OV50 - 50 miles of running

OV50 = Ogden Valley 50 mile race, sponsored by Striders Running in Layton. Only the MOST awesome running store ! They have SUCH great support for this race. The weather was BEAUTIFUL, PERFECT, FANTASTIC. The race started at 5am at Kent Smith Park in Mountain Green, and went up over Trapper's Loop, into Snowbasin and down the old Snowbasin Road, across Pineview Dam, looping back through Eden, over by Middle Fork, and through Huntsville, before backtracking up the old Snowbasin Road, down Trapper's and to the START/FINISH line. 50 (51 actually) miles.  Click here for the actual course map

We were at the bottom of the old Snowbasin Road at 7am.  It was 27 degrees.  They said that they didn't expect Zac for another hour (what?!)   About 7:10 or so,  the first and second runners passed by..............and at 7:30 - here was our boy !!  He had run 16 miles in 2 1/2 hours, and was on a 9 minute mile pace.  (That's him in the background with the reflective vest.  Hard to get good pics in the early morning light)

We drove the course, passing him, and waited on the other side of Pineview Dam.   We could see him coming, and if you have really good eyes (maybe click on the picture) you can see him, a black speck, between the two yellow trees where it looks like a big slide is coming off the mountain.  It was a beautiful cold morning. 

Treyson points at him crossing the Dam

Blurry smiles.......... at Mile 19

Tagg was onery and cold at this point :(

We traveled ahead to Mile 23 in Eden.  It was here that he shed his jacket and shirt - CRAZY kid.   It was now 8:30 am.  He was still on pace !

And there he goes - we won't see him again until MILE 32, next to the Southfork Hardware and Subway in Huntsville.

Just hanging around waiting for Dad

Here he comes !!  It's 10 am and he's looking good !

His ankles were hurting, and his stomach was rumbly, but all he wanted was Carrie Dickson's homemade chocolate chip cookies (CJ had called and asked her to make him some, and Devin ran them up last night).  Thanks Carrie !!  

Roger D and me and Treyson headed to Ogden to Little Caesars to pick up pizza.  That is what Zac wanted at the finish line, even though Strider's was supplying chili and baked potatoes.  Treyson  caught a few zzzzzzzzzzzz's along the way.

We made it back up to Snowbasin Resort (where the old Snowbasin Road joins the new).
We had just a few minutes to entertain Thatcher here.  Isn't he stylin' in his footie pajamas with shoes ?  

This was Mile 42.  We were expecting him about 11:45 am, and he didn't disappoint !! 

Yeah Zac !!  That man in the sweatshirt was one of the support crew from Striders, and he had gone DOWN the road and around the curve, and ran back up with Zac.  He took his water bottle (that's what you can see in his hand), and got it all filled up.  

He tried to get Zac to sit down for a minute, but Zac would hear nothing of that!  He did talk him into walking up the hill (see at far right) for a little bit. 

Another Chocolate Chip cookie, and he was off again - only 8 MORE (actually 9) MILES TO GO !!

We traveled down to Kent Smith Park in Mountain Green. There was a great playground for the boys to play on, and THAT helped immensely, except when Thatch fell (what a DAREDEVIL!) and bit his lip pretty bad.  Talk about BLOOD ! Kenzie and Blakely had driven up over Trapper's and they said they had seen Zac, so we all congregated near the road watching for him.  Roger D. was so nervous, he walked clear down the road (where it crested).  You can see him (between CJ's and Blakeley's head), a small speck in the distance.  


There was quite the crew of us there - Mom and Dad, CJ and the kids, Kenzie and Blakeley, and me and Rog.  LuAnn and Ben pulled in literally 1 minute before Zac crossed the finish line!

Zac crossed the finish line at 1:29pm - 8 hours and 29 minutes after he started.  Here he comes with two of his biggest supporters trailing in his wake :)

Zac came in 3rd place (overall men's division) and 4th overall.  That dang pesky girl passed him at about the 45 mile mark.  There were approx. 30 racers.  #1 came in at 12:30, #2 at 12:45 #3 (girl) at 1:15, and OUR GUY at 1:29.  We are so proud of you Zac :)  Quite the accomplishment.  One that not too many could or would even WANT to attempt, but you DID IT !!

After he had some time to slow down, eat and drink a little (very little) - he got a free massage, courtesy of Striders.  He also received a nice hoodie, t-shirt, medal, and a $50.00 gift certificate to Striders, which he will certainly put to good use :)  It was a GREAT DAY.  Roger D. has said about half a dozen times since we came home, "Wasn't today just the best?"   We talked to Zac later this evening, and he was feeling pretty good...............or at least not as bad as he (or we) thought he might be feeling.  It's pretty mind boggling..........50 miles.............running............for 8 hours..............  Who woulda thought?