Keeping myself sane!!!

Salt Lake Track Club 10k

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Location:

SLC,Ut,USA

Member Since:

Jul 31, 2009

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Boston Qualifier

Running Accomplishments:

It was an evening in November 2005 that I'll never forget...I was nearing the end of a long term relationship when I needed to unleash some pent-up anger.  I was driving past a baseball park near my house, when something told me to park my car, and just RUN!!  It wasn't long before I moved on with my life and continued running for new reasons.  I now run because I am truly obsessed!  It is a way of life, and I feel incomplete without my weekly runs.  I have completed 28 half marathons, 78 marathons, 7 ultramarathons, and a few other distance runs.

Pr's:

5k:  18:37 Willow Canyon Fun Run  2010

10k:   39:26 Salt Lake Track Club Winter Series 2012

10 Miles:  1:02:15 Emigration 10 Miler 2014

Half Marathon:  1:22:01 Provo Canyon Half  2011

Marathon:  2:56:52  2017 Utah Valley Marathon

50 Miles:  9:22:03 Antelope Island Buffalo Run 2011

100 Miles: 30:40:28 Wasatch 100 2013

Short-Term Running Goals:

Qualify for Boston

Run 100 mile ultramarathon

Sub 3 hour marathon

Beat my old pr's

Long-Term Running Goals:

A marathon in each state, a few ultramarathons....

Personal:

I have a wonderful wife, Melissa, who does not understand why I would want to punish my body with running marathons, but she is very supportive.  She patiently awaits my arrival at the finish line of most of them.  I slipped on a shirt at the last mile of the Ogden Marathon in 2008, that asked: "Melissa, will you Marry Me?"  It was a wonderful moment!

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Race: Salt Lake Track Club 10k (6.2 Miles) 00:39:21, Place overall: 12, Place in age division: 2

It was nice to get out and participate in a race, thereby breaking up the monotony of these winter months.  Actually; it has felt more like spring as this winter season has been very mild.  This event gave me something to look forward to and was a good way to see if my speed work has been producing results.

I had a couple of marathons last year that left me feeling bogged down and were therefore slower than I had hoped for.  By the end of last year's marathoning season, I had discovered what I was missing was some tempo runs in my training.  I was doing most of my running at a fairly consistent pace rather than mixing things up.  By running a shorter distance race like this 10k & some half marathons, it will force me to get more comfortable at a increased pace.

Anyways; today went well as I finished where I hoped I would even though I'm battling a hamstring/sciatic nerve issue in my left leg.  My training has been solid and consistent for several months, but I feel I've been on the edge of injury the last few days.  I may be scaling back or taking a few days off in hopes of mending this soreness before it gets worse.

My splits:

1. 6:18  Feeling good

2. 6:19 Still feeling good

3: 6:24 Starting to slip a little-mostly psychological!

4. 6:25 Still slipping, need some motivation!

5. 6:22 Very small hint of motivation...

6. 6:15  Glad to see the finish!

7. 1:17 (6:10) Final push...

Comments
From Rob Murphy on Sun, Feb 12, 2012 at 09:01:02 from 76.27.122.13

Good luck with that leg injury.

Really nice race. Way to keep it together at the end.I looked over your past races and they are definitely skewed towards the half marathon and longer. If you stay healthy, I think you will notice a big improvement in your marathon by including some 5ks and 10ks.

Race: Ogden Marathon (26.2 Miles) 03:19:14, Place overall: 118, Place in age division: 24

I am working on a comeback to running after sustaining a pelvic stress fracture in early Feb.  I originally thought it was a pulled hamstring and assumed I just needed to back off to let it heal.  By early April, I finally went to an orthopedic specialist as my running was still derailed. 

The dr. initially considered giving me a cortisone injection, but felt an x-ray was needed to err on the safe side to insure it wasn't just covering up a bigger issue.  His initial demeanor was laid back and almost seemed passive as I was probably just another runner who had some sort of minor overuse injury.

Upon reviewing the x-rays, his attitude shifted dramatically.  I was called into the hallway where I could see the damage I had done in my overzealous speed work. (That's what I've concluded to be the leading cause.)  His prognosis:  A "healing non-displaced inferior pubic ramus fracture with new periosteal bone formation"  In other words, a fracture that's on the mend.

I have eased back into my running and have let pain and discomfort be my guide in the process.  With no time to spare in getting ready for this race, I reached a long run of only 18 miles just a couple weeks ago.  I was really on the fence if this would be enough to get me through the race without really bonking, but didn't want to push any further on a long training run.

I approached this race with the intent on just finishing so long as my undertrained legs let me.  I knew my fitness has suffered the last couple of months, but wanted to participate as I really enjoy this race.

To be honest; I feel that not having a time goal or the pressure to pr really helped me to have fun, appreciate the beauty of the course and feel fortunate being part of the moment.  I saw it not so much as a challenge, but a privilege to be back doing something I really enjoy and that defines me.  I was able to coast through the miles, 'set the cruise control' and mingle with other runners.

A high point for me was around mile 21 when some soreness and discomfort began to settle in.  I had periodically throughout the race, been thinking of a friend whom lost his fiance to a tragic car accident last weekend.  It was at this late moment in the race that it occurred to me that I had to hold strong and work through my body's resistance.  The pain I was feeling could not compare to that of which my friend must be enduring.  Furthermore; my pain was self inflicted and just part of one of my life's journeys.

