Trails!

El Vaquero Loco

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Location:

Logan,UT,United States

Member Since:

Apr 08, 2005

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

Former Course Record Holder (it was a good run while it lasted...)

Logan Peak Trail Race

Completely addicted to trail running

 

 

 

 

Short-Term Running Goals:

2016 Race Schedule

TBD...

 

 

 

 

Long-Term Running Goals:

Who knows?

 

 

 

 

Personal:

Link to my Wife and I's Photo and Running blog

 

 

 

 

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Microspikes Lifetime Miles: 408.50
PI EMotion Trail N1 Lifetime Miles: 357.00
MT1010SA Lifetime Miles: 120.50
Rapa Nui 2 Lifetime Miles: 305.50
Altra Olympus Lifetime Miles: 555.80
PI Emotion Trail N2 Lifetime Miles: 312.50
PI Emotion Trail M2 Lifetime Miles: 328.50
2015 Trail Miles Lifetime Miles: 2047.50
2015 Road Miles Lifetime Miles: 490.00
2015 Mtn Bike Miles Lifetime Miles: 58.00
Altra Impulse 1.0 Lifetime Miles: 46.00
Altra Lone Peak 2.5 Lifetime Miles: 242.00
Altra Paradigm (blue) Lifetime Miles: 102.00
LP 3.0 Tester Lifetime Miles: 64.50
Altra One2 Lifetime Miles: 14.00
Altra Paradigm 2.0 Lifetime Miles: 92.00
Altra LP NS HT Lifetime Miles: 95.00
Altra Torin 2.5 Red Lifetime Miles: 7.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
219.5030.00249.50
Cascadia 7 Miles: 78.502013 Trail Miles Miles: 226.50Salomon XR Mission Miles: 106.50Cascadia 6 Red Miles: 9.00PI EMotion Trail N1 Miles: 33.00Hoka Stinson B Miles: 12.502013 Road Miles Miles: 23.00Launch Blue #1 Miles: 4.00Ghost 4 Miles: 6.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
15.500.0015.50

Day 3 of Backpacking in Wind River Range - 

Today we took a day hike (15.5 miles from base camp) up to the Continental Divide at Indian Pass (past Island Lake and Indian Basin).  It was a fun 3000' climb day.  It wasn't real hard, but was the highest anyone in the group had ever gone (12,180') except for me and one other leader.  It was pretty fun watching them struggle but still make it to the pass.  Well done!

 - We hiked up to the pass shown just left-center.

 

Cascadia 7 Miles: 15.502013 Trail Miles Miles: 15.50
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Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
27.000.0027.00

Day 4 of Backpacking the Wind Rivers - 

Today everyone crashed from the hike yesterday and took a fishing day.  Not much happened around camp.  Luckily, my strength had returned so I went for a little jog.  I decided to run back to the truck and head into town to get the paperwork resolved to save us the $150 fine.  Really, it was an excuse to go running and explore the mountains.  Happily, I headed off and took the scenic route back to the trailhead.  I took probably 30 pictures of lakes that I passed and only got pics of the bigger ones.  Never mind the 50 small ones I passed.  That place is crazy.  Water everywhere.  It was 17 miles and 3:35 to the trailhead.  I grabbed a burger and a shake while in-town and tried not to barf on the run back to camp (10 miles in 2:30).  It really messed with me.  Won't try eating that again before a run.  Got back to camp and took a dip in the freezing lake.

4000' vert - 27 miles - 6:05 (counting all the photos).

 

Cascadia 7 Miles: 27.002013 Trail Miles Miles: 27.00
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Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
15.000.0015.00

Last Day of Backpacking Wind River Range (actually only a very small piece of it).

Today, we packed up and hiked the 10 miles out.  Packs were a bit lighter without the food and fuel.  I felt a million times better than on Tuesday.  I also had gotten used to the 10,300 foot elevation of base camp.  Still heavy breathing on the hills, but no longer all the time.  We made good time except for one incident.  A scout got ahead of the group and then took a wrong turn.  We thought he was in-front of us until we made it to the trailhead and discovered him missing.  We guessed where he went wrong and sent out the search party (me) to find him.  I had a 12 mile route planned to check and we figured we would find him within that route.  I ended up finding him just 2.5 miles or so up the trail.  He had indeed taken a wrong turn and hiked an extra 4 miles.  He was tired and thirsty, but well.  I gave him water and then headed back to the trailhead to call off the (professional) search party.  I did get 5 miles of good trail running in though as a bonus (always thinking of the positive).  

 

The boys killing time waiting for the lost scout.

Cascadia 7 Miles: 15.002013 Trail Miles Miles: 15.00
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Took a day off to try and get better from my sick-o-ness. (I am sure its a word).

