have difficulty falling back to sleep.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4:30am, only two hours later, and my alarm is going off. It's time to wake up and begin my own journey. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Matt picks me up in front of my house 15 minutes later and we are to Scott's. 20 minutes later and we are all on our way toward Salina, UT, a remote and very small town in central Utah along I-70. After a quick stop to top off our gas tank Matt points his FJ Cruiser east and 8 miles later we are at our destination. One of the things I enjoy most about adventure running is the lack of fanfare at the beginning or end of the run and Friday did not disappoint. I gathered my things, said my goodbyes, high-fived the Mile 0 post and started running. My goal was to run a series of dirt roads representing Skyline Drive all the way to Highway 6, approximately 110 miles away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">In 2011 I had attempted this same run with good friend and running mentor, Davy Crockett. We had attempted it nearly a month earlier following one of the biggest snow years in decades. After miles of thick mud we called it quits; me after 50 miles and he after 68. Skyline Drive might be a dirt road, but it's no joke. Of the 110 miles 55 are above 10,000 feet elevation and 85 above 9,000. Acclimatized or not, altitude takes its toll. But with beautiful mountain vistas, wildlife, and pristine alpine lakes, this run isn't about the road, it's about every but.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After what has felt like a year and a half of runs and races not gone well, usually due to weather, I felt as though on this run Karma was smiling upon us. The forecast was for bluebird skies and mild temps. We couldn't ask for a better day. During the day I sent Matt and Scott ahead 5 miles at a time allowing me to get by with carrying a single hand held water bottle and a few gels tucked in an Ultraspire Quantum. The miles flew by, some quicker than others. I hit a relative low point around mile 20 during a long 4 miles climb to my first break above 10,000 ft. After an extra rest at mile 25 above one of the most beautiful parts of the course I was back to feeling great and enjoying the solitude. Both Matt and Scott had run the Wasatch Front 100 the week before, so neither of them were in any shape to pace me. I was on my own, exactly how I wanted it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Only five miles later and I was at 12 Mile Campground. The next 2 mile climb would land me at the high point of the course, 10, 897 feet elevation. The next 10 miles or so are some of my favorite along the whole course. Wide alpine vistas give way to the San Rafael Swell to the east and glimpses of the southern Wasatch Mountains to the northwest. Wide plateaus offered a home to summer grazed sheep and cows, while hunters and campers cruised by on ATVs or in their trucks. I would make eye contact only long enough for me to see confusion register in their eyes as to why someone was outside of a vehicle and not carrying a gun (and in tiny green shorts). This was territory I was not accustomed to being in, and I'm not talking about my geographic surroundings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">As daytime turned to dusk, so did my energy. I was now 55 miles into my run, the halfway point, and I needed a break. I sat in a chair eating potato chips and watermelon and contemplated running in strange mountains during the night. I know that wild animals abound in these mountains. Mountain Lions and bears are not uncommon. In the Wasatch I know what to expect and have no fear of the dark, but in a strange place so far from civilization and a crew car miles ahead I found myself trepidatious of the forest. As I wound my way through Ponderosa Pines and Aspens, near cliffs and large boulders, my mind started to play tricks on me and I would frequently spin around to look behind me, certain something was going to sneak up and attack. As time went on and the forest gave way to alpine plains, so did my fears. I found comfort in the darkness and companionship in the stars. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Climb after climb I pressed forward, always certain that I was climbing my 'last major climb'. Each descent was met with another big climb. For a run that has only 12,000 feet of climbing it sure felt like it was more like 20,000. The night grew thicker and colder and my lack of sleep the night previous was taking its toll on me. Sometime around mile 80, after getting caught in a low point where the temps were around 35 I started to fall asleep while on my feet. I would for myself to run because it would keep me focused, keep me awake. The minute I stopped I would close my eyes and literally be asleep on my feet. I'd awake moments later in the weeds along the side of the road or in the middle of the road itself. It was hunting season and people were out on these roads, even at 4am, heading towards their favorite hunting spot. I got scared that if I fell asleep and wandered into the middle of the road a half-asleep driver wouldn't see me and run me over. As dawn came around 7am my confidence grew that I would get my wits back. But the energy wasn't coming back and I was stumbling around like a "drunken zombie". I was determined to sleep, even if just for 15 minutes. As I came to my next crew stop, mile 99, I told Matt and Scott, "either let me sleep, even for 15 minutes, or I'm quitting". They laughed at that because they couldn't care less if I slept or not, they were there just to have fun, eat food, and listen to Katy Perry. They set up 2 chairs for me to stretch out in and let me sleep for 30 minutes. I woke up feeling fresh, hungry, and ready to run. Sleeping was a smart move.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had a big 2 miles climb in front or me, then rolling road across the last of Skyline Drive, followed by a long descent down to Highway 6. Part of me hoped the course would run short. Matt estimated it might only be 108 miles long. I hiked fast and ran consistently along the flats and downhill. I estimated the descent road would be approximately 5-6 miles long, so when I got to my last aid stop and was told I still had 5 miles left (I was already at 107 miles) I couldn't do anything except shrug my shoulders and create new tactics for getting to the end - run for 2 songs then take a walk break. Run .9 miles then walk .1. Then, with only a half mile left I committed to running it in and doing it fast. Ok, I didn't really have a choice, I had to hurry or my watch battery was going to die. Highway 6 came into view and I turned on the jets. I ran the last .2 miles at a 6:30 pace and as I came to the highway I made sure no cars were coming then knelt down and smacked the road itself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had done it. 112.5 miles and I had accomplished something no one else had ever done. It took me 27:13:09. I was hoping for about 24 hours and I think I could have done it had it not been for my reaction to sleep deprivation (not an excuse). I still believe it is a good time on a brilliant course. Most importantly, I feel like I finally got out of my 100 mile funk and had a good day. Sure, I had my energy lows, emotional lows, and stomach issues, but those are expected. Ultimately, I had a great day on my feet. I never had issues with my legs or an inability to run all together. When I needed to and wanted to I could run and do so well. I know I came away from this adventure with a renewed confidence in my 100 my abilities. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While the run itself is an accomplishment, it isn't mine I cannot claim alone. Without Matt and Scott sacrificing their weekend to come and crew me I could have never done this run. I owe them everything and am incredibly thankful for their support and wit. Coach Schmitz will linger in my mind forever. Thank you fellas, I couldn't ask for better friends. I would be remiss if I didn't recognize my sponsors either. I ran in a pair of Altra Lone Peak 2.0s the entire run (except for 4 miles in a pair of Olympus, which I hated) and never had any foot problems. Additionally, Ultraspire for the amazing new handheld water bottle and Quantum 2015 belt. Simply amazing. I also wore the Revolution vest the last 55 miles, my favorite vest. Finally, I have to give huge respect to Gnarly Nutrition Boost. I can't imagine running without that stuff. It gives me everything I need in an electrolyte drink. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks everyone for your support and maybe someday I'll even turn this into a race. It would be a good one.</span></div>
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junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03483517319335792896noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121023402918416258.post-63978027283815135322014-09-16T16:58:00.000-06:002014-09-17T15:35:43.978-06:002014 Wasatch 100 <h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre-race meeting - Drop bags</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">Weigh in. </span><br />
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Pre-race meeting. </div>
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Home. </div>
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BBQ. </div>
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Chat. </div>
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Sleep...no...sleep will not come. Snooze. </div>
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I'm up. </div>
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Dressed. </div>
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Hydrating. Calories. </div>
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Start Line. Nerves. </div>
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"Go!" </div>
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No Nerves. </div>
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Just Running. </div>
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The night leading up to the 'big race' seemed to move at a blur. I appreciated the distraction, as I now seemed to find myself running along the very familiar Kaysville section of the BST. I've probably run this section of trail 100 times, nearly every time thinking about this day and wondering what it would feel like to run it on race morning, sharing the trail with 300 other runners. Well here I was. </div>
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Scott Wesemann and I had been training together quite a bit this year, and on our many runs had decided that we would try and run together at least as far as Big Mountain. As this would be Scotts 4th Wasatch finish, my plan was to just stick with him at least until then and never get ahead. I also planned a conservative start to facilitate a strong finish. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climbing to Chinscraper - Photo my Matt Miller</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">The climb to Chinscraper was fairly smooth an uneventful. I refused to increase my pace to pass someone. If my current pace happened to be faster than someone in front of me, then we would pass away, but I couldn't justify the expended energy just so I could hike in front of someone rather than behind them. We passed a few people that were already pulling off to the side - hands on hips, eyes looking hopelessly upward toward the seemingly never nearing destination...I felt bad, it was much too early to be feeling that way. As we approached the base of Chinscraper, I heard my name and saw fellow WMW Matt Miller there snapping pics and cheering people on. Always a nice surprise to see a familiar face. Then, nearing the top, Lane Bird was hootin' and hollerin' Scotts name as we pushed the climb to the familiar ring of a cowbell.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Topping out on Chinscraper - Photo by Lane Bird</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Gathering our legs from the climb, we settled in to a nice rhythm and cranked out the rolling miles. At the base of Thurston I pulled off to adjust my shoe and Scott pulled ahead a little, but always remained in sight, me catching back up at Grobbens while he made some shoe adjustments of his own.</span></div>
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From Francis peak to the Francis aid station, you have several miles of perfect downhill dirt road. It's a very easy section to let your legs go a little too hard, so Scott and I purposefully took it easy and joked around as we caught some runners and were passed by others. We ran just behind and with John Brown, who would be a familiar sight for much of the first half of the race. Brian Beckstead caught up to us here as well, so a good group of us all got to Francis aid together.</div>
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Francis Peak AS (18.4) - 9:27am arrival - <b>Elapsed Time 4:27</b></h3>
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I refilled my bottles, grabbed a spare bottle from my dropbag, had some Coke and grabbed a Nutella Quasadilla.</div>
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The next section is mostly Forest Service roads, and we took our time meandering along our way, chatting with a few familiar faces as they passed. Once we pulled off the road and onto some singletrack, I knew we were coming up to the section of trail where Scott and I (and others) had done our trailwork. It was nice to see it on race day - the switchback we had put in was still intact, and we spit on the rock that we had unsuccessfully tried to dig out of the trail. Having been here before, I was glad (in a weird way) to know that we had a decent climb up ahead of us. We just put our heads down and the Bountiful B aid station was in our sites before we knew it. </div>
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Bountiful B AS (23.8) - 10:52am arrival - <b>Elapsed Time 5:52</b></h3>
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The selection at the aid station was a little sparse, so I drank some Coke, grabbed a couple of pieces of fruit and filled my bottles. Kenzie and Kendall both showed up here, so we left together. Kendall has had a killer schedule this year and just wasn't feeling the day, so was nice enough to hang back with us for a bit while Kenzie was feeling good and charged up a few of the hills on ahead. Kelly caught up to us here as well, so we had a nice little crew cruising along. </div>
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It always seems to be right around the marathon/50K mark that reality starts to set in. You've already been out for quite some time, done some good climbing, you're body is kind of ready to be done for the day - and you realize that you still have <i>over 70 miles</i> to go! Well, today was no different, but just as I was letting my mind wander a little too far down that path, I see a living room in an open field. A living room? "What the..." As I'm trying to figure out what and who in the world has a living room set up at mile 27 of the Wasatch 100 course, it hits me - it's MVH and he's got a sign for each one of us! I don't think he was planning on 4 of his friends coming through together, so it was fun to watch him frantically move through each one of the signs for Rocky Mountain Slammer Kendall, Scott and Kelly, along with one for me - Matt Williams "Your mom runs wasatch". We stopped briefly to say hi and snap some pics, and left Matt immediately lifted. Running into Sessions I was now happy and feeling great - AND - they had Popsicles! My rule is to never say no to a Popsicle! I had at least 2 or 3, along with my usual helping of Coke.</div>
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Sessions AS (28.16) - 12:01pm - <b>Elapsed Time 7:01</b></h3>
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A month or two ago I had run this section with Aaron, as we summited Grandview Peak, so I knew we had a nice little climb ahead of us, and was mentally prepared for it. As we approached the climb, a nice guy named Woody pulled in and asked if he could run with us for a while, to which, of course, we agreed. The climb was good, I felt just fine as Scott and I joked our way to the top. I absolutely love this section as it winds you through a dense stand of aspens. We topped out on the climb and then had a quick, steep decent, followed by an immediate and equally steep climb. </div>
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I could see Kenzie moving up the hill just ahead, and looked over to see a runner laying in the grass off the trail. Too early to be feeling that way. Again, I felt bad and trudged on. We caught up to Kenzie and she fell into line with us. John was nearby as well, and set a good pace throughout this section, as I chatted with Woody. Once we passed Grandview I would now be in new territory until Lambs, and that certainly made this section feel a lot longer than the 6.5 miles it (supposedly) is. </div>
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While it was much cooler than usual, the exposure and time of day was taking it's toll, and we rolled in to Swallow and took a few extra minutes to cool things down (Popsicles!). </div>
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Swallow Rocks AS (34.6) - 1:57pm arrival - <b>Elapsed Time 6:57 </b></h3>
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Scott was still feeling a little rough as we pulled out of the AS, but we still headed out with John, Kendall and Kenzie in tow - the group of us roughly hung out for the next few miles. Only 4.5 miles to major milestone AS Big Mountain, the first opportunity to see family and crew, as well as pick up a pacer, seemed to fly by. A mile or two out we caught up to Ryan Lauck, and spent some time enjoying the views and talking about the race. </div>
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You start to see the road and know you're getting close, and then you can hear the crowd and see the radio towers that are near the AS. I was feeling good and just floated down the handful of switchbacks until I was crossing the road and getting weighed in at the AS. I was happy to see that my wife Alicia, two boys and brother Aaron were all there. </div>
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Big Mountain AS (39.1) - 3:07pm arrival - <b>Elapsed Time 10:07</b></h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picking up Pacers - Photo by Taralyn Summers</td></tr>
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We had agreed to spend a few extra minutes here to make sure everything was right before heading out on the hot and exposed section to Alexander. I ate some, drank a bunch, hit the bathroom and changed my socks. Then finally made our way out. Aaron would be pacing me, with Tara joining in the fun as Scotts pacer. </div>
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The climb(s) out of Big Mountain surprised me. I don't know why - typically in Wasatch if you're not going up, you're going down. As would become familiar, I just put my head down and marched up the hills, then ran down the others. This section contains some particularly steep and rugged descents, with large rocks filling the v-shaped trail. Somewhere in here we caught up with DJ (or he caught up with us...) so we had a pretty good train going for a while, with Tara telling stories to keep everyone entertained. To keep up with it's reputation, this section was HOT. No wind, exposed running along the ridge in the hottest part of the day. I could see the AS below and the legs were feeling good, so I gave myself an extra minute or two at the AS by showing up a little early.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLs_Yq7VnbpR9QLBbOIpohKBxZxHiXm1q65aVAWrQTywR0bCRS7SpvSJGBrQROruwj5RO7UmCPsFKl450E3-h-9lQLIdOg6yTghddnOshnwppOSmVjluTEwZbeLUSctOOhEy7Q4OtCA08/s1600/10533895_10154537460980627_485755972551544424_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLs_Yq7VnbpR9QLBbOIpohKBxZxHiXm1q65aVAWrQTywR0bCRS7SpvSJGBrQROruwj5RO7UmCPsFKl450E3-h-9lQLIdOg6yTghddnOshnwppOSmVjluTEwZbeLUSctOOhEy7Q4OtCA08/s1600/10533895_10154537460980627_485755972551544424_o.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Aaron Williams</td></tr>
