Sweat drips profusely off my forehead as I take each step up the long steep grade. I feel like I’m carrying all of my supplies for a 5 day adventure on my back. My calves are burning looking for relief with each momentary flat section. From a distance the top of every hill looks like the end of the climb is near but every time I think it will end the terrain sends my legs into a free fall right back down the hill. My legs are tired from hiking the 20% grades and if there wasn’t someone right in front of me I would reach out and climb with my hands and knees up each remaining hill. My mind is wandering to brighter pastures but my legs keep turning to get me closer to my goal. Summiting what I anticipate to be the final hill I notice another climb but this time with crazy switchbacks starring at me. I cringe as I look at the grade but at least there are switchbacks. I remove my long sleeve shirt and prepare my mind and body for the next mile. I debate leaving my gear at the bottom of the next hill and getting it as I descend the hill but I abide by European rules. Without fail I know that whatever I brought with me must be carried or dragged the whole way. Slowly making our way up the zig zag slopes I notice relief in sight. There is a spot half way up to rest and catch my breath. I know when I reach the top the views of the bay will be incredible. Again I wipe the sweat away and can feel my stomach turning from too much liquid at the last stop. There are no bathrooms and there is nowhere to stop until I reach the top. Not wanting to stop and search my bag for a quick fix I continued to pound the pavement. I pass several people taking pictures who seem to be more interested in the path than getting to the top. For me it was time to be done hiking and I could have cared less about the scenery. The final steps to the top had my calves burning and crying for ice but thankfully my compression socks masked some of the pain. As we reached the top we looked back to marvel this punishing climb. I was beat and the others around us were asking if I wanted a picture. I didn’t want a picture, I wanted a beer and some onion rings.

Ultra-runners suffer through some crazy cravings but this time I was having cravings and I wasn’t even running. I was hiking Lombard Street in downtown San Francisco on tired legs from the Miwok 60K just days prior. Hiking from the bay to the tops of the street just about put me into cardiac arrest. I was pushing our 35 pound daughter up and down the streets in a stroller and carrying a backpack with extra weight. What the hell was I training for? I just finished racing and now I’m pushing a stroller up a hill similar to the ski slopes in Snowbird, Utah. Was it possible San Francisco beat me up more than my race? Can I blame the city if I have to stop my current running streak?

Arriving at the start line for the Miwok 100K Brian Ricketts, Hilario and Amanda Alvardo, Rachel La Grandeur and I were pretty excited for a day in the Marin headlands. Our beach house was just 3/10th’s of a mile from the start line so there was no need to get up any earlier than an hour before the race. Rachel had mentioned that she was injured and planning on running just six miles depending on how she felt but the rest of us felt good and ready to race. As we walked up to the start line we could see the look of frustration of many runners as they walked away from the check in stations. There was a large sign up that read the race would be cut to 60K due to a red flag fire restriction. I wanted to be upset but who can blame the Race director for making a smart decision. She was informed late the night before and was hoping for a change in wind direction but it never happened so the permit for the north part of the course was relinquished for the race. I thought I was going to be upset with the prospect of traveling to Stinson beach and having the race cut short but it really didn’t bother any of us. We walked back to the house laughing and joking around and within minutes I was fast asleep waiting for the new 8:00 am start time. When we woke up and headed back to the start line we all seemed ready to go including Rachel who had now decided she was going all 60K. I’m not sure what happened during that nap but she went from 10K to 60K in just under two hours. Her recollection is that we told her “anyone can run a 60K” but I think that is what she wanted us to say, not what we actually said.

Three hundred eighty-six runners lined up for the new course and the excitement was in the air. Looking out at the ocean and sun rising high in the sky it was tough for anyone to not be excited about the race even if it was only 60K. My mind never even wandered to the fact that my race would be cut short.

As we headed out at 8:00 am the sun shined down on us as we made our way up the famous Dipsea trail. Heading straight up for the first three miles was a welcome relief since I didn’t want to start too fast with the shorter distance. I wasn’t prepared to run a 50K; I was prepared to run a 100K so my only thought was to stay steady. Climbing up the stairs from the sea had my heart racing and breathing slightly elevated but every 100 yards there would be a short flat section to catch our breath. We wandered through the deep woods and as we crested the first climb we had our first chance to run through the redwoods. I blew through the first aid station since it was so early in the race but since we would be coming back there later on I made a mental note on how far it would be to the finish line. I decided to go as minimal as possible for this race including carrying just one bottle and wearing my road flats for the smooth California trails. I had recently read that I was doing more harm than good by consuming electrolyte drinks right after I took a GU so I switched it up to straight water. I had to try something new in this race since I’ve had far too many mishaps in previous races. My plan was to take a GU every 30 minutes and chase it down with water. As far as taking water I only drank when necessary, not when I thought I needed water. I’ve ran races where I consumed six 20 oz bottles in an 11 mile section. Crazy, I know. Unfortunately it’s true.

Running through the redwoods I looked in amazement as we flew down the 3 mile hill heading towards the Miwok trail. This trail not only provided the best views I’ve ever seen in a race, the footing allowed me to actually look up and take in the scenery. I glanced at my watch a few times in the downhill and loved clicking off six-minute miles as I flew down the hill. The only issue was the lead group continued to pull far away from me. I wasn’t concerned with keeping up with most of the runners but I did want to stay in the top 50. With just shy of 400 runners a top 50 would be a great run on trails I’ve never ran before.

