iamthechan

I just did some quick research and found that today is three years since my first ultra. Time flies… I didn’t need to look up the fact that this year was my third Old Goats 50 mile run. I wouldn’t keep going back if it weren’t a great event on fun (technical) trails.

I stayed with family before and after the race as has been the tradition for this race since it saves me quite a bit of drive time on both ends. After a good pre-race strategy call with coach Jimmy it was time to get some sleep around 10:30pm Friday. 4am came quickly. Time to get up.

Around 6am I was parked at Lower Bluejay Campground, stuck the Adventure Pass for parking in the windshield and headed for the registration. Pin the race number to the shorts, dump the race schwag back in the car, say hello to Chris, Robert W, Deb, and a few others.

0-21 Candy Store Loop

RD Steve Harvey counted down and sent us on our way. First would be the Candy Store loop. A 21 mile lollypop loop that put us back to the start finish before heading out on a different set of trails for the rest of the day. I started conservatively and felt good. Around eight miles in I saw Pedro and Chris standing at a turn in the trail taking pictures and cheering runners as they went by. That was a pretty cool unexpected sight as I think we were miles from the next aid station. The rest of the loop was pretty uneventful and went smooth. I made sure not to push and was still a bit ahead of where I thought I would be in terms of time.

21-29 to Holy Jim…the canyon

After a quick stop at the car to load up my bottles with HEED and grab some shot bloks I headed out for the next section. There is a good climb before the huge drop into Holy Jim. Everything was still feeling good and I went back and forth with Andy, Catra, and a couple others which helped me keep a comfortable but honest pace. I was also sure to concentrate on form and not blow up on the down hills as Jimmy told me to make sure I had something left to run all of the downs after Santiago.

29-37 canyon to Santiago Peak

This section is the big climb. It goes on, and on, and on. It’s nasty because in the seven or so miles you gain somewhere around 4000 feet. What that means is lots of it is very runnable, but if you’re not super fit you need to be careful to avoid getting lured into burning up on it and trashing yourself for the last 13 miles, a lot of which is downhill. I saw Deb volunteering on the way up which was pretty cool as it is the same point in the race that I met her two years ago when we were both running.

This time much of the climb was with my new friend Sheryl who said this race is harder than the many Ironman triathlons she had competed in. Yikes! It was cool to see little remnants of snow on the way to the peak, but nothing like the slush and fog that were there last year. Unfortunately, later in the climb my stomach started to rebel a bit and was not as eager to accept calories. Up to that point I had kept a good schedule with caloric and electrolyte intake as well as water…but that was changing. Water was still easy, but the rest was a chore.

37-45 to Horsethief trail

The views continued to be incredible and my stomach continued to be angry with me on the way down from the peak. I needed to make sure to keep as smooth as possible and sneak in whatever calories I could, probably 80-110 calories an hour. I also had to resort to biting open the electrolyte capsules and washing it down with water since I could no longer swallow them without gagging them back up. I was in full on maintenance mode, but still running, mentally clear, and well within the cutoff so finishing was not a concern. Since I didn’t know how long the last miles would take I grabbed my headlamp from the drop at Bear Springs and my windshirt as it was getting a little chilly even with the sun still out.

45-50 the final push

It was at this point I saw that if I pushed hard I should be able to pull off a PR for the course. The last five miles were easily my fastest of the day and I crossed the line with a new PR just under 12:18. Afterwards I chatted a bit and  bundled up as it was getting chilly and dark. I also ran into Dom and Katie as they were leaving and got some good nutrition tips. Then, I had the pleasure of talking recovery and other adventures with Tatu Joe who recently finished up an insane trip deep in Florida wilderness. A great day indeed.

I know I’m capable of a faster 50 miler, but felt good about how that day on that course panned out. I learned more nutrition lessons, covering the miles was very manageable, no injuries. Yesterday I ran a few flat miles with the Coyotes and felt good. In another week I’ll pick up the training for the Leona Divide 50M which takes place April 28th. It will be Stitch’s first 50M and I’m excited to run with him again.

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Here is the super condensed version of this post: “I ran Old Goats over the weekend. Went pretty well. PR’d. I’m recovering well and running Leona next month.”

I still don’t know what’s supposed to be in a “proper” race report. So here are a few pieces of my experience this past Saturday at the first running of the Ray Miller 50/50 as well as uncredited photos (I didn’t have a camera!).

