Ending My May Race Triple Taper Through the Brutal Heat and Hills of the Ohlone Wilderness 50km Run

After a somewhat frustrating Miwok 100k on the 3rd, and pleasantly surprising Quicksilver 50 mile on the 10th, I approached the 21st annual Ohlone Wilderness 50K Run on the 18th of May not expecting much.

If anything, the field of the fastest registered runners was deep: last year's winner Jean Pommier, who missed the record by only a minute (and probably would've beaten it had he known he was so close); course record holder Kevin Sawchuck; Mark Lantz who's had great PR performances at AR50 and Miwok this spring; Ron Gutierrez, who beat Pommier at Whiskeytown last October; 2005 winner (and Western States 2006 winnner) Graham Cooper; 2006 winner Truman Long; Will Gotthardt, running very well this year; 2003 winner Simon Mtuy from Tanzania; Adam Ray, who finished close behind me last weekend at Quicksilver; Jed Tukman only a few minutes behind me last year. I doubted I would place high enough in the Master's division (most of the above runners are over 40) to get any usable points for the PAUSATF Ultra Grand Prix. I signed up largely for course loyalty, and to continue my longest ultra streak-- this year would be my fifth straight running.

Besides it's fun. It's a point to point course. And it keeps me from doing the other point to point course the same day:

my rapping older brother at the Bay to Breakers the same morning

Last year, I managed to finish under 5 hours, despite being out late the night before, eating Asian fusion in San Francisco to celebrate a friend's 30th birthday (we didn't start eating until about 9pm). This year, I opted out of another party, largely because now we have too small children. If I'm going to run all morning Sunday, I should at least help put the kids down Saturday night.

I drive my entire family down to the Stanford Avenue staging area of Mission Peak. Lots of familiar faces. The bathroom line is too long, but I end up not having to really do anything. Race Director Rob Byrne confirms several no shows--Graham Cooper, Truman Long, Thomas Clarke--the field is a little thinner. But still enough fast runners left, most of them fresher than I.

with RD Rob Byrne. All volunteers got the cool tie-dye shirt.

For those unfamiliar with this course, here's the elevation profile:

The first triangle is Mission Peak. The second bigger one is Mount Rose. So basically you go up and down, then you go up up up and down down down. But note (especially note if you ever run this for the first time) that even after you summit Mount Rose and start heading down, you have several other ups, that look small, but really aren't, and they hit you when you thought you were done with the ups and just going down.

click for a virtual photo tour of the course, taken in 2007 by Chihping Fu

towards the left from me in the yellow Sportiva jersey: Ron Gutierrez, Kevin Sawchuck in the red shorts, Jean Pommier, photo by my wife

At the start, Jean Pommier takes the lead and never relinquishes it. After Mission Peak, I don't think I ever saw him even up ahead in the distance.


Gets the same bib number next year, the first male run to win 2 straight years in a decade.

Mark Lantz after him, then Ron Gutierrez, Kevin Sawchuck, another unidentified runner. I run close with Will Gotthardt, who paces well (last year he took off with the lead pack), and yet able to hold some conversation, probably better than I. Beth Vitalis and Adam Ray are close behind. On one of the few slight downhills on the ascent to Mission Peak, Beth compliments me-- "you're running like a deer." This is ironic, because my wife told me earlier that morning that I was thumping around noisily downstairs and got her. Well, she had to get up anyways to drive the car back...

cows on the course 2 hours earlier, photographed by pre-sweep & finisher Chihping Fu

Lots of cows on the trail heading up. The first metal cattle gate is unlatched, but I think it's latch, so in trying to unlatch it, I latch it, then have to apologize to Will for the 3 second delay. The trail is ruttier and less muddy than in years past. Near the top of Mission Peak, I decide to stop and tie my loosening right shoelace, giving Ron, Kevin and Will about 10 seconds.

Will Gotthardt at the start

Usually it's cool and breazy at the top. Today, nothing of the sort. You can tell already it is going to be a scorcher.

I can catch up to Will, and we go down pretty close. After the Sunol aid station (mile 9.1), Will says he's going to drop back. However, he doesn't drop back much, and we continue to be able to see each other for miles. We end up overtaking several runners.

