~7.9 miles, Battle Creek/Grove Creek--trail run

~6.15 miles, 52:55, 8:39 pace, Provo River Trail

Sapper Joe 50K

While Addi is playing the piano for a few minutes, I figure I’d better get writing a bit of a Sapper Joe 50K report. I’ve got nothing more, really, to report than has already been reported out there on the World Wide Web—just do a Google search for “Sapper Joe 50K” and you’ll find all sorts of blogs with individual reports.

Anyways, the inaugural race was held on Saturday, May 23rd out at Camp Williams. Camp Williams, being a military base, is generally closed to civilians although I’ve been out there a few times because I’ve got family in the Utah National Guard. The course took me deeper and further west and north onto the base than I’ve ever been before. Awesome views of both Salt Lake and Utah Valley’s.

The course itself was a bugger. The start sits at an elevation of about 4800 feet and by mile 4.2 we had climbed to 6430. By race end we would make two more ascents above 6600 feet—both in the second half.

Not a lot of tree cover. There was some scrub oak in the miles between 14 and 17 but the angle of the sun put what shade there was out of reach for the most part. Fortunately there was a good breeze blowing that kept me cool and some clouds blew in later that kept the temps pleasant.

I didn’t set any speed records—I didn’t intend to and don’t envision ever getting to that point—but I didn’t finish last either—46th out of 58 men.

Going into the race, I was feeling a bit fatigued from the Ogden Marathon I’d completed the Saturday before. Not a lot, but some.

My aid station times appear to be pretty consistent—3 minutes, 4 minutes, 3 minutes, and 3 minutes. They felt longer than that…

Overall, I’m pleased with the outcome. Hopefully in the next two weeks I’ll recover sufficiently to complete the Squaw Peak 50 Miler that I was fool enough to register for again this year.

Two last things of note: my Montrail Hardrock's performed admirably! I love those things. The Nathan Hydration vest (HPL #020) is too small for me, but I like the pockets on the front straps.

~31.35 miles, 7:43:05, 14:46 pace, Sapper Joe 50K

~4.01 miles, 35:14, 8:48 pace, Provo River Trail

26.4 miles, 4:17:36, 9:45 pace, Ogden Marathon