2025 Lamoille Canyon Half Marathon Race Recap - Lamoille, NV

I think I am on the right in light blue.

Official Time: 1:55:40
Placement: 2nd in age group
Results:  Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: Mid 40's at the start, low 60's at finish
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2021] [2019] [2018] [2017] [2016]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	9:42	Uphill to start. Hard getting the engine started
2	9:02	Felt like this should've been faster
3	8:41	Finally the fun part -- glorious downhills
4	8:16	Cruising along
5	8:10	350+ feet per mile of descent == awesome splits
6	8:32
7	9:06	A reality check here as I hit a little bit of an uphill
8	8:14	Dropping again
9	8:34
10	8:19	Seeing more sunlight and it is getting warmer.  Last of the fast miles
11	9:22	Some rolling hills -- quite steep in spots
12	9:15	Picking it up on the flats and down hills.
13	9:44	Please finish line come on!
13.06	0:32
Total Miles: 13:06 1:55:38

All Smiles in the early miles

Introduction

Once again it was time to visit one of my favorite places on planet Earth: Lamoille Canyon.  If you browse around on this site, you'll see I've run this race a number of times and hiked here.  I've had a ton of good times in Elko and running this race is always a special treat for me.

Heading out to the race at 4 AM

The Lamoille Canyon Half Marathon is what I'd like to describe as a "boutique race."  It is kept small -- about a 100 runners for the 5K and half marathon (each).  The feeling is that you are doing a long run with friends rather than eyeballing your neighbor to see if they are in your age group.  Don't kid yourself, though, it is a race and people are shooting for a fast time, but the atmosphere is a bit more low key.

The race is held at the end of a paved road -- the service drive -- to the top of Lamoille Canyon -- about 13 miles from the main road.  It also starts at a thin-aired 8500 feet. The course promises a fast time though, with nearly 3000 feet of elevation drop over the course of 11 miles or so.  If you are looking to set a PR, this race might be right up your alley if you don't mind running downhill.

The Race

I had arrived in Elko on Friday afternoon. I had toyed with the idea of driving down to packet pickup (about a 25 minute drive each way) but after the 3.25 hour drive, I was simply tired of driving.  You did have the option of picking it up on race morning and given the size of the race, I figured it'd be no problem to get it the morning of.

I grabbed a fairly light dinner and turned in early.  I had problems sleeping, although I shocked myself by getting about 3 to 4 hours (at best).  My room's air conditioner really couldn't keep up with the warmth and stuffiness and I wound up sleeping above the covers with a cold rag on the back of my neck.

With a bus loading time of 4:30 AM, I was up at 3:30 AM and I shoved as much food as I could down.  I was out the door by 4 AM and at the bus loading by 4:30 AM.  Packet pickup was a snap and I was on the bus by 4:45 AM and on my way to the top by 5 AM.

I wound up making small talk with a fireman who I sat beside.  I always seem to make friends at this race -- the Elko bunch are usually a friendly bunch.

The drive took a while but we made it and I had about 30 minutes to use the porta pottie and get settled in.  The top of the canyon is usually cold and I had brought a lot of winter-ish gear, but it wasn't terrible and the time flew by.

With about 10 minutes to spare, I walked down the canyon about a third of a mile to the starting line.  We were given brief instructions by the race director (the course is very simple) and told to keep to the left to avoid traffic.  I was able to dump my gear into an awaiting vehicle and I was ready to run: choosing thin gloves, short shorts, Saucony Endorphin Pro 3's and a technical t-shirt.

I didn't have any hard goals on this race. I was shooting for 2 hours though.  Given the downhill nature of the course, I felt that was an attainable goal.  My training hasn't been that great for a half marathon race, so I was a little worried about my endurance.

The race starts off going back to the drop off zone.  It is a horrible experience. I wasn't entirely warmed up and almost immediately it feels like you are breathing through a straw. The air is just so thin.  I told myself to be patient as I started to breath rapidly.  The first half mile or so is just a grind and I was jealous of all the runners who were ahead of me who seemed to be impervious to the elevation.

Once I started downhill though, even though it was slight, my breathing recovered and I began to overtake some of the runners who had gone out a little too fast.

