River of No Return Endurance Runs 108k

Date: June 15, 2019.

Objective: Finish the course before the cutoff - 22hrs (3am).

Stats: 69.7 miles and 14,500ft in 20:42:38.

Links: Strava.  Ramshorn Mountain.  Runchallis.com.

Video

This maybe my finest performance in an ultra yet.  Make no mistake, I'm a back of the packer and am in no way holding any illusions of being an elite ultra runner.  Other than staying safe and taking care of myself, my first, second, third, forth and fifth priorities were only to finish the course before the cutoff.  6 months of training apparently paid off and I was able to finish strong at the RONR Endurance Run 108k.  I'll get a video report up soon to detail the event, but here are the highlights.

Training: Ran a lot.  Rocked several back-to-back long runs ranging from the 18-10's up to and including 24-12.  Focused on logging a lot of vert and time on feet.  Made a point to not do anything big (other than training runs) before the race.  Err'd on the side of tapering too much, rather than not enough.

Nutrition: Mostly on point, never really got behind on calories.  Ate real food in aid stations and used performance food (Gu, ect) only to supplement between.  Drank lots of coke!  Aid stations were very well stocked.  Miso soup was a win, especially at Buster Lake (late, cold, dark, ect).

Gear: Used my handheld water bottle for the first 25k and refueled in the 2 aid stations along the way, rather than starting with my vest and blowing through them.  Poles were helpful on the creek crossings, mud and snow but not needed otherwise.  Switched back to the handheld at the last aid station for the last few miles.

High points: Topping out on Ramshorn mountain.  Seeing crew at Bayhorse Townsite and especially Bayhorse Lake.  Crossing the finish line and coming in under my projected finish.

Low points: Not drying my feet and changing socks at Bayhorse Lake.  After climbing through/out of Juliette Creek (several creek crossings) the long downhill into Squaw Creek left me with blisters when I could have significantly prevented/reduced them.  Snow and mud coming into Buster Lake, in the dark, over 50 miles into the course on tired legs.

Big thanks to Deez and Landen for crewing.  Big thanks to each and every volunteer.

Pictures:

Course overview.

Just before the start.

If you know your numerology, this was a good sign.

Waiting for the horn to blow.

Lost River Mountains saying good morning.

Ramshorn Mountain behind me.  Approx mile 7.

Views of a nearby peak on the way up to Ramshorn.

Ramshorn Mountain.

View from Ramshorn.

Summit view.

Summit view.

On the summit.

On the summit.

Descent to Juliette Creek.

White Cloud Peaks from the ridge above Juliette Creek.  Aprrox mile 35.

Ridge above Juliette Creek.  Approx mile 35.

"The Meadow"on the climb to Buster Lake.  Approx mile 51.

Packing my jacket into the pocket of my handheld. Approx mile 65.

Finish.  Approx mile 69.

Finish.  Approx mile 69, almost 2am.

Kelly Mountain

Date: June 8, 2019.

Objective: Kelly Mountain in the Soldier Mountains.  Elev 8,826'.

Partners: Deez, Landen, Ketchum.

Links: Strava. Lists of John.

Notes: Good dirt road to Kelly Canyon, then a bit more rough but passable with a Forester to where we parked.  Beyond that, HCV would be needed to drive further up and shorten the hike.  A few good camp sites nearby.

Video

Hawley Mountain

Objective: Hawley Mountain 7,301ft.

Date: June 1, 2019.

Partners: Mark.

Links:  Strava.

A Turtle on the Weiser River Trail 50k

Date: Saturday April 27, 2019.

Objective: Run 50k.

Partners: Deez and Landen crewed.

Links: Strava.

Vid

Thank you to the RD's, my crew and the volunteers!

I wasn't going to write a report for this, but I figured I might as well.  I used this race as a long training run and of course to see a new area.  This was pretty much a "check the box" type event for me but the RD's did put on a well organized event.  This is a point to point course that changes direction every year.  I ran it on a year that the course profile is basically downhill.  Even on the uphill course, there is only about 500 feet of gain.

