More of Moab! (Behind the Rocks Course Preview)

You know what never sounds good to me when I wake up the day after an ultra? Going for a run. I usually sleep terribly the night after a long run, often waking up at 2am with a ravenous appetite and in need of a second dinner. I always try to sleep in, but it is a miracle if I can stay asleep past six in the morning. Chris and Justin, the race directors, had organized a course preview for the Behind the Rocks Ultra on the day after the Red Hot. Although I was sleepy and feeling lazy, there were a few motivating factors that ultimately got my butt out the door. One, as always, the dogs needed some exercise. Although I would have been perfectly happy to lounge all morning, it was important to me that they get out and run around. Two, I was in MOAB! There was so much to see, and it would have felt like a waste to stay at the hotel. This was a perfect time to take in something new without the worry about getting lost or even having to plan a route myself. So at 9:30, I packed myself into my car and drove along the long, windy, cliff-side road (only slightly terrifying) that led to the Amasa parking lot. We had a bit of a late start heading out to the trail after giving a bit extra time to the stragglers. Probably due to the fabulous post-race festivities and achy muscles, the group was a bit smaller than expected. After a little jaunt up the dirt road, we crossed over onto the trail and made our way down into the rock. 

RD Justin

I somehow didn't think that the views could get much better than what I had seen on Friday and Saturday, but I was quickly proven wrong, as can be seen in the photos. I wanted to see as much as I could, but I was worried about how my three-legged friend would do with the technical trail. I warned the group when we left the parking lot that I was likely to turn back early if things got too treacherous for Jake, and I quickly began to have concerns. (He struggled with keeping his footing on the slick rock when I took him out for our first hike on Friday.) The trail changed from a runnable, albeit a little rocky, trail to a pile of rocks that would require some hands over feet scrambling. We were promised to see some petroglyphs at the top of the climb, but I felt it would be a good spot to turn around with the dogs. 

Petroglyphs

"Hey guys, I think this is going to be the end of the run for us!" As the words were coming out of my mouth, Jake quickly and nimbly launched himself up the rocks to stay with the group of people. The idea of turning around was taken out of the cards, and though he made me a little nervous bouncing around on the ledges, I figured that he was a dog and could handle himself. I was certainly glad that he is such a tough boy, because being able to see the petroglyphs was incredibly cool. Again, I feel that I should have a bit more profound description than that, but words escape me. It's amazing that something that was created so long ago is still so visible, tucked away into this pocket of the world that most people will never venture to see. It has inspired me to brush up on the local Native history so that I can better understand when and how these images were created. 

More petroglyphs- so cool.

My dogs make funny faces.

Maureen enjoying the petroglyphs.

On the way back down.

The trail is just to the left here.

Mountains in the background.

We stayed up by the images for a few moments so that all the people could regroup and we could get some photos. It was starting to warm up again (I never learn!), and I knew that I didn't have much water for the pups, so even though Jake was being a champion rock climber, I decided to turn back. There were a few other runners that decided to turn around before the leaders of the group as well, so I got to enjoy their company as we made our way back to the dirt road and back to the vehicles. One of my favorite things about race travels are meeting other runners from all over- I was able to connect with a group of people that had come in from Colorado and a few people that had flown all the way from New York to come run this race. We all enjoyed each other on the run and decided to get dinner together that evening.

Beauty.

This is one of my favorite shots from the day.

On our way back to the cars.

Jake is pooped, but was happy to make a new little friend.

Amazing.

I spent the rest of the day at the hotel lounging around and catching up on rest. (So did the puppies!) I was able to sit outside in the sun in the hotel yard and read as well as spend a little bit of time loosening up in the hot tub. I met up with the folks from the morning run downtown and enjoyed a delicious house-made veggie burger. We shared our adventures and upcoming plans, and hopefully we will all be able to connect again at a race sometime in the future. It was a great end to an awesome day, and it was just how I would have wanted to spend the last night of my trip. I certainly was not ready to leave when Monday morning came along, but I am already scheming on when my next trip back to Moab will be. I could spend months and months exploring. If anybody has any leads on good jobs down there... just sayin'!

