Scott Wolfe and I did a power trip up to James Varner’s Orcas Island 50k this past weekend. What a cool race. Tons of stellar Pacific NW singletrack, complete with some “Varner Miles.” Yes, be prepared for a wee bit over 31 miles. My garmin logged 31.75 in a very heavily treed course. My best guess would be closer to 34 or 35 miles with nearly 8,000 feet of climbing. Ah yeah, Bronco Billy likes. The extra credit was fine with me. I need for Coyote Two Moon 100 miler in March. Plus, I knew the Varner Miles were coming. Bill Huggins and Padre (aka Justin Angle) had mentioned it was a bit long. So, I was mentally ready for some bonus miles. James is really putting together a great set of races in the NW. He’s also getting quite the reputation for making them kinda hard too. Again, keep it up James…builds character. Check out his schedule at rainshadowrunning.com.
Scott and I left Friday at 5:30am from Bend and arrived on the island at Camp Moran (race headquarters) at 6pm. 8 hours to Anacortes, WA, hour ferry ride and a half hour shuttle ride to the camp. Long day on the road, but all worth it. The course was stellar. It rained Friday night, but race morning dawned with no rain and in the 40s. Perfect for me with a sleeveless jersey and gloves.
After about a 15 minute jogging warm-up, I dropped my extra layers and met Scott, Padre, Huggnut and Adam at the start. At the start, a roadie named Justin took off like a shot and the rest of us settled into the groove in a chase pack (he would later get off course and finish well behind us). We were quickly on singletrack and climbing the first climb with Padre leading, me, then Seth Swanson. Soon Seth jumped ahead of me. So, Padre, Seth and I settled into a group with Wolfeman about 40 meters behind us, then a trailing group another 4o or so meters back with Huggnut, Adam and some other folks in that line.
We cruised along chatting as the early miles tucked behind us. This course has only 2 aids stations (plus a water only). 10.6, 19ish (water only) and 23 (at least by my garmin). As we were approaching the first aid at about mile 9.5 you traverse above the campground on nice singletrack and you can see the aid station. Well, I was due to take a gel and—something I typically warn newbies ultrarunners about—“don’t wait to eat…if it’s time to take a gel, even if you are 2 minutes from the aid station, take it!” Well, what did I do…yes, I waited. 7 or 8 minutes later, we were just arriving at the aid. Stupid. I was bonky. I took longer at the aid than Angle and Seth and lost contact with them.
Upon leaving, I surged to catch back up over the next mile or so, but my lack of calories caught up to me hard. I got within 40 yards of them by the start of the Powerlines climb (very steep) and bonked bad. Huggnut passed me, Adam passed me, I completely watched everyone quickly drop me and disappear out of sight down the trail above me on the hard climb. I was creeping up. I knew what I’d done and downed two gels, took an S cap, chugged water and kept plugging along until it caught up in my system. About mile 15 (3 or 4 miles later) I started feeling better and was able to get back into a decent rhythm. Soon I was through the water only spot and starting the long climb to the summit of Mt. Constitution (the high point) and the final aid station location.
I started feeling much better on this up and ran a ton with a few short hike breaks on very steep sections. Up toward the top I caught sight of Adam’s green Fleet Feet Seattle jersey and we came into the aid station nearly together. I asked him how he was doing…he just said, “Need calories!” and commenced to inhale a bunch of PB&J squares—I believe he ate all they had out on the paper plate and they had to make him more!
I topped off my two bottles with water and grabbed some gels (as I’d just taken my last one on the climb) and took off to try to catch Huggnut on the down. I was feeling really smooth on the downhill and within a half mile saw Huggins and passed him with a “how ya doin’, man?” and he just said “hangin’ in there.” I was hoping I might catch Seth or Angle if they blew up a little, but the remainder of the last 10 miles I just passed early starters. Come to find out, Padre and Seth ran super strong and consistent with Angle taking the win in 4h55m and Seth about 5 minutes back. I came across in 3rd in 5h13m, with Scott Wolfe in 4th about a minute and a half back (he had got off course a bit before the first aid station, along with roadie Justin).
All said and done, it was a great power trip to Orcas. Wolfe and I stopped in Yakima about halfway back on Sunday afternoon and did a shake out run up to the Yakima Skyline Trail on the Yakima Rim between Yakima and Ellensburg, WA. Which, is part of one of James’ other upcoming cool-looking races, the Yakima Skyline 50k. Looks like a sweet trail with spectacular views. Wow, James. I’m glad you’re doing all this hard work so we can go run these awesome courses. Hope to get out and support some of his events to keep them around. Giddyup!
