Boise Grand Slam - Female FKT

Morning Run

IM 70.3 WC RUN 

IM 70.3 WC Ride

Heinen ⛰️ 
Cervidae ⛰️ 
Lucky ⛰️ 
Kepros ⛰️ 

This was incredible. I had the best crew and pacers. The biggest thanks to Sam (crew chief), Larissa (crew) Zach, Devan, Ariel, Andi (pacers) and Andy (most supportive husband). I’ve had this on my list since 2022 and it never worked out with life, kids, and racing. It finally came together!

I learned about this FKT in 2022 when I attended running camp with Ben Monaghan, who has the current male FKT. I did some scouting back then with him and tried to mimic much of the course he followed. (A big thanks to Ben who has encouraged me to do this and answered my many questions leading up to the day!)

We (me and Zach) started at 6:50 am and Heinen went very smooth. The only hiccup was when we spit out to the road, our crew (Sam) wasn't there! She was a couple miles up the road. Zach hitchhiked to let her know, and they met me at the entrance to Cervidae to trade out my shoes and refuel.

Cervidae also went great. I climbed it solo. The climb of Cervidae felt like the easiest part of the whole day. Coming down the back side was slow, and I started to feel the fatigue from the first two very steep peaks. 

I met crew and a new pacer (Devan) at the entrance to Lucky Peak. The high for the day was 70, and the climb up to Lucky which is very exposed, felt like 80. It was hot! That was my first low of the day. We found snow near the top and put some in my hat and down my back and that helped a lot. The descent on the road went well. We met up with Sam and my husband (Andy) at the exit.

I ditched my pack and switched to bottles for the remainder of the run, and ran solo for the next few miles. The descent on Highway 21 into Lydle gulch was the best I felt all day. I picked up a new pacer (Ariel) for the stretch from Lydle to Kepros. I hadn't scouted this section before, but generally it was good. There was one climb before Bonneville point that was unexpected and quite challenging at that point in the run. 

At the entrance to Kepros, my husband surprised me and brought my kids! Alice (4) and Maeve (6) were so excited to see me and that was the highlight of my race. I had lots of support at this point. I had a fresh pacer (Andi), Sam, my kids, Ariel, and my mother-in-law Ruth. I was starting to feel queasy and had switched to liquids (coke and water) for the most part. I fueled extremely well all day so I knew I had enough in the tank for Kepros, but I took one awesomesauce and some Halloween candy for the road. 

Andi and I started out on Kepros in the dark, just before 8pm. Kepros has a lot of trail options (some that have more climbing than others) and it was hard to pick the right ones in the dark. I went into the pain cave for the last couple miles to the summit. Andi forced me to eat half my awesomesauce, and I finally got to the top! That was an emotional moment knowing I did it, and I just needed to get back to the car.

We descended Kepros quickly, and finished in a time of 15:55, around 10:45pm. Zach, Andi, Andy, Sam, and Larissa were at the finish to celebrate! 

This course is HARD. Heinen and Cervidae are steep and technical, Lucky is exposed, Kepros in the dark, plus more road running than most ultra runners wish to do in their lifetime - my body is beat up today, but I am extremely proud!

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Tanya T

Boise Grand Slam - Female FKT

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Boise Grand Slam - Female FKT

Morning Run

IM 70.3 WC RUN

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IM 70.3 WC Ride

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