Joey "Threw it on the Ground" Morrison, who whole-heartily embraced the spirit of the Backbone games, was momentarily transformed into the iconic coyote runner while on the top of Eagle Rock.

The Coyote Backbone Trail Ultra was a phenomenal experience and a fantastic running event. The work required to pull it off is beyond comprehension. Many thanks to Chris Scott, Howard Cohen, Mike Epler, Gretchen Garrnet, Manley Klassen and everyone that helped make it happen -- especially Lynette Brody (California State Parks) and Catharine Beverly Bishop (NPS). Also a BIG thanks to the aid station personnel, the safety crews, the EMTs, the communications staff, the trail sweeps and the huge number of volunteers that contributed to the event. The runners that I met along the way were exceptional people as well as superb athletes. I feel fortunate to have participated.

Here's a link to a slideshow -- mostly from the first half of the run. The slideshow is best viewed on desktop/laptop that supports Flash, but can also be viewed on an iPhone/iPad.

After Kanan I had to focus on getting from one aid station to the next, and finishing the run!

Here's a Google Earth flyover of the Backbone Trail run from my GPS track. It will play on most desktop/laptop browsers using the Google Earth plugin. If the placemark labels don't display or disappear, pause the flyover and then press play to resume the flyover. You can start/stop the flyover at any point and use the Google Earth controls to zoom, pan and tilt the view. The time of day is displayed on the upper left.

Bandit 50K Runners Descending the Chumash Trail

If my training goal was to be running on spent legs, I had achieved that goal. I was at mile 22 of the Bandit 50K and trying to run up Las Llajas Canyon. On paper (or LCD display) Las Llajas is a gradual climb, gaining a modest 600 feet in a little more than 3 miles. But on dirt and in reality it is an onerous climb that numbs the mind and makes you mumble to yourself, "Why can't I run up this thing any faster?"

Since early December I'd been doing extra training to prepare for the Coyote Backbone Trail Ultra at the end of March. Part of the training plan was to combine the Ray Miller 50K and Bandit 50K with other runs to increase the mileage. I had been following the usual training tenants and trying to vary the types of workouts, the mileage and intensity. So far it had all gone well, but the miles were adding up.

Early in the race I'd taken it easy -- especially up the insanely steep "Corridor Trail." But some trail running temptations can't be resisted and I had pushed the pace going down the Chumash Trail -- one of my favorite trails. Even if that was one of the reasons I was struggling a bit going up Las Llajas, it was worth it.

The new out and back from Las Llajas Canyon to Tapo Canyon was so much better than doing the Chumash-Las Llajas loop twice! The running was varied and challenging; plus we were able to marvel at the race leaders, and share the experience with many more runners! Chris Price and several other runners looked strong cranking it up out of Chivo Canyon. Averaging just a little over 8 minute miles, Chris went on to break the Bandit 50K record he set in 2011, doing the new (and longer) course in an amazing 4:10:23!

The weather forecast had looked a bit iffy earlier in the week -- iffy hot in this case. But temps had cooled by about 10 degrees in 24 hours, and today the weather was excellent. It was on the warm side on a couple of the climbs, but nowhere near what it can sometimes be on a warm Winter's day in Southern California.

After an indeterminate time I made it up Las Llajas Canyon to the split and started climbing up the steep oilfield road that connects to Rocky Peak Road. Part way up I was extremely disappointed to see that my Hill Climbing Helper® wasn't where I left it. This made me even slower going up the hill.

Once the last hard climb to Fossil Point is done it doesn't take long to get to the Chumash Aid Station. Rolling terrain leads from there to the top of the Rocky Peak grade at about mile 27. From there it is nearly all downhill to the Finish.

More than 450 runners participated in the 5th edition of the Bandit Trail Runs, competing at distances that ranged from 6K up to 50K. Many thanks to the Bandit race committee -- Randy, Sarita, Larry, Tommi, Mat and Eric -- and all the Bandit volunteers, sponsors and runners. For more info and all the results see the Bandit web site and Facebook page.

According to my GPS tracks the 2013 50K course was about 3/4 of a mile longer than the 2011-12 course and had slightly more elevation gain/loss. Here's an interactive Google Earth Flyover and Elevation Profile of the new 50K course. The flyover is interactive and can be paused and restarted at any point. You can rotate, zoom, and tilt the view. Mileages and locations are approximate and based on my 50K GPS track. The Google Earth plugin is available for most desktop browsers.

Here are few additional photos. Click the image for more info and a larger image.

Steep Climb	Corridor Trail	30K Leader
Low on Hot Dog Hill	Working Up Hot Dog Hill	Returning from Tapo

Some related posts: Bandit 50K 2011 Notes, Bandit 30K 2009

A luminous stream of headlamps wound up the switchback above the rocky streambed, the lights defining the movement of a huge and sinuous creature making its way up La Jolla Canyon.

In the darkness a great horned owl greets runners with a questioned, "who-whoo, who-whoo." Excited runners answer back with cupped hands, "who-whoooo, who-whoooo." Above, a thick veil of high clouds shrouds the last quarter moon. The clouds will also temper the sun, resulting in nearly ideal race-day weather. The trails are in great shape and there should be some fast times.

As we round the shoulder of a peak the gray-blue Pacific stretches out to Anacapa and the Channel Islands. The sun is still below the horizon, but the clouds to the east are now illuminated in a startling mix of orange and pink. It is an inspiring start to what will be an enjoyable run.

Being familiar with an area's trails is both a pro and a con. The pro is that you know what to expect, but that is also the con. I still had mental scars from the last time I had done the Coyote Trail. The run had been long, the sun scorching and the humidity high. The steep stretch near the top had been an oven. Not today.

From the top of the Coyote climb there are wide ranging views in every direction. The trail continues north along a roller coaster ridge, past Ranch Center Road, where it becomes the Hidden Pond Trail. Rainfall this season has been well below normal -- less than half of normal at Camarillo Airport -- and the pond is little more than a damp spot in the brush.

Even so, the signs of spring are everywhere. The white blossoms of Ceanothus highlight the hills, and new grass carpets the open areas. Along the route I see yellow encelia, violet shooting stars, white milkmaids, purple prickly phlox, orange paintbrush and other wildflowers.

Everyone I talk to feels great. Some runners are escaping the cold climes of the Pacific Northwest and Midwest. Some are running their first ultra. There is talk of running shoes, places and races. The miles pass -- not effortlessly, but with the right mix of more difficult and easier sections.

A quick stop at the Danielson aid station and I'm back on the trail. It's a tough climb up the Old Boney Trail to the Chamberlain Trail and the turnoff for the 50 milers. A 100K looms at the end of March and the plan is to do some extra training miles later today. But I also have a 50K in two weeks and decided today's extra miles should be flat. Deftly passing the 50 mile turn, I wonder if it might have been the better training choice.

In another 15-20 minutes I start the descent into Serrano Valley. Along with La Jolla Valley, which we traversed earlier in the day, Serrano Valley is one of the scenic jewels of the Santa Monica Mountains and a fantastic place to run.

Despite rain during the week, the creek crossings in Serrano Canyon are dry and the running excellent. In a few minutes I reach the landslide part way through the canyon and not long after that I hear the yells and see the smiles of the crew at the Sycamore Canyon Aid Station. As at all of the other aid stations, the volunteers are super-helpful and make sure I have what I need.

Some races feature one or two particularly long, difficult climbs. The Ray Miller 50K has (depending on how you count them) six climbs ranging from about 500' in elevation gain to about 1000' of gain. The 50 mile adds two climbs of 1000' or more, the big one being the 1800' climb from Old Boney to Sandstone Peak.

The last climb of the race -- from Sycamore Canyon up the Fireline Trail, up the Outlook Fire Road, and then up the beginning of the Ray Miller Trail -- is a tough one, gaining about 920' in 2.3 miles. From the top of the climb the downhill to the finish is the favorite of many, and the hope is always that you will have enough left to run it well!

********

In the 50K Chad Ricklefs of Boulder set a new course record of 3:54:08 and Amanda Hicks' 4:46:57 edged Meghan Arbogast by 52 seconds. Getting in some snow-free miles Aspen's Dylan Bowman cranked out a blazing 6:45:08 in the 50 mile, and Amy Sproston -- one of several runners from the PNW -- flew through the course in 8:38:20.

Here's a Google Earth flyover of the Ray Miller 50K course, with the 50 mile option marked in orange. The flyover is interactive and can be paused and restarted at any point. You can rotate, zoom, and tilt the view. Mileages and locations are approximate and based on my 50K GPS track. The Google Earth plugin is available for most desktop browsers.

Many thanks to R.D. Keira Henninger and her support crew, the great volunteers, the sponsors, and all the runners for an outstanding event! Check the Ray Miller 50/50 web site for additional details and all the results.

Runner's blogs/web sites: Chad Ricklefs, Meghan Arbogast, Dylan Bowman, Amy Sproston, Timothy Olson

Some related posts: You Can't Run Just Part Way Up Serrano Canyon, Serrano Valley from the Chamberlain Trail, Return to Hidden Pond, Coastline From Mugu Peak

February is a busy month for SoCal trail runners. The Ray Miller 50/50 is Saturday, February 2; the Bandit 50K/30K/15K/6K is Sunday, February 17; the XTERRA SoCal Series continues February 3 at Mission Gorge; and the Big Baz Winter Trail Run Series continues on February 2 & 16 at Blue Jay Campground.

Yesterday's run to Mugu Peak included several of the trails on the Ray Miller Course, so this morning I got in some miles on the Bandit trails. The title photo was taken near the high point of the Bandit 50K and 30K courses in Rocky Peak Park.

This year, rather than doing two Chumash - Las Llajas loops, Bandit 50K runners will do a new out and back segment in Tapo Canyon Open Space to Tapo Canyon Rd. Both 50K and 30K runners we'll run up Las Llajas Canyon -- in the distance on the left -- and then up from the old oil field to Rocky Peak Road. After a short downhill Rocky Peak Road climbs to "Fossil Point" the high point of the course.

Here's a Google Earth flyover of the Bandit 30K course, created from a GPS trace of the 2010 race.

Related post: Bandit 50K 2011 Notes

Was that rain I heard outside of the motel? Bleary-eyed, I grabbed my phone and checked the current weather radar. If it wasn't raining, it would be soon. The radar showed an elongated patchwork of lime green blotches, sprinkled with yellow, approaching the blue dot marking the room in Kernville, California.

It looked like the front was going to pass through a bit earlier than forecast -- right about the time we would be starting the 50K. The good news was there didn't appear to be a lot of shower activity behind the front. Whether that would be the case in the middle of the day remained to be seen.