The smooth wide trails allowed us to open up our legs in the downhill but also while climbing. The clear skies made it easy to see just how far the other runners were in front of us. The second aid station came just before mile 13 and it was a welcome sight to see some family and friends cheering us on. Since this race was now a shorter distance I had zero time for anything except to fill my bottle and head back out the trail. Leaving the aid station we had a couple miles of flat trails before the long continuous climb. I could see the lead pack far up the hill as I made my way to the bottom to start the climb. The smooth trails made the hills feel easier on my legs and my mind stayed focused. I was focused to run the entire way up the hill without any walk breaks. I failed a couple times during some extremely steep sections but very briefly. I was looking over my shoulder early to see how other runners were handling the hills and even at a slow run I was putting a large gap between myself and the other runners.

Nearing the mile 18 aid station I couldn’t have been more amazed by the scenery of the Golden Gate Bridge in front of me and the Pacific Ocean to my right. I didn’t have a worry in the world as my mind focused on the beauty around me. My pace seemed to get faster in the single track sections and the miles were clicking off faster than I could have imagined. I quickly filled my bottle at the aid station and opened up my long legs down the hill. I could see in the distance the hills that we were about to climb but it made no difference because I wanted to run fast. I wasn’t looking to make up any of the gap the leaders had, I just wanted to stay in the group with the lead female Darcy Africa. She is a running phenom and was running the race consistently so I decided to follow suit.

As the hills began to stretch out the pack I was falling behind Darcy. She began to open up the lead on me as we continued to climb toward the top of the hill. My plan was to hang close and make up some time as we headed back downhill into the mile 26 aid station. This was a good plan except she was excellent at descents and I couldn’t ever close the gap. Making it into the virtual marathon mark I felt great and had another opportunity to see Traci and Petra before finishing the last 11 miles of the race.

After a really quick stop at the Tennessee Valley aid station we ran downhill for the next mile until our next obstacle showed its face in the distance. I could see the jeep road that leads all the way to the top and if I had fresh legs I don’t think it would have been an issue but I didn’t just start running. I ran/fast hiked all the way up the hill but was still losing ground on Darcy. When we crested what I thought would be the final climb of the day I got my first take of running down the stairs towards the ocean. Heading straight down all I could think about was how nice it would feel to jump into the ocean when we got to the beach. I was flying not knowing if the rest of the race would be flat or if we would be climbing again.

Glancing down at my Garmin and noticing just 6800 feet of total ascent I knew there had to be more climbing to come. Just as I set my sites on the ocean I saw the orange polka dotted ribbons telling us it was time to go back up the trail. This was some very runnable single track and when I was feeling worn down I would glance at the ocean for a revival. I kept asking myself why don’t I live here? Why do I punish myself with the sharp and pointy rocks in the Arizona deserts when I could be running smooth, beautiful trails surrounded by water?

The final climb of the day is back up the long 3.8 mile trail that leads to the Cardiac Aid station. Being from a mountainous area a 1500 foot climb didn’t scare me but spacing it out over several miles did. I’m so used to power hiking up a steep hill and then reaping the rewards near the top that I forgot how hard it is to make a long continuous climb. The air was cool as we made our way in and out of the woods and passing hundreds of hikers made the time go by quickly listening to them cheer us runners on. I was asked no less than ten times how far we were running. I just answered with we’re going to Stinson Beach, not too far. It always seems obnoxious to tell people who don’t run how far one of these races is, even if it was shortened. The dumbfound look on their faces often makes me think what am I doing? Why don’t I just run 5K’s?

From the Cardiac aid station it was all downhill and I was feeling incredible. I let loose in the open trails and slowed down slightly down the stairs until I figured out how to jump two and three steps at a time. Hikers coming up the stairs were looking at me like I was crazy but it was my time to excel. Never taking my foot off the gas I rounded each corner, jumped most of the stairs and hopped tree roots until I hit the road. When I hit the road I turned on the all out sprint and crossed the finish line in 6:24:39 for 34th place out of 386 starters. Not long after I finished my friend Brian Ricketts finished in 7:32, Amanda and Hilario crossed together in 8:20 and Rachel “I’m only running 6 miles” finished all 60K in 9:40 after running only four times in the last month. I ran with just one water bottle all day and never once felt like I needed to drink more liquids. I only drank water and took GU every 30 minutes and finally I had a race without stomach issues. It has taken me a long time to figure out nutrition and liquid consumption during races. My plan worked at Miwok and I raced just like I trained. My advice to you is to drink to thirst, don’t just drink because you think you should drink. It has gotten me into so much trouble during races and the result has never been good. Trust in your training.

This was my first 60K and it was by far my favorite race I have ever run. I can’t say enough about the Race Director, trails, volunteers, and the course. This course featured 37 miles of well marked trail and over 8000 feet of climb. I can’t wait to get back and tackle the full course next year. While I didn’t get my Western States 100 qualifier it does give me something to go after at Waldo 100K in August.

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