Heaven In The Rain

There is this place in the middle of the southern Utah desert called Warner Valley. I feel like it's my own little piece of heaven. I've probably run more miles here than anywhere in the world. It feels like I know every square inch of the dirt out here. It's where I fell in love with trail running. I've never seen another runner out here so I'm claiming the land as my own.

A little while back I got in another great long run there. The scenery was even more amazing because I got caught in the middle of a beautiful rain storm.

It was insanely windy and I was getting pounded with rain. But that only lasted a few miles and then everything mellowed out. 

It was so cool to watch as the storm moved off into the horizon. It's moments like this that keep me coming back to my little slice of heaven in Warner Valley.

Sand Mountain Marathon Race Report - I WON!

Last week I ran the inaugural Sand Mountain Marathon. What? You've never heard of the Sand Mountain Marathon? Possibly because it didn't exist until a few days ago when I went out and ran 26.2 miles...around Sand Mountain.

The race registration was free priced right. Thankfully there was no long bus ride to the starting line. The course started on a little side trail I've never been on before. I hoped that it would lead to the towering cliffs of Sand Mountain. The trail had as much sand and rocks as Kenny G has hair.

I'm disappointed in the race organizers. The trail marking was terrible. Actually nonexistent. But I figured as long as I was climbing I'd be getting closer to my destination. After about an hour I reached this rock tower. That's a good sign. I added three rocks of my own to the top.

I soon realized that I was nearing my goal, the edge of the towering red cliffs. I was surprised to be the only racer who would be able to enjoy some amazing views. It could be because the race director (who happens to be myself) capped the registration at one.

I've been to other overlooks on Sand Mountain but never this area. The scenery was incredible. I didn't mind some of my race time ticking away to hang out here for a bit and soak in the views.

The entire expanse of the desert opened up in front of me.

One more picture before heading back down the mountain:

As you can see from all these pictures, there was one dominant color on the race course: RED. Mile after mile of red. And then out of the blue.....something that wasn't red. (Speaking of all these colors, I'm colorblind.)

When I got back down the mountain I stopped at the only aid station in the entire race. The aid station happened to be at the race director's rental car. Why a rental car? Because someone backed into the RD's car and it was in the shop. One aid station for a whole marathon?!?!? Seriously weak.

I wore the new Altra Olympus shoes for this marathon. They made it the entire 26.2 miles right out of the box. I LOVED them. They have more cushion, similar to Hoka shoes, except way more comfortable. Mark my words, you'll start seeing these shoes all over the place because they are basically awesome.

Once I got down Sand Mountain I finished my miles wandering around Warner Valley. I ran past the cliffs that I had stood upon miles earlier.

The race organization was clearly lacking in many areas. No course marking. One car aid station. And the race photography consisted of the race director handing me a camera and saying "Hope you like selfies." Jerk.

I couldn't find anything I didn't love about those Altra Olympus shoes. They were the perfect mix of cushion, tread, and comfort.

Those of you on the east coast, I wanted to let you know that my shirt is available to serve as a fluorescent lighthouse to guide ships in fog and rain storms. You're welcome.

The finish line festivities were terrible. Absolutely no spectators. No party. Just stop the Garmin and you're done.

Here's the good news: I WON THE MARATHON. Granted, I was the only one who ran the marathon. Granted, the race was capped at one entry. Granted, this is the first and last time I will ever win a race. But I won! Instead of a medal, the race director provided this cup of heaven, also known as Dr. Pepper. Super Big Gulp. Super unhealthy. And super delicious.

I feel so blessed that my body has been eager to run and recover quickly. With this 26.2, that made a marathon, 50 miler, and 100 miler within 33 days. I think maybe that's my record.

The course scenery was beautiful. Will I run the Sand Mountain Marathon again? Definitely. Will that race also end with 44 ounces of heaven? Definitely.

A Variety Of Randomly Awesome Things

Do you like random things? Well, great! In that case, on the seventh day God created cinnamon rolls. I've never understood the popularity of vampire movies. I had a one-eyed hamster when I was a kid. Here are some other random things:

A few days ago I had to make a detour on the way home from work. There were some awesome storm clouds building near Zion National Park so I followed them for a bit to take some pictures. Here is my favorite:

I was honored to be asked by Ultrarunner Podcast to write some responses to their "5 Questions" section. You can read the Questions and Answers HERE (along with details on my adoration of Dr. Pepper.)

Who doesn't love a gnarly post-race foot picture? I collected this puppy at the Jackpot 100 a few weeks ago. It's the biggest blister I've had, but it was worth it for a PR. (Toe nail polish courtesy of my daughters.)

Do you want to see a completely fascinating website? (Please say yes. Please say yes.) This guy at www.gravityglue.com has some absolutely incredible pictures of stacked rock towers. I guarantee amazement. Do yourself a favor and check it out. Go to the "My Work" section. I was so impressed that I have tried a few of my own. Here is one of mine but trust me, this pales in awesomeness compared to the pictures on this website. 

