When I ran with my buddy from Logan a week and a half ago I was totally convinced I would not run Squaw Peak. We talked about it on the run and both concluded it would be smart not to run as I am just getting through the Achilles junk.
Then I ran with Corey and Matt the Saturday before the race, heel felt good, as it has lately, but even though they were both running, I was certain I was not going to run. Then I ran into Corey and go-fasite Jon on a run a few days before the race, still convinced, but talking with them got my wheels spinning a bit thinking it would be fun to just give it a go.
Friday found me reluctantly packing and getting my gear together to run as I wanted to drive down a sleep at the start. Finally after bumbling around for way too long I was out the door at almost 10 PM on my way to Provo Canyon.
I slept right at the start/finish. Not something I would recommend for this race. The RD, Bozung, was out herding the troops all night long. Every time I would finally get to sleep, someone would come pulling in, talk, move this and that, talk some more and leave. Repeat. Every hour. All night long.
Alarm went off about an hour before the start and I kinda laughed. I wouldn’t have needed it, I had been awake for the last hour by the bustle of the early starters. I moved from the back seat to the front, pulled out breakfast of Greek yogurt, banana, pop-tart, and ½ a croissant, washed it down with some diet coke and a power bar. Yep, breakfast of dough heads.
Cruised over to the bathroom before the crowd showed up, walked back, casually changed clothes into race attire, walked 10 steps, deposited my drop bag in the stack, 10 steps back to the car, stretched my calves and read my book for a few minutes, cruised the 30 yards over to the start and just as the front of the pack pulled through the gate. I was the last person over the start line. I had no real expectations. I had no clear idea where my fitness was at. Buffalo Run 50 miler went down in a flame of coughing spasms and cold shivers, my Zion traverse a month or so ago, while 50 miles, was run so casually, I didn’t consider it a good measure, and with my frail body I haven’t pushed much in training. I had been consistent, but most all training runs were easy paced and fairly short on miles and vertical for most of the last month and a half.
With no expectations, I whole heartedly went with the strategy that seems to work best for me, I was determined that my race was about the 10 feet in front of me and 1 foot behind me. Time didn’t matter, place, no concern, who I wanted to run with wasn’t an issue. I was going to settle into my rhythm and see what happened. I wove in and out of traffic down the river trail, Said a quick hi as I went by go-fastie Jon and was soon making my way up the single track of the BST toward Hope Campground. As luck would have it, I happened to be at the front of the conga line and could cruise at my pace. I hate the run/walk/run/walk/run these little trains always turn into and was thankful to be able to shuffle along at my easy run pace.
Eventually caught up to a group just before the aid that included many of my Ogden running buddies. Chad and I ran together for a bit before he pushed ahead. I held on to my plan and just kept in my place and pace.
After the aid and continuing to climb, my pace just kept pushing me past other runners. I wasn’t trying to push, wasn’t overly eager to pass, just the rhythm I was in and I kept picking people off.
Eventually we summited the first climb and I quickly was reminded how poor Hoka’s are in the mud as I went flat on my side in the first turn on the downhill. No worse for wear, not even a scrape, but the mud covering my right side led to a lot of concerned questions from aid station folks through the rest of the day.
Running down Rock Canyon was the highlight of the day. The grade was pretty mellow for descending and the ground technical enough to make it fun. I went by the rest of my Ogden buddies here and a few others as well. I hit the aid and was pretty much in and out, which was something I wanted to do this race. Spend no or very, very little time at aid stations. Out onto the BST above Provo, and it was just me. I could see a couple of guys way out front, and no one was in the one foot behind me, so I was all by myself.
BST Provo and my local BST are two totally different animals. I would not choose to run on most of what we ran on in the race. Roller coaster up’s and downs, sections through old gravel pits, overgrown sections where the weeds were knee high, a couple of nicer sections here and there. 19 miles of it was about 17 miles too many though, no offence to you UC folks who may like that trial.
By the time it hit Spring Creek I had caught and passed the two guys in front and settled into the long climb with one runner a 100 yards or so behind. I was surprised at the steep grade of the trail and also how rugged it was. Tough to go up as well as run down. Very pretty section. As we neared the top of the climb another runner came into site. The three of us would run close together into the turn around and we all three left on the climb back out together as well. I talked with one guy for a bit, from Draper. The course was a true out-n-back, so we would retrace the whole route back to the start/finish. Almost the whole Ogden group passed early on this section going down to the turn around. Amazing to me how many ultra runners there are from this area. I settled into my rhythm again on the climb and eventually moved ahead of the other two runners.
