tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19123684392338142192024-03-13T20:17:20.744-07:00Mexican Mountain RunningGuy Cheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06296513081472215675noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912368439233814219.post-894429215208387442017-10-25T19:40:00.001-07:002017-10-26T06:16:05.736-07:00UTMX 2017: What I Remember<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LsvhHT2Wbuk/WfFJmSDwzEI/AAAAAAAABKU/yIssVIA_CC8wjJIHwpnhgpeN9ZGGpJQpwCEwYBhgL/s1600/22752540_10212393085036201_281029413_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LsvhHT2Wbuk/WfFJmSDwzEI/AAAAAAAABKU/yIssVIA_CC8wjJIHwpnhgpeN9ZGGpJQpwCEwYBhgL/s640/22752540_10212393085036201_281029413_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Heading down into the Canyon Photo: Fotografix.com.mx</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> UTMX 2017 has come and gone. Since then, I’ve indulged in brownies every day at work. Bought a giant box of Fruit Loops at Costco today on a whim. Lingering gummy bears/worms that formed the core of my late race nutrition “strategy” have been scraped from the pockets of my Nathan hydration vest. I haven’t run a step since 23:15 on Saturday night and I have no plans to do so on the near horizon.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I do find myself looking for a summer adventure. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.chicamochacanyonrace.com/site/index.php" style="text-decoration: none;">This looks pretty nuts.</a></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FchMnBuhOtA/WfFNWdPOovI/AAAAAAAABKs/V3L389y24nwRBHBYi6vcfeJZMuuizLD2QCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_5490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FchMnBuhOtA/WfFNWdPOovI/AAAAAAAABKs/V3L389y24nwRBHBYi6vcfeJZMuuizLD2QCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_5490.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fruit Loops</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-23a92132-5683-2435-2112-81ae34ec788d" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The fact that I’m searching for a race proves (again) that memory is a poor servant. Memory simply refuses to properly remember pain. It’s inadequate. Sure, I can recall in the abstract that at kilometer 60 I was a little afraid to continue down into the canyon (Barranca de Metztitlan). The sun had baked and hobbled me and I simultaneously wanted to but couldn’t vomit. Needed to eat more but couldn’t. I can remember those ideas floating through my head, I can now recall those concepts roughly expressed as words on this blog, but I can’t come close to recapturing that vomity/mixed with heat exhaustion </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">feeling</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> wrapped up in that stubborn question that always makes its appearance in the latter half of any long race: “why, why, why am I doing this again”? </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">----------------</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Some fellow runners joined me this year. Wendy, Scott and Sue all decided to give UTMX a go. Scott and Sue flew in from the US. Wendy and Scott are seasoned 100 milers. Sue is a recent convert and probably the only other professional bassoonist who is also an ultrarunner. Wendy is the other one. That’s right: both of the world’s professional Bassoonists who are also ultrarunners were at UTMX this year. And then there was Scotty and I, and 496 other runners ready to test ourselves against a 100k loop in Hidalgo, Mexico. Last year 193 out of 500 finished. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> You think that last stat might have been a clue for the ole’ memory chip? </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Wendy asked me about that number, and I rationalized it as follows: “lots of inexperienced people out there last year, there was no pre-requisite like there was this year.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I had raved to them about what I remembered about the race: the beauty of Vista Alegre and the Sierra Navajas, the rugged challenge of the extraterrestial terrain of the Canyon, the world-class race organization, the charming pueblo, the refreshing rivers, the amazing people, the tender barbacoa…</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In all that reminiscing I somehow forgot about how relentlessly technical many of the trails are, and I certainly didn’t remember wet feet for 18 hours. I think I told them there were 3 river crossings. Turns out there’s like 30 between kilometer 4 and 45. And then there are three more waist deep river crossings. And then there is ankle deep trudge around the presa in the final kilometers. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I also had somehow nurtured the idea --despite running the 100k in 2014, 2015 and 2016-- that is was a “fair” race, but not a ridiculously hard race. Two years in a row it’s taken me more than 18 hours to finish. And I haven’t had bad races here. Yeah, there were very low lows, but many highs as well and long periods of good energy. And it still took me 18+ hours. On two pretty solid race days. Maybe I should write that down here so I don’t forget. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--MWybmyywy4/WfFI6eXw0-I/AAAAAAAABKE/L0Yil5hMdBEEznMQyIBRUYSBSDnSyO56QCLcBGAs/s1600/MAFO2112%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--MWybmyywy4/WfFI6eXw0-I/AAAAAAAABKE/L0Yil5hMdBEEznMQyIBRUYSBSDnSyO56QCLcBGAs/s640/MAFO2112%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"> Another River Crossing Photo: fotografix.com.mx</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">-----------------</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Standing on the rim of the canyon filled with doubts and nausea, I followed my own best piece of advice for finishing the UTMX 100k: get yourself down into the canyon, because then you’ve got no option but to get yourself back out. After that, you just need to get yourself back to town and the finish line. So simple. So inadequate.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I began the long, technical descent which includes one of the most spectacular views of the race, second guessing my decision to fill my third bottle with coca-cola instead of more water. Just get down the river and the rest should take care itself. Prior to the race I had focused on the two steep climbs within the canyon, sort of neglecting the tricky descents that follow both climbs. I thought of the runner I saw descending Baden-Powell at this past August’s Angeles Crest 100: her knee looked like it had been split open by a hatchet wielding madman. Eventually she was airlifted out. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> As I tried to moderate my speed on the second descent, I saw plenty of spots that might create gaping wounds, but was unsure where the airlift might come from. The race did have several people --both race staff and locals from the pueblos in the canyon-- along this section of the course. Not falling in this section is key.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> There is a final river crossing in the canyon and then a pleasant jog on well-worn single track into the pueblo of San Sebastian. The sun was low in the sky. I remember feeling good, feeling at peace. My stomach had settled down. The coca cola bottle was the right choice and I hadn’t run out of water. I was feeling like maybe I could run up the endless road to the top of the canyon like I never do any year that I’ve done this race but always think that I will. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Maybe I’ll share those memories with Wendy, Sue and Scotty next year when I try to talk them into the race again. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">----------------------</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> My drop bag was in San Sebastian, kilometer 70. I had a fresh pair of socks and shoes. I didn’t put them on because it seemed like too much work for two hours of dry feet. I walked all the way up the road. I ran once or thrice for like 15 meters at a stretch. Just like I do every year even though I swear I’m running up that thing one of these years. Oh yes. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I’m also going to have a really good section between kilometer 50 and 60 like I never have.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> One of these years. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> This year I covered those 10k in a blistering hour and 45 minutes, getting angry at myself for not running, (but not so angry I actually started running.) </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-22FZkx5FPTs/WfFO-lNmDbI/AAAAAAAABK4/U3UgjvyTKW4pSbGUGUrCSfwryKA7lMluwCLcBGAs/s1600/22770012_1754286034591064_7916253899466304244_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-22FZkx5FPTs/WfFO-lNmDbI/AAAAAAAABK4/U3UgjvyTKW4pSbGUGUrCSfwryKA7lMluwCLcBGAs/s640/22770012_1754286034591064_7916253899466304244_o.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridge Over thePrismas During the Day Andres Valencia Photography (official race photograph)</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I did finish well, as I’ve done every year. I love when the sun goes down and it’s night time. I love the river crossing at the bottom of Ahuacatitla. I love the crazy, lonely climb up from the river in the dark hobbit forest that just never seems to end and I have to sit down on a rock to look at the night sky which is really just a pretext to sit down because I’m utterly knackered and just need to rest for a spell, time goals be damned. I love finally coming up to the top of the climb and the local guy hired as a course marshall is sleeping beside a fire he built but I’m glad he doesn’t ask me why I’m doing this as I don’t have an answer. I love running through the final aid station just across from the Ex-Hacienda de Santa Maria or maybe some years just stopping for a swig of coke except for this year where I only imagined I just stopped for a swig of coke because in reality I sat myself down and ate some soup, stuffed some more gummy bears and worms in my Nathan pack --just in case, as I couldn't get GU down-- and drank some coke sitting there (too long), thinking: one more little climb, enter the Prismas Balsaticas, cross the bridge, head left out to the cobblestone road, and then across the swampy presa, try not to lose time looking for markers and then finally out to the road, and this year --straight into town-- head down, pushing hard, no chance of sub-18 but trying not to get caught from behind so late in the race (and I don’t!) and then there’s the town and I hear Lalo yell my name with his unique take on it’s pronunciation (Gooey!) and then I see Natalia, and Tina is running with me and jumping all over me. And then the finish line, and Scotty and Wendy are there and they don’t seem to hate me even though their races ended earlier than planned and I’ve spent a good portion of the past 18+ hours wondering if I completely misled them and maybe they're pissed and then I remember the whole race clearly from the beginning to end. Not just the 2017 race which I just finished 10 minutes faster than the previous year, but also the 2016, 2015 and 2014 races. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And all the memories are perfect.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And of course I’m coming back next year. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8Cuor_eK3x4/WfFNWHgMtMI/AAAAAAAABKo/INC4zUabiSAlkYNA6p5gJSiM37Fwo-7HACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_5270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8Cuor_eK3x4/WfFNWHgMtMI/AAAAAAAABKo/INC4zUabiSAlkYNA6p5gJSiM37Fwo-7HACEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_5270.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Along the Presa (during the day)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> fotografix.com.mx</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>Guy Cheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06296513081472215675noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912368439233814219.post-63738372129638163282017-08-22T20:14:00.001-07:002017-08-23T18:18:44.116-07:00Tales from The 30th Annual Angeles Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8JBENOKwAEw/WZzm4COmYMI/AAAAAAAABJg/jmfblzcM66AF_bWqSqKffv1XpgZRItrpACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8JBENOKwAEw/WZzm4COmYMI/AAAAAAAABJg/jmfblzcM66AF_bWqSqKffv1XpgZRItrpACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_4853.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Bad Photos Before Race Day</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <b>Race Report: The 30<sup>th</sup> Annual Angeles Crest 100</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> The sun had just come up on day two of the 30<sup>th</sup>
Running of the Angeles Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run and I was sitting on Dead
Man’s Bench at mile 80 with soon-to-be 4 time AC finisher John Vanderpot. I asked John if he had seen Jussi down at
Chantry Flats, the aid station that was 3,000 feet and 5 miles below us. There
are countless tales from the Angeles Crest 100, but Jussi Hamalainen's is perhaps the most amazing: he ran the inaugural Angeles Crest back in 1986 when he was 40, and and he kept coming back for the next 30 years. Sixteen of his runs are
sub-24 (his last sub 24 was at age 60), and he has run sub-20 twice. In 2014, my first AC, Jussi notched his 27th finish, going over 30 hours for the first time ever. It appeared that Time
could slow, but not stop Jussi from reaching 30 finishes</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">. But then in 2015, the
unthinkable happened when Jussi fell and was forced to end his
race at Millard, the final aid station at mile 95. Jussi returned for the 2016 AC and
walked it in hunched over, stopping repeatedly to retch onto West Palm Avenue. Vanderpot
was at his side for that finish. Up on dead man's bench, John told me he had seen
Jussi arrive at Chantry Flats, but he didn’t know when or if he had left the
aid station. Lots of runners drop at Chantry Flats, but it was hard to imagine
Jussi dropping anywhere. I imagined him stoically climbing Upper Winter Creek
en route to finish 29.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> My own
cushion against the cut offs had continued to shrink and I was worried. John was
calm, in his element. He would go on for his fourth consecutive finish, all
accomplished using what he calls “finisher’s pace.” John told me
that his three AC finishes were between 32:21 and 32:29 and I asked him how we
were doing and he replied “if you leave Sam Merrill by 10:15, you’ll finish the
race.” He also mentioned that he usually leaves the bench by 6:00am. My watch
read 6:23. This got me up off the bench, and I asked one more question as I
headed up the ridge before the long downhill to the next aid station:
What time to we need to be in Idlehour?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> “I don’t know, I never pay attention to time at Idlehour.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7MaGSVtPcMw/WZzm4KoI8zI/AAAAAAAABJs/h301l7rrw_4j0jO3Ea7Q9l8UiqLamuPOwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_4855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7MaGSVtPcMw/WZzm4KoI8zI/AAAAAAAABJs/h301l7rrw_4j0jO3Ea7Q9l8UiqLamuPOwCEwYBhgL/s640/IMG_4855.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> On Friday morning, Ken, Jeremy, Darrell and I
rolled into Wrightwood, put our drop bags in the correct piles, and went to the
Evergreen café to eat: I had the same dish I ate in 2014 before the race:
potatoes and 3 eggs sunny side up. After breakfast we went to where we would be
sleeping at Mark and Mary Ann’s house. Mark and Mary had three young girls
between the ages of 3 and 6 running around, which provided a beautiful contrast
to four nervous dudes unable to think or talk about much else besides a race
which had been on our calendars for 365 days. The girls showed me their rabbit,
their current hamster, and we visited the grave of their dead hamster in the far
corner of their backyard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">The four dudes:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Ken: For Ken, it was his first
100 mile race. You wouldn’t know it by looking at him, as he is a tall string bean,
but he used to be a big dude. Now he was an ultrarunner being coached by
Angeles Crest Legend, Tommy Nielsen. He seemed to be nervously harboring some
doubts: not unreasonable considering that AC routinely spits out about 50% of
those that start the race. He had finished a 50k (2016 Mt. Disappointment and a
50 mile, the 2016 Sean O Brien). That was it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Darrell: Jeremy told me that
Darrell was the fastest of the bunch, but he had gone out to Leadville last
year for his first 100 mile attempt and ran himself into a hole chasing the 25
hour buckle. He was here to run smart, finish, and get that DNF monkey off his back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Jeremy: Jeremy was a sub-three
hour marathoner who I cajoled into running the 2013 Ray Miller 50k which was scheduled the day
before he had signed up to race the Surf-City Marathon. He finished Ray Miller
an hour in front of me on half-marathon training, and he’s only gotten faster since. (We both stumbled through
the Surf-City Half for respective slowest half marathon ever the following
morning--not a recommended double.) His first AC yielded him a First Sunrise buckle, and he had gone out
to Leadville in 2016 and was on sub-25 pace most of the day until his legs
failed him and he finished in just over 25. He was here at the 30<sup>th</sup> running of
Angeles Crest to run sub 24 and had done the training to do it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Me: In 2014 I had run the AC
100 as my first 100. It had gone beautifully, and despite the sleep monster
visiting me on the climb up to Dead Man’s Bench on Winter Creek, I had a
magical run between Chilao and Chantry, and managed to finish strong after Sam
Merrill. 30:55. The dream for 2017 was sub-30 but I really just wanted a finish that was not too
close to the cut offs. My only other 100 miler had been the 2015 Bighorn, which
had just about done me in. I walked every step of the last five miles to finish
in 33:10. At the finish I wrapped myself up in the finisher’s blanket and fell asleep. When I woke up I was filled with doubts about my ability to run 100 miles and I began
to wonder if my 2014 AC finish had been a fluke.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ww1sdZwHQFo/WZzj-qdwvEI/AAAAAAAABJQ/NysH-R98BEgbCKb3MDf_cCaUeyhg3adkwCEwYBhgL/s1600/ac100-2017-427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="331" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ww1sdZwHQFo/WZzj-qdwvEI/AAAAAAAABJQ/NysH-R98BEgbCKb3MDf_cCaUeyhg3adkwCEwYBhgL/s640/ac100-2017-427.jpg" width="424" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Heading down from Baden Powell thinking a pack wouldn't be such a horrible idea Photo: please let me know so I can give credit....</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> As I headed up the “Hal Winton Bypass” above
the bench, I came across Naomi Ruiz. I had briefly
been introduced to Naomi 25 hours earlier, and like
most AC runners, I knew her story from 2016: she had fought the cut
offs all day and finished the race, but her finish was not official as she had
crossed the line 12 minutes after the 33:00 hour limit. She was back this year to get it done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> She first passed me on the long moonlit
downhill after Red Box. My legs were no longer cooperating on the downhills and
I was shuffling down with my headlamp off to preserve my light when I needed it
(left my only extra batteries back at Shortcut). She looked fantastic and
strong at that point, which was a complete contrast to what I saw now: She was
stumbling up the hill and her eyes looked vacant. I tried to encourage her that
we had time and just needed to get down into Idlehour and then up to Sam Merril
before 10:15. She responded something unintelligible that did not inspire hope.
Had she given up? Was the finish that everyone wanted to see just a dream? As
Larry Gassan might have said about Naomi’s dream, or Jussi’s dream, or anyone's AC dream—The Angeles Crest 100 just doesn’t care. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> In addition to not caring, the AC course
doesn’t relent: many consider Chantry Flats, the 75 mile point to be the
“halfway mark.” The final 25 miles contains two of the toughest climbs on the
course, and, for those at the back of the pack who will be out there a second
day: more heat for the final 11 or so miles and no significant shade or cover.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> And speak of the devil, there was Larry up on
the ridge, a huge camo back pack filled with lights and camera gear,
walking slowly up to where he left his car on top of Mt. Wilson. Larry first ran
AC back in early 90's, including
a sub-24 in '96. Up until 2015 he took black and white photos at the finish line, but then had a
falling out with the Race Director and was asked to take his wares elsewhere. And so
he now takes photos all night at Dead Man’s Bench. Sadly, I arrived after
sunrise, so missed my photo. But of course, AC doesn’t care, so I ignored my
uncooperative quad muscles and mustered some sort of run down into Idlehour. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> Vanderpot had arrived ahead of me, and he had
taken off his jacket, and as I ran somewhat foolishly panicked through the aid
station (I was worried about that 10:15 deadline), he commented “now this is an
aid station!” I didn’t feel like I had
the extra time to enjoy the ambience of Idlehour, so I filled up with
coca-cola in one bottle and water in the other and prepared for the last long
climb up to Sam Merrill. The day was beginning to heat up.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IIMeoYGAZ4A/WZzm4LYuc8I/AAAAAAAABJs/zVpmyGdvrLUhgOvzQj31voXT1BVixZYlACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_4847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IIMeoYGAZ4A/WZzm4LYuc8I/AAAAAAAABJs/zVpmyGdvrLUhgOvzQj31voXT1BVixZYlACEwYBhgL/s640/IMG_4847.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Prophetic Coffee Mug at My Sister's the day before the race...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> On the climb up to Sam Merrill I caught up
with Ken and his pacer and for a while we travelled together, but they slowly
pulled away. When I finally arrived at the aid station there was no thought of
just grabbing a coke and heading out as planned. I was hot and needed to sit
down and regroup for the final push. The aid station still had ice, which seemed a
small miracle. The final ten miles were all downhill and I struggled diligently to pretend I had legs to run. That mostly worked. Heading into
Millard, Vanderpot caught up with me again, and we ran into the final aid
station together. He sat down and began to chat with the volunteers and I kept
moving. The final descent through El Prieto went surprisingly fast, and then I was on the pavement for the final miles. I looked at
my watch and realized if I didn’t get lazy and walk I’d finish in just under 32
hours. And so I had a new goal and finished decently, relieved that my body was
not a wreck as I knew that I would be flying in 10 hours and then heading directly to work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> I saw John finish, coming in earlier than his
scheduled 32:21-32:29. I started to drift off and then was woken by loud cheers and
applause: Naomi Ruiz had rallied and was coming in for her finish that was a year in the
making. Most of the crowd was on their feet.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> Ken had finished about 15 minutes before I did, and Darrell came in solid at 27:47. Jeremy missed the 24 hour buckle ( he remains two for two for the Second Sunrise buckle) with a 24:44 but still finished 13th overall, which gives some indication of the difficulty of this course. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8iK-vIIuK4s/WZzm4Ytd4hI/AAAAAAAABJs/aKuGs9anzJEqEr-zGXfs7Sn8vdlitZ1GwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_4873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8iK-vIIuK4s/WZzm4Ytd4hI/AAAAAAAABJs/aKuGs9anzJEqEr-zGXfs7Sn8vdlitZ1GwCEwYBhgL/s640/IMG_4873.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Happy to be done, trying not to think about flying. Photo: Meggin</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> Neither Ken, Jeremy, Darrell or I signed up
for the lottery for the 2018 race. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> Vanderpot
will be there of course. Naomi was quoted as saying “two years is enough.”
Jussi is a question mark. Word on the street is that when he turned in his bib at Chantry Flats he was saying a final goodbye to the Angeles Crest 100.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> But as every 100 miler
knows, all of those clearly uttered “never agains” are rarely heeded. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> Despite its status as one of the original six 100 mile races in the U.S.A., the Angeles Crest has long flown under the national radar. That may change in 2018 as Jim Walmsely is on the list of starters. Will he make the start
line? Who can predict, but if he does, one can only imagine that he will be chasing
one of ultrarunning’s oldest records: Jim O’brien’s 17:35 set in 1989 (on a
cool day in September on a significantly different course). Most would argue
that the course has changed enough to make the comparison between 1989 and 2018 meaningless, and whether
the 2018 course will be faster or slower than the original route that finished
at the Rose Bowl is a question best answered by Dominic Grossman, a two time
champ and six time finisher of the race (third this year) who lives on the course as it heads into the first climb. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> Larry is right, of course: AC doesn’t care. But
fortunately many people do care deeply about this race, and for them, whether
or not Jim makes it to the start in 2018 –and briefly thrusts the race into the
spotlight-- is unimportant. Because of the work of the volunteers, the race
organizers and the many folks who have made the race an important part of their
lives, the AC 100 will continue to make and break dreams both big and small.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> Only a fool would make AC predictions a year
in advance, but I feel confident with this one: John Vanderpot will finish the
2018 AC 100 under 32:29 for his 5th consecutive finish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> While we were heading down into Millard at mile 95, John told me
he’s going to run five and then call it a day for the Angeles Crest 100.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> I don’t believe that. He’ll be back for more, and, I hope, so will I.</span><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Guy Cheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06296513081472215675noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912368439233814219.post-66782662157233214692017-06-26T10:45:00.001-07:002017-06-26T11:08:54.797-07:00Making Excuses: My Failure at the Taxco Skyrunning 60k<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FG5u0UxzHnI/WVFBYvb_JAI/AAAAAAAABIQ/vja34Le6pzQf72tz99riS5m3ssnKRsYigCLcBGAs/s1600/Taxco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FG5u0UxzHnI/WVFBYvb_JAI/AAAAAAAABIQ/vja34Le6pzQf72tz99riS5m3ssnKRsYigCLcBGAs/s640/Taxco.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Taxco, Guerrero. (stolen from the internet)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I was all set to sign up for Trail Run Hidalgo's 50k in the barranca de Metzitlan and then I saw the date: 9 July. I wouldn't be in Mexico at this date, and I really wanted a longer effort about a month before the Angeles Crest 100 on August 5. There were a few options: Villa del Carbon, Chico Night Race, Corral de Piedra and Taxco Skyrunning. Such is the state of trail running in Mexico right now. Too many races. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I chose Taxco because it looked to be a tough and beautiful course organized by Total Running. I don't really trust Total Running as a trail race organizer, as they seem focused on things like Color Runs and something called "Soul Pose" which I take to be some sort of Yoga in Neon Clothes Experience. However, Karina Karsolio had designed the course and she runs (and wins) many of the Trail Run Hidalgo races that are so well done. I trusted her to put together a tough route with lots of single track. Also, I hadn't been in Taxco in a decade, so why not go and run some new trails. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Arrived at the hotel, which had Juan Gorman Mosaic by the pool, and it was a pretty spectacular place. At 8:00pm I went to the race meeting (which was packed!) and was ready to go. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> At 5:00 the next morning I arrived in the small center in front of the famous church in Taxco only to find out the race had been postponed for 30 minutes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> There was also to be a gear check, and this was fine as I had everything: liter of water, whistle, emergency blanket, phone. Because of the phone requirement, I had to wear the Jurek Essential Waist belt as I haven't found a comfortable way to run with a phone stuffed in the pockets of my Patagonia Trail Shorts. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I said hello to some fellow runners at the start, and I couldn't help but notice that every single runner was wearing a pack. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Even Fernando Ortega was wearing a pack. Uh oh. Usually he runs (and wins) with no shirt and a small bottle of water straight from whatever OXXO is closest to the start line.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Had I made a mistake? Did I not read the required gear list correctly? Was I underestimating the race? And then I heard the announcement being repeated that it was not acceptable to run with a handheld bottle, a pack was needed. This pissed me off, as 10 minutes before the race seemed a poor time to make this announcement. Also, I was carrying everything the race asked me to carry. I had a liter of water in my hands. Is that so different than having a liter of water on one's chest? Or having a liter of water in a bladder on one's back? Is the difference important? Do I have to wear neon if I want to be a part of Soul Pose?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Another announcement was made that runners who didn't have the required gear would still be able to run but would be disqualified. I was running to get a long run in to train for Angeles Crest 100, so disqualification wasn't really a concern as long as I wouldn't be pulled from the race.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I entered the start area and passed the gear check using my Obi Wan Kenobi "these aren't the droids you are looking for" Jedi mind trick.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> And then the race was off, straight up hill. Steps were so steep at one point that a ladder would have been more efficient. We arrived at the Jesus Statue and were finally on trail. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6vL10HClXFs/WVEzPidKGZI/AAAAAAAABH0/_1jKN-gqcC85X0K4dPpSN4aT1SgtStphACLcBGAs/s1600/jesus-christ-largest-statue-0412-150x150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="150" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6vL10HClXFs/WVEzPidKGZI/AAAAAAAABH0/_1jKN-gqcC85X0K4dPpSN4aT1SgtStphACLcBGAs/s400/jesus-christ-largest-statue-0412-150x150.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Christ the Redeemer. (Though this one is in Rio, not Taxco)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">At some point the hill leveled out and suddenly there were no flags. Crap, I'd missed a turn. Retraced my steps with a group of runners and we saw where the course had made a 90 degree right turn. And then suddenly we were heading down. This downhill section was very well marked, but it didn't make sense to me, as I couldn't see on the course profile where the course went down before reaching the antennas. I could see the antennas up above in the distance and thought the course should be going up, not down. But we kept going down. I stopped with another runner who had the course on her phone and it showed we were off course, but we kept going down and finally the trail turned to the left towards the antennas. Relieved to know that I was on the correct trail, I began searching for a hidden area to relieve another pressing issue: my bowels. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> With that business done, I was really ready to get this race started. There were some crazy sections on that first climb, including one climbing section that even had ropes. I made it up this "wall" and then finally to the first aid station and then looked at my watch:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Damn: I was only 10 minutes before the cut off. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I sort of forgot this next section, but I remember clearly that I arrived at a very crowded aid station with runners in line, jostling for position to get water. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Here is a video another runner took at the aid station:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> And then I looked at my watch. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Shockingly, I was right at the cut off time. How could that be?? However, I wasn't too concerned as the aid station "workers" were standing around with their arms crossed watching people crowd around the water jugs. I figured if they couldn't get it together enough to get runners their water, they wouldn't be enforcing cut offs. I went around the table and found a mostly empty garafon and put that water in one of my bottles. The other bottle I filled with coca cola. I took a couple chips of watermelon out of a giant bowl and was off. I was determined to make up some time on the cut offs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> And then I was running up a hill and saw a bunch of runners who were wearing 60k bibs coming down.... Which was weird because the hill was clearly marked. Maybe it was marked for another race? We went down together and found the turn we had missed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And then we were off! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And back out on a road with no trail marks. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">At this point, Erik Aguilar, who was running the 30k said hello. It was great to see Erik out on the trail, but was sorry to see that he was also lost. I spotted an orange mark on a tree and then another on a stone, but then there was nothing else. We returned and someone was yelling something about a flag. We had found the trail again and we were off!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Somewhere in there was a long, technical descent with an awesome view of a waterfall. I wanted to dig out my camera but had the nagging feeling that snapping photos while chasing cut offs was not an optimal plan. The descent ended on a road, and I was feeling good having passed some folks on the descent. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I was ready to roll...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I crossed the road and there was a gate that was closed leading to a dirt road. There was no aid station, but there was an ambulance and a woman standing in front of the gate. She told me it was after 11:30 and I could not continue.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Somewhere in the Mountains of Taxco Foto Credit: Martin Forstmann, Fotografix.com.mx</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I was in shock. It was 11:33. I felt fantastic. How could my race be over. I explained --politely-- about the time I had been lost. I asked if I could speak to the race director. I tried the Jedi Mind Trick.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Jedi Mind trick failed me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Obi Wan, Why hast thou forsaken me? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">A handful of other runners showed up at this point. Finally, she said we could continue without our numbers "under our own risk." This phrase seemed ridiculous to me, as we always run under our own risk: number or no number, race or no race. I ripped off my number and handed it to her, as did another runner. We made an unspoken agreement to run together. And that's what we did, until we came to a fork in the road...with no marks in either direction. Again, really? Did I blow by another turn. Would I ever learn? </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-egVF7fbKXJU/WVFF2LB7sMI/AAAAAAAABIY/F2FXpL4zFMkUkhahEq8ufBknE6dypMajwCLcBGAs/s1600/05f0f49e7a29cd75e96ff425e78aa3fc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="736" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-egVF7fbKXJU/WVFF2LB7sMI/AAAAAAAABIY/F2FXpL4zFMkUkhahEq8ufBknE6dypMajwCLcBGAs/s640/05f0f49e7a29cd75e96ff425e78aa3fc.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Obviously, you're not a golfer"</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">So I headed back down the road, retracing my steps to the last mark we saw. I found the mark. We hadn't missed a turn. The marks just ended. And then I looked up and four runners were heading my way. Perhaps they had decided to continue "under their own risk." Yet they all had their numbers on. I asked them how they kept their numbers, and didn't quite catch the answer. I told them there were no marks, and one of the guys said he had the course on his phone. I followed. The next section of course was unmarked, but fortunately as we were passing a campesino's field, one of the campesinos called us back and told us to go down a singletrack. And sure enough there was one ribbon marking this turn. At this point the course was marked again, so we ran together. My watch was marking 34 kilometers so I started to worry about where the hell the 31 kilometer aid station was. My coca cola was gone and I was low on water. Would there be an aid station?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> At 35k, we crossed another road, tore into the aid station and were promptly told we were twenty minutes after the cut off. Karina was there, along with the aid station workers. I really didn't understand the cut off. I had run the first half conservatively and was ready to roll. I had 8 hours to finish, there was time. Again, I was told I could continue "abajo mi propio riesgo" but I was concerned about the course marking and told they would begin taking flags down. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I threw in the towel and got a ride back to Taxco. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">One runner in our group decided to continue unofficially. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I hope he made it. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DHui9_JcojQ/WVFAX4uRLMI/AAAAAAAABIM/Fmp4K5H6jz4mF6Reqah3JVkqOm5-uoGWACLcBGAs/s1600/DDLIiwLXsAA6t01-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="832" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DHui9_JcojQ/WVFAX4uRLMI/AAAAAAAABIM/Fmp4K5H6jz4mF6Reqah3JVkqOm5-uoGWACLcBGAs/s640/DDLIiwLXsAA6t01-1.jpg" width="520" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Selfie I took of myself after getting cut off at kilometer 35. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <b>Postscript:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I've been reading some commentary about the race this morning and it's very tempting to blame my DNF on the race. That's a dangerous temptation to succumb to, however. If I start blaming external circumstances instead of focusing on what I could change, I lose sight of the most important factor in finishing a race: what I can control. Ultramarathons present thousands of excuses not to finish. The trick is ignore these. I failed to ignore those excuses, but I can learn from them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here's what I needed to do:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">At the top of the first climb, when I realized how close I was shaving the cut offs, I should have readjusted my race strategy, and picked up the pace. Yeah, it's important to go slow in the first half of a long ultra, but not if it means missing the cutoffs. Also, I can't assume the cut offs won't be enforced. That was stupid. A mistake I won't make again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> After missing two turns (turns that were marked....I didn't see the marks) I should have run more carefully. I did do a bit of this, as I was able to redirect two runners who were heading off course back onto course. I need to run more aware, especially trails I don't know.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Lots of runners DNF'd this race, but more importantly, many finished. Congrats to everyone who toughed it out, didn't make excuses...and got it done. Like this guy:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0vibzv8Xsq0/WVFEQjNBx0I/AAAAAAAABIU/HwdLY-W27jAjtkYvhnQeZOALvTczFC7pQCLcBGAs/s1600/19400044_10156392671309465_8871956866044430323_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="540" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0vibzv8Xsq0/WVFEQjNBx0I/AAAAAAAABIU/HwdLY-W27jAjtkYvhnQeZOALvTczFC7pQCLcBGAs/s1600/19400044_10156392671309465_8871956866044430323_n.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">No Excuses: Paulino getting it done in style. (Everything you need to know about finishing a tough race is in this photo). Photo: stolen from Facebook</span><br />
