The Antelope Canyon Ultras is a stunningly beautiful early season race through the spectacular Arizona desert landscape. The Antelope Canyon region is one of the most photographed places in the country and a sacred region for the Navajo people. From the spectacular Horseshoe Bend to the mesmerizing Waterholes Canyon there is something uniquely breathtaking around every turn.
100 Mile Ultra
On this 100 mile course you will experience two of the most photographed land features in the country- Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend of the Colorado River. After traversing the desert sand and slickrock to reach these unbelievable features, the run finishes out with 6 laps on smooth single track around the plateau that the city of Page, AZ is built upon, with jaw-dropping views of Lake Powell.
Runners start with a 5 mile desert traverse on a sandy doubletrack with a little slickrock and a slot canyon mixed in.
Near mile 4, runners will drop into the first slot canyon of the day, at the bottom of which is Antelope Aid Station.
After the aid station you’ll enter a large, very sandy open wash, which you will follow south for about 3 miles to the entrance to the incomparable Upper Antelope Canyon. (This is one of the most photographed slot canyons in the world.)
Navajo guides may be posted along the route, as travel on tribal lands typically requires their presence in order to visit the sacred sites. After passing through the slot canyon, runners will climb over a sand dune and pass through another small slot canyon on the return (since the canyon isn’t wide enough for two way traffic.) You’ll return to the Antelope Aid station for the second time, then retrace your footsteps back towards the starting line for about 3.5 miles, where you’ll split off from the way you came and head west toward the Horseshoe Bend/Waterholes Canyon leg. Slickrock Aid will be about a mile into the desert after crossing S. Coppermine Rd. The trail to Slickrock Aid is very soft sand. You can expect sand for about the first 12 miles.
From there, runners will traverse another open desert for about 3 miles before reaching the famous Horseshoe Bend of the Colorado River. An aid station will be set up near the parking lot of this spectacular overlook (Horseshoe Bend Aid).
The next section weaves through slickrock along the rim of the Colorado River, in an area that few humans have traveled which offers views that are beyond words. This section can be very challenging to keep a steady pace due to the constant elevation changes, slickrock, and sand that you will be running through. It does however offer some amazing vantage points of the Colorado River. You might struggle to want to put your camera away.
After crossing back over Hwy 89, runners will fuel up at the Waterholes Aid station before dropping into another gorgeous slot canyon. The aid station is located near the bridge).
After about a mile in the slot, runners will exit and head back towards the city of Page on a long, exposed, and sandy desert traverse which takes you through the Horseshoe Bend and Slickrock aid stations for a second time.
Upon entering Page and climbing up onto the plateau which the city is built upon, the route ties into the smooth singletrack of the Page Rim Trail that you will run 6 times, “washing machine style”(i.e., clockwise, counterclockwise, repeat). The latter 50 miles are locked in on the smooth ten-mile loops of the Page Rim Trail where you’ll have aid stations every 5 miles that you’ll make repeat visits to. This is a fast and very runnable ten mile loop with 4 road crossings and spectacular views of Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam.
The accessibility of this loop trail makes it logistically perfect to plan and prepare for the long night ahead with your drop bags, and for your crew and pacers to support you. And since the Page Rim trail circumnavigates the city of Page, your crew will never be more than a few minutes away from their hotel room or campsite, so you won’t have to worry about their comfort.
Course time limit: 30 hours
50 Mile Ultra
On this 50 mile course you will experience two of the most photographed land features in the country- Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend of the Colorado River. After traversing the desert sand and slickrock to reach these unbelievable features, the run finishes out with a single loop on smooth single track around the plateau that the city of Page, AZ is built upon, with jaw-dropping views of Lake Powell.
Runners start with a 5 mile desert traverse on a sandy doubletrack with a little slickrock and a slot canyon mixed in.
Near mile 4, runners will drop into the first slot canyon of the day, at the bottom of which is Antelope Aid Station.
After the aid station you’ll enter a large, very sandy open wash, which you will follow south for about 3 miles to the entrance to the incomparable Upper Antelope Canyon. (This is one of the most photographed slot canyons in the world).