The annual Run-4-A-Way Burger Run follows the 14.5 mile Whiskey Flat Trail from the Burlando Trailhead in Kernville up the Kern River to Johnny McNally's Fairview Lodge and Restaurant. This year R.D. Mike Lane had added a 50K. That's what I was running. The "Double Burger" would do the trail both ways -- from McNally's down to Kernville and then back again.

It was rainy, dark and gloomy as we drove up Mountain 99 toward McNally's. I like the rain as much as anyone in Southern California, but hoped the radar was right, and we wouldn't have to deal with wet weather for the next several hours. I reminded myself that when the weather looks wet and rainy it's (almost) always better on the trail than it looks like from the car.

Up at McNally's Donni and Neil got us signed in, handed out the bib numbers and T-shirts, and got us started at 7:01. There were just a few of us running the 50K and the faster runners were soon out of sight. They would make it down to Burlando in less than 2.5 hours.

Whatever your pace, the running was spectacular! The light rain turned to showers after the first few miles. On the higher mountains snow could be seen along the margins of the clouds. From time to time the sun would break through the clouds, illuminating the valley. At one point showers and sun mixed in dazzling display.

The Whiskey Flat Trail was in great shape. According to Stewards of the Sequoia Executive Director Chris Hogan, volunteers worked 500 hours to restore the trail -- clearing brush, improving the tread, removing down trees, and installing water bars to control erosion. Their hard work, and the work of other volunteer trail maintenance groups, keeps our trails open and enjoyable.

Although I wasn't particularly speedy, the run went well for me. I ran the race in Hoka One One Mafate 2s. The Mafate 2s are way different from the shoes I've been using in ultras. The Double Burger 50K is 100% single track and the shoes handled it well. Whether it was the shoes, the weather, my pace, or whatever I don't know; but my legs and feet felt better (and I felt better) over the last several miles of the course than in any 50K I've done the past few years.

Many thanks to Mike Lane, Donni & Neil Higgins, John Seals & Lisa Ross, McNally's, all the volunteers, and all of the hikers & runners for a great event! Here's an interactive Google Earth browser view of the Burger Run course and an elevation profile generated in SportTracks.

Related post: Whiskey Flat Trail Burger Run 2011

Here are a few additional photos from the run. Click for a larger image:

Whiskey Flat Trailhead	Sun Shower	Granite Slabs
Rainbow	Aid Station	View Downriver

I like to do a short recovery run the day after a 50K. An early morning run helps smooth out the tweaks and twinges of the race, and a lingering runner's high brightens the senses and the day.

Weather-wise, the timing of the Bulldog 50K/25K was perfect. Yesterday was one of the coolest of the cool wave. Today temps were already on the way up. Here's a chart comparing the air temperature in the shade at the Malibu Canyon RAWS (near Tapia Park) for the last seven Bulldog races, and a similar chart with the fuel temperature in the sun.

As at the top of the Bulldog climb, vaporous clouds drifted among the rocks, trees and chaparral at Sage Ranch Park. Heavy dew coated the plants along the trail, and the night-cooled droplets felt like splashes of ice water on my legs. Below, a pillowy layer of clouds filled Simi Valley. I jogged along the trail, legs tired, but feeling good.

Updated Thursday, August 30, 2012.

Following two weeks of scorching temperatures and a torrid Mt. Disappointment 50K, it looks like we're going to catch a break and the weather for the Bulldog 50K/25K this Saturday is going to be cooler -- cooler than last year and cooler than what we've been seeing recently.

How much cooler? During our recent heat wave the Malibu Canyon Remote Automated Weather Station (RAWS) near Tapia Park recorded temps as high as 102°F, and highs were routinely in the 90s. On race day last year temps here topped out at 101°F. Yesterday the high was 80°F and forecasts suggest the high Saturday should be about the same.

But for runners these temps don't tell the whole story. These are "in the shade" temps recorded by a specially shielded and ventilated sensor. In addition, the humidity -- even if it's not East Coast humid -- can have a big impact on what the temperature feels like and how it affects running performance.

In my experience a better measure of the temperature a trail runner experiences in races such as Bulldog is the "fuel temperature." This is the temperature of a ponderosa pine dowel in direct sun. In the recent heat wave and at last year's Bulldog race the "in the sun" fuel temps at the Malibu Canyon RAWS topped out at a fiery 112-115°F. Yesterday, when the air temperature was 80°F, the fuel temperature at that station was around 100°F.

Humidity can also play an important role and it doesn't have to be super-high humidity to affect a runner. The NWS Heat Index attempts to account for the combined effect of temperature and humidity. Heat index tables can be misleading. As the NWS notes, "...heat index values were devised for shady, light wind conditions, exposure to full sunshine can increase heat index values by up to 15°F."

Last year at around 3:00 pm when the last few runners were making their way up the Tapia Spur Trail the "in the shade" air temperature recorded by the Malibu Canyon RAWS (near Tapia Park) was 99°F, but the "in the sun" fuel temperature was 114°F. The dew point (a measure of humidity) at the time was 63°F, and this would have pushed the "feels like" temperature even higher.

We shouldn't see anything like that this year.

Update Thursday, August 30, 2012. Here's a chart comparing the air temperature in the shade at the Malibu Canyon RAWS (near Tapia Park) for the last seven Bulldog races, and a similar chart with the fuel temperature in the sun.

Update Sunday, August 26, 2012, 12:00 pm. Race day (Saturday) at Malibu Creek State Park dawned cool and cloudy with the marine layer once again about 2200' deep. At the beginning of the race the temperature at the Malibu Canyon RAWS (near Tapia Park) was 63°F. As on Friday the marine layer didn't start to break up until around 9:45 am, so for many runners the entire first loop was cloudy and relatively cool. The first time up Bulldog we ran up into the clouds and eventually broke out above the cloud deck near the top of the climb -- it was spectacular! The clouds had cleared by the time I reached the Bulldog aid station on the second loop. Even though temps were warmer the second time around, it seemed that just when you needed it there was always a cooling breeze!

At 11:00 am at the Malibu Canyon RAWS the "in the shade" temperature was 73°F and the fuel temperature was 96°F. This was only about an hour after the clouds cleared, so the actual "in the sun" temperature was lower than the RAWS fuel temperature. Even though the air temperature stayed under 80°F all day, and "in the sun" temps were not as hot as they might have been, the ice water sponges at the aid stations still felt really good! It was a great day for a 50K!

Update Friday, August 24, 2012, 2:00 pm. Satellite imagery showed clearing in the Malibu Creek State Park area in progress around 10:00 am. An hour later the temperature at the Malibu Canyon RAWS (near Tapia Park) was 73°F and the "in the sun" fuel temperature had jumped to 96°F. At 2:00 pm the "in the shade" temperature was up to 78°F and the "in the sun" fuel temperature was still 98°F. Temps should be similar tomorrow for the race. We'll see!

Update Friday, August 24, 2012, 8:00 am. NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard reports marine layer about 2200' deep this morning. The top of the Bulldog climb is at about 2400' ASL. The extent of the low clouds and fog can be seen on the Pepperdine University web cams and on various CalTrans cameras along the 101 Frwy via SigAlert.com. A marine layer this deep will probably delay clearing and keep temps cooler. Yesterday at 11:00 am the Malibu Canyon RAWS (near Tapia Park) reported an "in the shade" air temperature of 71°F and an "in the sun" fuel temperature of 90°F. Temps peaked at about 2:00 pm with an air temp of 79°F and a fuel temp of 100°F. We'll see what happens today!

Thursday, August 23, 2012. At the moment it looks like the "in the shade" temperature at 11:00 am race day near Tapia Park should be around 78degF, with an "in the sun" temp approaching 100degF. The marine layer depth at the start of the race should be around 1000' with a layer of low clouds (possibly broken) that should clear before most of us complete the first 25K. We'll see!

The title photo is from a run in Malibu Creek State Park on Saturday. The Bulldog climb is on the right side of the photograph. The Corral Canyon aid station is on the low point of the skyline a little left of center, and the "gateway" rocks farther left on the skyline.

Here's an (updated) Google Earth flyover of the first loop of the Bulldog course. Press the "play" button to start the tour. The tour can be paused at any point, and you can look around by rotating, zooming, and tilting the view. The mileages are from my trace of the course in 2010 and are approximate. Placemark locations are also approximate. To view the tour the Google Earth plugin has to be installed by your browser.

Some related posts: Bulldog 50K 2010 Notes

Heads up if you were planning to run the 2012 Bulldog 50K or 25K in toed running shoes. The following new rule is specified on the Bulldog Race Rules page:

"Barefoot sports shoes or toed running shoes will not be permitted to be worn at the Bulldog Trail Runs; no exceptions!"

Last year the U.S. Army banned toe shoes because of "lack of conformity with the Army’s conservative professional appearance."

Mt. Markham From Near Mueller Tunnel

The water felt surprisingly chilly, and for a moment I hesitated before completely immersing myself in the cool, clear water. More a creek than a river this time of year, this crossing of the West Fork San Gabriel River was at mile 17 of the 2012 Mt. Disappointment 50K. At 2760', it's the lowest point on the course and marks the beginning of the tough 5.4 mile climb up Edison Road to Shortcut Saddle (4790').

Edison Road (FS Road 2N23) zigzags up an exposed, south-facing chaparral slope. The climb is warm on the coolest of days -- today it was going to be torrid. Southern California was locked in the grasp of a record-setting, multi-day heat wave. During the week I'd taken a thermometer on a run and measured a temperature of 107.6°F on a breezy day at Ahmanson Ranch. All week I'd been checking the computer weather models and watching the temps in the San Gabriel Mountains, hoping for a break in the weather. Nada. The day before the race the "in the sun" temps at the Clear Creek RAWS, near the race course, reached a blistering 120°F.

The performance hit from running in the heat is similar to running at higher elevation. Acclimatization helps, but hot weather reduces performance. The following is from Daniels' Running Formula:

"You can’t perform as well in a distance race in the heat as you can in a cooler environment... As soon as the body starts to heat up, blood is diverted to the skin, where cooling (through evaporation of sweat from the skin’s surface) takes place. A greater portion of the body’s blood volume is at the body’s surface to facilitate cooling, leaving less blood available for carrying oxygen to the exercising muscles. In effect, to prevent overheating, the body reduces the amount of blood available to enhance performance."

Submerged up to my neck in sublime coolness, I dunked my head. To this point the heat hadn't been too bad. Much of the first 17 miles had been shaded and tolerable, and I'd been doing everything I could to stay cool. The "not too bad" part was about to end. Most of the next 9 miles would be brutally exposed and facing directly into the sun.

The dip in the pool only took a couple of minutes, but was worth every single second. Even if my shoes were wet and my jelly beans and salt tabs melted gobs of sugar and salt it was worth it!

