After a few quick photos I sat down and tore into my sandwich. What were you thinking? You can’t run another 12 miles after this.” My body was low on fuel and fighting my every step until I reached the top of the divide. As I marched up the divide my mind started taunting me “Maybe you should just go down Paintbrush Canyon. I relaxed, realizing that I was not alone and that I was near my halfway point (elevation-wise). I could see another group of 5 people ahead of me. The fog finally broke at the foot of the Paintbrush Divide. I just kept reminding myself that I was bound to break through the cloud eventually so I had to keep pushing on. You know that there are other people on the trail but there is not a person in sight. Being alone in a canyon in the fog was an eery feeling. There had been some low lying clouds that enveloped the top half of the canyon and I had hiked right into them. At this point I had also entered the clouds. I decided to fast walk the section of the trail between Holly Lake and the Paintbrush Divide. All of a sudden I couldn’t just cruise along, I was panting and out of breath. As I ran I made a “whooo” sound every so often to alert wildlife of my presence.Īt mile 4 the trail increased in pitch. I decided against wearing headphones for fear that I wouldn’t hear wildlife until it was too late. I ran the first 4 miles with my mind playing tricks on me. The pitch of the trail was mellow, uphill, but a gentle incline. I started with a slow jog around String Lake. There wasn’t a forecast for clear blue skies but at least I wouldn’t have to start my run in the rain.Īfter a brief “nap” in my car I laced up, shrugged on my small Camelback loaded with Gu, Cliff bars, a PB and banana sandwich, a cookie, water and bear spray and walked towards the trail head. I pulled up the radar on my phone (thank god for smart phones!) and saw that if I waited 20 minutes the showers would pass. As I entered Grand Teton National Park it started to rain. Morning came way too soon and I was in the car headed for the String Lake parking lot. Maybe because I was planning on doing the run by myself and 20.1 miles would be the longest hike I’ve ever done in a day, let alone run. I felt more nervous about my trail run than I did about climbing the Grand in a day. I enjoyed it but it definitely wasn’t my favorite thing to do. After my last half marathon I decided that road running wasn’t for me. I enjoy biking, hiking, mountaineering and the occasional trail run during the summer. Also, I would like to note that I do not consider myself a runner. I have run 3 half marathons in the past year and a half, but going from 13.1 miles to 20.1 miles is quite the stretch. I have never run more than 13.1 miles before. The night before the run I laid in bed thinking about it. While I don’t plan on becoming one of those ultrarunners who compete in 50 mile trail races, I did decide that I wanted to see how a “little run” in my backyard would go. I found out that it takes a lot to bring my body to its breaking point. However, the longer I stayed in Jackson the more I began to believe in my abilities and the resilience of my body. If you had told me 4 years ago when I moved to Jackson that I would climb the Grand Teton in a day or run the 20.1 mile loop from Paintbrush to Cascade Canyon I would have told you that you must have me mistaken for some crazy superhuman, which I am not. Jackson Hole is an amazing place filled with incredible people who push you to see your potential and encourage your to test your limits. Septemat 6:12 pm Painted Buffalo Inn 1 comment
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