Navajo guides may be posted along the route, as travel on tribal lands typically requires their presence in order to visit the sacred sites. After passing through the slot canyon, runners will climb over a sand dune and pass through another small slot canyon on the return (since the canyon isn’t wide enough for two way traffic). You’ll return to the Antelope Aid station for the second time, then retrace your footsteps back towards the starting line for about 3.5 miles, where you’ll split off from the way you came and head west toward the Horseshoe Bend/Waterholes Canyon leg. Slickrock Aid will be about a mile into the desert after crossing S. Coppermine Rd. The trail to Slickrock Aid is very soft sand.
From there, runners will traverse another open desert for about 3 miles before reaching the famous Horseshoe Bend of the Colorado River. An aid station will be set up near the parking lot of this spectacular overlook (Horseshoe Bend Aid).
The next section weaves through slickrock along the rim of the Colorado River, in an area that few humans have traveled which offers views that are beyond words. This section can be very challenging to keep a steady pace due to the constant elevation changes, slickrock, and sand that you will be running through. It does however offer some amazing vantage points of the Colorado River.You might struggle to want to put your camera away.
After crossing back over Hwy 89, runners will fuel up at the Waterholes Aid station before dropping into another gorgeous slot canyon. The aid station is located near the bridge.)
After about a mile in the slot, runners will exit and head back towards the city of Page on a long, exposed, and sandy desert traverse which takes you through the Horseshoe Bend and Slickrock aid stations for a second time. Upon entering Page and climbing up onto the plateau which the city is built upon, the route ties into the smooth singletrack of the Page Rim Trail. This is a fast and very runnable ten mile loop with 4 road crossings and spectacular views of Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam.
Course time limit: 15 hours
55K Ultra
On this 55K course you will experience one of the most photographed land features in the country, Horseshoe Bend of the Colorado River. After traversing the desert sand and slickrock to reach these unbelievable features, the run finishes out with a single loop on smooth single track around the plateau that the city of Page, AZ is built upon with jaw-dropping views of Lake Powell.
Runners will head directly to Slickrock Aid station which is about 2 miles into the race. The trail to Slickrock Aid is very soft sand. From there, runners will traverse the open desert for about 3 miles before reaching the famous Horseshoe Bend of the Colorado River. An aid station will be set up near the parking lot of this spectacular overlook (Horseshoe Bend Aid).
The next section weaves through slickrock along the rim of the Colorado River, in an area that few humans have traveled which offers views that are beyond words. This section can be very challenging to keep a steady pace due to the constant elevation changes, slickrock, and sand that you will be running through. It does however offer some amazing vantage points of the Colorado River. You might struggle to want to put your camera away.
After crossing back over Hwy 89, runners will fuel up at the Waterholes Aid station before dropping into gorgeous Waterholes Slot Canyon, a favorite of most runners in past years.
After about a mile in the slot, runners will exit and head back towards the city of Page on a long, exposed, and sandy desert traverse which takes you through the Horseshoe Bend and Slickrock aid stations for a second time. Upon entering Page and climbing up onto the plateau which the city is built upon, the route ties into the smooth singletrack of the Page Rim trail. This is a fast and very runnable ten mile loop with 4 road crossings and spectacular views of Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam.
Course time limit: 12 hours
Half Marathon
The trail half marathon runs around the slickrock formation that the starting line is next to, then links up onto the Page Rim Trail which the city of Page is built upon. The runners will complete a single loop. The Page Rim Trail is smooth singletrack. This is a fast and very runnable ten mile loop with 4 road crossings and spectacular views of Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam. It then returns to the starting line via the more direct route that the other race distances will use to get up onto the mesa.
*Note – the half marathon distance does not run through slot canyons. We recommend booking a tour before or after the race.
Course time limit: 5 hours
LESS
Stunning Course!
Antelope Canyon has been on my bucket list for many years and having the opportunity to see it during an ultra made this race irresistible. However, I'd argue other parts … MORE
Antelope Canyon has been on my bucket list for many years and having the opportunity to see it during an ultra made this race irresistible. However, I’d argue other parts of the course were even more beautiful! Waterholes Canyon offered fun ladders and a tight slot. VR had a photographer stationed in the canyon who captured unique race photos. I appreciated the hot food options offered at most aide stations. Volunteers and race officials were really kind and supportive. I love the quality of the race shirt and the finisher mug (hand crafted mug or you can choose a medal which was also nice). Each bib came complete with a meal ticket also.
