Driven

El Flag Rock. Snow up to the knees on the North side descent.

I ran up to Avenues Twin Peaks 'smorning with terrific peeps Scott, Matt, Craig and Jennilyn. The trail is really great right now so I am going back tomorrow morning (Friday).

Aves Twin Peaks from Capitol

Running up the trail is the easy part. I am a night owl so the hard part is getting pulled out of a nice deep sleep by a ringing alarm at 5AM, overcoming the inertia of bed, and getting out the door.

I've had some really crappy trail runs lately, which had nearly shattered my confidence. Yesterday I ran the Avenues Twins and had a fairly good run, physically. One of my knees has been acting up and seemingly getting worse with each day of trail activity. I went back this morning and ran from the Capitol again. Short story: One of the best trail runs I have had in a while. I wore new shoes and they performed exactly as I had hoped, and my knee felt like new.

On the descent from the Twins I paused and looked East toward Little Black mountain. What I saw in morning twilight was a living black and white winter landscape photo. Those kind of views are every bit as encouraging as the endorphins I gobble up during physical activity.

Yes it is very cold right now, so I do not look at the temperature reading. I just go and warm up after half mile, and stay warm pretty much the entire way.

East Twin summit in 59:30, RT in 1hr48m

Farmington trails with TheMrK. Flag Rock, then down to pond area, then up to upper terrace trail to Shepherd Creek, and back.

Ave Twins

My 3rd time up in 4 days.

So nice to do a 10 mile run in the snowy foothills above Salt Lake City; then come home, shower, and go back to bed.

With Scott, Jun, and J.

Avenues Twins after work. Ran down into Mem Grove then up to the South side canyon road to the trailhead. Feeling really good. Saw Je10 as she was running up for her second lap on Twins today.

Foothills run from the zoo to City Creek and back. With Scott, Jun and Dorsimus (for Mt Wire/Red Butte).

We  started at Hoggle Zoo, going straight up to Mt. Wire. Then, down to Red Butte. The up to Van Cott, then Down to Shoreline Trail, then up to Avenues Twin Peaks, then down to City Creek. We turned around and ran the Bonneville Shoreline trail back to the zoo. Felt good to City Creek, then got achy breaky and ran out of water in the heat of the afternoon. Nevertheless it was a fantastic adventure run in the foothills above a major city. All that climbing added up to nearly 7,500 feet.

Tried to run the neighborhood streets around home. Too frigging slick. Got two miles before I said the hell with it.

Home to Farmington canyon, couple miles up, then back. Nicely runnable now with snow machine tracks and frozen smooth troughs.

Five miles up Farmington canyon with the Snow Snorkelers. MGW was there, as was his bro Aaron W., Steve, and Ryan. and Matt 'Twinkies" Ricks.We ran from the parking above Farmington pond to the Sunset campground and turned around. As promised, Ryan wore shorts.

Ten in Farmington Canyon.

No big woop.

Two hours and 15 minutes of meditation, talking to myself, and singing bits of Handel's Messiah.

Five up, five back Farmington canyon.

PM: Five more after work.

From home, Flag Rock attempt. Had to abort before the trail begins the climb toward upper section because nobody but the deer have used the trail since the big snow. Bailed out down to the neighborhood. Then I ran to .5 mile up Farmington canyon, then home. Should have stayed with what has been effective lately. Still, I've had a remarkable week this far.

I met Steve N. and John C. at the -B- above Bountiful. We ran up Skyline Drive,  intending to go as far as the area where W100 course has its 2nd full service aid station. The road was well packed but not as good as we had hoped. Pre-dawn, a few miles up we stopped and gazed down at nebulous lights glowing under the smog. The brightest light under the cloud was the Bountiful temple. At 4.5 miles John went back down and Steve and I continued up. After Buckland turn-off the snow was no longer supporting us fully and we slowed significantly. Steve entertained me with the story of his close encounter with a real live mountain lion above Bountiful. We reached our destination, reveled in the sunshine, and continued up further as far as we could go. We followed snowmobile tracks to a hill, then turn around. Running back was tough.We sank up to shins every 30 feet. It was hard work. Conditioning, I told myself. Did I mention we had an excellent view of the blue sky above inversion? It remains blue up there, I assure you. It is the ghost of Lake Bonneville out there.  Further down we descended into the smog, could smell and taste it, and agreed it was horrible. At the end we had 17.60 miles. I wanted 20. So I said later to Steve, drove home, and ran 2.4 miles down to the bird sanctuary. I had some goals this week and I mostly met them, although I fell a little short on the distance I wanted to have by today. What I feel is more important than distance, however, is that I got up at 5AM every day and went out into some seriously cold outside.

I took advantage of an early out from work for the black holiday. Myoolah Park is a couple miles up the skreet from work, so I did a run to elephant rock X2. Parked at the church down the road for the xtra distance. No water, no gels.

Davis county trail runners out again for a jog up F-town canyon. The road is pretty good right now; Steve, MGW, Aaron, and I ran hard down for a RT time of 2 hours.

Grandeur Loop +

I parked at the shopping center and ran to the West ridge trail head. Then, up. Even with the extra 1.5 miles and a poo break just above the parking area, I reached summit in 1:35. Ran down Church Fork, slippery until the switchbacks. Warm. At the Pipeline junction I ran up trail to the parking area for the winter rec, then 4 miles back to Rattlesnake and down canyon. I am not so trusting this Garmin vert calculation. With elevation corrections enabled the total for today is 4612 ft; disabled it is 4,000 ft. What the crap? I did run up canyon a few hundred feet, including short ups and downs but I don't think after the peak I did an additional 1400. I am calling it 4000.

Lone Peak

My 16th ascent of Lone Peak. I was with a group of 10 and about 8 of us reached the summit rock. This mountain is dangerous. Every year we hike up there, and every year I say to Judy: I think I will stop here at this safe place. Then she goes on ahead, over the first rock, and I follow. Then the first snowy knife edge; then crouch and crawl under the second rock, around a corner where there is not enough of a snow ledge to support me if I get off balance and slip to my left. If that happened I would bounce a couple thousand feet down a seemingly vertical drop full of endless granite boulders. Then, the second snowy knife edge, and negotiations with slippery boulders until we carefully crawl onto the summit rock. For the downward trip we reverse it all.

This morning was the most, thickest fog I believe I have seen in my life. The drive to Draper from Farmington was tense. I know those roads and still made a couple wrong turns. If that fog was stacked high over the mountain I would have gone down. I was late to meet the group but didn't worry because I knew I could catch up. Seems a few minutes after I started hiking, clear sky appeared. Then I was above the fog. I do not exaggerate when I say that looking down upon the Salt Lake Valley, everything was covered, as if a white lake had drowned a million people in a major metropolitan area. Everything, that is except the Draper LDS Temple. It was the only man-made structure visible from high on the mountain. Everything else had disappeared.

There were a lot of new-to-me faces. Michael led the group, and he, Judy, and I were the veterans. Michael is in his mid-sixties, still going strong. He led us up first to Enniss Peak, where we got our first look at Lone Peak. All my times up in that wilderness and I had never hiked a few hundred feet up to Enniss. It even has a round metal marker stating the name. We hiked up into the cirque, and views of the granite walls under the peak were spectacular. The higher we went a curtain of cloud dropped in front of the peak and it was gone. We never saw it again, even when we were on the summit. We were climbing in the cloud the remainder of the ascent.

A word about fitness. Five years ago my first Winter ascent of Lone Peak was the most difficult hike I had done. I was slow, exhausted and fat, and determined. I reached the summit. Today I am 25 pounds lighter and felt fantastic the entire day. I had boundless energy. I reached the summit. It was easy. I ate ultra food: Gels, Stinger Waffles, and a PBJ sandwich. That's it. And when I got to the car I didn't have a raging hunger. I am down to my ideal weight now. It feels so good not to carry around that extra crap. Running did this to me.

http://youtu.be/SsDDckJ_R5g

Eleben around the neighborhood skreets.

Mt Olympus with the boys. We had fun in trees, jumping off rocks, sliding on snow. You know, kid stuff.

Scott made a booty call so I rushed down to Lake Mountain 'smorning and ran with him. He looks good in his Tony Juggs. I had to squeeze 'em. We had such a good time joking around that we were hella slow. That's OK. Sundays are a day to take it easy.