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Alexander Ridge AS (46.9) - 5:31pm - <b>Elapsed time 12:31 </b></h3>
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These guys were great, and they treated us right - Aaron and Tara were doing a bang up job running back and forth grabbing stuff to cool us down. There were a couple of runners there that had the look of defeat in their eyes. Hopefully a little of our irreverence cheered them up and got them back out there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUt6t_zmIa43hA-IKJ7ioAigwm69hs2mZ6OlqRMG5nnaTgD8ZVFS1_k7lySda56tx8jt2OLvDsDK_7o1Awl1b3VdQZLtfR0Rz5s5STNzxrY8zEnNNFJXYxEX983VABa6SIDfvlLYequfA/s1600/10562737_10154537461235627_4856762397524688765_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUt6t_zmIa43hA-IKJ7ioAigwm69hs2mZ6OlqRMG5nnaTgD8ZVFS1_k7lySda56tx8jt2OLvDsDK_7o1Awl1b3VdQZLtfR0Rz5s5STNzxrY8zEnNNFJXYxEX983VABa6SIDfvlLYequfA/s1600/10562737_10154537461235627_4856762397524688765_o.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving Alexander - Photo by Aaron Williams</td></tr>
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Again, we left in a bit of a train with Kenzie and Kendall (and Scott and I) and the group of us made the monotony of that powerline trail go a little quicker. A mile or two into it, DJ came flying by, looking good and moving strong...until a few minutes later we heard some yelling and went over a rise to see that DJ had missed a critical turn and another runner was yelling to bring him back. Well, DJ had his headphones in and was just cranking. Aaron was feeling spry and sprinted off after him while the rest of us made the turn and the small climb up and over. Topping out we had a nice couple of miles to run it into Lambs. I was feeling really good and we set a pretty good clip for being 50+ miles into a run. We caught up to Ryan again, who was moving well, but out of water, so I shared some of mine - he appreciated the Camelbak insulated bottle that was able to give him some ice cold water even after an hour in the heat. Kendall was up ahead and moving well, so I settled in behind him as he took us right to the base of the AS. A couple hundred yards before we could see the aid station, we startled a yearling moose, and it sounded like momma was nearby rustling in the bushes. </div>
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Scott and I gave a little jog up part of the hill to show we were still feeling good, but hiked in the rest to the Lambs Canyon AS.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKAGhWT4tprb6g5gYP68r1TbrHou9l3TG52njR02yPoKhlveD7yyZWWTI4_Id9921ml92BifJQ6YW-aoFsGbXnr-WukiSR_PEWjOHEhXYzplaX_vDa0y3MgAD8gRTdewgcL2xjaa4K572/s1600/10686358_10203732742611973_232609424_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKAGhWT4tprb6g5gYP68r1TbrHou9l3TG52njR02yPoKhlveD7yyZWWTI4_Id9921ml92BifJQ6YW-aoFsGbXnr-WukiSR_PEWjOHEhXYzplaX_vDa0y3MgAD8gRTdewgcL2xjaa4K572/s1600/10686358_10203732742611973_232609424_o.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saying hi on the trail - Photo by Taralyn Summers</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Lambs Canyon AS (52.5) - 7:10pm - </span><b style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Elapsed Time 14:10</b></h3>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Craig and Jennilyn were waiting and cheering for us, along with my wife and her mom. Everybody helped get us weighed in, fed and changed. This was another major aid that we had planned on taking some extra time to reset and get ready for the trek to Brighton. I changed my shirt, hat and used the POP, regliding while I was at it. I was starting to get a little chilled, so I knew it was time to head. Scott had already left, so Craig and I jogged up the road to meet them. Scott and I had been talking all day about getting to Lambs feeling good. While we had arrived a little later than I thought, we had achieved that goal, so I just hoped it would pay off. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DX5DL7NGaBuGpcjnZbiu642IRpr1uqIO3IK2Mz2SzJ3RjVymfAETwCz3ECzmPEdhCLAPyacFUwCuO0KOlCn1z2BxGIMsKWc_csO-7KXeqzpmDyvQY1G4ApBkzGClLi-o0rd4pCxs3FXt/s1600/10639710_10204379086732794_892245952497626094_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DX5DL7NGaBuGpcjnZbiu642IRpr1uqIO3IK2Mz2SzJ3RjVymfAETwCz3ECzmPEdhCLAPyacFUwCuO0KOlCn1z2BxGIMsKWc_csO-7KXeqzpmDyvQY1G4ApBkzGClLi-o0rd4pCxs3FXt/s1600/10639710_10204379086732794_892245952497626094_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading up Lambs - Photo by Craig</td></tr>
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We hiked most of the road, with a few pacer-forced running spells, until we reached the top of the road, where some bum was there offering free body massages. Sicko! Actually we knew it was just VanHorn showing up again, bringing smiles to our faces as we turned off the road and hit the trail. </div>
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We were able to make it nearly to the top without headlamps, but turned them on shortly before the pass. Near the last switchback, I noticed my energy wasn't great. I still felt OK, just a little depleted. Craig had me try to eat some cherry cola Honey Stinger chews, and my stomach wanted nothing to do with it. In the past I would have hiked on and tried to fight the feeling. Not anymore. I pulled off the trail and just let the puke fly (some appropriately timed inappropriate comments from Scott did help). One minute later I was done and felt like a million bucks. I jogged to the pass catching up with Scott and Jennilyn, and then we cruised on down the other side. Craig and I ran through a full volume rendition of "Stars" from Les Mis, which had me a little out of breath by the time we finished the song, but it was a quick jaunt and we hit the road at Elbow Fork in Milcreek.</div>
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Hats off to the runners that can run this road at this point in the race. For me it seems to be just too steep to run without expending more energy than it would be worth. We did run a few sections and eventually (as happens as long as you keep moving) we found ourselves at Upper Big Water. </div>
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Upper Big Water AS (60.94) - 9:58pm - <b>Elapsed Time 16:58</b></h3>
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I love this AS. I think it's the grilled cheese. Ate one of those and had some hot broth with noodles, a couple of Cokes and some water. We saw DJ here, he was having some knee problems, but continued on. Probably spent a little too long here, and I started to shiver - that's my alarm - time to go. </div>
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After all of the climbs you've been through (and still have) this climb from Big Water to Dog Lake was rather pleasant. We certainly weren't pushing the pace, but we kept moving well and before I knew it, we were running down, and passed Dog Lake. The steep descent from Dog to blunder fork was slower than a normal run, but that was expected. As we turned up the trail towards Deso, I was very happy with the trail work that had been done - it took a little bit of the sting out of that climb. We told stories as we moved along and it seems like just a few minutes before I looked around and realized we were in the meadow just below Deso. Sweet! We passed DJ here and wished him well as we ran into the aid station.</div>
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Desolation Lake AS (66.02) - 11:58pm - <b>Elapsed Time 18:58</b></h3>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">On the climb up to Desolation we had all made an agreement - no more than 2 minutes at Deso and Scotts would buy us a couple of extra minutes at Brighton, where it really mattered. So that's just what we did. Craig refilled my bottle while I knocked back two cups of Coke, grabbed a cup of hot soup, and started walking. Jennilyn and I chatted our way up to the sign at the bottom of red lovers ridge, and then waited for a minute while Scott and Craig caught up, before tackling the ridge together. We made quick work of it and were on the Crest trail in no time. Scott was out front and just started laying it down. We walked only briefly on some of the steeper uphills, but otherwise ran almost everything to Scotts, getting there almost exactly an hour after leaving Desolation. </span></div>
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Scotts Pass AS (69.94) - 1:05am - <b>Elapsed Time 20:05 </b> </h3>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Another quick 2 minute stop at Scotts and we were on our way again. Spent a minute or two walking to let the food start to digest, and were on our way again. Took a brief stop just before the pavement for Craig and Scott to take advantage of the bathroom. We had an absolute blast joking around and telling stories all through the night. Made pretty quick work of the pavement, not walking a step of pavement until we made it to the canyon road heading up to Brighton. Craig and I pulled a little ahead of Scott and Jennilyn on that last stretch to Brighton, running part of the hill and then through the flat parking lot on into the AS. </span></div>
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Brighton AS (74.63) -2:06am - <b>Elapsed Time 21:06</b></h3>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">I love the Brighton AS. So many friends there either running or pacing, and my wife was there to support me. Said hello to everyone while Craig brought me a plate of food (amazing), reapplied some glide and took a minute to regroup. My feet felt good, but I could feel my toes starting to argue with each other a little, so I made a change into Injinjis, which kept everyone playing nice. I heard of a few friends that had been far ahead of me that were still here at Brighton. Derek Ward came and said hi - he looked like he wasn't sure he would continue. I tried to say something encouraging as I finished up preparations. I was now starting to shiver, so I knew it was time to get moving. Luckily we would later find that Derek suited up and finished like a champ. </span></div>
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Leaving Brighton you start right up one of the biggest climbs of the day, especially considering it's 75 miles in. It was one I had been thinking about all day. The first time I had ever made this climb was two years ago, while pacing Craig. At that time it felt like it went forever. Today I knew what I was getting into, and told myself it really wasn't that big. One foot in front of the other. Keep moving. </div>
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Before I knew it, we were heading towards a light at Point Supreme. There he was again, MVH had set up a beach party right at the highest point of the course - complete with umbrella, frisbee, sunscreen (at 3am) and a beachball somewhere down the mountain. We spent a minute here to hang out and dance with the beach music until Scott caught up. </div>
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From the top of the climb your work is far from over. Dive and the Plunge be damned, this is the hardest, nastiest decent on the entire course. My second step on the steep trail sent my foot jamming into the front of my shoe, smashing my toe...ouch...I guess I should have tightened that up at the top. I didn't push super hard going down, just took my time and kept running. I could hear the clinking of Scotts poles not too far behind. The light to Ant Knolls showed up in our sights and the aid station itself appeared a little sooner than I thought. </div>
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Ant Knolls AS (79.13) - 4:03am - <b>Elapsed Time 23:03 </b></h3>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">I barely remember being here. We popped in, Erik Storhiem hooked me up with some sausage and I downed a coke and we were back on the trail. I knew this climb 'the grunt' was coming and I just wanted to get it behind me. I charged that thing with everything I had, marching hard to the top. Said hello to Kelly as we went by on our way up. At the top, we turned our lights off for a minute and enjoyed the bright stars in the dark night - at least that's what I told ourselves we were doing - I needed a breather after the climb! </span></div>
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With Scott and Jennilyn caught up at the top, we headed towards Pole Line. I was leading the train and really feeling great. We ran nearly everything here, especially since it's mostly flat to downhill. I have yet to see this section in the light (from previous pacing duties) and I aimed to keep it that way. This is one of the few places where the trail seems almost buttery smooth as it weaves in and out of the aspens. We arrived at Pole Line less than an hour after leaving Ant Knolls. </div>
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Pole Line Pass (82.31) - 4:58am - <b>Elapsed Time 23:58</b> </h3>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Pole Line is one of the best. We were happy to see some familiar faces, including that of Davy Crockett. We spent a couple of minutes here. I ordered up a breakfast burrito and felt bad that I could only muster two bites before feeling full. I reluctantly handed it back and we took off, heading down the usual trail until we broke off onto the new part of the course. In no time we were at the turn down to Pot Bottom - the upper section of this trail is a rutted, rocky mess. It's no wonder I had forgotten about it from the last two times pacing. At this point in the race you've been doing so much nasty downhill, you just put your head down and continue on. I was happy to reach the road where the old Pot Bottom aid station used to be, and begin the 'last' climb up to the ridge. We took this climb in stride, and I was actually surprised when it ended - I was expecting it to be a bit longer or harder. As we ran down towards the next aid station, it was starting to get light, so we were beginning to be treated with some spectacular views as the sun began touching the mountains.</span></div>
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Just outside the Stanton aid we heard fast footsteps behind us along with a familiar voice. Andrea, who had been at Brighton earlier, was now feeling good and flew past us with Zac as her pacer. She was moving well and was in and out of the aid station before we even got there. I was happy to see her back on track. </div>
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Stanton North (87.28) - 6:26am - <b>Elapsed Time 25:26</b></h3>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Again, a 2 minute aid stop here. Just enough to refill the fluids and grab some Coke. With less than a half marathon to go, we were really smelling the barn and just wanted to get done. </span></div>
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We were now in new territory here and didn't really know what to expect. My mind had conjured up a nice, smooth road that blissfully led us to the finish line. While it was a road, it was quite rocky, which made it difficult to get a good pace going, even with the downhill sections. There were a couple of surprise uphills, including one just out of the aid station, and another short, steep climb a few miles later. At this point in the race you just keep going, and we did enjoy the fall colors and the views of Timp and the surrounding valleys. </div>
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My feet and body were tired, and I was ready to be done, but I appreciated the moment, savoring the time I had to spend with good friends in the mountains.</div>
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A short while later we turned off the road and basically into a cow field that led down the canyon. There was a trail, but it was rarely used and was full of loose rock. At this stage in the race I was trying to keep a good downhill pace going, but my beat up quads and tired feet were barely able to run faster than a walk on the steep downhill sections. Finally...finally we made it to the final aid station, Decker Canyon. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fantastic views of Timp in the early fall colors - Photo by Craig</td></tr>
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Decker Canyon (93.89) - 8:05am - <b>Elapsed Time 27:05 </b></h3>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">We took a few minutes here to refuel and get ready for the final push, though we didn't take too long. The people there were friendly and had great things to say about the upcoming (and last) section of the course. </span></div>
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A mile or two more of the trail and then we met up with the recreation trail that goes alongside Deer Creek reservoir. This was a wide, rolling gravel track, that would be easily run on a normal day. We hiked the first few uphills and ran everything that was flat or down, weaving in and out of seemingly endless canyons. As we progressed, we started running more and more, and with a couple of miles to go we could see Kelly closing in on us, and that seemed to give us enough of a desire to finish this thing off. </div>
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So we started running. Running fast (at least it felt REALLY fast) and never stopped until the end. We rounded the mountain and could now see the finish. Down through some trees and a parking lot, and we were now on the road. Craig and Jennilyn pulled ahead to take pictures, so now it was just Scott and I together, as we had been all day, running side by side and pushing hard as the finish line neared. </div>
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I could hear my wife screaming from afar, and was flooded with emotion as we rounded the final corner to the finish line. I grabbed Scotts hand and we crossed the line together, now the second time doing that in 100 mile race. </div>
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Soldier Hollow - FINISH (100) - 9:29am - <b>Elapsed Time 28:29:12</b></h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Done! Photo by Jennilyn Eaton</td></tr>
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Words can't express the relief and joy I felt as I finished. It was not the simple joy of a tired body now able to rest, but the joy of knowing that the hours, days, months and even years of hard work had paid off. I had run what I felt was a smart and conservative race, and it turned into an awesome day. I was able to run 100 miles with so many friends, and with Scott for the entire time. The weather was perfect, the course was brutal and the aid stations and volunteers were stellar. I had the amazing pacing help from my brother Aaron, Craig and Jennilyn - all of whom have been an inspiration to me. <br />
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Above all, I couldn't have done this without the support of my amazing wife - She is more than I could ever ask for, and certainly more than I deserve. <br />
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People ask if I will ever put in again - the answer is simple: without question.<br />
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Gear List:<br />
<a href="http://www.altrarunning.com/fitness/en/Altra/Men/lone-peak-2-mens" target="_blank">Altra Lone Peak 2.0</a> Black/Red - single pair, ZERO blisters<br />
<a href="http://ultraspire.com/product/revolution/" target="_blank">UltrAspire Revolution</a> - Best racing pack there is<br />
