2nd Annual Red Cliffs Desert Reserve 50K !!!

#47 Ultra is now in the books!  With daughter Della running with me the whole way, we completed our 31 mile ramp through the desert in high fashion!  Lori and new dog, Sunny, helped us along the way making sure we had water and food at the 10 mile, 20 mile and at the end which was desperately needed for sure.  Thank you so much Lori!!!  Lori and Sunny even ran with us for awhile before the our 10 mile aid station which was, our car!

Starting way up in Leeds, Utah,  Della and I traversed almost the entire portion of the Red Cliffs Reserve, right outside St. George, Utah.  We had perfect running conditions the entire day and so thankful for it.  We started around 10 am and finished at 5:30 pm.  (7:31)  Della was stellar leading the way for me and her encouragement was abounding!  I was so thankful that I had the opportunity to run an Ultra with her.  This opportunity does not come along too much, so I am so grateful that we pulled this off together!  Thank you so much Della Helen!  You're the greatest!

We took a lot of pictures of our adventure, so here are some of them!  Thanks again for all everyones' support of 100 by 100!

10/27/19  $100.00  Donated to the Shirley Marcos Alzheimer's Research

#46 Ultra - Flagstaff to Grand Canyon 55K

On September 21, 2019 I completed my 46th Ultra Marathon for 100 by 100.  It felt so great because Lori and my daughter Della were there every step of the way to support my efforts!  I finished the 55K (actually 35 miles) in around 8:40.  I believe I finished actually 4 minutes faster than last year! 

Anyway, the course was just as great as last year and the weather was actually perfect for running.  Lori and Della and our new dog "Sunny" also had a great time running some of the course trying to find me, but for some reason, they missed me.  Not a biggie!  They did see me at the 10 mile relay exchange and of course at the finish however - which was greatly appreciated!  I did have some issues during the middle and later stages of the race, but I don't need to go into all that..........  Anyway, we all had a great time in Flagstaff - especially at dinner at a great place down Highway 180 in Flagstaff.  Celebrations were in order for sure!

Well, thank you all for your support and here are some pictures!

9/25/19  -  $100.00 Donated to the Shirley Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research

#45 Ultra Marathon now completed!

The Jem/Hurricane Rim Trail is a beautiful trail system in Hurricane, Utah!  I decided to do another adventure run by myself in Hurricane, Utah - only 30 minutes away from my home.  The whole trail system there runs almost entirely near the Virgin River with astounding views in all directions.
I picked a great day to do it too!  I decided to do another 50K since I was feeling pretty good since the last go around.  I'm glad I did.  I even met some bikers who I talked with for awhile on the trail.  Real nice people originally from Alaska, now living in Oregon.  We had a lot to talk about!  Great conversation!

I did the 50K just under 8 hours and felt reasonably well afterward. Go figure!  The route I chose was basically doing the whole Jem Trail and then the Hurricane Rim Trail.  Turns out, the Hurricane Rim trail was a third longer than expected, so I turned around early - but I was satisfied with what I ended up doing on it.  I parked my car in the middle of the run so I could go back to it and refill what I needed for the next segments.  Great aid station!

Lori met me at around the 25 mile mark and we both finished running to the car on the Jem Trail.  What a great way to end the day! 

Here are some pics!  Thank you for your support!


$100.00 Donated to Alzheimer's Research on 5/25/19

3/4 Zion Solo Traverse - #44

I will let the photos speak for a lot of my words on this solo Ultramarathon!  Wow, is all I can say!
#44 Ultra Marathon was completed yesterday in Zion National Park with a total distance of 31 miles (50K) in 8:15.  I took so many pictures of this run (for good reason as you can see) it must've cost me nearly 1/2 hour - but it didn't matter as I took it all in.  Time doesn't matter - I had no "cut offs) to meet like in races.  This was a spectacular run on a spectacular day!

I started at the Hop Valley trailhead first with a 5 mile out and back run with Lori - then basically headed to Zion Canyon via the Connector trail, then Wildcat Canyon trail, then the spectacular
West Rim trail high above Zion - which eventually leads into Zion Canyon.  I ended right at the road near The Grotto right at 31 miles right after 5:00 pm.  Lori met me right there waiting for me.  It was so good to see her there - so nice!  She had everything I needed too - change of clothes, shoes, everything - so nice!  Love you Lori!  How nice and thoughtful too.  We immediately took the shuttle down the canyon to our car, changed, then drove to the Brew Pub in Springdale  to catch a few beers and dinner before we headed for home.  We drove the entire 40 minute drive with the windows wide open in the wonderful 80 degree breezes!  What a wonderful day indeed!

Here are a few shots of this fantastic National Park - high above Zion Canyon few people actually get to see.  I would highly recommend getting up to the West Rim trail.  It is strenuous, but worth it!

Thank you for your support.

$100.00 donated to Alzheimer's Research  5/6/19

#43 Ultra Marathon !!!

On a very cool February day in Littlefield, AZ. I completed my 43rd Ultra for 100 by 100!  It was called the Grandmaster Ultra 50k.  All runners had to be 50 years of age or older.  I finished in 7:26 which was respectable for me given that I didn't really have that much time to prepare for the race.  I really only trained for a month prior, so I'm just happy I finished with a smile on my face!  The motto of the race was called, "Old is Cool".  You got to like it!

Pretty much the entire run was run under cool cloudy conditions with a little rain and snow, with the sun peaking out every now and then.  It turned out really nice around 2pm and I finished in nice mid-fifties in sunny conditions.  The  50k was part of many races of 100 miles, 48 hours, 50 miles, 1/2 marathon and marathon run out in the stark desert on 4 wheel drive roads.  With only 1500 ft of elevation gain in the 50K, it was easier for me than most - which is welcomed!  My run got a little long, but it was broken up by meeting and talking with the ultra legend, Ann Trason who was doing the 100 miler.   It was great talking with her.  I also found out later that another ultra legend Gordy Ainsleigh was also running the 100 mile.  I did not see him during the run.  He might have been taking a break somewhere.  There were quite a few RV's parked on the course and used as aid stations.

The only thing I was a bit turned off was the few and uninspiring spectators and aid station people along the course.  Cheering and applauding was nowhere to be heard - even at my finish!  I got a few high fives from other runners after finishing who finished ahead of me, but that was about it.  Kind of strange compared to most ultras where runners are always cheered on and encouraged to keep going.  Oh well, that is NOT why I do these runs!  I do it for Alzheimer's Research and my cherished mother who died of this dreadful disease.  I Love you Mom!

Thanks for reading!

$100.00 donated to Alzheimer's research on 2/11/19

 This picture was taken by a photographer on the course who I do not know.  Thank you!