Goblin Valley 50k Ultra Race Report

Running in the Goblin Valley Ultra Marathon was unquestionably one of the greatest, most exciting days of my life! How could I not have a great day while running with so many of my family members?! Here is the scoop of who I ran the race with and why they are so awesome:

Dad: He is still recovering from a quadruple bypass surgery (end of 2008). This is his is 'come back' ultra.

Scott (brother): He could have been one of the top finishers this day, but he stayed with us so that we could run together as a family and ended up pacing/coaching/helping my dad be able to finish the race.

Sadie the Ultra Dog (Scott's): Yes, Sadie completed the entire race. She is truly an amazing dog.

Adam (brother): Not only was this his first ultra marathon....this was also his first marathon! We had a little celebration for him when we hit the 26.2 mile mark.

Jen (sister-in-law): Remember Adam and Jen's car accident a year ago? I'm choking up a little right now thinking that this all could have turned out so differently. Love ya Jen! Also, Jen had a VERY bad cold and still ran. Also, Jen hurt her foot during the second half of the race and still finished!

Lisa (sister): Lisa didn't have quite the training that she had hoped for due to some injuries and ran on a hurt knee this day. And still finished.

Me: Going into this race we all decided that we would stick together and go as fast or as slow as needed. My secret goal was to not be the one that everybody was slowing down for. And guess what, I had the most amazing fluke of a day. Not only was I not going very slow, I had so much energy and could have just kept going and going. I felt like the energizer bunny. I'm pretty sure I could have run the whole thing again right after. Weird, right?! It was awesome!

Travis and Annie (brother-in-law; friend): They ran the 10k! And they did amazing! You guys rock!

Megan and Janie (sister; step-mom): Our crew. You two are so awesome! Thank you for coming to watch and wait for us!

That's the short version of why they are all so awesome. If you want the long version just give me a call. :)

Okay, now on to the pictures!

We all met at my dad and Janie's house in South Jordan. Then on Friday, the day before the race, we headed down to Green River for the pre-race dinner and to sleep. We all split up into two cars. Travis, Lisa, and I were with Dad and Janie. Adam, Jen, Megan, Annie, and Sadie were with Scott in his car.

We got a little stir crazy on the way down.

Pre-race dinner. Getting really excited! Scott, me, Adam, and Megan.

Travis, Dad, Jen, Lisa, Annie.

Scott, Janie, me.

This is in the hotel room. I had everything ready to go for the next morning! Notice the card at the front of everything. When I got to my dad's house and opened my suitcase I saw this laying on top of my stuff. Mike snuck it in there before I got on my plane! Isn't he so awesome?!

On Saturday morning we all got up and drove about an hour to Goblin Valley. Group shot before the race!

The three 50k girls! Jen, me, and Lisa.

All of the 50k newbies! Jen, me, Lisa, and Adam.

It was weird. I didn't have any nerves before the race. I was just so excited. And really cold! Dad, Lisa, me, and Travis.

On your mark, get set (we were in the very back, you can't see us here)....

Go!!!

Yay! Having fun!

Part of the trail was pretty wet and muddy.

Official picture from the Goblin Valley Ultra Marathon website! Cool, right?! I bet they don't even know that we're all family!

That's Dad and me down there.

Oh dear. We saw this a few miles in... (that's me and Dad)

Fuel station! My very favorite thing about these fuel stations were the Girl Scout cookies! Yummmmmm!

Jen, me, Lisa.

Lisa, me, and Jen hopping through the mud.

Lisa, me, and Jen at the top of a BIG hill.

Group shot right after the turn around!

There was a time limit of 9 hours to finish this race. We were all chilling and having a great time hanging out while slowly moving forward. At about the half way mark my dad was starting to get pretty tired and began to worry that he wouldn't make it to the finish line in the time allowed. He wanted to make sure those of us who were running our first ultra were able to finish in time, so he told us to run ahead without him just incase. Scott and Sadie stayed with my dad to keep him company and to help encourage him during the long, lonely trails.

Jen, me, Lisa, and Adam going down into the Valley of the Goblins. This was right at the end of the race. We only had about a mile left!

Megan waiting for us to climb up out of the valley.

Our path was marked with pumpkins. I touched each of them. It made it more fun. :)

Here we come!

Wait for it....

"Nnnever give up! Nnnever surrender!". Yep, we said that and walked like the Thermians as we passed through the finish line.

Side note. During our training for the ultra, Lisa, Jen, and I started telling each other "Never give up! Never surrender!" as motivation. Then one day Lisa and Travis were watching the movie Galaxy Quest and they realized (and confirmed) that the scene where Jason fights the rock monster was filmed in Goblin Valley. Coincidence that we used a line from the movie as motivation?! Maybe. Maybe not?!

We did it!!!!! Our official finishing time was 7 hours 31 minutes 5 second.

Dad, Sadie, Scott, and what a view!

I love this! Dad is giving Adam a high five before he, Scott and Sadie head down into the Goblins! Guess what?! Dad, Scott, and Sadie came into view just about 30-45 minutes after the rest of us finished! They were doing so awesome!

Haha, Lisa pushing Dad up the hill. Now why wasn't I in the front for a push?! Incase you're confused, some of us went down into the valley to run it with Dad, Scott, and Sadie.

Scott jumping off a goblin. Yeah, we think he's awesome too....he did this near the END of running a 50k.

So Lisa and I decided to give it a try.

Scott, Dad, and Sadie (you can only see her leash) going through the finish line!

Janie and Dad

The whole gang after the race (minus Janie who was taking the picture). Jen, Adam, Scott, Annie, me, Lisa, Travis, Dad, and Megan.

Hanging out at the hotel after the race. I realize this is a most unflattering picture of me. But I had to share it because it was the BEST stretch I have ever had in my life!

Lisa and Travis! And Scott, Janie, and Dad!

The day after the race. On the drive back up to South Jordan. I didn't take my medal off until I got to the airport the next day. Well, I took it off to shower and sleep too. But it slept with it by my pillow.

Tired!

Look what I saw when I walked through the door at home! Mike is the BEST! Even though he couldn't go he still supported me 100%!

For Scott's race report, click here.

For Lisa's race report, click here.

For the official results, click here.