Today Heather and I did the Sundance Hill Climb. Last year we did it when it was an inaugural event and we enjoyed the pain so much we decided to do it again. We both wanted to use it as training so we didn’t really rest up for it beforehand.

It rained the night before and the day started out overcast and muggy. It kind of felt like I was back in New York during the summer. We both warmed up on our trainers/rollers in the “free” parking lot above the Sundance base lodge. They had a shuttle running to and from the parking lot so it wasn’t an inconvenience. After our warmup, we had to ride down the canyon to the start where the Alpine Loop intersects the Provo Canyon road. Last year they started us in waves but this year they just staged us in groups then started us all at once.

This worked out well for me since I was staged at the front with the Pro/1/2 field. Heather was a few rows back with the women, so it probably cost her a little time. The race started out tempo and I managed to move right to the front within a half-mile. Then the race really started and I watched as the natural climbers surged ahead. I pushed a little bit to see if I could catch and for a while I thought I could. They were hanging just 50 meters ahead of me for a while, but by the time we reached mile 2-3 the main group started to break apart and go off into the distance.

I was able to catch some people who had gotten dropped, but at the same time, some people caught me. At least I could tell who was in what category by their numbers. I basically time-trialed it all the way to the top, not worrying too much about my competition. It was definitely hard! I wasn’t really breathing very hard but I just could not go any faster. Maybe it was due to the altitude – the race started at around 5500 ft. and finished at almost 7000 ft. My time of 45:15 was OK, but last year I was a whole minute faster. So I can’t blame it on the altitude as that didn’t change from last year! Though the race was later in the year and I was 4 lbs. lighter back then.

Anyway, I waited around for Heather and chatted with Stewart Goodwin, who we knew from when we lived in Pleasant Grove. Stewart married his high school sweetheart last year and is now working in web development and trying to finish school at the same time. He managed to pass me early on, but then I ended up passing him shortly thereafter.

Heather’s time was also not so great, but at least she has the excuse of having a sinus infection. As for me, maybe all this race “training” will let me peak really good for Masters Nationals in a few weeks. I’m definitely not doing it for results!