I went to Badwater 135 this year anticipating I would like it, I was wrong… I LOVED it!  We flew into Las Vegas on Satruday, July 10, picked up Jim at the airport and then met up with Ed and Terry for a supply stop.  After buying a ton of snacks, beverages and water for the week, we were on our way to Furnace Creek, CA.  We made two stops along the way - the first was at a random little place called the Amargosa Opera House which is located just on the border of Nevada and California.  The claim is that the attached hotel is haunted (insert Scooby-Doo music), but we didn’t see or hear anything out of the ordinary.  Back on the road, we decided to stop at Dante’s View which overlooks the Badwater basin - it was our first glimpse of the valley and it was amazing!  After taking in the view, which included seeing the starting line as well as nearly all of the Death Valley, we headed down the road toward Furnace Creek where Adrian and Simone awaited.  When we got to the resort, the temperature was 119 degrees and while that sounds hot, it actually felt good.  I will admit to being a little bit of a desert rat having always been drawn to hot dry climates but,it seriously didn’t feel all that hot.  We checked into our rooms and they far exceeded my expectations, who would have thought that there would be such glorious accommodations in the middle of DV?!?  Everyone was in a chipper mood and after some catching up, we headed to dinner.  Runners and their crews could now be spotted here and there and my adrenaline was pumping - we were “running” with the big dogs or, in this case, some of the toughest men and women on the planet and it was awesome!  After dinner, Adrian, Paige and I headed to the pool.  Adrian’s philosophy is that Saturday is just a day off and meant for celebration, I’m not gonna lie to you, it got a little crazy before the night was through but we survived jumping from the roof of the sunshade into the pool so all was good.

Ed And I Excited About The Heat

Sunday we shuttled the car to Lone Pine 100+ miles away, which at first seemed like a huge hassle but we quickly realized the benefit of doing this was that we would get to see the entire course in broad daylight - major bonus!  When we got back to the hotel, we signed our crew waivers and sent Adrian off to check in.  That afternoon was the mandatory pre-race meeting and I couldn’t wait.  We filtered into the room and as I looked around I began to recognize a few faces that I had seen on various Badwater movies, I had to pinch myself to make sure it was all real.  There is something very special about this race and it was evident at every turn but sitting in that room with all the runners and their crew, it was palatable.  After the meeting, we mingled for a while and then headed to dinner.  Now, all the runners and their crews were there and we were seeing lots of familiar faces - both people we knew and people we knew of, it was awesome!

Pre-Race Dinner

Furnace Creek may be a small resort in the middle of Death Valley but they really know how to cater to their guests - our meals were delicious.  After dinner, we all dispersed quickly, we were tired and knew this would be our last good night of sleep before the race.

Race morning came all too fast and I was slow to rise.  We headed down to get some breakfast and took advantage of the buffet fully.  Then we finished our prep and headed out to get some pre-race pictures with everyone.  The mood was surprisingly light and we laughed a lot.  The race has a lot of rules and one of them is that only one vehicle per runner can be at the start and that all the occupants of the vehicle must be belted into a seat.  Ed and Terry volunteered to stay at Furnace Creek and let Paige and I go to the start.  What a wonderfully thoughtful gesture it was, we’d never been to the start and they both had, they insisted that we needed to see it - they were right, I had goose bumps and it wasn’t because I was cold.

Jimmy, Simone, Adrian, Me And Paige

The start is iconic.  I’ve seen hundreds of pictures of the start, I’ve watched movies showing the start and there I was, witnessing it first hand.  We took our pictures by the Badwater sign, walked around, talked with other runners and then watched as things heated up for the start.  The ceremony felt good.  Still, the mood was relaxed, more or less.  After the national anthem, the runners got underway.  The first section is a bit crazy as the runners are all still together, crew are figuring out the routine of taking care of their runner and crew vans are leapfrogging each other every few minutes.  Soon enough, we developed a rhythm, Adrian got into a groove and the runners started to sort themselves out by pace.  I had been very concerned that I would mess something up or break a rule and jeopardize Adrian’s race but I was finally able to relax a little.  The route runs right back past Furnace Creek, so when we got there, Paige and I traded out with Ed and Terry and stayed there to get some lunch and relax a little.  This pattern of swapping out two crew for a break and keeping four with the van seemed to work well and we continued it throughout the race.

