Ravings and Blather

Wanted to bag Grandeur Peak today... did it but learned a few things.  Started out in the West ascent parking lot and went out at a brisk walk...I really cant run any of this ascent route as it is so straight up steep.  3000 vertical up in the first 2.2 miles or so.  If I do run part of it I pay dearly higher up the mountain.  Went up the ridge and felt good just sucking down the fluids and taking a few gu chomps... snow pretty deep and wet the last half to 3/4 mile.  

Things I learned... 3 embarrassing ways to die out on a trail run.

 1.  Aspirating a pretzel at 8500 feet.  I was trying to eat one near the snowy, post holing summit push, sucked it into my lung farther than I wanted it to go and luckily got it out before perishing or falling off the mountains backside (was windy as all get out at this point).

 2.  Getting trapped waist high in snow and not being able to get out until wolves devour you.  After the peak I was going down the Church Fork side and near the top it was deep, sun exposed snow.  Was trying to leapfrog/jump down the steep snowy slope and all of a sudden one leg was buried up to my crotch and the momentum nearly dislocated me.  I still hadn't hit ground by the way.  Managed to escape and only repeated this two more times.

3.  Knock self out while watching trail instead of what was going to impale my head (overhanging large tree branch...narrowly avoided, but was very close.)

Ran down to Pipeline then to Rattlesnake then down road to Wasatch then back to parking lot at trailhead.

This is a fun loop with 3000 up and 3000 down.  Took 1:15 to summit and 2:45 for the loop.  Was pretty wasted by the end I must say and think I seriously need to increase miles before Squaw if I want to finish...but what the heck. 

Good afternoon for a trail run before the return to winter and rain the rest of the week.  Did the Pipeline from Burch Hollow to the overlook and back.  The trail is a slushy mess in some spots, but overall had a great time on a mostly empty jaunt.  Felt more fatigued than I expected at the end of this one.  Dead deer is still at the top of Rattlesnake, just a bit more eaten.  Freaks me out for some reason.  avg 9:33

Bad Mamma Jamma Run today.  Knew a storm was coming in so went up early to O-town and joined Oreo on a trail extravaganza on South BST (see Oreo log for actual route) and up to the peak of Malans.  Wasnt feeling my best today with good moments and junior suckfest moments, but was a fulfilling fun run.  We could see the impending stormfront slowly coming the whole time.  We started push up Malans at about the 9 mile mark and trail was slick ice mixed with snow.  I failed to bring the spikes, but luckily my brother had a pair and let me have one.  That made the ice spots possible.  

One interesting thing I have noted is that the traction on the Cascadia 6 is not as good at the 5 version.  Likely in their push to make a lighter version the tread is less bulky and deep.

 Bag of fritos helped me survive and revive to get to the summit.  By the time we hit summit I was getting nervous because the valley was becoming a white out and the wall of storm moving in.  We hustled back down and I had a total calf spasm, big knot, muscle fasiculations...the whole works...never had one before but hurt like a B for a couple minutes.  Luckily it passed and we made it back in a driving hail storm.

Fun times and some good vert.  Calf pretty tight now...any suggestions for those who get these?  Mt Ogden Burger for all. 

Elliptical for 45 minutes.  For more detailed report and pictures, forward to my elliptical adventures blog.

Big T Loop with some beautiful sun on this noon jaunt.    The calf cramp has vanished.  Nice.  Had an 8 and 7:50 mile on the flat which was surprising.  Felt good overall but which I knew how to get rid of the inner groin tightness on the right side.   Has been a trouble spot since injury in that area as a teenager.

Millcreek road from churchfork then up Rattlesnake to pipeline trail to overlook, back to churchfork and down.  Felt slow going up Rattlesnake, could not keep going up as far as I usually do before the walk set in... Old Man syndrome I guess or it could be the Great Harvest Peanut Butter and Honey sandwich I slammed just prior to the run.

Race today somewhat on spur of the moment, as one of my business partners was going to be out of town and said I could use his bib.  I was on call at the hospital until 7am so, wasnt totally sure if I was going to be called in or not until I left the car at about 6:55 in Ft Douglas and sauntered to the start line.  

