Bobcat sighting!

Christine Birch was in town over the weekend and she organized a group run to catch up with everyone and get to have some pizza and brew afterward at Lucky 13.  There are always lots of deer and elk up on Highland Valley and Cobb Trails this time of year so I suggested we go there.  The only drawback was it was a bit rainy which meant Homestead trail would be muddy and we would have to run two miles of greenbelt to get to Highland Valley.  Most trail runners avoid the greenbelt like the plague but everyone was a good sport about it.

I needed some extra miles this day so I showed up early and ran a 10 mile loop alone.  It was dark when on was on the greenbelt and I thought I saw an animal cross my path when I saw some green eyes.  I was a bit leery since Derek was blasted by a skunk somewhere around here several years back but then it turned and appeared to be a coyote.  When we came back through with the larger group I was looking around to see if the coyote was still hanging around and notice this in the trees.

You can see how well camouflaged it is and I could hardly believe my eyes!  It was a very large bobcat and had apparently just plopped down in the tree after I passed it.  We all stopped and snapped pictures them moved on.  

Our run was fun.  No mud with lots of deer and elk.  Then on the way back we looked in the tree again just to see if the bobcat was still there and it was! Crazy.  I was sure it was protecting young or something since they are normally nocturnal but who knows.  It was fun to catch a glimpse of such a cool animal.  This picture was from the second time we saw it and was taken from the greenbelt with a cell phone.

Dailymile 2015 Year End Report

Another great year in the bag.  I didn't have the best race results but I never felt like I was over training or injured.  If anything, I was under trained for race specific conditions.  My best race all year was the Foothills Frenzy 50k on October 3rd with a time 5:39.  It was my fastest time by five minutes and my fifth time doing the race.  The course was a bit shorter than previous years so it wasn't quite a PR but I'll take it.  The best part about it was the fact that I ran the Bear 100 seven days before this and had a pretty solid day finishing in 28:55.  I went into the Frenzy (like I do every year) crossing my fingers for a good day and taking what the day gives me since I have usually just run a 100 miler in the previous weeks.  It kind of made me wonder what I could do in a 50k if I was rested and tapered!  I bet this year, minus Bear, I could have shaved 20+ minutes off.

Time to come up with some new goals for 2016!
Last year's report

Terrariums and Fossils

It is difficult to pinpoint when my love of the mountains and being outdoors began but I was reminded of one time in particular on a recent run with my friend Christie.  As with many long runs in the mountains conversation end up all over the place at some point she was talking about a terrarium which brought me back to when I was a kid.

For those of you not lucky enough to be an 80's kid they were essentially a glass box that you put plants, dirt and rocks in.  We had two hexagon versions (similar to the picture) that were at both ends of the couch in the front room and were used like side tables with a lamp on them.  Each week one of the chores in the house was to dust them and carefully remove the top for watering.  I don't recall when they were finally removed but in the bottom of one of them was a very special piece of shale.

In the summer of 1982 our family went to Great Basin National Park in eastern Nevada.  We were there for the annual Anderson family reunion.  While we were there we had fun camping and exploring Lehman Caves.  One day during our stay my mom decided she had had enough of staying in camp and watching kids.  She told my dad she was going out for a hike and on her way out I asked if I could come.  I don't recall the exact conversation but as a parent of 4 children myself I imagine it went something like this....

I am not sure you understand what 'Mom' time is, Ryan.  It is where Mom's leave and spend time alone to relax and get away from everything...like kids.  

I was relentless and wanted to go though.  She ended up telling me I could come but she wasn't going to put up with any complaining or whining.  Check, let's go!

I don't recall what we talked about or what the trail was really like but I do remember how much fun I had spending time with my mom.  Since it was just the two of us it made me feel special that I got to go and I wasn't going to ruin it by being a whiner.  I was 8 and don't recall that I was a big whiner anyway but she would the definitive source on facts like that.  While we were out we found this piece of shale that had a small plant fossilized in it.  It was quite a find and we had fun showing it to everyone when we got back.  This piece of shale was placed in the terrarium in our house when we returned it was a weekly reminder for me of the fun time we had for years.