Race Report: Moab's Red Hot 55k

Moab. Love.

I have been putting off sitting down at my computer to do my race report from Moab's Red Hot 55k that I ran last Saturday, mostly because I am still soaking in the whole experience. Ah, Moab. It was love at first sight. I had a pretty packed weekend, so I will take y'all through it in sections. If you are primarily interested in my recap of the race, feel free to skip to that!









Pre-Race

Colorado River

Gracie girl!

I originally decided to plan this trip because my birthday fell on the Friday before Presidents' Day weekend, which was the day before the Red Hot. Over the last few years, I have tried to do something cool and memorable for my birthday, so when I came across the site for the race, my interest was piqued. The entry fee was steeper than I usually find feasible (a bit over $100), but when I started looking into local hotels and realized that rates were significantly reduced during the off-season, I realized that the trip could still be done pretty inexpensively. I decided to go for it! I left Boise on Thursday right after class to get half of the 9ish hour drive out of the way. (I did this mostly because I didn't want to spend my whole birthday driving.) I hit the road pretty early on Friday and made it to Moab in the early afternoon.

On the rocks.

Since the pups were traveling with me, I stopped to take them for a hike before even getting to the hotel. The national parks are not very dog-friendly, but fortunately the Moab Area Travel Council has a neat list of hiking trails where all three of us would be welcome. I parked the car and we made our way up the Portal Overlook trail.

This is what a trail could look like.

I had never been anyplace like Moab before. The scenery is so bold and beautiful, and I am still struggling to find the right words to describe it. The ground varies from sand to packed dirt to loose rock to, of course, slick rock. If you step your way across it, the slick rock seems so light and porous that it could easily break. It carries on for long sections where the trail must be marked by paint on the rock or with a wall of smaller stones.

So majestic.

Jake surveying the valley.

Although the trail was only about two miles one-way, I found myself HOT and sweaty by the time I got to the top, something that is pretty usual for February. The weather was perfect- in the low 60s- and it felt great to have sun on my skin for the first time in a few weeks. I was happy (and so were the dogs) to be out of the car and breathing some fresh air. We lingered for a few minutes at the top to soak in the view and made our way back to the car and into town.

The cutest hotel room ever at the Kokopelli Lodge (for $31 a night!)

I got myself situated at my hotel and walked over to packet pickup, which was held in a local restaurant, Eddie McStiff's. The line was long, but it is always a fun atmosphere when you are so close to all the other runners and can feel everyone's excitement and nerves. I picked up my packet and headed over to the Altra booth, where some lovely Altra folks had the ambassador schwag set aside for the ambassadors running the race. It was cool to see that so many other runners were checking out the new line of shoes and talking with Zac and Caitlin about getting some new sneaks on their feet.

Back at the hotel, I laid low with the pups and wound down my birthday with an early bedtime and the ever-appreciated puppy snuggles.



RACE DAY!

The colors...

Milling about at the start.

Reppin' the 208!

Even though the race had a very reasonable 8am start time for the 55k, my day began at 5am as I needed to take the dogs out for some exercise before leaving them inside for a while. We did a nice loop through the town and I gathered my things to head out to the race start. I parked around 7:30am, which meant that I missed the 7am pre-race briefing. I usually try to catch those, but the longer the pups could be out, the better I felt about leaving them behind. There is a short 3/4 mile walk from the parking lot to the race start, and I happily wore some extra layers over to the starting line. Since the finish and start were not in the same location, drop bags are shuttled to the finish so that you can have some sweats. Even though I knew it would warm up, the morning was chilllly! I ran into a few Boise folks that had also made the trek down to Moab, and we chatted for a few minutes before the race STARTED.

Runners up the hillside

It was really neat to start off the race with so many other runners. Most of our Idaho races are very intimate, so the group spreads out pretty quickly. I am not sure of the number that started the race, but Ultrasignup is telling me that there were 301 finishers of the 55k. We had a long, low-gear grind up and over the first hill, and even though I only started in a running skirt, tee, and sleeves, the sleeves were already coming off by mile 2 or 3. The views were just spectacular- the contrast of barren red rock formations with the backdrop of the snowcapped La Sal mountain range made it hard to keep eyes on the trail. I promised myself that I wouldn't stop for too many photos, but that first part of the race seemed to require it.