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Guy Cheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06296513081472215675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912368439233814219.post-91717977538843198142017-04-18T18:15:00.000-07:002017-04-18T18:42:30.957-07:00Good Friday/Viernes Santo<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7eS3WoyTOFU/WPa2hutxnfI/AAAAAAAABHY/B0C0iH_7ln4wpvWREz-wo1GIUEg5t4diQCLcB/s1600/IMG_4133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7eS3WoyTOFU/WPa2hutxnfI/AAAAAAAABHY/B0C0iH_7ln4wpvWREz-wo1GIUEg5t4diQCLcB/s640/IMG_4133.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Van Ticket: Cabañas to Race Start.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The alarm went off at 2:45 in the morning. I hadn’t really slept, just reclined in the darkness with closed eyes while nervous energy combined with the excitement of a big race kept me tossing and turning and looking repeatedly at the clock: 11:30...1:15...2:10. </span><br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-cdb6da08-83bd-45b1-a845-17ed066d5cee"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The van was scheduled to arrive at 3:15am to take me and four or five other runners (all from Guadalajara) to the start. Pentamontaña is a remote and logistically complicated race, and the race organizers have a system in place to get all runners transported to the race start. I had purchased the van ticket online back in December after I made my reservation at Cabañas Montorios. The van, a 15 passenger Toyota Hiace, arrived a few minutes late and I was the first to board among the group of runners that were staying at our cabañas. The front of the van was full, but the back was empty. The solo seat above the passenger side rear wheel was empty so I took that so I would have some space to stretch my legs. I was hoping to sleep a bit on the ride, and closed my eyes as the other runners boarded. I don’t recall putting on my seatbelt, but at some point, I later realized, I must have done so.</span></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-cdb6da08-83bd-45b1-a845-17ed066d5cee"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We drove in a caravan, as there were cars (and another van) in front of us. I couldn’t sleep so I just mentally reviewed my nutrition plan and prepared myself for what was going to be a 30 hour effort. While I was secretly hoping for sub-30, more realistic projections were for a 31-34 hour finish. While “only” a 120 kilometer race, I knew from reviewing the previous times of other runners that with nearly 7,000 meters of climbing 5 mountains that are all well over 3,000 meters, covering those 120k would require a 100 mile (160k) effort. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Pentamontaña is a race in the northern part of Mexico in the Sierra Arteaga in the southern part of the Coahuila. The race appeared on my radar in 2015. The timing of the race is a bit difficult for me, as I usually take a long rest after UTMX 100k, a race that I have run for the past three years. October and November are months of light jogging and little volume. And then I start ramping up in December. I’m never really fit until the summer months. However, this year I committed to continue my training following a short two-week break following UTMX. I signed up for Pentamontaña the day they opened for registration. It would be the first of my big races in 2017, followed by the 30th annual Angeles Crest 100 mile in August, Trail Run Hidalgo’s new 120k stage race in September, and UTMX 100k in October.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The other runners emerged from their cabin and we were moving up COAH 112 towards 57. Before reaching the highway we turned right onto a dirt road, we went through at least one small pueblo (Tunal, I believe) and later I remember that we were climbing up a paved road. However, most of the trip was just a black tunnel as my eyes were closed and it was not yet four in the morning of Good Friday/Viernes Santo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> And then we were descending a switchbacked “empedrado” or old road made of rocks that had been rounded and smoothed over time. The race start loomed closer. Later I would find out we were about 5 kilometers from the start line.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> My eyes were closed, my body was at rest. Physically and mentally, I was ready. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Pentamontaña was finally here. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Out of this silence there was yelling and commotion from the front of the van. I opened my eyes and we were driving off the side of road into the forest. I recall no panic, even as we were falling over on the passenger side. Again, for reasons I can’t understand, I remained calm despite the shattering of windows as the van began to tumble. We rolled again and seemed to hit with more force and the spinning picked up speed. I had one clear thought: “Is this how it ends?” Again we rolled and finally my side of the van came to rest against the ground. In that instant the mysterious calm that I had felt was replaced by a vicious panic and I wanted nothing more than to get out of the van. I fought a bit with the seat belt, unbuckled myself and climbed up out of the broken side windows. The shattered glass around the edges cut my wrists, and I later thought it would have been a very simple thing to ask for a coat or blanket to put over the glass, but in that moment nothing mattered except getting away from the van. A male staff member wearing a blue Pentamontaña jacket was helping me out of the window. I still had my Ultimate Direction handheld bottle in my hand. I dropped it on the road and clumsily climbed out, rushing as I was afraid of an explosion or fire. I cut my right wrist in few different places, and another Pentamontaña staff member put a tape on my wrist to stop the bleeding. I saw the van resting on it’s side and I could see that we had tumbled down the hill and come to rest just along the road below.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> There was movement everywhere: cars and a large white truck were stopped above us, and other cars and the Vertimania Humvee were stopped below us. My memory of this time is fractured and distorted. I wandered up and down the switchbacks aimlessly. I had my puffy coat on and I had opted to wear my pajama bottoms over my shorts to keep warm before the start. A fellow runner later described me as “pale, incoherent and disoriented.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> At some point it came to my attention that there was still someone in the van. Several people were trying to push the van up, calling first for rocks, and then for “gatos” (car jacks) and spare tires: anything that could be used to prop up the van. There was a woman who was trapped and unconcious under the van. I took one glance and had to look away. I was asked to go to the hospital, but I did not want to go, as my only thought was to get back to my cabaña and see my family before they woke up. I was sat inside a car for a while, and the woman in front was complaining of pain in her neck and back and begging to go to the hospital. I was too restless to sit and left the car before staff members drove her to the hospital. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I went back to the van and the rear doors had been opened. Without entering the van I was able to grab some runners’ packs, poles, and a floppy hat that I recalled the runner in the back seat wearing, and organized them along the opposite side of the road. I searched in vain for my Nathan Pack, hat and headlamp, and then felt ashamed for being concerned about such things when there was a person under the van.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We were in a remote area with no cell signal. I kept waiting for the police or an ambulance to arrive. They never did. Finally, a group of volunteers and runners were able to push the van up enough to pull out the volunteer who we would all find out later was Ana Vanessa Ortiz. I estimate this took an hour, but I don’t trust my own estimations of time during this event. She was put onto a white plastic table and covered with blankets, and then put into a car and taken to the hospital. Shortly after she was finally removed from under the van, another Pentamontaña staff member drove me down to the race start in a white Nissan X-trail. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> At the race start, the scene was unreal, as I was surrounded by people who had no real concept of what had happened. They were sitting around chatting, having coffee, and waiting for the race to start. I was certain the race had been cancelled, but no announcement had been made. An eager volunteer started to check me in and I didn’t realize she was checking me into the race until she asked to take my bag of clothes which runners would pick up at the finish (the race is point to point). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I walked around aimlessly asking for a ride back to the cabañas. I was told to wait and there would be transportation. Again I was asked if I wanted to go to the hospital and I declined. The runners were called together and the race was officially cancelled. I continued to wander and I saw a couple walking to their car and I asked them if they were going any where near Cabañas Montorios. They had no idea where that was but they were heading back to their hotel at Monterreal, which I knew was only a few kilometers past Cabañas Montorios. Jacobo and Suzy drove me back. To my relief, instead of going back up past the accident we took a longer route out to the highway 57 that we would take south to COAH 112 which would take us to our cabañas. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Natalia and the girls were still asleep and were as shocked to see me as I was relieved to see them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> After telling my family what happened we drove the short ten minute drive into the pueblo, San Antonio Alazanas, where the race would have ended. We encountered some Pentamontaña staff members along returning drop bags. I asked about the runner who had been trapped under the van and they told me that she had passed away at the hospital in Saltillo. Stunned by this, and not knowing what to say or how to react, I gave the car keys to Natalia and just stood for a moment on the side of the road in silence with the Pentamontaña staff. Finally, we headed into Saltillo to go to the hospital. The next morning we drove 9 hours south and returned to our apartment in Mexico City.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Postscript: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We all know the relative dangers of long runs in the mountains, but we tend to brush aside the risks of the statistically much more dangerous cars, vans and busses we travel in every day. There is also some irony that this tragedy happened at Pentamontaña, a meticulously organized race, and that can’t be said for many of the new mountain races that seem to pop up every month. I believe the Hunzas should continue to hold Pentamontaña, but I hope it will be renamed and held as an annual memorial to Ana Vanessa Ortiz, a runner and lover of the outdoors who drove three hours from her home in Reynosa to volunteer her Easter weekend helping others and being with her friends in the mountains. Rest in Peace.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ana Vanessa Ortiz 1976-2017</td></tr>
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<br />Guy Cheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06296513081472215675noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912368439233814219.post-6285825668660849592016-10-16T19:57:00.003-07:002016-10-18T17:05:43.561-07:00Full Moon Rising: UTMX 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entering the Barranca Photo by Martin Forstmann of Fotografix.com.mx</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Ultra Trail Mexico's third edition finished yesterday (today actually --runners had until 1:00am on Sunday to finish), but folks will be talking about this year's race for a long, long time. Another way to frame it: I went into the race chasing my 15:40ish from 2015. Ended up finishing around 18:25 last night. And I was happy with that time. Thrilled, really with how well things went, considering...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> ...But I'm getting ahead of myself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> At 2:32 in the morning I woke up to a sound test at the starting line. I had slept solidly from 10:30-2:32. After that I tossed and turned and finally got out of bed at 4:00, 15 minutes before my alarm would go off. I could hear the whoops outside, the first of the 500 runners were showing up for the start of the UTMX 2016. The previous two years I stayed in a cabaña outside of the town, and this year I finally got a hotel room right next to the start. However, at 2:32 in the morning I realized that cabañas outside of town do have their advantages. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hotel by the finish line. Loud. Cabaña might be the better choice if sleep is important.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The first thing that surprised me as the race started is that the pace felt manageable and it wasn't crowded: it flowed as well, if not better, than previous years when there were fewer runners. At the first river crossing it became clear that there would be no games today trying to keep the feet dry. Water levels were very high.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I stuck to my plan at the start: I walked some hills I could have run. I resisted the urge to pass; I stayed within myself: when the heart started pounding, I slowed. Between 20k and 30k I began working the downhills a bit, but still trying to avoid trashing my legs early. I never remember the first half of this race as well as the latter half, but I was reminded about what makes the first 45k so incredible: it's a singletrack paradise. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Running into the 30k aid station, one of the aid station workers came flying out, grabbed my bottles, and had them both filled before I could finish stuffing my pockets with salted potatoes. The attention at the aid stations was like this all day. Later, down in San Sebastian at 70k, the aid station workers brought everything to me, checking in to see what I might need. It as good as having my own crew.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Climbing to the top of "Moab" between 30-40k</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E3KN-GNxTMs/WAQw2XGGpyI/AAAAAAAABFI/6dxZD2Y_UtYDKHvj3v1dOrrQqz1kX1t2ACEw/s1600/IMG_3033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E3KN-GNxTMs/WAQw2XGGpyI/AAAAAAAABFI/6dxZD2Y_UtYDKHvj3v1dOrrQqz1kX1t2ACEw/s400/IMG_3033.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> My first little dip in energy came after 30k in the climb up to the 35k point. And something seemed off about the route: we ran by the presa, but we didn't run along the wall as in years past. And then back into the woods, and I saw some 50k runners. I started to panic a bit: did I go off course? Where the hell was the 40k aid station? Did I miss it somehow? And then we started climbing again. I didn't remember this climb but looked down at the course profile on my bib and the climb was correct. I vaguely remembered Marcos talking about some change during the meeting the night before, but couldn't remember the details. I looked at my watch and realized I was way behind, I'd never get to the "highway" (50k) in 7:15-7:30. 15:40 was out the window. Sub 16 was probably out the window as the barranca had an extra climb in it this year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I finally arrived at the 40k aid station, but it felt more like 42, which is what my watch said. I needed to take some time to eat. I had made a stupid mistake with my Gu, leaving too many in my drop bag at the 70k mark, and not bringing enough with me at the start. I started rationing them, as I didn't want to go into the barranca with less than 3, so I had to make up the caloric deficit with aid station food. Two cups of soup, chips, and a banana and I was out of there, and back on familar ground: the course was what I remembered it, and the section went by quickly, or at least it felt like it did, but I arrived at the highway aid station (run by the Solo Para Salvajes crew) in 8:30, an hour behind schedule. I questioned my training, maybe I had fooled myself and I really wasn't as prepared as I thought I was.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> After 45+ kilometers of the scenic singletrack of the mountain portion of the race, the course eventually dumps out onto a paved road that leads straight down to the 50k aid station which is just across the "highway." This section is always hot and a shock to the system after being in the woods all morning. Something strange happened here: as I was trailing another runner, she ate a Gel and then...she just threw the wrapper on the ground?! I picked up the wrapper (Honey Stinger), and picked up my pace to try and catch up with her to to return her trash. But she pulled away. I was in disbelief, and started to rationalize: maybe she dropped it by mistake? But in that moment I was sure she just pitched it on the ground, and so since my 15:40 goal was long gone, I made a new one: I would not finish behind the gel wrapper runner.*</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">*It occurs to me now that maybe the "gel wrapper runner" (or "Gu Girl" or "Honey Slinger") dropped it accidentally, but it just didn't seem like that at the time: it looked like she took a gel and slung the wrapper --city marathon style-- right on the road. I hope I'm wrong about that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The section from the "highway" (it's a two lane pave road, it's not really a highway) to Peña del Aire on the edge of the canyon is my least favorite section of the course. It's almost all downhill with one climb. It's open dirt road. Should be easy, but this year was the same as the last two: I got passed by a lot of people.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Barranca.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I was looking forward to Peña del Aire aid station for several reasons: it's the beginning of my favorite part of the race, and I was looking forward to the new climbs and the river crossings. Also, Natalia and Dalva were going to meet me there. I hoped they would make it and hoped they would still be there: I told them the latest I would possibly get there was 2:00pm. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> At 3:10pm I rolled in. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I was worked and needed to sit down, drink some soup, recover a bit. I changed out my small UD bottle for a large one, as the race director had clearly emphasized the changes in the barranca. He estimated it would take 3-4 hours for most runners and he implored people to fill up their packs and bottles for this long, difficult section. After about 15 minutes, my longest aid station stop for the day, I headed down to the trail leading down to the bottom of the barranca. Down, down, down...</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was a warm one in the canyon.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> One thing I forgot to mention: at the top of the barranca, back at the aid station, I had received some news. According to Natalia, most runners were arriving later than expected. This made me realize that my race wasn't going horribly: the course had changed and the section before 40k had added more time than I thought. With my time goals irrelevant, I gave her my watch. Looking at that thing had just kept putting me in a bad mood. I didn't need a watch; I just needed to keep moving. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dalva and Tina coming out to greet me upon the arrival to Peña del Aire.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dalva giving me advice: "don't run, take bubble baths."</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I finally reached the river crossing at the bottom of the canyon. I wrapped my Jurek Essential belt (ok, it's a fanny pack) around my neck and waded across. When I reached the other side the current wasn't as strong near the shore so I set the belt and my bottles on a rock and submerged myself. Felt pretty good under the water, but sadly I had to get up and keep running. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> After the river the first of the "new" climbs began. We climbed a narrow, loose rock and crazy steep climb up to the top of the other side of the barranca. I looked across and could see the Peña del Aire on the other side. It was awesome. I never would have recommended changing the barranca section, but this was genius: all the way down one side, cross the river, up to the top of the other side. And then down this crazy downhill that we had been cautioned about in the race preview. I felt great going down and passed most of the folks who passed me on the climb. Including the gel wrapper runner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> And then she --and everyone else-- passed me on the next climb. Again, straight up on loose shale. And here I realized I had made a mistake: I had filled both bottles with powerade. Things were out of balance. I became dizzy and slowed to a crawl. Asked those who passed me if they had "agua simple." Nope: just more powerade. So I trudged up, tried to eat, stopped drinking powerade and then realized that was stupid. Alone on the far side of the canyon. At the top of the climb I sat down and took off my shoes to clean out the rocks --more to take a break than anything else. Some old guy popped out of the bushes --seriously, out of nowhere. He spoke so quickly and with such a strange accent I couldn't understand a word he said. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> He didn't have any "agua simple" either. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I picked up my pace on the downhill, hoping to catch the Gu girl. Nope. Maybe next year. I gave some powerade to a runner that was out of liquid. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Crossed the river again. Submerged again, and then ran the trails into San Sebastian at 70k. My drop bag was waiting. Chespiro was also there, that was cool. Years ago I was returning to an aid station, intent on quitting the Maraton del Rover because I was lost again and fed up. And then I ran into Chespiro who was fixing the marks on the course. He set me back on track and I finished that race. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> A Chespiro sighting is always a good omen. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> With dry socks, a fresh shirt, and full belly I headed up the long dirt road that takes us up and out of the canyon. Usually I hate this section, but I had arrived so late to San Sebastian that the sun was setting. For the first time, I enjoyed the climb. The sunset and the full moon rose up out of the clouds. And suddenly I knew one thing: I was going to finish. 17, 18, 19 or 20 hours. It didn't matter: It was night time and I love running at night and there was only 20k to go.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> At the top of the barranca, I stopped in the Mirador aid station and chatted a bit with the aid station guys. They were encouraging and in great spirits. I drank a Red Bull and one of the guys said that over 200 people missed that cut off at Peña de Aire and couldn't continue down into the canyon. That was good reminder that I should put a little "giddy up" in my step and keep moving. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sun sets over the Barranca</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And the moon rises. Unfortunately the photo is terrible. Very nice in real life, however.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> And so I started to push. I ran through the next aid station at Ahuacatitla, stopping only long enough to stuff my pockets with chocolate chip cookies and gummy worms and then headed straight down to the final river crossing. Passed a lot of people this way, but "gel wrapper" wasn't among them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> At the bottom there was surprise: first a roped rock crossing <b>[tip: try this without the rope, I think it's much safer. The runner in front of me held on to the rope for all his life and took a pretty hard fall against the rock] </b>and then I was at the final crossing and the river was raging. There was a large tree spanning the crossing. A rope for balance. Really?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Unfortunately, the only other choice was to go back up to the aid station.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Carefully, I crossed the tree, almost losing my balance. On the other side I asked the guy holding the rope if some runners had fell. His curt response: "claro." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> And then going up the final climb, a sort of serpentine path up through a middle earth forest. Pretty cool climb in the dark. Until my headlamp started flickering and went out. Javi was there with me at that point and gave me some light while I changed the battery. Thanks, Javi!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I started to feel stronger, pushed harder, and ran well on the road that goes straight down to the Hacienda de Santa Maria Regla and the final aid station. And lo and behold: there was "Honey Slinger" going down into the aid station. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Walking. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I "sprinted" down as fast as I could and considered just going through the aid station without stopping, but I wanted a little coca cola and "agua simple" to balance it for the final push.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Up to the Prismas Balsaticos, across the swinging bridge, across the presa (very wet this year and someone took the markings down, I think), got lost for a few minutes, some guy out there called me back, and finally hit the road back into the center of Huasca. Natalia, Dalva and Tina were there to run it in with me. It was 11:25pm. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Of my three finishes at UTMX, this one meant the most. It started out as one kind of race, and ended up as something else: some sort of survival adventure run. It had that epic "live a lifetime in a day" feel that one gets in a 100 miler.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">bad selfies under a full moon</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Postscript: There was a bit of chatter about all the runners getting stopped at the 5:00pm cut off at Peña del Aire. While the changes in the course (and the cut off) were clearly communicated (the example of arriving at 5:05, which would be too late, was given during the meeting), it was certainly not the intention of the race to have so many folks miss a cut off. A couple solutions:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> 1.Start the race at 4:00am <b>and/or</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> 2.Return to the original (and faster) section between 30 and 40k.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Just please don't change the canyon section: the river crossings and the climbs were awesome.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span>Guy Cheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06296513081472215675noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912368439233814219.post-79520523817616428772016-10-13T13:59:00.002-07:002016-10-13T14:05:26.528-07:00Ultra Trail Mexico: Take Three <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jK1Q3RAihu4/V__qK_UapdI/AAAAAAAABEQ/nc3lbtRbXYIBO8N0AemSxI48jUDHSB14ACLcB/s1600/IMG_3004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jK1Q3RAihu4/V__qK_UapdI/AAAAAAAABEQ/nc3lbtRbXYIBO8N0AemSxI48jUDHSB14ACLcB/s640/IMG_3004.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Not much to do now but wait...</span><br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-af30e14b-bfaf-6a3c-fa94-a635b3e611d3"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Here we are again: UTMX take 3.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I received a text from my brother-in-law yesterday (he came down to Mexico last year to run the race) asking: You ready for UTMX? Part II answers that question; part I is a review of the race in its third edition.</span></div>
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<b style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; text-align: left;">I. UTMX overview from a middle to back of the pack perspective:</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is year three, and the race has grown up. There are 497 people starting the 100k distance. That growth is good for the long-term stability of the race, but it’s going to slow things down for the middle to back of packers in the first kilometers. However, that’s ok because every year this race goes out way too fast. It’s a 100k; it’s not a race to El Zembo, the first aid station. I’m anticipating some standing around breaks in the early part of the race before the pack splits up. I hope those easy early kilometers will pay dividends later on when climbing up to the Mirador from San Sebastian.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Take a look at last year’s splits. Lots of folks have stellar runs to the 50k point and then tank in the latter half. Also, this year there is an added mystery bonus: The course is 2 kilometers longer and it looks like most of that distance is gained in the canyon. Comparing this year’s course profile with the previous year’s course profile, it looks like there will be more climbing in the canyon as well. Times should be slower this year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> One takeway from the last two years is that the first 40+k of the race is mostly cool and covered. You won’t need to drink as much here. I carried two bottles, but only filled one up at the aid stations. However, when I got to the highway crossing at 49.3k, I should have filled up both bottles and drank at the aid station. The next section is hot and exposed all the way to Peña de Aire, where the course goes down into the canyon. You definitely don’t want to go down into the canyon behind on hydration: especially with the canyon section being longer this year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> For me, the two most important aid stations are 49.3 (usually run by Pedro Fletes and the Solo Para Salvajes crew) and Peña de aire at 60k. I don’t like to waste time hanging out in aid stations, but it’s worth spending a few minutes in each of these to make sure you’ve eaten and drank what you need to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The canyon is by far the most technical section of the course and it comes at the point where runners are getting fatigued. My suggestion is to enjoy the beauty of the canyon, because the biggest “suck” of the race is coming: the 6k climb out of San Sebastian back up to the top of the canyon at Mirador aid station. This is an exposed road, hot and dusty. It also goes on forever. I’m not sure if Ferro just enjoys making us suffer or there really isn’t any single track climbing up out of the canyon in this area. This year I hope to get to Mirador more or less in one piece and keep moving. Last year I was wrecked at the top of this climb and had to sit down, wasting a few minutes in the aid station feeling sorry for myself and trying to recover. In 2014 I climbed well and arrived at the top to find Marcos Truyols, who I had been chasing after running with him for the first 45k. He pulled away and put lots of time on me before the finish. This serves as another reminder that a lot can happen in this last 23k or so of the race: don’t spend it all getting to Zembo or even to the 50k mark... </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The good news is that after mirador there is only one more significant climb. After some flat road running to Ahuacatitlan, the course goes straight down to the river. It’s so steep (and so late in the race) that it can be hard to go fast here. Gravity helps, but is somewhat limited by how thrashed one’s legs are. At the bottom is the major river crossing of the race and then straight up a winding goat trail. At the top the course flattens for a bit and then eventually heads down to the last aid station (Santa Maria Regla...it’s right across from the Hacienda). Last year I was feeling great here and stopped for less than 30 seconds. However, in 2014 I was beat and had to sit down for a few minutes and drink a Red Bull. The dream is to have enough water in my bottle and just run straight through.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> After this there is a short climb up to the Prismas Balsaticas and we enter the park through a back entrance, run along the cliff, cross the swinging bridge and then head out of the park, around the presa and through the back streets of Huasca before arriving at the finish. There is a little hill in here about a kilometer or two from the finish. If someone is chasing you at this point, that hill is where you can lose them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Enjoy the finish: it’s one of the best.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Part II.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Back to the questions Jeremy asked me: am I ready? Sure, I’m ready to finish, and I’m mentally prepared as well. My training has been consistent, but the miles haven’t been huge, and as always, getting climbing in is difficult: midweek I run in Parque Hundido and then on the weekends I get out to Bosque del Tlapan, Desierto or Ocotal. I did do a few tune up races. I’ll log them here because depending on how things go on Saturday I may do it differently next year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">August 20: 20k Arcos de Sitio in Tepozotlan. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is a newer race in the Salvajes line up and it’s awesome: very technical and hilly, lots of rocky single track, plenty of climbing and a cool finish across an ancient viaduct. I had a great time running, but my time was something like 15 minutes slower than when I ran in 2014. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">August 28: Mexico City Marathon</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each year I sign up for the marathon and then hem and haw about whether or not I really want to run it. For me to run a marathon well I need to do long runs on pavement, and I just don’t do it: on the weekends I head for the hills. I convinced myself about three days before the race that I was going to sell my bib and go run long in desierto. But then the guy I was going to sell my number to already had found one so I decided to run it. I ran slow, but steady splits until the final 10k where I fell off the pace a bit, but it was still faster than my time from 2015. However, it took me forever to recover. Marathons are brutal. I lost 4-5 days of training, and I wonder if the marathon was a mistake. Always fun to run the race however. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sept. 11: Ultratransnavajas 60k </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Five weeks before UTMX, I thought this would be the perfect long effort. I was a bit worried about the extra 10k, as the previous year it was 50k. The smart thing to do would have been to run a hard 35k. Apparently I can’t seem to do the smart thing very often. As it turned out, I should have been more worried: this race was an absolute beat down. I ran 7:26 for 50k last year so I thought I’d run around 9 hours. Andoni loves to make brutal races with ridiculous climbs. Just over 11 hours later --totally humbled, and feeling stupid for telling a few people I thought I’d finish in 9 hours-- I stumbled across the finish line. My one positive take away from this race was that when things go bad --it felt like work right from the starting line-- I can gut out a finish. But man, I’m not going to lie: I hope UTMX goes better.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I’ll find out on Saturday...</span></div>