Incredibly, the cooling soak made the Edison climb almost enjoyable. Almost -- it still took about 50 minutes to get to the Edison Road aid station and another 50 to get up to Shortcut. At Shortcut the fantastic aid station volunteers filled my Camelbak with Heed and ice, and I ate a couple of big chunks of watermelon (really good watermelon) and drank a little cola. I felt good, but should have been thinking ahead and taken a couple of minutes to really cool down here. The ice water sponges were just sitting there waiting to be used and I passed them by. A little too soon I was on my way, and in a few minutes was jogging down the Silver Moccasin Trail.

In the extra-strength rays of the noontime sun, the rocky canyon was a solar blast furnace. Temps were well beyond what I had experienced on afternoon runs earlier in the week. At any instant I thought I might spontaneously combust. I kept watching the runner ahead of me, expecting him to disappear in puff of smoke. And there wasn't much relief lower in the canyon. Most of the trees along the creek had been burned in the Station Fire. There was almost no shade, and in the recovering vegetation the humidity (and heat index) was elevated.

After an interminable time I finally reached West Fork. The pooled water in the W.F. San Gabriel wasn't as cool as at the lower crossing, but was still refreshing. (The hose from the water tank that Gabor sets up at the aid station was probably cooler and cleaner.) I refilled my Camelbak, and with a cup of cola and ice in hand, headed up the Gabrielino Trail toward Kenyon Devore.

The climb up the Kenyon Devore Trail was -- and always is -- grueling. Edison Road is tough because some of it is steep and most of it is exposed and hot. KD is tough because most of it is steep, parts of it are hot, and you've already done 26+ miles. I took it easy on the Gabrielino Trail, which has some runnable sections, with the hope of being able to maintain a steady pace on KD.

It was warm on the upper part of Kenyon Devore, but at least there was some shade. Last year's race was unusually hot, but this year's race was even hotter. This year the temperature (in the shade) on Mt. Wilson hit 86°F a little past 8:00 am and climbed to 96°F by the midafternoon. The temperature (in the shade) at nearby Clear Creek was over 90°F for most of the race, and "in the sun" temps topped out at 116°F!

This was my eighth Mt. Disappointment 50K and by far the hottest and most difficult. How difficult? This year's middle-of-the-pack time -- the median time for all the finishers -- was 8 hours 30 minutes. This was nearly 45 minutes longer than the median time in 2011, and 90 minutes longer than in 2006.

One of the main challenges of the Mt. Disappointment 50K is that it starts and ends on Mt. Wilson -- the high point of the course. The original course was run from 2005 to 2008, but because of the Station Fire and Mueller Tunnel closure variations of the original course have been done since 2009. This year Mueller Tunnel reopened and we were able to do the part of the original Mt. Disappointment course that goes from Eaton Saddle up the San Gabriel Peak Trail to the shoulder of Mt. Disappointment and down to Red Box.

In this interactive Google Earth browser view of the 2005-2011 courses the 2012 course followed the 2005-2008 (green) course to Red Box and then the 2010 (red) course for the remainder of the race. Checking a few GPS track files with SportTracks and using DEM corrected elevations, it looks like the 2012 course distance and elevation gain/loss were about the same as 2011.

Many thanks to Gary & Pam Hilliard, Fausto & Cindy Rowlan, and all of the Mt. Disappointment 50K Staff, volunteers, HAM radio operators, Sierra Madre SAR personnel, runners, and sponsors that helped to make this event happen! Check out the results and photos on the Mt. Disappointment web site!

Related post: Mt. Disappointment 50K 2011 Notes

When a race changes organizers sometimes you're just not sure what you're going to get. No worries! It seemed Tom Spiegel and Team Big Bear made every effort to maintain the quality and character of an event that for 15 years was superbly organized by Gary & Pam Kalina.

Although the temperature recorded at Fawnskin was several degrees warmer than last year the temperature on the course was cooler. Jorge Pacheco took advantage of the nearly ideal conditions and flew through the 33 mile course in a record time of 4:11:19!

Of the 118 runners that started the 33 mile this year 93 finished. Half the runners ran faster than the median time of 7:21:32 and half slower. The times for the middle third of the runners ranged from about 6:50 to 8:00. See all the results on the RaceReady Trail Series web site.

Here's an interactive Google Earth flyover of the Holcomb Valley 33 Mile Run that can be viewed in most browsers. (Google Earth plugin required.) Distances specified are based on my GPS traces from the past three years, and were calculated in SportTracks. Distances and placemark locations should be considered approximate. Here's an elevation profile of the course.

Only the event director and core group of volunteers really know how much work goes into putting on an event. There are innumerable tasks that have to be coordinated and completed, and myriad (usually) minor problems that have to be resolved. The works starts months in advance of the event, and may not end for weeks after the event. The reward is in the smiles of the participants and knowing you have done the best job possible. Thank you Pam & Gary Kalina for organizing the Holcomb Valley Trail Runs for so many years.

Some related posts: Holcomb Valley 33 Mile Trail Run 2011, Holcomb Valley 33 Mile Trail Run 2010

Following are a few photos from this year's run.

Cougar Crest View	Road Running	Horse Ranch
Leaving Aid #2	Talus on the PCT	Belleville

When the starter yelled "GO!" at the beginning of the XTERRA Black Mountain 15K I wondered if it was raining yet in the San Fernando Valley. I was not looking forward to driving home on the 405 in pouring rain. But I'd worry about that later. Here at Black Mountain Regional Park, a little north of San Diego, the weather was about as good as it gets for running.

Heavy rain was forecast later in the day and you could tell it was on the way. High clouds muted the morning sun, and a layer of threatening-looking clouds lurked on the northwestern horizon. It was cool -- but not cold. After the first quarter mile I was glad I was running in short sleeves.

An email from the race organizers described the 15K course as "fairly flat" with "twists, turns and some minor hills." I'd checked out the course profile on the trailrace.com and except for a not so minor hill at the end, the course did look pretty flat. Lots of downhill at the start, a couple of "minor" climbs in the middle of the course, and about an 8% climb over the last mile or so. A friend warned me about the hills around mile 5, so I wasn't caught totally off guard by the steep climbs on the power line service road.

At just under a 1000' of elevation gain, Black Mountain is the least hilly of the XTERRA SoCal Trail Run Series. But in a series noted for its climbs, flat is a relative term. To the left are the distances and elevation gains for the Series courses calculated using SportTracks* based on Garmin GPS tracks from the 2012 races, except for Malibu which is from 2011.

Here's a more detailed Black Mountain 15K elevation profile with some notes added. Imagine running this course at an average pace of just over 6:30 min/mile! That's what overall winner Paul Fraire did, cranking through the 9.8 mile course in 1:03:48.6. Heather Fuhr, Women's winner and 4th overall, finished in 1:05:36.5, averaging 6:42 min/mile!

Like all the XTERRA SoCal Trail Run Series courses, the Black Mountain course was fun! There were a variety of trails and terrain, and some other interesting elements. And it's the only race in the series that ends with a challenging climb! I really enjoyed the course.

*SportTracks elevation data smoothing set to 55. Elevations corrected using pkan's Elevation Correction Plugin and NED 1/3 arc second DEMs.

The post on the XTERRA web site said the new Crystal Cove 15K course had been approved, and also mentioned something about a "gnarly" hill. I thought I better check it out, and followed a link to the course info on MapMyRun.

The elevation profile didn't look too bad. It had the usual ups and downs you expect to see on a Southern California trail run. In Tour de France fashion, MapMyRun categorizes the more difficult climbs on a course from Cat 5 to Cat 1 with Cat 1 being more difficult. Climbs that are crazy difficult are rated Hors catégorie (HC). A climb has to be at least 0.3 mile long to be categorized.

Two categorized climbs were noted on the MapMyRun elevation profile of the Crystal Cove 15K course: a Cat 3 that began about a half-mile into the race and climbed about 775' over 3.4 miles, and a Cat 5 that started at about mile 4.7 and gained about 130'. The gnarly climb was supposed to be somewhere around mile 5, but the MapMyRun profile indicated that section had a grade of 2.6%??

The gnarly hill was waiting for us around a sharp corner at mile 4.75. Locals refer to it as the Elevator, but the runners I talked to call it THE WALL. Since you ride an Elevator, but have to crawl up and over a wall I'm going with THE WALL. Whatever you call the thing, it was the steepest pitch I've ever encountered on a race course, and steep enough that hikers often descend it on their backside. (It's steeper than it looks in the video!)

And once you've clawed your way over THE WALL you're not done -- the hill continues another 0.4 mile and averages about a 15% grade. I pushed on up the climb, propelled by the thought that the MapMyRun profile showed it was nearly all downhill from around mile 5.7 to the Finish -- I would have almost four miles of downhill bliss.

Or not! It was in the middle of the uphill around mile seven that I was beginning to wonder when the "good" downhill was going to begin. It had to start soon; the course was only about 9.5 miles long! After struggling to keep my pace up through a long stretch of level terrain around mile eight, I wondered -- probably out loud -- if the course was going to fall off the edge of the earth.

From madness comes revelation, and in this case the edge of the world. The last mile-plus of the course plummeted nearly 700 quad-numbing feet to the Finish.

Reality check: Here's a higher resolution elevation profile generated in SportTracks using my GPS track from this year's race. You can see there was a lot more to the course than shown in the MapMyRun profile. There are several tough climbs, ranging in grade from about 5% to 15%, and the last big hill was definitely gnarly! The course was great, and much more interesting than the MapMyRun profile suggested.

Here's a Crystal Cove State Park Trail Map (PDF).

The Burger Run is one of those runs that is much more difficult than its 14.5 miles and 2000' of elevation gain would suggest. For one thing the Whiskey Flat Trail ain't no namby-pamby city trail. It's a rustic single track trail in the Southern Sierra that runs along the Kern River from the outskirts of Kernville up to Johnny McNally's Fairview Lodge and Restaurant -- and burger stand.

The trail is single track all of the way, with so many ups and downs you'll think you're riding a Magic Mountain roller coaster. It seems around every corner there is another creek or a ravine. The running is varied and technical, ranging from sweet pine-needle-lined stretches of trail to gnarly, V-rutted, overgrown, rocky, sandy, steep sections that test your trail running skill.

For a time it looked like a big low moving down the coast might cause some weather problems, but overnight rain turned to partly cloudy skies race day morning, with near perfect weather for the runners and walkers.

Many thanks to race director Mike Lane, all the volunteers, McNally's, Indian Wells Brewing Company, and all of the friendly hikers and runners. Proceeds from the race benefit Run 4 A Way, a local non-profit group dedicated to enhancing the fitness and well being of the local youth. Results and finish line photos are posted on Run 4 A Way's Facebook page.

