Gaining more than you lose

Mon, May 07, 2012

Mon, 07 May 2012 06:00:00

For a quick short run, this is a good one. Davis Creek in Farmington with my brother- steep climb, but beautiful trail through the forest -you could tag this on the flag rock loop if you wanted more vert - it starts just above where you come out on the road from that loop. Runs you up to Little Valley (as I always called it, but the signs say Pretty Valley) trail keeps going up, I'll have to check that out sometime. Today though we took a ATV trail back down to the start to make a loop out of it. Just shy of 3 miles, 1000+ feet of vert within about the first mile.

Thu, May 03, 2012

Thu, 03 May 2012 06:00:00

Avenue Twins with Jun.

Details to come...this for now:

Jun hitting the top of the 2nd Avenue Twin.

Tue, May 01, 2012

Tue, 01 May 2012 06:00:00

Evening run with a couple of my brothers. Ran a trail just below the shooting range in Bountiful over to about Parrish lane and then back a slightly different way. Fun little trail. 8:25AP 600 vert.

Mon, Apr 30, 2012

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 06:00:00

3 miles with my wife, my brother and his wife. Nice and easy around the East Wilderness Park trails. 3 miles 350 vert.

Sat, Apr 28, 2012

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 06:00:00

AltraManiacs Assemble!

The AltraManiacs received the call from Commissioner Golden on Thursday night - there was a race that needed their help!

OK, maybe they didn't need any 'help' - the race was extremely well organized already - but they were cool enough to want a couple of superheros to join in the fun and provide a little entertainment on the course.

Drop and I showed up bright and early and ran a few laps around the grounds - nope, not to 'warm up' but rather to keep warm - it was a bit chilly out. We said hello to many FRB friends and fellow AltraManiacs, and gave a quick pat on the back to JakeK and Andrea as they were getting ready to roll - we knew we wouldn't be seeing them again for quite some time! We made a few more laps back and forth among the crowd, distributing the first of what would become thousands of high fives.

As the race began we started off quickly, with a brief stop after a couple hundred yards to say hi to Eric, who was waiting to grab some of Catherine's cold weather gear. For the next mile or so we kicked it with the 1:35 ish group trying to chat it up and get people to smile. It always amazes me how quiet it is on some of these runs - you have a couple thousand people running, and all you can really hear are the sounds of feet hitting the ground. For better or worse, it was usually a little noisier where Zero and Drop were!

Shortly after the mile marker we peeled off from that group and ran backwards on the course, giving high fives and seeing how people were doing. We'd join back up with the group when someone told us we were going the wrong way, then we'd peel off a short time later and do it all over again. We added nearly an extra mile in about the first 3 miles of the race! We were having fun and getting smiles from most people, which is what it's all about! After a few miles on the the road we crossed over and made our way to the gardens, and it was a blast. Certainly not your usual run, you're winding back and forth and up and down, through tunnels, and above waterfalls. The scenery was indeed beautiful - I may or may not have broken out into "Tip-toe through the tulips..." a time or two.

After a quick pop stop, it was on to the golf course, where we started moving our way up through the groups, chatting with people as we cruised along. Spent a few minutes with Toby and Smooth and then kicked it into a higher gear and started to run a little more earnestly. We continued spreading the AltraManiac love as we pushed towards the finish, cheering runners on as we ran. Just as you are about to turn into the final homestretch, Drop and I stopped and shook hands of the spectators along the fence, thanking them for being here. Then we ran down the chute, high fiving all of the spectators that were crowded along the side. What a cool event! Lots of people there having a good time really made it a fun atmosphere.

Afterwards was spent with more high fives, lots of pictures with other runners, and hanging with the awesome FRBers. Jake mentioned the course was like playing Mario Cart, which I thought was perfect. He also suggested Egyptian Silk for the capes - which I think we must look in to. :) The post race area was all set up with lots of food and even bounce houses and train rides for the kids - well thought out for those families waiting for runners!