 

 

Comments
From allie on Sun, May 20, 2012 at 12:45:27 from 174.23.154.194

great report. i'm sorry to hear of your setbacks this year, but i'm glad that you healing well and back in the game. that's great that you were able to run and enjoy this race. i agree that sometimes it's nice to go into races without time or PR pressures and just soak up the experience.

condolences to your friend.

From Toby on Sun, May 20, 2012 at 20:23:11 from 199.101.229.6

Wow...what a story! I'm glad you were able to race today and enjoy the day!

From Kelli on Tue, May 22, 2012 at 14:22:20 from 71.219.97.214

Amazing story, and best of luck on your comeback. Great perspective for all of us runners.

Race: Utah Valley Marathon (26.2 Miles) 03:25:41, Place overall: 165

HEADWINDS!!  Need I say more?!  I know they really slowed me down, and seemed to have affected others I spoke with during the race.  I had prepared for the distance, hills, and other adversities I knew I'd encounter with the event, but not the wind!

I really don't know the kind of race it would have been without the wind, but it really wore me out.  I knew before the halfway point it wasn't going to be a fast day (relative to other years and courses) and just held on under the circumstances.  By mile 20, I was toast.  My legs no longer wanted to function and I kept looking forward to aid stations as an excuse to walk for a moment.  I had no turnover and felt like I had lead weights attached to my legs.  I maintained a jog, not run at best.

I'm glad I did this race today even though the results and overall experience was much less than I had hoped for.  Over the last 6 years of marathoning, I have learned that some days things click or fall into place while others just are not ideal.  I don't participate in these races because they're easy.  I appreciate the challenges and am hard headed enough to see them through!

Comments
From allie on Sat, Jun 09, 2012 at 17:47:45 from 97.126.209.117

great thoughts -- sorry about the tough conditions today, but great job on yet another marathon finish.

From Chad Robinson on Mon, Jun 11, 2012 at 15:01:26 from 50.73.39.89

That wind was brutal today. You did a great job kicking in that last 100 meters or so. I was ready to be done at mile 24. I was certainly glad I chose to race Ogden this year.

From Mikal Epperson on Mon, Jun 11, 2012 at 18:28:03 from 67.169.243.100

Allie-Thank you for your kind words. You are always so humble and thoughtful!

Chad-Thank you for allowing me to latch on near the finish! It gave me a reason to dig a little deeper for a better finish!

Race: Farmington Half Marathon (13.1 Miles) 01:27:36, Place overall: 16, Place in age division: 4

This was my 6th running of the Farmington Festival Days Half Marathon.  It's a fun race to participate in and has a small down-home feel to it.  The best part is a full breakfast after finishing, complete with all the trimmings!

I have managed to improve my time each year, even if by only a few seconds.  I suppose it's better than digressing as I have in some other events!  My time improvement for this year was a whopping 51 seconds.  I appreciated having some h.s. track kids at the front to help toe the line.  I may have not had a time improvement without their presence.

I know my pelvic fracture is completely healed by now, but still wonder if my fitness level may be lagging.  I am no veteran to running injuries, and making a recovery has been uncharted territory for me.  I am pleased with how this race went for me, but feel a greater test will be the Des News Marathon in a couple days.   

 

Race: Deseret News Marathon (26.2 Miles) 03:10:28, Place overall: 34, Place in age division: 32

This was an all around enjoyable race.  I started out on the bus sitting next to an 81 year old runner named Woody.  I felt very privileged to chat with him the entire ride to the top of Big Mountain.  I really hope I'm in as great of shape when I'm that age.  It was very inspiring hearing some of his life stories and his message of a positive mental attitude.  It is at the core of where our lives can take us.

The starting area was quite enjoyable, as I was able to converse with several people I've met over the last few years.  It really pumped me up for the race ahead and left me with gratitude in being able to participate in the sport of running.  If I look back 10 years, I would have never imagined myself as I am today, doing something I'm really passionate about that feels natural.

The race itself was on par with what I had hoped for and more.  The weather conditions were ideal, especially for this time of year, when the late miles can be a real scorcher!  I really enjoyed the drizzle of rain and cloud cover.  I would run any day in the rain vs. the head/cross winds everyone encountered at Utah Valley last month!  I enjoy the course as it is scenic (mostly in the first half before entering the east bench) and offers a variety of terrain.  For me, it has the right mixture of hills and flats.  I have fared better at this race than many other Utah marathons, and feel the course is conducive to working my legs in varied ways.  Although I did not 'hit the wall,'  I certainly felt fatigued at the end, and gave what I had for the day's work.

I feel I'm on track from where I was in February when I fractured my pelvis.  My training has been more productive and is getting easier. I hope to improve my overall speed and endurance for some events this fall.   

 

Race: Provo River Half Marathon (13.1 Miles) 01:24:27, Place overall: 7

I enjoyed running in this race even though I didn't have the speed I hoped for.  My stride and overall cadence didn't feel quite as efficient as usual. In the end, I was a couple minutes slower than last year.  My left calf tightend up around mile 9 and an overall lack of speed training lately were probably the main culprits.  I have been doing less road running and more trail running/hiking this summer than years past.  I'm preparing to tackle the Wasatch 100 beast next month.  

This was a good opportunity to test my overall fitness before the Park City Marathon next weekend.  I suppose I now know what to expect of myself and won't be looking for a course pr!

I cooled down afterwards with Sasha and another runner named Tony.  It was nice to get a few more miles in and to absorb the wisdom of the blog's highly accomplished leader!

