Old Man Still running

Lake Mountain 50K

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Location:

Saratoga Springs,UT,

Member Since:

Jan 31, 2008

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Local Elite

Running Accomplishments:

2016 Finished 12 100-milers during the year.  86 career 100-mile finishes, 9th in the world.   First person to do 6 consecutive summits of Mount Timpanogos.  Won Crooked Road 24-hour race. Achieved the 5th, 6th, and 8th fastest 100-mile times in the world for runners age 57+ for the year.

2013  First person to bag the six highest Wasatch peaks in one day. First and only person to do a Kings Peak double (highest peak in Utah).  I've now accomplished it four times. 

2010 - Overall first place Across the Years 48-hour run (187 miles), Overall first place Pony Express Traill 100.

2009 - Utah State Grand Masters 5K champion (Road Runners Club of America).  National 100-mile Grand Masters Champion (Road Runners Club of America). USATF 100-mile National Champion for age 50-54.

2006 - Set record of five consecutive Timpanogos Summits ("A record for the criminally insane")  See: http://www.crockettclan.org/blog/?p=42

2007 - Summited 7 Utah 13-ers in one day.  See: http://www.crockettclan.org/blog/?p=14 

Only person to have finished nine different 100-mile races in Utah: Wasatch, Bear, Moab, Pony Express Trail, Buffalo Run, Salt Flats, Bryce, Monument Valley, Capitol Reef.

PRs - all accomplished when over 50 years old

5K - 19:51 - 2010 Run to Walk 5K

10K - 42:04 - 2010 Smile Center

1/2 Marathon: 1:29:13 - 2011 Utah Valley

Marathon - 3:23:43 - 2010 Ogden Marathon

50K - 4:38 - 2010 Across the Years split

50-mile - 8:07 - 2010 Across the Years split

100K - 10:49 - 2010 Across The Years split

12-hours 67.1 miles - 2010 Across The Years split

100-mile 19:40 - 2011 Across the Years split

24-hours 117.8 miles - 2011 Across the Years split

48-hours 187.033 miles - 2010 Across the Years

Long-Term Running Goals:

I would like to keep running ultras into my 60s. 

Personal:

Details at: http://www.crockettclan.org/ultras/ultracrockett.pdf Married with six kids and six grandchildren.  Started running at the age of 46 in 2004.  My first race since Junior High days was a 50K. I skipped the shorter road stuff and went straight to ultramarathons.  I started as a back-of-the packer, but have progressed to a top-10-percent ultra finisher.  Wish I would have started running at a much earlier age.  Have had several articles published in national running magazines.  Check out my running adventure blog at www.crockettclan.org/blog

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Total Distance
53.00
Montrail Wildwood - Red Miles: 12.00Mizuno Wave Elixer - Red Miles: 10.00La Sportiva Wildcat - Green Miles: 31.00
Total Distance
0.00

No motivation to go out and train.  No upcomming races.  So why not be a slacker?  Actually my thoughts are turning more toward doing adventure runs.   In addition to my Grand Canyon run in a couple weeks, I would love to get back out to Capitol Reef National Park and run some more in that unknown treasure. It is a good winter run.

Comments(2)
Total Distance
0.00

I set out my warm running clothes, but that is as far as I got.  I never even set the alarm to get up.   For some reason in the evening I just feel run down and lose my motivation to make running plans for the early morning.  So, I continue to rest and get nine hours of sleep per night, very unusual for me.   I only feel a little guilty about being a slacker.  I've already regained the five pounds I lost during the JJ100 run when I was running on empty for six hours or more.

Comments(1)
Total Distance
12.00

I was out the door at 4 a.m. intending to hit the trails, but the wind was fierce as the front is coming in so I wimped out and went to the rec center and ran on the tread mill.  After ten miles, I couldn't take it anymore so headed out in the wind for the last couple miles.  It fees good to be working out again.