Torgau Wow, what a trip this one was. Loaded up the family Thursday and headed for Bainbridge Island, WA to stay with my in-laws and visit family. After a good night’s sleep we got up and went to Battle Point Park with the our kids (and their cousins) to let them run off some energy. Plus, I needed to do an easy 20-minute “flush out the legs” run after being in the car all day Thursday. I had a nice easy run with some stretch sessions, headed back to the car, changed and went to hang out with my wife, sister-in-law, kids, and nephews.
The boys soon roped me into a game of “chase Uncle Jeff” around the playground. Okay, I’m tapered, rested and raring to go. So, I joined in without a thought. Soon, 6 other boys on the playground (ages ranging from 4-8) decided it looked like awesome fun and joined in the chase. I obliged and started running all over the playground to keep away from the boys, occasionally letting them catch and “jail” me. I would then quickly break out and it would start all over again. After about 10 minutes, I was scaling a rope/wood wall with 2 boys hot on my heels. I slipped and banged my shin/tibialis anterior muscle about 3 inches above my ankle joint. After I sat down, it really started to hurt. Walking, flexing my foot—all hurt. Oops. That wasn’t smart.
Friday evening I went and crashed at my wife’s sister’s house in Seattle. That way I didn’t have to deal with the ferry on Saturday morning. We had dinner and after hanging out with them and my little 1-year old niece (SO CUTE), I hit the sack at about 10:30. My shin was still sore (this made me a bit nervous). Next morning I was up at 6am, on the road by 7am, and in Easton and checking in by 8:15. After catching up with a few folks (Jamie Gifford and his wife, Matt Hart, Betsy Nye and Paul Sweeney and few others), we made our way to the start at 10am. After the Canadian and U.S. National Athems, we were off and running. The first thing I noted was that my shin hurt every foot strike. Not promising, but I pushed the worry out of my mind and settled in and ignored it.
Hangin' with Seattle's Mike Adams before the start.
I had decided I wasn’t going to let anyone go in this race. And with Phil Shaw, Lon Freeman and Dan Barger in the race, I was prepared to go out quick. Rod said Phil went out pretty quick from the start last year, so I was ready for that. And true to last year, he did. I went with him and by the time we hit the first climb a couple miles in, Phil and I had gapped everyone with Dan Barger chasing. Phil and I settled in to running up the first climb and chatting a bit. I felt good and soon we got into some downed trees. I continued to run while Phil hiked. I quickly gapped him and took the lead up to the first water-only station at mile 3.7.
I had gone out with one bottle half filled and one bottle empty, and was planning to fill at 3.7. Jamie Gifford quickly topped off my bottles, and Phil didn’t stop and assumed the lead as we jumped onto the singletrack switchbacks that climb up to Goat Peak. I ran back up to Phil and started to settle in behind him when he suddenly stepped aside and said “go ahead.” So I did. It was early and Phil was obviously running his own race. I checked myself and felt like I wasn’t pushing and kept running with a few short hike breaks on the steeper sections. Soon I was about 100 meters ahead, but could always see Phil a couple switchbacks below. The terrain up Goat Peak is pretty gnarly and loose (as it’s a high-traffic motorcycle trail). Soon I was up Goat Peak and ran into three motorcross riders, one of which had dumped his bike off the steep trail into the trees (upside down) between two switchbacks. They were all standing there assessing the situation. Bummer for them.
Soon we were rolling along on our way to the Cole Butte aid station. I arrived at Cole Butte, filled my bottles, grabbed some banana, and watched Dan Barger run right through the station and head up the rocky double track. I settled in about 30 meters back. We summited the road and Dan stopped to re-tie his shoes. I took the lead and started the dirt road descent. Dan caught up to me and we started chatting about Western States and Bighorn, and soon Phil caught up with us too. After descending 1500 feet, we started up the 1500 foot climb together — talking, running and hiking. We soon arrived at Cole Butte together. We left together and kept climbing on our way up to the PCT junction. I again pulled ahead on the steeper climbs around mile 17 or 18. I soon gapped Phil and Dan, and couldn’t see them anymore. This would be the last time I saw them during the race.
Rolling on the Pacific Crest Trail...sweet part of the course. Photo: Glenn Tachiyama
I soon jumped on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and started the nice rolling running the PCT dishes out on this course for nearly 30 miles. Awesome. I really enjoyed this part of the course. I felt good (except for the sharp pain every step in my left shin/muscle). I ignored it. At one point I thought about dropping, but then thought about Jurek’s 2007 win (and former course record) performance at Hardrock (which I witnessed) with a badly sprained ankle. It was black and blue with an air cast on. I thought…if Scott can run on a sprained ankle, I can run on a bruised shin…suck it up, Jeff, ignore the pain. So I kept going.
