pictures from states

http://www.pbase.com/mtnrunr/jeffws1002007

m9 is very nice. single digit is very nice

see link for pictures from states. will post more from small camera later

Running a 100 in a Sauna

Yes, I'm half Finn. I love Sauna's but that doesn't mean I like running in one. No, I don't even do surface heat training in one for hot races. But last Saturday at Kettle it was just that to this Pacific Northwest resident. Oh, on a side note, nobody in the Northwest pronounces "Sauna" correctly, at least for this Finn.





I arrived in Whitewater, Wisconsin Thursday to have a rest day on Friday. It was not hot, only 82 degrees and the humidity was mild at 68%. I could deal with this. Drove around to find the start, checked out part of the trail but mostly just remained horizontal as I had the previous week.



This is run in the Kettle Moraine Forest and on much of the 1079 miles Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin.

I had looked forward to meeting Wynn Davis. He's blistering fast and previous winner of Trail Mix 50k. He was going to get after it in the 100k that same day. We were staying at the same hotel and we talked for over an hour. I look forward to watching him at Superior!

I was nervous going into the race. One, only my third 100. Two, I made a huge scheduling error in doing Silver State 50 mile only two weeks before. No, I didn't "race" it, but come on, it is still 50 miles and did have 10,000 feet of gain. What did I do???

(pre-race nails. the eugene gang does this at states but I didn't get into it. I can do this for my "100" right?)











I only "race" 2 to 3 races a year. This was on the radar to get after. I had come here for specific goals. I had made them public.

1. Run Hard
2. Start "racing" at mile 70
3. Finish in 22
4. Get Top 10

I had looked at previous races, entrants, etc. These were going to be lofty goals from my research.

Race morning... 60 degrees

100% humidity

It's a fricken Sauna! At least to me living out west.

First 62 mile out and back was way to "hot". Finished the first 50k in 5:15. More than an hour faster than my splits. It was here I decided I had to run my own race.













I decided at that point that I was going to hike anything that resembled a hill. I was already cramping. Start pounding the S-caps. Eat and drink on cue. I was passed by what seemed to be more than 20 people at that point coming back to Nordic. I cared, but I was sticking to my plan. (but some of the 20 were relay runners and 100k runners) I'm not racing until mile 70.

Make turnaround at Nordic and exchange race belts and grab my second bottle of beans. Walk and eat. Run, drink, eat more beans. I get to Tamarack at mile 67 and I see my pacer for the last 19 Brian Gains . I was lucky to have him offer to pace on the Kettle message board. He has a couple of pictures and a short video on his blog. Thanks Brain.

At mile 67 Brian says I am in 10th. I had taken note, I thought I was also. That's o.k., not racing yet. But I knew why I had picked mile 70 to start to get after it, it was a down. Not less than a half mile out of the Bluff aid station (mile 69.5) I had come up on a #9. The down came and I just accepted the "free speed". I had hammered it pretty good, I looked back when I got almost through the switch backs and he was 4 or 5 switch backs behind.

Then from mile 70-81 it was time to jam. I knew I would be picking up Brian in a bit. Just wanted to really push through this section and gap prev. #9 by 15 minutes. I enjoy the fireflys through this section as we don't have them out west. Got to Rice Lake turnarund and Brian wasn't there. I knew I was early and way ahead of goal time. I just hoped he was here somewhere and could catch up. I ask the volunteer if you see him "to catch up with my sorry ass down the trail".













Brian does just that within 5 minutes. I fill him in on how it's going. I tell him I'm trying to gap the last dude by 15 minutes. Not a minute later here he comes. Crap, only a 12 minute gap at best.





Brian takes over the driving. He doesn't let me do any extended walking periods. "We're running in 15 steps Tom", "We should be running this", are some of what I think he was saying. I try to follow suit.

By mile 75 I realize Brian is fricken killing my. Relentless, not letting up. I am just hoping my legs can hold it together. It will be tough to catch the two closest in front of me. I knew they were many minutes ahead of me on the turnaround.

Brian doesn't faulter. Keeps me eating and drinking. Running and more running.

We get to the Bluff aid station at mile 92.5. I hurl my last 6 of 12 times here. I come into the aid station grabbing two more gu's and head out. I make pit stop. Then it is time to run.