Beautiful.

The whole first loop went very well and very quickly. I was efficient at the aid stations at mile 5.5 and 13, spending no more time than what was needed to fill my bottles and grab a snack for the road. I originally was hoping to be in the 7:30 range for time, but I reevaluated since I was feeling well through the first sections, and decided that I would like to have a faster overall pace than I did at Wilson Creek back in January, where I clocked about 13-minute miles. The mantra in my head became "no thirteen minute miles!" and I kept a close eye on my pace. Most of my racing and training has been without the use of my Garmin, as I don't want to become too attached to numbers. However, on this day, the strategy worked well for me. I tried to keep my miles below the desired pace, but whenever I clocked a mile that was a bit over the time, I started over when the mile was up and tried to keep my pace down for the NEXT one.

Mile 19-20ish

I felt great and sailed smoothly until about mile 18, when I felt a bit off and allowed myself some time. I  walked a bit and then began to climb up to the aid station at about mile 22. This was about 4 miles of steady uphill that was not super runnable. I just buckled down and ground my way up the slick rock, though I did pause for one photo (much to Dennis's chagrin) when I came across some other runners that were taking some pictures. Up the hill, up the slick rock, and I was finally topped out at the aid station. I grabbed some electrolyte tablets and a PB&J quarter sandwich. The aid station workers were, as they usually are, very sweet and helpful. I turned out of there ready to log some running miles on the downhill, and quickly encountered the best race sign I have ever seen: "You are NOT almost there!"

Most of the miles immediately after the aid station were downhill, but they were downhill on slanted slick rock. It was easy to pick up speed, but the image in the back of my head that slowed me down was that of me tumbling down the concrete-like hill. I kept a steady pace and was able to make up some time that I lost while climbing. Six easy miles to the last aid station. In and out. Five easy miles to the finish. Early in the race, I thought that sub-7 may have been in my sights, but I thought I may have lost it during the climb at 18. I decided to push anyway. If I was going to miss 7 hours, it was only going to be by a few minutes. I even convinced myself that 7:05 would have been just fine. If I needed to stop and walk, I counted out 50 steps and then ran again. I came into the last mile and a half and gave it a solid push to the finish, which was a nice runnable downhill. I knew when I could see people walking up the hill from the finish line that I was close, and I closed the race strongly. 6:58:59. Close, but definitely sub-7.

Dave from Boise found me at the finish line (he had been waiting for me and his friend Scott on the hill, and I passed him on my way down). He was very kind and brought me some chili- VEGAN chili! I give extra love to races that supply runners with vegan food at the after party. He had also grabbed some delicious dried mangoes that hit the spot, and I sat and vegged with him for a few minutes before catching the shuttle. I wish that I could have stayed at the finish for the rest of the day, but I had to get back to the hotel and get the pups outside. I caught the shuttle back to the start, soaking in my little victory and enjoying a delicious vegan protein shake.

The pups were happy to see me and have a little walk. I think that the secret to speedy recoveries is being a dog owner. My muscles had stiffened up a bit after sitting and driving back into town, but after being out with the dogs for a few minutes on a walk, everything felt nice and stretched. I enjoyed a nice shower and relaxed for a little bit before heading back over to Eddie McStiff's..


Post-Race Party

I think that it would have been a hard sell for me to leave my bed the night of a race, but since the party was only a block away from my hotel, I didn't have much of an excuse. I got there a little before Jenn Shelton was slated to speak and met a bunch of cool people that had come into town from all over to run the race. Jenn Shelton got up and spoke to the group about a book proposal she has written about her three attempts at the FKT on the John Muir trail. It was neat to hear part of her story, and I sincerely hope that there will be a book in the works. Most people didn't hang around for too long after she was done talking, but there were plenty that stayed for a little while. I chatted with folks for a bit, but since I didn't really know anyone and was eager for more puppy snuggles, I made it back to my hotel and called it a night.