Waves would have been helpful to ease the congestion at the beginning of the race and in certain sections. An optional rappel would be a dope addition to the descent ladder which caused congestion in Waterholes. If you’re uncomfortable down climbing a bouncing 50 foot ladder (in the rain in our case) I wouldn’t recommend this race. Otherwise, I enjoyed this section a lot!
This year we were blessed with cloudy weather but that turned into rain. Oof. The Page Rim trail was super muddy. But hey, it made it more fun!
Highly recommend this course. It was my second 50 miler and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Planning on pacing my bf next year.
Wet and Wild Slot Canyons
The amazing scenery was unrelenting, my cheeks hurt from smiling. I did not realize how many slot canyons the 50 mile would explore. I met amazing runners along the way … MORE
The amazing scenery was unrelenting, my cheeks hurt from smiling. I did not realize how many slot canyons the 50 mile would explore. I met amazing runners along the way and there was a great sense of camaraderie. The aid stations were well stocked and the volunteers were brilliant. Due to the rain it was a little slippery on the slick rock and muddy and slippery on the rim which slowed my pace. There was a new ladder section around km 40. Unfortunately, there was a bit of a bottle neck here and I know I got quite chilled waiting. However, the ladder dropped us into a really amazing slot canyon with a few more fun ladders. This ladder section could be a challenge if you have a fear of heights. Despite the conditions and being completely soaked and cold the last 3 hours, I loved this run. I would come back and run this race again. I found the podcast orientation helpful. I also loved the cultural ceremony the night before the run.
So much sand but so worth it
This course is pretty much exactly what I was expecting and preparing for, and I personally loved it. The first half of the course was either very sandy or very … MORE
This course is pretty much exactly what I was expecting and preparing for, and I personally loved it. The first half of the course was either very sandy or very technical. I did a lot of beach running in preparation for the sand and I didn’t think it was too hindering. Miles approx. 6-10 was across rocky landscapes with some steep ascents and descents. A lot of runners took is pretty slow through here but I personally excel on technical terrain so I was having the time of my life through this section. Water holes slot canyon was absolutely epic, though there was about a ten minute wait to descend the first ladder (heard it got up to a 30 minute wait later in the day). After the slot canyon it was about a mile through more sand to get to a dirt road and that’s where it got runnable. From the second stop at horseshoe aid station it was retracing steps and then heading towards the page rim trail. This section was a ton of sand. Once you got to rim trail it was just crusading the best you can. It was very runnable, great views and overall I really enjoyed the trail. It was muddy at some parts due to rain, it was not too bad when I went through but apparently it got pretty bad later in the day. Overall I was happy with the course and had a wonderful experience. The aid stations were perfectly spaced and well stocked. Bathrooms were at every AS and volunteers were wonderful. I’d run this race again and even give the 50 mile a try, but you should definitely be mentally preparing for a lot of sand.
Beautiful course-varied terrain
My first trail race and run in 2 years - its not technical No mountains where I live at sea level - its rolling humps Course gets a bit congested … MORE
My first trail race and run in 2 years – its not technical
No mountains where I live at sea level – its rolling humps
Course gets a bit congested – single tracked
Beautiful scenery – view of the mountains, remember to look up and enjoy
Sand is soft for the last 2 miles and thick like clay if it rains – good trail shoes and socks are a must. I trained on the beach, wasn’t quite enough for the last 2 miles
Even if you’re speedy, take food
Wasn’t very hot but a light waterproof jacket was enough (except for the longer distances)
Holy smokes!! That was a fantastic run!
I originally signed up to do the 50 miler in 2020 when I turned 50...due to injury and COVID didn't get to till 2023. I downgraded to the 1/2 marathon … MORE
I originally signed up to do the 50 miler in 2020 when I turned 50…due to injury and COVID didn’t get to till 2023. I downgraded to the 1/2 marathon b/c i came to my senses! However…was a fantastic run! LIttle tight at the beginning (I’m a slow runner) but it thinned out. Scenery was awesome despite the cloudy/rainy conditions. Only thing I would change…the last 1.5 miles was sand…could have started with that and finished on asphalt!
