Glen Gunnell

With a forecast of rain, overcast skies and a nice 15mph wind, Tyler Toone (check out his tale of the trail) and I stood at the start line of the Amasa Back 15k Trail Run. Ready, set, go and we along with about 40 others were off on our adventure. We ran along the road for a bit next to the Rio Grande and then hit dirt, slickrock, hills and fun. I tired to keep the lead pack in my sites but as my legs staggered up rocks and the elevation increased I slipped back a bit. I was only passed a by two people within that first mile and a half. From there on it was a pretty solo course for me. I did talk to one guy for a little bit at 37 minutes in, 3.5 miles or so and by then we were on a flat almost downhill part heading for the aid station. The race had a 6.5 mi. and 9.5 mi. version. Tyler and I opted for the funner 9.5, or 15k roughly.

After getting a bit of water and trying to mix some gel at the aid station we had another fun climb ahead of us. The course was pretty well marked with pink ribbons, but there was a couple times when I was feeling unsure.
Luckily there was a dude about one minute or less ahead of me during most of the questionable points and so I would just look for him. The views up top were spectacular and I for one loved it. I ran quite quickly downhills but this course was a bit technical in sections and required a lot of focus on the path and were to step. There was many ledges and rocks that dropped off into some sand and then it would go back up another ledge.

Near the end I could see for a ways back down to the cars and the finish line. There was a couple of guys it looked like I was catching but I did not know which course they had done. Either way it helped motivate me through those last couple miles. At the very end was a 12’-15’ creek crossing that was pretty dang cold and got up to most peoples chest. I felt almost like my body was going into shock when I got in. Luckily there was a pipe about a foot underwater that one could hold onto. One cool dude got me on video and I hope to get a copy to post on here. When I emerged form the water my legs instantly went jello and I could barely move forward, but knowing I was at the end I could not stop. The last 10’ was straight up a sandy hill that about killed you off, luckily everyone was cool and cheered and clapped, so that helped.

Overall the race was awesome. Amazing scenery, good people and I was pleased with my time of 1:32. Not first place, which was 1:12 but not a shabby time at all. It was great running it with my buddy Tyler as well. I ran in my Newtons, I used one Hammer gel, elete electrolytes in my water and one RedBull shot.

Tyler also put together a little video about the race >

Today’s 15k trail run marked a personal distance record for me, and I’m happy to say I completed it with some good resistance. Lance Stine jogged the first 6k with me and then it was just me and the trail. I felt great and made it up every single hill, which is another new accomplishment, (457m or 1500ft of elevation gain).

At my turn around point I felt like I could keep going another 10 miles but as I began running south a ferocious headwind howled straight into my face and chest. And it blew the whole way back, minor relief as I went in a canyon but as I would creep up a steep hill the wind would almost push me back down. I kept pushing despite Eddy Vedder yelling, “this is not for you” and was pleased to finish my first 15k under 1:28. And all of that with a cold to boot.

Great Saturday morning trail run with Adam. I was concerned I would not make it too far at all as me knee was really bugging my the last couple of days. I think it was in pain following the stream jumps from last Thursday’s run with the boys. Luckily the knee held up and as I reached the 10k mark I knew I was going to blow away my last best time. Not only my best 10k time but my best 11k and 12k time too.

I’m feeling good and slowly getting more confident and ready for the Amasa Back 15k Trail Run, April 9th in Moab.

Check out the times below.

Distance Time 10k 0:53:00 11k 0:58:00 12k 1:01:35 I also averaged 11.77k an hour and had 327m of elevation gain.

A long sandy, snowy and muddy trail run was to begin with a forecast of rain. I could see the clouds off to the West in the Salt Lake valley and thought to myself, “I should have brought a beanie”. And then I was off.

My run began at the mouth of Duel Creek Canyon in Centerville. My goal was to get 11k in and finish with a smile on my face. I thought it would be no big deal as I have ran 10k’s a plenty. I started out a good gentile pace covering the familiar trail which still had some snow on it from last Wednesdays big storm. Pockets of mud and ice made the run diverse and interesting. I enjoyed the view, the cool air and the feeling of solitude.

Up and down little hills I went, in and out of the mouths of small canyons, grooving to some tunes. As I ran further then I have before on the trail I saw few people. There were a couple hunters, (hunting who knows what) and one small group of scouts camping. I pushed my way up nearly every hill, with slow but steady and upright strides. I felt good, but as I got to my halfway point I could feel some weariness coming on.

As I turned back I saw the gray sky and light rain clouds had reached me. A brief rainstorm doted my face and mixed with the sweat, running down to my collar.