 

Comments
From allie on Mon, Aug 13, 2012 at 21:30:35 from 71.213.49.34

nice job. good luck at PC!

Race: Park City Marathon (26.2 Miles) 03:25:32, Place overall: 21, Place in age division: 4

I suppose this race went as I could have expected.  Although it's the slowest I've run it in the last 4 years, I'm not disappointed.  My goal was to enjoy the event, yet feel halfway decent afterwards so I could attend the Mustang car show being held near the finish.  Goals achieved.

It was fun to mingle with some friends and to take in the scenery of the Park City and surrounding areas, which included viewing hot air balloons floating in the sky.  I must suppress how challenging the course is from year to year, as I found myself wondering if the hills were soon to end! This is not your typical Utah marathon that drops you out of a canyon in a descent to the finish.

Upon completion, I was really spent and my legs were fairly sore.  I must have done some damage to my left calf muscle while running the Provo River Half Marathon last weekend.  Did this affect my performance?  Maybe...maybe not..I went easy on it throughout this past week, but lingering soreness was prevalant.  I laid around the finisher's area for about a good hour and a half, and then headed over to the field house for a quick shower.  That was the best $2 I have ever spent!  It was very refreshing!

After the race, Melissa and I hung out at the car show near her newly restored '67 Mustang.  There was an awards banquet afterwards, and she won an award of excellence.  It was a good feeling having all the hard restoration work recognized amongst other nice vehicles.

Comments
From Kelli on Sun, Aug 19, 2012 at 14:44:41 from 67.172.235.55

Hey white shirt guy! I wish I had know who you were while we were out there running. I would have said HI the couple of times we went back and forth. Nice racing especially a week after a half! That was a tough race, I was very ill prepared for it (and obviously did not know the course well as was evidenced by my wrong turn....)

Great job on the mustang! Who did all of the restoring?

From Mikal Epperson on Sun, Aug 19, 2012 at 16:53:55 from 67.169.243.100

Hey kelli! I should have said hi as we pounded the pavement, but alas, I guess I was in a zone of my own! Great job in the Grand Slam so far! I'm sure the next couple of races will feel better after the challenges of the Park City course! Maybe I'll see you at St. George?! As for the Mustang, my father, a friend, and myself did the restoration work. Fun times!

From Kelli on Sun, Aug 19, 2012 at 19:00:35 from 67.172.235.55

Well, then, congratz on the mustang award as well. I am sure the cute wife standing by it helped, right?

Are you doing the grand slam? I knew it would be hard, but I had no clue HOW hard. If I ever do it again (which I am thinking probably not), I will not do any other racing! I tried to squeeze in too many halfs this summer and I am just worn out. I needed the time to marathon train, but I have been in constant recovery. I thought I was a machine, but , alas, I am not.

I do not talk much in races, but I certainly would have said hi when we leapfrogged! And I would have looked for you at the finish as well.

Have a great rest of the weekend!

From Mikal Epperson on Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 17:38:35 from 67.169.243.100

No Grand Slam for me this year...I decided to take on the Wasatch 100 and knew that would conflict. I ran the slam 2007-2011 and really enjoyed it. It was mostly my way to have a guarantee for St. George though. I may return to the slam next year...I know what you mean in feeling worn out after doing too many races! I see you will be pacing in Wasatch. Maybe I'll see you there!

From Kelli on Tue, Aug 21, 2012 at 07:40:06 from 67.172.235.55

Just make sure I know what color shirt to look for! I am pacing a 13 mile section of the race but then I am just the driver the rest of the time. It is my job to get to the aide stations and have all of her stuff ready for her. Not sure how to do that, but I guess I will figure it out. My brother says she does not get too grumpy, so she will not yell at me.

I NEVER want to run 100 miles, 50 was enough for me! Best of luck to you on that!!! I will watch for you but i can only recognize your run from behind since that is what I mostly saw. ;o)

From allie on Mon, Aug 27, 2012 at 18:12:41 from 174.23.155.117

nice race, mikal. and congrats on the award for your mustang.

best of luck with the 100 in a few weeks.

From Mikal Epperson on Mon, Aug 27, 2012 at 20:34:25 from 67.169.243.100

Thanks Allie! I wish the best to you at TOU next month and hitting 2:50!

Race: wasatch 100 (100 Miles) 34:41:26, Place overall: 187

In preparation for the event, I poured over pictures of runners from previous years.  I paid close attention as to what clothing to wear, and at what times and stages of the race.  I knew it would be critical to pack my drop bags appropriately for all I would need given the changing conditions throughout the time spent on trails.  During the day I would need warm weather clothing, and at night the temperature would drop, necessitating the need to add layers.   I spent a good couple of weeks making sure I wouldn’t over look anything.  I knew the smallest detail beforehand could become a real headache on the course.  Melissa went to work on sewing me up drop bags. They were all made with the same material, so they’d be easy to spot at the aid stations.  I rounded up all the needed items, such as Body Glide, bandanas, sunscreen, headlamps, socks, gloves, hats, S-caps rationed out, food, wet wipes, etc, etc.

Race morning, I awoke at 2:45 a.m. and I made all my final preparations to catch the bus in downtown Salt Lake City at 4:00 a.m.  I ate a light bowl of oatmeal, half a banana and drank a bottle of Ensure.  I hoped I consumed enough calories to get me going, yet had some concern if they were the right calories, and if my stomach would be retaliating in the hours to come.  Melissa arose to accompany me to the bus, and to drive our SUV back home rather than having to fetch it after the race.  We finally left home around 3:20, and made it to 700 S. & Main St. with minutes to spare.