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<br />Guy Cheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06296513081472215675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912368439233814219.post-73368343710605884762016-07-06T09:51:00.000-07:002016-07-06T19:33:21.934-07:00Into the Canyon: Trail de Cañon (Peña del Aire) Race Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dalva Looooves the Zip Line</td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m trying to understand the correlation between a terrible night’s sleep followed by a decent race. I haven’t slept so poorly before a race since the 2014 Angeles Crest 100. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Finally fell asleep and then woke at 2:50am. Of course I fell asleep once more two minutes before my alarm sounded at 4:50am. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The previous evening, Oriana and I had driven to Peña del Aire, which is a phallic shaped rock where the race would begin. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> We got there just before sunset. We walked down to the head of the trail that leads down into the canyon, and I was reminded of how technical this descent is. No way I was going to do this without a headlamp. I hate running with a lamp all day just for an hour of light in the morning, but I was going to have to deal with it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> As the light faded over the canyon, Oriana and I drove back to the Cabañas: we timed it as exactly 22 minutes and 21 seconds. The plan was to leave at 5:15 in the morning. Tough to get the whole family moving at that hour, and Natalia was racing the 20k and wouldn’t start until 7, so I was looking for a ride to give the family an extra hour of sleep. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cpz5RabeIwg/V30yy_CJuYI/AAAAAAAABCM/U9Crm7gvFTgwH2cIyP9aQPoHrBp1zLVTgCKgB/s1600/IMG_2280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cpz5RabeIwg/V30yy_CJuYI/AAAAAAAABCM/U9Crm7gvFTgwH2cIyP9aQPoHrBp1zLVTgCKgB/s400/IMG_2280.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">FYI: It's 22 minutes and 21 seconds from this cabaña to the race start</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> No Uber in Huasca and the taxi drivers don’t get up that early.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> However, the caretaker had mentioned that the folks in the neighboring cabaña were also in the race, so I went and knocked on their door to see if they were running the 40k and maybe could I get a ride? I felt like a stalker rapping on their door at night, but the couple answered --if warily-- and sure enough one of them was running the 40k. The great news is they were happy to give me a ride. Unfortunately, they were planning on leaving “around 5:30.” I politely but firmly mentioned that it just took me 22 minutes and 21 seconds to drive to Peña del Aire. They appeared unmoved by this fact, and while I had several other arguments at the ready, I really wasn’t in the best negotiating position considering that I was an uninvited stranger knocking on their door at night --possibly interrupting an intimate moment-- looking for a free ride. I also inferred it was not an opportune moment to express my reservations about Mexican concepts of time, so I just assured them I’d be outside and ready by 5:20 (hint), thanked them, and then went to bed, staring at the darkness for hours while my family slept around me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B_3EoxsrCD0/V300sCNEg0I/AAAAAAAABCk/RVF5xHhOH94RAO845OHTof6CruaZcjIJQCLcB/s1600/13613207_616798508474837_531287570775843177_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B_3EoxsrCD0/V300sCNEg0I/AAAAAAAABCk/RVF5xHhOH94RAO845OHTof6CruaZcjIJQCLcB/s640/13613207_616798508474837_531287570775843177_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Amazing Place! Photo: Fotografix.com.mx</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-46e82819-be75-3678-d88d-5635ab7e5402" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The next morning I was outside and ready at 5:12. I met my other neighbor, Horacio, who was also looking for a ride, and the couple, Diego and Erika, were happy to bring him along as well. It was foggy and dark. And 5:31. We were off. We chatted away talking about races we had run (as always in Mexican trail running circles, it turned out we all had run several races together without knowing it) and we blew right past the turn off for the Peña del Aire.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Despite the fog I knew we were wrong, and so we stopped and turned around. But several other cars were heading in this direction and said it was the correct way. There was some mildly panicked discussion, but we retraced our steps, found the correct turn and we were on the slow dirt roads to arrive at the start. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">At about 5:57 we could see the lights of cars heading into the parking lot. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was at this moment I thought it best resist the urge to restate the wisdom of my suggested 5:15am departure. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> We rolled into the big grassy field that was the parking lot, and it seemed they wanted us to drive to the farthest part of the lot. It was 5:59. I wondered how rude it would be to simply open the door, jump out of the slowly moving car, yell thank you, and run to the start. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I suppressed that urge as well.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> We parked. It was 6:00 by my Suunto. I noted lots of car lights still coming into the parking lot, Probably the race would start late. Nope: the countdown had begun 10, 9, 8….</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">...Time to run….</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<ol style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Kudos to Trail Run Hidalgo for starting his race on time. Some said they should have waited a few minutes, but that will just lead to all of his races starting late. They don’t; they start on time. Word will get around and people will be there when they are supposed to be. </span></span></div>
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</ol>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> 2. Thank you to Diego and Erika for giving me a ride. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> 3. Maybe a 5:20 departure next year? ;)</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Perhaps the reason I couldn’t sleep the night before is that I had been anticipating this race for months. The canyon is well-known to many trail runners, because at kilometer 60, the UTMX 100k race descends into the canyon on the same trail where we would start our race. There are many things I love about UTMX, but the canyon section is, for me, the jewel of that race. However, at UTMX we only spend about 7 kilometers running in the canyon, and I’ve always wanted to explore </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">more.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r3l33r3M7vQ/V30ySu4PH3I/AAAAAAAABCU/0RdThoM4lHQ2wmFa-ggUs3Qxwl5Xfre2QCKgB/s1600/Pen%25CC%2583amatin6137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r3l33r3M7vQ/V30ySu4PH3I/AAAAAAAABCU/0RdThoM4lHQ2wmFa-ggUs3Qxwl5Xfre2QCKgB/s640/Pen%25CC%2583amatin6137.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Awesome descents like this all day. Photo: Martin Forstmann of Fotografix.com.mx</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I don’t want to bore anyone with a blow by blow of my race, but I knew going up the first major climb that I was going to have a good day. I was wrong: I had a fantastic day. Part of the reason I felt great is that I’m finally starting to get into some sort of shape; but the more important reason is that the route was freaking fantastic: a true adventure….a dozen river crossings, several sketchy, loose rock technical down hills, and beautiful single track all day long. Also, as usual, Trail Run HIdalgo got the important details correct: the aid stations were plentiful and had the necessities, there was beer at the finish, and the course was marked heavily. Flags all over the place. Too many, for my taste, but I understand that the organizers don’t want people getting lost down in the canyon. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nawq1kFRYYQ/V30yS7sf1DI/AAAAAAAABCU/0Oi65c9hWoEE89qKrpQoCmNwoAWbth2WACKgB/s1600/Pen%25CC%2583adanai3192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nawq1kFRYYQ/V30yS7sf1DI/AAAAAAAABCU/0Oi65c9hWoEE89qKrpQoCmNwoAWbth2WACKgB/s640/Pen%25CC%2583adanai3192.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Natalia at the finish! Photo: Fotografix.com.mx</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Despite the awesomeness of the race, two or three runners still found reasons to complain on facebook after the race. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> As an old teacher friend once told me: “Guy, you could invite some people to the ice cream store every day and they’d complain because they had to walk.”</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> More on that later.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> During the last 15 K, I was catching people and moving well. I completely submerged myself in every river crossing to keep cool and then I rolled up to the second to last aid station. There were about 4 runners here, so I quickly refilled my bottle, chugged a coke, ate some watermelon and kept moving. I was anticipating the last climb. What I was not anticipating was the climb to get to the last climb: slippery loose gravel and just stupidly steep. Most races end with a nice downhill or a straightway. Instead we had a two plus mile climb up to the top of the canyon. After moving so well all day I was reduced to a bit of a spit dribbler, and most of the runners I had passed at the last aid station caught me, which is to say they hiked by me. The Peña came into sight, and the trail flattened out near the top and I managed some sort of shuffle jog, climbed out of the canyon, and then had about 30 yards to the finish line. A little “sprint” and then I laid down under the tent after crossing the finish line. Man did it feel good to know I didn’t have to go back down into the canyon. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3CqG_o9_cLg/V300sHoJqbI/AAAAAAAABCg/cPsCXI7-AYQ-WM_3DghzFJm4CYANUxXIQCLcB/s1600/13603225_617119075109447_8547324336806143627_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3CqG_o9_cLg/V300sHoJqbI/AAAAAAAABCg/cPsCXI7-AYQ-WM_3DghzFJm4CYANUxXIQCLcB/s640/13603225_617119075109447_8547324336806143627_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Being a little overly dramatic at the finish, I think. Really just wanted a beer. Photo: Fotografix.com.mx</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Neither that short description of my race or the photos do justice to these trails or the rugged beauty of the Canyon. You’ll have to go next year and find out for yourself. But please, before you do: consider a few things: most of this race is run in areas of the canyon that are not accessible by car. If you twist an ankle or underhydrate or show up unprepared, you are going to have to get yourself out of trouble and get to the nearest aid station. That’s the runner’s job, not the race’s. An unsettling idea has been creeping into trail running that the organizers can (and should) make everything “safe.” That’s not going to happen without ruining the adventure of trail running. If you are uncomfortable crossing a river that comes up to your hip without a rope or someone there to watch you, or you can’t find your way up out of the canyon if your race goes sour, please choose another race. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Trail Run Hidalgo has made a name for themselves creating races that feature lots of single track with steep climbs and descents in beautiful locations on technical trails. I’ve enjoyed their Mountain Challenge race in Chico, and the Ultratransnavajas near Tulancingo, but Trail de Cañon is now my favorite. The Canyon is truly a gem: if it were in another country we would all be saving for airfare and dreaming about running there. I think we might undervalue it a bit because it’s only a couple hours outside of Mexico City. But be warned, while this might “only” be a 40k, better to think of it as a short ultra. For comparison: In 2015 I ran the first 50k of UTMX in 7:20. It took me 7:43 to finish the 40k of the Trail de Cañon. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Three races on the calendar: Mexico City Marathon at the end of August, Trail Run Hidalgo’s Ultratransnavajas 60k in September….And then the UTMX 100k on October 15th. </span></span></div>
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<br />Guy Cheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06296513081472215675noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912368439233814219.post-12695111836932133742016-05-24T18:19:00.001-07:002016-05-24T20:05:57.773-07:00Back to Jemez.<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fcpN7ZnNwEQ/V0T4zMn-4CI/AAAAAAAABBM/uFt0dus2u6o9EXP2hmRh-FUdh_7vQtexgCK4B/s1600/photo%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fcpN7ZnNwEQ/V0T4zMn-4CI/AAAAAAAABBM/uFt0dus2u6o9EXP2hmRh-FUdh_7vQtexgCK4B/s640/photo%2B1.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pre-race (over) confidence: Up and down, no sweat. Photo: Randy Grillo</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>I’ve never felt good at
Last Chance Saloon, the final aid station of the Jemez Mountain Run. Three
years ago I was here after 50 miles in the mountains, and my stomach couldn’t
take anything. At the 2016 Jemez, I wisely opted for the 50k, but when I
arrived at the final aid station only two miles from the finish, I didn’t
feel much better. I didn’t want to eat, but needed something so filled up my
bottle with ice and coke and started marching up the switch backs that lead up
out of the aid station</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P0k_fwyIwEA/V0T4H6XMOSI/AAAAAAAABA4/LjFMQSHcyX0OgKug8wPnzOJ3OGhGW3r6ACK4B/s1600/photo%2B3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P0k_fwyIwEA/V0T4H6XMOSI/AAAAAAAABA4/LjFMQSHcyX0OgKug8wPnzOJ3OGhGW3r6ACK4B/s640/photo%2B3.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Feeling Fantastic 8 seconds in! Check out that Heel Strike! Textbook. Photo: Randy Grillo</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jemez almost didn’t happen this year. Back in January I had
made plans with Truyols to fly into Juarez, cross the border and then drive or
take a bus up to Santa Fe. Stop in Alamogordo along the way and visit my sister. I’m not sure why neither one of us looked at the
mileage: it’s around 300 miles from El Paso to Santa Fe. We would have to make
that trip twice in 3.5 days, as I couldn’t ask for more than two days off of
school. While not impossible, pretty ridiculous, especially considering I can't drive for more than three hours before my lower back starts freaking out at me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It seemed that events were conspiring against the trip.
At school we planned our big NWEA celebration on the Thursday I was
supposed to be flying. And then Truyols went back to Spain to get a job because he refused to relocate to Playa Del Carmen. If you can't understand why anyone would refuse a work relocation to Playa Del Carmen, you don't run in the mountains. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-weJ8yC6lH28/V0T4ikDK1gI/AAAAAAAABBA/1PMeEq3xUF8myaLK3oRVKRuL9XXAw1f6ACK4B/s1600/photo%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-weJ8yC6lH28/V0T4ikDK1gI/AAAAAAAABBA/1PMeEq3xUF8myaLK3oRVKRuL9XXAw1f6ACK4B/s640/photo%2B2.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Putting this in there because I don't run with a camera and don't have many photos. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One late afternoon I
was sitting alone in my office at the end of the day, coming to terms with
cancelling the trip. No visiting my sister in Alamogordo; no hanging out with
Randy and Pati in Santa Fe; no trip through the mountains in Los Alamos. Damn,
I should have just booked a ticket directly to ABQ, I thought to myself. And
just for fun, I checked, expecting tickets in the 600-800 dollar range. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">296 round trip from Mexico City to ABQ. Wow.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tOI6wmST6u8/V0T8b6PNQ2I/AAAAAAAABBc/X_cnUNqq7LY-_vanCWeG7_Gp-7d6kggeACK4B/s1600/IMG_2167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tOI6wmST6u8/V0T8b6PNQ2I/AAAAAAAABBc/X_cnUNqq7LY-_vanCWeG7_Gp-7d6kggeACK4B/s640/IMG_2167.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You know you are in New Mexico when...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Never seen tickets that cheap to a smaller hub in the US
like ABQ, but still, 300 bucks is 300 bucks. I hesitated for a few minutes and
then I remembered the ole’: “we usually regret the things we don’t do.” I
pressed submit, and the trip –in a shortened version—was on. I’d be arriving at
midnight on Thursday and flying out at 6:00am on Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The original plan had
been go to Jemez and run the 50 miler again. I’d finished in 15:30 in 2013, my
longest 50 mile time by more than three hours. A tough course with two long
climbs, Jemez is a great race but requires showing up with your A game. Two
weeks before the race I ran the Mountain Challenge 33k in Chico, Hidalgo. A
short run but with lots of steep climbing. I went out fairly hard and paid for
it on the return: I was crawling up the climbs. I started to question whether I
was prepared for 50 miles in Jemez. I also began to fret about the 6:00am
return flight, so a week before the race I sent an email to the RD requesting a
drop to the 50k.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could have dropped
down distances during the race, as Jemez does a very tricky thing: any 50 mile
runner can decide to run the 50k, but this decision is made 20+miles into the
race after a very long climb. Many runners make this switch, and one of the
great mental hurdles to finishing Jemez 50 mile is taking that left turn at
Pipeline Road aid station and dropping down into the Caldera.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>By the time I got to the first aid
station, it was pretty clear to me that it was not going to be a spectacular
day. I felt like I was working too hard, and feeling like you're working too hard
in the opening hour of a 50k is a bad sign. I arrived at Camp May ready for
the long climb up Pajarito. This was a new single track trail winding between
new growth trees that are returning after the 2011 fire. Warning to future
Jemez runners: there is a big old false summit on this trail. When you think
you are at the top, you still need to head straight up a couple ski runs. And
then finally the descent to the ski lodge. Speaking about the descent: Jemez is
a logical and easy course to follow, and it’s flagged fairly (though not
excessively) but this descent mixes it up from cool single track in the woods
between ski runs, and occasionally it just barrels straight down. It's fun to run, but not a "logical path." Pay attention
here and watch the flags. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I normally don’t use
a drop bag for 50k, but they had the option so I picked up the other half of my
gels, applied some more sunscreen (which they also had in the aid stations—they
think of everything in this race), changed into a short sleeve shirt and I was
off. I felt decent and was able to run everything until the
climb up to the aid station.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pipeline Road aid station is where the 50 milers have to
make the choice: turn right and finish with the 50k, or drop down into the
caldera and go for 50mile. I was so happy I’d made the choice a week earlier…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>…I thanked myself
for that decision all day long.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jemez boasts a great finish: a long 7 miles of descent on
single track before arriving at the final aid station –Last Chance Saloon, or
Rendija Canyon—with a two mile climb back up to the finish. I was descending
decently all day, but it was not to last. This area –like almost all of the
race—is totally exposed because of forest fires in 2000 and 2011. I slowed and
it was a struggle just to keep running. A couple runners passed me. Not the
finish I was hoping for, but you play the hand you are dealt, and I finally struggled
into Last Chance Saloon, flirting with nasuea and lacking energy. It was hard
for me to believe I’d finished the 50 miler in 2013. In fact, I’d felt great on
this section three years earlier (despite barely making it out of the Caldera)
Funny how the mind works: having set my sights on the 50k, the 50 mile seemed
unfathomable. And how the hell had a completed two 100 mile races? Was I a
runner in decline? Had a run my last ultra? Should I just forgo water and fill
up my bottle with ice and coca cola?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I could at least answer one of those questions: it would be
the coca cola train to the end. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Those were the thoughts I had as I primarily hiked up to the
finish. There were a couple times I swung my arms and shuffled my legs in an
attempt to mimic jogging. Unconvincing. A dude passed me just shy of the final
steep climb up to the Possee shack. A dude I hadn’t seen all day. Nothing quite like being passed by a dude you haven't seen all day. There was a
fleeting thought of chasing him. Fleeting. Apparently I'm afraid to vomit, or just like to avoid pain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And then I put my hand on a cactus trying to pass a couple
15 mile racers who were still on the course.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There would be no
glorious recovery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, picking the
spines out of my hand turned out to be a great diversion, and I ran up to the
Possee Shack for the finish and there was Grillo already a few beers in after
his 15 mile finish. I had to lay down for about 30 minutes, but I eventually
recovered and began drinking the excellent Session IPA that Bathtub Brewing, a
local brewery and sponsor of the race, was pouring for free.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Randy and I stayed to
watch runners from the 50k and 50 mile finish. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While it wasn’t great running weather, it was
world class beer drinking and veggi burrito eating weather, and we made the
most of it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>if I can find 297
dollar round-trip tickets I’ll be back next year.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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Guy Cheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06296513081472215675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912368439233814219.post-20324466175216276462015-11-24T07:28:00.000-08:002015-11-24T07:48:25.275-08:00A River Runs Through It (Travels with Martin): Sierra Gorda 50k "Race" report<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C8Ds8p96zTo/VlR7qDtqFcI/AAAAAAAAA_U/jRft8j7DONE/s1600/12295090_10206576039253692_569309487_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C8Ds8p96zTo/VlR7qDtqFcI/AAAAAAAAA_U/jRft8j7DONE/s640/12295090_10206576039253692_569309487_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sierra Gorda 50k: Photo by Martin Forstmann of Fotografix.com.mx</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No way I was
pitching a tent in a parking lot.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Forstmann –of
<a href="http://fotografix.com.mx/">Fotografix.com.mx</a> fame-- and I had driven about 4 hours to the tiny, remote
town of Higueras de Peñamiller for the Reto Sierra Gorda 50k. We stopped for
carnitas in Peña Bernal, a well-known tourist trap where people go to look at a
big rock, and then we drove about an hour into the semi-desert, mountainous
region known as the Sierra Gorda.</span></div>
<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ENvg9BHgw-s/VlR-O8-fP3I/AAAAAAAAA_Y/vcxpFXsqtdc/s1600/IMG_0910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ENvg9BHgw-s/VlR-O8-fP3I/AAAAAAAAA_Y/vcxpFXsqtdc/s400/IMG_0910.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Peña de Bernal: Keep driving and send your last texts</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Higueras is no
pueblo magico. It’s a dusty outpost without so much as a single restaurant. But
it’s surrounded by the pristine Sierra Gorda. But the race has to start
somewhere and so a big dirt parking lot that doubled as the center of town
would be that somewhere. The promised “camping area” was a corner of this dirt
parking lot offering an evening of Dusty, Loud and Hard. There was also zero
shade.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The sun would go
down and eventually someone would turn off the music, but dusty and hard
weren’t going away. I was prepared to drive up into the hills and find a place
on the side of the road.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After asking around
a bit, we heard that “the Oasis” was a nice place to camp and not too far, so
we drove up out of the town and on a dirt road inside a canyon. Someone had
painted “Oasis” and an arrow on the side of the canyon so we headed down an
even narrower road would soon turned into a river. Wondering how wise it was to
be driving down a river as the sun set, I stopped the car and ran ahead to
check out the road/river. A guy with a machete popped out of the woods, and I
asked him about the Oasis and he told me to keep on driving down the river. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U2PVm5DkOWA/VlR3RFowDLI/AAAAAAAAA9E/yE3wM1CzHeA/s1600/IMG_0923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U2PVm5DkOWA/VlR3RFowDLI/AAAAAAAAA9E/yE3wM1CzHeA/s640/IMG_0923.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The "road" to the Oasis </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And so we did.</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And sure enough, the river flowed down to the
left, and a sort of path led to the right and up to a red gate: inside was
grass, tents, pools, and a little tienda that I later found out sold Victorias
for 17 pesos.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After setting up the
tent, Martin made his magical camp pasta sauce which we enjoyed with the
Victorias. I was so happy at the Oasis that I momentarily forgot that I would
be running a 50k the next morning after the 5 weeks of rest, easy jogging and pastries
that have been my focus since running UTMX on October 10.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cuJvXTgGdmI/VlR5KcmwEQI/AAAAAAAAA94/9KNsX6X3maM/s1600/IMG_0930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cuJvXTgGdmI/VlR5KcmwEQI/AAAAAAAAA94/9KNsX6X3maM/s320/IMG_0930.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Chef Martin</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1F2zDLLnHTc/VlR5VwXUhGI/AAAAAAAAA-8/aWtsVJ-bbWM/s1600/IMG_1047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></a><o:p><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Martin’s Magical Camp Pasta Sauce <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Preparation and
Cooking Time: 2 minutes, 41 seconds<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">1 Jar of Pasta Sauce<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">1 can of black olives <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">1 can of tuna<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">1 yogurt size jar of cream<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Recommended Beer Pairing: 17 peso Victorias. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p> </o:p>The meal and the beer put me in a great mood, and I set out
to prepare my stuff for the race while Martin took some night photos.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6tGWmClUnrI/VlR3RMcBPII/AAAAAAAAA9I/6WU7fA3Xcgc/s1600/IMG_0925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6tGWmClUnrI/VlR3RMcBPII/AAAAAAAAA9I/6WU7fA3Xcgc/s400/IMG_0925.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Under the moon at the Oasis Photo: me</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was tough to say
what the course would be like. Martin went on a reconnaissance mission and
talked to some of the other campers. He returned and I asked him what he found
out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">He laughed. “Nadie Sabe Nada.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Well, we all love a good mystery, and I had just driven my
family car at dusk down a sketchy canyon road into a river in an area that was
at good hour from cell phone reception, and stumbled upon the Oasis, so maybe
the race would work out as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, just in
case the race didn’t work out, I opted for my pack (something I don’t even use
for the 100 mile distance) to make sure I had what I needed in case aid
stations didn’t materialize when they were supposed to or the course wasn’t
properly marked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a terrible
night of tossing and turning and looking at my phone 19 times to see if it was
4 AM already so I could just get up and get this over with, I looked at my
phone for the 20<sup>th</sup> time, and it was 3:37. I stayed horizontal for 23
more minutes listening to the sounds of the river and then we both got up,
packed up, made a coffee and hit the road/river. My car made it back up the
river/road without issue. Things were looking up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We arrived back at
the dirt parking lot and were among the first to arrive. Suddenly I was
freaking exhausted. Martin trudged back up the hill and back down to the Oasis.
Apparently, the race would head right down the river. Neither of us recalled
seeing any course markings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried to sleep
fitfully in the car until it was time to line up. The sun was coming up and I
cursed the organizers for requiring a headlamp for a race that starts at 6:30.
And then I cursed myself for being such a rules follower, stuffed the useless
headlamp in my pack and we were off…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We headed down the
same river/road that led to the Oasis, and then followed the river further down.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A kilometer or so
later we took a left out of the river and started heading up a canyon. Here
there were more water sections, including one that came up to my neck if I
stood on my very tippy toes. We followed this river for a while, and then,
mercifully headed up out of the canyon onto a trail. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eP_jCQguWrg/VlR3UhSqhuI/AAAAAAAAA9k/FvjbQIl0kqc/s1600/IMG_0935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eP_jCQguWrg/VlR3UhSqhuI/AAAAAAAAA9k/FvjbQIl0kqc/s640/IMG_0935.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tough to keep the shoes dry through here</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Sadly, the trail
didn’t last long and then we were running in a dry, rocky river bed, heading
up. This went on for maybe an hour? I tried to occupy my time by checking out
what packs people were wearing and what they were carrying. One guy had a tube
of Neosporin I could see through the mesh of his new Salomon pack. Why?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the distance I
could see the clouds covering some mountain peaks. I really hoped we were
heading up there, as it looked awesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Also, I’d about had it with rivers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TzpV-RScmZE/VlR5LZZS8wI/AAAAAAAAA-I/5ETMBtbW5fI/s1600/IMG_0937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TzpV-RScmZE/VlR5LZZS8wI/AAAAAAAAA-I/5ETMBtbW5fI/s640/IMG_0937.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Heading up to the clouds </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p3zW4juWs7o/VlR3UZem3DI/AAAAAAAAA9c/vnVU5cgTMSk/s1600/IMG_0942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p3zW4juWs7o/VlR3UZem3DI/AAAAAAAAA9c/vnVU5cgTMSk/s320/IMG_0942.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climbing up to this....cool.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The course climbed
out of the river bed (yay!) and started heading up a dirt road (boo) that
looked to be heading straight up to the peak (yay!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we got higher the road turned to trail
(yay!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was feeling good, back on
familiar terrain. Near the top I stopped to read a bit about the Mission
Bucarreli and I took a photo of this map. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8qn8c5gwL_k/VlR5MBFo90I/AAAAAAAAA-U/SEECyu-33Ns/s1600/IMG_0946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8qn8c5gwL_k/VlR5MBFo90I/AAAAAAAAA-U/SEECyu-33Ns/s400/IMG_0946.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hey, a map!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the back side of
the mountain, the trail turned to single track cut out of the side of the
mountain (double yay!) and it reminded me very much of the Sam Merrill trail in
the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We took this single
track down for over an hour. Definitely the best part of the race for me.
Something like 9 kilometers of downhill. I was passing people and feeling good.
