Waldo or Death

Yep, gonna do it. Have too. Scared big time. But looking forward to the challenge. Waldo 100k here I come.

This is from the home page:

The Where's Waldo 100K Ultramarathon is a challenging 100K loop-type course starting at Willamette Pass Ski Area (70 miles east of Eugene, Oregon) at elevation 5120', climbing up several mountains including Fuji, The Twins, and Maiden Peak before returning to the ski area. The route is 97% single-track trails with some fairly remote sections and has many incredible views of pristine Waldo Lake. It is not a beginner-level ultra and participation in the race should not be taken lightly.


Notice the bold on the last sentence. Yikes!


On top of Fuji Mt. last year (DNF)

Haulin' Aspen 09

This is such a great race in so many ways. As I have matured as a trail runner I enjoy this more each year. I have now run the marathon and half marathon twice each. At first I thought this was too hard of a course. Now I find it a fun and challenging.




Gail and Eric freezing at the start.



Gail, Eric and I drove over to Bend the night before. Due to the lack of parking you have to take a shuttle from a few miles away to the start. So it would have been a pain to drive over that morning We got to the shuttle lot at around 6 am and then got over to the start line around 6:15 for the 7 am start. It was a typical cool central Oregon morning with the sun not quite in sight yet. This was our buddy Eric's first race a new Marathon Maniac so the 3 of us dressed in "colors" of the club for the day. Most the time I don't wear my Maniac outfit on trail races but this day was to celebrate Eric's great accomplishment.

As we waited for the start we realized there were no blue little houses. Oops...the guy forgot to deliver them. Soon he arrived and all the nervous bladder runners were relieved. Gail and I were down the hill doing some minor things when we heard the starter counting down. Another Oops...we were late. So up the hill we ran and crossed the start line a little behind schedule. "Hey its a long race, we will make it up." I guess that is a sign this is becoming a habit when you don't even care if you are ready to go when the gun goes off.

My view from the start of every race. LAST!






The race starts up Shevlin Park road for about a mile. It is the only pavement we will run on this day. Of course I am last. To this day I am still amazed how slow I am at the start and how fast everyone else is. The race starts at about 3300 feet so my sea level lungs are puffing a bit too. Gail and I run together for a bit chatting away, she forgot her gloves so I give her mine (What a husband ya know.) We then catch up to Hitch (Eric) and the 3 of us talk. I stop and take pictures of us. (My new thing is to carry my camera). We turn back towards the start line and enter the trail. Lots of dust and the ground is very dry. I cough a bit but press on as I start to warm up. Around mile 1.5 or so I start to leave Eric and Gail and begin to pass a few folks. We get back to the start line, cross the creek and start a nice little climb up a ridge line and join an old fire/jeep trail. I run everything. My goal in this race was to run up every hill, no matter how steep it is. I need the hill training for the Waldo 100k so I will push the hills, cruise the flats and downhills.


We come to AS 2 and hop onto a very rocky road. A bit of down hill then the climb starts. This is about mile 3.5 or so and from now on its up till mile 14. Nothing downhill. I used to walk most all this section with sporadic bits of running. But today is training. I run it all. It actually feels good to run it. I go slow but I do run. A few miles up the road I run into Sean Meisner, the stud who just won the Canadian Death Race or whatever its called. I gouge him about not being out here but he says "I have Waldo in two weeks" Well "So do I!" I say back. Problem is he will run the race, I will probably walk over a third of it. OK I give him a break after a quick handshake.

I am carrying two bottles again for training. Plus I don't have to stop at too many aid stations. I made one boo-boo today. I some how lost half my Gels so I only have 5 gels for the day. So I must ration them a bit. I also drink the Gatorade they have at the AS's so that I get some more calories there.

Around mile 11 is when the battle of this race starts. We hit some hills that go up...and I mean up. Probably 80% of the runners walk this section. I look up and can't imagine I can run this entire thing. I just put my head down, take baby steps and continue to run. The up just keeps going and going. Just when you thinks its over you go around another corner and up again. We are treated to great views of Mt. Bachelor and back towards Bend on this cool and sunny morning. I pass probably 20 to 30 runners in this section.














The Big climb on the course. Goes on forever.




