The Wasatch Back is a 188 mile relay race consisting of 12 team members that run along the back of the Wasatch mountains (hence, the name..Wasatch Back) from Logan to Park City. It was last June that I got the idea of how much fun it would be to put together a team of runners from our neighborhood and go for it! Only one of us had ever done it before, so the rest of us were virgins to the whole experience. And what an experience it was! Holy cow! Basically our team started running at 7:30 AM Friday morning and didn't stop until 2:30 PM Saturday afternoon. I was runner #3. My first leg was around 9:30 AM and was 5.6 miles. My second leg, which I hated because it was so HOT, was around 5:30 PM for 5.3 miles. My final leg, which was my most difficult by far, was my favorite. It started at 6 AM and was for 8 miles up past Jordanelle Reservoir. It was absolutely beautiful, incredibly difficult, and overwhelmingly rewarding. I have never had such a high as I did when I finally made it to the top of that mountain. (Maybe it was all those caffeine-infused gel packs I consumed or maybe just sheer runner's high... You never know.) Instead of writing so much about it, I thought I would simply let the pictures tell the story. Make sure you check out the beautiful scenery behind all of us. It was amazing (when we remembered to look up from running.)
The team, minus Angie who was running.
Although Mike wasn't on the team this year,
he showed up to cheer me on, like he always does.
Not only is he my biggest fan, but my greatest supporter!
He's totally running with us next year.
My friend Jen who was also Runner #3 (same as me) but was on
a different team. She was on Team Beaver.
(Yes, Team Beaver.)
Angie was always my favorite person to see because it meant
that my run was OVER! =)
Our favorite place was the back of the truck,
which was basically our home for 32 hours.
I think Rachel and I spent most of our time here when not running.
Van #2: The other half of our team.
The beginning of my long run.
I had to wear night gear until the sun came up.
Don't ask. I was sleep deprived.
I couldn't believe how beautiful the entire landscape was.
Jaren and Natalie were in Van #1 with us. Loved these guys!
Jaren hates running. Can you tell? His philsophy was to
run fast and get it over with. Which is exactly what he did.
Lisa and some of the guys from Van #2.
Rachel and her victory cheer after her 8 mile
uphill run up East Canyon.
She totally rocked this run!
Yes, the caffeine gel packs kept me alive for this long run.
Rachel was my water boy.
Eventually Natalie decided to brush her teeth.
Good call, Natalie! (Jaren, her hubby, is a dentist)
This is where we "slept" for a few hours in the middle of the night.
We actually just lied there and stared at the ceiling and listened to Chad snore.
Notice the scenery. Go, Rachel!!!
Waiting at the finish line for Lisa, our last runner.
Getting ready for my victory herky jump.
The prep looked better than the actual jump. ;)
The complete team, Jupiter's Dozen,
at the finish line with our medals,
which double as bottle openers. =)
"The greatest pleasure in life is doing the things
people say we cannot do."
~Walter Bagehot
13 comments:
You are a sick woman!! I have a new respect for all of you that ran that race! It looks absolutely beautiful. I hope to be able to do that one day...Mike has to build us a house closer to the race! I call dibs on the stylish nightware!
Congrats!
You are "the Woman"! We also were headed to Park City...but in a CAR! We saw many runners, maybe one of them was actually you. Way to go!
I think that is so cool you guys should be so proud you will all have this to look back on and remember that you CAN do hard things! You are all my heros.
Jenny Horton
Mel- Congrats you awesome woman! Looks like a crazy, fun, exhusting experience.
You are amazing and what a fun team to run with. I love all of those ladies!!! I will be headed that way next week, on the 9th. Hopefully I'll get to see you.
So. Cool. :)
Congratulations! Melinda you are amazing! When I hear you and Joanna talk about running I wish I had that much energy to run with you...but I know that I'm just a walker and have to be content with that.We are very proud of you.
Totally awesome and you're right - the scenery was gorgeous. You're new hair cut is cute! Good job on the run, that must be a good feeling.
Mrs, Melinda (gotta start practicing) YOU RULE!!!!!
3 words. You guys ROCK!!!!
You already know I think you rock.
I love your pictures! And, I am really looking forward to being team mates for next year!!
FUN, FUN, FUN!! Loved all the awesome pictures. It gets me excited for next year. Way to go!
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