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: Heading down the first mile or so of paved road: Along a section of narrower canyon, kids on bikes took my picture for me: 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? The final mile was a loop around the Goblins of Goblin Valley State Park: 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. Coming back up from Goblin Valley to the parking lot/finish line - over 8 hours later: With my husband after I finshed: 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!

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

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!

those pictures are AMAZING! Way to gut it out!