Finally the road begins to level and I see the AS ahead. This is the mile 14.2 AS that drops you back on the trail. I look at my GPS watch and we are at 5,750 feet. So about a 2,500 foot climb. Sure seems higher than that. I refill my bottles and head down the hill. Basically from here on out its all single track with mostly switchbacks and 98% downhill. Time to have some fun!!! The first part is pretty steep so I let my legs fly but don't push. I do not want an injury here. It is so pretty in the mostly Pine forest. One runner just flies by me. He is having way too much fun. He and I end up passing back and forth till the last few miles. He is the only runner to pass me this day and I end up ahead of him by 10 minutes or so at the finish.

Not allot to say about the last 12 miles but that I felt real good. That is the nice thing about doing 50 mile and 50k races this summer. Marathons actually seem like 1/2 marathons used to. Not easy but not hard for sure. I took it easy on the real rocky and technical sections, not wanting to get banged up. My goal was to beat time of two years ago at 4:53. It looked like that was going to be real easy to do today. In the real steep rocky section I ran into a fellow Maniac who had fallen. I stopped and talked with him. He said he was fine but would have to go real slow. I saw no blood so I put my hand on his shoulder and wished him well. At the bottom of this section we drop back into the valley where the park is. It is now a gradually descent on nice wide trail to the finish about 2.5 miles away. I smell the barn and pick up the pace. I pass 4 or 5 runners, some might be from the half but I don't care. I got gas and I am going to push. It is fun to go fast after 24 miles, what a change.

I cross the finish in 4:34:05, a great time for me and a PR by 20 minutes on this course. And yep I did run the entire trail. That was my goal and that is what I was happiest about. I walked around for a bit, got my cool finishers medal and the hat. (I like the hat). Then started eating. They have some of the best finisher food with nice pasta, salad, beer and other goodies. I also chat with other Maniacs and runners and just have a good social time.

At around 5:23 Gail comes running in. No blood showing and a nice smile on her face. As usual she enjoyed her self on this course even though she had fallen so bad last year. This is a tough course and its a great time for her. A few minutes later Eric crosses and he gets the big cheer. We all hang for an hour or so and eat away. The weather has warmed up nicely and the blue sky makes it a great day.




I really like this course. Each year I like it more. It's fun to run a trail race and have it only 26 miles. You don't get wiped out like you do on most trail races that are 50k or more. It is so perfect to work your butt off for the first 14 miles then have 12 miles of downhill bliss to the finish. My quads were pretty happy with me this day. Put this one on your to do list.


First Trail Marathon complete for Eric.



Hitch, Detour and Fat-Boyee.

The "New" PCT 50 mile

Due to the Over-Gov-ment's decision to add some wilderness area near Mt. Hood on the PCT we can no longer run through that area. Oh wait, yes you can run but you can't have an "organized" run. Whatever! Well it caused a drastic change in the PCT 50 this year, instead of running up Mt. Hood we could only go out 14 miles towards Hood then turn back to the start and run a 22 mile loop south on the PCT. At first I was really bummed about this then I figured it's a good thing as I get to see a new section of the PCT. And, of course it will be so much easier than running up a mountain. Wrong!!

Gail had to work this year so it was just me out there. I took the regular start at 0630. I chatted with Olga, Monika and Zirk before the race. Said hello to some other friends while I got ready. It was going to be warm today but we missed out on the super heat by a day or so.

Da hot er...cold check in girls.
Olga gathered us all up near the start and basically said if you get lost you are stupid. Then taking a saying from the Hardrock 100 start she told us to "Go on, get out of here!" and off we trotted. It was nice this year as we didn't have to go up the road and do the short loop. We just headed out down the road towards the PCT trail going north.

"Listen up!" Spoken in Russian.

As usual I was in last place at the start, trying to get the oil in my engine to warm up. I have never figured out why slow runners start out so fast in long races. Maybe its just fun to be up front? Maybe I will try it some day.

My goal for this race was just to PR and then try and break 11 hours. Last year I ran it in 11:26 so it was a pretty good push to break 11. But last year I also got sick and had really bad leg pain so I figured it was doable.

Shot while running and I didn't crash!

As we hit the trail along Timothy Lake we just chatted and enjoyed the blue sky morning. The only down side was it has been very dry and the trail is very dusty here so you are sucking in tons of dust.

Dusty!

