Friday, March 20, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Grandeur Update
Who's excited for the Grandeur Peak fun run on May 16!!??
I went up the west face for the first time since November, and I'm here to say it wasn't any easier after being away for 4 months. But it was beautiful! I can't wait for weekly runs as soon as the Buffalo Run is over next week.
I was supposed to meet Ken Jensen, and I got there a few minutes late (what's new?). He was there on time and thought he saw me heading up already, so he took off to catch me. By the time he realized it wasn't me he was chasing, he had a 15 minute head start. I tried in vain to catch Ken, but like I said, it was in vain. After not running for 3 months, he was still smoking!About 3/4 of the way up I met Ken on his way down. That was a perfect spot to stop and turn around as well.
I didn't run into any snow at all, although apparently there was some on the final ridge, but not bad at all. The trail is in great shape, and I can't wait to get up again to get in some good quad pounding. They are definitely feeling it today!
I went up the west face for the first time since November, and I'm here to say it wasn't any easier after being away for 4 months. But it was beautiful! I can't wait for weekly runs as soon as the Buffalo Run is over next week.
I was supposed to meet Ken Jensen, and I got there a few minutes late (what's new?). He was there on time and thought he saw me heading up already, so he took off to catch me. By the time he realized it wasn't me he was chasing, he had a 15 minute head start. I tried in vain to catch Ken, but like I said, it was in vain. After not running for 3 months, he was still smoking!About 3/4 of the way up I met Ken on his way down. That was a perfect spot to stop and turn around as well.
I didn't run into any snow at all, although apparently there was some on the final ridge, but not bad at all. The trail is in great shape, and I can't wait to get up again to get in some good quad pounding. They are definitely feeling it today!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Millcreek Canyon / Pipeline Update
Hello Everyone! I love the dirt. Just an update on the pipeline in Millcreek Canyon. It is almost totally snow free. I ran from Rattlesnake Gulch to Birch Hallow and back Monday evening on real dirt. It was so beautiful. Hope everyone is doing well and ready for the march on Antelope Island. Have a great day! -Rich
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Shilling day
It was Shilling day on the trail, if you don't believe me just check out the pic below.
BTW, I was deemed the least bloody...
When I saw that Shilling would be joining us I was excited, not only because he's fun to hang out with but I wanted to pick his brain about Hardrock as well. I learned a few valuable pointers about Hardrock, but more importantly I learned at least three valuable lessons about running with Shilling.
The run started innocently enough from the zoo, up on to the shoreline and over to the mouth of red butte. From there we made our way up Van Cott where Peter bid us farewell as he had to get back. This is where the fun really started as we went east along the ridge. The postholing didn't start for a good mile or so but the fresh dry powder sitting on top of the crust clung to our bare legs like burrs on fleece. By the time we started postholing our lower legs were frozen and none of us knew we were bleeding until Greg found drops of blood on the snow. This is where I theorized the snow actually saved our lives, not from bleeding out, but from mountain lions not being able to pick up the bloody scent. I kept that part to myself as I didn't want to frighten the others...
Anyway after we were properly froze we headed off the ridge north toward the canyon that separated us from Dry Creek, aka smart canyon, where the young Smart girl was held captive several years ago. The descent off the ridge was the best part, almost like skiing in between the scrub oak. Once we were in the bottom we had more postholing before running into a creek bed that had an inch or two of water in it. Our frozen feet got a nice little cold soak before returning to the snow, which actually seemed to temporarily loosen my feet up.
Eventually we found ourselves in Dry Creek where we picked the ice off of our shoes and assessed the blood loss. None of us had lost more than a pint, and although Greg was close it was a little hard to tell because his socks had soaked some of it up. The rest of the run was pretty uneventful as we just ran on frozen dirt. Good times all around...
BTW, I was deemed the least bloody...
When I saw that Shilling would be joining us I was excited, not only because he's fun to hang out with but I wanted to pick his brain about Hardrock as well. I learned a few valuable pointers about Hardrock, but more importantly I learned at least three valuable lessons about running with Shilling.
- If Shilling has pants on you better have some as well (we all had shorts on this morning, except Shilling of course)
- If you don't have a specific run plan be careful and prepared if you let Shilling pick the route (some guys already know this, but they weren't there to warn us...Rich)
- If you do find yourself following Shilling and he yells out, no doubt about it, whatever is in front of you is serious
The run started innocently enough from the zoo, up on to the shoreline and over to the mouth of red butte. From there we made our way up Van Cott where Peter bid us farewell as he had to get back. This is where the fun really started as we went east along the ridge. The postholing didn't start for a good mile or so but the fresh dry powder sitting on top of the crust clung to our bare legs like burrs on fleece. By the time we started postholing our lower legs were frozen and none of us knew we were bleeding until Greg found drops of blood on the snow. This is where I theorized the snow actually saved our lives, not from bleeding out, but from mountain lions not being able to pick up the bloody scent. I kept that part to myself as I didn't want to frighten the others...
Anyway after we were properly froze we headed off the ridge north toward the canyon that separated us from Dry Creek, aka smart canyon, where the young Smart girl was held captive several years ago. The descent off the ridge was the best part, almost like skiing in between the scrub oak. Once we were in the bottom we had more postholing before running into a creek bed that had an inch or two of water in it. Our frozen feet got a nice little cold soak before returning to the snow, which actually seemed to temporarily loosen my feet up.
Eventually we found ourselves in Dry Creek where we picked the ice off of our shoes and assessed the blood loss. None of us had lost more than a pint, and although Greg was close it was a little hard to tell because his socks had soaked some of it up. The rest of the run was pretty uneventful as we just ran on frozen dirt. Good times all around...
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Buffalo Bar?
Friday was a busy day. I got home late, had dinner with the family and started thinking about the Saturday morning run on Antelope Island. We were planning a 20+ mile run, with an early leave from Salt Lake City. I had bottles, Nuun (note to Matt Hart - I actually like the stuff quite a lot and no well you know... runs), and figured out the clothing options, but I had no gels, or bars of any sort. No worries, the food processor, dates, figs, pistachios, almonds, and a few raisins, and voila "buffalo bars". These were inspired by the Larabar, and a recipe on the web. Actually the first batch made a few days before with dried cherries were the best so far. We bought the ingredients in the bulk section at Whole Foods.
These had a look of something that I kept jumping over on the trail hence the "buffalo bar". Good tasting, portable, and cheap... give them a try.
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