Ohlone 50K 2019: what was that?

Oh my, what did they do with my fetish race?! Pouring rain, slippery mud fest, creek crossings, 2 loops, 48F at the start, no wood block trophies, no pilgrimage to Del Valle, a revamped and super fancy website, a BBQ under a tent, a singlet with a new logo, the 32nd edition of Ohlone 50K was completely unrecognizable this year!

I'm kidding, this isn't my race of course, I'm just a big fan, and I'm in awe with what new Race Director, Andres Vega from BAUR (Bay Area Ultra Runners) and his team of dedicated volunteers managed to produce this year. By all accounts, based on what happened in 2015, this edition would have been cancelled given the weather circumstances, if it wasn't for the extra planning and diligence of Andres, as well as his negotiation with the park rangers and their collaboration and willingness to accommodate these crazy ultra runners!

Thanks to the volunteers so attached to this event, we got the first warning and heads-up on Tuesday on Facebook, that a loop format from Sunol could be the option saving the race this year. Later, Andres shared that, like 2015 again, he looked at the possibility to postponed to September but the Rangers didn't want to have a repeat of what we ended up with, 4 years ago, one of the hottest year and many drops because of that (while I strive in such conditions, go figure...).

The new course was confirmed on Friday and we received the new runner instruction packet on Saturday at 6 pm.

Upon checking in at 7 am this Sunday morning, I asked Andre how muddy the trails were going to be and he replied it shouldn't be bad as the Rangers had recently graded the trails so the water could flow over. And then it started pouring rain while I stayed in the car until 10 minutes before the start. Hmm, that was getting really interesting, again, nothing I've seen at Ohlone over the past 12 years (that was my 12th run over 13 years as I missed 2014 to fly to Max's graduation that year after running and winning Silver State 50-mile). Andres was nice to keep the option of asking for a special bib number upon registering; knowing local Scott Trummer and 2017 and 2018 champ was returning, I asked for 3 (my 2018 finish) or 12 (for 12th run) and got 12. I assume I wasn't meant to get an 11th podium this year... (The only time I didn't make the podium was in 2016 when I finished 4th, 15 seconds behind Rémi Delille, that was close!)

Anyway, on the start line, I openly admitted that this wasn't going to be my year. For one thing, I'm rather tired after running 7 major races the past 6 weekends: the 100K Road Nationals 2 days before Boston (although I dropped at 80K/50 miles with asthma in freezing temperatures), Boston, Napa Half Trail Marathon, Big Sur Marathon, Miwok 100K and Quicksilver 100K last week, phew! Crazy schedule with two last-minute additions, the 100K Nationals and pacing at Big Sur. I've never done so much hard back to back racing over 7 consecutive weekends, and I'm of course not getting younger.... Plus all the blogging and 72,000 miles flown in 3 months... Second, I still suffer from a gluteus injury which started in November. Although, after three 10-15K runs this week and extensive stretching on Thursday-Friday, I felt some good progress and was quite excited to see how it would play out this Sunday. With that my main goal was to not fall off the podium cliff too much still and assuredly win my M50-59 age group. Not only for the Pacific Association MUT Grand Prix points, but also for my 12th block of wood!

Andres sent us on park road at 8 am, under the rain. As soon as we hit the trail, it was like we were running in a creek, actually against the current. Scott quickly took the control of the race and I believed I was in 8th or 10th place. Teammate John Burton was not far behind, then a few runners I didn't know. After a few switch backs the single trail was so muddy and slippery, it was like trying to climb on a toboggan. It would have been comical and laughable if it was a group run but that was a race and it made my progression really difficult. Actually, it wasn't just me and, quickly, we closed the gap with Jon Kimura, 2nd last year, who was struggling even more than us. apparently with the wrong choice of shoes (Hoka road shoes?). Myself, I was wearing a pair of Brooks Mazana which I had used only twice in 2017 (Skyline 50K and the Golden Gate cross-country championships) and never since.