That's not all!

I was super happy to finish in under 7 hours, and I have really been thinking about the things that made that possible. If I hadn't counted out steps when I wanted to walk or if there had been only a few more moments that I allowed myself to meander, that minute of wiggle room would have disappeared. I don't like to run my races glued to the clock or with too much invested in my time, but it was neat to see myself give it a little push. Another happy note about this race- once again, no blisters and happy feet. My Lone Peaks carried me through the day without any problems, despite the uneven terrain all day.

That's not the end of my adventure, but I have decided that it is enough for one post. The RDs were awesome and led a group run the day after the race, which I think should get its own entry since I have even cooler photos from that day. Moab's Red Hot 55k was awesome, and I would definitely consider going back if it could work into my schedule. If you are thinking about putting this race on your calendar, I would tell you to do so without hesitation.

Gear Review! Ultimate Direction Jenny Pack

Who loves getting new gear?! I certainly do, but I usually think long and hard about my purchases since I am living the dream of a grad student budget. I decided in the fall last year that if my biggest point of soreness/pain after running 100 miles was in my shoulders and not in my feet or legs that I probably needed to make some changes, so I started seeking out a new pack. I have been using a Nathan hydration pack for the last two years, and though I have used it very often and loved it dearly, I needed to find something new. It's not you, it's me.

Look at that comfy fit!

The Pulse hosted a movie night back in the fall, so a group of us Boise runners got together for a viewing of In the High Country. The Pulse was also previewing the new UD line, so I got to try on the Jenny Vest before it was out in stores. It was perfect timing in my quest for a new pack, and I was a fan right away. Even without anything in it, the fit felt great and actually women-specific. Another thing that was instantly appealing was the fact that the pack sits much higher and more snugly on the back. It seems to me that even if the vest got full and heavy, it would not sag down on the shoulders. But more on me stuffing my pack too full later...

The pack that I already had is supposed to be for women, but I am pretty sure that the only difference is color. What does this mean for us if the packs are the same design? Well, let's just say that women's curves can make an improperly shaped vest or straps very uncomfortable. I found with my old pack that the chest strap was either cutting directly through the middle of the chest (very uncomfortable), or underneath (who needs a pushup hydration pack?), or above (bouncy..). The UD Vest actually fits snugly and can be adjusted in the right places to ensure that it fits right. There are two chest straps instead of one, which is much more comfortable in the chest area. There are also some straps that adjust under the arms so that different body shapes can be properly accommodated.  Does that seem like a lot of discussion about the chest area? GOOD! That's about the only thing that I think needs to be majorly considered in a gender-specific pack.

As far as other features that are good for the rest of us, I haven't found anything yet that I dislike about the setup of the Jenny Vest.

See here: two bottles, emergency whistle, zippered pocket on the left (my phone is in there to show that it fits), velcro pocket on the right with a gel. Observe that there are two beautiful chest straps instead of one.

The vest has two bottle pockets on the front that can be used instead of a bladder system, though there is enough space in the pack to fit a regular bladder. (I haven't tried out this aspect of the vest yet.) I am very excited about the bottles. As I mentioned, I developed some serious knots in my shoulders after my races, and part of this was due to carrying a bladder. The bladder itself is not a bad idea, but I was not utilizing it in the way that was best for my body. When stopping at aid stations, it can take longer than you want to stay for to hand off your pack to be filled by a volunteer. It is a hassle to take the pack on and off, you may have to change around your clothing layers, the pack will leak if the volunteer is not familiar with the closing mechanism, water sloshes around and can be annoying. Instead of filling my bladder in little bits at every aid station, I would have my bladder filled to capacity so that I didn't need to keep stopping at every aid station for water. This left me often with a very heavy pack. With the bottles, aid station stops have proven to be quick and easy. At Wilson Creek 50k a few weeks ago, I don't think I stopped at an aid station for more than 30 seconds (except for when I had to re-dress). Not only are the bottles quick to fill, but I think that I monitored my fluid intake much better  because I had a visual of how much I was drinking. Although the carry capacity is less- each bottle is only 10oz.- I think I hydrated better than usual. I also drank more electrolyte drink, as I am okay with putting something other than water in a bottle, where I prefer to keep my bladder reserved for water. Since I have never really monitored my water consumption before, I carried a SoftFlask with an extra 8oz of water in the pack, which I didn't wind up needing. I anticipate that I will put a bladder in the pack for training when temperatures get warmer, but if I am running a race where the aid stations are close enough, I am sticking with the bottles.

