The 5th running of the Kat'cina Mosa 100K was held on Saturday August 5th 2006. It's advertised as a very challenging, difficult and scenic loop course through the Wasatch Mountains above Provo, and the race Director John Bozung isn't kidding!

We flew into Salt Lake City Friday afternoon and headed south to Orem, Utah.
First thing on the agenda after checking into the hotel was to go find the run start. We had directions, but since we weren't familiar with the area we figured it would be a smart thing to do. After a few wrong turns we found the start area and were given a tour by the local Cub Scout Leaders. There was a lot of swag given out at the packet registration and lots of cool prizes raffled off after the pre-race meal. Kelly and I both got Dirty Girl Gaiters!

The run started at 3AM. The first couple of miles were on the road; we then turned off onto a dirt service road and started a 13-mile ascent of ~3500'. A good power walk pace was manageable on this grade and I averaged 15 minute miles for this section. The night air was cool and a blanket of stars hung over our head. As the sun started to rise, the sky was washed in pale lavender. At the switchbacks you could see views of the cities below Provo, Orem and Springfield and Lake Utah.

Once we got to AS#2 (13 miles) the next 3.5 miles were all down hill. This was a nice break from the up-hill grind of the last 3+ hours.

At AS#3 we make a right into a single track section that goes up to Lightning Ridge (~9600' the highest elevation on the course) with about 2600' ascent in ~3 miles. The beauty of this section was a good distraction from the constant uphill grind. The trail was a thin single track and all around you were masses of wild flowers every color of the rainbow with fluttering butterflies and buzzing bees.
Once you reach the top of the ridge, the view from here was just spectacular. For a fleeting second I wished I had a camera!
Coming off the ridge was a steep and technical ~3300' descent into AS#4. I had now covered a bit over 23 miles in just over 7 hours.

Now it was starting to warm up. I lathered myself with sun block before departing AS#4 knowing that the next long sections would be somewhat exposed. I also picked up a 3rd water bottle. This would prove to be a very smart move.

Departing AS#4 put us on a gentle trail that connected onto the Great Western Trail. This trail traversed along the side of the mountains weaving in and out of the shade and tree cover. It was very run-able in places and the grades not very steep. It was a 3000' ascent over 6 miles. The difficult part was the heat. I passed a runner on this section that was clearly suffering from the heat and had slowed to a slow crawl.
The heat was not really an issue for me. This was nothing compared to the oppressing summer humidity/heat of Texas. I found it quite comfortable, although I will admit it felt MUCH nicer in the shade =)

I reach Windy Pass (AS#5) our second highest point at ~9100'. These volunteers had packed all the food and gear and brought it up to this point on their backs. I was most impressed. At this point I was starting to drag a bit. I knew I needed some nourishment, but all that was available were fruit and chips, they were also out of coke. I sucked down a bunch of orange slices and some melon, refilled and headed on my way. The next section of 9.2 miles was the longest between aid stations. I hoped that my waning energy supply could hold on until I got there!

Leaving AS#5 there was a short climb and then an undulating descent of ~2350'.
The trail was single track and very overgrown with scrub oak. You would literally have to part the brush to be able to get through. There were lots of exposed roots that would grab your toes and the trail was eroded and soft under your feet. One false step and you could easily go rolling off the side of the mountain. I almost experienced this first hand!

After what seemed like forever, I come up to AS#6 Little Valley @ 38.8 miles
My husband was going to meet me here with hamburgers!! UUUGHHH...he was nowhere to be found. Turned out that wrong directions and the lack of a 4-wheel drive vehicle kept him from getting to this aid station.
I whined and cried a bit to the nice Volunteer (Norman). I was totally out of gas and needed some protein badly! Did they have any??? No!
They had peanut butter...I guess that was better than nothing. Norman made me a PBJ which I ate the whole thing and chased it down with a pink lemonade. I refilled all my bottles, slapped on more sunscreen and gathered myself to tackle the next 7 mile stretch. This was the section that the RD informed us about at the pre-race meal. He changed the course since this route would offer more protection from the sun....but would also give us another 500' of ascent. Heck, what's another 500' feet when you already have to cover 13,000'....right??

This is where my run started to fall apart.

