The BAER Gutsman

Ashley & my crazy self decided to do the Baer Gutsman.  Last time I did this, I was 14 years old, almost 15.  I decided that 10 years later, I should enjoy it more, right?

The race was on Saturday August 4th.

Haha, this picture explains the early morning start.

Here we are, not knowing what we were getting ourselves into.

Ask me how many times we did the trail before the race? 

Once....one...uno.

We hiked it ONCE for about 2 miles.

The total mileage for the race is about 12-13.

As we are approaching the starting line, this kind gentleman informs us that he did the trail last week and saw a cougar in the "ferns."  The "ferns" are named like so, because they are about hip length and green and gorgeous.  He told us the cougar was sitting to the left in the ferns.  I wanted to crap my pants.  He then continued on by saying, be careful, act big, because with you girls being smaller than guys, they tend to go for you.  Thank you Sir.

Luckily, we didn't spot one coug.

You start at the Fruit Heights City Building and run your way up to the start of the trail head.  We were barely to the 1st crossing (there are a total of 3, meaning you cross the stream) and Ashley couldn't take anymore.  She could barely breath, since she had been suffering with a cold the day before from her dear, sweet, Charley.  She told me she was going to turn around and go back.  Surprisingly, I wasn't scared, because Ashley was my partner, we needed each other to map out the trail and not get lost.  I knew I could stick together with a group and power through.

This year you went to the top (the towers at the top of the mountain near Farmington) and had to go straight back down.  Typically, in year's past, you get to the top and run about halfway down.  Family, friends, and others cheering you on, drive up Farmington Canyon to the spot where you would continue on to Bountiful, that is the finish line.  Because of the mud slide last year, we couldn't go this way.

Once I was at the top, it took me 2 and a half hours, I was so pleased with my time!  I was feeling great, not crazy tired, I was just beyond thirsty, and dreading turning right back around.  I wasn't prepared for the impact on my knees.

As I am coming down "Death Row," which is a straight shot incline up to the very top, some guy says, "Are you Cortney?"  I said, "Yes." And he then told me that Ashley was just a little ways down.  I got a huge smile on my face and started going as quick as I could, without falling.

The cute little thing couldn't bare the thought of giving up and not completing the race.  When I saw her, I almost wanted to cry.  She had my camera in her pack so I took a few snap shots.  We talked for probably 3 minutes, she drank my entire water bottle that I had just filled up at the top (which about killed me later on), and we went our separate ways.

The view alone makes it well worth it, almost.

There are the towers, up close and personal.

We finished!

When I saw Rodger, my mom, and Char at the finish line, I almost wanted to burst into tears.  Going down that blasted mountain was the worst thing of the my life.  I kept telling myself in my head, "I feel so sorry for you."  Haha, it's the truth though.

I finished at 4:43.  Ashley at 5:08.  10 years ago I finished at 4:57, 3 minutes before they cleaned up and went home.  Granted, my time this year could have been much better, had you not had to go all the way back down.  It took me just as long to go down as it did up, could you tell I was burned?

My dad and the girls missed me coming in, but were there for Ashley.

I LOVE Rodger and am so thankful that he supports me and my crazyness.

So proud of us, Ash!

Love this picture.

And of course mother was there as well!  She has done this race a handful of times, her #1 favorite.  I'm sad she couldn't join us this year, with her foot issues.

Check out the awesome medal and shirt we got!  LOVE them.

Ash and I decided that if next year, the mud slide is fixed, and we don't have to run back down the mountain, we're IN!