On The Course With Adrian

By the time we caught up with them, both Ed and Terry had taken a turn pacing and it was my turn to jump in.  I did my final prep and at the next stop, it was go time.  I had no idea what to expect, Adrian was moving well, it was the hottest part of the day, and I was fresh off of lunch - it could have gone either way but it ended up going just fine.  I was surprised how much I enjoyed running in the heat (with support, of course) and I was amazed at how strongly Adrian was running several hours into this event.  I stayed with him until Stove Pipe Wells where Jimmy took over pacing duties.  Simone and I went to get some dinner while the others headed back out onto the road.  It was fun to spend a little time with Simone and felt awesome to sit for a while and relax.

Paige Getting Cooled Off During Pacing Duties; Even At Night, It Was 100+ Degrees

Soon we caught up with them out on the road, swapped our two crew and kept the cycle going through the night.  Paige finally got her shot at pacing.  The heat does weird things to the body and Adrian had already been through a couple of rough patches but he responded calmly and did what needed to be done to get himself going again.  Panamint Springs, was a little oasis in the night, the restaurant was open as was the gas station.  They also had one cottage rented for runner/crew use to sleep, shower or just relax.  We opened the door to the cottage, inside was runner carnage.  People lay passed out all over the various beds, couches and floor.  One runner lay in a fetal position on the floor with nothing but his running tights on and looked at us with scared eyes as we entered (he later went on to finish very strong).  We took a quick shower and got out of there.  After having a little dinner, we were back out on the road to find our runner.  Adrian was making good time coming into Panamint, so Jimmy and Simone took this opportunity to get a quick break before the sun came up.  When we arrived, Adrian checked in and then promptly took a short nap to recharge a bit before the sun, and the heat that would follow, came up.  We watched runners come and go, it was all business at this point.  Runners were feeling the effects of the 70+ miles combined with the heat.  The crews were feeling the effects too.  The next several miles were uphill and the sun was just coming up which made the temps manageable and the scenery totally gorgeous.

Jimmy Stands Ready To Assist

As the heat of the afternoon wore on, both Adrian and Jimmy kept their eyes on the prize and did their best to keep moving forward.  Adrian had several battles with his stomach and tried all sorts of different sources of calories, none of which seemed to be the answer.  At one point, milk was what he wanted and we had nearly run out so Ed and Terry went in search.  Normally, milk is in abundance but this is not the case in the middle of Death Valley, they had to barter with the general store to get a couple of pints which they transported in an empty coke bottle.  It is amazing how quickly all the rules change during an ultra event - clean is relative, 20 minutes of sleep is heaven, 3 hours of sleep is like a vacation, a shower in a dirty communal shower is sheer decadence, and milk being transported in an empty coke bottle is normal.

The next several hours were slow going with many stops along the highway.  The afternoon sun was hot and at one point, Adrian got chilled despite the 110+ heat.  He knew this wasn’t a good sign and diligently got himself out of the heat until he could get rehydrated and feeling better.  The Owen’s valley offered all its glory on the second night of the race.  Adrian was feeling tired but better.  Some fluids and calories had stayed down and he was moving steadily toward Lone Pine.  With things under control, each of us got a good long break on the second night.  We checked into our hotel, showered and got a solid three hours our sleep in a bed.  Upon waking, we headed out to meet up with the group for the final climb to the finish.

One thing that is consistent with ultras is no matter how you are feeling in the moment, give it a few miles and it will change … sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse but it will change.  In this case, Adrian was feeling better and moving well.  I jumped in to relieve Jimmy who had done a ton of miles over the past two days and welcomed the break.  The last several miles of this race are straight up.  With about three miles to go, Adrian looks at the guy just ahead of us and says to me, “you want to take him down?” and then promptly picked up the pace.  I laughed to myself and followed his lead.  We got next to the guy and started to pass him when the guy sped up to match Adrian’s stride.  ”Oh, I see, that’s how you want to do it, eh?” (said in his awesome Scarface voice) and then he started running.  Now remember, he has already run 130+ miles, been awake for 2+ days, and the road is straight up but his competitive juices were flowing.  I don’t know what pace we were running but it was a full stride and the guy disappeared quickly behind us.  I absolutely LOVED it!  What a competitor!

