The Perils of Self Betterment

Goblin Valley 50k (47.96k)

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Location:

UT,

Member Since:

Jan 17, 2008

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

yearly mileage totals (actual running miles, not crosstraining etc)

2008 - 1,317

2009 - 2,654

2010 - 2,578

2011 - 2,618

2012 - 3,083 (ran everyday this year. PR's in half and full marathons, at age 48!)

2013 - 1,177

2014 - 1,716

2015 - 1,060

2016 - 951

2017 - 786

2018 - 1,058

2019 - 1,211

2020 - 1010

2021 - 1064.9

2022 - 1135.9

Short-Term Running Goals:

reacquaint myself with my long lost running freak, and then proceed to get my running freak on

run faster

increase mileage in the Spring 

keep running

 

 

 

Long-Term Running Goals:

run

 

Personal:

born in 1964. married 25 years. one wife one dog

6 ft tall, nation wide

"Engaging in a little suffering — however self-imposed, arbitrary and contrived — before breakfast each morning tends to demand some humility and injects some marked relief into the rest of the day, making things sharper, more inspired, more immediately aware of the powerful presence of being. And that seems really worthwhile." A. Krupicka

 

"I cruised down hills, churned up hills, and floated over the asphalt, existing in a world that seemed to lack the confinements of such ubiquitous rivets as time, obligation, or pain. I knew then that this was destined to be one of those serendipitous runs for which so many of 
us strive yet so rarely achieve." J. Nevels

 

 

 

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Switchbacksblack Lifetime Miles: 176.50
Kinvara11(2) Lifetime Miles: 362.50
Kinvara11blue Lifetime Miles: 327.70
Rincon2 Lifetime Miles: 262.40
Spg 4’s Lifetime Miles: 135.50
Skechers Razor3 Lifetime Miles: 160.90
Rincon2(2) Lifetime Miles: 85.50
Asics Noosa14 Lifetime Miles: 73.00
Sauconyaxon2 Lifetime Miles: 73.80
Mach 4 Lifetime Miles: 34.50
Race: Goblin Valley 50k (47.96k) (29.8 Miles) 05:08:33
Total Distance
29.80

"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds" 

If indeed Emerson's words apply to my running habit, then my mind is microscopic. I'm just going to keep running, even though it gets me nowhere, I'm not fast, I won't win or place, it hurts, and it's time consuming...foolish? So be it.

29.8 miles / 5:08:33 / 10:21 avg.

I drove to the Temple Mountain area on Thursday and set up camp, about a 20 minute drive from the starting line at Goblin Valley State Park. The weather was pretty nice all day. I crawled into my tent around 8:00 PM to read a little and hopefully get to sleep early. I was still awake around 9:00 PM when it started raining. Then it rained, steadily, all night. Literally. It just never stopped. Finally around 8:00 AM on Friday there was a break in the rain. Just enough time to get some coffee and pancakes made, and then it started raining again. By 11:00 AM, I was quite bored with sitting in my tent, reading, listening to the rain. So I decided to drive into Green River to fill up with gas and take a drive up the Green River road. It's about a 90 mile round trip. I was thinking that I could find something to do until 6:00 when the race dinner/packet pick up started. Well, after a couple of hours hanging around town I was quite bored and decided I would pick up my bib etc in the morning before the race, so I drove back to camp. It had been raining off and on all day. On the way back I drove over to the dirt road where the first part of the race is run, it was extremely muddy. I drove up the road a couple of miles looking for a dry stretch to take a short run on but none was to be found. The mud was thick. I had thick mud caked all over my jeep. Embarrassing for me because it made me look like one of those guys that likes to go "mudding" just so I could drive around with mud all over my vehicle, which is unlike me. Plus, I wasn't willing to make the drive back to Green River just to wash my car. So I was stuck with embarrassingly thick mud caked all over my car for the rest of the weekend. I can't tell you how much this bugged me. Anyway, I got back to camp, the sky was clearing up a little. Earlier in the day I had considered just packing up and going back home, skipping the race the next morning, because the conditions were so bad. But with the weather clearing I decided to wait until morning to make my final decision. Being Friday night, other campers started showing up in droves. I assume some of them were there for the race. I got to bed around 8:00 PM for a couple of hours of reading. I had my alarm set for 5:15 AM. The canyon got quite loud during the evening with the sounds of cars frantically driving up and down the road looking for a camp spot before the light dwindled into dark. With the steep canyon walls, every sound echoed; every door shut, stake drive, voices. Lots of teenagers in one group, and what teenager can resist the sound of their own voice echoing off the canyon walls? The noise became almost musical in a way, as all the echoes blended together. Surprisingly, everybody pretty much settled down around 10:30 or so. I slept pretty well, but woke up around 4:00 AM and got out of my tent for a bathroom break. The moon was full or close to it and it was like daylight outside. I couldn't get back to sleep because I was worried about sleeping through the alarm. No problem, I felt rested and it was a really nice morning with the moon and all. I like not being rushed in the mornings. So I made coffee, ate breakfast, changed into my running gear and covered up because it was pretty chilly out.

