Silicon Valley serendipity: surprising Turkey Trot connection!

With the past two injuries I fell off my weekly blogging pace. This week I ran every day so more opportunities to share about the experience again. And this Sunday turned to something quite special.

Coach Rajeev can attest by the dozens of times we met along the local Union Pacific track, by pure serendipity, albeit some high chance back when we were both logging hundreds miles a month. It has been way too long I've seen him on that trail or at races. On my end, I've been absent from this trail for more than a year so it feels good to be back, first last January then this Sunday.

Initially I wanted to run to the top of Black Mountain and log at least 50K but I didn't feel the energy after 7 consecutive days of running, another first, post meniscus injury. I was going to run this 16-mile round trip route but, at the turnaround at Winchester, in front of Netflix' headquarters, I decided to explore further.

For 10 years I thought the track was getting into town and I didn't think of continuing further to see how long I could tag along. I couldn't stop thinking how beautiful a trail we could have along this track, instead of the messy mix of dust, rocks, branches, pine cones, that you have to navigate carefully. Yet, I was able to add 2 miles to the terminus of the lightrail line.

The other thing I'm realizing looking more closely to the map now, is who close of the Los Gatos Creek Trail I was, on Winchester. Just a mere block away, for many more miles of trails. We are so blessed in this Valley!

Back to the Winchester Station where I turned left: I passed a few buses and noticed an old lady on a bench. We exchanged a smile and I continued on Kennedy Avenue to the intersection with Winchester, where I stopped to check on the map and grab a few GU Energy chomps. That's where I heard what I though was "How long have you been running?" But, no, it was that lady asking me "How long have you been running it?" taking about my Turkey Trot tee. And... her Turkey Trot hat!

I replied "16 out of 20" and, to my surprise, she mentioned she had run it many times too, starting with the early editions when there was less than a thousand participants and she was even given a turkey at the finish! She showed me she was wearing one of the recent shirts, under several layers, and that she likes to still run it, when she gets sponsored with a free entry. She had sweet words for the very nice couple who created this event and tradition, Carl and Leslie Guardino. And we talked about Chris too, the Race Director.

When people say "small world" I add, "or rather, connected world!" Indeed, what a chance of me continuing on a new route today, as opposed to going to the top of Black Mountain? Of leaving home late at noon? What a chance of being at the precise time she was walking to the local theater for a senior-discounted movie show? Pure and sweet serendipity!

In other news, with all the rain we got this winter and spring, even last night, the pond near the Seven-Eleven at the intersection of the track and Pacifica, is full again. To the delight of wild geese, ducks and even seagulls (yikes, I feel I'm going to be schooled by Mr Patt on these generic bird names...).

At 7:54 for 20.3 miles, a slow pace for a flat run but still a good workout to keep rebuilding with a 73-mile week and 92 miles over 8 consecutive days. I'll take a rest day tomorrow then more build up in the hills before some tapering for Quicksilver. As for heat training, with the sub 50F mornings, that may have to wait for... race day, oops!

Horseshoe Lake 30K: a great mix of hills and speed!

Can't believe it has only been a week since MadCity's 50K Road Nationals, and it was already time to get back to our Pacific Association Grand Prix with a race this Sunday: Coastal Trail Runs' Horseshoe 30K. This is the 5th event of our 2025 schedule, and the 4th of 6 in our sub-ultra trail series. In 3 weeks we have Quicksilver 100K, then SilverState 50K, Cool Moon 100-mile, Skyline 50K, Tamalpa Headlands 50K (also serving as the USATF 50K Trail Nationals). Next sub-ultra race will be Stevens Creek Striders' Half (hint, it's also a hilly one!).

It was cloudy in Cupertino this morning but this race starts on Skyline, the ridge of our nearby Santa Cruz Peninsula Mountains so we were going to race above the clouds. There were 3 races this Sunday: a half marathon, a 5-miler and this 30K, assembling both. One out and back for the half, then another one for the remaining 5 miles.

I got a great parking spot near the start which allowed me to connect to quite a few regulars, neat! With at least 70 registered in the 30K, and combining with the half marathoners, we looked like a good hundred at the start. Not bad for an Easter Sunday morning. Although... I suspect quite a few didn't show up. For a start, my age group had Cliff Lentz as fastest prospect after dominating our group at No Hands in January, then Mt Diablo Half. At No Hands, I finished behind Cliff, and also almost 5 minutes behind Brian Sterling, from West Valley Track Club. Brian had finished 2nd to Cliff at Mt Diablo earlier this month, a race I missed as I was at Zion and Bryce Canyon that weekend. With that, I didn't expect scoring too many points this time. Although, there was no sign of Cliff at the start...

