Bryce Canyon 50 Miler!
A look into my deepest love of red rock and my strong fear of lightening and the craziness of Mother Nature.
This girl is awesome, we went early and stayed late into the weekend so we could make it a vacation for all of us. Wynter McBride is a great fire starter, a patient cousin and all around beautiful person.
AND NOW! PICTURE OVERLOAD!
Start of the race, run in reverse from last year, with clouds and mist galore, I felt like I was in never never land and was completely mesmerized for the whole first half of this run. I probably started out too fast but after not running for a few weeks I just needed to go.
The clouds are behind me and were ALWAYS looming behind me, I felt like that crazy storm from the day before was chasing my slow ass the whole run.
I am in LOVE with red rock, it makes me sigh and feel so happy and content. I felt pretty dang good coming up on this view. Shared camera moments with some runners and tried to stay ahead of the clouds.
I think I have a pic from this same spot from last year and this year was completely different, I felt good, was hydrated and was still running downhill....so much better!
LOVING the views, the reverse course gave this course a totally different perspective.
Sorry for the next few selfies! BUT I was having fun and wanted documentation. Met some great girls on the trail and it was great to share beers and soon to be almost (Squaw Peak 2004) the most crazy moment ever in my running life.
Storm still chasing me and my PBR and yes potato chips...I am hooked and it is so wrong!
AND the storm caught me and others going up up up to a very unsafe high point of the course. The two runners ahead of me kept saying we have to get up and over! I took time to put my poncho on and carried on. I promised my husband that I would hunker down if necessary as the hail, lightening and rain hit the day before like a hurricane! This photo is me after I dove under a juniper while lightening hit WAY too close to me. Hail to follow and I needed a better spot to stay safe. Ended up running down the trail and luckily was summoned from the trail by runners who saw lightening hit close by; ended up hanging out with 4 other runners under some dead-fall and a random poncho until the storm past. The hail was crazy and it hurt like hell hitting your body. It was a river of ball barrings running down the trail after. Thank goodness for my skiing skills down the trail after the hail quit. Wowzer!
Funnel cloud (at least that is what I saw) holy SHIT! Following me into the last aid station, wanted to cry but knew I had an emergency beverage before moving on to the finish....ate an offered PBJ thanks to random runner and half of a warm PBR and after a deep breath went off into the windy abyss.....
After the storm into the sun on the way to switch back hell to the finish..did I mention altitude and steep ass trail, and I needed to take a number two.... I know too much info but it happens, not usually at mile 40+ though AND just FYI I did find a random potty 3 miles from the finish, no door and yes I still used it.! this was the only time I felt like I was going to puke during the race! Lucky for me it did not happen this race! Miracle.
This is actually after the race in Bryce with my favorite polygamist dress and Ryan and Wynter. I am so lucky to have them support me. I put this here because I thought of my family a lot during this run. I love them and feel grateful I get to take the time to do things that help me keep my sanity and that they come along.
Walking stick umbrella, let's just say I wanted to be prepared after the last 2 days of crazy weather!
Wynter and I with our large umbrella.
I think my face says it all, I just wanted to sit down and holy shit that was hard and I am so happy I am done and now I can eat some gosh dang food and drink some cold beer!!!! I am also super proud of a PR for this 50 (and other comparable) knocked some time off of last year for sure. I usually don't' care about times and such but was very happy about getting to the finish line when I told Ryan I would be there! 12:56!!
RATINGS: Beauty=10 Toughness=10 Race Shirt=9 Me Post Race=10 Race Swag Bracelet=awesome