Me and Dad

During our trip, there was a group of us that climbed Wheeler Peak which is near the campground where we stayed.  There were two kids that made it to the top that day.  I was 8 and my cousin Pam was 9.  It was a gorgeous hike and the view from the top was amazing.  It was the end of July and there was still snow all around.  While I was looking up information on Great Basin National Park and Wheeler Peak I realized that it is the highest point in the surrounding 180,000 square miles at 13,063 feet. Not bad for an 8 year old!

When I topped out at 11,000 feet at Speedgoat in 2012 I thought that was the highest I had ever been in the mountains.  Going into the race I wasn't sure how my body would react.  I felt great afterwards and came to the conclusion that some people are ok with high altitude and some aren't for whatever reason.  I have lived in Boise most of my life at about 2,700 feet so 13,000 was a big jump that day.

Top of the world that day

Pocatello 2 - Ryan 0 Chasing the Cutoffs at the Scout Mtn Ultra Trail 100k

Sunrise on the first climb up Corral Creek

Fun times in the mountains outside of Pocatello, Idaho on Saturday.  I had been sick all week and wasn't sure what to expect.  I thought I was doing a good job of pacing and keeping my effort level under control in the first third while I cruised along with my friend Lyndon who was doing his very first ultra.  When I got to the mile 26 aid station I figured I was about middle of the pack.  I sat down to organize my pack and heard one of the volunteers say there were only 8 more runners after me.

Ridge running before dropping into Gibson Jack

My comfortable pace had me nearly at the end and then to make matters worse on the next big climb I just had zero gas. I was fueling and hydrating fine but the effects of getting over a cold left me feeling really blah.  I didn't put it together at the time but I had also kicked a few rocks and roots on the way down to the City Creek aid station that must have pulled a muscle in my stomach when I tried to keep myself from hitting the ground.  Whatever happened, the result was pain in my abdomen that made downhill running almost non-existent.  

The Wall, The Gut, or The Barkley section in City Creek

I essentially walked all of the easy sweet downhill from Kinport Peak to the Midnight Creek aid station and from there to the West Fork aid station. I was really frustrated because this is where you need to be making good time.  People were passing me so I knew I was getting closer and closer to last place with 25+ miles to go that includes a 10 mile uphill stretch.  I resigned myself to the fact that I would surely get cut at the West Fork aid station since I was moving so slow and because I didn't have a headlamp at the right aid station.  The races rules said anyone leaving Scout Mountain aid station (mile 46) after 5pm had to have a headlamp.  Before the race I put my headlamp in my Big Fir aid station (mile 56) drop bag.  Miraculously I got to West Fork aid station (mile 41) at 4:50 just ten minutes before the cutoff.

At West Fork I asked the volunteers if I was in last place and they said I wasn't which was a relief because for the past hour I was sure they were all waiting for me and I had been planning to drop out of the race.  With 10 minutes to spare they were all pumped to get me refueled and back out on the trail which was kind of perplexing since I hadn't planned to continue.  Once I made up my mind to continue the aid station captain told me I had to stay for a few minutes.  I stood up and put my pack on and asked why?  She said I was not making sense and stumbling on my words (totally true).  I explained the reason I wasn't making sense is because I was originally going to quit and then was trying to shift gears and wrap my head around continuing!

Several miles before West Fork aid station

I asked anyone if they had a headlamp I could borrow and no one did so I was just going to go to the next aid station and ask them.  If they did...I would continue.  If not...I would be done.  It was my fault and I didn’t have time to stand there complaining.  I just didn't want to give up on myself if there was still a chance.  Just then Luke Nelson, the RD, came up and asked how I was feeling.  I said I was doing OK and needed a headlamp.  He asked the same group of people for a headlamp and someone gave him one which was funny.  I was already on the trail so he said he would go back and get it and run it up to me.  It was also funny to see him riding a single speed beach cruiser looking bike up the trail to meet me.

The six miles before West Fork I struggled to maintain an average of 24 minute miles that had an average downhill of 220 feet per mile and I knew that wouldn't cut it so I tried running uphill when I left the aid station.  There was less jarring on my stomach and I ended up running about half of the

10 mile uphill.  In the 5 miles to the Scout Mountain aid station and I cut my mile pace from 24 to 17 and went from 220 feet per mile of descent to 360 feet per mile of gain.  It made no sense but I was determined to do what I could to make sure I made it to the end.

