Amazing Zion 100 Race Reports

Since the Zion 100 3+ weeks ago, some incredible race reports have been popping up. I wanted to give you links to what I consider the best of the best.

Andy Pearson @ I Even Ran This Far - Awesome pictures and a vivid description of what it feels like to be toward the front of the pack. Some really great writing.

Matt Cecill @ Project Talaria - I am fascinated at how it's possible to go from feeling so horrible to so good during an ultra.

Jill Parker @ Run With Jill - One of the most touching, personal reports I've ever read. It's one of those that will choke you up. I made a cameo in her race report. I'm proud to call Jill a friend.

In case you missed it, you can check out my race report HERE. That 100 mile adventure is one I will never forget.

(One more race report from the Buffalo Run 100 by my friend Ryan. He was a great cheerleader when I saw him at mile 83. His report is the definition of how to execute a 100 miler! Full of lots of great tips. You can see his report HERE.)

Really Funny Race Signs

While I was running the Zion 100, we came across a few miles of trails that were peppered with some of the funniest race signs I've ever seen.

I knew it would slow me down a bit if I stopped and took pictures but I couldn't help it. They were too good to pass up. I now present to you these supremely awesome signs:

I got to an aid station and asked who was responsible for these hilarious signs. It turns out it was my friend and incredible aid station volunteer ShaRee Hirschi. The laughing ALMOST made me forget that I had another 65 miles to run!

Some Of The Most Beautiful Trails I've Ever Run

I forgot to mention - the fine folks at Tailwind Nutrition drew a winner for the recent contest. The winner was Josh Bryant. Congrats amigo!

It has been three weeks since the Zion 100 and there are three weeks until the Bryce 100. I'm hoping I have another 100 miles left in this chicken legs of mine. This past week was fun with a 6.5 miler, 8 miler, 13 miler, and a 30 mile bike ride. Here are some of the week's highlights.

The highlight of last week was my long run. I went to the Chuckwalla Trailhead for the first time. I didn't know anything about the trail and thought I'd  spend some hours exploring. Within one minute I came across my friend and coworker Will finishing up his mountain bike ride. He offered to put on his running shoes and show me around.

Will gave me the grand tour including some sweet cliff edge overlooks.

We checked out this cool cave.

I have always been pretty sure I lived in the most beautiful place in the world. After my time on these new trails, I am convinced.

I was so glad to have Will show me these places that I would have never found on my own.

Will took me on an out-and-back route. He ran 5ish miles with me to a spot that was close to his house. He then ran home and I ran back to the trailhead (plus checking out some other trails) by myself. I managed to get lost and wandered around for about ten minutes before finding the trail again. There were some dark, ominous clouds rolling in.

I had to pinch myself. The scenery was simply incredible. I was in heaven. It would have been a shame to leave this area without a few jumping pictures.

Right around this time those ominous clouds started to dump. The rain was pounding and the trail seemed to disappear. I ended up getting a little lost again and wandered around in the pouring rain for 15 minutes looking for the trail.

Getting lost was the best thing that could have happened. I stumbled upon this AMAZING section of trail lined with bright yellow flowers. I stood in the rain for 20 minutes until the pouring let up and I could pull out my camera for a picture.

The rain made the red really pop out. I have never been so happy to be lost.

There are lots of trails that spur off Chuckwalla. I think I explored almost all of them plus some that aren't on the map. I can not wait to go back there again.

On Saturday I joined Jackson on a 30 mile bike ride along with ten other scouts who are working on the cycling merit badge. They work up to a 50 mile ride! Wow. We had a blast.

Things on tap for this week:
1) Get in a last good, long run before Bryce.
2) Plenty of NBA playoffs! I hardly ever watch TV but I can't get enough of this.
3) Watch this funny Tonight Show gas station video a few more times.
4) A helping of Ben & Jerry's cheesecake brownie. A life without ice cream isn't worth living.

