Antelope Island Buffalo Run

True to the name of the run, there were buffalo.  See below for video of buffalo running across the trail.

We went down to Layton, Utah this weekend for the Buffalo Run on Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake.  We camped the night before the race, an experience I will never repeat if at all possible.  At 4 am, I was awoken by a chorus of very loud farting by campers in nearby tents.  Not the way I like to be woken up.  The day of the race started out cold, about 35 degrees Fahrenheit.  Eventually, it warmed up enough that I was wearing a sleeveless shirt.  The views were spectacular, other participants were friendly and kind.  I really enjoyed the race and felt pretty good most of the time.  Toward the end, I got tired but I finished this 50 mile race two hours faster than the other two that I completed.  Meds went well (20 mg when I woke up and about 5 mg/hour throughout the race - not quite enough but passable), eating could have been better and hydration was pretty good.  I was pretty stiff yesterday but able to share in the driving.  Today going down stairs is a little challenging but I was able to hit the elliptical this morning.  By tomorrow, I should be nearly "normal".

I have two more 50 milers planned and paid for in the next couple of months.  They are both much harder than the one I just did so my training needs to involve more hills and more back to back running.  Anyone who knows me knows that I'll walk whenever I'm given half a chance.  It's time to push myself a little bit more on a day to day basis!!!

Paul did great in his 25K.  He's recovering well!

Below are video and pictures from the race. 

Before the race started, the Race Director made the starting line.  The Race Director is the guy wearing jeans and a brown coat.

The race starts!  This is one of my favorite parts of the race.  Everyone is mellow and there's a steady stream of reflective tape and headlamps.  There's a lot of hope in the air.

Buffalo in the distance.  Heading up Elephant Head.  About mile 6.

A better view of the buffalo.  Mile 6ish.

Buffalo crossing the trail!

The trail winding downhill.  About mile 10.

About mile 11, the sun coming up over the hill.

Mile 20.  A view across the island and the lake to the west.

Mile 44, wet and marshy up a steep hill to the last aid station.

Mile 45.  This looks like where they do stuff with the buffalo.

Spectators.

Happy to cross the finish line!

A minute or so after finishing the race!  Yahoo!

Swollen hand.  Looking better than in the middle of the race.

A view of the Wasatch Mountains from the Antelope Island causeway.

An antelope on the island!

Big mountain on the island.

Wasatch from the causeway.