At one point I saw a group of people gathered a few switchbacks below. Perhaps
someone had twisted an ankle?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I arrived I
knew there were too many cooks in the kitchen but it didn’t feel right just to
blow by. I stopped and asked if I could do anything to help. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Holy shit. A woman
had clearly fallen and her face and one had were badly cut up. Wait, I suddenly
remembered the Neosporin guy, couldn’t be too far….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I noticed the
Salomon pack. Neosporin Guy was right next to me saving the day. She still
looked a bit shocked, but the group assured us they had the situation under
control and so a few of us that had just arrived kept running. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ffmsHkJYPXw/VlR5Q08yxeI/AAAAAAAAA-s/BPfiXXwzGi8/s1600/IMG_0958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ffmsHkJYPXw/VlR5Q08yxeI/AAAAAAAAA-s/BPfiXXwzGi8/s640/IMG_0958.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Long descent on singletrack like this...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the trail began
to flatten out it got really hot, and I started to struggle. Things slowed
down. A few of the folks I’d passed on the downhill passed me here. We arrived
at a grassy paradise that was out of place in this desert terrain. I drank a terrible tasting electrolyte drink made for babies with diarrhea here and kept moving.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And once again: a
river crossing. My feet had finally dried so I stupidly tried to step across
some rocks to keep my feet dried. Note to future runners: don’t bother…the next
hour or so was crossing the river, running along the river or running in the
river. Amazing views here, and though I felt low and was moving very slowly, it
was worth the effort to see this canyon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> A while later I
finally came upon Martin taking photos. I pretended to run for the camera. I’d
been doing a lot of walking in this section. It’s hard to run in a river. It’s
also hard to run when you are really tired, but it’s more satsifying to blame
it on the river.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LFRokS43MVk/VlR7qAI3YKI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/JoyY6i2GTGQ/s1600/12299554_10206576039213691_2081914243_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img alt="Photo by Martin Fortsmann Fotografix.com.mx" border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LFRokS43MVk/VlR7qAI3YKI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/JoyY6i2GTGQ/s640/12299554_10206576039213691_2081914243_o.jpg" title="Pretending to run" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Pretending to run Photo: Martin Forstmann, Fotografix.com.mx</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And then we ran through some small settlements before we
descended, for the last time into –you’ll never guess—a river. After a short bit I realized this was the same damn river we started on. This thrilled me for a
couple reasons:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->It was the last river I would run in.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1F2zDLLnHTc/VlR5VwXUhGI/AAAAAAAAA_E/lgdoYk1aVHg/s1600/IMG_1047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1F2zDLLnHTc/VlR5VwXUhGI/AAAAAAAAA_E/lgdoYk1aVHg/s400/IMG_1047.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The final stretch of river (again)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The race was nearly finished.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And the dirt parking lot came into site. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Damn I’m glad we didn’t camp there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Other Random Thoughts:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Incredibly
beautiful area to see and if you are looking for a race that breaks the mold,
this might be the one. I don’t mean to be a grump, but for me the river running
did get a bit old. The mountain pass was fantastic, however, and would make for
a great run from the Oasis. My fears about the aid stations and/or course
markings were completely unfounded paranoia: course was marked relentlessly,
and the aid stations were Spartan, but sufficient. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ex9u1mzlRHk/VlR5VQuFnJI/AAAAAAAAA_A/PAULtv--HTc/s1600/IMG_1043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ex9u1mzlRHk/VlR5VQuFnJI/AAAAAAAAA_A/PAULtv--HTc/s640/IMG_1043.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Sierra Gorda: A spectacular place to run</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I don’t know if I’ll
be back for the race (though I probably will be), but I’ll definitely return to
camp at the Oasis and drink a few Victorias. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Guy Cheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06296513081472215675noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912368439233814219.post-31591797872506899732015-10-14T19:12:00.000-07:002015-10-15T11:49:39.662-07:00Ultra Trail Mexico 2015: A Family Affair<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rdGOhj0dF0o/Vh6sEEmX7cI/AAAAAAAAA7M/pw9cy06TzCA/s1600/12063964_1170171309665709_923158022_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rdGOhj0dF0o/Vh6sEEmX7cI/AAAAAAAAA7M/pw9cy06TzCA/s640/12063964_1170171309665709_923158022_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Signature Wildflower of UTMX Photo: Jeremy Hardy</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YuzxoyEo_R0/Vh6sEovFhlI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/eWh3KtDdWa0/s1600/12116047_10206359581362380_1047054454_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YuzxoyEo_R0/Vh6sEovFhlI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/eWh3KtDdWa0/s640/12116047_10206359581362380_1047054454_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Not Photoshopped. Magical Photo in a Magical Place by Martin Forstmann of Fotografix.com.mx. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> For the past four days I've eaten ice cream and/or cheesecake every day. Today as I walked by the park (returning from Santa Clara --again) I saw people jogging. Looked like work to me, and I probably won't be doing that for at least another day. Guess I've got the post-UTMX blues. Since May, 2015 I looked forward to that race like a 10 year old boy looks forward to his birthday. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And now it's gone.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZKWyCP4FRkU/Vh_1HUiNEhI/AAAAAAAAA8s/BkOGG54DXRU/s1600/IMG_0618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZKWyCP4FRkU/Vh_1HUiNEhI/AAAAAAAAA8s/BkOGG54DXRU/s640/IMG_0618.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natalia and Jutta just after her first 50k finish!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uLu0yCR2IyU/Vh6q0A8a99I/AAAAAAAAA6w/sovlGjyVRkg/s1600/foto%2BNatalia%2BHuasca%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uLu0yCR2IyU/Vh6q0A8a99I/AAAAAAAAA6w/sovlGjyVRkg/s640/foto%2BNatalia%2BHuasca%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Early Creek Crossing</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> As I wrote in a post from a few weeks ago, UTMX is my favorite race of the year. In it's second year, the 100k is a classic loop through the unique and challenging terrain surrounding the Pueblo Magico, Huasca, UTMX has become the big trail running event of the year in an ever-increasingly crowded trail and mountain running calendar in Mexico where a new race in a cool place seems to pop up on Facebook almost weekly. Internationally the race has grown as well. These trends will continue. The race will sell out quickly in 2016.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Why?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> 1.<b> The course is tough</b>, and mountain runners are drawn to the harder courses. There are several steep and technical climbs; there are long, rocky sections where it is difficult to establish a good running rhythm and even when there are a few deceptively "runnable" sections, they are so exposed and hot that it is a constant mental struggle to maintain a jog.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> 2. <b>The course is not contrived</b>. There are no "out-and-back" sections to add meaningless miles. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XCh5ji66tmc/Vh8B_1_vpDI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/FyrHTA3PiZk/s1600/IMG_0613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="616" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XCh5ji66tmc/Vh8B_1_vpDI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/FyrHTA3PiZk/s640/IMG_0613.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Meggin and Oriana Celebrating their 15k Finish!</span></td></tr>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1ri0JceBIHU/Vh8B_6DHkfI/AAAAAAAAA8U/rsr8Eu_o0Ug/s1600/IMG_0614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="626" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1ri0JceBIHU/Vh8B_6DHkfI/AAAAAAAAA8U/rsr8Eu_o0Ug/s640/IMG_0614.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Jeremy on top of the Canyon Photo by: Martin Forstmann of Fotografix.com.mx </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> 3. <b>The course is varied:</b> Smooth singletrack, rocky singletrack, climbs up endless dirt roads, climbs up a giant slick rock; ridge running up high along the Peñas Cuatas; descending down into the Canyon. The trail crosses several rivers and the final river crossing is roped, as is the descent down to that crossing. There is also: Off-trail cross country running, cobblestone village running and even a little pavement pounding. And I'm still forgetting sections. I thought I remembered all the cool parts of the course, but when I was running this year I kept coming across amazing and varied terrain that I had forgotten. What Santa Clara is for Ice Cream, this course is to mountain running: they've got all your favorite flavors, including many you didn't even know about.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Another view of the Canyon Photo: Jeremy Hardy</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> 4. <b>Organization.</b> The course is so amazing that even if UTMX was a poorly run race with 9 to 12 runners, confusing course markings, and staffed with bored volunteers slinging unripe bananas and Sam's Club Cola in all its aid stations, it would still be on my list of races to run.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> But, as everyone now knows, UTMX is a world-class event. Volunteers were encouraging, helpful and everywhere they needed to be. Packet pickup flawless and quick (but it helps to get there early), and just every single race detail was dealt with efficiently. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Jeremy and Natalia at the finish. Jeremy got lost and was behind me 1 hour and 20 minutes into the race. He went on to finish in 13:34. I think he can run 12 hours here. Natalia's training was very light: she could run 7 for the 50k in 2016.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">5. A fun place for everyone to visit. <b>Huasca de Ocampo</b> and the surrounding areas are worth visiting even if you never plan on running so much as a 5k in your lifetime. There are ex-haciendas, stunning natural beauty, cool geological rock formations, a freaky zip-line over the canyon (tirolesa), homemade pastes, beer, barbacoa and more. Bring your family; bring your non-running friends. Everyone will be happy.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Flying over the Canyon (Oriana and Dalva) the day after the race</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My 2015 UTMX Experience</span></b><br />
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<b> </b>Hiking up out of the Canyon from San Sebastian and my race felt like it was falling apart. Actually, it felt like my race had been falling apart since leaving the mountains and entering the Solo Para Salvajes aid station at kilometer 50. On paper the section between this aid station and the descent into the Canyon should be the easiest on the course. On paper. In reality, it's more like a mental toughness chess match. I made a critical mistake at that 50k aid station, only getting a bottle of water filled and the other half filled with Coca Cola. In the cooler mountain section, I wasn't finishing both bottles between aid stations, but I had forgotten how hot this section was. I struggled to maintain a jog, fighting a relentless urge to just hike. I was quickly very low and rationing water and freaked out about getting dehydrated. My goal was to get to the Canyon (Peña de Aire) without inflicting too much damage on myself and reboot: drink and eat. I got passed by a lot of people in that section.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The excitement of arriving at the Canyon got me back in the game, and I enjoyed the relatively cool descent in the shadow of the Canyon wall. But then things turned sour again, and I could not get my energy levels back as I struggled through the rocky single track of this section and runners kept passing me. I finally made it to the San Sebastian aid station, pleasantly surprised that I didn't have to wade through a swampy section of the river to get there, as we did last year. I had my pack in my drop bag, didn't bother to change shoes as my feet had dried, and I headed up the long climb to the top of the Canyon. My dreams of running this section were smashed and I settled for a hard hike. There was no shade anywhere, and I started thinking about curling up on the side of the road or jumping in the back of one of the trucks that occasionally drove past me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I second guessed my start. I thought I had kept things in control, but I was further up in front of the race with runners that I don't usually see until I get to the finish line. Had a started too fast? Was I going to have to walk all the way into Huasca?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I finally made it to the liquid-only aid station (Mirador) at the top of the climb and fell into a chair. I had been spending almost no time at aid stations all race, but my plan had crumpled and I needed a good sit-down. There was no Coca-Cola but a volunteer handed me a can of Red Bull and I sat and drank. After a few minutes the volunteer --the gentleman who I believe headed the incredibly difficult race in Oaxaca a few years ago...the race I DNF'd-- got me moving reminding me of what I knew to be true: sitting there would make things worse. I couldn't run, so I walked out of the aid station toward Ahuacatitlan and another descent down to the famed river crossing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Again, people passed me, but I couldn't help but notice that the sun was high in the sky, and last year I was running this section as the sun began to set, and I had crossed the river in pitch blackness. Maybe my race wasn't lost. I don't run with a watch and I had no idea what my splits were from last year, but the position of the sun told me that I was in a good place, even though I felt like dung.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Martin was taking photos at Ahuacatitlan, and Hugo and Ivonne were there as well. This put me in good spirits as I headed down. Downhills had been good to me during the race. I was getting passed on "flats" by everyone, and was getting passed on the climbs by some. But my spirits and my energy levels lifted as I descended down to the river. I was looking forward to the final crossing, which really signals the last section of the race. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Descending to the River. Hugo Chilling in the background. Photo: Martin Fortsmann</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Crossing the river in the daylight I knew my time was at least an hour ahead of last year. I climbed well up from the river, curious to see what this climb looked like in the day time. Last year it was pitch black and slowed me down considerably. Emerging from the last big climb of the race, I felt good and was ready to run hard to the finish. Darkness finally came as I entered the final aid station. I gulped down a cup of broth, some Red Bull and headed out. Once again I passed several runners who were lingering in the aid station. I'm not sure what people do in aid stations for so long, but I didn't want to hang around and find out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> One last climb up to the Prismas, across the swinging bridge, and then only two short sections remained: crossing the presa --the swampy edge of a reservoir, and then pavement pounding to the finish. With three or so kilometers to go, I was running with two other runners. We went back and forth, until one dropped back. Me and one other guy: he would sprint past, but then walk and I would catch up. I finally made a little move on a final climb I had forgotten about, running as hard as I could up, and then down into the cobblestone alleyways that lead to the center of Huasca. I didn't look back until I saw the crowds: no one was there. and that was the finish. Looking back at the clock, I thought it must have been a mistake: 15:41, almost two hours off my last year's time. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Take Aways from the race:</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>•</b>I ate well. At Bighorn in June I didn't eat on schedule and I paid the price with wild fluctuations in energy. Alternating between Gels (Hammer) and Arewa bars worked well. Also, carrying my own food allowed me to get through aid stations in a minute or less</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">•I started well and finished well. My start was not too fast, and I still had gas in the tank at the end.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">•Struggled in the middle sections. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">•My biggest victory was aid station time. There are probably 15 runners who finished behind me who are faster than me but spent too much time in aid stations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">•I think I can run 15:00 hours on this course, but I'll need to find those 41 minutes all between Kilometer 31 and 80. I looked at some other runners who ran 15 hours and our Kilometer 1-20 and 80-100 splits were the same. But the hot transition section (50-60) and the canyon section (60-67) chewed me up. I finally recovered at 80, but the damage had been done. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">•<b>Training: </b>I did my long runs (Rover Marathon, Mexico City Marathon, Trail Run Hidalgo 50k and a few back to backs in Desierto), but my midweek running was lame: 11 minute miles in Parque Hudido for an hour or so twice a week. I'll need to do speed work and a longer tempo each week and some hill repeats to run 15:00 hours here. Something to think about for next year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I'll be back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Time to knock out the cheesecake and go for a run. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Dalva Peers Into the Abyss</span></td></tr>
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Guy Cheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06296513081472215675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912368439233814219.post-88931904841746647402015-09-27T18:17:00.002-07:002015-09-30T19:24:49.020-07:00UTMX Course Preview: 10 days out from my favorite race of the year.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rtSIyGVOLTU/VgxzCwosKKI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/M5oLSs2yyl0/s1600/IMG_0498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rtSIyGVOLTU/VgxzCwosKKI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/M5oLSs2yyl0/s640/IMG_0498.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Taper Time</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Once again I've fallen of the blogging horse. And once again the excitement surrounding Ultra Trail Mexico draws me back to the keyboard. It's taper time, the last long runs are over, so I'm going to crack a beer and write up a course preview for the first-time runner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Looking for expert advice from an expert runner?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Stop reading.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> However, if you are curious about the race from the point of view of an average runner with an elite level of enthusiasm for this race, you might find something you can use here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> UTMX is absolutely my favorite trail running event of the year: A 100 kilometer tour of a stunning area of Hidalgo, beginning and ending in the center of the Pueblo Magico, Huasca de Ocampo. Highlights of the race include a climb up into the Sierra Navajas a descent in the Canyon de Metztitlan, a crazy river crossing at the bottom of Ahuacatitlan, and much, much more. UTMX is the trail run that throws a bit of everything at the runner. It's not the most technical race or the race with the most climbing or highest elevation, but it's a must-run course for anyone who loves mountains and trails: completely unique; completely awesome.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Ultra Trail Mexico continues to cement itself as <i>the</i> Mexican Ultramarathon. And the ultra world abroad is taking note: the 2016 edition of UTMX will serve as a qualifier for the 2017 Western States 100. Additionally, it continues to be a 4 point qualifier for UTMB. But even for those who don't give a damn about Western States or UTMB, UTMX is its very own world class event.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Tireless Training Partner (Never complains, Never shows up late)</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">UTMX 100 Preview for the first-time runner</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> What follows is my preview of the course for anyone running UTMX for the first time. I'm no expert runner; I am a certified plodder. Therefore, the preview will be most relevant for the middle to back-of-the-pack runner who will run the last part of the course in the dark. For reference, I finished the race in 17:34 last year. The front-runner finished in 10:43, and the final finisher came in just a few minutes over 19 hours, the official cut-off time for the race.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">A few suggestions to start:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">•<b>The race starts fast.</b> Too fast. It's hard not to get caught up in the excitement, but keeping the effort easy early will pay dividends when you are climbing up from San Sebastian 70 kilometers into the race.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">•<b>Start with a good head lamp.</b> After some road running, the earlier trail is slippery and technical at times. It would be easy to fall here and have an early end to the race. Nothing is gained by passing people here. It's a 100 kilometers folks, there will be time to make your move.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">See the moron (006) who thought he didn't need a headlamp? Don't do that it UTMX, which starts an hour earlier than this race...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Photo: Martin Forstmann (Fotografixmexico)....Martin will be at UTMX taking photos.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">•There are several stream crossings and y<b>our feet will get wet early</b>, and they will stay wet for most of the race. Don't waste your time trying to keep them dry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">•Section one of the race is what I call the "mountain marathon" section. Lots of single-track, and climbing for the first 21k.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">•At the 40k aid station (first option for a drop bag) you are close to ending the "mountain marathon" portion of the race. Last year I put my drop bag here and changed my shoes, which was probably a mistake: there is a stream crossing shortly after the aid station. Also, this is a little early to need a drop bag. When you arrive at kilometer 69 drop bag option, you will wish you waited.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">•The "mountain marathon" ends when the trail dumps out onto a paved road heading slightly downhill. For the next 10k or so the course is exposed, flat and runnable. It's easy to get lazy here, but stay focused as it's a great place to make good time and get a few kilometers under your feet quickly. This open-country, flat transition ends at the Peña del Aire. Fuel up here, and if you have friends or family who are following the race, this is the best place to have a crew meet you at an aid station, as it's easily accessible by car and a popular tourist spot. If you aren't running, try the zip line (tirolesa): it's awesome and freaky. This area provides stunning views of the canyon which shouldn't be missed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I could post a photo of the Canyon here, but why bother: photos don't do this place justice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">•The descent into the Canyon: no way to describe the run down into the canyon: you are just going to have to do it yourself. No matter how shitty you feel at Peña del Aire: take the time to recover and don't even considering abandoning your race here, as you'll miss the best part.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">•At the bottom of the canyon the original course had several river crossings which were eliminated last year as the river was too high. With the rain we've had this year, I imagine this years's course will avoid the river crossings again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">•There is some climbing at the bottom of the canyon. This doesn't look like much on the map, but it will feel like a significant climb when you have 60+kilometers on your legs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">•After some incredible singletrack through the bottom of the canyon including a run through a "cactus forest," the trail turns into a stream: you follow the river to the San Sebastian Aid station at kilometer 69.5. This is the second drop bag option.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">•<b>I would recommend using the San Sebastian drop bag option.* Last year I used the earlier option at kilometer 40, </b>but when I got to San Sebastian the sun was low in the sky and my feet were cold and wet. The guy next to me was changing into dry socks and dry shoes and I really, really wanted to be that guy. I almost asked him if he had extra dry socks he would give me, but was too ashamed to do so. In your drop bag here you should have: long sleeve shirt, extra headlamp (or batteries), dry shoes, dry socks, tights and a rain jacket. You won't need the tights and you may not need the rain jacket or the long sleeve shirt, but these are required items after 5:00pm. <b>*If you aren't certain you will arrive at kilometer 70 in under 12 hours, you will need to carry these items with you from the start or use the 40 kilometer drop bag option. </b></span><br />
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<b>•</b>After a quick shoe change, you now have the long march up the road out of the Canyon. If you started the race conservatively, you will pass some folks here. At the top is another aid station (Mirador, kilometer 75). Here the course flattens out a bit before arriving at the entrance of Ahuacatitlan. At this point the course heads straight down on the steepest grade you will see all day. Last year this is where it started getting dark for me, and at the bottom of this canyon there is the fiercest river crossing of the race. Fortunately, it is roped with volunteers on both sides to make sure you don't get swept down the river... or to at least notify your family if you do...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">•After the river crossing, the course heads up a steep, serpentine climb that is not easy to follow at night. This is the last <b>significant climb</b> of the race. Once again, a good head lamp is essential here. In fact, I'd consider bringing a small, light handheld flashlight as well. For those of us in the back of the race, the final half-marathon of the race is crucial because of the added challenges of navigating at night.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I would recommend:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> •an excellent headlamp and possibly even an additional flashlight</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> •study the map of this section carefully.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> •if you have time on Friday scout out the area where you will cross the Presa. If you are just about to enter the Prismas Balsaticos take a right on a dirt road, and the Presa will be on your right. Look for course markings and check out where you will be running. I lost some time last year trying to navigate this at night.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> •The end of the course is a bit of a blur for me, but at some point after the presa crossing you will be back on the pavement: WARNING: you might think you are going to follow this road straight into the center of Huasca and the race finish, but the course cruelly turns to the right, sending runners down some side streets before emerging 100 meters or so in front of the finish line.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">•Sprint!</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">some final tips</span></b><br />
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<b>•look carefully at the required equipment list. Especially if you think you might finish in the money: the first two runners last year were disqualified for not carrying required equipment. Predictably, there was some pissing and moaning about the decision, all of which could have been avoided if everyone checked out the race website, which is crystal-clear. Or attended the pre-race meeting, which was also explained the rule.</b></span><br />
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<b>•It's a long race, but it's not a 3 week expedition. There are ample aid stations. Know where they are and what they will have (see website). Carry what the race requires and carry what you will need, but put the extras in your drop bag. You will see some folks running with giant packs, stuffed full. What are they carrying? Why?</b></span><br />
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<b>•Attend the pre-race meeting. Last year there were some minor course changes and these were announced at the meeting. Also, they handed out a turn-by-turn description of the race. THAT PIECE OF PAPER WAS INVALUABLE. Bring it.</b></span><br />
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<b>•If possible, take work off Friday and go up on Thursday or early Friday morning. Anything to avoid leaving DF on a Friday night of a quincena.</b></span><br />
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<b>•Pay close attention to course markings and study the maps. The course is well-marked, but it's also a complicated course and it's easy to miss a turn if you are deep into your fantasy about being Killian Jornet winning Hardrock.</b></span><br />
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<b>•And don't hesitate to sign up for next year's race immediately. I'm betting that the 2016 race will sell out in a couple weeks. </b></span><br />
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<b>•Enjoy: It's the best race of the year!</b></span><br />
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Guy Cheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06296513081472215675noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912368439233814219.post-81836533498640747542015-05-19T12:25:00.000-07:002015-05-20T12:25:37.054-07:00The Mountain Challenge: Oriana's First Mountain Race<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo stolen from Martin Forstmann (yo te debo!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mZjHWRtCHB8/VVqlvkvaaHI/AAAAAAAAA3M/E6B_6AlHnqE/s1600/IMG_3052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mZjHWRtCHB8/VVqlvkvaaHI/AAAAAAAAA3M/E6B_6AlHnqE/s640/IMG_3052.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Let's hope we run better than we pose for photos! </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">If you only read one sentence of this report, read this one: <b>Trail Run Hidalgo's Mountain Challenge (Race Director: Andoni Jardinez) is a fantastically organized race on beautifully technical single track around the magical town of El Chico; meter for meter, foot for foot, this was one of the most beautiful races I have run <strike>in Mexico</strike> anywhere. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Looking for a long run with lots of climbing and a fun weekend outside of the city for the family, Trail Run Hidalgo's Mountain Challenge (17k and 32k) was perfect. The race would start in the Pueblo Magico of Chico, and climb up into the mountains that surround the village.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Oriana and Natalia would run the 17k. The 32k was shorter than what I wanted as a long run in preparation for the <a href="http://www.bighorntrailrun.com/">Bighorn 100</a>, but with 2,800 meters of climbing, the time on my feet would suffice for a proper long run at --I hoped-- a decent pace. I really struggle to push the pace when I'm training alone. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> But the night before the race the worry began to creep in: not about my race, but about Oriana's. I was worried about the course conditions. On saturday night we sat on the terraza overlooking the quaint downtown of Chico and it poured rain and hailed for at least two hours in Biblical intensities. The main street is at a steep incline and it was a raging river. Ori would be wearing road running shoes and I wondered if she would be slipping down the mountain.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I was also a bit freaked out about the amount of climbing. There was something like 1,200 meters of climbing in the 17k race. Ori is fit and runs daily at school on the track, but she doesn't train for extended climbs. Additionally, she had never run with a pack, but I didn't want her to run with a handheld bottle because I thought she would need to use both hands in the technical and slippery terrain. It would also be her longest race.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The night before the race in our hotel I had her pack and repack the Nathan pack until we were both convinced she knew it inside and out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I hoped for the rain to stop.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I questioned my pre-race diet of roadside barbacoa.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Natalia, Jutta and I went across the street to get some beers so we could sleep.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Almost time to go!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The race started and we began walking up the steep incline out of town. The 17k and 32k started together, and even if we had wanted to run at this point, there were no good opportunities to pass people until the trail turned on a cement road heading up into the mountains. At this point I wished Ori and Natalia a good race and ran ahead to try to get in front of some of the crowd before we hit the single track. The course followed the road for a very short stretch and then turned straight up the mountain. This section needed to be navigated on all fours, but it quickly linked up with a more established trail that headed up into the mountains.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I found myself wanting to take pictures of everything on this route, but it was so difficult to pass people on this opening climb (8.5 kilometers) that I took three photos and put the camera away for good. The rest of the climb was spent doing three things:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1. Marveling at how awesome the route was and silently extolling the trail-finding/race-organizing genius of Trail Run Hidalgo (gracias, Andoni!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">2. Worrying about how difficult the route was and wondering if Ori would make it to the top.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">3. Trying to pass people when there was an opportunity...</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">A note to runners considering this race: I hate starting a race fast, but on this course that strategy makes sense: try to get to the singletrack before the crowds to avoid wasting a lot of energy trying to pass runners on the opening climb.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Also: while the organization of this race was flawless, one suggestion: start the 32k an hour earlier than the 17k race to avoid some of the crowding on the trail.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I also think it would be awesome to have a 64k option: run the loop twice, first clockwise, than counter-clockwise. </span></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">blurry photo I took and yes, this trail is that awesome</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">heading up....</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0_0CMzScIl4/VVqluTSBkDI/AAAAAAAAA3E/TCVlqkjye3U/s1600/IMG_3046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0_0CMzScIl4/VVqluTSBkDI/AAAAAAAAA3E/TCVlqkjye3U/s640/IMG_3046.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">and up....</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">finally emerging from the forest, near the top (I think)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7NkcJQVaP4/VVqlpieWKWI/AAAAAAAAA20/7mKGnuui2bo/s1600/IMG_3050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7NkcJQVaP4/VVqlpieWKWI/AAAAAAAAA20/7mKGnuui2bo/s640/IMG_3050.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I didn't know this at the time but Ori was rocking it near the top of the mountain!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">mountain selfie</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Oriana, Natalia, Rock</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Finally the trail flattened out a bit, we entered a meadow and here was the 8.5 kilometer aid station. The 17k runners would turn around here and head back down. For the 32k route, things flattened out a bit and the crowds were gone. Finally I was alone and able to run. We were still on singletrack but less technical than the first section of the race. I knew there was one big climb left up to the peña del cuervo. After running some varied terrain, the trail went down into a canyon and then finally started going up on the rocky goat trail that is the final sustained climb of the race. I had done this climb before in a race back in November, and I knew it was steep but not that long. Finally we reached the peña de cuervo and went left on a wide two-track road that continued to climb. Other than leaving the center of town and arriving in the center of town, this is it for terraceria in this race: everything else is singletrack. I started hiking but felt good and started to run, catching a few people as we arrived back at the aid station.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The final 10k of the race is a long descent back into town on very runnable singletrack. This race definitely rewards those who have something left in their legs, as this section <i>could</i><b style="font-style: italic;"> </b>be run very fast. In fact, it begs to be run fast as these are long, gently rolling and descending switchbacks. My legs were a bit heavy, and while I couldn't fly like I wanted to, I maintained a decent run for this section, gaining a few positions in the descent. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Finally we hit the town and I thought we would have to run the long way around to the centro; however, we were told to head straight down the main road. Wow, the race was over! I looked for Oriana and Natalia as I crossed the finish line. My plan was to immediately tell Oriana it was ok if she didn't finish, as I thought she might have had to turn back. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> But she finished strong, completing her first true Mountain Race.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strong Finish. <br />
[otro photo robado de Martin Forstmann....Martin: voy a pagar gas, caseta y post-race chelas en Real de Monte!]</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Trail Run Hidalgo definitely put themselves on the map with this race: fairly priced, world-class trails, professional organization, and located in the magical town of Mineral del Chico. We will be back!</span></div>
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Guy Cheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06296513081472215675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912368439233814219.post-87318753635793026232014-10-27T08:41:00.001-07:002014-10-27T08:45:43.384-07:00Oriana's First Trail Race: Trail Del Rio Race Report<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Mission Accomplished! Oriana finishes her first trail race.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Billed as the "funnest course on the Solo Para Salvajes circuit," I've always been curious about the Trail del Rio race. At 13km, I thought it would also make a good first trail race for Oriana. However, despite the short distance, beware: the trail is very technical, slippery and at times dangerous: there were a few spots where one could plummet down into the river. Also, this is not a race for those who like dry shoes. There are 5-6 major river crossings, some of them were waist high. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> We lucked out and it was a beautiful day. We started at a steady pace, not pushing too hard. On this course, that is a mistake. There are a few sections of open meadow running where one can pass others, but much of the trail is so narrow that passing is very difficult for much of the race. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> As Oriana exclaimed at one point: "I just want to pass these people." We were stuck behind a train of folks for the last quarter of the race, but then things opened up and we made our move through the meadows.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> We finally emerged onto pavement that led down into a park. I was sure this was the end of the race, so we were sprinting with everything we had. But the course went through the park and led straight up the side of a hill. Ori struggled a bit mentally here, as she thought she was finished, and she had pushed so hard she had become something of a spit dribbler. But she regrouped and pushed up the climb, which was by far the longest climb of the day. Finally, we emerged on top of the hill and there was a short, flat section. Oriana turned it on again and finished strong!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The photos below show some of the terrain of the Trail de Rio. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Early in the race.... All photos: me</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">No longer bothering with trying to keep the feet dry</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Someone hiked out there to wave the flag</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Waiting for her moment to pass...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Wj_t9q7cEU/VE5dnLuMk6I/AAAAAAAAAxk/X_jJJR9vvAc/s1600/IMG_2138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Wj_t9q7cEU/VE5dnLuMk6I/AAAAAAAAAxk/X_jJJR9vvAc/s1600/IMG_2138.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Making her move!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pa39BbBz_zE/VE5dm0nFVAI/AAAAAAAAAxg/pUPI3uIGF4A/s1600/IMG_2141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pa39BbBz_zE/VE5dm0nFVAI/AAAAAAAAAxg/pUPI3uIGF4A/s1600/IMG_2141.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">A rare section where she could open up her pace...</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-epyUqZoINys/VE5doIQtXII/AAAAAAAAAxw/HigrmNqmrqQ/s1600/IMG_2149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-epyUqZoINys/VE5doIQtXII/AAAAAAAAAxw/HigrmNqmrqQ/s1600/IMG_2149.JPG" height="476" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Get Dirty!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-as1appQrBwc/VE5dpUo87RI/AAAAAAAAAyE/UV-GVT_p8t0/s1600/IMG_2152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-as1appQrBwc/VE5dpUo87RI/AAAAAAAAAyE/UV-GVT_p8t0/s1600/IMG_2152.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">At least a half-dozen River crossing like this...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">River Selfie</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">technical trail...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j2FrQGORrBA/VE5dsYG458I/AAAAAAAAAyk/jliSio_gwIc/s1600/IMG_2171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j2FrQGORrBA/VE5dsYG458I/AAAAAAAAAyk/jliSio_gwIc/s1600/IMG_2171.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">powering up the final climb...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b-3JD2pEEcI/VE5dqUxTJFI/AAAAAAAAAyM/fN9RbvbbsfY/s1600/IMG_2173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b-3JD2pEEcI/VE5dqUxTJFI/AAAAAAAAAyM/fN9RbvbbsfY/s1600/IMG_2173.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Finish line Selfie</span></td></tr>
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<br />Guy Cheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06296513081472215675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912368439233814219.post-25365732462724130892014-10-14T05:34:00.002-07:002015-05-21T07:19:26.160-07:00The Great Mexican Ultramarathon: The UTMX 100k Adventure (So Much More Than a Medal!)<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>They came from all
corners of Mexico: from the exhaust-choked urban sprawl of Mexico City, from Puebla,
from Monterrey. From Oaxaca, Guadalajara, Zacatecas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From deep in the Canyons of Chihuahua. The
anticipation and nerves were palpable in the air as nearly 900 runners packed in
front of the stage for the pre-race meeting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;">Anticipation can kill an experience. Set your hopes too high, and the reality that can’t quite live up to our imaginations can be a real ball kicker.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Barranca de Metztitlan. Beware: no photo does this place justice.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;">Going into the UTMX 100k in Huasca de Ocampo, my hopes were sky high. The area is a spectacular place to run, and Marcos Ferro’s races are well organized. As I stood with 900 other runners listening to some final instructions and a few small changes to the route, I was nervous.</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;">I had made my decision to stick with the 100k race that I had signed up for in May, but that small, sensible voice in the back of my head was quietly suggesting a change to the 42k. Normal pre-race jitters or was I making a dangerous mistake?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">What I (and the
mountain running community in Mexico) found out that this was more than a
well-organized ultra in a beautiful place. UTMX was an adventure: there were
trails that ran along precipitous cliffs; there was a final river crossing –in
the dark for back-of-the-packers like me-- at the bottom of a small canyon, and
there were rocks, endless rocks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This was not your Abuelo’s “wide-dirt-road/smooth trail”
100k.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">That fact was driven home about 2k into the race, with the
first river crossing. Even in the early miles, there were technical downhill
rock formations that were dangerously slick. I was running with Marcos Truyols
and he slipped early, and while he wasn’t seriously hurt, it was obvious that
it could have happened differently and been a race-ender before the sun came up.
