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Ute 100 #56 La Sal, Utah

Writer's picture: Rosie Nanette GagnonRosie Nanette Gagnon

Updated: Sep 7, 2023

Ute 100


I finished Ute 100 5 days ago, but with a 32-hr. road trip and farm work to catch up after being gone for 3 weeks, I've been exhausted and busy trying to recover and catch up on the farm. I finally have a chance to sit down and process. What an amazing few weeks we had in Leadville! Then hanging around at 10k altitude in Colorado for 2 weeks to be well acclimated for Ute was so relaxing and beautiful! Running in Leadville was hard on my body. I had some altitude sickness that left a persistent cough and fatigue for at least a week and wasn't sure I was going to be back up to par in time for Ute. Monday before the race I thought I'd test out my altitude acclimation and did a 3000ft climb to the summit of Buffalo Mountain. It was a glorious morning, saw a moose early on, and sat at the top of the climb alone on the mountain with a goat. So so cool, and breathing wasn't too bad. I felt ready, my last big training day.






Sadly, we got the news on the same day that Jasons father, Gregory Omer Gagnon, had passed away. He'd been fighting cancer for several years and his body finally gave out. It was a sad week, but we were in a peaceful place to contemplate the meaning of life, the eternal nature of families, and remember good times that we'd had together. Jason called his mother regularly during the week to check on her. I can't imagine losing my spouse after 61 years of marriage. I carried Papa's picture with me through Ute 100. I felt confident that Dexter was close and was there to greet him and show him around the new place, a new adventure, so many things to learn. Papa was an educator until the very last days of his life, teaching university Indian Law classes. I like to think a while new world of education has opened for him, now.






I spent a few days doing hill repeats up and down the mountain road to our condo at 10k feet and climbing felt pretty strong. 3 days before Ute I came down with a yeast infection and some weird mouth thrush so I was swishing Listerine 3x a day and taking meds to clear everything up, oh and I also started my period so it was a weird week, but at least I wasn't coughing anymore and it was a great time just getting in some exercise, relaxing in the hot tub, shopping, painting and just enjoying being with Jason for 2 weeks to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. Luckily most symptoms of everything disappeared by the time we left beautiful Silverthorne Colorado for Moab, Utah. Stopped at the cool UFO gas station and had a nice big room booked!



La Sal's in the distance



We had fun shopping a couple little thrift stores in Moab on Friday, and I was craving Mexican food for dinner. Sadly the sores in my mouth burned with the hot sauce on these weird authentic tacos, sadly no cheap American Taco Bell in Moab which was what I really wanted! We relaxed in the hot tub at the hotel and got to bed early, I had to be up at 4am to get dressed and there was an hour drive to the packet pick-up/drop bag drop off and start line Saturday morning at 6:30. It was a chilly morning with canyon winds blowing down the mountain but absolutely gorgeous. The sun was basically risen after a beautiful sunrise over the desert for the start, so we didn't need a headlamp.




Ran into my friend Hazel before the start. She was running the 50. We didnt have long to chat but it was great to see a familiar face!


The desert valley below was beautiful at sunrise!



Still early just at sunup, climbing up a steep road just into the race a few miles I met a great guy named Zach, both he and his father had served in the Air Force and had both suffered with PTSD. He told me how he'd almost become a statistic, but that God had saved his life, and he was currently attending a seminary and intending to get back into the Air Force as a chaplain to try and help others suffering from PTSD from a standpoint of faith. We had a really awesome conversation, and I was so glad to have the chance to chat with him!


There was a new RD and company running the race this year, and I thought their timing wasn't great compared to a very early start last yr. so we could get out of the desert heat before it warmed up. As it was there was probably almost a full marathon of running before we really started to get into the aspens and higher altitudes so, in the heat till 1-2 in the afternoon. I really tried to hydrate in the sun well and stay cool. It wasn't terribly hot but all those hours in the desert sun definitely came back to bite me later with some dehydration issues. By the second aid station I was getting ice and carrying extra water to douse my sleeves to stay cool. The desert was really beautiful and though it was warm it really was pretty fun, easy running on slick rock near porcupine ridge, considered a world class mountain bike trail, and moderately technical trails wandering around the upper desert sand & pitted ATV roads, before starting the long climb to Warner Lake. As it heated up, I'd look longingly at the mountains in the distance and just couldn't wait to get there. It was kind of cool to know from that kind of distance that in a matter of hours you would be summitting!