Once I popped out of the trees and onto the exposed road up to the top of Scout Mountain I had cell coverage.  Michelle and I exchanged a number of text messages and she cheered me on which was much appreciated.  I ended up doing about 40 miles of the race solo so it was nice to have a little ‘company’ while I hiked.  (Power hiking through rocks and texting is not advised)  I had to put the phone away once I crested the top though because the downhill off of Scout Mountain is insanely steep for a short bit but then turns into the nicest switchback trail leading into Big Fir aid station.  I wasn’t lighting the trail on fire with my downhill speed but was surprised and happy with being able to uphold a respectable pace while dodging the many ankle biter rocks that seemed to always be rolling under my feet. 

Looking south from the backside of Scout Mountain

Surprisingly, I was making good enough time that I didn’t need the borrowed headlamp until right before Big Fir.  It was a PrincetonTec (POS model I believe) and it was almost bright enough to see my hand 3 feet in front of my forehead.  I was grateful that a total stranger loaned it to me and thankful the sunset gave me just enough help that I didn’t need it.  As I was rolling into the final aid station I was pretty sure I was in last place now since I left West Fork with two minutes to spare and no other runners came in while I was there.  The volunteers confirmed that I was.  They still had hot perogies and baby potatoes sautéed in butter which was amazing.  I finished them off with one of Karl Meltzer’s Red Bulls and headed out.  As I was leaving I asked Karl if this kind of performance would get me through Speedgoat 50k in a month and he assured me that I would be fine.  Sometimes it just isn’t your day.

I had two hours and thirty minutes to run just over 6 miles so barring a complete meltdown I thought I should be able to get it done.  The finish line had a midnight cutoff so I couldn't just slog in.  The sweepers were planning on leaving right behind me to clear course markings so my goal was to stay ahead of them as long as I could and once they caught me to enjoy some much appreciated company.   I don’t know how soon they left after I did but I managed to stay ahead for a few miles.  We hiked the trail up the Nordic center together chatting away which helped pass the time and quickly reached the final descent toward the finish line.  After a short single track and dirt road section we reached the highway for the final quarter mile of pavement and cruised into the finish at a fairly decent pace.  I had about 30 minutes to spare on the final cutoff I think.  I am not exactly certain of my finish time.  Luke was there to greet me as I crossed which was nice.  He presented me my finisher award and the caboose (or DFL) prize which was a cool Patagonia Houdini jacket.

Gorgeous bookend to the wonderful day

My first ultra was the Pocatello 50+ miler in 2011 and I had my worst day ever.  I have had lots of great races since then thanks to the many lessons I learned that day.  This day was worse…but I just couldn’t quit on myself.   I love setting and achieving hard race goals but the feeling at the finish is so much sweeter when I have had to overcome some sort of obstacle and push myself to the end. 

Big thanks to Luke Nelson and his crew for putting on an amazing and tough race that will not disappoint.  The trail marking was perfect even for slow guys in the dark!  All of the aid station volunteers were wonderful and helped push me on when I didn’t know if I wanted to continue.  I’ll be back and hopefully won’t have any more lessons to learn next time.

How To Get There From Here...

How To Get There From Here...The Ten Lessons That Have Served Me Well

By Coleman H. Peterson

The previous exerpt is from page 12.  I found the abstract online and need to get a copy of it to read the whole thing but I love the message.  It follows the the sentiment of my blog title.  When people have asked me what was that ONE THING that finally clicked that made me successful I often say, when you want to change more than you want to stay the same you can do anything.

 

I wanted to change my ways for years...but not enough to do anything about it.  I think everyone has been in this situation before.