First off, huge thanks to all who organized, supported, volunteered, at the race. It was an incredible event run on gorgeous trails. Sooo much single track and pretty darn technical in many areas. The weather was quite nice, cool morning and overcast for the first few hours after the 6am start. Things heated up later but that’s to be expected.

start to mile 6

As typical with many ultras there is a bottleneck early as a wider trail/fire road narrows to single track. I started off a little fast to avoid this and it paid off as we started the first climbs and long trains of runners formed. By this point the front runners for the 50k and 50M were blazing out of sight. I ran the first couple miles with my friend Chris G. before he pulled away on a climb. I settled into a nice groove with lots of other runners. I was greeted at the first aid station by Elyssa, Brian, and a few others as I filled up my bottles.

miles 6-11

This section was a loop back to the mile 6 aid that had a bit of climbing, but with fresh legs early in the race it was not a problem to get a good rhythm going. Wide trail through here with lots of other runners including a few familiar faces. Mile 11 aid was the same as 6 and had a Dodgers theme.

miles 11-19

The pack spread out a bit from here and I ran a few miles in front of fellow Coyote, Will. After talking for at least 30 minutes and nearing the mile 19 aid he asked my name. I turned around and said “Will, you know me!” Haha, he never saw my face until then so didn’t realize it was me he was talking to. We both got a good laugh out of that as we headed into the Coyote superhero aid station at Danielson Ranch. Wow, this was an awesome stop. Tons of encouraging friends dressed as everything from the Flash to a Giraffe.

 

miles 19-28

Will was running the 50k as his last long run before LA Marathon in a few weeks so we stuck together until the 50M turnoff a little ways further up the trail. The turnoff is an approximately 20 mile out and back up to the Sandstone Peak area. Up being the operative word as it’s quite a climb. The early section had pretty good shade which was a nice bonus as the sun was starting to throw down some good heat. I saw the 50M leaders tearing down the opposite direction in this stretch. Jorge M. was first and looking super smooth. Five minutes later, ten, fifteen, then I lost count before Jorge P. passed with Chris P. in hot pursuit. A couple of others including Coach Jimmy were not far back.

miles 28-31

Mile 28 was the first access to my drop bag at Yerba Buena road. I grabbed some more homemade gel flasks and electrolyte mix, topped off with ice water (awesome!) and was on my way. Just after leaving the aid running some twisty single track I ran into Chris G. and exchanged a few words as we ran past each other. When I reached the next aid station I was greeted by more familiar faces and got my bottles topped off. Then it was time to turn around and run back to where I would rejoin the 50k course.

miles 31-34

I probably ran this section a little harder than I should have in retrospect, and arrived at mile 34 Yerba Buena again a bit depleted. I took care of aid station business including filling up my pack with a bit of water to supplement the bottles as this was gong to be an 11 mile section without aid.

miles 34-45

Who put that mountain there? I conveniently forgot how much of a climb I would have up to the Tri Peaks area before the big downhill. The climb tapped me out and electrolytes got low (cramping) as well as the first stomach issues of the day. I wasn’t to keen on either of these problems since a big downhill was coming that I would not be able to take advantage of if I wasn’t a bit more solid. I gutted out what I could through this looong section and ran with a couple different people which was nice.

mile 45-FINISH

The orange themed aid station at mile 45 was a welcome sight. Not only did it mark the end of a terrible section for me, but I know the last five miles of the course really well from other races and training runs. I fueled up and started the climb out of Sycamore Canyon. That climb has beat me up in the past when I didn’t respect it, but we’re friends now, so it went pretty well. By the time I was at the top of the climb and near the Ray Miller trail downhill the sun was setting and provided an amazing view over the ocean which was now in sight. The last few miles of downhill I opened up to what was by far my fastest pace of the day. Somewhere on these switchbacks I passed a group of Coyotes who were out cheering on the runners still out on the course (Kevin, Kate, and others I couldn’t make out as I ran by). Sim paced me in for about a mile and was incredibly encouraging. I must have asked him thirty times if there was anyone behind me gaining. I was determined not to get passed at this stage in the race. Finally the final switchbacks came and I heard the cowbell and cheering coming from the finish line. As I crossed RD Keira put my medal around my neck and Jimmy congratulated me. The rest is a blur and all I could think was how that could take over 12 hours.

The aftermath

After the race and for the rest of the night my stomach was messed up and didn’t want to ingest food or liquid. The next day was another story as I pounded food and made sure to properly rehydrate. I took Sunday and Monday off from running and then went out for the Tuesday night group run in Brentwood. About five pleasant recovery miles later I felt great. tired legs, but eager to pick up the training again as I prepare for the Old Goat which is March 24th.