I think I was too conservative going out though and I knew mile 1 was going to be slow, mile 2 wasn't much of an improvement.  I just didn't have a lot of confidence in what I could do.

We have to run back to the top of the service drive

Miles 3 through 6

The course suddenly got more "fun".  This is where the efforts came easily.  I settled into a nice rhythm and I began to soak up the beauty. I was cruising at below 10K pace without a care in the world.  To my left, a stream could be heard babbling and to my right (and left) impressive walls of rock.  Also, despite it being 6 AM there was plenty of light to see, but I wasn't baking in direct sunlight.  There seemed to be a nice breeze at my back too.  Perfect!

I was still picking people off.  I was keeping myself motivated by finding someone ahead of me and trying to reel them in.  With a race this small, I wasn't really running with anyone for very long and it gave me a drive to run a little faster.

I hadn't seen anyone in my age and honestly I didn't care. I was running strong and I was questioning whether I was going too fast, as I hit paces that have cost me in the past.

I wound up consuming a Roctane GU, which definitely perked up my pace.

Miles 7 though 10

Mile 7 was a bit of a hiccup. I knew it was coming and mentally I was ready for it.  Here, the race levels out and there is a bit of a hill you have to climb.  Your quads have been pounded by the preceding miles so making yourself push, when everything hurts is definitely a challenge.

At this point I was working on keeping up with a woman runner.  She was holding a solid pace and a good hundred or two yards in front of me.  There was another runner (or two) even further ahead but she kept me in the game.  Over the course of these miles I picked up my pace every so slightly and started gaining ground on her.

As I sped down the S-curves of the canyon, I noticed that soon we'd be running in broad daylight.  We'd lose any sort of shade, which I was really enjoying.  I also knew the final 5 kilometers where most people's dreams of a great race are dashed.

If only the race continued to drop a few hundred feet over the final 5K.

Final stretch

Mile 10 through 13

I was on the woman's tail by the time we hit the sunlight.  I was honestly kind of surprised I had caught up to her.  At about the final downhill, I overtook her and figured it was time to start working on the next competitor.

I was still running, what I felt was strong, and was trying to summon my inner speed -- recalling the great final 5K I had had at the Sun Half Marathon in January.

It was getting warmer and the uphill sections came more often.  The woman I was "competing" against, kept overtaking me on the uphill portions.  Once we had ascended, I would resume more normal pace as we either took on the flat sections or got another small downhill.

This back and forth lasted until mile 12.  It was fun while it lasted, but I felt like my pace dropped off a cliff.  She obviously had another gear and she put me in the rear view mirror.  It was good spirited and after the race we congratulated one another on our efforts.

The final mile was a doozy.  There just wasn't much left.  I felt like my once smooth, easy going glide was now a desperation shamble.  I was overtaken by a few other runners in this final desperate time.  There is a bit of a drop as we headed into Lamoille Grove -- the village's park -- but I couldn't take advantage of it.  Glancing over my shoulder, I didn't see anyone I was too concerned about passing me.

I knew there'd be photographers at the finish and I put on a brave face as I ran on the grassy lane that was lined with American flags to the finish.  There was a lot of crowd support here, with families cheering people on.  For a small(ish) race, this almost felt like crossing a finish line of a much larger event.

Finish line Chute

Conclusion

So, from about mile 8 or so, I knew I had a good shot at finishing under 2 hours.  I had banked so much time on the faster sections.  While my times were definitely slower on the final 5K, I was still in solid contention to finish under 2 hours.  I was really pleased with a 1:55:40.  However, there is no way, I could've gotten anywhere near this on a flat course.  I suspect the race does give you about a 5 to 10 minute boost.

All smiles at the finish line

Post race refreshments were chips, Gnarly sports drink, water, and chocolate milk.  I think there were bananas as well.  Typical fare for a race.

I loved the finish line vibe. The park was decorated with American flags, there was an announcer shouting finisher's names.  The 5K runners were getting awards and people were just friendly and willing to recount their race.  It was also a picturesque day: sunny, warm and just enough of a breeze.  I didn't mind too much that it took a while to dole out the awards.

