I am starting preparations to head to Moab to again run the Moab 100 on Saturday. There were actually three types of races running at the same time on the same 5.37-mile loop course. In addition to those running the 100-solo event, are runners running the 24-hour solo (as many miles as you can do in 24 hours), and 24-hour relay teams. Any 100-miler who doesn’t finish, is credited a 24-hour finish for the miles completed in under 24-hours.
Last year somehow I won the Moab 100 with a time of 23:35. Basically the runners who were ahead of me all quit and I was the last one standing. Four runners finished behind me. This race is tough mentally because you can return to your comfortable car every 5.37 miles and also if you quit early, you still get credit in the 24-hour version of the race.
The Moab 100 course is laid out on the Monitor and Merrimac Loop, a popular trail for jeepers and mountain bikers. The course is a loop with an out-and-back tail, like a lollipop. The route goes clockwise around the loop on odd laps and counter-clockwise on even laps. It first passes by the ruins of the historic Halfway Stagecoach Station. It then ascends up and down over a small ridge via a rutted jeep trail with scattered rocks. With huge Courthouse rock on the left and gigantic Mill-Courthouse Mesa on the right, the route crosses through several deep sandy washes and then climbs up a slickrock ramp to the base of the Mesa. The views below are terrific. The route then heads south toward Camel Butte which we would circle around on the slickrock, giving us views of the Monitor and Merrimac mesas named after the Cival War ships, off on the horizon. Most of the first half of the course up to this point is a runnable uphill 450-climb. From there it is mostly downhill. First up is a long run down a massive slickrock slope that leads to the Mill Canyon dirt jeep road that rolls up and down through a beautiful canyon with occasional small stream crossings. Finally you reach the main dirt road that passes by campsites and leads you back to the start/finish area.
Most of the Utah ultrarunners will be running in the Antelope Island Buffalo Run which will be the largest trail race ever held in Utah. I decided to instead go back to Moab and attempt to defend the title. However, I realize that this year it will be much more competitive.
My experience at Across the Years three months ago will go a long way to help me in this loop-format course. I’ve just got to keep my pace up and not waste time between loops. This year they took my suggestion to alternate the course direction each lap, and I think that will help my competitive spirit, because I will be able to see the competition much better and gage my pace better.
I’ve put my pace goal together and I am shooting for 22:30. I believe that is very possible on their course but I just cannot afford any long stops or slow sleep-walking. My laps will start at around 50 minutes each and eventually slow to about 1:30. I will try to keep my average lap time below 1 hour each for at least 8 laps. That is 8 laps in 8 hours, or 43 miles in 8 hours.
Weather should be great. Nice and cool. At night it will push down toward 30 degrees, so I must stop to dress warm after lap 11. I must not lose energy during the night through heat loss. I made that mistake last year at Bear 100 and also at Across the Years.
Training-wise, I’m ready. My mileage base has been good. I had a very good 50-mile race three weeks ago. I’ve tapered well this week, only going nine miles. I have no injury. My only regret is that I’m about seven pounds heavier than I had hoped. That is a bunch of weight to carry around for 100 miles and probably will cost me about an hour.
This race put together a poor aid station last year, not much in it, so I will bring all my food and drink with me. They will have some warm food at night, hopefully some soup. | 