With the gluteus injury, I barely did much trail running. Besides, I focused mostly on road racing so far this season: in February, I missed our local 50K Trail Nationals in Auburn (FOURmidable 50K) as I was in Vegas, breaking the M50-54 100-mile Road American Record at the 100-mile Road Nationals. 3 weeks later, I missed Way Too Cool 50K as I was competing in the 50K Road Nationals in New York where I improved the M55-59 American Record as well. Both were mud fests and I see today's conditions mostly as a personal punishment for having attempted to escape the winter trail conditions! You see, guys and gals, it's all my fault, sorry about that... ;-)

After this painful first mile in which we gained 1,000 feet, the downhill wasn't easier either: twice I sled so much laterally that I thought I'd fly in the cows' pasture, scary! And the bad news: for every step I was sliding, either laterally, backward in the uphill or forward in the downhill, the gluteus was hurting so bad, that really got on my mind.

Finally, there was a short section before the first aid station at Welch Creek Road, mile 3, which offered good footing, plus a few hundred yards of smooth asphalt on Welch Creek Road itself. And then we were back to the mud fest for most of North loop. (Photo credit for next 3 pictures: Noah Simcoff)

Only 10 or so runners had gone through so I could still see some patches which seemed to offer some traction. Later on, it was like 100 cows had gone on the course, turning it into a really messy battle field. A posteriori, I still wonder how the Rangers authorized to use this trail because, it's no secret as of Sunday evening, we quite damaged it...

I ran most of the loop not too far behind another teammate, Stuart Taylor, Quicksilver 100K Co-RD, and another runner with a blue rain jacket (I kept my black rain jacket the whole way today as rain showers kept coming and going).

I actually passed that other runner as he made a quick stop at our second passage through Welch Creek Road aid station at mile 9, and ran the next 5 miles behind Stuart without being able to close the gap. We didn't stop at the Backpack aid station (cool to see Catra there), and I could see John not far ahead, but I lost Stuart in the Cerro Este trail and even more at Sunol as I stopped by my car to take care of some chaffing with all this humidity.

I stopped quickly at the Sunol aid station, hoping to get some Coke, to no avail, and swallowed another GU gel instead, before returning on the second loop, starting with this ugly slippery and steep uphill. It was raining but not as much as at the start, so the water stream on the trail had stopped. Instead, I let you imagine the conditions of the trail after 150 runners had gone through earlier in the morning: not pretty and really impractical. As I mentioned above, the first time it was somehow laughable, now, with tired legs, it was ugly and I had so much difficulty moving up with by left gluteus yelling at every other step. (Photo credits x2: Cynthia Chiu)

After that painful climb, I tried to push more on the slippery way down and eventually passed a runner at the bottom of Flag Hill Road. A runner not in the race, Tom Qin had pointed me in 8th place (while I thought I was in 6th), that made me 7th. Picture and video from Tom:

Alternating walking and jogging on the loop I couldn't see anyone behind for that whole loop but I could feel I was really slowing down in every uphill. As I entered this loop for the second time, I was blown away to see Scott finishing it! I had just passed mile 19, he was at 25. I told him he was amazing but I was also thinking how insanely fast that was in such conditions! And to my second surprise, he had two runners not far behind him, wow! I typically do well at Ohlone when it's super hot and others falter, but also when I have enough traction to run the uphills. Well, certainly no podium today, even the Ultrasignup ranking was going to get a big hit! From this point I tried to focus on keeping my placing and, as I stated above, win my age group. That meant keeping moving and not cramping. To this point, and I can't remember such an occurrence since I started running ultras 13 years ago, I had forgotten my S!Caps at home. Thankfully it was rather chilly today yet I was sweating under my rain jacket so I paid extra attention to drink both my GU2O/GU Brew bottles today.