I pulled in to Little Crater AS at mile 6 at around 1:06, a slow time but I did stop a couple of times in the trees. I never get tired of looking in this beautiful Spring fed lake. I just checked in at the AS but didn't grab anything as I had two water bottles and the next AS was only about 4 miles away. Back on the trail I really enjoyed this section. It has some nice easy climbs with some rocks tossed in for fun.

Little Crater Lake

At AS 2 I refuled and was told they moved the drop bags from this AS to the next one. Oh nice to know now. So I now have only one Gel, no big deal as I grabbed food from this AS but the drop bag set up was a bit of a cluster this year. The mossie's were bad at this AS again this year but I was prepared and covered in Deet. Out I go and now we start the first good climb. I like this section too as we get to walk a bit and then get a great view of Mt Hood as we run along a steep hillside. I was feeling good with no pains. I was planning on drinking more than usual early as I knew dehydration would be a problem later. In this area we first started to see the early starters and the leaders. It was fun but got to be a pain as you had to yield all the time, this was a problem to me later in the race too and I think cause a large blister on the side of my foot. (Came from getting up on the steep uphill side of the trail) The last few miles of this section has some big downhills and it was fun to fly but I was dreading the walk back up on the return.

Hey Marc! And he beat me by a minute-thirty!



Love this view

I got into AS 3 quite a bit ahead of schedule. I carried a laminated pace chart for each AS. I tried to make best guesses that would get me in a finish time of 10:18. This was at just over 14 miles. I saw my future pacer Eric working the AS here. We chatted and I told him I felt real good and that I would see him in 5 to 5:30 time back at the start (28 miles). Off I went back across Highway 26 and on the trail heading back towards the start. Soon the climb began and it didn't seem that steep, so I was running up this section that I had just dreaded because it seemed like I would walk this section for sure. Well that wasn't the case. It was nice to be able to run this as most years this would be around mile 38 and I would be dead and walking for sure. I again had to stop and water the forest a couple of times, what is up with me today I thought.

My favorite section of the course. Dueling cameras??

I rolled into AS 4/2 and fueled up. I had made turkey and cheese sandwiches for my drop bags this year. I would half about every aid station rather than doing Gels all day. It did seem to make me feel good early on. Kind of normal if that is possible on a long race like this. Off I went towards the short distance to Little Crater.

I want to interject a few thoughts here. I sometimes get frustrated at this Ultra Running sport. There is something strange here that I feel not many sports have. I can line up at a race with a runner who probably ran in college, maybe was very very good at his distance and will run times that just amaze me. And here I am, a 49 year old fat guy who never ran in school and barely survives these races. I get sick, I hate life, I wanna die and all of this. I know the fast folks fight the same pains and I am not taking that away from them. But at times I feel like I am in an NBA game and of course I don't have the skills to be here. For us back of the packers it is just dang hard to run these courses. I think it takes all of our strength to get it done. I am not sure where this is coming from but I am fighting an inner battle right now. As you will read I had a rough finish in this race and my whole goal this year is to run and finish the Waldo 100k this month. This is a tough race that might be over my capabilities. I dream about this race, I fear this race but I want to finish it. But on the other hand do I have the skills to do this? And why do I want to beat myself up so bad, mentally, emotionally and physically? Why?

Out of Little Crater I was looking forward to running this section of the PCT along the lake. The last two years this section seems to go on for ever and ever. But this year on fresh legs it would only be mile 22 to 28 and I was going to enjoy it. And that I did. I just ran and had a blast. I was making good time but refused to look at my GPS watch until I got into the aid stations.



Eric picking me after 28 miles

I came off the PCT and ran up the pavement to complete the loop. I got in with a 5:15 time, not bad I felt for 28 miles on the trail. Eric was there and helped me refuel and get some items from my drop bag. After a few minutes off we went. Eric was to run the last 22 miles with me. He was there to get in some good trail training and to help my sorry ass as needed. We ran a bit on a trail then got on a gravel road with some good climbs for about 2.5 miles. I was walking most the hills. Then back on the PCT we had some more big climb. I started to struggle a bit here but felt OK. I was really drinking allot, about 40 ounces an hour as it started to heat up in this section. Just before the Red Wolf AS at mile 33 or so we saw the leader go by...man he was fast. At this AS we saw our friend Caroline and all her helpers dressed up as wolves. It was pretty cute.

