Today was quite the adventure to ring in the New Year. I have wanted to do a 50 mile run for a while now and today was the day that it all happened.
I ran the original Zion 50 mile trail race in 2012. It starts and ends at Virgin Park. Decided to do the same route again. Happy because a few cross country kids came out and ran and biked with me. This helped a ton.
I didn't realize that today was going to be so blasted cold. It was 19 degrees at the start and warmed up to 31 degrees with lots of wind on the day. My water bottle turned to slush of Powerade Zero and Red Bull for most of the run. My hydration pack finally warmed up around mile 30 so I could drink out of it.
Ran from Virgin Park and then up to the top of Gooseberry Mesa, down the mesa across to the other side of the highway and up Little Creek Mesa, down to the old golf course, down to the old Diamond Ranch Academy, up to the Jem Trail and then back to Virgin Park.
No chaffing, hydration or food issues today. I was freezing cold but felt good. My right hip flexor got really tight around mile 36 but I stopped and stretched it quite a bit which helped loosen it up. I think I could have gone faster if it was warmer and not so windy. Oh well.
50 miles in 9:34. Great way to start the year! 2019 should be awesome.
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