R2R2R Run Report

This past Christmas while running in Utah up a snowy mountain – a running buddy and previous pacer at Zion 100 Troy mentioned running the Grand Canyon. Not just running around the rim or down and up – but a R2R2R or rim to rim to rim (double traverse).  In between gasps of air and chattering teeth – I managed to mention I’d love to join… (gasp) … the (gasp) … parade (gasp). Troy said there was room for another – and R2R2R was inked onto the running calendar for mid-April

Running in the snow in Utah

Leading up to Grand Canyon I did as much gym work as possible to simulate running conditions. Calves for the ups – quads for the downs – and interval training for cardio to assist with elevation and the miles of uphill. There’s really no other way to prepare in Texas for miles and miles of up – and miles and miles of down since we just don’t have that type of terrain. I felt just about as good as I could have felt before the run with the legs feeling rested and strong – and generally feeling well prepared.

I flew to Phoenix on Thursday and made it to the Grand Canyon that afternoon in just enough time to catch the sunset. I wasn’t exactly sure the route we were going to take for our Saturday run – but looking across the canyon there really didn’t seem like an easy way to traverse. It was wide, it was deep, it was steep and rocky. The following day on Friday once the rest of the gang – Troy and his wife Candi, Mike and Blaine – arrived from Utah, Troy gave us a better idea of our route: Start at the south rim and head down the Bright Angel Trail (9.2 miles), Up the North Kaibab Trail to the north rim (13.8) – then back down the North Kaibab Trail and up the Bright Angel Trail for a total of about 46 miles.

The general route of our R2R2R

After a pasta dinner – we hit the hotel to grab some sleep. I had  my hydration pack put together with enough food for the day – a mix of UCAN, Pro-Bar’s, a few gels, and some peanut butter sandwiches – along with two water bottles and a Platypus collapsible water bottle that I would use for the 11 mile stretch we would run without access to water.  I got up several times during the middle of the night to add something that I had forgotten to pack.  This was the first time I had run nearly 50 miles unsupported.

The 3am wake-up call came early and we met at 330am in the HI Express lobby in Tusayan for the 10 minute drive to the Bright Angel Trailhead. Weather at the top was in the low 20’s but not long after we started down the trail it started to immediately warm up – even though it was still dark and well before sunrise. The first part of the course was a little tricky with footing. Although not technical – there were lots of steps (for erosion purposes) at different intervals that made it hard to get into any type of rhythm. In addition, it was dusty and the headlamp picked up all of the dust flying around which made it a little hard to see.

Looking back where we started and ahead where we were going you could see groups of headlamps of other teams that were starting their R2R2R journey. Although it was still dark and you couldn’t see any of the canyon, you could tell how steep the trail was based on the position of the headlamps. Eventually around mile 4 the trail flattened out and we soon came to Indian Gardens which is a small oasis of Cottonwood Trees, a stream and a campground. Although it was cold I had already drained both of my water bottles and we all huddled around the water faucet to re-fill and catch our first glimpse of the canyon from inside the canyon which was just coming into view.

The next 4 mile section down to the river was much more runnable than the first 4 miles. Not nearly as steep and not as many erosion “steps” to have to navigate over. It felt great to stretch the legs out – and it continued to warm up the lower we got. We ran alongside a stream for a few miles before finally coming to the Colorado River right as the sun rose over the edge of the canyon. After a quick ½ mile run next to the Colorado River – we crossed the Silver Bridge and eventually made our way to Phantom Ranch where we refilled out bottles and grabbed some calories.

Made it to the bridge to see the sun rise

We were laughing becuase the footing was awful the entire way down - and Candi stumbles on the bridge :)

When I’m running long runs I try to break the course up into sections. The thought of traveling 46 miles on foot in a day is sometimes hard to get your mind around. Sometimes the sections are long – later in a run with some miles on the legs the sections get shorter. The section from the Bright Angel Trailhead to the river/Phantom Ranch was really the first section – and the second section was from Phantom Ranch to the North Rim – 14 miles of uphill.

Leaving Phantom Ranch we entered a narrow canyon on some great single track. The trail was all runnable – and even though slightly uphill it felt good on the legs. There were a few foot bridges that crossed the stream a few times – and eventually the canyon opened up and was much wider and gave some great views of the North Rim. You could see the shadows retreating across the canyon and we were finally in the sun for the first time at Cottonwood Camp which was around mile 14 where we again refilled our bottles.

Nice single track - slightly uphill - sun creeping up the canyon

Everyone in the group was moving well and having a great time. Then – out of nowhere – we get passed by Tony Krupicka (elite ultrarunner). We all had on packs carrying tons of calories for the day – he blew past us effortlessly appearing to only be carrying one hand held and shorts full of gels. In no time at all he was out of sight – very humbling. So much for thinking we were moving well!

The couple of miles up to Roaring Springs was more gradual uphill and it continued to get warmer. Troy told us one we got there that we had about an 11 mile stretch (5.5 miles up to the North Rim and back) without water and to make sure that we carried plenty with us. I filled my two bottles and also filled my 1 liter collapsible water bottle which I used first. Having done multiple 100 mile runs – I’m surprised that I haven’t used a collapsible water bottle in the past. It was not difficult to run with – and it was great to be able to roll it up and stash it away when it was empty. Old dogs learn new tricks!

