Trail Runners

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Photos from Goblin Valley 50k (Read 521 times)

    It was a much tougher race than i though it would be - completely exposed and the tempurature got to about 71. I didn't make my goal of 8 hours, and was actually, for the first time, the LAST runner in. I even had a police escort due to that distinguished placement! See photos below: The start and run briefing: Photobucket Heading down the first mile or so of paved road: Photobucket Along a section of narrower canyon, kids on bikes took my picture for me: Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Here is the local sheriff escort - they followed behind be like this for about 12 miles, until I got on the paved road near mile 29. It was very annoying. It's not like it was a terribly remote or difficult place to access, but it seemed they didn't want to let me out of there sight. Good thing I didn't need a "privacy" break, huh? Photobucket The final mile was a loop around the Goblins of Goblin Valley State Park: Photobucket These formations are about 20+ feet high. The trail markers (yellow stakes in the ground) were difficult to see. Sometimes I would get to one, have to stop and look around for the next one. Photobucket Coming back up from Goblin Valley to the parking lot/finish line - over 8 hours later: Photobucket With my husband after I finshed: Photobucket It was a very pretty race, and was a completely different terrain than I usually run in. But I didn't like the long stretches of dirt/gravel road and being able to see were I was going - sometimes more than 8 miles away. This was much more like a road run than a trail run, in that respect. Can't say that I enjoyed it, unfortunately. The next day we did a slot canyon hike up Little Wild Horse Canyon, and that was awesome!!!! I'll post a few photos on the Photo thread from that, even though we weren't "running" it!
    Next up: A 50k in ? Done: California-Oregon-Arizona-Nevada (x2)-Wisconsin-Wyoming-Utah-Michigan-Colorado
      Quiet bueautiful in a sparse and barren sort of way. Sorry it wasn't fun for you. Keep training.

      "Run slowly, run daily, drink in moderation, and don't eat like a pig" Dr. Ernst Van Aaken. Sorry ultrasteve.

        Desolate course isn't it? That's one of the reasons I haven't been back... those stretches where you could see miles and miles were mentally hard on me. It's really beautiful country though... in a different, lunar landscape, sort of way. Glad you liked Little Wild Horse canyon! Remember the story of Aron Ralston? He was the guy who cut his hand off after becoming stuck in a slot canyon. That canyon (Blue John Canyon) is not terribly far from there... it's just to the east of the highway you drove down from Green River to get to Goblin Valley. - Chris
          Remember the story of Aron Ralston? He was the guy who cut his hand off after becoming stuck in a slot canyon. That canyon (Blue John Canyon) is not terribly far from there... it's just to the east of the highway you drove down from Green River to get to Goblin Valley. - Chris
          Yeah - i read his book last year, and I knew the area wasn't too far away from where we were. I love Utah, but I guess not the trail running, at least in this area.
          Next up: A 50k in ? Done: California-Oregon-Arizona-Nevada (x2)-Wisconsin-Wyoming-Utah-Michigan-Colorado
            Cool pictures. Sorry it wasn't as much fun as you anticipated, but I have to say, the police escort is pretty funny. Always knew you were special! Big grin

            Leslie
            Living and Running Behind the Redwood Curtain
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              Don't let that race ruin you on trail running in Utah... there's a TON of great stuff that is far and away better! There are a couple of good events in Moab: Feb - Red Hot 50k+ (34.1 miles) - Lots of slickrock and interesting trails. Sept - Moab Alpine to Slickrock 50 - One of my favorite runs. Most of it takes place in the high mountains (La Sals) east of Moab... it then drops down into the desert and finishes in the red rocks. The last 15 miles are pretty grueling though... dirt road. Scenic, but mentally hard. Greg (the RD) is trying to find a better way to the finish for next year. For fun/scenic beauty but unofficial events: Buckskin Gulch / Paria Canyon - this is on my top-5 best trips ever. Totally amazing. Worlds longest slot canyon. Zion Traverse (Trans-Zion) Run - doing this in April of '09, but looks spectacular. 47 miles, 10,000' of gain. Good TR by Jared Campel is here: http://adventurerun.wordpress.com/2008/05/26/zion-traverse/ I hear the Wasatch 100 is nice, but have never run it. - Chris (who spends way too much of the "off season" in Utah) Big grin
                those pictures are AMAZING! Way to gut it out!

                Jennifer mm#1231