Addidas tech tee - x2 - changed at Lambs<br />
Patagonia shorts<br />
<a href="http://www.hobiepolarized.com/shop/mens/rockpile.html" target="_blank">Hobie Rockpile Polarized glasses</a><br />
<a href="http://tekoforlife.com/collections/mens/products/sin3rgi-organic-mens-light-minicrew-socks-charcoal" target="_blank">Teko socks</a> (40mi) - these were good, just started to get a little hot on the bottom<br />
<a href="http://store.trailandultrarunning.com/products/drymax-trail-run-1-4-crew-high" target="_blank">Drymax</a> (35 mi) - Always good, toes were starting to argue with each other<br />
<a href="http://store.trailandultrarunning.com/products/injinji-trail-2-0-midweight-mini-crew" target="_blank">Injinji </a>(25 mi) - probably should have just worn these the whole time :)<br />
<a href="http://www.tailwindnutrition.com/endurance-fuels/" target="_blank">Tailwind</a> ~25 servings - filled a bottle at each AS, that was my sole source of calories between AS, then ate whatever looked good at the AS.<br />
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Aid station food (that I can remember):<br />
- Nutella wrap<br />
-<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> Coke x20</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><br />
- Ginger Ale x4<br />
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> - Popsicles x5</span><br />
- Fruit<br />
- Turkey and cheese sandwich<br />
- Grilled Cheese x2<br />
- Sausage x2<br />
- 2 bites of a breakfast burrito (it was tasty)<br />
- Broth x2<br />
- <strike>Cherry Cola Honey Stinger chews</strike><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121023402918416258.post-14653822391916616112014-09-08T13:12:00.000-06:002014-09-11T15:34:23.055-06:00Spectating a Hundred Mile FootraceBy MVH<br />
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September 5-6 1014<br />
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In July I regretfully asked to be removed from the runner list of the Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run. I finished Wasatch the two previous years and 2014 was going to be the year I finished well before sunrise. However with a serious, chronic knee injury that prevented me from training and running Wasatch (and perhaps running ever again), I wanted to be involved in the race as much as possible without running a step. On the morning of the first day I took my living room up to a part of the trail near Sessions Mountains, at about mile 27 of the race course. I chose a wide, grassy ridge top with views of Bountiful and the Great Salt Lake below me and to the West, and Morgan Valley to the East. I set up a living room: La-Z-Boy recliner from our upstairs bedroom, end table with shaded lamp, bookshelf with some of my favorites, a small cooler, and a large rectangle rug that really tied the room together.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo By Mick Keane</span></div>
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I had prepared poster boards with the names of runners I knew or would recognize as they ran or walked past. I kicked off my shoes and reclined, and picked up my copy of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. The first runner appeared in the distance and down the dirt road to my left. I was surprised it wasn't George, the second place finisher 2 years ago. The first several runners were all business, smiling but quickly moving past. Friends started arriving and I pulled out a poster with their name and held it up in the wind. I didn't recognize Phil until he was right in front of me taking a photo of me, and I didn't have time to find his poster before he was gone. I wasn't trying to delay the runners. The big comfy chair was for me, not them. Although one runner asked if he could get a photo of himself sitting in the chair. I obliged while his companion took the shot. Several runners asked if I had beer in the cooler. If I did I wasn't giving them any. I pulled out a foot long sandwich and a Coke and watched the race. I hate sitting at home checking updates and receiving trickling news and photos from an electronic device. I saw the entire field of runners go by. I received several hugs from beloved friends, and hoped each would finish in Soldier Hollow sometime the next day. <br />
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Later that evening I dressed as a pan-handler, wearing a wig of scraggly hair, frayed brown and ill-fitting pants, open zip hoodie with no undershirt, and held a sign that read: HELP: STRANDED NEED LIFT TO SOLDIER HOLLOW SPENT ALL MY MONEY ON EXPENSIVE RUNNING SHOES AND ULTRA RACES WIFE IS PREGGO AGAIN GOD BLESS. I stood at the trailhead for Bear Pass up Lambs Canyon. Nobody got the joke. They thought I was a real pan-handler there to inconvenience them. I decided that after 54 miles, tired and irritable runners just do not want to read much. I changed the sign to read WILL WORK FOR GELS, and alternately NEED MONEY FOR ULTRA RACES and FREE BODY MASSAGE. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Adding the Creep Factor (according to Kenzie) Photo by Craig lloyd</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The answer is: No one.</span></div>
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These worked a little better, getting some laughs and hopefully lifting spirits as they began a big uphill hike to the pass. But only a few keen runners recognized me. I removed the costume and visited the big aid station at the underpass. I received the sweetest greeting from friends I haven't seen for months, who told me they missed me and were thinking of me. We waited and watched other dear friends arrive to begin their second half of the endurance run. Through it all I wished I was making the hundred mile journey with them. But it was beautiful to play a part in the support side of the race.<br />
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I left Lambs Canyon and drove down to the valley, then up Little Cottonwood Canyon. Phase 3 of Operation Runner Distraction was going to be the most difficult to pull off. I drove to Albion Basin and hiked up to Catherine Pass carrying a large touring backpack, a school backpack, a Coleman lamp with a propane bottle, cooler with ice and drinks, large beach umbrella, camp chair, beach towel, 3 blankets, a frisbee, sunscreen (it was full dark at this time), radio, and beach ball. At the highest point of the course, called Point Supreme or Inspiration Point, there is a short section of sandy trail called The Beach. I chose a good spot on the trail that resembles a small sand dune and set up a beach party. I could see across the basin to the Wasatch Crest and Scott Hill. I could see light from headlamps of Wasatch pilgrims twinkling and dotting the crest. Below me I could see the headlamps of runners (hikers now, all of them) approaching and within 2 minutes they would arrive at my party. I played the music of The Beach Boys and turned the lamp up to full brightness. I lay on the towel for several hours and watched many endurance athletes hike up the hill. They were almost always in pairs - the participant and their pacer. Most runners looked very fatigued, and their countenances fallen, sweaty faces reflecting light from my lamp. They were out of breath, feeling low on the highest point of the course. One runner out of habit told me his bib number thinking this was a check-point. Again, I did not recognize Phil until he was a few feet away from me, his headlamp shining in my eyes. As he marched past me I shouted hey I have a sign for you. Since I missed having it out for him at my living room I brought it up to The Beach. I pulled it out but it was upside down. He glanced at it, shrugged, and turned uphill. I don't know if he made any sense of it. The sign read in big black letters: HYPERPHIL. He was anything but hyper as he stormed The Beach. I thought about running up to witness him kissing the sign at Point supreme but thought it best to let him have the moment to himself and his pacer. Other friends hiked through. Stephen Lindsay was one of the few who looked strong and happy after making that climb from Brighton. I tried to encourage everyone that they had reached the top. Earlier my brother Peter left Lambs Canyon with a runner he paced to Brighton. He then continued up to meet me at The Beach. He happened to show up as I blasted KISS's Rock and Roll All Nite into the darkness. When Peter showed up it finally felt like a party. Until then it was mostly me shivering under a blanket watching and encouraging the hikers as they passed. I didn't want them to stop but I wanted them to have some distraction from their tired bodies and minds. <br />
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Shortly after Peter arrived, four dear friends Scott, Matt, and their pacers Jennilyn and Craig arrived at my beach party. They all stopped and danced to Hot Chocolate's sexy seventies sound of YOU SEXY THING. For a moment or two it felt as if I was a teenager back in Northern California at a beach party at Half-Moon Bay. Matt and Scott looked very good considering their journey to that point. Scott had that slack-faced fatigued look but I knew he would rally the last two-dozen miles through the dark of the Wasatch back country. After the Four left Peter and I packed up the party and hiked down to Albion Basin. My knee was killing me.<br />
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Phase 4 of my Wasatch day would be spent at Pole Line aid station, mile 82. I considered skipping this effort but I had told Vince I would help him at Pole Line, and I meant to keep my word. We drove down Little Cottonwood Canyon, then up Big Cottonwood Canyon to Guardsman Pass. We then drove down into Midway, then back up Snake Canyon on 10 miles of bad road, and after a long drive arrived at Pole Line Pass by dawn. Derek W. was there, sitting and suffering from an upset stomach. I walked up to him and gave him whatever encouragement I could. I stayed at Pole Line pass until 12:30 pm, watching runners come in and helping them get back on their feet and out the remaining 18 miles. I don't know if I was much help, being tired myself. But then I remembered Vince had been there all night with his crew and he was showing no signs of fatigue. Vince rushed around all morning cooking breakfast, arranging gear, directing his crew. My God what a devoted servant. It was one of the most impressive things I have seen in endurance sport.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Enjoying cast iron-baked cinnamon rolls with Larry Adams at Pole Line Pass as PVH looks on. (Photo Credit ? Maybe Dennis?)</span></div>
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The morning heated up and weary endurance athletes stumbled into the aid tent. Many of them ran but many were bent sideways or swaying as their pacers lead them to a friendly place to sit, eat and drink. Late in the morning a single figure emerged from the trees up the hill. He was walking carefully and slowly but remained in control. It was Mike P. I quickly walked up to him and accompanied him to a chair. I could feel the heat radiating from his body. He sat in a chair as we helped him cool off. Mike had not been able to keep food or liquid down. We tried to cool him down as best we could with cold, wet towels. I wanted him to drink a cup of ice water. I don't think he touched it. It was hard for me to see him suffer so much. I had to turn away to hide the tears in my eyes. His total time at Pole Line wasn't long, maybe ten minutes. When he left us he looked better. Other runners came in looking distressed. One woman had tears in her big brown eyes and so much anxiety written on her face. She was worried about not making the cutoff times and not finishing. All I could say is You can do it. Vince stood next to her and gave her the mileage breakdown and the time needed to get it done. If there was a filming crew there this would have been one of the best scenes to film. There was drama and suspense, and sweet pathos. I don't know if I was much help at Pole Line. I just waned everyone who came through to get up and keep going. Vince proudly announced that they had nobody drop at his aid station. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">"I honestly don't care what you say. I will not eat another saltine." Mike Place at Brighton, mile 75ish. (Photo by Paige Elizabeth Rausch)</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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Peter had decided to run the remaining 18 miles to the finish as a pacer for a ghost runner. This guy had started running late last year and has completed a 50 mile race. I worry for him because he is a burn survivor and has significant scarring on his upper half. The remaining 18 miles are exposed and heat up in the sun. Then I remember that he is tough and enthusiastic, and can do it.<br />
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When I drove out down the mountain to meet Peter at the finish at Soldier Hollow, I passed many of the runners whom I had seen at Pole Line. They were all still moving toward their finish, and there was one long heartbreaking hill that I do not envy them for. Mike was looking much better and I talked with him for a moment. I did not doubt he would finish. I found a new layer of respect for him and men and women on the same journey. After all the suffering I saw over two days I still wished I could be in the race, feeling what they felt. The good times and times of feeling good make up for it and stay long after the memory of the suffering fades. I hope to be able to do it again.MVHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985949327780521483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121023402918416258.post-32307906925148174652014-07-17T11:07:00.000-06:002014-07-17T11:07:39.355-06:00Skyline Mountain 50 - Race Report<div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><b>By Matt W</b></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">Some people generally consider signing up for a 100 mile race to be a little crazy. What they probably don't fully realize is all of the other crazy things that you have to do to prepare for it. The signing up is the easy part. </span><br />
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For me, one such decision was made when I hit the 'submit' button to tackle a first year 50 mile race in the middle of July - it was sure to be complete with brutal climbs and scorching heat....which all sounded good in March as I sat behind my computer screen watching the snow fall outside my window. </div>
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As the race date got closer and the temps started to be consistently in higher upper 90's, even I began to question my own sanity. Even still, I was excited to hit the trails - some familiar and others, brand new.<br />
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Race morning came early, I found myself stumbling into my car at 3:15am in order make the drive to the finish line in Eden, where we would then be shuttled to the start line for the 5am start. The temperature already read 74 degrees - yes, it was going to be hot. Treating today as a training run, I thought I would try going full liquids for the duration of the race, including breakfast - so as I made the 45 minute drive I nursed my bottle of tailwind, which would give me a couple hundred calories to start the day.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrDp5Z05TphpceIEDQ904WGGGxpXCm9fCgH79GNnGsrzXVjZI65IspUZsuSM5SuIscX5kqnrdvd4smFPEywOgmXXNJOZXchxa5nm7YnJeTM10iuqnuAfTnVZKskj0GPBHkR01kbVzNfj_/s1600/IMG_2657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrDp5Z05TphpceIEDQ904WGGGxpXCm9fCgH79GNnGsrzXVjZI65IspUZsuSM5SuIscX5kqnrdvd4smFPEywOgmXXNJOZXchxa5nm7YnJeTM10iuqnuAfTnVZKskj0GPBHkR01kbVzNfj_/s1600/IMG_2657.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">74 degrees at 3:15am</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Once on the shuttle to the start, I noticed that Zac was nowhere to be found. My text messages went unanswered. I figured he must be driving and would show up any minute. No sign of Zac, however, when the countdown began. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TwaRs981ZQHw8irBGC8KizkD0JYqzfDnSu1tS6dI7inHfISRanl1V_Nyj2ctOU0omHKS88M-ZMYbFM8zE7nFc_mYa43dIYB9umK_dTU8hN3ZTm9w-6vZa8nQSSpehPkhoopt1unpXdvW/s1600/IMG_2659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TwaRs981ZQHw8irBGC8KizkD0JYqzfDnSu1tS6dI7inHfISRanl1V_Nyj2ctOU0omHKS88M-ZMYbFM8zE7nFc_mYa43dIYB9umK_dTU8hN3ZTm9w-6vZa8nQSSpehPkhoopt1unpXdvW/s1600/IMG_2659.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Runners checking in at the start line under a bright moon</td></tr>
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We started - as any good ultra will - with a very casual 3-2-1 countdown, and we were off into the night, a herd of 50 or so runners plodding down the hundred yards of pavement until we funneled onto the single track trail. I settled in mid pack and just took it nice and easy for the first couple of miles. No need to jockey for position at this point in the race. </div>
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After a couple of miles the trail momentarily flattened, so I ran ahead of the group I had been with and then began a steep climb up the mountain. I was happy to see that I was hiking well within my limits and was passing people. All the vert this year is paying off - I usually get passed on the steep uphills. From there the trail turned into overgrown cat tracks through some beautiful pine and aspen forest. A couple of guys passed here and I let them go - it's early.<br />
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As we finally gained the ridge we were welcomed by a beautiful sunrise looking over powder mountain resort. My phone beeped with a text from Zac "Shoulda called...I was passed out!!!" I replied with by snapping a picture of the sunrise and sending it back.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful sunrise over Powder Mountain</td></tr>
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A quick downhill brought us to the first aid station, which I ran through - we were only 3.5 miles in and I certainly didn't need anything yet. It was fun to see friends there. More beautiful ridge climbing gave us a spectacular view of nearly the entire course, and took us up to the end of our first climb - James Peak. It was a short, steep climb to the top, with prayer flags and an amazing view to greet us.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Final push of the first climb - James Peak</td></tr>