Backpack Area aid station crew setting up when Chihping Fu passes through earlier

Ann Trason volunteering at the Backpack Area aid station (mile 12.5) asks me if I don't want to get anything more. In retrospect (actually about 20 minutes later), I would realize I missed very experienced cue. I probably was buzzing a little too fast through the aid stations. If I was only going to carry one bottle on such a hot day, I should drink extra at the aid stations. I would only pee twice the whole race, and not much each time. Normally I do much more plant fertilizing during races. I should've taken the lateness of my first micturation as a sign. I keep thinking I'll pee again soon--but the urge would come only close to the end of the race.

Consistent with the mismanagement of my fluids, for some reason I kept missing the lap button on my Garmin Forerunner 305, and so I wasn't recording anything until I noticed the time wasn't running. This made calculating my splits impossible. Not that it really mattered, since I wasn't going to run nearly as fast as last year (or even the year before).

After backpack aid station, I pass Mark Lantz, who is hurting. I'm in second! I've never been in 2nd at this race before. Gotthardt isn't far behind at 3rd. Pretty cool!

Mark Lantz at the start

The leader Jean Pommier too far ahead, it felt like I was 1st in the race for 2nd. With a bunch of fast guys chasing my tail. And the titillating suspense of knowing who was maybe about to snatch it.

I come to another gate, and can't figure out how to release the safety lock on the other side. After several seconds and some expletives, I decide just to climb over it. Luckily my legs are not so tight yet--this would have been too tricky and resulted in some muscle spasms had it come later in the race. Will says something to me, but I can't hear him since I take off. I'm not sure if he could open it, or climbed like I did.

Throughout the race, we in the lead pack pass by many runners opting for an early start. I always try to give them encouragement. Approaching Rose Peak, the high point of the course, I run into Catra Corbett and Andy Kumeda, doing Catra's annual 100 mile run in which the Ohlone race serves as the last 31 miles. I tell her they're the true studs of the day...and night.

the bracelet box photographed by Chihping Fu earlier

At Rose Peak, we pick up the Zombie Runner Ohlone 50K bracelets from a box carried there by Boy Scout volunteers, to prove we went there. This was a new feature to prevent course cutting. There was also a volunteer with a British accent at the turnoff to direct the way. This was much appreciated, as I actually missed the turn after the loop last year, despite having run the course 3 times before, and added a 1-2 minutes to my time.

coming back down Mount Rose, photo by Andy Kumeda

Kevin Sawchuck easily finally catches up to me during the longest split between Maggie's Half Acre (mile 19.7) and Schlieper Rock (mile 25.7). I tell him I think his record's safe this year, he comments it's definitely safe from himself. I'm too sore, tired, and mildly nauseated to mount any response. I knew he was fresh from NOT having run Miwok and Quicksilver or anything other races the previous 2 weekends. Third overall is still higher than I've ever placed.

Kevin Sawchuck after he passes me for 2nd place, shot by Chihping Fu

Near the end of the stretch I see Chihping's trademark fluorescent yellow Ohlone 2007 shirt and he again does me the favor of taking photos of me. Thanks also for all the other photos I used!


The awkward position of my arms perhaps indicates the bad shape my legs are in.

What running form!

At the aid station. I drop my orange bandana in the sponge bucket as a volunteer fills my bottle with Gu2O.



Beatrice Song suggests I slow down, since I'm in 3rd. I'm thinking since I'm in 3rd and not by much, I should move my butt. I'm in such a hurry, I don't realize that I've forgotten my bandana, a souvenir from pre-Ruth Anderson Paintball, until I'm 30 feet down the hill. Oh well.

It's just as well I had lost Sawchuck earlier, since things get rougher.

On the technical single-track switchbacks that go on down forever, one of my feet, which otherwise do very well on technical downhills clad in Sportiva Lynx, snags a rock (operator error). I almost fall, my calf nearly goes into spasm. Luckily I can regain my footing, stop and my muscle relaxes-- major disaster barely avoided! I take the rest of that hellacious section (which is also full of poison oak) more slowly, realizing that whoever is trailing me is going to gain some ground. Invest a minute or two to prevent losing a half hour and 10 places.

I've done that descent 4 times before and faster, but this is the first race in which it leaves my quads feeling there are about to go into spasm even after I've finished the descent. After the steep uphill climb (the last) the course flattens. I stop to try to grab my toe and stretch, but my hamstrings tighten up--so I give up. Ugh-- I'm on the verge of whole leg and body spasm. So I have to run cautiously this section I usually run fast. I KNOW someone is gaining on me.

The last big descent already begins before the last aid station, 2 miles from the finish. I manage to knock over a cup of soda onto a holding about ten S! Caps, which I've been taking about every hour. I'm very embarrassed and apologetic, but the volunteers tell me not to worry and get me going.