Immediately after we left Roaring Springs we made a left into a narrow canyon and began to climb. It wasn’t nearly as steep as other climbs I’ve encountered in other runs – but it kept going and going and going. Occassionally there would be a runnable section – but for the most part it was a hike for me. The trail was in relatively good condition for the first few miles – narrow in places as the trail was hugging the edge of the cliff. As we got close to the north rim there were sections of the trail that had been damaged by rock slides, land slides, etc. Going through the Supai Tunnel we actually had to climb over a large pile of rocks that had fallen during the winter.

The "trail"

An awesome group of runners!

About a mile from the top we finally got in the pine trees and knew that we were getting close to the North Kaibab Trailhead. It was great to be in the shade and out of the sun and it started to cool off since we were close to 8000 feet. None of the typical water crossings that I anticipated on the final 5 mile climb were running due to low snow levels – so there was no place to dip my hat to cool off. It was an awesome feeling when we finally made it to the top and to sit in the shade with snow under the nearby trees. Section 2 completed.

Relaxing the legs on the North Rim

We re-grouped at the top of the North Kaibab Trail – all a tad beat by the long uphill. There was another runner that was there talking to a couple of forest Rangers about being evacuated because of an injury – which we decided later was probably more of a mental issue than a physical one. While the Ranger’s were waiting for his decision they took some runners in the ambulance to refill water bottles since water at the trailhead was shut off. I was very grateful for this since I had used more water than anticipated on the climb up. After a much-needed peanut butter sandwich and refilling the water bottles – I was ready to go. I was feeling decent– not great – but good enough to take Troy’s advice when he said “let’s get out of here – we need to get moving.”

Blaine and Mike - not being tempted by the open ambulance door

I got up and headed out to start the 3rd mental section – thinking as I jogged down the trail that it seemed steeper going down than it did coming up (usually doesn’t work that way). After about 5 minutes of jogging I realized that no one else was behind me. I thought we were heading out togther and that we all needed to get a move on? Where is everyone? Not longer after – Mike came bounding down the trail and said that Troy had stood up and started throwing up. I decided to go ahead and keep moving down the trail since I wasn’t feeling great – and figured Troy would rally and blow past me in a few miles.

This is the canyon you ascend to the north rim - narrow and steep but scenic

I slowly descended down the canyon – jogging some portions and power hiking others. It seemed to take forever to get out of the narrow canyon and it was great when the trail finally flattened out a bit and I was able to run. I still wasn’t feeling great – and knew I needed calories – but the thought of eating anything just didn’t sound appealing.  If you’ve run long distances – you’ve experienced mind/body battle. I just kept moving. After passing the Cottonwood Camp (end of mental section 3) I rallied a little and ran a few miles at a pretty good clip. Although it was hot in the exposed sun with no shade I was feeling pretty good about my movement and thought I must be getting close to Phantom Ranch – but that thought must have come when I was still 3 – 4 miles away because it was a long time until I finally made it in around 4:20pm. End of mental section 4.

Back at the Phantom Ranch in the shade

I was pretty pumped to roll into civilization – people, a guitar player, and a flush toilet - and knew I was less than 10 miles from finishing an epic journey. I was really looking forward to being under the Cottonwood Trees – relaxing – getting some calories in – and waiting for Troy and Candi to catch up – Troy was still having a rough patch he was working through. Not long after I got there Mike and Blaine had already made a decision that Blaine and I would start heading for the south rim so we could finish and make it to town and get some pizzas ordered before everything in town closed down – and Mike would hang back and wait for Troy and Candi. Aw man, what about hanging out under the Cottonwood Trees and relaxing? The incentive to get up and get moving was exactly what I needed – because if I had gotten too comfortable I wouldn’t have wanted to leave. So – after a quick shot of lemonade and some pretzels – Blaine and I were off for the south rim.

When we were scoping out the trail the day before – we had talked with a guy that said the climb up Bright Angel from the river was ok to Indian Gardens (about mid-way up) – and then tough the last 4 miles. Mentally – I was expecting the first part to be ok – and for the most part it was. The 5pm sun was mainly behind the high rim walls so we were in the shade which was welcomed since it was probably about 90 in the canyon. There were reeds and bullfrogs croaking in the stream – and as we started to climb it began to cool off. I wasn’t able to run any of the uphill – but my legs still felt pretty good hiking.

Not my photo - but it's a great idea of what the Bright Angel Trail Switchbacks are all about

We made it to Indian Gardens (mental section 5) – refilled our bottles and tried to stomach a few calories. It was hard to see how the trail made it to the top because it looked so steep – so I was glad when it was finally dark enough to need my headlamp and the rim of the canyon disappeared in the night. At this point Blaine had gone on ahead – and I just put my head down and put one foot in front of the other. It was switchback after switchback after switchback. Like my observations when scoping out the course the day before – it was steep and it was rocky. I was able to monitor my progress through familiar landmarks. The 3 mile water stop – the 1.5 mile water stop – the tunnel. I finally made it to the top a little after 8pm having gone 46 miles and climbed about 12,000 ft – and having enough memories to last for a long, long time. Unfortunately the pizza place had closed by the time Blaine and I made it to town – so we had to settle on McDonalds – but for not having eaten McDonalds in years it sure tasted good.

Happy runner!

The rest of our gang finished not too longer after us – and as tired as we all were we decided to re-connect the next morning for breakfast. As a tribute to our long run – my colleague and support crew for many long runs Cindy made some commemorative R2R2R t-shirts!

