The Red Hot is located northwest of Moab, Utah just west of Arches National Park.  Red Hot runners will have majestic views of the La Sal Mountains to the southeast and breathtaking views of Canyonlands National Park to the west.  The course is beautiful but challenging this is why..it attracts elite runners like Ian Torrence, Karl Meltzer, Rob Krar, Anton Krupicka, Dakota Jones and many more!

We are a week away from race day an I would like to  update on a couple of important issues for day of race.  Moab has been experiencing a cold winter with a substantial amount of snow. Be prepared for possible ice and snow on the course especially in northfacing sections, but most of the course is exposed to the sun. With this said there can be a slight possibility the last aid station before the finish line could be 3 miles further from its intended location.  I say slight chance because our jeep club has added wenching spikes at the infamous “waterfall” to pull their vehicles up this section.  Our last aid station will radio their position to the Gold Bar aid station (55k a/s 4, 33k a/s 2).  But it is the runners responsibility to be self-supportive between all aid stations and prepared for any changes during event.  This is trail running not a road marathon!

 

Cutoff Time 55k: 12:00pm at aid station 3 (mile 17).  Any runners who do not make this cutoff will be considered a DNF.  You may not proceed beyond this time due to rules and safety of the runner. A course sweep will be pulling markings from Gold Bar/Golden Spike. You do not want to be on the SPIKE with no markings and eventually no light!

First trail race, my first ultra.  Quick kiss goodbye [pup Ro], Friday half-day work-day, 6 hours of highway…destination: Moab UT.  Bib pick-up, carbo-load dinner at Pasta Jay’s – 55K tomorrow a.m.

10 miles north of town, located Gemini Bridges trailhead right off State Hwy 191.  Watched the sun rise over the red rock desert landscape.  Quiet, so much colour.  Cold morning, surroundings still covered in snow from an unexpected mid-week storm.  ½ mile walk to the trailhead on frozen red mud – mental note: gonna get sloppy as morning sunshine wakes the ground.

7:30 instructions, 8am start.  Shorts, double-shirted, SJ Ultra Vest 2.0 (first time racing with a hydration pack).  Different crowd queue vs. my weekend Marathon Maniac posse.  Trail ultras attract lotta Ironman athletes, participant age skews younger.

Quarter-mile of frozen mud, then UP – today’s run included 4500ft+ of vertical gain.  Deep snowpack, ice, groomed snow, frozen mud, swampy slog, trail sand – before the first of 2 big sandstone climbs.

Conditions migrated from run to hike/climb – literally.  Looked down on Canyonlands Nat’l Park, like peering into the Grand Canyon. WOW!

FOCUS – Aid Station 3 (mile 17) by Noon.  Coming down from the 1^st bluff summit, steady, increased pace for 4 miles – conflicted inside, would my first ‘DNF’ be so bad?

Despite 50+ marathon finishes, today I was a poser – not a trail athlete.  This race was way beyond my current skill level.  HUGE difference from road marathoning – add the longer 55K distance (34+ miles) and yeah, today felt near impossible.

SUCCESS – Aid Station 3, 10 minutes to spare.  Refilled my hydration pack, nabbed a PB&J sandwich.  Another mile down, dodged off-road 4x4s making their initial climb of the day (roads were closed to vehicles ‘til noon cut-off).

18 miles of run, hike, climb – mount 2 loomed ahead.  Reached the supply dump at Aid Station 4 & our loose team of 6 emerged.  Me, guy from Fort Collins, 2 young women (both sported Ironman tats) & a Japanese couple, Tokichi & Kaho.

I drifted off trail 5x – 4 of those times it was Tokichi who called out.  Absolutely no good at locating pink-n-black ribbons tied to snow-drenched trees in a state forest.  Felt more like geocaching than marathoning.

Ran short of food, then water – I’m telling ya: COMPLETELY UNPREPARED.  Again, Tokichi & Kaho came through.  Mysterious powder (labeled ‘68’) to help with nausea; these two were a walking supply tent.

Last wall climb – my fingers cracked, bloodied from ice & barehand holds.  Downhill trotted final 3 miles, stopped to dry heave every 4-5 minutes.  Not an inspiring cinematic day.  Wrapped the last canyon corner, FINISH ahead – teared up…couldn’t believe I was done.

9 hours, 2 mountains, ran/hiked/climbed in snow, ice, wind, sand & mud.  Nothing left.  Back-propped against a rock, nestled with a bowl of chili & waited for Tokichi & Kaho to cross – amazing couple, my Red Hot ultra trail heroes.

Whatta life experience – adventure I won’t soon forget.

Moab’s Red Hot 55K

Moab, UT  Feb 13, 2016

K R Haga  8:49:31  (278 of 289)

Moab Red Hot 55K