Run up F-town canyon with Mr. JK. The road is superb right now so I will be going up every morning this week for some easy miles and vertical smiles.

Up the canyon again with MGW, Aaron, Steve, Ryan and the other fella. Fast snow. If I didn't have a product break I would have been up to c.g. at five miles in 1 hour.

F-town canyon after work. Running up as the sun set over Antelope Island. 1h45m total, including product movement break.

Run up to Sunset campground, Farmington Canyon.

I ran up to Aves Twins with The Scott. Not too cold and I hope it is a sign that Spring is coming soon. I have had enough of Winter. I want warm mornings and evenings, dry trails, and shirtless running. We saw deer and a coyote.

Up Farmington Canyon with some Davis county dudes.

I ran up Myoolah Park trail after work. I parked at the church down the skreet. Up to the rock and back is not quite 8 miles so on the run down I turned around at the bridge and ran back up a mile, then all the back to the church. Unexpectedly, I saw no other person (and no dogs!) on the trail. 

Farmington to Bountiful out and back with Davis County dudes.

After work I ran from East Kays to GWT and back. It was the first time I had run this trail since Wasatch. The first half I dwelt on memories of that morning last September, what I did right, what I did wrong. Mostly wrong. On the run back I worked out my strategy for Saturday, and I ran aggressively rather than allowing myself to get into a relaxed slump. Last year it would take 2 hours to complete this training run. On dry trail. Tonight was 1:39. Quality miles. 

Moab Red Hot 55k

So I entered this race on an impulse, after a friend's recommendation. I brought my wife, boys, and my parents with me and we made a vacation out of it.

Saturday morning I awoke at 5 am and drove up the skreet to McDonalds in search of a sausage/egg muffin, hash browns and orange juice. The restaurant was not open at 5 am. Not to be deterred, I went back at 5:45 and got my food. It may seem counter-intuitive (because it is McDonalds) but for me a high calorie breakfast 2-3 hours before a big run does me good. And it did. I never got hungry and had excess energy all the way through the 33 mile run.

The race began promptly at 8 am. It was cold but almost everyone wore shorts. Many ladies wore skirts and a few had tights. I went out wearing a red knit hat, red long-sleeve shirt, and short sleeve shirt under. I carried two water bottles and had 3 flasks of gel sitting in my shorts pockets. That is just about all I needed all day; even less than that because one of my full gel flasks bounced out somewhere about mile 8 and I never saw it again. Never even got a taste.

I started up front just to get in front of the mass. I hate crowds. Also, I like to watch the fast guys break away. I like to study how they do it. It was interesting. Nobody shot off from the start. We were all just jogging up the road getting warmed up. Then about .5 mile up the line began to spread out. I watched the fast dudes slip away. Meltzer passed me at .9 miles. He stayed in my sight for the next couple miles the ndisappeared into the folds of the terrain. Strategy. A quick but consistent pace gets results. That's what I wanted to do as well, but at mile ten it was obvious I had burned my quads from the strong start. Just past the first aid station - I did not stop - I was running with earphones and saw the shadow of another runner just off my right shoulder about to overtake me. Just looking at the shadow I knew who it was. The funny running gait, the bouncing hair - it was speedy Bob Mueller. Yep. He looked over as he pulled up. "Hey Bob", I said. We ran for the next 3 miles up and up, and jumped down over some technical stuff. He held a strong, fast pace. Good thing he came along when he did because I was fading and his pace was a pick-me-up. We chatted that 3 miles and flew up toward the rim, to the top of Metal Masher. The guy is talented. When I could not keep up the pace any longer I told him I had to let him go. He finished about 40 minutes ahead of me.

From the top of Metal Masher I could get quick glances down, thousands of feet down, to the highway where we had started the run. But I did not stop, and I flew down the next few miles. It felt good to go fast down gnarly 4WD terrain. But my quads were screaming at me. They were busted. I knew I would still get through it, and never did I entertain thoughts of DNF. But my time goals began to slip away. I had a very fast 10 miles - 1h23m of solid uphill running - and I knew that with better trained and stronger legs I could have done much better; so I noted that and just kept moving forward and upward best I could.

At the second aid I topped off my bottles. I was never stopped at an aid for more than 30 seconds. I never ate the solid food. Of the 5 aid stations, the first and last I did not stop for at all. I am happy to know I have fueling figured out for this type of run. I had tons of energy and never was hungry. Never got dehydrated. The shoes performed well. No blisters. Not even any side projects (poo stops), which for me is significant. Everything went very well except the quads. What can I do to prepare my legs for fast, aggressive uphill racing? If I could have had strong quads I am sure I would have gone under 5 hours, easy. Everything else was in place but that.

The course. After a long, cold winter I was delighted to run on dirt and rock again. The course is very scenic. You get your money's worth. It goes from dirt road, to Jeep trail, to extreme Jeep trail, to slick rock, to sandy washes, to rounded sandstone hills...              

The most challenging segment of the race is the Golden Spike. It is like no other run I have done. The earth is no longer flat. It tilts this way and that. Random turns every 75 yards. Up, then down. Then across. Repeat. Follow the pink ribbons and you will stay on course. I ran with a total stranger for 45 minutes and we helped each other find the route through this meandering course section.

At mile 24 a familiar face showed up behind me. Harrison from Farmington. We said hello, then he continued his steady pace through the maze. That's when I shook off the funk I was in and picked up my pace. From there it was solid running to the finish, even if it was slow running. That is when I began to pass many of the 33K participants, and with more people on the path it was easy to see the route and not get lost; therefore it was easy to go faster without the route-finding problem. As mentioned above, as I approached the last aid, I felt the weight of my bottles and decided I did not need to stop. The station was situated mid-point on a climb and I ran right past and up. The desire to finish was strong.

A few miles later I passed a runner who had passed me several miles earlier on Jeep road. He didn't like that and passed me back a few miles from the finish. But I made up for it by passing another fella and kept him 30 seconds behind me all the way to the line. Up on the switchback above the finish area I smelled the flavor of delicious food coming on a warm wind from down below. I was close. There were spectators now, perched on boulders, cheering the runners. One last turn and I saw the colorful flags, crowds and vehicles concentrated on the road below. Quads still screaming, I ran quickly over the rocky ground. My mother saw me and shouted. Finished. Felt great. Everything passed with flying colors. Never got sick, never got hot, never bonked, never got asthma. Everything, that is, except those quads. Time for some hill repeats.

I mentioned above that we made a vacation of my race in Moab. My legs have not been as sore in quite some time, so getting up and walking around has been painful. But Sunday my wife and boys, and I, and my parents, took a drive into Arches N.P. and we hiked in the Windows area, then drove up the road to Devil's Garden and hiked a few miles in and out. The next day, Monday, we went back into the park and hiked up to Delicate Arch. I even did some up- and downhill running. Legs still sore but I felt that I needed to get the muscles moving. Anyway, a hike to Delicate Arch is dessert after Saturday's 33 mile run.

Thought I should start running again before getting too comfortable sleeping in, sitting around watching movies, eating junk food. Oh, I'll still do all that, but with some daily exercise in the mix.

The bike path that runs through Farmington to Kaysville, and to nether regions beyond is straight as...an old railway. I hate running on pavement. But trails are a pina colada Slurpee right now, and I can't go in to 'the big one' next month undertrained..

I ran out 7.5 miles and turned around. No walking, no water, no gels. I heard the gels are packets of flavored sperm, anyway. I wanted to do a negative split on the way back. I would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for that meddling side ache I got the last half mile. I haven't had a side cramp for...I can't remember. Costa Vida was still in there. I ended with a precisely even split: One hour there, one back.

Total vert: 1 foot (12 inches)

Secret, mid-day run. Shh. Don't tell.

Four miles North on Rail Trail, then back. Fast 5K, then easy jog for remainder. Flat as Goldie Hawn.

Shorts. Sunshine. I am willing Spring to happen.

Mr. Fox crossed my path. Fantastic.

Later: 7 more.

F-town canyon. Moonlight run, no headlamp needed. Full understood the meaning of twilight, as being between the lights, or between two lights, or between light and dark. In front of me, to the East, the diffused, blue light of the dawning sun below the horizon crowned the top of the canyon. Behind me, and high in the sky, a waning moon shined brightly and cast a shadow of my form onto the hard-packed snow. Far below, pools of water in the canyon stream reflected silver moonlight, so bright I thought at first they were the lights of other runners who started 25 minutes after me. The other runners did show up. They were Steve n. and Ryan L. I met them as they were on mile 4 and as I was on mile 6 on the descent. Ryan ran down with me and Steve continued up.