Runner And Crew: Jimmy, Paige, Me, Adrian, Simone, Ed And Terry

When we were a half mile from the finish, the whole crew was there to join for the finish.  Adrian was adamant that everyone be there … together … for the finish.  As we turned that final corner and the finish line came into sight, I had to hold back the tears.  It was such an amazing way to finish an incredible journey.  I wish there was a way for me to capture the emotion of the moment, to somehow provide a vicarious experience but suffice it to say that it was far better than anything I had conceived in my mind.  After several minutes of hugs and congratulations, we posed for some pictures and Adrian got his beloved buckle.

With our mission accomplished, we headed back to the hotel for a little rest.  Later in the morning, Paige and I got up and did a little run of our own.  We headed out into the Owen’s valley just in time to see Jack Denness coming into town - Jack is 75 years old and has finished 11 previous Badwaters, what an inspiration.  After our run, we went for some lunch with Ed and Terry at Mt. Whitney Restaurant which, by the way, had absolutely amazing chocolate malts.  With our belly’s full, we headed up to do some hiking on Mt. Whitney.  We didn’t have passes so we were limited as to how far we could go but we still got to witness some gorgeous scenery and do a little trail running too.  When we got back to the parking lot, which was also the finish line area, Jack was just finishing his 12th official Badwater journey.

The post-race party was that night in Lone Pine.  The tradition of this race is one of the many draws to it.  I absolutely love that everyone comes together after the race to share their experience.  During the race, they take a ton of photos and video and then they put together a professional looking recap video set to some kick-butt music and show it at the post-race party.  This year’s video was as inspiring as years’ past but was more meaningful since we were actually there to witness it.

There are two things that could make or break this experience: 1) the runner and 2) the crew, we were extremely fortunate on both fronts.  Adrian was the perfect runner - he knows himself so well and what works for him, that made our job easy.  He never lost his sense of humor (which is bar none) and his focus on the main goal of finishing never faltered even as he was forced to modify his goals for the race.  He kept his cool when things unraveled and then he pulled them back together.  He communicated what he needed from us without being demanding.  And, he did what he could, when he could.  Like I said, he was the perfect runner.  As for the crew, I couldn’t believe how much fun we had despite the heat, lack of sleep, the bugs, and the stink : )  I can only speak for myself but I really felt like we got along great as a group and everyone really pitched in where needed.  We all had the same focus, get Adrian to the finish line in good shape.  It was an honor to be a part of Adrian’s team.  Before having been there, I was intrigued by the race.  Having been there, I’m completely taken with it.  Will I be back?  Yes.

A couple of weeks ago, we traveled to Florida to witness the union of two dear friends.  Brian and Kelly are now officially Brelly.  The wedding was on Saturday but we decided to extend our stay a bit and soak up some warm sunny weather so we left on Thursday after work and flew to Clearwater Beach.  Brelly greeted us but it was late so after catching up a bit, we agreed to meet up for breakfast.  Friday, we had them to ourselves until late afternoon when the first batch of guests started to arrive.  We got to meet family and friends though they purposefully kept the numbers small.  Saturday was a relaxing day at the beach and then the wedding/reception.  The ceremony was on the beach facing the ocean and it was gorgeous - simple and elegant.  Some weddings are truly inspiring and this was definitely one of them.  They were both so happy, they were nearly busting at the seams.  One of the greatest things about the wedding, and the whole weekend, was that it was exactly what Brian and Kelly wanted and it fit them perfectly.  Fitting with the beach ceremony, instead of a unity candle, they each had a glass of sand and they poured them into a larger common vase.  It represented how they each came to the marriage separately but now their lives were inseparable just as the sand was now one jar of sand - it was very cool.  They had sunset pictures along the water’s edge that were amazingly beautiful.  Sunday was another relaxing day at the beach and then we did a dinner cruise with several family/friends that were still around.  The cruise took us into the bay and then out into the gulf for a stereotypically beautiful sunset and provided me with my first wild dolphin siting.  Monday we had breakfast with the remaining guests before early afternoon flights and then it was just us and Brelly.  We played wiffleball on the beach (where I couldn’t seem to connect with the ball and Paige smacked the thing like no tomorrow), caught some waves (little but fun), and then headed to dinner at Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill, right on the beach.  It was a gorgeous night and our last sunset didn’t disappoint.  When we returned to the hotel, Brelly asked us to help them finish off the wedding cake - considering it was the best wedding cake to ever cross our lips, we were happy to oblige.  They had an early flight in the morning so we said our goodbyes and wished the newlyweds a happy honeymoon.  Tuesday morning, we were the final guests left and spent our last day walking around town and relaxing.  Congratulations Brelly, thank you for letting us share in the ocassion!

