Driven

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.