Enigmatic title, isn't it? Or philosophical, maybe. I have to say that, since I lost my job and transitioned into slighly-earlier-than-planned retirement, life has certainly changed significantly. To make the matter more pressing, I seem to be even more aware of and sensitive to all the changes which don't appear positive. Kind of depressing these days... Without bringing up the messed up politics in the US and around the world, I've been particularly stunned to see how fast our planet is warming, going through three canicule episodes during our 6 weeks in France, and seeing how fast the glaciers are retreating over Chamonix during our 10 days there. I'm still trying to digest and thinking of writing about this as well.
Anyway, short of a same day race report which I was so used to do upon the time pressure of my executive job, let's try to at least do a same week one, for a little... change (I started writing my San Francisco Half Day race report on the next day, 2 months ago, but still have to complete it. And I still haven't written my February Jackpot 100-mile Nationals account...).
Ironically, the Skyline 50K race could be a symbol of stability, having run since 1982. That being said, even the course has significantly... changed over the 20 years I ran it (this year was my 17th) and most especially these past years. Some may remember I got mad about the new course last year, yet still amazed that I managed to set a new course record for our M60 age group in 4:47 last year, despite what I believe to be a much harder and technical course. These days, it has become much harder to break 4 hours and, until we get back to the original fire roads, my 3:52 M50 record might hold for a few years.
Now, apart for the course, Adam does an amazing job at limiting change by preserving most of the essence of this event: the aid stations manned by long time and experienced ultra runners (e.g., Dusty Bottoms and Pamakids clubs), the finish line party and open buffet, an early start option for those challenged with the 9-hour cut-off. Oh, and even the t-shirt design highlighting the original event logo (poor Adam who, upon taking over the race direction, 15 years ago, dared to create a new design, only to get my push back...).
On the change topic, there is also the community. Skyline is renowned for being an accessible 50K for rookies, hence the new faces we see every year, including new speedsters. At the same time, Adam, always respectful of traditions and our local ultra history, makes a lot of efforts to recognize the multi-year participants. First by keeping and publishing a list (see spreadsheet), second by offering custom designed awards for every 5-year multiple. Overall, as of last year, there has been 3,822 different participant names, for 7,009 finishes overall: quite a few returns! With my future move back to France, I'll have to plan a few trips to make the coveted 20-year club! (Only two have made it so far, Joe Swenson with 21 in 2021, and Charles Savage with 21 too, this year!)
Beyond the new comers and returning participants, there are those we lost. This year's edition was dedicated to a very special ultra member, one who actually directed the race in 2002, 2003 and 2004, and ran the event 8 times, out of 119 race results listed in UltraSignup: Ken Gregorich. Ken died tragically, being victim of one of these too frequent car-bike crashes, this March 2026, at only 67... We ran a few of the same races when I debuted in ultra in 2006 (Miwok, American River, Ohlone, Western States, Skyline), Ken was quite a role model, so supportive yet competitive and inspiring. Yet another change and huge loss for our community. Adam shared a few words in his pre-race briefing, and a short minute of silence, in the presence of Ken's wife, Carola, and son, and granddaughter.
I was going to include Glenn Tachiyama's picture of Ken at Western States 2006, after getting his permission, but I found these in my own album, as I was the Captain at Last Chance that year. Ken (#47) with Whit Rambach.
Carola is actually inviting all of us to get back to this Skyline start/finish area at Lake Chabot, to celebrate Ken's life, on Sunday October 11, the day after Ruth Anderson Memorial Ultras (RSVP on the event page). Donations can be made in Ken's memory on the Runners for Public Lands page. And until we meet again in Ken's memory, you can read this obituary from Lawrence Livermore. And get a mini glimpse of Ken's scientific expertise from this interview:
With Carola and Adam, at the finish.
And now switching to the other side of the spectrum, thew new faces: I had noticed one familiar name in the entrants list, and in my age group no less, a former ILOG colleague on my team, I hadn't met for 35 years! Here with Laurent (Theulier), on the parking lot before the start.
And now switching to the race itself.
Jennifer Ray, Carola and her granddaughter were manning the check-in table. As I mentioned above, an early start was provided, at 6 am:
The rest of us started at 7, a good crowd, although the race didn't fill this year!
I certainly miss the years I was running up front, clocking sub 7-minute miles on the first miles of paved road along the lake. This time I was just happy with a few 8-minute miles, with probably already 25 runners ahead of me as I hit the first big climb.
I had just spent 10 days in Chamonix so was ready for a few hills. Splits show me in 17th overall at the first aid station, Clyde Woodridge, at mile 4. Here is a shot from expert photographer, Esther Ramos, from her album, courtesy of Scena Performance.
I didn't stop at Bort Meadows and felt I had a decent climb to the ridge, even passing a couple of runners in the subsequent downhill to Big Bear, which I also skipped, carrying my usual bottles of water and GU Energy Brew.
The trouble started on the steep way up to Moon Gate. Steam and Tres Sendas trails is that section we used to fly down when coming back from Skyline Gate, instead of climbing, a huge difference!
I got my water bottle refilled at Moon Gate, picked a couple of pieces of banana and watermelon and headed down to the technical Madrone trail, my least favorite section of this new course. I was pleased though that we turned on French as opposed to going all the way down like last year. Yet, despite the appropriate name, I struggled on the rolling French trail with tired legs and probably some unbalance in my hydration and electrolytes. I didn't realize it much in this shady section, speaking of change and global warming, it was a warm edition, if not hot. There has been years we didn't see the sun --that race had an "above the fog" tag line at some point-- but definitely not this year, it was sunny all day!
I started walking on the climb after Big Bear, then way too much on the fire road up to Marciel Road. What a change a year makes, this is the section I made back so much time with a few 7-minute miles, on my way to that age group record (another picture, credit to Esther Ramos photography, on Brandon Trail). This time I felt so empty that Stan Jensen welcomed me at Marciel with a fitting "straight out of the grave..." Yikes, how right he was!
I grabbed some ice in my bottles and my hat, I was much in need of cooling off, so much that I even walked in the subsequent downhill. I got passed by a couple of runners that I believed could have been in my age group. I slogged the last 2 miles along the lake at a painful 10 min/mile pace and ended with a time of 5:27, my worst performance by a lot. It's one thing not to break 4 hours anymore, but very disappointing to even miss 5 hours, by so much. Another trend and change not to like...
This year's winner, Nick Reshetnikov, was actually the only one to break 4 hours, with a time of 3:52 (my 2014 time at 50 but, again, on a faster course). Here with Nick:
For his second trail race, and first 50K, Laurent did amazing, clocking 5:58 and getting second place in our age group. He didn't win the rookie award, a Firetrail 50-mile entry, but I'm still impressed!
I left after staying for 3 hours after my finish. The next day I managed to run 20K but I still felt so tired. Then 3 days hiking in the Sierras (Mammoth Lakes, Yosemite), which provided a good break to recover. Luciano, in his comfortable chair, stayed until our teammates Keith and Marco finished, so nice of him!
Thank you to all the volunteers who managed to keep all of us safe in this heat, precious presence along the course. Special mention to the radio folks and course monitors at strategic points. And to the chef who cooked so many burgers!
That was Skyline #17 for me, ultra race #215, ultra finish #198, and 50K #86. I hope to be back next year, international traveling and scheduling permitting. And I hope the planet and world will have cooled off a bit by then, both literally on the geophysical side, and figuratively on the political end...
