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Sent: Thursday, January 18, 2001 4:36 PM
Subject: Incline Club V5 LR #9
Hi ICers,
I think we are about to learn why we run by time and not distance! If the snow is as deep as it looks on LRR then that will be the loop without Waldo. The faster people break trail for everyone else and we should get in a heck of a workout no matter where we are!!! I recommend sticking a dry pair of socks in your pockets in case you need a change part way into the run!
Also I heard from a few people that said they did not get the e-mail last week and therefore did not know we were doing the out/back to Mountain View. I am not sure why most got the mail and it decided to skip others but remember the next 2 club workouts are ALWAYS posted on the Incline Club page at www.skyrunner.com/incline.htm.
####
Note: This is different that the planned Waldo/LRR loop because of the deep
snow. If the trail has already been broken we may add more up top like the
waterpipe loop.
Sunday, January 21, 8 a.m. meet at Soda Springs Park.
Run out the Ute Pass Trail and turn left and head up Longs Ranch Road. Go
straight at the “J” pipe to the top of Incline and down Barr Trail to finish
the run. Run down the Barr Trail to finish the loop. 2.5-3.5 hours. Most
should be able to get this loop in because again the trail will be more
packed the farther back you are.
####
FOUND!
One pair of white thin gloves along with one pair of off-white mittens. They
were left on picnic table after the run last week.
####
Yvonne C writes:
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank
you, thank you Connilee for:
1st) Finding it
2nd) NOT stepping on it
3rd) Picking it up
4th) Bringing it back to SSP
I am talking about the sunglasses I lost at the end of the loop the previous Sunday (not last Sunday but the one before last). I learned that there are very few things worse than running for 2:30h and finding out you have to turn around and go back to look for something you lost with no guarantee that the effort will be worth it (specially knowing how far you will have to go!). Having to do the hills in UPT TWICE the same day is not in my list of favorite things to do. Mentally I knew I was done. One more big downhill, a small uphill, a medium downhill some flat and down Ruxton to SSP is all I had to do to transfer this run to my log book. But NOOOOO. I had to go back and torture myself again. Luckily after 15 minutes I bumped into Connilee and Keith coming back from their “gps adventure” (Keith was still making Connilee run in front of him — this time he was probably afraid of a deer or something :-)
I told them why I was going the wrong direction and Connilee showed me the prize — I couldn’t believe my eyes and I had to hug her to show my appreciation for not having to go ALL the way down to highway 24 (when I last remember seeing it).
Thanks again Connilee!
And as a suggestion, if you see something laying on the trail that looks like it is expensive (sunglasses, phones, pagers, etc.) or dear (favorite hat or glove) or necessary (car keys!) to someone (green FILA hats don’t count !) PLEEEEEASE bring it to SSP “before” you step on it. Chances are it does belong to one of us. Unless of course it looks extremely heavy like the type of stuff “Roger” picks up — huge steel bolts, drills, etc! :-)
####
Bob M writes:
Sometimes rumors have no basis in fact. The rumor about my taking an
extra long detour around No Name creek is entirely true. Out of respect for
what appeared to be ground cover for revegitation where the second “Danger” sign was posted, I ran a bit further and turned onto a trail, but it led me
to the top of the Incline. I asked a fellow who had hiked up the Incline if
he knew where the detour route was. He pointed me to a very single track
trail, which I now believe led me to Eagles Nest. From there I believe I
ended up on Long’s Ranch and ultimately on Bob’s Road (my namesake, yet I
had never known where it was. Finally I bumped into Barr Trail and Larry
Miller running down, so I joined him. I really wanted to go to Barr Camp
since I was feeling quite strong on Sunday. But I am glad my detour
introduced me to a few trails I had yet to traverse.
####
This week the Pikes Peak forum has turned to the food & hydration side of
our long runs. I would like to hear what some of you are doing for your
Sunday long runs — what has worked and what has not. Here was the first
post:
---
Bryan R:
Is there any guideline for nutrition during a run? I have definitely bonked
with lack of nourishment during a 3+ hour workout. When should you consume
simple carbs vs. complex carbs (power gel vs. power bar)? Appreciate any
advice or currently employed regiments from runners used to running for long
durations.
