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Location:

Farmington,UT,USA

Member Since:

Jul 08, 2010

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

5 K Finish

Running Accomplishments:

 October 21, 2011 Pony Express 50 Mile: 8:30 4th place

March 23-24 2012 Antelope Island Buffalo Run: 23:24:25 hours 12th Place

2013 Flag Rock 10K 1:03 2nd

2012 Utah Triple Crown 8:26:52 Fastest Known Time

2013 Wasatch 100 26:23

2013 Speedgoat 50K 7:16

2013 Moab 55K 5:18

2013 Antelope Island Buffalo 100 Mile Run 18:29 5th

2013 MILLWOOD 100, 3rd finisher

2013 Pony Express Traill 100: 16h53m 1st

Short-Term Running Goals:

2014 Antelope Island Buffalo Run 100 top 3

2014 Salt Flats 100 (or 50) top 3

2014 Bighorn 100

Speedgoat 2014 sub 7 hours

2014 Wasatch 100 sub 24 hours

2014 The Bear 100 sub 24 hours

Long-Term Running Goals:

Eat food.

Personal:

I like cats

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Brooks Lifetime Miles: 81.20
Bike Lifetime Miles: 32.00
Saucony Peregrine 2 Lifetime Miles: 605.25
Vertical Lifetime Miles: 513298.00
Saucony Perergrin 2 (2) Lifetime Miles: 374.94
Saucony Peregrine 2 (3) Lifetime Miles: 414.31
Hoka Stinson Evo Lifetime Miles: 376.75
Hoka Bondi Lifetime Miles: 219.40
Vertical 2014 Lifetime Miles: 6300.00
Total Distance
290.95
Saucony Peregrine 2 Miles: 226.45Vertical Miles: 27190.00Saucony Perergrin 2 (2) Miles: 29.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Total Distance
10.00

Avenues Twins with The Scott

We did the usual from the Capitol complex. We both were feeling grody today but that is no excuse to cut it short.

Saucony Peregrine 2 Miles: 10.00Vertical Miles: 2000.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(2)
Total Distance
30.00

I went out to Antelope Island this morning to get some training for the 100 mile run coming in 3 weeks. There is a lot of snow out there. I was able to find some dry trails after some effort. I got 18 miles total on the island. There is a coyote out there that is not much afraid of humans. It came very close to me a few times.

 This evening I ran 12 more on the bike path to get an even 30 for the day and 80 for the week.

Saucony Peregrine 2 Miles: 18.00Vertical Miles: 200.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(3)
Total Distance
10.20

Six easy on the rail trail, 'smorning.

Later: 4 miles in Kaysville, to a short way past Adams Canyon and back. Trail is mucho crappy, in-between seasons. I wanted to go for 9 miles on the rail but after two out, I had all I could take.

Saucony Peregrine 2 Miles: 10.20
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(2)
Total Distance
10.00

Up to Avenues Twins with Scott, Matt, Craig & Leslie; fromthe capitol. The trail is mostly good to run. A very nice moring.

Saucony Peregrine 2 Miles: 10.00Vertical Miles: 2000.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(4)
Total Distance
20.00

Up Farmington Canyon with Steve and Ryan. 

PM: Ten miles south from home

Saucony Peregrine 2 Miles: 20.00Vertical Miles: 2300.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(2)
Total Distance
6.00

Farmington Canyon. And just like that the road condition of the canyon has turned to crap.

Saucony Peregrine 2 Miles: 6.00Vertical Miles: 1200.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(3)
Total Distance
10.00

Terrace trail from Farmington to Kaysville, out and back.

Saucony Peregrine 2 Miles: 10.00Vertical Miles: 2408.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(1)
Total Distance
23.00

What does a Salt Lake pirate say? Garrrr!