After bidding me well, Melissa watched as I boarded the second of the two waiting busses. I sat down and was quickly joined by a runner from Seattle, WA.  This would be his second 100.  He had flown in alone as his wife was in Europe on a business trip and couldn’t join him.  He was however; looking forward to having his sister join him as a pacer somewhere along the way. We talked the whole ride to Kaysville about our race histories and of our strategy for the event ahead.  It really helped pass the time and kept my nerves in check as I didn’t sit with worried anticipation of the miles and hours to come.

The bus dropped us off, and we walked a short distance up a hill and around a bend to the start line.  I took a quick trip to the pop’s, and had to hurry as count-down had begun.  Or did I really need to hurry?  This was a 100 miler after all, so a minute or two delay at the start was quite miniscule!  Anyways; I managed to leap up to the group as the start was called.  It was now 5:00 a.m., and we slowly made our way on a congested, narrow trail. 

            The runners started to disperse, and I found myself in a brisk walk.  It didn’t last long however, as we had to make a turn onto the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.  From there, we would coast along the mountainside and then make an ascent for several miles.  A treacherous section near the top has been assigned the name “Chinscraper.”  I cannot think of anything more appropriate, as it had me quite nervous of losing my grip or footing.  I’d hate to imagine a fall from that point of the course.  It would not have a pleasant outcome!  I found relief upon tackling that climb, made my way along a not so cumbersome ridge to a service road for a communication tower.  The race’s first aid station was at mile 13.35, named Grobben’s Corner, after the race director, John Grobben.  He was there in support with a water pitcher in hand to top off runner’s bottles and bladder packs.  It was the most basic of aid stations. There were some freshly baked chocolate chip cookies which were a real treat at this point, and gave me a quick dose of energy.

The service road passing by “Grobben’s Corner” continued on in a mostly downward slope until reaching the Francis Peak Aid Station, at mile 18.76.  I was able to put in some of my quickest miles in that stretch.  I suppose the combination of a decline and relatively fresh legs (in the scope of a 100 overall miles) allowed me to coast a good clip.   It was also in this section I finally turned on my Ipod and kind of zoned out.  Little would I have known that I would listen to no more than 3 hours of music during the entire race!

Francis Peak was the first of six drop bag aid stations.  I quickly spotted mine, made from the hands of my wife.  I swapped out my socks, put on a new hat, and soaked a bandana to place around my neck to keep me cool as the sun warmed the day.   Although tempting; I avoided ingesting solid foods, as I had discovered early on that they felt like a brick in my stomach.  I had resorted to water, electrolyte drinks, S-Caps, energy gels and bottles of Ensure as my primary sources of sustenance.  I worried about having digestive issues and time sidelined calming my stomach.   Hydration and nutrition really seem to be an individual thing to refine.  I felt fortunate that it didn’t take long for my body to let me know what would work and what would cause me problems.   No time was wasted in the remainder of the race experimenting with fuels and liquids.

After Francis Peak, my next stop would be the Bountiful B Aid Station.  A strategy I began at this point was to just focus on making it to the next aid station, where I could get a mental and short physical reprieve.  Sometimes that’s all it takes, is having something to look forward to as one chews up small pieces of the whole.  My pacing fell in line with that of a woman named Marilyn.  She told me of her previous attempt to take on the Wasatch beast, which led her to a dnf.  This time would be quite different.  She told herself and her crew/pacers she would finish no matter what, barring a complete disaster along the way.  I think it had made her tougher and wiser this time out.  It really made these miles fly as we exchanged stories and personal backgrounds.  I also found comic relief in her naming of some hills we were conquering, called the “four bastards and three bitches!”

I topped off my waist pack bottles, as I would in all aid stations, downed a small piece of water melon, and headed on out to the next aid station, Sessions.  This was a fairly short stretch, at just over 4 miles, and was over before I knew it.  A friend of mine that I hike with on Saturday mornings was helping to man this aid station.  It was good to see a familiar face and to receive encouragement that I still appeared fresh to the trails. 

From the Sessions Aid Station to Swallow Rocks Aid Station, it started getting a little warm as it was reaching midday.  I just coasted along and played leap frog with an individual named Chihping Fu, who was snapping tons of photos along the way.  He was originally from Taiwan but had moved to California and now holds the title of a software engineer.   Another runner, named Alisha from Jackson Hole Wyoming was also keeping in close proximity.  She once asked me what to do if encountering a rattle snake.  I suppose a chance meeting with one could have happened, as I’ve heard they will sun themselves on the trails when the sun’s at its peak.  I just told her to keep moving, as stopping suddenly would probably increase the chances of being bitten.  This was something I really didn’t want to put to the test!  Another runner I chatted with was from Missouri and had decided to dnf upon reaching Big Mountain.  He moved from Salt Lake earlier this summer and felt a lack of training and mental stamina were working against him.  He had 3 successful Wasatch finishes in his repertoire, but just didn’t feel a desire to see this year through.  I suppose the mental aspect of completing the race is paramount as you must have deep reserves to dig into when the going gets tough.  I couldn’t fault him for calling it a day, and passing it on to another year.    

