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November 14, 2006
2006 Stinson Beach 50K
[RACE REPORT] With Mt Tam looming in the distance and the rain, fog and mist burning from the night's rain, Stinson Beach bustled with runners like racehorses in their starting gates. It was a cool and clearing Saturday morning and the 2006 Stinson Beach 50K (along with a 20K and 30K) was about to start.
A shout from the race director and off we went. Like the running of bulls, we raced to the Dipsea Trailhead with hopes of beating the horde of runners to this very single singletrack. I didn't really know what was ahead of me, except for a long climb to start the race. And it was a long climb…a really long climb.
The start continued up the Dipsea Trail and then onto the appropriately named Steep Ravine Trail. Yes, it was steep. And yes, it was a ravine. A wet, mossy, dark ravine. And when I thought it couldn't get any steeper, it did. So steep a ladder was there to get me over a vertical section of the trail.
As I topped out, I hit the first aid station at Pantole Station. With lots of sugary and salty snacks from which to choose, I grabbed and gobbled all I could stomach and carry. Off I then went down the southeast side of Mt Tam to Muir Beach. There was another rest stop. More food! This was the only section of the course with an out and back. What that meant to me was a chance to size up whom and how many were leading the race. It was then I realized that number was small. Not thinking too much about that, I put my head down and keep plugging and plodding along.
As I headed back up to Pantole Station, I thought about the many times I've run these very same trails. In fact, past that point I could have run the course blindfolded I had run these trails so many times.
After topping out again at Pantole Station, I headed back down to Stinson Beach via the Matt Davis Trail. This was a fun run down. All down and all fast! A mix of gradual descents in and out of shade. And loads of switchbacks. There was one switchback I blew straight through I was running so fast. I missed the course marker and kept running when I should've switched back. After a few minutes of running on what seemed more like a game trail than a foot trail, I felt the situation was all wrong. Finally, it was at the point when the trail turned so steep I did all could--with all fours--to keep from sliding down the side of the hill. As I slipped and slid back to the course, I cursed myself for loosing the trail...and worse, loosing time! What hurt more was knowing a few runners that were behind me were now AHEAD of me. Feeding off that fury, I found another gear, smoked past them, and made up the lost time; finally arriving back at Stinson Beach.
The race was over for many (the 30 and 20Kers), but not for me. I had another 20K to go. And that meant another trip up the Dipsea Trail and the Steep Ravine Trail. Ugh!!
As I struggled to keep running (rather than walking) back up, I kept thinking about what awaited--food. Yum! By the way, I was also past the point of turning away the race provided drink, Conquest. It tasted OK going in, but I felt twinges of something inside signaling it would not be so good going out. So I stuck to water and electrolyte tablets for most of the race.
At Pantole Station, I set out on two 4K loops linking the Alpine, Bootjack, TCC, and Stapelveldt Trails. I had hoped this loop would be relatively level and easy—and it wasn't. It started and continued going down and down, and then further down. That meant—ugh!—having to climb up and up, and more up. My legs were toast at that point.
Then finally finishing those loops meant one thing--all downhill to the finish. With that in mind, I sprinted (literally) down to Stinson Beach.
I finished 5 hours and 50 minutes after the start. Good for 5th place overall!
Good times!
Posted by Brian at November 14, 2006 09:05 AM