Brian keeps me on que. I'm not talking anymore. But I follow suit. Brian let's me know of the headlamps ahead. He keeps my moving.

Finally we come up on previous sub 21 here. Brian tells me to take him on a small climb. Brain, that is a fricken mountain I think. I obey. We take him. Still running I ask him to turn off the lamp and look back. 75-100 yards he says. Crap, I still have to run.

We come up on sub 24 at Leadville. This time I can do it. A slight down. I continue, ask him to "check the lamps", he turns his off and does. Still 75-100 yards. I can't run "stealth" here. I'm not picking my feet up enough. So, I just half to try to remain to get after it.

Brian clocks me at a 12 minute mile. Don't laugh, that is good for me in a 100. Brian keeps me on task. I was glad he didn't say anything at the last mile marker. I didn't need any incentive at that point. I ask him one more time to check for lamps. None, we're good.

I say my # as I cross so there is no question who this wreck is crossing the line.

The next thing I want to do is sit down. I have wanted this for 15 miles.

Brian and I had ran well the last 7.5 miles. We had gapped the last two by 12 and 15 minutes.

6th overall, mmmmm starting to like that #. Afterall, that is what I was at Rio.

Finishing time, a surprising 20:13.








Sorry folks, no carring a camera during this race. I had business to attend to. This race confirmed that I will not be running in a Sauna any time soon.

PCTR 50k, Forest Park 4/27/2007

here is a link to pictures of the PCTR 50k last weekend. (Bottom of page.)





There are some of the 20k, 30k also. No pictures of 10k runners. I did not have a bib #s list so many has no names on them




Picture of Cemetary on Skyline drive. We should all be thankful for all that we have here in this country.



Sarah looking great embarking on back to back 50k's in two weeks!!!

Pete helping out at Saltzman Aid station

Olga's last training run before bighorn?

Sean Meissner, one last training run before Bighorn 50.

John Timm doing his first Ultra, with son. He hasn't ran anything longer than a half I believe. He looked great in his first 50k!!!

http://www.pbase.com/mtnrunr/pctr_50k

ps I am having a terrible time posting pictures. I will try again later. But for now you can look at the zillion pictures with the link.

by the way. the new lens was put through the test. really low light all day and it performed like a trooper. no flash used. image stabalizaion used and not used. already looking to drop another $1000 on my next smaller lens. isn't spending money fun?

Proud Parent!!!!

I am a proud parent of a new lens today. I love taking pictures of places I've been and adventures that I endure. This will be my "workhorse" for sure.

No, I won't be taking it down the trail on runs. I will have to leave that to the little portable Kodak.





















I had to throw down some serious bank for this one. But I have wanted it for a long time and it will fill a greatly needed void that I had. O.K., actually I am really only getting started but this lens will help greatly.

The thing that this lens brings to the table is the quality. Very fast apature with superior quality optics compared to it's brothers and sisters that have been part of the clan. It will give the ablility to take pictures in much lower light settings without having to use a flash. The apature is a 2.8 throughout the focusing range while my others were f4-5.6. Believe me this is huge.















So, welcome to the family Mr. 2.8. I will be putting you to work right away... Taking pictures of the PCTR 50k on Wildwood this Sunday in Portland.
















Don't worry, I will take good care of you. Here.... Here is a UV filter to protect your optics. There, no scartches for you. Don't worry. I will keep you warm and dry. No rainy days for you.

Silver State 50 mile

Pictures below. (all pictures here)

Took 75 pictures on the course of Silver State 50 mile run near Reno, Nevada.

The goal for the day was to run comfortably and don't push the "effort" button at all during the day. Run when it is flat or downhill and hike EVERY uphill section.

10,000 feet of gain. Beautiful day. 83 degrees for a high. Race run on 40 miles of jeep roads, and less than 10 of double track through the ponderosa pine forests. Only three miles of single track, yup that's it, just three. Two major climbs. 25oo foot climb right at the start, 4800-7300 feet. Make another 1000 foot climb at mile 26. Then hit the coveted single track into Boomtown at mile 27. From mile 30 at Boomtown climb from 4700 feet to 8700 feet. 4000 foot climb on road and four "grunts" in 7 miles. Yes, I hiked all of these seven miles!!!