Leaving Tacoma Pass Aid Station with mouthful of banana (Mile 23). I took the lead for good about 4 miles prior. Photo: Candice Burt
Since I didn’t have a pacer or crew and was going on drop bags, I was in and out of the early stations with the help of Jamie Gifford, his wife and Matt Hart who jumped in without prompting to help me out (thanks y’all!). At Stampede Pass (mile 33), you leave and immediately start climbing up into the woods. I glanced at my watch when I left and then listened for clapping for the next runner, which was Dan Barger. About 2 minutes. Not much. He was right behind me. I just kept on plugging away and soon arrived at Meadow Mountain aid (mile 40) and got in and out and listened again. I never heard clapping so I knew I had increased my lead over the last 7 miles.
VIDEO: Stampede Pass Aid Station, Mile 33, 2 minute lead. Video by Matt Hart, CoachingEndurance.com
I came into Olallie Meadow, Scott McCoubrey’s aid station at mile 47. I gave Scott a high five, downed some bananas and kept rolling. From Ollalie to Hyak were probably my lowest point in the race. My shin was really hurting badly by this point and there is a lot of rocky terrain in this section. Plus, the off-trail section on the ski resort at Snoqualmie just killed my shin. Downhill running, especially technical downhill sections…the kind I normally excel at, really hurt. I had to really go gingerly down on these sections. I was grunting and growling coming down that thing. I really couldn’t run the steep technical stuff fast like I normally would, it just killed my tibialis anterior, it was like somebody was ripping it off. Best way to describe the pain was with every foot strike it was like stabbing needles in my shin muscle. It hurt enough that even with the lead, I thought about dropping…and I’ve never dropped out of a race…ever. In 48 ultras…never. So, I kept pushing the pain to the side. I concentrated on quick, light steps and kept turning over.
VIDEO: Hyak Aid Station, Mile 53, 30 minute lead. Video by Matt Hart, CoachingEndurance.com
Getting my Black Diamond lights set up for night running at Hyak (mile 53).
I arrived at Hyak (mile 53) at 6:51pm and got my lights and gear for night time. I had some soup and jammed out of there not knowing where 2nd place was. I got through the paved section and started running up Keechelus Ridge on the gravel road, where I encountered my most bizarre experience in ultrarunning. I was buzzed by a Spotted Owl about 3 feet over my head. Wait, it get’s better. He swooped up into a fir tree about 20 feet off the deck and stared at me. Immediately the line from the kid’s book “Sam and the Firefly” by P.D. Eastman came to mind (I read it to the kids)…so I quoted, “Who? Who? Who wants to play?” and proceeded to run up the road. As soon as my back was to the darn thing, it swooped down and clawed me in the back of the head. WHAP! I felt my head and checked for blood. Nope, just stunned me, but thankfully didn’t draw blood or get my hat or headlamp. I guess the sucker wanted to play. I ran about a mile uphill without any hike breaks. I kept looking over my shoulder, completely paranoid he would come after me again. Good motivation.
I soon arrived at Keechelus Ridge aid and had some soup and got running again. I turned on my lights leaving here and was soon running down making my way to Kachess Lake. When I arrived at Kachess Lake at 9:20, I asked Matt Hart how far back 2nd was at Hyak. He said 30 minutes. That sat well with me, as I knew I’d run pretty hard up Keechelus Ridge and down. Hopefully the lead was more now.
I had some more soup, got bookin’ up the road and into the 5-mile “Trail from Hell” section from Kachess Lake to Mineral Creek, along the banks of Kachess Lake. In the past, this section has been pretty slow with regard to splits and the fastest split was Phil Shaw from last year’s course record run, covering the 5 miles in 1:42. I was hoping to break 1:35. This section is the no-rhythm section. Well, that’s the rhythm…no rhythm. I just ran everything I could possibly run, even if it was only 3 strides. I got through this pretty quickly, and finally found myself turning and crossing Mineral Creek. I ended up running that section surprisingly quicker than I anticipated in 1:26.
I had more soup at Mineral Creek, and got into my final drop bag to get all the gels I’d need to get me to the finish. I was stocked up and moving up the 3,000 foot gravel road climb to No Name Ridge. This section was nice, as my shin was really bothering me after Trail from Hell. The smooth, consistent climb was a nice breather for my leg. I was soon up to the Ridge, drank some soup, ate a peach slice, and was off and moving into the Cardiac Needles section.