Shirt + finishers medal + age group award

The new starting time (6 AM) also gave me plenty of time. Normally I have to rush back to the hotel to get cleaned up and out of the room. This time, I had another hour to loaf around and mingle.

Initially, I had thought I had won my age division (55 to 59).  I had fears they were 10 year brackets.  I do think my name was called out in first, but looking at the results, one of the top finishers was definitely in my age group.  So I am claiming 2nd.  The age group award was a simple ribbon. 

Overall, I was very happy with my experience. The course was easy to follow, there were several aid stations (I think 4 but I could've used another).  The volunteers at the aid stations offered encouragement and had hydration ready to go.  The bus ride to the top was nice too -- coach buses are always nicer than the yellow school buses.

The finisher's medal was pretty basic and the cotton t-shirt was a bit ho-hum. I still wear their grey technical one all the time that I got years ago.  I wish they'd go back to that style of shirt.

Overall, though, I was had a wonderful experience. This course is so incredible and I hate to spoil the secret that this canyon is indeed Nevada's Swiss Alps.  Definitely put this race on your list if you want a fast time and don't mind smashing your quads to get it.

Upcoming Races

06/21: 2025 Run Timp 10K - American Fork, UT (Confirmed)

06/28: 2025 Taylorsville Dayzz 5K - Taylorsville, UT (Confirmed)

07/04: 2025 Sandy City 4th of July 5K - Sandy, UT (Confirmed)

07/12: 2025 Farmington Days 5K / 10K - Farmington, UT (Maybe)

07/19: 2025 Mantua 5 Mile Race - Mantua, UT (Maybe)

07/26: 2025 Handcart Days Races 5K - Bountiful, UT (Confirmed)

02/22: 2026 Las Vegas Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

03/26: 2026 Mount Charleston Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

2021 Lamoille Canyon Half Marathon Race Recap - Lamoille, NV

Official Time: 1:48:21
Placement: 15th overall, 1st in age group
Results:  Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: Mid 40's at the start, low 60's at finish
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2019] [2018] [2017] [2016]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:48	First quarter mile is up hill at 9000 feet elevation.  Takes your breath away!
2	8:10
3	7:51	Finally the fun part -- glorious downhills
4	7:38
5	7:34	350+ feet per mile of descent == awesome splits
6	8:05
7	8:28	A bit of flat here
8	7:54	Back to cruising downhill.  Wish the rest of the race was like this.
9	7:54
10	7:55
11	8:56	Out of the canyon and into the hot sun and last of the fast miles.
12	9:02	Rolling hills and flat here. Only a tiny bit of downhill running.
13	9:34	Legs were so shot.  Just dying to finish.
13.04	0:24
Total Miles: 13:04 1:48:21

Typical stretch of road in Lamoille Canyon

Introduction

Finally this race came around.  It is one of my favorites and one I try to do every year.  Last year, due to Covid-19, the race was altered a bit and during that time I was not comfortable with traveling and staying in a hotel.  So unfortunately, I passed on the race.

This year, however, the race looked like it normally was and with a sense of safety, I entered in it this year.  I wound up signing up a few months before the race's start due to it being close to capacity.  I am glad I did, as a few days later it sold out.

The race is located in a small, sleepy village called Lamoille bordering the beautiful Ruby Mountains just south of Elko Nevada.  The Lamoille Canyon half marathon starts at the paved road's end at the top of the canyon and works its way down to the base.  You get an amazing 3000 feet of elevation drop for about the first 10 miles before having a bit more of a drop (and some climbs) before finishing at Lamoille Grove Park.

The course is absolutely stunning and beautiful.

All smiles before the race.

The Race

The race is an early one.  It is a summer race and therefore temperatures -- once you get out of the canyon -- can be quite warm.  With a race start of 6 AM for the half marathon runners (5:15 for the full marathoners), I was up at 3 AM, driving to the park by 4 AM and on a bus by 4:30 AM.  So definitely a LONG and early morning.

I had loaded up on some black tea, Wheaties and a few cookies before heading out the door from my hotel.

