I had no idea what to expect of this race. I had obviously never done it and had heard mixed reviews but that it was a good trainer for the Wasatch 100. I had no familiarity with the course other than reading through the description that they had online. On the Thursday before the race Luke called me with genuine concern evident in his voice. He lovingly asked if I had seen the course? I said that I had briefly read up on it and saw a picture or two. He referred me to a video on youtube, knowing my disdain of heights, that highlighted "the scramble" or "crag" section of the course. As I watched the video my palms began to sweat. The top part of the course, also the top part of Black Mountain, was CLIFFS.
I called a few friends that had done the race and asked about the cliffs. I was hoping for a "you'll be fine" or a "it really isn't that bad" but was met with a "you'll hate it" and a "I hope you don't fall".
Luke picked me up at 5:00 AM and we headed to Memory Grove to start. We parked by the state capital building which was amazing looking in the sunrise hew.
The race kicked of about ten minutes late. We started running a paved road that led to the single track trail. This was the first place that I would experience a bottle neck. Single file was the name of the game with very little passing to be done. Once the trail opened up I settled into a good pace and felt like the day would go well. Not knowing what to expect I had packed two handhelds (water bottles) and my hydration pack with about 2 liters of water. In hind sight the two handhelds probably would have done the trick getting me from aid station to aid station.
I felt very good for the first 4 or 5 miles and topped off my bottles at the Bobsled Junction aid station (AS). From there the climb up to and across the rollers felt good too. I was keeping an eye on my calorie intake and felt like I was still in good position to have a great day. I had started out slowly, on purpose, and at this point started to pass a lot of people all while keeping my heart rate manageable. The climb up to the scramble was slow but I still felt in control and had caught the next group of people.
There are a few false tops on the way up Black Mtn. but nothing that was so deflating that I got discouraged. The scramble is where the race became entertaining. I ditched my handhelds on my pack and used all four to negotiate the rock outcroppings that interfered with the trail. There were some that you could jump down and some that you had to slide down but by and large nothing too crazy. This did bottle neck again and turned slow.
Heading up to the crags
Then we got to the cliffs. The bottle neck left me sitting on a rock for about 10-15 minutes with little to no progress. I wasn't upset as I realized that I may be slowing others soon. Don't look down! You have too! That is how you know where your feet go. The drop was long. I made it through the first several drops easy enough and even mustered up a joke or two to my fellow chasers. Then the big one came. For a moment I was paralyzed. I thought so this is how I will get my first DNF (did not finish). I said to the spotter below. I CAN'T DO THIS! He said back "I can't help unless you ask" I lovingly replied HELP!!! I turned and faced the rock and he placed my foot in two places that helped me get down to the ledge below. Heart rate accelerated and not due to exertion. In all it took me just over 30 minutes to get through this part of the course. Too long. Time goal out the window.
Southern view from the top of Black.
I was able to make good time to the Smugglers Gap AS. I topped off the handhelds again, fixed my socks and bombed the switchbacks into City Creek canyon. I passed 8 people and felt strong. Once I hit the road, the wheels came off. I could not muster even one possitive thought and was reduced to a walk on a few occasions. I was assessing what was wrong. Was it my legs? No, they felt fine. Heart rate? I was breathing with my mouth closed. Brain? Probably but I hadn't dealt with that in a long time. I think it is this pavement! Pavement after months on trail really feels gross. Was that it? No idea. Never could figure it out.
I made my way to the finish happy to have another race under the belt but bummed that I finished so poorly. I need that to happen again so I can keep learning how to manage the blow ups that will inevitably happen in September.
In conclusion this was not my favorite race. Butch who put the race on seems super cool but the course left some to be desired. The shirts were great. Silhouetted by a mountain the words "Back to Black" scrolled the front chest. Last year the course was cut short and excluded Black Mountain due to record amounts of high country snow.