It was early afternoon when I hit the Hazardous Aid Station, the last we'd see for 9+ miles as we made our ascent to Mann's Peak. Sadly, found out there because of hail and lightning at the summit, we wouldn't be able to go all the way to the top and would have to take an alternate route. I met a really sweet Girl there doing the 50 named Kaiter. She loved that I was running in memory of veterans and gave me a big hug. I had the best pumpkin bread and banana bread ever at that AS before heading up. The alternate route we took I thought was a lot steeper and more technical than the direct ascent to Mann's Peak. It did have a lot of forest and tree cover, so I saw the wisdom in it. I think it ran a little longer too, because in the end not making the peak didn't bring me below doing a full 100 miles. Some of the sections were so steep and rocky I had to do my counting trick and take like 50 steps then take a breather. Kaiter caught up to me halfway up. She was a little slower than I was, but I had the feeling she needed someone to talk to, so I stayed at her pace for a while. She was telling me about some of the people she had lost, how she was running in memory of her father. We talked a lot about how when we take time to think of our loved ones and remember them, we can feel them right there with us. I think it made her feel good that I affirmed her beliefs because when we finally made it to the next aid station, she gave me the hugest hug again. We made it to Burro Pass together and then ran through some spectacular high mountain meadows. Literally it was so beautiful I thought, this could be heaven. It was as if my eyes couldn't take in all the beauty, it was just so spectacular.





I was listening to John Denver running through this meadow, just loving the absolute beauty, when I had the really strong impression that I had my buddy Nate along for a few miles. I chatted to myself and to him and as I cleared the meadow I got a text from his sister Sally who was sending me a good luck message. Its little coincidences like that that tell me the spirit world is very close to us, and our friends and family know what's going on in our lives. <3


I was kind-of hoping for some hot food at the aid station, they had hash browns but no salt or ketchup. I was still so hungry for real food that I ate down a bowl before I headed out for probably my favorite section of the course. It was on a smooth dirt road heading up to Geyser Pass. It was a fairly gentle ascent so it was runnable for the most part, both directions, 8 miles out and back. I watched a Thunderstorm that looked to be rolling in, above the pines and late afternoon sun, and the mountains and meadows at the pass were so beautiful I was almost moved to tears. As I headed back down feeling amazing, off in the distance was a huge rainbow and I thought of Sgt Gray and his mom Brenda, and it felt like that was a sign of love for her.










Then I just had the craziest experience where I literally felt I was running with all my boys I was carrying down this beautiful mountain with me and Dexter. Was listening to this Owl City song called “Sons of Thunder” as Thunder was heavily rolling off in the distance. I can't ever explain exactly how that strong sense of presence overwhelmed my heart, but it did. Was an amazing experience.


We are the new sons of thunder

We are uncrushable diamonds of light

We are the daughters of wonder

And when we leave the Earth

With a shower of sparks

We'll meet in the sky and we'll walk among the stars


I was so happy to see Jason at the aid station about mile 43. It was getting close to early evening, so I needed my headlamps, and I had to do a shirt change into long sleeves for the night and put my jacket on though I wasn't expecting to get wet, the thunderstorm seemed to still be well off in the distance and the sun was shining. I was still feeling pretty good and happy. So far, the day had been absolutely beautiful, and I was feeling happy and strong. I left Jason there for what seemed like an easy descent back down the mountain to the Hazardous Aid station.



Well...never think “easy” because that's always when a 100-mile course decides to test you! As it neared sunset, dark clouds rolled in, and then thunder and heavy lightning. It was actually kind of scary and I'd race through the mountain meadows to stay within the trees as the rain started to pour down.




Everyone on the mountain in my vicinity was treated to the most magical moment though. We were running through a burnt-out forest as the rain started to pour down but, in the distance, the sun came out and lit up the mountain into deep orange colors, so it literally looked like we were running through this flaming forest fire, but I was actually a downpour. I tried to catch a picture, but the feeling and colors are lost on a drab photo that just doesn't capture it. What a moment to be alive!




