Frary Peak Hill Climb Race Report

 

Well, six intrepid runners showed up on Antelope Island Sunday September 30th for the first running of the Frary Peak Hill Climb.

I knew the weather would be ok based on the reports, but I wasn’t expecting to see all the snow on the island at the higher elevations.  Just looking at the top of Frary Peak from the trailhead, I guestimated that there was 2-4 inches of the white stuff up there.

The weather was nice enough that quite a few people came out to hike the trail.  Most were really surprised to find out that there was going to be a race up that trail.

I had toyed with the idea of running the race myself since there were so few people and the others talked me into it.

My prerace instructions consisted of telling the others about the trail and the turnaround point.  The turnaround point was a radio repeater at about 6500’, and about ½ mile from the actual top of the peak.  All everyone had to do was to touch the repeater housing and head back down.  I also mentioned that everyone had to time themselves and then give me their time.

For the start, rather than do the time trial format as originally planned, we all took off at the same time.

I took the lead for about the first 100 yards then was passed by both the eventual men’s and women’s winners.  Once again, I was chicked. 

I did have some concern about the trail conditions once we got up into the snow, but the trail was clear.  There was some mud and water up in the snow areas, but it really wasn’t too big a deal and didn’t slow anyone down.

All of the hikers that we passed on the way up and down cheered everyone on, including one lady who wished she had known earlier so she could have run it with us.

As a member of the volunteer Trail Patrol on the island, I hike/run this trail fairly often.  My best time used to be 55 minutes up, and 40 minutes down.  I knew I could beat that time, I just didn’t know by how much.  I had mentioned that time to the others, and it served as an incentive to some.

John Wojciechowski, the owner of Striders Running store in Layton, led the pack to the top with an ascent time of 41 minutes.  An unreal time given the 1700’ of gain in 2.9 miles.  I don’t think he walked any of the trail up.  He followed that time up with 26 minutes for the return downhill.  Also unreal given the technical nature of the trail.  Mary Workman also turned in a stellar performance, finishing only two minutes behind John.  I don’t think she walked any of the uphill either.

After the race, we all had a bar-b-que with hamburgers, hotdogs, and brats cooked by John.  I had asked everyone to bring a little something to share, and we had some great brownies for dessert made by Carol Harlow.

All in all, it was a good time.  I’ll definitely put the run on again next year, probably the first or second Saturday in October.

 

 

 

Results

 

Place

Name

Time

1

John Wojciechowski

1:07:52

2

Mary Workman

1:09:59

3

Jim Skaggs

1:17:36

4

Olaf Questereit

1:19:56

5

Tony DeArcos

1:20:43

6

Carol Harlow

1:35:??