Out of this AS and then we crossed under one of the major power lines that cross over the Cascades. I see this almost every day I fly south so it was kind of cool to final see it from the ground. This next section was huge downhill and slightly over grown in sections. I was flying down probably in a 7:15 pace or so. I was just letting my legs float. I wobbled a few times but never really came close to falling. We came upon a real steep down section that ended up at the Warm Springs river which is just a creek at this point I also saw what looked like an area of worship, kind of like an outdoor church. This is on the Indian Reservation so I don't know if it has religious implications for them or not? We crossed the little bridge and I dipped my hate in the cool water, man that felt good for the next few miles. Now the big ass climb. Up we went. The guy in front of me picked up a pacer at this point too. He chatted him up all the way on this climb which was a good 1,000 feet or so. This is were I started to die. I just had dizzy spells and stomach problems. My legs felt fine. It was a tough section. But we made it to the AS and I hear "What are you doing here?", it was Kelley who I seem to run into everywhere, she is a writter for Oregonlive.com so I think she goes to most races. Well she helped me get ice for my bandanna and to get food into me. I chugged down another Starbucks espresso and cream, my new miracle drink. We then headed out south to do a little 1/4 mile loop or so to get the mileage right. Then back to this same AS. I loaded up a boatload of crap in my shorts pockets. Peanut butter crackers, gels, sandwich, S-caps, 2nd ipod shuffle and some other stuff. I think my shorts were touching the ground at this point.

Out of this AS its a nice downhill section. I needed that and just let my legs go. I was probably doing 7 to 7:30's at this point. I wasn't pushing but was just gliding. At one point Eric wasn't behind me. I thought about stopping but figured maybe he needed to water the trees. (I found out later the heat had gotten to him and he was losing his lunch) I passed quite a few folks and soon came down to the Warm Springs river again. I so wanted to get totally wet here. But I decided to just wash off. Boy it felt good, the cool water on my head and legs. I took a few minutes to just get some energy back as I knew the next climb would kill.

Up out of the valley we went. At first its not bad, slight climbs through thin new Pine trees. But it was getting warm for sure as it was now mid afternoon. A few runners I had passed now passed me back. I had some nice chats with familiar friends, even some new ones from Kansas. (They said they have hills were they live!) Then came the big grind. The last 1200 foot climb or so to the final AS. I died here. I got sick, I dry heaved and I couldn't slow my breathing down. I got worried as I felt like I was hyperventilating, I just couldn't slow down my breath! My pace went to a crawl here. The hill never stopped. Our Kansas friends began to suffer too. I so wanted to DNF at the next AS. I don't like this! I am not enjoying myself. What do I have to prove in doing this. I feel like crap! But I kept walking, only stopping to wretch a few times.

By the time we got to the last AS at mile 45.5 I was done. I told Eric I am going to sit down and to get me up in 10 minutes. I needed to think if I was going to quit or not. I needed help to get my bandanna off. I had them fill it with ice and then I put it on my face to cool down. Tears started to flow, I was so spent in so many ways. I just kept the ice on my face. Then I put it on my legs and my arms, it felt so good. I asked for some 7-Up with ice and it actually tasted pretty good. I just kept rubbing the ice over me. More and more runners came and went. I just sat on my log thinking. I knew the next 4.5 miles were mostly all downhill. If it would have been a climb I think I would have quit.

I got up and said "I'm going now. Thank you everyone" and I walked out. I was still a mess. I would walk then shuffle for 30 seconds or so. This went on for awhile. Then maybe I ran a bit more. I started to feel better. We got some nice downhill and I actually ran. I was feeling good. But most the flats I would still walk and run. This whole time my legs felt great. I had no pains...no back pain, no leg pain, one little blister. It was just my gut.

We passed folks again then they passed back on the flats. Finally we dumped (thats for you Gail:) ) back on the gravel road. This seemed so steep up and now it looked pretty flat. I mostly walked this section and just chatted with Eric. Lots of folks passed as they could feel the finish was close. We finally dropped into the trail again for a few hundred yards before popping out onto the road near the finish. Olga was there, she yelled "Can't you run any faster?" So I turned around and ran backwards...which I think was faster. As I came by her she started running. She ran the last 100 yards up the road beside me. I told her I might cry at the finish. She said " I like men that cry" That made me laugh. We crossed the finish and I got the same hug from her that every finisher got that day. This was to be her next to last day in town as she was moving to Texas to be with her husband to be. I whispered "We are going to miss you". Olga has been a good friend and mentor. I knew nothing about running a distance beyond 50k. She taught Rick, Gail and I quite a few things about the sport that really helped me get to this point in my distance running. Thank you Olga and best wishes!

