Thru Endurance We Conquer!

 Grand Mesa Ultras. Last year I jumped into the 30k for fun a few weeks after Silverheels and had a great time. This year, I decided to bump up in distance to the 50 miler and use the race as my final long effort before the Tabeguache. That was the plan anyway. But how frequently do things really go to plan? Not this time! Watching the weather the week of the race was nerve wracking to say the least. July had been a very active monsoon month, with drench downpours and flash floods. Race kept flipping between nice and more of the same. With fingers crossed for nice, I packed (or so I thought) for more of the same. Besides, the race was at over 10,000’ - even with nice weather, it could be cold up there. Turns out my packing was a little scattered and there were plenty of things that I forgot to bring that could have been useful. We took the scenic route up - Land’s End Road to the edge of the mesa. And then we meandered around the mess for a bit, exploring. Might as well! The sun wa...

 Right after my eye surgery, I'd thought I would use my rollover credits for the 50 mile at the new Kessel Run Ultra that Mad Moose Events was hosting out at the North Fruita Desert. Seemed like a good plan - roll from the Hanging Flume 50k right into the 50 mile training. But when I was plotting out the training plan for that I realized how silly it would be. I might have the fitness in my legs for two back to back hard efforts, but I didn’t have the recovery time I though I would need after Hanging Flume. So that plan was nixed and I decided to use my credit for Bears Ears in 2022. I still wanted to be involved in the race though, and I had the weekend off… A quick message to Denise - do you still need sweep help for the race? The answer was a quick YES! And there I was. I love sweep! It’s a long day some times, but so much fun and so rewarding. The original plan was that I would run out to where the 50m/60k split from the 20 mile course and then sweep from there to the Sarlacc s...

I’ll admit - I had never heard of the Hanging Flume prior to seeing the Facebook ads for the race. Intrigued, I googled everything - the Hanging Flume, the Unaweep-Tabeguache scenic byway and of course the race! It was supposed to be in March and I was all set to do it as a last long run for Behind the Rocks. Then the date changed to first November and finally October. With the October date, I pushed it to the back burner. After all, I was planning on the Crested Butte 105k three weeks earlier. Not smart to add another race no matter how interesting it sounds. And then my retina detachment. Well, I wasn’t racing the 105k so…. Time to reassess and maybe do a new race! I waited to sign up until I had gotten some decent long runs to see how I felt. After all, racing a 50k after about two weeks on the couch wasn't the smartest thing to do. Those long runs went well and I was moving much better then I anticipated after the eye surgery. It's always a crap shoot after something like t...

 With one step off the road, it was further then I had made it last year. That one step, onto the Gold Dust Trail to start the trek back to Poor Man's Gulch was the culmination of a year's worth of training, preparation and drive for redemption. That one step - that much closer to the finish line that had eluded me last year. I made that step to cheers from the volunteers and it was as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Last year, I never made that step off the road on to the Gold Dust Trail. I dropped at Tarryall III, not willing to take the chance of the long journey to Poor Man's when I wasn't even sure I would make it to Trout Creek. I've second guessed that decision a few times, but never regretted it. There is a difference between the two. I've spent last year knowing that I made the right choice, but still wondering deep down if I could have finished. I had 19 hours for 40 miles... I could (maybe...) have struggled to the finish line. I would ...

 This year there's actually been events and races with the Striders! It's been really nice to be able to do the group runs and socialize for a while afterwards. I'm such a loner runner that it's good to break out of the rut - even if I still end up running alone for most of the evening! One of the great things about the Striders are the free races in fun places. I would hear people talking about the Garfield Grumble, Turkey Flats or Crag Crest. I either wasn't able to participate due to schedule conflicts last year or the events were canceled due to COVID. While I skipped the Garfield Grumble this year, when people were making camping plans for Turkey Flats, both Nick and I were in. Perfect time for a bit of a getaway. We would head up Friday, camp with the crew, ride bikes Saturday and then race Sunday.  Moody skies and fields of flowers We got up to the Striders compound late afternoon Friday. Just in time to get settled, have supper and enjoy an amazing sunset. T...