At Swallow Rocks, I grabbed a grape popsicle and took a seat to clear out some debris that had gathered in my shoes.  Before the race I had considered getting myself some gaiters to go over my shoes so I’d avoid this problem.  I ultimately passed on getting any as I figured they would be one more thing to pack around and fuss with.  Was this a mistake?  I’d say after all was said and done that they may have helped out, but I faired fine without them.  I had a change of socks waiting for me at each of the drop bag stations, which worked out fine.  Once my shoes were cleared out, I was back on the trail, and I had less than five miles to go until Big Mountain.  This was a mental boost of sorts as I knew I would have pacers to break up the monotony of the final 60 miles.

One thing in reflection of running Wasatch is I can honestly say that a dnf never crossed my mind or became an option.  I hit the start line fully intent on seeing the full distance through.  I knew it wouldn’t be easy, by any means, but felt I had a goal to meet.  I also felt that it was a true privilege to have my name on the roster as an official runner.  I attended the lottery drawing back in February in prospect to gain entrance.  From the moment my name was drawn, I knew I also had a duty to all the names which were not drawn and would have been delighted if they had been.

Upon reaching the Big Mountain Aid Station, I was greeted by Melissa, my mom, and my first pacer, Stefan Wells.  I apologized to them as I was a couple hours later than I had projected. I had estimated arriving around 2:00 p.m., however the reality was 4:18 p.m.  They were very understanding, and we all knew I really had nothing concrete to gauge my arrival time on since it was my first time running the race.  After a quick greeting, I headed over to get checked in and weighed.  I came in around 3 pounds under my starting weight.  That was a relief, as I had been concerned of not keeping adequate hydration.  I felt great, and thought I had kept on top of my fueling and electrolytes as well.  I did get a lecture from a woman at the aid station table, stating that I really needed to keep a better watch on my fluids.  That really surprised me. 

With this being the second drop bag aid station, I took advantage of a change of socks, some duct tape on hot spots on my feet, and some Body Glide in areas of my nether regions!   I was offered many tasty foods that my mother had made and packed up the mountain, but had to pass.  I worried of stomach troubles in the miles to come, and resigned myself to another bottle of Ensure.  After 21 minutes of greetings, gear changes, and topping off my fuel reserves, Stefan and I hit the trails. 

It was really refreshing to have a great friend of mine with me on the journey.  He offered tons of encouragement in the miles from Big Mountain to Lambs Canyon, a stretch of 13.73 miles, and 4 hours.  I was able to shift my mind from what my body was doing and the time seemed to fly by.  He also helped me out of a bind when I managed to consume all the contents of my water bottles.  We only had about a mile to the Alexander Springs aid station, yet it felt considerably longer with no fluids.  I was quite relieved when I saw the aid station volunteers, which were ladies in their nightgowns and curlers in their hair.  It made for a good laugh, and with a renewed hydration belt; we were back on our way.

Shortly before the Lambs Canyon aid station, the sun had set and I was now running in the second time of darkness since the race had began.  Fortunately; I had packed a headlamp in my Big Mountain drop bag and also retained a handheld LED light since the start.  They were a necessity as Stefan and I made our way through some windy, tricky trails with narrow paths and swamplands.

I had enjoyed my time with Stefan, yet it was also nice to see a major aid station, my crew and next pacer, and having the knowledge that my race was now more than half completed.  I hurried up to the scale, and saw that I was down another 3-4 pounds from starting weight, for a total of around 6 pounds lost.  This concerned me slightly, but a race official assured me that they had seen others with a more than 10 pound loss.  With the night drawing in, I made the most significant of my race gear changes at Lambs Canyon aid station.  I slipped on some running pants, a long sleeve shirt, a windbreaker jacket, a beanie, gloves, duct tape on the feet and some fresh socks.  It was at this time I could really see how races are won and lost at the transition zones, namely in triathalons!  I went through mental checklists several times to avoid heading into the night unprepared.   If I hadn’t been so prepared; I didn’t need to worry as I was in good hands with my crew and new pacer, Larry Scott.  They asked me ‘do you have this?...Do you have that?...Can I help you with?...’And so on and so on.  A fortunate thing for me was that Larry has paced a good friend of his over a dozen times, all with successful finishes at the Wasatch 100.  He has a thorough understanding of runner’s needs and what it takes to see the tough times through.  His insight and wisdom were invaluable, and greatly appreciated.  I tried to make the most of the 22.48 miles and 7 hours and 37 minutes with him.

The stretch from Lambs Canyon to Brighton is mostly on single path mountain trails where runners make their way in several ascents and descents through the trees and past a couple lakes.  Our sights were strictly by headlamps, so we were limited to our viewing of the beauty around us.  We made some great conversation through a bulk of the night and also found ourselves bunched up with several other runners on the trails.  It never ceased to amaze me that Larry knew a lot of the other participants from previous years, and quickly spoke of prior trail adventures.  Through one of Larry’s conversations, it evolved to the topic of chafing in an ultra, which is something I longed to get taken care of.  I really didn’t want to wait until Brighton, but was prepared to do so.  Fortunately enough for me though, this runner had some ointment in his pack, and after a brief stop, I had the issue addressed.

As the night wore on, so did the wear and tear on my toes and forefeet.  I had changes of socks in all my drop bags, along with duct tape and Body Glide in an attempt to stall the affects.  The friction of making numerous ascents and descents had really taken its toll.  By the Upper Big Water Aid Station in Millcreek Canyon, at mile 61.68 miles, I knew the hotspots I had been feeling were to evolve into some not so pretty blisters.  I have been told, in a sarcastic form, that trashed feet are a rite of passage in to the world of trail running and furthermore, ultra running.  I suppose I had paid my dues!  They are also one of those things that’ll nag at you if you choose them as your focus, so you have to put them out of your mind and turn off the discomfort.