----
Please let us know what you do at www.runpikespeak.com/forum look for
training/long runs — food & hydration.
THANK YOU to those that have been posting! It is hard to start a new forum in the middle of winter but I feel that there is already some good stuff being shared!
####
Fred W writes:
Your web page listing for Jan. 28th w/o, has the return from Barr Camp, on
The Barr Trail, taking a left off Barr Trail “onto Bob’s trail.” Where is
that? Running down last Sunday, I saw Neil and two others take a left, but
there were no markers or signs that I could see. I do know the junction of
Bob’s trail on Long Ranch Road, but I have not yet taken it, therefore not
reached Barr Trail from that direction. Would it be possible to somehow make
a mark on the snow with an environmentally safe spray, giving a direction
arrow? Or some other marker, to assist us lost “newbies?”
Bye the way, the Sunday runs are great, as are the group of fellow runners.
(Matt C adds: We may get to learn that one this week instead of next week but we will leave a mark when the time comes)
####
Randy L writes:
I enjoyed Connilee W’s account of her and Keith G’s Waldo/Cascade adventure.
I have tried this before too, but on a different variation. Here’s how I
did it: at the major ridgeline on the Waldo trail, about 1 mi. from the
parking lot, where you turn left into Waldo Canyon (from the south-facing
slope onto the east-facing slope), there is an obvious trail running uphill
toward a prominent rock. Actually, it’s about 10 yards west of the
ridgeline. Anyway, you can follow that up onto the ridge, running north.
It stays high, with great views. Eventually you come to a high meadow on an
east-west ridge where the trail drops down into a west-facing valley.
Coming down this valley it is practically a road. I get a little vague
here, but the trail didn’t seem hard to follow as it curved north toward
Cascade.
As you approach the town there are many options, and I can’t offer much advice except to say that I turned left too soon, and went down into a private convent or something. This brought me to the highway where it turns sharply right by the long stone wall with a pipe gushing water. Crossing the creek there was quite an adventure. But that was right across the highway from the upper end of the Ute Pass Trail (north of Long’s Ranch) so I could link directly back toward Manitou that way. Saves you from that long climb up from the Waldo trailhead!
I would suggest you stick to the trail coming into Cascade until you find an obvious way to get onto the town roads. Then drop down to the highway and cross to the west (downhill traffic) side. You can stay on frontage roads for a ways, then it is only a few hundred yards along the shoulder to the prominent gate which marks the end of the Ute Pass Trail. Head south on the trail, up a big hill :-( and you will recognize the Long’s Ranch area before too long. Stay left-ish to get to Manitou, or even more left-ish to return to the Waldo parking lot. This Waldo/Cascade loop is probably shorter than doing the Waldo loop itself (and less elevation gain), although it may be slower the first time or two for routefinding reasons.
I’ve always believed in getting lost from time to time, and I see a lot of potential in this area.
Regarding Marilyn T’s asking about other trails within the city, I more often run the Cheyenne Canyon and Bear Creek trail systems and find them much less crowded (canine friendly) than Waldo and Barr. However, logistically moving Incline Club runs around from place to place would probably be a nightmare and damage the “show up and join the club” aspect. But I’d be happy to join other “off-*” runners in running some of these other places. We can certainly come up with comparable routes (groan).
####
Tom H writes:
Enjoy the wkly emails even though I am not out there in the thick of things
(feels like it reading the experiences though). Also got to see the Space
station go by w/the info you provided several wks ago... thx
####
“R” Reports:
Craig H reports:
Walt Disney World Marathon — 7 Jan 01
OK...Matt says I don’t earn my “R” until my trip report is filed so...
One down and eleven to go for this year. This year’s first marathon was in
Florida, but the temps sure felt like Colorado. This was a long slow
training run for Austin in February. (3:38: Considering all the times we
stopped for photo ops with Mickey, Goofy, etc. and pit stops along the way,
I’m very pleased with my time.)
Marathon wrap-up:
Walt Disney World Marathon — 7 Jan 01
Entry Fee — $70
Course — Pretty lame — 30 minutes worth of highlights on the Disney grounds,
the rest of course was along Disney highways and service roads. Basically
flat except for the highway overpasses.
Goodie Bag — Completely goodie-less
Expo — Nothing special
T-Shirt — Lame!
