There is still a possibility that the San Juan Solstice will not be ran on the classic course due to way too much snow in the back country yet.
I've been following the snow depths at Slumgullion and the snow IS melting and should all be gone by race day. Of course that is a bit lower than up on the Divide so who knows how much snow would still be up there.
The current snow depths can be found here.
Snotel Report
There is good news though... All of this ridiculous wind may help and do some good after all. Massive amounts of dust from AZ have been blown into the high country the past couple of days with all of the high winds out of the south. This will help to accelerate the melting and subsequent run off now. An article about the dust is here.
My prediction is that the race will be run on the normal course... BUT the creek crossings in Alpine Gulch are going to be super cold, fast and ugly with the water running at peak run off levels. Just a guess but that is what I am predicting.
Everyone have a nice Memorial Day.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Recovering
Had my first post Jemez run tonight. Short, three miles, sorta fast (for me) and I felt okay. I actually felt better running than I have felt just sitting around the past couple of days. I am pretty optimistic about my recovery and the fact that while some things hurt, that no insidious injuries will be popping up from my little trip to New Mexico.
Had a great dinner tonight with friends. It's the first time I have entertained and cooked in ages. It was a lot of fun. Can't wait to do it again. Melissa is gone and in Hawaii and felt weird not having her here tonight. Really missing her today as well.
Less than a month until San Juan. Well... if they have the race as snow is a concern at this time. Here is the story about the snow pack. Right now looks like 33" of the white stuff hanging on still at Slumgullion. God only knows what it is up on the Divide!
I am optimistic that things are are going to go as planned. I predict the snow will melt and the course will be mostly clear, but I venture to say the creek crossings with the run off are going to be Class V +. :)
Think I need to take tomorrow off from work... not sure if I will or not but I'll figure that out between now and then.
Have a good night!
Had a great dinner tonight with friends. It's the first time I have entertained and cooked in ages. It was a lot of fun. Can't wait to do it again. Melissa is gone and in Hawaii and felt weird not having her here tonight. Really missing her today as well.
Less than a month until San Juan. Well... if they have the race as snow is a concern at this time. Here is the story about the snow pack. Right now looks like 33" of the white stuff hanging on still at Slumgullion. God only knows what it is up on the Divide!
I am optimistic that things are are going to go as planned. I predict the snow will melt and the course will be mostly clear, but I venture to say the creek crossings with the run off are going to be Class V +. :)
Think I need to take tomorrow off from work... not sure if I will or not but I'll figure that out between now and then.
Have a good night!
Monday, May 23, 2011
You Want Me to Run Down THAT? RUFKM? / Jemez Race Report
I ran the Jemez 50 mile race this past weekend. Tough, tough course. The trails either seemed to go straight the hell up a mountain, or straight the hell down and steep as crap in both directions. The best word that I can use to describe the course is relentless... it never lets up. Also as I was contemplating my situation during the 50 miles it seemed to me that if one has any weaknesses, Jemez will pull them out of you and beat you severely over the head with them. And... if you have any strengths, it won't matter, this course will crush those too. Okay maybe it wasn't all that bad but it is a course that will challenge anyone and demand the respect that it so well deserves.
The race started at five a.m and never before have I began a race with so much "crap" on the brain. The week before had been tough with work and other things so I really felt tired even before we started. The first couple of miles or so were downhill, in the dark and through what I can only guess by smell was a very large stockyard. Soon there was light and soon we were climbing.
And climbing.
Oh, and we climbed some more.
Through burn areas and through the woods. Up and then down steep technical trails. All I can say is that for the first 17 miles and until that first full Aid Station at Pipeline Road, I just felt like I was the victim of a cruel joke withstanding the abuse of the trail. Then came a descent that about made me stop the race then and there and never want to run on trail again for the rest of my life. It was so steep that I had to grab tree branches as I went down to prevent me from careening out of control to my death.
Oh... then we got to run up some more.
Seriously, I struggled the first 32 miles or so. Took a big header going into the 29 mile aid station in front of god and everyone. Fortunately I did not get too hurt and bled only a little. It could have been a lot worse. One of the aid station guys wanted to know if I wanted anyone to clean the wound or look at it... I told him it seemed like it would stop bleeding and that I had work to do and that I would wait to cry over it back at the hotel. I smiled, he laughed and then I was out of there.
Even though I struggled for nearly 2/3rds of the run, I was somehow making my split times while also staying pretty much in the same part of the pack as I had been. I was not losing ground.
