Course Preview: Moab's Red Hot 33K & 55K Trail Races

This weekend's Moab Red Hot 33 and 55 Kilometer course preview provided several runners the opportunity to scout the race's terrain.  As it's name implies, the southern Utah slickrock spires and petrified sand dunes took the shape and glow of red hot embers hiding beneath white caps of snow.  Barring any snow storms between now and race day, the course should be in excellent shape come mid-February.  Race director Chris Martinez took the lead as we explored Moab's backcountry.

Here's a photo tour from this weekend's jaunt:

Special thanks to Sara Wagner and Rob Krar for spicing up the photos herein.

A Moab Scene (Photo by Rob Krar)

Christina Bauer and Sara Wagner enjoy the first climb...mile 1.

Slickrock running...

Race Director Chris Martinez points out to Mike Smith the surrounding scenery.

Yes, the course goes this way...

Flagstaffian's Sara Wagner, Christina Bauer and Mike Smith take a break.

Headed into a slickrock wilderness (photo by Sara Wagner)

Typical course terrain (photo by Sara Wagner)

Dwarfed by the huge petrified sand dunes (photo by Sara Wagner)

The author on Metal Masher, mile 10 (photo by Rob Krar)

A course rarity:  soft tread (photo by Rob Krar)

The final miles have some flatter terrain...

Two miles to go! (photo by Sara Wagner)

The finish:  Poison Spider Trailhead

A day's end:  Clouds and Slickrock (photo by Rob Krar)

Your Moment of Zen...

Would you kill for a glass when the sand fills up your throat?

Water, water!

See ya'll in a month!