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Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
6.000.006.00

Deer Fence 6 - 

Was still hacking up junk, but feeling better. 

2013 Trail Miles Miles: 6.00Salomon XR Mission Miles: 6.00
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Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
9.000.009.00

Birch Canyon 9 miles - 

Joe, Mike and I back at it today.  Still feeling pretty crappy, but had a good time.

T-1:30 2200' vert 

Cascadia 6 Red Miles: 9.002013 Trail Miles Miles: 9.00
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Race: El Vaquero Loco (30 Miles) 05:48:46, Place overall: 3, Place in age division: 3
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
0.0030.0030.00

El Vaquero Loco 50K - 3rd Place 5:48:46  9000' vert

I am pretty happy with it even though it was 11:35 slower than last year.  Only missed 2nd by 1:25.  I have got to get better from whatever it is I have before I try and race again.  Its hard to race sick.

All around it was a pretty good day.  Joe finally finished a race!  His first since Logan Peak LAST YEAR!  Mike killed it (per my prediction) running a 6:15:47 for 5th place.  David and Tim Nelson both did well in the 25K (JV race).  It was also a rare no-rain year which was nice for Joe and Jenny who slept under the stars.

 Photo courtesy of Bethany Draper

So, the longer version isn't going to be very entertaining.  No deaths or near death experiences like my backpacking trip last week.  Sorry.  Here goes...

I took friday off work and headed up to Cottonwood lake with the Family and trailer in tow.  We found the last remaining spot where you can park a trailer and set up camp.  We spent the rest of the day checking out the lake and playing frisbee and dodging random rain storms.  Just having a good time in the mountains.  Around dark, Joe, Jenny, and Mike showed up with my bib # and hoodie (thanks) and also David Nelson from Washington (formerly from Logan) and Timm (sp) Nelson his younger brother who lives in Alaska.  Yep the race is that cool that Timm would ride a snowmobile for hours to make it to the airport to fly to Seattle then drive with David all the way to Afton for a short 25K thats mostly uphill.  It's that good.

The race started off well with Luke taking his rightful place up front.  I thought he might take it easy on us this year, but within 20 seconds he was already pushing the pace so I let him cruise off into the sunrise...Some guy who ran like a deer stuck on him like glue and the two of them were off.  Plaid shirt deer guy had crazy form, but had a beard so I figured he would do well.

I settled into third with Joe dropping back and two other guys not far behind.  It remained this way up the 3000' in 3.6 mile climb.  Well, for most of it.  The final mile they caught and passed me putting me into 5th.  I was realizing that my climbing gear was broken again.  Warning!  I am about to give an excuse....I was still sick.  There, I said it.  I was lacking energy, ability to breathe, etc due to my (now diagnosed) sinus infection.  

Oh well, I was there to enjoy it and do the best I could.  So, run/hike I did.  I passed one of the guys back running down "balls" but the other guy maintained his 100m lead.  No worries, its a long race.  We cruised past the lakes and admired the red sunrise and especially enjoyed the shade while it lasted.  No rain and no clouds meant things would warm up.  

As usual, the final 3 miles to the turnaround were harder than they should be and I knew things were going to be rough on the return trip.  I saw Luke heading back up and saw he had gained a gap on deer boy but didn't get gaps on anyone else.  I had my #1 crew there at the turnaround and they helped me get ready for the return trip.  I stocked up on Mtn Dew and EFS slurry and went back at it.  

I hit the turnaround 3 mins behind PR pace and knew it wasn't going to be easy to make that up.  I settled into my best sustainable pace and went after 25K roadkill.  They had about a 10 min lead on me so it took awhile to catch them but I was soon knocking them off.  I kept looking for third place guy but never saw him.  I did see deer boy sitting off the trail looking utterly spent.  Very deja vu from last year with Joe. It was almost the exact same spot.

I wasn't moving as fast as I wanted but I was now in 3rd place.  Looking at my splits I lost another 7 mins on my splits from last year by the time I hit the Lakes.  I had no clue at the time and just 'ran'.  I loved the downhill into the lakes and had a blast running kamikaze down those hills flying past the 25K people.  The uphills sucked though.  Period.  I thought I was going to die hiking up balls.  I was going to stop and admire the view but someone had beat me to the best spot. David was just standing there admiring the view.  Who knows how long he stood there hanging out hogging the good view.  Punk.

All uphills finished, I tried to let my legs fly down the final brutal decent to the finish.  I was determined to run this faster this year.  I was doing well I thought, until I got a side ache.  It really hurt.  I had to slow and try and work it out.  I still managed to pass another 5 or so people on the descent and finish in a respectable manner.  

Come to find out, I had run the downhill so fast compared to 2nd place I almost caught him.  He was over 10 mins ahead at the lakes and I finished just over a minute behind him.  If only I had known... 