There are two pockets beneath the bottles. One of them has a zipper and has a secret hiding pocket (aka, it took me a while to realize it was there..) in the back, and one of them has an open top with velcro for easy access. I keep my phone and a bag of wipes in the zipped pocket and use the velcro pocket for things to which I want easy access: gloves, snacks, etc.

from the back!

Top pocket- phone and gel in there to see size. 

The back of the pack. This pack is very deceptive in that it appears impossible to fit anything into the small pack portion of the pack. It's not true! Somehow, there is magically tons of space in here. Again, I have yet to determine how this will look with a bladder, but I have no complaints so far. There is a small pocket on the top that is large enough to fit a phone, camera, more snacks, or something of the like. I really like this pocket because, for me, it is another one that I can access without removing the pack. This will vary depending on flexibility, but the pack has a high enough profile on the back that I can reach my arm behind my head to grab stuff in that pocket.

Left side pocket.

 There is another nicely sized pocket that runs down the side of the pack and could be used to store extra layers. Along the other side of the pack, there is another pocket that is designed to hold a bladder. It has some nice bungees to hold the thing in place so it doesn't slide down to the bottom. The hose for the bladder can run through either side of the pack.

Right side pocket with bungee for bladder. 

How to carry your trekking poles!

There is a good bungee on the outside of the pack as well, which is really nice for stuffing layers. Another thing that this can be used for is holding trekking poles. This was another required feature when I was seeking out a new pack, since the Nathan doesn't really have a good place for poles- the only way to put them into the bungee is horizontally, which does not mesh well with swinging elbows.

There are a few other bells and whistles, literally. The Jenny pack has a cool little emergency whistle on the front, which can be removed or put on another place in the pack. There is also a little clip on the inside of the top back pocket which can be used for storing keys (or the rings that you forgot to remove at the beginning of the race and can't keep wearing since your fingers are now sausages). The clip comes with an emergency hair tie, which isn't of much use to me, but will be helpful to ladies with longer hair. There are a few loops and straps that I haven't found a use for yet, but I am sure that I will be happy for them when the time comes that I need an extra strap for something.

Okay, things that I don't love. Well, nothing really yet. I felt like the pack was holding heat on my back a bit more than I usually felt, but it is likely just because the pack sits in a different spot. I am sure that I'll get used to that. I also need to get used to hearing the water in the bottles sloshing if they aren't completely full- very minor. My other issue was something to which I just need to adjust; I need to remember to take my bottles from aid stations! I left behind one of my bottles at an aid station during the race, but fortunately the lovely aid station workers from The Pulse kept it safe and sound for me.

Now, I'll bet you want to know what I love. In addition to all the lovely things that I outlined above, I would say that the fit-for-the-run was excellent. Sometimes the way that an item feels walking around is not the same as how it feels on the move, but I had no issues with this vest at all. It stayed nice and snug, didn't bounce, and didn't pull down on my shoulders. I didn't wake up the day after my race with golf balls in my shoulder muscles! That was my objective, after all. I also loved that I could wear my jacket over the vest since the back does not stick out too far. I often am swapping out layers and taking things on and off, so I appreciated that I could do this without removing my pack. I managed to PR on the course, which I wouldn't credit to the vest, but all of the added conveniences certainly didn't hurt! Overall, I am calling the Jenny Vest a WIN. It can be a rocky, windy, dirty, mosquito-infested, root-covered road, but I think that we're going to be happy together.

(Also, I should say that Jenny Jurek herself does a much better job showing off the vest than I do. If you are looking for a new pack and want to see how it works in action, check it out here.)