Larry and I arrived at the Upper Big Water aid station at two minutes to midnight.  He pointed me over to an unoccupied pop up chair and told me to address whatever I needed to from there and he would grab me some hot ramen soup, bananas, and Vaseline for my feet.  I was readily attended to by several volunteers. They were top notch and extremely friendly.   I passed my water bottles for topping off as I removed my shoes and socks.  I used some wet wipes to expose my filthy feet from miles of trail dirt.    Larry handed me what he’d gathered up, and I made the physical and mental preparations for a return to the trails.  Some runners lay on cots behind me underneath a pop up canopy with propane heaters and blankets keeping them warm.   I overheard a couple runners saying this was the end of their journey.   I still felt really fresh and was happy to announce “51 heading out.”

From Millcreek to the Desolation Lake aid station, we passed through the pines and a slightly smaller lake named Dog Lake.  It really isn’t a lake per se, but a mere pond.  I caught a faint view of the water as illuminated by the headlamps and starry sky.  I handed my bottles to Larry to be topped off at Desolation Lake, and he instructed me to continue, as he would just catch up.  We continued on an ascent to an area named Red Lover’s Ridge, where we could see the lights of the Canyons Ski & recreation resort down below.  The trail joined up with a gravel service road shortly thereafter.  It was along this road we came upon our next aid station, named Scott’s transmission Tower.  I grabbed a couple packets of GU Rocktaine gels, and proceeded onward.  In the remaining miles to Brighton, I began to struggle with the discomfort in my feet brought on by burning blisters.  I shifted my focus in making good time so I’d have a buffer from Brighton to the finish line.  I knew this would be a relatively long aid station stop, and any time put in the bank on the trails would be to my advantage.
Brighton is aptly named “The Morgue.”  After 75.61 miles and many hours on the trails, many runners are found in a state of distress and several choose to bail from the race altogether.  It is a trap to find comfort inside the lodge and to linger there for too long.  This is where I had my longest stop, at almost an hour.  It is highly recommended with this and all aid stations, to take care of only the essentials and get back out to the trails.  I had my feet to attend to once again, as well as a thorough application of Body Glide and anti chafing ointments.  I was really starting to feel delirious, had a bout of tunnel vision, and general fatigue was setting in.  My arrival time there at 4:45 a.m. meant that my race so far, was approaching 24 hours.  A cup of chicken noodle soup and half a banana were placed in front of me, yet I was only able to consume a small portion.  I was still apprehensive to take chances leading to stomach distress.  The best thing I consumed at that time was a cup of Coke.  It really surprised me how much of a jolt that gave me and helped me get back on my feet.  Melissa and my mother were of great moral support and were willing to take care of anything I needed within their control.  They packed up a duffel bag with an excess of potentially needed supplies and an ice cooler packed with cold drinks and several food items.

It was at this time I bid farewell to Larry, my incredible nighttime pacer.  I gave Melissa and my mother a goodbye hug and we all knew the next time we’d see each other would be at the finish line in Midway.  It was now my friend Carl McGavin’s turn to pull me through the early morning, into the afternoon hours and across the finish line.  We headed upwards on the trail and towards Sunset Peak, which is known as Point Supreme, the highest place of elevation in the entire race. 

After a short distance out on the trail with Carl, just past Brighton, he could see I was stiffening up.  It was probably a combination of the miles and hours into the race.  It could have been that I spent too much time at the lodge and needed to get moving.  As a mask to this, he offered me some ibuprofen.  I indulged his offer, and would do so once more before the finish.   My greatest asset at this time was just putting one foot in front of the other.  I have read that just the act of moving forward and seeing progress can help a runner work through the difficult times.

Just before reaching Point Supreme, we began to see daylight.  It was now my second sunrise of the race, and it was nice to turn off the headlamps.  We soon passed by Lakes Mary, Martha and Catherine.  In my opinion, that is a visually stimulating section of the course.  I felt rejuvenated and ready to tackle the miles ahead.  Carl was quipping up his usual quick whits and sarcasm, which shifted my gears mentally.   He has a very raw nature, and a no nonsense approach.  I suppose the all-business attitude in seeing the final miles through was what I needed.

The next aid station from Brighton was Ant Knolls at mile 80.27.  I took a quick topping off of my water bottle and an electrolyte ‘brew’ in my other bottle.  From there, we tackled a short yet taxing stretch named ‘The Grunt.’ It was a fairly intense incline of single track, and we had Chihping Fu at our heels.  It was the first time I had seen him since the previous afternoon.  I could tell he was putting some effort into the climb as noted in the sound of his respiration.  At the top of The Grunt, he passed us by and was not to be seen the rest of the race.

We made our way through many rises and falls of single track and into our next aid station and the final drop bag point, Pole Line Pass, mile 83.39.  I was slightly annoyed in our trek to this point in the course as the serenity of our morning was disturbed with the sounds of revving dirt bike engines.  The sounds would be heard until just beyond our next aid station at Rock Springs, mile 87.39.   The day was starting to warm up, as it was now around 9 a.m. and it was a great time to shed my night time clothing.  I slipped off my long sleeve shirt, wind breaker jacket, gloves, and running pants.  I drank down a bottle of Ensure and packed one in my waist pack. My feet were feeling fine, so I opted to just shake accumulated dirt out, but didn’t change my socks.  One mistake I had made was leaving my hats in prior drop bags.  I was left with the beanie I had used through the night.  I figured it would suffice in keeping my head cool so long as I kept it wet.