21 Golden Rules

Some neat things to remember:

1. No one can ruin your day without YOUR permission.
2. Most people will be about as happy, as they decide to be.
3. Others can stop you temporarily, but only you can do it permanently.
4. Whatever you are willing to put up with is exactly what you will have.
5. Success stops when you do.
6. When your ship comes in.... make sure you are willing to unload it.
7. You will never "have it all together."
8. Life is a journey...not a destination. Enjoy the trip!
9. The biggest lie on the planet: "When I get what I want I will be happy."
10. The best way to escape your problem is to solve it.
11. I've learned that ultimately, 'takers' lose and 'givers' win.
12. Life's precious moments don't have value, unless they are shared.
13. If you don't start, it's certain you won't arrive.
14. We often fear the thing we want the most.
15. He or she who laughs......lasts.
16. Yesterday was the deadline for all complaints.
17. Look for opportunities...not guarantees.
18. Life is what's coming....not what was.
19. Success is getting up one more time.
20. Now is the most interesting time of all.
21. When things go wrong.....don't go with them.

~Author Unknown~

Make it a great day! Ryan

Wasatch Lottery Run

I threw my name in the hat again for the Wasatch Front 100 lottery.  I did Wasatch in 2012 and have learned A LOT since then.  My hopes were that if I was able to get in I could correct all the things that went bad for me that day.  I was still a relative newbie when I ran it last.  It was my third hundred miler and maybe 10th ultra but I had only been doing ultras for 15 months.

Whenever I put my name in lottery drawings I go for a long run the day of the lottery.  It's fun to find out if you made it but why waste a whole morning when you could be out running.  The Western States and Hardrock lottery always falls on the Ryan Anderson Invitational Marathon so that it easy.  I didn't put in for States this year but I did for Hardrock.  Not surprisingly, my 0.whatever percent chance didn't land me a spot so I'll keep trying.

There were 4 of us from Boise who put in for the Wasatch lottery Heather Culig, Cory Harelson, Derek Call and me.  Heather, Cory, and I met up for a run Saturday morning with no real agenda other than 20+ miles and as much trail as possible.  The forecast was saying more than a half an inch of rain was supposed to fall Friday night so we didn't have high hopes that we would see much trail.  As it turned out the rain missed us and we got to do a majority of the distance on the trails.

Cory got this great shot.  The clouds look ominous but it didn't last long.

We ran into Dave and several other friends in Rocky Canyon and headed up Three Bears to Watchman.  The sunrise was amazing and well worth the early start.  The temps were in the 50s at the start so I just wore short and a short sleeve shirt which is insane for Idaho in February.

Heather went up 5 Mile with Dave and Cory and I went down Orchard.  Once we hit Rocky Canyon Cory and I decided it would be best to go up the Ridge Road and come down 5 Mile.  The lottery started about the time we hit Aldape Summit and I quickly got a text from my friend Scott in Utah who was keeping his ears open for all the Idaho guys.  Just after that Heather calls and told me I was in and she was too!  She was the 2nd name drawn, crazy.  We motored along Ridge Road and down 5 Mile and got another text that Derek was in.

Guess who's going to Wasatch? This guy!

It was fun getting the play by play while out pounding out some hills.  When we hit the bottom of 5 Mile I was running and texting (not advised...even on flat ground)...and got another one from Heather that said something about Cory.  I yelled at him to check his phone and the message was, Cory has a 59% chance at this point.  Ugh, we were hoping it was to say he was in.  We went all the way down 5 Mile and Rocky Canyon all the way to our cars with no more texts.  I figured the lottery must be over by then so I asked Cory if he didn't get in if he would like to come and pace me.  He said yes, but I could tell he was a bit bummed.

We parted ways and just a few minutes later on the drive home Heather sends another one saying Cory was the 4th from the last name drawn! Woohoo.  I replied and said dammit there goes my pacer, sarcastically.  He said, you wouldn't believe how stoked I am right now!  I said I could believe because he was stoked just to hear we all made it.

It was a fun day out running and winning the lottery!

Route

Dailymile 2014 Year End Report

Another year gone and lots of miles in the bank.  My spring training for the Buffalo Run 100 in March and Western States 100 in June took a lot out of me.  After States I felt generally awful, lost motivation, and somehow was able to keep running some decent miles the rest of the year.  I had my first DNF at IMTUF in September which was disappointing but had no regrets.  I ran my 4th Foothills Frenzy in October and had my slowest time.  I knew I would, the way I was feeling, so I dressed up all goofy and just had a good time.  In November I went to Javelina to support Michelle and got in some good miles with her and several friends who were there.

I am feeling good and ready to take on the new year.  This year's plan is to get fast this spring and then add some big mountains so I can kick ass at Speedgoat 50k again and Wasatch 100 (like I didn't last time)!

