Like the canyon

Syline Mountain Marathon

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Location:

Ogden,UT,

Member Since:

Nov 21, 2009

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

Finished my first 100 miler in '10, the Bear 100 in 26:05. 

55K 5:13

50 mile 7:47

Big Horn 100 Mile 24:54

 Squaw Peak 50:

2009: 13:48 (140th OA)

2010: 11:06 (26th OA)

2011: 10:01 (7th OA)

 

Short-Term Running Goals:

2012 schedule:

Red Hot 50K+  (5:23)

Buffalo Run 50 mile (7:47, 1st AG, 7th OA)

R2R2R

Squaw Peak 50 mile (11:40)

Big Horn 100 Mile (DNS)

Loco

Bear 100

Chimera 100

Zion Travers (Done)

Long-Term Running Goals:

God created skis and surfboards to keep the truly gifted from ruling the world.

I've finally let go of my preconceived notions of what it's supposed to feel like to run. - Geoff Roes

 

"If I had eight hours to chop down a tree; I'd spend six of them sharpening the axe." Abe Lincoln

 

Personal:

 

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Race: Syline Mountain Marathon (26.6 Miles) 04:30:00, Place overall: 4, Place in age division: 2

 This is an awesome trial marathon/half in the local hills here above O-town.  Full has about 4600-4800 vertical feet of climb and is 99.9% trail.

Was debating were to run on Saturday and nothing was sounding too appealing.  Really need to get away for a nice roll through the Winds again or the Tetons, but not this weekend.  I knew this race was coming up, and in fact the RD asked if I could run an aid station again, but with my sporadic running this week and limited time, I wanted to be selfish and get a good run in. Never having run this race or even some parts of the course, I thought what the heck and signed up about 9:30 last night.  When the alarm went off this morning, I really didn't want to get up.  Sleep has been scarce for a week or so with the new guy.  Dragged myself out, drove very unmotivated to the start, sat in my truck for a bit wanting to close my eyes for another 10 minutes, finally walked over and got my number, talked to Phil L, who wasn't racing but headed up BL with his son, Talked with Shane the goat for a bit, hit the POP and walked up to the start. 

Here's the Highlights (and a few low-lights):

-In the 100 yards to the single track, no one wanted to jump in the lead so I did.  Not where I wanted to be, but there I was.

-Lead  about 2/3's of the initial 2800-3000 ft climb.  Had another guy with me that I thought was the goat, ended up being a kid named Pablo, who passed me like I was standing still and put a big gap between me and everyone else for a bit.

-I went out too hard and started to die a bit a the top of the climb, Came through the first aid at the saddle in 3rd, right with second place at 1:08.  

-Kept about a 30 second gap behind second most of the way across the ridge, when the goat came by like I was standing still and I was in 4th.  Second place was in third as the goat picked him off quick too.  The guy can run downhill!

-Got stung by 3 bees on the Lewis Peak section! What the hell? I think  I made up new curse words when the 3rd one hit me on the inner thigh!

-Tripped and stumbled on a root at one point, calf locked up so bad I thought I was not getting off the mountain.  Had to stop and stretch it out for a couple minutes.  On the subject, I don't think I have accumulated so many near crashes in all my runs all season, every mile it seemed I was stumbling around after nearly wrecking on some rock or root. Only hit the dirt once, right off the start, just as we hit the single track, not a biggy, no high speed crash, just hands on the ground.

-My asthma kicked in pretty hard through this one, especially after the bee incident(s).  Lots of inhaler hits.  Frustrates the heck out me this time of year, another month and it will mellow out.

-The decent off Lewis to Windsurfer Beach was a long hot, out of water for almost an hour grind.  Some miscommunication with the volunteers and no aid station at the top.  Silly me only took half a bottle at the top of the North Ogden Divide, thinking I'd fill up at the top. Nope.

-Total mental/physical break down on the North Arm trail section.  Walked a lot, complained to myself too much. Generally felt horrible rolling up and down, in and out of trees and weeds.

-Caught sight of 3rd place as soon as we hit the pavement section.  That, and the fact that I caught sight of 5th behind me, snapped me out of it and I ran the last half mile or so strong.

-Finished less than a minute behind 3rd and a minute or less in front of 5th.  Sheesh! gotta keep my head in the game!

Great race, awesome, tough course.  Might have to make it a regular, at least redeem myself as this one was not my best run physically.  My mind/body just wasn't ready to run hard for that many miles/vert.  Happy I ran it though, gives me something to think about going forward.

Shane the goat ended up winning again at 4:01

 Week (weak) 40 miles, 5500 vert or so.  Not what  I needed at this point, but was all I could get.


Comments
From gdoc on Sat, Aug 20, 2011 at 21:40:21 from 98.202.195.25

Nice Bryce. I love the report. I enjoyed the race last year, but head not in the game to do it again this year. I loved the whole course except the North Arm sucked the life out of me fast. Sucks with the bees. Great time considering all the other crap going on!

From Oreo on Sun, Aug 21, 2011 at 01:33:53 from 71.38.243.197

You are one tough Cookie!! Awesome.. Seriously three bee stings.. Dude, what up with the NO water after climbing up to lewis trail.. I would have laid down and cried..That North Arm is a beast after coming down Skyline. Great JOB!!

From Steam8 on Sun, Aug 21, 2011 at 02:19:06 from 166.70.55.77

WOW! Congrats on your race! I can't believe your time with that much vertical and with breathing problems! I can't even imagine running a marathon like that. Flat is hard enough for me!

From jun on Mon, Aug 22, 2011 at 11:03:16 from 70.103.189.14

Nice job man. Sounds like a tough course. Definitely one of those days when the biggest win was the mental battle you fought. Way to go.

From Scott Wesemann on Mon, Aug 22, 2011 at 13:54:39 from 205.158.160.209

Stung 3 times? Wow! Way to grind it out with all of the issues and still put up a fast time. You are running well right now. You are doing the Bear, right?

From Bryce on Tue, Aug 23, 2011 at 23:50:32 from 76.27.58.194

Thanks all!! Yes, it wasn't the smoothest race I've ever had. Bee's?? who knows?? Fun race though.

Scott, yes, planning on doing the Bear 100.

From Lulu Walls on Wed, Aug 24, 2011 at 16:01:41 from 155.101.137.249

Whoa nice job especially with the bees! I am scared to death of bees. Mostly because I've never ever been stung by one - weird huh? Will consider this race for sure next year.

From Aaron Kennard on Mon, Aug 29, 2011 at 11:52:27 from 98.245.117.176

nice job on a solid marathon! Reminds me of all the horseflies that were feeding off my flesh on Kings peak this year. I wasn't wearing a shirt and I had multiple scabs on my back afterward. I'm pretty sure the bee stings would be worse though.

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