Subject: Mt Si. 50 Mile Report - Very Long From: Kendall Kreft Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2002 11:21:14 EDT It's just after 5:00 AM and we're on I-90 headed west to Snoqualmie. All night the wind has blown rain against the skylight in the bathroom, so I'm well rested for the run;-). My running buddies, Tim Lofton and Bob Maxwell had similarly restful nights, although Bob claims his lack of sleep was more related to the excessive hydration he had been doing all day Saturday. Looking into the still dark sky, we see quite a few stars and optimistically comment that the forecast may be wrong afterall. Sunday's forecast had called for strong winds and rain, with snow likely above 2,000 ft. We arrive at the race start and are discussing what to wear and take along. The race officials are indicating that recent heavy rains have flooded some of the race course so that alternate routing will be used. The new course will involve more gravel bike path and less pavement - cool! Meanwhile, the weather gods have decided to make the forecast come to pass. The wind has picked up and snow flakes are falling with the light rain. Okay, I'm glad I'm wearing tights. Time to stash the race goodies in the car, deposit the two drop bags in the correct piles, and get ready to run. A couple of minutes prior to the start, everyone begins to line up. Wait a minute! We're all facing the wrong way! What's going on - the race always goes the other direction! Jim Kirby does the count down and says "GO". I'm confused, but running. We exit the school drive and head right instead of left. Obviously, the pre-race, modified route description I had received was not going to be correct. Well, everyone seems to be going this direction, so it must be okay. Damn that wind is cold. A hard right turn and the wind isn't so bad anymore. The race is five minutes old and I've settled into running with Gene Trahern and Mark Hartinger. The mobile party has begun. There are a few runners in front of us and we are wondering who those guys are. Nobody knows them. Oh well, the lead runner looks strong, but we'll see about the other guys. I had planned on running 57 minutes/ walking three and then settling in to a 27/3, run/walk routine. Running with Gene and Mark, I knew that wasn't going to happen. Well, the run is certainly more entertaining with these guys, let's see how long I can hang with them. Sure wish I knew where the course was going. Wait a minute, I recognize this road, a bit of a climb, some rolling stuff and then we'll get off the road and go through the tunnel to get on the Snoqualmie Valley Trail. Here comes the trail entrance, watch the wooden steps, they're slippery. No kidding! I have a foot fly out from under me and Mark comments on my balancing act. No ground contact, but some interesting contortions. Glad it's early in the run. As we pass through the tunnel, Gene says it may be the first time he has been there without stopping to take a leak. (Mental note - Not sure if Gene is serious, but don't fall in the tunnel on the way back). From the tunnel to John McDonald Park is roughly 10 miles on the trail, only we don't stay on the trail. There is a side trip down to the highway and along the pavement for a bit. We reach the first aid station at about 7 miles and refill with water. On the road again and back up to speed. Wait a minute, this is all uphill, aren't we supposed to walk this? I hate uphills. Finally, there's the Snoqualmie Valley Trail again. Three runners ahead of us. Lead guy still looks strong. We continue our mobile party, reviewing previous races, the economy, bodily functions when running and anything else that comes to mind. Wow Gene, a trail this wide and you still manage to get snagged by some nettles. That took talent. The wind over the previous days had deposited some branches on or across the trail. I'm catching some flack about speeding up through the brush. Last fall the three of us had run together at the start of the Ron Herzog 50k. At the infamous tank traps, I forged on ahead and ended up about 8 minutes ahead of Gene and Mark by the time we reached the mid-point aid station. Not enough brush and no blackberry canes, plus no ditches across the trail. I won't be leaving you guys today. We exit the Snoqualmie Valley Trail and run along the river to McDonald Park and its suspension bridge. Just before the bridge, we catch a runner. His name is Josh and he indicates he's done some 50k's before. We keep running and forge ahead of Josh. Looks like he may have started out a bit too fast. Across the bridge and there is the aid station. We pass without stopping as the turn-around cone is just down the trail. The cone is just before a landslide that has covered the trail. High fives and back to the aid station. This aid station has always been at 15 miles on previous races. I look at my watch. Two hours flat. Wait a minute, that can't be right! I'm working harder this year than last with no walking breaks and I reached the aid station in 1:58 last year. Must be further than 15 miles. Damn, there go Gene and Mark. I better hustle to get back up with them. We're now on the first return leg of the double loop course and meeting quite a few early start relay teams and other ultras. The company is a good distraction and its nice to see where the competition is. After two and a half hours of running, I tell Gene and Mark that I will be starting my run/walk routine and that I'll see them at the finish. They make some encouraging comments about my seeing them later and start pulling away while I walk. Prepared for running alone, I pull out my radio and fumble with the ear buds. I normally don't run with a radio, but thought the distraction might be helpful. The plan was good, right up to the time the batteries died an hour later. Oh