Wasatch Steeplechase.
Short report- I ran up. I ran down. I finished without
a frown.
Here are some more details. I fear it sounds a bit self
aggrandizing. Sorry.
I love races that are close enough to home that I can
jog to the start.  The crowd at the starting line looked a
bit intimidating , a bit like Boston runners but with muscles. I lined up 2 or 3
back and with a "ready, get set, go" we were off. And boy were people moving. I
was wondering where the fire was? I guess people were moving out so that they
wouldn't get stuck in a traffic jam when the route hit the single track.
Any way it was pretty much just a fun slog up... and up... and up...
Then it go steep. Way too steep to think about running. So I walked as fast as I
could, huffing and puffing along. Total elevation gain about 4,500
feet.
After a few false summits, the course got rocky and cliffy. At one
point they had spotters on the course to assist "runners" who may have needed
it. A rope or two were also in place as an added measure of safety? I passed a
guy who was pretty much prostrate on the rock and looking a bit tense! I was a
bit worried that he might do something unexpected if I startled him as I passed
but I told him I was coming, went on around, and all was well. Up until this
point I could see a gaggle of runners behind me and a gaggle ahead of me. But as
we crossed the ridge line we got spread out and I only saw maybe 7 runners in
the next 7ish miles.
From the ridge line the trail drops into Smugglers
Gap where volunteers had hiked in supplies for an aid station! I downed a
cup of some kind of rocket fuel and was on my way down... down... down... Near
the top of this descent I passed one runner. This section is described as "2.5
miles of quad-burning, gut-wrenching, knee-breaking downhill on an overgrown,
root-infested single-track trail..." I'd add that it was also wet and slick. At
least it wasn't raining (and didn't while I was on the course). I made it down
this hill with no twisted ankles or other injuries except a very minor rope burn
on my hands and neck. There was another rope set up on a particularly steep and
slick spot. I didn't see it and almost tripped on it but managed to grab on and
use it too control my descent.
Next came a run down City Creek Canyon on
much more mellow trail and some paved road. I tried to open it up and let er rip
as much as my now very tired legs would allow. With about 5k to go I hit a rock
and rolled my ankle. It hurt but was nothing I couldn't run off after a few
choice words. I passed about 4 runners on this section. As I approached the
finish I was beat and couldn't find the will to pick up the pace even though I
thought I would feel much better within 10 minutes of finishing and wish I had
kicked it. This proved to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Met Mr. Twinkie and another blogger. Saw one Fastrunningblog singlet.
0 .84 jog
and walk from my house to the starting line.
1 8:05 160
2 11:34 168
3
9:33 169
4 10:27 170
5 10:55 167
6 12:12 166
7 20:54 163
8 16:06
163
9 10:11 166
10 7:22 167 pavement
11 6:18 170
12 6:35 170
13
7:32 168
14 7:04 171
15 7:45 169
16 6:43 172
16.31 6:56
176
16.31 Garmin miles, 9:54 average pace, 166 beats per minute average.
advertised elevation gain and loss- 9,000 feet.
16th overall (I think) out of
200+ runners (I think results are not yet posted).
0.82 Jog and walk home.
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