Everyone talks about this portion as such a hard section, but I found this trail to be nice. The climbs are steep, but not huge. The downs are steep, but not long. I found it was just a good rhythm through here. I was still in my sleeveless jersey, arm warmers and gloves and didn’t need any other layers. The night was awesome. There was a good amount of dew on the underbrush, but it’s not too overgrown here. I got to Thorpe and went straight up and down it before getting anything at the aid station. It was kind of cool and spooky, as Thorpe was engulfed in a whispy cloud when I went up to the summit and back.
I got going out of Thorpe after downing an orange wedge and getting my bottles topped off. At this point, I knew I had the record, but wasn’t sure by how much. I was ahead of my original splits (for an 18:55), so, I just kept plugging away. This section has a few steep, rocky downs that I could only hobble down. I couldn’t run downhill like I normally would. My shin was just too tender. I made the rocky traverse over to French Cabin aid, and was in and out quickly and making my way up the final grunt climb before the final descent down to Silver Creek. The section from French Cabin to Silver Creek seemed like it took forever. My shin was really bad by this time and I had to walk down some of the more technical, rooty sections…I just couldn’t run downhill fast at all. It felt like someone was jabbing needles into my shin muscle. I gimped down to Silver Creek and knew I was going to be well under 18:55. I got moving through the whoop-dee-doo section after Silver Creek and was soon turning onto the gravel road, and onto the ATV trail. The road section over the overpass and into Easton popped up and went by pretty quickly and I soon saw the lights of the fire station.
Finishing at 4:31am in the dark. New course record by 1 hour and 19 minutes (18:31:09)
After the shin debacle and the owl attack, it was nice to be coming out on top. And, getting Phil’s record was just icing on the cake! It was definitely the most pain I’ve dealt with during a race. I ran with patella tendonitis in ’04 at Wasatch for 60 miles. But, this was way, way worse. Sharp pain in my shin for every step for 100 miles. My brother -in-law and I (afterwards) estimated I took over 100,000 steps on my left shin. A good beating. It was a good discipline in pain management. Just push it down and out. I’m still hobbling (6 days after the race) and the swelling is still there, but got it checked and it appears to be only a severely bruised muscle. Obviously pounding it for 100 miles made it worse, but it will heal—thankfully.
Thanks so much to the race volunteers, Charlie the RD…he’s the man….great race he puts on up there. Everyone should come check it out. It’s a stellar, tough course. My Suunto watch clocked 20,960 feet of climbing! Much love to my supportive family (as always), my sponsors, and Scott and Siiri for all their post-race advice dealing with the gnarly after-effects of the shin. Also, thanks to Jamie Gifford and his wife, Matt Hart for helping me get in and out of the early drop bags. Nice to have impromptu crew. And, as always, the Big Man Upstairs for blessing me with the drive and abilities to gett’er done! And finally, I leave you with this great photo taken of my shin, a few hours after the race, right after I took off my compression socks, right before it balooned up to freakish size…a big gnarly giddyup…
Gnarly after-effects of running on a bruised shin for 100 miles.
Getting night gear at Porcupine Ranger Station (mile 48).
Heading back into the snow and the night.
Hard finish in Dayton, Wyoming. 20 hours, 34 minutes.
Not to be confused with “I flew”, but yes, “I flu.” Nothing like running 100 miles with flu symptoms—builds character. At least that’s what my wife tells me.
Having children is a blessing. I love their energy, how much laughter there is in our house, and their undying creativity. It makes me feel younger and I adore them. But, as every parent knows, with kids comes sacrifice. Especially if you’re an ultrarunner training for a 100 miler. Runs at 10pm with a headlamp or getting up at 4:30am to get to a long training run in so I can get back to hang out with the family—losing sleep to train. I’m okay with it, it’s part of the gig. I’ve made friends with this fact.
The one thing every parent understands is the sympathy and heartfelt pain you endure to watch your child heaving their guts out over the toilet, or worse yet, all over your bed at 2am. The dreaded flu bug.
So, 5 days before Bighorn 100 and 36 hours before we were to leave for our Bighorn-100-Montana-camping-family-week-of-fun vacation, you can understand my horror and disbelief on Sunday night when my daughter started throwing up. I kept telling myself “it’s food poisoning, she’ll pull through, we’re okay.” After cleaning up pukey sheets for the 3rd time at dawn on Monday morning, upon my wife’s urging and loving tired whisper “go in the other room and sleep, you have a race,” I went to the other room to catch some much needed ZZZs.