Here's an interactive Google Earth browser view of the Burger Run course and an elevation profile generated in SportTracks. Following are a few additional photos. Click for a larger image:

Aid Station #1	Sock'em Dog Rapid	Steep Climb
Runner, River & Road	Kern Peaks	Ten Miles In

Somewhere around the junction of the 210 and 605 I saw a flash of lightning to the south. As if the flash had been a warning, a gust of wind buffeted my car, and a blizzard of dust and debris blew across the freeway. Then it started to rain. Not good -- especially when you're on your way to a race that ends on top of a 10,000' mountain.

A complicated weather scenario had developed for race day. A very moist layer of monsoonal moisture had been pushed up into Southern California from Baja by a combination of a weak upper level trough off the coast and big upper level high over Four Corners. A combination of factors including an unseasonably strong jet stream had helped trigger a band of showers and thunderstorms that extended from west-southwest off the coast, across the Los Angeles basin, and into the San Gabriel Mountains.

When I drove into the Mt. Baldy Ski Lifts parking lot at around 6:45 am it was raining hard enough I didn't want to get out of the car. Procrastinating, I went through the admittedly optimistic ritual of applying sun screen. After a few minutes the rain tapered off to sprinkles and I walked down to the Start Line to pick up my bib. The word was conditions were improving and it looked like we were going to be able to get in the race.

Each year the Baldy Run to the Top attracts 500 to 600 runners. Some are the best of the best and will run the seven miles and nearly 4000' of elevation gain in under 75 minutes. About two-thirds of the runners usually finish in around 2:15 or less.. A few just want to give it a go and soon find that climbing the rough equivalent of 6500 stairs -- at altitude -- is more than they bargained for.

Usually the weather is pretty good -- some years are a little warmer or cooler, or have a few more clouds than others, but blue skies and sunshine are the norm, and significant rain -- or lightning -- usually isn't a problem.

It was deceivingly warm as runners gathered at the start line. The wind chill on top was reported to be a chilly 38 degrees. A few runners had on extra clothing, and a number of runners had an extra top or shell tied around their waste. Some had extra gear stuffed in their packs, but a few -- including a couple of shirtless runners -- had nothing to combat the weather.

Here's a UCAR regional NEXRAD composite radar image from about 8:00 am. The approximate location of Mt. Baldy is marked by a black triangle near the center of the image. (Note that radars in the region vary in how they show a particular area and that a cell may be stronger than indicated in the composite. Also there's some "clutter" in the image that isn't necessarily rain.)

With what sounded like a more reserved "3... 2... 1... GO!" the race started and pounded down the wet pavement to Manker Flats (6160'), where it turned up the ski area service road. The (mostly) dirt road would take us to the Notch (7800') and then the top of Chair 4 (8600'). From there a trail would take us across the exposed Devil's Backbone, then across the south face of Mt. Harwood, and on to the final gut-wrenching 700' climb to the summit of Mt. Baldy (10,064'). Here's an interactive Google Earth browser view of the race course.

The weather on the way up to the Notch was a little unsettled, but great for running. There was a mix of clouds and sun, and even a brief shower, but overall it looked like the weather might be improving.

Just before rounding the last switchback up to the Notch, a runner with a bib was running down. This was odd because he was running well. Why would he have quit the race? Running up to the aid station at the Notch I still hadn't caught on, and was wondering why so many people were standing around at the aid station.

That's when I learned that about 45 minutes into the race, on the recommendation of SAR officials, the race had been shut down. I'm not sure what the "final straw" was but would guess it was nearby thunderstorms and perhaps a growing concern that rain and wind associated with a rapidly developing cell could cause serious problems for runners not prepared for inclement weather.

Here's what a regional composite radar image looked like at around 9:00 am, and then just one hour later, as a "train" of cells about 20 miles from Mt. Baldy continued to develop and stream into the San Bernardino Mountains in the area of Silverwood Lake, Crestline and Lake Arrowhead.

Lightning was not only a risk for runners, but for the 50+ SAR and fire personnel spread across the mountain, and the 25+ volunteers that would be on top of the mountain for the duration of the event.

There was lightning in the area. We saw it driving to the race and I heard at least one clap of thunder while warming up before the race. Here's an image of Astrogenic StrikeStar lightning detections in the southwestern U.S. from 10:00 pm PDT Sunday to about 1:30 pm PDT race day. Note the high percentage of cloud-ground strokes.

As this composite radar loop from WSI Intellicast.com shows, bands of showers and thunderstorms streamed into the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains most of Labor Day. Cells were moving relatively rapidly and developing over a wide swath that extended from west of Mt. Baldy south and east to San Diego and Palm Springs. (Mt. Baldy is just north of ONT on the radar map.)

It was pretty much a crapshoot where a particular cell would develop, how strong it would be, and what its extent would be. This regional radar image shows a cell that moved into the Baldy area around 1:00 pm, and this Google Earth/NEXRAD image shows the same cell in relation to Mt. Baldy at around 1:30 pm.

As frustrated as I was to stop at the Notch, I don't think there's any question that officials made the right decision when they shut down the race. And I think most runners understand that it's not whether a particular runner was able to make it up to the summit and back down OK, but what could have happened with several hundred people on the mountain and an ever-so-slight change in that wavering stream of heavy showers and thunderstorms.

Some related posts: Thunderstorm, Mt. Baldy Run to the Top 2009, Mt. Baldy Run to the Top 2007

Runners on Edison Road During a Recent Training Run

No matter if you run at the front, middle, or back of the pack, there's the race you plan, and the race you run.

Based on the course info, it looked like the 7th edition of the Mt. Disappointment 50K was going to be more difficult than in 2009 and 2010, adding both mileage and elevation gain. Because of the closure of Mueller Tunnel and the damage done by the Station Fire and subsequent floods, we still wouldn't be running up and over the shoulder of Mt. Disappointment, or down to Clear Creek and around Strawberry Peak, but the 2011 course would make up for that with its own very memorable sections.

To try and cope with the difficulties of the course, I'd put in extra miles and done more back to back Saturday-Sunday runs. But in one of those uh-oh moments a couple of miles into the race, I could feel in my legs that I was probably going to need to adjust my expectations. I wasn't injured. I wasn't getting over a cold or flu. My stomach wasn't upset. I felt pretty good. But there was this nagging bit of fatigue in my legs...

The new wrinkle for 2011 was that we turned off Mt. Wilson Road half-way to Red Box and ran down the Valley Forge Trail. In a training run a few weeks before the race, the Valley Forge Trail had been an obstacle course overgrown with Turricula (Poodle-dog bush). Trail work by Hilliard, Rowlan & Company had restored the trail, and today it was in great shape. Here's an interactive Google Earth browser view of the 2011 course and the courses in previous years, and an elevation profile of the 2011 course.

At the bottom of the Valley Forge we turned onto the Gabrielino Trail, and started up the canyon of the West Fork toward Red Box-Rincon Road. The change in grade from level to uphill confirmed it. I stepped aside so two running friends could pass. Maybe it was a tapering or over-training issue, or maybe it was just "one of those days." Whatever, the legs were just not cooperating.

The irony is, this was probably a good thing. The day turned out to be the hottest of any Mt. Disappointment race to date. The lurking leg fatigue forced me to not push the pace, which made dealing with the temperature easier.

And hot it was! The forecast had looked decent just two days before the race, but Friday temperatures exploded in the mountains, jumping 10-12 degrees in 24 hours. The hot temps on Friday carried over into Saturday, making race day just that much warmer.

Here are the race day temperatures at Clear Creek and Chilao for 2005-2011, and Mt. Wilson for 2009-2011. And these temps are the temperature off the ground and in the shade! A better indication of the temperature in the sun is the "fuel temperature." This is the temperature of a ponderosa pine dowel in direct sun. Here are plots of the race day fuel temperature at Clear Creek and Chilao for 2005-2011.

Because I wasn't pushing the pace I didn't hesitate to take a little extra time at aid stations. I can still feel that ice cold sponge on the back of my neck, and the cold water running down my back. This year there were numerous small stream crossings, and I think there was at least one small stream between every aid station. This was "free" cooling, and I paused a dozen times to dump water over my head. Thanks to the West Fork San Gabriel River, I was soaked from head to toe for the first steep, sun-baked section of Edison Road. This was also the case on the Silver Moccasin Trail in Shortcut Canyon and on part of Kenyon Devore.

Hot day or not there were some remarkable performances. Heather Fuhr was not only was the first place woman, she was fourth overall and set a new women's course record of 5:07:11. Perennial favorite Jorge Pacheco sped through the tough Mt. Disappointment course in 4:46:29, winning the overall and setting a new course record in the Men's 40-49 Division.

Once again the event was superbly organized by race director Gary Hilliard and the Mt. Disappointment 50K Staff, with the help of an extraordinary group of volunteers, runners, SAR personnel and sponsors. Thank you!

Related post: Mt. Disappointment 50K 2010 Notes

When you're a middle-of-the-pack runner doing a 33 mile race in the mountains of Southern California you have a lot of time to think. I'd already been running 5 1/2 hours, and what I was thinking about at the moment is that I wished I had spent the last week in Big Bear, Mammoth, or anywhere higher than the soaring 890' elevation of the west San Fernando Valley.

Why? The Holcomb Valley 33 Mile course is deceiving. Even though it has only one steep climb, and the total elevation gain/loss is only about 3600', it has the highest average elevation of any 50K in Southern California. Nearly 30 miles of the course are above 7000', and this translates to a big performance hit, especially for the unacclimated, middle-of-the-pack runner.

In addition to wishing I was acclimatized, I was also thinking that we'd lucked out again this year and the weather for the race was pretty comfortable. It was warmer at the start of the race than last year, and even though the midday temps recorded at Fawnskin were almost identical to last year, it felt a little warmer for most of the run. (The descent to, and climb out from, aid station #6 must be tough on a day in the eighties!)

And besides the altitude and weather, I was thinking it was taking a long time to get to aid station #7. It seemed I should have reached the Belleville miner's cabin by now. The cabin's at about mile 26 and only about a mile and a half from the LAST aid station.

Finally, the flat surrounding the cabin came into view. How different that view would have been 140 years ago. At the height of the gold rush Belleville was a boom town of thousands, and as the third or fourth largest town in Southern California had vied for the county seat! Somewhere across the flat was a large western juniper said to have been a hangman's tree.

Fifteen minutes later I was a happy runner; drinking cola, getting a bottle filled with ice and water, and kidding around with the aid station volunteers from Bear Valley Search & Rescue. They were outstanding -- as were all the volunteers!

After thanking everybody for being there, I turned onto the PCT and started to jog up the trail. Even though more than 5 miles remained -- more than half of it uphill -- it felt good to be on the last leg of the race and headed for the finish line!

Congrats to the overall winners Jorge Pacheco (4:20:13) and Vanessa Jones (5:45:16) and to all the runners that participated in the race. This year the median time (half the runners above, half below) was about 7:38:00.