Unlike previous years, the temperature at the top was very reasonable.  I had brought a lot of warm clothes in anticipation of it being a chilly morning.  I was still dressed in sweats but I didn't need any gloves, hat nor jacket.

I easily killed off the 30 - 40 minutes before the race by visiting the restroom and admiring the view from the top of the canyon.  The race started promptly at 6 AM.

I was trying hard on this race.  Given my recent improvements on my weight and doing harder workouts to build my speed, I had hopes that I would turn in a decent time.  My goal was to run under 1:50, which I think was entirely doable on this fast course.

The first half mile is actually quite cruel.  You are eagerly anticipating running downhill, but first you must go about a quarter mile up the canyon (while starting at about 8800 feet) and make a lap around the end of the road's circle.  You aren't even really warmed up and it's already hurting.  Fortunately, this year it seemed easy.  I just bided my time, worked my way around the circle and then accelerated into race pace.  Could I be off to a good race?

The first 2 miles aren't crazy downhills, so you can work your way into the race.  I was pretty excited to see my splits go by in faster than normal half marathon pace.  I was just letting gravity pull me.

I was a little dismayed though -- I was carrying my own hydration and I had mixed 2 packets of powder into my 28 ounce flask.  It was WAY too strong.  I had only needed one.  It wasn't until about mile 7 that I finally had a chance to dump some of it out and refill it with water to dilute it (I had already suffered through using it as well up until that point).

I hadn't been in the canyon since 2019 and all the memories of the times I've done the race before came back at me.  All the familiar sites and smells (the Ruby Mountains have a fantastic smell to them).  I was just enjoying the shade, the mountain air and all the views.  Just a wonderful and beautiful experience.

After 2 miles or so the course really picks up.  The downhill gets a bit more serious and my splits matched the descent.  As I expected, I started to hit sub 8 minute miles.

So questions began to run through my mind: Did I have the endurance to go this hard? Was I going to crash and burn?  Should I slow down?  

I still haven't quite figured out downhill racing, but I was hoping I would get it done and hit my goal.

The miles continued to tick along and I was coasting as best as I could.   Around mile 7 or so I hit a wall -- I think there is a bit of a flat stretch there and my legs just weren't responding.  When you go from letting gravity pull you and achieve a fast pace to suddenly having to work, it feels like you are running through molasses.  Fortunately, the flat section wasn't terribly long and I was able to start running down hill again.

The race finally starts to get serious around mile 10.  At this point, you are no longer protected from the sun and the downhills pretty much stop.  It is still net downhill but there are some serious hills to go up and mentally you have to be prepared for them.

I had been running mostly solo but I wound up catching up with one of the lead women and I overtook her at this point.  But every uphill I did, she'd pass me but I'd regroup and on the flat or downhill, I'd pass her back. Unfortunately, I did lose the battle and by mile 11 or so I was in a world of hurt.  

My pace came to a crawl and it took everything I had to keep going.  I think a bit of it was that my legs just felt like rubber.  The other part was that I was dehydrated and a little undertrained as far as endurance went (my longest run in the past month was about 10 miles).

I kept looking at my watch and doing mental math: could I still break 1:50?  It was going to be close.

As I got into mile 12 I willed myself to just finish.  Every now and then I'd muster up a sprint or so but that was about it.  The heat seemed oppressive and it seemed like my legs felt like they weighed 100 pounds each.

Finally I saw the coned off area for me to make my final right turn and head down under the finish line.  It couldn't come fast enough!  I did my best to show I wasn't dying inside as I ran down the line of US Flags to the finish line banner.

Conclusion

I checked my watch: I hit a 1:48:21.  Well under my time and matching my 2016 time.  The hits continue to come in 2021 as I make gains that are turning back the clock.

I grabbed some water and found a shady spot to collapse in. I was just exhausted.  It took a while for my system to "find itself" again.  I was pouring cool water over the back of my neck to cool off and hydrating myself with what was left with my electrolyte drink.  

Part of me also wanted to soak in the satisfaction of a race well done.  The last 2 miles were definitely ugly, but I nailed my goal and turned in a really nice race.