Last Year's Report

IMTUF 100 Race Report

Sunset over Burgdorf

This past Saturday I toed the starting line the IMTUF 100 in McCall, Idaho which was my 8th 100 mile endurance run. This is the third year of the race but the first time I have signed up to run it.  I wanted to run the Western States 100 and needed a qualifier in past years so I opted for Bear and Wasatch.  As luck would have it I got into Western States and had a great day the past June.  Now I didn't have an excuse.  The first two you years I joined my friends Amy and Christine as a pacer which was a lot of fun.  Between pacing twice and hiking around McCall over the years I figured I had seen about 80 miles of the route beforehand which was comforting.

We arrived on Friday after work in time for the pre-race meeting and it was great to hear how passionate and excited both Jeremy and Brandi Humphrey were to put on this event for all us crazy people!  Michelle and I hung out briefly afterwards and visited with some of the other runners and friends before heading off to sleep in the back of the car with Zach.  Zach was home at lunch when I got there and I asked him if he wanted to go.  I was glad he came.  Before we got to bed we were treated to an amazing sunset over Burgdorf Hot Springs.

Just a few short hours later I was brought out of my sleep to a bull elk bugling back and forth across the valley at 3:30.  It was really amazing.  There was frost on the ground, which was a small surprise.  McCall was supposed to be in the high 30s but we were a bit higher altitude at the starting area.

The race started with about as much fanfare as most ultras....none!  Jeremy did a simple countdown

and then blew his elk bugle.  The first 20+ miles of the race looked easiest on paper with a relatively small gain and loss but that is also what makes them the most dangerous.  I have learned my lesson about going out too fast so I settled into a pretty conservative cruise with Drew Adams.   The sun came up somewhere before the first water drop at mile 6 and the fall colors we popping everywhere.

We cruised through the first main aid station at Willow Basket manned by Doug and Vicki Trees and said a quick hello.  A few more rolling up and downs led us into Chinook Campground 3+ miles later.  I met Michelle for the first time, got refueled and restocked and hit the trail again.  Chinook is at mile 13+ and I got there in 2:30.

After leaving you follow right along the river bank for a number of miles.  The trail if beautiful and the surrounding vegetation on the rolling hillsides are wonderful.  I got lulled into the easy flat terrain and took looked up to enjoy the view

and went down on my face hard.  I kicked a tiny tree root that racked my hips and sent my water bottles flying out of my pack.  Once the bottles were gone there wasn't any tension to hold the rest of the things in my pockets so EVERYTHING came out of my pack and scattered all over the trail.  Luckily I had decided to keep my long sleeve shirt and gloves for this section because they saved my elbows and palms as I rolled up in heap on the ground.

Drew was right behind and made sure I was OK.  I wasn't sure if I was or not but figured time would tell.  I finally got situated and continued up the trail.  Before starting the race I told myself I would allow time to take pictures and really just enjoy the day rather than try and go for a fast time.  As I struggled along the short breaks to take pictures were quite welcome.  The terrain remained

pretty easy for a return trip to Willow Basket and then up the Valley along Victor Creek.

The Victor Creek trail is barely a trail in most places but just as beautiful.  After a long stretch in the valley it turns steep quick.  When we got there Drew pulled away and I didn't see him again.  Climbing is usually my strongest aspect but I could tell it was going to be a long day as my hips kept screaming at me.  The climb was a perfect combination of rocky, technical, scenic, and fun.  In fact, this whole course is like that.  I want races to be hard but balanced with beautiful scenery and a few faster sections.  IMTUF seems to have it all in just the right proportions.

After cresting over the top I was ready to see if I could go downhill since sometimes when you get hurt on the trail it will only effect climbing but you can run down and vice versa.  No such luck.  I was stuck in a fast walk on much of the downhill with a little bit of running on the flat sections.  That was frustrating since from the time this happened to the end would be 90 miles.  I was determined to hang on as long as I could though.  Things often change over time during these silly things.  