Sadly, the rain only got heavier, and my rain jacket really didn't keep me dry, I was soaked to the skin and as it got dark it started to get cold and my body temp was going down. Luckily, I guess, the trail had actually descended below the aid station, and I hit this ridiculously steep, technical trail bringing the course back up to the aid station. I say lucky because the effort of climbing helped get the chill out of my body because of the hard effort. The rain had been so heavy that the trails were basically small fast-moving creeks, and I was wet head to toe. When I finally got to Hazardous, I ran into my Air Force friend I'd met earlier. He was running the 50 and had decided to drop out with only one aid station left to go. He was wearing a full rain suit and said he was just too cold. I offered him my emergency blanket, poncho, hot hands etc. but he'd already made up his mind.


This next stretch would take us back up above 11k feet to the summit of Golds Knob. I was disheartened because I knew that trail was steep and technical, a hard climb, and that it'd likely be very cold on top with the wind and rain. I took off my coat and wrapped my emergency blanket around me like a cape, then put my coat back on. I pulled out my hot hands for down my shirt and in my gloves and hoped I would stay warm enough. I said goodbye to Zach and tried to eat a hot cup of noodles as I headed back up the mountain, but it had been sitting too long so the noodles were fat without any broth, and I couldn't choke them down. I knew that was gonna put me in a worrisome calorie deficit, but I was half mile from the aid station already, so I just kept going.


The climb was hard. Muddy, steep, technical and cold. The trail eased up as we drew close to the summit through the meadow, and I stayed at least above a shiver. The final climb to the summit is very steep technical switchbacks and though the rain had finally stopped there was a freezing cold wind, and I was shivering as I submitted. I took a very brief look at the starts and the few lights in the valley far below, then headed back down the mountain as quickly as I could move. I descended through Miners Basin which has some wet soggy ground, technical steep descents, some easy single-track trail, then 4 miles of the most ridiculous rocky road you've ever been on. As I was going down the last of the rocky road, I started to see runners coming at me. They broke the news that after I did a lower double loop below the start line of 12 miles, I would have to climb back UP Miners basin. A nightmare thought. I tried to not think about it. My stomach started feeling off at this point, and I rolled into Miners Aid Station at 58.5 miles and met Jason. He'd been waiting a few hrs. for me, so he could pace me one 6-mile loop. He filled my bottles with apple juice and got me into a warm coat and we started the loop. I felt okay for the first half but then I crashed hard. I'd been drinking juice to try and get caught up on calories and hydration, but my stomach didn't absorb any of it. We had to stop so I could throw up what felt like gallons of juice. :-P Then the fatigue hit, and I had to lay down. We spread out a coat and I had Jason set a timer for 5 minutes. I slept deeply for 4. I did feel revived after the nap (and throw up) and we got him back to the aid station, where I had to start a counterclockwise loop going the same route.


It was 7am, 30 minutes past the aid station cutoff when I finished my 2nd loop and got back to Miners and mile 70. I was still drinking but I could only drink an ounce or two of liquid at a time and pretty much gave up on eating solid food calories from this point. Though I was 30 min behind the RD had said before the race started that because this was their inaugural race all the cutoffs were soft, they wouldn't pull us if running behind. Thank goodness. I hoped to catch up. Unfortunately, my stomach wasn't cooperating and the climb back up Miners Basin was just miserable. It was such a gorgeous morning, and the scenery was so beautiful. I was just suffering. The 4-mile rubble road went on uphill, for-ever. I ran into Hazel here, finishing up her 50. She stopped to chat, but I had to excuse myself. If I stopped, I was going to throw up and not get started again. I wished her well and congratulated her.





There was an easier climb through the Aspens, steep at times but not too technical. I got so drowsy though, I had to lay down and take another 5-minute nap. Feet up against an Aspen I have to remark that these forests above Moab Utah have the hugest Aspen trees I've ever seen in my life, I'm not sure I could put my arms all the way around some of them!