No pancakes this year, but they did have chips, fruit, chocolate milk, and water.  It took a while for my system to be able to handle a chocolate milk but I got some onboard.  Also, I had brought a can of Pepsi with me, which managed to stay somewhat cool to drink.  It helped my stomach.

It took a while before the awards were handed out, but I am glad I stayed.  I wound up socializing quite a bit and had some fun conversations with people.  I also got to see some of the lead marathon runners cross the finish line.

I wound up finishing in 15th place overall.  Better than I expected (out of about 100 runners).  I also won my age group, which I hadn't expected.  

Finisher's awards were recognition, a special photo and a ribbon.  The t-shirt was nicely designed but not of the 100% polyester material that I like.  The finisher's medal was definitely customized and featured Nevada and the canyon.

I thoroughly enjoy this race.  It has a small town vibe and it is a small-ish race.  People are generally friendly and I came away with a great sense of satisfaction.  In addition, I got to run in one of the prettiest places on the planet.

2019 Lamoille Canyon Half Marathon Race Recap - Lamoille, NV

Official Time: 1:54:26
Placement: 19th Place overall, 3rd in the 45 - 49
Results:  Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: Upper 30's at the start, mid to upper 50's at end
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2018] [2017] [2016]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	9:05	Ouch, first quarter mile is uphill.... at nearly 9000 feet. Gasp for air!
2	8:33
3	8:26	Cruising down hill
4	7:59
5	7:54	Fast miles. Almost felt out of control here. Altitude was making short of breath
6	8:35
7	8:51	A little bit of up hill here. Getting some fatigue in my legs
8	8:13	Last of the downhills.  Got a bit of a second wind here
9	8:23
10	8:35
11	9:27	Now some rolling hills
12	9:27
13	10:04	Felt horrible here
13.07	0:48
Total Miles: 13:07 1:54:26

Introduction

Well if you are a regular reader of my blog, you know I have a special affinity towards Lamoille Canyon.  It is a little known canyon just south of Elko.  Locals know it as a great place to hike and fish but outside of Elko County, it gets little attention.

Lamoille Canyon is just a beautiful area though and I look for just about any excuse to go there -- either for a hike or for running.

So it didn't take much thought for me to jump into this year's edition of the Lamoille Canyon Half Marathon.  It is one of my favorite yearly events and it is also one of my favorite races of the year.  Just getting out of town for a long week, running in my favorite canyon and the whole experience just resonates with me.

Race Setup

I took off on Friday afternoon after excusing myself at work at the half way point.  I was on the road by noon and made the hour and 40 minute drive to Wendover. We did a bit of gambling / sports / buffet eating betting before heading into Elko, another 90 minutes from Wendover.  It is a super easy drive and the speed limits are fast.  I thoroughly enjoy the drive and it never gets old for me.

Packet pickup was at the Elko bike shop and I hit rush though and it was a solid 20 minutes to get my bib / shirt and swag bag.  It seemed like everyone decided that around 4 PM was a great time to get their bib.

We did a bit more gambling and relaxing.  We grabbed dinner at JR's Restaurant -- across the street from the Red Lion.  No more buffets before a race for me.

I slept like crap despite a nice room.  I've never slept well before this race -- and it's not because of the hotel -- it's just being in an unfamiliar area.  If I got 4 hours of sleep, I was lucky.

The Race

I was up at 4:15 AM and out the door by 4:45.  I made the 30 minute drive in no time at all and grabbed a great parking spot near the finish line.  Was one of the first to cycle through the bathrooms before jumping on a bus.

I know when taking a bus ride to a race it is super smart to get in the front.  My bladder was overactive and thank goodness I was first off the bus.  There were only about a hundred of us up there but 3 bathrooms.... 

After using the restroom, I did some socializing and did my best to stay warm.  As you can see from the photos there was a decent amount of snow up there and the temperature was in the mid 30's.   As a veteran of the race, I knew what to expect and had the appropriate attire.

The race started promptly at 7.

The first quarter mile is just awful.  You starting off running to the circle at Road's End (elevation around 8800 feet) before turning around.  I always tell myself to take it easy and not stress out about it but running at the elevation and just starting your engine, so to speak, is just plain cruel.