Race morning was a bit brisk but I knew the day would rapidly warm up so I started in a short sleeve shirt.  I ran into Erik at the start line.  He filed to the front and I stood in the back like I usually do and waited for the green light.  The initial out and back section was unremarkable other than high-fiving Erik as he ran past me before I got to the turn around.  The first few miles all for a warm up anyways.

I was only aiming to average an 11 min/ mile pace for a finish time of sub 6 hours.  Yes, I know I'm slow but that's my pace.  The pace of a chill tortoise.

After plodding along for about an hour, I hit the first aid station which was just a walk though.  I had no reason to stop other than to hit the porta-potty.

My conservative paced start had me nice and warmed up and feeling good and I had already passed several people by this point.  From then on, I found my groove and went into cruise control.  I'd see a runner ahead of me and surge until I was on their six, then I'd chat with them for a minute, then surge and separate.  The scenery along the river was interesting with a lot of birds and the occasional glimpse of the nearby mountains.  There were also relay teams running the course and every so often I'd get passed by one of those quick hares.  I kept my pace and kept passing other solo runners all the way to the end.  Nothing personal, nothing competitive, just a turtle in his groove. 

I didn't see Deez and Landen until the third aid station in Cambridge at mile 22ish.  They were quick to run up and remind me to apply sunscreen.  Deez filled by bottles with Tailwind while I grabbed some real food and then I was out.  Only 9 miles to go!

By now there was a stiff head wind that lasted the rest of the race.  The crew was waiting for me at the last aid station and by this time I was staring to cramp.  Here I chugged a small amount of Coke, grabbed some M&M's and a pickle to go.  Not the best combo.  I had a nice little bout of near vomiting but the quick sugar had me feeling a little better.  4.1 miles were all that remained between me and the finish line.

In my limited ultra running experience, I've learned to just focus on running my own race.  I've also learned that time goals are okay, but it's really all about the finish for me.  The last few miles were a bit warm so the breeze was nice, but still annoying.  Landen was waiting for me about a hundred feet from the finish line to run in with me.  The chase was on to pass one more runner!  I let him take it by a nose.  Crossing the finish line of an ultra has never not been an emotional experience and I was quite happy with my finish time of 5:43.

Photos:

Grandjean x7

Date: Saturday April 20, 2019.

Objective: Backcountry camp somewhere in the vicinity.

Partners: Deez.

Stats: 3.4 mile round trip with >200ft elevation gain.

Links: Strava.

Way back in 2013 I decided to take Deez on her first overnight hike from the Grandjean Trail head in April.  Ever since then, this has become a sentimental "right of passage" so to speak, to sneak out for a quick over nighter. After all these years, this was actually only the second time we were not able to drive to the trail head.

Late winter snow was lingering and the forecast was not great.  However I'll take just about any chance I can get to go "off the grid" so there was no question that this was going down.  Starting from Hwy 21 we hiked out on the Grandjean road.  The conditions were comparable to the last snow year, which surprisingly was not 2017 aka Snowpocalypse.

We had a fairly good idea of where we were heading.  The downside was that I was a short walk.  The upside was that if/when it rained, it would be a short walk back to the car.

We found a suitable camp site right along the South Fork of the Payette River after only 45 minutes of walking.  The tent went up and a nap soon followed.  I was woken up a bit after 3pm to a rumble of thunder.  A light but steady rain soon followed and lasted about an hour.

The rest of the evening was off again - on again showers and thunder.  At one point we sought refugein the tent during a rather intense shower with some impressive thunder and lightning.  It was almost enough to make us question our life choices.

Funny how a few thin pieces of nylon are all that separates us from the storm.

Eventually we were able to emerge from the tent for a while.  Even though the storm broke for a good long while, we never did see any stars.

The night was a bit warmer than we had planned on and my zero degree bag proved to be overkill.

