Day 2 of Wasatch 100 recon - I was so happy I could spend 4 hours yesterday on the trails, I celebrated by doing it again. No, not the same section of course, but the same race. This time I started at Mill D North trailhead in Big Cottonwood Canyon and headed up to Dog Lake. 2.5 miles in 34 mins. I remember hiking that trail as a scout with my sleeping gear and having it take forever! I continued past the lake and dropped down into Mill Creek on the Big Water trail. This trail is nearly 3 miles long buffed out singletrack. Awesome trail! Unfortunately, today is an even day so bikes were allowed on the trail. The whole day I was dodging bikers. So now I was back on course and facing the right direction. Mile 61.5 or so of the Wasatch 100 course. ~ 3 uphill miles back to Dog Lake. I haven't run this section since I was in high school and was on the cross country team. We would usually run it in about 30 mins. I was now an hour into my run and knew that I had 3 more hours to go. So no racing my ghost runner today, but I could gauge myself anyway. I ran a standard 4 hour pace keeping a consistent effort and got to the lake in 32 mins. I will take it! Onward, past the lake and up to Desolation Lake. Once again, it was memory lane as I have camped there two times as a kid. Once in the snow. This time it was much warmer, and easier to get to. My split to the lake from Big Water was 63 mins for the 5.25 miles. It took Evan Honeyfield only 67! Seriously? Luke took 74! Karl took 78! No wonder those guys are at the top of every race result. Once past the lake, you encounter a crappy little climb up to Red Lovers Ridge. The views of Park City area from there are amazing though. The best surprise was that the trail from then on was amazing singletrack that was very runnable and followed just below the ridgeline for miles and miles. I had never been on this section before and fell in love instantly. I can now see why there are so many bikers on that trail. Awesome! I followed it all the way to the second radio tower passing where "Scott's Pass" aid station was. I wanted to continue all the way to Guardsmans pass, but the trail turned to dirt road and I was out of time and water (nearly). For comparison again, I ran the the section from Desolation to Scott's Aid in about 45 mins. Karl ran it in 52. Luke and Evan both did it in 47! I even stopped my watch to take pictures at Red Lovers Ridge. They didn't have that luxury. Its fun to see what those guys can do. The way back to the car was un-eventful but just as amazing as the way out. I didn't take the detour to Millcreek again, but just headed back via Desolation and Mill D trail back to the car. The gatoraid I had waiting for me there was simply amazing! T- 3:58 (22.7 miles) (10:30) 5200' Vert Profile -
*** Weekly summary. This week was simply amazing as I was able to get in 3 crazy big runs all in the same week. I was truly surprised that I felt so good today. I thought that after friday's big run I would be dead (like I was on Tuesday). Nope, I felt fine and was able to enjoy another big day in the mountains. I am so glad that things are well again with my leg. No issues anymore it seems. I have lost my downhill speed, but I can get that back once I run on the road again. No reason to do something lame like that though. 78.5 miles - 870 mins - 18,200' Vert - (PR for vertical feet in a week)
PICS - Dog Lake (pretty gross)
Desolation Lake from Red Lovers Ridge - Brighton from the radio tower -
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