I got to the park around 6:45 AM, got my packet, organized my drop bag and then hung out at the starting line chatting with other lunatics who think running 31 miles is a good time. Saw Kelli (I wish I knew how to provide links to other blogger's blogs), met for the first time Smooth and Leslie Petersen. I really love how this blog has introduced me to other runners who I otherwise would not know. It's nice to make a few connections at the races and have a little "virtual" history with the bloggers. Before the race started we were informed that the turn around for the 50k had been pulled back a couple of "k's" due to the mud on top of the pass where the original turn around was. If we were OCD we could run the "gauntlet" a couple of times at the end of the race to make up the distance if needed. Whatever. A runner like me (uncompetitive, slow) isn't too concerned with this. I was just looking forward to a good long run in beautiful surroundings. The race started. I ran with Kelli for about a  mile before she pulled off ahead to do what she does so well come race day, excel! In the second mile I stopped at a campground bathroom facility we were passing to take care of some last minute business. ( a two star morning for those keeping count). I felt good. No tightness or fatigue in the legs. I wasn't feeling that extra little umph that tells me I'm going to have an exceptional day. But that only happens on training runs. Never on race day, yet. The mud wasn't bad at all as it had stopped raining almost 12 hours ago. In fact, the rains had made the course completely dust free for the day, which I think was a plus. I met and had extended conversations with several runner along the course and thoroughly enjoyed that aspect of the run. The aid stations were great. I ate cookies,  potato wedges, bananas and a little Heed. At the turn around I got my bag and dropped my gloves and hat, grabbed a couple of gu's, then tied my bag back up. When I went to grab my water bottle that I had set on the tail gate of the truck, it was gone. I looked all over for it. It was a really weird moment. I wanted to hurry and get back to running but my water bottle had simply disappeared. It kind of threw me into a state of mild vertigo for a moment. I determined that someone must have accidentally grabbed it (it was an "Ultimate Directions" bottle with a black strap, I had seen a lot of them on the course today), and decided to just get going, without it. I wasn't too concerned about hydration because there were plenty of aid stations. I had to take a little more time at each station as I filled up with as much water as I could before moving on. The weather by the way was ideal. Partly cloudy and I don't think the temps got above 60 degrees. Couldn't have ordered better weather for this run. I was really starting to slow down around the 20 mile mark. My legs were crampy and I just couldn't keep up form or pace. Luckily I had someone to run with those last few miles. I didn't get his name but we had some good conversation which helped take my mind off the complete failure of my body. Still, I was holding up okay, and moving forward. During the very last mile, known as "The Gauntlet" which is was kind of nice because the surface was softer and  the path was marked with little plastic pumpkins. Just something kind of goofy and a nice distraction to get through the end of the race. Anyway, with about a quarter mile to go my body just sort of shut completely down. I was getting tightness/pain in the chest and a wave of nausea hit me, and didn't go away. I stumbled to the finish and took a few minutes with my hands on my knees trying to get a grip. Anytime I stood up straight I felt extremely dizzy. I've never experienced anything quite this severe during a run before. I have no idea what happened. I quickly recovered though and was fine. I hung out for about an hour and ate, talked with Kelli, who of course completely rocked the day! Saw Smooth and said hi. I left before Leslie Petersen got in. I was in a hurry to get back to camp and pack up for home. I could see the clouds starting to gather again and decided to head home Saturday night instead of Sunday. I couldn't take any more rain.