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.

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.

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.

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

Up Farmington Canyon with Steve and Ryan. 

PM: Ten miles south from home

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

Terrace trail from Farmington to Kaysville, out and back.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

Up Efftown canyon with Steve N., Ryan L., Matt Ricks and a couple other fellas. Phil Lowery went up earlier and ew met him coming down. My goodness it feels good to be wearing shorts. Feeling light and strong.

I am recovered.

This evening after work I was sitting around thinking of going out but not decided on anywhere to go. There are a multitude of great trails in and near Farmington. I drove over toward the mountain and on impulse decided to run the Flag Rock race course in its entirety. Then I decided I would go as fast as possible and shatter my PR of 1h7m for 7.25 miles and 1800 feet of vert. I ran hard, as if I was racing. No water, no gels. The sun set as I was on top of Flag Rock. I arrived at the flag at 35m53s. Ran quick down the North side. Everything was fast. I really wanted to break one hour. I approximated where the start/finish mat would be in the school driveway. Total time was 1:04:53. Will have work to do in the next three months to contend for the top spot in July.

This is the year I shatter all my PRs. Of that I am sure.

Up Efftown Canyon to Francis shed with the usual suspects: Steve Newman and Ryan Lauck, and Casey.

With MGW (Dorsimus) and Andrea Martinez, trails on North side of City Creek. Fun times, y'all.

Up Efftown Canyon six miles and a quick run back down. Did a side trip to inspect the mine that is about 100 yards off the trail about 3 miles up. I will henceforth refer to it as Three Mile Mine. Looks to go back some distance but I did not dare go in.

Went to Capitol with intention of running on the North side of City Creek canyon. Ran the road to the trail head. After a few minutes of grumbling at the tenacious mud, and my shoes growing heavy, I said screw this. Went back down. Tried the South side trail up. Got a couple hundred feet, accepted the fact that is was not my day. I had more energy on mile 95 of Buffalo than I did today. Ran back on the road. 

BoSho Marathon

I had no real intention of running this until Martinez sent me an email about it. Then I was all in. Why not? It is a free race, totally no-strings attached, unofficial, and fun. I wanted to see how fast I could run a trail marathon. However, this week, I have been "off", if you know what I mean. If I could have run this last week, likely would have been stronger and faster. Plus, a night of 2, maybe 3 hours of sleep didn't help me this morning. But whatever.

There were runners that started at 6AM. I went with the 7AM group. At go, some dude shot out fast. I ran with the front group for the first 5 miles, then stayed about 5 minutes behind most of the way, until the last 6 or seven miles when I really slowed due to achy legs.

The BoSho course is fantastic. It is the ultimate foothills trail run tour above Salt Lake City. All trail.

Lots of familiar peeps there today, and met some new guys. Nick Sourlos introduced himself to me on the trail, then passed me and ran very well the last 6 miles and got way out ahead.

A really fun, free event. Will be back next year.

My goal was 4 hours, and I think I held that pace for 2/3 of the course, then slowed considerably the last third. Race time was 4:32:50.

With the Williams bros, to Flag Rock from the pond in Farmington. On the downside we inspected Patsy's mine. It goes far into the mountain.

Up the canyon with MGW. We continued our Farmington area mine tours, this time we inspected the mine that is 3 miles up the canyon. It goes back in fairly deeply, and has two forks. Dark as hell. 

Up the canyon again, to the campground and back. With Ryan Lauck. He made it 4 miles up before the junk in is lungs was too much. Chilly but clear, beautiful morning.

After work, up Farmington canyon. Where the pavement ends I ran on the single track by the river, up to the campground. First time on the single track. What I found: A very old vehicle, maybe 1920s or 30s, wrecked at the end of a very overgrown old road that parallels the river. Another vehicle that was run off a cliff from the campground above. From the campground I ran up another 2 miles, then back on the road for a total of 13. The gate is open and vehicles are now on the road.

Up Farmington canyon.

Did the Grandeur loop 'smorning with JUN and Salt Lake visitor Josh. We started up in the dark about 5:10AM. Temperature was pleasant but cool until we got into the Pipeline, then up several degrees. I took a digger and got some Church Fork on me.

PM:

Up the single track in F-town canyon with MGW Dorsimus. We spotted a few wrecks in the canyon, including the tailgate of a red Ford F-150. We went up to the camground and then went back on the trail. Found the waterfall.

Nice big day of vert gain today.

With the DCD (Davis County Dudes) I ran from Farmington to the top of Centerville Zig Zag, with lots-o-vert. Steve Newman, Matt Ricks, Ryan Lauck.

Shepard Creek trail with Dorsimus MGW. We parked at the Farmington pond and ran up the North side to the terrace trail. Nice climb for building uphill power. We made a quick detour to explore another mine near the mouth of the canyon. We ran over to Shepard Creek and went steeply up the new trail that ascends toward Francis peak. When I say steep I mean steep. This is Speedgoat training right there.The trail is well marked and we know the guy who built it. I enjoyed this run.

This week has been all about vertical gain. Uphill stuff. (23,000 feet this week.) Today was a lot of the same. I went with Martinez to American Fork canyon and we intended to climb Box Elder peak. There is a lot of snow up there still, and the ridge leading to the peak has a lot of cornice overhang. There was one huge cornice near the top of the peak. We observed this from a couple thousand feet below because we went as high as the lower ridge at the meadow before the climb to the summit. We were ascending a snow field through some scattered boulders when A. felt snow shift beneath her and got spooked. I could tell she didn't want to try for the peak after that. I could have gone on and got the summit but we decided it was time to go down. We also witnessed an avalanche on the East face of the mountain. We had a good run down to the reservoir where we had parked. Not finished for the day, we decided to drive to Timp cave and run up to the cave and back. We got about a quarter mile and maybe 400 feet up and then were stopped with a closed and locked gate. D'oh. Still not finished, we drove over to Dry Canyon TH and did a run up to Horsetail falls. Of course, we overshot it and did some extra climbing, but I wasn't bothered. I was in training mode and made use of the steep climb to strengthen my legs. We eventually found the falls, got a drink from the cold mountain water, and had a fun run back down.

Up Grandeur for the loop down Church Fork. With Martinez and Greg G., and his dog.

(16 mi.) Went up Little Black Mountain with Matt R. (Twinkies), J-Lyn,  and Jacob. I started later and caught up with them at the Ave Twins. The plan was to go up and over Little Black, which we did, and then descend into City Creek canyon from Smuggler's Gap. However, because there is a lot of snow there, and no discernible trail, we went back over Black and down.

PM:

Kaysville to Fernwood out-and-back (7.25 mi.) with MGW. Ryan L. caught up with us at Fernwood.

Met up with Wesemann and Craig for a run-around on Draper trails.

Up Parish Creek trail in Centerville to Skyline Dr and back. Bunch of vertical smile (3900), all runnable.

ran on the firebreak road in Farmington, from Davis Creek trailhead to Centerville.

Wake up at 3:40 AM, in Millcreek Canyon at 4:30 AM for a run on the pipeline. There were nine of us out there, running in the dark. We did two out-and-backs to the SL viewpoint. I will probably go out again today for an additional 6. I am trying for a 100 mile week.

Up Farmington Canyon a couple miles past the shed, and back. With Steve Newman.

From Kaysville to 2 miles up past the wood post, and back. Did not take water, got very thirsty on the climb. Then drank from the first creek on the way back. Water not on at Fernwood. Dang it.

 Poised for my first 100 mile training week.

Woo hoo!

First 100 mile week. All on trails, and with 18,000 feet of vertical climbing. 

How do I feel? Tired.

I went out last night and ran 14 miles on Kaysville to Layton trail, with some substantial climb,and got home at 8:30PM. Sleep was spotty, not good. Up this morning at 5 and running up Farmington canyon by 5:45 AM. Steve Newman, Derek, and Steve Lindsay were my companions on a run to the top of Francis peak, a climb of 4500 feet for me, and over 5,000 for them because they started lower.

I will go for another big week after a day of rest Sunday.

Mueller Park trail with Matt R. (Twinkies) and Leslie.

My shoes are falling apart. A new pair arrived at my door today. 