I soon felt pretty bad after the finish. I chugged another Starbucks but I think I had too much caffeines this day. So I gathered up my drop bags and headed to the car. I wish I could have stayed and eaten and had a few drinks but I just wasn't feeling up to it. I thanked Eric again for being a great pacer. He was da man that kept me going for sure today. Thank you sir!

For many days after this race I knew I wouldn't run Waldo, now two weeks later I am still not sure. Maybe I will attempt Waldo then retire from anything more than a 50k. I don't know why I need to keep doing harder and longer races. But anyway I want to thank Monika, Olga and Mike for putting on a great race. I loved the first 35 miles!

I finished in 10:49, a new PR for PCT. 25 minutes or so faster than last year. I met my goal of sub 11 hours. My pace chart was 10:18 but that was a dream time. So I guess I am happy for that time. To me this race is not about time but about finishing alive. This is my third year and the third battle. I won every time but walked away beaten up pretty good. Will I do it next year? Yeah probably, not sure why tho?

Eric looks great after, I look pretty white!

That S.O.B was nice this year. Or boy plays with camera during race.

The Siskiyou Out Back 50k was not such an SOB this year. And that's a good thing. Gail and I decided to fly down to Medford and avoid the long drive from Portland. We got in late Friday night but as with small airports it was easy to get the rental car and get to our hotel. We only got 5 hours sleep or so but that never seems to bother me the night before a race. We got up early as Gail was taking the 6 am early start. We made the nice drive up to the Mt. Ashland Ski area where the start was. Gail was off with the early group and I just hung around and talked to some friends.

At 7 off we went. David and I are were talking during the first 1/2 mile and we were already out of breath! The base elevation is at 6,300 feet so us flat landers were hurtin! But it was a beautiful morning with clear blue skies and a cool temp in the 50's or so. After running on the road for a bit we drop off onto the Pacific Crest Trail. This is such a nice section as you run through the trees for a bit then it opens up into a nice meadow. I brought my camera along so I was stopping numerous times to take some pictures.

I just seemed to cruise on this race. My plan was to use this as a training run for Waldo 100k and enjoy this great run. I was going to cruise the flats, float down the hills and push fairly hard on the up hills. I wanted to get some good up hill training in to build my confidence.

At about mile 5 or so we start the big downhill of the course. It is so much fun early on as its on nice soft tree lined trails. But since this is an out and back run (mostly) you know this is a "B*tch" of a section on the way back in. Around mile 8 or so we start an ugly climb up an old rocky road. This section is pretty boring and you walk for a few miles for sure.

Back into the woods we go and I am still feeling pretty good this day. I hit the half way point and see my friend David again. We both get into the 16 mile AS at the same time. I load up my ice bandanna with snow and eat some food. I spend about 5 minutes at this AS, the most by far this day. Both of us head up the last of the climb but I stop to take some more pictures. David yells "C'mon Henry lets move".

David Alavi


So off we go. At the high point of the course (around 7200') we cruise down another road for a nice down hill section. Soon we peel off to the "Red Rock" trail? I love this part. It's awesome single track with lots of rocks. I really like the technical sections. It keeps my mind off the pain. I love the drop offs, the narrow trails, the wild flowers in bloom and the awesome views.



(Photo by Tom Riley)
In this section last year around mile 19 I caught up to Gail. So I kept thinking it might happen again. But she was no where to be seen as I was passing many of the early starters around here again this year. I had one woman pass me here. She was a true mountain goat and was just flying down the hills. She was fun to watch and listen to with her southern accent. As I dropped into the AS at around mile 21 the guys were all dressed in dresses. It's just not right to see someone with a hairy back in a red spaghetti dress. (urp!) I gave them a hard time and grabbed the last of my gels from my drop bag. I was trying to drink more on this day as I still think I may not drink enough. But the joy of this stop was sucking down my Starbucks Double espresso and cream drink! This is my new favorite on the course. It goes down so nice and is a good mental pick up.

