BRYCE CANYON 30k Race Report

A lot has happened since my last race report in December. I have toyed with just letting this blog go. No one reads blogs anymore really. I admit I use it as a way to look back at things I did for certain races but I have sort of just lost the momentum of maintaining this let alone finding the time. Which is ironic, given that after CIM 2022, I had loads of time.

The day after Christmas 2022, I went snowboarding with some friends at a new to me resort. The last run of the day I had a fluke accident as I exited one of the chair lifts. The tip of my board got stuck in some snow/ice but the rest of my body’s momentum did not stop. Long story short, I broke my fibula. Luckily it was a clean break but it was the first real broken bone I have ever sustained and it required a full blown cast.

Green with blue sparkles

Five weeks in a cast followed by some time in a boot followed by tons of time trying to gain back strength and mobility in both my ankle and my foot.

Fast forward to May of 2023 when I found myself on an 11 hour road trip with my friend Michele headed to my first trail race since CIM! The Bryce Canyon Ultras!

I was in no way ready for an ultra (any distance over 26.2 miles) as I had only run up to 8 miles prior to the race but I was excited to get back to any start line. Dusting off my gear, packing and looking at the race course alone made me happy. Running a 30k would be just perfect.

Michele and I left on Thursday morning and drove all the way to Panguitch, Utah. We crashed hard at the hotel that night and woke up bright and early Friday to see Bryce Canyon.

We got to the park early and did the most beautiful hike. This is definitely worth a trip and a stop as the rock formations are just incredible.

After our hike, we headed to Hatch, Utah for packet pick up. We ate lunch in the back of the car while we waited for it to open. As with all Vacation Races events, everything ran seamless.

They wanted us to color the sign.
My contribution

After packet pick up, we explored around the area more before we founds ourselves back at the hotel making dinner and getting race ready.

Race morning

Race morning was beautiful. The race this year held a few distances all starting 30 minutes apart. Our 30k was the last starting at 7:30 am.

Another seamless part of this race is that there are plenty of porta potties, plenty of parking spaces and plenty of wonderful volunteers!

They counted us down and we were off! The first 3 or so miles is on a fire road that is slightly uphill (at almost 7000 feet above sea level). It is the perfect opportunity for everyone to spread out.

Eventually you dip onto a single track climb. Michele and I separated somewhere in the first mile both ready to run our own races and catch up later with lots of stories to tell.

I was all smiles the entire time. The ankle/leg was holding up great even with the off camber trails, rocks and sandy sections.

I kept my long sleeve on for probably the first four or five miles. It wasn’t until we reached this significant uphill that was on some sketchy trail that I wish I had taken it off earlier.

The above photo does not do the trail justice. There was this one section, before the second aid-station where it was super loose gravel and a steep drop into nothing. You are pretty high up and I was stuck in a conga line of people. Luckily for me, most were okay with heights but the same could not be said for Michele.

She had a girl near her that was petrified of heights and was clinging to a rock unable to move. Michele offered help but the girl refused. Just a warning if you do have a fear of heights as this is not mentioned in their race guide.

After this, we started reaching some areas that had snow! It was so cool!

My note to Michele

I stopped to write Michele a note hoping she’d see it when she passed (she didn’t) but the guys I was running with stopped to watch me and then hollered “GO MICHELE!” 🙂

When we got to the top of one of the mountains, I noticed I had cell service so I texted the family and Coach of my daughters’ basketball teams and wished them luck in their huge tournament happening back at home.

My favorite section!

When my watched buzzed at mile 9, I did an internal cheer for myself. Longest mileage run since I had broken my leg!

As I was running down one of the rockiest terrains I have run in a long while, I started a conversation with a girl who was running strong. We chatted briefly about my leg and then she revealed that a few weeks ago, she and 19 others had been trapped in an avalanche in the Himalayas! They all survived but she said they were out there for a while, some without shoes until the Indian government finally met them. Wow! I love this community and what you learn about someone during a race. She even found me after the race to see how I held up.

I do not have much else to say about the race. It was well run, beautiful, extremely challenging and I am so incredibly happy that I decided to do it. The photos from the course pretty much speak for themselves.

You ran through all sorts of terrain over the course of these 19.5 miles.

There was even some snow running – not just by it but on it which was another spot that some people freaked out and went down on their butts!

The final miles were on this amazingly beautiful single track where I was oddly alone for many miles. It was just perfect.

When you get to the final aid-station you have to run the 3 miles back to the finish line on the same gravel sandy road you started. The difference is that this time, you are mostly running downhill.