By Monday afternoon, my fears were confirmed when my son started throwing up too. The flu! Definitely the flu. No. No. No. This can’t be happening. I washed my hands like a doctor going to surgery, I took every supplement we had in the cabinet to boost my immune system. I waited.
We postponed leaving until Wednesday morning, our drop-dead leave time to make it to check-in in Sheridan, Wyoming by Thursday evening (1,100 miles away). All the stuff went through my head: “My parents are coming to crew from Missouri, they want to see their grandkids, I’m so fit, we’re supposed to camp and have fun in Montana, I can’t get sick, oh man, I’m so fit…”
My son quit throwing up on Tuesday and we decided to take the kids and let them recover on the road. After all, their grandparents were coming. My daughter was feeling way better by Wednesday afternoon and came out of the funk to be quite the little joker in the car and start eating like a horse. Back to normal. Thank you, Lord. My son was another story. He was still not eating, sipping on drinks, slept a ton on the drive. It was coming out “the other end” too much still. He was weak. We were worried. He was being a tough little dude. No complaining. I was proud of him, but we were questioning whether we made the right decision in having them, especially him, make the trip.
We made it to Sheridan with 15 minutes to spare for check-in on Thursday evening. I had to carry my son (who’s almost 8 years old). He couldn’t walk he was so weak. He hadn’t eaten anything in 96 hours. My parents came to see their grandkids and Benjamin barely talked to them. He was out of it. I was tired, but felt okay still. I was worried about him.
Then, to add to it all, I was up the night before the race from 4:30am-6:00am with him in the toilet at the campground. He seemed a little better, but still was having emergency trips to the bathroom. I hadn’t even had a chance to think about the race at all. I was worried about my little guy. He wasn’t bouncing back like his sister on this one. His legs were giving out while I was racing. He was refusing food and drink. Jennifer finally gave him an ultimatum on Friday afternoon, chug a glass of Emergen-C or go to the Emergency Room. He chugged, realized it wasn’t too bad, then chugged another, and he started bouncing back within 20 minutes. His electrolytes were way out of whack.
When you’re a parent, there’s no prima donna athlete thing going on…you suck it up and you wipe butts and clean up puke…it’s what you do. You do what you have to to get them back. You don’t complain and you just roll with it and show up to the start line.
I woke up on race morning, ate, and did my usual pre-race ritual. About 2 hours before the 11am start, I looked at my wife with a worried look and said, “I don’t feel right.” She looked into my eyes with that deep worry and understanding only a mate of 17 years can deliver and knew I was not just having pre-race butterflies. She gave me a potent Oregano Oil pill and gave me a little hug. I took it and laid down to wait for start time.
With my son still feeling down and out, Jennifer didn’t even go to the start, she stayed at the camper and hung with the kids.
I know some of you reading may criticize me for downplaying a 3rd place finish and a 20:34 time at Bighorn, but please understand this post is not meant to be cocky, but more of a emotional purge. During the race, I wasn’t sure what was going on, I had an idea it was the flu, but it was like a little mental note that kept surfacing when I just never felt “on.” My little “mental note” was confirmed on Sunday evening (after the race) when I got the full blown flu in Livingston, MT. We had to get a motel room and I laid in the fetal position doubled over from cramps in bed for 16 hours with fever and chills. By Monday afternoon (18 hours later), I was coming out of it and felt a lot better by Monday evening. About the same window as the kids flu spell earlier in the week.
To understand my brain a little, I’ll give you my mental outlook going into this race. I know this course, I was, until this year, undefeated in every showing with 3 wins there. It was MY course. And that’s how I looked at it. It’s hard to swallow all that training and preparation to get knocked down the week of the race. But it happened and I couldn’t do anything about it. Please understand that I’m not trying to be a sore loser or take away from any other runner’s performance out there. Mike Wolfe threw down a very, very fast time…and Joe too. I may not have pulled out win #4 even running on all cylinders, but, what Mike ran is what I wanted to run that day too. My goal splits were to be right there where he was. I was ready. I had a killer spring of training that involved 70 days straight in March and April with no days off from running. A great run at Silver State 50 miler as a fitness tester in May just missing Jasper’s CR by 83 seconds, and a last block of 83 miles and 14,000 feet of climbing in a 96 hour window 3 weeks out from the race. I was ready and more fit than I’ve ever been going into my 4th Bighorn. I was fit for a sub-19 run and I could feel it. But, what can I say? It’s a 100 miler. Life is unpredictable. Curve balls come and you just have to roll with it. What will be will be. I wanted to fly, I just flu.