Work your way down to 8000 feet from mile 37 to 42. Mile 42 start some technical downs. Not quite Zane Grey technical but you do need to watch it as you hammer the 3200 foot decend on jeep roads. Let the 4x4, atv's pass, they out weigh you.

No cougars or bears seen this year. Definately not a "snow" year. Jasper Halekus won in 7:49. 2nd Paul Sweeney 8:32. Womens winner Karalee Morris, 9:05. Tina Ure 2nd, 9:17. The legandary Kathy D'Onofrio finished third in 9:40. Scott Dunlap had a very comfortable run and finished 5th in 9:05. Hal Koerner was in the lead when he took a wrong turn and only got credit for a 50k. I do not know the times for the 50k.

This was the 20th year running of Silver State. This will be the last year on this course because the railroad system will not allow the race to cross the tracks getting into Boomtown. So, the course will be moved or altered completely. Possibly moving south near old mining towns or just staying on the south side of Boomtown and winding through those hills.

Don't know when the results will be posted as this is a pretty low key event. Many I ran with during the day are using this as a last tune up before States or Bighorn.

I made a scheduling error when signing up for this earlier in the year. I thought it was three weeks out from Kettle but it is only two. Well, everything was paid for so I went ahead and did it. It might be a mistake for doing so. But if not it is good training for Waldo. Now for some serious tapering and a massage Tuesday.

Olga finished 6th female in 11:16 and had a great run all day. Felt great all day and just enjoyed it. I finished in 10:30. 12th I believe. Tired heavy legs most of the day. Let me think, I live at 180 feet, ran at 7000 most of the day. Maybe a little oxygen to the muscles might help a bit. Would they allow me to carry oxygen? Probably not.




didn't come here for this










Scott Dunlap and Olga at Pre race meeting

















On the way up at the start
















Start off with a 2500 ft climb in 4 miles















Yea, I have to go up there
(click and mag on picture on this one. that is how far behind i am at the start)








Sage Brush and Aspens at 6000ft












What we ran on for 40 miles













making a turn















oops, not that way












dude in red turned around. Is going to do a 40 mile 50k after making a wrong turn. do the 50 man!











Dawn Inferna-Bean on a small 1000 ft climb at mile 25














the ONLY section of single track. a 3 mile down












FREE SPEED BABY.

That mountain accross the way is where we are headed (Dawn and John Nicolls heading down)









heading up on the 4000 foot climb in 7 miles














still heading up













clumbsy camera work















a little farther














hearty flowers at 7000ft



















one of the few patches of snow on this "grunt" at 7500 feet













nice at 8700 feet











you can dip here if you want from snow run-off. at 8600 feet

















double track








seeing double














olga finishing

finishers scribble

quicksilver finish

Graham Cooper and Jeff reflect on the day.

picture by Scott Dunlap

good news

good news speed racers... Red Wings are up 1-0 in the Western Conference Finals over the Anaheim Ducks. Go Red Wings!!!

But the real good news is Jeff just got second at Quicksilver 50 miler. He had gone in with no real expectations afterall, he just came off his monster running camp at Michigan Bluff last week.

His only real goal was to run hard the last 50k hard.

He knew the top mens splits from last year so he could gauge how he was doing. He eyed the splits that were around 7:23 Mark Lantz,(3rd the year before). And didn't really want to be ahead of his splits So, if he did 7:30-7:40 he would be happy. (No splits for runners around 7:30-7:40 last year.)

He started off and noticed he was breathing too hard the first two miles so he backed off and watched a group of 10 or so gap him. That was fine. Moving along through the race he slowly moved up feeling good and just enjoyed the running.

Then moving up and into the first split, Last years splits: Mark had come in right at 2hrs. Graham Cooper (winner of States last year)1:51, Jon Olsen 1:51 (winner of Rio last year). And Jeff came in at 1:54. He was two minutes behind a group of three and nine minutes behind Graham leading this years race. He knew he had ran too "hot" but he was feeling good. And it was here that he knew he was going to finish sub 7:30.

Onto the next split he had passed the group of three and was still feeling good. All he could think about was where is the single track. Not much on the race he said. Lots of double track and footing was not an issue.

Then at mile 32 he was only two minutes behind Graham. He thought what is happening here??? Hey Jeff, your training has been epic!!! That is what is happening.

