Date: Mon, 23 Feb 1998 09:07:34 -0800 From: Stan Jensen Subject: Catalina 100K report - long (XP) No results yet (sorry!), but hopefully some of the other list-ers (Alex Feldman, Bill Ramsey, Carol LaPlant, Clement Choy, Dave Covey, Don Wengert, Kent Holder, Larry Gassan, Mark Donaldson, Mike Palmer, Phil Brown, etc.) will be able to provide them. Friday, Feb. 20 I arrive at the ferry terminal in Long Beach to find familiar faces and ultra-clothes (the AR50 fleece jacket being most popular) filling the waiting area. We board the boat for two hours of misery as the waves make many runners deplete their electrolytes into convenient paper bags. Finally arriving at 4:45, my roomie (Clem Choy) and I check into the Pavilion Lodge, walk to Von's to buy Gatorade, then head to the Channel House to pick up our packets and pasta. RD Baz Hawley hands out a nice duffel bag and T-shirt, then provides all-you-can-eat lasagna and a short, but humorous briefing. There are 108 runners signed up, including two "kids" (sub-30), who bring the average age down to 46.3, plus Henri Girault, age 60 (with 368 100K finishes!), and top-dogs like Doug Spencer and Jennifer Henderson. We're told that the course won't go through Middle Ranch as planned, due to rain damage, but will follow more of the Avalon 50M course. Saturday, Feb 21 - Avalon We rise at 4am and make the long two block hike to the start by 4:45, check in and watch as people are interviewed for an ESPN segment (to be aired sometime on March 23rd). The weather is cool, but the forecast is for a great day and we enjoy free coffee at Pete's. The mayor of Avalon starts the race and we run up the city streets just over a mile to the Wrigley Memorial, where we switch to a hard-packed dirt road that winds up to the summit (1,600') where I pause to look down on the lights of Avalon and the distant lights of Los Angeles. We run down Divide Road to the reservoir and after a quarter mile reach the first aid station, Haypress (mile 6, 1:17), where we leave our flashlights. We run along the paved road on the ridge, slightly uphill, to the Empire Road aid station (mile 12?, 2:08), enjoying the view: not a cloud in sight and 360 degree views of the island, including an ominously big hill at the north end of the island. Leaving the aid station we regain the dirt road as we pass the airport and head down the switchbacks. The ESPN crew has stopped ahead to film the buffalo and four of them (buffalo, that is) cross the road ahead of us. We graciously yield to them and I make it a Kodak moment. We pass the Escondido Ranch and continue down the dirt road to the next aid station, Little Harbor (mile 18, 3:10). From here, the course heads north (still on the 50M course) gradually uphill, past another buffalo herd (grazing this time and good for two more photos) to another summit (850'), followed by the scenic descent into Two Harbors (mile 24, 4:23). We're greeted by another bunch of friendly, helpful volunteers and "spectators" who took a boat from Avalon with the drop bags. From here we head into the west end of the island (new territory) and follow a dirt road that shows that El Nino has been here, too. I catch up with Carol LaPlant again and give her some rock salt for her leg cramp. As expected, she recovers and deserts me, but I plan to catch her later. The road is mostly level and although it's the longest stretch (6.9 miles), we soon head into a cove and reach the half-way point, Parson's Landing (mile 31, 5:38). The fun takes a brief recess as the trail climbs 1700' in about two miles up Boushay Road, which has a nasty mudslide that causes us to detour above and around the spot. I reach Silver Peak Road and magnificent views, including the runners far below, then run along the ridge, where I find Cameron (age 19?) sitting by the side. I give him some rock salt for his cramps and we head out slowly, then descend steeply to the Isthmus and back to the aid station at Two Harbors (mile 38, 7:30). No sign of other runners heading out, so I wonder where everyone is. I leave Cameron with his crew and go back up the switchbacks to the summit, past a new aid station at the marathon turn-off, past a group of four buffalo at the reservoir, and down the road into Little Harbor (mile 44, 8:48). The lady at the aid station still refuses to dance for me, but does offer to share her beer. I decline (it's before 2pm on a Sunday) and head out. We bypass the 50M route to Eagle's Nest and retrace the dirt road uphill. I pass a runner who's complaining of dizziness, so I offer him salt, but he settles for some Power-Gel, since we're almost to Escondido Ranch, which now has an aid station. From there it's a climb up some more switchbacks to the airport, a return to the asphalt and then the Empire Road aid station (mile 50, 10:27). This is where you know you've got it made: only two more 10Ks and only a few "small" hills after Haypress. I grab a PBJ and head out, trying to run whenever possible, but classifying several slopes as "uphills". There's another aid station after about two miles and I stop for a Coke and to thank them for being there (knowing that there will be runners for the next two hours). There's a runner behind me, so I use him as motivation to keep moving past the Middle Ranch junction and shortly to Haypress (mile 56, 11:33). I leave my flashlight so I'll be motivated to keep moving) and head for the reservoir. Cameron catches me at this point and we turn off on the dirt road and climb the many small hills until we start the final descent and he pulls away. There's one last aid station on Divide Road and a volunteer is setting out glow sticks for later. It's nice to see the road we climbed long ago by flashlight, and then the Wrigley Memorial comes into view and you know you're almost to the bottom. I reach it at 12:31 and think I might have a chance at breaking 12:45, so I start running (well, that's being generous) and pass one runner who starts running again and follows me in. One last intersection and there's the finish line banner. I cross the line (around 12:47) and am surprised to hear that's good for 30th. I'd hoped to break 13 hours, and I did have a good time, so I was very happy with the day. Cooling off quickly, I walked to the hotel, took a hot shower and then Clem (12:10? for 24th) and I went to dinner. When we came out of the restaurant, it was raining and there were dark clouds over the mountains. At the finish line we were told that there were still about 20 runners "still out there" after 14 hours. By comparison, I had it easy and I admire those runners. Sunday, Feb 22 - Avalon It's raining outside and the streets deserted as I say good-bye to Clem and make my way (slowly) to the ferry. We were SO lucky that the weather held for race day and once again I admire those who were out there on the course when the sun went down and the rain started. Baz got great sponsors (Brooks, Patagonia and Power-Gel), had nice goodies for all runners and special mugs for the finishers. If you're looking for a 100K trail run or a chance to run on Catalina, this ultra should be on your calendar for '99! -- Stan Jensen, P.O. Box 3426, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019-3426 http://www.run100s.com/ mailto:stanj@run100s.com