Earned it!

Overall thoughts:

• ·         The run is hard but it is completely do-able if you’ve done a mountain 50 or if you’ve done a 100 mile run. If you aren’t an experienced ultramarathoner – this probably wouldn’t be a great first run since you’re pretty much self supported and have no way to get out of the canyon if you encounter problems. This is probably what happened to the guy that we saw on the north rim that was having problems. He was in over his head.
• ·         There are a lot of runnable sections – but no matter how flat and nice the single track is you will encounter large barriers of some sort (rocks or wood beams) that you have to step over – even in the flat sections. Some of them made no sense to me – I understand erosion control on the side of the canyon – but in a flat valley along a stream?
• ·         Make sure you know what water sources are open and use them.
• ·         Make it to Phantom Ranch by 4pm to get lemonade and a candy bar. I didn’t make it there until around 420p – but fortunately Blaine and Mike from our group had made it down and were able to stock up! It was needed. Thanks guys!
• ·         The uphills are really long – but really not that steep. I’ve done races where your hands are on your knees and it’s so tough to put one foot in front of the other. These aren’t that bad. They’re steep in places – but more than anything they’re just really, really long. Of course – once you get close to the end everything seems steep and uphill – but still the last 4 miles are more mentally tough than physically tough. I wasn’t really sore the days after and was running my usual 8 – 9 mile route by Tuesday.
• ·         Don’t worry about time – take your time and enjoy the canyon. You’re experiencing something that most people will never experience. Who cares if it takes 12 hours of 16 hours. It’s not a race.
• ·         Stay at the HI Express in Tusayan. They were super nice – the hotel was great – they had three breakfast areas - and I work for the company!

Bandera 100K

I haven't been to Bandera before - but have read a lot of race reports from the Bandera 100K and the Cactus Rose 100M - both run in the same area. Everything that I've read has mentioned rocks and nasty, gnarly terrain. A great physical and mental challenge to start the new year off was exactly what I needed - not to mention I needed some good mileage to burn off holiday and birthday eats  :)

I arrived just in time for the pre-race briefing late Friday afternoon. The drive down was awesome - and about 10 miles before arriving at the start/finish I started getting into the hills - which are pretty tall for Texas! The scenery really is picturesque - and it's hard to imagine anything tough or gnarly about the terrain when you see it from a distance. There were a good number of people at the race briefing - and I met up with some DFW folks that had made the trip down. There were 950 registered runners for all three distances - so I knew it would be chaos the next morning getting to the start so I decided I'd give myself plenty of time.

I was on the road Saturday morning at 530am even though the race didn't start until 730am. Before I left I checked weather.com - it was 64. Yikes! Warm for a January MORNING. The forecast was a high of 66 and then a cold front was supposed to move through later in the evening and cool things off into the 40's. I decided to carry my hydration pack without the bladder and use it instead of drop bags - and then carry one handheld since it was only 5 -6 miles between aid stations. I grabbed my gear and headed out.

When I walked outside it was a heavy, heavy mist and warm. The road was wet like it had been raining and as I made the nearly hour drive from the hotel I had to use my wipers. I made it to the start line in plenty of time - and could tell from my squishy footsteps that the trail was going to be sloppy. This was going to be "one of those days" where you just deal with it. At straight up 730am we were off.

The first part of the course was very rocky. Normally not a big deal - but the rocks were covered in mud and extremely slick. I was slipping and sliding all over the place - and rather than take a chance at falling in the first few miles I took it easy and was as careful as possible with my footing. The footing wasn't the only thing that was a little sketchy. There were cactus every now and then that were covering the trails that you had to run through. They had serrated edges - and every time I'd run through one I could feel it scratch - followed by itch. Really? So - muggy weather, slick muddy rocks, and cactus/itchy legs? Really?

After the first aid station - the course seems to flatten out and there were less rocks - but that only meant there was more mud. Thick, sticky mud. I could feel it sucking the shoes off of my feet every time I would step - and I'd have to really pull up on my shoes to take a step. Then - there was so much mud on my shoes that it was like wearing ankle weights. Every now and then a huge clump would fall off - but within a few steps there was more tacked right back on.

The first loop was just a battle. I was hot - sweating like a pig - muddy - cranky - but still moving relatively well and still processing food/liquid ok. I did the first 50K in just under 7 hours. Back at the start/finish I re-stocked my pack - threw a long sleeved shirt and gloves in even though I was burning up - and headed out to start the 2nd half of the race. The first few hours were still hot - muggy and humid - zero breeze - still cranky! When is it going to cool off? I could really tell the trail had dried out and firmed up some - it wasn't nearly as sloppy as it had been in the morning - but the cactus were still there eating at my legs.

At the Crossroads aid station around mile 48 I stopped to get my headlamp since the sun was down - and asked where the heck all of this "cold weather" was that everyone had been talking about all day. Right that very moment - a huge gust of cool aid blew through. Ahhhhhhh! It felt remarkable. Even though people were already in jackets and bundled up - I decided I needed to cool off and enjoy the cooler, dry air so I kept running in my short sleeved shirt.