So caution was the order for the day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">There was no spoken agreement between Truyols and I, but
there seemed to be an unspoken one: let’s take these early hours easy and see
what the day will bring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marcos was
nursing a knee injury and trying to avoid that ending his race. I was concerned
about the distance. I was 100% in for the finish, but I was a bit wary of my <a href="http://masmilesmorefun.blogspot.mx/2014/10/the-view-to-huasca-utmx-100-meditations.html">previous two months</a> of training.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">After the first aid station I made a classic mistake and
followed a group a runners down a road before noting we had not seen a trail
marker. We went back up the road, and sure enough, we had missed a well-marked
turn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an important lesson for the
day: don’t follow people, don’t blindly follow the “obvious” path: follow the
trail markers.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mnd5ezYEpW8/VDyNT2SjEYI/AAAAAAAAAvE/CsEqwO42Xr8/s1600/IMG_1965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mnd5ezYEpW8/VDyNT2SjEYI/AAAAAAAAAvE/CsEqwO42Xr8/s1600/IMG_1965.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Scenes from the first 42k of the race. Photo: me</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I was also carrying a copy of the course directions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Marcos and I hiked and ran conservatively until the high
point of the race. We snapped a quick photo and then began the run that was
mostly downhill until the 42 kilometer mark.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9W9M0Bo5MK8/VDyMwIujIRI/AAAAAAAAAu8/aYGJLsiw1Y4/s1600/IMG_1966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9W9M0Bo5MK8/VDyMwIujIRI/AAAAAAAAAu8/aYGJLsiw1Y4/s1600/IMG_1966.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Marcos Truyols and I at the top of the course. Mental note for next year: ask someone else to snap this photo. Where's Martin <span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">Forstmann when you need him! Photo credit: super nice guy who takes shitty photos</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> This section featured</span> single
track that begged to be ripped down, and we picked up the pace, passing some
groups on uphills to avoid being slowed down on the coming descents. I wanted
to use the momentum of the downhills without getting carried away and
destroying my legs too early in the race.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kSqD62z2JK0/VDyNUXHVleI/AAAAAAAAAvI/wCTtC1P_Lnc/s1600/IMG_1968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kSqD62z2JK0/VDyNUXHVleI/AAAAAAAAAvI/wCTtC1P_Lnc/s1600/IMG_1968.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Top of a giant rock climb. Photo: me</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">At the 42k I had my drop bag. I had agonized about whether
to put my drop bag at 42 or 71k, and in the end I opted for 42k to make sure I
would have my rain jacket and “mayas” (running tights), which were required
equipment after 5:00pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also did
something I’ve never done in a race before: changed my shoes. After running for
nearly 7 hours with wet feet, dry feet just felt too damn good. I gambled and
put on my road shoes, the trusty Ride 6 Sauconys that I used to run my <a href="http://masmilesmorefun.blogspot.mx/2014/08/angeles-crest-100-mile-race-report.html">100miler in August. </a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DdT8FbcTnM8/VDyNUTY8gjI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/0xsF18Ej0Ks/s1600/IMG_1971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DdT8FbcTnM8/VDyNUTY8gjI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/0xsF18Ej0Ks/s1600/IMG_1971.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Wild flowers and Maguey Photo: me</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And then five minutes out of the 42k aid station was another
river crossing. And then another, and a third. Through a series of ballet moves
and lucky jumps, I was able to keep my shoes dry, but I knew that I was
flirting with injury and wasting time and energy trying to keep my feet dry, but in a
stroke of luck, the river crossings ended there… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We were out on a dirt road, and then a bit of pavement. It
was hot. The first 44k of this race is a technical marathon with a fair
bit of climbing. There were a few smoother, runnable sections, but much of it
was very slow going. I tried to pick up the pace on the road. I knew the next
12 kilometers until we went down into the Peña del Aire were rolling and runnable.
Time to move.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">At the halfway point I encountered Pedro Fletes and many
other Salvajes manning the Solo Para Salvajes 51k aid station. It put me in
great spirits to see these guys. I also knew the canyon was coming, a portion
of the course I had anticipated for months. Would it live up to my
expectations?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Leaving the Salvajes aid station, Marcos Truyols pulled away
and I wondered if I would see him again. I tried to push hard, but on this flat
section more people passed me than on any other section of the course. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">At the Peña del Aire (61k) was a huge aid station. This was
one section of the course that was accessible by car, and Milly came out to
cheer me on. I downed some soup and then headed down into the Barranca de
Metzitlan. I had been waiting for this section all day, and it did not disappoint. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5yZPfM_-Lcg/VDyPQWi0xOI/AAAAAAAAAvg/wy_4exsXzwA/s1600/IMG_2010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5yZPfM_-Lcg/VDyPQWi0xOI/AAAAAAAAAvg/wy_4exsXzwA/s1600/IMG_2010.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Peña del Aire aid Photo: Milly</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I’ve been fortunate to run on some incredible trails in beautiful
places: the Pemigewasset loop in the White Mountians in New Hampshire on a
clear day with views from all 9 peaks; The Highline trail in Arizona during a freak
April snowstorm; up, over and down Mt. Baden-Powell on the Pacific Crest Trail in
California. And now, the Barranca de Metztitlan in Hidalgo, Mexico. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Whatever fatigue I felt in my legs at this point basically
faded away as I charged down to the Canyon bottom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had promised myself no more photos, now it
was time to race, but the views kept forcing me to break that promise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was feeling fantastic and began to pass
some of the runners who had passed me on the flats. But Truyols was nowhere to
be seen. I kept pushing. I could smell blood, I felt he was close.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Finally, just as I thought I was going to finish this race
with dry shoes (they had been dry since the change at 42k), the course followed
the river at the bottom of the canyon. It didn’t cross the river; the trail <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">was </i>the river. One kilometer later and I
was in the 71k aid station. It was 5:13pm. I second guessed my decision to
leave my drop bag at 42k, looked enviously at the runner next to me changing
into dry shoes, wrung out my socks like a sponge, and got the hell out of there
to chase down Truyols. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">All the photos below were taken by me (except the good one: that was taken by Martin Forstmann) in the Barranca de Metztitlan<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BySXAZLxsp0/VDyP9ib53-I/AAAAAAAAAvo/To8YX3A-nOo/s1600/IMG_1980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BySXAZLxsp0/VDyP9ib53-I/AAAAAAAAAvo/To8YX3A-nOo/s1600/IMG_1980.jpg" width="478" /></span></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ttkBnnHjYzs/VDyP9wbKT-I/AAAAAAAAAvs/TLlSTjKKGGU/s1600/IMG_1982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ttkBnnHjYzs/VDyP9wbKT-I/AAAAAAAAAvs/TLlSTjKKGGU/s1600/IMG_1982.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o3pI0yy8CF0/VDyP9-bb4rI/AAAAAAAAAvw/ngy9MUp1eT8/s1600/IMG_1985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o3pI0yy8CF0/VDyP9-bb4rI/AAAAAAAAAvw/ngy9MUp1eT8/s1600/IMG_1985.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nEC7e8qCEHk/VDyP_jlKtXI/AAAAAAAAAwA/6JULDGsQlGI/s1600/IMG_1994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nEC7e8qCEHk/VDyP_jlKtXI/AAAAAAAAAwA/6JULDGsQlGI/s1600/IMG_1994.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uy4dx5-twBU/VDySAGGGT_I/AAAAAAAAAws/LLbal6XVFd8/s1600/10698667_10203836899336906_6466111128092146386_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uy4dx5-twBU/VDySAGGGT_I/AAAAAAAAAws/LLbal6XVFd8/s1600/10698667_10203836899336906_6466111128092146386_n.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Marcos "negative split" Truyols Photo: Martin Forstmann</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
<span id="goog_1169677818"></span><span id="goog_1169677819"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As much as I love remote, people-less places, one thing I
enjoy about Mexican races is that they sometimes go through tiny pueblos that I
would otherwise never see. San Sebastian, a God-forsaken little town at the
bottom of the canyon was one of these places. I greeted a few locals and then
began the cruel trudge up the dirt road. 7 K of climbing up out of the canyon.
I cursed the name of Marcos Ferro, the race director, on this climb, having an
imaginary argument with him in my head about finding a single track trail that
could take us to the top. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But there was nothing to do but march.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And march. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Finally, it leveled out and there was the Mirador aid
station.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And holy shit, there was Truyols, about to leave. I felt good, I was ready to run,
I felt like the crux of the race was over, as I was certain we were done with
major climbing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I should have looked more carefully at the course map.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Truyols was out of there, and I quickly followed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Damn, he was moving fast. I couldn’t believe it. Soon he was
out of site. I was alone again, trying to keep him in site. I made a short detour off the
road and followed some markers that went off to the right, but then a young
villager on a horse told me that the route was on the dirt road.
Shit, he was right: Ferro had explained this change at the meeting the night
before. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And then at the 81k mark I arrived at Ahuacatitla, and I
realized I had made a dreadful mistake: the climbing was not over. It was black
now and I headed straight down: so steep it was unrunnable on my jellied legs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Down, down. And then finally, when it no longer seemed
possible that it could keep going down, a technical downhill so steep I had to
hang on to trees to get to the bottom to avoid falling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And here at the bottom was the Mother of all river crossings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Raging. Dangerous. Loud. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It was pitch black, but there was a rope and volunteers on
both sides of the rivers. I hung on to the rope with everything I had, and
carefully made my way across. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Somewhere in the
middle of that crossing I realized there was probably no place I would rather
be in this world than at the bottom of that chasm, scared shitless, hanging on
to a rope to avoid being swept down the river with 50 miles on my legs and
miles to go before I sleep…<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">At least now I have an answer when someone asks me: <i>100K? </i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Why? </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll tell them about that river.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Once I crossed, I thanked the volunteer, tried to find words
that could express how much I loved the race and headed up in the black.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This was a serpentine climb that I would love to see in the
daylight. At night, with my weak headlamp, it was like being in a lightless
labyrinth, searching for little squares of white light (reflector tape) to find
my way. For a time I stayed with another group, as they had better lights, but
they were dying on the climb, and I knew I’d never catch Truyols if I hung back with
them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So I forged ahead, one tiny square of light at a time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It was awesome. In my head, I forgave Ferro for the seven
kilometer climb on the fire road out of the canyon. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And then I was out on the flats again. My time goal of 16
hours had been out the window for hours, but I didn’t care. I was alone, I had
the directions in my back pocket, and between the map and the reflector tape I
made my way to the 89k aid station. It was 9:10. My hoped-for finish time. I
laughed about that. Drank half a Red Bull, got some good advice, cheer and
directions from the volunteers, thanked them, and headed out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I crossed the wooden hanging bridge over the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.google.com.mx/search?q=prismas+basalticos&espv=2&biw=1517&bih=744&tbm=isch&imgil=LNU0T480JUOz7M%253A%253BWcKbkZN3XtYO8M%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fculturacolectiva.com%25252Flos-prismas-basalticos-de-santa-maria-regla%25252F&source=iu&pf=m&fir=LNU0T480JUOz7M%253A%252CWcKbkZN3XtYO8M%252C_&usg=__Qk_MgodnugyqsJ7Z3WNP-NDDJfY%3D&dpr=0.9&ved=0CEIQyjc&ei=P5I8VO3CI8Oe8AHL34H4Dg#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=LNU0T480JUOz7M%253A%3BWcKbkZN3XtYO8M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fculturacolectiva.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2012%252F10%252FPrismas_Basalticos_by_silver61621.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fculturacolectiva.com%252Flos-prismas-basalticos-de-santa-maria-regla%252F%3B670%3B444">Prismas Balsaticos</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Followed the dark wet trail around the reservoir. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And then I was on the road, so close. Ran right by the
cabañas we were staying at.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I ran hard, or at least it felt like I was running hard. I
caught some walkers in the final kilometers. But no Truyols.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The final mental blow was when I was on the road to Huasca
centro, which I knew was no more than 1k away. But then I had to turn right,
through some back alleys, and then finally past the hotel were 900 of us were
packed in with anticipation 25 hours earlier listening to Ferro describe the
course (flawlessly, from memory), as we followed along with our maps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The final stretch. I “sprinted” in, Milly and my friends
were there. Ferro gave me un abrazo, put a medal crafted from the local
obsidian rock on my neck. 17:33 minutes later, I had finished.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Truyols was nowhere in sight. I found out later he finished
in 16:58. He didn’t run the fastest race that day, but he may have run the
smartest. He ran the second half of the race faster than the first 51k. Who
negative splits a 100k? Hats off to Marcos.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lVh3hl7deHo/VDyQnrEX_YI/AAAAAAAAAwY/1Dn6Grq3px0/s1600/IMG_2027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lVh3hl7deHo/VDyQnrEX_YI/AAAAAAAAAwY/1Dn6Grq3px0/s1600/IMG_2027.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">finished Photo: Milly</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Postscript:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all think we want
adventure, but adventures carry risk. Without risk
it’s just a thrill:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>like bungee jumping
or Space Mountain. In Huasca there was risk of getting lost climbing up out of the
canyon after crossing the river. There was the risk of breaking an ankle and
being forced to hobble back up to the top of the canyon. There was the very
real risk of rain and hypothermic conditions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which is not to say
the race organizers were reckless. To the contrary: they worked like hell to
provide a controlled event that was as safe as one could possibly make this
sort of event. The course was marked with reflective tape, chalk and
ribbon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were course marshals at
many points along the course. The course map was published months ago on the
day sign-ups started. Every runner was given a map <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and </i>a blow-by-blow/turn-by-turn description of the course. The
night before the race, the race director went over the route and announced a couple last minute changes (some river crossings
were eliminated because of high waters and one section of single track was
diverted to a two-track, which the boy on the horse would later remind me
about). And even with all of this, there was no guarantee. If there are
guarantees, it’s not an adventure. I got lost a few times out there. I
marched back to the last flag; I consulted my map; I tried to remember not to
rely on the runners in front of me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, there was a
required equipment list. Predictably, there was a bit of pissing and moaning
about this. Mountain runners don’t like be told what we need to bring. I
certainly didn’t want to carry running tights. Or a thermic blanket. Or a
whistle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But these were the rules, so I
did it, and I still didn’t need to wear a pack. I stuffed everything into a zip lock baggie that fit inside my
<a href="https://www.google.com.mx/search?q=jurek+essential&espv=2&biw=1517&bih=744&tbm=isch&imgil=tVpNSTm8xL0EEM%253A%253BTCyYcrH_k5H3MM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.wiggle.co.uk%25252Fultimate-direction-jurek-essential-waist-pack%25252F&source=iu&pf=m&fir=tVpNSTm8xL0EEM%253A%252CTCyYcrH_k5H3MM%252C_&usg=__e-todCML6yY23YIhu4bqr6H_AIo%3D&dpr=0.9&ved=0CD0Qyjc&ei=X5U9VKO-PNGl8gGg4YCQAw#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=tVpNSTm8xL0EEM%253A%3BTCyYcrH_k5H3MM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.wigglestatic.com%252Fproduct-media%252F5360088067%252FUltimate-Direction-Jurek-Essential-Waist-Pack-Hydration-Systems-Grey-Black-2014-00458613GY.jpg%253Fw%253D2000%2526h%253D2000%2526a%253D7%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.wiggle.co.uk%252Fultimate-direction-jurek-essential-waist-pack%252F%3B2000%3B2000">Jurek Essential waist pack</a> and tied my rain jacket around my waist. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One could still travel light The list was not
excessive. And the rules were clear (and they were published months ago) that the
penalty for not having required equipment was disqualification.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So of course everyone complied and carried
their shit. Especially the front runners, because who in the hell would want to
chance losing a 10,000 pesos first prize to save a few grams and the minor
hassle of carrying a whistle or a 10 gram thermic blanket?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Future of the Race?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Every ultrarunner in Mexico is now holding their breath.
Will the race happen again? It could become a classic, THE Mexican Ultramarathon.
Of course the Caballo Blanco race gets more international love, but this race
–only a couple hours from the Mexico City Airport—makes this a much more
travel-friendly location. But the amount of work that goes into the race make
it tough for anyone to devote their year to putting the race together and not
really make any money. Maybe a big sponsor (North Face? Patagonia?) could step
in and lend some financial assistance to Marcos Ferro and the crew that
brought us this race? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pi3GO9CQdWg/VDyLgODc-3I/AAAAAAAAAuo/YJKl2qoxJfo/s1600/10153086_10152789014132392_8756865117509422211_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pi3GO9CQdWg/VDyLgODc-3I/AAAAAAAAAuo/YJKl2qoxJfo/s1600/10153086_10152789014132392_8756865117509422211_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Marcos Ferro, RD</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">But until then….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you to all the
volunteers out there who made this race possible. Even if it never happens
again, it’s an experience I will never forget. And race or no race, I’ll be
back up in those mountains, back down in the canyons. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">World-class event; world-class trails.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-diXXWqU6GF0/VDyRaCbkADI/AAAAAAAAAwk/X4oV-pBd8EU/s1600/10653714_10152797716580730_6474253415617435721_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-diXXWqU6GF0/VDyRaCbkADI/AAAAAAAAAwk/X4oV-pBd8EU/s1600/10653714_10152797716580730_6474253415617435721_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The day after, back out at Peña del Aire. Photo: 7th place 42k finisher Torrey Hannas (her first run over 21k. Ever. Watch out.)</span></blockquote>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
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Guy Cheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06296513081472215675noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912368439233814219.post-76857759887453527492014-10-06T19:00:00.001-07:002014-10-14T07:05:55.588-07:00The View to Huasca: UTMX 100. Meditations on training, racing, losing (and finding) motivation.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wOmS8_lTiV0/VDM9VPb2fMI/AAAAAAAAAuI/0G50brG4Fss/s1600/10646691_10204524031290045_6073568029351315769_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wOmS8_lTiV0/VDM9VPb2fMI/AAAAAAAAAuI/0G50brG4Fss/s1600/10646691_10204524031290045_6073568029351315769_n.jpg" height="640" width="512" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">AC 100 Finish: The end of a long journey. Photo: Larry Gassan</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> After finishing the Angeles Crest 100, (which you can read about <a href="http://masmilesmorefun.blogspot.mx/2014/08/angeles-crest-100-mile-race-report.html">here</a>), I took five days off, but then tried to get right back on the horse. A couple things held my training back:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1. <b>Motivation.</b> The AC 100 was the culmination of 3 years of training and racing, and 6 months of focused training. After that effort I simply didn't have the same desire to get out of bed to run 3-5 hours in the mountains on Saturday and then repeat on Sunday. My body seemed ok; my mind needed a break: a longer break than 5 days.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">2. <b>Return to teaching.</b> I was back in school the week following AC. The beginning of a school year is hectic and all-consuming: driving out to the mountains mid-week was no longer in the cards.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> However, I didn't stop running. I wasn't tracking my mileage, but I was doing speed workouts a couple times a week, and a ten miler here or there. I did get out for a great long run with Martin and Hiram for my first summit of Ajusco in August, but there wasn't much more than that.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wglqTFNQgJ0/VDM9VUI1FqI/AAAAAAAAAuc/mKpV82ZvjN0/s1600/10495299_744353335620886_971213329650144572_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wglqTFNQgJ0/VDM9VUI1FqI/AAAAAAAAAuc/mKpV82ZvjN0/s1600/10495299_744353335620886_971213329650144572_o.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Great run/hike up to Ajusco with Hiram and Martin. Photo: Hiram Marave</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> And yet the <a href="http://www.utmex.com/index.php/2014-03-06-18-32-21/90k-ultra">UTMX 100k</a> loomed, and all indications were that this was going to be the race of the year in Mexico. Fantastic organization; magical location. So that knowledge kept kicking me out the door to run. Just not for as long or steep as I needed to run. It's easier for me to run a race than it is to go out by myself for a long run, so I signed up for some races.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">First Annual Tepozotlan 21k, Sept. 7</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HrfF_-obFyg/VDM64yNE8aI/AAAAAAAAAtw/TJl_T2-pfRo/s1600/IMG_1717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HrfF_-obFyg/VDM64yNE8aI/AAAAAAAAAtw/TJl_T2-pfRo/s1600/IMG_1717.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Wildflowers, rocks and climbs.... </span></td></tr>
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<b> </b>On September 7, I ran the Solo Para Salvajes race in Tepozotlan. <a href="http://parasalvajes.com.mx/">Solo Para Salvajes</a> is the mountain (and trail) running group run by Pedro Fletes Omaña. One can't speak of mountain running in Mexico without mentioning Pedro Fletes. His group efficiently runs nearly two races a month all year long. He has being doing this since the late 80's. His races feature aesthetic routes, adequate aid, and an absurdly economical price tag. About 22 USD for a race. The races are a mix of long time classics and newer ventures. Tepozotlan was a new one: a point to point race, and it was a beauty on all fronts: wild terrain that was a mix of cross-country off trail climbing and descending, and narrow, rocky single track throughout. Also, in the manner of all of all Salvajes' races it was simply, yet effectively organized: the route was fairly marked, there were aid stations were you needed them and had what you needed (salt, sugar, liquids). And, as always, a family of runners in good spirits. We also lucked out with perfect weather: sunny, but not too warm. This race is an instant classic in my mind. Which brings me to a point I'll focus on more later: what makes a great race? Aside from organization, it's simple: the route. The route is everything. Most experienced trail runners don't give a shit about running 20 or 50 or 100 or 165 kilometers (why not 17 or 56 or 151?): we care about the trail. Trails that are aesthetically pleasing, trails that offer challenges. And beauty. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M8r9QsByiCM/VDM64Vajp0I/AAAAAAAAAtc/SZ71t455OZg/s1600/IMG_1719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M8r9QsByiCM/VDM64Vajp0I/AAAAAAAAAtc/SZ71t455OZg/s1600/IMG_1719.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">A route that makes sense. Stunning. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Loops within loops don't make sense. Little out-and backs just to add distance don't make sense. If there is a peak in the area, the route should go up to that point.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Tepozotlan was the perfect route. And I had a good day, as I was in fantastic spirits as I discovered how awesome the course was. I'll be back next year.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KH4HuNQBEzU/VDM64-Emq-I/AAAAAAAAAtg/lUyjNhCjM6I/s1600/IMG_1726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KH4HuNQBEzU/VDM64-Emq-I/AAAAAAAAAtg/lUyjNhCjM6I/s1600/IMG_1726.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Course was so nice I hiked back out there with Milly after the race</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Ajusco 50k, Sept. 21</span></b><br />
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<b> </b>I guess my only problem with the Tepozotlan 21k was that it wasn't long enough. So I had signed up for a new race being organized by some friends of mine. They aren't experienced race directors, but they have a passion for trails, and I had run with them in the area, so I was excited about the race. Also, I felt that mentally I needed a 50k long run, as this would give me some confidence going into the 100k in Huasca. I hadn't run longer than 21k in more than a month.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Well, as every trail runner in the Mexico City area now knows, the race didn't go as planned. There were problems. Basically, the race imploded. I'm not going to rehash all the details, but I will offer a couple observations. Most complained about the trail markings, but I didn't find this to be a problem. I think the problem is that there were too many races, and the route (see my comment above about loops within loops) was not intuitive: in my mind, it didn't make sense. Also, my friends just underestimated how many folks it takes to organize a race, especially a race with a lot of new trail runners. Some hotheads called it a "deception" and a "fraud," and, frankly, that's ridiculous. It was some runners who got in over their heads and things spiraled out of control. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It was a race. It went poorly. It's just running. Get over it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> My race in Ajusco ended at the end of the first 25k(?) loop. Why did it end? Because of the organizational problems? Because the trail was hard to follow? Because the the finisher arch was prematurely deflated? Nope. It ended because I was dead tired. I've never felt that poorly in any race. Before Ajusco, I've never thought about dropping early in a race, but the DNF excuses were already filling my brain on the first climb. I had nothing. So when I got to the end of the first loop, I ended my race. Can't blame that on anyone else but me. I don't feel bad about it, as I was absolutely zonked and the idea of trudging around another loop had zero appeal.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Btb83Q3v8XY/VDM9VWCgXuI/AAAAAAAAAuY/jD_95J-Jols/s1600/1554414_352761484878542_5306039281413459340_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Btb83Q3v8XY/VDM9VWCgXuI/AAAAAAAAAuY/jD_95J-Jols/s1600/1554414_352761484878542_5306039281413459340_n.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Struggling. <br />But a bad day running in the mountains is still a good day... Photo: Martin Forstmann</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I was sure my 100k Huasca dream was done. I would do the sensible thing and drop to the 42k. I told a few folks I would switch races, I wasn't ready for 100k, mentally or physically. So it goes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> <b>Camino Largo y Sinuoso 33k, September 28</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> And then I had a good run a few days later. My body started to feel better. And I signed up for the 33k run the following Sunday, one of the classics of the Solo Para Salvajes group. I knew this route well, as I've trained here many times, and ran the race two years ago (report <a href="http://masmilesmorefun.blogspot.mx/2012/10/no-bad-days-in-mountains-camino-largo-y.html">here</a>). I decided that THIS would be my long run for Huasca. And the race went well: I took the first climb easy, descended down to the cuarto dinamo, which is the half-way point, and then started to push a bit from there. And I found myself able to push hard all the way to the finish. And I still finished with something in the tank. I told Milly I would finish around 5 hours, 5:15, and I ran in at 4:42. Suddenly, I was feeling great about Huasca.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">UTMX 100k: Huasca de Ocampo, Hidalgo, Mexico. October 11, 2014</span></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Epic.</span></td></tr>
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<b> </b>But, one solid twenty-miler does not a 100k training plan make. Frankly, I don't care. It's an experiment. How much of my base have I maintained since running 100 miles? How much has slipped away? I'm running the 100k to find out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> But really, I'm running this event because it's going to be freaking awesome.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I don't want to miss this race. It's not just another race. Everything indicates it's going to be the premier Ultra running event of the year in Mexico (and if I'm mistaken on that count, someone please tell me where I should go run): I know a bit of the route from my previous experience running Marcos Ferro's race two years ago (<a href="http://masmilesmorefun.blogspot.mx/2012/10/lesson-learned-finally-utmx-40k-race.html">report</a>), and it's beautiful, rugged and varied (and also: very, very well organized). Running down into the Barranca (canyon) de Metzitlan (and climbing back out) is only going to raise the "Epic-ness" of this great event. If you are a mountain runner in Mexico, you will be at this event. Some have claimed that it is pricey (100USD for the 100k), and while that may seem true --by Mexican trail race standards-- remember that these guys have been working on this race for a year, with nearly a 100 volunteers and workers on race day to make sure everything goes smoothly. It's not a for-profit venture, folks: Ferro and co. are putting this own because they want to share some great trails with the trail community.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I can't wait.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> My race-day goals:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> 1. Enjoy the highs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> 2. Embrace the lows.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> 3. Stay in the moment</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Yeah, sure I have some time goals floating around, but without knowing the course --and never having run the 100k distance-- (pace it like a 100 miler? a 50 miler?) they are guesstimates:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">A goal: sub-16</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">B goal: sub-17</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">C goal: stumble across the finish line with a smile on my face at midnight (19 hour time limit).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O7VZtEdErMQ/VDM66XLwaKI/AAAAAAAAAt4/09YXNfPOpTI/s1600/IMG_1938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O7VZtEdErMQ/VDM66XLwaKI/AAAAAAAAAt4/09YXNfPOpTI/s1600/IMG_1938.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Gettin' ready..</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And after Huasca? I think a good long rest is in order....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">But that race in Chico and the Salvajes classic Triple Corona look tempting....</span>Guy Cheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06296513081472215675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912368439233814219.post-75879152805201340372014-08-10T22:04:00.000-07:002014-08-12T10:12:57.128-07:00Angeles Crest 100 Mile Race Report: The Education of a Mountain Runner<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c1ZK5B9ivEc/U-hDsdN2r3I/AAAAAAAAAsk/SU2C1PLR64o/s1600/GOPR6462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c1ZK5B9ivEc/U-hDsdN2r3I/AAAAAAAAAsk/SU2C1PLR64o/s1600/GOPR6462.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Forget what you think you know about L.A. and surrounding areas: this is a mountain race Photo: Jeremy Hardy</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VHe0LploeWA/U-hDrzTJV0I/AAAAAAAAAsc/2nVHnUR8h-4/s1600/GOPR6463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VHe0LploeWA/U-hDrzTJV0I/AAAAAAAAAsc/2nVHnUR8h-4/s1600/GOPR6463.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My Dad and Jeremy: Awesome Crew, Awesome Pacer. Mediocre Runner. Hey, two out of three ain't bad! Selfie: Jeremy</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;">For three years I’ve had the 100 mile dream. Even before I ran my first trail race: a 26km Saturday Race followed by a 16km Sunday race in <a href="http://masmilesmorefun.blogspot.mx/2012/03/first-race-in-mountains-real-de-catorce.html">Real De Catorce</a>, the dream was there: all this is preparation for running a 100 miler.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> One of the joys of
the AC 100 is that you have to sign up a year in advance. This allows for a
full year of anticipation, planning and training. It also allows for lots of
things to go wrong or for life to get in the way, as is annually demonstrated
in the high numbers of runners who don’t make it to the start line of AC, the sole blemish on an otherwise magnificent jewel of a mountain race.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I arrived
well-trained, healthy and in high spirits in Wrightwood and with a great crew
and pacer: my dad and my brother-in-law, Jeremy. We settled into the 5 star
Pine Hotel, a cozy room with nails sticking up out of the floor and an old TV
hanging right over the fridge so I could whack my head four times while obsessively re-checking that my water bottles were indeed ready with GU packed.
Unfortunately, the whacks didn’t take, as I insisted on waking up at 4:00am in
the morning and running 100 miles through the mountains to Altadena.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The AC 100 is something like 21,000 feet of climbing and
26,000 of descent. Those who make it to mile 75 are rewarded with a 3,500
climb, which for this running mortal would come at 3:00am in the morning. The
course is relentless, though if truth be told, it does ease up considerably in the last 35 meter section in Loma Alta Park. So you’ve got that carry you through the previous 30 hours. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Save something for those last 35 meters!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pre-race meeting
was uneventful, but we did get a looong explanation about how bib chips work
with some follow up questions (actually, it was the same question asked 7
different times with a slightly different intonation) that would have been
amusing had I not been sitting on the floor in a hot and stuffy room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Future Runners: You
could skip the pre-race meeting, but the catch is this: there is absolutely nothing
else to do in Wrightwood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tossed and turned and listened to my Dad snore for several hours, and then the moment I had been waiting three years for finally came. I got my bottles from the
fridge, whacked my head one last time on the TV, and headed down to the start.
I felt like I was at a cocktail mixer: everyone milling around and chatting it
up. With 30+ hours to “warm up” I figured taking a seat was the best option.
But no joke: I was psyched. I would probably do better at parties if after 20
minutes of chit chat, everyone took off for a very long run. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the words of my
pacer, Jeremy, [he crewed me to Chilao and then ran with me from Chilao to
Finish. How about a buckle for that??] I looked like a “kid in a candy store”
until Islip. A word about the Baden-Powell section (Vincent Gap to Islip):
middle-earthesque, magical, inspiring. Ok, I’m two words over, but you get the
idea. A shout out to Marcus England, who led the march up to the summit at the
perfect not-to-fast/not-to-slow pace --AND-- he knew all the names of the trees. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I rolled into Islip
like the aforementioned kid in a candy store, fixed a blister on my pinkie toe
and headed up to Mt. Williamson. Somewhere on that climb I had the realization
that it wasn’t blazingly hot out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had run into a few
runners at the Pasadena Patagonia store earlier in the week, and I tried not to be
star-struck when I asked famous ultra runner Chris Price what his weather
prediction for the race would be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">He replied: “Hot or very hot.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">See: even famous ultra runners can be wrong. And let me tell
you how happy I am about that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which brings me to
the climb up through Cooper Canyon up to Cloudburst. Clouds weren’t the only
thing that were burst here: my two-thumbs up, Baden-Powell-is-douche-grade!
