Suck it up buttercup - Yakima 50k

Starting area

What's an adventure without poor planning?  Last Saturday Matt and I loaded up the blue beast and hit the road, we were headed to Ellensburg, WA.  Weather was nasty going over the pass and windy once we reached our campsite.   When we went to set-up the tent there was  an unwelcome realization, we didn't bring tent stakes.  Thankfully there were a lot of rocks around and we were able to tie ourselves off so we didn't fly away. 

photo credit: Matt Hagen

Sunday morning brought with it the Yakima Skyline 50k.  James (Rainshadow Running) was very clear to all who signed-up that this would be a difficult race.  Knowing this I considered taking the early start, but, it was cold in the morning and my sleeping bag was warm.  This was a decision I would later question.

During the pre-race briefing James reiterated just how hard the course would be "This course is a Varner course, so you can assume it is hard, however, this one is REALLY hard.  There is 10,000' of elevation on technical trails.  There is a strict cut-off of 4:15 at the 25k and a number of people won't make it."  Hearing this was the first (of many) times I thought 'gee, I should've taken the early start'.

The race was fantastic and fantastically hard. Words cannot properly convey what the course was like, instead I will leave you with a graph and some pictures.

p.s.  I am down to 6 toenails...

See, I wasn't kidding.  Hard...

Distance	31.00 mile
Average speed	3.62 mph (16'34 min/mile)
Highest point	3445 ft
Lowest point	1217 ft
Ascent	9534 ft
Descent	9517 ft
Ascent time	4:43'50
Descent time	2:40'40
Flat time	1:09'00

Race Start

Run ultras, eat candy!

Of all the times I forget my camera...

Warning: graphic picture below.

As of lately I have taken an 'impulse purchase' approach to signing-up for races.  It seems I have found myself toeing the line to more races then I would have imagined in a very short time.  What started with an under-trained freak out leading up to Orcas has continued as I work towards my upcoming 50 mile.  In the past 2 months I have run the following:

• Capitol Peak 17 mi Fat Ass
• Pigtail 20mi
• Orcas 50k
• Gorge 50k

In the next few weeks I will add:

• Yakima Skyline 50k (this weekend)
• Capitol Peak 50 mi (first 50!)

Now for the kicker, my training has been less than stellar.  I recently read another blog stating 'everyone has a sob story at the start of a race'.  I couldn't agree more, it is true - under trained, over trained, sick, you name it - someone is suffering from it.  So, going into this weekends race I am opting to have a pma: I have had quite a bit of experience with the 50k distance lately so I am definitely mentally prepared.

Now it is just a matter of figuring out how to deal with my toes.  I have been hoping that my toenail would eject itself from the grips of my toe bed prior to my next race, so far, no luck.  Matt is pretty sure my toe needs to be amputated, what do you think?

The picture doesn't do it justice.

Now for the my missed photo opt.  This evening I went for a 6 mile run on our local bike path.  The path connects Lacey to Olympia and runs along the expressway for a number of miles.  It isn't what I would consider a rural location.  What should I see as I was tooling along - three sheep grazing along the side of the path.  I wonder where they came from??

Orcas Island 50k

Saturday brought with it my second 50k, Orcas Island.  While preparation was the name of the game prior to running Cle Elum, that was not the case leading up to this one.  After Cle Elum I got somewhat lazy.  I would run 3 miles once or twice during the week and do a long run of ~8 miles on Saturday.  To ramp up my milage I did a 17 mile fat ass three weeks ago and a 20 mile race the following weekend.  There you have it, my training for Orcas, not very impressive...

I left Friday afternoon to make the drive to Anacortes and catch the ferry to Orcas.  While on Orcas I (along with many other runners) stayed in the bunkhouses at Camp Moran. Friday evening brought with it socializing and some wine drinking to prepare for Saturday.

Pre-race wine

Post-race beer

Saturday Morning:  I woke-up early to eat something and prepare for the race.  I opted for the early start to ensure that I was done in time catch the evening ferry.  Going into the race this was my only goal, finish in a time that would allow me to be on the Saturday ferry home.  Not very ambitions, but a goal none the less.

Below is a look at my thought process as I progressed through the race:

• Mile 1-6 - tired, legs tight.  Why am I doing this again?  Maybe I should just drop...
• Mile 7-10 - okay, I can do this
• Mile 10 - what the HELL is that?!?! (see elevation profile)  Thoughts of sitting on the side of the trail and moping. 
• Mile 12-29 - happy, enjoying myself.  This is why I run.
• ~Mile 30-finish: the longest 2 miles of my life...  Seriously, they just kept going.

Cascade Lake

Powerline trail.  This picture does not do justice to how steep it was.

Almost to the top of Mt. Constitution.  If it had been clear you would see the mountains.

Trail

New friends!  Olympia Trail runners Julie and Dave.

In the end I am quite pleased with how I did.  I managed to knock ~40 minutes off my time from Cle Elum,  on a course that had ~1000' more feet of climbing!

Time: 7:46:06
Pace: 15:01
Elevation: ~8000'
Aftermath: 3 toenails ready to fall off

Unfortunately Matt wasn't able to come along, he is still in pretty rough shape...