Running, Anyone...?

[Dantheman]

I don't think you have to worry about that too much. It's a small pool of low IQ individuals who enjoy 40% grade super raw "trail" like that.

[DLD in UT]

Zion Traverse - 38ish mi
Absolutely stunning. I’ve been in Zion a bunch and run in some amazing places in the West, but this was awesome.
Started at 5:30 AM from where the road is closed 1/2 mi below Lee Pass TH.

Kolob arch- optional 1/2mi side trail.


Sun really started peaking over rim as we ascended into Hop Valley.



I knew Hop Valley had cows and had purposefully not looked at pics for route so it would be all new. I was expecting gross cow pasture with trampled river banks and was very pleasantly surprised.

Hop Valley was the only place we got our feet wet.
Friend met us at Hop Valley TH off Kolob Terrace RD (15 miles) to refill water and food.

From there to Lava Point was a tour of countless different environments with slick rock, open ponderosa forests, high alpine meadows. Everything was green and we hit timing spot on between the snow and summer heat.

Lava point to Telephone Canyon was my highlight. Running at the top of the mess with endless views south over the canyons and north towards Brian Head. This section was the best real running.




Dropped down Telephone Canyon on some crazy switchbacks hewn into the cliffs and enjoyed the last bit of quiet before reaching Scout Pass and Angels Landing crowds.



I gave up on my training in Late March-April when it just kept snowing here in UT and I was opting for powder over wet slushy road miles. Glad I rallied for this and highly recommend.


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[phatty]

Zion Traverse - 38ish mi
Absolutely stunning. I’ve been in Zion a bunch and run in some amazing places in the West, but this was awesome.
Started at 5:30 AM from where the road is closed 1/2 mi below Lee Pass TH.

Kolob arch- optional 1/2mi side trail.


Sun really started peaking over rim as we ascended into Hop Valley.



I knew Hop Valley had cows and had purposefully not looked at pics for route so it would be all new. I was expecting gross cow pasture with trampled river banks and was very pleasantly surprised.

Hop Valley was the only place we got our feet wet.
Friend met us at Hop Valley TH off Kolob Terrace RD (15 miles) to refill water and food.

From there to Lava Point was a tour of countless different environments with slick rock, open ponderosa forests, high alpine meadows. Everything was green and we hit timing spot on between the snow and summer heat.

Lava point to Telephone Canyon was my highlight. Running at the top of the mess with endless views south over the canyons and north towards Brian Head. This section was the best real running.




Dropped down Telephone Canyon on some crazy switchbacks hewn into the cliffs and enjoyed the last bit of quiet before reaching Scout Pass and Angels Landing crowds.



I gave up on my training in Late March-April when it just kept snowing here in UT and I was opting for powder over wet slushy road miles. Glad I rallied for this and highly recommend.


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Whoa! That looks amazing! Strong work. Now I got another one to add to my bucket list.

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[Dantheman]

Nice! A few years ago a friend and I went the other direction from Zion Canyon to the Hop Valley TH. Pretty spectacular terrain.

[phatty]

Down in St George visiting my parents so only time for a quick one. Went to do the steepest, short hike/run I could find close. Went for Red Mountain from Ivins. 1500 vert in just under a mile. When I got to the top, Gaia showed I went the wrong way up. Following their "trail" took me down a tight, choke canyon and then a traverse above cliffs on crumbling dust. Barely made it down the 3 20ft downclimbs with little hand/foot holds.

I'm generally comfortable with most scrambles but this route was super sketchy. Once I got into it, down was the only way out. Made it out bruised battered and bloody. The route up was great and what I should have done. If you do it, don't follow the Gaia route.

[Cruiser]

Super duper green along the platte right now

[fool]

Was in Colorado for a long weekend and enjoyed a nice trail run in Salida.


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[thedude2340]

Glad got into this trail running thing, riding has been hit/miss all spring w the wet.

[Dantheman]

Did a great mixed route this morning that was proper adventuring. 3-star scrambling, hateful bushwacking, a couple spicy 5th class moves I could have downclimbed but was very happy I didn't have to, a chockstone tunnel, constant route finding, and a great runoff. Not sure I'll repeat this one but psyched I did it.

[SB]

https://youtu.be/IM2RIyfyK6U

[gointhedistance]

https://youtu.be/IM2RIyfyK6U

There's a book about the Tarahumara - "Born To Run" by Chris McDougall
It's an interesting read

[ski-wpk]

Boulder guy Ryan van Duzen has done a few cool YouTubes on the Tarahumara and Copper Canyons when running down there. Dude ran the ultra last year with a GoPro on a selfie stick. @Duzer

[Cruiser]

Last time I was in Kona I didn't bring my running stuff. Made sure not to make that mistake this time. I imagine it's kinda touristy/cilche but running ali'i drive is quite a treat.

[highangle]

Boulder guy Ryan van Duzen has done a few cool YouTubes on the Tarahumara and Copper Canyons when running down there. Dude ran the ultra last year with a GoPro on a selfie stick. @Duzer

If it wasn't for running, pretty sure this guy would have to be a Mountie...

[I've seen black diamonds!]

Covid injuries and life in general have made the last couple years less productive for running, but I'm starting to get it together again. Nice one yesterday with a younger, faster, patient friend:

[SB]

HR 100 start in 3, 2, 1, GO!

[Cruiser]

Cruising along thru the sunflowers on one of my favorite trail sections by the house this morning

[thedude2340]

Anyone in here done Telluride Mountain Run (the 40mi) and care to share advice for a first timer? Will be my first “ultra” as well, goal is simply to finish under cutoff.