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Coming off the ridge there was no trail. I loved it, carefully picking my way down the ridge and just trying to stay upright. We then met up with a very steep service road, that every part of me wanted to bomb down. However, I could tell that this downhill was very long and we were only 5 or 6 miles in - too easy to wreck your quads on that! I settled in with a (new) friend Tyler and we spent the next several miles chatting away as we worked our way down the mountainside. I also got a call from Zac, who said he was on his way to Avon road, that he would just meet up with the course there and at least get a good run in for the day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MxSik4Vpfr_myhd9OV4U4Njxh1IFZ_GpwjyS4Epw0HFnjMgspv3eyIdATdRArREV16PJL89ISx6AuqrYdUF59WVmv57JjhEKyvZiDgLOuRT9ieIPFlgAX7bRwuZeRBJ4K02YCz_QnsxF/s1600/IMG_2677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MxSik4Vpfr_myhd9OV4U4Njxh1IFZ_GpwjyS4Epw0HFnjMgspv3eyIdATdRArREV16PJL89ISx6AuqrYdUF59WVmv57JjhEKyvZiDgLOuRT9ieIPFlgAX7bRwuZeRBJ4K02YCz_QnsxF/s1600/IMG_2677.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading down from James Peak - the course lies ahead. Willard and Ben Lomond dead ahead.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjxu5mYPUddOrhXCfZ4lyEbc4yPFrPoqqwgCW1SGhBKgwMA13SwMfZ2eQyM8VGeHO4IDXUj5Fj2TkdIHNi07_fMzHxQzTeEOQhCdKFyT7cgOad5iHY1QYIsPPcL2PLJchNx39zkk_437f/s1600/IMG_2679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjxu5mYPUddOrhXCfZ4lyEbc4yPFrPoqqwgCW1SGhBKgwMA13SwMfZ2eQyM8VGeHO4IDXUj5Fj2TkdIHNi07_fMzHxQzTeEOQhCdKFyT7cgOad5iHY1QYIsPPcL2PLJchNx39zkk_437f/s1600/IMG_2679.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still heading down - now on a trail</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">In no time we were on Avon road then at the Altra Aid station, about 10 miles in. It was already starting to feel warm, but a quick refill on water and ice and we were off. Zac decided to join in with me rather than chase the front runners - a decision he probably regrets. :)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Mc3-djXcaulvz-4QsKc2_gViNsGkhZa31sTKjWFZmjVw_ssEKFO6UhNYI0abZcxz4uQMBViaJcJEIhfwn2OB23RoTd9T0D4hky6vb0rRmf22kAhRlTn1BpjE2sb6cx1CIVtVoug9i1CH/s1600/9275_506783069451735_5151518071452678328_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Mc3-djXcaulvz-4QsKc2_gViNsGkhZa31sTKjWFZmjVw_ssEKFO6UhNYI0abZcxz4uQMBViaJcJEIhfwn2OB23RoTd9T0D4hky6vb0rRmf22kAhRlTn1BpjE2sb6cx1CIVtVoug9i1CH/s1600/9275_506783069451735_5151518071452678328_n.jpg" height="334" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coming in to aid two on Avon road</td></tr>
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The three of us hung together for the next several miles, which included another quick aid stop a mere 3 miles later. I was happy to see I had finished a whole bottle in that section - might as well get started early. The aid guys were great "lets us know what you need, if you don't see something you want...well, we probably don't have it!"<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGf0GatmS64x2lKlR405xYXXjDgHMUA6yuynyWglC2_cLjq4zLhPGMRvsADfCxUw8FbdbKaXy76cnAHPH5QTCg-GK4jnGvPwzaPWjsUl38gTPGwTt3lfZKkeV_MceucQ8mFuAGoWc4tjp/s1600/IMG_2682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGf0GatmS64x2lKlR405xYXXjDgHMUA6yuynyWglC2_cLjq4zLhPGMRvsADfCxUw8FbdbKaXy76cnAHPH5QTCg-GK4jnGvPwzaPWjsUl38gTPGwTt3lfZKkeV_MceucQ8mFuAGoWc4tjp/s1600/IMG_2682.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyler heading up the dirt road...and there's my finger</td></tr>
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Less than a mile out of the third aid we were running some soft, smooth double track, where of course I caught a toe and went down. I did my usual barrel roll, but felt a pop in my back. Oh no! I yelled out, I probably startled the guys...they asked if I was Ok. Yes, yes, I was fine, the 'pop' I felt was the lid shooting off my newly filled water (and tailwind) bottle, spilling the entirety of its contents onto his the trail! On a day like today water was something you didn't want to be out of! Luckily it was still early, and we were in some shade. Zac was also kind enough to share his bottle for that stretch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpgzPBeMHcZq19guaIVX0H2LCcN_kb4cUucCUVDkgRdlnpvkz9E9CHMivA_Zresp07JYCgFpEKSoEn-goyE0N8u3ntbvzhfYPxeWj_oXUpynkdmEgh9kUtyXMiRX6mLPMEH3scHua5sRB/s1600/IMG_2681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpgzPBeMHcZq19guaIVX0H2LCcN_kb4cUucCUVDkgRdlnpvkz9E9CHMivA_Zresp07JYCgFpEKSoEn-goyE0N8u3ntbvzhfYPxeWj_oXUpynkdmEgh9kUtyXMiRX6mLPMEH3scHua5sRB/s1600/IMG_2681.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zac doin' work as we near the 20 mile aid stop</td></tr>
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After some winding roads through the forest, we were at the 20 mile aid station, nestled in some trees along the road - what a great spot! As I walked to pick up my drop bag, where I had strategically left another handheld bottle, my heart sank. I had labeled my 2 drop bags wrong, so the one for mile 36 was here, and the one for here was waiting there! Fortunately I had stashed a soft bottle 'just in case' and it turned out be the best mistake I made all day. Rather than have to carry another handheld, I would have the soft bottle filled with ice and water, and then would suff that in my front pouch, where it would sit against my chest and help keep me cool. I would then use that to spray my arms, head and face. The bottle in my pack was my nutrition/hydration. I accidentally found my new hot weather setup!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hO2eejeKU4-SYKTM0lrbUBP55KIAuhhY0CtHStDOUDgXp9EGj2Dl158GyAJrXxcaOS6Qv_57mVvMfRLbsBQ0HeDL9XxCOEgx87BMfQc_UvFfqXQHbTNdgwrOpsNEa5NaIjmY50nXyFZ3/s1600/IMG_2683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hO2eejeKU4-SYKTM0lrbUBP55KIAuhhY0CtHStDOUDgXp9EGj2Dl158GyAJrXxcaOS6Qv_57mVvMfRLbsBQ0HeDL9XxCOEgx87BMfQc_UvFfqXQHbTNdgwrOpsNEa5NaIjmY50nXyFZ3/s1600/IMG_2683.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were a couple of shady spots at first...</td></tr>
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The climbing really starts again from this aid - a long 7 miles up a well maintained, very exposed dirt road. It was <i>really</i> starting to get hot. Much of this was somewhat runnable, but in the heat I didn't want to over exert, so Zac was nice enough to humor me as we hiked our way up the mountain. Even though we were on a (dirt) road, the views never disappointed.<br />
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We could see across the valley to James peak, where we had come from, with Willard and Ben Lomond looming up ahead. There were a couple of downhill reprieves, which we were able to run, and we passed a few people along this stretch that certainly looked to be hanging in the pain cave (or pain-sauna, maybe).<br />
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We crested into the gorgeous Willard basin and enjoyed some faster downhill running. I knew an aid station was coming up, and someone had even mentioned there may be a spring in this area. I was dreaming of jumping in a lake and drinking a slurpee when I started to notice water wetting the road. I immediately began searching for a spring as I ran, thinking it was probably a small dribble from a rock. Once I saw Zac stopped ahead, I knew he was there. It was no dribble - it was a 2 in pipe with icy cold water just gushing out. We spent a good 3-4 minutes there, washing our dirty, salty faces, and cooling down our heated bodies. It was heaven...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most spectacular place of the whole day</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Reluctantly leaving, it was only about 100 yards around the corner to the next aid, that was run by a local scout troop. I had a fun time joking with them - I asked them if they were having fun and was met with a resounding 'No!'. Wouldn't expect anything less! I took a minute here to drink a bottle of Coke...errr Sams Choice Cola....and then we headed out.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climbing up to Willard</td></tr>
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We were now back on single track and this is where the course goes from awesome to truly spectacular. The climb was fairly short and not too steep, which gave my stomach enough time to settle all the liquids I had ingested. Then we were curling around the base of Willard peak and were running towards Ben Lomond. Wow. Some of the best ridge running there is, right there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_LVYBycDGfAC9TvsrAi7s-PMQ22S3MHBm_qVx8b5-WZrMBUFFvwCT_Tg8fLLYDIdsaWCzdGzXI5sQ7-eunOQhtnXjlRo9YOBCaFz-GtEe5CVNwUYrLGH0O17u4FtbWKCRpW4fu6KNaqp/s1600/IMG_2696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_LVYBycDGfAC9TvsrAi7s-PMQ22S3MHBm_qVx8b5-WZrMBUFFvwCT_Tg8fLLYDIdsaWCzdGzXI5sQ7-eunOQhtnXjlRo9YOBCaFz-GtEe5CVNwUYrLGH0O17u4FtbWKCRpW4fu6KNaqp/s1600/IMG_2696.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running the ridge<br /><br /></td></tr>
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We quickly made our way to Ben Lomond, crossing a small snow field (stopping briefly to cool down, of course), and then had a grand ol time running down the rocky switchbacks to the saddle, where another aid was waiting. As it had only been 3 miles, we didn't take too long here, though as we were about to leave I decided to take another minute to fill up on ice - they've got it- I might as well take some! They were real troopers, baking in the sun with none of the the cover that many of the other aid stops enjoyed.<br />
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I love the run down from Ben Lomond. Some great single track and we made decent time getting to the aid station at the North Ogden divide, about mile 38. The last couple of miles had been very hot and exposed, so it was great to see a lot of friendly, familiar faces AND they had POPSICLES! The HUMRs know what's up. I grabbed some more tailwind from my dropbag and again drank a bunch of coke and ginger ale...probably a little too much this time, but it tasted so good! Another Popsicle for the road and we were off to tackle the last big climb of the day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9SJAtEgWX1ygSv82UV3ig_xhHr1SOUAmLwnOFwQs3C7r1J-9Z84W0tiU5gET7DkvER7KQosiPw55wCEBqVxDWiBas6b4VBBC14D7EGPEY1NKYHmmJfCXi4YGiGKvM_G-vXz0758yQ9Bg/s1600/IMG_2701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9SJAtEgWX1ygSv82UV3ig_xhHr1SOUAmLwnOFwQs3C7r1J-9Z84W0tiU5gET7DkvER7KQosiPw55wCEBqVxDWiBas6b4VBBC14D7EGPEY1NKYHmmJfCXi4YGiGKvM_G-vXz0758yQ9Bg/s1600/IMG_2701.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beginning the last climb</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">It was a doosy! Nice and shady for the first little bit, and then it throws you up on a super exposed ridge, right in the hottest part of the day. Zac was feeling good and pushed to the top. When I showed up a minute later I just kept moving as I could now see the next aid station. My stomach was still feeling very full from the last aid, but I figured I should at least try and drink some tailwind. I took a small sip. Nope! The second that hit my stomach it turned over. Luckily the coke was still cold, and really didn't taste too bad the second time around. Like any good friend would, Zac took pictures and video while I watered the trail.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moving up the sunny ridge.</td></tr>
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Instantly feeling better, we ran down to the next aid. I wanted to fix my shoes, it felt like I had a rock in the the back rubbing on my heel. I took my shoe off and didn't find a rock, but rather a pretty healthy blister, something I rarely have issues with. A little too much play in the heel of the Olympus, I guess, a shoe I don't wear too often. Said an 'oh well', cinched them back up started another long, 7 mile descent towards the last aid station.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top of the last climb - Photo by Zac</td></tr>
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I was having a hard time getting into a rhythm. My foot was certainly slowing me down, and the heat, I'm sure played it's role. Finally after a little shady running, and being able to down some more tailwind, we were back in the groove. With about three miles to go to the aid, it began to get really hot as we descended further. Zac was now out of water and ran ahead to get to the aid a few minutes earlier than me. I liked that this section had mile markers - it gave you something to look forward to.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qNOxj9JhSkXK0NmjjaHFmE9o_ssxmUWU7jH58kn9AxfW1v57fvdy8TH5a0QRPLzFJSM12AsNWjKfAUp6gNxRSofvNz_lvx2o63tQKw5tR07HTYcjLLJ1aqzQrW8KAdXc9YvahLN35vl-/s1600/IMG_4792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qNOxj9JhSkXK0NmjjaHFmE9o_ssxmUWU7jH58kn9AxfW1v57fvdy8TH5a0QRPLzFJSM12AsNWjKfAUp6gNxRSofvNz_lvx2o63tQKw5tR07HTYcjLLJ1aqzQrW8KAdXc9YvahLN35vl-/s1600/IMG_4792.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meeting up with Aaron - We're a couple of dorks :)</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">With a little more than a mile to the aid station, I was happily surprised to see my older brother running up to meet me. I caught up on his race earlier that day, and it was good to see a familiar face. As I ran quickly into the aid station, I was greeted by my wife, brother and sister in law with Zacs wife </span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">(and all the kids) </span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">in tow. My 6 year old was super psyched to show me a huge stick (ie branch) he had found. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpjQ0vCBHHQeBosk8rWwKHZFQYb_hfT3u2fV4lMRl2kf4T_hMUshFL0_ynVplTsl9nzBqsZSh_hB5XRRLl-f52kedptEuAGTdY7_GKAsJIHP0bZ7B2FttawzKWMSuwErDLfy7BXFlb71N/s1600/IMG_4802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpjQ0vCBHHQeBosk8rWwKHZFQYb_hfT3u2fV4lMRl2kf4T_hMUshFL0_ynVplTsl9nzBqsZSh_hB5XRRLl-f52kedptEuAGTdY7_GKAsJIHP0bZ7B2FttawzKWMSuwErDLfy7BXFlb71N/s1600/IMG_4802.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad! Check out this stick I found!</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Dr Mark was running this aid, and I could have stayed there all day! They gave us the royal treatment, rubbing ice all over my face neck and legs, helping to get my core temp down. Canice Hart, who had been at the divide aid, had gone and bought Popsicles just for me, after seeing my reaction to them at the other aid. So awesome.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zac getting treated right by Dr Mark at the Windsurfer Beach aid station</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">As much as I hate to see any Popsicles left uneaten, I knew it was time to go and finish this up. 3 miles to go would make course nearly 52 miles, but at this point in the race, you don't really worry about that - you just go until you get to the finish.</span><br />
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These last miles took us along the banks of the Pineview reservoir, on some decent single track that took us through some lush growth. I struggled through here to keep a good pace, but once we hit the paved path and the homestretch, it was all systems go.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And...done</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">I was tired, I was hot, I was sweaty, but I really felt great. My time was 13:15, a little longer than I had planned on, but given the circumstances and how good I felt, I got just what I wanted - an excellent training day and a fantastic time in the the mountains with some good friends. </span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">After running this I feel much more confident in my strategy for running in the heat at Wasatch (and elsewhere for that matter!). </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">This will be a race I run again. While it is close to Speedgoat, I think it's a great alternative if you didn't get registered in time, want the extra distance, or really want to up the ante by doing both. It is an amazing course well worth doing, especially if you're gearing up for a fall 100.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out at the finish - thanks to this guy for kicking with me for most of the day</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8BzkbYqE64rMJAVbXKa6j0GVytcN7zKAX1Bmuss3PtmvQNtRBz9VWEMYkpHPElrY40XmCldb0R-or2WmwFr4mbZbm2tCGZ0faLlPLgQfho8PK8XVsnvOM1myAFqbLbkQ17OQ2Mv5a4N0/s1600/IMG_2705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8BzkbYqE64rMJAVbXKa6j0GVytcN7zKAX1Bmuss3PtmvQNtRBz9VWEMYkpHPElrY40XmCldb0R-or2WmwFr4mbZbm2tCGZ0faLlPLgQfho8PK8XVsnvOM1myAFqbLbkQ17OQ2Mv5a4N0/s1600/IMG_2705.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm not really one for medals - but this is one of the coolest I've seen - includes course map and elevation profile!</td></tr>
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What's next? Well, Wasatch. Between now and then - a lot more running in the mountains, climbing high and running fast. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121023402918416258.post-57688438645566421372014-07-15T10:22:00.001-06:002014-07-15T10:24:53.445-06:00Fighting Fear, Exhaustion, and Failure on the WURLby Craig<br />
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OK, I wasn't really ever that scared. But in my dilapidated state, I knew I would be when it mattered.<br />
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We sat on top of Sugarloaf, about 2/3 of the way through the WURL (Wasatch Ultra Ridge Linkup) torn between two worlds - the one in which we had just come where we had spent hours in the hot sun scrambling over technical rocky ridges and up and over 11,000 ft peaks, and the one we had in front of us where there would be even more very technical rocky scrambling, more 11,000 ft peaks, but this time in darkness, cold, and no real knowledge of the route exit. On fresh legs with a clear mind that last 1/3 sounded like a fun challenge. On tired uphill legs and a foggy, heat-reduced brain it sounded terrifying. Enough so that I was ready to quit.<br />
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My problem with the WURL isn't the physical requirement, I'm more than happy to suffer for an end goal. My problem with the WURL is the investment. To do it successfully you have to want it even more than the required suffering, otherwise it is too easy to bail out. And I just didn't want it that bad. It has yet to make my bucket list and definitely hasn't been a goal of mine. Our attempt was a fall-back for not being able to head out to the Uintas for our 13ers attempt. It was planned just 2 days prior to the trip and we went into it nearly blind. And because of my lack of investment I did Jennilyn, my partner for the day, a disservice.<br />
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Aside from the 13ers, WURL is Jennilyn's big goal for the year - to become the first woman to complete it and to do it in a quick time. As we sat on top of Sugarloaf we played the math out and the result was a potential 30+ hour finish. That wasn't the way Jennilyn wanted to do it. For her it isn't about slogging it out just to be the first. She wants to put up a monster number and finish with style. I respect her for that. And for that reason, she was happy to call it a day also. She will go back when everything is perfect and I'm certain she will crush it.<br />
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Now, a few days later, still on tired legs, I reflect not on failing at the WURL (everyone who has ever done it failed their first time . . . . and they knew the whole route first), but on a nearly perfect day in the mountains. Jennilyn and I got to spend the first 10 hours and 11 peaks with her husband, Ben. You won't find much better company in the mountains. WURL jokes rolled off our tongues like sour candy ("Hey Ben, it means the WURL to me that you'd come do this") and we mocked Jared Campbell and his devilish concoctions. We laughed our way over the miles and the peaks and we scoffed at the route description authors who made some of the sections sound so terrible, when they were some of the funnest along the whole Cottonwood Ridge.<br />
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I reflect back on the glissading mountain goat, Jennilyn's faceplant into a snowbank, running into an old friend - Steve Bohman - and current friends Jason E, Mark K, and Darcie G. And then there were the views. The Wasatch has it's own kind of beauty. Every direction is a painting all it's own and one I could stare at for hours.<br />
