Nicole Blair's Staging Area

Day 1 – Bryce Canyon: Beginning this race required taking the time to allow my body and breathing to adapt to the high altitude. Once I set into a rhythm, the fun really set in on the single track amongst the amazing views of vast forest followed by mind blowing hoodoos. The brutality came in the last few miles when climbing was the only option. Running was impossible for a while and you wondered if the end would come, but in some ways didn’t mind because of the magnitude of rock formations that surrounded you on every side. This was the hardest day, but so worth it.
Day 2 – Zion: This one was the most runner friendly of them all. The first 3 miles were downhill gravel and packed dirt. Then we set into more single track that consisted of dirt or slick rock. This one was not marked as well in my opinion and I had to question myself a few times, but managed to stay on course for the entire race. The views were spectacular!
Day 3 – Horseshoe Bend: When you reach Horseshoe Bend at the very beginning, the beauty and vastness stops you in your tracks. You just want to stand and stare. Climbing over the sandstone made for a fun challenging course, but nothing nice can be said of the sand. Running in the deep “beach-like” sand was not pleasant and was exhausting. Thank goodness for the views.

This race will challenge you, but man are the views worth it! Don’t skip this one! It’s worth the struggle! Starting out I had to get comfortable with the high altitude and adjust my breathing. Once I got into a rhythm, the fun really set it. Running single track, listening to other runners stories, and looking out across the horizon made for an unforgettable experience. The real struggle came after mile 9, but I wouldn’t trade it for something easier. The amazing walls of rock formation that surrounded you as you climbed, climbed, climbed were overwhelmingly beautiful. This may have been my most memorable race day of GCTrailfest.