I needed it.  A weekend away in the desert.  Moab, Utah for The Other Half half-marathon. 

I went with a bunch of friends that were running the race as well.  No significant others or children came along.

Moab Diner

I drove with another woman who wanted to leave after work.  We arrived Friday night late and promptly found our room in the condo and just went to sleep.  In the morning, we got up, drank coffee and the four of us who stayed in the condo just sat around talking. Finally, we decided to get dressed and head out for breakfast and packet pickup and to pick up supplies for dinner at the grocery store.  We ate breakfast at the Moab Diner.   Packet pickup had a few vendors and they were selling shirts from previous races, finisher medals and glasses.

Landscape Arch

Fallen Arch - before 2008, after

After lunch, we went back to the condo and prepared for dinner.  When dinner was underway, five of us (two more of our party had arrived) piled into one big truck and drove to Arches National Park just outside of town.    Getting out of the car in Arches, I simply stood and took a deep breath.  I often miss the desert and it felt so good and right to be there. We did a short hike to Landscape Arch and the fallen arch called Wall Arch. It was a warm day and I was sweating profusely by the end of the short hike.

We returned to the condo and finished up preparing dinner.  Several other friends joined us for dinner.  We had pasta, fruit salad, mozzarella salad, green salad, green beans, bread and apple crisp with vanilla ice cream for dessert.  All of us ate too much, at least I know I did.  After the dishes were done, we sat around a little bit, but we were all tired and planning to get up early in the morning, so we just went to bed. 

The condo was alive again by 5:30am. We had to check out of the condo, so we had to pack our bags, clean dishes, gather towels, and strip the beds before leaving. And get to the shuttle parking lot by 7am to get to the start. 

Dewey Bridge

The start was at a landmark called the Dewey Bridge.  It was a suspension bridge, but it burned a few years ago and all thats left are the cables.  Since it was still chilly in the morning race officials had set up small fire pits and may have been handing out coffee. I just joined everyone else in a port-a-potty line.

The race started promptly at 8:30.  At that time, the morning was pretty cold, but I knew that it would get warmer as the morning went on.  I started in a just a shirt, shorts and some disposable gloves.  

Fisher Towers

It’s very difficult to describe the beauty of this race.  We started out before the rocks turned red and ran into some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.  We passed by Fisher Towers and other beautiful landscape.  I couldn’t think of a better way to spend a Sunday morning.  The run was hard but doable and although I finished slower than I would have liked, at least I passed the woman who had a shirt which read “I’m going this slow because I am pregnant.”

Sorrel River Ranch Resort

The finish of the half-marathon was at the Sorrel River Ranch Resort.

After the race, we made our way back to our cars a couple of miles away, stopping to soak feet in the Colorado River. We started on our way home, making a stop in Glenwood Springs to soak, take a shower and eat some dinner.