If i’m able…I’ll be back next year and bring more people with me! Still an awesome birthday event! FYI: I had run the army 10 miler in October…so did ZERO training for this…still would do again!
A+ Scenery mixed with rain, mud & sand
This was my third trail half with VR and my first time visiting this area. I felt pretty good while running the rim trail---small rolling hills on fairly packed dirt. … MORE
This was my third trail half with VR and my first time visiting this area. I felt pretty good while running the rim trail—small rolling hills on fairly packed dirt. It drizzled on and off but nothing too bad although the trail got wet enough in spots that the mud started sticking to my shoes, making them heavier. Great scenery that of course would have been better with fewer clouds but then again clouds were preferable to the sun beating down! Actually, the sun did show itself briefly at one point.
As others have said, getting off the rim trail around mile 11 into the deep loose sand was slow going. I had been doing pretty well time-wise up to that point but all that sand really slowed me down. Then when I was less than half a mile from the finish, it started pouring rain. If nothing else, that made me speed up just to finish! My Garmin clocked the route at 14.1 miles. The finish line was a bit anti-climatic d/t the pouring rain but one great bonus was the meal ticket for a range of choices from a food truck. The Hawaiian pizza tasted great!! Plus we got VR’s usual banana, chocolate milk and box of snacks.
More VR races to come for me!
great course
The course is great. There are many special scenic spots throughout the course. 2023 was tough due to the unexpected heavy rain and muddy condition. MORE
The course is great. There are many special scenic spots throughout the course. 2023 was tough due to the unexpected heavy rain and muddy condition.
The Ultra Obstacle Course!!!
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 … MORE
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!
Stunning & challenging race!!
The first half of the 55K course is so amazingly beautiful - from Horseshoe Bend, to the rock cliffs, to the ladder and the slot canyon!! I loved it all! … MORE
The first half of the 55K course is so amazingly beautiful – from Horseshoe Bend, to the rock cliffs, to the ladder and the slot canyon!! I loved it all!
The race staff and aid station volunteers were great and super supportive.
The aid stations had everything you needed to fuel up and continue on the journey!
The medals and shirts were awesome!
I’d highly recommend running this race to anyone who likes adventure and a challenge!
Wow - So beautiful!
This is a nice route that shows the most beautiful scenery. Starts with a little hill climb to get to the rim but then packed dirt and minimal rocks so … MORE
This is a nice route that shows the most beautiful scenery. Starts with a little hill climb to get to the rim but then packed dirt and minimal rocks so trail shoes aren’t necessary even. Around mile 11 you’ll come down and it’s time for some sand so make sure you have gaiters on to make your life better. Course is closer to 14 miles so be prepared for some extra distance for free!
Most scenic course, hope you like rocks
The vistas of horseshoe bend and water holes and running through the slot canyons was unbelievably magnificent. The course was mostly flat. When the course goes onto the rocky undulating … MORE
The vistas of horseshoe bend and water holes and running through the slot canyons was unbelievably magnificent. The course was mostly flat. When the course goes onto the rocky undulating terrain you have to scramble, hike and walk, making it a slow slog. The aid stations were appropriately spaced out. When there was hot food, it was delicious but I wish there was more available.
Beautiful…But Ladder Problems
The course is absolutely breathtaking—I’ve never encountered such amazing sights before. The volunteers were so friendly and kind. The race became more challenging as it rained more. I was backed … MORE
The course is absolutely breathtaking—I’ve never encountered such amazing sights before. The volunteers were so friendly and kind. The race became more challenging as it rained more. I was backed up for 1 hour and 15 minutes at the ladder at mile 27/28. It was EXTREMELY hard to get my legs and mind back into the swing of things. I cannot help but wonder how this delay impacted my overall results as I continued to pass runners who’d gone down before me in the final miles. Really a dark could on the whole experience and I’m not sure how race management didn’t plan better—the bottle neck was pretty bad, there were probably 80 people ahead of me when I got to that section of the race.
