Wednesday, May 27, 2009

ws 100 training camp


















i was able to go to the western states training camp memorial day weekend. the best part was we were able to get to robinson flat (mile 29.7) for the first time in 3 years. greg asked the county to plow the road up there and they were able to do that the monday prior to camp. pretty sweet. a little snow leaving RF but that was it.
the big boys and girls took advantage of this by running from robinson to the river for a little ole' 50 mile run. two speedsters even broke loose from the pack to finish ahead of the other talented runners. wow, "the show" is going to be fun to watch this year.
above/below, heading down through the old burned out section to miller's defeat after leaving robinson flat.below, miss sparta, Stacey Bunton (second at last year's Spartatholon, 246km/153 miles from athens to sparta, in 31:25, the best ever by an american women)

pucker point above which is to my left in picture.
last chance above


on your left before heading down to the swinging bridge
swinging bridge above. a good place to douse/refill bottles after the swinging bridge if you are running in the race

devils thumb above (mile 44.7)
sweat happens in the canyons

but you can always cool off before climbing. like above in eldorado canyon before climbing up to michigan bluff
this is how close last years fire got to michigan bluff below. just feet from the first house you get to as you enter michigan bluff (below)

Scott Jurek's dog (Tonto) is buried there on Ann Trason (14 time winner) and Carl Anderson's property as you leave Michigan Bluff (below)


don't take chicken hawk road after seeing this. there is no aid at the bottom. ask lc
the second day we ran cal street.

tim twietmeyer (WS President and 5 time winner) was there at peachstone helping out
if you are running sub 24 you get to see the below in the daylight. if not, all you can do is hear the river for those 3+ hours

the racers will cross here while holding onto the rope this year because of the early snow melt. no raft crossing this year. crossing to the other side below.
i relaxed at the river then stood in it up to my waist for ten minutes to cool off, nice

the stone bench dedicated to barbra schoener who was attacked and killed by a mountain lion on april 23, 1994.

but if you want to see this in the daylight on race day, you have to be running sub 18:30. will this hold out to be top ten for the men this year??? history says yes. but this is an exceptional field this year.

top ten won't have to turn their lights on until here (or later. mile 89.9). (above) i liked the potato soup, loud music, and christmas lights here in '06
yes, that bridge is over 700 ft high with the road heading into auburn. the river... it is the "Confuence" according to O.D. don't take the short cut trail or you might get it named after you... don't take it running way too cool 50k either. you might not get a finishing time...

looking down on no hands bridge that was built 1910-1912 and the rails added in 1984. if you are running top ten maybe this year the time keeper will tell you what place you are in before leaving no hands this time... arrgghhhhh. well, they are volunteers so i shouldn't complain i guess.

Robie Point. 1.3 miles to go. you don't need to give your # here, they could care less.
the guy that owns this horse trailer has completed 34 tevis cup rides!!! jim howard passed jim king here in 1983 for a 30 second win.
the white bridge... in '06 this is where i said "the work is done" .5 miles to the finish. if ann trason says it, it can't be all that bad right?

nice to read after you finish a "days" run...

have fun to all that will be joining the "big dance" in a month

seagull junker

2 comments:

rustyboy said...

Thanks for the documentation! Wish I'd had the dough to do it this year but, next year, next year.

Glad to hear you had a blast!

home exchange said...

These photos are wicked! I especially like the one of the sign and the shoes :)