Paige, Me, Rina and Rob

Paige and I are freshly back from our trip west (or at least we were when I started this blog entry), where we had five fun filled days/nights in the mountains of Utah.  Rob and Rina picked us up from the airport with Lucy in tow.  We promptly met up with Ben at a Mazza for some delicious Middle Eastern cuisine.  The temps were mild and it felt good to walk around town.  Friday, we picked up some skiing gear and headed to Alta.  The weather was warm in the valley but snowy and cold in the mountains.  Rob was staying on top of the conditions and by the time we got there late morning, they had nine inches of fresh snow and it was still falling at a rate of a little over an inch an hour.  Rob secured us a couple of free ski passes - yay, FREE!  We had a quick bite to eat and then headed up the mountain.

This was Paige’s first time on skis in a while and she was a little intimidated by it all but her excitement and easy-going attitude ruled the day.  We got off the Collins lift at 10,500 ft in the middle of a whiteout.  Paige was nervous but she was also a trouper and turned her tips downhill.  It was going to be slow going due to the low visibility and getting our skiing legs beneath us but Rob and Rina patiently led us down the hill.  Soon we were approaching the bottom and Paige, while not completely over her fear, was loving the Utah powder.  We spent the day skiing both sides of the mountain and ended up on the Albion Base side.  While Rob went to get the truck from the Wildcat area, we went into the Albion Grill to get some refreshments (aka PBR on tap) - a perfect ending to an awesome day.

That night, was the Alta clinic’s annual party.  Rob had got us cleared to attend, so we had a little time to kill before festivities got rolling.  We made ourselves comfy and chatted about the day.  As the party heated up, we met several of the folks who work at the clinic and their families - an awesome group who made us feel right at home.  After the party, we picked up Lucy and headed up to Park City to stay at Rob and Rina’s new/newly remodeled condo.  We had stayed here last September but they had gutted the place since we were there and we were eager to see the finishes… the place looked amazing!  Everything just worked - homey but functional, outdoorsy but modern - we loved it.

Here We Are Working On Our Sunburn

Saturday morning, we slept in a bit, had a quick breakfast and hit the slopes.  Their place is “ski in/ski out”, so all we had to do was walk a couple of houses down and put our skis on - very cool.  We spent the day navigating the Park City Mountain Resort in warm temperatures and under blue skies which was quite a contrast to the previous day.  Paige and I failed to apply sunblock and by lunch time, it was evident that we were going to be burnt though to what extent, I didn’t realize at the time.  We got a lot more skiing in before the mountain closed and for our last run, we made our way over to the Quittin’ Time run and skied right to R&R’s driveway - did I mention how cool this is?  I think Paige was glad to have her skis off after a day of being unpleasantly surprised by the steepness of the runs we found ourselves on but she, as always, remained a good sport and eventually made her way down the hill.  After skiing, we met up with the Lewis crew and friends at The Oasis Cafe where the food was good but the ambiance is what really sold the place.

Ben and Me

Ben was the tour guide for Sunday and he had snowshoeing on tap.  After a leisurely coffee at the Coffee Garden, we packed up our stuff and Ben picked us up, his friend Terry was with him.  We headed up Big Cottonwood Canyon toward a popular hike called Donut Falls which, to my disappointment, did not actually produce any donuts.  It was a gorgeous day and the hike was amazing!  Terry was having some trouble with his snowshoe staying on which gave us several opportunities to stop, look around and take in the scenery.  This was Paige’s first time on snowshoes and she was taking to it like a pro.  I think it scared her a little when we got our crash course in avalanche safety but after we got going, she seemed to relax.  About 45 minutes into the hike, the trail started to get steep and we soon came upon the falls themselves.  You couldn’t really see much of the falls due to the snow and ice but that was beautiful in its own way.  We lingered for a moment and then headed up the most technical section of the trail we would face.  It was slow going and nearly straight up.  The snow was deep and loose in this section because it was well shaded and we were finding it difficult to make much progress.  Eventually we did make it to the top of the ravine and it leveled off into a much more manageable trail.  Soon we came to an avalanche field which must have slid several days (possibly weeks) before because it had fresh snow on top of icy chunks underneath.  We looked up the side of the mountain, noting the slide path and the natural features that guided the slide - nature is a cool thing.  We hiked a little further, had some lunch and then turned back.

