daryl writes

Hey, I didn't think I could get on this blog at work but will try again.



I have had this goal of running through butterfield canyon all the way down the adjacent middle canyon ending up in Tooele.



Saturday before last me and Dale got this bright idea to get up at 4 since I had military duty and he had class. We started running at 05:10 at the base of the canyon and it was still dark so I had a small flashlight I carried and Dale had a headband light. We had no idea really what our pace was as Mark and other dark runners would know and we were running uphill to skew the rythm even more. About three miles in it was light enough to turn off the flashlights. The hill at this point gets really steep for about a half mile. Last time I died and walked at almost the base the slope. This time I kept plugging all the way to 4.2 mark. Dale in traditional style had made it up before me but the dcrease in the grade made me excited and I picked up the pace. Our goal was to run 15 minutes past 4.2. I caught Dale about 10 minutes later and we figured it was about 11 miles up and back.



The following week or last week I was really sore. We planned to run on Friday after I worked the night but not in the dark. That, we decided (all due respect Mark), was for the birds. My muscles felt pretty good. I started on the Salt Lake side of the canyon while Dale started on the Tooele side. He left the car unmercifully 14 miles and a mountain away.



So this time I was alone and I started off only to feel that my muscles were still not quite ready for the run. I started off slow and a little gingerly. I had a camelback full of gatorade and it was a cool morning. We were running west and north about 20 miles of Elaines long run. My camelback didn't work for some reason so I had to unstrap it from my back at three miles out and open the lid for a welcome drink. Then the same steep slope that had conquered me the first time was at hand. My muslces were warm and I plowed up the slope with ease. The 4.2 mark brought exhileration I passed the point we had gone to the week before and I knew I could make it another 6 or 700 feet up and a mile long to the top.



An hour and a half to rise 25oo feet and go 6.5 miles....... I had no trouble going 13 minute miles.. Not tempted at all to speed up. 5500 ft to about 7000 ft.



Now the down. It was really steep and even Dale walked a mile and a half because his heartrate was still way up even walking when he was running up. Again, my muscles cried and I went gingerly down. It was also dirt road for a mile and a half and then I got on pavement. Dale had started probably about a half hour after I did because he had to drive the distance but he still met me at my 8 mile mark. He had done 6 and really cruised on the gradually slope up to that point. So I took the keys and ran and ran.. 2 hours 48 minutes for 14 miles. Dale did his in 2 hours 21 minutes and ran two more miles before I caught up to him in the car.



I reached my goal but I think I am done with hill work for awhile. I have a new need for flat and long.