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<i>When</i> I return to finish the WURL, it will be for the aesthetics of the line and the connection with the mountains. When that will be, who knows, But I will go back. And when I do I'm quite certain I will return a different person.junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03483517319335792896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121023402918416258.post-80569762085821371022014-07-01T11:14:00.002-06:002014-07-01T11:38:48.666-06:00Bighorn 100: By Scott WesemannThe Bighorn Mountain 'Wild and Scenic Trail Run' has been on my to-do list for a few years now. It seems like there are a lot of local Wasatch Front runners that go back to do it year after year, so I knew there was something pretty good going on up there in the middle-of-nowhere-Wyoming. The course is an out and back with over 18,000 feet of climbing in the Bighorn Mountains. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the start</td></tr>
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I am not a big fan of the late (11:00 AM) start that had us milling about the starting line for almost an hour in the heat waiting to run. I had 3 goals for the first 48 miles to the turnaround: Stay hydrated, don't get overheated and save my legs. After 1.25 on a dirt road we hit some sweet single track trail in Tongue River Canyon. I was pretty blown away by how scenic this run was. From Tongue River Canyon to the turn around the views were mind blowing, probably the best I have seen yet on a 100 miler. Deep craggy canyons, meadows filled with wildflowers, mountain streams, thick green forest and endless mountain vistas. Like advertised it was wild and scenic. The first climb (3400 ft. 7 miles) was pretty tough. I kept a decent pace, but definitely held back. I ran the first 13 miles with Matt Van Horn who was nursing a sore knee and decided to hang with me in the middle of the pack. We had a great time and shared some good laughs.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The start</td></tr>
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I arrived with Matt at the Dry Fork Ridge aid station (13.4) feeling pretty good. I grabbed some watermelon and gel and walked out of the aid to let my stomach settle. I was taking 1-2 gels between each aid station and then fueling with watermelon and salted potatoes for the whole race. Matt passed me and got into a pretty good groove and I didn't see him again until just before the turnaround. It was now really hot. I felt great and got into a nice running groove. From Dry Fork to Cow Camp aid (19.5) the trail is very runnable and I settled into a decent pace. One thing that really surprised me about this course was how difficult the trails are. Long sections of trail are boggy, bumpy, uneven, rocky, muddy, rutted and choppy. It was very difficult at times to get into a running rhythm, but I did find a pretty good one on this section.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first mile</td></tr>
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From Cow Camp to Footbridge I really focused on fueling, taking salt and trying to stay hydrated. I ran a few miles with KendallW and hoped to stay with him longer, but his pace was a little faster than I wanted to go, so I held back. The miles were really a grind until just after Bear Camp (26.5). Right out of the aid the trail is nasty with rutted mud bogs and it was very difficult to get going, but as we came out of the trees about mile 27 the trail improved and the views running down to Footbridge were some of the best I have ever seen. I had a wide smile on my face as I gulped in the vistas.<br />
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Coming into Footbridge (30) I knew that I needed to hydrate, cool off and get some fuel. So far it had been very hot and I knew blowing through this aid station would be a huge mistake. From Footbridge there is an 18 mile climb up to the turnaround and I wanted to make sure I was fresh. As I came in my good friend Bryce Warren grabbed my gear, filled my bottles and brought me food. It was great having him there and he knew exactly what to do. I stayed 15-20 minutes. That's a long time to stop at an aid station, but for me it was necessary. I needed to make sure I was ready for the climb.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many climbs. Photo by Kendall Wimmer</td></tr>
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The climb up to the turnaround (Jaws) was pretty brutal. Luckily it was in the shade and followed the Little Bighorn River for a while, so I really cooled down and felt fantastic. After about a mile there was a guy and girl (Katie) moving up the climb at a pretty good pace, so I jumped in and for the next 10 miles we we hiked all of the hills strong and ran everything flat or downhill. For at least 5 miles none of us talked or said anything until we saw a moose just off the trail. For the next few miles we chatted and two other guys joined our train.<br />
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Just before Spring Marsh aid (40) the 3 guys dropped back and Katie and I stayed together. We came across her friend Andy and for about 4 miles the 3 of us kept up a solid rhythm. It started to get dark and I was surprised how warm it was. From about mile 44 to Jaws the trails were in terrible shape. Muddy, wet and marshy. There were a few stream crossings and several sections with water running over the trail. It was impossible to keep your feet dry and it really slowed us down. On top of that it started to rain which only made it worse. There was also lightning, but it never got too close.<br />
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We passed Jennilyn coming back the other way. She was the first place female and I could tell she was having a rough time. She didn't have a pacer and I was worried about her, but I was happy to see her out in front and hoped she could keep it that way to the finish. A few more miles and we ran into Van Horn who decided that he was going to drop because of his knee, so he ran back to the turnaround with us.<br />
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I stayed a long time at Jaws. Way too long. I ate, changed my clothes, washed my feet and changed my shoes and socks. There was an older guy there working the aid station that insisted I throw on another jacket. He demanded that I put my "tight pants" on, but luckily Matt already had them on. It was cold when I went back out, but within minutes I was warm and wishing I hadn't put on the extra layer.<br />
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The trail conditions from 48-52 were horrendous. My feet were soaked pretty fast and caked with mud. I found a couple of guys that I ran with for about 3 miles. About a mile out from Elk Camp (52.5) I started running with another guy and we ran about 5 miles together until I had to stop to get a rock out of my shoe. From there it was a grind back down to the Narrows (62.5). I was getting tired and the lack of sleep was starting to take a toll. When I rolled into the Narrows just before sunrise I was going to quickly grab some gel and then Jennilyn called my name. She was sitting down wrapped in blankets and my heart sank. She had become very sick and threw up several times and somehow made it down to the Narrows where the cowboys were taking care of her. She told me she wanted to finish and asked if I would stay and run it in with her. I waited for her to drink some broth and I told her we were going to walk every step back to Footbridge to get her stomach settled.<br />
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At Footbridge Jennilyn was looking a little better, so we stayed for a long time eating, changing shoes and socks and getting ready for the climb ahead. The climb out of Footbridge to Bear Camp (69.5) is probably the most difficult climb of the entire course. We weren't fast, but I noticed that Jennilyn was doing great on the climb and she seemed to be coming back. We didn't stay long at Bear Camp. The next 7 miles were actually pretty fun considering how miserable we were now feeling. We laughed a lot and I complained about every hill.<br />
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At Cow Camp (76.5) they had bacon and potatoes fried in bacon grease. That might have been the best food I have ever eaten at an aid station. I also filled up on watermelon and Pepsi. We picked up another guy (Ryan) that was struggling and asked to join us and we walked out of the aid to settle our stomachs. The next 6 miles were pretty tough. It was now getting hot again and every climb was brutal. We managed to keep running on the flats and downhills and after a few miles we dropped Ryan. The climb up to Dry Fork was painful. It was now really hot, the climb was steep and we were both very fatigued. At this point I knew we had the finish in the bag, but it wasn't going to be easy. We spent about 15 minutes at the aid eating and the wind picked up and clouds moved in and now we were actually cold.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wild flowers on the course were incredible</td></tr>
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The miles to Upper Sheep (87.5) were a total grind. The jokes weren't as funny as they had been a few miles back and there was more time silently dealing with our own individual struggles. After the aid there is a bit of a climb. "It's the last climb" I said in jest. I had been saying that for the last 15 miles on every big climb. This time it actually was. When we hit the top some dark clouds quickly rolled in and within 5 minutes lightning started to strike a few miles away. Jennilyn took off down the exposed slope running under 8:00 minute miles. At first I wasn't happy about trying to keep up, but I quickly discovered that the faster I ran the less my legs hurt. The rain started and the lightning got closer. Bam! Boom! We were now soaked, but ran hard and fast all the way to the safety of the trees at Lower Sheep aid (92.5). We had run 3 miles and dropped about 2500 feet faster than I would have run it fresh. There were at least 10 lightning strikes and we were now completely wet. That run took a lot out of us and we slowed considerably the rest of the way out of the canyon.<br />
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The last 5 miles on the dirt road might be the toughest miles I have ever covered. It was once again hot and we had been battered by the trail and were now on our second day of being exposed to the sun and the heat. We were trashed. We whined, we laughed, we walked. Sometimes we shuffled, but it didn't last long. More complaining, more walking and walking, and walking. Then finally we made it. I was so proud of Jennilyn for not giving up and pushing through to the finish. She was barely able to keep any food down for hours and could have easily quit. We came in 85th place out of 297 starters. Not great, but we made it. This was my 7th 100 mile finish and definitely one of the most difficult. The course is much harder than you think by looking at the elevation profile. We talked to a few veterans, including Roch Horton that said it was the worst trail conditions they had ever seen there. During the last 20 miles I vowed to never go back, but after a week of letting the experience marinate I'm already feeling a pull back to the wild and scenic Bighorn. <br />
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<br />Scott Wesemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135008809898732686noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121023402918416258.post-70841180742690439642014-06-11T09:55:00.000-06:002014-06-11T09:55:35.732-06:00The Zion Traverse- A little slice of paradise: By Scott WesemannOver the last few years the Zion Traverse has become a coveted destination run for ultra runners. This would be my third attempt at the traverse, having successfully completed it in 2012 with Craig Lloyd during his double crossing. On May 16th just after 6:00 AM two groups started running from opposite ends of the park. Matt Williams and I started at Lee's Pass in Kolob, just inside the west entrance, while our good friends Craig, Zac, Jeremy and Leslie were starting at the east end of the park. <br />
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The first 6 miles on the La Verkin Creek trail were magical. The temperature was mild and Matt and I were the only souls anywhere in site as we winded our way down the trail. We took our time stopping frequently to gaze up at the magnificent red rock pinnacles that towered above us. The contrast between the lush green foliage and the red rock was stark and beautiful. This is one of the most amazing places I have ever seen and we had it all to ourselves. Incredible. It was one of the best stretches of running I've ever experienced. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matt taking in the views in Kolob</td></tr>
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We took our time climbing the switchbacks out of the canyon on our way to Hop Valley, stopping a few more times to drink in the incredible vistas. This might be the most stunning section of the park and we just enjoyed the nice casual pace. <br />
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We finally had our first human encounter of the day on the trail as we made our way through Hop Valley. We had to cross the creek several times and both enjoyed splashing our way through the water and back up onto sandy beaches over and over again. We were like little kids, laughing, splashing and smiling. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We ran through several miles of beach sand</td></tr>
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Beach sand. There are countless miles in the park and on the traverse you get to tackle your fair share in Hop Valley. It was a bit annoying, but neither of us minded. The climb up and out of the valley didn't seem so bad and for the first time of the day the sun hit us and gave us a taste of what was to come later in the day. <br />
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At the Hop Valley trailhead (mile 13) we stopped to take in some calories and use the bathroom and then hiked up the road as we finished our food. The connector trail was fantastic. We settled into an easy pace and again found ourselves taking in the sweet views frequently.<br />
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It started to get hot when we hit the Wildcat trail and both of us were looking forward to the cool spring water that was just ahead. I started the run with about 85 ounces and I had about 25 ounces of warm water left in my bladder. We had heard that the spring was running and we were both downright giddy when we arrived and found the cold water dripping from the side of the mountain. I used my bandana to filter out the dirty particles and drank two bottles on the spot. We both replenished our water and took our time eating, stretching and swatting blood-thirsty flies. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All smiles on the West Rim</td></tr>
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We hit the West Rim trail (about mile 22) with new energy and the miles just started clicking by. We wondered how long it would be before we passed the other group and kept thinking we might catch a glimpse of them around every bend and turn. We were both grateful for a slight breeze and some much needed cloud cover. There were a few tough climbs that we quietly grinded out, but the pinnacles and peaks around Zion Canyon came into view and both of us found our energy again. We both started to worry when we didn't see the other group, but eventually our paths crossed on the West Rim trail. They looked good and seeing our friends was certainly a lift. We stopped for some pictures and a few quick stories then both continued our separate ways in opposite directions.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing paths on the West Rim</td></tr>
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After we completed our traverse at the east entrance we would drive back around to the west entrance to pick up the other group. It was clear that we would beat them by several hours, so we slowed our pace and took our time soaking in every view. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matt taking in the stunning views</td></tr>
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We stopped at Cabin Springs for some water and some very cool dudes from Washington filtered our water for us and we spent a few minutes chatting with them and hearing about their tales of adventure. We also met another couple from Connecticut that we talked with for several minutes. It was nice not having any time constraints and we thoroughly enjoyed the run out of Telephone Canyon and back down to the Grotto. The scenery for the next 15 miles might be the most spectacular that I have ever witnessed. You can stop and stare and try to take it in, but the majesty is almost incomprehensible. Jaw dropping. Stunning. Incredible. Awesome. They don't do it justice. The only downside was the sun was out and it was hot, but we both felt very good coming into the Grotto at mile 37. <br />
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At the Grotto we took a long break, drinking cold water and eating. I ate my frozen burrito that was now warm and mushy after riding next to my back in my hydration vest and I totally grossed out a tourist that could not believe I would eat that. So good! Matt gulped down a bit too much water and paid for it, but we were not in a hurry and left after almost an hour re-hydrated and feeling great. <br />
As incredible as the scenery was, the long climb up to the East Rim was a total slog. We were both getting tired and the massive climb was tough, but it is hard to have any bad vibes in a place like this. After the long climb we both felt really good coming into a cool shady slot canyon that might be one of my favorite parts of the traverse. We took our time enjoying the view and stood in awe while soaking up the mind blowing views.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climbing up to the East Rim</td></tr>
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More climbing and a bit of a grind brought us to Stave Spring. It was dry, but more importantly we knew that most of the climbing was now behind us. After getting our legs going again we got into a nice steady run for the next 3 miles. I love running on tired legs and I'm always amazed at what the body can do after many tough miles. Our thoughts turned to food and cold drinks and after a few more hard miles grinding away we heard cars and started seeing a few tourists not really dressed for the trails, so we knew we were close. Around another bend and we shuffled to the gate and touched the sign. Another ultra adventure in the books and time to chug the sodas we had on ice in the car. Days on the trail just don't get any better than this. Stunning views, a good friend, a lot of laughs, great conversation, nearly 50 miles of runnable trails and we almost had the place to ourselves. It was truly one of the best days I have ever had on the trails. Scott Wesemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135008809898732686noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121023402918416258.post-79523951893290354392014-06-04T16:47:00.005-06:002014-06-04T16:52:08.826-06:00AloneBy MVH<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Alarm at 4 AM. More tired than I wish, but I swing my legs
out of bed and begin my early morning express routine. Contacts in, pull on
shorts, shirt, long wool socks and sturdy black mountaineering pants. I sit at
the top of the stairs for a minute and rub the cat’s belly, then to the kitchen
where I mix and gulp a powdered breakfast drink. I reach into the refrigerator
and grabbed water and food that had been chilling overnight. I would need
substantial food – real food, not the syrupy gel I had been used to taking on
my running outings. It is late May in the Wasatch mountains of Northern
Utah. While the season shifts to Summer and the lower trails blossom in
foliage, up high the peaks and basins show off bright white consolidated snow.
