I headed out to the 24 Hours of Utah; happy to get away from more fresh wet snow in Boulder and ready for some sun and sand. This is the 7th time I’ve run this race which is the same number of years it’s been running. Yes, my husband is the Race Director, hence my team name, “The RD’s Wife.” Everyone who runs has to have a team name whether competing as a solo runner or as part of a team.
I look forward to this race every year, because it’s a break from the cold and snow, but this year was a little cooler than typical. I think it was pretty cold for the staff, volunteers and spectators, but for us as runners it was perfect. There were lots of categories of racers: 6 hour solo (which was run completely at night), 50k, 12 hour solo, 12 hour duo, 24 hour team, 24 hour solo and the hundred milers. With the exception of the 6 hour solo runners, we all got started at 7 a.m. My plan was to do a 6 hour training run, so I registered for the 12 hour solo since I wanted to run in the warmth of the day.
Everyone headed to the start line wearing a few layers as it was about 30 degrees and pretty windy at the start. We were happy to get moving and even happier for the wind protection as we made our way around the course. It’s a 5.37 mile loop that you run in alternating directions. Regardless of which direction you’re heading, you have about a mile of sandy trail, followed by a moderate climb up slick rock followed by a downhill on slick rock and back to sandy trail.
After the first lap I got into a groove with a fellow teammate, Dan Blankenship, aka “Reverend Slim.” I don’t see him much, so we had lots to catch up on which is a good thing as we had many miles to go. As we went, we lost layers as the sun climbed in the sky. After 6 laps, I peeled off – my daughters were patiently waiting for me at the finish line. Dan and the other runners kept going…and going…and going. Only two runners, Hawaiian Shirt Ray Churgovich (27:09 – 2nd place) and Scot Hartman (25:21 – 1st place) stuck with it to complete the full 100 miles!
It was yet again a great run and I’ll be back next year!
The 12-hour, 24-hour, 50K, and 100 mile set off at the same time. 1st place 12 hour solo male was Neeraj Engineer from Broomfield, CO with 59.07 miles completed, and 1st place 12 hour solo female was Shana Leneveu from Louisville, CO with 53.7 miles. 1st place female 24 hour solo female was Charlotte Vasarhelyi from Kitchener, ON with 69.81 miles and 1st place 24 hour solo male was James Nussbeck from San Diego, CA with 69.81 miles. Overall 1st place male for the 50k was Chris Edmonds from Colorado Springs, CO completing the distance in 3 hours 56 minutes, and Overall 1st place female for the 50k was Claire Mellein from Osos, CA completing in 4 hours 38 minutes. To complete the morning’s series, 1st place male in the 100-mile category was the aforementioned Scot Hartman, completing the distance in 25:21. No females completed the 100 mile this year, but Rochelle Garnanez was close with 80.55 miles completed in the time frame.
Later on in the evening, the 6 hour solo began, surging a fresh crowd into the field of runners with many miles on their legs. 1st place male was Brian Passenti from Glenwood Springs, CO accomplished 26.85 miles in 6 hours, and once again, 1st place female was Danelle Ballengee from Moab, UT with the same distance covered, and merely 3 minutes later.
Though much colder this year, the 24 Hours of Utah racers were well equipped to put the miles on their legs and leave with a feeling of accomplishment. This was only the beginning. For those of you who continue on to next event in our series, there’s so much more to tap into, and for those of you who are new – welcome to the family!