Shortly after I left the Welch Road aid station for the 4th and last time, I heard some clapping and feared that must be a runner catching up. Sure enough, that runner with the blue jacket caught me in the big climb on Vista Grande Road, and I could even see a runner with a white top less than half a mile behind. Geez, top 10 today might be even more difficult than I thought. I managed to stay close behind him all the way through the Backpack Camp aid station and, like with Stuart in the morning, I lost him on the narrow Cerro Este trail. I did check several times behind me while pushing the pace on the fire road, around 7:30 min/mile finally, and managed to finish in 7th place, in 5 hours and 38 minutes, my worst Ohlone in 12 years, geez, not my conditions at all! (Photo credits: Keith Blom)

I stayed at the finish for 2 hours, seeing other runners finish and enjoying some food, including a delicious burger prepared by volunteers cooking under a canopy this year as it was still raining consistently. Scott had won in 4:24 as I could recall. Our Quicksilver Ultra Racing team did quite well with John taking 4th for his birthday, and Stuart a few minutes behind in 5th (~5:25).

Well, not quite... I wrote this post earlier this evening, while waiting to drive to SFO to pickup Agnès and Greg, on their way back from Alex's graduation this time (yes, I missed it to run Ohlone and attend the Toastmasters District 101 conference yesterday...), and before the results got published on Ultrsignup (super promptly I must say!). While Scott won in an amazing 4:26 indeed, second place was Adam Zastrow just 7 minutes behind, quite a remarkable performance to win the Masters division too! 3rd Jason Harcum, 30 minutes after Adam, then Damin Resh, 5:11, John in 5th (5:30), Stuart (5:33), Doug (5:37) and I in 8th (5:39:13, 32 more seconds than the elapsed time on my GPS, odd).

Well... and this is another update a week later, it appears that, very unfortunately, Adam made a wrong turn on the course and missed the Backpack Camp aid station and got disqualified, bumping all of us but Scott by 1 slot up. I'm still so impressed by Adam's performance as I'm sure this only accounted for a few minutes.

Also, if I lost you with this convoluted description of the loops and muddy ups and downs, here is Relive's 3D flyover. Note the elevation profile on the upper right of the animation (click on the image below, or that link).

Again, what a special/unusual edition for Ohlone but kudos to Andres and his whole team of volunteers who managed to keep the tradition alive for Year 32! Vey sincere thank to all of you, you rock!!! Keith capturing me joking with Andres right after the finish:

There were several photographers on the course, also braving the elements, I look forward to getting a few pictures to include in this post and prove you that I'm not exaggerating above when talking about the mud. Meanwhile, and to allow for another same-day report, here is one before a much needed leg wash at home...

I'll post an update later with more pictures then but, meanwhile, the crazy-super-cool-and-dedicated volunteer driving this special car challenged me to post a same day race report again, so here you are!

And with that, time to drive to SFO, then take a much deserved break, while many of you are now firing up for by goals and a few big 100-mile events for example in June and July! Stay healthy all!

Ohlone 50K 2018: late wings but just in time!

A week has passed and I wasn't able to find or make time in my tumultuous life for this race report... This is the tough part with racing on a Sunday, it doesn't leave much time for a same-day report before the start of the work week. Besides, my godfather died on Wednesday so I jumped on a plane on Thursday and here am I, in Paris, for an unexpected visit to my parents!

First, let me start by saluting co-Race Director, Chihping Fu, who stepped up to replace emeritus RD Rob Byrne, with Larry England accepting to continue on as the other co-RD. It's a huge endeavor, especially with such a point to point course through highly protected and remote areas, it takes a lot of time before and after, and many volunteers for critical tasks and places (course marking, checking of the course marking, getting the supplies at the aid stations with the help of the wilderness rangers, check-in at the start, but also at the finish, early on Sunday morning, for those taking the bus to the start, purchasing supplies, managing registrations, promoting the event, cleaning and storing supplies afterwards, ...). One more opportunity to admit that, with all my racing these past 12 years, I'm so much in debt to all these volunteers.

Back to Ohlone, my 7th race in 7 weekends but, more importantly, my favorite ultra race. Not only the 50K distance is my sweet spot (66 of my 156 ultra races) but the traditional heat at this race fits me well (I ran all editions from 2007 to 2017 but 2014, to attend Max's graduation and placed on the podium 9 out of 10, with my worst place being 4th, 15 seconds behind Rémi Delille, in 2016.