I got close to Upper Payette Lake at mile 33 and Zach was waiting for me at the guardrail next to the highway.  I was way off my pace and he had walked up the trail to see if he could see me.  It was probably the best 5 minutes of my entire day to share that short little stretch with him coming into the aid station.  Along the way he says to me, Dad

I almost tripped on the rock about 10 times getting up here!  Wow, I said.  Let me tell you a story about the last 33 MILES.  He put a smile on my face as we came into the aid station side by side.

Michelle got me all situated and kicked me out of the aid station after getting some food and new bottles.  The three of us walked down the little path together until the trail turns up the hill.  It was a lonely feeling going out there. I was barely running and still had 70 miles to go.  I convinced myself that I was going to walk nearly the whole next section of 20 Mile trail.  It is about 8 miles gently uphill and 2+ miles down to Lick Creek Road from Duck Lake.  I figured if I could get there feeling decent the heat of the day will have passed and I can go into the night with a small chance to recover.

I got there feeling OK but really hungry for real food.  I barely ate any real food at States but today I was dying for real food at most of the aid stations.  Duck Lake didn't have much beyond the normal Oreos and M&Ms but they did have some avocado turkey wraps cut in small pieces that hit the spot.  I languished there for a few minutes until there were more runners than there were chairs so I got up and left.

From here it is just over a mile uphill and 4.5 miles downhill.  I walked the uphill and after cresting the top told myself I would run a half mile and walk a quarter mile and repeat.  I think I managed four of these before walking in the last mile.  In the last mile Linda Robbins caught up to me and we chatted for a while.  She offered me

a Tylenol to help with the pain, which I took.  I don't normally take anything but then again I had never felt this bad ever.  We met Michelle and Zach along the way and we all walked into a cheering crowd of crew and family at Snowslide.

Michelle got me set up again and got a bunch of real food in me.  I had an ensure and 2 cups of ramen noodles which really hit the spot.  I decided I would take her poles that just happened to be in the car and they were a lifesaver.  As I was sitting there I saw Emily scream through the aid station in about 5 seconds flat.  I was determined to try and keep up with her to help get me out of my funk.  It is two miles to Snowslide Lake and maybe another half mile to the top of the pass.  The Tylenol was doing its trick and I was feeling pretty decent and I was cruising up the hillside with Steve Loebner.  He had been

struggling with his stomach for a long time and I think getting some real food helped both of us.

Emily only had a few minutes head start and I barely caught up to her just past the lake.  The look on her face when she saw me was one of my other favorite moments of the day. RYAN ANDERSON what in the world are you doing WAY back here!  I told her that I heard all the fun happens at the back of the pack and I just wanted to see for myself!  She assured me that this IS where the fun is and we climbed steadily to the pass chatting away.  At the top, Steve snapped a great picture of us with the sun going down behind us.

The sun wasn't completely gone so I decided I wanted to get after the quick downhill section while I could still see my feet since it is really rocky at the top.  Jeremy told us at the pre-race that over the winter last year there was an avalanche that laid down hundreds of trees in the drainage between Snowslide Summit and Lake Fork.  They attempted to clear the existing trail but in places there were just too many trees piled up so they cut a path straight through.  The trees laying down reminded me of Mount St. Helens where the blast just laid everything down in a neat line.

After the initial steep descent of 1,200 feet in two miles the trail becomes really nice.  From there it

drops 200-300 feet per mile with several short ups and downs.  I have run this section a number of times while on vacation in McCall so I knew what to expect.  Emily and I were making what felt like decent time and finally made it to the water drop location.  I filled up and shortly after she pulled around me while I was getting something out of my pocket.  By the time I looked up she was so far ahead I couldn't see her headlamp!  I was happy for her having a great day and almost bummed that I was holding her back for the last I don't know how many miles.

I plugged along for a bit and then Steve caught back up to me.  He wondered how much farther it was and I told him if it were light I could tell him.  I have run a 3 mile out and back from the aid station a few times and where I turn around there is a wide meadow with a thick stand of trees on the other side.  Just as I am saying this we enter the meadow so I knew it was 3 to go.  The death shuffle was slowly creeping in on me and I walked most of the gentle downhill from here.