Felt great overall today.  Sore adductors really didnt surface much until after the race.  Perfect temperature.  

1- 8:39 Just wanted to warm up a bit.  Goal for this day was to get some miles in gearing up for Squaw Peak and second to go faster if I could because this course is mostly downhill.

2-7   8:13, 7:43, 7:27, 7:49, 7:55, 7:39 Saw my sister in law somewhere in here cheering from the sideline and that gave me a bump.  Took a chocolate thunder gu at mile 7, Nasty but also lovely boost.

8,9  7:58, 7:35  Ran with a neighbor of mine for these two, then lost him when he stopped for some water.

10-13  7:59, 7:55, 8:18 (this State street hill is longer and steeper than I have ever thought before while driving it.) 7:18 last mile...really felt good here and pushed it hard to beat some dude that I just didnt want beating me, you know what I am talking about.

 Very happy with the time especially since my buddy didnt want a slow time with his name on it as he is faster than me in general. PR for me!

Ran/jogged/walked the 4 miles back up south temple to the car with a pit stop at the union bldg bathrooms at U of U. 

Down in St George.  Family sleeping in until noon, so went up West Canyon Road in Snow Canyon.  Dirt road, out and back through some beautiful sandstone country.  This was about 2 miles longer run than body wanted.  Legs still tight from half marathon on saturday.  Funny, in the parking lot was a couple of extended vans with "The Biggest Loser" logos on the side.  1/2 mile up the trail were 2 large people walking being escorted by their trainers. 

Trail stumblings on the ridge above St George, nothing fast, just finding way on tired legs.  Went on Owen's loop.  Saw a Gila Monster...15 inches long... 

Still in St George.  Wanted to get between 10 and 14 and ended up with 17 because I got into the "not sure where I am going" and was on the "no way back to the beginning without keeping on going" loop.  Went from Entrada area up Snow Canyon road and Whiptail trail system until came to the top ranger station.  Was at 7 miles and asked the ranger what the distance was going onto the highway back to where I started vs just turning and going back.  She thought sixes and so I decided to continue onto new ground.

 Turns out it was 10.  Seven of it was on the St George Marathon course (approx miles 15 to 22)... this is a fun but rolling and seemingly endless without good fuel.  I finally got to Sunset Blvd and ended up walking about a half mile as the fuel ran out.  Not sure why as I have been living on Iceberg and Larsens Frostops shakes for the last several days.  Slow avg pace.

Weather here great...been 75 all week.  Will be sad to come back to ongoing winter of home. 

Went running today in a blizzard...

Adventure with brother Oreo down in Moab.  We wanted to get some time under the belt on a series of ups/downs/trails and also just some good times to get out of the hometown.

 Started at Pritchett canyon trailhead to Pritchett arch to Hunter Rim Trail to Kane County Road.  This loop was awesome because we were totally alone for these miles and it was cool to be in this expansive red rock country just finding our way through.  Pritchett arch is huge and in such an out of the way place it was fun to see.  The run along Hunters Rim looking down into Hunter Canyon is also pretty spectacular.

We then took the Kane road to the start of the Amasa back trail system, up Cliffhanger trail with lots of bikers and Jeeps.  We followed this all the way to the Jackson overlook.  Oreo powered past this mountain biker near the steep top and really pissed him off in a friendly way, just to have a runner blow by him when he was working so hard himself.  The overlook puts you 1000 feet or so above the valley below.  Stunning views.  Then off to Potash Arch trail with a loop down Rockstacker and Jackson trails to complete the loop.  We were both out of water and I was seriously underfueled and totally done...I'm going to somehow have to figure out how to get gels in on a regular basis if I hope to finish Squaw...I also nearly died fording the Kane river near the end that had us cross nearly chest deep ice cold water for 25 to 30 feet...I seriously could not breathe for a bit without major painful effort.  

Anyway fun, glorious stuff.  It's good to be alive and it's good to be in Moab.