El Vaquero Loco, means the crazy cowboy in spanish. Man alive, were we crazy!
THURSDAY
I left that morning bright and early to get to Wyoming with some sunlight left in the sky by the evening. Jullie (Brian's wife) ran a short 3 mile run with me that evening on a great trail next to their house.
FRIDAY
No running this day to relax and recover my legs for Saturdays big run. Hung out with family and had a great time.
My siblings, L-R Brian, James, Darin, Kristina, Joy, Anamarie
Brian is wearing a metal detector around his arm, but it looks like he's got a brace for his leg or something.
Went to a pre-race meeting, I won a head lamp which is really cool. Kristina won a free pair of running shoes, the ones that cost like $130.00 each. So lucky. Here is a list of the participants as of that time.
SATURDAY
We were given these maps to orient ourselves if we wanted to know where we were during the run. We were actually only running half the race. There were people who ran 32 miles. Our starting point was the 32 milers turn-around point. Yes crazy. So on the map below where it says 15.9 on the bottom is where we started. And yes, the first 5-7 miles were up hill to about 10,000 ft in elevation.
The first aid station was at 5 miles and it was practically a straight up climb to the very top after that. There are two little ponds or lakes at the very top which was nice. Once there, we got a really nice gradual decline for about 2 miles. Then the trail dead-ends into a valley and the only way out is up the face of the surrounding mountains or turn around and go home. I had worked to dam hard at this point to turn around now. I was in the middle of this valley stairing up at this mountain I had to climb. And yes it was straight up the face with only one switch back. Hate is not a strong enough word to describe my feelings for this mountain. They were no longer called hills at this point, those were long over with, mountains is what you had to deal with. I don't have a picture either because I was so in shock of what I was about to do, I had forgot to pull my phone out. It's a good thing though, because it was so brutal, it doesn't deserve a place in my blog at this point, maybe next year. If it treats me better:-)
I was only 1/4 of the way up this last beast of a mountain and three other fantastic 32 milers started at the bottom. They passed me before I even hit the 1/2 way mark. Lovely. Not only am I the second to last person on the trail at this point, I just got laped by a man that looked to be in his 50's. With ski poles no less, to help get himself up that last disgusting mountain. It took all my strength and self talk to get one foot in front of the other up this climb. I even went up sideways to work some other muscles and let my quads have a break. I wouldn't look up to see how close I was to the top because it would just depress me. I kept my eyes down at my feet counting steps and then turning my body, count again, turn body, for probably a good 45 min to an hour.
Once I was to the top there were three nice men there at the last aid station. One asked me if I was doing alright since he noticed I was going a little slower than most. Ya think! I told him I was fine just taking my time, keeping my heart rate under control, making sure I didn't faint from the serious lack of oxygen at this point of 10,000 ft. He told me the rest of it was downhill, he promised! Turns out he was right. How nice of him not to lie, like the others!
The last 4 miles after that were all downhill, so downhill in fact that I couldn't run it. I tried to trot down but after some near misses in falling completely on my butt, I decided a bruised tailbone wasn't worth it. I did make some good time though coming down rather than going up. If there were no rocks sticking out I could run, but if there were rock, no thanks, I'd just high step it over them. The last 1/2 mile or so was level enough that I could actually RUN. It felt good to RUN, to stretch my already cramping and dead legs. Oh, by the way, I had no groin muscles at this point. I think they all but disintegrated.
I heard my family cheering before I could see them. Then I heard the cow bell telling me I was almost there. Shoot, I could have run 2 more miles, if it was level like that road. Oh well. My final time 6 hours 47 min and 31 seconds. Done! finished! My goal completed! I could rest in peace now, just kidding, I'm gonna do it again next year so I can better my time!!
My brother has said that if the Celestial Kingdom is anything like these mountains, it is going to be something really great to get to be there.
These pictures were taken with my cell phone, Joy, Mom & Kristina's camera's. Enjoy the scenery.