Medal — I have to admit...pretty neat.
Crowds — What crowds?? They had piped in (taped) clapping at several
points. Never saw that before. Weak.
Cinderella — Babe
Snow White — Babe
Start temp — COLD...no wait... BUTT COLD! Freakish weather for FL. Could
still see your breath from the cold at 20 miles. Race start at 0600.
Overall impression — Lots of Disney hype to get you to the race, but not so
much hype once you’re there. The big mouse is just out to make a buck. Many
more marathons to put ahead of this one on your list.
----
Steve B reports:
20th annual Avalon (Catalina Island) 50-mile Run
January 13, 2001
Fifteen minutes into the boat ride to Catalina Island on January 11th, I began to feel I might get sick. Moments later it was all I could to lurch across the swaying transport to the Head. The boat ride from the California coast near LA to Santa Catalina Island is a mere 26 miles and takes only 65 minutes to complete, but this evening of January 11th we had to contend with the huge swells left by a major storm. After waiting for over an hour at the San Pedro pier we were summarily transported to the Long Beach pier in order to consolidate all passengers onto one boat, “for safety reasons.” Not long after I had made my way back to our table, my girlfriend Laila had also surrendered to nausea and the dreaded seasickness. The rest of our boat ride was utter misery. As if running a bad marathon I kept checking my watch for time elapsed to monitor when we would again get our land legs.
Fortunately we didn’t have to race until Saturday. Friday we slept in very late before going on a guided tour of the city of Avalon--the only real “town” on the island. Avalon and Catalina Island in its present state of development is a testimony to William Wrigley, founder of Wrigley’s Gum. Wrigley bought the entire island in 1919 and began vigorously to develop it, including resort hotels, large casino, and even mining operations. Fortunately, Wrigley’s heirs had the foresight to donate 88% of the island to the Nature Conservancy in 1974, so most of the island will remain unspoiled for future generations. On Saturday we would run to the small community of Two Harbors, approximately 25 miles away on the other side of the island.
Avalon in summer is a cheesy tourist trap with every spare hotel room booked months in advance. The only way to fit an extra 200 runners into the town is to hold the race in January. The town seemed to have a sense of community this time of year... apparently we “tourists” were few enough in number that we fit into the fabric of life in town. Still I did feel more than one lingering stare. The temperature was a reasonable 50 degrees or so...another plus for a road race at this time of the year.
What sort of animal voluntarily submits their self to a 50-mile run? This was not your crowd of typical runners. Not even typical marathoners. These people had graduated to the ultimate “sick” level of running — ultramarathoning. Before race start at 0500 on Saturday there was no one nervously jogging in front of the start line. No one even vigorously stretching. Just a lot of happy people talking, joking around and waiting for the signal for a looonnngg run.
To round the distance to an even fifty miles we began by running a little out and back along the harbor. Heading west back through downtown Avalon (pop. 2000) we passed through the Botanical Gardens and around the Wrigley Memorial (originally a mausoleum for Wm Wrigley until his wife presumably appalled by the throngs of tourists tramping his grave moved him to a more suitable graveyard on the mainland. As our tour guide had advised us on the day before: “Being dead he probably didn’t care one way or the other.”). We were leaving Avalon and entering “wild” Catalina — now climbing steeply up a trail to the ridge high above town. I had fallen in with the leaders in the race — satisfied with their pace and taking advantage of one of their use of a flashlight.
A couple of miles into the race and before we had even left town a runner came up behind and asked one of the guys I was running with, “Aren’t you Peter Park the fellow who won this race two years ago in 6:08?” When he said yes I then remarked that he must have been disappointed to have missed the course record by only three minutes. He responded that he had missed it by a minute and a half. I didn’t reply though I was quite certain the course record was 6:05. His lack of precision would later cost him another chance at the record when he eased off at the end of the race thinking he had the record — only to miss it by 36 seconds this time... His friend Mike Swan, who had placed 2nd behind him in 1999, rounded out our “lead pack.” We pushed steadily up the hill.