Here's an interactive Google Earth flyover of the course that can be viewed in most browsers. (Google Earth plugin required.) Distances specified are based on my GPS trace from last year, and were calculated in SportTracks. Distances and placemark locations should be considered approximate. Here's an elevation profile from last year's post about the race.

Many thanks to Gary and Pam Kalina, Bear Valley Search & Rescue, the sponsors, and all the volunteers for a great race! For additional info see the Holcomb Valley Trail Runs web site.

Related post: Holcomb Valley 33 Mile Trail Run 2010

50K Runners Returning from the Rocky Peak Trailhead

Cool temps, clearing skies, and snowy vistas greeted runners doing the 2011 edition of the Bandit trail races at Corriganville Park in Simi Valley, California.

If you're going to have a trail race after a rainstorm, Rocky Peak is the place to do it. Rain gauges in the area recorded as much as two inches of rain in the 48 hours leading up to the race, and for a while it looked like there might be a dusting of snow on the highest points of the course. Except for a couple of short muddy sections, and having to dodge a few mud puddles, the dirt roads and trails were in good shape.

This year the race was expanded to include a 50K. This new option doubled the fun on the Chumash-Las Llajas loop of the 30K course, running the loop twice, and also took a short sightseeing trip down to the Rocky Peak trailhead at Santa Susana Pass. The 30K course was the same as last year, but the 15K course was shortened from last year's 16K or so to 15K.

The 50K course is a tough one, including about 7 miles of technical single track trail, 22 miles of fire road, and a mile of paved road. The elevation gain/loss is about 5400', which is a little more than the Bulldog 50K course, and a little less than the original Mt. Disappointment 50K course. Here's an elevation profile of the Bandit 50K course.

There are several difficult stretches on the 50K course. Just a mile into the race runners have to deal with a very steep climb -- an 800 foot ascent in just one mile. In my mind it's the most important mile on the course, and how hard you push here can have a big effect on how you feel over the next 28 miles! There are a couple of other long climbs. The 2.3 mile climb from the Rocky Peak trailhead to the top of the Rocky Peak grade gains over 1000', and the gain over the 1.75 miles from the Las Llajas split to the highpoint at Shells/Fossil Point is 800'. Runners doing the 50K get to do the Las Llajas to Shells climb twice.

One of the toughest sections for me was the run up Las Llajas Canyon on the second Chumash-Las Llajas loop. This section starts at about mile 19 and ends at the Las Llajas split, where the road forks right and up through the oil fields. For the most part the grade is not steep, but the miles are deceptively long and grueling. Also tough on tired legs is the very technical plunge back down to Corriganville at the end of the race.

Congrats to 50K winners Chris Price and Nancy Ishizawa. Clearly enjoying the day, Chris flew through course in a remarkable time of 4:12:51, averaging 8:28 minute miles. In the 30K Marcelo Mejia set a new course record with a blazing time of 2:52:31. On a slightly shorter course than last year, Fernando Ramirez and Jen Todd put down fast 15K times. For all the results and race photos, see the Bandit web site.

All in all it was fantastic day for a run! Many thanks to the race organizers -- Randy & Sarita Shoemaker, Larry Lee, and Todd Baker -- and all the volunteers and sponsors for an outstanding event!

Here are a few additional photos. Click for a larger image and description:

Start of 800' Corriganville Climb	Running Up from Rocky Peak Trailhead	Snow on Ventura Mountains
15K Runner Headed Back	Descending Chumash	Casey's Water Cache

Goat Buttes and the Bulldog Climb from Near the Start

The week following the Mt. Disappointment 50K, with the Edison and Kenyon Devore climbs still etched in my mind, I noticed that the Bulldog 50K hadn't filled yet. Hmmm... Could I do it? The little hill on my Wednesday afternoon run hadn't felt bad. Thursday I had done a little longer run, with a little longer hill. It was no Bulldog climb, but it felt OK. I decided that if the 50K didn't fill by Friday, and the weather forecast for the race wasn't crazy hot, I'd give the Bulldog 50K a go.

Malibu Creek State Park is only about 20 minutes from my home, and I run the Bulldog loop frequently, but because of scheduling conflicts I'm usually unable to run the Bulldog 50K. It often falls on the same weekend as the Miracle Hot Springs Whitewater Slalom race, and just two weeks after the Mt. Disappointment 50K. This year, because of a good "El Nino" snowpack, the paddling season on the Lower Kern was going to be longer than usual, and the Miracle Race was moved to late September. But had my legs recovered enough from Mt. Dis?

Friday the 50K hadn't filled, the weather forecast looked OK, my legs seemed to be OK, so click-click enter, click-click enter, and I was doing Bulldog.

As the week before the race progressed it became evident a) my legs were not as recovered as I had hoped, and b) race day temps were going to be a little warmer than originally forecast. The RD's day-before-the-race email confirmed the warmer weather:

"IT WAS 82 DEGREES AND NO CLOUD COVER AT 8:30AM THIS MORNING AT THE PARK. BE PREPARED FOR HIGH TEMPERATURES AND FULL SUN ON RACE DAY TOMORROW... NSD"

Race day dawned coolish, but there was not a cloud in the sky. (Last year there had been cloud cover until around 11:00 a.m.) At the Malibu Hills weather station, the temperature at 6:00 a.m was 71°. By 8:00 it would be 80°, and by 9:00 84°. It would be even warmer in the direct sun.

Whatever the thermometer said, the temperature on the first loop wasn't an issue. There were a couple of warm spots on the Bulldog climb, but there was also a lot of shade. Bulldog was actually pretty painless, and I commented to another runner that I wished it would be like that the second time around!

The last time I'd done the Bulldog 50K was in 2003. Back then the course wasn't a double loop. There are pros and cons to the double loop format. Sometimes it helps to know what's coming, and sometimes it doesn't. It depends on what kind of day you're having. This morning the first 25K had gone well, and as I jogged under the oaks along Malibu Creek at the beginning of the second loop, I thought maybe, just maybe, my legs would last.

It was about half-way up the Bulldog climb the second time that reality set in. The sun was 3 hours warmer, the climb longer, and gravity (for sure) stronger. I overheard another runner remark, "from here there's no more shade." And there wasn't.

From the top of Bulldog it's less than a mile of downhill to the Corral aid station. My mind liked the idea of running downhill, but after all the miles of uphill my legs were having trouble with the transition, and were getting a little crampy. It probably wasn't a coincidence that this was also the point where I started to run out of gas. Not a full-on bonk, but there wasn't much left in the tank.

The parts of the course I enjoy the most -- running through the rock formations east of the Corral aid station, and the panoramic views of the ocean and mountains from Mesa Peak fire road -- were a bit of a struggle. It helped to talk with some of the runners along the way. There were new runners, old runners, fast runners, and slow. Every runner has a different story, perspective and challenge.

Eventually I reached the start of the long, sometimes steep, downhill to Tapia Park. On the way down, one runner that passed me commented, "I was looking forward to this section, I didn't expect it to be so hard!" No argument there. After cooling off at the Tapia aid station, it was on to another tough part of the course. I was prepared for the Tapia Spur Trail to be an oven, but a nice breeze kept the temperature reasonable.

I had been warned that the final little climb up the paved road and around to the finish would be a killer. It was a long, long half mile, and at one point I wondered if the course might continue past the entrance station and out of the park! A couple minutes later I was across the finish line. And about a minute after that I was eating a big chunk of ice cold watermelon!

Many thanks to R.D. Nancy Shura-Dervin and Larry Dervin, all the volunteers, sponsors, support personnel, and runners for a great race. The aid station volunteers were fantastic. All I had to do was soak my head in ice water while my bottles were being filled! For Nancy's race report, all the results, and 2000+ photos, see the Bulldog 25K/50K web site.

Here's a Google Earth tour of the first loop of the course generated from my GPS trace. Press the "play" button to start the tour. The tour can be paused at any point, and you can look around by rotating, zooming, and tilting the view. The mileages are from my trace of the course, and were calculated by SportTracks. To view the tour the Google Earth plugin has to be installed.

The most remarkable thing about this year's Mt. Disappointment Endurance run is that there was a 2010 race. The Station Fire and heavy Winter rains decimated the San Gabriel Mountains. Without the hard work and dedication of Gary & Pam Hilliard and a host of volunteers the 6th edition of the race never would have happened.

There were some changes in the course. After descending from Mt. Wilson to Red Box, the 50K course normally goes down to Clear Creek Station, circuits Strawberry Peak, and then returns to Red Box. Not this year. The Colby Canyon and Strawberry Trails were particularly hard hit by rock slides and washouts, and could not be used. Instead, after running down to Red Box, we hung a right and continued down Red Box Road to the West Fork aid station. Usually done after mile 20, it was great to run this segment while it was still cool, and I had some life left in my legs.

At West Fork, after ten miles of downhill and losing 2600' in elevation, the infamous 16 mile Shortcut loop begins. Usually part of the Mt. Dis 50 mile course, the Shortcut loop is best known for it's scorching 5.6 mile, 2000' climb up Edison Road to Shortcut Saddle. It's one of those climbs that doesn't look that bad on paper, but a topo map doesn't show the sun beating down on your head mile, after mile, after mile. Fortunately, the weather was kind. The high on Mt. Wilson only reached 73 degrees -- several degrees cooler than the usual temperature for this race.

Wow, the Edison climb and the Kenyon Devore climb all in one 50K! But what are two classic climbs without a tough descent in between? The Silver Moccasin Trail between Shortcut and West Fork was obliterated by slides, debris flows and flash flooding. Hours and hours of work were done on the trail to make it passable. In the lower half of the canyon, flooding and debris flows widened the streambed, making it difficult to connect the remnants of old trail into a recognizable path. The challenge wasn't staying on the course, it was very well marked, but trying to pick the best route through a maze of sand, stream, cobble, and bits and pieces of the old trail.

Then came the Kenyon Devore climb. After doing 10 miles of fast-paced downhill, the Edison climb, and the Silver Moccasin rock dance, the ascent of Kenyon Devore was not easy! But it never is! There were a couple of newly fallen trees to clamber over, and some other challenges, but all-in-all it was the same classic climb.

To borrow an old rock climbing quip, an endurance run "ain't no weenie roast," and this year the Mt. Disappointment 50K was just a bit more of a challenge. Here's an elevation profile, and a Google Earth browser view of a GPS trace of the course. In SportTracks my trace of the course worked out to about 31.6 miles. This is a mile or so shorter than the web site mileage because Mueller Tunnel was closed and we skipped the Mt. Disappointment section. The mileages in the Google Earth view are from my trace of the course, and may not be accurate.

Congrats to the overall Men's and Women's winners Patrick Sweeny (4:40:46) and Sada Crawford (5:28:17). Patrick ran the race in Vibram Five Finger KSO Trek's. Check out all the results on the Mt. Disappointment web site!