Mt Wire ClusterCuss. I was going to go up fast. Then, about 100 feet up the trail my quads and calves burned. Still tired and worked from the previous week. Slow to the top, and even more slow down.

Up early to meet Scott W. in Farmington; we ran up the canyon to Francis Peak. Had a good ol' time. Slow but steady.

Finally joined the Grandeur Peak Fun Run. I awoke early, like I always do now whether I like it or not, and ambled around, looked outside a few times. Wasn't sure if I should go back to bed or get suited up and drive to SLC. I knew there would be regrets if I didn't go and saw my friends commenting on how fun it was. So I went. The entire crew was there. The mountain was covered in cloud. At go I ran up the hill like I have been trained to do, then hiked steeply up Grandeur's West ridge. Maintained a steady and aggressive pace which got me to the summit in my best time ever - 50 minutes 30 seconds. A personal record by 6 minutes. I had banked enough time to try for the under-two-hour finish. Since I didn't take water or gels, I worried if I would be wobbly on the downhill but I held up well and felt strong. Two days of rest was beneficial. I did stop at Church Fork/Pipeline intersection for two drinks, then ran strongly 2 miles to Bambi Hill turnoff. Slick mud was a challenge up the steep trail, but got up quickly, then made the last descent to the finish. Crossed the line at 1 hour 57 minutes and some change. Very happy to have met my goal of sub 2. It was fun running in the rain.

So my training for Bryce is in the can. What do I do with myself now while I wait?Eat ice cream? Go for a hike? I am less concerned with getting miles than just staying active and loose. I've decided to go after some small FKTs (Fastest Known Times) around here. Tonight I went to Adams Canyon in Kaysville. I ran up to the falls and got the 'course record' by one minute - 24 minutes 15 seconds. I was on course for the car to car record of under 39 minutes but I got way off course and even found myself on the wrong side of the creek. Dammit. I got back on trail and managed to get the 2nd fastest time of 43 minutes. Ryan L still hold the fastest by 3 minutes. I was pretty well spent after that effort and just wanted to go home. But I went over to climb some trails near Farmington canyon. I went up the Spinetrail, and checked out the Old aquaduct trail on the South side of the canyon. The trail needs lots of love, but if developed it would be quite a nice one. I climbed up the Spine trail to 6300 feet. Ryan L. did some nice work on that one.

Later this week I am going for the FKT (as far as Strava is concerned) of the Mueller PArk trail to Elephant rock. Maybe during lunch.

Myoolah Park to Elephant Rock. During my lunch hour I drove up to Myoolah Park, stripped nekkid in my car and suited up for a run to the rock. I wanted to get there in less than 27 minutes. Easier said than done. Legs were tired from GO (from yesterdays fast run up Adams canyon) but I tried to stay on it. Got to the bench above the rock in 29.5 minutes. Gonna need some work. I was so busted from the uphill effort that my return run was longer than up.

 PM: Fast run/hike up Mt wire - 34:45 to summit my fastest time to date.

Big ol' morning of vertical climbing. With Scott and Craig I climbed Tanner's Gulch to Sunrise Peak. The peak is on the Cottonwood ridge and is one of the bigger mountains in the Wasatch.

I want to get in some last-minute running at altitude to give me a slight edge at Bryce. The 100 mile course will be reaching alt of 9,500 feet. This morning I drove up Farmington Canyon to the upper gate, which is still closed for some reason, and ran up to Francis Peak., elevation 9,500 feet. It is 5 miles to the peak, ran it nonstop from the shed. Bombed the downhill.

Easy run down the road.

Bryce 100 start

I was down in Bryce Canyon over the weekend to run the inaugural Bryce 100 with many other locals. I can say honestly I went into this 100 mile race better prepared than at any other time of my short running career. I felt good and was ready to go. At go I happened to be one of the runners near the start of the trail (it was an awkward start by the R.D.) and began at a quick but comfortable pace. For the first 10 miles I ran at the front with Joe from Florida. We chatted a little as the miles went by quickly. When we arrived at the first aid station at 10 miles, about 5 guys, including me, showed up at once. I continued up the trail without stopping, then ran at the front entirely by myself for the next ten miles. I was the first to arrive at the 2nd aid at 20 miles. Then Joe came in a few minutes later. It was a long aid stop. I had no crew so I filled my bottles, searched for my drop bag, re-supplied, left my two shirts, got some sunscreen spray down from a volunteer, and then Joe and I left at the same time. We got back into a quick run and the trail descended. I got about 30 seconds behind the leader after doing some adjusting and a urine break. Then I took a critical wrong turn and ran down a mile off-course. When I realized my mistake I began hiking back up, determined to regain my place no matter the cost. I had lost nearly 25 minutes from my lead. Several other runners had come down the same wrong turn, and I directed them back up. Back on the trail again it seemed to be mostly climbing until the next aid at 26 miles. Same story with that stop - searching for my bag, getting re-filled. I asked for TUMS and that seemed to help. It was getting warm. My plan was to pick off as many runners as I could before 50 miles, and I had already passed a handful. As I got to the 33 mile aid my left ankle began to feel pain. I left there feeling well and ready to continue the chase. Then the ankle stopped working. There was a sharp pain on the outside of the ankle. I began to limp. There was a rocky ATV trail that began to descend and at that point even hiking downhill began to seriously hurt. There is no way I could have grinded out a 100 mile finish in that condition. No way. I was going to have a very tough time going the next 5 miles. I was hoping to see runners behind me so I could tell them to find my wife at the next aid at mile 39. I was hoping to see my friends run up from Kanab aid where I had come from. Nobody came. I continued limping slowly, then met a couple on ATVs. I asked for a ride and that was it. They took me to Straight Canyon aid where I left the race.

I had a very good start, got to see what it was like to lead the first 20 miles. Even with the wrong turn I was still in it, and even had plans to catch up as best I could to the front. I wanted very much to begin racing at mile 70. But with a very painful ankle I had to stop. I am looking forward to what is ahead and a chance to race again.

I explored the new trail from the lowest bridge in Farmington Canyon, up to the Francis Peak trail. 

PM:

Ran from Lamb's Canyon to Bear Pass. Felt good to go over that segment of the Wasatch course feeling good and be able to run all the way up to the pass.

I did a nice evening run up to Gobbler's Knob and Mt Raymond - both 10,000 + foot peaks above Big Cottonwood and Millcreek canyons. I waned to see how quickly I could get to Gobbler's, with nearly 4 miles and lots and lots of climbing. I reached the summit in just under 1 hour 6 minutes. I then traversed over to Mt Raymond. Everybody loves Raymond. Oneof my favorite places in the Wasatch. These mountains are a temple.

So after the Bryce 100 attempt I had much stored energy in my legs. The week after I immediately went out and climbed steep trails, accumulating thousands of feet. On Thursday evening, after I ran down from a fast run up Gobblers Knob, I had an impulsive thought to make a Saturday run from Grandeur Peak, up and over Gobblers and Raymond, then down to the S curve in Big Cottonwood Canyon, up to Lake Blanch, then back to Millcreek and the car on the West side of Grandeur. I the process I would run trails new to me in Millcreek, and summit 3 major peaks. Also noteworthy is the massive number of vertical feet gain. The mileage was a mystery. I don't know of anyone else having done this route. Why this particular route? No particular reason. Prettymuch random but it is aestheticaly pleasing to me, and a sufficient challenge. I would be climbing a couple 10,000 foot peaks from the valley, plus double-crossing two canyons and the ridgeline that separate them. Plus a run up to a high mountain lake that is a day hike for most folks.

I met Eric Storheim at the Grandeur W Ridge trailhead, then we made an easy hike up to the summit. He told me about the segments of Millwood 100 that would be most challenging to route-find on. (Eric is the first of only two runners to finish all of Millwood 100.) From the summit we ran down the Grandeur trail to Church fork and then parted ways. I continued on to Burch Holliw TH, then crossed the skreet and ran a short way up to Bowman fork trailhead. Bowman was new to me and I've discovered it is very pretty, and nicely shaded. About three miles up I took the junction to a connector trail to the Alexander Basin trail. Alexander Basin is still full of snow so I kicked stepd to the top of the East ridge that comes down from Gobblers. I noticed a descending cougar track in the snow. From Gobblers I traversed down to Baker Pass, then up to summit of Raymond. I was there just two days previous so I made another entry in the summit log. I descended the SW face of Raymond, picked up the Deso trail, then connected to the Mill B North trail. It is a good 4 miles down to the S curve and the Canyon road from that point. Temperature was getting very warm.