At the Townsite aid station, I had two cokes, a piece of a sandwich and chatted with a volunteer before taking off and heading up again. But now I am not struggling so badly. I am feeling pretty good. Starting to catch and pass a few people. I was up and down again to the ski lodge before I even knew it.
The next 14 miles or so were just perfect. I left the ski lodge feeling great. I knew that I still had plenty left to burn and that I had run smart (though it didn't feel good) the first 30 miles or so. Now it was time to really get to work.
I started passing people as soon as I left the lodge and the whole way to the 2nd Pipeline Road Aid Station. Nobody passed me at all the last 14 miles. After that I think that I only got faster. Leaving the aid station there were two people a few hundred yards ahead going up a hill. It took some time but I passed them. I actually passed a lot of people. One guy at about mile 46 I had to actually run down... he knew that I was closing in and he sped up. Now it was my turn to be relentless and I just hounded him till he gave up and went wide on a turn allowing me to pass. A few more people were passed the rest of the way in.
This might not be my best 50 mile time but I have never run a 50 miler any better than this one. I did not fade, burn out, blowup or anything the last ten miles or so. My best case goal time was 12:22 and I feel great about the 12:54 that I ended up with. I could have shaved more time off by spending less time at the aid stops but dealing with drop bags and stuff at this point that was unavoidable for this race. In my post-mortem list of things that could have been done "better" not much was avoidable.
All in all, a very tough race that kicked my ass almost every inch of the course but at the same time, maybe my best run 50 ever. Now to focus on San Juan for the next few weeks. Judging how things went in Jemez, I think that I stand a chance to get the finish that I want in San Juan and that is going to be great.
The race started at five a.m and never before have I began a race with so much "crap" on the brain. The week before had been tough with work and other things so I really felt tired even before we started. The first couple of miles or so were downhill, in the dark and through what I can only guess by smell was a very large stockyard. Soon there was light and soon we were climbing.
And climbing.
Oh, and we climbed some more.
Through burn areas and through the woods. Up and then down steep technical trails. All I can say is that for the first 17 miles and until that first full Aid Station at Pipeline Road, I just felt like I was the victim of a cruel joke withstanding the abuse of the trail. Then came a descent that about made me stop the race then and there and never want to run on trail again for the rest of my life. It was so steep that I had to grab tree branches as I went down to prevent me from careening out of control to my death.
Oh... then we got to run up some more.
Seriously, I struggled the first 32 miles or so. Took a big header going into the 29 mile aid station in front of god and everyone. Fortunately I did not get too hurt and bled only a little. It could have been a lot worse. One of the aid station guys wanted to know if I wanted anyone to clean the wound or look at it... I told him it seemed like it would stop bleeding and that I had work to do and that I would wait to cry over it back at the hotel. I smiled, he laughed and then I was out of there.
Even though I struggled for nearly 2/3rds of the run, I was somehow making my split times while also staying pretty much in the same part of the pack as I had been. I was not losing ground.
At the Townsite aid station, I had two cokes, a piece of a sandwich and chatted with a volunteer before taking off and heading up again. But now I am not struggling so badly. I am feeling pretty good. Starting to catch and pass a few people. I was up and down again to the ski lodge before I even knew it.
The next 14 miles or so were just perfect. I left the ski lodge feeling great. I knew that I still had plenty left to burn and that I had run smart (though it didn't feel good) the first 30 miles or so. Now it was time to really get to work.
I started passing people as soon as I left the lodge and the whole way to the 2nd Pipeline Road Aid Station. Nobody passed me at all the last 14 miles. After that I think that I only got faster. Leaving the aid station there were two people a few hundred yards ahead going up a hill. It took some time but I passed them. I actually passed a lot of people. One guy at about mile 46 I had to actually run down... he knew that I was closing in and he sped up. Now it was my turn to be relentless and I just hounded him till he gave up and went wide on a turn allowing me to pass. A few more people were passed the rest of the way in.
This might not be my best 50 mile time but I have never run a 50 miler any better than this one. I did not fade, burn out, blowup or anything the last ten miles or so. My best case goal time was 12:22 and I feel great about the 12:54 that I ended up with. I could have shaved more time off by spending less time at the aid stops but dealing with drop bags and stuff at this point that was unavoidable for this race. In my post-mortem list of things that could have been done "better" not much was avoidable.
All in all, a very tough race that kicked my ass almost every inch of the course but at the same time, maybe my best run 50 ever. Now to focus on San Juan for the next few weeks. Judging how things went in Jemez, I think that I stand a chance to get the finish that I want in San Juan and that is going to be great.
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