Here are a few photos. Click for a larger image and description:

Last year's Station Fire, and the Winter storms that followed, combined to damage many miles of trail in the San Gabriel Mountains. Among the volunteers working hard to restore the trails are runners that will doing the Mt. Disappointment 50K and Angeles Crest 100 mile endurance runs later this Summer.

Gary Hilliard, trail maestro and R.D. of the Mt. Disappointment runs, dedicates an astonishing amount of time to the task of preserving trails -- encouraging and organizing volunteers, surveying trails, and doing the down and dirty work of maintenance and restoration. If it's a Summer Saturday, chances are good you'll find him in Angeles National Forest, working with a group of runners to make a trail better.

Today's trail was the Kenyon DeVore Trail on the north side of Mt. Wilson. Originally a part of the Rattlesnake Trail, the trail was renamed in tribute to the Forest Service patrolman, hydrographer, and Angeles National Forest volunteer, Kenyon DeVore. The trail is the toughest part of infamous final leg of the Mt. Disappointment 50K and 50 mile courses, climbing about 2300' in 3.6 miles.

There was plenty to do on the Kenyon DeVore Trail, and Gary divided us into three groups. One group was given the job of restoring a long stretch of trail that had been obliterated by debris flows, and another group was assigned the chore of clearing a rock slide. Our group's task was removing several trees that had fallen across the trail, and working on the trail along the way.

The largest of the trees blocking the trail was a sizable bigcone Douglas-fir. At the point where it was cut, the diameter of the trunk was about 26"-28". For its size, the tree was surprisingly old. A rough count of the rings from a contrast enhanced photo gives an approximate age of 310 years. The age was not cross dated, but appeared reasonable when compared to a standard tree ring chronology.

The cut sections of the tree had no obvious fire scars. The CDF/FRAP Fire History Database indicated that, prior to the Station Fire, a large part of the canyon in which the tree was located had no reported fire history.

When we were done, about two-thirds of the Kenyon Devore Trail had been restored. No worries about the other third, Gary has trailwork scheduled most weekends through the end of July.

At aid station #2 we turned onto the Pacific Crest Trail, and followed the smooth single-track through a serene Jeffrey pine forest on the north slopes of Delamar Mountain. It was a little chilly and breezy at 7800', and the strong June sun felt good on my bare arms. I was at about mile 9 of the Holcomb Valley 33 Mile Trail Run and all was good. The subtle vanilla scent of the pines wafted through the trees, and here and there bright yellow blossoms of western wallflower seemed to mark the way.

Rounding a corner, a pine framed image of Big Bear Lake and snow covered San Gorgonio popped into view. Behind me, a runner exclaimed, "Gorgeous!" As she passed, she commented, "This is my favorite race!" And I can see why. Not only is the race well organized, with great aid stations and super helpful volunteers, it challenges the runner with a unique mix of terrain and altitude.

Some stretches of the course are smooth and fast, some technical, and some downright gnarly. Most of the hills are not steep -- at least by sea level standards -- and the total elevation gain/loss is only about 3600'. But the gotcha is this: the course has the highest average elevation of any 50K race in Southern California, including the Bishop High Sierra 50K! Nearly 30 miles of the course is above 7000', and the altitude has an unavoidable effect on performance, particularly for the unacclimatized, middle-of-the-pack runner.

How much of an effect? There is an often referenced chart in the book the Daniels Running Formula that can be used to estimate how much slower we will run at a particular altitude. Using an online running calculator based on the chart, we can project that a runner that does a 33 mile course at an elevation of 1000' in 6.5 hours would take about 7 hours at 7500' -- assuming the runner is fully acclimatized! In the book, Daniels says that the increase in time could be as much as double for an unacclimatized runner. So 33 miles in 6.5 hours near sea level might turn into 7.5 hours at 7500'.

At altitude, elite runners have an advantage -- even more of an advantage than they have at lower elevations. Because of the reduction in air density and drag, running at altitude at their faster pace is more efficient than near sea level. This partially offsets the loss in aerobic power that results from the reduction in atmospheric pressure. Again using the Runworks calculator, a runner that runs 33 miles in 4 hours at 1000', would be projected to run about 4:18:00 at 7500'.

Apparently immune to the altitude, and flowing over the rocky sections of trail like the wind, Michelle Barton and Jorge Pacheco set new records on the Holcomb course this year. Michelle Barton flew through the 33 mile course in 4:56:21 (8:59 min/mi), and Jorge Pacheco cranked out an amazing 4:13:44 (7:41 min/mi). To put those times in perspective, this year the median time (half the runners above, half below) was about 7:36:00.

Here is a Google Earth interactive browser view of my GPS trace of the 33.1 mile course, and an elevation profile generated in SportTracks. Distances specified are based on the trace, and were calculated in SportTracks. During the race the only segment that seemed significantly longer than expected was from aid station #4 to aid station #5. Part of the reason is it was a tough leg, and has some very rocky stretches. But it also looks like the segment was about 7 miles long, rather than the expected 5.9 miles.

Many thanks to Pam and Gary Kalina, Bear Valley Search & Rescue, the sponsors, and all the volunteers for a great race! All the results can be found on the Holcomb Valley Trail Runs web site. Steve and Melanie Lentz of SMS Event Photography did a fantastic job photographing the race, and were able to get shots from a variety of locations and perspectives.

It had been a long time since I was on the summit of Santiago Peak (aka Saddleback). The last time was in 1975, when I flew from the peak on a Sunbird "Butterfly" hang glider. That day had been spectacular, and this was turning out to be a spectacular day as well.

In the throes of an El Niño Winter, Southern California had been pummeled by a series of Pacific storms. With all the rain and snow it seemed unlikely that the Twin Peaks 50/50 would be run as planned. But the key access roads didn't wash out, most of the snow melted, and blue skies and great weather greeted runners race day morning.

The race started at the bottom of Indian Truck Trail, off the I-15 near Corona. It was warm enough that in our 8:00 wave of 50K runners, only a few people wore sleeves and extra clothing. As we worked up the first switchbacks into the sun, those were quickly shed. The enthusiasm of the other runners was contagious, and this helped with the challenges of the initial 7 mile, 2600' climb to the Indian Truck Trail aid station.

At that first aid station I grabbed a GU gel, and then headed east on the Main Divide Road toward West Horsethief. For some reason I had it in my head that I might get to run on the flat here for a few minutes. The only way that was going to happen is if I ran around the aid station table. On this course you're either going up or you're going down, and here the arrow still pointed up.

The views along the Main Divide were fantastic. The high peaks of Southern California -- Mt. Baldy (10,064'), San Jacinto Peak (10,834') and San Gorgonio Mountain (11,499') -- glistened in the morning sun, their new snow impossibly white. Down in the valley, an ant-like stream of vehicles moved along the Corona freeway, and our parked cars glittered like a string of tiny beads along Santiago Road. To my right, steep, chaparral covered slopes plunged into the depths of Trabuco and Holy Jim canyons. Somewhere down there was the Holy Jim aid station, and it looked like a long way down.

At the West Horsethief Trail aid station (10.2 mi), Billy and Lori greeted me with big smiles and asked if there was anything I needed. I had just been asking myself that same question, wondering if I had enough water to make it to Holy Jim. I guessed that I did, thanked them for being there, and turned down the single track trail.

Varied and technical, the West Horsethief and Trabuco trails were my favorite part of the course. While some sections were rocky, or V-rutted from recent rains, long stretches of of the trail were smooth and fast. Once down in the canyon, the creek crossings on the Trabuco Trail were great fun. With the warm weather, wet socks and squishing shoes were no big deal. The lush green growth and the burbling stream eased the long run down the canyon, and at about the 3 hour mark, I reached the Holy Jim aid station (14.5 mi).

This aid station is on the opposite side of the mountain from the start. You've done a lot of work to get there, and you're going to do a lot more to get back. From here it is about 8 miles and a 3900' gain to the summit of Santiago Peak. It took a while to work up past the cabins in Holy Jim Canyon to the start of the Holy Jim Trail. I knew I was on-route, but I hadn't run any of these trails, and worried I might accidentally run up somebody's long driveway.

As I climbed out on the first switchbacks above the creek, Hiroki Ishikawa, the eventual winner of the 50 mile race, rounded a switchback. Elite athletes stand out in any sport -- there is a an efficiency and fluidity of movement that is unmistakable. Hiroki was quicksilver fast, and seemed to flow effortlessly down the trail.

In contrast, I felt a little like mud trying to flow uphill. Fortunately, long stretches of the trail were runnable, and ever so slowly I rose above Holy Jim Canyon. Gradually, the peak tops and rigelines that had been towering above me fell away. About 4.5 hours into the race, I reached the top of the Holy Jim Trail at Bear Springs, and turned left onto the Main Divide road.

The surprising thing about this shady nook is that when you reach this point, you've only done a little more than half (56%) of the gain from Holy Jim to Santiago Peak. But hey, I was happy with that, and it felt good to be in the pines and plodding up toward the peak.

It took about 30 minutes to reach the big switchback at the Upper Holy Jim checkpoint (21.1 mi). From here the summit towers looked tantalizing close. I was happy to keep pace with the "runner in blue" about a hundred yards ahead. As we neared the top of the peak, sun turned to shade, and the road became covered with snow. It was a cool way to finish a warm climb, and a not so subtle reminder of what the weather might have been.

Leaving the top of Santiago Peak (22.6 mi) I thought back to that day in 1975. I wouldn't be flying down the mountain today, with a hang glider or without. In its own way the 10 mile descent from the peak would be just as challenging as the climb up earlier in the day. But I wasn't thinking about that. I was smiling and thinking that the running had been about as good as trail running gets.

Many thanks to RD Jessica DeLine, and all the volunteers and runners for an excellent event! Kudos to the 50 mile runners, who not only got to climb Santiago Peak via Holy Jim, but had the pleasure of running down Holy Jim and then climbing up West Horsethief and doing Santiago a second time.

Here's an interactive Google Earth browser view of the 50K course, and an elevation profile generated in SportTracks. Based on my GPS track, the distance worked out to a little over 33 miles, with an elevation gain of about 7600'. The elevation gain was hand calculated using SRTM corrected profile elevations. (For more info about measuring elevation gains on mountain trail runs, see the post What's the Elevation Gain?)

When split times are available, you can learn a lot about how you, and others, ran the course. Everyone's race is unique, and no one approach works the best. In the following listings, I've calculated the time from the start to each aid station, the time between aid stations, and the split rank at each aid station. These are totally unofficial. In a few places where a split time was invalid (for example earlier than a previous aid station) I've substituted estimated times. The "Rank" indicated is based on the time from the start to that point in the course. In both the 50K and 50M the top runners had missing splits, so for that split, they will not be included in the split rankings.