Luckily the pain is short lived and I can get my breath again as the downhill starts.  I had dressed down to shorts / t-shirt and cheap gloves.  I was perfectly fine with this.  And soon enough, from being chilled, I was working up a good lather.

The first few miles flew by.  In a blink of an eye I had blasted out a speedy 5K at just under 10K pace.  Gravity was assisting me as the course progressively gets more downhill.  Although, I felt like my breathing was a bit labored and I summed it up to the elevation.  I simply felt like I wasn't getting enough oxygen.

For the most part, I was within talking distance of someone during the early miles.  As the race went along though, the runners got more dispersed.  But it was nice to have company for the first 6 miles or so.

The canyon had caught fire last year and it was sobering to see all the damage.  The upper areas hadn't really been affected by the fire, but as we descended down the canyon on the service road, I was witness to the damage the fire had caused.

The snow gave way to burned out trees and scrub.  The grass was coming up and some of the trees might survive, but many were charred and leafless.  It was really sad seeing my favorite canyon in somewhat of a ruin.  On the plus side, the rivers and waterfalls were plainly in sight and it was comforting to hear the water splash or roar over the rocks.

I started to come out of my funk midway through the race.  As I descended, I got more oxygen in me and I started to hydrate more at water stops and using some of the hydration I brought for myself.  I toyed with taking in a gel, but really didn't feel the need for it (in hindsight I probably should've used one).

Part of me wanted to keep running in the canyon but part of me was looking forward to getting out.  When I could finally see Elko in the distance, I knew the race's end was coming and to be honest after the quad pounding of nearly 3000 feet of elevation decline, I wanted to give them a break.

Unfortunately, exiting the canyon means that there are rolling hills coming, including some hills that might be easy peasy on fresh legs, but would spell disaster on dead legs.

I knew this was coming and braced myself for it.  I actually felt like I did okay and while my time wasn't too bad on those first couple of hills, it was demoralizing because I was so used to coasting and not having to work on maintaining any sort of pace (this race is hard to have any consistent pace due to its nature).

I wondered how the marathoners -- who started an hour before us -- were fairing on the rolling hills after running all that downhill.  I really don't think my legs would've tolerated that.

The final mile is always the toughest.  There is just nothing left.  My quads were shattered, I was thirsty and the sun was beating down on me.  It wasn't a terribly hot day but the sun just felt intense.  Couple that with the fact that you have to run now and not just coast, it makes the final mile hard.

I kept looking behind me to see if anyone was coming as I fell into a death march pace.  I willed myself to go faster but my legs just felt like lead.  My ego was at play here and I tried but I couldn't muster up anything.  I kept looking at my Garmin.... please.... 

Finally I could see the flags for the entry in Lamoille Grove Park and to be honest, I almost walked the last .1 of a mile.  I was just "done" but with pictures being taken and again with me ego, I pushed and let the crowds bring me in.

Conclusion

I wasn't sure how I did compared to last year.  I seem to recall finishing around 1:53 and figure my 1:54 wasn't too awful.  I later learned I had finished in 1:50.  Talk about a bruise to the old running ego. 

Definitely my slowest race.  Given though that I put on a bit of weight during my running hiatus due to a hamstring pull and the fact that I am just starting to get back to regular training, it wasn't too surprising with my time.

Post race refreshments are always good.  They had chocolate milk, ice cream, fruit, sports drink, and chips.  My stomach was touchy so I kept to the basics.  They also had pancakes.

I know quite a few people in Elko, so it was great catching up and talking to folks who had run the marathon.  Again, I have no idea how anyone has 13 more miles in their legs after blasting down that canyon.  I am not sure there was another mile or two left in me at the end of that race.

I wound up nabbing 3rd in my age group.  Luckily, the guy who normally comes in first (and I get second) was a no show, otherwise I would've been out of the money (so to speak).

The medal is cool.  It isn't anything fancy but it is definitely personalized for the race and commemorates the rebirth of the canyon after the fire of 2018.  They also had a cool Lamoille Canyon t-shirt.