The scoop of this year's edition was that it wasn't going to be hot, darn! When I thought I had some good heat training at Quicksilver 100K a week earlier... The other big news was the return of Scott Trummer, the 2016 winner with a blazing time of 4:24. All the bets were on him, not only for the overall win, but to break Leor Pantilat's course record of 4:16, especially given the cool conditions.

It's not the first year we go through Mission Peak in the fog (see 2011 for instance), but it remained cloudy for a long time that Sunday. Despite pushing on the long climb to Rose Peak, and wearing short sleeves and my Brooks arm sleeves, I was still feeling chilly on the ridges, what a change from previous years!

Note that the whole race started with a chill for me when Chihping played a few seconds of Vangelis' Conquest of Paradise (you'll have to run UTMB to get that reference).

With that, I missed the start by one second and that was enough for Scott, in the starting blocks, to put 100 yards between us as he took on the uphill like a rocket! There were quite a few new faces in the front, a few who carefully stayed behind me but a handful who passed me to try to keep up with Scott. We start straight uphill so it's super hard to pace ourselves right off the bat.

I was actually feeling quite weak, both mentally for falling behind Scott so much already, and a dozen or so other runners, and physically too, with some tiredness in my legs. I started walking much earlier than previous years, trying to at least not lose my breath. Miriam Cater had hiked up to mile 2.5 of the course to take pictures, right at the bottom of the first switchbacks (with Marko Cater in the background, shortly before he passed me on the way up to the top of Mission Peak).

I estimated that I was in 13th position at the top of Mission Peak and, with the dense fog, I couldn't see much about what was going on in front and behind. (Next two pictures, credit Jay Hsu.)

I negotiated the rocky downhill section with extreme care, and slowness, but pushed hard afterwards, so much that I passed Marko Cater before the Laurel Loop aid station. I didn't stop there, just slowed down to tease Hollis Lenderking with "Hey Hollis, don't dare to tell me I started too fast, this time!" (in reference to Miwok, 3 weeks earlier). Assuredly, I felt really bad to be that far behind but was looking forward to the long descent where my road running skills help. I actually passed 3 runners on the way down to Sunol, with a couple of miles below 7 minutes.

Getting into Sunol, I was focused on making eye contact with a bin to drop the packet of GU gel I had just ingested so I barely saw the volunteers, only Anil Rao; my bad and apologies for flying by like a stranger, but I was on a mission (pun intended) to limit the gap with the front runners. At this point, I was still thinking I was on 13-4=9th place.

For the next climb, I recall feeling stressed by my inability not only to break from the 3 runners 1/4 or mile behind me, but not seeing anyone in front either. I did push harder in the super steep hill after the Backpack Area aid station, actually intrigued by the trail we were using this year, not going through Hawks Nest, but to the left side (still a similar climb); at least that effort seemed to have taken care of my immediate pursuers, phew!

Now, I was asking the trail gods or Indian spirits to show me a sign that I was still in the Ohlone race and, finally, I saw one runner ahead as I was approaching the Goat Rock aid station, half-way at mile 15. Well, it was Dan Burke who was testing out his knee and had started early so, after getting help from Dennis Connor and the aid station crew, I left as quickly as possible to continue the hunt.

Julia catching me as I was getting to Goat Rock.

And Robert Spencer, a mile or so later:

After some walking in the last 2 miles before the top of Rose Peak, I finally saw a runner exiting the summit loop as I was entering it. That was Nate Seltenrich and he was followed by Adam Zastrow and I think Nate Meiners or Matt Giusti. I exited the loop 8 minutes behind Nate Seltenrich and 6 minutes after Adam; with 11 more miles to go, there was still some hope!