At Rock Springs, I topped off my water and made an effort to pass through quickly.  There was a trough being supplied with fresh water from an aquifer.  Around this trough and under the shade canopy, swarms of bees proved a nuisance.  I didn’t want to take the chance of being stung, as I have swelled up in the past.  I’m not fond of feeling like a pin cushion!  Shortly after leaving Rock Springs, Carl and I took on a couple technical areas of the course known as ‘The Dive’ and ‘The Plunge.’  They are areas of rapid decent on loose rocks and powder-like dirt.  We took no chances in making good time through those sections.  My preference was to get them over with unscathed. And that we did.

The final aid station of the course is at mile 93.13, named Pot Bottom.  I spent only three minutes there topping off my bottles.  I was starting to feel an urgency to put the final miles behind us.  I had a good feeling I would make the 36 hour cut-off time at the finish line, but wanted as much of a cushion as could be had.  We had a slight climb out of Pot Bottom, a stream crossing, and some more climbing along a dirt road.  The climbing was fine on my legs, but when we started some descents, I began to feel a real problem with my left IT band.  I had lost all my downhill speed.  It felt like a crawl and I wished for once there were hills to climb!  There was one final hill, but it was short lived.  Our final mile or so of trail felt like an eternity as we slowly dropped down to the Wasatch Mountain Golf Course.  I didn’t expect all the switchbacks, and to complicate things further, I had run out of water for the second time in the race.  Carl was very accommodating in letting me finish off his supply.  What a great pacer!  

The final stretch of course is on asphalt, and is just under three quarters of a mile.  With fresh legs, this would have taken maybe 4-5 minutes.  On 99+ mile legs, a runner is not a runner, but a hobbler!  I spotted my dad coming my way along the roadside.  I hadn’t expected to see him as I knew his work schedule had its quirks and meant he wouldn’t be there.  Fortunately though, I was finishing after his shift had ended and allowed him travel time as well.   He joined Carl and I and followed us towards the finish.  My mom had an ice cold bottle of Gatoraide in her hand and passed it off to me as I went by.  That was very refreshing.  I came upon the finish on the lawn of the Homestead and was surprised by the loud cheers coming from such a small crowd.  That was a good feeling.  My final time was 34:41:26.   I had finished with 1:18:34 to spare!  I must have been slightly out of my mind as I crossed the finish line, because Melissa was standing there in wait to see me.  I completely overlooked her and passed on by.  I felt badly for this once I knew what had happened.  She has always been my pillar of support and it could not have been possible without her.

The entire experience for me was fulfilling, and went beyond my expectations.  I feel truly grateful for the journey and all that helped me see it through.  My wife (Melissa), my mother (Joyce) my father, (Miles) my three pacers, Stefan Wells, Larry Scott, and Carl McGavin are of whom I feel deeply indebted to.  I had followers cheering me on through Facebook and the Wasatch 100 website as the race progressed.  That was truly flattering.

Comments
From allie on Sun, Oct 07, 2012 at 15:26:58 from 97.117.85.43

wow, what a tale! so cool and such a huge accomplishment. congratulations.

Race: St. George Marathon (26.2 Miles) 03:02:12, Place overall: 176, Place in age division: 22

I ran this race to have fun and to try for living in the moment.  I tried to avoid getting caught up in worrying about what my finishing time would be.  This was quite liberating, and I should do this more often!  Sure; I did wear a sub-3 hour pacing band to give me splits to shoot for, but the goal was VERY loose.  My marathon training has been very unsubstantial, and I knew this.  I ran the Wasatch 100 last month, and therefore my focus on recovering from that event and transitioning back to road running was a mental shift.  Hitting the trails and pounding the pavement are two entirely different animals for sure!

I headed out from the start feeling relaxed and worked on finding a comfortable stride.   I struck up a conversation with Bill Hiatt who was shooting for a 3:05 finish.  I’ve become acquainted and run with him over the last few years in other marathons as he usually runs a comparable pace to mine.  He said he wanted to hang with me and we’d see how things would play out.  That only lasted until Veyo at mile 7 when nature came calling to me, and he forged ahead.  Oh well.   This is an individual sport anyways, isn’t it?  He went on to finish in 3:04:56, so he certainly met his goal with the blink of an eye to spare!

I continued to feel decent and hit my splits through mile 22.  I can’t say I “hit the wall,” but I definitely felt my legs tightening up and therefore my pace began to taper off.   I enjoyed the cheers and support of spectators upon crossing Snow Canyon Parkway around mile 23.  Many times at that point in a race I have a tunnel vision of sorts and kind of take the people for granted.  It was uplifting to look around and see the excitement conveyed to the runners at the tail end of their journey.

After hitting the finish line and taking a little time to shake out the lactic acid in my legs, I headed to the sidelines with my wife and her cousin.  We watched other runners finish for about the next hour and a half.  It was a neat experience as a spectator, which isn’t something I do very often.  I usually just feel the need to take a shower and a good nap!    