I didn't want to push too hard before warming up, I was probably in 12th or 15th as we got on the single track. Before the end of the first mile though, I felt slowed down by the conga line and passed 3 runners from Pamakids, then caught up with a couple of younger runners ahead. This course is challenging because there is no flat section at all, and some sections are quite steep. At least that got the glutes engaged and getting a good workout in preparation for Quicksilver.

I saw the lead runners at the remote aid station, which I'm not calling "turn around aid station" because we still had a climb after that station to get to the half-marathon turnaround. I noticed a bag next to the sign and, sure enough, it had bracelets to pick to prove you had run all the way. I missed that detail in the briefing, and doubt too many noticed. The lead was composed of three runners from the same club: West Valley TC. Andrew Catanese, who used to run with Quicksilver 2 years ago, Amanda Wiggenhorn, and Albert Lin, running together. There was a runner who seemed he could be in our age group and I forgot to check on the color of his bib, to see if he was on the half or 30K.

On the climb after the aid station, I closed on 2 younger runners, that helped maintaining a good pace. It took me 2 more miles to pass them as we were really pushing the pace in the downhills. Then I could see the older runner I had noticed at the turnaround, and steadily closing on him. There was 5 more miles after we came back to the start/finish area, plenty of time to potentially pass him. Well, that was Ben Kortlang, 50, who placed 3rd in the half in 1:50. The older guys were representing, 2nd place in the half was Darrin Banks, 59!

I had found a pair of very nice Oakley sun glasses on the course which I handed over at the aid station. I got my bottle of water refilled and it was time to get on the final loop, or out and back, especially as I knew Brian wasn't too far behind. That made me run the whole mile up before flying down to the famous Horseshoe Lake. On the next climb, at about 14.5 miles I crossed Andrew. My GPS was showing a time of 2:10, the time of the course record. I thought: "shoot, I'm now 2 miles behind!" After Andrew, I crossed Amanda then Albert. A few seconds later, Jean-Baptiste Bouvier, 29. I was preparing mentally to climb at least another mile when, surprise, I saw the turn-around sign, much earlier than expected. I picked another bracelet from the bag then rushed down the hill to retrace my path to Horseshoe Lake. Sure enough, Brian was the first one I saw: safe margin but still, no time to waste!

In the final 1.5 miles, I crossed quite a few runners, more than half from Pamakids: way to represent, Go Green! I finished with a time of 2:32:45, with 17.58 miles on my GPS (Coros, in Trail Running mode). In this thin field, good enough for 5th overall, 4th in Men, 1st Master. Brian finished 6 minutes behind, this time: strong and friendly emulation! With Brian:

Andrew won in 2:20:57 and Amanda set a new course record in 2:23:50. From left to right, Andrew, Amanda, Albert:

I stayed for another hour and a half, for more connections with the community, feeling sorry to leave before everybody was back home but had other Easter activities to attend today. Some reasonable hill training today, a bit of heat training after running in freezing temperatures 2 weeks ago, it feels good to get back to some speed. My knee is letting me know that the meniscus is still damaged but it's more of a whisper, allowing me to race harder, and just enough that I don't overdo it in my training. Great to see the Pacific Association engagement and competition today, see you in 3 weeks at our club's ultra party (Quicksilver 100K)!

Freezing but wonderful Bryce Canyon: my favorite!

I only visited 30 of the 63 National Parks in the US but, so far, Bryce Canyon remains my favorite. Especially in winter with the rich palette of colors include white snow, contrasting with the red rocks and blue sky. And the brittle aspect and impression of fragility of the hoodoos, this canyon which looks like temporary dentelle ready to be washed out by erosion and the elements, wind and rain, if not earthquakes. Million year-old yet, in this age of severe human impact on our planet, you have to wonder how long this natural show will last. You see, I'm sold!

It was my third visit and, this time, I wanted to go down the canyon, not just stay on the ridge. It was a family trip again though so I had to start super early, like before sunrise. And, although it was April already, and Spring, technically, the temperature was close to 20F when I left the hotel, yikes! If you follow my blog and adventures, you know I fare poorly when chilly. By the way, there was a freezing breeze to make things more interesting.