Anamarie, Kristina, Jennie
From R-L: Jennie is in short sleeve bright blue, I am three people down from her in the light blue shirt and black shorts, Kristina is two down from me in the white short sleeve, and black shorts with the hat and her arms folded. I love how all the REALLY serious ones are starting to run and we are still standing there waiting for them to go so we don't have to worry about them passing us later on.
That's me with my red and black hydration pack.
That's us going up the side of the first mountain.
Our first mountain.
The first clearing we came to.
Very small trail to run along.
This is the first time I could turn around and get a good picture of where we had just been to see the full effect.
Kristina
This is one of two streams we had to cross by actually getting our feet soaking wet. The other 6 or 7 streams we could get across without getting wet.
My sister in law, Jennie (James' wife). She was amazing, she just had a baby 8 months ago and did excellent.
The brush was only about knee high right here but at one time it was over our heads, literally. It was so cool, sorry no picture.
About 4 miles into the run at this point.
Looking left from the above picture.
The pink and blue ribbons are the path we had to follow.
Looking ahead (at Kristina).
Another stream we had to cross, the next picture is of the same stream looking down to the right.
Looking behind, lost Jennie here.
Kristina crossing yet another stream, she is always in front of me.
Still patches of snow on the ground.
So pretty.
Looking back.
Looking ahead.
Almost to the top . This is looking to the mountain to the right.
Looking back. Amazing!
Coming over the crest in the mountain that was supposed to be the lake and second aid station.
Nope, just a small draining pond. I must continue on in search of the lake, because once there I am halfway done.
Maybe this is the last rise I have to go over....
YES!!! For the love of all that is good and great. I made it halfway!! And to the second aid station where I had to sit and change my wet socks. My hands were swollen now and so cold from the wind and altitude, it took all I had to get my shoes undone and clean, dry socks on.
What I get to run down through after that first big mountain.
Waterfall. So beautiful.
Almost there! I did not start out wearing a long sleever shirt, but once we were at the very top I was keeping my hands in my arm pits because they were cold from being swollen, I wan't cold just my hands but this group of guys took off their outter layer shirt and coat for Kristina and I, So nice of them.
This is us after the race with me enjoying my "Huckelberry Soda" (all the finishers got a free burger and soda).
Kristina's shoes (left) were brand new, Mine of course used to be somewhat white and gray.
Me feet after I took my shoes and socks off. Like the dirt lines..jpg)
The Lake at the very end of the run.
25k finishing times!!
1. Ray Landon 2:27:40!
2. Trevor Ricks 2:42:26
3. Steve Romeo 2:46:36
4. Mike Sullivan 3:03:36
5. Cody Brough 3:09:20
6. Brian Daly 3:13:34
7. Katherine Dowson 3:13:56
8. John Barnhill 3:14:54
9. Steve Bohrer 3:32:50
10. Jennifer Kruger 3:37;33
11. Robert Jones 3:38:00
12. Markell Bateman 3:38:05
13. Casey Parry 3:38:20
14. Jo Gathercole 3:39:44
15. Tami Parry 3:40:02
16. David Shelton 3:45:10
17. Anna Lindstedt 3:46:04
18. Stephanie Thompson 3:50:19
19. John Goddard 4:02:36
20. Dimitrije Milovich 4:05:32
21. Jim Wilisey 4:07:03
22. Krissy Landon 4:11:58
23. Al Boyce 4:12:58
24. Michelle Weber 4:24:24
25. Kathleen Autenrieth 4:35:00
26. Tanae Nelson 4:40:01
27. Brian O'Donnell 4:39:00
28. Kristina Bringhurst 5:22:00
29. Doug Mangrum 5:38:00
30. Trish Mayers 5:51:38
31. Steve Sabat 6:16:48
32. Anamarie Fagg 6:47:31
33. Jenny Olenslager 7:23:21