Bethany and Laura were waiting at the Lewis’ household for us and after a brief stopover, we headed to Park City for dinner.  With the troops ravenous, it didn’t take us long to decide on a spot for dinner, Flanagan’s it was and with PBR on tap, I was happy.  We had a delicious dinner and then walked around Main Street for a while before stopping at the candy shop for dessert.  I always love going to Park City, its got a great blend of outdoorsy mountain town combined with upscale comfort.

Grandeur Peak Jumper

Monday was another low key morning followed by a hike up in Mill Creek.  Lucy led the way most of the hike up Grandeur Peak.  We started in snow and then ended in snow.  The trail was fairly slick at the bottom and required some focus to keep your feet underneath your body but it soon cleared and the hiking was awesome.  As we approached the saddle, we could see the snow up ahead.  We were just short of the actual peak but considering the amount of snow we would have to traverse and the light hikers without gaiters we were wearing, we decided this was as good of a place as any to turn around.  So, we had some snacks and took some pictures - jumpers, of course - and headed back down the trail.  About a third of the way down, Rob spotted something on the hill, could it be… a bear?  In reality, it was probably just a bush or boulder that was uniquely colored but for this story, I’m sticking with the bear story.

It was our last night in Salt Lake and the Lewis’ decided to host us for a most delicious dinner at their house.  Ben has many talents but throwing together a delicious and nutritious (that’s for you Hoops) dinner is at the top.  On the fly, he made a lentil soup that is still making my mouth water just thinking about it.  I don’t know how he does it but he comes up with the most amazing meals without a recipe.  It was great sitting around chatting and having so many people I love in the same room.  We said our goodbyes to the Lewis’ - always hard to do - and headed back to Rob and Rina’s place.

Tuesday we got a leisurely start at home with Rob & Rina fixing us breakfast and then did a little shopping at Patagonia Outlet and Kirkham’s.  Eventually, we had to face reality and pack our things for the airport and our trip home.  We said our goodbyes to Rob, Rina, and Lucy and got on a plane back to Chicago.  It was a fun time that went too fast, as usual.  A BIG thank you to the Salt Lake Crew for having and entertaining us!  And, a big thank you to Paige for being so flexible and fun to vacation with, you’re the best!

Rob And Ben Relaxing Before Dinner

After finishing our pacing/crewing duties, Paige and I were free to hang with the Salt Lake City crew!  Saturday night after Rob picked us up, we went to Park City to see Rob and Rina’s new condo.  This summer, they came across a really good deal on a ski in/ski out property in Park City.  They are currently in the process of updating the place but were excited to show us the place “mid-project” and I can see why, it was awesome!  Its a two bedroom/two bathroom plus a loft that sleeps two and a really cool patio.  After a quick shower, we headed to the Wasatch Brew Pub for some dinner and a beer.  It was great to see Rob and I was glad he and Paige were finally able to meet each other.  Rina had to work late but joined us later.  Sunday morning, we slept in a little and then went to brunch - it was delicious!  Paige had to get back to Chicago so we took her to the airport to catch her flight.

Rina’s phone had recently stopped working so we took advantage of the free afternoon to stop by the Apple store to look at iPhones.  Being an Apple guy myself, I’m always up for a trip to the land of innovation.  While she was buying her new phone, I played with a floor model - it won’t be long now and this Blackberry guy will be a convert, I love the iPhone!  We spent a lazy afternoon setting up and playing with Rina’s new phone.