As expected there were many hikers out at the S curve. I refilled my hydration bladder with clean, fast-flowing creek water, then began my ascent up to Lake Blanche. I was able to run a large portion of the trail up, but near the top I began to feel sick to my stomach. The heat was getting to me. I cooled my feet in the lake, then sat in shade for several minutes eating, drinking, and popping some pills. I felt well for the run down and quickly reached the parking area. I made an attempt to call my wife but was unable to get phone reception. Friend Nick Sourlos must have ben driving by and seen me out near the road holding my phone above me. He stopped to say hello and ask how my adventure was going. He knew I would be in the area, and he had gone up to try and beat my FKT up to Gobblers. He asked if I needed anything and I blurted "Cold pop!", which betrayed my state of overheated fatigue. Unfortunately he had none. He offered to drive me down to the 7-11 and back up but I declined. I need to keep moving. He also offered to just drive me back to my car. I was tempted by the offer but confident I could get back on my own power. I had been going for 26 miles and 10 hours at this point. Notwithstanding the heat and mild stomach discomfort, I felt terrific. I did not feel the climbs on my legs at all.

The most difficult part of the day was to be the hike up Mill B North.  Thehike went very well. I stopped in shade to cool down a few times but I made very good time. Near the top I stuffed some snow in my hydration bladder and enjoyed ice-cold water for the run down to Millcreek Canyon. The Porter Fork trail at the top is snowed over, and I worried about losing sight of the trail completely. Fortunately I followed a set of footprints over the snow and they followed the trail. I got onto the Porter Fork road and ran the length down to the canyon road. From there it was a 1.5 mile run down to Church Fork, then another .5 miles up to the Grandeur TH and the Pipeline. I was pleasantly surprised to discover I still had a very good running gear at that point, so I cruised to Rattlesnake Gulch, then made the turn up steep Bambi Hill. I ran down the other side, past the Water tank, then through residential streets to the school where I had parked, I immediately drove to Smiths and bought two chocolate milks.

I had been out for 14 hours, 40 minutes. I ran and hiked 40 miles, climbed about 18,000 feet. Did not see any snakes or moose. At no time during this adventure was I miserable. Generally I felt very good, and proved to myself I can go anywhere in the Wasatch. Anywhere I want, any distance, any height.

I am in love with Big Cottonwood Canyon. I want to marry it. If homos can marry each other, I want to marry a canyon.

I ran up to Lake Blanche, then continued up to the upper basin toward Mt Superior. There is a small hidden valley up there wherein sits the remains of a small stone cabin. Some old timer lived up there over 100 years ago. The terrain is rugged and gorgeous. I popped up over the ridge between Mill B South Fork and Mineral Fork and waaaahh got my first view into the top of Mineral. It is a wide bowl that has been glacially scoured on all sides. Snow on the headwall helped me make a quick descent - it is steep. There is an old mining road that connects to the canyon road 5 miles down. Then I ran a couple mile back to Mill B. Nice after-work run/hike, 3 hours and 4300 feet of climb.

 New trails

 I parked at Neffs Canyon trail head and ran/hiked up to the Thayne pass overlook to Big Cottonwood Canyon - one of the best views in all the Wasatch. Neffs Spring is wonderful - it is in a small clearing, and is one of those pipes flowing clear, cold spring water into an old metal tub. I crossed into MIllcreek canyon and descended the Desolation trail. I brought my trek poles and used them for power hiking and defense against stupid dogs. Late in the day I was descending Rattlesnake Gulch when a dog coming up the trail saw me, barked and ran full speed uphill in a show of aggression. I held my poles crossed low in front of me and yelled at the dog to back off. The animal came close but I felt defended. Freaking dogs.

Speaking of rattlesnakes, from the canyon road I crossed the skreet to Church Fork, then jogged up to Burch and continued up Burch Hollow trail, which climbs to Millcreek Ridge. From the ridge to the Mt Aire saddle is a horrible shwack on a faint trail. With my poles I beat the foliage in front of me to alert any snakes. Then I did come close to a rattler, a few feet in front of me, which slid off the trail quickly and wanted nothing to do with me.

From the saddle I ran up to Mt Aire, then down to Elbow Fork. Then cross the skreet again to jump on the Elbow Fork/Terraces trail. A lot of unexpected climbing on that one. At Terraces I ran down the road to Burch Hollow TH, then ran the Pipeline to aforementioned Rattlesnake Gulch, then got on the canyon road with intention of running down, then back up to my car at Neffs. Was not excited about having to go on road, back to the car. Then Erik Storheim stopped and gave me a ride as he was driving down canyon after a short run. Luck! Happened to be just over 26 miles. Got familiar with a lot of new trail today. The view from high up in Neffs is very good, including a unique view of Mt Olympus.

Lately I have phased out of the mileage counting thing and just have gone wherever I want to go, not really knowing the mileage beforehand. I have been getting tons of climbing and going to new places, and places I haven't been to in years. I am enjoying this approach to my activities.

Tonight I went after work to Broad's fork and climbed the Twins. They are the prominent twin peaks above Salt Lake valley. I enjoyed the solitude and meditation afforded me while alone in the mountains. I am to the point in my fitness where I do not feel 5500 feet of vertical climbing on my legs.

Up Big Cottonwood Canyon again (third time in 3 days) for a run up Days Fork. I have never before been up Days Fork. It is typical of BCC: Cliffs, meadows, pine trees, remnants of old timey mining operations, rushing creek. At the top of the fork I climbed to the Cottonwood ridge and over to the lower Flagstaff Peak. Then I back-tracked the ridge and traversed to the head of Silver fork, the next drainage East of Days. I visited the open mine shafts and heavy, rusted equipment that is half-buried in the white, chalky dirt. Then I descended into Silver fork, visited a few other mine locations, and ran down to Bog Cottonwood road.

I had been part-way up both drainages before, but no more recent than ten years ago. I have been enjoying re-visiting long-neglected places in the canyon, and discovering new trails and forks. This is for me a summer of B-sides and rarities.

I ran up to Gobbler's Knob 'smorning, from Bulter Fork on BCC. I met Nick S. at the TH and we ran started together. I had a specific goal in mind: Break 60 minutes to the top. My prior PR to the top was 1:05:47. Mission accomplished: Top in 59:22.

 Woo Hoo!

RAGNAR:

 I ran 3 legs officially. Ran a 4th leg unnoficially.

My first leg was a 5K (3.3 miles), and I was so goosed up to run Friday afternoon that I set my personal record 5k time of 18:50.

Second leg was 11.5 miles in the middle of then night from Morgan. Ran it very well. i think it is funny how the RAGNAR culture is into counting how many people a runner passes, calling them "kills". I passed at least 55 people on this leg, and was passed by only one guy. He was moving very swiftly. He was the only runner that passed me the entire day.

When I got in to the exchange where my sister took the next leg, I had planned to run it with her. I told her to go ahead while I drank a cold Pepsi and went to the toilet. I started 10 minutes behind her, then ran hard to catch up. I never caught up to her. She finished the 7.5 miles about 5 minutes ahead of me. I was getting tired and sore. That was one 19 mile run for me.

My last (official) leg was from Homestead, and the climb up toward Guardsman. I ran every step, completing the 4.4 mile leg in about 43 minutes. I was the only runner running the entire hill and I must have passed 40 people. After that I was done. Spent. I t was hot and I was tired. But, I got back out and ran/hiked another 1.5 miles with my sister as she took the next leg to complete the climb up toward Guardsman.

I enjoyed the running part of RAGNAR, but not the hours and hours of downtime and sleep deprivation. I woud probably never do RAGNAR again.

It may seem unintelligent to run 10 miles less than a day before I attempt to run/hike 100 miles through Millcreek, Big and Little Cottonwood canyons, with about 40,000 feet of vertical gain. I am combining yesterday's short 2+ mile run up to Willow Lake in BCC with m run this morning. It was necessary for me to go up Millcreek canyon today and run 4 miles up to Big Water trail head to leave water and a cold pop cooling in the creek. Tomorrow I will arrive at Big Water (mile 41) with Big Thirst, and a cold Pepsi will be MONEY. I have been purposely cryptic about what I am doing, but to anyone that reads this, I am attempting to run the length of MillWood 100. Do a search and you will see what that is. Only two guys have completed the entire distance in one event. I aim to be the third. I have food and water caches at critical points along the route. My fitness has never been better - in my entire life.I am a 42 year old man with a much younger body. I can, in fact, do this. If my knees and joints hold together, I will roll into Millcreek Canyon at the Desolation Trailhead sometime Saturday morning to Saturday afternoon. I will certainly be out there for 35+ hours.