I was so happy to be asked to give a rundown of the Zion 100 course for Trail Runner Nation's podcast. Should you care to listen to the interview, click HERE. (My section is after a short interview with a running coach.)

My friend Mirna is a self-described "fat, black runner". Not just a runner, but a marathon and ultramarathon runner. Check out her latest blog post HERE. It touches on weight, race, and the love of running. It's sassy and funny and inspiring and I love it.

And I suppose that is just about all. Happy Thursday!

When Someone Says A Trail Is "Sketchy"

Many years ago I went to Moab, Utah with my sister-in-law and her husband Matt. They are avid hikers. We were on a new trail and there were some sections that weaved along steep ledges. There were technical, challenging sections. Some sections made us nervous. We came across some hikers coming toward us and asked how the trail was up ahead. They smiled and said "Well, there are some parts that are a bit sketchy."

We soon realized that "a bit sketchy" meant "downright frightening". Being afraid of heights, I found a way around one sketchy section which involved taking off my shoes, wading through water, and creating instant blackmail material had my in-laws taken a picture.

Matt lives close by and we still find our way onto trails sometimes. Last week was one such time. I was anxious to check out a new trail he had found called Nephi's Twist. Matt got a similar grin to the girl in Moab years ago when he mentioned that "there are only a few sketchy parts".

My trail bravery has improved since those Moab days so I figured I could handle sketchy. The first parts of the trail involve no sketchy-ness. This is Matt:

Still not too sketchy:

Then some short, steep climbs.

After this we reached an awesome trail right on the spine of a ridge that weaved through the desert. It had a hint of sketchy. Maybe in my younger Moab days this would have been difficult but these days it wasn't too bad.

We continued on a series of steep uphills. Then steep downhills. Steep up. Steep down. And an occasional level chunk.

In no time the amount of sketchy steadily increased.

Then mucho sketchy. Steep climbing. It's a good thing I opted to go with the Altra Lone Peak 1.5 shoes before the run. They have the best grip of any of my shoes and I needed every ounce of grip I could get. Matt caught one particular climb. Notice how I'm pretty much VERTICAL going up the trail.

Here is a sample of the uber-sketchy. There wasn't anywhere on the trail where a slip would force you to meet your maker. But a slip would definitely leave a chunk of your chin on the trail and then some flesh as you tumble down a hill.

The trail eventually circles around to where it started. I was thankful for the incredible views and the cool pictures we caught.

Here is what is ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY INSANE: hard-core mountain bikers go down this trail! I wouldn't bike this trail if you offered me a million dollars and tickets to a meet-and-greet with MC Hammer. If you dare, watch this GoPro video of some guys going down the trail. It is downright frightening.

Jackpot 100 Mile Race Report - NEW PR!!!

This weekend at the Jackpot Ultra Running Festival 100 miler was the most amazing experience I've had since I started running. I could have never imagined what would come of this race.

The race is a 2.3 mile loop through Cornerstone Park, a wilderness reserve in Las Vegas. This was the inaugural race as well as my first time ever racing on a short loop course. I've run many races with my good friend Susette and encouraged her to sign up for this one as her first 100. I hoped she'd still be my friend after the race.

I mixed up some bottles of Tailwind the night before the race, put them in a cooler, and my plan was to only stop during the race long enough to fill up my water bottle. In and out. No dilly dallying. Keep moving forward. Livin' la vida loca. Ice ice baby. I believe I can fly. Beware the chair.

The race had some different options. You could register to run 6 hours, 12 hours, or 24 hours. There is no fixed distance with those, you just run as far as you want during that time. This is a GREAT way to break into ultramarathons. Or runners could register to go for 100 miles. All the different groups started at the same time which was fun.

About half the course was paved asphalt. I do most training on trails so I was apprehensive about this but it actually ended up working out fine.

There was a short section of rocky, technical trail but the rest of the trail sections were beautifully runnable packed dirt and sand:

We circled a small lake full of ducks and geese that honked incessantly like broken bike horns. I caught my friend Kit's reflection in the lake as she ran by.

The headquarters where you finished then started each loop had a huge aid station and live bands throughout the day. There was one time when we came through a loop that these cheerleaders greeted us.

Temperatures were forecast to reach 80 degrees and I drove to Las Vegas knowing that without any heat acclimation it was possible that my skin might melt. Thankfully we had cloud cover almost the entire day which kept the temperature perfect.

Throughout the race I ran quite a few miles with Colby Wentlandt. Listen. This kid is 13 years old. Nope. Not a typo. 13. And not his first 100 miler. During those many miles we talked a lot and I was seriously impressed with his wisdom and understanding of the sport. He is wise beyond his years and kept a steady, solid pace the whole race. (While managing to smile the whole time.)