Wet beautiful brilliant mess
One of the toughest races with the inclement weather. More sandy terrain than anticipated and much colder than expected but the beautiful landscape made it all worth every bit of … MORE
One of the toughest races with the inclement weather. More sandy terrain than anticipated and much colder than expected but the beautiful landscape made it all worth every bit of the pain! One of the coolest races I’ve ever completed and proud to say I suffered with so many cool people who embraced the suck with a smile! Stunning views and well planned from an operational standpoint! All in all 5 stars!
What an unforgettable event!
This is a must - The views and experience is one I would highly encourage anyone to do. This was my first half and I am absolutely happy I chose … MORE
This is a must – The views and experience is one I would highly encourage anyone to do. This was my first half and I am absolutely happy I chose this one – definitely will be running this one again!
Beautiful race, terrible weather
Too much candy and not enough hot food/ real food at the aid stations. It easy for us to pack candy and snacks but the real food was constantly running … MORE
Too much candy and not enough hot food/ real food at the aid stations. It easy for us to pack candy and snacks but the real food was constantly running out. The ladders were sketchy and the wait was insane. The views were beautiful and the trail was pretty well marked! The staff/ volunteers were all very nice and the community was amazing. The weather was not what we were prepared for and the super muddy Trail definitely slowed us down but there is no way to prepare for everything.
Weather was awful!!
This is a very challenging race - running through sand climbing rocks, ladders etc. Unfortunately the heavy rains moved in and it made this race even more difficult - nothing … MORE
This is a very challenging race – running through sand climbing rocks, ladders etc. Unfortunately the heavy rains moved in and it made this race even more difficult – nothing to do with the race itself
Issues abound
Well, that didn't go as expected. The course is beautiful and I really appreciate the opportunity to be a guest on Navajo land. I wish VR felt the same way … MORE
Well, that didn’t go as expected. The course is beautiful and I really appreciate the opportunity to be a guest on Navajo land. I wish VR felt the same way and could have strung together a healthier, less-stingy production.
The 50-mile and 100-mile start by heading out to Antelope Canyon for the breathtaking, picturesque slot canyon. The race start of 5:45am makes sense, but I’m traveling from the west and my body is not ready to poop at 4am PST. There are 30 porta-potties clustered at the start/finish line, but only 3 at each of the first 4 aid stations. I’m stuck running 6 miles to the first aid station where there’s a queue of 15 or so people and a grim reaper approaching. Oh well, I’ll get it on the way back. Double back and at 12-miles let’s just say I was primed and ready. Long queue still. Ef. Okay, I wait, lose 15 minutes of my day, and carry on. It’s raining on and off, nothing the race can do about the weather. Stalling for so long though causes my knees to seize up… a new one for me that showed up in a 50k I ran about 5 weeks back. I’m in the wrong shoes for this terrain and have to make it to mile 20 for my first drop bag to swap shoes. I cruise into Slick Rock aid station at mile 17 and head over to the medical tent because I need something to take the pain away. No one is there. I go over to the food tent and a nice volunteer helps me sort through a measly medical kit and gives me some stretch tape as there is not KT tape. Better than nothing, and I carry on. Rolling into Horseshoe Bend and I’m still in pain, but swap shoes, poop again (the porta-potty is a disaster at this point), I re-up my pack, and head over to medical which is better staffed but still poorly equipped. I use the last of some supplies, pop some tylenol because there’s no ibuprofen, and I carry on. The next stretch is absolutely stunning and worth all the pain. Take time to soak it all in, and boom, the tylenol kicks in and I’m cruising again. Not the most runnable terrain but it’s the best miles of the day for me. I went from thinking I might DNF before halfway to honestly thinking I can make to it at least 38 and re-evaluate a finish (but not under the last cut off). This stretch of terrain carries on for longer than expected. The rain starts coming down pretty hard, and weather is obviously taking an unexpected/un-forecasted turn. I’m prepared and happy, but passed many who were not. Running into WH aid station and my sprits are high but at this point the wheels were starting to come off the race. Already I was aware that the ladder down to the slot canyon had a queue of an hour which I was not looking forward to. No big deal, the slot canyon is closed due to the rain. There’s an alternate route. But the aid station is literally breaking down. There’s no porta-potty, that already disapeared. There’s no hot food. The worst part is there’s no runner mat to cross; me and another runner are told if we carry on we are no longer running a Vacation Race. I didn’t actually think there was a grim reaper at this aid station, but sure enough I’m already disqualified. I decide to call it a day, stoke was high, and I didn’t want to push forward with the questionable weather completely unsupported with some nagging knees. Bummer but today wasn’t my day.
