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Show Page 12 The Ogden Valley news Volume XXII Issue XI August 1, 2014 Pow Mow Half Marathon Runners Will Feel the Burn While Supporting Historic Eden Building Back again by popular demand! Toughest half marathon anywhere! Right here in Ogden Valley, August 30! HEL’s Half Pound! Up and down Powder Mountain Road! “Soles Will Burn,” this year’s promotional tag-line appropriately sums up the experience of last year’s runners. Yes! HEL’s Half Pound #2! Last year 40 runners, split evenly between men and women, took on the grueling climb and knee pounding decent of Powder Mountain Road. Amazingly, all finished. No ambulances, no knee surgeries (that we know of). A few blisters and cramps and a new dumbfounded respect for the infamous Pow Mow Road. Seven runners finished the course under two hours. Amazing, considering the elevation gain! Summer Hogge, Eden resident and fleet footed Philly finished fastest woman at 2:01. Come back and get that sub-2 hour summer! The winning time of 1:39, put up by Pablo Garcia begs the question, “Can the course be finished under 1½ hours?” Doubtful. It remains to be seen. Race smack around Valley water coolers, bottles and hydration packs is a resounding . . . HEL NO! ‘What’s with the crazy name . . . HEL’s Half Pound?’ “We like to think of this race as both outrageous and indigenous,” jests race director Leah Donaldson. “The juxtaposition between merciless 16% grades and the beautiful vistas of Ogden Valley, you know, like pain and pleasure. It seemed the perfect match to the irreverent acronym HEL of Ogden Valley’s native towns— Huntsville, Eden and Liberty. As for the ‘Half?’ That’s self-explanatory—it’s a half marathon. We’re looking for a near death experience not the massacre of a full marathon. Besides, a half marathon on this course might feel like the Huntsville Marathon in the end anyway. And “Pound?” Go figure. Just look at the way runners are walking around at the end of the race while trying to scarf down that bodacious half pound breakfast burrito served up at the finish line by the Hearthside in Eden.” Speaking of the Hearthside, one of Ogden Valley’s historic treasures, owner Dave Martin says, “Race proceeds will help fund another great building preservation project. Last year, the race, jointly sponsored by Energy Solutions, contributed to the re-roofing project. This year proceeds will help towards making the historic 1896 building ‘green!’ Utilizing a process of reverse metering, a remotely installed solar array will produce electricity to offset some of the normal electric demand of the building. Rocky Mountain Power has granted a $6,300 incentive towards the system’s installation. The Hearthside and Valley Chapel might possibly be the first pre-1900 building in the state to integrate such a high tech solar energy retrofit. We’re excited to do this and to have such great support.” So, I asked Leah, “Don’t you think all this pre-race hype that the course is so difficult is a bit promotionally self-defeating?” “HEL No!” (How come her response didn’t surprise me?) “People like challenges. People like to dig deep and see what they’re capable of. I’ll bet the number of runners doubles this year. Last year our last runner, walking most of the way, finished the race in just under 4 hours with the biggest grin you ever saw!” Ogden Valley athlete Marty Smith, of national triathlon fame, with running friend Brandi Lierd, ran last year’s race ten days before competing in the Half Ironman World Championships in Las Vegas. “Doing such a hard intense race before the Ironman competition would be insane, but . . . I’ll do it!” Marty’s response to last year’s race invitation. A year later, Marty reminisces, “I think I’ll train for it this year. That downhill was a pounder! But the breakfast was great!” So, if you think you’ve got it, bring it! You might surprise yourself. If you don’t think you’ve quite got it, you’ve still got four weeks to get it. It’s a great training run for the upcoming Huntsville Marathon and Half! Remember, HEL’s Half Pound, coming Saturday, August 30, 2014. Registration and info at <Ogdenhole.com> Subscriptions available for out of area residents at $18.00 annually. Send payment with mailing address to: The Ogden Valley news PO BOX 130, EDEN UT 84310 LIBERTY MONUMENT cont. from page 1 pail. When the chores were done for the evening and all are fast asleep, Wifey taps you on the shoulder—the kitchen’s sprung a leak. In one bound you hit the floor, enough has been said, Boots, mittens and cap on tight, you try to reach the shed. The trails left in the evening are all blown in a heap, To Hell, I’ll go back to bed and let the damn thing leak. Wadman, followed by a musical selection by a male quartet consisting of Eugene Bailey, Blain Shaw, Bryan Bailey, and Weston Hill. The quartet sang Oh Ye Mountains High, and was accompanied by Louise Hill. Rodney Clark provided a tribute on the Liberty Bell, which sits atop the monument; the poem “So, God Make a Liberty Pioneer Farmer and Wife” was read by Marcene Montgomery; a second musical selection was provided by the Southwick famSo back to the house ily; and Elder Jensen you go, throw your offered remarks as a boots upon the floor, review on the history Dig the snow from out of Liberty. your neck, plug the To honor the keyhole in the door. Liberty Pioneers, a poem was given by You rush back to bed, Lisa Pack, grandgive a sigh of relief, daughter of Edgar Don’t give a doggone if and Irma Holmes, Men’s quartet performs at monument dedication. it snows ten more feet. who were Liberty rise early in the morning and what do you think? pioneer settlers (1901-1940). The poem was You The kitchen had not leaked at all, it was coming from written by Edgar Holmes, and humorously the sink. relates the hardships engendered by Liberty’s You go about your daily tasks, break trails here and harsh winters. there. We’ll be glad when winter is over, we sure have had our share. Winter in the Valley has been no little thing. But with the rains now coming, we hope soon to have Now when the birds begin to sing and we hear the river’s roar, spring. We know that spring is coming, even at our own door. It started in last November and snowed a foot or two. Appreciation is expressed to David Bott, It snowed all through the winter, by darn we hope it’s president of the Mark H. Bott Co., who guided through. the Monument Committee with the informaIt piled high over fences, not a post was in sight. tion on the plaques and the distinct and unique The roads were impassable, gee, it was a fright. bronze castings on the top of the monument. Drifts were ten feet in places, high over your head. His company was the general contractor for the The only place it did not drift was underneath the bed. monument. The Liberty Bell that sits atop the monuThrough the knothole in the chicken coop it blows a ment was donated by the Myron and Vivian little stream It blows and blows and blows some more, piling high Lowenstein family. It is the original bell that long ago called the children to class in the old up to the beam. The outside buildings were covered, they all looked Liberty schoolhouse. Wadman Corporation contributed the excathe same. One oft went to the coal house to get a bucket of grain. vation and pouring of the reinforced concrete structure for the monument. Without this major When your wife went to the cellar to get a bottle of contribution, this monument would not have fruit, been completed. She came back a swearing from out the chicken coop. The Liberty Park Board provided the underThe trail around the clothes line, each wash day in ground utilities to the monument site. They the week, provided financial support and constant encourWas shoveled out for traffic through snow nine feet agement for the completion of the monument. deep. Additional program information and photographs will be included in the August 15 edition From ten above zero, down to forty below, It was no fun chasing bossy through five feet of snow. of The Ogden Valley news. When coming in from milking along that drifted trail, Photos courtesy of Marci Swensen, Anita In spite of all your swearing, the snow blowed in your Schiller Terry, and Bruce Grandin. Winter in the Valley High Altitude Kids Register now for Private Kindergarten Program, Fall Tumbling Beginning the first week of September. Beginning ~ Intermediate ~ Advanced Classes Sign up today…space is limited! 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