Chasing a DNF

This race was a turning point for me. When I crossed the finish line I had run the last of my quadruple header of race weekends. I had run more races than I had left to run this year, and I had put more miles to foot than I had left for the year. It was a nice feeling, but at the same time bitter sweet. Well, actually at the time I crossed the finish line it was nothing but a nice feeling, and not bitter sweet at all. My legs and lungs were on fire from the altitude, or stacking races up for a month, I'm not sure which. But I was glad to be done and chow down some of the chili being cooked in two vats and stirred with a kayak paddle. That was great form. Full disclosure: This punk ran the half, not the full. The race takes place in Orem, Utah, running on fire break roads and single track in and around the portion of Provo Canyon that calls Mount Timpanogos State Park home. Check-in occurred at the pavilion, and the race start was a just a short distance away on the fire break ...

As a geologist, there is something pretty damn cool about being in a desert, walking, running, and hiking on rocks that formed in a desert 180 million years ago. That's the trip that is Zion National Park.  The Commander and I were there for the Vacation Race Series Zion Half Marathon, and we spent a couple extra days hiking the park. Here is how it all went down. We are in a desert. These rocks were deposited in a desert 180mya. That's deep (metaphysically speaking). We had a bit of a snafu right off the bat. My personal assistant screwed up by booking a late arriving flight the day before the race. The problem is that the closest airport is in Las Vegas, NV, which is an hour behind Utah and two hours away on top of it. As a result there was no way we were going to make it to the race expo to pick up our race packets before they closed. Luckily, our buddy Silver was there and after haggling with the volunteers, acquired said packets and saved the day. Side note, I fired...