Energy® had been mangled into a tight stomach and a slow trudge. Earlier on the climb I saw the
great Jussi H. bent over on the trail. What? Was the great one wretching?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I certainly wanted to. I ran into Mike, a non-famous
ultrarunner, also from the Patagonia store encounter, and he remarked he hadn’t
taken in a calorie since Islip. The mountains were taking a toll.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I need a sit-down
and a coca-cola.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boy was I happy to
be at the Cloudburst aid station.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My dad and Jeremy told me lots of lies about how good I
looked and how everyone else took a beating in the Canyon. I remarked that if
it had been hot, I would still be down there, curled up under a rock. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then came the
downhill to Three Points. I ran downhills great most of the day, but the parade
marched by me on this section. I just didn’t have much mojo. Got to Three
Points, a quick refill, with Jeremy and my Dad, the last time I would see them
before Chilao. Rolling single track here was enjoyable but then, in the middle
of nowhere, someone had decided to pave a road. Why?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why did they have to
pave a road? And why did it have to be so long? I slowed to what could only
charitably be called a trudge. Two runners hiked past me. And then they were
gone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started to have
fantasies about how good it would feel to lie down on the pavement. Just for a
minute, you know. But I kept moving. Until I wasn’t moving, and for the first
time in the race, I hunched over, put my hands on knees, and tried to remind
myself that “it never always gets worse.” I’d been here before: the climb out
of the Caldera at the <a href="http://masmilesmorefun.blogspot.mx/2013/05/a-two-headed-creature-jemez-50-mile.html">Jemez 50</a>…that was worse, and then I felt great the last
10 miles in that race. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In response to these
weak rationalizations, a bit of spit dribbled out from my lips. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I trudged on, and
then, there it was, like a shimmering mirage: Hal Winton and the Mt. Hilyer
aid station. I sat down, had a coca-cola. Listened to some wisdom from Hal, and
suddenly I didn’t feel horrible anymore. Amazing what a four minute sit down and a coca cola can do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Weird game, 100 milers.</span></div>
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<tr><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rt9jrdjHNME/U-gpdixHSSI/AAAAAAAAAr8/pV9bZc-aTFU/s1600/10394785_10100308002996454_2906622883324212593_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rt9jrdjHNME/U-gpdixHSSI/AAAAAAAAAr8/pV9bZc-aTFU/s1600/10394785_10100308002996454_2906622883324212593_n.jpg" title="" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The Setting Sun Photo: Jeremy Hardy</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> To make up for the road, the next section was downhill through awesome rock formations. The old pre-Islip energy started coming back. I was passing people. Feeling good. Holy crap, 50 miles and my knees don’t hurt!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I “sprinted” into Chilao once I hit the campground road. No longer a hunched over spit dribbler, I was ready to run. I said goodbye to my dad –we wouldn’t see him until the finish, and Jeremy and I headed out of there. Somehow the combination of coca-cola, GU, GU brew and chicken noodle soup had a Lazarus-like effect on me.</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Night came, and we
pushed hard to Shortcut, passing folks along the way. It was raining, I had my
shirt off. Mexico City weather had followed me here, and don’t think I wasn’t
damn happy about that fact.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Oh yeah: Remember the big party in Wrightwood? It had been
moved to Shortcut. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“Dude, let’s get out of here.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we exited past
the radio guys, they asked “Are you sure you are going to Chantry?” (apparently
Newcomb’s Pass is not a great place to drop)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hell no, we’re
going all the way to Altadena!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so the energy
continued. After the long dirt road section (waaaay down….waay up), we got to
Newcomb’s. And mercifully, we were on single track again. We flew. I began to
think I was done with my lows. I had never considered anything faster than 31
hours, but started doing the math for sub-30.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0HqsUclWveU/U-hDviE9mDI/AAAAAAAAAs8/VY7XBrMpzQo/s1600/GOPR6507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0HqsUclWveU/U-hDviE9mDI/AAAAAAAAAs8/VY7XBrMpzQo/s1600/GOPR6507.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Newcomb's Pass Aid Station Photo: Jeremy Hardy</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every great party has
an end. Mine ended on the climb up to Winter Creek. My thighs had tightened up
while sitting in Chantry, and suddenly I was very, very sleepy. I wondered if I
could walk and sleep at the same time. Winter Creek Trail is not a great locale for this experiment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the section
where having a pacer probably saved me an hour, maybe more. The temptation of
taking a dirt nap was overwhelming, but Jeremy was having none of that. He
promised me a little sit down up on Deadman’s bench, but it seemed like this
section of the trail had been lengthened! It was absolutely longer than when I had run it three weeks previous. That was the
only answer, because it simply would not end. We were on WHAT ABSOLUTELY HAD TO
BE THE LAST SWITCHBACK for like 40 minutes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And then we emerged and saw the city lights. I tried to
sleep on the bench, but couldn’t get comfortable. Jeremy promised the sun would
be coming up soon. I tried hard to care.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AcxeSEccrNI/U-hDuwJ8kfI/AAAAAAAAAs0/ieZ54ibf_aQ/s1600/GOPR6513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AcxeSEccrNI/U-hDuwJ8kfI/AAAAAAAAAs0/ieZ54ibf_aQ/s1600/GOPR6513.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Millions of people who will never know how good a 4 minute sit down and a coca cola feels Photo: Jeremy</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> My dream of running
down the Mt. Wilson Toll road en route to a glorious sub-30 finish did not play
out the way it had in my mind. I walked. Ok, maybe I jogged for a couple 30
meter sections, but you get the idea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">But I was going to finish. And when we got into Idlehour, I
was on familiar ground, I had run these trails in the weeks leading up to the
race, and my energy came back. I was done with Gu and Gu brew, and basically on
the coca-cola train with a few M&M’s for good measure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hit El Prieto and
I tried to run. The sun was out, it was finally hot. But it was too late to
matter. And then I turned into the park. My family was there. I had a little
kick, made the most of those final 35 meters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--9lhUEPhfDw/U-gpd9BQZqI/AAAAAAAAAsA/FgYtGnTVpZA/s1600/10590550_10152371764992955_8981627933122781582_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--9lhUEPhfDw/U-gpd9BQZqI/AAAAAAAAAsA/FgYtGnTVpZA/s1600/10590550_10152371764992955_8981627933122781582_n.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> That mile 99 Smile Photo: Louis Kwan</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And then Hal was asking me my shirt size.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A-cpOMrjUzE/U-hC_fRAwOI/AAAAAAAAAsU/f-eFVbwqkhE/s1600/10443097_905363119479864_4366578373492678186_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A-cpOMrjUzE/U-hC_fRAwOI/AAAAAAAAAsU/f-eFVbwqkhE/s1600/10443097_905363119479864_4366578373492678186_o.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Thrilled with the fact that I can stop eating a GU every hour Photo: Jeremy Hardy</span></td></tr>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> <b>Final Thoughts</b> (I know, I know...I'm going on longer than the bib chip guy at the pre-race meeting, but cut me some slack: you only get to write one "first 100 miler report."</span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It was great having my dad there. He didn't really know anything about 100 milers, but once I showed him how the splits worked, he was totally into it. It was great motivation to know I would see him and Jeremy at the aid stations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I won't be racing AC next year (so many trails, so little time -- thanks for the tip about Bighorn, Andi!), but I hope to be back to crew and pace my brother-in-law.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The ability to run downhill was huge. Climb up, run down. That's this course. Fitness will get you up the hill, but only lots of downhill pounding will prepare one for the downhills. You hear a lot about all the climbing and the heat, but don't forget the downs...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The AC is at a crossroads. It's a classic, point to point mountain race, and unlike it's more famous sibling up north, it's a Hard Rock qualifier. The secret is out. It sold out in around 15 minutes this year, and next year there will be a lottery. The only question is: what kind of lottery? One created by Hal and Ken to maintain the values of the race, or a de facto lottery determined by computer speed and one's mouse-clicking fortune? It would be a bummer to see names like Grossman, Pacheco and Jussi (and many, many more) not get into the race because of a poorly timed browser refresh. Maybe they could have some slots available for sign up at the finish of the race? At any rate, one of these years I hope to be back to face the course on a "hot or very hot" day.</span></div>
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Guy Cheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06296513081472215675noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912368439233814219.post-43360223335718200372014-06-09T10:15:00.001-07:002014-06-09T12:43:40.920-07:00Every Fool Has His Day: Travesia de las Sierras 50 mile race report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> If a good race results in a bad race report, the following report will be terrible. This was my first visit to Villa Del Carbon, a small town tucked into the mountains an hour or so out of the reaches of the sprawling (and, frankly, ugly) northern part of Mexico City*. Villa del Carbon is beautiful and worth the trip. Seeing how people live up in the hills makes one wonder why they would move down to Tlanepantla. Economics of course. Not everyone has a plot of land in the hills to farm and live off the land. The contrast between the congested, gray-drab cement structures of the far reaches of the city (*technically, not a part of Mexico City, but it all blends seamlessly) and the remote, lush green of Villa Carbon was both profound and disturbing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I was fortunate to hook up with the members of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/557204681042103/">Mytikas</a> running group and we fought Friday traffic (including a chase scene that involved 4 police officers and a warning shot fired --we didn't stop to ask for details). I was definitely not in the familiar center of Mexico City that I know and love.</span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gtorjfEyGik/U5XavzN6s6I/AAAAAAAAAoA/X_qG8S5XPdo/s1600/10345980_10202959549923719_1600279222288649420_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gtorjfEyGik/U5XavzN6s6I/AAAAAAAAAoA/X_qG8S5XPdo/s1600/10345980_10202959549923719_1600279222288649420_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The Early Conga Line Photo: Martin Forstmann</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The "lobby" of the hotel was filled with runners catching up and waiting to get their packets. I took a little nap, grabbed my race stuff and walked into town with the Mytikas crew to grab dinner. Luis was running the 100 mile race, and Oswaldo, Rentato, Hugo and Israel were running the 100k. I would be doing the "short" race (80k) as my plan was to recover quickly and get back training hard for the <a href="http://ac100.com/">AC</a> 100 mile race on August 2 and 3.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> During dinner I was thinking of ordering quesadillas and chicken soup, as my stomach was its normal pre-race dainty self (including nerve-induced diarrhea, which, just as it did before <a href="http://masmilesmorefun.blogspot.mx/2014/05/the-25th-annual-zane-grey-experience.html">Zane</a> Grey, disappeared the moment the race started. Weird.), but when I saw everyone else ordering full meals I went with the house special Enchiladas Chiripas. Huge plate and I polished it off with a Negra Modelo. I left it to fate to see how that would play out...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I woke up with a bit of a panic as I remembered that I only had hotel reservations for one night, and I couldn't leave my stuff in the room all day. I loaded everything in my car and walked the two blocks to the race start. Everyone snapping pictures and chatting it up. I find it very hard to be social before a race, as I just want to be alone in my thoughts, but I ended up in a few of the approximately 128 group photos that are always taken before every race in Mexico. Here's one:</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Pre-race group photo #112: With the Mytikas running group (and others) at the start Photo: ?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I had considered running with the Nathan pack, as the aid stations can be a bit unreliable in these races, but in the end I went with two hand helds and the <a href="http://ultimatedirection.com/p-604-jurek-essential.aspx">Jurek</a> Essential. My plan was to eat a vanilla GU every hour along with potatoes and salt, all of which could be stuffed into the Essential and the handhelds.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The race started (a bit late, as usual) and we descended about a kilometer through the town until we crossed a road and headed into runnable terrain in the forest.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Coming into the race, I didn't have high expectations for the course. It was out and back (for a total of 50k), and included a 5k section of pavement which I would see four times. Not really what I'm looking for in a mountain race. There was a bit of climbing (just shy of 7,000 feet), but I would have liked more for proper AC 100 training.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> However, I was pleasantly surprised: the variety of the terrain kept things interesting: there were some short, steep climbs, stream crossings, technical single track, and rolling, grassy trails between corn fields. And the road was nearly empty and rolled through tranquil countryside with great views. I enjoyed the pavement section: it provided an opportunity to stretch out the legs, get into a rhythm and push. Life dictates that the majority of my runs are on asphalt, so I was prepared to grind it out on the road. The out-and-back style had other advantages: it allowed for interaction with all of the other runners. This is always helpful in a long race. Encountering Hector Mendoza --the Happy Face Runner-- with his whistle and endless good cheer and positive vibes (I've never seen that guy looking miserable during a race) is always a boost. Every time I see him he reminds me to smile and he usually snaps a photo. Aside from runner interaction, it also gave me course knowledge so I knew where to push and where there would be hiking breaks to shovel potatoes into my mouth. I love exploring new trails, and my favorite course layout is the point-to-point, but out-and-backs have advantages as well. For one thing, I could see how much time I was putting on runners behind me.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WOwSWimSPug/U5Xfcawxy6I/AAAAAAAAAo4/vHZYebM7iKs/s1600/10403153_10202959591524759_2272499202210755083_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Hector "Happy Face Runner" Mendoza" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WOwSWimSPug/U5Xfcawxy6I/AAAAAAAAAo4/vHZYebM7iKs/s1600/10403153_10202959591524759_2272499202210755083_n.jpg" height="640" title="Photo: Martin Forstmann" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Hector "Happy Face Runner" Mendoza who reminded me to be happy when I started getting grumpy about the lack of trail markings. Photo: Martin Forstmann</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nvJ5fdfJtBA/U5XavyHby1I/AAAAAAAAAoQ/Gk8zz544GgU/s1600/10300427_10202959557883918_5701443820905057269_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nvJ5fdfJtBA/U5XavyHby1I/AAAAAAAAAoQ/Gk8zz544GgU/s1600/10300427_10202959557883918_5701443820905057269_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> On the Road in the Morning Dew: Juan Pablo (L) and Martin Forstmann (R) Photo: Hector Mendoza (??)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Which brings me to how well this race went.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I started slowly in the morning and my plan was to keep it that way until the 25k mark. However, at about 10k I felt great and decided to pass a couple of runners that have finished ahead of me in the past few races. I knew it was way too early to be making any sort of move, but I figured if I felt good I should use that energy, as there would certainly be lows later in the day. There were some major route-finding problems on the climb to the high point of the race. The course simply wasn't marked for about 6 km. However, I had the course description in my pocket and using the GPS mileage of other runners around me we puzzled it out without too much lost time. It's pretty unnerving to arrive at an unmarked three way fork in the road during a race...</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Through the fields... Photo: Martin Forstmann</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Arriving at the 25k mark at the high point of the race, I was relieved to run into Pedro Fletes, the race director. He was re-marking the course and glumly commented that "everyone got lost." I ran downhill with a new confidence and practiced my AC 100 strategy: run downhill steadily (but not recklessly), hike the ups hard and run the flats.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Chespiro to the rescue! Marking the course(again)...better late than never! Photo: Martin Forstmann</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> My knee threw a kink in this plan, and when I descended off the road onto the last steep downhill before the flat section of trail that leads back to town, my right knee flared up and I had to limp and try to keep the leg straight as I went down this hill. To simulate this at home, try keeping your knees locked straight and then walk down a stair case. Fortunately, the knee was not an issue on flats or uphills, so I was able to plug away as I finished my first 50k "lap." 7:11 (though I didn't know that at the time as I wasn't wearing a watch). I grabbed my remaining GU's and tied my shirt around my waist as the sun was out after a cloudy, misty morning. The sunburn hurts as I type this.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I had been thinking about an 8 hour 50k, and while I didn't know how far under that time I was, I felt fantastic, and now it was time to really push. I tried to run everything and I arrived at the 62.5k aid station feeling great. I had to grunt up a boring dirt road for 2.5k and then turn around, and go back down to the same aid station and then back to town. I got into a fairly negative space on that climb as I thought the section was thoughtless and just plain stupid. Why not make the section up along the fantastic trail that follows the river? I ran into the <a href="http://parasalvajes.com.mx/">RD</a> Pedro again back at the aid station and politely proposed an alternative for the following year that would avoid this 2k out and back on a dirt road.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I hit a bit of a low on the climb back up through the fields and to the road, but once back on the road I tried to run everything, pushing on the downhills as hard as I could....trying to get my quads ready for AC...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> It didn't seem to matter how hard I pushed, I just kept feeling better. I had some final, uplifting exchanges with other runners who were heading out in the other direction. Martin Forstmann, whose photos you see throughout this report, was pretty beat up and clearly struggling with a rough day (back in March at the 60k Carrera de Resistencia, he easily dusted me, putting about 15 minutes on me in the final 15k), and I tried to give him some encouragement but I wondered if he would finish the race.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The knee magically felt better, and I made sure to keep eating even though the end was near. I ran every step of the final steep climb into town and felt fantastic. 11:39:40. A 50 mile PR (previous: <a href="http://masmilesmorefun.blogspot.mx/2014/02/the-path-to-angeles-crest-100-mile-part.html">Sean</a> O' Brien 12:17). Here's a <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/512830967">garmin</a> reading from last year's Travesia 50 winner, Sinhue Fletes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I hung out at the finish line and enjoyed the Caldo de Pollo and potato quesadillas (with the tortillas fried in oil) a couple of things that make these races --despite their casual organization standards-- so fantastic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> In many ways, the race was a great confidence builder for AC, but I shouldn't crack the <span style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com.mx/search?q=ruination+ipa+stone&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=sO-VU_K_LsbU8gHxlYCgBg&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=911&bih=306#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=9fWZWyA3pavoMM%253A%3BxBfLgiH0ocCOoM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fhopsgirl.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2012%252F06%252Fsripa_pint_small.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fhopsgirl.com%252F2012%252F06%252Fstone-ruination-tenth-anniversary-ipa%252F%3B1200%3B1125">bubbly</a> just yet: AC will be hotter with three times as much climbing and descending. </span></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I should probably also keep in mind it's twice as long... </span></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">58 days to race day and still lots of work to do. With school ending I will be able to get up in the mountains more frequently and I've got to log some 20,000 feet weeks or pay a very steep price (pun intended) at AC.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I walked to the hotel, changed and took a shower and came back to watch finishers. It was dark when I heard that familiar whistle and I was shocked and thrilled to see Martin running in with Hector. The Argentine looked like he'd been ground up with some burger meat, but he got it done. Awesome, emotional finish. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> And a clear reminder that any fool can run a good race when it all comes together: high energy, no stomach issues, every step feels good, etc. But to finish on those days when nothing comes easy is the real test.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The next morning, after showering and eating, I sat in the town square eating barbacoa with Renato "111K" Rios (he bagged some extra mileage on his adventure) and watched the hundred mile runners still plugging away. I had shared some miles with some of those runners the previous day. While I slept they were still at it. That was pretty sobering and will serve as a good motivator for the next 58 days.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Post-race thoughts/reminders/boring running details:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I ate two big meals in the 15 hours before the race and my stomach was perfect the whole day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> During the race I ate around 11-12 GUS and two ziplock bags of salted potatoes. I drank water and gatorade (orange) for the whole race, and some random peanuts in aid stations. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The first trail race I've worn road shoes: The Saucony Rider 6. I bought these in Arizona for road running and I've liked them so much I've been wearing them for everything. Right now they are my first choice for AC 100. My old Cascadia 7's still have another race in them, but the Saucony's feel lighter. Sadly, the pair of new Cascadia 9's I have pull my sock down on my left foot when I run, and I can't stand running in them. Bummer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I didn't feel strong on the steep climbs. I need to focus on more hills in the next 50 days.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I ran more of this 50 than any other 50 I have run. Part of this was the nature of the course, but I've been doing long runs of 4-5 hours in Ocotal where I run the whole time, no hiking. I think this is helping. While I need to get out and do some long hikes up the Cerro de San Miguel, I need to keep long runs in the mix as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The knee pain went away, but I've got to work on that. If I can't run the downhills at AC.....my race will be over before Chantry Flats.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I felt fantastic after the race, and other than normal post-race soreness, there is no lingering pain. I will rest one more today and then head back out tomorrow. </span>Guy Cheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06296513081472215675noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912368439233814219.post-88008425384989251392014-05-02T08:01:00.001-07:002014-05-06T08:09:52.053-07:00The 25th annual Zane Grey Experience: A view from the back of the pack.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e9aj0ROhNvY/U2Otb3olJMI/AAAAAAAAAmU/SPqUfW-qnIs/s1600/IMG_0971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e9aj0ROhNvY/U2Otb3olJMI/AAAAAAAAAmU/SPqUfW-qnIs/s1600/IMG_0971.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The Race</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Checking out the the finish just before we saw the email that the course would end at Fish Hatchery.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The Famous Zane Grey Rocks (all trail photos from the day before the race).</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Tonto Creek. Guess we'll have to cross this next year...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The hail, rain and
snow had kicked in with the wind. I was freezing, starting to shiver and it was
still early in the race. I fantasized about the fleece pull over I had in my
drop bag at Washington Park, mile 17. Usually, when things get tough late in a
race, my mantra is ¨this is what you came for.¨ For this race it was ¨fleece
pull over, dry gloves.” If I could just
get there and get some warm clothes on, I’d be ok.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The way this race
turned out is yet another reminder that we always worry about the wrong things.
Hydration and heat management were my big concerns coming into Zane Grey. And
rocks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shivering, I finally
pulled into Washington Park. I opened my drop bag and ripped out my pull
over. It was dripping wet and cold. Everything in the bag was an icy mess. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I stood there and stared at the ground for a moment, enjoying a bit of quality time with my stupidity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e2WTgiQP0fQ/U2Otf9vXaHI/AAAAAAAAAnA/krXeqWbPE1g/s1600/IMG_0995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e2WTgiQP0fQ/U2Otf9vXaHI/AAAAAAAAAnA/krXeqWbPE1g/s1600/IMG_0995.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Hey DUMBASS: waterproof your drop bags</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My dream of warmth imploded and I was crushed. Patricia, a
volunteer was helping me with my stuff as my fine motor skills were shot. I
couldn’t open the zipper on my pack. I couldn’t pull off my wet shirt. I was
afraid to go back out there as wet and cold as I was, and I suggested that I
hang out and get warm first, but Patricia told me that was the worst thing I
could do.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the race
director told me two things:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->You’ve got three minutes (shit, I was running
without a watch but I thought I was 30 minutes ahead of the cut off…)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I’ve got nice warm car that’s going up to the
finish at Fish Hatchery now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">He
looked me over and I wondered if he was deciding to pull me from the race. It
would have been a difficult decision to argue with, as I needed help to do
simple tasks like putting on a shirt and opening my pack. There was certainly a
part of me that wished to be put out of my misery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The pull of that warm car offer was strong. My brain was
working overtime to give me reasons to drop. I wasn’t sure it was even safe for
me to keep going. What if I twisted an ankle and couldn’t move fast enough to
keep warm? There were no drop bags at the next aid station (Hell’s Gate), and
even though I had just been informed the race was ending at Mile 33 the thought
of arriving at Hell’s Gate in the state I had arrived at mile 17 was
frightening. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The race director’s
voice again: “You’ve got two minutes! If you drop at Hell’s Gate you will have
to stay there until the end of the race!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I was looking down at my wet stuff, wondering why I hadn’t stuffed
it into the garbage bags I had so cleverly packed in each of my drop bags.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I wanted to get a little angry or maybe feel sorry for
myself, but I remembered rule number one: no whining. I also remembered that I
had 30 seconds to make a decision. I stared at the puddles on the ground,
searching for some answers there, I guess.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then Patricia,
the aid station volunteer, took off her jacket and gave me one of the shirts
off her back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An old- school
Leadville 100 long sleeve tech shirt that was bone dry. I asked her where I
could return the shirt at the end of the race, and she told me not to worry
about it, that she would be long gone and I should just pass the favor on one
day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you happen to
read this, thank you Patricia. That saved my race. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope I can return to favor to another runner
some day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pulled the garbage
bag over the dry shirt (with Patricia’s help) and put on my wet Patagonia
Houdini. Garbage bag never felt so good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“One Minute!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I grabbed a handful
of Gu and peanut butter bars, still not sure I was making the right decision,
and started out of the aid station. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Just keep moving,
keep eating. If you have to walk, swing the arms.” These were my thoughts as I
left the aid station with less than a minute before the cut off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">A few minutes later I saw a runner going back to the aid
station. Was that the smart decision? Would I be thinking about him in a few
hours when I was lost and frozen, praying to God or search and rescue a few
hours from now? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had left the aid
station, but I wasn´t 100% committed. If it gets worse, you can always turn
around and go back, I told myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kept moving as much
as the mud would allow. Zane Grey is famous for it’s rocks, but today the rocks
were the runner’s friend: at least when one stepped on a rock the foot didn’t
come back up with a Frisbee-sized platter of mud.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a while the
snow seemed to let up a bit, and the silver lining was that there would be no
getting lost today with the clear trail of footprints… (also, the course was
marked superbly, blue ribbons blocking many possible wrong ways).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hell’s gate appeared by surprise: my first thought was that it was an impromptu aid
station. The rain had stopped. They had hot noodle soup. Life was good. Running
was suddenly “fun” again. I was going to finish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was there with
about 4 other runners, checked in, started drinking my soup, feeling relieved I
hadn’t dropped back at Washington Park. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Aid station volunteer on the walkie talkie: “Ok, they are
telling us to start pulling everybody.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t wait around
to see if that meant us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The sun came out after Hell’s gate, and a mist was rising
off the ground. It was sublime. I sort of forgot that I was racing, or maybe I
didn´t care as I took in the incredible views of the rim. I started
congratulating myself prematurely on my finish and then slipped and found
myself on the ground. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ok, time to focus
and get this done. I did, slowly. I was pretty sure I was last, which I found amusing,
but I was going to finish. That would have to be enough. (One runner finished behind me, as it turned out.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve only seen 33
miles of the Highline Trail, but it’s the most incredible single track I’ve
been on. The views of the Mogollon Rim to the north need to be experienced. I
didn’t bring the phone, which was the right call: my fingers were too cold to
operate it, and the time I would have lost taking pictures would have cost me a
finish. So you’ll just have to go see it for yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trail is no
joke. Even after recovering I hit a bit of a low in the final miles and
finished at Fish Hatchery at 10:09, which would have missed the cut off had the
race continued. Folks say the toughest section of the trail is 33-44. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">That’s a sobering thought.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got unfinished
business on this trail, and I definitely want to run between the rocks at
Trailhead 260 and see all 51 miles that this spectacular trail has to
offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope to be back next year. I
would also love to run the Mogollon Monster 106, but I need to up my game for
that beast or I won’t make the cut offs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ikheX-T4Mxo/U2OtcAI4syI/AAAAAAAAAmc/cm6J2X_ZXog/s1600/IMG_0972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ikheX-T4Mxo/U2OtcAI4syI/AAAAAAAAAmc/cm6J2X_ZXog/s1600/IMG_0972.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The real finish...will have to wait for next year.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Congratulations to my brother-in-law Jeremy Hardy, who
finished in 8 hours. Jeremy, a native Californian, had this to the say: “that
was the coldest I’ve ever been.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O796Vrg3rOc/U2OwnwnwIhI/AAAAAAAAAnc/6HSmP85woTU/s1600/778829_10152306013584718_7803543885994724807_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O796Vrg3rOc/U2OwnwnwIhI/AAAAAAAAAnc/6HSmP85woTU/s1600/778829_10152306013584718_7803543885994724807_o.jpg" height="640" width="427" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Doing a really bad job pretending to be disappointed that the race was shortened to 33 miles because of the storm. Off-brand garbage bag courtesy of WalMart.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VSFkqOWC204/U2Otgr4enZI/AAAAAAAAAnI/8PibFsLGyY4/s1600/IMG_0999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VSFkqOWC204/U2Otgr4enZI/AAAAAAAAAnI/8PibFsLGyY4/s1600/IMG_0999.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It felt THIS good to be done (and warm).</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Some thoughts about Zane Grey <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">•The course profile is misleading. I thought it would be
hands on knees climbing for the first climb. There are no big, steep climbs
(between miles 1-33). There are endless ups and downs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">•This is not the course to go minimalist. And I’m not
talking about shoes. Bring more than you think you will need. I haven’t run my
previous 50 milers with a pack (Jemez, Sean O’ Brien, Oaxaca), but slower
runners should pick up a pack at 17 and still keep a bottle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">•Yes, they have GU at the aid stations, but pack your own
flavor in your drop bags. Nothing like a choice between strawberry-banana and tri-Berry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">•The area is worth checking out, try and stay an extra day
or two:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>••Check out THAT brewery which is on your left
shortly after you pass the Pine trailhead. Great brews, good food, friendly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>••The Runner’s Den
in Phoenix is 10 minutes from the airport and is a great local running store. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>••Diamondback
tickets are relatively cheap by major league standards and you can buy them at
the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lvzssjDG15k/U2OtgKS0_UI/AAAAAAAAAnE/omkKty3A8QY/s1600/IMG_1003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lvzssjDG15k/U2OtgKS0_UI/AAAAAAAAAnE/omkKty3A8QY/s1600/IMG_1003.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Baseball game! It was warm here, too!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 5.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">••Angel’s Trumpet
Ale House in Phoenix has a nice outdoor patio, good food and a good selection
(30+?) of beers from brewers all over the country.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>••I won’t lie: unless
you are shopping for guns, “downtown” Payson leaves a bit to be desired. Camping