[fool]

HR 100 start in 3, 2, 1, GO!

Courtney is absolutely killing it lately - winning both Western States and Hardrock. It's insane how good she is at 100+ mile races.

Stolen from Twitter:

There have been a lot of big names who have finished Western States over the years. And these eight elite ultrarunners have never run it as fast as one woman ran it yesterday.

Courtney Dauwalter (Salomon) wins the 2023 Hardrock 100 in 26:14:08, finishing 4th overall.

This shatters the women’s counterclockwise course record of 27:18:24 set by the legend Diana Finkel in 2009, and the overall women’s record of 26:44:36 that she set last year. #HR100

Her training philosophy is also sooo unstructued. Basically "I just run." And while that sounds oversimplified, it's only barely so. Her (awesome) interview with Rich Roll from a few years ago discusses this and I was laughing throughout as she explained her "plan" to Rich Roll.

[stapes]

She’s unreal.

I was actually pondering this yesterday while running. How’s she do it? I’ve realized this year I can’t just run and nothing else or it eventually leads to injury. Granted I’m pushing 40. But I need to mix in some biking, strength, stretching/PT, should do yoga etc. Last year was a big year for me running wise and this year has been nothing but fits and starts with some knee injuries stemming from tight hips and stuff.

Anyways, I think shes great as a person and obviously as an athlete. Her ‘training’ befuddles me!

I also love that RR podcast. Big fan of his in general.

[Dantheman]

Some nice mountain running yesterday. 9.1 miles, 4500 vert, 2:50 car to car.

[fool]

She’s unreal.

I was actually pondering this yesterday while running. How’s she do it? I’ve realized this year I can’t just run and nothing else or it eventually leads to injury. Granted I’m pushing 40. But I need to mix in some biking, strength, stretching/PT, should do yoga etc. Last year was a big year for me running wise and this year has been nothing but fits and starts with some knee injuries stemming from tight hips and stuff.

Anyways, I think shes great as a person and obviously as an athlete. Her ‘training’ befuddles me!

I also love that RR podcast. Big fan of his in general.

While I don't think she has much structure to her training, I do think she incorporated strength/stretching/core, etc. I'm mostly flabbergasted that she doesn't have structure in her training.

I think I'm just a few years behind you, Stapes and I've been able to avoid injury by 1) running easy 80% of the time and 2) being deliberate about 10-15mins of post run core/strength after *every* run. Most of my stuff comes from Jay Johnson. Here's one video that covers a bunch of good exercises, though I recommend elastic bands for increased resistance. Check out his youtube for more details.



The science behind static stretching is 50/50, so that actually was not a part of my training. I do recommend checking in with a PT and/or acupuncturist (though I know the science of acupuncture is also 50/50). If you're in the Front Range, PM me for an acupuncturist rec - she's amazing. Getting old is fun isn't it?

[carpathian]

Last time I was in Kona I didn't bring my running stuff. Made sure not to make that mistake this time. I imagine it's kinda touristy/cilche but running ali'i drive is quite a treat.

OMG running Alii is one of my favorite things to do! I usually park down at the south end at Kahalu'u Beach park and then either run south up that huge hills on the Bypass road or north on the flats... either way as inevitable heat stroke kicks in I finish back at the beach and can cool off accordingly.

Last fall I did the Half Marathon that starts at Coconut Grove and loved it. Starting in the humid dark at 6am and finishing in the grass with an iced latte in hand... that is the life for me!

I love this thread as it is cool snapshot into all of your running lives and the cool places you go.

I'm into my 7th year of half decent running efforts and decided to mix it up a bit. I did a race in May and then after immediately felt flat, uninspired at having to put in the effort for the next block and the next block as the Alaska run race season is short and as hard core as you want to make it.

So I cancelled all my races and took May, June, July off for the most part. I was still going out and cruising super EZ every 10 days or so just to not lose it all completely and keep my dog sane.

A) I regained a bunch of time in my day for other things which was nice
B) I let myself go run when I really wanted to and not aiming for milage or vert or anything. Felt great!

This week I ran 3 days in a row... the run bug is creeping back into my mind... signed up for a local race here in October. Usually this race is at the end of series of races through the summer as I battle burnout and fatigue. Now I'm going into it as a fresh fall run block, stoked! And then yes, be primed for the Kona HM in November again!



I have been getting back to some proper mountain climbing , nice to change the pace and objective risk factors I guess lol

[Buke]

I had plans to run a 50mi race (Palisades Grizzly 50 mi), but as winter drug on and the skiing was good, and then my 3 kids got fully involved in little league, my training just wasn't up to snuff to get me through my first 50 mi race, especially a pretty demanding one. They had a 50k option but by the time I decided to give up on the 50 mi race it had sold out. I looked around for alternative 50k's on the same weekend and came across the Elk Valley Ultra in Fernie, BC. The plan had been to take a week long family road trip around my race. I floated the idea of going to Fernie past my wife and she was much more excited about the Canadian Rockies than she had been about the Idaho road trip, which was very similar to a trip we did last summer.

So, last weekend, I "ran" the Elk Valley Ultra. It was brutal. Over 9000' of vert, half of that in the first 6mi. Then, the 3rd leg had over 2500' of elevation gain/loss packed into the last 10 miles, which happened mostly in full sun (90+ degrees) at the ski hill.

I finished, which was my only real goal. It certainly wasn't fast. I have no idea how the winner pulled it off in under 5hrs. That's insane to me.

The scenery was pretty great.

[Viva]

I finished, which was my only real goal. ]

So, when's the next one?