Here’s the thing that irks me after. There were at least 5 runners behind me who were yet to check in at the aid station. It’s very likely that all of these runners could have needed aid and were possibly counting on it. If there was a specified grim reaper for the aid station, I can understand. But there wasn’t to my knowledge. Pretty lame. The volunteers were super helpful any way they could be, but it’s a questionable decision IMO to close up early when runners may need it the most. Isn’t that why a lot of people sign up and pay for these sufferfests?
So a pretty disappointing production overall. I know weather went sideways and that’s always a risk for these events. But in my opinion VR left runners hanging big time. I know there were a lot of DNFs. But there also was a lot of wasted time on the course with unnecessary queues. For a race that has been established for years, it seemed like costs either were cut or the race simply was overwhelmed by the weather situation. Either way, shout out to all the runners who supported each other and made it a great day outside.
Great Scenery
Pros: - Great scenery - Great energy from volunteers - Great demonstrations at packet pickup - Plenty of aid stations and spread apart well Cons: - More markers/blazes thru slick … MORE
Pros:
– Great scenery
– Great energy from volunteers
– Great demonstrations at packet pickup
– Plenty of aid stations and spread apart well
Cons:
– More markers/blazes thru slick rock areas. Route finding was fine, but if you’re alone and miss one it could turn into an issue. Overall, didn’t add that much time.
– The bottleneck to downclimb the ladder after Waterhole added 40 to 45 minutes.
– the entrance to Antelope Canyon vs the one to leave could’ve been better marked. It should’ve been straightforward because the giant slot is front and center, but people still didn’t realize the exit wasn’t the entrance until wandering over.
Not a trail runner but this course ❤️
Not a trail runner but this course is incredible. Until Mile 11- then over 2 miles of sand. The race was well run and gorgeous. I would do it again. … MORE
Not a trail runner but this course is incredible. Until Mile 11- then over 2 miles of sand. The race was well run and gorgeous. I would do it again. It did rain a bit. Overall I loved it
The good, bad, and ugly.
Where do I even begin? Staci, a longtime friend of mine asked me if I would run the Antelope Canyon ultramarathon trail run with her, a 50 miler near Page, … MORE
Where do I even begin? Staci, a longtime friend of mine asked me if I would run the Antelope Canyon ultramarathon trail run with her, a 50 miler near Page, Arizona. I was somewhat hesitant as I hadn’t trained for long distance since 2018, but she asked me in plenty of time for me to get my act together and this allowed me to train decently at the first; however; my life took an unexpected turn towards the meat of my training, and I had to focus on my daughter who was going through some major health issues. As the time for the event drew nearer, I became worried and hesitant to go forward as I was recalling some bad marathon situations that I had experienced in the past–one I did not finish (DNF) and the other I should have dropped out but ended up in the emergency department getting I.V. fluids. How could I get through this one when it was nearly twice as long as any I had ever participated in? I didn’t have the answer to that question, but I knew my friend was counting on me. We were buds since elementary school and we had participated in our first 10k together 30 years before as little 4th graders. As we grew up, I moved away, and we didn’t have much contact for many years, although we still had a lot in common: we were both married, had kids, became nurses, and then nurse practitioners, and most of all, both of us still ran! She is my soul sister, and I was bound and determined to do this, if not for me for her!
The two days right before the race were crazy at work and I was more than a little sore from walking between exam rooms seeing patients. Not a good sign!
The day before the race was a short, but intense day of seeing patients and I was through at noon and got home a few minutes later. I had everything that I thought would be pertinent for this race, but still the night before I had decided to look up essentials for ultra trail marathons. One of the lists I came across said “gaters”. What was a gater? Well, it was too late to get them, whatever they were. I would be fine. Staci picked me up and drove the 2 1/2 hours to Page and we checked into our room where I met her other friend Rhonda who would also be running with us as well as sharing the room. It was the first time I had seen three beds in a hotel room!