On the drive home, I encountered one of the most severe hail, rain, lightening, thunder storms in my life. I was white knuckles on the two lane highway 6, as the sound of the hail and thunder was deafening. Semi's passing going the opposite direction were shrouded in billows of rain as they approached and passed, making visibility even more limited. It was crazy. I actually started hydroplaning. At first I thought the car was being thrown around by crazy wind, but then the "traction" warning light came on the dashboard and I realized I was basically floating down the highway on a plane of water. Spooky. About a mile down the road the traffic had come to a complete standstill. An accident up ahead. It was about a half hour before they started allowing small groups of cars through at a time. As I finally made my way slowly past the accident I saw a little red sedan that had been completely shredded by a collision with a semi going the opposite direction. Also there was a body on a gurney covered in a white sheet. The combination of driving through that storm, and then seeing the result of that accident had me kind of emotional when I called my wife to tell her about it. I usually have a more clinical perspective when it comes to things like that, but this was  just a little too close for me. I looked on ksl.com and found out that that both people in the sedan had been killed. They had apparently drifted head on into the path of the semi. Hydroplaning no doubt.

 So anyway, those few who read this blog may or may not know that one of my favorite things about going away is to come back home. Love it here. And feel grateful for my wife and the comforts of home. Not to be taken for granted.

After sleeping on it, I'm really not that disappointed in my pace for the run (10:21 per mile). Roughly 3,000 feet of vert certainly slowed me down a bit, and the terrain. All in all, I had a great day. I'm looking forward to trying this one again, and hopefully something longer in the not too distant future.

Post script: the 101's were totally great for this run.



Mt101 Miles: 29.80
Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Carolyn in Colorado on Sun, Oct 24, 2010 at 00:46:00 from 24.8.167.243

That's still a long way to run. And Goblin Valley sounds scary. I'm looking forward to more details.

From leslie peterson on Sun, Oct 24, 2010 at 14:52:04 from 216.169.65.184

Awesome job JD!!! It was fun to meet you. I am sitting here in Torrey reading about your storm, that is so frightening. I think we are going to head out, because another storm is supposed to roll in. I hope Smooth and Larry didn't get caught in that. I am glad you are safe at home. I will look for you again on the trails JD! Congrats again on a great race!

From nevels on Sun, Oct 24, 2010 at 15:28:09 from 64.134.180.211

sounds like it was a memorable experience in more ways than one.

congrats on the finish and on making it home in one piece.

this naturally begs the question: when's the next one? (if you haven't already decided that you want to do another, don't worry; you will...)

From allie on Sun, Oct 24, 2010 at 15:52:53 from 174.23.232.22

JD - thanks for the report. i very much enjoyed reading about your experience. a big congrats to you on your accomplishment. on to the 50-miler! (or straight to 100?)

i am so glad that you made it home safely. it's always sad to hear those stories about the loss of life in such a sudden and tragic way. truly sad.

and about your jeep - that part made me laugh. i hope the rain cleaned it up for you :)

From nevels on Sun, Oct 24, 2010 at 15:55:27 from 64.134.180.211

"or straight to 100"

i just want it known that allie said it first.

maybe she'll join us on a 100, jd...

From allie on Sun, Oct 24, 2010 at 16:06:56 from 174.23.232.22

give me the antidote for 'unable to eat on the run' and i am in.

From JD on Sun, Oct 24, 2010 at 16:10:46 from 32.176.84.65

Carolyn - I imagine Goblin Valley could be a little eerie if you were standing out there somewhere alone at night with a full moon illuminating the rock formations.

Leslie - it was great to meet you, and your husband. You two are great! Congrats on your run. Get home safe.

Allie - thanks. You know, the storm actually did wash much of the mud off. I was thinking about that while fearing for my life, "at least the jeep will be clean".

Nevels - I appreciate your motivational sentiments. For the record I will definitely not be jumping straight to a 100 miler. I still can't wrap my mind around completing a 50 mile run. Baby steps for me. I'm considering a fifty miler in march on Antelope Island. (remember, room and board sponsored if you make the trip to run out here).

From JD on Sun, Oct 24, 2010 at 16:12:10 from 32.176.84.65

Allie - you're so fast you'll be done before eating is required.

From nevels on Sun, Oct 24, 2010 at 16:15:13 from 64.134.180.211

jd: i've got a business trip coming up, after which i will have over 2 weeks of travel comp time, and i'm looking for a good ultra out west... hhhmmm.....

allie: done. i'll give it to you at packet pickup. see you in leadville.