MillWood 100

This is not an in-depth report. That will come later. I want to get the thing down on digital paper.

First, do a Google search of Millwood 100. The two best links are to The MRC blog and Erik Storheim's report on the first one "day" finish of Millwood, and Jared Campbell's blog describing his invention of the unmarked course and his completion of it last Fall 2012.

Then follow links to the route map to see what MillWood is. Jared designed it to be the most challenging, difficult 100 mile route in the Wasatch, short of sending runners out onto rugged and exposed ridges. I think he suceeded.

I was the third to finish MillWood in one single event. It was not easy. The main stats are these: 100 miles; 40,000 feet of vertical (I think it is closer to 45,000); 100 degree summer temperature; very little flat miles. Total time: 48 hours, 26 minutes. That is not a typo.

I am recalling how much running I did and it was quite a lot. A sub-50 hour finish must have a lot of running. But the heat made the running time less than it could have been under cooler weather. That's why I recommend for anyone considering a shot at MillWood to plan for a later summer or Fall date.

How do I feel? Terrific, actually. My feet hurt from blistering, but legs are mechanically sound. Not sure if I would do it again. I hope to inspire others to add their names next to mine, Erik and Jared as people who have accepted the challenge and completed the MillWood 100.

 My MillWood 100 Report:

 http://www.refuse2quit.com/2013/07/my-wasatch-adventure-millwood-100.html

With Craig and Scott, the planned Uintas 13er trip had to be augmented and cut short. We had an adventure for sure. Lots of ridge scrambling in the dark, lots of good running and sight seeing, all at high elevation.

Farmington Festival Days Flag Rock trail race

Still some fatigue in my legs from the Uintas trip, I wasn't sure what I would do with the Flag Rock run. I did not intend to run it this year until Wednesday. I knew I could best my time from last year of 1:07.

I had a brief conversation with a young guy  a few minutes before start. He commented on my Speedgoat shirt. As the runners of three races all began at the same time, this same guy was the only FR runner in front of me. And that is where he stayed until the end. Up to the Flag Rock I was about a minute back but after that his gap grew wider, especially after I took the digger running fast on the back side, down the switchbacks. At the traffic light about a quarter mile from the finish I got confused and fumbled around going the wrong direction, then got back on course. Probably lost most of a minute with that. Finishing time was 1:03:06, four minutes better than last year and a second place finish.

Lower Speedgoat course at Snowbird.

Mt Wire 33:26 to summit, then add-on of Little Wire.

Big ol' run up to Mt Timpanogos. I wanted to do damage to my PR to the summit, which I think was at 1:54 last year. It was a very soft time, easy to beat. I ran to the summit yesterday in 1:34:18. I saw Kendall near the top and he had a burrito for me. Sunset was nice and I cruised easily and slowly back down.

Another run up Timp Friday night. Slower this time. Craig, Nick, and Kendall was at the summit when I arrived.

Hot, mid-day run from Kaysville on the BST to Adams Canyon waterfall, then to Fernberg and back.

Speedgoat 50K

Mixed feelings. I wanted to run Speedgoat this year to improve my finishing time from 2012. With a year of good running since then, and cool temperature on Saturday, that was wasy to do. I ran about 55 minutes faster than I did last year, coming in at 7 hours 16 minutes and change.

I never ran fast. I was consistent, but slow.

On the other hand, I know I am capable of much faster, stronger running. I know I can take another hour off that time. From the start, however, I was feeling heavy and slow. I struggled up that first series of climbs that compose the first climb to Hidden Peak. On a training run a few weeks ago I ran everything the first 4 miles of the course. On Saturday I had to step aside and let others go by. Lack of sleep the night before was affecting me. I should have been up to Hidden Peak 20 minutes (or more) faster than last year, but I only took off 5 minutes from 2012.

The good: I was quick at aid stations. I did not stop at Hidden Peak. Mark Robbins filled my water and I was on my way. I felt I made good time to Larry's aid station in Mineral Basin, but I wasn't running fast by any means. I did not stop at Larry's, just blew through with waves and high fives to friends.

I had some good uphill strength. My climbing strength is the reason I came in an hour sooner over last year.

The bad: Slow downhill running. My feet hurt. That has been my biggest frustration for quite a while now. Sore feet. It happened at Speedgoat last year, at Wasatch last year, and various other times. Maybe it is time to try HOKA.

I know I have a deep sub-seven-hour Speedgoat in me. On the other hand, taking 55 minutes off my previous time is worth savoring.

Bairgutsman Bandit

With Steve Newman's group, met at Farmington Pond at 5:30AM, ran BST to Bair Canyon. The Bairgutsman race started at 6AM. When I neared the canyon, the front runners were cresting a hill right were I was, so I ran mingled with them for a mile until I caught up with my running group. We were in the midst of the runners the entire way from there, stepping aside to let them pass easily. I hiked and ran well up to Francis Peak but I am still not recovered from Speedgoat. Weak and sore. I was vacillating until late last night between going to King's Peak or running with Steve's group. I made the right decision to stay home because I would have been slow and the running would have been painful. Anyway, I plan to go run King's next week to see if I can smash the fastest time (whatever it may be) from today's Quest for King's marathon. I should be feeling better by next week to put up a challenge.

Five on Matt's treadmill, giving the new Hokas a test run. Yes, Hokas with no apostrophe. It annoys me to no end when writers mis-use the apostrophe.

With Davis County dudes, up Farmington Canyon single track, then up to the shed, then over to Bountiful Peak campground and back down. The Hokas are MONEY. I can run downhill fast again.

 PM: Mt Olympus with John Brown and Jeff Davis

Ran up to Adams Canyon waterfall with Matt Williams.

Mt Evergreen, Brighton.

Kings Peak

Trailhead to  Elkhorn Crossing: 50 minutes

Dollar Lake: 1:15

Gunsight Pass: 1:45

Anderson Pass and beginning ascent to summit: 2:15

Summit: 2:36

Time at summit: 6 minutes

Arrival back at trailhead: 4 hours 56 minutes

Mistake # 1 once up on Anderson Plateau I went a little too high when I should have stayed left to go over the grassy, more runnable terain

Mistake # 2 Should have descended the East face of the peak instead of going back down the ridgeline to Anderson Pass.

Mistake # 3 tripped and fell hard on my left side while running back to the hikers shortcut; two fingers on my left hand took the brunt and were jammed hard.

Mistake # 4 Again stayed too high on the return to the shortcut, instead of staying lower on the grassy terrain

Mistake # 5 Another hard fall coming down from Gunsight Pass, hitting my left side again, and the same fingers that I had hurt just minutes before. My left thigh also hit directly on a rock, causing a nice big bruise.

Mistake # 6 I stayed too long at the summit; I should have just tagged it and started down. When it was all done I was only 8 minutes behind the fastest known time.

When I got back to my car I had already made up my mind to go back soon and do it right. I know I can do the entire run in 4 hours and 30 minutes. I know I can get to the summit in 2 hours 30 minutes. with a little better fitness under me, better sleep, and ready legs, this can be done.

Tonight I ran from the Sessions mountain road above Bountiful to Swallow Rocks and back. That covers about mile 24 to 34 of the Wasatch 100. It was nice to run all of it going out. Last year during the race I was feeling crappy and walked a lot of that 10 mile stretch.

Ran some trails near our camp at Bear Lake.

Love the Hokas.

Vacation at Bear Lake.

AM: Ran 8 miles to the beach, met my family there. Spent several hours at the beach.

PM: Ran 8 miles back to camp from the beach. I pushed to cover 8 miles in one hour and was successful.

PM2: Another 4 mile run from camp on trails.

Flag Rock

So the hill is nice and toasted. Fire. The trail up to Flag Rock has a funny smell, and red stains cover the rocks, from flame retardant dropped from the air. I didn't get a good look at it, as I was running up there in the pre-dawn darkness.

If I can work it out right and not get lazy, this week will be a much needed BIG week leading up to W100.