Our Major Family Accomplishment - Garden Boxes

We have always wanted to have a garden but didn't think it was possible because our backyard is so small. BUT a few months ago we decided to get ambitious and build our own planter boxes. After months of work and countless hours, our garden is looking awesome.

Here is how the process went:

1) We did some research on the best wood and decided on redwood. It is more expensive but much more resistant to bugs, mold, and decay. We wanted our boxes to last a long time so we spent the extra money. Kylee helped supervise our visit to Lowe's:

2) We rented a sod cutter and ripped out a large section of grass. Here is the BEFORE picture (it was still winter so there were some dead patches of lawn):

3) That sod cutter vibrated so much that I thought it was going to shake my teeth out. I tried to reinforce my teeth with plenty of Oreos. Eventually we got all the grass cut out and leveled the yard. I also had to cap some sprinklers.

4) Then it was time for assembly. This involved many nights after work using my headlamp for light because it was already dark outside. I was getting excited with how they were turning out.

5) Next was the dirt. We had a dump truck load of dirt on our driveway. Despite how many wheelbarrows full of dirt I took to the back yard, it seemed like that huge pile never went down.

6) Once we had the boxes filled with dirt, we wheeled back loads of rock to surround the garden boxes. It was most definitely a family affair. Jackson loaded wheelbarrows, I took them to the back yard, Mel and Kylee leveled them, and Dani helped clean up messes we made:

We couldn't have been more happy with our finished product!

7) We made our own markers for the vegetable rows:

8) After all our hard work, a few days ago we enjoyed our very first strawberry from the garden (sliced up so we could each have a taste):

It has been a fun family project. We have been babying these boxes. We are now the proud parents of some healthy, growing vegetables! And we lived happily ever after.

St. George Ironman 70.3

On Saturday our family had the awesome opportunity of volunteering at the St. George Ironman 70.3 race. In previous years Mel and I have worked at the finish line. This year we worked at a run aid station. I'm a fan of anything that involves 1) cheering until I lose my voice, 2) giving ridiculous amounts of high fives, and 3) ringing a cowbell like there is no tomorrow.

It was cool to see some elite athletes, including Heather Wurtele who took 3rd place but has won the St. George Ironman before.

I'll bet we had more than 50 friends competing in the race, including my friend and fellow social worker Catherine.

And Cherie who is one of the most fun, happy human beings I know, along with her amazing photographer hubby Alex.

Me, Mel, and Kylee were in charge of filling cups of water, ice, or Powerade and then passing them out to runners.

I seriously loved seeing my kids so involved in helping with the race.

Jackson was the real trooper. The rest of us volunteered for seven hours but Jackson was there for eight! It was a proud father moment to watch the kids in action.

I was so impressed with the determination of all the athletes. Check out this guy who did the whole run in a full fireman suit. It was a really hot day. I can't image how much he was roasting in this.

Volunteering is so great because you get to have such an active part in the race without any of the suffering! We are excited to do it again next year.

Poodles Make Great Trail Runners

Last week the spouse and I went running in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. Our four legged black Brillo Pad named Jack gets all excited anytime we put on running clothes so of course he had to come along for the ride. Trails make Jack smile.

It was pretty warm outside but the wind was strong enough to pick up kittens and drop them in another county so that prevented us from getting too hot.

This was Mel's first time running in this particular area. Aside from the kitten-removing wind she had lots of fun.

Jack is funny to run with. Mel is always in front and I'm always in back. Jack doesn't want to run ahead or be behind. He always wants to be right in between us. He is afraid of his own shadow, so I think he feels protected between us.

I caught him prancing around like he was at a dog show.

He also gets a little concerned if I lag behind to take some pictures.

This area was much greener than the last time I was here. This is my favorite view of the whole trail. No matter how many times I've been here, these views never get old.

Any miles I spend running with Mel and Jack are instantly my favorite of the week. I always finish wanting more.