From Bonnie on Sun, Oct 24, 2010 at 16:34:21 from 128.196.228.134

Great job JD!! Wonderful report, you really captured the race. You rock big time!

From Lysa on Sun, Oct 24, 2010 at 16:49:47 from 174.52.25.64

JD, wow. That was such an amazing report. I loved every bit of it and felt like I could picture all of it by your description. #1, Congratulations on such an amazing race. Exceptional in my book. #2. I'm sorry about the rain while camping. I never know what to do with myself before a race. I kind of just walk in circles, so I can't imagine being alone in the desert with rain and not being able to walk in circles with no one to talk to. #3. Loved the description of the noisy campers. One of the things that I remember always bothering you was noisy campers. Back in our youthful days, I was always the loudest. {and you were always patient} So I had to smile. #4. I LOVED that it bugged you that bad that your jeep was covered in mud. I think that is hilarious and makes me want to formulate a plan..heeehehee{evil laugh} #5. Loved that you saw other bloggers and loved that you described the actual race so well. #6. I'm sorry that you felt that pain across the finish line and I think you are totally tough. #7. I'm so sorry you had to witness that accident after going through your own white knuckle experience on the roads. Things like that never leave you. I'm sorry you had to see that. #8 I'm happy you made it back home safe. #9 I think you are a crazy running fool and #10. Welcome Home and Congratulations!! Woo Woo!! You ROCK!!

From Lysa on Sun, Oct 24, 2010 at 16:50:10 from 174.52.25.64

sorry, I just realized that I wrote a novel on your blog. Annoying. Sorry.

From allie on Sun, Oct 24, 2010 at 17:17:35 from 174.23.232.22

lysa - it was a lovely novel. i liked it.

From JD on Sun, Oct 24, 2010 at 18:16:52 from 166.128.241.89

Thanks Bonnie! Hope those ortho's obey your feet.

Lysa - thanks. When's the book signing.

From Lysa on Sun, Oct 24, 2010 at 19:01:05 from 174.52.25.64

Allie, thanks. JD, once again, get bent.

From april27 on Sun, Oct 24, 2010 at 20:48:40 from 99.188.251.180

You never cease to impress me. I"m surprised though after seeing what was left of the car that you didn't pull over and sleep or get a hotel for the night.

Great job on the race!

From JD on Sun, Oct 24, 2010 at 20:58:29 from 166.128.241.89

Seriously though Lysa, that was a great reply. Almost like stream of consciousness. Thank you!

April - thank you. And no kidding. The smart thing would have been to pull over during the storm. i had wanted to but it's just a two lane road, it seemed more dangerous then to just keep moving.

From Snoqualmie on Sun, Oct 24, 2010 at 23:12:53 from 24.18.192.33

That is a LONG way to run in mud and soft surface!!! Congratulations! Awesome achievement!

From Kelli on Mon, Oct 25, 2010 at 09:59:53 from 71.219.65.246

JD---I am so GLAD you did not stay and camp! Scott's uncle was there and they had some major flash flooding and nastiness Saturday night. Glad you got out of there, but that you stayed to chat for a bit(so you missed the car crash). Seeing those accidents freak me out! What crazy weather and driving. We were going to do so much Sunday, but woke up to rain so we just drove home.

I think you did fabulously on the race, that is an awesome pace. You ran strong and ran tough. It was not easy there in the middle and that little gauntlet at the end was TOUGH!!! The pumpkins were distracting, but locating them was aggravating and it made me dizzy!

And, I also think that you need to OFFICIALLY change the distance. I talked to about 15 people with Garmins, and the distance varied from 27's to 29's. So, I headed over to the the race people and they had it measured with some kind of "more accurate" hand held something or other (they say our watch Garmins are not that accurate in the canyons we ran in). Anyway, one time it came up 1.9 k short and the next it was 2.1 short. So, officially they are going with it being exactly 2k short. That is 29.83 miles----THAT is the distance I am going with.

ANYWAY, I know you will do another one. You were far too happy when I talked to you to be calling it quits. So, I will suggest the Red Mountain 50k in April. I am signing up!!!!

GREAT to see you and get to chat. You are a TRUE stand up guy.

From leslie peterson on Mon, Oct 25, 2010 at 10:14:19 from 174.52.158.81

I just read your comment Kelli, and I am so happy you are doing Red Mountain!!

I am also happy to hear the distance was longer than I thought, and I am going to make that change!