I was alone on this section almost the entire time and the way the mountains work, you really can’t see or hear the finish line much at all. There were a few times where I doubted myself but eventually I heard the announcer.

I rounded the corner and made my way through the finish line!

Finished!

If I am being honest, the smile did not leave my face the entire time. I am not a social person by nature but I was probably the most social person out there because I was just SO excited to be back out there running again and feeling GOOD!

That was the best part, I really did feel good. I felt like I had surpassed a mental hurdle I had made in my head afraid to go farther.

To make things even sweeter, I finished second in my age group! I was not trying for a AG placement at all but it helps make for a great end to my first race back of the year.

I didn’t have to wait long for Michele to finish either. She rocked that course. It is a pretty fun finish line to chill at as well. Lots of post race food options and it seemed everyone was just hanging out ready to cheer runners past the finish line.

Overall, I would highly recommend Vacation Race’s Bryce Canyon Ultras. There were 315 runners doing the 30k distance, for many, it was their first time at that distance. This was not an easy course, add in elevation and they had a few DNFs but for the most part, it was gorgeous.

The elevation did not affect me as much as I thought it would given that where I live and run it is only 768 feet above sea level and this race started at almost 7000 and we ran up to almost 10,000. I am happy that I chose to do the 30k and didn’t get too cocky and attempt to do the 50k or 60k or 50 mile.

After Michele finished, we recovered a bit, ate and then hopped in the car and drove 5 hours back towards home and got a hotel in an effort to shorten our drive time on Sunday.

For being my first race of 2023 and my first road trip, I am beyond happy and grateful.

Happy Trails!

~Trailmomma

RACE DETAILS

Shoes : Topo Athletic Ultraventures

Watch : Garmin

Fuel : Unived Drink Mix and Spring Energy Canaberry gels

Socks : Injinji

Breakfast : Picky Bars Oatmeal

Full Disclaimer: I am not associated with Vacation Races at all and was not paid or compensated for writing this report.

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Wings of Change – Goodbye

This is not a race report or a recipe. It is not like any of my normal blogs but it is one that I felt compelled to write. I guess, in a way, I wanted to say goodbye to a place that has meant so much to me over the last nine years. A place that brought us peace, beauty and encouraged our family to get out and be outside, together.

When we moved to our town in late 2010, we did not know a lot of people or anything about the local trails. The following year, on the anniversary of our move-in date, we were robbed. This town we had just arrived in, was not as welcoming as I had hoped.

However, slowly over time, we’ve met some great friends and some of those friends shared with us the local trails. Some trails, we discovered on our own as a family. This would be one of them. We nicknamed it simply, “The Look-Out.”


This is the oldest photo that I could find but I know we lugged our stroller out there well before Squeaker could walk. 2013

The Look-Out was where we went after dinner to watch the sunset or during the holidays to walk off a big heavy meal.

The Look-Out was nothing more than a beautiful glimpse of Folsom Lake. It wasn’t perfect, it had power lines across the best part of the view but it also held a beautiful oak tree and jagged rocks perfect for climbing. It was also right outside our door.

Every Christmas morning after coffee and presents, Vans and I would make the girls get dressed into warm clothes and go with us to the Look-Out. We would take photos, talk about what Santa brought us and who was coming over later for Christmas dinner.

Christmas 2016
Christmas 2017
Christmas 2018
Our last Christmas morning here together – 2018

Last night, Vans and I went for a walk to the Look-Out. It had been a while as we’ve been on vacation. The summer itself has been full of visitors, sports, coaching and work. To be honest, I had not been to the Look-Out in quite a few weeks but we knew that homes were being built. A road had appeared last year and foundations were set. We knew it was only a matter of time before our special place would no longer be accessible.

Vans looking at the fence lines that have been drawn and the holes for future fence posts.

When we arrived, we saw that lines had been set up around our Oak Tree and holes dug for future (very large) fence posts. Our special place will very soon be someone’s back yard. I wonder if they will love it as much as we have over the years?

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The Look-Out is where Vans came to after his bike accident last year. An easy walk among the trees, dirt and grass.

The Look-Out is where I would walk to when I needed to think. When my friend Phil died late last year, I came here, sat down and cried. I cried until a bird crowed at me and I realized that Phil, my friend, would not want me shedding tears for him but instead enjoying life.

You were right Phil.

The Look-Out is where I came after my hamstring tear and procedure when I was missing running on the trails more than my heart could take. It reminded me that I was doing what needed to be done, in order to heal.