My quads are thrashed and I know I'm descending slower than the last several 3 years. Fortunately, I never see anyone behind me when I look back, and I don't have to do any sprinting to keep my 3rd overall place. At the finish, I feel really awful, but don't collapse or have any chest muscle spasms requiring paramedic attention like I did at Quicksilver last weekend. I have for the first time successfully completed the "Bay Area PAUSATF May Triple" (Miwok + Quicksilver* + Ohlone). This is my first Ohlone top 3 finish (after 3 straight years in 4th place overall), and I get PAUSATF points worth using.

*(Since I'm coining this term, I'm saying you have to finish the 50 Quicksilver 50 mile to finish the BAPAMaTriple.)

race swag (including some for placing) and trail post award

Shortly (2 minutes and 15 seconds) after me, Kevin Swisher, whom I've never met, comes in. At the finish, he appears to cramp up all over and almost collapses. Apparently catching sight of Kevin Sawchuck and me several miles earlier made him feel like he was going too fast, but he realized this was a great day and kept closing the gap behind me. He's been training more and trying to take the running to a new level. Very successful--great job!

Volunteer Rick Gaston and Kevin Swisher

Beth Vitalis come in only 31 seconds after Swisher as the first female, and 5th overall, winning her 4th Ohlone. Last year's female winner Caren Spore finishes 2nd, 12th overall in 5:45:31. I'm particularly impresed with Will Gotthardt for sticking close behind me for so long and finishing 7th in such a thick field, and Gary Wang close behind him in 8th after a great Quicksilver performance the previous weekend.

click for full results

I go soak in the lake with Mark Lantz, who has a tough race (Lantz is faster than I, but somehow I always manage to beat him in Ohlone). Unfortunately, good swimming water is less ideal for soaking (it's not cold enough). Some schmoozying. Steve Stowers formally introduces himself. He was originally in the race, but due to ITB problems after his (2nd place 7:14:34 finish at) Mad City 100k, dropped Ohlone at the last minute. He tries to get me to replace him as pacer to Michael Wardian (who won Mad City) at Western States, but I'm noncommittal since I'm currently working that weekend (and actually not my first request to me to pace at that race).


Steve Stowers (click for his Jed Smith report on Jeffery Roger's blog, when he finished 50 miles under 5:40)

Ron Gutierrez proudly shows off his blister.


juicy blister up close, suitable for printing and hanging on your wall

Before long, my family shows up and I can take some post-race photos. Then at about 2:45 my wife gives me the 10 minute warning, because we have to take a friend working at a camp up in Napa during the week who was staying with us this weekend to our BART station by 4:30. I volunteer to retrieve the car, which she had to park in the 2nd parking lot from the finish area--it's quite a hike. Jeff Barbier walks and chats with me out and I give him the quarter mile ride back before I notice there are still no parking spots in the first lot, so I park it in a red curb zone and go to get my family, my goodie bag and the marinated pork plate I'd been given but hadn't had a chance to eat since my son wanted to play catch with someone's beach ball. My wife isn't as ready as I'd thought. Suddenly I notice the park ranger's green car--crap, he's going to ticket me. I sprint across the field in my flip flops, and shout to him that I'm moving it now. Unplanned post-race sprint--luckily nothing snaps. After parking it half-way down the closer lot for a net gain of maybe only 200 yards, I go back to get my family again. I notice I forgot my water bottle somewhere, so I run back and retrieve it, then run back, fast since I forgot to give her the car keys. Ohlone 50.8 km Wilderness and Parking Lot Run. I should've left my Garmin Forerunner on.

Thanks to all the volunteers!

Direct links to other blogged reports (will try to keep updated).

Steve Ansell

Adam Blum

Mike Bohi (1st male rookie)

Catra Corbett (did her Ohlone Triple Plus 100 mile run)

Rick Gaston (volunteer)

Glorybelle Lillie (1st female rookie, her 1st ultra)

Rajeev Patel

Jean Pommier (winner, 2nd straight year; also first to finish blogging this year)

photos

Chihping Fu (pre-sweep volunteer, ran the whole course starting at 6am (2 hours ahead))

Andy Kumeda (went most of way with Catra)

Rajeev Patel

an unidentified hiker (with fellow runners aiding a fallen runner on the course, and the helicopter transport out)

blogged reports by ultrarunners doing that other "race" in S.F.

Baldwyn Chieh

Scott Dunlap

1st published Tuesday, May 20, 2008, at 3 pm