The rest of the race was a lot more enjoyable with cooler weather and better footing. No more cranky runner. Everyone else on the course seemed to be moving better as well. As the miles continued to tick away, the temperature continued to drop and the wind continued to pick up. Fortunately I crossed the top of the last hill and dropped down to the finish line in just over 15 hours - and found a warm tent full of great volunteers that were literally waiting on me hand and foot. "Here sit down - let me unlace your shoes - what do you need to warm up?" Thank you volunteers! After about 10 minutes of relaxing - I knew it was time to get up - gather my folding chair and supplies that I had used all day - and hobble across the dark field in the cold wind to the car.

As I pulled away - with the heater on - I was impressed with the tough souls that would still be out battling the elements all night long. These are the folks that impress me the most - because they have grit and determination and they're mental warriors. This wasn't the best day with the weather conditions - but that's never a reason to stop - or worse to not start. When you battle through tough conditions in a race - it always gives perspective to other races. I can always look back and say "well I remember at Bandera 100K in 2013 when the mud was so thick..." and know that I can battle through anything.

A Fine Line...

I woke up this morning with the room mostly dark. I had no idea what time it was since I had closed the wooden shutters to sleep in - I know I needed sleep - my body told me so. I looked at the alarm clock and it was 9:45am. 10 hours without waking up - I can't remember having slept that long uninterrupted in a long time.
I spent most of the day on Friday on the couch with laptop and i-phone working and on conference calls, struggling to make it through the day without throwing up. I had some type of stomach virus the previous night that kept me up til all hours and was feeling south of 50%. I was ok when I was laying down and still - but as soon as I would start to stir - the nauseous feeling that made me say to myself "oh please no" would rear it's ugly head. One conference call I was on speaker muted hovered over the toilet ugly vomiting when the other people started asking for my opinion on something. Brian? Brian, hello? Brian, are you there? I just let it go. Then saw emails - Brian are you still on the call? I unmuted and escused myself for having to step away. What else can you do?

So - 9:45am this morning - I laid there not wanting to move. I felt ok - though still a little groggy. If I move - will I feel the nauseous feeling yet again - or have I stomped the bug out of my system? I finally get up the nerve to see how my day is going to go - and am pleased that I'm feeling a ton better. No stomach issues - but not a lot of energy since I haven't had anything to eat or drink in 24+ hours. I get a little breakfast in me - it stays down - whewww. I have a few friends that check on me - my folks even call - several are glad that I'm feeling better and end the conversation with "take it easy - probably not a good day to go running." Wha???

Coming off of a stomach virus and no food except two small breakfast tacos in 24 hours and moderately dehydrated, 95 outside with a heat index even higher - you're right, in a perfect, rational world everything would say "stay in - relax - recover." However, my irrational Ouija board arrow pointed to "run" - and of course that's what I did. I put on my shoes - loaded up Callie - and headed for the Trinity Trails. Yah, it was hot. Yah, I didn't feel great. Yah, I was glad when it was over. But the entire run I thought about the fine line of listening to your body, and knowing when to push through or climb over a wall, or when to accept limits.

I remember my first attempt at a 50 mile run - Grasslands 50 up in Decatur - and running with my buddy Cathy Nevans. It was a tough day - long stretches of sand - hot - windy - just miserable. The course was a clover leaf and we kept coming back to the start/finish which mentally was hard. After the third loop at mile 42 I told her "I'm done." There was a long silence - and finally she said - "are you done or is this a wall that we need to push through?" It ends up that I was done - but the words and the lesson aren't done - they still live on. I ask myself that question a lot when I feel like I've given all I can give. Is it a low point - can you rally - or is it time to call it a day?

There is a fine line between knowing when to go on or quit. How do you know? After a couple of years, I've decided the best way is to listen to your body - and it takes a while to learn to listen to your body. I have people ask all the time about my training schedule. How much do you run a week? How many miles per day? In the last few years I haven't had a training schedule. I just run. Sure, I plan long races usually once a month as my long training runs - but other than that I just go with what feels right. When I know I need a long run - I run long. When my legs feel like they need a break - I take a break. I've found that adhering to a regimented training schedule just doesn't work for me. If I miss a day - I beat myself up. If I skip a day - I beat myself up. If I feel good and it's a scheduled day off - I'm bummed. So - I just run.

Today was a great example of pushing through the wall. Somewhat sluggish, moderately dehydrated, an empty stomach that had been tempermental recently. Aren't these the exact conditions that you experience during a low point of a 100 mile race? It was a great time to take advantage of the simulated conditions for training. Had I listened to sanity - or if I had been following a strict schedule that had me off today - I would have missed a great opportunity to have an uncomfortable - but necessary run. Instead, I listened to my body that said "go for it" - and took orders obediently.

I don't know how to tell anyone to listen to their body - I think it's something that just takes time. But I guarantee my running has greatly improved since I've learned to listen to it - instead of listening to someone else via a training schedule. UltraRunner Neil Gorman gave a quote in 3/2011 about just this thing, in it he says "I believe in listening to, and feeling, your body throughout training and going off of that, as opposed to simply following a heart rate monitor, gadgets, a demanding training schedule, etc. Sensing injury sort of follows with this methodology because, as pointed out in Matt Fitzgerald's book, Run—the Mind-Body Method of Running by Feel, no one knows our bodies better than ourselves." I concur - so get out there and strap on your shoes and hit the trails - and don't forget your listening ears.