It worked.

For a long time, I didn’t share or tell anyone about the Look-Out. It was our family place. Then one day, a friend came to me upset about something and I took them there as well. I figured if it could help me, maybe it could help them. I don’t know if it did but I know they enjoyed the view.

I know that nothing lasts forever but I wish housing developments would not be so aggressive. I know it isn’t the fault of the people whose home is being built on our special place, I mean, who wouldn’t want a view like that? I just wish, we could have our place for just a little bit longer.

I wish a path could be created that would allow us to be able to share this view whenever we wanted with the people who own it but I know that’s a silly dream.

Most of all, I should be grateful for the walks we have had and the time we’ve spent at the Look-Out. Perhaps a new spot will be discovered? I do know, whenever I see an old Oak Tree, I will think about our Look-Out and the memories we’ve had here.

Best climbing tree ever!
Best rocks ever.

The Look-Out helped us heal, laugh and love. It got our blood flowing, our energy moving and our minds wandering. It has given us more than what we could ever give back in return.

I guess that is partly why I wanted to write this so that the memory of what this place looked like and meant, lives on even after the fence is up and our tree and view cornered off.

You can see some of the new homes being built below.

Thank you Look-Out and Oak Tree. I hope your new family loves you just as much as we have over the years.

Oak Tree, I hope they keep you and allow you to grow. I hope they take family photos by you and let their kids climb your branches and rocks. I hope the fence they install is one that will make you look even more beautiful.

Thank you for taking the time to read about our special place, our Look-Out and our friend, The Oak Tree. I can only hope that everyone has a place so close and so special touch their lives. Mother Nature and being outside means so much to me and to my family. It does feel as if a part of our family, is leaving for good.

Go outside. Look around. Really look around and soak in what is around you because the world is changing so quickly.

And so, I leave you with this poem.

Happy Trails!

~Trailmomma

THE OAK TREE

by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr.

A mighty wind blew night and day
It stole the oak tree’s leaves away
Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark
Until the oak was tired and stark

But still the oak tree held its ground
While other trees fell all around
The weary wind gave up and spoke.
How can you still be standing Oak?

The oak tree said, I know that you
Can break each branch of mine in two
Carry every leaf away
Shake my limbs, and make me sway

But I have roots stretched in the earth
Growing stronger since my birth
You’ll never touch them, for you see
They are the deepest part of me

Until today, I wasn’t sure
Of just how much I could endure
But now I’ve found, with thanks to you
I’m stronger than I ever knew

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BEAUTIFUL BEET MUFFINS

If you follow me on Instagram, then you may have seen my teaser for these muffins.

I wanted to test the recipe out again, a few different ways to give you options and because I had one child love them and another not so much (story of my life). Vans and I however, inhaled them.

This time around, I only changed a few ingredients but the end result was that both kids loved them (fresh out of the oven) and now I have twice as many muffins in my fridge. Winning!

So here is my recipe for Beautiful Beet Muffins with some variations and notes added below. I’ve made them using the ingredients listed so if you vary something, let me know. These are pretty flexible and I may continue to play around with the recipe.

Also, if you are interested in trying Beet Boost (great for this recipe and for a ton of others like hummus, pre-workout smoothies and beet pancakes etc), then use the code TRAILMOMMA to receive 15% off your purchase at check out. However, I also made these muffins using real beets, see below.

BEAUTIFUL BEET MUFFINS

Ingredients

  • 2 cups oat flour (I used gluten free – I take 2 cups of oats and grind them in a blender to make oat flour)
  • 1/2 cup oats (whole, not ground)
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 cup nondairy milk (I used almond)
  • 1 Tablespoon Beet Boost Powder OR 2 small cooked, peeled beets*see photo below
  • 1 ripe banana OR 1/2 cup apple sauce (I made the recipe both ways)*
  • Vegan Chocolate Chips (your preference – 1/2 cup seems good)*
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1. Preheat oven to 375 and line a muffin tin with these parchment paper muffin cups.

2. Add 2 cups of oat flour to a large bowl (I make oat flour by taking 2 cups of oats and blending them into a flour).

3. Add the 2 tsp of baking powder and whisk.

4. Add the 1/2 cup of whole oats, whisk again.

5. To a blender add 1 cup of the nondairy milk, the 1 tablespoon of Beet Boost Powder, the banana or 1/2 cup applesauce (whichever you choose). If you are NOT using the Beet Boost Powder, add the two small steamed (and cooled) beets to the blender. I used precooked beets that are sold at Trader Joe’s and Costco. See the photo below for sizing – the tablespoon shown is for size.