Leaving AS#6 I was faced with a steep uphill grind on a rugged jeep road. It seemed like this ascent would never end! I would walk until I found a rock or log in the shade and then sit for a few minutes....all the while praying to God to please give me strength to finish this section. My walk had no purpose; I was a slow moving zombie on the trail. I was out of gas and I needed food. When I finally reached the summit of the climb I threw my arms up in the air and yelled at the top of my lungs 'Thank you God!' The only ones who heard me were God and the little critters scurrying around. It wasn't over yet...there were 2 more climbs coming up, granted they were not as steep as the first one, and I found myself taking less rest breaks and walking with a little more enthusiasm.

Finally!!! AS#7 @ 45.8 miles.
Here I found Lorilie and her son Jarred. They had recently moved to Utah from Texas and I had met them a couple of years back at the local Texas Ultras. They and the rest of the volunteers catered to me hand and foot. I asked for protein and they had it! I ate a string cheese and turkey roll up, no bread, and chased it down with 4 cups of watermelon. I had been carrying an energy drink with me through the last grueling 7 miles. I was glad I had it since they were out of cokes. I must have spent about 20 minutes here, eating, chatting and recharging my mental batteries. All thoughts of dropping were slowly being erased as the food worked its magic and I started feeling better and happier. I grabbed a string cheese to go and was escorted out by Lorilie and her son. I was feeling so much better now!

The stretch to AS#8 was about 6.7 miles. Two of those miles were a gentle uphill grade on a jeep road. Again I found my mojo and I was power walking with a purpose at a good clip. After the initial ascent there was a long gradual descent on a rocky jeep road of about 1000' into AS#8 at mile 56.3. I ran and power walked all of this section and was feeling strong!

I arrived at AS#8 at about 6:30PM only to find that my drop bag did not make it.
At first I don't think much about it until I realize that I was supposed to pick up my headlamp. I still had 10 miles to go and the sun would be setting at 8:30PM....could I do it?? Paul, the lone volunteer at AS#8 was kind enough to lend me his headlamp. What a life saver! Thanks Paul!
I also ate my spare string cheese and more watermelon before heading off.

Departing AS#8 we go back into single track for 3.8 miles. This section was very run-able and a gentle downhill grade crossing back and forth over Hobble Creek. A mile into this section I pass 2 runners. I give words of encouragement and move on along the trail. I was feeling great! Another mile and I come across my husband hiking up the trail to find me! What a surprise!!

I didn't want to leave him in the dust after his effort to find me, so I power walk/jog the next mile or so with my husband close behind. He kept telling me to go, but I really didn't want to.

Finally, AS#9 at 56.3 miles...only 6 more miles to go. These were all on asphalt on a road with no shoulder. I gave Frank all my gear except for a water bottle. I headed off to tackle the last 6 miles with Frank occasionally driving along side of me asking if I needed anything. It felt like my own personal Tour de France. In the case that I blew out a shoe, he was there to quickly replace it for me...haha.

I power walked walked/jogged this stretch and finally arrived at the finish just as darkness settled. I never had to turn on the borrowed headlamp!

While on the road, Frank and Kelly informed me that I would be the 2nd female to arrive at the finish line. I had no idea. Wow.
I ended up finishing in 17:47 hours as 2nd overall female and 1st Master female. That was a nice ending to a very long day!

The awards were very unique hand carved Kat'cina dolls.

The Race Director John Bozung and his crew and volunteers worked hard to get this event going. It wasn't flawless, but as far as I was concerned the trail and turns were well marked, the aid stations acceptable and the volunteers wonderful.
I just wish there would have been 'real' food at Little Valley Aid Station (AS#6).
Nine-plus miles were a long way to go between aid stations and by that point we all needed some real calories. I would not be surprised if a lot of the drops happened here, only 21 finisher out of 40-ish completed the run.

I would like to thank my husband for his help and patience during the event and all the months of training leading up to it.
My friend Kelly whom also ran and called it a day at Little Valley; she picked this event last summer for us to do and I was very happy that she was able to come and enjoy it with me. We had a great 'training camp' weekend in Colorado Springs three weeks before in preparation for this run. I would also like to thank my friends in Houston Trail Runners EXtreme (HTREX) who spent long hot and humid hour running with me on the weekends and weekdays.

The following day, Frank and I drove to Flaming Gorge and Dinosaur National Monument....through a marble-sized hail storm!

The End.

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