Buffalo Run 2013 - Race Recap

 Understatement of the year!! Note the dude being pinned up against the chain-link fence!

On Saturday, Jeremy and I headed out to Antelope Island for the Buffalo Run 25k (me) and 50k (Jeremy). This is a race we've both run before and really enjoy.  I know I can't lead with a picture like the one above and not launch directly into an explanation, so here goes.  Yes, that really happened, and yes, the guy is alright.  The photo was taken on Friday, just before the start of the 100-mile race.  The start line for these races is about 100 yards away from this point.  You start by running up the dirt road and then flip a U-turn through the hole in the fence just past the buffalo.  As the story goes, it was a few minutes before the start of the 100-mile race and these guys noticed that a buffalo (the primary inhabitants of Antelope Island) was roaming in the general path that the 100-milers were about to take.  Now, this wouldn't be the first time racers on the island have encountered buffalo, in fact, it's pretty common.  Nonetheless, the dude on the left apparently decided to try to convince the buffalo to move.  Needless to say, the buffalo was none-too-pleased, charged the guy, pinned him up against the fence, snorted a couple times, then dropped him and walked away.  I interpret this as the buffalo saying "I'm a giant-ass buffalo, I'll do what I want... don't piss me off".  Sort of a warning shot.  The good news is that the guy was OK, although I'm sure he soiled his pants and was probably CRAZY sore the next day.

Our races were far less eventful than this!  First and foremost, we got super lucky on the weather.  The forecast for Saturday called for snow and cold temps, but it turned out to be a lovely (although brisk) sunny day.  It was 27 and windy when we got to the island, but it warmed up nicely as the sun came up over the mountains.

The 50k pack lining up!

(Jeremy is in there somewhere)

I will admit, I was pretty nervous about this one.  I had taken my now far-too-typical approach of not running enough in preparation for the race (I swear I'm going to break that streak for the next one).  Poor preparation, coupled with the fact that Jeremy had taken me out on a ridiculous training run the weekend prior - trashing my quads - and that I spent Thursday and Friday helping move our lab to a new building on campus, and I was going into the race more fatigued that I would have liked.  I don't know if it was my low expectations or what, but I had a really great race!  I went out conservatively and power-hiked the long hill at the start (it usually takes me a couple miles to really warm up anyhow, plus I hate hills).  Aside from the major hills on the course, I'm happy to say that I ran almost everything else.  On what I believe is the worst hill of the course, a relatively short, but stupid steep climb up to the first aid station, I was joined by a super cool gentleman.  He was probably in his 70s and this was his first ever trail race.  He was having a blast, even on that torturous hill, and was incredibly inspiring to chat with.  I wish I had noted his race number, because I would love to look him up and see when he finished - I'm certain he finished.

Photo credit: Jeremy Gleason

View to the NE from the top of the crazy climb to the Elephant Head aid station

I particularly enjoyed the ~2 mile downhill around mile 6.  I had forgotten how good it feels to fly down single-track.  I swear I must have passed 30 people on this section... I guess most folks just aren't comfortable letting loose on the downhill.  To me, that was the best part of the race!

 Self-portrait with a distant herd of buffalo,

near the bottom of the super-fun downhill

I had to pop in my tunes around mile 11 (I rarely run with music), but it was exactly what I needed to get in the groove and get to the finish.  I ended up taking 5 minutes or so off my time from last year.  To me, that's a win!  Plus, I won one of fabulous door prizes at the finish line - new sunglasses from Smith Optics - SCORE!

Modeling my new shades the day after the race

Best of all, I recovered like I champ.  I wasn't nearly as sore as I expected.  In fact, I felt so good yesterday that I wanted to go run (although I forced myself to take a 2nd day of rest).  All in all, it was a great race.  Here's hoping the next one is even better :)

It tastes better when you earn it!!!