Trail Running to Road Cycling

With the Zion 100 in the rear view mirror, it's time to focus on the next goal. I've come to realize that without something to work towards, I'm a nomad wandering around aimlessly. Goals give me focus, purpose, and when they are finished, a sense of accomplishment. Next thing on the radar: a 500 mile bike ride from Atlanta to Orlando in October. Wha??

I know - as much as I despise the pavement - and as much I love the trails and everything about running - I'm going to try my hand at cycling. Well, how the heck did I come up with this goal?! It certainly wasn't my bright idea - but when I heard that some of my co-workers were riding from our corporate offices in Atlanta to our annual conference in Orlando (also the home of Give Kids the World!) to fundraise for Give Kids the World I said count me in! http://www.gktw.org/

Running can be a very self-centered sport. How far can you run? How fast can you run? How much can you train? What races are on your calendar? Who is going to be your pacer to help you to the finish line? YOU get the point? Any opportunity to give back and make it less about the self - and more about others - the better. The best times I've had training and participating in an event were those that had a purpose greater than me crossing the finish line. The first (and only) marathon I ran I did training and fundraising with Leukemia/Lymphoma in honor of my dad who is a lymphoma survivor. My first 100 mile run I ran to raise money for Give Kids the World. They provide housing for terminally ill children and their families that are visiting Disney World as a chance to create memories and get away from the hospitals and doctors. Yes - these are the two races that have really meant the most - making a positive impact on others through my running.

So - switching gears from running to cycling wasn't that hard to swallow since there was a purpose. The hard part is that I feel like a fish out of water. Yes, I can ride a bike. Yes, I have a bike. But as much as I have learned about running over the years - I feel like there has to be a learning curve with cycling - it has to be more than "can you ride a bike?" What are the things that I need to know? How long will it take me to learn them? Can I ride 500 miles (over multiple days) by "winging it" and get back to my true passion of trail running? Can I continue with my running and be a part time cyclist on the side? Can both exist simultaneously - and will my running get stronger as a result of cross training and really making every mile and every run count? Yes - lots of questions. (and one that I'll answer up front - yes, I will continue to run ultra trail races while figuring everything else out)

One of the questions that came up today revolved around gear. I have heard many, many people look at my race prep - all of the supplies that I have - all of the gear that it takes to get me across the finish line - and tell me "I thought all you needed was a pair of shoes to run" or "running is an expensive sport, isn't it?" Today I stopped by the cycling store to get a decent pair of cycling shorts to pad my bony haunches from the concrete seat. $120 later I'm walking out with one small bag and one small pair of shorts so tight I feel like a sausage stuffed in a casing. Swallowing hard and paying for the shorts wasn't easy - but the chatter about all of the other things that I would need - or might want - or should get - from the store personnel was a little unsettling yet vaguely familiar. I've heard - and said - all of those things in the running store. So - the question today - though it may be one that I cannot answer - is not do I have what it takes to ride 500 miles? But rather - how much am I willing to spend to ride 500 miles?

Pearl Izumi Shorts = 1 pair of running shoes - and then some  :(

Zion 100 Race Report

Zion 100 Buckle

At 4:30am I decided to crawl of out bed and get ready for a long day and night ahead. I didn’t sleep at all – and I’m not sure why. Drop bags had already been dropped off – pace chart had been made – clothes were laid out with race number attached – I had already run 100 miles before - what was there to be nervous about?

I was really looking forward to this race since southern Utah is my favorite place to vacation. The race prep by the RD leading up to the inaugural Zion 100 was tops. Excellent communication, maps, course descriptions, directions for crew to access the runners, course photos from training runs, a video clip, recommendations on what to do in the area. The RD also took it upon himself to try and find pacers for anyone that wanted and needed one. While not expected – I was certainly appreciative when I was paired with a great trail runner turned friend out of the SLC area that was to join me at mile 70. Everything indicated that this was going to be one awesome adventure – and it certainly didn’t disappoint.

The drive out to Virgin, UT from the hotel was about 30 mins. I did my usual race prep reviewing the course, elevation, aid stations – eating my honey stinger bar, saltine crackers with peanut butter and hydrating. After a pre-race weigh-in (three weigh-ins throughout the day to stay within +/- 3% body weight) where we were reminded that the course was harder than the elevation chart indicated - we were off at straight up 6am.

The first part of the course ascends Smith Mesa with a fairly steep but walkable verticle of about 1000 feet. The adrenaline was pumping and the climb was pretty easy in the dry 50 degree air. The view at the top with the sunrise was spectacular and was a great way to start the morning. 

View from Smith Mesa - Starting Line is on the right side of the photo in the valley

Once on top of the Mesa – the course follows 10 miles of dirt road. After the slow climb to the top – this was a great way to make up some time and really get the legs turning. This was one of the few non-tech section where you can look around and enjoy the amazing scenery of southern Utah. A couple of hops over a few snakes and running hard through a fairly substantial headwind – the Mesa #2 aid station was in sight at mile 18.5 and the legs were feeling good.

Runnable section on dirt road

The RD had posted some photos of the next section which included a short distance that was narrow and then a steep drop off where holding onto a rope was required. I had been a little anxious about this section – but made it through fairly easily with a little guidance from a volunteer before dropping into a creek bed where we hopped large boulders and pools of water for what seemed to be ½ mile to a 1 before the trail opened up to some awesome single track – and eventually a jeep road. I ran into Andee from LA that was running her first 100 and we talked about how awesome the course had been so far – and the miles flew by. Towards the bottom of the trail the aid station was in sight, and we hit pavement at mile 27.5 where I had a surprise visit from my crew.