I didn't stop at the next aid station (Maggie's Half Acre) and rushed the following downhills while trying to walk most of the uphills. With that, I took me less than 2 miles to close the gap with Matt and it was a big surprise for me to learn he was in 6 or 7th. Given the slow start, as much as I didn't want to fall off the podium, I would have taken 6th place. But with that news came some new wings and, not stopping at the water-only station, Stewart's Camp, I was now seeing 2 runners in font; I was quite happy to get back in the race and also to see teammate Nina Giraudo who was checking the course marking for us (she was supposed to run but DNS as she was just back from an ankle injury; ironically, she ended up running most of the course, at quite a fast pace!). These 2 pictures from Nina:

We were at mile 24 when I passed these two runners and, a mile later, I saw another runner leaving Schlieper Rock as I was getting to that aid station: that was getting really exciting! And hot, so I took the time to get some ice and water before rushing into Williams Glutch.

Rushing is actually not a good term as I was actually super slow and extra careful. The last thing I wanted to do was slip or trip and fall in the abundant poison oak in that section. I was so slow that I didn't feel I could take the time to enjoy the creek at the bottom and, climbing back on the other side, I couldn't see the runner ahead anymore but... now another runner about 2 minutes behind, yikes!

I wouldn't say that gave me more or longer wings but certainly more will to keep pushing, at least to avoid losing a spot hardly fought for. So much that I eventually saw Adam again and caught him just before the last down hill, as well as Nate Seltenrich, just before the ultimate aid station, Stromer Spring. (Photo credit Don Jedlovic)

Although this is one of my favorite stations, with the overflowing spring, I had told Agnès that I will only stop there if I had time. Here is the best place to soak in on hot years, 2 miles from the finish:

Well, definitely not this year, with Adam and Nate on my heels! They are both tall so I suspected that they'd fly down the last 2 miles. Thankfully, as opposed to uphill, downhill running was my forte that Sunday and I used my late wings to go as fast as possible.

Before the last turn into the finish, I passed Catra Corbett who was finishing her 200-mile run, with a personal best for her tradition, of 86 hours!

Remembering the 15-second gap with Rémi, 2 years ago, I sprinted to the finish, super happy to get on the podium again, for the 10th time (1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 1, 1, 1, 4, 1, 3, what a series!). With that, I need to come back again!

Photo finish, credit to Miriam Cater again.

Meanwhile, Scott had indeed won with a time of 4:31, having a second half harder than the first.

And Jonathan Kimura took 2nd in 4:48.

My time was 5:06, and I felt sorry for not taking advantage of the cooler conditions for a faster time, yet happy to take another big block of wood home, this is such a great and unique trophy! (Photo credit: Emi Yasaka)

With teammate, Dr. Mark Tanaka, photo credit: Miriam Cater.

I'm very grateful to Agnès for driving me to the start, and then picking me up at the finish. This time, instead of hiking to the top of Mission Peak, she explored the last 3 miles of the course, and back, and was impressed with the wilderness and views.

If you got confused about the course in my text above, here is a cool 3D flyover of this point to point course, from Fremont to Livermore (click on that link, or the image below).

After her 200-mile feat, and looking fresher than most of us who had only run 31 miles, Catra was selling and signing her first and new book: Reborn on the Run, My Journey from Addictions to Ultramarathons (I had the privilege to interview Catra during her 100th 100-miler, 5 years ago).

Still on my Keto/OFM diet (6 months and counting!), my recovery meal was made of some beef and salad. While I used 5 or 6 GU gels during the race, cutting on carbs right after the race helps getting a prompt recovery.

That was the end of a 7-weekend race series and I was looking forward to a one weekend break before my next race which happens to be a 24-hour on June 1 and 2 in San Francisco. One DNF at American River, a counter-performance at Boston but the 5 other races were pretty good, with some good hill training at last!

Speaking of back to back, the hero of the day in this register was our team captain, Loren Lewis, who ran Ohlone the day after finishing the grueling SilverState 50-mile the day before! And if you think the difficulty is only about the miles and cumulative elevation, think of the associated logistic for getting in two places the same weekend!

Again, huge kudos and thanks to Chihping and his crew of volunteers which made this 31st edition such a success!

And the must needed and appreciated sponsors to, e.g. GU Energy and ZombieRunner:

Ohlone 50K 2017: back at it, to it and on it for the 30th!

Back at it: it had been 8 days since I raced an ultra, it was time to race again, albeit half the distance of my last two races in May, just 50K!