No wonder my stomach was upset!

Now came the hard part. This killer 4 to 5 mile climb. I just new I would walk it all but I was going to push fairly hard but not burn out and try and run it. Boy do you suck air up here! I talked with quite a few nice folks on this section. It's so fun to be out in the woods and strike up a conversation with a total stranger.

We broke out on the ridge and things it was a real mental uplift. A cool breeze was blowing up the ridge line and I could see the next AS a 1/2 mile away. I pushed and kept passing some slower folks. I breezed through this AS with just a water refill. I was using two bottles, one on a belt and one hand held. I know on the hot races 20 ounces of fluid will not be enough between aid stations for me. So I better get used to it.

We had a few little climbs from here on but I tried to run most but the very steep. I was getting pretty tired and just a tad of an upset gut. As I got into the last AS I thought we had 4 miles but the guy yelled only 2.7 miles to go. That was a real moral booster so I pushed it up a bit. I ran everything I could. At one point a runner and I were trading places back and forth. We chatted and he mentioned I must be a few years older than him. I said I turn 50 this year, he said "you guys are my hero's". That felt pretty darn good even tho gettin old ain't allot of fun.

I still kept looking for Gail, hoping she was alright. We dropped off the PCT onto the road and I started to walk a bit up the steep section. I was having a good feeling that Gail was not going to get passed by me, which is so awesome. We hit the flats and I ran it in the last 1/2 mile to the finish. I crossed the line in 6:07 which is a PR for me at SOB. I was dang happy with that time. Soon after I crossed we got a medal and some nice running socks. There was Gail smiling. Yeah! She did finish in front of me. She got in about 7:03 so just a few minutes in front of me with the early start.

We hung around for a few hours. They had some great after race food and drink. Gail also wanted to get her picture taking with Hal Koerner the winner of the Western States 100 mile race that we just watched a few weeks earlier. Plus she said something about him being easy on the eyes or something?:)

Hal and his fans

We drove down the mountain and took a quick shower at a truck stop, ate some lunch and then caught the 5:30 pm flight back to Portland. It was sure nice to be home at 7:30 and not be tired from the drive.


The two old guys. David and me.

Bret, Gail and Mt. Shasta.

Put SOB on your to do list. I will try and make it back every year. This run is so great!

Flat but Hot Marathon

The Sauvie Island Marathon was on the 4th of July as usual. But this year it was on a weekend which was a bit strange. I have ran either the marathon or 1/2 for quite a few years, except last year while I was in Denmark.

This course advertises that it is very flat. Well that changed a bit this year as you don't do two loops around the course anymore but you do a 6 1/2 mile out and back then finish the original loop. It is a nice change, but for those that wanted flat this has some minor little climbs. They didn't bother me but may have been a pain to some. But overall this is a very flat-fast course.

I went into this as strictly a training run. My focus this year is to finish the Waldo 100k and this race was just another way to run with friends and get some good miles in. I wasn't going to try and push it at all as I didn't want to get hurt.

Many of my friends were running this day. It was fun to meet everyone and chat before and after the race. Gail wanted to run but was scheduled to work, then at the last minute early Saturday they called and said she didn't have to work. But the race was filled by that time.

The race started at 0645 which was nice because we would be done before it got real hot. Fellow Slug Tom decided to take the early start at 0615 (smart man). Abbe was running the 1/2 that started at 0700. Eric and I lined up for the 0645 regular start. It was chipped so no rush plus it was a small crowd of only a few hundred for the marathon. The 1/2 had like 2000 runners!

The gun goes off and Eric and I trot out near the back of the pack. Eric gets to be a Maniac today as it is his third marathon in 90 days. It is a clear cool morning for summer. As we run hundreds of cars are still trying to get to the parking lot. Glad we got here early!

We are just chatting and trotting at a 9:40 pace or so. I feel my usual stiff and slow for the first few miles. I drop off Eric and head to a blue shack to get rid of my cup of coffee as Eric continues. I get out and put on some tunes and catch Eric after a mile or so. As we head out the outback loop I see Katie our famous Cheerleader. It's always fun to see friends on the course. This area is nice and shady. It is already starting to warm up.

