Running, my second job and passion...: April 2025

Zion National Park spans over two major canyons: the classic and touristic Zion Canyon of course, on the South side, but also the Kolob Canyons on the North West. Without a road linking these two areas, the park has two entrances.

We were visiting with family from France and a friend in Vegas recommended the Kolob entrance, which is less popular and congested, and doesn't require to park your car to catch a shuttle. Zion Canyon is still very much worth the visit, especially if you manage to get early to secure a good parking spot. Otherwise, Kolob Canyon also offers magnificent views of red cliffs. Parking is also limited but, again, that side is less crowded.

We first drove to the top, the Kolob Canyons Viewpoint and hiked the short Timbre Creek Overlook trail. Then drove down to the trailhead of Taylor Creek trail. As we wanted to drive to Bryce afterwards and get there before dusk, I was given 90 minutes to explore that canyon.

I knew nothing about that trail except I had heard about 5 miles to a site worth seeing called the Double Arch Alcove. With an out and back format along a creek, I figured I'll just split the time and turnaround at half the time.

This was quite a technical trail and I quickly lost track of the number of creek crossings. Enough running injuries these past years so I crossed over rocks, very carefully. With that, my progression was slow, in the 12-13 minute/mile range and that wasn't even counting the stops to take pictures! At least I was not alone, there were a few hikers, even a handful of families.

1 mile, 2 miles, I was approaching the dangerous time limit when the trail turn from dust to mud then snow, as the canyon was narrowing and the trail stuck in the shade of impressive cliffs on both sides. 2.5 miles and there was the majestic alcove, at the end of the trail. At least I was able to get to it, just in time for a few pictures and retrace my way back.

So, it was 5 miles indeed but round trip. And technical.

The Relive.cc flyover is worth watching to get a sense of the size of the boulders forming that Kolob Canyon. Sheer walls challenging the 3d visualization algorithm... (click on this link or the image below)

Again, if you have not been to Zion before, Zion Canyon is the best option if you can get to the main parking lot early. Otherwise, Kolob is a great substitute to appreciate the grandeur of this site and natural wonder; highly recommended! And, with more time than I had, you can hike between the two canyons, that looks like even more exciting!

I'm falling behind again. A week ago I ran in Zion Park then Bryce Canyon and still want to post about these runs, but let's see if I can still do a same-day race report after 777 blog posts, to celebrate a key milestone, my 200th ultra race. In all disclosure, I'm talking about lining up at the start of an ultra race here, 17 led to DNFs (Did Not Finish), although only one of these was before the ultra marathon mark (one failed Quad Dipsea). So, yes, that's only 183 ultra race finishes, and I'm excited to keep working on this number. By the way that's not counting 313 ultra training runs. Including 27 marathons, that's 548 marathons or longer runs, and hopefully, counting!

MadCity, aka Madison, Wisconsin. The 10K loop of the Arboretum around Lake Winagra has been used by Timo for several years to host the 100K Road Nationals which I ran in 2015 (detailed course review with pictures), 2017, 2019 (DNF at 80K, still suffering from my 2018 hamstring attach injury) and 2022. This year also had a 100K, solo and relay, but the 50K served as our Nationals for Team USA selection. And, hint, a few young speedsters showed up, for a great change!

I flew in through Chicago and got to my hotel near the airport around 8 pm on Friday. After a great sleep of almost 8 hours, I woke up before 5 am for a quick breakfast, to be done with food 3 hours before the race. Despite checking the race book several times during the week, I ended up at the zoo, on the wrong side of the shelter serving as race headquarters. While not finding the right entrance stressed me on my first participation, this time I was able to found my way back to the car entrance and got a great parking spot around 6:50. There was an early check-in on Friday afternoon so not too many people on race morning, nice!

I got so cold last week running on the rim of Bryce Canyon before sunrise, I was scared about the low temperature expected at the start, confirmed by the ice I found on the car upon leaving the hotel. Ah, Spring is it? At least it was sunny, with a very moderate breeze, so the speedsters were in shorts and singlets. Me? Long tights, arm warmers, Buff, fleece hat, gloves. Better safe than sorry, I don't fare well when chilly.

At the start I could see another M60-64 runner, Jeff Dorrill, 63, from Dallas, but no sign of Rich Power, 61, of Rochester, MI. I raced Rich at the 50K Nationals in 2019 and we finished 3.5 minutes apart (him in 3:35 and I in 3:31) but that was when I was still at the top of my game, before the 2018 injury and last year's meniscus tear on my last training run before... these same Nationals. Which Rich ended up winning overall in 3:36! Since then, Rich has run several marathons under 3, a barrier I have yet to break again as I'm rebuilding after 7 months off running last year. I couldn't even break 4 at Jed Smith 50K this past February... With that, my goal was to finish, take second and, hopefully, break 4 hours this time (my PR is 3:18:12 on that distance, when I improved the American Age Group record 9 years ago, while experiencing a TIA, a mini stroke...).

After a brief pre-race meeting we were sent off right on time. I didn't rush at the start, I had not even warmed up before the race and, since I got Covid early 2020 before we knew much about it, and maybe with the years passing too, I do need at least a mile to get the engine fired up. I passed Jeff, quickly lost sight of at least a dozen of fast runners in front, and clocked 7:37 for the first mile, a much slower start than at Jed Smith. The longest I've been able to maintain 7:00 min/mile since I'm back at running has been 2 weeks ago at the track, for a half marathon. It was safe not to try to get into that zone.