The feeling of running just for the sake of running made for an all around enjoyable experience.  I’m too often caught up in playing out how the race should go for me and then being critical of where I placed and the time on the clock at the finish line.  This is not to say that I don’t have goals for the future, however.  It was a moment to reap the reward of viewing the scenery on my own two legs with thousands of other passionate runners.

Comments
From Kelli on Mon, Oct 08, 2012 at 16:31:45 from 67.172.235.55

Nice job white shirt guy! Very impressive after a 100 mile race especially!

From Mikal Epperson on Mon, Oct 08, 2012 at 21:06:22 from 67.169.243.100

Hey Kelli, Thanks! Funny you mention the white shirt; that's exactly what I wore again! I guess it's become my trademark!

From Kelli on Tue, Oct 09, 2012 at 06:50:03 from 67.172.235.55

I think I saw you again, but I was not sure!

Race: SOJO Marathon (26.2 Miles) 03:15:57, Place overall: 11, Place in age division: 2

I ran this race last year and received a complimentary entry this year, so hitting the starting line was an easy decision.  This race has a nice niche as they give out entries to the top three finishers in every age division.  I appreciate events that give back to the participants.

The race organizers assign bus times on runner’s bibs in an attempt to avoid a rush on the last busses.  I was given a time of 6:30, which was quite nice.  I am used accustomed to much earlier times than that, so it meant more sleep!  It also meant less time waiting at the start line.

I had a loose time goal of around 3:15 or better.  My main objective however, was to run on feel and see what the day would bring.  I started out the race with a couple friends, Layne Koldewyn and Juan Caballero.  I have run with both of them in multiple events through the past few years.  Layne is in a line of work where our paths cross in the furniture industry.  Juan is a regular participant in many of the local marathons, and he has run a comparable pace to mine on a consistent basis.

The first 5 miles flew by for me.  It’s funny how engaging in conversation can do that.  Layne planned to meet another friend at the half, and from there they would both run with crash test dummy costumes on from head to toe.  I was excited to see them at the finish.  What goofs!  By mile 6 I was running on my own as I was in the thick of the course’s most challenging climb.  It takes place as the road makes its way to the base of the Bingham Copper Mine.  I was really glad to have that over with and to proceed in a more comfortable stride.  From that point on, the course follows a mostly downhill trend.  I put in a much better pace in miles to come.

Just before mile 12, I started to pass a runner that had been in my sights for a short time.  It was to my surprise when he asked: “You’re Mike Epperson, aren’t you?”  How did he know me?  Well; it turned out that he ran the Grand Slam last year and had competed against me for the top three of our age group standings.  We swapped stories for the next couple miles, and Juan briefly joined us.   I was feeling good and although I knew a pr was not for this race or day, I just pushed for an even effort.

I felt fairly solitary from mile 15 to the finish.  There were occasional runners I was fortunate enough to pass, most of which were doing the half.  I guess it feels good to pass someone nevertheless.   The course makes a few turns here and there, which feel like more than there may be in reality.  I don’t generally appreciate turns in a race, but it did mix things up and it gave us some occasional tailwinds.  By mile 18 I started to feel some fatigue and general lack in pushing the pace.  Once that feeling begins to take hold, you do what you can with what’s left in the tanking reserves.

Around mile 21 I was beginning to have some side stitches.  I can’t say I’ve had them frequently before, but I knew I needed to relax my core muscles and focus on deeper abdominal breathing.  I passed through the aid station and allowed myself to walk for a short time, maybe 15 seconds.  In doing this, I adjusted my stance and worked on ‘getting to the core of the problem.’  It certainly helped, and although I was losing energy, I had one less factor to inhibit my pace.

The final 5 or so miles seemed to last much longer than I’d hoped for.  I find it within myself that a slowing pace also means the distance and time stands still.  It’s like a child in a car on vacation asking: “Are we there yet?”  My mental dialogue was put in gear and phrases came out such as: “Damn it, don’t be a wimp!” “Dig deeper!” “These miles won’t last forever!” and so on.   

The finish was a welcome sight.  I reconnected with Melissa and laid down on the grass in a shaded area with my legs propped up.   It felt good to be done.  Juan came through shortly afterwards and was in good spirits. We then milled about and saw Layne and his friend in their costumes.  They were an instant hit and posed for photos.  I don’t know how they were able to breathe with the material over their faces, and how they didn’t overheat.  Josse came over and introduced herself.  I have seen her name frequently on the blog and in race results.  It was flattering to be recognized in field of runners.   Little did I know at that time; she was the third overall woman in the race.   That is a performance to be proud of. 

Juan and I were both fortunate to take 2nd place for our age groups, and therefore we received nice medals and free entry into next year’s race.  A friend of mine I run with on Tuesday mornings, Dr. Mike Killpac, ran the half and placed third in his age group.  I doubt he’ll pass on a free entry for next year! 

Now I need to figure out what’s next as the marathon season is coming to a close…

Comments
From TBean on Sat, Oct 20, 2012 at 19:23:07 from 97.117.81.213

Nice race. Maybe I'll have to try the marathon with my free entrance next year. This is the third time I've run this race and so I only had to pay for the first race, the last two years have been free. Gotta love that.

From josse on Sat, Oct 20, 2012 at 19:41:46 from 70.196.198.254

Great job on the race, I ran it to cause I won a free entry. It was nice to meet you.

From Andrea on Tue, Oct 23, 2012 at 11:09:35 from 72.37.244.100

Nice race! It's a good idea for them to give out free entries..keeps you coming back! Great job.

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