Cursed Realm of the Faceless Ghost

April 25, 2024

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Location:

Provo,UT,

Member Since:

Apr 07, 2010

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

5K - 17:11 (Cougar Run)

10K - 34:35 (Deseret News)

15K - 57:33 (Utah Running Club)

1/2 - 1:22:26 (Mountain View Trail)

50K - 4:22:31 (Sapper Joe)

Short-Term Running Goals:

Sub-2:45 at Saint George Marathon

Win the Antelope Island half marathon

Long-Term Running Goals:

I'd like to run the Angeles Crest 100 at some point. And I'd still like to go sub-4 at a trail 50k. Other than that, I'm open to suggestions.

https://www.strava.com/athletes/4808912

Personal:

I was a competitive cyclist for years. In 2009, after racing in the Tour of Utah, I decided I had plateaued as a cyclist--I could continue to improve, but I wouldn't break through to a new level. So, I started looking for a new challenge.

I thought that challenge would be mountain biking, but I'm a terrible bike handler. I married Catherine in January 2010 and a couple of weeks later I entered the SLTC Winter Training Series with her. A couple of weeks after that I decided I'd like to run ultras, so I signed up for a couple of 50Ks to get started.

Those first races came and went, with varying results. I was looking forward to running more and possibly pushing into the longer distances, but I injured my knee in June 2010 and I've never been consistently healthy since.

I started law school in August 2010, which meant less time for training. In June 2011, Baby Elliott was born, which meant even less time for training. But she's worth it.

Baby Nora joined us in October 2013, with the same effect on training as Elliott (who, incidentally, is no longer a baby).

I (finally) finished school in April 2014 and now I'm an evil corporate lawyer in Salt Lake. I have no illusions that I'll ever get back into the shape that I once was, but I'm perfectly at peace with that. I still have many goals to accomplish and many years in which to do it.

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Miles:	This week:	0.00	Month:	0.00	Year:	0.00

Tue, Aug 03, 2010

Total Distance

10.00

After feeling so tired yesterday, I thought I'd take it easy today. But then my friend Jon asked if I was up for a morning run on the Grandeur Peak loop, and I couldn't resist.

Jon started at his house, so I met him at the trailhead around 6:15. There are two trails to the top--the primary route, and a second trail that joins the main route about a mile from the summit. Neither of us had ever run the latter, so we decided to try it today. The trail is much more mellow at the bottom, but the climb to the main route is extremely steep and loose. In the end, both trails are about the same length, with the secondary route seeming to be only a few hundredths of a mile shorter.

Our pace up the climb was relaxed and conversational, but as the summit came into sight we realized that we could easily break an hour, so we ran the final stretch and topped out in 58:xx. I think it was 58:51, but I wasn't wearing the watch.

From the summit we ran down into Millcreek and onto the Pipeline trail. I decided to let things go and actually run the descent this morning. Seems to have been the right call--I had a blast, and my knee held up nicely.

We ran a few miles on the Pipeline together before Jon headed down Rattlesnake Gulch and back home. I continued along the Pipeline until I hit the game trail that climbs steeply to the ridge. Last time I skipped that section because I was afraid of poison ivy. After being assured that there was nothing to worry about, I decided to climb the ridge today. Unfortunately, I lost the trail for a while and ended up bushwhacking, a recurring theme in my trail runs. Other than plenty of welts from the brush and a brief run-in with what may have been an angry swarm of wood ticks, I made it out onto the ridge, down the treacherous descent on the other side, and back to my car. Not a bad way to start the day.

New Balance MT100 Miles: 10.00

Weight: 161.00

Comments

From jun on Tue, Aug 03, 2010 at 14:01:21 from 66.239.250.209

Ha. Nice run. You know, you should try running with me more often. I don't think I get off trail nearly as much as you. Although, my longer run last week isn't a good example of that. Ha.

From Faceless Ghost on Tue, Aug 03, 2010 at 17:40:45 from 67.169.248.86

That's a good idea. Any chance of a good mountain run before I move to the UC? Let me know if you can spare 2-3 hours for an adventure on Thursday or Friday.

From jun on Tue, Aug 03, 2010 at 17:41:48 from 66.239.250.209

Unfortunately, I'll be taking those two days off prior to Katcina Mosa on Saturday. I hate it when I miss opportunities to run. I'll come down to Provo and run in a week or so though. You still need to do Timp.

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