or checking out a house or cabin in Pine might be the way to go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Guy Cheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06296513081472215675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912368439233814219.post-26541551453170454082014-02-11T20:41:00.000-08:002014-06-09T15:56:46.649-07:00The Path to the Angeles Crest 100 Mile part I: Sean O' Brien 50 Miler: Race Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nZ6M3yBNMgc/Uvr1g_BIOrI/AAAAAAAAAko/zxICLc1mUUo/s1600/IMG_0769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nZ6M3yBNMgc/Uvr1g_BIOrI/AAAAAAAAAko/zxICLc1mUUo/s1600/IMG_0769.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Staying warm before the race.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GXiS89oHnxY/Uvr1p1UiejI/AAAAAAAAAk4/jhd3mBOkL_I/s1600/IMG_0778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GXiS89oHnxY/Uvr1p1UiejI/AAAAAAAAAk4/jhd3mBOkL_I/s1600/IMG_0778.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">But most of the day was like this...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Why blog? I'm not sure. I guess it's nice to have something to look back on, and of course my grandmother is a regular reader so that provides some incentive. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I've fallen off the blogging horse since my last report from my <a href="http://masmilesmorefun.blogspot.mx/2013/07/dnf-adventures-in-oaxaca-barro-de.html">DNF (did not finish) in Oaxaca</a>. I have run a few races since then, but nothing spectacular: I ran a solid 20k at the Picacho race, a local favorite because it is point to point through the local mountains and very technical. I then ran the Mexico City half marathon and then, a month later, nearly froze to death during the Rover Marathon. The race was run in worst rains Mexico has experienced in a generation. I was cold, I got lost, I started running back to an aid station at one point to quit, frustrated to discover the course wasn't marked after being lost for an hour, but then I ran into Chespiro, who knows all these courses and he showed me the way. So I turned around and slogged in for a 6:30 finish, over an hour longer than my time the previous year, and at least 90 minutes over my goal time. Still, I was glad to get the finish.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> There was a lesson there. Don't drink the "DNF's are ok" kool aid. DNF's are horrible and I also suspect they are habit forming. Some folks see no point in "hiking it in." I disagree. Barring the risk of grave bodily harm, it's always best to just get it done.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I still think about that damn DNF in Oaxaca.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> And then I signed up for the <a href="http://ac100.com/">Angeles Crest 100</a> which will take place on August 2 and 3 in 2014. That run will be the culmination of three solid years of running on trails. But to prepare for that race I needed some 50 mile races to get ready. Last year in February I had a fantastic time starting off the new year racing my first trail 50k at the Ray Miller 50, so I thought I would return this year and do the 50 mile race. It's also a great chance to visit with my sister, Meggin and her family.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Fortunately, my brother-in-law Jeremy Hardy would be joining me to run his first 50 mile race. We made the foolish mistake last year of running the Surf City Half Marathon the day after the 50k. Lesson learned: run the trail run and then relax on Sunday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The training leading up to Sean O' Brien was mixed. I lost a week because of a pulled muscle in my back, and then after Christmas I lost two weeks to illness. I was worried; I was very close to texting Jeremy and saying: "hey dude, sorry but I've got to drop down to the 50k." I rationalized all kinds of reasons why it would be better to drop down and race the 50k.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I feared failure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> But then I remembered that on August 2 I will run 50 miles and still have 50 miles more to go. At that point it's basically mental. Hell, most training programs for 100 and 50 miles are nearly identical. Most of us don't have bodies that can tolerate 150-200 miles per week of training. And even if I do have that kind of body, I don't have the time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> So my plan was to show up to the Sean O' Brien 50 and race smart and see how my body responded. I had gotten in a few long back to back weekends (5 hours on Saturday, 5 hours on Sunday) in the months before the race, and that would have to be enough.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Or so I had hoped. Jeremy and I woke early and my day almost ended with my first step at 3:00am in the morning. Instead of walking to the bathroom I stepped down the stairs in the pitch black. Caught myself on the railing. Time to wake up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I ate a big (for pre-race) breakfast: two pieces of toast, an egg. We drove the 40 minute drive to the race and were shocked by the cold: 28F. We checked our drop bags and then we sat in the car with the heat on until 10 minutes before the race.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4hPzNWIut64/Uvr1gEIDlwI/AAAAAAAAAkc/otF1MgoXJV0/s1600/IMG_0771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4hPzNWIut64/Uvr1gEIDlwI/AAAAAAAAAkc/otF1MgoXJV0/s1600/IMG_0771.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Sunrise</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> After a couple flat miles, the race climbs to the 6.5 mile aid station. I took it at a very easy hike, reminding myself to eat and drink at least one bottle (20oz) before the aid station. I was feeling great, and after this station I ran a few miles with Steve Harvey, a guy who has being doing this for 30 years and puts on a number of races in the SoCal area. I even got to pick his brain a bit about the AC 100 (he ran it in 1986, the inaugural year).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W9_gJRnxXTo/Uvr104Mm2_I/AAAAAAAAAlc/rcSSe2XPk1o/s1600/IMG_0790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W9_gJRnxXTo/Uvr104Mm2_I/AAAAAAAAAlc/rcSSe2XPk1o/s1600/IMG_0790.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Buenas Vistas (all day long)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> "You know were most people lose it on the AC? On the first climb up Acorn trail." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">At the 18 mile aid station I stopped for some potatoes and refills, and Steve was gone down the long descent to Zuma beach, but I had learned a few good tips and also some interesting anecdotes about the early years of ultrarunning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I arrived down at Zuma beach at 5:05, just about an hour ahead of the cut off, so I was no longer worried about that. However, the crux of the course was ahead: two long climbs that were exposed to the sun. Note for next year: this is at minimum a two bottle section unless you are a front runner.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WWSQPb8w8Cw/Uvr1sA5DynI/AAAAAAAAAlA/qhMyVEsCV7U/s1600/IMG_0781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WWSQPb8w8Cw/Uvr1sA5DynI/AAAAAAAAAlA/qhMyVEsCV7U/s1600/IMG_0781.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Refueling at Zuma beach aid station</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I climbed well here and was sort of dreading the bonk, as usually it comes somewhere around the 50k mark, but I had been fueling well and drinking well all day, and climbing strong.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> If I had to make a complaint about the course it would be this: too many miles of fire road for my taste (though the views of the Pacific were spectacular), so it was a relief to get back on the Backbone trail, rolling single track that was fun to run. It was late in the day, but I was still feeling strong. I was struggling with downhills. My knee caps were killing me on the downs and I found myself walking at some points just to avoid the pain.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tInXCvk_TzU/Uvr11LDF3zI/AAAAAAAAAlU/T3Y06_rNYtU/s1600/IMG_0786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tInXCvk_TzU/Uvr11LDF3zI/AAAAAAAAAlU/T3Y06_rNYtU/s1600/IMG_0786.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Always a good reminder on long climbs...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> However, I began pushing harder as the sun dropped lower in the sky. When I reached the final aid station at mile 44, I thought perhaps I could make it in 12 hours so I started to push as hard as a I could. It soon became clear that 12 hours wasn't going to happen, but I was catching people at this point in the race and that kept me motivated. In the final miles of the race it was dark and I had a few moments of doubt about the trail, but my memory from the morning served me well (the race was out and back with a loop at the end) and I crossed the finish line moving well, a great contrast to my first 50 mile race in Jemez where I couldn't even muster a jog at the finish and sprawled out on the grass unable to move for some time.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X_ali4a-J-M/Uvr11S9YOcI/AAAAAAAAAl8/Z5h7KUnvxkE/s1600/IMG_0791.MOV" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X_ali4a-J-M/Uvr11S9YOcI/AAAAAAAAAl8/Z5h7KUnvxkE/s1600/IMG_0791.MOV" height="225" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">A short bit of video on the final descent.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Here's a real video of the race:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/uZNdYIOLHmU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Jeremy was there and he had run a great race, going under ten hours.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I finished in 12:17.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I buried that DNF from back in July somewhere on the climb out of Zuma Beach.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I also learned something about fitness here, as my weeks off didn't seem to have much of an effect. I fueled well and started slow and it paid off in the end. Also, while I don't think this course is comparable to Jemez, it was far from easy and I had a 3 hour and 16 minute PR. Can't feel too bad about that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Could I have started off stronger earlier in the race and still had the strong finish?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I guess that's what keeps the game interesting.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a1jisW3h2nk/Uvr1_nSpGhI/AAAAAAAAAlk/LsFAdLpWJZs/s1600/IMG_0794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a1jisW3h2nk/Uvr1_nSpGhI/AAAAAAAAAlk/LsFAdLpWJZs/s1600/IMG_0794.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Recovery Beverages for Sunday</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">the details:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">ran with one bottle until mile 13 where I picked up my second. This worked well, though probably could have gotten away with one bottle until Zuma beach. Two from Zuma beach is a must for anyone but the front of the pack.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I ran with my Jurek Essential which worked well. I could have carried all my GU's in my bottle holders but much easier access with the belt. I should have brought a ziploc to stash potatoes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Cascadia 7's and Balega socks. Sad this is my last pair of 7's. I'll try and save them for Zane Grey in April.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Be wary of depending on aid station gels. I arrived at one and they only had strawberry, which I detest. However, the aid stations here are like buffets at a five star hotel. They have everything. But if you gotta have vanilla Gu, best to bring it with you...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Next up:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The big race coming up is the <a href="http://zanegrey50.com/">Zane Grey 50</a>. Looking forward to meeting my sister Allison and Jeremy out in Arizona.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">March 7: 14k in Tepoztlan</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">March 29: Carrera de Resistencia 66k. This will be a good long training run for Zane Grey.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">April 6: 21k (road) in Veracruz as a member of Team Feel the Magic. Hoping for a half marathon PR here, it's at sea level.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And of course, on August 2, the AC 100....</span>Guy Cheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06296513081472215675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912368439233814219.post-31993998526205002702013-07-18T10:56:00.000-07:002013-07-19T07:42:43.030-07:00DNF: Adventures in Oaxaca (Barro de Jaguar q50 80k)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EPoSL5Atf3s/UegP1yuT6eI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/idHEOjiZohA/s1600/17623_10151773217983200_1250477458_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EPoSL5Atf3s/UegP1yuT6eI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/idHEOjiZohA/s1600/17623_10151773217983200_1250477458_n.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Photo: Douglas Brandon</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> <b>"In short, I was afraid..."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Twelve hours into the race and I'd reached a confusing fork in the road. To the right was a ribbon; to the left was a ribbon. I waited for the group I had been walking with. I was unable to run the downhills at this point due to the pain in my right knee. It seemed unlikely I would make the time cutoff at PC 7, the next and final aid station before the final climb and descent to the finish. A truck had come by a few moments earlier and offered us a ride back to the ranch, and though tempted, I had refused. I at least wanted to walk it to the PC 7 and make a decision there. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I should have gone left, that was the trail down to PC7. But it was getting dark, the course was not marked for night time running, and the previous aid station had been abandoned: we arrived to an empty garafon of water and a bunch of discarded orange peels on the ground. I would have paid 20 bucks for a coca cola. 10 bucks for a handful of peanuts or potato chips. The group was going right. They would walk down the road and the truck would meet us and bring us back to the ranch. The rain was coming down. I should have gone left, but I was exhausted, afraid and confused. I lost the faith and started walking down the road to the right.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VOvFHNdNpa0/UegQoUoHu5I/AAAAAAAAAjY/uFjiOpCtpPk/s1600/1011302_10151772743008200_263532367_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VOvFHNdNpa0/UegQoUoHu5I/AAAAAAAAAjY/uFjiOpCtpPk/s1600/1011302_10151772743008200_263532367_n.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Apparently I missed the memo about posing for a photo during the pre-race equipment check.....</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> <b>The beginning</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b> </b>I signed up for the race a couple days after finishing the <a href="http://masmilesmorefun.blogspot.mx/2013/05/a-two-headed-creature-jemez-50-mile.html">Jemez 50</a>. I figured it would be a good change of pace to run an "easy" 50 miler, get a 50 mile PR and see the mountains of Oaxaca. The course profile had been released for the first 40k and while it looked stout, I assumed the second half would be flatter, as the time limit for the race was 14 hours. At Jemez (and other tough 50 milers like Zane Grey and San Juan Solstice), 14 hours is around a mid-pack finish. At Jemez, I finished in 15 hours and 33 minutes and the final runners came in at around 16:30.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> A few days before the race they finally released the course profile for the rest of the route. The second half was as brutal as the first. Over 5,000 meters in total. 16,500 feet of climbing. Almost double the climbing of Jemez; more than any 50 miler that I'm aware of... I knew there was no way I could finish a race with that profile in 14 hours, but I was certain there was some mistake or that the cutoff time would be changed.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lBEuz3cBJGw/UegjJtZS5nI/AAAAAAAAAjo/8AnU-N-WCd0/s1600/1052454_327781174022244_301960719_o+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lBEuz3cBJGw/UegjJtZS5nI/AAAAAAAAAjo/8AnU-N-WCd0/s640/1052454_327781174022244_301960719_o+(1).jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Course profile. The middle (9kish) route was eliminated just before the race</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> If I'd attended the race meeting I would have learned that the race had been shortened to about 72 kilometers as they started to realize the route was too difficult for most to finish under 14 hours. But I had met up with some fellow runners I knew from previous races and we decided to drive from Oaxaca City to the ranch and skip the meeting so we could set up camp in the light. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The next morning we woke and walked the 30 meters to the start line and started running. I felt great and concentrated on keeping it easy. I was moving well on the climbs. At about 2 hours and 25 minutes I arrived a the first major aid station. I asked how far we were into the race and I was told 9-10 kilometers. I knew this couldn't be correct. 2.5 hours to go 10k? Clearly the guy didn't know what he was talking about...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The next part of the course was the most memorable for me: it was a climb on all fours up a rocky no-trail ascent to Nueve Puntas, the high point of the race. It was simultaneously so ridiculous and so incredible that I could only laugh and try to avoid getting stabbed by the mala madre cactus plants with their nail-like points. I caught up to Elsa, the eventual second place female finisher, which got me thinking I was moving too fast too early in the race, but I still felt great so I kept on. Finally we peaked out on an incredible rocky ridge where a couple steps to the right would have resulted in a long plummet to our deaths. Breathtaking views of the Sierra in all directions. This was shaping up to be the most incredible place I had ever run.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xI77eSJdwqs/UegnJ8fvSfI/AAAAAAAAAj8/4HdYfM5-deY/s1600/600952_301945236605838_1719693802_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="624" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xI77eSJdwqs/UegnJ8fvSfI/AAAAAAAAAj8/4HdYfM5-deY/s640/600952_301945236605838_1719693802_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Nueve Puntas</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> And then the descent. Straight down on a bed of pine needles. I tried cutting my own switchbacks, but fell twice and then basically skied down from tree to tree. Most of the descent was off trail and so I carefully ran from flag to flag until finally arriving at the 25 kilometer aid stations. Five+ hours. I had to laugh at that. I also wondered how in the hell I was going to make the cutoffs at this pace, and no one seemed to have an answer to whether or not they would be adjusted. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The sun was out and high in the sky now so I dipped both my shirt and hat in the stream crossing and moved out under the sun on the one flat section of the course. This eventually took us into a town and there was a giant inflatable arch which made it look like the finish of the race. They were announcing our names as we came into the aid station and the streets were lined with people. One local guy --apparently the town drunk-- who had a scar which suggested an ill-attempted do-it-yourself tracheotomy from years ago had one phrase in English he kept saying over and over: "no pain, no gain." He insisted on shaking hands and high-fiving an awkward number of times before I got the hell out of there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The final 10k back to the ranch was exposed and uneventful except for one section of the course where someone had pulled down most of the flagging. Fortunately I was running with three other runners at this point and we were able to puzzle out the route. I had hydrated well and taken care of myself, but my first low came after the surreal run through the pueblo (about 30k). However, a couple kilometers before the ranch I came across the first aid station that had coca-cola. It was heavenly and I immediately felt better and started moving at a better clip.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="520" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JDX5Sxq9wTs/UegnLutp81I/AAAAAAAAAkE/1ERWMxzVzBQ/s640/936312_301942059939489_537293663_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In the Heart of Mezcal Country</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I arrived at the ranch (the 40 kilometer mark) at about 8 hours and 5 minutes. As a point of comparison, I typically run this distance in the mountains in about 5:30-5:45. I was beyond the cut off (as were most of the people in the race, as it turned out), but was allowed to keep going. It wasn't clear I would be able to finish and I didn't quite make out what the race director told me, but he seemed to suggest we would be able to run at least 50k. It was here shortly after the turn that I caught up with Laura Guizar and we ran together for a while. We missed a well-marked turn at one point which cost us about 25 minutes. A truck found us and told us we were off course. Apparently the ribbons we had been following were from an older race. After this I started struggling with cramps. I took a couple handfuls of salt in the aid station and Laura gave me a salt pill and this helped for a while, but I was slowing dramatically and Laura moved on ahead. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Most of this race had been on incredible single-track, but this section was an interminable dirt road that I found myself walking. People were catching up to me that I had passed 8 hours earlier. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> And then the truck came by spreading a lot of doom and gloom about the final climb and raising doubts about us making the cut-off at PC 7. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> And then I was standing in the rain with the sun going down and I made the decision to go right, essentially ending my race. By the time the truck came back up the hill to pick up the racers there must have been ten of us. One couple wanted to continue as they needed the 2 points to qualify for UTMB, but the race officials called in to the ranch and the word was final: no one else was being allowed to pass.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> We got in the truck and headed back. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> For a while I blamed my DNF on other things: the poor organization of the race, the unrealistic cut off times, the abandoned aid station, the course profile being released a few days before the race..... But I could have finished. I just didn't. Like most DNF's, it was mental. I got weak and I was looking for excuses not to finish and I found them. This failure of will demonstrates the importance of one's commitment to finish. It one isn't 100% committed to finishing a race it gets easy to find excuses not to keep moving on. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Back at the ranch I was sitting at the finish line and the final two finishers came in a few minutes after 15 hours. One of them was Laura, who had an incredible run and just kept moving. Congratulations to her and everyone else who got it done out there. It was a beast of a race and anyone who finished is certifiably hardcore. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KoCkNtct5T8/UegNoA7qYKI/AAAAAAAAAjA/CThen7Z7sCs/s1600/998564_10151772956628200_1510330575_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KoCkNtct5T8/UegNoA7qYKI/AAAAAAAAAjA/CThen7Z7sCs/s1600/998564_10151772956628200_1510330575_n.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Feeling good early.... Photo: q50 race photographer</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The positive take-aways:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I didn't have much issue with my stomach and took my Gu's a little at a time and made a point to eat in the aid stations. Potatoes and salt worked great.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I hydrated well, at least for the first 11 hours or so. Two bottles definitely works better for me than wearing a pack.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I had a fantastic first 9 hours of the race.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Zero foot issues. Same socks I wore for Jemez (Balega).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The negatives:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Be wary of running with others. At times it was really helpful, especially when route finding and then later when talking to Laura who had a very positive attitude and who was 100% determined to finish, but when I started walking with the group that was looking to drop, I absorbed some of that negative energy and fell into groupthink.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> A lack of will. My failure to finish is 100% attributable to a simple lack of will and failure to believe I could finish. Perhaps I wouldn't have made the cut off at PC7, but I should have kept moving, even if it was only at a walking pace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Walking downhill with a bum knee is painful, but far worse is taking a ride in a truck back up to the ranch. I will never forget that lesson.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The race had organizational issues, but the route and the terrain were world class. It seems unlikely the race will happen again, but if it does, I'll be there and I will finish.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span>Guy Cheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06296513081472215675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912368439233814219.post-71897323891387145302013-05-27T14:23:00.002-07:002013-05-29T05:42:49.561-07:00A Two-Headed Creature: Jemez 50 Mile Race Report<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"What a strange thing that which men call pleasure seems to be, and how astonishing the relation it has with what is thought to be its opposite, namely pain! A man cannot have both at the same time. Yet if he pursues and catches the one, he is almost always bound to catch the other also, like two creatures with one head."</i> </span></h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">--Socrates in Plato's <i>Phaedo</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fy1l9Y8-wBU/UaO6DlIAzVI/AAAAAAAAAhI/cFY3K9Otqik/s1600/964003_10201188722180717_1402065611_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fy1l9Y8-wBU/UaO6DlIAzVI/AAAAAAAAAhI/cFY3K9Otqik/s640/964003_10201188722180717_1402065611_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> 5:00am start Photo: David Silva<br /><br />
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</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Exposed to the sun,
sprawled out on the ground on the impossibly steep, no-trail climb up the
backside of Pajarito Moutain, I recalled the words of the volunteer at the last
aid station: “Just keep moving.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> I had never flopped
on the ground during a race before, but there I was unable to even keep my own
promise of 100 steps before taking a break. I would get to about 23 and then basically
fall down. My stomach was tied in knots and had been for hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; border: none; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">
Without a watch, I wasn’t sure how close I was to the 5:00pm cutoff at
the ski lodge. Ten or so hours into my
first 50 mile race that I had been so resolutely determined to finish, but the
doubts were creeping in: why was I doing this? All that training, all those
climbs up the Cerro de San Miguel and here I was at the tail end of the race, concerned
I might not be able to cover four miles in three hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; padding: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We began in the dark. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Those first miles of the race were magnificient: rolling,
rocky trails through an apocalyptic landscape brutally shaped by the 2011
Conchas fire. Trying to keep my enthusiasm in check, everything felt beautiful
and easy. The 3,500 foot hike up from Camp May to the top of Pajarito was fun and
I was passing people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Arriving at the ski
lodge for the first time (mile 17), I reapplied suntan lotion, grabbed a few
more GU and headed out to the Pipeline Road Aid Station eating a Cliff Bar. The
first signs of unease set in here, my stomach tightened and a few runners that
I had passed earlier went by at a solid clip. I wouldn’t see them again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j09Prrrtxrg/UaPE6WLeixI/AAAAAAAAAis/Hvv5sPMAsjo/s1600/46178630-3X9Q1065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j09Prrrtxrg/UaPE6WLeixI/AAAAAAAAAis/Hvv5sPMAsjo/s640/46178630-3X9Q1065.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Feeling good early in the race.... Photo: Jim Stein</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> I stopped again on
the backside of Pajarito in the bit of shade offered by a tree. I was trying to
eat some GU. The group up ahead of me was moving away slowly. A guy I had
passed 8 miles earlier in the Caldera came hiking by: he asked if I was ok, if
I had enough water. He had run the course the previous year and he assured me
that he was thinking he would “peak out” in about 15 minutes. This got me up
and moving. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> A few more steps. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> A bit later, during another break, a course
official was slowly moving his way down the mountain. He looked worried when he
saw me. He was going down to meet the course sweepers. He asked me if I was ok and
I lied and replied yes. He told me it wasn’t too far to the bench near the top
of the mountain and then it was downhill to the ski lodge. This encouraged me
and the grade began to relent and I was able to walk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pt3ltRFm1vI/UaO-pPDEHiI/AAAAAAAAAic/NPz4X0VPmbA/s1600/931216_10151951630782907_1971987508_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="354" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pt3ltRFm1vI/UaO-pPDEHiI/AAAAAAAAAic/NPz4X0VPmbA/s640/931216_10151951630782907_1971987508_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Looking down at the Caldera from Pajarito Photo: Benedict Dugger</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">•••<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> The first time through the ski lodge I hiked most of the
way to the Pipeline road aid station trying to digest and
get my stomach back in order. The Pipeline was the turnoff for the 50k
runners. The cutoff for the 50 milers
was noon, and I had made it here at 10:30. The slide down to the caldera was
one of the more unusual features of this race. It was literally a rock slide
straight down. The rocks were moving downhill at about the same speed that I
was. I fell and thought I punctured a hand-held bottle, but fortunately that
was the only mishap. Once I made it down the rock chute, I was looking at about
14 miles of flattish running. On paper, this section should be easy, but
mentally it was the toughest part of the race. We were out here in the heat of
the day, and while the views were spectacular, the distances seemed
interminable. Like most runners, I prefer to be in the woods on winding single
track that enhances the sensation of speed. The open expanse of the Caldera was a constant reminder of how slow I was moving. When I got to the
Obsidian Valley aid station, I announced that that was officially the longest
6.2 miles I had ever run. I was tired of the Caldera and I wanted nothing more
than to be hiking up the backside of Pajarito. Seven miles or so to go to the
climb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">•••<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> After picking myself up off the ground for the last time, I saw the Bench and
knew I was nearing the top of the mountain. I was moving steadily, and soon
began the downhill through the ski slopes to the lodge, passing the ski signs I
had seen earlier on this descent: the double black diamond runs “Little Mother” and
“Nuther Mother.” The blue run asking “Why Not?” My silent answer for this sign was less certain than it had been hours earlier. But this was a fun downhill, mostly
single track section and I was feeling better with each step.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> And then I saw the
“Aid Station sign” and soon the cowbell started ringing. Unlike the first time
I had come through the ski lodge, the place was nearly deserted: a couple of
runners recovering and some very helpful volunteers. I experienced a huge burst
of energy. I felt like Lazarus. I ate what I could and loaded up my bottles
with ice and water and ice and coke. I had made the cutoff, arriving at 4:10, but I spent a lot of time
here soaking my head, getting my headlamp and trying to mentally get it
together for the final push and I didn’t leave until 4:28. About 14 miles
remained but most of the climbing was behind me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Again, I hiked it
from the ski lodge to Pipeline Road. This station was manned by runners from the
Los Alamos track team. They pulled out some cherries that were chilled and I
ate a few of those. It was an incredible relief to know that I did not have to
slide down the chute to the Caldera again. There was a short hike up awaiting
me, but after that it was almost all downhill until the final two miles. After
the climb, the Pipeline Road eventually turned off onto single track through forest that was
destroyed by the fire, but signs of new life were everywhere. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> And then it was like
the beginning of the race again. I was alone, the sun was low in the sky, and the
winding, single track, rocky trail and accompanying views were incredible. All my doubts about why I came to run this race vanished. I was running. Picking
up speed. At one point I heard voices behind me that pushed me to run even harder. I
arrived at the lonely Guaje Ridge aid station as they were packing things up. I
continued to run. I met up with a runner I hadn’t seen since the Caldera. We
encouraged each other and I kept moving. I thought Randy would be waiting for
me at Last Chance Saloon, the last aid station two miles before the finish. He
had run the ½ marathon earlier in the day: his first trail run, and I was eager
to see how it went. I passed one more runner that I hadn’t seen since the climb
up the backside of Pajarito, and then a few more turns and there was Randy
Grillo in the middle of the forest. We caught up on the day as we ran into Last
Chance Saloon. He had finished his race, driven back to Santa Fe, showered, napped,
and then returned. Last Chance had beer,
tequila and food, but my stomach was struggling with water and coca cola, and I
was worried about being passed late in the race so we kept moving. It was getting dark, but I
didn’t quite need my headlamp. It was a relief not to have to watch for trail markers
and Randy kept me moving quickly. I thought I saw someone behind me, but perhaps
it was only a shadow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> And then the final
right turn and rocky climb up to the finish. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> It was dark. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Someone was ringing
a cowbell. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Pati was there
cheering. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> I couldn't even jog it in.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> I was done. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Now I could lay down and not feel bad about it. Randy handed
me a Happy Camper IPA, but I couldn’t even begin to think about drinking it or
eating anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> As I lay on the ground I thought about
Pajarito. I reflected about my dream of running 100 miles. Could I really have
gotten up and covered another 50? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> I thought I could. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> But I was really
happy I didn’t have to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Postscript:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Every report I’ve
read about the Jemez Mountain Trail Runs remarks on the beauty, brutality and
spectacular organization of this race. And my Pajarito-high expectations were exceeded on all accounts. Every aspect of this race is fantastic: The landscape, the organizers, the runners, the trails. Thanks to everyone who worked to make this
race happen. And a special thanks to Randy and Pati for their hospitality and
encouragement. 50 miler next year, Randy? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-98zEXwLDjpE/UaO7NDDUDCI/AAAAAAAAAhg/D4d2WMPwIjQ/s1600/IMG_6408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-98zEXwLDjpE/UaO7NDDUDCI/AAAAAAAAAhg/D4d2WMPwIjQ/s640/IMG_6408.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Happy Camper with a Happy Camper Photo: Randy Grillo</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VDPLRKvUIdA/UaO7OKh3FhI/AAAAAAAAAh4/lsARaR3QfHI/s1600/IMG_6410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VDPLRKvUIdA/UaO7OKh3FhI/AAAAAAAAAh4/lsARaR3QfHI/s640/IMG_6410.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">End of a short, fantastic trip to New Mexico. Thank you Randy and Pati! Photo: Pati Grillo</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Boring Running
details I want to remember for next time:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> I went with no watch
for the first time in a race and it worked. I think if I had known I had plenty of time
to make the second cutoff I would have taken a long nap on Pajarito. Having the
pressure of the cutoff and not knowing the time helped.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Two hand-helds
(Ultimate Direction). I ran my first two “ultras” (a 50k, a 62k) with a Nathan pack,
but I tend to drink less water when I am wearing a pack and carry stuff I don’t
need. I was able to carry six Gu without the pack and my arms never got tired
of the bottles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> I broke the “don’t
do anything new on race day” with a new pair of Balega socks, and it worked. Still, better to test socks out before race
day…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Zero feet problems. Cascadia 7’s are a fine
shoe, even the well-worn pair I raced in. Someone else can uphold the
minimalist trend: I’m sticking to my “boats.” I’ve got one more new pair of 7’s
before I need to switch to the 8’s. I hope the 8’s are as good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Neglected to dunk head/soak cap at aid
stations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> I’ve got to figure
out the stomach issue. Maybe PBJ’s instead of GU? This was the killer and I
really didn’t eat enough. I won’t be able to finish a 100 miler if I can’t figure
this out. I went the last 24 miles of the race on coca cola, three or four GUS,
a couple cherries, a handful of M&M’s and 6 salted peanuts. Not
recommended. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I took one salt table and then just stopped because I never
train with those things. No cramping. I don’t think I need salt tablets. My
tight stomach is not from cramping, but something internal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> One thing that
worked for me running down Guaje Ridge was keeping an open GU packet in my left
hand taking a drop at a time instead of trying to suck down a full packet. My
stomach felt better here, but it could have been a million other things. Need
to keep experimenting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> As an after thought I
threw an extra shirt in my drop bag which at the time I thought was superfluous.