And one year has passed, time to get back to this Ohlone 50K event and local ultra tradition. Nothing will ever match my love for Agnès but, from an ultra perspective, I must confess I've had a love story with the Ohlone 50K race from day one, that is on May 20, 2007. I'm even feeling a special connection with the native Ohlone people and culture! I had run 3 ultras for my debut in 2006 (Way Too Cool 50K, Dick Collins Firetrails 50-mile, and Helen Klein 50-mile) and was lucky to get in Western States in 2007 in my first lottery. With that, I signed up for most of the Grand Prix races that year, which included this one in May, a perfect heat training opportunity.

I had no idea about the course and, after the Hawks Nest steep climb, I ended up in second place, just behind Graham Cooper. I had seen Graham winning Western States after I captured the collapse of Brian Morrison on tape, a sequence which made it into Ethan Newberry's A decade On movie (see on YouTube).

Being on Graham's heels by mile 13 on my first Ohlone was really intimidating. Or foolish. Especially when Graham suggested that I 'go ahead' and I complied. Back then, I thought that Rose Peak culminated at 5,000 feet, and that it was then downhill from the highest point of the course. While it was a great surprise when I saw my Garmin indicating only 3,700 ft and being given a bracelet at the top, proving we had reach the highest point, the last 12 miles were certainly not all downhill, yikes. I was cramping so bad but hold on my leading spot, that was my first one, and incidentally the 20th edition.

I ran all the editions except 2014, so I could attend Alex's graduation at Georgetown that Sunday (but I ran Silver State 50-mile, and won it, so I have a special connection with that weekend of May...). And last year was the first time I had missed the podium, finishing 4th overall, mere 15 seconds behind Remi Delille. Overall, I was 1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 1, 1, 1, 4. 5 wins, and 6th this year from an UltraSignup ranking.

In addition to being my 10th Ohlone, 2017 was really special at it was the 30th anniversary!

After 5 am for Miwok 2 weeks ago and 4:30 an last week at Quicksilver, I love the 8 am start. Especially as we had a dinner party last night! At least, that gives us plenty of day light to see others at the start instead of blinding each others with out headlamps. The legendary Errol 'Rocket' Jones was coming back on this course after 22 years (1995) to celebrate this special anniversary. Here he is with two super venerable ultra volunteer, Stan Jensen, omni present at our local races, and Hollis Lenderking, who has presided over our Pacific Association Mountain and Ultra Trail Grand Prix for several decades.

 Ultra love in this community!

 Proud bibs 1 and 2! ;-)

While we were busy chatting, I missed the early 7 am start and had to rush up the hill to catch these pictures, a first sweat of the day!

It was already quite warm as the sun rised over Mission Peak.

Two buses this year brought the runners who had parked at the finish, which is a good idea as the city of Fremont has recently restricted parking on nearby residential street on weekends.

We got a cool Quicksilver group picture, thank you, Agnès!

Missing were John Burton (calf injury) and our team captain Loren Lewis, who made it back home by 3:30 am after running Silver State 50-mile on Saturday in Reno then hitting some heavy traffic on highway 80 on the way back. So long for a crazy double.

Co-Race Director, Chihping Fu, sent us on the first climb after providing some instructions, in particular some course change which I didn't understand, and after an abrupt count down of 3 seconds, phew! ;-)

This year, Agnès went on to climb to the top of Mission Peak. She made it by the straight route in 1:03, Nordic walking and fast enough to pass the back of the pack on the way, then take pictures of a few runners coming down from the top on the back side.

On my end, I ran the first mile in 2nd place then decided to power walk the steepest sections, so steep that walking barely made a difference from running. I got passed by 2 other runners who I passed again before the switchbacks in the 3rd mile. Thanks to a excellent course marking, we couldn't miss the course change which got us climbing hard on the left side of the original course.

Here are two pictures from I-Tao Tsai, just before the top of Mission Peak.