  

The morning sun rose the next day and I enjoyed a strong mug of Joe before we packed up and returned to "on the grid" status. 

Mount Caroline Livermore

Date: December 31, 2018.

Objective: Mount Caroline Livermore  781 feet.

Stats: 5 miles and 900 feet of gain round trip.  Strava track.

Partners: Deez and our new friends Dwight and Co.

Notes: Ferry required to reach the island.

Links: Angel Island web page.  Wiki page.

Angel Island.

We were in San Francisco for a New Years Eve concert.  After getting concert tickets, booking a flight and hotel and all that stuff, the next thing we did was look for a reachable ranked peak in the area.  A quick map check revealed that there are several peaks near by.  The most interesting one was on Angel Island.  Angel Island is known as the Ellis Island of the west.  Unfortunately, nothing on the island was open and we didn't get into the historical side of it.

The first order of business was to catch the ferry to the island.  $19.50 round trip per person; park entrance fee included.  It was a windy day so the water was fairly choppy.  I spent a good amount of time staring at my shoes to avoid the vertigo that I usually get when on a boat in high seas.  I'm pretty sure that I read somewhere that this was a "strenuous" six to seven mile round trip.  I thought this might make it a tight window since the last boat off the island (which we really wanted to catch) gave us a little over four hours to make the trip.

Keep in mind that my idea of a vacation is most peoples worst nightmare.  What some people consider "strenuous" I consider easy.  But the stats don't lie and a 6-7 mile hike with 800 feet of vert falls in my "easy category".  Four hours should be plenty of time to tag the peak and get back to the dock to get a beer that we can't buy because the cafe is closed...

The boat docked and we were on our way up the trail.  The wind wasn't as bad as I expected and the warm temps soon had us hiking in T-shirts.

Start of the North Ridge Trail.

We took the North Ridge Trail on the way up and it starts with a long set of stairs.  I think I read somewhere that there were 140 steps but I didn't bother to count them.

Deez on the trail.

The north side of the island is shaded with big trees and ferns.  Very pretty!

Looking at the high point from the trail.

Beautiful and fun rolling trail.

The trail was very easy and not at all like what I thought I read somewhere.

San Francisco and Alcatraz Island,

After 2 miles I checked the map and saw that we had less than half a mile to the summit.  Hooray!
A beautiful 360 degree view of San Francisco Bay greeted us at the top.

Tiburon, Ca.

Summit shot.

Chilly winds out of the north had us back in our shell jackets while we took pictures.

Deez in front of the Golden Gate Bridge.

We headed down to the picnic bench and had a snack.  We were sitting next to a group of three that we had hiked near on the trail.  Then the guy I was sitting next to asked me about my jacket.  Yeah we talked for a the rest of the time we were there.  They were a very nice group from the Philippines staying in SF for a month on holiday.  Turns out Dwight is a mountaineer himself!  We wished each other well as Deez and I packed up and headed out.

Sunset Trail.

We took the Sunset Trail on the south side of the island on the way down.  Still great views, slightly warmer and very similar to the Boise Foothills.

Enjoying the view on the way down.

Golden Gate Bridge.

There was a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge.  Crazy to think that all that stands between you and Japan is the Pacific Ocean.  I think I miss the coast.

I believe this is Mount Tamalpais but I could be wrong.

We got down to the dock with plenty of time to spare and hunkered down out of the wind.  We ran into Dwight and Co. again and hung out with them on the way back to the dock at San Francisco.  We were now a group of five!  Dwight, his wife who just happens to be an ultra marathoner and I believe her sister were a pleasure to meet.  We exchanged contact info with the hope that we can climb together sometime.  Too bad we didn't get a picture together.

We parted ways and Deez and I headed off to ring in the new year at the Masonic Theater with one of my top 3 favorite bands, Thievery Corporation.  Oh man they were ssssooooooo good!

Thievery Corporation on stage.