We prepared our drop bags, another thing that I was unfamiliar with. Each runner would pack his or her drop bag with whatever goods he or she thought would be necessary, so it would be ready and waiting at the aid station. Hmmm. I had brought a ton of socks, so I put them in there, along with some Powerade, and some shorts in case I got hot and then we loaded our collection of stuff in the car and headed to the expo. It was smaller than ones I’d been to before and in a baseball field instead of a convention center, like I was used to. It was starting to get kind of cold and it had been sprinkling on and off. We got our bib numbers and shirts, and Staci bought a 50-mile sticker from the merchandise and told me I should get one, too. I told her “naw”, I don’t think I will in case I don’t finish. We watched a Native American dancer perform, took pics, and headed to Wal-Mart. The girls said I needed my own cup. They didn’t give out paper cups, which I definitely wasn’t used to. I obviously wasn’t as prepared as I thought I was. I bought a big red collapsible cup from the camping section, and we got some snacks and returned to the hotel where we laid everything out. Staci and Rhonda were both in disbelief that I didn’t have any gaters. There’s that word again. What in the heck were they? I learned that they were awesome shoe covers that prevented sand from getting into your shoes. Welp! Rhonda pipes up and said that she had brought an extra pair! Bless her little soul. As I am putting my stuff together, I see that all my extra socks were in the drop bags, and I had no running socks to wear until Mile 28!! I only had tube socks that barely covered my feet! Rhonda to the rescue again when she gave me some socks that were way better than the ones I’d brought, even the socks I prepared for which again were in all my drop bags. Ugh!
The three of us chilled out and then went to bed at 8 pm. At 3:30 am I woke up and couldn’t go back to sleep and so I slowly got up and got ready. By 4 am all three of us were up doing the same. I wore my running leggings, my antelope canyon run shirt, my long sleeve shirt, head band, head lamp, Rhonda’s gaters, my road shoes, and Rhonda’s socks. In my pack I had HotHands, my neck warmer, poncho, Guu, ibuprofen, salt tabs, chafing cream, water, and Powerade. I was set! Before we left, I said a heartfelt prayer that we wouldn’t get hurt and that we would be safe.
We left the hotel about 5 am and got to the start line at 5:30 where we took a few pre-race pics. Rhonda stayed back as she was doing the 100 miler. She is a beast! The gun went off at 5:45 am and the start was easy enough. We kept our pace slow, and the weather was an ideal 45 degrees. Staci and I just talked and talked, as we had so much to catch up on since we hadn’t hung out for over 25 years! The first 6 miles was mostly in fine white sand dune sand. We reached Antelope Canyon, a slot canyon with many beautiful rock formations, the first of the many amazing backdrops along the way. All the runners paused here to take pictures and selfies. We ran through it fast. There was one small staircase where I slipped and hit my shin! It hurt for a minute, and I knew I would be rewarded with a nice shiner!
It started raining a little, but it was more refreshing and pleasant than annoying. It would start and then stop. My body felt good compared to a lot of my previous runs when I tended to get overheated. We made it to Horseshoe Bend and here the rain was coming down a little more but still not overly-terrible. Staci and I paused for pics. By that time, her legs and knees were giving her fits. Luckily, she had brought her hiking poles which helped a lot.
During the horseshoe bend portion, running was out of the question because it was mostly slick and the terrain was in a descending, climbing pattern consisting of numerous rock formations. I had no idea that I was literally going to be rock climbing through an organized run. It was kind of fun. We got to a nice aid station and then ran on to Waterhole Canyon. For some reason there was a big wait for the 50-foot ladder, and it took us 45 minutes for our turn to come up. During that time, I decided it was time for my long sleeves again as I was kind of cold and wet. As we finally made it to the ladder, a nice gentleman held Staci’s poles and away we went. It was so scary! One guy bailed and ran back to the aid station and said I am not doing that. Apparently, there’s a plan B if you are afraid of ladders that are wet and scary. I took the first turn and took my time. I did not want to fall again! At about this point, Staci stepped on my head by accident. It made me laugh and we giggled all the way down.