Runnable section on pavement

Crazy Crew Cindy giving aid and motivation

Transitioning to pavement for a few downhill miles was a welcome relief – as was seeing my crew which I hadn’t anticipated. Some minor GI issues were taken care of (no fun – but necessary!) and I continued keeping the legs moving on the pavement which was now starting to heat up. Forecast had been in the lower 90’s – and I knew the next 15 miles of exposed desert would be a battle throughout the afternoon. Sure enough – around mile 31 I started slowing down and going with a walk uphill and trot downhill to the aid station at mile 35 where I met my crew again – and my pacer Troy!

Troy and his wife Kandi were both volunteer pacers and had driven down earlier in the day to see their racers and hang out. Meeting them, seeing my crew, and getting an ice cold sponge dumped on top of my head unexpectedly (thanks Troy!) was the mental boost I needed to get me out of the funk I had been experiencing the last few miles. Out of the aid station and back in the desert on some smooth single track I started passing people. I wasn’t 100% but was still moving well. The heat radiating off of the rocks made me feel like I was baking in the sun – it was so hot. I figured if I could endure about 3 - 4 hours out in the sun, it would cool down and I could rally. So – my strategy was to keep the legs moving – even if it was at a slower pace than I wanted – stay hydrated and keep a positive attitude. Easier said than done! Although I didn’t have a really low point mentally – I definitely was in survival mode until the aid station at mile 42 where I had to sit down and completely regroup. I was in the stage where nothing except water sounded good. The thought of a gel, a cracker, a cookie, broth, candy made me almost sick. I knew I needed calories – and I knew there was no way I would make it to the top of the next climb coming up without calories – but I just couldn’t stomach them. So – reluctantly I put electrolytes in my handhelds – didn’t eat anything (but shoved a few gels in my shorts) and kept moving.

I thought the next section would have been a breeze to fly through on fresh legs – it wasn’t technical – had a few rollers –  just a great running surface but I still struggled. The encouraging thing was that I could see a few people in front of me that I had been leaping frogging through the desert – Sue from Calgary and a guy from Cleveland running his first 100 - and I didn’t appear to be losing ground so I felt like I was moving about as well as everyone else was. I finally got to a water only station at mile 45 – which I incorrectly thought was a drop bag station (mental bummer) - refilled my water bottles with hot water that had been sitting in the sun all day and started heading towards Gooseberry Mesa for the toughest climb of the day.

The steep, rocky climb up Gooseberry in the heat of the day (around 430pm) was not what the doc had ordered after 15 miles of crossing the desert. I felt like I was standing under a heat lamp. My mouth was dry and my lips were sticking to my gums. My legs felt like lead – so heavy and slow. This was the type of climb where you put your hands on your hips and slowly take one step after another. Stopping to catch your breath almost isn’t an option – because it’s easier to move up slow and steady than it is to keep your balance while standing still on the steep slope. Looking up I thought the trail went on forever. I was mentally and physically fading. Just about the time I thought I couldn’t go on – pretty close to the top – a volunteer came flying down the trail and grabbed my handhelds. A few minutes later he had them filled with ice cold water and brought them back to me. He told me “we’re all waiting for you up at the top” so I was expecting to see my crew – air guitar! But when I got to the top there were all of the runners I had been leap frogging sitting in chairs trying to bounce back. Well – no crew – but it was good to see that everyone I had been running with/near had made it! I sat down in the shade in a chair – ate shaved ice snow cones with electrolytes – cooled down and rehydrated and felt like I had a new lease on life. I had battled through the only real low point so far and was back in the game.

The trail on Gooseberry was a slow go. It was a mixture of trail, sand, and many, many rocky outcrops. Because there were no trees to tie ribbons to on the outcrops – there were painted dots and reflective tape to follow. So – you would come to an outcrop – stand there and look around for a dot. Then another dot. Then another dot. It was like a human version of connecting the dots. Sometimes they were hard to find – and while this was really the only way the RD could mark the course – it really took a lot of time and there was no opportunity to get into any rhythm. Fortunately Sue from Calgary was running with me hand we picked through the terrain together giving each other direction “I see a dot over here Sue!” until the first aid station at mile 51. This continued past the aid station for another 10 miles – about half which was run in the dark once the sun went down.

Around mile 60 the sun is down and I’m moving well when I see headlamps coming towards me. Two guys ask “are you going the right way??” Well – I tell them that I think I am – and have been following the markers. I tell them I am working my way to aid station at mile 62 – and they tell me they are as well – but we are going in opposite directions. A guy that I had recently passed a mile or so back seemed familiar with the course – so we all waited a few seconds – saw his headlamps through the trees and waited for him to catch up to verify who was going the right direction. It ends up that he had actually marked that section of the course – so he verified he and I were going the right way – so the guys turned around and we all started heading in the same direction. Whewww disaster avoided – the last thing I needed was to be off course. After a few miles we were at aid station 62.

The next section was a flat direct road and the first time I had been able to get into any rhythm since pavement earlier in the day around mile 27. I met up with a couple of folks that were running well - another lady from Calgary and Dennis from Utah - got the legs turning – the miles clicked away – and I could see the Smithsonian Aid Station near mile 70 in the distance.