Thinking I would warm-up with speed, I left with only a pair of racing gloves, leaving my bigger fleece gloves in the room. Poor choice. Ever quarter of a mile, in the dark, I had to stop to put my bottles down and blow air through my gloves as my fingertips were badly hurting. And the more I was stopping, the colder I was getting...

Sunrise was scheduled for 7:05 am. I left the hotel in Bryce Canyon village at 6 and my initial plan was to run straight to the end of the Bryce Canyon amphitheater, at Bryce Point, 7 miles away. With the slow progress, I decided to change plan and aim at meeting Agnès and my cousins/aunt at Sunrise Point instead, making a detour through Fairyland Point to then run along the entire ridge of the canyon, before plunging into it at Bryce Point, on Peekaboo Loop Trail.

While I did manage to get to Sunrise Point by sunrise, I wasn't getting warmer after the Sun rose because a thin layer of clouds maintained the low temperature. It helped a bit to get the extra pair of gloves but I needed way more than that bit to be able to run normally. To make the matter more interesting, the ridge trail was covered by icy snow on the steep way up to Inspiration Point, then Bryce Point. The Brooks Pure Grit worked wonder in these conditions, it's just that I was too cold to keep moving.

The wind was strong at Bryce Point: on one hand the views of the amphitheater were stunning and I had to remove my gloves to take pictures. On the other, the cold was unbearable. I wouldn't fare well on Mount Everest...

The plan was for me to be back to the hotel by 9:15 to grab breakfast and it was already 8 am. I ran a couple of mile on the road then heard the Park Shuttle coming: I waived at it, on its side of the road and, zip, it didn't stop. I appreciate I wasn't at the parking lot stop but, geez, I was freezing. Cold. Damned! A few minutes later, a car came through and I waved at it too: two girls driving, I understand the reluctance to pick a stranger. At that point, I called Agnès for a pick up...

The following Relive.cc flyover includes pictures from all the key points: Faryland, Sunrise, Sunset, Inspiration and Bryce Points. Click on this link or the image below.

10.7 miles and still no running below the ridge, that will have to wait for next time. And more time than a touristic touch and go!

Zion Park and the Kolob Canyons

Zion National Park spans over two major canyons: the classic and touristic Zion Canyon of course, on the South side, but also the Kolob Canyons on the North West. Without a road linking these two areas, the park has two entrances.

We were visiting with family from France and a friend in Vegas recommended the Kolob entrance, which is less popular and congested, and doesn't require to park your car to catch a shuttle. Zion Canyon is still very much worth the visit, especially if you manage to get early to secure a good parking spot. Otherwise, Kolob Canyon also offers magnificent views of red cliffs. Parking is also limited but, again, that side is less crowded.

We first drove to the top, the Kolob Canyons Viewpoint and hiked the short Timbre Creek Overlook trail. Then drove down to the trailhead of Taylor Creek trail. As we wanted to drive to Bryce afterwards and get there before dusk, I was given 90 minutes to explore that canyon.

I knew nothing about that trail except I had heard about 5 miles to a site worth seeing called the Double Arch Alcove. With an out and back format along a creek, I figured I'll just split the time and turnaround at half the time.

This was quite a technical trail and I quickly lost track of the number of creek crossings. Enough running injuries these past years so I crossed over rocks, very carefully. With that, my progression was slow, in the 12-13 minute/mile range and that wasn't even counting the stops to take pictures! At least I was not alone, there were a few hikers, even a handful of families.

1 mile, 2 miles, I was approaching the dangerous time limit when the trail turn from dust to mud then snow, as the canyon was narrowing and the trail stuck in the shade of impressive cliffs on both sides. 2.5 miles and there was the majestic alcove, at the end of the trail. At least I was able to get to it, just in time for a few pictures and retrace my way back.

So, it was 5 miles indeed but round trip. And technical.

The Relive.cc flyover is worth watching to get a sense of the size of the boulders forming that Kolob Canyon. Sheer walls challenging the 3d visualization algorithm... (click on this link or the image below)

Again, if you have not been to Zion before, Zion Canyon is the best option if you can get to the main parking lot early. Otherwise, Kolob is a great substitute to appreciate the grandeur of this site and natural wonder; highly recommended! And, with more time than I had, you can hike between the two canyons, that looks like even more exciting!

MadCity 50K Road Nationals: way to celebrate ultra race #200!