Yet, once I got warmer, I spotted a group of 4 ahead, 2 men, 2 women, and picked up the pace. It took me 2 miles to catch them, now running closer to 7:00 min/mile, oops! I first passed a runner from our NorCal women-only club, the Impalas: Brooke Bray, 48, from San Francisco. Then the 2 guys, one under 40, the other M40-44. I then ran half a mile behind the other gal who, upon passing her, shared how impressed she was with the regularity and form of my stride. I replied she was doing great too, but her encouragement would provide a mental boost which I cherished throughout the rest of the race. This was Dani Filipek, who owns and operates a racing and coaching business, and runs fast when, as she jokes about it, not keeping expecting babies (3 so far!). Yooper Running Company in Michigan. Post-race picture:

I clocked 45:33 for the first lap (10K), a 7:20 average pace. I felt good although not super confident I could hold that pace, but that was a pace which would get me back under 4 hours, so why not try? (Photo credit for five pictures: Lin Gentling, USATF Liaison.)

By now, I was running alone, nobody I could see ahead, they were way too far, nobody behind. And I was still moving well so I completed the 2nd lap in 45:06, a 7:15 min/mile pace.

The third lap got more interesting as I still felt good and one of the earlier group of four closed on me and we ran most of that lap together, in a time of 45:05. 1 second faster over 10K, that's clockwork or machine level! ;-) Now, at the end of that lap, at 30K, I decided to stop by my mini aid station to take new bottles (GU Energy Brew and water), a 2nd GU gel, and my phone, to check on Rich Power's progress on that 4th lap.

I waited for the "hill" to take an opportunity to consult the splits while walking for the first time. I couldn't see Rich in the list and lost about a minute and a half, scrolling up and down, before finally seeing that he was listed at the bottom of the table as DNS (Did Not Start). Well, that meant I just had to keep going and finish! I was so into my screen that I got in the middle of the road, walking toward a car I didn't see who, thankfully, stopped, phew! Yikes, that was rather a stupid move from me, will I learn better after 200 ultra races (373 races total)...? No running and texting...

After this episode, I resumed running and pushing. But, despite a few 7:15 miles, with that walking break episode, my 4th lap was indeed slower at 47:22 (7:37 pace).

I would be remiss not to mention I got lapped by the lead runner just as I reached the end of lap 3. Oh, my, that pace, so impressive! A few others followed and I could hear the speaker announce the finishers while I was still 1.5 miles away on my 4th lap... More on their times below.

I had lost a bit of stamina for the 5th lap, not to mention my glutes were starting to complain about today's increased load, but was encouraged by the now likely prospect I would break 4 hours. I just had to not cramp and walk. One mile in, after passing the marathon mark in 3:11 (what Coros keeps predicting for my current marathon time, albeit not during a 50K), I lapped Jeff, who was delighted to take second this time, thanks to Rich not showing up. Two miles in, I did walk a bit to take a 3rd S!Cap and 3rd GU Gel (I had taken a pouch of Vespa Power concentrate at mile 16, in addition to two, pre-race). I eased up the pace a bit mid way but picked up the pace again the last mile, to clock 48:14 for lap 5. Total of 3:51:19, I did it, breaking 4 again, yeah! Still room for more improvement, based on earlier potential, but many steps in the right direction of rebuilding! (Photo credit: Roy Pirrung.)

While I believe I initially appeared as 24th overall, I show as 21st on Saturday evening. 15th in Men, 2nd Masters (above 40) and, yes, 1st M60-64. 22nd title, and National Champion patch, all thanks to Rich not showing up today. As we say with races, you have to keep showing up and taking your chance (I say that for me!).

I received the USATF medal and patch from Race Director, Nora Bird, who took over Timo, whom I had the pleasure to see along the course.

Also representing California, Brooke finished a minute behind me, 1st in her age group and 7th Female.

Last picture before leaving, with Lin:

I then had lunch with Roy at Zuzu, before he drove up home, 2 hours north of Madison. We missed our friend Brian Teason, another ultra legend from a few decades ago, who couldn't race this time due to a rotator cuff injury (it hurts!).

Before I conclude, what happened at the front? The finish must have been spectacular to watch. First, Charlie Lawrence, 30, from Boulder, broke the course record by a couple of minutes with 2:49:01: a 5:26 average pace! As for the rest of the podium, the very final quest must have bee impressive: the next 3 runners finished within less than 20 seconds: 2:53:37 (Jeffrey Seelaus), 2:53:50 (Adam Vadeboncoeur --last name with quite a cool meaning in French!) and 2:53:54 (Ryan Root). Johny Rutford also broke 3 hours. Close finish also on the women side: Courtney Olsen also broke the course record in 3:16:44 (shaving almost 5 minutes of it), followed by Sophie Seward in 3:17:34 then former course record holder, Lindsay Prescott in 3:2016 (also under her previous record). With course record prize at $1,000, that's a burden on an event which is already challenged financially. But at least an opportunity to reinforce the reputation of quality of this event for more years to come. Here are 9 of the top 10 men (Photo credit: Roy Pirrung):

Boarding at 5:50 am tomorrow morning so better call it a day and going to bed, now. Wrapped in these good vibes of being back to holding a faster pace, farther, the whole essence of my blog mantra, or at least title. Next races in California, most likely in much higher temperatures. Although, I didn't mention, I ended up getting rather hot under my hat today...