I was going up high.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I decided to traverse a particular rugged ridge above the
Cottonwood canyons. I am familiar with the area and have done the traverse
several times. As per my habit, I did not make up my mind until last minute
about which approach to take. Should I go up Broads Fork to the notch between
Dromedary and Sunrise Peaks, or should I hike up Tanner’s Gulch on the other
side, in a different canyon, to reach the same notch? I had no partners with
me, and therefore no shuttle car waiting at the end of whatever approached I
decided to take. I drove through Salt Lake City as dawn appeared in the East in the form of a faint outline of mountains. At the exit to highway 215
Eastbound – and the Big Cottonwood/Broads approach, I vacillated, and almost
took the turn. Tanners it would be. A few more miles of freeway, then I exited
to 90<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> South, which would take me into Little Cottonwood Canyon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Several miles up the canyon I pulled over at the curve in
the road a hundred yards above the Tanners Flat Campground. There is an
unmarked trail there, which leads into one of the longest, steepest, and most
deadly slide paths in all of the Wasatch: Tanners Gulch. There is only one
season I ever go in there, Spring. I will stay out of the gulch in Winter, for
the obvious reason. In the Summer and Autumn months the snow is gone and loose,
steep, rocky terrain is exposed. I still felt tired. Not just body tired, but
head tired. It was 5:15 AM and I decided to hop into the back seat for a nap.
A short time later I got up, changed into my boots, attached my mountaineering
axe to my pack, and disappeared into the green alpine foliage.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have been in Tanner’s gulch several times, and it never
looks identical to the previous time. Sometimes snow is so low it reaches down
to where the access trail connects to the creek. Usually the snow is receded
farther up the narrow, granite-walled slide path. Always there is a creek of
ice cold pure meltwater rushing down to join Cottonwood Creek in the canyon. I
stepped onto the creek bed and began my ascent, hopping over myriad rounded
stones of various size. I had to hop across the stream a few times to avoid
getting my feet wet. The bed reminded me of a beach – without the sea odor and
salt - with fine sand between scattered rocks. Up canyon I could see the
toe of the snow pack. It looked quite literally like the dirty white head of a
frozen flash flood. Above it was 4,000 feet of uninterrupted snow laying over
millennia of rock fall talus and eroded granite slabs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lower Tanner's Gulch (Photo: BigNick, Summitpost)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At the toe a cold stream
of water rushed fiercely out of a dark, self-made tunnel. I stepped onto the
snow and continued up at a quicker pace without any obstacles to slow me. The
lower gulch, with its steep granite walls, has striking features – figuratively
and literally. I was cautious of rock fall as I ascended higher, removing my
earphones to listen for any sounds of rock on rock. The carcass of a large pine
tree lay on top of the consolidated snow. I admired the dry, rich tree flesh,
thinking it would be good to burn in a campfire. Other large pieces of its body
lay nearby. Grey granite rocks the size of drink coolers and smaller dotted the
path upward, like breadcrumbs leading me to the heights. I arrived at the first
split in the gulch. I had to choose: Left over a waterfall, or right over
trashy, lumpy and deeply cupped snow. I went left. Last year the waterfall was
fully exposed and required a careful climb to the side to bypass. This time
only its top could be seen draining into a deep, dark hole. It was very
pleasant to look at, and the climb around it to the snow above was pleasantly
simple and safe. It was at that place I sat and attached my crampons for the
remainder of the climb. Up higher I transgress the line between the grey
majestic granite slabs of the lower gulch and the broken red quartzite
environment of the upper ridge massif. Fortunately I was able to ascent mostly
on snow, having to hike short sections on dry rock. At the top third of Tanners
Gulch I had the option of staying left in the main branch, or entering a narrow
choke that leads more directly up the South face of my first intended peak. If
I had an inexperienced partner with me I would have certainly chosen the left.
Being alone, I favored the direct and therefore faster route to the summit,
knowing of the small waterfalls I would have to work around or over, and the
steepness of the slope. I entered the choke through a natural quartzite gate,
then moved quickly up slope on all fours. I fatigued quickly after several
steps, then continued up. I repeated this pattern all the way up. Above me I
saw the waterfall that I had been able to climb up and over in past years was
fully exposed and impassable. I looked to the right and left to find a
work-around. I decided left. It was good and within a few minutes I was above
the waterfall. A few words about the angle of the slope in this branch: It is
steep and slick – steep enough that if a climber slipped and lost all grip on
the consolidated snow, he would slide out of control and collide with several
jagged quartzite humps lining and jutting into the drainage. After likely
breaking several bones and fracturing the skull, as well as receiving deep
lacerations, the limp body of the unconscious, dying or dead climber would
continue to be pulled by gravity downslope, bounce once more off the left hand
gate of the choke, then slip out and begin to tumble another several hundred
feet into the wide upper gulch. The body would probably not stop there, but
continue twisting downward until it got hung up in the trees growing on a hump
of granite, or brought to a halt by friction on a less-steep section of ground.
</span></div>
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Upper Tanner's Gulch</div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I had my earphones out for this part of the climb, too,
because there was a risk of rock fall in this narrow chute (although, there was
not a tell-tale runnel in the length of the chute, indicating that rock fall
was rare). As I approached a low barrier of rock that had planned to climb
over, I suddenly felt myself falling as the snow beneath me collapsed.
Instinctively I spread my arms and caught myself with my forearms resting on
the surface. My legs dangled in dark space below me. Only my arms and head
remained above the surface. I looked down and saw no bottom. I heard the water
beneath me. Somehow in the collapse I had turned a full 180 degrees and was
facing downslope. I kicked my feet in all directions but the only direction I
felt anything solid was behind me on the rock. I hung there several moments,
becoming aware of the absolute necessity for me to get out before I fell into
the hole under the snow. I shifted my weight forward slightly in an attempt to
heft myself up and out. The snow I clung to collapsed again and I scrambled to
gain a new hold. I swung my legs back and rested my feet on the rock. Then I
pushed off and got my chest above the hole. I still had my axe out so I swung
it forward and caught a hold, and awkwardly pulled the rest of myself out of
the hole, facing downslope. This scared me. I didn’t even want to look in the
hole I had just escaped. I caught my breath, said a prayer of gratitude, turned
and continued up.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The last few hundred feet up the South face of Dromedary are
at the steepest angle. I would climb a couple dozen feet up, stop to breath
hard, then repeat. Bright sunlight reflected off the orange-red quartzite above
me. When I reached the ridge top I followed it right and scrambled to the
summit. There was less snow up there than I had expected. Much of the rock was
exposed, where in past years it was a climb over thick snow. I sat on the
summit, hungry from the effort and excitement down below, and had a breakfast
of smoked ham, spicy antelope salami, and Swiss cheese. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The view from atop Dromedary Peak is magnificent. I could
see the entire Cottonwood Ridge running East from the peak. I could see
virtually all of the 11,000 foot Central Wasatch peaks, all white and spotted
with exposed rock. It reminded me of white chocolate chip mint ice cream.
Retracing my steps I descended the West ridge of Dromedary, careful not to slip
on the steep angle back down the face, from where I had just climbed up. There
is a short section where I turned toward the snow to kick steps and downclimb.
Just above where the ridge meets the notch between the peaks there is usually a
wide, more gentle snow-covered ramp that runs down to the upper Broads Fork
bowl. This time the snow was only half-covering the slabs, so I made careful
steps down and around the corner to hike back up to the notch. Form the notch I
climb steeply up over mixed rock and snow surfaces. Several times I climbed on
the apex of snow atop the ridge, a true knife edge. The snow was good and firm,
and held my boots in place. I kept my crampons on, even while climbing over dry
rock. It was too time-consuming to remove them because I would need them again
to descend to the saddle leading to Twin Peaks. I reached the summit of Sunrise
Peak in about 3.5 hours. I sat down and enjoyed another short meal, this time
with the view to the Southwest before me. I could see into Coalpit Gulch,
Hogum, and had proud views of the Pfeifferhorn and Lone Peak. On a snowy
December morning in 1936, a passenger plane from California carrying a half ton
of US mail and seven individuals crashed in upper Hogum Gulch. Recovery of the
bodies took up to six months and among the debris was found a love letter from
a young man to the stewardess aboard the doomed airplane. Scraps of the
aircraft remain high in the gulch. From across the canyon I scanned the area,
speculating on where the crash site could be. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Sunrise Peak, 11,280 feet</div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I descended Sunrise, then ascended the smaller bump known as
Jeppsen’s Folly. There is a more direct way down from Jeppsen’s, the so-called
West buttress, but it is nearly vertical and usually snow-filled. I opted to
downclimb around to the left over more forgiving terrain. The traverse under
the West buttress is where I really needed the crampons. An accidental slide
there would be deadly, and would send my body tumbling to the depths below. At
the South end of the saddle I made an easy walk to its North end, then found
the familiar crack in the wall leading to the high bench a few hundred feet
below the summit of East Twin. The hike up was easy, and within minutes I had
reached the summit. Not stopping, traversed to the West Twin. Within 10 minutes
I stood on the last peak of the “Triple Traverse”. I had to decide where I wanted
to go from there. Do I call it good and descend through Broad’s Fork? Or, I
could have continued on the ridge down from the West Twin into unfamiliar
terrain into Deaf Smith Canyon. I seriously considered that option. There would
be no trail. I would have to hitch-hike back to my car in Little Cottonwood
Canyon for those two options. The third option was to retrace all of my steps
to that point, going back over all the peaks, including back up to Dromedary,
and drop back down Tanner’s. I would get a “Double Triple Traverse.” I decided
I would do that. I wanted to get back to my car without having to beg for a
ride.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">L-R: Dromedary, Sunrise, Jeppsen's (Photo: Travis Atwood, May 2009)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> The descent back to the saddle from the Twins was quick, and I
downclimbed the crack in the wall with pleasure. As I walked up to the base of
the West buttress I saw that it was nearly clear of snow. I decided to climb
the 5.5 route up instead of traversing around as I had done on the way over. I
had climbed this buttress several times, but my favorite alcove still held
snow, so I climbed just to the left of it. I got a little out of my comfort
zone, making a few committing moves, clinging to rock as my body hung over a
significant vertical drop. In the case of a fall, if I somehow escaped bashing
against jagged quartzite, I would bounce off a 45 degree snow slope and
continue into that rocky abyss below. When I was back on comfortable rock with
large hold and ledges, I sighed relief. I am not a rock climber.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Broad's Fork Twin Peaks (Photo: Ammon Hatch, May 2009)</span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Climbing back up Jeppsen’s and Sunrise went quickly without
crampons. I pulled myself up and over large rocks, staying close to the ridge
top. To my left was a sheer drop of hundreds of feet into upper Broad’s Fork.
Below me and a half-mile away as the crow flies, I could see two figures hiking
over snow up into the basin. I wondered if they could see me up on the peaks.
Upper Broad’s Fork was still completely covered in deep snow, and the Twins’
East flank was still mostly white even after the glide avalanches had released.
Further in the distance I could see the beaver pond and the adjacent meadow
were completely dry and green. Snow was melting quickly in the late May heat
wave. As I climbed up and over Sunrise Peak, only two things ahead worried me.
I could get to the summit of Dromedary with no problem, but how would the snow
in upper Tanner’s Gulch be? I was concerned about wet slide avalanches as the
temperature rose. After the incident of falling in the hole on the first climb
up Dromedary, how likely would it be for me to fall into a deeper, more
dangerous hole in lower Tanner’s Gulch? The draining water runs stronger down
below, and the gulch narrows considerably. I must be very careful and alert. I
reached the summit of Dromedary for the second time. One last meal on top, then
I descended to the notch atop Tanner’s. I peered over the edge down into
the steep, narrow upper gulch. The snow had been softening in the morning heat.
