Los Olivos, California
“The fog is welcome. Hope it lingers.” I offered as small talk in the early miles. “I grew up in Lompoc. I’ve got a love hate relationship with the fog.” Was the response from the guy running next to me. On the central California coast a few miles inland and north of Santa Barbara, on an 8,000 acre ranch, several hundred ultra runners competed on a 20 mile figure eight course. I ran the 50K which was one complete figure eight, followed by a repeat of the first ten miles and finishing with an out and back to round it up to 31 miles. The other races were a ten-miler, a 100K, and a 100 miler.
The race director, Luis Escobar is a mini-celebrity in the ultra community, having been featured in the popular “Born to Run” book. A month before the race ultra legend Micah True went on a run from his hotel room in New Mexico and didn’t return. He was found a couple days later dead beside a creek. When this series of runs in California were re-dedicated to his memory I made a snap decision to go run the 50K. Rebekka and I bought plane tickets, reserved hotel rooms, rental car and made it happen.
The first loop of ten miles included runners running only ten miles. Ten or more runners spurted out in front of me for an early lead and after five miles about four more passed me. I had no idea how many of them would be running the 50K or longer. I finished the first ten miles of trail in 1:18 and saw quite a few runners who had cashed it in after 10 miles. I asked someone how many were ahead of me, but they didn’t know. A couple miles later on the second loop at the first aide station I learned that only two runners were ahead of me. One of them was running the 100K.
For the remainder of the run, over twenty miles, I ran by myself ultimately finishing second in the 50K with a time of 4:16. The final 10 mile loop was identical to the first 10 mile loop. I ran the first loop in 1:18 and the last in 1:21. The last mile, an out and back, I ran in seven minutes. The winner ran 4:02.
Along the way I saw about a dozen wild turkeys, a couple rabbits, and a recently dead cow with buzzards all over it. The cow had a dead calf half emerged from its birth canal and blood flowing from its mouth, so its death was quite recent. Eerie.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
May Ascent of Pikes Peak
This time I did it from the Southwest side of the Peak, on an obscure trail that goes up from Bison Reservoir.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Pikes Peak Summit Run
My 2012 project is to run to the top of Pikes Peak every month of 2012. January and February are done, ten more months to go.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Thursday, February 09, 2012
Monday, December 19, 2011
Sunday, December 04, 2011
Hardrock 100 Lottery
I got into the 2012 Hardrock 100 mile fun run after trying for the last ten years.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Mt Buckskin Trip Report
Climbed Mt Buckskin yesterday, #84 in my quest to climb the highest 100 peaks in Colorado.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Sunday, October 02, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