Wrong: changing from my snot/sweat/GU/dirt stained shirt into a clean short
sleeve was magical.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Guy Cheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06296513081472215675noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912368439233814219.post-90190983914710008452013-04-28T19:04:00.000-07:002013-04-28T19:24:49.686-07:00Mexican Beauty/Mexican Reality: Race Report, Carrera de Resistencia en las Montañas 62k. “What a long strange trip it’s been.”<!--[if !mso]>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o0bSERT8MdQ/UX3P3M6O9FI/AAAAAAAAAgA/53Eo_Z_nTuQ/s1600/549960_426540807439913_1479885365_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o0bSERT8MdQ/UX3P3M6O9FI/AAAAAAAAAgA/53Eo_Z_nTuQ/s640/549960_426540807439913_1479885365_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We would run the route out and back for a total of 62 kilometers</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p> </o:p>What’s there to say about a well-executed race? Not much,
really.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Fortunately for you,
neglected reader, my race was a long-and-winding disaster, so the report that
follows might prove a bit more appealing than if all had gone well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">But first a digression:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> No one talks much
about the Grateful Dead’s studio success, and with good reason. They made their
magic on stage. However, there are at least a couple studio standouts: American
Beauty and Workingman’s Dead. I bring this up only to recall the cover of American
Beauty and also to justify my use of the somewhat tired “what a long strange
trip it’s been” line which comes from one of their few radio hits (Truckin’)
that was a track on American Beauty. If you recall the cover, depending on how
you looked at it (or depending on what you were in the mood to see), it said
both “American Beauty” <i>and </i>“American Reality.”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I haven’t listened
to the Grateful Dead in the past decade and a half but this popped into my mind
at the end of the race for reasons that will be made clear at the end of this
report.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ibuxPCk93U/UX3Q-q0RgCI/AAAAAAAAAgM/aRWL0fYc5ek/s1600/1971GratefulDeadAmericanBeauty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="398" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ibuxPCk93U/UX3Q-q0RgCI/AAAAAAAAAgM/aRWL0fYc5ek/s400/1971GratefulDeadAmericanBeauty.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Boring race background stuff:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> My big goal race is
the Jemez 50 miler on May 25 in New Mexico. I woke up at midnight back in
December to be the first person to sign up for the race. I’ve got plane tickets
and personal days lined up. Why Jemez? One, because I’ve got a friend who lives
there (who, sensibly, is running the ½ marathon) and two because I wanted my
first 50 miler to be the hardest 50 miler in the U.S. (don’t ask, I don’t know
why). And most folks figure that the toughest 50 miler distinction is a toss-up
between Zane Grey, San Juan Solstice and Jemez. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> So everything has
been geared towards Jemez. I ran a 50k (followed by a ½ marathon the next day)
back on February 2 and 3<sup>rd</sup>, and then ran just over a marathon in the
mountains a couple weeks later. But then I got wonderfully sidelined by one of
the great experiences in my life: performing in the theatre production of A
Woman in Mind. After 20+ years I was back on stage. Running took a bit of a
back seat. I didn’t stop running, but the long runs didn’t get much beyond 30K
(and there weren’t too many of those) and I fell short of 50 miles a week,
hovering in the forties, at best. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I did run a few
shorter trail runs in the first couple weeks of March, and I improved
dramatically in all three runs from my efforts the previous year, but success
at 14k, 16k and 26k doesn’t readily translate to success at longer stuff.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> But the big part of
my plan was to run the 62k Carrera de Resistencia en las Montañas (CAREMO.) It
was perfectly timed: a month before Jemez. I’d spin the wheels on a long run
and still have time to recover. I told myself it was a training run, but a race
is still a race. Nobody likes to get passed. Even when training.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I didn’t have grand
goals. I dreamed of 8:30, a bit out of reach, but I was certain I’d finish
sub-9. I had run the course in one direction: CAREMO is the first 31 kilometers
of the oldest marathon in Mexico, the Maraton Rover, but instead of running
down to Cuernavaca after arriving in Tres Marias as the Maraton Rover does, you
turn around and run back to Mexico City. UP/Down/Up/Down. 31k out, 31k back. There’s a few kilometers of
flattish running in there, but not much. My 31k split to Tres Marias was 4:15
last year in August. I thought I could match that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> And I almost did.
I’m definitely in ok 20 mile shape. I went out very conservatively and then
started picking things up, passing some folks around 15k. I made the climb up
to the highest point of the race and then the long descent into Tres Marias. I
arrived around 4:25. Good, I thought. I took it easy. I knew the tester in this race would be the
steep climb back up to the Cerro. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I climbed well.
Didn’t get passed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I was distracted, however. Earlier, about a kilometer after
the turn around in Tres Marias, a group of runners looked distraught and as I
passed them I caught the words “me asaltaron/<i>They assaulted me.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I’ve heard tales
before. Folks having their mountain bikes taken at gun point, a few news
reports of hikers getting robbed. It’s all been second-hand info. But it
happens. Some have warned me about training alone out in Desierto de Los
Leones, but I see so few people out there that it seemed a bit of unjustified
paranoia so I never gave it much thought.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> These freshly
assaulted runners were going to end their race in Tres Marias. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I did the only
sensible thing and kept running. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My two points of logic that led to above decision: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1. The thiefs (or, as I heard runners referring to them
later, Ellos que no tienen madres/<i>those
without mothers</i>) probably would not strike again, as the word was out, as
were a few police trucks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">2. The tried and true “it probably won’t happen to me”.
(always 100% correct until it isn’t)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">But let me clarify so you don’t accuse me of building cheap
suspense, and because my grandmother, Nina Carlin, is a regular reader of this
blog (the only regular reader, I should say): I wasn’t robbed. I made it home,
showered, ate and wrote this report. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">But the thought stuck with me, the negativity began to flood
in. I thought back to the trash along the side of the road in the first part of
the race. I recalled the gentleman strolling along whom I saw just casually
throw a bottle in an empty yard (well, empty except all the other trash that
was strewn there.). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I reflected on
Boston. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I contemplated on
the phrase “hijos de la chingada.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I mused about
poverty and whether or not that was any excuse to leave garbage everywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I decided it wasn’t.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I had dark fantasies
about getting robbed, but turning the gun on the robbers and putting holes in
their kneecaps as a well-earned lesson in not taking things from runners who
are tired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I noticed every piece
of trash on the course.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I went to a dark
place, and my race was falling apart. I had finished the last major climb, but
couldn’t get things to turn over on the downhill. My stomach was tight. Folks
started passing me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I was nauseous,
dizzy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Not wanting to eat a GU, but knowing I needed to eat a GU.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I reflected on what an easy target I would be for robbers. And
how unlikely it would be that I would have the wherewithal to provide them that
well-earned lesson in the kneecaps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> In fact, three teenagers with small sticks
could have held me up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> These three fantasy
teenagers with hypothetically small sticks would have been rewarded with 3
packets of GU, 50 pesos and a Garmin watch. I fantasized that I could negotiate
with these hypothetical robbers to leave me with my Patagonia Houdini, as it’s
so flimsy and cheap looking they could never imagine I spent nearly a 100 bucks
on the thing. They could take my cell phone. I don’t know why I brought the
damn thing anyway as I hadn’t taken a single picture. And what the hell would
they do with a Nathan Pack?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Especially after I
blew out their kneecaps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> And so it went. (in my head, while I was <s>running</s>
shuffling down the mountain back toward Mexico City)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Around kilometer 50 a crew of about 6 people passed me. Passing
all of us was a happy couple running like gazelles downhill. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> They were running the
race I wanted to run. I’m glad I got to see it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Well done, happy
couple. Well-executed race. I forgive you the smug looks I imagined on your
faces when you blew by me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Bet you wish you had
a great race report to write. Maybe next time. I’ve got a training plan for
you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> It would have felt
nice to vomit, but I couldn’t. I more or less kept moving.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And then I came to a little impromptu aid station. It wasn’t
there on the way out (As a side note, the first aid station was at kilometer
25. As much as I hate wearing the pack, it was the right call.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Nothing sounded good. I didn’t want anything; I just wanted
to feel better. So I drank some Red Cola (not even real Coke. I love the 300
peso entry fee, but Jeez!) and a bit of water. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I was asked offhand
if I’d been robbed. I had to think about it, as in my head at that moment I had
been robbed and I was wanted by the police for the unjustified shooting of
three teenagers armed with nothing but small sticks. I don’t know where the gun
came from. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Apparently a few
folks had been robbed, not just one. I didn’t ask for details. I was left with only
the slightly flimsier point number 2 in my logic as described above.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Still, the sensible
thing was to keep moving. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> And then I was out
of the woods, back in the neighborhood that had crept up the mountain:
haphazard, unfinished houses up high. Some no more than four brick walls with a
tin roof. And trash was everywhere. And I was never running this race, or any
race that used this route ever again. It was a disgrace. All this I spoke very
loudly in my head. But it wasn’t just the race I was chastising. It was all of
Mexico. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> If you’ve every
lived in a foreign country for a while, you’ve probably done some version of
this. When things go bad, we expats don’t blame the DMV, the IRS, the Cops, the
Democrats or Republicans. We blame the whole country. And this I was doing,
indicting all of Mexico. They had failed to maintain civil society --as evidenced by some runners who got robbed
and all the trash strewn about—and I was leaving, an act that would ripple far
and wide across the nation and result in a lot of soul searching and perhaps a
national reading of Rosseau’s <i>The Social
Contract</i>, followed by rigorous discourse which would result in sweeping
changes: the most notable being no trash where I run, and robbers will not be a
threat to my possession of a Garmin GPS watch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And then I lost the course.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">There were no ribbons to be seen. A big truck was moving
slowly down the hill. I knew they were the thieves and I thought of removing my
watch, just to have it ready. Hoped they would be satisfied with the Garmin, my
last packet of GU and 50 pesos, and not take my Patagonia Houdini. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">They drove past.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> And then there was
another runner. Never been so happy to have someone come up behind me in a
race. He said we were on the right path. He was a seasoned vet, and I tried to
follow. On the downhills I could stay with him, but I was such a sorry shuffler
on the flats and couldn’t keep up. I struggled to keep him in view. He seemed
to have his wits about him. We were in traffic now. And then the course
flattened out for a long while. I saw him turn. And when I took that turn I was
in the middle of a street packed with vendors, covered in tarps, with people
walking everywhere. One of the markets that spring up across the city on the
weekend. I had no idea where to go. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I’m supposed to run
through the market? I kept going until it was obviously Not the Right Way. I
asked a Taxi Driver where the Pemex was, he pointed me back the way I had gone.
Back through the market again. I figured
since I was lost I might as well use the phone and capture a bit of the market
on video.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> My Garmin had died.
A blessing. It would have been painful to know the time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I wandered. I
thought about just getting a cab and going home. I didn’t want the shirt, the medal.
I was done with this race. And anyway, I was leaving Mexico.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> And then I remembered
this was my first “ultra” beyond 50k. Would I fail to finish my first ultra? I
wandered and asked and finally found the street I was looking for. I walked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I saw the Pemex. I
still walked. Some folks started cheering and I felt a bit ridiculous for
walking, but after nearly an hour of wandering around lost, it seemed almost
dishonest to jog it in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> And then I got a big
hug from one of the volunteers. She put a medal around my neck. And immediately
I felt quite stupid about being such a grump.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> And then I was
sitting on the ground, in front of a Pemex station, about three feet from where
the cars where barreling past, where the longest avenue in the world,
Insurgentes ends and turns into the Cuota (toll road) to Cuernavaca. A few
racers where chatting. Without me asking, a cold beer was put in my hand. I
didn’t know any of these people. A woman who turned out to be the second place
female was next to me, and we chatted a bit. I prayed to all/any gods that she
not ask me my race time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">She didn’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Incidentally, in
addition to being very fast, she’s strikingly beautiful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> We talked about
running and training, but strangely, not the race. What a relief. The assaults
were mentioned in passing and then not brought up again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> It was a beautiful
moment there on the side of the highway. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It turned out that others got lost, too. We saw one runner
arrive by bus from the other direction and then finish. We all had a good laugh
at that. Numbers were exchanged. Vague plans to run were made.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Sitting there on the
gravel, exhausted, cramped and a few feet from the highway, cold beer in hand,
surrounded by a few good people, I decided I wasn’t going to leave Mexico. I
decided my terrible race had actually been a fantastic adventure. Which is all
for the best, as truth be told, I’m not much of a runner. Never have been.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> But I can hold my own
on an adventure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Somewhere in there I
realized that Mexico is a great, beautiful and flawed place. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Like most places;
like most people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And that’s when I had my American Beauty/American Reality
epiphany, and realized one had to see all sides simultaneously to understand
the whole. I also had the idea it would make a good title for this report, so I
finished my beer, said my goodbyes, and went home to write it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qzE3D4c4MaQ/UX3SATxnSNI/AAAAAAAAAgc/v-AXKsDhPG8/s1600/944467_605235716155731_1538596811_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qzE3D4c4MaQ/UX3SATxnSNI/AAAAAAAAAgc/v-AXKsDhPG8/s640/944467_605235716155731_1538596811_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Like some sort of miracle, this photo was just posted to the Solo Para Salvajes site as I was uploading this report. Thank you, thank you, thank you Sir Mike Kazt, whom I don't know. I owe you a beer. The man who kindly put a beer in my hand at the end of the race is Eliseo Sosa, sitting to my right with the red cap.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Postscript: As it turns out, it was a bit worse than I knew while racing. Six racers were assaulted and beaten and robbed by armed men. If you read Spanish, here's the <a href="http://www.milenio.com/cdb/doc/noticias2011/724ba44bca41e25c37f7e6a2377b1031">link to the article</a>. </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<!--EndFragment-->Guy Cheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06296513081472215675noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912368439233814219.post-32320177728386598482013-02-17T14:21:00.000-08:002013-02-19T18:25:36.246-08:00Racing at night in the mountains: Carrera Nocturna <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cu02rDbcHxY/USFTNs7mu2I/AAAAAAAAAfc/Pb5g2Qp7R1E/s1600/843024_479166102147223_32357715_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cu02rDbcHxY/USFTNs7mu2I/AAAAAAAAAfc/Pb5g2Qp7R1E/s640/843024_479166102147223_32357715_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I needed a long run in the mountains this weekend, and when I saw that the 12 hour night race was offering a six hour option, I thought, why not? I ran my first 50k on February 2 at <a href="http://masmilesmorefun.blogspot.mx/2013/02/a-tale-of-two-races-ray-miller-50ksurf.html">Ray Miller with Jeremy</a>, and my focus for the next three months is getting ready for the <a href="http://www.highaltitudeathletics.org/JemezMt.htm">Jemez 50 Miler</a> on May 25, which will be my first 50 miler.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I didn't have any experience running at night other than the first 50 minutes of the Ray Miller race. So on Thursday I got out to the Mountain in <a href="http://masmilesmorefun.blogspot.mx/2012/05/desierto-de-los-leones-best-place-to.html">Desierto De Los Leones</a> and ran up in the light and came down in darkness. My headlamp is a very basic Petzl model which provides just enough light to run and just as I was finishing that run I wiped out pretty hard (about 1 minute from the end of the run) on a root that left an ugly bruise on my thigh. It served as a good reminder to take it easy at night.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> This race was the first "timed" race that I've run, and it consisted of two loops, only the second of which would be repeated. The first loop I've run many times in other races (<a href="http://masmilesmorefun.blogspot.mx/2012/10/no-bad-days-in-mountains-camino-largo-y.html">Camino Largo y Sinuoso</a>) and in training. It starts in El Zarco (a little outpost about 2 kilometers before Marquesa) and climbs on some winding singletrack to a smooth ridge road that descends slightly for about six kilometers before crossing a wooden bridge and then it climbs up a rocky fire road that winds to the top of the Cerro de San Miguel (12,500). This out and back section was billed as 25k, but my Garmin showed a bit longer. The second loop began with the same singletrack climb to the smooth ridge road, but then we would veer off to the right and follow the road as it slightly climbed to an aid station about 7.5 kilometers which was the turn around. The 12 hour runners would keep running this second out and back until morning, but my goal was to run both loops once, getting in 40k or 25 miles. At this elevation, with over 4,000 feet of climbing, I knew there was no way I'd finish the 40k under the 5 and half hours which would have allowed me to continue on a third loop. I also knew I really didn't need to be running 55k at this point in my training.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The Ray Miller race went really well for me, but I struggled with the Nathan pack. It's such a hassle to get into an aid station and have to deal with removing the pack, opening the bladder. And then repeating this again and again. It's a time killer. I knew there was an aid station at the top of the mountain (12.5 kilometers), and then we would return to the aid station at the start, and there was a small aid station at the second loop turn-around, so I went with one handheld (Ultra Direction, 20 oz.). It was perfect. I stuffed gu's in the pockets of my shorts (and kept a few more in my car at the start/finish) and I wasted zero time in aid stations. I'm done with the pack except for longer, solo training stuff in the mountain. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Mexicans tend to overdress for the cold, and most folks were wearing running tights, multiple layers and jackets. Standing around getting cold before the race, I started to second guess my choice, but I stuck with the shorts and two thin layers (long sleeve Ray Miller Race Shirt/and a thin pull over base layer) with the <a href="http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Wind-Breaker-Jacket-Reviews/Patagonia-Houdini">Patagonia Houdini jacket</a>. When the Houdini jacket arrived in the mail, I was a little put off with just how flimsy it seemed considering the 99 bucks I spent on it. However, the only thing I can say now about the jacket is that it is genius. Tie it around your waist or stuff it in a pocket and you forget about it, but it was the perfect light weight layer and I was never cold, even on the long, slow, steep climb up to the summit. A buff around my ears and a thin pair of Nike gloves and I was dialed in: the perfect amount of gear: not too much, not too little.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Finally the race started and we began the ascent to the ridge trail. I kept it to a fast hike, which was about all that could be done anyway as the trail is so narrow there is nowhere to pass. Once up to the road my plan was to keep it steady, but comfortable until the climbing began. A handful of folks passed me here, but I knew they were either front runners catching up with the lead pack or people who I was going to see on the climb. On the climb I just hiked hard and steady. Except for a couple early sections that flatten out or descend a bit, I didn't run. I saw some runners trying to maintain a running cadence on the hill and eventually I hiked past them. It's just too long of a climb and too steep to gain anything by running for anyone but the super stars.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The descent was all about not biting the dust. I felt good and I was catching a few people and trying not to drift as I ran in a little cone of light. A few more night races might convince me to upgrade my Petzl headlamp. I think the one I have would be perfect for those late nights reading in a tent. The night sky was stunning. Not a lot of opportunities to for star gazing when living in a city of 20+ million, but out here on the other side of the mountain, the view was incredible</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> After the descent it was a slight climb back to the final descent to the start. This section seems to always kill me, and during the carrera larga y sinuoso a number of people caught and passed me here, which was miserable so late in a race. I passed some folks in the first section and then just focused on running and not slowing down. For a long while someone was right behind me, but I never looked back to see who it was and finally he drifted back. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I made it back to the start, got some gu's and few hits of coca cola from my car, grabbed a bag of M and M's, went to the bathroom, refilled my water and headed back up to the trail for my second, and last loop. It was pitch black and I had never been on this trail before, but the route was obvious and well-marked with glow-in-the-dark reflectors. I was struggling to run here, and was reduced to a walk at some points. I did catch up to <a href="http://www.runmx.com/nahila-hernandez/">t</a>he eventual winner of the 6 hour race at at one point, who seemed to be struggling a bit, but then she was gone. After the turn around I started to feel better and played a game where I would run hard to a distant glow-in-the-dark marker and then shuffle for a bit. One guy flew by me in this section, but other than that I was alone: run...shuffle...walk a bit, repeat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> And then I was done. I didn't feel horrible. I was tempted to head back out there, a part of me was caught up in the 12 hour idea, but my plan had been 40k/6 hour race, so I called it a night. I'm usually racing away after races to go somewhere else, but I had the luxury here of changing into warm clothes, eating some incredible caldo de pollo and hanging out with the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/S%C3%B3lo-para-Salvajes/155174644546372">Solo Para Salvajes</a> crew and watching the 12 hour runners come in and then head back out for another loop. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I felt a sting in my foot, but didn't think much of it, but when I got home and showered I saw that I could have slid the skin off my long toe like a used condom. I've never had any blister issues, so I can only attribute it to the thin dust which just works its ways through shoes and socks during this dry season.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> A solid training run for the <a href="http://www.highaltitudeathletics.org/JemezMt.htm">Jemez 50</a>. Got some gear decisions figured out and just over 4,000 feet of climbing, and everything over 10,000 feet, topping out at 12,500. Here's <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/274632358">the Garmin Data</a>.</span><br />
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<br />Guy Cheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06296513081472215675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912368439233814219.post-78565929061388047442013-02-06T09:59:00.003-08:002013-02-06T18:51:28.351-08:00A Tale of Two Races. The Ray Miller 50k/Surf City Half: The L.A. Double<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the race with (from R) Tom, Craig, Jeremy, the author, and of course, Sofia.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I'd been looking for a trail race to run in the U.S. with my brother-in-law Jeremy for some time, and the Ray Miller 50/50 was the perfect choice: beautiful trails, fantastic organization and it fell on a long weekend. However, when I first mentioned it to Jeremy he had already signed up for the Surf-City Half Marathon, sort of a tradition for him and his running partners, Craig and Tom. Additionally, my sister, Meggin, was running the half this year as well. Presented with this piece of news, I pondered for about 45 seconds and then stumbled on the obvious solution: let's run both!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The LA Double was born.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> It would be a study in contrasts. The Ray Miller race is in its second year, but has already established itself as a go-to early season race that is run by Kiera Henninger. Impeccable course marking, friendly and helpful volunteers (I was running mid-pack but as soon as I arrived at the first aid station I was greeted by a volunteer asking me "What do you need?" with a sense of urgency that one would expect guys like Dylan Bowman and Timothy Olson --who were running the 50 mile race-- to be received with) The trail was beautiful, varied singletrack with six climbs adding up to just over 6,000 feet for the 50k version of the race. All 300 spots were sold by January 1.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The Surf-City half in Huntington beach is also well-attended. A couple thousand folks run the marathon, but the real draw is the half: nearly 20,000 runners run up and down the flat road that runs right along the Pacific Ocean. Bands along the way playing beach-themed tunes. Water/sports drink every mile. Lots of personalized t-shirts and carefully prepped outfits. I saw some folks so decked out with hydration packs, water belts and other gear that they looked like they were doing a self-supported run on the John Muir Trail.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fgTWQ-_-X0I/UQ9MeWn5xJI/AAAAAAAAAbI/Rb3MgbZzEM4/s1600/DSC00998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fgTWQ-_-X0I/UQ9MeWn5xJI/AAAAAAAAAbI/Rb3MgbZzEM4/s640/DSC00998.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Pacific Ocean Sunrise about an hour into the race at the Ray Miller 50/50</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JyaIex025pk/UQ9MXwFQG6I/AAAAAAAAAbA/AYuagN9M0oU/s1600/DSC00994.JPG" imageanchor="1"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JyaIex025pk/UQ9MXwFQG6I/AAAAAAAAAbA/AYuagN9M0oU/s1600/DSC00994.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Gear check the day before the race</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--TMqiFypKHM/UQ9MfQF5j_I/AAAAAAAAAbQ/zyBR9NLqLqI/s1600/DSC00996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--TMqiFypKHM/UQ9MfQF5j_I/AAAAAAAAAbQ/zyBR9NLqLqI/s640/DSC00996.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">At the 6:00a</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">m start</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The alarm was set for 3:45, but I was already moving around at about 3:30 getting ready. We arrived at the race with plenty of time, especially considering the breezy check-in (30 seconds) and two-minute wait for bathrooms. The race director counted 1-2-3 go, and we were off. I was in no hurry for a couple of reasons. One, it was my first crack at the 50k distance and two, I knew that the course narrowed from two-track to a singletrack climb very quickly. The line-up formed quickly and we hiked at steady clip for most of the first climb. Jeremy stayed with me at this point, as I had a headlamp, but he began to pull away, as I knew he would as we approached the top of this climb. The sun began to rise and I felt great.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> My goal for this race was to find a pace that did not feel too difficult and walk the first three climbs and run the final two if I felt good. Once the runners got sorted out a bit I found myself in a sort of "group" where I would be passed on the downhills and gain my position back on the climbs. Unlike the previous (and shorter races) that I have been in, everyone around me seemed to know what they were doing. No one was breathing heavily or bombing the downhills at silly paces. I focused on drinking, eating my GUs and just enjoying the scenery. I stopped to snap photos. As we hit the third major climb I still felt great and I was impatient and tired of being passed on the downs by the same runners, so I deviated from my plan and ran up most of the climb. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Tim Olson, charging up the hill behind me. It's probably not necessary to clarify that he was running the 50 Mile race and I was running the 50k. From this point on I'm just going to stick with this version of events: I had a great race but Tim Olson blew by me at kilometer 45 and I just couldn't hang on.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The only way I can explain what is was like to see Bowman and Olson charging up that hill with 47 miles on their legs is to compare it to an experience I had in high school when I lived in Tokyo: I went to see a professional tennis match (Ivan Lendl vs. Mats Wilander) and my friend Troy Palmer conned our way down to the family/coaches section using his fluent Japanese and personal charm. We were 20 feet away or so from Lendl and while I had seen him on television, nothing had prepared me for the jaw-dropping power of his forehand in real life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Watching Bowman and and Olson move up that hill brought me back to Lendl's forehand. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> It also brought me back to the fact that I had a bit of a climb left and then the downhill to the finish. I put away the camera and got it done, finishing strong and feeling good. Here's the <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/269518668">Garmin Data</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">After the race I hung out for a while before heading down the coast to Huntington Beach. I was looking forward to chilling in the Governor's Suite that Jeremy's friend Craig had hooked us up with, but the thought of running 13 flat pavement miles on tired legs did not have me too worked up for the race. I choose to put it out of mind and enjoy the evening hanging out with Jeremy, Tom and Craig. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> There is not much scenery to look at during a half-marathon. I read t-shirts [two favorites: "wedding dress here I come" and "Bye-bye Baby Fat] and was reminded that the USA is the undisputed personalized t-shirt capital of the world. I was on the verge of shin-splints and my knees hurt, so I ran on dirt/grass/sand whenever the option presented itself. I never could get the legs turning over too quickly, and I realized that my goal of sub-two hours was not going to happen. I never felt winded, but just couldn't move the legs any faster. Or didn't want to. 2:09.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I drifted mentally. I dumped water on my head every mile. I wanted to kiss the woman who had a big bowl of M&M's (and I apologize for taking so many.) Later on someone had potato chips. I took another large handful and ran contented for a while. Forgot about my knees and shins for a short moment.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Far in the distance I eyed a mountain range. Here we were, nearly 20,000 of us crowded together, running on straight, flat, unrelenting black-top: out and back. Yesterday, 300 of us were spread out --often alone, or with two or three other runners-- in the mountains. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Why the overwhelming preference for pavement? I don't know, but I'm done with pavement outside of the occasional 5k or 10k with my students. Back to the trail.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xsr3M0Tp2Fg/UQ9NReFavKI/AAAAAAAAAc0/G1UFmMC-Sew/s1600/DSC01055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xsr3M0Tp2Fg/UQ9NReFavKI/AAAAAAAAAc0/G1UFmMC-Sew/s640/DSC01055.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Room with a view</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Meggin: "why let a broken rib stop me?"</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Americana</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZduxIt0MPJ8/UQ9NeO_HnGI/AAAAAAAAAdc/FuV3nWdDK3s/s1600/DSC01063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZduxIt0MPJ8/UQ9NeO_HnGI/AAAAAAAAAdc/FuV3nWdDK3s/s640/DSC01063.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In case you had any doubts I was really in Southern California</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">video of the finish line.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Final thoughts: I was worried about by fitness for the Ray Miller as I was light on long-runs and had lost a couple weeks in training: one to a calf issues and another to the flu. It didn't seem to matter much. On May 25 I am running the <a href="http://www.highaltitudeathletics.org/entries.htm">Jemez 50</a>, which is going to be a huge step up, both in distance and elevation. My plan is to run the local 63k Carrera de Resistancia in preparation for that, as it falls on April 27. </span></div>
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Guy Cheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06296513081472215675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912368439233814219.post-16457943795184732572013-01-03T22:29:00.001-08:002013-01-03T22:33:27.312-08:00Last run of the year/first run of the year: San Gabriel Mountains and the Rose Bowl Parade<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Gabriel Mountains<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the descent from Mount Wilson, with Los Angeles in the distance.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> For my last run of the year I made it to the last section of the Angeles Crest 100 course that runs through the San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles. Jeremy, my brother-in-law, lives in the shadows of these mountains in Pasadena. Usually I associate LA with 8 lane freeways and 14 dollar movie tickets, but a short jaunt into the mountains reveals a network of well-maintained and scenic trails. My dad dropped us off at Chantry Flats, which is about 15 minutes up into the mountains off the 210. The trail is rolling single-track for the first few miles as it follows a ridge line before it begins the long climb up to Mount Wilson. As we climbed the endless switchbacks the snow became heavier. LA really does have it all. After nearing the summit we followed the course down a snow-covered two-track dubbed the Mt. Wilson "Toll road." We descended for a couple miles --back into the sun and heat-- and then linked up with another serpentine single track which took us briefly up and then down into the wooded Idle Hour Canyon. For the next couple of hours we would see no one as we ran (and hiked) the rolling climb up to Sam Merrill trail and then finally down to the popular Echo Mountain. At this point we departed from the A.C. 100 course as there were New Year's eve preparations to be taken care of, and we headed down a steep switched-backed descent down to the end of Lake Avenue in Altadena. Warning: avoid this section (or run it earlier in the day) if possible as there are loads of hikers on this trail. We had originally planned to just jog the last 3.5 miles to his house, but after four hours of climbing (6,000 feet) and almost as much descent over 18 miles, our quads were shot and the prospect of pavement running after all that incredible trail wasn't so appealing either. The run is beautiful, and even more striking considering it's close proximity to Los Angeles. An incredible run that makes me want to run the AC 100 in 2014 (already sold out for the August 3 running in 2013.) This run was a good training run for the Ray Miller 50k coming up in February. I'll be back out here for that race as well as the Surf City Half Marathon the following day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Here's the <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/256361252">garmin data</a></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3ssGyqDedB0/UOZoqmfgI6I/AAAAAAAAAZ0/huope8GkEKc/s1600/DSC00951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3ssGyqDedB0/UOZoqmfgI6I/AAAAAAAAAZ0/huope8GkEKc/s640/DSC00951.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Descending to Echo Mountain we finally emerged from the woods to some spectacular views of the city.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Snowy trails melting in the sun</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HPEavfbPDP0/UOZooP66o6I/AAAAAAAAAZs/KTq_CkFW4dY/s1600/DSC00943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HPEavfbPDP0/UOZooP66o6I/AAAAAAAAAZs/KTq_CkFW4dY/s640/DSC00943.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">On the "hot" side of the mountain<br /> </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The following morning we ran with Jeremy's friend Craig down to the Rose Bowl parade route as is their annual tradition. Not as stunning as the previous day's run, but plenty of unusual sights as we ran the parade route just before the start of the parade. Folks have been up all night reserving their seats and people are milling about everywhere and it takes on a sort of circus atmosphere.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-doYNujKcEZQ/UOZo1nOQ3QI/AAAAAAAAAaU/QYE5h6xuOB0/s1600/DSC00979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-doYNujKcEZQ/UOZo1nOQ3QI/AAAAAAAAAaU/QYE5h6xuOB0/s640/DSC00979.JPG" width="640" /></a>Guy Cheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06296513081472215675noreply@blogger.com0