The North Face Endurance Challenge 50 Miler Park City
Why did I sign up for this thing? I was feeling good (out of shape but, whatever), signed up then promptly got injured the next day. Isn't that how it goes. Spent the last 2 weeks nursing the injury while still participating in pacing and marking THE BEAR. Priorities.
Oh well, race day arrived and I wasn't real optomistic about a good run. Decided to bring my camera and just enjoy the day. Started out as slow as possible (I just can't do that) and found myself in 30th place. Any downhill made me run tenderly slow. Leaders were long gone. That is ok, I wasn't racing anyways. Just cover some ground and get my money's worth. I succeded in doing both those plans. I was tempted to drop at mile 21.5 but by then my hip flexor (my injury) was feeling much better (1 tylenol).
Now determined to finish the last 28.5 miles, I decided to take more pictures and enjoy the day even more. So that is what I did. I ran/jogged/hiked the rest of the day. Somewhere around mile 30 I was feeling strong so I decided to go hunting. I probably wasn't speeding up at all but I found myself catching people. That is always fun to catch and pass folks. Before long I was at mile 45 at the top of a climb with only 5 downhill miles to go. Legs were feeling great, time to let loose. I was rewarded with 1 more pass and enjoyed the final 400 switchbacks to the finish. This race was 50 miles of switchbacks and aspen trees. Very pretty but seriously? How about a straightaway?
That is it for this season. Time to heal up and maybe tag a peak or two before winter...
T-9:34:09 (11:29) 9250' vert (158 ave hr)
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