Here are the 50K Split Calculations and the 50M Split Calculations. If you want to send me your corrected or missing splits, I will update the listings when I have a chance. Please see the Twin Peaks 50/50 web site for official results and information.

Runners Descending the Devil's Backbone on Mt. Baldy

It's a lot more fun working with gravity, than against it! For many runners, the run down from the summit of Mt. Baldy is as much a part of the Run to the Top experience as the race up.

Grueling sections of trail are effortlessly retraced, and there is more of an opportunity to enjoy the Devil's Backbone, and other spectacular sections of trail. Those needing more mileage skip the chair lift ride down from the Notch, and continue down the service road, following the route of the race.

Related post: Mt. Baldy Run to the Top 2009

The weather for the 44th edition of the Mt. Baldy Run to the Top was nearly identical to last year, with clear blue skies and temps in the 50's.

The Station Fire could be seen from the top of Mt. Baldy, but with the wind from the southwest, the smoke was blowing elsewhere.

This challenging mountain run gains about 3800 feet over 7 miles, starting at the bottom of the Mt. Baldy ski lift parking lot and ending on the summit of 10,064' Mt. Baldy. Here's a Google Earth browser view of a GPS trace of the course.

This year the men's overall winner was Jonathan Toker in a time of 1:12:11, and the women's overall winner was Hannah Valenzuela in a time of 1:26:03. For all of the results see the Run to the Top web site. Many thanks to the race organizers, volunteers, USFS, Mt Baldy Ski Lifts and the Mt. Baldy Fire Department for a great race!

Related post: Mt. Baldy Run to the Top 2007

Strawberry Spring, about 1.25 mile from Lawlor Saddle

Race day dawned clear, cool and breezy -- nearly perfect conditions for the start of the 2009 Mt. Disappointment 50K and 50 mile Endurance Runs.

This was the 5th edition of the 50K, a classic race that starts and ends on the summit of Mt. Wilson, and features a demanding mix of technical single track trail, dirt fire roads, and the Mt. Wilson Rd. With over 5000' of legit gain and loss, and a climb to the finish of 2600', it is a course that many underestimate. If the 50K is difficult, the 50 mile is difficult squared. In addition to the final arduous climb to the finish, the 50 mile run features a brutally exposed 6 mile ascent to Shortcut saddle that most do during the hottest part of the day.

My goals for this year's 50K were to a) complete it, b) have fun!, and c) try to get my time back down under 7 hours. I'd been working some on improving my running technique. Would it make any difference?

Following are some notes from this year's race. This year I've used the GPS distance as calculated by SportTracks, rather than the official aid station distances. These distances are approximate. The times between aid stations should be relatively accurate, but may differ from the official times.

Mile 0 to 4.7 (Red Box Aid #1)

As a result of the Mt. Lowe Fire Road closure, instead of turning at Eaton Saddle and climbing up and over the shoulder of Mt. Disappointment, the first leg of the race followed (paved) Mt. Wilson Rd. all the way down to Red Box. According to the topo map, this reduces the total elevation gain by about 700' -- from about 5800' to 5100'. Comparing GPS traces from last year and this year, it looks like the 2009 course is about 0.8 mile shorter -- 5.5 miles vs. 4.7 miles.

How much would the change in course effect times? And, how do you compare a 2008 time to 2009 time? And, what time on this course would be (more or less) equivalent to my goal of finishing in under 7 hours on the standard course?

In my case, I've run the 50K four times before, so I know my average time down to Red Box is about 60 minutes. This year the split was 20 minutes faster. I figure about 16-17 minutes of that is due to the difference in courses, This is close to what the 8:1 Naismith's Rule would predict. Assuming an 8.5 min/mile pace on the flat, the 700' climb should add about 9 minutes, and the additional 0.8 mile should add about 7 minutes. So, subtracting 16 minutes from 7:00 hours my new time goal was 6:44.

I might have run this leg a little too fast -- I did feel some tightness in my quads at Red Box -- but the long, fast downhill on pavement was an offer I couldn't refuse.

2007: 59 min 2008: 66 min 2009: 40 min

Mile 4.7 to 10.2 (Clear Creek Aid #2)

Behind me, I heard the surprisingly loud, "thunk!"of the toe of a running shoe catching on a rock, and then a grunt. Time expanded as I turned, and I watched in slow motion as a runner gracefully flew through the air, tucked, rolled, and in a backlit cloud of swirling dust, slid 50 feet down the steep, pine needle covered slope.

Maybe because it's downhill and in shade, I've seen a number of runners trip on this section of the course, but this fall took the Gold. The good news was the runner was OK.

Although this was probably the fastest I've done this leg, it didn't feel that way. I wasn't holding back, but wasn't pushing the pace either.

2007: 58 min 2008: 63 min 2009: 56 min

Mile 10.2 to 12.7 (Josephine Aid #2.5)

OK, OK, I know better than to push the climb up the Josephine Fire Road too hard. To this point, I was hanging with a some runners that would eventually finish the 50K in the 6:00-6:15 range. Didn't know that at the time, and in my enthusiasm passed them on the hill. Bad move.

2007: 43 min 2008: 43 min 2009: 38 min

Mile 12.7 to 20.5 (Red Box Aid #3)

I coughed and sputtered after accidentally inhaling some of the Heed I was trying to drink. Jimmy Dean Freeman was cracking me up telling stories about some recent ultras.

There are two legs of the course where training pays big dividends, and this is one of them. Jimmy Dean and his wife, Kate, were running free and easy. It didn't take long and they started to pull away. Runners trained for longer distances seem to have a much better time of it on this part of the course.

Even on a coolish day like today, the climb to Lawlor Saddle was on the warm side, and I found myself walking stretches that with just a little more "umph" I could have been running. For a while, I ran with a runner, who -- if I heard correctly -- warmed up for the Mt. Disappointment 50 miler by doing an Ironman Tri the previous weekend!

Although my time from Clear Creek to Red Box was 10 minutes faster than last year, I think my overall time would have been faster if I had taken it easier on the Josephine climb.

2007: 129 min 2008: 103 min 2009: 98 min

Mile 20.5 to 25.7 (West Fork Aid #4)

I don't know what makes this leg so difficult, but every year it's a tough one for me. Fresh, it would be a run in the park. After 21 miles of this race, and 4000' of elevation loss, "it ain't so easy anymore." Some years there is water in the creeks that cross road, and a cap-full of water over the head helps. Not this year.

Lynn Longan, another one of the runners I'd passed on the climb up to the Josephine aid station, caught up to me a little before the West Fork aid station. In addition to two 50 milers earlier in the year, she had run the TRT 50 mile three weeks ago, and the Miwok 100K before that. I was about to learn what running longer can do for you.

2007: 66 min 2008: 61 min 2009: 57 min

Mile 25.7 to 31.1 (Finish on Mt. Wilson)

I left the aid station a little ahead of Lynn, but it wasn't long and I heard footsteps coming up behind me. Looking strong, she cruised past and was soon out of sight.

I was worked. I could run some on the flat, but uphill running was not going to happen. Then there the water issue. Two bottles is never enough for me on the Kenyon DeVore climb. I knew that going in, and should have taken the time at the West Fork aid station to drink more water and defizzed cola. The plan had been to refill at a creek crossing a couple of miles up the trail. But there was a potential problem -- this year almost all of the small creeks had been dry!

The creek wasn't dry, but it wasn't all that wet either. The flow was marginal and there was a lot of debris in water. But I had refilled here several times before, so maybe it would be OK. I'd already gone through my first bottle, and had started on the second, and there was still 3.5 miles and 1700 feet of climb to go. I decided I would only drink it if I had to. Without inspecting the source too carefully, I filled the bottle and hurried back to the trail. While I had been busy getting water, two runners had run past.

The Kenyon DeVore trail is cruel. Glimpses of the antennas on Mt. Wilson look tantalizingly close, but the trail climbs, turns, and then climbs some more. I drank all of the creek water and was happy to have it. Even with the extra water, my legs were getting crampy, and I just hoped I could get to the finish without a full-on bout of adductor and hamstring cramps.

2007: 112 min 2008: 100 min 2009: 104 min

Time in... 6 hours 34 minutes -- with an average pace more than a minute per mile faster than last year, and ahead of my adjusted time goal of 6:44.

Here's an elevation profile, and a Google Earth browser view of a GPS trace of the course, with mile splits generated by SportTracks. Click on the red icon for the split time. The 2009 course is the yellow trace, and the 2005-2008 course is the red trace.

As always the event was superbly conducted by race director Gary Hilliard, the Mt. Disappointment 50/50 Staff, and a extraordinary group of friends and volunteers. Thank you!

Related post: Mt. Disappointment 50K 2008 Notes

Technorati tags: Mt. Disappointment 50K, trail running

I glanced at my watch -- 5.25 miles. Clouds and fog had kept temps on the cool side for more than three-quarters of the Bulldog climb, but the sun was finally breaking through. Even though temps were down a few degrees, the long climb had still been grueling. The runner next to me was breathing heavily, and I mentally repeated my Bulldog mantra -- don't redline, don't redline.

For many of us, that's the problem with Bulldog -- some of it is runnable and some of it isn't. For the moment I was running, but I knew the grade well, and just ahead the fire road switchbacked right, and steepened.

I've been over the "I can run this hill no matter what" thing for a long time. For me, and the majority of trail runners, walking the steeps is a good thing. The little bit of time lost by walking is generally made up -- and more -- on other sections of the course.

Rounding a corner, the grade did steepen, and I slowed and started to walk. Taking advantage of the slow pace, I ate a Gu, took a Salt Stick cap, and gulped down some Gatorade. Another runner and I had been swapping leads up the hill, and he passed me -- again. As he increased his lead, I wondered if I should be pushing a little harder.

A left turn never felt so good! A few minutes before I had reached the top of Bulldog grade, and the highest point on the course. Now gravity was on my side, and I was enjoying the downhill. There were more challenges ahead, but for now I was lost in the moment -- savoring the wind in my face, the far reaching views along the rocky crest, and that wonderful feeling of being a runner.

Here's a Google Earth browser view of a GPS trace of the 22K course with my half-mile splits. (Generated in SportTracks.) See the XTERRA Malibu Creek Challenge web site for race results and additional info.

Some related posts: Malibu Creek State Park Shadow & Sun, Fog Along Malibu Creek, Bulldog Loop and the Corral Fire, Rock Formations Along the Backbone Trail

Steep climb on the Bandit 30K and 14K Courses.

Low clouds cling to the slopes of Rocky Peak, and a cool downslope breeze stirs through the runners gathered at the start line in Corriganville Park. Three... A race organizer holding a "turn on your Garmin" sign is counting us down. Two... Runners anxious to get on the course collectively take a deep breath. One... Go! The first steep climb is just minutes away...