I was about 60 seconds behind the lead runner at the summit when I got passed by 4 runners on the short but super tricky rocky and steep downhill section afterwards, where I took a bad fall last year so I was extra cautious. You can see how careful and slow I was in Jeremy Johnson's video, below. And notice how they are throwing hikers at us, against the current! ;-)

I caught up with these runners in the next single track section, on the other side of Mission Peak and charged ahead at the next fire road, flying through the first aid station. thanking the volunteers but without even looking at them to avoid tripping and this washed out section. I clocked a pair of 6:30 miles on the long down hill. I was surprised at how much poison oak there was, and stunned when I even saw course marking ribbons on two branches of poison oak, I had never seen this before, that's hard core course marking!

I could still point the lead runner, shirtless, 60 seconds ahead at the road crossing, mile 7, and was fine with that. I stopped at the Sunol aid station, mile 9, to get ice in my water bottle, pick of piece of banana (a good yellow today, thank you Larry and Chihping!) and cup of coke. And one S!Caps and salted caramel GU gel since they were available on the buffet (thank you for sponsoring, GU Energy and Succeed!).

I passed a few early start runners in the next climb, alternating again some walking and running. Even with this regimen the gap with the lead runner wasn't changing. I was impressed how he kept running everything in the uphill, that reminded me of my early years on this course! I was checking who was coming behind but it was hard to tell with the winding trail. I got closer to the lead as we approached the Backpack Area aid station at mile 12.5. So cool to be helped again by Chuck Wilson who was already volunteering at Miwok (Randall Trail aid station Captain) and Quicksilver last week on Bull Run. Here am I, photo credit to Chuck, wisely spending a few seconds making my mind on what to pick from this rich and diverse buffet.

After another good refreshing stop, I walked most of the climb to Hawk Nest (a toughie) and watered my head at the faucet, quickly to save the precious water. By mile 14, I caught up with the top runner who asked how i was feeling and I asked the same. He let me pass and I kept pushing the pace a little on that section that I used to run entirely 10 years ago. But I was feeling some nagging cramps coming so I did some walking too. By mile 16 I had created a half-mile gap and kept pushing, fearing that, with all this walking, the pursuit group would quickly catch-up. I made it to the top, surprising the two volunteers tasked with the distribution of bracelets to prove we passed by the summit. One of them asked "Are you a runner?" and and I joked back "Do I look like one?" to which he replied "Oh yes, you are!" A nice distraction from the leg pain, thank you for being out there, guys!

I rushed down the rocky trail to finish the 1-mile loop just in time to see the pursuit group charging up. I estimated my lead to be close to 10 minutes, with 12 miles to go. One one hand, being in the lead was giving me some mental wings, on the other, I was fearing the last miles given the nascent cramping. I got a lot of ice in my bottles, refilling my GU2O bottle in particular, which was kind of late in the race (I should have done it at mile 15), and that, less electrolyte, was probably the explanation for the cramps, although I was doubling up on the S!Caps. Fortunately, by drinking more, GU2O and water, the cramps passed and I was able to run sub 7 min miles on the downhills at least.

On one of these downhills, as I approached a creek (it has been a long time since I've since so many running creeks at this race!), I ran into a cloud of large bugs which I couldn't identified. I was really hoping they wouldn't bite because there was really nothing I could do to avoid them. On the next climb, I looked at my top, it was covered with lady bugs, that was a first for me!

I kept alternating running and power walking on the climbs and, after not stopping by the self-service water stop at Stewart's Camp, looked behind on the next climb but couldn't see any other runner within 8 minutes. I got to Schlieper Rock and was welcome there by Race Director, Larry England. After 4 hours of running, I told Larry "We are so slow this year" and he replied "It doesn't matter since you in first place!" With my pessimistic nature, and with all the walking, I indeed felt I was way behind my times of the last years. Besides, we still had 5 tough miles to go and I was convinced this would take more than an hour.

The next section consists in a steep downhill to a creek which I used to enjoy when I was more agile and fearless. The slippery switchbacks, the rocks, the poison oak, that was a lot to handle at once and I have to admit I put way too much on the brakes. I was so glad to finally reach the creek and soaked my cap in the running water which was dearly missing last year. I felt pathetic in the next and last climb to the ridge, but resolute to keep pushing to preserve the lead. I was doing great on the ridge when, checking behind, I saw a runner in the distance. That gave me a surge of adrenaline as I was approaching the long downhill to the finish. I had wished so much that I had some time to stop Stromer Spring this year, to get my head in the bath tub there, but I just flew through the station, pushing as hard as I could.