Seeing my crew and my pacer Troy was awesome since it had been 35 battle scarred miles since I had last seen them. The medics took my bloodpressure – 120/78 and my weight (only down a pound) – I took care of a blister that had developed on the side of my heel – downed a few calories - and Troy and I were off.

This was my first time to run with a pacer. I actually wasn’t running – it was a shuffle every now and then but mostly a steady, decently paced walk. Most of the miles to the next aid station were uphill – but it was gradual and went by quickly. I immediately appreciated the benefit of having a buddy around to run.. er… walk with. I never really verified Troy’s plan to get me to the finish because he had paced people before at 100’s and honestly I really didn’t want to know the strategy – but it seemed he was always a step or two ahead of me and I was forced to keep my pace going to keep up so I didn’t get left! I think his legs were twice as long as mine – so even when I was trotting – he was still walking! Anyways – having to keep up worked for me. It was similar to dragging me along without dragging me.

Through the aid station at mile 77 and then a decent but manageable drop off into the valley and we were at Kokopelli Golf Course around mile 80. In the middle of the golf course we see three of four headlamps. Other runners that had been just ahead of us were apparently lost. Which way is the trail? After a few minutes of searching – we decide as a group we’ve found the right path and head off to the next aid station around mile 83.

We leave mile 83 aid station – still on a dirt road – and after a mile or so see headlamps coming towards us again – the same group that we met at the golf course that was off course. They tell us we are off course again and we have to backtrack. We about face – and start walking back towards the aid station and find a very scarcely marked single track trail. We’re back on track after adding a little extra mileage – and surprisingly enough mentally I’m handling the few extra miles ok. I think it was because everyone else was in the same boat and we were all just dealing with it as a group.

In and out of a small canyon along Gould’s rim the sun started to come up. This is the first time I had seen the sunrise twice during a race. I hadn’t forgotten how the sun had baked me the day before – and Troy and I decided it was going to get hot quickly – and that was motivation for me to suck it up and get a move on. The aid station at mile 90 was a good place to work on getting my mojo back – which I did with a couple of cups of broth and a transition back into sunglasses and sunscreen.

Brian and Troy at mile 90

Apparently we had both forgotten about an aid station at mile 95 – because neither of us could figure out what the heck it was that we saw in the distance. A house? A barn? We weren’t sure until we got close enough to realize that it was an aid station – and our crew was there for motivation. At this point – I was ready to keep on moving and didn’t stop long. We started down the single track trail and about 100 yards from the aid station a couple of mountain bikers headed towards us. I was in the lead – and as I started to get over off of the trail Troy said jokingly “hey – this guy just ran 95 miles – let’s give him some room.” Apparently the mountain bikers had encountered some less courteous runners ahead of us – because the guy jumps off his bike and starts swinging at Troy saying he doesn't care how far I've run. Yes – I hear my pacer turned bodyguard tell the mountain biker’s wife who is also riding to get her husband under control before the cops are called. Wha?? Is this a hallucination? I hear the chaos behind me – but any step that isn’t towards the finish line is a step that I am not going to take. Sorry Troy buddy – you’re going to have to take them out without me – and I had confidence that he could! He diffuses the situation – catches back up to me – and we make pretty good time on the easy, smooth and slightly downhill single track laughing about the situation. The altercation gave me the adrenaline boost I needed!

The final mile was back on pavement and I could see the turnoff for the finish line in the distance. The heat was already back – and it was hot even for 945am in the morning. As much as I wanted to walk uphill to the turnoff – I kept the legs moving. We turned the corner – saw the park in the distance – and ran it in to finish my second 100 in 27:46 and 34^th place out of 103 starters and 59 finishers.

Brian and Troy with 100 yards to the finish

Crossing the finish line!

Overall – the race was definitely harder than I expected – and while I did have a few moments where I felt deflated I never had the feeling that I wouldn’t make it to the finish line. Well – maybe for a brief moment while dry roasting in the desert! But in general I was able to keep it together pretty well. I’ve read a few blogs about races like Western States where it gets really hot during the day – and the consensus is if you can hang on and get through the heat – you can turn it around once the sun goes down and you get some calories in you. I kept telling myself that throughout the hot sections of the course – this isn’t forever – it will cool off – keep moving. I think Troy told me this at the mile 35 aid station - keep going and don't stop.

I heard a lot of people that were a little annoyed with course markings – and while there were a few places where it could have been marked better – particularly between miles 80 – 90 when we were all fatigued and in the dark – overall I thought it was fairly easy to navigate. The course markings and a few glitches here and there were far outweighed by the overall organization of the race which I thought was awesome. The RD also took complete responsibility for some sketchy markings and was extremely apologetic both at the finish line and in some online posts.

I can’t give enough thanks to my crew – the dos locas senoritas – that came all the way from Texas to crew my second 100. Even though I wasn’t able to see them often – there were multiple times that I wasn’t expecting to see them and did. They were always positive – made sure I was ready for the next section – and boosted my spirits.

