The race had started off fine as I ran along with my good friend Brendan Trimboli for the first few miles before having to duck into the woods for a pit stop. I would spend the rest of the race chasing after Brendan. After a bout of projectile vomiting and nearly bonking on some gnarly climbs, I realized I hadn't done the proper homework for this particular race. So I'm here to give you the do's and don'ts on how to train/run Cedro Peak.
1. Do - As many trail runs as you can that offer some rocky/technical sections. Cedro runs through the Cibola National Forest, an area that has plenty of rocky sections you are going to want to be prepared for.
2. Don't - Run on the road and avoid trails like the plague. Finding as flat a road as possible to work on pure speed probably isn't going to help you much.
3. Do - As many desert runs as possible. It's an early season race, and as comfortable as you can get in slightly warmer conditions the better off you are going to be.
4. Don't - Eat the spiciest burger you can find the night before at Nob Hill. Eat there the night AFTER you've raced.
5. Do - Practice as much harder down hill running as possible to prepare your quads for the NET downhill the first 27 miles of Cedro. Be sure to also practice going up steeper climbs later in your long runs as the second half of the race has all of the climbing.
Cedro was an amazing time. On paper the course looks much easier than it actually is. The second half offers a very technical and gnarly climb up a power line section and a second ascent of Cedro Peak. Be prepared for this after 27 miles of some hard downhill and you'll be much happier.
One of the hard climbs later in the race
Going downhill at Cedro
Zeke climbing at Porcupine Rim Trail in Moab
More climbing at Porcupine
Me realizing my legs are still tired a week later