Bethany

Ben and Bethany got back to town around 5:30PM so we all made plans to meet up for sushi.  I hadn’t seen Bethany in over a year and the last time I’d seen Ben was back in February for some skiing and Moab’s Red Hot 50K+.  As always, it was wonderful to see them and catch up on the latest happenings in their lives.  Lucky me, the four of them picked up my portion of the tab - thanks y’all!

Lucy Lovin'

Monday, everyone had to work so I took Lucy for a run up into Park City Ski Resort.  We left in the sun and came home in sun but during our run we encountered some rain, thunder and sleet.  Lucy is so funny with thunder, she gets all fired up and acts like it is her longtime nemesis and immediately starts racing around and barking at the thunder - it is pretty hilarious to watch.  When we were on our return trip down the mountain, we came upon a bull moose standing on across the field from us.  I stopped and Lucy immediately sat down but she and the moose had locked eyes.  After a brief stare down, he moved on and we were able to continue on our way.  Far enough away to not be a real threat and yet close enough to be exciting.

Our New Friend

Monday afternoon was spent in Park City.  Rob and I got some lunch and then met up with Tom who is going to do some fireplace work at their condo.  We talked rock and then decided to take a drive over to the stone yard to check out the options for building a fireplace.  We saw some good rock but no decision was going to be made without Rina’s input.  That evening, Ben and Bethany hosted us at their home.  They had whipped up one of their wonderfully eclectic dinners and it was delicious as always.  We ate, drank beer and laughed - it was wonderful.  Some friends of B&B dropped by with their dogs (who were awesome), we all sat around chatting it up until it was bedtime.  On our way home, Rob and I stopped to get us, or at least me, some ice cream.

Two Thumbs Up

Tuesday was a day of relaxation and play.  Rob fixed an awesome breakfast and then we headed up to Park City for a mountain bike ride.  Ben lent me his awesome duel-suspension trail master and it was deluxe.  When we left the house, they were promising thunderstorms but you wouldn’t have guessed it from the sunny skies.  We rode toward Park City Ski Resort to do a nice loop trail.  The three of us rode while Lucy kept pace along side, she is such a good dog.  It didn’t take long until the sky was dark and the threat of rain became very real.  Rob, our tour guide for the day, decided we’d keep going until it started raining and then we’d turn around.

Rina, Powering Up The Trail

Two minutes later, big heavy drops were falling and quickly soaked the trail.  We turned around and headed back toward town but the temps had dropped and our wet bodies began to chill quickly.  When we stopped for just a minute to regroup, Lucy took that as an opportunity to dig herself a little nest - it was hilarious to watch her get it just right and then plop down.  By the time we got home, the sun was peeking out again, what a weird couple of days.

Rob and Rina hosted dinner that night and I got to cook the quinoa - a small but important part (just kidding).  Ben and Bethany showed up and we sat down to a wonderful meal of farmer’s market veggies and perfectly marinated chicken.  We wasted no time after finishing our meal and headed over to the dollar theater where Ben and Bethany splurged and bought all of our tickets - all five of us went to see a movie for $5 - literally!

Wednesday morning, Ben picked me up at 6:45AM and we headed up to the Bonneville Shoreline trail where we did a two hour run along the northern edge of Salt Lake City.  It was fun to get some alone time with Ben and the trail was great, I’ve run here before and always enjoy it.  Ben had to work so he dropped me back at Rob and Rina’s house where I was lucky enough to witness the elusive “couch dweller” species.  Lucy has taken a liking to the new couch that Rob and Rina got but she isn’t supposed to be on there so it is a constant game of trying to catch her in the act so the behavior can be addressed - busted!  She knows its wrong and immediately gave me that look but I still gave her a little talking to.  Rob came and picked me up for the trip to the airport.  It is always hard to leave and this time was no exception thanks to my most excellent hosts!

At The Start - Paige, Gary, and Jen

Wasatch 100’s unofficial race motto is that it is “One Hundred Miles of Heaven and Hell” and while I only saw a little over 30 miles of the course, I saw enough to see where this motto came from.  The day started at 3AM, we packed up the car and were on the road by 4AM.  When we arrived at the race start, there were already several tough looking people milling around with headlamps on.  We walked with Gary to the start line and got him checked in.  As we were standing there waiting for the race to start, we spotted a couple ultrarunning icons - Karl Meltzer and Krissy Moehl.  Karl was lining up to race and Krissy, fresh off her record setting win at Tour de Mont Blanc, was here to support/pace her friend Darla Askew.