PM: Arthur's Fork/Bountiful Peak loop, 14 miles. I wanted to try my best time from where the 18 mile aid station will be to the next stop 5 miles up at the Bountiful aid. I covered the distance in 56 minutes. I will try my hardest to repeat that performance on race day. 

With Newman's running group, we ran from Fernwood to Cool Springs and back down.Not enough time to go up Chinscreppa.

This evening I ran from Skyline Drive Bountiful to Grandview Peak. I am feeling stronger and more confident in the lead-up to W100. The Hokas are MONEY.

Grandview Peak has one of the best views of the Central Wasatch. I could see the entire Cottonwood Ridge, Wildcat Ridge, Millcreek Ridge, the city, the lake, Antelope Island. To the East I could see the Uinta mountains. I could identify Tokewanna and the Lovenias.

Went up to Gobblers Knob with Layne Caldwell. Very tired today, so the pace was relaxed somewhat.

Up to Flag Rock with JK.

I was aiming for 100 miles this week. I was close. I finished off about 91 with a run from Lambs Canyon to about .5 mile from Desolation Lake. The close lighting strikes up near the lake convinced me to head down, pronto. I was soaked through from a heavy rain. Was not feeling so well on this one but I nearly reached my goal and it was a high mileage week two weeks out from W100.

Nice early AM run up the Myoolah Park trail to elephant Rock, with Davis dudes Steve Newman, Ryan Lauck, Aaron Williams, Derek Ward, and Casey Hill.

Up Adams Canyon to the waterfall with Davis County Dudes.

Some fast running on the bike path.

Triple Traverse and Cottonwood Ridge

The Triple Traverse refers to the four peaks above Broads Fork on the Cottonwood Ridge: The Twins, Sunrise, and Dromedary. Between the Twins and Sunrise is a small peak known as Jeppson's Folly. The story is of some earnest fellow named Jeppson carried a mailbox up Broad's Fork, intending to install it upon Sunrise Peak, to be used as a house for a summit register. However, as he climbed up from the saddle under the Twins, he entered a cloud and lost visibility. He believed he had reached the summit of Sunrise, but was on the lower, smaller unnamed peak.

Ryan Lauck and I hiked briskly up the Braod's Fork trail early Saturday morning. We are both capable of running 99% of the trail, but with WF100 coming in less than a week we went easy. We reached the sumit of the East Twin via the North Ridge in 3 hours (something I can do in less than 2 hours); then I made a 10 minute run over to the West Twin and back. The scramble down to the saddle has fun climbing, and we moved quickly but not at racing speed. Up and over the big peaks. I have been over those peaks every which way, in every season. Spring mountaineering is my favorite time to go up. Our intent was to traverse the Cottonwood Ridge to Superior, then descend Mill B past Blanche Lake and back to the trailhead. We had progressed to more than halfway across the ridge when we both heard the delicate sound of thunder. We happened to be at a place on the ridge to easily bail out down to the lakes. We had a good run to the lakes, then down the Blanche trail. We ran full speed on the lower trail. I enjoyed the feeling of flying over rocks and dodging hikers( strange that two hikers, when seeing me flying down the trail toward them actually stepped directly into my path for some reason. Idiots.) I took one fall but it was not bad, although my left-side gel flask exploded in my pocket.

I have traversed the Cottonwood Ridge in its entirety at least three times, not counting this fourth attempt, and each time it is a long, difficult, grinding traverse. But it is worth it.

Made a run to Fernwood from the East Mountain Wilderness Park, and back. Then, closer to home did a sprint on the rail trail.

Went up Skyline Drive from Bountiful with Davis Co. dudes. New trail, touched some WF100 course. Smooth running on new HOKAS.

Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run

Finished in 26:24

The Xtra 3 miles is for the run back up the trail after the awards, in the rain, to retrieve my iPod Shuffle which I left behind in the bushes earlier in the morning. Can I call that a recovery run?

Not much to report. I ran. I walked. I hiked. I almost puked. Got it done. No pacers but I did have help along the way for which I am grateful. Not the day I wanted but It was a move in the right direction.

Ran a movie back to the store one fine evening.

From home in Farmington, to work in Bountiful via Bonneville Shoreline trail.

feelin crappy

mt wire 32:41 up

Steed canyon trail up to the cliffs with Davis County dudes.

Indecision.

Saturday was to be a bluebird day and I did not want to miss out of doing something big. I went to sleep Friday evening not settled on where I would go in the morning, but I had it narrowed to a few of the best peaks in the canyons. Lone Peak and the Pfeifferhorn were at the top of my list, but also the Cottonwood Ridge is one I want to do again this year.

I awoke at 5 AM, not feeling much inspiration to even get out of bed. I played with the cats, got a drink, got back into bed thinking I will go a little later. Two hours passed and finally I was backing the car out with the intent to go up either LCC to White Pine and the Pfeifferhorn for a fast ascent (going for a sub-1:20, which I will certainly do), or to Lone Peak. If LonePeak, then by which route? I hadn't decided until I was driving further South and heading East toward the mountains. Then I remembered Big Willow and how I've had the desire to run up that way to see if it would be a more quick ascent to the summit than Cherry Canyon/Bear Canyon. It seems logical that of course it would be faster than Cherry because it is 2 miles shorter. I parked at Hidden Valley park in Sandy, then ran up to the Sawmill trail head. My legs and energy were fantastic. I caught up to some hikers who are ultra runners (the Buffalo Run t-shirt was an indication) so I stopped and chatted with the guy for a full ten minutes. There went my fast ascent. Running again I continued to be pleased with how well I was feeling, and how fun the trail is up in the pine forest. Since I had only ever been up Big Willow in Spring snow for mountaineering trips to Lone Peak summit, I was not sure if there was a trail to the upper bowl. There is, and it is mostly very well defined. Even on the way up I had not decided what the end game would be after the summit. I gave myself the option of descending to the Outlaw Cabin and Bear Canyon, or through the cirque and Jacob's Ladder and the dirt road, to the the Shoreline trail back to the car. They both were good options; then I gave myself the grand prize option of just "going for it" and making the big traverse from Lone Peak to the Pfeifferhorn, then down Red Pine, then run down the LC Canyon road, then 3 miles back to my car, for a total of nearly 25 miles and lots of ridge scrambling and peak bagging.

At the top of Big Willow there is a boldly cut notch in the granite wall between Big Willow bowl and upper Bells canyon. I climbed up through the notch, then up to Lone Peak. It is a granite playground. I summited in 2:43, my time last year from the longer cherry Canyon route. Even with the shorter approach, if I didn't stop to chat with the runner down below, and then take a potty break, I would have only been up about 15 to 20 minutes faster than by the other way.

On the summit I was feeling so well that I said out loud "I'm gonna go for it", and began the traverse South and East toward the Pfeifferhorn. I ran down toward the saddle before Bighorn Peak, then scramled up the enormous granite boulders that are jumbled upon its North ridge. I got to the summit of Bighorn from Lone peak in about 45 minutes. Continuing, I traversed to South Thunder in another 45 minutes, then to Chipman peak in about 35 minutes. I was moving very well with lots of energy. From Chipman it was my goal to get on the summit of Pfeifferhorn in an hour or less. I got there in 55 minutes, then jumped my way down its Southern face. I crossed the "knife edge" in 3 minutes, and had an uneventful run down to the road, aside from seeing the shivering oriental man laying on the side of the trail, with three women attending. He had an allergic reaction, they said. About half mile later the paramedics passed me as they hurried up to his aid.

At the White Pine trailhead I considered holding out my thumb for a ride as I ran down the canyon road because 1. I was late for a family wedding and 2. my feet were hurting and pavement is not kind to sore feet. But then I stubbornly decided to complete this loop...because I can. Lower down the canyon I found the Little Cottonwood trail and so moved off the road, thank goodness. I filled my vest bladder with cool creek water and ran the last several miles on Wasatch Blvd back to my car at the park. After a dirtbag shower of pouring a lot of water over myself, and using wet wipes to clean up, I drove down to Lehi in time to miss the wedding but to eat the food. Big day complete.

Antelope Island this morning.

I joined friend Greg Jagielski for some miles on his first 100 miler, The Bear.

Eleven fast and flat for Pony training.

Centerville Peak (Zig Zag) with Ryan L., Steve Newman, Derek Ward

Morning: Millcreek Pipeline trail with Zac M. and Casey Hill

Later: White Pine trail to Red Baldy with JFE.