I'm falling behind again. A week ago I ran in Zion Park then Bryce Canyon and still want to post about these runs, but let's see if I can still do a same-day race report after 777 blog posts, to celebrate a key milestone, my 200th ultra race. In all disclosure, I'm talking about lining up at the start of an ultra race here, 17 led to DNFs (Did Not Finish), although only one of these was before the ultra marathon mark (one failed Quad Dipsea). So, yes, that's only 183 ultra race finishes, and I'm excited to keep working on this number. By the way that's not counting 313 ultra training runs. Including 27 marathons, that's 548 marathons or longer runs, and hopefully, counting!

MadCity, aka Madison, Wisconsin. The 10K loop of the Arboretum around Lake Winagra has been used by Timo for several years to host the 100K Road Nationals which I ran in 2015 (detailed course review with pictures), 2017, 2019 (DNF at 80K, still suffering from my 2018 hamstring attach injury) and 2022. This year also had a 100K, solo and relay, but the 50K served as our Nationals for Team USA selection. And, hint, a few young speedsters showed up, for a great change!

I flew in through Chicago and got to my hotel near the airport around 8 pm on Friday. After a great sleep of almost 8 hours, I woke up before 5 am for a quick breakfast, to be done with food 3 hours before the race. Despite checking the race book several times during the week, I ended up at the zoo, on the wrong side of the shelter serving as race headquarters. While not finding the right entrance stressed me on my first participation, this time I was able to found my way back to the car entrance and got a great parking spot around 6:50. There was an early check-in on Friday afternoon so not too many people on race morning, nice!

I got so cold last week running on the rim of Bryce Canyon before sunrise, I was scared about the low temperature expected at the start, confirmed by the ice I found on the car upon leaving the hotel. Ah, Spring is it? At least it was sunny, with a very moderate breeze, so the speedsters were in shorts and singlets. Me? Long tights, arm warmers, Buff, fleece hat, gloves. Better safe than sorry, I don't fare well when chilly.

At the start I could see another M60-64 runner, Jeff Dorrill, 63, from Dallas, but no sign of Rich Power, 61, of Rochester, MI. I raced Rich at the 50K Nationals in 2019 and we finished 3.5 minutes apart (him in 3:35 and I in 3:31) but that was when I was still at the top of my game, before the 2018 injury and last year's meniscus tear on my last training run before... these same Nationals. Which Rich ended up winning overall in 3:36! Since then, Rich has run several marathons under 3, a barrier I have yet to break again as I'm rebuilding after 7 months off running last year. I couldn't even break 4 at Jed Smith 50K this past February... With that, my goal was to finish, take second and, hopefully, break 4 hours this time (my PR is 3:18:12 on that distance, when I improved the American Age Group record 9 years ago, while experiencing a TIA, a mini stroke...).

After a brief pre-race meeting we were sent off right on time. I didn't rush at the start, I had not even warmed up before the race and, since I got Covid early 2020 before we knew much about it, and maybe with the years passing too, I do need at least a mile to get the engine fired up. I passed Jeff, quickly lost sight of at least a dozen of fast runners in front, and clocked 7:37 for the first mile, a much slower start than at Jed Smith. The longest I've been able to maintain 7:00 min/mile since I'm back at running has been 2 weeks ago at the track, for a half marathon. It was safe not to try to get into that zone.

Yet, once I got warmer, I spotted a group of 4 ahead, 2 men, 2 women, and picked up the pace. It took me 2 miles to catch them, now running closer to 7:00 min/mile, oops! I first passed a runner from our NorCal women-only club, the Impalas: Brooke Bray, 48, from San Francisco. Then the 2 guys, one under 40, the other M40-44. I then ran half a mile behind the other gal who, upon passing her, shared how impressed she was with the regularity and form of my stride. I replied she was doing great too, but her encouragement would provide a mental boost which I cherished throughout the rest of the race. This was Dani Filipek, who owns and operates a racing and coaching business, and runs fast when, as she jokes about it, not keeping expecting babies (3 so far!). Yooper Running Company in Michigan. Post-race picture:

I clocked 45:33 for the first lap (10K), a 7:20 average pace. I felt good although not super confident I could hold that pace, but that was a pace which would get me back under 4 hours, so why not try? (Photo credit for five pictures: Lin Gentling, USATF Liaison.)

By now, I was running alone, nobody I could see ahead, they were way too far, nobody behind. And I was still moving well so I completed the 2nd lap in 45:06, a 7:15 min/mile pace.