Paige, Krissy And Me

Gary seemed remarkably calm as the clock ticked down toward the start.  We joked and snapped a few pictures as he finalized his pre-race prep.  Wasatch 100 is an old school race and as such, the start was a very subdued event with a mass of runners slowly disappearing down the trail into the night.  With the race underway, the support crews were left with a few hours of time before we would see our runners again.  I really wanted to say hello to Krissy, who was mingling with a small group of friends and eventually, I convinced Paige to come with me.  Krissy is a true ambassador to the ultrarunning community and graciously chatted with us for a few minutes.  What other sport could a complete amateur approach such an elite athlete and have a conversation?  That is one of the great things about ultrarunning, everyone is out there for the same basic reason, they love to run long.  It was great to meet Krissy who was absolutely delightful, even at 5AM.

We went back to the hotel for a couple of hours for a nap and some breakfast.  As we were driving to meet up with Gary at the first crew aid station, we got a phone call from him saying he was already there - wow, he was making great time and on a 28 hour pace.  We got there several minutes after he did but he rolled with it and had made the most of it.  Soon he was back on the trail and we had several more hours before we’d see him again.

Spending The Day With The Guidi's Chasing Their Son All Over Utah

We headed into Salt Lake City as we were on our way to the next crew aid station and when we got close to the area where several of my friends live, I mentioned that we were close and how nice it would be if they were home and we could relax for a while before making our way to the aid station.  With a little encouragement from Gary’s mom, I called Rob just to see if he might have a key stashed somewhere that would allow us to camp out at his and Rina’s place for a while.  He answered his phone and said that he didn’t have to be to work for another hour and to just stop by - that was great news, not only did it mean that we had a comfy place to relax, it also meant bonus time with Rob!

We spent the next hour and a half chatting it up, having lunch and relaxing a bit, then we were off to the Big Mountain aid station where I would join Gary.  We waited near a local reservoir until we got close to the time we expected Gary to roll in and then we headed up to the actual aid station.  The race had a comprehensive radio communication network that tracked runners’ progress throughout the race which helped predict when he would arrive.

Heading Out From Big Mountain Aid Station

When he got there, we put on our headlamps, got him fueled up, and headed out.  The first stretch was all uphill and I was soon to learn that much (about half) of this course was uphill.  We got to the top and had an awesome view of the valley (including the reservoir) below.  We saw a beautiful sunset and then turned on our lamps as the night settled in.  The stars were bright and the temperatures were perfect for running.  Through the night we ran, passing and being passed by a familiar group of runners with their pacers.  After a nice long runnable downhill section, we pulled into the Lambs Canyon AS - what a welcome sight it was.  It was Jen’s turn to pace for a while, so after a quick turnaround, they headed off into the night.

Paige, the Guidis and I left the AS and started making our way toward the Mill Creek AS.  To get there, we had to pass through Salt Lake City.  We decided to stop at a grocery store to clean up and get some snacks.  I was growing weary of snacks at this point and really wanted a full sit down meal but knowing we would have to run later, we opted for snacks.  As we headed up Mill Creek, we eventually started seeing runners on the road, the course followed the road for over two miles.  It was fun to see them but I felt bad that they had to deal with the headlights of cars passing.  At the very end of the road, the Mill Creek AS was awaiting like a beacon in the night.  When we got out of the car to check on their progress, I was struck by how chilly it had gotten, 45 degrees was the reading on the thermometer.  We had some time, so we caught a little nap in the car before they arrived.  Paige readied herself to run through the remaining night with Gary.  When Gary and Jen rolled in, it was cold and Gary was having a hard time getting warm.  After several minutes by the stove and multiple cups of hot soup, he warmed up enough to keep going.

The Aid Station "Scene"

When we got to Brighton, we had some time to kill.  We tried sleeping in the car but had very little luck.  Soon, the sky started to lighten and we got up to prepare for Paige and Gary’s arrival.  When they walked into the lodge, Gary was definitely aware of the fact that he had run 75 miles and was thinking that staying right there in the warm lodge was a better idea than heading back out into the cold air to run another marathon.  With some progressively more assertive nudging, Gary was back on his feet and moving toward the door.  I believe the quote was, “I’m NOT happy about this.”  I was nearly in tears as we left the lodge heading out to finish what we came here to do.