11:30 slower than last year but still a respectable 3rd place in 5:48:46.  I know I can go sub 5:30 on this course.  Next year..

Mike did really well considering his lack of training lately due to a foot injury.  He managed another 5th place (2 in a row).  Joe, he didn't have as great of a day, but like I said, he finished!  That is an accomplishment any day but especially for him lately.  His leg hurt him and he had to slow to a walk for a lot of the final 8 miles which cost him an hour but if you ask him, he down't care.  It was a great day!  

David and Timm?  Timm did well and dusted his older brother.  Ha!  Well done to both of them with their limited training.  It was great to hang out.  

Lets see, we ate burgers, drank huckleberry soda(s), soaked in the lake, packed up camp, ate at La Beau's (shakes and burgers) and crashed.  A perfect day!

- Sunday, after hacking up a lung all night I went to instacare and saw a doctor.  Neither of us really wanted to do a mono test and figured it wasn't going to change anything anyways so its possible I do have mono BUT he did diagnose a sinus infection and put me on antibiotics.  I think it is actually helping and I am finally breathing normal after 3 weeks of sickness (I am writing this on wed night).  

2013 Trail Miles Miles: 30.00Salomon XR Mission Miles: 30.00
Comments(10)
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.000.007.00

Didn't run this week (until today) to try and finally get better from this sinus infection.  Still coughing a bit but feeling much better.  I am in SLC for a funeral so I took advantage and went up Big Cottonwood Canyon.  Trailhead was 5 miles from my parent's doorstep.  I went up Mill B trail to Lake Blanche.  Pretty steep and rocky.  Views were great though.  51 mins up and 30 mins down with a slow jog around the lake and around at the top. 

T-1:38 2800' vert 

2013 Trail Miles Miles: 7.00PI EMotion Trail N1 Miles: 7.00
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14.000.0014.00

Mill-D to Desolation Lake then beyond on Wasatch Crest trail.  I love that trail.  All very runnable and scenic.  A great run.  Plus I went golfing today.  Nice

T-2:18 (9:51) 3200' vert

Over the past 7 weeks I have run 11 miles on the road and 371 on trails.  That is definitely a record for me.  Love it!  I think I will incorporate a bit more road running though as I feel I have done enough vertical lately and could use some more speed work.  Since I don't do speed work on the track, running on the roads will have to do.   

2013 Trail Miles Miles: 14.00PI EMotion Trail N1 Miles: 14.00
Comments(2)
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
8.000.008.00

Temple - Canal trail to USU campus (8 miles)

I tried to run faster than normal today and managed to run my first mile sub 8 pace.  I even got the final 3 sub 7.  That's fast for me lately.  Pretty sad.

T-60 mins 300' vert 

Hoka Stinson B Miles: 8.002013 Trail Miles Miles: 1.002013 Road Miles Miles: 7.00
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Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
4.500.004.50

So all that "fast running" I did yesterday caused my IT band to flare up.  It really started to hurt today.  I did laps around the fairgrounds staying on dirt and grass.  Then I cut it short and went home to ice it.  Pretty frustrating.

 

Hoka Stinson B Miles: 4.502013 Trail Miles Miles: 2.502013 Road Miles Miles: 2.00
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Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
9.500.009.50

Jardine Juniper with Joe - 

I was really worried about running today.  I could feel my IT band complain while walking around the office.  Once I got to the trail, I warmed it up for a bit before heading out.  The amazing thing was it didn't hurt at all during the run (or after).  I did take it real easy both on the ups and the downs to not aggravate it.  We had a great chat and even got to see the Mt. Elmer fire smoldering up Cottonwood Canyon.  Looks pretty small.  

T-1:28:30 (9:19) 2000' vert

2013 Trail Miles Miles: 9.50Salomon XR Mission Miles: 9.50
Comments(2)
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.000.007.00

Deer Fence  - 7

Leg only hurt on the pavement. 

T-1:01 800' vert 

2013 Trail Miles Miles: 5.002013 Road Miles Miles: 2.00Salomon XR Mission Miles: 7.00
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Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.000.007.00

River Trail - 7

Stokes to Spring Hollow CG.  Leg felt pretty good after the first half mile to warm it up. 

T-56:45 600' vert 

Cascadia 7 Miles: 7.002013 Trail Miles Miles: 7.00
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Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
21.000.0021.00

Long Trail Run with Mike -  

No TOU half for me again this year (still not missing it).  Mike and I went up and ran Stump Hollow to the sinks - Down Turkey Trail to the junction with Little Bear Bottoms ATV trail - followed that trail up to the sinks road- down the dirt road a mile or two until we saw a sign pointing back to Peter Sinks - back down Stump.  Of that big loop, 7-8 miles of it was new for me.  I liked it especially since I figured I would have to come back up Turkey Trail and I didn't have to due to finding the Little Bear bottoms ATV trail route.  Sweet.