I chatted a bit on this climb to a Marine, I'd been ahead of him the whole race, but he finally pulled ahead, he was really chatty about some of his race accomplishments, and I was too tired to talk so I fell behind so I could suffer alone. After another very long rocky technical descent and another long climb towards the Gold Knob summit, I was relieved when the trail turned us back down the mountain to the Hazardous aid station. I was so relieved when Jason was there waiting for me! Hed met the crewman of another runner named Mike. This guy was so special and so emotional. He told me he had a daughter struggling with suicidal thoughts and that he thought the fact Id taken the worst possible thing that could happen to a person and turn it around to try and use for a good purpose, was the most beautiful thing he'd ever heard...and like he really meant it. He practically had tears rolling down his face talking to me, and we both cried a little in conversation. I was running almost an hour behind the cutoff, but I didn't rush talking with Mike. Jason got me set up for the finish, filled my bottles with electrolytes and I headed out down the mountain. I had close to a solid 15-mile distance through the next aid station to the final one at porcupine ridge, mostly downhill.




I thought, it's in the bag, and I was feeling pretty great that there was a cool cloud cover, and I would cruise to the finish. Aaaah, if only things were that easy. A mile or two running off the mountain and down into the desert, the clouds disappeared, and I was heading into a solid hot, sunny afternoon. My stomach was still struggling so I would just drink about 2 oz every mile...enough to hopefully not get too dehydrated but also to not aggravate my stomach. I'd been doing this for probably the last 6 hrs. already. I was so grateful to finally get to the Jimmy Keane Aid station. From there I had 8 mi to porcupine, then 5.5 to the finish. Still going downhill. The volunteers were fantastic. They loaded my hat and shirt with ice, refilled my bottles and put ice in them, let me wash my face and hands in ice water to cool my temp, then it was back out to the desert. This next 8-mile section though mostly a gentle downhill ended up being pretty savage in the desert sun. After a few miles my stomach stopped tolerating liquid altogether. I knew I had to drink so I'd try just a tablespoon at a time. It would sit in my stomach for 10-20 min and then I'd start dry heaving until my stomach got rid of that little tablespoon of hydration. I was pretty concerned; I still had several hours to go in this condition. I took a few breaks to lay down under scrub oak trees to settle my heart rate and quell my nauseousness and nap for a minute or two. I had a bottle of water to douse my hat and sleeves to keep my body temp down but after a while that ran out and I was bone dry, hot and not keeping anything down. About this time, I came upon a fast-moving little creek with gross green water. This desert had lots of grazing cows and I knew it was pretty dirty water, but I took the opportunity to basically bathe in it. I drenched my pants, shirt, sleeves, hat, hair, just dumped bottle after bottle over myself until I felt my body temp cool down. I still wasn't drinking but at least I was cool for a while.




The gross water revived me quite a bit and I lasted until about 2 miles from the last aid station, where I wanted to lay down on a rock again in the shade and cool off. Just about then a truck with a volunteer in it came by. She had ice and water. I was able to fill my hat and bottle and get wet again. Still, I couldn't drink even a swallow or I'd start dry heaving. It lowered my temperature enough that I was able to I think mostly keep off heat exhaustion and finally arrive at the Porcupine Ridge Aid Station. Only 5.5 miles left. (rolling hills) I saw my car parked there and was sooo grateful. The road out there was very rugged, needed 4wd, but Jason had decided to come out to meet me. Such a relief to see him! There wasn't much anyone at the aid station could do for me, except fill my shirt and hat with ice and get my sleeves wet again. I tried to nap for 2-3 minutes but the volunteers were chatty, so I got up to keep going. One of them offered for me to take 4 otter pops with me. I told him it wouldn't do me any good, that I couldn't keep even a drop down, but he suggested I try it anyway. Jason followed me aways down the trail out of sight where I asked him to give me a blessing. He put his hands on my head and prayed that I would have what I needed to finish and that my stomach would settle and that I'd finish on time. Gave him a big hug and kiss and left, so grateful he'd come out and I had faith I would pull it together and finish under cutoff.





