Melody Dowlearn's Staging Area

Vacation Races puts on a great race. This was my third time to race with them, and it was my first attempt at the 50 mile distance. I had run the 55k here in 2020. However the constant rain, the addition of the ten ladders in one mile and last 13 miles being mud and waterfalls due to flash flooding added a level of difficulty that wouldn’t normally have been there. We lost a lot of time waiting to descend the first ladder as there was a long line and people with a fear of heights were struggling to back down. And of course 13 miles of mud didn’t help. I was on track to finish in twelve hours and was hoping for possibly a 11.5 hour finish, but the last 25 miles were beyond anyone’s control. Antelope Canyon is the most beautiful place I have ever visited which is why I returned. Also the 50 mile course gives you access to beautiful slot canyons that you don’t get to experience in the 55k. It was the most challenging thing I’ve ever attempted from both a physical and mental standpoint, but I have no regrets. I will probably lose most of my toenails from the first 12 miles of sand and last 13 miles of mud, but hey I got the medal! The aid stations were amazing, I ate a lot of hot quesadillas!