 I have two more times to train on the island before 'The Big One': today and next Saturday. I drove out after church, reluctantly paid the $9 park fee, and parked at the Mountain View trailhead. (I usually get out there early morning before the fee collection lady is there.) Galen G. and his friend Colette were finishing a run out to the Garr Ranch. I took off quickly down the trail and it felt good. Then the mud slowed me. Then, off with the long sleeve shirt. A few miles out I then removed my t-shirt and ran like a rock star. I met up with Andrea Martinez and her friend as they were coming back. We chatted for about 5 minutes. The entire run was uneventful. I wasn't bored, just working on staying fast and keeping good form. I carried two hand-held bottles and had two gel flasks tucked into the side pockets of my shorts. I hit ten miles in 1h18m.When I arrived at the Ranch I simply turned around and ran back. No time for tourism. Back was slower for the headwind. I decided to set a goal to hit 20 miles in 2h40m. With the headwind I knew the return leg would be slower. I hit 20 miles in 2h43m. Not bad for me. Last year on a training run I hit 18 miles in 3 hours so there is noticeable improvement. One mile away from the car I had to carefully run between two bison. I was most concerned about the one 25 yards uphill from me. I got past without incident. Arrived at car in 3:08:05 and drank 20 oz UltraGen, the best stuff on Earth.

I am not going to count vert for this. There was zero effort felt on my legs to climb.

I had 10 oz of water remaining at the finish. Race day I can get down to the Ranch and back without stopping at an aid station. I like that.

Saucony Peregrine 2 Miles: 23.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(3)
Total Distance
12.25

Farmington to Bountiful and back on pretty good firebreak road/single track; with Steve N. and Ryan L.

Saucony Peregrine 2 Miles: 12.25Vertical Miles: 1400.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Total Distance
15.00

I have not been well the past two days. Virus on top of Spring allergy. The show must go on. Today I ran from Faemington to the Bountiful temple and back for 15 miles. This will be my last longish run for BR100 training. Fives and sevens this week until Wednesday or Thursday.

Vertical Miles: 1500.00Saucony Perergrin 2 (2) Miles: 22.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
7.00

Firebreak trail from Davis Creek to Centerville and back.

Top Ten reasons MVH will do well at Buffalo Run 100 this year:

10. He promised his little boy he would run 100 miles in under 18 hours for his seventh birthday

9. He is wearing shoes that keep his feet happy

8. He is bringing an inhaler in the case of asthma.

7. Weighs 5-6 pounds less than he did last year

6. Will not be wearing a freaking waste pack

5. Will be wearing super new shorts with secret pockets

4. Will be wearing a power beard

3. Finished freaking Wasatch last year

2. Has one more year of long distance running experience

1. Will not show up late for the noon countdown

0. Has the will and drive to make it happen

Vertical Miles: 800.00Saucony Perergrin 2 (2) Miles: 7.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(5)
Total Distance
7.00

Firebreak from F-Town to Centerville and back. This route is superb. It has several hills and canyon crossings. Concentrated on keeping a steady pace without pushing hard.

I am ready to run 100 miles.

Saucony Peregrine 2 Miles: 7.00Vertical Miles: 1500.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Race: Buffalo Run (100 Miles) 18:29:00, Place overall: 5
Total Distance
100.00

I went into the Buffalo Run 100 with specific goals and the confidence to achieve them. First, I was going to complete the course under 20 hours. The other goals all served to put the main goal within reach. I was going to make the logistics of fueling and getting re-supplied as "clean" as possible. I would rely less on aid stations and more on my wife. (She performed magnificently and our marriage is stronger for it. Imma go buy her a nice present at Costco.) Other goals: Put my training into practice. Wear the right shoes. Don't eat fruit during the race! Keep running as much as possible because every freaking mile of Buffalo is runnable. Drink and eat but not too much, and let the stuff in my tummy empty before I put more in. Get a cramp? Drink some straight water. Bam. Done. Don't let a loss of appetite bring on the bonk: Get some gel every 20 minutes, even if I hate it. Don't go out too fast. That's right, slow it down. I can't be bouncing around for a hundred miles as if I am in the woods jumping over deadfalls and bouncing off rocks in a quick, controlled fall.

So here's how it went down:

It was cold out there for the noon start time. Most runners started with tights or long pants. One dude, who by all indications was going to start, was wearing denim pants and a cotton sweatshirt. OK. I knew that at some point I was going to be wearing tights, and that I hate trying to get into tights, especially in a hurry, so I had them on from the start and kept them on through the duration.

