Granduer Peak Fun Run 2012

On Saturday I had the pleasure of running (well walking) with 90 some other crazed individuals on the infamous Granduer Peak trail. I'd like to thank the MRC for putting this project on and can not wait until next year's race.

Race Stats:
Where- Granduer Peak, SLC
Distance- 10 miles
Vertical Gain - ~4000 ft.
Vertical Up ~ 3 miles
Runners ~95

 Waiting for the start.

Being very non-photogenic...and cold.

And they're off!

As for race details: Jared took the early lead attributing his sprint start to a "skimo" race (so much for being injured I guess) and the rest of the pack followed. I found myself in the top 11 and tried to maintain knowing that my downhill pace would be inferior to the "small people" chasing after me. After exchanging positions with a few others I was still in the game making the summit in just 52 min. (beating my PR by 2 min.). 

Here of course is where a significant portion of the lead race pack took me down. Once to the bottom of Church Fork it was mostly flat for 3-4 miles and I found myself playing between a 6:50 and 7:40 pace. The final climb up rattlesnake is where "death happened". Luckily I pulled on just about every sapling and tree to get up the hill (my triceps were even sore after the race). And took the final downhill in good spirits. I managed a 2:01 finish and took 20th place. Tom Diegal was the winner with an awesome 1:44 course record.

 Finish

Strong

Maybird Couloir Waterpark

Skiing great lines in the spring is always a welcomed thought in my mind especially after the dangerous conditions that existed all winter; stable, steep couloirs are always an added favorite to my list of things skied. Problem is, they're melting faster than I can find them. Aside from any high North facing chutes (NE lone peak and the Needle) I think every Col. from here to Montana is broken up into various rock outcrops and watery graves. 

River crossing #1

Little Pine looks like a graveyard, the waterfall on White Pine is needless to say "high" and Maybird well after crossing the water 5 times in the first half of the col. I figured it was a better day to be climbing or drinking; whichever you prefer.

Don't Fall In!

One small section of uninterrupted snow

 Looking down

 Tracks

More water

 Yeah you have to ski on the rocks to call it official.

DIRT!!