6. Turn the blender on and blend everything until completely combined.

7. Pour the blender mixture into the bowl filled with flour, baking powder and oats.

8. Mix until thoroughly combined.

9. Stir in chocolate chips and mix again.

10. Pour into lined muffin tin and bake for 15 minutes. Use a toothpick when done to see if they are done. I haven’t had to bake them more than 15 minutes ever.

On left: Beet Boost Muffins * On the right: Steamed Beet Muffins

As you can see, the Beet Boost Muffins create a darker colored, very pretty muffin. That’s also because Beet Boost has cherry in it as well. Flavor wise, they both were equally good. I did a blind taste test with my kids and they said the Beet Boost Muffins had a good flavor and texture and that Steamed Beet Muffins had a little less flavor (still good) and the texture was a tad more chewy. 🙂 They liked both so win win for me.

*Some notes and thoughts.

I first tried the recipe using a ripe banana. Seemed odd to do but it is all that I had. It tasted great. You did not taste the banana and my picky 10 year old who hates bananas, didn’t even KNOW there were bananas in it. My 7 year old, who likes bananas, oddly didn’t like that batch of muffins.

This round, I tried to applesauce. They made the muffins a tad softer and chewier than the bananas. Both kids liked them and I tend to always have applesauce in the pantry for baking whereas we go through bananas sometimes like water so this is a nice option to have.

Finally the chocolate chips. This usually is the “draw” to get my kids to even try my weird creations. “It has chocolate chips? Sure we’ll try it!” But if chocolate chips are not your thing, or you have allergies I would recommend either adding dried cherries or maybe even some chopped walnuts instead. I have not tried either so if you do, let me know.

Overall, a fun recipe to make that would be great for Valentine’s Day or any day. I am thrilled my kiddos like them and they can help me make them the recipe is that simple!

Enjoy and Happy Trails!

~Trailmomma

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BACK FROM THE DEAD!

Fingers crossed everyone, this site has been saved! Thanks to those of you who reached out to me and notified me that my site had been hacked. 🙁 I had suspected as such as I had noticed some weird activity recently but I did not realize how bad or how deep it went.

Last week was a pretty stressful week for me. My main page had been hacked, and was redirecting my address to a Viagra site of all places!

After a lot of help support, stressed out crazy texts (sorry Ami and Corey!) and a lot of digging and reading on my part, I am hopeful that things are back to normal.

Thank you for your patience. This blog is a labor of love that I have had since 2009 (starting from a blogspot address that still exists). I do not make money off this site, I do it to share adventures, recipes and a lot of the time, to have something for my kiddos to look back on. I want them to see that mom was a crazy bada$$ ultra runner living on plants and living life to the fullest with all my crazy adventures. That’s the point of this site. I make mistakes, I share them and I move on. So thank you to all of you have stayed with me thus far. I truly appreciate your support for my tiny little old blog that means the world to me.

In the meantime, I ask that you please continue to be patient with me as I navigate through some different appearances for the blog. Still trying to find the best one that won’t cause the same problems as before. 🙂 Change is good right?

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Well, 2019 is the year for change for Trailmomma!

Happy Trails!

~Trailmomma

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2018 CIM RACE REPORT (California International Marathon)

Don’t worry! If you pass out, I will pause your Garmin!” One of many great signs seen at CIM (California International Marathon) yesterday.

Another personal favorite was the guy handing out tissues yelling, “TAKE THE SNOT HOME WITH YOU!”

Image: www.runsra.org

This year was a big CIM year for me as it was my 10th CIM. Last year was the celebratory 35th for the race and the swag handed out was awesome. This year, we were back to our usual long sleeve shirt but that’s okay, that is not what makes CIM so great.

Last year I ran CIM with my coworker, the year before that with my boss. This year, I ran with Stonegate who wanted to attempt CIM again after a back injury 6 years ago caused her to pull from toeing the line and ultimately shying away from road races all together.

As usual, we hit packet pickup on Friday. This expo is one of the biggest I have been to and it is so fun to watch everyone taking photos and checking out all the booths.

Saturday I spent my morning at the Western States Lottery in Auburn. Another one of my favorite things to do. I love seeing people’s faces as their names are called. Looking forward to 2019’s race with many familiar faces attending the big dance.

Sunday morning came quick for me. I did not get the usual amount of sleep I normally do for CIM but I still felt rested when I woke up.