I was climbing the red rocks near this crazy cliff drop off & running on slick rock and sand. After about a mile I started to feel a little better, so, every mile I made myself drink a melted otter pop. Miraculously, my stomach didn't reject it. It stayed down and I actually felt a small bit of energy return, but most importantly, I wasn't nauseated anymore and was able to climb the hills strong and run the downs. I had to chase off a few cows who got in my way on the trail but steadily made my way towards the finish line that felt and looked so far off! I could see it across the desert! The sun finally dipped low enough behind the hills that it cooled off, to the point I almost felt cold, and I was able to finally get out to the road for the last mile of paved downhill. I ran the whole way; Jason met me with half a mile to go and ran in with me. I thought I was gonna puke crossing the finish line, but I pulled in a finish with 16 minutes to spare! 37:43:46 Not the fastest but I think the 2 days in the desert made this a much more difficult race than last year, so I was just thrilled and grateful to earn my buckle. I crossed the finish line singing along to Sabatons 'The Last Stand'. Running in God's country for heroes, the lyrics resonated in my heart.

"For the grace, for the might of our Lord

For the home of the holy

For the faith, for the way of the sword

Gave their lives so boldly

For the grace, for the might of our lord

In the name of his glory

For the faith, for the way of the sword

Come and tell their story again"




Loved the RD and Volunteers, everyone was just great, and I especially loved having Jason come out and run with me. It's been a long time since he saw me in a deep low during an ultra, I was glad I wasn't alone.


I had a little puke up the road from the race on the way back to the hotel, a looong hour drive. After a hot bath sunk into bed completely exhausted. Hunger won out though, and I woke up to eat a hot chicken sandwich Jason picked up from Wendy's. I was mildly delusional & couldn't remember eating all my sandwich and I was sure Jason had taken the last bite. I fell asleep again, then woke up and ate a second sandwich, and again, the last few bites “disappeared” ha-ha. I must have fallen asleep while eating!


We had a very long torturous 32+ hr. drive home. My legs cramping so bad that I climbed on top of all our suitcases in the SUV and used them as a bed to try and stretch out. I managed to not get any blisters or lose any toenails, but climbing into the SUV, I dropped Jason's laptop on my big toe and it throbbed painfully all the way home, so I am losing one toenail to Ute100, lol.


I think I'd run this spectacular course again, I loved the experience and met the best people, but only if the new RD gets together with the old RD and changes the course back to where the daytime hours are spent at high altitude. 40 miles in the Utah desert in August was brutally savage, especially miles 80-100.


I have 3-week rest before I tackle Grindstone 100, a UTMB qualifier race this year. I am also very happy and humbled to say that Wear Blue has enlisted my help starting Sept 1 to run a campaign for veteran suicide awareness, supporting my 100 milers for Dexter and using our story as an opportunity to help stop veteran suicide. Warrior 100 — wear blue: run to remember (wearblueruntoremember.org)

When I began these crazy distances, I only wanted Dexter to be remembered. I'm so grateful that his life is making a difference for good, and that together he and I through these many miles have reached a point where we are able to invite others to join in. It's pretty special.


I want to say a huge thank you to my friends who follow me as I run, who pray for and support my efforts and believe in me. I have a core group of amazing people who are there to support me every race and it truly helps when my spirits get low and I get exhausted to know there are people who believe in me and Dexter and my boys. so much love to you. Also my biggest thank you to my angel companions who keep me safe and keep me company on this adventure and mission to raise awareness for Veteran Suicide. PFC James Dexter Morris, Sgt Jacob Gray, SSgt Taylor Wilson, LCpl Jacob Crewson, Jenn and Nate.











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2件のコメント


scrisp
2023年9月25日

Oh man Rosie, another epic race and report! This race almost beat you, but you still pulled it out! On the edge of my seat reading along your amazing play-by-play. So cool that Wear Blue is now a sponsor for you. That will be a great deal for them, as you are amazing runner and prolific, descriptive writer!


Jason, you deserve a companion's medal -- what great support you provide to Rosie, and you are always there. What a team.


Blessings to you both. Congrats on #56!

いいね!
Rosie Nanette Gagnon
Rosie Nanette Gagnon
2023年9月26日
返信先

Thanks so much, "prolific" that hits the nail on the head, lol. I think one takeaway I got from these western races is that I really need to give myself more time to acclimate, running at high altitude is definitely a huge challenge. Going forward especially if I get into any lottery races I will need to do some more serious adapting! Thanks so much for your support and encouragement! 😍

いいね!
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