You never know what you're going to get in the first edition of a race, but in this case the Bandit 30K/14K organizers appeared to have considered every detail. Check-in went smoothly, the race started precisely at 8:00 a.m., the course was challenging and well-marked, aid & water was where it was needed, volunteers were great, and the finish line had an assortment of tasty treats!

Overall, elite mountain runner Jon Clark edged Kevin Gillotti and Jason Perez, winning the 30K in 2:22:29 -- averaging 8 minute miles over the demanding course. Among the women, Lisa Fink placed first, finishing in a time of 3:08:28. In the 14K, women took two out of the top three places, finishing first and third. Jen Todd was first in 1:15:22, followed by Karl Bowers and Meredith Davidson. Results and photos are available on the Bandit 30K/14K web site.

Many thanks to the Bandit Race Committee -- Randy & Sarita Shoemaker, Larry Lee, and Todd Baker -- and all the volunteers and sponsors for a great race! Also, thanks to Tommi Diaz for her photos of the 30K.

Here's a Google Earth image, Google Earth KMZ file, and Google Earth browser view (Chrome, IE7, IE6, Firefox) of my GPS trace of the course.

Update 12/09/10. The date of the 2011 Bandit 15K/30K is Sunday, February 20th. A 50K distance has been added! Here's a Google Earth flyover of the Bandit 30K course, created from a GPS trace of the 2010 race.

The photo of runners on Rocky Peak Road is from a run in November 2007.

Some related posts: Bandit 30K Course Preview, Las Llajas Hill 2484, Running Rocky Peak Road, Chumash Trail Rocks & Snow

Updated 8/05/09. Added browser view of GPS trace of the course. Uses Google Earth plugin.

Updated 8/20/08. Added Split Rank listings (PDF) for 2007 50K and 50M, and related comments.

Winding down the precipitous Mt. Wilson road, I thought about the run ahead. To my left granite and pine glowed golden in the morning sun, and to my right the mountain plunged in long shadows, 2000' into the canyon of the West Fork San Gabriel River.

In a few hours I would be somewhere down in that canyon, plodding along sun-baked Red Box road. By then the temperature would be in the mid-eighties, but in the full sun it would feel like a hundred. That would be around mile 23. I kicked a pebble and winced as it almost hit the heel of the runner in front of me. Only at mile 1-something, there were a lot of miles to go.

This was the fourth running of the Mt. Disappointment 50K, and my fourth as well. If ever a race route mirrored the character of its organizer, the Mt. Disappointment Endurance Runs reflect the tough and tenacious character of race director Gary Hilliard. Starting and ending near the summit of 5710' Mt. Wilson, the figure-8 50K course is a challenging mix of mostly single track trails and dirt roads with an honest 5800' of elevation gain/loss. A very difficult 50 mile option was added in 2007, and is a favorite of runners training for the Angeles Crest 100.

Even for the experienced trail runner, the Mt. Disappointment 50K is no gimme. Consider the following stat:

Nearly half (44%) of the 5800' of elevation gain is in the last 5.3 miles of the 31.5 mile race!

Did you push the downhills too hard? Not eat enough? Electrolytes low? Whatever miscalculations have been made earlier in the race will be rung up here -- ka-ching! The runner that has nothing left for this climb can take hours to complete it.

One possible gotcha is that 8.6 miles of the first 11 miles are downhill, and it is very difficult to resist being swept along by gravity and the crowd. The early enthusiasm of surrounding runners is contagious. In 2007, I pushed the pace to Clear Creek too hard, and bonked on the backside of Strawberry Peak. I could barely run. The uphill stretch on the Strawberry Trail to Lawlor Saddle seemed to go on forever, and even the downhill to Red Box was hard to run. I didn't see how I could finish the race.

How bad did it get? Out of curiosity I used the splits from the 2007 race to calculate each runner's rank at each aid station, as well as their time between each aid station. At Clear Creek my rank was 58th, and by Red Box it had blossomed to 82nd. That means between Clear Creek and Red Box I was passed (and encouraged) by 24 runners. Here are the calculated 2007 50K Split Ranks and the 2007 50M Split Ranks. Some splits were missing and had to be estimated -- these could be wildly inaccurate.

I did finish, but it wasn't fun. This year I was determined not to repeat that experience. The plan was to be about 10 minutes slower at the Clear Creek aid station; gain back that time, and more, by Red Box (Aid #3); run the Red Box Rd. segment in about an hour; and then do the final climb back to Mt. Wilson in about 1:40. That would put me closer to my 2005 and 2006 times.

Here are some notes from along the way. Times are from aid station to aid station, and are approximate.

Mile 0 to 5.7 (Red Box Aid #1): Kept the pace easy on the paved road down to Eaton Saddle. Didn't push the climb up Mt. Disappointment, or on the steep, switchbacking trail down to the Mt. Wilson road. 2007: 59 min 2008: 66 min

Mile 5.7 to 10.8 (Clear Creek Aid #2): Continued to hold back some on the pace down the old roadbed to Switzers. Felt good on the short climb from Switzers to Clear Creek and passed a couple of runners. 2007: 58 min 2008: 63 min

Mile 10.8 to 21.2 (Red Box Aid #3): Ran some of the more gradual uphill stretches on the Josephine Fire Road, but walked the majority of it. Passed a few people. The average grade of the 2.8 mile segment up the Josephine Fire Road is about 520 ft./mile, which is somewhat less than Kenyon-Devore's 616 ft/mile. Enjoyed some watermelon and chips at the "water only" aid station at the top of the climb (mile 13.4). Time up the hill was 43 minutes -- about the same as in 2007. Unlike last year was able to run and enjoy most of the Colby Canyon Trail, as well as the downhill from Lawlor Saddle to Red Box. The uphill stretch from the Colby Canyon Trail JUnction to Lawlor Saddle was still a long -- and warm -- 1.8 miles. Its average grade is about 411 ft/mile. 2007: 172 min 2008: 150 min

Mile 21.2 to 26.2 (West Fork Aid #4): In previous years this section has been the most difficult for me, and it was again this year. I could whine about the heat, but I think this is where extra training miles would make a big difference. I was happy to see the creeks running again this year, and stopped a couple of times to dump water on my head. Ahhhh... 2007: 66 min 2008: 61 min

Mile 26.2 to 31.5 (Finish on Mt. Wilson): By the time I got to the West Fork aid station, I was ready for something other than downhill. At the aid station I gulped down three cups of defizzed Coke and some water, and refilled one bottle with Heed and the other with ice and water. I still had two GU's for quick energy later in the climb. I was able to run part of the 1.5 miles up the canyon to where the Kenyon DeVore trail splits from the Gabrielino trail, and the 3.1 mile Kenyon-Devore trail went well. Many of my long trail runs this Summer -- in the Sierra, San Gabriels and on San Gorgonio -- have been on steep terrain, and that, along with a slower start, probably helped here. 2007: 112 min 2008: 100 min

Overall, my time was 27 minutes faster than in 2007. But that's just a figure on paper and doesn't begin to describe how much better I felt during the race, and how much more I enjoyed it. Start slow, start slow, START SLOW is an ultrarunning adage we all know, but in the fervor of race it is often one of the first maxims that is forgotten.

Again this year, Gary Hilliard and crew made sure everything was just so -- trails, aid, awards, finish line food, 2000 lbs. of ice, Brooks t-shirt, goody bag and more. Always an adventure, the Mt. Disappointment 50K is a trail running classic. Many thanks to all that make it happen!

Here's a Google Earth image, Google Earth KMZ file, and Google Earth browser view of a GPS trace of the course, with mile splits generated by SportTracks. In Google Earth, click on the red icon for the split time, pace and elevation change.

The title photograph was taken at about mile 17.5 on the course, just past the junction of the Strawberry and Colby Canyon trails, and is looking back at the terrain traversed by the Colby Canyon Trail on the north side of Strawberry Peak. It is from November 2007.

P.S. About 20 minutes after I finished the 50K, Jorge Pacheco completed the 50 mile race in an astounding 7:41, crushing the course record he set last year by almost 45 minutes! Full results are posted on the Mt. Disappointment Endurance Runs web site.

Technorati Tags: Mt. Disappointment 50K, trail running

Every event has its own personality and character. The Boney Mountain Half Marathon is a trail running classic, with superb single track trails, fantastic views, grueling climbs, and fast, fast downhills. The longer climbs are on the single track sections of the course, and the descents generally on roads or old road beds. This results in a challenging course with 2600' of elevation gain/loss, that -- for the fleet-footed -- can be very fast.

There are two significant climbs. The big one starts in earnest around mile 6.8 on the Old Boney Trail. This is a little less than a mile past the Danielson aid station. From the low point on the course (295') in Big Sycamore Canyon at mile 5.5 to the high point of the course (1820') at mile 9.75, there is a gain of about 1700' and loss of about 175' in elevation.

The Old Boney climb is tough, no doubt. But you have to be careful not to overlook the nearly 700' of climb (and a little downhill) between mile 1.8 and mile 4. Early in the race, full of energy and charged with endorphins and adrenalin, it's easy to push this section too hard. Runners tend to be more tightly grouped, and a dynamic develops that pushes the pace.

I managed to avoid that trap, and other than slipping at the first creek crossing and almost diving for mud snails, my race went reasonably well. The group of runners I tended to be around were upbeat and experienced, and everyone seemed to be enjoying the day. The weather was about as good as it gets for a race -- cool and clear and without much wind. The trail was still damp from heavy rain earlier in the month, but there was almost no mud.

I took a water bottle and 3 GUs and skipped most of the aid stations. In my case I think this saved time, and I stayed better hydrated than if I had run without a bottle.

This year's overall winner, Jonathan Toker, flew through the course in 1:36:30, averaging 7:22 minute miles! The overall Womens winner was Julie Jakoboski with a time of 1:54:05. Full results can be found on the Boney Mountain Trail Run web site. Many thanks to the crew at Generic Events, and all of the race volunteers, for a great race!

Here's a Google Earth image and a Google Earth KMZ file (updated) of a GPS trace of the Boney Mountain Half Marathon course.

Sobering note: In 2006 Sal Bautista ran the course in 1:31:11, averaging 6:58 minute miles!

Despite an ongoing heat wave and excessive heat warnings, temps were surprisingly moderate for the 42nd running of the Mt. Baldy Run to the Top race. This year the men's overall winner was Eric Martin in a time of 1:10:04, and the women's overall winner was Brigid Freyne in a time of 1:30:41. For all of the results see the Run to the Top web site. Many thanks to the race organizers, volunteers, USFS, Mt Baldy Ski Lifts and the Mt. Baldy Fire Department for a great race!

Here are a few images from the race (Flash 8 required), a Google Earth image and Google Earth KMZ file (updated) of a GPS trace of the route.

Related post: Mt. Baldy Runner