Dragged myself out of bed, started breakfast, checked Moab results. Looks like Fred and Dave are in the hurt locker, DNF style. Injury, mechanical? I hope you guys are okay!

Plesko kicking it in the top ten, perhaps a late morning surge for 9th?! Gogogogogogogo!!!!!!!!! (I feel vindicated, after getting dropped by him so easily at Buff the other week!)

Fortunately, my ordeal of the weekend only lasted 13 hours and 25 minutes, plus a dazed and foot-weary drive home. Let’s look at the numbers:

Start 0446
Bridge 0630
N. Rim 1100
Bridge 1550 (ouch!)
Finish 1812

I cannot remember the Cottonwood splits, alas.

Analysis reveals a couple things. Most importantly, and shown very (painfully) well in my looong split back down from the North Rim to the river, is that my legs and feet are not in running shape. The engine is there, I was able to crank out the final climb very steadily and well. What killed me was my quads and feet, the former unable to provide enough braking power to push the pace going down, and the later becoming so tender by Cottonwood that I couldn’t run at all, even the very gently downhill sections in the lower reaches of Bright Angel which can be very fast indeed. My climbing muscles are very good, and I maintained my record of never being passed by anything going uphill in The Ditch. I did cut more than 90 minutes of my previous time, and given my acute lack of running-specific training, that is very encouraging. With some smart work this winter I can turn out some very good ultra fitness by February.

My planning worked fine. I brought the Nathan “death pod” vest, which with the many easy fill up options was fine except for the hot return from Cottonwood to the river, where I was without water for 35 minutes. This, and my super light nutrition strategy (chocolate and gu), necessitated a 25 minute layover at Phantom for water, apple, and fig newton (bought from the canteen) consumption. I had enough calories all day, but the lack of substantive food made the belly feel odd at times, and the apple was heaven sent, a psychological necessity to face the climb out. These issues would have been far less acute if the forecast had been correct, instead it was sunny all day with only a hint of clouds to the south after noon. 1300 along the creek was hot, easily mid 80s.

Most remarkable of all were the number of hikers out doing a single or double crossing. There were enough of the former out along the Bright Angel that I asked one if they were part of a tour group, which they were not. Probably 3 dozen or more. Makes one feel a bit less special for being out running around, but is in the end very encouraging to see so many out for a big day. Some, judging by the fat Jansports and big bellies, were in for a long climb out.

I also saw at least 8 other guys doing a double crossing. Five guys from Michigan were spread out as I passed them at various points going up to the North Rim. They had flown into Phoenix the night previous, drove up, bivvied for 3 hours, started on the Bright Angel trail at 0300, and were waking up at 0600 today to drive back and a catch an early afternoon flight home. Some of them will be sleeping well on the plane today.

Another crazy weekend in the bag. On the North Rim I thought I might pull a decent negative split, and finish in 12. With some fine-tuning that’s clearly possible. But being out, and going through the mental gymnastics of doubt, hurt, and elation, is the real battle won. I’ve had two recent exceptional standouts, in what has been a run of outstanding Saturdays, all the way since August.

It’s good to be here.