I judged it to be good enough to descend, and carefully lowered myself down at
the edge of the notch, in a gap between rock and snow. Stepping out onto the
snow, I felt it was just right for a quick plunge-step descent. Then I
determined it would be good for glissading. I sat down on the snow with my feet
straight in front of me and let gravity pull me down. I slid a thousand feet
down in a few minutes, enjoying the free ride out of the narrow top portion of
the gulch, then through the wide snowfield of the middle portion. I stopped and
stood up not far above the waterfall, and walked down to it. Where the cold
clean water poured out from underneath snow, there was a small platform before
it fell over and disappeared again into a black hole under snow. I stood there
and filled a bottle with cold, clean water. I drank it all, them refilled. I
made a short jump down from the waterfall onto snow, careful not to land directly
above the creek. The grey granite walls of the gulch rose up high to my right,
and less dramatically to my left. I listened for rock fall, and moved quickly
down canyon. I passed the battered tree trunk. I tried glissading again but the
surface of the snow was violently bumpy. I followed the long tongue of snow
downward. Ahead and below I could see the green, dry woods of the canyon lit up
in sunshine. I hiked up the bank and found the hiker’s trail, and within a few
minutes arrived back to my vehicle parked at a curve in Little Cottonwood
Canyon. My total time from start to finish was 7 hours and 57 minutes. A few
years ago my time to complete just one traverse of the same peaks was over 8
hours. Several years ago my first traverse over the same peaks was over 12
hours. I said a prayer, grateful for my safe return, and drove home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
MVHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985949327780521483noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121023402918416258.post-11192257901099794662014-06-02T13:55:00.002-06:002014-06-02T13:55:41.396-06:00Zion and the Wasatchby Craig<br />
<br />
This blog has been neglected for a while now. It would be easiest to say that it is likely due to the fact that I've been busy with work and family. Or that I've been injured and not running. All are pretty good excuses. Fortunately, the reason for which I haven't posted is far better - I've simply been running.<br />
<br />
The Wasatch is melting out and the upper trails are slowly becoming available. The lower trails are also covered in flowers and aren't dusty yet, so they are fast and pretty. I've been ramping up my miles and maxing out my enjoyment, either solo or with friends. It's been a beautiful Spring and worth taking advantage of.<br />
<br />
I also had the pleasure of traversing Zion with a few friends a couple of weeks ago. It was my third full crossing. Zion never ceases to disappoint and I loved every step. Below are several pictures from the last several weeks. I hope they reflect the enjoyment I've had on the trails.<br />
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Battle Creek Falls</div>
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Big Baldy summit</div>
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Coming into Hopp Valley - Zion NP</div>
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Heading to the West Rim trail - Zion NP</div>
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Zion, from Angel's Landing</div>
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On the Dude Peak ridge</div>
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Almost to Rudy Flat</div>
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Somewhere in Bountiful</div>
junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03483517319335792896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121023402918416258.post-4687150945638500542014-04-27T22:37:00.001-06:002014-04-27T22:37:03.643-06:00Ragnar and a Little Adventure on the Side<div>
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">It was approximately 4am and I'd been slogging through 3 inch deep mud, pounded by rain, for over an hour, and I still had 3 miles to go. The 8 mile "Red" loop of the Zion Ragnar Trail Relay is the longest and, by far, the most remote of the three loops. Racers, as part of teams of 8, take turns running each loop over approximately 24 hours. Normally they have 6-7 hours in between runs to recover and socialize. However, I had paced the previous racer on our team, Deanna, on the Yellow loop - a 4.5 mile hilly route - due to the fact that she was nervous to run alone on a trail in the dark. Together we had endured the start of the rain and beginning of some mud on the trail. Often times we'd have to stop to scrape the mud from the bottom of our shoes, but we hadn't dealt with anything truly slippery. Once onto the Red loop the rain had intensified and the once dusty trails were now a bog of chocolate pudding. With years of muddy Spring training under my belt I knew how to move through the mud and quickly passed people along the trail. Most of the time people were moving in groups, I would assume, for safety. Each time I passed I would get questions about how I could move so fast. I would change my answers each time, mostly for my own amusement. Several times I would answer only to follow up my response with a lack of focus and a 'splat' into the mud. I probably fell six different times on that loop, each time laughing as I picked myself up.</span></div>
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During the hour and 40 minutes I was out on that loop my mind often drifted back to the previous day when I had the pleasure of taking my brother on a little adventure run into Zion National Park. The adventure runner in me isn't much of a Ragnar guy. I had been coerced into running this one because it was with family. Ragnar is not a race and can hardly be considered a running event. By definition I would have to call it a social circus. With the right expectations it can be whatever you want it to be though and ultimately enjoyable. But as a serious runner I know that it would have been unwise to go into the event thinking that I was going to actually run on Zion-like trails in pristine wilderness. So with this knowledge I had picked out a little adventure route from camp that would take us on a round trip, 14 mile loop out to Observation Point. And since my brother, Brent, ran the first leg and I the 7th I was certain we would have plenty of time to accomplish our outing. And make the most of it, we did. The 8 mile trek out to the point was gorgeous, to say the least. Then, the breath-taking vistas of the overlook were the icing on the cake. We ran down the steep switchbacks into Echo Canyon, then up the East Rim trail and back to camp. In that place I age backwards. I turn into a kid again, who was just given a new toy and hours to play with it. Zion is my favorite place on earth and each time I return my fondness for it grows.</div>
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Brent running the East Mesa Trail</div>
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At Observation Point</div>
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It was those memories that carried me through the low moments of my 8 mile slog through the mud; during those moments when I would take one steep step up only to slide backwards four feet. The low points only came once or twice though as I was in my element, during <i>my</i> time of night (I love running at night). In 40 degree weather, being pummeled by rain and slogging through mud, I was wearing tiny shorts and a garbage bag over me to keep the rain off and my body heat in, and I was happy. Deeply happy. I sprinted into the transition area fist-pumping and yelling "that was awesome!". I tagged off with Callie as she headed off onto the 3 mile Green loop. I then cleaned up, woke my brother with a few words of advice, and tried to get some sleep. </div>
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I was awoken just over an hour later by members of my team discussing whether we should quit, that conditions were too poor to run in. Apparently in that hour I slept it had snowed 2 inches. Then, minutes later Ragnar officials announced over the PA system that the race was being canceled. While it was a good thing for the teams my heart began to pound because I knew that Brent was still out on the course. A competent back country runner and explorer, I still worried for his safety, so I stirred and prepared to go out after him. I made my way to the transition tent and did the mental math for how long he had been gone. I told myself I would give him another 10 minutes and then I would go run the course backwards looking for him. Teams had been warned that Search and Rescue (SAR) was called and that no team members should go looking for there potentially lost mates. Had it not been my brother, I would have heeded the warning, but I also know that I am equally as strong and even faster in those types of situations than SAR and I would find him if I needed to. To my surprise, only minutes later, he came running into the transition tent with a smile on his face. Of course, I should have known better. With tears in my eyes I embraced him as we explained the race had been canceled. My mom too was there and I could hear the emotion in her voice. Her boys were safe. </div>
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Ragnar ghost town after it had been canceled and people left</div>
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Others were not so lucky. A friend had a team member who got hypothermia and passed out on the trail. She was carried in by another racer and taken to Kane County hospital. Other runners came in fairing not much better. Ultimately, Ragnar made the right decision to cancel the race, if even a little bit late. They were responsible in calling in SAR and all unaccounted for racers were found within a couple of hours. And while it was a bit of a madhouse getting everyone out of there, it all worked out in the end. For my team, we will look back fondly and begin planning for a future race. While the concept of Ragnar is not for me, if I am able to spend a weekend of running with my family (mom, brother, aunt, and cousin), there is no place I'd rather be. Especially if I can throw a little adventure in on the side.</div>
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junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03483517319335792896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121023402918416258.post-72775318008027329912014-03-31T15:16:00.000-06:002014-03-31T21:26:32.927-06:00Antelope Island Buffalo Run 100: By Scott WesemannThe 2013 Buffalo 100 was a total disaster for me. I complained. I whined. I froze. I limped. I struggled. I did finish, but I was not happy at all with my race and time and knew that I would have a much better race this year.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo By Lori Burlison</td></tr>
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My strategy was simple: Cut out time spent at aid stations, run an hour faster on the front 50 and run everything but the hills on the back 50. I knew by doing this I would shave 2-3 hours off of my time from 2013. I just needed to be more efficient and not allow myself to get lazy. <br />
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The first 50 miles went very well. Four front runner guys went out pretty quick and I was with a group of 5-6 runners in the next tier that stayed together for most of the first 14 or so miles. I was able to run with my good friend Jennilyn Eaton for a good chunk of the miles. The group we were in was very quiet, but Jennilyn and I laughed and joked and had a lot of fun and the miles just clicked on by. I thought she would drop me for sure on some of the downhill sections, but I picked up my pace some and she held back a little and it worked out well. I led the group of 5-6 strong runners, including the second place finisher, Tomokazu Ihara up the switchbacks out of the Split Rock valley. I kept waiting for someone to pass, but they must have liked my pace because nobody passed and we finished the switchbacks together. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by: Lori Burlison</td></tr>
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I could tell that Jennilyn was struggling the last 5 miles back to the start/finish. We ran with Jeremy Suwinski for some miles and he was pushing a nice pace and looking strong and he eventually dropped us with a few miles to go. At the start/finish (mile 19) Jennilyn sat down right in the dirt and didn't look well. We managed to make the stop pretty quick, but I was feeling bad for her. I have never seen her struggle like that and I was worried. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Derrick Lytle</td></tr>
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After the short out and back on the Mountain View trail things only got worse for Jennilyn and eventually I dropped her. My heart sank when I turned around and saw her about 1/4 of a mile back on all fours just off the trail. Turning around and leaving was very hard, but I knew I had to keep running. I felt so bad for her because I knew how hard she had worked. I turned on my iPod for the first time and cranked out the next 12 miles to the ranch by myself. Those were the toughest 12 miles of the front 50 for me. I had a few close encounters with some buffalo, but performing the Craig Lloyd technique of yelling at them like a cowboy seemed to work every time and had them scrambling off the trail. From the ranch back to the Frary aid my heart kept sinking when I wasn't seeing Jennilyn and I thought for sure she had dropped and then she showed up running strong with smile on her face. I told her to catch me and my spirits really picked back up. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo By Kelli Stephenson</td></tr>
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I ran by myself for the next several miles. After the Frary aid stop I picked up my mojo and ran really strong back to the Lakeside aid. I ran into Kendall Wimmer and he ran with me for a few minutes and really picked me up. I felt strong and things were going well for me. At the Bridger Bay aid station Erik Storheim was there to take care of me and I quickly downed some Coke and potatoes. I saw a light coming from behind and it was moving very fast. It was Jennilyn and she had caught me after I had been ahead by about 45 minutes and running very strong. Amazing. We ran the last 4 miles together back to the 50 mile mark. It was a real boost to see her doing well and I knew she was going to win the race. I came into the 50 mile mark in 9:12, right where I wanted to be. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo By Lori Burlison</td></tr>
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At the start/finish there were several friends there to help me grab what I needed. I took more time than I should have and it was hard to get out of the tent, but I finally did. Rachel Moody paced me the next 19 miles. My stomach had some issues right out of the tent and it took me a few miles to get past that, but the miles flew by as Rachel told me story after story. I was much slower on this loop and hiked just about all of the hills, but ran everything else. Rachel was exactly what I needed during that section and I was feeling great with only 31 miles to go. <br />
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My good friend Josh Greenwell paced me from mile 69 to the finish. We did very well keeping my goal of running as much as possible and we made decent time all the way to the turnaround at the ranch (mile 83) where we took a longer break. After the ranch things got tough. I was very tired and ready to be done and it was a total grind back to the Frary aid and it got even worse when the wind picked up and we had to run into it all the way back to the Lakeside aid station. Those were the toughest miles of the whole 100. While hiking the steep hill out of that aid Josh mentioned that we could still go sub 23, but we were going to have to push and it was just the motivation I needed. We pushed it pretty hard all the way to the finish. I blew through the Bridger Bay aid stop and we cranked out some really decent miles to the end. I finished in 22:42 which was good for 14th place and a PR in the distance by almost 3 hours for my 6th 100 mile finish. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Craig Lloyd</td></tr>
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<br />Scott Wesemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135008809898732686noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121023402918416258.post-3612227239054178362014-03-27T15:47:00.001-06:002014-03-28T22:50:52.062-06:00Redemption - Antelope Island Buffalo Run March 21 2014By MVH<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">On my first attempt to complete the Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run 2012, I had decided to quit at mile 65. I was walking up the road to the next aid station where I intended to sit in a chair, get warm, and call my wife to take me home. With the decision to quit, I was no longer moving with a purpose other than to get to where I needed to be to quit. Other racers and their pacers passed me, and I envied them. Each one asked if I was alright. I complained of not feeling well. One of them told me in sincerity, “Don’t quit. You will get it back.” I did not believe him. The sun had gone down and I felt cold. I looked forward to sitting near a heater, pulling a blanket over me, and sulking in regret. </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Start of the 2014 Antelope Island Buffalo Run 100 Mile. There were a few early 50 mile starters in the group, including my older brother Peter. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">At 12 noon Jim Scaggs drew a line across the dirt road and counted down. 'Run you fools!"</span></i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> photo: Joe Dean</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">On the last hill before the aid, a vehicle coming toward me
stopped, and Davy Crockett jumped out. He immediately assessed my condition,
ignored my complaints, then addressed my immediate needs. I sat in a chair, he
pulled a heater close, brought me food, and helped me dress some stinging,
watery blisters. Then I got up, walked out, and finished the race. I got it
back, as promised.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> <i><span style="font-size: small;">First Mile, All Smiles. Experienced 100 mile racer Jeremy Bradford and I lead out the 100 mile runners. Jeremy stayed close through the first half but had to drop out due to an injury.</span></i></span></o:p></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Photo: Kelly Agnew</span></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I used to hate running. There was a brief season in middle
school when the physical education teacher had us running laps around the
school track. The mile run was to me the ultimate distance. I remember how it
hurt, how it intimidated me. I even competed in the mile race in the ARCO Jesse
Owens Games one season. After that. I stopped running. I played no sports in
high school, nor did I do much of anything productive throughout high school. I
must have slept for months. I became severely depressed and acted out in
foolish ways. I hated myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Trying to make it look easy</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="font-size: large;">I lost friends and became isolated from family. I
wanted to disappear completely. I dropped out of school at age 17, and wandered
through young adulthood with no future plans. My parents, struggling to
understand, and praying for my life, did anything and paid anything to help me
get on my feet. I saw a therapist for several months. In each hour-long session
we discussed what was on my mind, what I was afraid of, and what I wanted. He
taught me to identify irrational fears. He taught me to identify negative self-talk. He
taught me also that physical exercise will destroy depression. He encouraged me
to go out and try it. So I did. I had a bike and I rode trails. I hiked. I swam
in the reservoir. I was alive again. I volunteered to serve a two-year church mission. Back home, I earned the G.E.D., then enrolled in college
courses. I graduated university with high grades, earning a B.A. in history. I married a beautiful
and special young woman, and became the father of two boys. The three of them
are the light of my life. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hOBsxb2wBE-GcCW3CS4pOzdze4mpqgY69i8m4V1dx8mjX8BUUFl6AFKSyUOWv8d6EkTLedZZT9Z6bWbmeuPPVDaVqDAomcR2YJ9qs6J_qOMsMA4FK5sSjCmMXig43WbW_003sWxZ4Bw/s1600/no+time+to+chat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hOBsxb2wBE-GcCW3CS4pOzdze4mpqgY69i8m4V1dx8mjX8BUUFl6AFKSyUOWv8d6EkTLedZZT9Z6bWbmeuPPVDaVqDAomcR2YJ9qs6J_qOMsMA4FK5sSjCmMXig43WbW_003sWxZ4Bw/s1600/no+time+to+chat.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Mile 38 "No time to chat!" I did not stop at most aid stations, just ran through them. A let-down for my friend Brenden who came out to spectate his first ultra sport and maybe chat about music or history.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">photo: Brenden Rensink</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Through my 30s I stayed physically active and became
familiar with the Central Wasatch mountains and canyons. I built my leg strength
in day-long ridge scrambles and dozen-mile routes. I pushed for greater
distances with my hiking partners until it occurred to me that I could go
further if I learned how to run instead of hike. Some of my hiking partners where
ultra-runners. One man, who goes by the name Grizz, had astonished me with his
strength, speed, and endurance as he topped the highest granite Wasatch peaks.
And he was in his mid-sixties! He had run and finished the Wasatch 100 eleven
times. I wanted what he had. I began to run instead of hike. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><i>My brother Peter Van Horn finishing his first ultra, the 50 mile Buffalo Run. Peter was burned over a third of his body in 3rd degrees in a work accident several years ago. He finished the 50 miles in 8 hours 46minutes</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Two years ago I
marked my 41<sup>st</sup> birthday in the middle of the night, at mile 56 of my
first 100 mile race, the Antelope Island Buffalo Run. I finished later that
morning in a time of 23 and half hours, for 12<sup>th</sup> place. My wife and
boys, and parents were there to welcome me in. I returned the next year and ran
it better, capturing 5<sup>th</sup> place. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0vA9W3IlrfSGk8ey24AkbOyUoBrIC6DEearLg32C5aoiyAlr1FHqlasiixqE-0FQXU2RoX9dR2HxNn03Npuxii8PkolpRm566IQvb8C5NyrLmey6JREUyJ6vCThI1mmd9GIRwDMsu0E/s1600/ginger+ale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0vA9W3IlrfSGk8ey24AkbOyUoBrIC6DEearLg32C5aoiyAlr1FHqlasiixqE-0FQXU2RoX9dR2HxNn03Npuxii8PkolpRm566IQvb8C5NyrLmey6JREUyJ6vCThI1mmd9GIRwDMsu0E/s1600/ginger+ale.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p>Kendall and ginger ale, mile 45</o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Everyone struggles. Everyone has good days and bad days, and
many more days that are merely “meh”. Sometimes we lose sight of who we
are, believing our present struggle will define us for entire lives.