I also can’t say thanks enough to my pacer Troy who very subtly kept me moving and dialed in. I think one reason I didn’t have any low points was because I never had a chance to think a whole lot of negative thoughts since we were talking and I was distracted. Maybe that’s the point! Races we’ve run – races we want to run – work – Church – growing up – family – more running – and roughing up mountain bikers.  J

Recovery has been surprisingly quick – and I’m already out running – doing gym work – and feeling great. I’m really glad I chose to run the Zion 100 – I met some amazing people that I can’t wait to see again at future races – saw some amazing scenery – and tested myself mentally and physically. There are already talks from the RD of tweaks to the course for next year – moving it up a month earlier to avoid some of the heat – and switching the course around to include less time in the desert. Even without the changes – this is a race that I would definitely consider running again – and would without a doubt recommend to anyone looking for a fun, challenging 100 mile run.

Brian and Troy with the finisher's buckle and tired legs!

Checking In

It's been a few weeks since I've blogged and I thought it was time to check in and put some thoughts down.

The heel is better than a it was few weeks ago for the Summer Solstice 6 Hour Run. I started using a can of green beans to roll my foot over - and after denting a few cans upgraded to a wooden rolling pen. I didn't realize how sore the bottoms of my feet were until I started doing this. Now that I've been able to manage the heel pain - my right calf has been extremely sore. I can mostly run without pain after the first few steps - but it's the feeling of it just not being right that's bothersome. I haven't had many aches and pains in a while - so I'm probably do a few tweaks - and I've admittedly been doing more mileage than usual mid-summer with "two a days".

It's amazing how the heat really zaps the energy out of you. I really haven't had many runs in anything less than 100+ weather since May. I'm typically a fairly good hot weather runner - but I'm already feeling somewhat fatigued and ready for it to cool off some.

Today I was able to order my new ASR 8's that I've been waiting for since I first saw them in May. Since part of my injuries lately have been too many miles on worn out shoes - I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on them and taking them for a spin. Next month there's another shoe called the ASR GTX that's made with waterproof Gore-Tex and I am pumped about that shoe also. Add to that some new Adrenalines for putzing around town and I'll have a small shoe store in my closet, soon!

This month I have a couple of races - El Scorcho Cinco 50K and the Speedgoat 50K. El Scorcho is one of my favorite races - here in Ft Worth - the trails that I'm familiar with - friends and family out running and cheering - what more could I ask for? Having only a few weeks between races I'm not 100% sure I'm going to leave it all out on the trails for El Scorcho - need to save a little in the tank for a much tougher Speedgoat - but when I get wrapped up in the energy and excitement who knows what will happen!

Today I launched my website for Christian Athletic Apparel called "Exercise Your Faith." http://www.exercise-faith.com/  The whole process began when I was looking for a simple shirt with a cross to run in. I searched the internet and local stores and couldn't find anything - so rather than resign to the fact that it just didn't exist and I was out of luck - I decided to create what I was looking for. After a few months of logo design, web design, and battling through uncertainties - I finally have a product that I'm proud of and looking forward to wearing. Check out my designs!

Summer Solstice 6 Hour Run

Last night I ran in the Summer Solstice 6 Hour (SS6H) Run in Abilene, Texas. This is my second time to run in the event - and I just love this race. Well organized, super friendly volunteers, a great aid station and awesome shirts and hats - what else could you ask for? The course is a 1 mile loop that you do over, and over and over. Now, before you start grumbling about how boring that is I'll confess that I was right there with you before I had participated in a timed event. I didn't "get it" or understand why anyone would run around in circles for hours on end - it just didn't make sense. After the Summer Solstice 6 Hour last year I was hooked and have really enjoyed other timed races (Run From the Ducks, Run Like the Wind).

Last year the SS6H race greeted us with hot weather - oh boy was it hot and with an 8pm start we still had sun for our first hour or so. This year I was happy to see that the start had been pushed back to 9pm - no sun - which would surely mean cooler temps, right? WRONG! At 9pm the wind was blowing and the temp was still over 100 which gave you the feeling that you were standing looking face first into a hair dryer. Rather than lap counters, this year we had chips to count our laps - so I strapped on my chip - listened to the pre-race comments and lined up at the start with a larger crowd than last year.

My goal this time around was to keep a steady, even pace throughout. You know, that's always easier said than done  :)  I took off and kept what I thought was a relatively conservative pace - but after the first few laps and looking at the start/finish clock I realized I was clipping along fairly quickly for someone that's typically a tortoise. Nevertheless - I running - I wanted to see how long I could keep a relatively quick pace. The heat and low humidity were definitely a factor - on the stretches that we ran into the wind I would feel my mouth completely dry out. I drank as much water as I thought my body could process, took a good number of S Caps and gels, and hunkered down for a long night.

The toughest stretch for me was somewhere around mile 17 for about 1.5 hours. I could still run - but I just didn't have the ability to turn my legs over quickly enough to keep up with my previous pace. I slowed down a little and really focused on eating and drinking and sure enough - a little later I had my legs back and was able to knock off a good last hour for a 2nd place 36 mile finish.

What do I like about timed races?

1) Even though you might not have long conversations with other runners, you're really out there battling the elements and the course with them. You almost feel like you know them just by association!
2) Every timed race I've done has been a mile loop. No getting lost!
3) I like setting up near the course so I have access to additional supplies (a new hat, more body glide, etc)
4) If you have a crew - you see them often which is always a boost! (and lots of photo ops!)

If you're looking to give a timed race a shot - consider this race (either the 3hr or 6hr). Not only do the proceeds go to benefit a great organiation (Autism) - but the race is a ton of fun and fits nicely into a somewhat scarce June race calendar in TX.