Eric has to make a stop like I did and I continue on. This was the last we ran together for the day. I just tried to run a 9:30 pace as I was looking to finish in a conservative 4:18. At the next AS I stopped and filled my bandanna with ice. I love this thing for hot days. You just get cool ice on your neck and cool water dripping down your back for hours. As it warmed up today I never felt hot the entire race. Everyone else said the heat got to them but for me I was the perfect temp.

With my tunes on and just a plan to cruise I was enjoying the run. Saying hello to all that I passed. I ran into Larry Macon, Mr. Marathon who did 105 marathons last year at age 63, super nice guy. I then caught up to Tom, he was hurting with some back problems but was a stud and finished the race while being very uncomfortable.

At mile 20 Detour was there smiling and waving. How cool, she had ran out 6 miles to run with me. Yeah she was a backwards Bandit this day. We ran for a few miles then at the AS it was a quick bottle refill and then out I went. Gail stayed in the AS for a bit and waved me on. So back on with the music and push on. By this time I was up to 9:15 pace and still felt real good. I was trying to hydrate about 30 to 50% more than usual due to the heat. It seemed to be working as I was feeling fine. My fastest miles of the race were the last 6.

The sun was up high now and many runners were starting to walk. By mile 23 I hardly saw anyone running. Many of the strong runners were already done as this is an easy course to PR on. I tried to give encouragement to those I pass but I know how tough it is for them right now. I had lots left in my gas tank but I still was not going to push. I tried to keep the same pace, just a good training run in the heat.

I crossed the line in 4:11 and change. I was very happy with that time as earlier in the race I figured I probably wouldn't even get a 4:20 in. This was marathon number 55, my old football number.

We hung out as all our friends finished. The heat got to everyone a bit today but all finished. I felt pretty darn good after this race. I refused to sit down for at least an hour and while standing I would pump my legs now and then. I got this from Lisa Bliss about how to keep your blood pressure from crashing post race. It seems to be helping. (Plus drinking coffee!!)

This weekend Gail and I head down to Ashland for the SOB 50k. This is a beautiful run on the PCT but the elevation always gives me fits (6 to 8,000') plus that damn climb from mile 21 to 26 always takes it toll on me. We are going to make a quick trip for this one. Fly down at 8 pm on Friday and fly back at 5:30 pm on Saturday. No time for sightseeing on this one.

Western States 100

Gail and I went down to Auburn to check out the Western States 100 Trail Race. We had a blast hanging out and the Aid Stations and getting a bit of a run in. The temperature was 97 degrees at the Forest Hill AS and over 100 down in the canyons. It was a rough day to try and do a 100 mile run. Kudo's to the 280 or so (out of 400 starters) that finished the race in under 30 hours.



Forest Hills AS




Notice the sign


Early posting on the wall of the times. Go Oregon!


Zack ended up in the top 5 I think.


You gotta get your weight checked at most AS.


Drop bags laid out nicely.


More early runners coming in. This AS was at
the 100k point. (62 miles)


Sean Meissner of Sisters. He was having a
rough time here with gut problems.


Most the time you would see his feet flying.
The heat was taking its toll on everyone.
Sean was about in 45th place here.


Gulp gulp gulp...ahhhh! At this AS the runners
would pick up their pacers.


WS trail sign near Rucky-Chucky.


Mile 72 and ya gotta cross the American River
The girls would be up their necks in the early
part of this crossing.


Who is that girl!!! Go Detour. I had to hold her
back from crossing the river.
The wet area is how high the river is normally.
The get the damn up stream to lower the flow
for just this day of the race. Pretty cool!



There is gator's in that river!!!!



AS volunteers spend up to two hours
in the river assisting the runners.
The busiest time is around 2 AM.
These pix were around 8pm



Gail and I running back up the canyon. It
doesn't look steep but we climbed over 1,000
feet in about 2.3 miles. Temps over 90 here.
She is so awesome of a hill climber!



Fat Boyee is pretty happy. Out on
the trails running at the greatest
Ultra of them all. Some day folks,
some day.



We got to the finish line just as Hal Koerner won
the race in around 16 hours and 25 minutes.
We hung around for another couple hours and
watched 15 or so other runners come in, including
the top 3 women.
Gail and I both said this was the most fun we
have had in a long time. Good job to all the runners
who even started this race.