Running Around the Miwok 100k

What a weekend to have an outbreak of weather. Not weather like the 5 feet of snow Montana got buried beneath or the thunderstorms that raged across the south. This was California weather weather. (And yes, I get it, I'm from the East coast - home to thunderstorms and lightning, snow storms and hail storms and smothering humidity, so admittedly, I've gone pretty soft in my 20 years here.) There was rain and wind, temps in the 50's and dense, wet fog - not a "typical" weekend in northern California but not unheard of either. But it was a weekend of several key outdoor events - the first SFOCC paddling race over in Alameda, the Wildflower triathlon weekend down at Lake San Antonio, the Crossfit Qualifiers just south of Gilroy and the Miwok 100k trail run in Marin. And so while certainly not dampening the enthusiasm surrounding any of the events, it was not the early May weather we've come to expect.

(Old Springs Trail down to Tennessee Valley aid station at Mile 11)

So, prepared for the weather wherever I was headed, but given that I could only be in one place at a time, I chose the Miwok 100k as my event du jour, to coincide with the Endurables Saturday run and to see friends Rick, Sandy and Luis come through early at Mile 11 (along with a surprise appearance from John Stratton) and then again at the finish.

I arrived early before our group run to cheer on the racers who'd started at 5:45am. Standing just past the stables in Tennessee Valley I watched as they cascaded down the Old Springs trail looking for Rick's distinctive gait. The first 3 men came through in a pack looking fast and lean. I had no idea who any of them were. The lead women came in, maybe 4-5 together, with Caitlin Smith who seems to win every race she enters (Way Too Cool, Pirates Cove, Skyline to Sea) in the midst. Rick finally came into view followed by John and then Sandy. All the runners seemed to be in great spirits saying "Good morning" and "Thanks for coming out." It wasn't raining at this point, but there was dense, wet fog hugging the ridgetops from where the runners had emerged and I suspect they were just happy after the fast, rolling downhill.

(Sandy from Endurables)

(John Stratton)

I couldn't stay to see Luis as I had to head out with the Endurables for 2 loops around the area: up and over Wolfback Ridge above the finish line for the Miwok 100k at Rodeo Beach and back down Old Springs, then out to Pirates Cove via Coastal and Middle Green Gulch. While it started out dry and relatively calm, it got windier and colder and the rain picked up in some of the most exposed spots. Huddling back at our cars, soaking wet with sweat and moisture, I was hard-pressed to go back out for more but my goal had been 20-24 miles for the day. Fortunately, Nathan came through and magnanimously agreed to join me on a final 3.65 miles to get to my bare minimum of 20. As my pace required him to drop his pace to something like 25% I wasn't surprised that he wore a jacket for the journey. The loop zipped by in no time thanks to his company. We were hoping to see the lead runners come back through Tennessee Valley but talking to the aid station leader he said the reports were that the runners were off-pace by about an hour or so and it would be about 60 minutes before anyone came through. Nathan had to jet to work so John and I stayed around snacking and talking to the volunteers, determined at least to see the lead runner. Finally, mercifully, as the winds and rains picked up, he came into view all alone wearing nothing more than shorts and a tank top. It was impressive - there was no around him for awhile and so we left.

(Lead male runner coming into TV at Mile 53-ish?)

With a quick stop to see Jessica at Jeff's house and revive with a warm shower, a warm meal and a couple of beers (thank you, thank you, thank you!), Jessica and I were off to the finish line to meet Rick, a celebratory 6 pack in tow.

We arrived to find the finishers inside a tent warmed up with space heaters, comparing stories, eating, congratulating each other as new finishers arrived. Kami Semick came in 1st for the women with Caitlin taking 3rd (I think). Brett was there volunteering and Oliver, who ran with the Endurables last year, was out to see Sandy and another friend at the finish. Rick came into view not too long after we arrived and while Jessica and I screamed madly he was all steely determination, head down, arms pumping, legs moving incomprehensibly fast in this last mile of 60, missing the final turn at the cones, so distracted was he, before finally finding his way down to the finish.

(Rick and the final 200 yards)

There were many familiar faces - faces I recognized from my increased participation in the sport and faces I recognized through Rick. We talked trails and injuries and weather and upcoming races. Rick hobbled around not looking as spry as we'd come to expect. It was the walk of one who'd experienced extreme chafing. Never good. It started to get a little darker and a light rain returned. I had to get back to SF for a prior commitment and wouldn't get to cheer anyone else in. It seemed like a lot of people would be finishing in the dark. With warm food and a beer Rick had started to perk up and so we left him seemingly happy with his day, glad to be done, surrounded by friends and a pretty sweet race bag of assorted goodies.

(Jessica, Rick and me)

As of Sunday afternoon I'm not sure of a lot of things - whether John, Luis and Sandy finished, who the lead male runner was. I can't tell where the Pros placed at Wildflower because the site is taking F-O-R-E-V-E-R. I know that my friend Brian crushed his 1/2 IM time with a white-hot 4:53 and that Tina shaved off time from last year's finish where I suspect I slowed her down on the run (although we had a great time talking). I know that one of the guys I work out with at Crossfit, Chris, finished his Wildflower Oly debut. And Jennie and Chris and Troy all finished their WF Long Course. And when last I checked both Jason and Breanne were in the next round of competition at the Crossfit Qualifiers. I don't know how my paddling group did in Alameda and I just checked the Iroman St. Croix site and can't tell if Rachel Rodriguez, our coach with Jim for last year's North Face Challenge, DNF'd or lost her timing chip. All the unknowns.

As I sit here writing, the rain and wind have subsided and the air smells refreshed. The sun is peeking above Twin Peaks and I suspect the sunset will be amazing tonight. Cheyenne has her first 50k next weekend at Redwood. I have my first Xterra triathlon in Livermore. (Please goddess of mountain biking, please help me through those 22 miles). And just like that, it's May. How lucky are we to live in a place with so many opportunities for adventure at our fingertips?