I hope that you both, Kelli and JD, are recovering nicely!!

From JD on Mon, Oct 25, 2010 at 12:07:19 from 70.96.78.157

Thanks Sno and Kelli! Thanks Kelli for the info on the official distance. That makes sense to me that the Garmins might be a bit off due to the canyons and such. So I changed my distance to 29.8, netting me a 10:21 avg. pace for the run. That makes more sense to me given how my training runs went etc. I'll look into Red Mtn. I'm planning on doing the Buffalo run (50 mile?) in March, so we'll see. Thanks again!!

From Kelli on Mon, Oct 25, 2010 at 12:54:01 from 71.219.65.246

After completing and ALMOST 50k, I am unsure I could do a 50 miler. I may think on that one, I hear it is a very good race.

Once again, I think you did GREAT. So glad we were all there TOGETHER!

From Andy on Mon, Oct 25, 2010 at 12:58:52 from 159.212.71.199

Even with out the running you had quite an adventure. Great job finishing the race. Glad you made it home safe.

From Jason McK on Mon, Oct 25, 2010 at 13:51:30 from 63.255.173.99

Great run, and a very readable report. Other than the pre and post weather, mistakenly stolen water bottle, tightness/pain and dizziness, you make this sound like the thing to do!

allie - the antidote for eating on the run is running slow enough that your body will send blood to your stomach. If you weren't so busy winning races, you'd notice that they set up aid stations for the rest of us who can't finish a marathon fast enough, before our bodies demand food...

From Lysa on Mon, Oct 25, 2010 at 14:08:54 from 174.52.25.64

Nice pleasant surprise on your time and distance, good job!

From JD on Mon, Oct 25, 2010 at 19:14:07 from 166.183.159.214

You're so funny Kelli. When you do a 50 miler, you'll dominate as always!

Thanks Andy - it was a memorable weekend for sure.

Jason - thanks! Congrats to you on your recent marathon/BQ performance. You've certainly worked hard for it. From one minimalist footwear runner to another, the mt101's are a great ride!

From Kelli on Mon, Oct 25, 2010 at 19:37:36 from 71.219.65.246

JD-I am not funny at all. I really am pretty sure that a 50k is as far as I ever want to go!

I forgot to mention that I was amazed you could spend as long as you did in Green River. That town has NOTHING at all to do! Bummer that you did not get to come and eat potatoes and onions and squash with us, though.

From JD on Mon, Oct 25, 2010 at 20:01:55 from 166.183.159.214

Yeah, I took a drive up the road along Desolation canyon. A lot of good memories there from river running days. Other than that, Green River is only good for gassing up and eating.

From KP on Mon, Oct 25, 2010 at 22:38:16 from 173.24.253.175

congrats on a great race, jd! great report, and i am so glad you made it home in one piece. sometimes things like that make us truly appreciate how good things are at home. enjoy a few days of rest! i can't wait to see what you do next...

From Smooth on Mon, Oct 25, 2010 at 22:45:16 from 67.41.235.104

JD, it was so nice to meet you in person! You ran a great race! Wish I were fast enough to run some of it with you. Love your sentiment about coming home after these running adventures. I hope to see you on the trail sometime in the future. CONGRATZ!

From auntieem on Tue, Oct 26, 2010 at 14:48:02 from 98.247.176.184

JD! Sorry so long checking with you here about your race! Fabulous report - what a great race. You did so well! Man, there is nothing worse than laying in a tent all night hearing it POUR rain - I really hate that. GREAT job on your first ultra - enjoy some resting now!

From Stacie on Tue, Oct 26, 2010 at 16:14:44 from 174.52.21.251

Amazing! Good job. I enjoyed reading your race report. Good job camping. I couldn't do it. I'm sorry about the car accident you came upon...too bad you had to see what you did. Let's run together sometime.

From JD on Wed, Oct 27, 2010 at 16:20:46 from 70.96.78.157

Thanks KP, Smooth, Auntieem, and Stacie. Running is fun, road tripping is fun, but home is the best!

From Scott Ensign on Thu, Oct 28, 2010 at 22:14:22 from 70.58.47.122

nice job JD, that is a great time on a tough course. scary about the accident. I saw something similar 25 or so years ago when I came upon a very recent accident and it still haunts me from time to time. gotta count our blessings, life is precious and fragile.

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