Although I have run 38 marathons, this was my first experience running a race longer than 26.2 miles. I wasn’t sure if I should carry water or count on the aid stations. Laila strongly urged me to carry a camel pack, but I had my doubts. After all, the elite runners I had seen portrayed in Ultrarunning magazine carried nothing extra at all! When we met with some of Laila’s friends the night before the race, one of them, Bob Gracy, told me “that is extra weight, you should be able to get what you need from the aid stations.” Since this confirmed my intuition I compromised with Laila’s well-intentioned urging and carried a camel pack to the 7-mile point, where I dropped it along with my long sleeve shirt--at which point I was well hydrated and warm.
We reached the first official split time at the aid station located at the 12.6-mile mark in a comfortable 1:22. No one else was in sight. Indeed, though we didn’t know it at the time we three had opened a seventeen-minute gap on our nearest rival at this early stage. This would narrow as we eased off the pace over the next stretch.
When racing a marathon you approach an aid station in a hurry — grabbing cups from the outstretched hands of the volunteers, trying not to break stride. The stations, spaced one to two miles apart, allow you to miss a drink since you can always get another a mile or so down the road. In an ultramarathon with aid stations rarely closer than five miles apart and sometimes space by as much as seven or eight miles you home in as you would to a smorgasbord. The volunteers neatly arrange cups of defizzed cola, Exceed electrolyte replacement, and water. Bananas cut into thirds, orange slices, Gumi-bears, cookies, potato chips, pieces of baked potato with salt on the side, and M & M’s round out the selection. You pull up to a stop, guzzle fluids, eat for a minute or more, then off you go again. Let’s face it. When racing for 50 miles seconds just don’t matter...
Over the next seven mostly downhill miles we took turns making “pit stops” in answer to early hydration efforts, each time followed by a little fartlek burst to rejoin the “pack.” As the sun began rising in the sky, thoughts of my drop bag at Little Harbor with a spare sun visor rose to the fore.
The infamous “Wacko Café” at Little Harbor located at about the 20-mile point was the next aid stop. We reached it in 2:19. Several older “wacky” women greeted us rather raucously, “How’s your day going?” “Let us take your picture,” “Don’t be so serious! You’re never going to finish like that!” To get away from the “noise” I quickly downed only one cup of Exceed and dashed off again, instantly opening a 50-yard lead on Peter and Mike.
Having descended to sea level we now had to go up to 1500’ elevation once again on our way to the turn around point at the “Isthmus,” where the idyllic settlement of Two Harbors (pop. 140) awaited our arrival. “Slow and strong” I intoned internally as I steadily plodded up the dirt road. In the words of Matt Carpenter, “Sell your soul to the cadence.” Glancing occasionally over my shoulder I saw that Peter was closing the gap, while Mike dropped back. Soon I heard Peter’s footsteps and he pulled alongside. “That’s hard work closing the gap isn’t it?” I offered, remembering the two occasions I had closed the gap on Mike and him after early pit stops. Peter, a fitness trainer who owns his own gym, had just started back up running again after a 12-week hiatus due to a pelvic stress fracture. The rest must have done him good.
Two Harbors lies literally between two harbors in a narrow isthmus on the island. The island extends a few miles even further north from there, but that segment is left to the 100K race in February. We would be turning around here, 26.1 miles into the race. The non-commercial fishing village was a beautiful site lying below us as we wound down the road from on high. We reached it in 3:09. Not bad for the first of back-to-back marathons. Actually 3:09 was the time I clicked on my watch as we broke away after gorging ourselves at the “smorgasbord.”
We climbed steadily, now passing our competitors. At first they were few and
far between, but as we climbed higher they became more dense. Peter offered
that he didn’t remember this section from his run two years prior. When we
reached the apex he said to me, “nice job.” I remarked in turn, “I won’t
forget that effort.” We glided down with gravity on our side, destination:
the Wacko Cafe for the second time... this time at the 32 mile point. I hadn’t
seen Laila yet though. Fortunately just before we pulled into the “Wacko,” Laila and her friend Mike Rogan came cruising by. Laila later reached the “isthmus” in 5:00...Since she wound up running the 50-mile distance in 9:08
this turned out to be a huge “negative split,” meaning that she really
should have started off faster. We reached “Wacko” part deux around the 4
hour point. I snatched my sun visor, grabbed a power bar from my bag and
started on up just ahead of Peter. He closed the gap readily and as we set
into the hill, he started to move ahead. I just could not push off, now more
than four hours into the race. Striving to maintain contact I tried to keep
pace.