The third lap got more interesting as I still felt good and one of the earlier group of four closed on me and we ran most of that lap together, in a time of 45:05. 1 second faster over 10K, that's clockwork or machine level! ;-) Now, at the end of that lap, at 30K, I decided to stop by my mini aid station to take new bottles (GU Energy Brew and water), a 2nd GU gel, and my phone, to check on Rich Power's progress on that 4th lap.

I waited for the "hill" to take an opportunity to consult the splits while walking for the first time. I couldn't see Rich in the list and lost about a minute and a half, scrolling up and down, before finally seeing that he was listed at the bottom of the table as DNS (Did Not Start). Well, that meant I just had to keep going and finish! I was so into my screen that I got in the middle of the road, walking toward a car I didn't see who, thankfully, stopped, phew! Yikes, that was rather a stupid move from me, will I learn better after 200 ultra races (373 races total)...? No running and texting...

After this episode, I resumed running and pushing. But, despite a few 7:15 miles, with that walking break episode, my 4th lap was indeed slower at 47:22 (7:37 pace).

I would be remiss not to mention I got lapped by the lead runner just as I reached the end of lap 3. Oh, my, that pace, so impressive! A few others followed and I could hear the speaker announce the finishers while I was still 1.5 miles away on my 4th lap... More on their times below.

I had lost a bit of stamina for the 5th lap, not to mention my glutes were starting to complain about today's increased load, but was encouraged by the now likely prospect I would break 4 hours. I just had to not cramp and walk. One mile in, after passing the marathon mark in 3:11 (what Coros keeps predicting for my current marathon time, albeit not during a 50K), I lapped Jeff, who was delighted to take second this time, thanks to Rich not showing up. Two miles in, I did walk a bit to take a 3rd S!Cap and 3rd GU Gel (I had taken a pouch of Vespa Power concentrate at mile 16, in addition to two, pre-race). I eased up the pace a bit mid way but picked up the pace again the last mile, to clock 48:14 for lap 5. Total of 3:51:19, I did it, breaking 4 again, yeah! Still room for more improvement, based on earlier potential, but many steps in the right direction of rebuilding! (Photo credit: Roy Pirrung.)

While I believe I initially appeared as 24th overall, I show as 21st on Saturday evening. 15th in Men, 2nd Masters (above 40) and, yes, 1st M60-64. 22nd title, and National Champion patch, all thanks to Rich not showing up today. As we say with races, you have to keep showing up and taking your chance (I say that for me!).

I received the USATF medal and patch from Race Director, Nora Bird, who took over Timo, whom I had the pleasure to see along the course.

Also representing California, Brooke finished a minute behind me, 1st in her age group and 7th Female.

Last picture before leaving, with Lin:

I then had lunch with Roy at Zuzu, before he drove up home, 2 hours north of Madison. We missed our friend Brian Teason, another ultra legend from a few decades ago, who couldn't race this time due to a rotator cuff injury (it hurts!).

Before I conclude, what happened at the front? The finish must have been spectacular to watch. First, Charlie Lawrence, 30, from Boulder, broke the course record by a couple of minutes with 2:49:01: a 5:26 average pace! As for the rest of the podium, the very final quest must have bee impressive: the next 3 runners finished within less than 20 seconds: 2:53:37 (Jeffrey Seelaus), 2:53:50 (Adam Vadeboncoeur --last name with quite a cool meaning in French!) and 2:53:54 (Ryan Root). Johny Rutford also broke 3 hours. Close finish also on the women side: Courtney Olsen also broke the course record in 3:16:44 (shaving almost 5 minutes of it), followed by Sophie Seward in 3:17:34 then former course record holder, Lindsay Prescott in 3:2016 (also under her previous record). With course record prize at $1,000, that's a burden on an event which is already challenged financially.  But at least an opportunity to reinforce the reputation of quality of this event for more years to come. Here are 9 of the top 10 men (Photo credit: Roy Pirrung):

Boarding at 5:50 am tomorrow morning so better call it a day and going to bed, now. Wrapped in these good vibes of being back to holding a faster pace, farther, the whole essence of my blog mantra, or at least title. Next races in California, most likely in much higher temperatures. Although, I didn't mention, I ended up getting rather hot under my hat today... 

PS: so much water and lakes in this area!

And don't ask me why I why I didn't buy a cheese hat (except for the fact the store was closed anyway)...