Last Big Week Before 100 Miler

Hmmm......eleven days to the Bryce 100. In a way, this does not seem real. This can't be me. I'm the guy who dreaded that 1 mile fitness test in college. I hated running. And now I'm trying for my 5th 100 miler. If I wake up and this was all a dream, then wow, that was a really fun dream.

This past week was my last biggish week getting ready for Bryce. I got in a 3 miler, 4 miler, 9 miler, 10 miler, and 17 miler. I'm pretty proud of myself that I didn't die during that 17 miler earlier in the week. It was 95 degrees and the most climbing I could pack into 17 miles.

I ran to some cell towers at the top of a mountain in Toqerville for the first time. Lots and lots of climbing. But the view from the top was pretty awesome. That line across the picture is a freeway down below.

I saw my first snake of the year, just a little one. As I pulled out my camera the snake slithered right toward me and into the trees. Well played snake. Well played.

After the cell towers I ran to Toquerville Falls. Out in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the bone dry desert is this amazingly beautiful waterfall. I seriously love this place.

I was positively melting by the time I got to this point. It was good though because I wanted to get in a fair amount of suffering during this run. Before a 100 miler it's good to get plenty of experience with bonking. I took my shirt off and soaked it in the water which cooled me down for a mile or two. I didn't want to leave our mini Niagra Falls.

Non-running update: Jackson has a few little league baseball games each week. I'm sad there is only one more week in the season. Nothing I'd rather do with my evenings.

Saturday was the 10 miler. I took Mel for her first visit on the Church Rocks trail.

Church Rocks is a fun mix of packed dirt, sand, slick rock, and dodging bazillions of grass hoppers.

Trail running is a fun way to spend time with your wife.

11 more days until the next big adventure. Only 11 more days.