The thing I love most at ultramarathons is the fine group of people I get to share the trail with. Everyone is so amazingly supportive and encouraging. Especially on courses like this where you see each other often, everyone was saying "Good job" or giving a thumbs up or a "Way to go!" each time they passed. Everyone. The fastest people. The slowest people. Everyone helps everyone.

I was particularly inspired by one lady I saw throughout the race. I had to ask her name, and asked her forgiveness for asking how old she is. This, my friends, is Barbara. She is 79 years old. She told me she registered for the 12 hour race as a training run. She's doing a 24 hour race next month to train for her 100 miler in May. (She already ran a 100 miler at age 74.) I looked her up after the race. There is an awesome video about her HERE and an article on Trail Runner Magazine HERE. Talk about going beyond limits.

I remember seeing a horrible infomercial years ago for a rotisserie cooker. The audience kept chanting "Set it....and forget it!" I thought about that while I was running. I really focused on staying in the "Set it and forget it!" mindset during the race. I got into a steady pace where I was pushing but not overdoing it.......and I stayed there. Hour. After. Hour. In the zone. Just livin' la vida loca. (Thank goodness THAT song didn't get stuck in my head for 100 miles!) That got me to the 50 mile mark in 10 hours and 37 minutes. I was ecstatic, I've never run 50 that fast before.

I changed my socks, coated them with Body Glide, and took a dose of Vitamin T (Tylenol) as the sun set on day one.

I used primarily liquid calories for the race and thankfully my stomach stayed great the whole time. The aid station was amazing so when I passed by I would occasionally grab a few pretzels, or a bite sized piece of pumpkin pie, or for the first time during a race......cheesecake. Cheesecake. I heard the heavens open and a choir of angles rejoice when I took a bite.

When I finished 50 miles, my friend Marcellus showed up to pace me for a while. I was starting to bonk a little before he got there so I hoped I could get back on track. Marcellus is a crazy fast Kenyan runner who has finished a marathon in 2:48. (Nope, not a typo.) This was his first encounter with an ultra. On my first loop with Marcellus I showed him the easier parts of the course where I pushed, and the harder parts of the course where I held back. I wanted him to just lead me along. Set it and forget it. This was my only view for the next 4+ hours.

In those 4+ hours we didn't talk hardly at all. Which is EXACTLY what I look for in a pacer. Trying to hold a conversation takes too much mental energy at that point in a race when I'm just trying to keep one foot in front of the other. I am so, so thankful for his help keeping me going.

After about 20 miles he left and my plan was to just hang on and make sure the wheels didn't come off the bus. I very desperately wanted to run a sub-24 hour race. Whenever I started to feel discouraged or tired or frustrated or exhausted, one number popped into my head: 24. I saw this sign during every loop which helped me keep focused on my goal:

I wasn't wearing a Garmin and didn't really know how my pace was going but as the sun started to rise on the second day I realized that if I kept setting it and forgetting it I would be able to achieve the inconceivable sub-24.

I saw some inspiring stuff as the hours went on. I saw people persevering despite clearly struggling. I saw Ed "The Jester" Ettinghausen propelling himself down the trail in spite of working through a past injury. You have no idea how much determination and grit is behind this picture. It's no wonder that Ed inspires so many runners.

I saw the absolute best of humanity. For example, my friend Karen signed up for the 12 hour race. She decided to run 33 miles then be done. She left, did a little shopping, ate, then came back to cheer for runners. She saw a 100 mile runner who was really struggling and decided she'd go back out on the course to help him finish the race. And ended up doing another 32 miles. Things like this give me chills.

I got to mile 90 and could taste that sub-24. I think it tasted even better than cheesecake in the middle of the night. I started pushing even harder. I was so excited knowing that unless the wheels really fell off, THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

With four miles left I broke down crying. I'm not a very emotional person but I had that kind of uncontrollable crying where you can't see straight. This happened during my first 100 miler too. At that time it was because my legs hurt so bad. This time it was because I was so completely overcome with happiness. I've always felt kind of inadequate as a runner. I always thought it would be impossible for me to finish a 100 miler faster than 24 hours. I would have never, ever believed it. And now it was about to happen. It was my happiest running moment ever.

I stopped before I got to the finish line. I wanted to breathe in every bit of this experience. The impossible.......happened. 

22 hours and 24 minutes. And I was at the finish line. 

That beat my previous fastest time by almost five and a half hours. Words can't describe the happiness that filled me. It was amazing watching so many other runners finish; watching others who had also pushed beyond what they thought was possible. And then about three hours later someone else accomplished something incredible. Susette met the finish line of a 100 miler. (You can check out her blog HERE, I'm sure a race report will come soon.)

The Jackpot Ultra Running Festival is put on by Beyond Limits Running. I can't recommend this race highly enough. They took great care of the runners and certainly exceeded expectations. Runners of the 6, 12, and 24 hour races got a cool medal. 100 milers got that medal plus a big belt buckle. I will never forget the amazing people I met, the kindness they showed, the encouragement they gave, and the happiness I felt at this race.