Today marked a return to our 2025 MUT season starter with the No Hands Trail Half in Auburn, aka the world capital of endurance. We had a reasonable success last year for a first inclusion in our Grand Prix with 41 individuals and 8 teams scoring. We'll see what the scoring shows this year: while Pamakids came in force again with 24 members, Excelsior should score 2 teams, Tamalpa and Lake Merritt, one each, I'm afraid we'll come short compared to last year.
Like last year, the weather was great, at least it wasn't raining. The way the start line is set provides an ideal perspective with the sunrise, at the time the 50K and 35K start (7:30, whereas the half starts at 8 am).
A few major differences from last year, weather wise. First, it was much colder this year, just a few degrees above freezing. But no wind at least. Second, it had rained a lot a week ago, with heavy wind in some canyons. Thanks to the dry week, there wasn't too much mud or water on the trail. A couple of fallen trees though.
As I was warming up on a nearby trail, I ran into the local 200+ miler legend, and Quicksilver teammate, Martin Sengo (I would see him again at the No Hands Bridge aid station on the way out).
I thought I was slightly better positioned for the start yet the first section felt slow as we formed a mini conga line through the first 1.5 mile. As I was picking up the pace on the first fire road, with two runners close behind, I badly twisted my right ankle, the foot twisting so much that the external malleolus touched the ground, yikes! It used to happen a lot when I was running more in the mountains and I found that the best treatment is to keep running while the ankle is warm so I kept going and pretending nothing happened. And it worked again, phew!
Sam Cooper, from the Pamakids, passed me before No Hands and we traded places up on the grueling K2. We caught up with another runner, and passed him, along with a dozen of 35K and 50K runners. After K2, we passed more runners on the flatter section and I could see the lead gal ahead but was unable to narrow the gap. I wasn't in the same combative spirit as last year when I was running that tough course for the first time --I've run these trails many times, but not as a half. Without a reference last year, I just wanted to finish under 2 hours. A goal I almost hit, if it wasn't to discover that the course is closer to 13.7 if not 13.8 miles... getting me to miss that mark by 6 minutes last year. I was still rebuilding after my 7-month meniscus tear break in 2024; this year, after a strong 2025, I was hoping to hit 2 hours then. It felt like a good and reasonable resolution, not a wild dream...
As I was carefully trying to navigate a tricky rocky section going down the Western States Trail after Cool, I got passed by a flying runner. I used to be really fast in technical downhills but I'm too scared now, not being as agile as I used to be, and having taken some bad falls, here and in the Alps. Besides, without the presence of Cliff (Lentz) and Brian (Sterling) this year, and no other M60 on the entrants list with high UltraSignup scores, I didn't feel the urge or need to kill myself to win my age group this year. Also, now knowing the difficult of the last miles, I already knew, before returning to No Hands Bridge, that I wouldn't break 2 hours for sure this year.
With the loss of motivation, I must have slowed down more and Sam passed me before the No Hands Bridge aid station. Then William Dai around mile 11 on the Riverview Trail, to his surprise to caught up with me. William is so caring for all of us, he got quite concerned for me, that something was really off. Out of gas, I struggled in the last climb and crossed the finish line in a time of 2:12:41, versus 2:06:25 last year. I was already disappointed last week, albeit less surprised given the lack of fitness, I was border upset this year. But again, with all the walking, it's a fair time. As a matter of facts, only 5 broke 2 hours this time with Excelsior sweeping the podium: David Tran, 1:46:45, Spencer Hoffman, 1:46:50 and Max Kam, 1:55:10! Plus Karl Schnaitter placing 6th.
Age group wise, I was quite surprised to discover I only took 2nd. I haven't met Drew Coughlin too often, congrats to him for a great run on his local trails, clocking 2:10:24. Ahh, these 6 minutes I didn't have in me this time... But great to have good age group competition right off the bat in 2026!
Last year, Shiran was taking pictures of all us as he was too much in pain with damaged knees. A year later I returned the favor as he is fully back with two bionic knees! Impressive and inspiring resilience!
As the sun was bathing the finish area, I spent 2.5 hours catching up with other Pacific Association members. And that allowed us to cheer other finishers coming in. With Shiran, and Charlene, our MUT 2024 Volunteer of the Year, just after her finish (she took second to Carol Preisig of Tamalpa in the W70 age group).
I didn't stop at any aid station but special thank you to the volunteers there, as well as the course monitors posted at several critical turns. Speaking of which, I have to apologize profusely to one 50K runner whom I thought had missed a turn as we were running on the Cool plateau, thinking they should have gotten on the blue ribbons after K2 (my bad for still not getting that blue ribbons mean "bad" with Inside Trails Racing, versus more classical stripped or dotted ribbons with other organizations). I hope I didn't derail his race...
Thank you to the other volunteers at the check-in table, and the finish, and those working behind the scene. And thank you to Race Director, Craig, for being everywhere and doing everything, including some cooking!
Excellent sunny way to start the season. As a reminder, we (USATrack&Field Pacific Association) have two distinct MUT (Mountain, Ultra, Trail) series this year: that was the first of 6 events in the SHORT one (6 sub-ultra trail races). In 3 weeks, we start the LONG one with Jed Smith 50K, first of 9 events. Details in my December blog announcement. See you at many of these races then!
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