Jim scraped a line across the sandy dirt road and then said go. I ran right up front with the guys who I knew would be first and second when it was all over. But this kind of race start is nothing like the sprinters' and marathon races starts. This is laid back. Everybody just takes it easy. We got a freaking hundred miles to go - no hurry. I noticed I was even going too fast and stopped for a moment. I wasn't about to run out in front of Meltzer. That would make me look silly. Around the fence I grouped up with Craig and Robert Mueller. We started up a chat that made the first several miles go quickly. Meltzer and Pedatella, and Jeremy Bradford were steadily moving up the hill and creating a gap. That was fine. Don't go out too fast, I repeated to myself. I was content to run with friends and have a good time. And we did. Aaron Spurlock caught up with us about 3 miles up so the four of us cruised and chatted. At the Elephant Head pass I went left and the other fellas went right. None of us stopped at the aid. I ran quickly down into Split Rock valley, about a half mile behind Meltzer and the other speedsters. There was a fourth guy behind Bradford who I caught and passed at the top of the switchbacks. Those suckers, by the way, are absolutely runnable on both laps.

Back to the E. Head aid junction, I then ran the 1.5 miles out to the rock, grabbed a sticker and busted it back. Some lady runner was there, digging through the box of stickers, being very selective. While her hand was in the box looking for the one that would match the color of her outfit, I reached mine in and just grabbed the first one I saw. The sticker is a token that the runner has gone out to the point and is getting the proper amount of mileage. (Nobody ever checks for stickers anyway so it is all honor system.) Ran back out to the junction and now I could see Meltzer leading down below as he headed out back to the race tent. I also saw my buds finishing their run of the Split Rock segment. Damn, they picked up the pace, or I dropped mine because they blew through the trail junction before me and I had to run hard to catch up.

Back together, the four of us ran the final 4 miles back to the tent to complete the first 19 miles. Mueller continued on without stopping, Craig headed straight for a porta John, and Aaron continued on without stopping. My wife handed me a few things and I continued on too, but in those few moments that I slowed, the other two guys went ahead and stayed ahead of me for about a quarter mile for the next several miles. I was amazed at how well they kept their pace. I only caught up to Mueller again waaay down at the Ranch because he stopped to get a drink. The last I saw Aaron was at Lower Frary aid. He stopped while Mueller and I continued without stopping. I did not stop at the Ranch. My wife was there with my boys. I flashed my number and turned around. Then my birthday boy - seven years old that day, that little kid -ran after me and I just had to turn around again to give him a big kiss.

I ran back with Bob (Mueller) all the way back to Frary where I slowed to a walk to get supplies from my wife, then I was off running again. Bob never slowed so again he got out in front. Well crap, I just lost a good pacer. Craig was somewhere behind me, and I was hoping for, expecting him to catch up. I saw several runners heading down to the Ranch, including Scott W. who was looking good, Crockett, Kristel L., Quintin, Suwinski and, well, everybody. Each having their own journey.

From Frary we battled the wind out of the North. I slowed to a survival pace. Just keep it going. Don't walk. I was daydreaming about someting when I felt a hand grab my behind. It was Craig. How the hell did he do that? He closed some distance heading into the wind and now we ran together to finish the first 50 miles. I was glad he showed up. He was running strong so I followed his pace. We caught up to Bob just above the hill six miles from the Start/Finish tent. The three of us ran back at a solid pace, Craig leading. Once we turned a corner and a bison stood on the trail. Had to carefully avoid that sucker. I believe the three of us came in to 50 miles at 7:50 PM, so that would be 7 hours 50 minutes for the first lap. Not bad.

I was feeling dizzy from the strenuous effort of the last 7 miles. I just wanted to sit down for a half hour and decide if I wanted to continue. Bob had been talking about at stopping at 50. When I got in to the tent my wife helped me get re-fueled. I spent about ten minutes in the tent. I don't know what I was doing for ten minutes there. I didn't change shoes or socks. I did change a shirt. Andrea Martinez set me up with a bag of TUMMS. Then my wife handed me a full bottle of UltraGen and hustled me out the door. (Bob decided to stop at 50, and Aaron had dropped earlier.) I began walking down the road again. The sun had gone down. It was getting colder and with more wind. I asked my wife to run back and fetch me an extra shirt. She did and caught up with me down the road. I expressed my concern of not feeling well. I remember she said, "Just do it." Well I can't argue with that. She knew what I could do. I kissed her and went out into the night.