I reached the apex of strength, giving my last bit of effort up a difficult hill. Long, sandy, icy and muddy it took me to my inner self as I thought about the medicine ball workout video I often do and the instructor that tells me, “you got to want it, you got to dig deep because I know you have got it in you”. This and other motivating thoughts in my mind sought to drown out my other thoughts of fatigue, aches and pains. The song and the experience felt epic and like I was pushing myself to a new personal best. Whether it was the wind in my face or some crazy emotion, I felt a few tears roll down my face as I pushed myself one last time But alas this final big hill had done me in and I started walking. Phew …

As reached the top of the hill and caught my breath I looked down at my distance and saw that I was only 0.3k from the 10k mark and I was on track to be under one hour as well. With that new realization that I would beat a personal best I began to sprint that last section of the 10k. I hit another hill chuck full of slippery snow and ice and groaned as I leaped forward. At 0:58:10 I hit 10K, my best previous time being an hour solid. I was thrilled to know despite the struggle I had achieved something I had never done before. I realized that slowly and surely I am making progress, faster, better, stronger. As these thoughts crossed my mind the last kilometer was a breeze, of course the only hills left took me down and back to my truck.

I ran my first snowshoe race last Saturday. The event was held up in Midway Utah and sponsored by Kahtoola. They had 5k, 10k, 25k, 50k and marathon options. Three of my buddies and I opted for the 10k, Adam, Dale and Anthony. Dale and I were lucky enough to reserve a pair of Kahtoola racing shoes, a requirement in my opinion, as I have tried regular all mountain shoes compared to the Atlas Race shoes and there is no comparison, for a race at least. Wearing the Atlas were like wearing regular running shoes, as far as how light they were. The Kahtoola shoes were nice, somewhere between the Tubbs Flex and the Atlas Race.

The event was well organized, they had two kinds of soup, potatoes, cookies, chips, gel and Redbull to name a few of the fuels, or refuels. The 5k, 10k and 25k racers all began at 9:00 am. My goal was to cross the finish line at one hour, or less. The start went off, there was 35-40 people who took off. Mentally I thought, “take it slow” but I couldn’t help myself and moved quicker then perhaps I should have. All went well except I did not fill my camelbak enough, I put 10oz of water and got drinks at the aid station but I still got some cramping in my abs. I drink more water then most I figure. My buddy Dale probably drank 2oz of gatorade the whole race, I could have drank 20.

The 800+ft climb was fair and steady and got me walking quick and more often then I would like to admit, but I stayed in my position for the most part, the distance between competitors was wide. I forced myself to fly on the downhill even when I started cramping a little. My trick was to grab some snow and hold it against the cramped area, in about 15-20 second the cramp would go away.

I ended up finishing at 1:05 not a bad time, I came in at 7th place overall for the 10k division. It was a great day, good weather and good company. I really enjoy the snowshoe race and hope to do more in the future.

I competed in my first trail run race last Saturday in North Ogden Canyon. The race is called the Up-N-Over, put together by T.U.N.A. and it is essentially that, a run up and over the mountain. 1500ft elevation gain, with a 5k option and a 10k. I hoped to complete it in 1:10 as I had previously ran 10k’s in 1:05 with half the elevation. I and my bro-in-law Dave competed in the 10k.

Pre race and during I drank water with elete electrolyte, I also tried a gel which tasted horrible to me so I only ate half of it. For me it began around 9ish when I registered and warmed up with the kids who came out to support me. At the start line I was fiddling with a watch I borrowed from my buddy Tyler. I had thought I would run intervals up the hill, 1 minute run - 30 second rest. I did not stick to it all that well though. The race started at 10 and we were off. Some had dressed up in costume and I had a Wylie coyote always within my view that I was aiming to pass.
The climb was a rough one, lots of walking or quick hiking was seen by many. For a while I was pretty steady and passed a few individuals but the last 300ft or so got me good and I had 2-3 people pass me. I was thrilled to get to the top and start back down the other side.
It was the funnest part cruising down hill. I tried not to go too fast as my shoes (Newtons) are really more of a road shoe and there was some slick mud up there. But I felt good and around mile 4 passed the coyote! The last mile or so was on pavement and ended with a hill that caused more walking then I would have liked. But I crossed the finish line upright with a smile on my face and with a time that pleased me much, 1:00:27.
A very enjoyable experience for my first run and I am even more excited to do future runs. The weather was great, it was nice as the group was fairly small but still organized well enough, they had chili and some raffle prizes at the end. My next race is actually a snowshoe 10k the last weekend in January. That ought to be fun.