Antelope Canyon 50 Mile Race Report

You never know how strong you are, until being strong is the only choice you have. ~Anonymous

Often times we as humans like to test ourselves and see what we are mentally and physically capable of. This is why we as humans have succeeded and grown in this world. This race was a test for me. I wasn't quite sure if it was just all out stupid or if it would hurt me, but I knew I was ready for the challenge of running back to back races. The Saturday before I ran the Red Hot 55 k and I ran hard! I had no clue how my body would react to running a 50 mile race a week later. This was only my second 50 mile race ever and I remembered how I felt after my first one just under a year ago and it was not good.  The week in between the races was a bit rough. I had a stomach ache for a couple days, I had a tooth ache and the morning before the race I burnt my hand to the point where it sizzled at me. I felt off and had pains I am not used to. Even to top it all off as we were eating dinner the night before the race I realized my pack was at home 420 miles away, oops! Thanks to some wonderful friends who pack extra packs I was spared to not to have to run with just my handheld. They even had my identical pack so I knew it would fit like a glove!

The morning was perfect as I arrived to the start line bright and early with the perfect chill in the air. As the race started I was pretty much the last person to leave as I had just found my friend to hand off my coat I was wearing. The first few miles was tough playing the passing game.The sky started to lighten up as the sun was rising and the clouds were beautiful.

About 7 miles in though my legs started to feel tired already and I thought to myself that this was a bad idea, I should not be out here racing again so soon. The sand was beating them up quick and they did not feel recovered from last week. Trekking along I just told myself over and over again that I just needed my legs to go numb and then the aching would go away. Running towards Antelope Canyon the wash was long and sandy but once getting to the canyon it broke up the monotonous run through the sand with a dark and mysterious slot canyon that had just a small amount of light coming in to make it feel eerie.  I had to turn my head light on in order to not hit my head.

In and out of the canyons and back down the wash to where we came from I got in the mode of just putting one foot in front of the other back through the sand. Sand was everywhere! I was thinking about those crazy long multiple day desert races people do and how it is just insane!

P.C. Kendall Wimmer

 After arriving back at the Antelope Aid Station I took a few minutes to recoup and off I went. Following some other runners we then somehow found ourselves off course and not going through the canyon we were supposed to go through. We dropped as close to the top as we could and ran along the edge of the canyon till it opened up and we were back on course.  Our little group thinned out as the sand was taking a taking a toll on me and a couple of the others. I started to walk a bit on the hills, my legs just didn't have the power in them. The next several miles felt like a blur. In and out of the slick rock aid station, after refilling my pack with my gels I continued on to Horseshoe Bend Aid Station. The sandy road going into it wasn't too bad because it was downhill. I actually enjoyed it because it felt like a roller coaster to me. It had rolling little hills all the way down. As I came into Horseshoe Bend I was welcomed by friends who helped me fill my pack back up with water while I drank some coke and ate gummy bears. I didn't stay long. I had caught back up with some girls there who had passed me earlier on and my competitive side came out a bit and I wanted to get in front of them.

P.C. Pam Stuart

Shortly after leaving the aid station I came up on Horseshoe Bend. The view was so breathtaking it actually gave me the chills. All that sand was worth this view! The next 8 miles or so went well with many stops for pictures. I was feeling good and actually felt like my legs had gone numb. I think slick rock running is fun and a good break from sand. It made me feel like a kid on a playground jumping up and down and having to use my hands to crawl down some spots.

Fun Slick Rock

Dropping into Waterhole

After arriving at Waterholes Aid which I stayed at just for a few minutes while I ate a sandwich. I dropped into the  Waterholes Canyon and once again was surprised by the beauty that surrounded me.  

Weaving through the canyon I was thinking about how grateful I am to be able to do things like this.I think a lot when I run. I don't listen to music and only hear the sounds mother nature provides and my own thoughts, It is exactly the way I like it! I have taught myself to never take anything for granted and to enjoy everything to the fullest.  

P.C. Kendall Wimmer

Even when I came across the sandy mountain, maybe it was just a hill, but it felt like a mountain to get out of the canyon. I was still grateful.