MVH Marathon to NSL and back.

Ten anoche on the new rail trail.

Ten miles up to Bountiful and ten back on the rails to trails in the rain. No water, no gels.

FarmingtonCanyon with Ryan Lauck.

Farmington trails.

Easy jog at 7.4 m/m pace

Pony Express Trail 100. Finish time: 16:52. I started with the intention of going for a 15 hour finish, but I slowed down significantly in the latter half due to sore legs and upset tummy. Very happy to have finally won something! Also very happy with my 50 mile time of 7 hours. It was a perfect first half.

I like sequels. Bigger and better. My first ultra race was the 2011 Pony Express Trail 50 Mile. My finish time was a repectable 8 hours and 30 minutes. I was signed up fo the 2012 PET 100 but had to ask a refund on my entry because of a stress fracture in my foot. After another respectable finish at Buffalo Run 100 in March I knew I was going to have a good year of running and lowering my personal records for various distances. My best shot at getting my fastest time for a hundred miles would be the Pony Express. It is a flat, fast course over graded dirt road straight through the West Desert of Utah. After finishing Wasatch in September I turned my training from running hills and trails to running flat, fast miles on pavement. I think this strategy payed dividends when it came to the PET100.

I arrived with my father at the race staging area just after 7AM Friday morning. Three waves of runners had already left the starting line for the 50 mile and hundred mile distances. I was in the last wave to go out at 8AM. We were a small group, and happy to see each other. I was happy to see friends Kendall Wimmer and Jen Richards, who would be racing the 50 mile. My competition for the day was Kelly Agnew and Phil Lowrey, both very experienced and accomplished long-distance runners. Another starter, Mark Hammond had recently made a good showing at Run Rabbit Run, and ran a very fast Speedgoat 50K. I was feeling confident but honestly did not know how we would all stack up as the race got underway. At the check-in table I saw the trophies for the winners then quickly turned away. I didn't want to get attached.

At 8 AM Davy began the countdown and I was over at my dad's van applying anti-chafe glide. I'm pretty sure I exposed myself to some campers. From across the campground I heard my dad shouting at me: "Matt they're starting - Three! Two! One!..." I missed the countdown. Pshhh. Glide is more important than being on time, trust me. When I finally got onto the road most of the runners had begun descending the hill. I caught up to Jen and had a chat for a few minutes. Further down I caught up to Kendall and we had a good visit for a few minutes. I knew both he and Jen would have a good day. I caught up to Mark and we must have run together for a few miles at a conversational pace. Kelly was up front and when I passed I gave a nod and thumbs up. I told my dad at the start to dive down road five miles and have my hydration pack ready for me. I had gone out with nothing in my hands and nothing on my back. Five miles seemed to come quickly, and when I saw my dad I told him to drive 20 more miles and wait for me. Then I had the best 20 mile run of my life. It was, simply, a pleasant morning run. I checked into Simpsons Springs, mile 16.4, at 2:02 hours. I was only a few minutes off my target of 2 hours to Simpson, but it did not bother me. I was going to take it easy and enjoy the run to Black Rock. My goal for the first 50 miles was 7 hours - that would be 50 minutes faster than I had ever run 50 miles. But I had no doubts that I could do it, and indeed I ran to the 50 mile mark in 7 hours and one minute. It was the best run I had ever had. Along the way I ran a very casual 3:21 marathon distance and a 4:01 50K distance. Along the way I saw old friends and met new friends. Friend and neighbor Aaron Williams was running his first 50 miler and was being crewed by his awesome family. I caught up to him at about 28.5 miles, and was impressed with his preogress. My dad was an excellent crew. I would run by and tell him to have a drink ready in one mile, then I would just run past, grab it, and continue. The climb to Dugway Pass was pleasant. I ran most of it with short hikes mixed in. It felt good to run uphill using a different group of muscles. At the top Davy Crockett was there offering encouragement. At least I thought he did. His voive was gone but he managed to communicate to me that the run down from the pass would be a good recovery and I would be able to pick up some time. Oh, and I was about to overtake every other runner on the course, even the ones that started at 5 AM. Cool. My last eight miles to Black Rock (mile 48.5) were not terribly fast, but I came through at 6h48m and continued to try to get my first fifty at 7 hours. Done. And then I walked for at least a half mile. I was tired. I needed a break. I asked my dad to drive up a mile and we would go from there. The next five miles toward Fish Springs were slow. My stomach needed to settle. It was feeling like the hottest part of the day, in what seemed like the lowest elevation of the entire course. When I finally arrived at the mile 58 turn-around, I simply told the girl my name and number and turned around. I started to feel better and my running became more consistent. About three miles out from the turn-around I began to see the other runners behind me. They all looked reasonably good. Phil L. looked terrific, moving along well. I began to worry about him slowly catching me over the next 30 miles. I did not see Kelly or Mark anywhere on the run back to Black Rock so I had assumed they both dropped. (Kelly was in his truck when I ran past so I did not see him. Mark, I learned later, had dropped at Black Rock.) Cherrie, leading the women's race, was dancing to some uplifting music when I saw her on the way out to Fish Springs. She was moving quickly and looked to have lots of energy.

When I arrived back at Black Rock I saw friends Francesco and Travis enjoying their first fifty mile finish party. They looked terrific. I wished I could have enjoyed that cookout food but my stomach would not allow it. I kind of stumbled around for a few minutes then decided I should keep moving. My wife had now taken over as crew chief, and she set me up with hot noodle soup for my run out of Black Rock. The sun was setting and the moon was rising. The long sleeves came out and for the last 30 miles I ate almost nothing: A half banana, some soup, some almond butter, 8 jelly beans. I was done with water. from there on in it was Coke, Sprite, Cactus Cooler, chocolate milk, and orange juice. I ran to the pass with my headlamp on, mainly to alert passing vehicles that I was on the road. Otherwise, the moon was bright and provided enough light to run the entire night through the desert without my light. From the top of Dugway Pass I got into the most pleasant downhill charge I have ever had 80 miles into a hundred mile race. I got down to 6 minute mile pace and put 3 miles behind me like they were nothing. The remainder of the night was a pattern of running slow, then fast, then some walking, then running slowly, then stretches of fast. With about 15 miles to go I was on a long, straight stretch of Pony Express trail. When vehicles passed going out ahead of me, I could see their tail lights for 30 minutes. I was wondering why they were all driving so slowly. They looked only a mile away but really they were 13 miles away and still right in front of me. Behind me I saw the same illusion, but with headlights. And those headlights looked like a runner's headlamp. And that headlamp was drawing near, quickly. "That must be Phil! Kelly dropped (I had assumed) and Phil is surging. Dammit! He's getting closer. I really wanted that pony trophy. Ah well. Next year, maybe. There's no way I can stay ahead of that. Got to keep running." Then a vehicle finally rolled up to me and past. I looked back and could see several vehicles descending from the pass, but they were all so far away. One of the vehicles to pass me on the way to the finish was driven by Davy Crockett, the race director. He told me Kelly was behind me about 5 miles, to which I was surprised because I believed he was out. I was struggling to get this thing done, and my aggressive goals had been slipping away all afternoon and evening. Finally I began the last eight mile uphill stretch that seemed to go by faster, then my expected 5 mile surge kicked in and I was feeling the end getting closer. The truck at Simpson Springs corral was the finish, and was a lone, bright beacon of light in the desert. An enormous sense of relief and happiness washed me when I saw the turn off for the last half mile, lit up  with glowsticks. My wife preceeded me in the van and was there to see me finish first in 16 hours 53 minutes. Davy and Russ were there, and Russ's heeler pooch. Davy presented me with the 2013 PET100 pony trophy and this time I let my eyes savor it. Kelly came in a little over an houd later, after I had gone home. I congratulate him on a fine finish. Also, Cherrie came in at 20 hours, winning for the women. Jen Richards went on to lower her 50 mile time, going well under 8 hours; and Kendall won the 50 mile race. I hope to see both of them at other races and next year at PET 100.

While I didn't meet all of my goals for the Pony Express Trail 100, I am very pleased with my 50 mile time, and my 50K time. The first half of the day was the best run I had ever done. I am thrilled with how good I felt for 50 miles. Now I need to build on that, and extend it further.

Mt Wire and George's Hollow loop.

Mt Olympus with my Davis dudes Ryan, Steve, Ryan, and Greg J. Lots of fun with those guys.