Posts

Jemez Mountain 2017
New Mexico Clouds
There are extraordinary clouds hanging over the Sandias right now. There are always extraordinary clouds in New Mexico. The air is incredible here, and the Sandias, out the back window of Ken and Margaret's house, are beautiful.
It…

Ashes: AC100 2014 Race Report
Friday morning, 9am, August 1, sitting in my driveway waiting for a ride out to Wrightwood. I'm writing in a list notebook I found on the trails in Topanga. #7 on the list: "Create excuse for ticket". #13: "Go hiking with Nico". The hike…

Shadow of the Giants 2014
Tuni the Mexican Wonderdog was living outside a seafood restaurant in Mexico when Heather found him. He's 11 now, and just about the most contented dog on the planet.Heather parked her car next to Larry's in the back corner of the lot. The…

Bishop High Sierra 2014 Race Report
After a few miles of thick sand, the course begins what is an almost 18 mile continuous climb, from 4750 to 9,350 feet, a slow, steady 4,500 feet in elevation gain, to the highest point of the course, at Overlook. The change in terrain is stunning.…

Coyote Backbone 68 Miler
I set up camp at the finish line the day before.
Full moon, in my tent at the finish line at LA Jolla campground in Pt Mugu. It's bright outside, which is good because I've forgotten my headlamp at home and tomorrow I will use a borrowed…

Calico 50K, 2014
The race begins with a two mile or so gentle downhill, and then there's about 16 miles of gradual uphill. I don't run enough uphill, it seems. The climbing in the San Gabriels is usually too steep to run, and only the guys in front will be…

Javelina Jundred 2013 Race Report
Javelina Jundred consists of 6 15.4 mile loops, run washing machine style, followed by a 9 mile loop, for an official total distance of 100.8 miles, even though the actual distance mathematically adds up to 101.4 miles. (I guess there is some…

Whistling Past the Graveyard – AC100 2013 Race Report
Welcome to the 265th annual AC100.Friday August 2nd, at the Best Western pool just off the 15, on the edge of the high desert, facing the freeway. Traffic is loud. I'm pretending it's the ocean.The lady at the front desk has cleaned up pretty…

Shadow of the Giants 50K
Shadow of the Giants 50K is run on heavily wooded trails less than 2 miles south of Yosemite National Park. It's an old school, low key affair, not much flash and glitz and Facebook presence. It takes place in the town of Fishcamp, population…

Quad Rock 50 Race Report
I headed out to Colorado to visit family and run the Quad Rock 50 in the foothills of the Rockies, just outside of Fort Collins. Put on by ultrarunner Nick Clark, the race is a 25 mile loop run twice, the second time in reverse, mostly on…

Old Goats 50M, 2013
Old Goats 50M 2013 was a great day for some runners and a horrible day for others. Chris Price appeared to cruise in for a win and new course record. Keira Henninger looked focused and strong as first woman, despite running an extra few miles…

Rocky Road 50 & 100 mile Endurance Run
Rocky Road 100 is held along horse trails in Coto de Caza, in Orange County. Originally intended as a counter to Texas' Rocky Racoon, with liberal cut-off times and an equally non technical course that combine to make it especially favorable…

Mount Disappointment 50K
Sat. August 13. This is said to be the toughest 50K in So. Cali. We started at the top of Mt. Wilson, headed down, up down, up, down, up... 7,403 feet of climbing says my Garmin. Probably a dozen stream crossings. Long exposed climbs.
Because…

AC100
Angeles Crest 100. 100 miles through Angeles Forest and the San Gabriel Mountains, starting at Wrightwood and finishing in town in Alta Dena, almost all trail, often technical, 23,000 feet of up and 26,000 feet of down, lots of the run at not…

Western States 100
Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run. Perspective makes a difference. Some people never recovered from the snow and ice. Others, like Maggie, cite it as a favorite part of the race, although it seems Maggie fell as often as anyone, and came…