Peter passed out of view just over a crest in the road. With eyes focused on the next ridge I strove ever upward. There was a problem with my elevated vision and upwardly striving objective...I missed the unobvious left turn onto a lesser dirt road. I continued up and over a cattle guard--not to worry...we had run over cattle guards earlier in the race. I was still on the main road, but over the crest the road branched--no markings?? This was troublesome. Nevertheless this was a main road so I continued on... now losing elevation...headed down to sealevel... I could see well ahead, but a portion was hidden by trees...that must be where Peter was. I kept my eyes pealed for a sight of him ahead, but as I reached the trees he was not in sight...Not seeing his footprints was very worrisome. Still I continued since this was obviously the “main road.” Soon I was at sea level again. Now the road was not so great. It wanted to go inland along a creek, but now it was washed out--a single track was all there was. I remembered Peter telling me the course deteriorated into single track trail with some real “grinders” later on. It didn’t take long though to see that this simply was not the way!! I had to turn around. (This was the main road to the interior before it got washed out by an El Nino Storm of 1998) Glancing at my watch I noted the time. 16 minutes later I found where I had missed the turn. Based on that I estimated that I had lost 30 minutes and about four miles to the error...
Very discouraged, I plodded onward, increasingly desperate for the next aid station. When I reached it I lingered long...devouring the delectables. The following stretch was interminable...flat and unending. It passed by a ranch...no one was in sight...I must be the last man on earth. Long time later the final aid station at the foot of the infamous “Pumphouse Hill” came into sight. I stopped, ate and drank my fill, then plopped into a chair and took a break for about five minutes. My race was over--what the heck!! I had no idea what place I was in, I was the last man on earth, lost in the barrens! Might as well get it over with...I started up Pumphouse hill--walking the first 15-20 steps before easing into a run. As I neared the crest of this 5/8 mile hill I glanced back and saw someone! Now I would have to maintain concentration--I wasn’t going to give up another place!
After the hill the course regains the paved road from the airport. Mostly flat for a couple of miles, it then begins a sharp three-mile descent into Avalon. The ghost behind kept me honest. Maintain form, keep fluid, I intoned...It was pretty easy to just flow downhill, to let gravity do the work. Still, it was a lot of elevation to lose. Moving into the town, now to sea level, running the three flat blocks, then crossing the finish line of this 50-mile race — a very welcome finish line indeed!!
Even though I spotted the field four miles and half an hour I still finished
seventh overall and third masters...Without my egregious error I would most
certainly have finished second and
----
I have run 2 other ultramarathons before, but Santa Carolina Island 50 miler
was one of my most teachable experiences. Last year, Steve and I ran 9
marathons and in between bunch of smaller trail races, half marathons and
mountain climbing. After running my last marathon of the year (Atlanta
Marathon on Thanksgiving Day), I was burned out. I only ran Waldo Canyon/Ute
Trail twice (one I did great {2.23hrs.} and the other I ran awfully
{2.53hr.}), climbed two winter mountains, one 3 hour run and 1.5 hour run a
week before the 50 miler. I thought I was out of shape...so, I decided to go
very slow for the first 26.1 miles (5 hours) and speed up for the second
part. I ended up feeling great and finished in 9:08 hours! I could not
believe the huge negative split I made. This taught me to trust more my
level of fitness and plan better my races, instead giving into my fears.
Next year when we go back (Steve will try to win the race), I will be
shooting for 8:30 hours. I finished 9th overall (women), but I will be able
to place closer to third or better with my new goal, depending on who runs.
####
####
Matt Carpenter
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Laila H reports:
20th annual Avalon (Catalina Island) 50-mile Run
January 13, 2001
WWW post:
1/14/2001 43 showed for what started out a very cold day and then ended up
quite nice. We headed up towards Barr Camp and turned left at the 1/2 mile
sign and headed over to Mountain View and back. Friends of the Peak has
posted detour signs and No Name Creek. The ice this year in a few spots is
wild. Barr Camp looks like it is protected by an ice moat. On the way down
some of us headed over the top of Rocky Mountain checking out a new trail
for next week. A good group met afterwards for bagels.
Go out hard, when it hurts speed up...
www.skyrunner.com