Steve said he needed stretch his legs and took off.  I struggled with what it arguable some of the easiest trail of the course not including the road sections.  The walls were caving in on me and after 45 miles of hurting and feeling terrible I made my peace and decided it just wasn't my day.  The final 2.25 miles took me 1:21.  Michelle kept asking people when they came in if they saw me and the common response was, he was right behind me a little way back.  I was getting dizzy and my legs were numb from my feet halfway up my calves.  Some of it may have been from needing more calories and some of it was from my fall earlier in the day.  Either way I was done and had zero regrets.

I have done enough of these to know what fatigue and tiredness feels like and this wasn't that.  If it were I would have gutted it out.  I felt bad for my pacer Brady who had yet to join me and I apologized.  He was volunteering with Derek at Lake Fork and said he had a good time nonetheless.  I told him if he sees a poor soul that looks like they need help to jump in with them.  He opted to go back to town with us and we crashed out at the Super 8.

After some good rest and a nice breakfast we headed up to Cloochman to see people through and got

the chance to see a number of our friends run through.  We also got to hang out with Mariah and her crew at the aid station which was a ton of fun.  Brady jumped in with a lady named Linda that I ran with earlier and a guy named BJ who were together at Cloochman.  They said it was nice to have Brady there so I was glad he got to help and see some of the course.

We went from there to the finish line to cheer everyone in right up to the final cutoff.  I always love cheering people in and didn't want to feel like I was avoiding the finish line after my DNF.  The course was amazing and beautiful.  I'll definitely be back and next time I'll be ready.

  

Siskiyou Outback 50k

Great course, aid, volunteers! Definitely a fun race to do.

Race Start looking toward Mt Shasta on the right

Our family was spending the week at the Oregon Coast and the going to Crater Lake on the way home so I thought it might be fun to sneak this one in.  I asked Michelle if she would like to drop me off and pick me up since it was close to Ashland but she wasn't crazy about getting up that early and making the trip twice after all the driving we had been doing for our vacation.

The 50 miler was full and I didn't really have time for that so I ended up doing the 50k.  I got there early enough to watch the 50 milers take off and then mingle around in the parking lot for an hour before my start.  My right knee hurt from the first step so I just wanted to take it easy and let it loosen up. It did a bit but then when I got to the first main aid station I flipped a stick up with my foot that stuck in the ground and the other end stuck under my right kneecap as I ran forward. It hurt like crazy but there was still zero chance I was going to quit barring a real injury.  I cruised along fairly conservatively to the turnaround and then started back on a ridge top forest service road.  After circling back on the road we hit an aid station that was on the outbound rout too.

From here we left the road and I believe it was all trail from there.  The trail was on the north side of the mountain now looking toward Oregon.  It was a really nice single track with just enough trees for some shade but still open enough to see the wonderful views.  It was kind of rocky but just enough to keep you on your toes.

When I got to the last aid station about 5 miles out I decided I was going to give it everything I had after being so conservative all morning.  After the last long gentle uphill there were two official race photographers there.  As I approached I asked them if the first 50 miler had come through.  They said they were going to ask me if I WAS THE FIRST 50 MILER!  What?!?  They said I was running so strong and fast they figured it might be me (totally serious).  That was a good laugh but I was glad I was still ahead of whoever it might be at this point.  I told them there was a guy who came flying in behind me at the last aid station that was probably the one they were looking for but he was taking some time to get recovered and eat something.

About 5 minutes later a guy goes bombing past me and I figured it was the 50 mile winner.  I continued on at a steady pace and finally popped off of the PCT and onto a dirt road stretch before the finish.  There were family members there cheering which was a big boost even though I didn't know them.  This was the first race I can recall without Michelle or someone I know out on the course.  The dirt road continues for a short bit and turns into pavement as you enter the Ashland Ski Resort.  The pavement only lasted a few minutes but I can honestly say it was the most painful part of the course.

I finished in just over 6 hours and beat the first 50 miler by about 12 minutes which was a major win for me the way I was feeling most of the first half!  Just after I finished my friend Clyde 'The Glide' Akers came in and we chatted the finish.  Big thanks to a new friend I met at the race Samantha de la Vega for getting the finish line photos for me too. 

The PCT was gorgeous and the thru-hikers were nice and ripe from days and weeks of being on the trail. The finish line beer was NICE RACK SOB. (A play on all the elk in the area..made by Southern Oregon Brewing Co.)

Garmin Detail

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