Well, he actually thought it would be fun to win a race. So, he had caught Graham a little later at about mile 36. They chatted. And Graham comfirmed that he was meeting him, Craig, Bev, Alan, and others for the 52 mile Peace run on the States course again this Memeorial Day weekend.

Graham let him go on the long down. There was one last big climb left and Jeff knew he would be seeing him again. Sure enough, Jeff started to hike and here comes Graham. Graham said, "thanks for waiting for me". Off he went. Jeff knew he wouldn't see him again as he could start to feel it from last week.

So, Graham set a course record, 6:39. Jeff finished in 6:46 for second. Mark Tanaka (2nd at Rio last year) finished 3rd in 7:17. Mark is running Kettle also.

Jeff had to laugh late in the race. Since nobody knew who this guy running minutes behind Graham all day was. He was known as the 2:20 marathoner guy running his first ultra. Let me see, new to ultra's and you are wearing a Sunsweet ultra team shirt and also sponsored by Sporthill??? Well, don't worry, Jeff only did one sub 3 marathon and it was no where near 2:20. This was not his first ultra by a long way. He got pegged because there was a 2:20 marathoner in the race but he wasn't carrying any water or food in the race. I don't know how he finished.

So, after being up for 27 hours straight, eating three bean burritos and drinking a milkshake the night before he was pretty happy. But really more surprised than anything.

Now all Jeff is doing is driving 10 hours up I-5 back home to a warm bed. Oh, our conversation was cut short as the sign "barbeque" was on the hi-way sign. And next to that, McDonalds. Brisket sandwich and a milkshake I think was on his mind right now. Sounds like good road trip food if you ask me.

Game on!!!

Game on speed racers...

Jeff (brother) called me tonight and he and Laura (wife) just got back from a great 11 days down at Michigan Bluff on the States course. Jeff, Andy Jones-Wilkins (M6 at States), Scott Wolf, (2nd at American River), Lewis Taylor (1st at Cool, 3rd at AR-80% effort), and Craig Thornley (prev. top ten x2 at States), and others racked up some pretty hefty miles at the usual training camp every year. I believe Beverly Anderson-Abbs (F2) and Alan Abbs showed up also.

Jeff, Craig, and Scott were there all 11 days. Lewis had to bail just short of their second 50+ mile run as he and his wife had beautiful healthy Cinco De' "Alice" . Congratulations Lewis and Rebecca!!! AJW flew in from Idaho for part of the training camp.

The boys racked up 222 miles in 11 days!!! I am wondering if Jeff made his tray of brownies each day after the runs???

Jeff is feeling good. They got a little heat trained with a few days in the 90's and both 50+milers were warm. They were all stoked about this. They were hammered those days but they were happy to have a little sun while they were down there.

Brother is excited about States. The mens field is deeeeeeep. He knows that. All he is going to do is do his best. With Greg Crowther (wins this year just unbelievable, so many to list!!!) Lewis, Scott, Craig, AJW, Rod Bien(4th at Miwok, fastest Oregonian ever), James Kerby, David Terry, (and all the other top ten from last year) running really well, being in the mix might not happen but all he knows is he has prepared himself the best he can. He is going to have fun.

I am more excited about this day than any of my races. So far I am crew #2... Flying solo, yikes. I'm on my own to get to the #2 aid stations. Have to figure out how to get to the different aid stations in time.

I will be glad when I just have to pace him from the river to Auburn. That will be the easy part.

But for now it was exciting to hear how he is doing.

He congratulated me on my 45 minute PR at Capital Peak. That was very nice. But I am more excited about his race at States, hands down.

It is going to be fun June 23rd. I am sure you will hear more from me about this.

The best part... As a the only pacer it is my job to paint his toenails before the race. Why, it is what "team Eugene" does. See, then with your sandles, flip flops, etc, you stand in all your glory when you go and pick up the buckle. Last year "Cosmic Plum" was the color. What will L.B. bring to the condo this year??? Of course, you have to have your toenails at the end of the race to show off the pretty toes first. I lost five on race day, three more later. Thank goodness I was sporting a speck of the color of the day on my big toenail. Have to be part of the team you know.

Happy training. And for those that live in the PNW, we finally have sun for a few days. Yea!