Antelope Island today was like a Utah/Idaho trailrunner convention. The trails were filled with runners, most who are getting some final training in on the Island before the Buffalo Run when 750+ runners will maroon themselves on the island in a couple weeks to run like crazy.
I was the first to arrive. The automatic timer on the island gate swung open at 5:30 a.m. and I parked at the parking lot on the Great Salt Lake shore. I wanted to get some extra miles in before most runner arrived so I ran across the long 7-mile causeway and back, and nice easy tempo run to get my feet moving. It was great fun to see dawn arrive far out on the lake. I returned at 7:45 a.m. with just enough time to change, eat, and get ready for some trail running.
Lots of runners showed up by 8:00 a.m. and we caravaned out to the Buffalo Run starting time. Jim Skaggs explained the suggested route for the day and we took off. After a mile or so, once we hit the single track, I told buddy Mike Place that it was time to kick it in. We started to fly ahead of the pack. My legs just loved to be running on soft single-track again. Our pace for the rest of that first loop was pretty fast. I stopped for a bathroom break and Mike took the lead. He kept the pace going. I kept him in my sights but at times we were doing sub 7-minute pace. It was great fun.
Back at our cars, we prepared for the main event, the big 18-mile loop that will begin the real race in a few weeks. We continued to push it pretty well. I was feeling the miles and Mike stayed about 50 yards ahead. But once we hit the soft sandy downhill toward Lone Tree, I kicked it into high gear, curious to see how fast I could run it. I flew by Mike doing a 5:40 pace. Great fun! Near Lone Tree, I was surpised to see Karl Meltzer coming toward me. He called out my name and we exchanged greetings as he flew by.
Once I hit the 25-mile mark for the morning, I backed off the pace. I wasn't eating enough but that was OK. Mike and I ran near each other. He had a very impressive pace up the switch-backs, but I caught up to him at the Elephant Head trail junction. His calf was bugging him so his fast pace was over. I hit the 50K mark for the day at about 5:15, so the pace was pretty good.
The rest of the run was enjoyable but uneventful. I brought it in slow, averaging 12:30 pace toward the end. I just enjoyed the late morning and had ran by many buffalo. I finished my run about 1 p.m. or so and enjoyed talking to many runners who were resting from their runs. I had run out of food with three miles to go and ran out of water with a mile to go. I had refilled my bottle a couple times using snow. Glad it was there. The trails were in pretty good shape, only on stretch of 100 yards of mud. Lots of horse ruts, but hopefully those will get smoothed out by the bikes before race day. I could tell that all the runners had packed down the trail pretty well.
Four more miles with the dog. I think the dog went 24 miles with me this week. She is getting into better shape.
128 miles this week. That is the most miles I have trained in a week without a 100-mile race to boost the miles. There were many times this week when I wanted to stop short, but over and over again, I made myself continue through boredom, tired legs, etc. Should help when times get tough in a race. | 