Through the canyon, it was so cool and pretty! There were three more small ladders. They had a random guy in the canyon taking pics. He was funny and reminded me of the guy in Frozen in the tiki hut. By the time we got out of the slot canyon it was pouring rain and little waterfalls had started to form. Not ideal when you’re in a slot canyon. Come to find out a few people after us, they closed the canyon and subsequent runners did a slightly different route. Scary! Heading to the next aid station was good. The sand had firmed up and I felt good. At the aid station I took my time. The freshly cooked cheese quesadillas were so delicious! In road races I’ve been in before you don’t get hot, freshly-made meals. It was awesome. At this point, Staci and I separated, and I didn’t see her again for the rest of the race. I was kind of nervous because my phone was on airplane mode. I didn’t want to use it so my battery wouldn’t die in case I needed to use it for SOS. My Apple 3 watch died at about mile 28. I had to put full faith in the race and hope that everything was marked clearly. Pink ribbons with reflectors had been strategically placed to guide us. I was going to be fine! Plus, I had runners all around me.
As we got closer to town, I could hear the announcer cheering people in. I know it wasn’t anywhere near my time. I still had 15 miles to go! As I passed that wonderful finish line, I headed up to a 10-mile rim trail. It was so muddy, and the rain had created little waterfalls that the runners had to jump. I was soaking wet and so cold. I finally got to the next aid station, got a hot cup of noodles and pulled out my poncho. Little did I know this cheap one dollar afterthought was going to be my saving grace. A nice lady helped me put it on because my hands were not working. Bless those volunteers. People in the aid tent looked sick and miserable. One girl before the aid station was paralyzed with cold, and I gave her my hot hands. I think she dropped out. Many in that tent stopped.
As I continued on through the rim trail, my shoes became more and more caked with mud! I was still so cold, so I decided to pull out my neck warmer and by the grace of God it was still dry. I could no longer run from that point. My legs were done, and I was so cold. The mud made it virtually impossible. I finally made it to the last aid station. I would like to call it the mud pit! It was so bad. More people dropped out here, but I was determined! It was only 6 more miles. The sun was setting, and the rain was intense. My poncho protected me, but I felt like I was in a windstorm. Darkness came on fast but luckily my light was easy to grab, and I was able to quickly put it on. As I continued on, I noticed I was getting closer to the stadium, and I was so happy! I was almost in tears, but then to my utter dismay the runners were diverted another way. I so wanted to cut to the end, but I knew I was close. I couldn’t stop but I was angry. I was so angry for what I am not sure. I’m just wanted this thing to end. I was alone for the last two miles. I was a little scared almost worried if I was going in the right direction. I almost had a panic attack thinking somehow that I might have ended up on the 100-mile route. I wanted to get my phone out and call for help but my hands were so swollen that my wedding ring was stuck on me; it was so wet that I couldn’t call, and my hands were utterly useless. I could have died!
At last, finally after what felt like an eternity, I made it to the stadium. I ran or trotted that last 100 meters and utterly cried! The announcer called Jenna Summerhays from Washington, Utah you 50 miler ultra marathoner and Staci wrapped her arms around me and said you did it!! You made it. It was truly amazing. We walked to the medical tent as everything came to a halt. My body was so cold, and I knew I had to get warm fast. I got my amazing 50 miler metal and a pic and we were out. Staci told me that she had dropped out at 34 miles and Rhonda at 38. They were hypothermic as were most of the runners. They are were amazing it was so hard. When I got to the hotel room. I ran to the bathroom and puked my guts out. I took the longest shower ever and rinsed everything off and finally was able to rest. I was still nauseous, and Staci gave me some Zofran which helped. I fell asleep about 10:30. I didn’t sleep well, felt nauseous and my body hurt! I got one major blister and a blackened toenail on my second toe and a little chaffing.
Overall, I am glad I did it. I am glad Staci asked me. Would I do it again.?!? Don’t ask me that for a while. I learned many things about trail running and I may do a shorter one. I loved the atmosphere and the people! During that time, I learned a lot about myself. I know I can do hard things. I am grateful for old and new friends. I am grateful that God listens and answers prayers no matter where you are or what you’ve gotten yourself into. He is there for you!