I got to the finish sprinting like I was trying to escape from a mountain lion. Yet, with the eyes on the clock which was marking... 4:59:30 when I crossed the finish line. Wow, that was close! I was exhausted by this last surge though and asked to sit in a chair. Agnès was worried and not happy to see me like that.

4 pictures from teammate Keith Blom who had run the Silver State 50-mile on Saturday and was now covering the finish line with his photographic skills.

Catra stopped by, she had just completed 200 miles on this course over 67 hours, just as a personal challenge, ultra has really no limit!

The second runner came in 10 minutes later and it was Rémi Delille who beat me by 15 seconds last year and whom I had not recognized, oops. We had a short chat about his UTMB race last year as I'm going there myself this year. Born in France, Rémi grew up on the East Coast and now lives in California.

In third was John Schmid, from Oakland. Here is the Men Ohlone 2017 podium:

And with Chihping and former Race Director, Rob Byrne.

From our Quicksilver team, Stuart Taylor took 8th.

And he ran with his team jersey, here he is after the top of Mission Peak.

Nina Giraudo (#89) finished 6th and Tiffany Trevers (pink top below, followed by her husband David) took 8th while Kat Powell dropped again unfortunately, making us score only in the Men and Mixed this time.

It took me a while to be ready to get a juicy hamburger from Chef Eric England, Larry's son, who has cooked for us for the past 6 years! And, it was hot today on the trails, it was even hotter next to the grill!

6th win out of 10 editions, including the 20th run in 2007 and this 30th one, the love story continued again this year. Now, I know that I can thank quite a few faster runners who decided not to run this year, that helped! I actually felt embarrassed that this would be the slowest winning time in 30 years but Gary Wang's RealEndurance.com website actually lists 4 slower winner times (Kevin Rumon in 2000 in 5:07, Mike Topper in 2001 with 5:13, Graham Cooper's 5:19 in 2005 and my 5:05 in 2015). Fortunately not so shameful in this heat.

Given the low key nature of the event, the point to point course, and the remoteness of several aid stations requiring hauling by the Park Rangers, this is a race which always blows my mind from an organization standpoint, and the commitment of the teams of volunteer in particular. We, runners, are so fortunate to have all these volunteers giving us their day, weekend and more, so we cn enjoy this very special Ohlone trail between Fremont in the Bay, to the remote Del Valle park in Livermore. See this overall map situating the Ohlone trail in the Bay Area.

And a look at the course profile from my Strava dashboard.

A very special thank to all these volunteers then, and kudos to Larry and Chiphing for organizing this 30th edition with much professionalism, care and success! Thank you also for the nice schwag.

In the hurry of leaving to the airport, I couldn't find last year's top, here are 9 of my Ohlone rainbow collection.

And thank you to the race sponsors which include a few of my favorite products too (e.g. GU Energy, Succeed, Zombie Runners).

Back to the title, super stoked to be back on it, meaning the podium, this was beyond my wildest dreams. I'm now taking a few weeks off competition, phew! My next race is in July, my second attempt at the grueling Montagn'Hard 107K which will be a good training and test for UTMB on 9/1.

Like in 2012, albeit for a much shorter flight, I had just enough time for a quick shower before heading up to SFO on Sunday evening (in 2012 is when I flew to Dubai right after the race and we had already boarded when I received a call from the Park Rangers who were trying to contact Pierre-Yves' wife after his heat stroke and helicopter rescue). This time it was just Austin, TX, but the flight got delayed because of the fog over SFO and I made it to my hotel room by 2 am this Monday morning. It's an ultra busy life out there... Got a few nice views of the City by the Bay and the delta.

I haven't seen the overall results as I post this race report, but hope everybody made it home safely this year. Take care all, and see you on the trails!