There is no doubting the overall downhill nature of this course is appealing to me. I mean, look at this for heaven's sake!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdEZvdxjAwHBfVoMweacb6Aa1eVGFTqM_XE8_BdH7qq4qYPrI5mXmcsWVCVFN05bwQuraob3joL7Tt-PYe-8IM3joy1DfMbs6J5wNC2dY9eh5Z6EFd9kghXMquTLHRhxKCTdl8jqlxoUv/s400/desnews.jpg)
However, while there is 3,846 feet of downhill, there is indeed nearly 700 feet of uphill in this puppy. And as the race ends just a block away from my home at ~4,300 feet that means this race starts at 7,500 feet above the good ole ocean. As such, I knew I needed to not take the downhill for granted and needed to see for myself what this race had in store.
I thought about running up into Emigration Canyon and testing some of that huge downhill. But after one of the hardest weeks of training I have ever done, I did not have the energy to run all the way up and then turn around to come back.
Instead, I decided today I would check out the last 10k of the course. As this section starts just a few miles from my house, I could get a good solid 9 miles in and call it a day.
My morning run was delayed by some important phone calls, so by the time I started, the summer sun was bright and full in the sky. However, I will take this desert heat over the warm humidity sweater of Washington, DC weather almost any day.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpAuFrmC3EZ77bKwHA6nlvw2DV3pNFHCnbwveYAKUtbR7L14c1xs-4rpnnFfVrfdmhO30gfPf7BGheBXEOcADMtI3tvB9mB3vk0Ss23bmfQMm8VzqTagySKlD9Kuixf-uUEdhj2qrx-if/s400/MCM3.jpg)
I soon was summiting the hardest climb of my run and a good halfway through when I realized I had done portions of this same run before on a previous training run. Familiarity is indeed good when you are racing. Of course, I also knew there would not be just downhill and flat in the final 10k. Nothing horrendous awaited me today and subsequently the other racers come July 24th, but I already know the little uphills in this last 10k will indeed test weary legs.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHpXaYom83ElQu1uA5h4z7DUmzNSpdHtNON3VfNdcmMI-Va_kw432437pvXJVE4xp8Q1h_PpmiMG30xuo_gD_zo-wuKqwZrPj7_zhAJtpXbAqcpWywvxmkcrS1pecfcjaeuO5WCu9_PtJ/s400/final10k+desnews.jpg)
The tree-lined streets of South Temple provided some solace from the warm sun and they should do the same come race morning.
As I wound through the streets of Salt Lake City, getting closer to both the "finish line" as well as my home, I had a feeling that this race will be quite fruitful for me.
Now the only thing between that thought and reality is 26.2 short little miles.
1 comment:
I only looked at the pictures, but I'm sure the rest of the blog was nice too.
Kidding!
I'm excited to see how well you do on that course!
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