I walked around the fence and then Craig, with Jennilyn came running past me. We exchanged greetings, then they were gone - running up the hill. How the hell is he doing that? Alright, get ahold of yourself. Get this drink down. It will slow you down at first, you know that. But when the calories kick in, you can run and feel great. I attemtped to run up the hill. I could, but for a short distance. I would walk/run/walk until I could just run. And I ran. At the top of the hill that descends to the base of Lone Tree, Meltzer was just cresting. I held out my hand. Slap. Go Speedgoat. The dude was what, 10 miles ahead? Up at the aid station Bart Greenwell asked if I wanted anything. Coke. Nice cold Coke. So good on a cold, windy mountain pass. Headed out to the Elephant Head rock for the second time that day. I enjoyed being by myself. I actually loved  the solitude. I had three Cheech & Chong albums loaded on my iPod and I laughed my ass off for the next 2.5 hours out there. And I ran. Last year I could not run much of those trails back there. This was not a repeat of last year. If only Matt W. could have seen me! He paced me last year through Elephant and Split Rock and I was a mess. Not this time. I felt great. Ran up those switchbacks again. Craig and J. were up at the top. Looks like they ran 'em too. They were so quick! I never could catch them back there, even feeling as good as I did. I was getting a little lonley and I just wanted to catch up so I could have someone to talk to. One more time through the aid stop, got some hot noodles, then ran very well the last 4.5 miles back to the tent. Dorsimus, you would have been so proud. No poo stops. No complaining. No walking.

Back at the tent my wife excitedly tells me the good news: I found someone to run with you! In steps Steve Newman, of Kaysville. Holy crap, yes. That sounds like a plan. I was fully prepared to go all the way by myself but company was welcome, too. And Steve is a funny guy. I like him. Grab a Coke and let's go. (Steve was there to pace Phil Lowry until Phil became ill.)

We went out well, running. We did the short out and back down by the lake shore. Craig and J caught up to us at the turn around, and the four of us ran the .85 to the aid tent together. Craig was un-characteristically quiet. I had no idea until later that he was suffering. Steve and I left the aid tent after getting a hot broth, and I expected Craig to be right behind us. About a mile mile later I looked back and didn't see their lights. Something must not be right. He should be a mile in front of me by now.

Then Meltzer breezed past me going the opposite direction, and was gone. He would be pulling into the 100 mile finish in nearly an hour from that time.

Steve and I just kept moving. It was cold but I stayed warm. The miles ticked away. We reached Lower Frary aid. My wife handed me some things and I continued. Where's Craig? Something's wrong. He shouldn't be behind me. I thought I saw their headlamps back there, closing in on Frary.

It is a long run out to the Ranch. When we arrived, I simply walked up to the tent, turned around and started back. I had everything I needed. I wanted to get done. Nearly a mile out from the Ranch we met Craig. He was running, but he indicated the problems he was having with stomach. He gave me a hug (he's a hugger) and said some nice things. I still believed he would catch up. I wanted him to catch up. I didn't want to see him that way, because I know how it feels.

Newman and I made one more pass through Frary and for once I actually walked down to the tent and stopped for a minute for some soup. Last year I was at my lowest when I came through Frary in the early moring. This year I turned down an offer for a quesadilla (which sounds very good as of this writing) and got back onto the trail. Time to finish this thing. I wanted to get done in under 18 hours. There was a possibility, but it was diminishing. My knees had begun to hurt badly, and one knee in particular. I had started the race knowing that one knee would be a problem. The last 6 miles were the most difficult. I was not able to run consistently anymore. It was walk 10 seconds, run one minute. Steve talked to me through those final miles, and at mile 99 I believe I received my vision quest: I saw a herd of bison crossing our path, just up the hill. There was a baby bison in the middle of the road. I stopped, pointed, told Steve not to proceed. That's a baby buffalo there and if you get near it you will get trampled by the herd. Steve ignored me. Kept walking uphill toward it. Dude, don't go near it! I am going to cut across field and get around this herd. Don't you see their big bodies moving around in the shadows? Closer to the top of the hill, the bison were not there, only large bushes blowing with the wind.

OK, time to get done.