I paid about $60 for the race.  This is the going rate for a half marathon these days and considering all that I received I was satisfied with what I was charged.

Course support was good.  They had gels, fruits, water and sports drink at about every 2 miles starting at mile 3 (the premiums came later in the race).  The mile markers were off and got more off the further the race went.  Fortunately, overall, the race is accurate in overall distance.  Bag drop was also stress free as well.

My race result isn't what I had hoped for.  It makes me sad / angry as this course is fast.  But considering, I've been eeking out about 2 hour half marathons the past 6 months, my result is not surprising.

I will likely do this race again next year.  It just a joy to get out of town and experience the canyon.  I probably would've hung out at the post race awards / festivities a bit longer, but hotel check out time was coming so once awards were over, I headed out.

2018 Lamoille Canyon Half Marathon Race Canyon - Lamoille, NV

Official Time: 1:50:46
Placement: 3rd in age group, 19th overall
Results:  Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: upper 40's, slight wind from north, sunny and warm at the end
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2017] [2016]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	9:20	First section of the race is uphill and it hurts!
2	8:43	Cruising downhill
3	8:16	Smashing the downhill
4	7:59	Easy to run this fast with 368 feet downhill
5	7:51
6	8:11
7	8:47	A little bit of uphill killed my legs here
8	7:56	Back to downhill running
9	8:07
10	8:01
11	8:51	Mostly a downhill mile but some uphill that cost me some time
12	8:37
13	9:16	Some rolling hills here. Clawing my way to the finish
13.09	0:48	Thank goodness I was done
Total Miles: 13:09 1:50:46

Introduction

I live in Tempe Arizona now.  One of the difficult parts of adjusting to a new life here is missing out on some of my favorite races.  The Lamoille Canyon Half Marathon is indeed one of my favorites.

The canyon is located about 25 minutes south of Elko, NV and I have so many great memories hiking and visiting many of the trails there.  It is popular enough for the locals but not too many people outside of the area know about it.

I was getting (super) homesick and I really wanted to go home for a visit.  I decided that I'd couple my visit of returning to Salt Lake with a little bit of a road trip and a race.  I snagged a pretty good deal on air fare and the rest just sort of came together.

I arrived at midnight in Salt Lake on Thursday, slept a few hours and then hit the road mid Friday morning.  I was a little bleery-eyed but it was all worth it.

The Race

I rolled into Elko, NV -- about 3.5 hours west of Salt Lake around 3:00 o'clock.  I had broken up the trip by stopping into West Wendover Nevada for lunch and a little bit of gambling (of course).

The packet pick up was at Bristlecone Bicycle shop.  It was good to see Anne, the race director.  I've know her a while and have done many of her races that she holds in the Elko area.

Shari and I stayed at the Red Lion hotel.  It's a good hotel and they usually give us a break on the food.  I didn't sleep particularly well.  I am not sure.  I think I was a little over stimulated from gambling and the room seemed hot.  Maybe I got about 4 hours of sleep.

I woke up at 4:10, packed up and hit the road by 4:45.  I arrived at 5:15 for a 5:30 bus, which was packed.

The drive to the top of the canyon -- about 13 miles away -- took about 20 minutes.  Experience had taught me to dress warm for the start.  You are just shy of 9000 feet and while the valley might be in the upper 40's, the top of the canyon is going to be a bit cooler.

I killed about an hour up there socializing with friends both new and old.  I also managed to snag a foil sheet from a marathoner who had started just shortly after we arrived so I could keep my legs warm.  I had packed lightly for the trip and while my core was warm, my legs weren't.

The race started promptly at 7:00 am.  The first third of a mile just sucks.  To make the course 13.1 miles, we have to start about a third of a mile from the top, run up to the top, circle around the bathroom and then head down.

I don't warm up much before a half marathon, but trying to run fast, uphill, not warmed up and at nearly 9000 feet of elevation is just plain cruel.  It is like trying to breathe out of a straw.

Luckily it is short lived and I told myself not to panic.  I'd be making up the lost time after the turn around.

First part of the race is a climb.

