This weekend marked the 5th and last DNS of the year. I missed Jed Smith 50K because if a minor calf injury and I wanted to be extra cautious not to come back to fast. Then I badly blew up my knee on my birthday, a week before the 50K Road Nationals in March. Having turned 60, I was excited to kill it and compete for a 16th Age Group win of our local Mountain, Ultra, Trail Grand Prix. My first race in this new age group was Knickerbocker 35K in Auburn. 3rd no show. Then Horseshoe Half Marathon in April, for DNS #4. This time, there is some progress, I made it to the check-in at Sports Basement
To tell you how much I am struggling, I've dream running 100 grueling kilometers to the last minute. I was so tormented that I had the typical bad sleep we often experience before big races. And I showed up at the Hacienda parking lot at 3:15 am. Out of 10 editions, this would have been my 9th Quicksilver 100K, I'm getting used to the insane early start, almost a routine.
So tormented that I had to talk to my Sports Medicine doctor in France on Friday to check if it was ok to run long with such pain. I know, it's foolish to even have such thoughts, although I know of quite a few other ultra runners pushing it through pain that bad. Being at the start, seeing and feeling the vibe was tough. At least I was able to do it, and help my running club and this community which I'm so passionate about.
I worked on the parking monitoring duty, at the main gate. This year, Bob was quite happy with the overall result, it went quite smooth thanks to a lot of preparation of the field this past week, as he assembled a team of volunteer to cut the grass before the County actually showed up to do it. That gave ample spots for all the 100K runners, well deserved location near the finish line after such an effort, while the 50K runners had to park on a remote lot like last year. Grateful to everybody for complying with our directions! Under Bob's direction, our overall Chief Volunteer Officer, great teaming with Jim Yates, Jeff Eisenman, Jeff Pace and John Shi.
I got a glimpse of the start at 4:30 am, under a wonderful star show:
On the 100K, we had runners arriving until 5 minutes before the start! One actually got in 20 minutes late, only to come back to the start one hour later, after missed a turn and the course monitor who had moved to another location. Stuart, co-RD, drove him back to the turn he missed, first class service!
The sun, with its heat, starting hitting the Hacienda entrance area right for the 50K start.
One particular incident on that race too: one of the leaders had forgotten his bib and had to run back down the hill and start over...
I helped at the start/finish area for another 30 minutes then drove up to the Hicks aid station. As I arrived, Chief Entertainment Office and Chief Fun Officer, Greg Lanctot, was working his magic, at an aid station which isn't lacking any under Clare's leadership already!
That was after the early morning and dawn rush of getting the first passage of the 100K runners through, and minutes before the 50K runners made their turnaround at mile 6. Note the European touch with the flags (and Clare's UTMB finisher jacket). Much appreciated by Christine.
I stayed until the return of the first 100K runner, the most anticipated Steven Kool, returning 2023 champion.
After 9 editions, I still own the 9th fastest time, these things don't last for ever...
For a big change, no finisher medal or award on this race goodies picture. What a bag this year but, please, if you are a runner, do NOT use it as drop bag next year, please...! The ice bandana had a lot of success for what was going to be the first heat training session of the season for most, well done!
As for the small race logo on the back of the t-shirt, that is certainly original, I had never seen such design.
With that, at least this is a same-day race report, short of having run it and even knowing the results. I still don't know when, or even if I'll get back to running. But I know that, if I'm getting back, I'll be even more appreciative... There is that... 14 finishes at this event (8 x 100K between 2015 and 2023, skipping 2020, 2 x 50-mile in 2009 and 2013, 4 x 50K between 2010 and 2014), I can't wait and stop dreaming...
PS: a few more pics while I'm at at it.
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