Montrail Wildwood - Red Miles: 12.00
Comments(1)
Total Distance
10.00

The trails were wet, snow down to about 5,500 feet, so I went and punished myself on the treadmill.   I attempted one of my 10x10x10s, 10 miles, 10:00 pace, with 10% incline.  With Grand Canyon R2R2R coming up in a week, I'm concerned that I haven't done any serious hills since Bear 100.   The workout went OK, plenty of step-offs along the way and I hold onto the handle in the front, but I got it done.  For long periods, I like to run with the eyes closed, holding on lightly with one hand and then the nother.  I belive this eyes closed running helps with improving balance, which is important when running in the dark.   I also did a bunch of spurts up to 30% incline.  Those are really punishing.   I was surprised that the quads held up just fine and felt good.   I guess the couple 100-milers I ran in the past month, even though pretty flat, still helped with the quad conditioning.

Healing going well from the grueling running season.   My problem knee still has minor pain now and then.  My right index finger is still spained from my faceplant at the Bear 100.  The balls of the feet and toes still have numbness (that is typical).  The left ankle still has minor soreness when I rotate it.  This is left over from the serious sprain back in April.  So all minor stuff.  Another pretty lucky year considering my age and the punishment of running 7 100s, 3 50s, 2 50Ks, and 3 road marathons.

Mizuno Wave Elixer - Red Miles: 10.00
Comments(2)
Race: Lake Mountain 50K (31 Miles) 05:41:00, Place overall: 1, Place in age division: 1
Total Distance
31.00

Not really a race, but it was a 50k run where I was racing against my PR and course record.   This is an amazing run all the way around Lake Mountain, the mountain west of Utah Lake.  The loop is almost exactly 50k (31 miles).  I wanted to get my mileage up to 50 miles this week, so thought it would be appropriate to do this 50K loop near my home.  It was the seventh time I have run this loop.

The rules for this loop is simple.  You just need to cross on the north at a ridge above Reformation Canyon, and to the south at Soldiers Pass.  You start the loop at the northwest corner and go clockwise.   I've done counter-clockwise before, but it seems tougher.  You want to pass through the east side at least by 8 a.m. to avoid shooters who may be camping nearby and after breakfast it seems like they start shooting at everything that moves.  

The elevation gain is about 3,000 feet along the loop.   There are some fairly technical sections on the east side as it rolls up and down along some rocky 4WD roads.   The west side is easier, just a long flat dirt road in Cedar Valley.

I got up very, very early and was out of the house around 1:30 a.m.   I first drove down to mile 16.4 of the loop to drop off some Ensure, Gatoraid,and candy.   I was amused to discover that the water jug and garbage I left there back on July 2, was still there, undisturbed.  I'll need to go retrieve everything later.

I next drove to the starting point, on the northwest corner of the loop, made final preparations and was on my way about 2:45 a.m.  The temperature at the start was 23 degrees, colder than expected, but I also realized that the start location traps cold air and is probably the coldest point of the course.  Sure enough within five minutes of running, I stripped off my jacket and changed my heavy gloves to lighter ones.  That was much better.   My starting pace was quick.    My goal was to finish in under 5:29.  I knew this would be very challenging doing a solo run, because I wouldn't have anyone to race against.   I usually get lazy running solo.  But so far, so good.  My legs felt great and I think the treadmill run yesterday helped wake them up.

It was pretty dark, no moon, just a glow over the hills from the populated valley.   the first 2.7 miles is a steady climb.  I arrived at the ridge over Reformation Canyon (mile 2.7) at 0:27.  Not bad.  I now had a stunning view of northern Utah country.  The lights are incredible.   I now had a nice fast run down the small canyon and then ran on an access road next to the Church welfare farm until I reached the power lines.  From there I turned south, started climbing again, and ran past the explosives plant.  Running by that place always gives me the willies.   I crossed Lott Canyon Rd (mile 5.1) at 0:51.  Still a great pace. 

