McCall 32

Garmin Link

While in McCall, Christine joined me for the last 20 miles of a 32 mile run over the final half of the McCall Trairunning Classic course. It was a beautiful run up and over Bouler Mountain to Boulder Lake where she joined me. Then we did the full loop together. Good times!

Looking back at Lake Fork Aid Station

8,399 feet elevation at the top of Bouler Mtn

Perfect pacer picture!!  HA

Finished the day off on the lake, NICE!

WIFMER 2012

The 1,000 yard stare!!

Garmin Detail

I am hopeless at race reports so here it goes.  I got up early the day of the race and upgraded from the 50k to the 50M, which turned out to be 54 miles. 

I did really well up to the halfway point.  After that the miles from Speedgoat the week prior were calling my name.  I did pretty good at the aid stations up until Skunk Creek at about mile 33. 

It was then that I decided to just take it easy and get some good miles and time on my feet.  Pushing hard, I felt, would inevitably lead to injury.  So, I had fun and stopped to chat with everyone and waste more than my fair share of time at the aid stations.  I was ready to be done by the time I crossed the finish line for sure!! 

After finishing, my body freaked out and was unable to regulate my temperature.  It wasn't even cold out and I thought I would freeze to death shivering uncontrollably.  Wayne got me fixed up and I was good as can be expected after 54 miles just a short time later.  Good times!

Bogus Night Run

Garmin Link

I thought Christine and I had better get out on a night run together since she will be joining me at night.  I also wanted to practice by starting a run late in the evening and running into the night when I am tired from the day.  It was fun but really cold in places.  We stopped back at the mobile aid station about half way and nearly froze.  Somehow we dragged our butts out and got moving again, which is also good training for the real thing.  All in all it was a fun night.  Bright moon, gorgeous sunset, and no creatures unfortunately.  Last time I did this I kicked out a giant mule deer buck who was confused that someone would be doing something so stupid at that hour!!

On the way up

Just as we started

Can I get an AMEN!

"I believe in using races as motivators. It's hard to keep an exercise program if you don't have a significant goal in sight." ~Bob Greene, fitness instructor

Here is my motivation. (...from the race website)

The Wasatch Front 100 mile Endurance Run starts at 5:00 AM sharp on Friday September 7, 2012. The race begins just past the entrance to the East Mountain Wilderness Park (650 North 1600 East) about 1/2 mile east of Highway 89 east of the Davis County Animal Shelter (about 17 miles north of Salt Lake City).

The Race: The Wasatch Front 100 is one of the most uniquely challenging ultrarunning events in the world. It is a study in contrasts: peaks and valleys; trail and scree; heat and cold; wet and dry; summer and winter; day and night; Desolation Lake and Point Supreme; "I can't" and "I will!" Dickens had the Wasatch in mind when he wrote, "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times." The primitive and isolated nature of the course is both its beauty and its challenge, for it requires the individual runner to rely primarily on himself or herself rather than the Race's support systems. Wasatch is not just distance and speed; it is adversity, adaptation and perseverance.

The Course: The Wasatch 100 is a point-to-point race that traverses the heart of the central Wasatch Mountains, one of the most beautiful ranges of the Rocky Mountains. The course begins in Kaysville, Utah, at East Mountain Wilderness Park running north to the Bonnevile Shoreline Trail to Fernwood Picnic Grounds, the foot of Francis Peak, and ascends nearly 5,000 feet in 9 miles to the ridge line. The trail then turns south and follows the crest of the Wasatch along Francis Peak Ridge, through Farmington Flats and Arthur's Fork, along Sessions Ridge, over City Creek Pass, Big Mountain Pass and Bald Mountain, through Parley's, Lamb's, and Millcreek Canyons, by Desolation Lake and along the Wasatch Crest trail, through Big Cottonwood and American Fork Canyons, and up to Pole Line Pass. After traversing along Mill Canyon Peak on the western side, the trail turns back north on its eastern side, down Pot Hollow Canyon, up to the Crest Road in Wasatch Mountain State Park, then drops down Lime Canyon slipping over to a snowshoe trail just before coming out on the Snake Creek road and the run to the finish at The Homestead in Midway, Utah.

Wasatch Quote

"Remember this is fun, it will be over before you know it so soak up every minute and remember you are one of a lucky few." --Jim Milar (advice given to Stephen Jones at Wasatch 100 last year)

I'll be smart to remember this nugget of wisdom.

I saw this quote on the Wasatch 100 Facebook page back in February and it has stuck with me since then.  As we get closer to raceday the page is sprinkled with stories of injuries and people who for one reason or another are not going to be able to make it to the starting line.

I am fortunate and blessed to have had good solid training with not much more than minor physical issues.  Which is amazing given the amout of miles and crazy terrain we have to traverse to prepare for something like this. 

So, for those of you fortunate enough to join me on the course, either as a runner, pacer, or crew, look for me.  I'll be guy with the big-ass smile just happy to be "one of the lucky few" out for a fun run in the Utah mountains!

On the way to Point Supreme approximately mile 77. Photo Credit: Jay Smithberger

Lunch Duathlon

I ran to the Boise River at lunch and them swam downstream for about three-fourths of a mile and ran back to work.

I had to "run" a bit of the river, which was fairly technical due to the million slimy rocks. Funniest part was when I was swimming I came out at Ann Morrison and there were about 10 people playing in the river right at the bridge who looked at me like, "where in the heck did that dude come from?" I popped to my feet and went straight into a run over the bridge and back to work! I even ran on the greenbelt without a shirt for the first time ever because I had to take it off and wring the water out of it :D Good times.

Find your greatness - Nike

I saw this the other day during the Olympics.  I could see myself running that road not that long ago.  There is greatness in all of us, find it.

Thanks to Austin and Mike for both sharing this....