The Race itself…well, what can I say…it’s kind of a blur. I normally can remember every aid station split to the minute and recall it back with razor sharp accuracy. Not this time. I’ll spare you the boring details. Needless to say, I never felt right. So none of the drawn out race reports that I’m known for. I’m sure some of you out there are breathing a sigh of relief. Where am I now? Things are looking up. Everyone in the Browning household is healthy. The kids are eating strawberries and cucumbers like there is no tomorrow. My garden is growing quite well and summer is finally here. The Cascade high country is opening up for training. Things are looking up indeed. Giddyup!
I headed down over the weekend to Reno, NV to run the Silver State 50/50. I was looking forward to running this, I had penciled it in as a training tune-up for Bighorn 100 coming up in June. I ran this race back in ’04 when it was the old course (before the fire) and was looking forward to testing my fitness after a 70-day running streak with no days off from March 1-May 9 and training hard through Way Too Cook 50k and Peterson Ridge Rumble 60k this spring.
Yassine, Ashley, Sean and I hit the road on Friday morning from Bend. After driving through the Oregon Outback, we crossed into California and stopped at a spot to get an easy run in to shake out our legs halfway to Reno. It was a fun run to cruise up a fire road and into some melting snow patches at 6000 feet. We even saw some bear tracks. Then, we bushwacked up a hillside and then down a drainage. for an easy 4.5 miles and a decent bit of elevation change. Then we jumped back in the car and cruised into Reno by about 5pm, went to pre-race check in, then crashed out. Ashely and I were running the 50 miler and Sean and Yassine were running the 50k.
After an early 4am wake up and some breakfast, Ashley and I headed over for our 6am start. Coming from Oregon we just don’t have any heat yet and I could tell it was going to be warm, as I was comfortable in my sleeveless jersey at 5:45am. At 6am sharp we were off and running and quickly up and into the exposed first sagebrush climb. A young University of Nevada Nordic skier named August Brautigam took the immediate lead and I settled into 2nd about 50 meters back as we started the 12 mile climb up Peavine Peak. As the sun came up it really started to warm up and by the time we hit a few miles below the summit, it was warm. August started to pull away in the middle of the climb, but I kept plugging away at a comfortable pace. About a mile or two below the summit, Joelle Vaught caught up to me and we ran together to the summit chatting a bit. We were able to reel in August and by the summit he was only about 20 meters in front of us. I got in and out and was only 40 meters back from August coming off the summit and into the descent off Peavine and within a 1/2 mile caught up to him. We ran together and chatted until just after the start of the Cal loop. I dropped back to take a gel and a salt tab and he gapped me a little. I felt comfortable and it was still early (mile 15) and I just wanted to cruise and not worry about “racing.” We ran the whole Cal loop in pretty much the same position. August about a 1-2 minutes up on me where I could just see him on long straights or open areas.
Soon we were back around the loop and crossed back into Nevada and hit the new singletrack section over to Ranch Creek and rejoined the 50k course. I closed the gap to 30 seconds on August in this section and headed down the steep singletrack section that heads steeply down to River Bend Aid near Boomtown Casino on I-80. I had been reeling in August on all the steeper, more technical sections and took this opportunity at about mile 32 to pass him and open up a small gap on the out and back section down to River Bend. I arrived into River Bend and got my gear swap out of my drop bag and started the long 6 mile climb back up Peavine Peak. I met August about a minute back and Joelle only another 8 minutes back. I felt good through this section and just kept up running a lot with short hike breaks on really steep sections.
I felt good up the climb and just kept plugging away and passing 50k runners and soon made it to the summit of Peavine at mile 38 in 5:52. I filled bottles and dropped off for the final descent to the finish. On the map it looks like the final 12 miles is all downhill, but it’s not. This last descent is fast and technical in spots with a half dozen 1/4 to 1/5 mile grunt ups that probably total 500 feet or so. So, you definitely have to work on the way back, as right when you get in the downhill rhythm you have to go uphill for a bit. I arrived into the aid at mile 44 and the guy informed me that I was close to the record. That got a little fire under me and I pushed hard the last 6. Once I got down almost the tunnel at the end near the park and looked at my watch, I knew Jasper’s record was just out of reach. I came across the line in 7:12:59 (86 seconds shy of the course record). So close! Oh well, that’s the way the chips fall sometimes. Can’t get caught up in the details when you have a good day just the same. Was totally stoked to run well and pull out a win.
On a Team Oregon note…Yassine ended up running 4:02 and smashing the course record in the 50k, with Sean cruising to 4th place in the 50k and Ashley got 2nd in the 50 miler. Giddyup!