Sometimes we give into irrational fears and hide, or go to sleep, or drive people away. Sometimes we
hate ourselves for what we perceive as failure. Sometimes we go for years
believing there is no way to change. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjc-8VCdrXJVVd0BVTrVrBgmatMPe9Jg0ZCpK11L86XstSgQWq_d_SZE0-bREFQkCPNZam8fcSPN8mV5suNuNGFX8iP6RzTEOnjsqhyOEMonM6D6QGWvjDzfgGMovatarlElnhTOAHnEM/s1600/crew+at+50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjc-8VCdrXJVVd0BVTrVrBgmatMPe9Jg0ZCpK11L86XstSgQWq_d_SZE0-bREFQkCPNZam8fcSPN8mV5suNuNGFX8iP6RzTEOnjsqhyOEMonM6D6QGWvjDzfgGMovatarlElnhTOAHnEM/s1600/crew+at+50.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My crew at 50 miles</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes we get a glimpse of those who
love us, whose hearts bleed for us. Sometimes they walk with us to the next aid
stop, bind our wounds, get us fed and warm, and do everything they can to get
us moving again. They can’t carry us because it is our journey and we must each
walk it, or run it if we can.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Going back for the second 50 miles</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And sometimes, if we work hard, and if we want it
bad enough, sometimes we win.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmDvYd2TY9yPQo2JrJPG2kumBL5-PioQ8lMmKkd53TMP6iiwZ948C-nlyffI4-Jf2R0F8r8YrtXWRWlvZKKyScqkD3l0Nq5ZYG9x52BhQboro0dXQrfgxu3il9XCQ9LHhAX9DoHxGJyc/s1600/win.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmDvYd2TY9yPQo2JrJPG2kumBL5-PioQ8lMmKkd53TMP6iiwZ948C-nlyffI4-Jf2R0F8r8YrtXWRWlvZKKyScqkD3l0Nq5ZYG9x52BhQboro0dXQrfgxu3il9XCQ9LHhAX9DoHxGJyc/s1600/win.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> 2014 Antelope Island Buffalo Run 100, first place 100 mile, 16<span style="font-size: small;">hrs </span>40min</span></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I’ve observed that as in a hundred mile race, in which I
experience highs, lows, and every sensation in between, in life I will follow
much the same pattern. I will savor the days when I feel strong and fast. When
I am low, all is not lost. It is not time to quit. I trust the words I heard on
the road up to Big Water at mile 65: </span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-large;">“Don’t quit. You will get it back.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><o:p>Happy and relaxing with Jennilyn Eaton, women's 100 mile champ and course record holder of 20:18.00.</o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><o:p>photo: Kelly Agnew</o:p></span></div>
MVHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985949327780521483noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121023402918416258.post-3725719241689283652014-03-23T22:05:00.001-06:002014-03-23T22:14:30.462-06:00Buffalo Run 100 Race Report - by CraigI'm walking down a hill at mile 59, a hill I normally run tired in the 6s. I'm walking and shaking and shivering because if I try and run I know I'm going to fall over and likely not get back up. On a course that has loops and short out-and-backs and passes by the start/finish at least 4 times I am, by far, in the most remote and difficult place to get out of. It is also freezing. Well, at least I think it's freezing. Maybe that is because only a half mile ago I was bent over dry heaving my guts out only 20 feet from the Split Rock aid station. I can either curl up into a ball and wait for someone to come save me or keep walking. I choose to keep walking because I know I have the longest climb ahead of me and maybe it will warm me up. All I know for sure is that my race is over.<div><br></div><div>My race didn't start that way. The first 50 miles were pretty much a breeze. Other than a short stint of dehydration and some leg cramping it went just as planned. I came into 50 at the start/finish feeling good and ready to run fast on the back half. The next 8 miles got progressively worse. My stomach started to turn and I was finding myself unable to put down any gels or electrolyte bites. But I was still in a good mood. Even after my dry heaving session I yelled "puke and rally" and walked into the aid station and ate some food. And then that downhill where everything went "downhill".</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhekQvOZPsQOhjY39xAd8hk_HmYhcK8OW0BN6FxJjjwubv-RkDjcrClBjcg5eXRbCb7S2AKyJOk2yDUz9W2NL8YVoB5MxJR6KZDsDLKOa9uHaoOBy35fEdQZcTxAufRvHYWVp50jSZvk/s640/blogger-image-1409363506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhekQvOZPsQOhjY39xAd8hk_HmYhcK8OW0BN6FxJjjwubv-RkDjcrClBjcg5eXRbCb7S2AKyJOk2yDUz9W2NL8YVoB5MxJR6KZDsDLKOa9uHaoOBy35fEdQZcTxAufRvHYWVp50jSZvk/s640/blogger-image-1409363506.jpg"></a></div>Mile 9. Photo by Cory Reese </div><div><br></div><div>I walked 98% of that 5 mile loop back to the aid station. I had decided that if I couldn't <i>run</i> the 5.8 miles back to the start/finish I would DNF. I didn't come out here to walk my way to 100 miles and this race didn't mean enough for me to gut it out. I knew I had to eat and feel ok about it before leaving or I would be resolved to walking again. Then Jennilyn showed up. She put her arm around me, comforted me . . . . for about 11 seconds, then made me eat some plain white bread and leave with her and her pacer. And we started running. And that felt pretty ok. On a long stretch of cruiser downhill we even set a pretty good pace. Well, until I had to step off and start dry heaving again. For no reason at all I was unable to stop from wretching. Jennilyn and pacer ran on ahead and I worked to not get too far behind as we all rolled into the start/finish. 30 more miles. Can I do 30 more miles feeling like this?</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQuJdoiyI6WJfeBuBDWseuSwMqmVI4MIONoNg3y3eTMUg8qqgIMpu_aUVvnELvO1XXGKl5Y4OtNPYi_GLZhhCAen42t01n3z8kMqxXwXBf5zYfyDFZmQWWA8_13xyaWT5Yzxlk7yAN1M/s640/blogger-image--1501951545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQuJdoiyI6WJfeBuBDWseuSwMqmVI4MIONoNg3y3eTMUg8qqgIMpu_aUVvnELvO1XXGKl5Y4OtNPYi_GLZhhCAen42t01n3z8kMqxXwXBf5zYfyDFZmQWWA8_13xyaWT5Yzxlk7yAN1M/s640/blogger-image--1501951545.jpg"></a></div>Being treated like a King. So undeserving.</div><div><br></div><div>This blog is built on a single foundation, that we never quit. People had sent me texts of support, were following me on Twitter and Facebook (not that I was posting anything, but others were), and then there is always the support my wife and family lend. I couldn't let them down just because I had an upset tummy. Off I went. Over that long 24 miles of out and back along the Mountain View trail I did whatever I could to run, but the cramping in my legs was severe from deydration and I couldn't put any fuel in my stomach. Over a 4 hour section I probably averaged fewer than 20 calories per hour. Good friend, Mike let me sleep for 20 min at the Lower Frary aid station, which helped me a ton. I was able to wander into the Ranch and sit by a fire, now only 17 miles left.</div><div><br></div><div>I can do 17 more miles.</div><div><br></div><div>While sitting by the fire a couple of aid station workers were talking about making burritos. All of a sudden a burrito sounded really good. Like really, really damn good. At the same time another friend Ashley showed up, pacing another runner. She gave me a pity hug (I assume any interaction with me during that time was out of pity), some words of encouragement, and was off again. The volunteers made me a cheese and egg burrito and I was amazed that I could finally eat. I left feeling better than any time in the last 8 hours.</div><div><br></div><div>I didn't push any more fuel for another 6 miles, but finally decided to force myself to take a gel. I needed energy and there was simply nothing else I could do. This time, no wretching. And I started to feel good. Then another gel and I was running, consistently. The last four miles are on my favorite part of the whole course. Technical rocky trail along the north shore of the Great Salt Lake, I love it. I found myself running fast and was in a good mood to boot. I was back, just in time to finish this thing. I even ran into Jeremy running the opposite direction who joined me for a couple of miles. That was fun. I finished in 22:05:00, not good, not even close to my goal time, but a finish none-the-less.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7m1XOBo7QG-doxFh9zNO9hKlBoMX_dCTh3pkiFCEYkjhJPoMmBai6sJGR56Zos7yg2dZkeE44hB9LKJzlZ4H2pcIhiBCS12aRFPif0ATMioznIy2tsnRtLEEdd2F9DBk9QpKdkNO2gus/s640/blogger-image--2118411288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7m1XOBo7QG-doxFh9zNO9hKlBoMX_dCTh3pkiFCEYkjhJPoMmBai6sJGR56Zos7yg2dZkeE44hB9LKJzlZ4H2pcIhiBCS12aRFPif0ATMioznIy2tsnRtLEEdd2F9DBk9QpKdkNO2gus/s640/blogger-image--2118411288.jpg"></a></div>Finishing in a disappointing 22:05:00</div><div><br></div><div>I'll say this. I'm glad I finished. Had I DNFed however, I would not have regretted it. I wasn't injured, but I was in no position to conitue on the way I did. Racing just doesn't mean that much to me and I'm not sure I will gut it out the same way in the future. </div><div><br></div><div>I really just want to thank all of my friends who were there supporting me. At the 50 mile mark - start/finish - I had so many people around me I felt like a celebrity. Thank you to everyone who was there and was so supportive. And thanks to my sponsors, Altra shoes, Ultraspire hydration, Gnarly Nutrition, and VFuel. They make the best products on the market and I am proud to represent them. Thank you so much.</div>junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03483517319335792896noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121023402918416258.post-50950363233357968422014-03-19T22:03:00.001-06:002014-03-19T22:03:26.961-06:00Buffalo Run 100 - Pre-Race Post<div><br></div>by Craig<div><br></div><div>Wow, I've slack in posting on here. I apologize for that. My professional job has been overwhelmingly busy, but in a good way. At the same time, I've been extremely focused on the growth and development of trailandultrarunning.com. I am very proud of what we havev done over there and see a very bright and exciting future on the horizon.</div><div><br></div><div>Training has been good, probably better than at any time in the last year. I feel like it has been very targeted towards running fast this coming Friday. I have laid off of steep vert and summits and focused primarily on runnable terrain and higher miles. I am hoping the dedication pays off in 2 days.</div><div><br></div><div>Training hasn't been all work, however. I have had countless long runs and amazing experiences with my friends- out on Antelope Island in the middle of the night, down in the San Rafael Swell, and on nearly every trail between Draper and downtown Salt Lake City. Is it really training if I am having this much fun?</div><div><br></div><div>I am going into Friday's race confident and excited to run my first 100 miler without a crew or pacer. It will be a new experience for me, but one I'm looking forward to. Wish me luck, I think I'm going to need it. Until then, enjoy some recent photos.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OWqK4MNGF7KzLJmZzTm1K26JWi1rjBCHLpPntJzEItW1LA_T9zacuoBMjsUvS3vQu8Stsf2AHB2GrffnNAuNvLU0AnMuzI10Wdu02JN8LAO5R02Cbs5pqmqk8JSAgQsQfHuMdOj4Ajo/s640/blogger-image-1746297023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OWqK4MNGF7KzLJmZzTm1K26JWi1rjBCHLpPntJzEItW1LA_T9zacuoBMjsUvS3vQu8Stsf2AHB2GrffnNAuNvLU0AnMuzI10Wdu02JN8LAO5R02Cbs5pqmqk8JSAgQsQfHuMdOj4Ajo/s640/blogger-image-1746297023.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Jennilyn and Scott running down Tibble Fork</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4owzZ3WN8a0w2_bvanB160RtSBJBPf14h-MNwcn-yrIuMgXtIe_y-MheJFeapSrzm_DBaeea4NVmKIcp3zOTXu0X868bUbkifCGPRBLUy-UekQALvg_e7HKVgtgkKJNYlQDEW2e1YakY/s640/blogger-image-269162445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4owzZ3WN8a0w2_bvanB160RtSBJBPf14h-MNwcn-yrIuMgXtIe_y-MheJFeapSrzm_DBaeea4NVmKIcp3zOTXu0X868bUbkifCGPRBLUy-UekQALvg_e7HKVgtgkKJNYlQDEW2e1YakY/s640/blogger-image-269162445.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Running the foothills above SLC with a few Altra elite athletes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphyphenhyphenAfRwcrHHP-Kv7uTQanGvhO51mJeIHarZ_S7TLlShuAcmz6jyGSuGLwfSRqI7XeiXm-3XEZQz8ZMKqYXmTPAcuKVem8WaHwgaoEBNk9qARX7PaAUF0-8YYo-UrElZZJ_fqfM78aUYQ/s640/blogger-image-1895256706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphyphenhyphenAfRwcrHHP-Kv7uTQanGvhO51mJeIHarZ_S7TLlShuAcmz6jyGSuGLwfSRqI7XeiXm-3XEZQz8ZMKqYXmTPAcuKVem8WaHwgaoEBNk9qARX7PaAUF0-8YYo-UrElZZJ_fqfM78aUYQ/s640/blogger-image-1895256706.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">At the top of Hidden Peak very late at night with great friends</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtH0PXoPLCRtplAy3xQ3dXT4L09vBfDYWlqlmLcOj0Rtt_ixBkg1POVV56fm7k4LeooG43xm09J4lfy-LhDmzzlAz7wbvE1yu10qE3YqyumfEJO0hjqsFj9-cqmqb7qwNfff5ppZUhVrw/s640/blogger-image--68572031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtH0PXoPLCRtplAy3xQ3dXT4L09vBfDYWlqlmLcOj0Rtt_ixBkg1POVV56fm7k4LeooG43xm09J4lfy-LhDmzzlAz7wbvE1yu10qE3YqyumfEJO0hjqsFj9-cqmqb7qwNfff5ppZUhVrw/s640/blogger-image--68572031.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Flipping at the Good Water Rim Trail</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedxzn7XlrXEwIAqORH2dYsmxkukDG9IreeN9CMumE9LyObpzrzwDhmLoMOlA-FCLTSUufMkN9Weem3EypRZxa7wvyUouKsl6BgMpcdSqp5e-Ok1RnRxh46RLv5R1ShO4w8_xr7obbMPI/s640/blogger-image-1964490363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedxzn7XlrXEwIAqORH2dYsmxkukDG9IreeN9CMumE9LyObpzrzwDhmLoMOlA-FCLTSUufMkN9Weem3EypRZxa7wvyUouKsl6BgMpcdSqp5e-Ok1RnRxh46RLv5R1ShO4w8_xr7obbMPI/s640/blogger-image-1964490363.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Noz, at the Swell</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPFEBsTUwcMDLabWT7yLwF4DYa8XGUyGsM2ll5_z3OlojQVRpvR-zc9R2MBFiMxlTFHCC-TnrUC8I2YFSShcn3dOYfg3gk7hm9dVkL6_szjBzmjXW_mj0GoG5H5R__XK84V2wGtCN_9c/s640/blogger-image-1299461006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPFEBsTUwcMDLabWT7yLwF4DYa8XGUyGsM2ll5_z3OlojQVRpvR-zc9R2MBFiMxlTFHCC-TnrUC8I2YFSShcn3dOYfg3gk7hm9dVkL6_szjBzmjXW_mj0GoG5H5R__XK84V2wGtCN_9c/s640/blogger-image-1299461006.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Brent, Instagram style on Corner Canyon trails</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhlc56D50AmNtW1IRA5wVXnqL-HFsMPZCTlCDSt1JYeCuPnJGg-KHIHqRG5zNIuMPH-8n0m7viCHcPmdtpfQzjFJgKF1RD3krD2wEOECqbzMifnfQut_cvhWiNSKfvnZZc-QuUmxREqLw/s640/blogger-image--1321673593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhlc56D50AmNtW1IRA5wVXnqL-HFsMPZCTlCDSt1JYeCuPnJGg-KHIHqRG5zNIuMPH-8n0m7viCHcPmdtpfQzjFJgKF1RD3krD2wEOECqbzMifnfQut_cvhWiNSKfvnZZc-QuUmxREqLw/s640/blogger-image--1321673593.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Running solo on dry trails in Corner Canyon</div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03483517319335792896noreply@blogger.com2