The 2009 Squaw Peak 50-Mile Trail Run report (take 1)

Aid station 7 drop bag for runner #153 has yet to make an appearance. Anyone?

It would be a shame for me to let two pair of purloined socks sour an already painful experience. I should just let them go despite the fact that they had many more miles left in 'em... But it's hard for me to let things go.

Which brings me to the report.

2008 Squaw Peak: 15:39:07

2009 Squaw Peak: 16:20:17

That's an addition of 40+ minutes from last year--under significantly better conditions this year! What the...?

Leigh, George, and I stayed fairly close to each other during the first 26 miles without actually running hand in hand. We each shared the lead at various points until I passed Leigh on the far side of the mile 26 aid station (Left Fork). That was the last I saw of Leigh until the finish. George caught me at the mile 33 aid station (Little Valley)--he was coming in as I was heading out.

Again, it's a pretty hike from mile 33 until you get to the climb and then the scenery can go jump in the lake. All you can see is the climb. This year there was significantly less snow than last year and I seemed to have missed it altogether as I found myself atop the first climb having not even stepped in any. The climbing isn't over yet though. Less snow up top meant not having to go over the peak too. Yay!

After the Windy Pass aid station, where I vaguely remember turning on the afterburners last year, I struggled. My ankles were hurting and that knot in my calf below my right knee was back for its second year. Once I was on the pavement in South Fork I could go and the last three miles seemed to fly by.

No kids to greet me this year at the finish, but I had been posting updates on facebook with my cell phone every time I'd get cell service (3 or 4 times maybe?). It was fun to get all the comments coming back through on my cell phone in response to my updates.

Which brings me to the part where it's hard for me to let things go.

I've finished the Squaw Peak 50 twice now. I did better with the big climb this year than I did last year--despite the overall slower time. I ought to be happy with that and let it go.

Something in the back of my head says that I probably won't...

Squaw Peak 50

If you happened to be the one that picked up the aid station #7 drop bag for runner #153, it's mine! I want it back!

~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

Mountain Bike - Spring is in the air...

*

So I've got this old GT Aggressor 1.0 that I've had for years--and loved. I've been upgrading the components on it for some time--I've documented some of that here on this blog.

I love my triple triangle--I really do! I don't know that you could damage the frame if you wanted to. We've been through a lot, that bike and I.

But it's old.

And it doesn't have the disc brake mounts for the rear wheel.

And that's pretty much the deal right there.

And, since I upgraded the fork, it's a bit tall for my liking.

I don't know though...

Is a disc brake setup on the back-end all that important to me?

One thing's for sure: I worry too much about stupid stuff.

It sure would be nice though.

Rainy Day Ruminations...

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Two nights ago, before heading to bed, I turned on the TV and flipped over to the Universal Sports channel. There were re-broadcasting Monday's Boston Marathon. I had a bunch of friends running that race and while I was at work I kept up on their progress via the World Wide Web. Later, when I had gotten home and had more time, I learned that both Ryan Hall and Kara Goucher had placed 3rd overall in their respective genders.

I wasn't really surprised with that--an American hasn't won Boston for quite some time--1983 for the men with Greg Meyer and 1985 for the women with Lisa Larsen-Weidenbach.

Still, Ryan and Kara were big-time contenders to finish first at Boston this year. Even more amazing, in my mind anyways, was the fact that this was Kara Goucher's second marathon. Ever. Her first was the New York City Marathon back in November of last year where she also finished 3rd.

While Ryan Hall dropped back from the leader somewhere in the Newton Hills, Kara Goucher maintained her position in the lead pack until the very end. Only in the last mile did she drop back, and even then it was only a few feet. Ultimately she finished 9 seconds behind the winner. Ryan Hall finished 58 seconds back of the men's winner.

Both performances were amazing. Ryan's average pace for the full 26.2 miles was 4:57! Kara's was 5:49! I couldn't go a single mile at that pace without keeling over and throwing up a lung, a kidney, and my liver. 4:57!

I've got 4 kids--3 of which ask me occasionally when I'm going to BQ so that we can go to Boston. Yes, they've all assumed I'm going to drag them right along with me. And I will. Many of the stories I've heard from my friends who have been highlight what an incredible experience it was having their family there with them. I couldn't imagine going out there alone.

But I'm getting old and I'm not as motivated as I ought to be. I really need to be able to run 7:30's (26 of them) to qualify and I'm not there.

Running is a metaphor for life. I'm sure there's a metaphor out there somewhere that I ought to apply to running. Between the two metaphor's, maybe I'll get it right. Someday.