I’m totally tardy on this report, but have been super busy with work. Last weekend, Max King and I headed down to California to run Way Too Cool 50k in Cool, CA (just across the American River Canyon from Auburn, CA). Part of the course in on the Western States 100 course and it’s always a deep field and you have to be prepared to run fast.
Max and I arrived at Auburn Running Company for packet pickup on a very rainy day in Northern California. The area got over an inch of rain on Friday, and it was wet. Luckily, the rain storms blew out Friday night. After a quick 2.5 mile jog on Friday night to flush the legs out with Max after all day in the car, we hit the sack about 11pm.
We woke to clear skies and some heavy frost as the temps had dipped near freezing overnight, but the day looked to be beautiful, with temps forecasted in the upper 50s to low 60s and not a cloud in the sky. After my warm-up, I got to the start line and said hello to a few folks, Kami, Rod, and Karl (who was just spectating after Coyote Two Moons the week before…his wife was running). We got going at 8am sharp and as usual the pace was quick out of the gates.
The pace being brisk, I went through the first mile in 6:17 and the second just about as fast. I knew from my previous 2 times before, you have to be ready run hard out of the gates, as the start is on an old FS paved road. We soon got on the trail and I realized my hopes of breaking 4 hours might not come true due to conditions…it was muddy…but, I was still hopeful. I settled in and tried to run comfortably hard without going too hard on any hills and using the downs to pick up the pace a bit.
I arrived Aurburn Lakes Trail Aid at 15.4 in 1:53 and felt pretty good. I was still thinking sub-4 might be there. After that loop and the climb up Ball Bearing Hill I was still on pace and started the traverse back meeting the back of the pack runners. Everyone was stepping aside so I just had to twist sideways a bit as I ran past (save one guy who almost ran me off the trail). I have to say, since adding the extra mileage last year to the course in the first few miles of the course, it prolongs the time meeting other runners on the traverse. I know I was getting tired of twisting to get by and I’m sure they were annoyed by having to step off the trail every 40 yards for front runners.
NOTE: My personal opinion is that race staff should re-route that section to avoid the overlap, it’s really quite annoying for everyone involved (front and back of the packers), as the traverse there is narrow and the hillside is steep (above and below the trail) with no place to step aside easily. I was in 12th through that section, so all the runners were nice that stepped aside, but I’m sure by the runner in 30th and above, those runners were getting pretty annoyed at having to step aside. I just think if you are going to change the course—a course with a long, rich tradition—you better change it for the better, not make it worse just for the sake of “exact” mileage. However, I don’t want my personal critiques to overshadow the fact that the RD Julie and the volunteers put on an excellent race. Great aid stations, great finish line, great event.
I made it to almost goat hill climb before I quit meeting runners, and ran through the marathon in 3:19. On my way up Goat Hill, I kind of hit the wall. I really had no drive left and felt like I was pretty cooked. My splits definitely show it too. I faded the last 5, but was able to pick a couple of guys off in the last 3 miles to sneak into 10th place in 4:07. It was a solid effort I felt for this early. 50k’s are definitely not my forte, but I felt like it was a pretty good race considering the mud. Bend represented with 3 in the top 10. Rod Bien was 7th and Max was 2nd. Strong work Central Oregon.
As far as the men’s overall race, Max was leading from halfway to the Goat Hill Climb, when last year’s winner, Leor Pantilat caught up to him on the climb. Geoff Roes caught them both just past Goat Hill aid and put the hammer down and left them, only to take a wrong turn on the trail that leads back to Hwy 49 aid. Bummer. (they need a directional sign at that intersection, as it’s flagged in both directions—confusing if you get turned around). Roes, due to the mishap, ended up in 3rd and Leor pulled out another win with Max hanging on for 2nd.
Max and I slogged an easy 8 miler in Red Bluff, CA on Sunday on the way home. It was nice enough to run shirtless. I was able to run every day this week and feel pretty good. Which, if anyone knows me, I’m usually not running again for a few days after a 50k. I forced myself to run every day and feel my legs flushed out and recovered much quickly. Next up…Meissner’s local ultra in Sisters, Oregon in April…The Rumble 60k! Giddyup!
We had a great day in the high desert—dry dirt, mostly cloudy skies and temps in the low 40s. With and estimated 60+ runners today, most running the 9- or the 13-miler, a few in the 22-miler and 14 running the 50k. Most of us ended up running in shorts today. It was the nicest weather we’ve had at the Bad Ass since The Colonel and I started this thing 4 years ago.
Max King cruised through the course and broke The Colonel’s course record by about a 1/2 hour and Ashley Nordell broke Darla (Brader) Askew’s old course record by 4 minutes.