well. Running, running, don't walk yet, it's not time. Gene and Mark don't seem to be pulling away too much, I see them ahead on the long straights. Gene heads into the trees for a pit stop and then eases by me to catch back up with Mark. The two of them catch up with another ultra runner, just before the infamous tunnel. I'm careful not to fall down and pass the former second place runner going up the stairs to the highway. He is having some problems with cramping and is slowing significantly. Mark and Gene are just ahead, now in second and third place, refueling from the back of Jim Kirby's pick-up truck. They had arranged for Jim to crew for them and he has adopted me as well. Always encouraging, Jim is as good at crewing as he is a runner. Last year Jim had the second fastest 50 mile time in the country on the Mt. Si course. This year Mt. Si is one week after Jim's fine second place finish at American River, so he is not running. The highway is rolling then downhill and Gene and Mark start to pull away. We are diverted away from the usual course and are re-routed back the way the race had begun. Now things make sense. We will end up going right by the finish at the stadium and make the out and back loop to Rattlesnake Lake. I pass by the stadium at just under four hours. The turn-around at the lake is at mile 40. Therefore, I have completed thirty miles and have 20 to go. Good thing these are round numbers, I can still do the math. It's also encouraging to know the course and where I am at time wise, just wish my legs felt stronger. Off the pavement and onto the Snoqualmie Valley Trail once again. I can see Mark way up ahead. Looks like Gene has gone after first place. The trail is straight, flat and never ending through this section. I arrive at the 33 mile aid station and am told that there is hail on the way up to Rattlesnake Lake. Great. Luckily I've got an extra shirt in my drop box and pull it on, leaving the dead radio behind. Jim asks me if I want a shell instead, but I think the two shirts will be fine. He will be waiting at the road crossing in two miles if I change my mind. I leave walking and eating. Jim yells, "No walking!" Just watch me, Jim. Okay, okay, I'm running (sort of) how's that? True to his word, Jim is at the road crossing. He tells me that Mark is struggling and that I should go for second, passing Mark and the unknown runner. Gene is cruising and has likely caught the first place guy by now. Just put your tailgate down so I can sit on it and empty the gravel out of my shoe - I don't care about those guys. Shoe is back on, bottle is topped off and I'm back on the trail. Run a while, walk a little. I'm bonking big time. Eat and drink, eat and drink. I'll run for a few minutes and then find myself walking. The walking stretches are short, but I can't keep myself running all the time. The trail heads up an old railroad grade and that little bit of incline seems to be steeper today. The sleet and hail appear, but only momentarily. Ahead, I see a guy and two women who are running and walking some. I am gaining on them and try to begin reeling them in. I know they aren't in the race, but it is something to focus on. I catch and pass the two women and am just about to catch the guy when he turns around. It's Mark. He put on a jacket at the aid station and I didn't recognize him. Mark indicates he had a bad patch at the road crossing, but is starting to feel a bit better. We work together up the gentle grade to the turn-around. With one mile to go to the turn around (and relay exchange point), we still haven't met Gene and the other runner (Max). A few minutes later we see them running together, coming back toward us. They both look strong, Gene looks stronger. Up the last small rise to the pylon and the aid station. Jim fills bottles and checks what we need and we head back down the trail. I check my watch - 5:30 with ten miles to go. Seven hours is possible, but won't be easy. Mark picks up the pace and we run the first mile in just under 8:00 minutes. Don't know where that came from, but it means we're into single digits to go. Mark keeps me running when I don't feel like it and we're making steady progress toward the finish. Finally, we reach the last aid station. I drop everything but my water bottle and lose one shirt. We check on Gene and Max and learn that they are 10 minutes ahead of us. A watch check as we leave the aid station - 6:33. Damn, the sign at the aid station says 3.4 miles to go. I guess breaking seven hours isn't going to happen. Well, my PR is just under 7:07, we've got a good shot at that so we keep slogging along. On down the trail and into the golf course area. Soon we'll make a left turn back onto the roads for the final mile and a half to the finish. Just as we come through the golf course, we see Gene and Max!? They had missed the turn and were just getting back on course. Instead of ten minutes, they are now only 100 yards ahead of us. Gene is starting to pull away and Mark is trying to get me to catch Max. I've got no legs left and tell him to go ahead. He keeps running with me. Mark, you're alright. After almost 50 miles, we enter the stadium area. All four of us are on the track at the same time. I look at my watch - 6:54:XX and about 300 yards to go. Outstanding! We are going to break 7:00 hours. All four of us have picked up the pace. My puke-o-meter immediately starts flashing amber. To hell with this, I'm going to break seven hours, I can hurl after I finish. Mark and I finish together, tied for third overall in 6:57:15. Jim is there offering congratulations. I tell him I need to find a trash can. Luckily, there was one close by and I make full use of it. Sub-seven hours in a 50 miler. Yeah, it was worth it to me. Thanks, Mark. Thanks, Gene. Couldn't have gotten there without you guys. Kendall Kreft