From there the powerline road rolls up and down.  But the views off the the left are amazing.  The lights of Provo/Orem are an amazing show to see across the lake.  I love running in the foothills of Lake Mountain before sunrise.   I crossed Israel Canyon road (mile 6.5) at 1:05.

From that point, I lost a little focus, lost my racing speed and ran a little lazy.  But I sure was enjoying the early morning.   The road weaves around drainages and eventually makes a long climb.   There are many side roads that can make the route confusing, but you just stay close to the powerlines, usually to the east of them.   I reached the high point of the course, Enoch Pass (mile 11.3) at 2:05.   I believe that was about the same split time as my PR.  I was losing steam.

Next up is my favorite long section of the course, a nice five mile downhill to the low-point of the course.   As I started the downhill, I saw some specks reflecting in my green light.  Snow!  The cold front was arriving.  Thankfully the wind wasn't a problem.  The snow started as flurries, but would later come down a little harder.  It was fun to shine my lights up to the powerlines and see all the snowflakes reflecting in my light.

I arrived at Redwood Road (mile 16.4) at 2:59.  I knew that I was a little behind schedule.  I had not run that downhill hard enough.  At this point, I stopped the watch and took about ten minutes at my aid station, eating and refilling.  I would turn out my light as a couple cars drove by.  I didn't want them to freak out seeing a dude sitting my the side of the road out in the middle of no where.

On my way again, I ran on the Redwood Road pavement for about a mile until I reached the dirt road to take me to Soldiers Pass.   This would be the last tough climb.  I knew my PR goal could be won or lost on this climb.  I was determined to run the entire way up at a fast pace.  I mostly suceeded.   I was able to turn out my light after a mile because the glow of dawn had arrived.   I reached Soldiers Pass (mile 20.5) at 3:48.   Darn, I knew I was about ten minutes late.

I ran down the other side of the pass and had fun widing my way through a little valley the includes a fun single-track motorcycle trail.   I reached Lake Mt. Road (mile 23.1) at 4:15.  I had wanted to arrive there at 4:00, so was disappointed.   I now had eight miles to go in under 1:29.   This still could be done, but I knew I had to run about 11-minute miles the rest of the way along a mentally tough flat, straight dirt road.

I had a good pace going.  I finally noticed the road was white, not brown.  Snow.  The clouds were low as the snow fell and I couldn't even see the mountain I was running around.  As I continued the snow gradually got deeper, a quarter inch.  That was nice.  It made the road even softer.  But once it reached about a half inch, the footting became more challenging as my feet would slip on rocks hidden my the snow.  Up ahead I noticed a small deer in the road watching me. It eventually pranced away and headed up into the foothills.

I started to lose motivation.  With about four miles to go, I could see that my pace was falling off, probably 13-minute miles.   With three miles to go, I gave up the goal.  Running solo, it was just too mentally tough to push myself on this grinding section.  So, I backed off, found a comfortable finishing pace and just enjoyed the morning run in the snow.

I finished my 50k in 5:41, 12 minutes off my goal.  The finishing temperature was 32 degrees. Still, that was the fasted I had run this loop solo.  I average 11-minute miles over the entire tough course. It had been a wounderful morning run.  I arrived home by 9:30 a.m.

 
Start    
Reformation Ridge 2.7 0:27
Lott Canyon Rd 5.1 0:51
Israel Canyon Rd 6.5 1:05
Enoch Pass 11.3 2:05
Redwood Road 16.4 2:59
Soldiers Pass 20.5 3:48
Lake Mt Rd 23.1 4:15
Finish 31.0 5:41

 

 

La Sportiva Wildcat - Green Miles: 31.00
Comments(5)
Total Distance
53.00
Montrail Wildwood - Red Miles: 12.00Mizuno Wave Elixer - Red Miles: 10.00La Sportiva Wildcat - Green Miles: 31.00
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