After a few years of dialing in some things, I didn’t change much this year. I wore the same exact clothes as last year, made the same breakfast and had the same start routine.  I picked up Stonegate and brought her back to my house so she could leave a bag in my car for the finish line. TiggerT came to pick us up and we were on our way!

The starting area was different this year for CIM. If I had to pick one thing that didn’t sit well with me about the race, this would be it. They divided the starting line into sub 4 hour and longer than 4 hour sections. We had no time goals but we knew we would not be sub 4 hour with the little to no training we put forth this year.

Since we were on the other side, it took a full 10 minutes after the gun went off for us to even start walking toward the starting line. I realize it is a chip timed race and totally get this alleviates some insanity at the start. In MY mind however, this ate at me not being able to run when the gun went off. Yet, I do think this was a great way to mitigate 30,000 runners.

The other bonus to this divided start is it really allowed you to start off conservatively instead of being caught up in the crazy fast wave. Stonegate and I just ran, bobbing and weaving through a few runners to find a less crowded position. We got into a groove.

It was as if we were just out on a normal Sunday getting some miles in. The starting temps were on the chilly side but I knew it would warm up. We started with our cover-ups on but lost those a few miles into the race.

We enjoyed the spectators cheering us on, the funny signs along the way. We cracked up when the guy with the megaphone by the clothing drop yelled, “We are looking for a size large sweatshirt please to complete our Christmas shopping!” Seriously, I saw some nice stuff just tossed roadside!

Honestly the first few miles flew by. I made a conscious effort to not talk to Stonegate this week so that I had stories to share while we were running. That was probably the hardest thing as we usually talk or see each other daily.

Before I knew it, the first half of the race was behind us. We’d only run 13 or so miles in our “training” leading up to the race so anything beyond 13 was new territory for us.

Stonegate was looking forward to mile 17 where her mom would be waiting. Her mom had some extra fuel for her and it is always a boost to see someone you know along the course.

I did not see nearly the amount of people I usually see the first few miles of the race. Aid-stations it seems changed around and so the few I usually look forward to, were being run by another group. Don’t get me wrong, the aid-stations are stellar and they are always motivating.

After Stonegate’s mom it was my turn to look forward to some family faces. Vans and the girls were supposed to be their usual spot, mile 20 which is a crazy spot in the race.

I can’t help it, I always pick up the pace through this section because I am just so excited to give my girls a hug.
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Clearly beyond excited here. 🙂 We stopped for hugs and Stonegate started chit chatting and Vans was like, “Um no chit chat. There is a race going on!” So off we ran after my Peanut wanted our photo.

Miles 20 to 26 are my least favorite. Not really because of the ‘wall’ but because the streets usually just seem to take forever. However, maybe because I had Stonegate by my side and I was talking her ear off, these mile just flew by and before we knew it, we were making our way down L street towards the finish!

The spectators are fantastic along this section as well. You can’t help but help feel the energy and the music they have along the course is just fantastic and motivating. I was whooping and hollering the whole way down L street. Poor Stonegate must have wanted to shoot me. 🙂 I just get caught up in it all.

I kept telling Stonegate that we only had a few short turns and then we’d cross that finish line. The final turn into the shoot is just so exciting. They called our names … I tried to “jump” over the finish line but I have no idea if it worked.

We did it! Stonegate’s first (and hopefully not last) CIM done! I am proud of that girl. She had some rough miles mixed with some good miles. Our training (if you call two runs training) was less then stellar thanks to my hamstring tear and her crazy mom-life but we did it!

My girls racing to the finish line to see us.

Vans was delayed getting to the finish line (new parking rules downtown). The weather was beyond perfect and glorious so Stonegate and I were content to sit with her mom and just chill.

Finally Vans and the girls showed up and I couldn’t have been happier to see them. I love that my kids know this race after years of finding me at the finish line.

Those two smiling face right there motivate me each year. Some day, I hope they decide to run CIM either with me or on their own.

A special shout out to this guy. He sacrifices every first Sunday in December to see me on course and be there at the finish. From sticking notes in my fuel bag to taking photos during the race, I could not do it if he wasn’t in my corner.

CIM number 10 is in the books. I have no idea who I will run with next year. 🙂 I enjoy not racing it, I enjoy running with someone who is either running it for the first time or who just wants to get some miles in on a beautiful sunny day.

Maybe some day I’ll get back to “racing” CIM the way I used to. Maybe some day I’ll get a PR or BQ but for now, number 10 goes down as a great day, a fun race and a fantastic memory.

Now, back to the trails!

Happy Trails!

~Trailmomma

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