I had an absolute riot running back down to Spring Creek. Seeing all the runners coming up, giving and getting lots of whoops and cheers. Passed Gdoc and Oreo through here. G looked good, but I could tell O wasn’t his usual upbeat, strong self. When I got into the aid I couldn’t believe how crowded it was, sticking to my plan, I grabbed a cup of water and was off.
Walking out of the aid station, I pulled out my bag of S-caps and while fishing two out, my cup of water must have sloshed into the bag. When I went for two more at the next aid though whole bag was nothing more than a molten goop of melted S-caps, Advil, and Tums. My race pretty much shut off mentally right there for about 40 minutes. This is the second time the same thing has happened to me. Every race since the first time I have stashed some emergency S-caps and other junk somewhere in my race pack/waist belt/ pockets, but in my lack of thinking about this race I neglected to do that and would now pay the price. I knew I could get through. I also knew getting through would involve cramps and nausea. For me on a hot day with that many miles and a fastish pace those two things are guarantees without salt/electrolyte supplements. Mentally I was frustrated that I had done well and felt great and that one mistake would reverse some of that. Getting past that and pushing along anyway slowed me a bit for a few miles.
Along the BST section back to Rock Canyon I had noticed Shane M behind me. The gap never seemed to change much, sometimes he would seem closer other times further back. By now I was switching from running in my own world to compete mode as we were in the final miles and I wanted to see what I could do. I was fighting to keep Shane at a distance and was concerned about the very long climb up Rock Canyon without any salt. I knew if I pushed I would get very crampy and sick fast. As I came into the aid I noticed one of the MRC blog guys, Christian, I think, there with his running gear on. I asked at the aid if they had any S or E caps and they said we have salt for the potatoes, nice but not what I needed. I asked Christian if he had any he could spare, I felt like a freaking junkie, but couldn’t bear the thought of what was to come without, thoughts of my glorious Grand Canyon bonk kept haunting me. He had two stashed in a back pocket of his pack. Smart guy! I took them gratefully and I know that’s what got me up that climb.
I made it up and over the climb without seeing a soul, other than lots of Provo hikers out for the day in beautiful Rock Canyon. I knew Shane was back there but hadn’t seen him in an hour. As I started the long descent into Hope Campground and eventually back to the finish at Vivian Park, my legs and stomach finally rebelled. Cramps in my quads and nausea in my gut. Just before the last aid Shane came blowing by me. It was the first time I had been passed all day and it was at mile 45 or so. I patted him on the back and yelled nice job and watched him go. Fortunately we rolled around the corner and there was the aid. Shane stopped for a drop bag and I grabbed a cup of water and went. Just as I was leaving I saw Josh, JSH on the blog I think, coming in. I pushed hard out of the aid and painfully bombed the hill trying to hold Shane off. He caught me just before a traversing service road that we ran on for a bit. He went by and motioned for me to hang on and I gave it all I had, but he opened a bit of a gap, like maybe 50 yards, and that is where it would stay for the last 3 miles!
The BST down to the river trail was blazing hot and the trail just rolling enough to make it brutal, especially with everything I had on the fire trying to hang with Shane. We hit the river trail and it was hell on wheels. The slight uphill grade and the heat were murderous. Shane was just out of reach staying 30-50 yards in front. I would gain a few, he would look back see the gap and push it back up. He eventually caught another runner, they ran together for a bit and I thought they would finish together. I also thought, push! If I can get one I get two!! I felt a surge of energy and closed the gap a bit more. Shane dropped the other runner and he started walking. I caught him and quickly passed as well, regaining my 7th place that I had had for 25 miles or so.
I was getting worked badly at this point. Cramps all through my legs and my stomach was just about to end up all over the river trail. I’m sure I looked like running death to all the nice families out enjoying the warm afternoon. I told myself just get around the next corner, if the finish isn’t right there walk for a bit. Luckily it was right around the corner and before I knew it I was sitting in a chair getting my number taken off and answering the same question about whether I was o.k as it looked like I had taken a fall. Next thing I knew I was offering Shane a 100 bucks for 2 S-caps. I am freaking junkie! The things work for me though. I went from feeling like I would hurl, to totally fine in 10 minutes after taking 2 at the finish.
What a great race! I felt fantastic all in all and am really happy with my result and where my training has gotten me this year. My time this year was almost 4 hours faster than my first Squaw Peak 2 years ago and on a harder course. Incredible to watch so many friends finish so strong. Corey had the race of the day I think, he killed it! I was so excited for him! Go Fastie nailed his first 50 miler getting 1st place in his age group. Gdoc, what can I say, probably the best finish I saw all day. Awesome to see his family all there cheering him in, he killed it for a huge jump in distance and effort. I love this race and its one I hope I can keep doing year after year.
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