"The Wedge" with Jun, Scott and
MattVH. Jun threw the idea out just a few days before and we were all able to
get our schedules worked out to make it happen. I remembered reading Crockett's
report about this run, so I was really excited to get out there and give it a go.
I picked up Jun in early morning, and we drove
down to AF and met Matt & Scott, where we all piled into my car and headed
on out. As we got close to the starting point, we took a very slight detour to
put in a drop bag for an aid stop, and then drove the couple miles to the
start point. The road drives you straight up to the edge of the Little Grand
Canyon, so it makes for a spectacularly welcoming view. Almost as nice was the
presence of a bathroom at this point, which a few of us took advantage of.
Once we were all changed
and had snapped a few pre-run pics, we set out - stopping again within about a
half mile at the Wedge overlook, where we took a few more pictures and took in
the views. Shortly after the overlook, we were off the dirt road and onto the
winding singletrack that would be our constant companion for the next 30 or so
miles. The trail winds back and forth and all around the various fingers of the
Good Water Canyon. Aside from the rough terrain and constantly winding trail,
one of the truly challenging aspects of this course is how brutally close your
path winds back and forth near where you just were - sometimes with a massive
gorge between the two points, other times not as much. It's really cool to look
just across the way and think that even though it's only a couple hundred yards
away, it will be a mile or two before you reach that point. Cool at first, but
certainly a little more challenging the longer you have been running on
it...and to just tease you a little more, there is a road that connects the
start to finish that's all of about 5 miles long (thats taking us 15) that you
can almost at any point, easily bail out onto and run back.
We stuck mostly together
to the drop spot at mile 8.5 (2 or less if by road:)) where we wouldn't stop
now, but would on the way back. From there we began to spread out a bit more. I
hung with Jun for a while, and he was cooking along pretty well, so I pulled
back a little while him and VH put a gap on me. Shortly before the turnaround,
Jun passed me on his way back, and when I got there I couldn't see VH, so I
wasn't sure if he was just takin' care of bidness or what (turns out he was
taking in the scenery at the edge of the point). I quickly turned back, but
spent a couple of minutes walking and eating a sandwich I had stashed in my bag
(gotta love the Uncrustables, they're perfect for stuff like this). Then picked
up the pace and ran into Scott a bit later. He was moving along, but mentioned
he had been dealing with stomach issues. I directed him to VH - who, as the
most experienced in that area of the bunch - would hopefully be able to help
him out with that.
From there I hit a bit
of a low, I didn't really feel like I was bonking or anything, but just didn't
feel like I could push the pace very well and found myself running very slowly.
I kept hearing footsteps behind me and would turn, expecting to see the boys
coming up on the trail, but every time I turned there was no one there (weird
how that happens). I took care of my own business at mile 21, which greatly
helped the way I felt. At mile 22.5, where the drop bag was, I took a minute
and downed a Pepsi, rearranged my bag (threw a gel or two up front) and then
headed out. By this point my hip (sciatic?) was feeing really tight, especially
when I walked, which I guess was good because it gave me motivation to keep
running. I had also tied one of my shoes way too tight (it had come undone on
the trail) and I was starting to feel that nasty pain on the top of my foot
and, rather than do the smart thing and take 10 seconds to loosen the laces a
little, I just kept on a goin'. The last few miles were especially tough, the
trail just playing mind games with you as you keep winding, and even coming
within feet of a road. At one point our tracks hit the road from where we came
from, but I followed Juns tracks continuing on the trail, which was really
cool. Once that trail merges with another road, I lost Juns tracks and I just
stayed on the trail, which took me to a 'dead end' -which was an overlook,
which was an awesome view, but at mile 30.5 I was ready to be done, so I could
see where I needed to go and took off. Once I hit the road that I knew would
take me to the car I really pushed the pace. It was an uphill run, which didn't
seem to end. I didn't remember the road being this long, or being a downhill
this morning!! As I neared the car I could see Craig huddled behind a rock,
waiting patiently for me, the key holder, to show. Why we don't just designate
him as the car key carrier still baffles me. You'd think he'd just start asking
to carry it. Felt good to change clothes and get into something warm
(temps were fine as long as you were moving - once you stopped though, it got
cold!), and I downed a couple of Pepsis as we waited for the other fellas to
finish up.
What an amazing run and
well worth the drive to run, or even just look at, any part of that course! It
has so many access points you could really run almost any distance you wanted
and still be able to really enjoy it. Can't wait to get back out there again.
I wore my Contour
camera, so I'll try and throw together a little compilation video of the run
here soon.
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