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.
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.
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 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!
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.
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!
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.
