Goblin Valley 50K: Details and photos

Adrian and friends Billy and Gar all participated last month in the Goblin Valley Ultra Marathon. The 50K race - as well as the 25K and 10K running events - is held in Goblin Valley State Park, a hodgepodge of mesas and sandstone formations located in the San Rafael Swell about 32 miles north of Hanksville.

Adrian and I drove up from Tucson and arrived a day before the race. We camped with Gar and Nicole and Billy outside of the state park off between county road 1013 and a small wash tucked alongside a steep cliff. We set up our tent and gear among desert scrub and juniper and dozens -- and I mean, dozens - of old fire rings.

The following morning, the boys were up before sunrise to prepare for the race. The sub-35 degree temps encourage me to stayed in the tent as long as possible. We all piled into the Subaru and drove to race start, just a few miles down the road.

The race began at 8 a.m. Adrian finished the 50K course in four hours, 20 minutes and came in second place overall. He was the first man to finish. The woman who won finished in three hours, 55 minutes. Gar and Billy stuck it out together for the entire race and finished in five hours, 50 minutes.

Below are a few photos from the day. 

Cold start.

Sunrise at Goblin Valley State Park.

Heading back through the wash.

The final mile is through the hoodoos.

Lost among the hoodoos.

Adrian approaches the finish line.

Adrian cheers on Billy and Gar.

Coming up the road and then a final push through the hoodoos.

Billy and Gar approach the final pumpkin

Finish!