One final stretch of dirt road, then one turn and a short jog up a slight hill to the finish line and the beep beep of the timing chip recorder. But I wasn't done with the hallucinations. On the road something ran toward me, a shining light on its head. It was an antelope wearing a headlamp. Long skinny legs and antlers on its head. It had a bright halo of light twinkling around it. Steve, that is a deer wearing a headlamp! What the crap. It ran past me on my right. I shook it off and realized it was some guy jogging into darkness. I realize now it was a guy named Zac going out, running the course backward to find Craig, who was running the last 11 miles by himself after Jennilyn had to quit for a bad knee.

My mom and my boys were camped in a motorhome on that last stretch of road. Newman announced my name like I was some regent making his kingly rounds. My mom and boys were out in front of the motorhome. I stopped, hugged and kissed them, then told them I was almost done. It was now 6:24 AM. I had missed my sub-18 hour goal. The 50 mile runners were all moving up the hill in the distance; their headlamps created a white glowing, uphill-flowing stream of lights. Five minutes later I rounded the corner, one last short walk, then ran to the blue mats that sensed my timing chip. BEEP BEEP BEEP! I was done. Two guys were there to see me come in: My dad and someone else. It was too dark to see faces. Steve was there too, of course. I pushed into the tent and got a big hug from my wife. Jim congratulated me and offered another belt buckle, which I accepted.

Run complete. Overall, it was a fantastic journey. Overall, I felt terrific. I had energy and to spare.That huge bonk that I expected to come sometime in the moring or night, never came. It was the knees. That was the only thing that held me back from going an hour or more faster. Still, I am happy with the result. It was fun to run with friends and share the journey. Craig came in about 30 minutes later. A deer wearing a headlamp had found him a few miles back and ran with him to the finish.

Saucony Peregrine 2 Miles: 100.00Vertical Miles: 7000.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(11)
Total Distance
30.50

King's Peak

I am conflicted. I did not run 30 miles to King's Peak. I skied, I climbed, but I did not run. I did go 30+ miles. I count it as training.

Here's some perspective:

About 4 years ago I was a fatso. A fatso with a habit of going for the biggest mountains around. I was a pretty good hiker. Every last weekend in March there is a Wasatch Mountain Club ski trip to King's Peak. It is the highest mountain in Utah, at 13,528 feet. It is remote. The approach requires a 13 mile hike, or run. In Winter, it is even further because the road is left unplowed 3.5 miles from the trailhead. So Winter is the most challenging season to climb King's Peak.  Four years ago I camped at the trailhead, set out at 5AM the next day, and followed several old-timers to the top of Utah. It took me over 19 hours to complete. I felt a great sense of accomplishment. The next year I went back and my RT time from car to summit to car was 16 hours, 50 minutes. Two years ago I attempted a third time but did not reach the summit.

This morning, instead of car camping, I slept at home, and slept in. The skiers take off around 5 AM, but I set my clock for 3AM. It is a 2.5 hour drive to the trailhead from home. I knew I would get there after 6, but actually I planned on it. I knew I could go faster this time, so an early start wasn't necessary.

At the Winter trailhead, I started skiing at 6:40 AM. It was several minutes before I could find a good ski rhythm. I reached the trailhead sign and wood fence in about 1 hour. Skiing through the trees, my energy level kicked up a notch and I began to really go quick. I caught up with the back group of skiers just before Gunsight Pass. I knew there was another, faster group somewhere up higher. I passed the first group and when I got up onto Anderson plateau I could see a few people hiking up the face of King's Peak. I made a quick crossing of the plateau, then began the hike up. I felt terrific. Never did I feel the altitude. I caught up with Judy Z and some others near the summit. We stayed 10 minutes. It was mostly a nice day but there was cold wind blowing snow.

Both times I have climbed King's in March I had to ski out in the dark. Not today. I arrived at my car with plenty of daylight overhead. My total RT time, including summit stop was 12 hours, 33 minutes. I reached the summit in 7 hours and 20 minutes. Yes, that is a negative split for the return. Lots of free rides on the skis!

Vertical Miles: 4882.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(9)
Total Distance
290.95
Saucony Peregrine 2 Miles: 226.45Vertical Miles: 27190.00Saucony Perergrin 2 (2) Miles: 29.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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