But, first, a song I love and is always on my playlists. Imagine the main beat as you are cresting a hill and the valley opens infront of you. You're welcome.
Take it all back
I have done a couple of half marathon vacation races in the past-Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park. So, last summer I wanted to cross off Zion National Park off my list. It's a place that I have always wanted to go and plus, I get a medal-what is better than that? My friend Diedra said she would partake in my craziness, as she often does and we decided to make it a girl's trip!
My colleague Jenny told me that Zion has this great energy and she was not wrong. I could feel it once we started to drive closer. Diedra and I met in Bozeman, since it has half way for us, then we headed down the next morning. Anyone who knows me, knows I love a good road trip with Red Bull and a cool destination. Our plan was to alternate every two hours of driving.We stopped on the way there in Farmington, Utah for a couple reasons. 1. There was a lululemon store and 2. even though I knew my IG friend Kenzi wasn't in town, it was cool to go there and see her picture (she is an ambassador, badass trail runner and a sarcastic human-all the things I love.) I grabbed a quick pic and a new skirt and we hit the road again!
Once we checked in, I went for a little shake out run. This also gives me a chance to explore. And the best part of this hotel is that it's snuggled up to a little neighborhood that has horses, goats, llamas and donkeys. That alone was a amazing. Then I came back and we headed down to the pool/hot tub to chill out. And I made new friends. I love making new friends. I met a couple who gave us tips on what hikes to do (this is when I learned Diedra is afraid of heights...noted). Then I met another couple that was there hiking from Victoria, B.C. I told them I was going to race there in June for IM 70.3. Then Diedra and I went in an watched free cable.
The next morning we got up, got our eggs and headed to the expo! We checked in and grabbed some goodies. These expos are smaller in nature, which is nice because it's low key and not a frenzy. I also love these races because you have to carry your own liquid, they don't do cups to dump on the ground. I love that!
Then we went inside the park to explore. Zion is smaller than our Montana National Parks, but the energy and scenery are just as equally amazing. We took pictures and explored then headed into town for lunch. We also moved hotels, so we needed to unpack and get ready for the race morning. Then we ventured out for dinner and then you guessed it, back to the room for free cable.
Race day! They changed the course this year due to construction, as I believe this course is partly on trails and then partly on road. This year it was all on trail, like soft clay colored powdered trail. In a two loop pattern through a prairie, that included cows. We headed out early and climbed to the parking. Got situated, headed to the start, used the bathrooms (I always have to pee, multiple times and never enough before the race starts usually...). We took pictures and got in our wave to start and as luck would have it, the two ladies ahead of us were from Montana as well and we talked about the Run to the Pub. Then we were off. Diedra and I don't run together-she is faster. But, we always meet at the end. It was a good and hard race. With the hills and elevation, I wonder why I do these things, oh yeah, a banana and a medal...oh that pushing yourself to do and see new things..... Around mile 8 again my stomach felt odd (this had been happening on training runs, later I would learn I need to mix my nutrition in a bigger bottle then pour in a smaller hand held bottle so it's not so concentrated). On the second loop I did stop to pee. See. And on the last stretch a cow ran in front of us which was a nice distraction from the big freaking sharp hill coming at us. I mean they had people there helping you up it. Because it was high and sharp and at mile 12. When your legs just hate their human. But, I finished and was dirty, but happy. We both did great. Not my fastest, but well earned.
Garmin stats!
We headed back to the room to shower the dirty clay off us and then we grabbed our medals and headed out to go explore the park and maybe do an easy hike and take cool pics with our medals, as one does. We did a nice little hike to the Emerald Pools. My legs were a little shot but it felt good to stretch them out. On the bus back we met new friends again! We ended up having dinner with them at the Zion Brewery. They were from the south and were super fun! It was nice to have a beer and food with them and just shows that runners are the funnest people and the nicest. We then got a ride to our car and then Deidra and I went back to our room, to unwind and you guessed it, watch free cable.
The next morning, we headed to the park to see if we could do a couple more hikes. I naively thought we could do the first little bit of Angel's Landing and then go do The Narrows. I was wrong. The guy at the gear shop said you really should do one for the day. And since walking in the water in The Narrows was another of my bucket list items and Diedra wanted to do that too, plus she wasn't a fan of heights, it seemed like a no brainer. The day before our new friends told us to get the gear, it's worth it. Mainly because you get special boots that have grippers on the bottom and waders because in parts the water can be high. Oh and a big ass walking stick, like Gandalf. We suited up, which was a process itself. Then lined up for the bus to catch to take us there. We walked down the path to the water.
It was everything I thought it would be. I love water so hiking in water through beautiful scenery was amazing. We climbed over rocks and at one point the water was to our chest. It was serene. I took one picture where I am looking up and I captioned it "Make sure you do things that make you feel small, yet mighty." And I actually was reached out to by a couple photography people on it. But, it's true. I created this bucket list movement along with You Do You because it's important to explore places and do your thing while experiencing it. Find things that take your breath away. That make you feel small, yet mighty.
We hiked in about 3 miles in and then laid on a big boulder and ate lunch and just breathed it in. Then we hiked through the water back and just kept looking up in awe of being in such a beautiful place. I am glad I experienced this with a good friend. And I am glad we had the shoes and waders so we weren't getting wet and slipping around the place. Plus, it was fun using the stick and saying "You shall not pass."
Thank you Zion for giving me an incredible adventure and I will definitely be back for more!
Until next time, remember to #exploremore and as always, you do you.
If you want to check out more photos from 6 months ago or more recent adventures, check out my IG
@irish_tri_runner
Cheers!