We covered our first mile in 22 minutes, not bad considering it was straight up a ski slope.  By the time we reached the top, we were shedding our jackets.  We made good time over the next several miles and Gary was smiling again - I knew his smile was in there somewhere even though I hadn’t seen it in a while.  The final 25 miles were broken up by several aid stations but none had crew access, it was just the two of us from that point point forward.  Soon, Gary was feeling rough again, it happens.  We walked for a bit, running when he could but our time per mile was slowing and the chance of finishing before the cutoff was slipping away.  My purpose in life became very simple, keep Gary moving toward the finish line even if we got there past the cutoff.  Our routine was when we would get to an AS, I would take Gary’s hydration pack and top it off and then fill his handheld bottle while he would eat.  Then he would put the pack on and head out while I topped off my bottle and pack before catching up with him down the trail.  Somewhere around Pole Line Pass AS (mile 83), Gary found another gear.  We were cruising along the soft single-track at a respectable pace and our spirits were lifted by the thought that if we could continue at this pace, we would finish the race under the cutoff.

As with all good dramas, that wasn’t the end of the story.  Soon, the walking breaks became longer and Gary was dealing with bouts of feeling light-headed.  The combination of the slow pace and the physical exhaustion started to play havoc with his head and the idea of not finishing crept back into his mind.  The pace continued to slow as did our conversation.  I was torn between my duties to get him to the finish line at all cost and respect his increasing desire to end the pain.  Eventually, pain won out and two miles out from the Pot Bottom AS, we called Gary’s girlfriend Jen to organize “an extraction.”  We discussed the options and decided the only way out was to make it to Pot Bottom where Jen would meet us with the truck.  About that time, two of the AS workers showed up to check on Gary and another runner who they had heard was having a tough go of it.  After a GU and some water, we were back on the trail heading down to meet Jen.  Gary had run his race and on this particular day, that race was 93 miles long so with a signature on the DNF form, the day officially came to an end.  While I can logically recognize the limitations of the pacer’s role, I still couldn’t help feeling as though I’d let Gary down in some way.

The ride back to the finish line was a long one for me.  Gary was in much better spirits after seeing Jen and getting some Dingles cookies in his belly but I was struggling to process the emotions of the day.  Rob met us at the finish area and as Gary walked stiff legged into his hotel room, we loaded our stuff into Rob’s vehicle and headed for Park City.  Our Wasatch adventure was over, at least for this year.  My congrats to Gary for setting all sorts of personal bests achieved during the race.  I think Gary would attest to the fact that Wasatch is a taste of Heaven and Hell just like their unofficial moto states.

Part Of The Wasatch 100 (From Their Website)

Today we leave for Utah.  Gary, a fellow CHUG, is running Wasatch 100 this weekend and Paige and I are going out to crew and pace for him.  He has trained like a madman this summer and will do just great but as with any race of this magnitude, he has some pre-race “energy” - an understandable state of being considering he is about to embark on one of the toughest hundreds around.  I’m looking forward to being a part of his race and returning the favor of his awesome pacing me at Kettle Moraine 100 this past June.

The race starts on Friday morning and has a 36 hour cutoff.  Once Gary is triumphantly across the finish line and resting peacefully in bed, we are heading over to Park City to meet up with Rob and Rina.  In the morning, we’ll have brunch before Paige has to head back.  Lucky me, I get to linger for a few days to soak up some more mountain air, Lucy lovin’, and time with the Utah peeps.

I just returned from a week of fun in Utah.  I spent the first part of the week playing in Salt Lake City with Rob, Rina, Lucy, and Ben.  We had some great snow, “bottomless powder” is what Rob called it.  The skiing was great and I got my first experience with backcountry touring.  Each day was something fun - skiing, snowshoeing, running - and the nights were filled with lots of laughs and good food.  On Friday, Ben, Rob, Lucy and I roadtripped down to Moab where we met up with Tom for some desert fun.  On Friday, we mountained biked and on Saturday I ran a race called the Moab Red Hot 50K+.  It was an awesome race and I had a great support crew!   Here is a link to pictures from the trip.