I just got back from marking the Bad Ass 50k Fun Run loop out east of the Badlands in the Horseridge area and the course is beautiful this year!Soft sandy dirt, NO SNOW at all on the loop. I looked up on the Cinder Butte, and couldn’t see any snow, so I’m assuming it’s clear too. It’s muddy in a few spots, but with the breezy conditions today and tonight, that should be mostly gone by tomorrow (it’s so sandy, it drains fast out there).
Today’s (New Years Day) conditions were perfect out there, 46 and sunny. Tomorrow’s forecast is partly cloudy and a high near 41, which means a few more degrees higher out east in the desert. So, mid 40s by midday. Start may be still chilly at 9am, but should be nice and no YakTraks or studded shoes needed this year. Hope to see some of y’all out there for a fun winter run in the high desert. We have 13-, 22- and 50k distance options. Giddyup!
The race has a web cast page (consisting of text/updates based on checkpoints during the race). Race starts at 6am on Saturday (Eastern Time). To follow the race progress, go to:
Race Travel
I’m currently at Newark Int’l Airport (New Jersey) and waiting for my delayed flight to Ithaca, NY. I just came off the red-eye from Portland. 5 hours of not really sleep, not really awake. How was my first experience with a red-eye flight…I can sum it up in one word—sucked. The flight was full and drifting in and out of consciousness for 5 hours in the upright position was pretty weak excuse for a night’s sleep.
Oh well, onward and upward. Sleeps overrated anyway. I can’t really worry about that, right? Suck it up and move on.
My headache is a bit less after some breakfast and some JetZone (a jet lag homeopathic). If I can get to Ithaca and get in a run on the course with Ian…I’m hoping my body will fall in line and get rid of some kinks. Giddyup!
Awesome day on stellar trails (Mt. Rainier in the background). Photo by Glenn Tachiyama
It was nice to finally race again. I was looking forward to running this race again. Since it’s the national championship trail race for 50 miles, it always draws a good, strong field. I was looking forward to running hard.
After multiple weird injuries this season, being 100% at a race again was nice. I was in new territory this season with the juggling of cycling and running (a 50 mile MTB race in June), then a 100 Mile MTB race coming up in August. So, my training was not my normal build-up before a race like White River.
I was optimistic though, but a little under-trained for hills. I had a lot of biking volume, but my highest running mileage week was 52 leading up to it. I put in quality, trail specific training though. I was hoping it would be okay.
I got to Seattle to drop of my family at Bainbridge Island to visit family and picked up Hal, Carly, and Tony to head to the race. Tony and I were staying at McCoubrey’s cabin (thanks again, Scott). We checked in, hung out and went back to the cabin, ate, and went to bed.
Saturday morning was great weather. I started out conservatively and ended up running with Kami for a few miles until just after the first aid station. I ran most of the first climb and got to the out and back in 12th place. I reeled in a few dudes, including Hal (thanks to his post-Western States legs) on the descent back to Buck Creek at the halfway.
The final grind before summiting Sun Top (mile 37). Photo by Glenn Tachiyama
There was cloud cover thankfully climbing up to Sun Top and I ran 90% of the climb. I ran smoothly and didn’t full out hammer off Sun Top (mile 37), as I didn’t know how my legs would handle it with their lack of hills and mileage. They were definitely feeling it at the bottom of the descent, but I kept rolling and crossed the line in 7:28, good enough for 8th place with a strong field.
Time to get on the mountain bike to get ready for High Cascade 100 August 23rd. Giddyup!
“A slow sort of country!” said the Queen. “Now, here you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that.” —Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll
With my recent re-kindling of my bike geekdom (during injury rehab), I was thinking about the 2009 Western States 100 this coming weekend on my way to a mountain bike race and how Lance and Scott are oddly similar, career-wise.
Scott Jurek is the obvious favorite at Western States (he’s dominated that race) and it’s his race to lose. In comparision, Scott has been coined at times “the Lance Armstrong of ultrarunning.” And, Lance has dominated the Tour and no matter how “over the hill” folks think he might be for the world’s biggest cycling event, he’s the man to beat come July. Now, I find the following facts interesting…
1) Scott Jurek won Western States 1999-2005 and chose to end with 7 wins…did not return until this year (2009).
2) Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France 1999-2005 and chose to end with 7 wins…AND, this is the year (2009) he has chosen to come back to the event he’s dominated.
A weird parallel? Will Scott’s performance at Western States be the foreshadowing of Lance’s performance at the Tour? Hmm. Are these athletes leading parallel lives? An interesting tidbit no less. What do y’all think?