It took a bit to get my wheels working again but the first 2 miles are fairly gentle of a decline. It was nice to take in the cool mountain air and there is a gentle stream rolling next to you.  I just wish I had had time (and energy) to take in a hike and not really race a half marathon -- but I digress.

About 3 miles in, I hit my groove.  I knew the course so I knew when the race was going to get tough(er). In the past I've really died in the final 5K when you more or less have to power yourself to the finish line.  However, the first 10 miles are mostly downhill so you can pretty much coast and hope that the hills don't destroy your quads.

I was running with a group of people but as the race progressed I found myself chasing a group.  I did have to use the restroom but I was tailing what looked to be another runner in my age group.  I knew one of the other runners who was in my age group who was clearly faster than me, so I didn't want to take any chances with at least getting an award.  So that guy was my target.

My legs weren't really responding like I had hoped they would.  I did have a fairly high mileage week and I was starting to regret doing a 4 mile shakeout run Friday morning.  Panic started to fill my head.  I had run a 1:49 last year and I didn't want to blow up on this race.

I was carrying my own hydration for this race -- I had brought some Tailwind with me, which I think went well.  The caffeine in it was a much needed boost.  They had water / Gatorade stations every few miles and while it wasn't super warm it was warm enough.  I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt but the first few miles I had wished I had brought some throw away gloves.

It felt like it took a lot more effort than it was while running.  I was definitely turning in some good splits but it seemed like a lot of work.  I suspect high altitude will do that -- and with Tempe being at 900 feet or so, running at 6000 feet was going to seem like work.

There weren't many flowers out yet but the canyon smelled wonderful.  Lamoille has a certain smell -- it is a Juicy Fruit Gum smell that some wild flower or plant gives off.  It isn't there all the time, but certain parts smell like it.  Also the smell of ragweed was in the air and sometimes it was a bit difficult to breath.

I really enjoyed the canyon and it brought  back a ton of memories of all the places I had hiked over the years.  I wondered how many more times I'd get a chance to visit it -- or if this was it.

There are a few uphill sections on the course and it was so hard to change gears.  I began to worry what the final 3 miles would be when there were more rolling hills.

However, the death march didn't really come.  I took the uphills as aggressively as I could and tried to get back into a rhythm when I was done with them.  The Tailwind drink also seemed to help.

I was still running with people and the guy who was I was chasing had dropped off.  So maybe with some luck, I could nab an age group award.

Last stretch before the finish line

The final mile is grueling and you no longer have the ability to coast down a hill.  I was tired and I kept looking at my watch counting down the quarter miles. 

I was pretty happy to see my Garmin report that I had finished in 1:50.  I was hoping to go sub 1:50, but I didn't really get the early speed I was hoping for.

Heading to the finish line.

Conclusion

I was really close to being sick at the end.  I was pretty worn out and I had pushed it at the end.  No one was behind me (for quite some time actually) and I knew I was in for a fairly decent time.  I don't normally get too worked up about downhill races -- I don't really consider them for PR purposes but I wanted to do well.

I grabbed some chocolate milk (actually two of them).  They had a super nice spread of food including a pancake breakfast.  I really wish I was staying another day in Elko as I would've made a meal there, but I had a limited amount of time.

The race directors have a pretty unsophisticated way of putting people into their age brackets (and one that actually works well for a small race).  I could see right away where I finished in the 45 - 49 age group and I had placed 3rd.  Being that I was short on time, they allowed me to pick up my age group winner ribbon and get a photo taken.

I was really bummed I couldn't stick around longer.  I knew a ton of people there and it was such a beautiful day.  My heart ached when I took off.

I am not sure how many more Lamoille Canyon Adventures I have in my lifetime.  I now live many hours away and getting there is semi-expensive.  I am just glad I was able to get there and run it once more.

The race was $60 and I registered pretty late.  The bus ride to the top was in a coach bus with a bathroom.  The finisher medal was unique but hardcore medal collectors may be disappointed.  The shirt was cotton but thoughtfully designed for a Nevada race. The race was well supported and organized.  Definitely a top notch job on post race food.

I hope to make it back to this race in the future.  Each time I go, I feel so fortunate that I can run in this locale and enjoy a unique race.