I was feeling pretty decent today but wanted to keep the pace mellow.  No complaints about that from Mike as he decided to have a bummer of a stomach issue then a puke then a complete bonk.  Poor guy, it was a rough day for him.  I did a bit more at the end waiting for him and exploring over to Beaver Creek Lodge (they have a well with life-saving water when you are really thirsty).  Leg was not complaining today (except for the first half mile as usual).

T-3:32 (10:06) 3800' vert

Oh, what a beautiful morning 

 

2013 Trail Miles Miles: 21.00Salomon XR Mission Miles: 21.00
Comments(4)
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
8.000.008.00

AM: River Trail 8. Legs were feeling good so pushed a bit on the way up but keep it reasonable on the way down.  Didn't want to aggravate the IT band.  So far, its doing better with every day.  

T-1:00:45 (7:36) 400' vert

2013 Trail Miles Miles: 8.00Salomon XR Mission Miles: 8.00
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Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
8.000.008.00

Canal Trail to BST almost to Green - 8 miles

It's getting too dark now for the first couple miles.  Time for a headlamp again.  Bummer.  Trying to navigate the canal trail in the dark was tricky (read slow).

T-1:08 (8:35) 600' vert

Cascadia 7 Miles: 8.002013 Trail Miles Miles: 6.502013 Road Miles Miles: 1.50
Comments(3)
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
12.000.0012.00

Ricks - Steel Hollow Loop - 12

Joe and I enjoyed the awesome loop that is the Ricks, Steel Loop.  We kept it pretty chill on the bit up Ricks then started pushing the pace along the road until we hit the descent down Steel.  Joe promptly superman'ed on the trail and was pretty banged up so, nice guy that I am, I passed him and promptly sped up.  I pushed the downhill pretty hard to see how my leg would handle it.  No problem.  Might be sore tomorrow, but so far so good. 

T-1:42:30 (8:32) 2400' vert

2013 Trail Miles Miles: 12.00PI EMotion Trail N1 Miles: 12.00
Comments(2)
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
10.000.0010.00

AM: Planet Walk 6 - slow

PM: Took the kids to the Track. 4 miles Pushed the girls in the stroller, while my son rode his bike.  The older 2 both did 2 laps. 

Launch Blue #1 Miles: 4.00Ghost 4 Miles: 6.002013 Trail Miles Miles: 1.002013 Road Miles Miles: 9.00
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Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
6.000.006.00

Temple to Canal Trail to BST.  Felt much better than yesterday, but still slow.  Still not used to this running everyday thing.  Haven't been very consistent this summer.  This week is much better. 

T-52:00 6 miles

Cascadia 7 Miles: 6.002013 Trail Miles Miles: 4.502013 Road Miles Miles: 1.50
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Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
25.000.0025.00

Wasatch 100 course - 

My sister-in-law had a baby so a quick trip to SLC just HAD to happen (sarcasm).  We went by friday night and saw them so Saturday morning I opted out and went up into the mountains while everyone visited.  I decided to go check out the final 25 miles of the Wasatch course.  I have done miles 75 (Brighton) to 82 (Pole Line Pass Aid) before but today I wanted to see more of it.  I went on to mile 91 (Ruminant Spring) then shortcut back to mile 83 then backtracked to 75.  I was pretty happy to have a map with me cause there were lots of places to turn off.  I was especially glad they marked the spring cause my ultraspire pack was out of water and I was still 2 hours from the car.  Lifesaver.  I have to say after having run miles 75-91, that they are harder than miles 75-91 of the Bear.  "The Dive" wasn't a big deal, but "The Plunge" sucked.  I do have to say though, that the downhill from Sunset Pass to Ant Knolls is the worst though.  I would not want to do that in the dark.  It would be very slow.  That said, climbing back UP it was WAY worse.  Probably cause I was pretty calorie deficient but man it stunk.  

T-5:42:30 (13:42) 7500' vert

View from Sunset Peak (mile 77.3 of Wasatch100)

View of Timp from mile 86

 

2013 Trail Miles Miles: 25.00Salomon XR Mission Miles: 25.00
Comments(5)
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
219.5030.00249.50
Cascadia 7 Miles: 78.502013 Trail Miles Miles: 226.50Salomon XR Mission Miles: 106.50Cascadia 6 Red Miles: 9.00PI EMotion Trail N1 Miles: 33.00Hoka Stinson B Miles: 12.502013 Road Miles Miles: 23.00Launch Blue #1 Miles: 4.00Ghost 4 Miles: 6.00
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