After climbing out of the canyon there was a long stretch of sandy road back to Horseshoe Bend Aid. Moving fairly quick I started passing people. I was in my own little world just putting one foot in front of the other again trying not to swear about the sand. Arriving at Horseshoe I sat and emptied sand out of one of my shoes for the first time and only because I felt a hot spot.  The Dirty Girl Gaiters I got the day before were paying off as a very good investment. Shoe back on and some more of those dang delicious gummy bears I was off back up that road I thought was fun going down. The road was not near as fun to go back up, it didn't feel like a roller coaster anymore, it just felt like SAND! I was still moving good in my run/hike mode and made it back to Slick Rock Aid. As I pulled in, there were some ladies there I hadn't seen all day and I noticed they were 50 milers. I thought to myself, "Nice!! I pulled up from the back of the pack to the middle."  I wanted to stay in front of them so I was out of there quick. I stayed in front until the Rim Aid Station when one of them passed me again. I set out on her heels cruising on the Page Rim trail. She was hauling! I was getting nervous about keeping this pace up for another 10 miles and backed off a bit to a more comfortable pace for me. That is when I decided to take my phone off airplane mode and shortly after a text came through from a friend back home while I had it out to take a picture.

 She said, "You are killing it, you're in 3rd place" It took a few moments and then I realized there must be live tracking and that girl not too far in front of me must be in second and Jennilyn must be in first. WHAT!? No way! Here I had come out to race and 'have fun' a week after running another race last weekend and I had a chance at placing.  I decided then and there 3rd was not the place I wanted. I wanted 2nd! My mind had a powerful drive in it at that moment that I have never let it experience before. I took off as fast as I could with 44 miles on my legs. In and out of the Lake Powell Aid I had one thing on my mind and it was to catch that girl.  Nothing against her and I want to thank her for helping me find that drive I have never found before. The drive to find out how powerful my mind can be if I let it. Three miles from the finish I passed her and shortly after that I had encouraging words from some other runners I know. I knew I couldn't back down now. Tired and drained I pushed hard all the way to the end and finished in 2nd (for women) with a time of 9:45. 

Such an amazing learning experience the whole day was! I learned that my body is a powerful machine and it can do things I once thought was never possible. Back to back races and still pulling through to run well. I would have never thought this would be possible after running my first Ultra almost exactly a year ago. It is all made possible by my wonderful family letting me train and all the advice and support from my ultra running friends. Thanks to all!

Special thanks to Matt Gunn and Ultra Adventures for letting me be a part of a spectacular running series.

Hot Red Hot 55K

New year, new goals, new dreams.

Moab's Red Hot 55k

As this race approached I was excited like a kid waiting for Christmas morning. Last year this was my first Ultra and I wanted to go back and and see what I could do after a year of running Ultra's.  I didn't have huge goals, but I had some. I always set three goals for each race I do. First goal for this race was a little far reached, but hey you never know. The second goal is what I should have hit if I was having a good day going off my times from other races and the third goal was just to beat my last year time.

The morning of the race I was experiencing some stomach issues, not sure if it was food I ate, my kids sickness passed on to me, or just nerves. It was very uncomfortable though. The morning was beautiful and I was going to race no matter what.

The hubbs and I ready to go.

At the beginning of most races I feel like I have to tell myself to control my speed and go my own pace. It's hard to do when everyone takes off so fast. A mile into the race my body reminded me that I need to slow down a bit. My breathing was already becoming very labored and wheezy. I have asthma. Cold air, anxiety (pre-race jitters) and running fast before my lungs are warm is and can be disastrous for me. By the time I hit mile 4 my lungs were burning still even though I had slowed down a bit. I then knew I needed to walk the steeper hills.  So I did. It was hard to do with people passing me but I know my body and I needed to be smart, it is a long race I kept reminding myself over and over.  As I approached the first aid station I was still struggling and actually walked for a good 1/4 mile. Then the miracle happened! I could breath again, so off I went. Feeling good I knew it was time to move. I had time to make up and that was when my stomach so kindly reminded me that it was still not feeling well. Over the next 10 miles and 4 stops in the bushes (sorry, too much info) the stomach got better. However, in between stops I was still moving good.
As I started the second half of the race, which is very technical I was feeling much better. I was climbing strong and moving about as fast as I could to try and reach my goals. The mind and body were cooperating finally and I was fully enjoying the beautiful country I was in.

At the beginning of the race there were some girls I was running with that I told myself I would find again when I had lost them with all my stops. Around mile 26 I saw them. They were quite a bit ahead of me, but I slowly gained back on them and ended passing them at the last aid station. One sure gave me a run for the money and this is what kept me going strong. I call it healthy competition. Feeding off other runners helps me keep going when I am feeling uncomfortable. A couple miles from the finish I knew goals one and two were not going to be met and I realized that goal three wouldn't be met either unless I pushed harder. Pushing myself down the technical downhill and rounding the corner to the finish line I was almost in a full sprint and it felt good. I saw the clock and I knew I made it! Goal three accomplished and I was finished! 14th female and 100th place overall made me very happy with the field of runners I was running against and the physical struggles I had the beginning of the race. 

Finish Line Push

I just love this race and I will be back next year to hopefully accomplish goal one or two. Happy Running!