I really enjoyed running this race - the combination of the course, the volunteers, runners, spectators and organization really made this a top notch event. If your coming here looking for a serious course and a fast time, you'll likely be disappointed. If you want to have a challenging but beautiful course and have a great time while you're doing it, this is a gem.

Thu, Apr 26, 2012

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 06:00:00

Met up with Jun to run the BST downtown up to the avenue twins before work. Kept a casual pace the whole way up, but I was able to run everything but about 20 yards, which I was very happy with. Felt good on the way down and just put it in cruise control. Pushed a little at the end when I realized I could squeeze in under 1:30. (1:29:26) - 10:46 AP - 2000 vert

Tue, Apr 24, 2012

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 06:00:00

It's been quite a while since I've been on the ol' Kaysville BST, so I figured I'd give 'er a go. It was pretty hot, lots of bikers out. I wasn't feeling super strong and my legs were feeling a little heavy still, but I ended up with a decent time, so hopefully that's good news. Should be able to easily get that run done in under an hour (my fastest time is an hour even). 1:03:58, 900 vert.

Mon, Apr 23, 2012

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 06:00:00

Monday run with the brothers. We've had a nice thing going the past few weeks where we all get together and the wives all go for a run and then when they get back all the guys go for a run and then we all have dinner.

Today we were in Farmington, so we started at the Freedom Hills park, up the switchbacks to the firebreak road, then north a little ways and then back. It was a little warm out. I could feel a little fatigue on the climbs from Saturdays run, but really not too bad.

Sat, Apr 21, 2012

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 06:00:00

Ran from my house north to Baer Canyon, hit the BST heading south from there through Shepherd creek (down and then back up to the BST) to Farmington Canyon (down and then back up) then up to flag rock in Farmington. I stopped and the top where there was a couple that was hiking, and we chatted for quite a few minutes before I moved on out and headed down the south trail. Jun called me while I was running down the tricky section to tell me he had taken second at the Red Mountain 50K with a 4:02 time. So cool - I knew he'd kill it on that course. I then ran back on the firebreak road north until I met back up with where I had turned up to flag rock and just ran the same way back. I took a detour to Farmington pond where there was a bathroom with running water, which was great because I was just about out and it was getting HOT. From there it was really a grind as my uphill legs were pretty much gone, and I still had a couple of decent climbs left. I was tempted to just run home from Shepherd creek (missing the last big climb) but I knew that wasn't what I had set out to do, and no matter how slowly, I would just keep on truckin. Tough little course with about 4500 feet of climbing. Hot. Wore my Ultraspire Kinetic for the first time and was pretty impressed.

Fri, Apr 20, 2012

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 06:00:00

Quick trail run with the wife, then ran home from there to get a couple more speedy miles.

Thu, Apr 19, 2012

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 06:00:00

3 miles with my wife in her introduction to a little bit of trail running.

Wed, Apr 18, 2012

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 06:00:00

Nightime run from my house up to the BST at Shepherd creek, north to Baer Canyon, back south on the lower dirt road, then back home. Lots of yellow eyes from deer peering back at me from the darkness. Nice and easy, decent climb. 990 vert.

Tue, Apr 17, 2012

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 06:00:00

My house up to the BST to Farmington Pond and back. Couple of big climbs, trail was in great shape considering all the rain.

Mon, Apr 16, 2012

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 06:00:00

Dinnertime run with a couple of my brothers.

Sat, Apr 14, 2012

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 06:00:00

Flag Rock look with Matt VH and Mr K.

Thu, Apr 12, 2012

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 06:00:00

Nice little route out my backdoor to a little quarter mile trail behind my house, couple of blocks on the road, then onto a dirt road climb up to Shepherd canyon. Climbed a little more to the BST and headed north to Baer canyon then ran the dirt road back south to where I started. Can't believe I haven't done that route before.

Wed, Apr 11, 2012

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 06:00:00

Intervals on the TM followed by some kettle bell squats.

Mon, Apr 09, 2012

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 06:00:00

3 miles with my brothers on the Baer canyon BST.